Jumpers for Winter

Jumpers are obviously a necessity throughout Autumn and Winter, however, we as individuals can decide to purchase any jumper of any style that perfectly resonates with our personal aesthetic, and fits within our personal budgets. Unfortunately, out of all the beautiful jumpers I have gathered for this post, every single one comes with an unfortunate price tag. But hopefully, we can collectively appreciate these jumpers for their physical form and not depreciate them because of their price tag. So, welcome to Part Deux of my Winter Series: Jumpers for Winter.

1. I Love Mr. Mittens
Jumper No.1 is a classic cable knit jumper in a beautiful camel that is perfect for winter. This jumper by I Love Mr. Mittens would perfectly suit someone who on a day where they don't want to try too hard with what they wear, could easily pair this jumper with their pair of light-wash "Mom" jeans and a simple pair of sneakers.

2. Apiece Apart
Jumper No.2 is beautiful. Ive often scrolled down my Pinterest feed and passed this pretty form in an envious manner. This jumper would be perfect on a day in winter where the temperature is not awfully cold, however, it being slightly crisp requires a warm layer to keep you comfortable. This jumper would also pair perfectly with a pair of light-wash "Mom" jeans and white converse.

3. Golden by TNA
This cardigan/jumper in it's beautiful brown colour would be perfect for those rainy days you spend inside your home doing small jobs around the house. If I am perfectly honest, this is probably one of my favourite jumpers due to it's inviting, classic aesthetic. Just like every other jumper so far in this post, this jumper would pair perfectly with a pair of light-wash "Mom" jeans, but also a pair of comfy lounge pants you can wear around the house. Although, if you are wanting to dress it up some more, pair this jumper with a cute denim skirt, a white oversized mens shirt and a pair of black Chelsea boots.

4. Norse Projects
This black and white striped jumper is not only a necessity for winter, but everyone's year-round wardrobe. This jumper would perfectly suit an outfit you are not willing to put too much effort into, or even the opposite. This jumper can be dressed up with a pair of black skinny jeans and black Chelsea boots for those evenings spent at restaurants during the winter.

5. Acne
Why not inject a bit of colour into this post! This dusky pink Acne jumper is simple and modern, something that can easily be paired with any form of bottoms e.g. skirt, baggy pants, "Mom" or skinny jeans. The colour may not be everyone's preference, and if ill be honest t's not particularly mine, however it's simple form makes this colour easily parable with any outfit.

6. Lauren Manoogian
This jumper is also one of my favourites. A good, chunky turtleneck jumper is perfect for the wintery months so this classic, black knitted turtleneck is essentially the ultimate winter knit. Unfortunately, the price of this jumper is insane, but I guess it makes sense considering it is BEAUTIFUL. Pair this jumper with a pair of jeans or shorts, tights and boots and you will effortlessly look good throughout the entirety of winter.

SO, pretty much all of these jumpers are unattainable, however, that doesn't mean I cannot appreciate them for their beauty and dream of all the different, wintery outfits I could pair them with. But you never know, maybe one day I will find myself standing right in front of my closet, staring straight at one of those jumpers, or at least something like it... I think that is what dreams are made of, Lizzie McGuire.

Boots for Winter

Seeing as the start of the wintery months is beginning to loom over our shoulders, I thought it was only fitting that I gathered a collection of boots, fit for the winter/autumn seasons. Here I mark the beginning of my Winter series, a series dedicated to the season of Winter and items I dream of wearing throughout that cold season. These posts will be casual, almost like I am selling you these items (which is far different from my most common form of blogpost... Obviously being runway fashion posts). So here it is, Part Un of my Winter series: Boots for Winter.

If you're anything like me, you will most definitely understand why shoes are my favourite form of clothing. Looking at shoes, purchasing shoes and wearing shoes are things I enjoy doing (sounds really lame) and I know I am not the only who thinks the same way! For this post I gathered a collection of boots varying in heel height, colour and shape that I hope we can all appreciate.

1. Senso
These black suede boots are slightly chunky and have a unique aesthetic unlike any of the other boots I have gathered from different designers for this post. The dark, black suede gives these boots a wintery aesthetic and highlights how perfect they are for the season. Pair these boots with cropped jeans, white or black, and an oversized men's shirt, layer a warm jumper over top and you will effortlessly be fit for the cold months!

2. Jeffrey Campbell
These Dior inspired Jeffrey Campbell boots are unique and classy, two words I love! The skinny form of these boots will elongate your legs and give you height with their 8.3cm heel. Similar to the first pair of boots featured in this post, the brown suede finish of these boots add a wintery element and complete these ultimate winter boots. If I were to own this pair of boots, I would pair it with an A-line skirt, oversized men's shirt and a chunky turtleneck jumper to tackle the wintery weather.

3. Isabel Marant Etoile
I think I can say Isabel Marant is my favourite designer, so it only makes sense that I include these boots as I truly think they are beautiful. But, I think we should all accept that considering these boots are designed by Isabel Marant, they come with a hefty cost. The choice of cream leather turns these ordinary pair of boots, into an unordinary pair of boots. The inclusion of a wooden heel adds a unique element to this pair and makes me feel as if I need these boots in my life even more. Pair these boots with a good pair of cropped denim flares, a black baggy t-shirt, throw over a big coat and you will be set.

4. Alexander Wang
These Alexander Wang boots are famously known for their unique shape and cut out detail that appears on the heel of the boot. I would love to be the proud owner of these boots, and I don't think I am alone in saying that, so it's pretty obvious why I have chosen to include these boots in this post.

5. Acne
These boots, similar to the Alexander Wang pair, are also famously known for their cool aesthetic which is commonly envied by people who do not own them aka me. The use of sharp lines in the design of these boots largely adds an edgy element to the design of the boot which is emphasised through the inclusion of a metallic detail towards the end of the boot. Pair these boots with a pair of black skinny jeans, a huge scarf and an oversized coat to wear around throughout the colder months.

6. Matisse
An element of these boots that I love the most is the use of a Python texture on the main body of the boot. The faux Python texture adds an edgy element to the boot which is softened through the choice of a soft, ivory colour. Largely, the boot has a cowboy-esque aesthetic which is emphasised through the choice of a slanted pale, wooden heel. I love the shape of this pair and think that despite their unique design, they can be easily incorporated into several outfits.

Although the price tags that dangle around these boots or stick on the bottom of their heels may be something we consider nightmares to be made of, I think we can all appreciate the fact that the reason they cost that much is because they are beautiful and therefore, worth that price. I only dream of the day I can afford every single pair, if that day will ever come around, but for now I'm 100% fine with appreciating pictures of them on the internet.

NYFW FW 16: India's Picks

As a lot of you may know, New York Fashion Week has very recently come to an end. So, being the typical "fashion blogger" that I am, I thought there was no other more typical thing to do than write about my favourite collections from New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2016.

As a whole, every Fall/Winter 2016 collection showcased at New York Fashion Week was simply quite amazing, diverse and adorable; although, not in the sense that they were cute, but because I found that I simply adored almost every collection. However, there is a very prominent keyword within that sentence, that of course being "almost". I did not "adore" every look showcased, or every collection, but this post will kindly focus on my positive opinions rather than my negative.

If I think about New York Fashion Week FW 16 as a whole, there were definitely trends that made their appearance on the runway more than once. One of the biggest recurring trends being micro-floral prints. Designers such as Altuzarra, Rosie Assoulin, and SUNO all participated in presenting collections that contained at least one variation of a micro-floral print. Due to the fact I am outlining that these 3 designers presented collections containing micro-floral prints, this may be coming across as if it is a negative thing. But as I outlined in the beginning of this post, I will kindly only be focusing on my positive opinions rather than my negative, so to put things simply, this is a good thing. In fact, I love this trend. The inclusion of micro-floral prints into these particular FW 16 collections has provided them with the elegance necessary for the Fall, or as we in New Zealanders like to call it Autumn. Micro-floral prints have to transform a once structured garment, into that of a soft, delicate garment. Particularly for Rosie Assoulin, structure is the main point of focus. Her bold use of shape to eventuate different aspects of a pair of pants or shirt create strong forms which are softened through her use of colour, and in this case, micro-floral prints. Altuzarra's main point of focus is not the structure of a garment but rather the detail and texture of a garment. Their bold use of pattern and texture throughout this collection adds a bohemian aesthetic, however intensified through the inclusion of contrasting black and white pants and skirts.

Two collections I loved purely for the sake of it's clean, minimal aesthetic were that of Jason Wu and Victoria Beckham's FW 16 collections. Both collections maintained its brand's minimal aesthetic however, with the added inclusion of fur and knitted textures. Largely, small details were not an element present in Victoria Beckham's collection, however, I loved her choice of tortoiseshell buttons which can be seen on almost every garment within this collection. I thought this choice of button gave the collection class (as if it required more, she is Posh Spice of course) alongside her classy colour palette mainly consisting of black, white and pops of warm mustards and oranges. Jason Wu's collection maintained a similar aesthetic with the added element of wispy fur textures and a modern interpretation of a gingham print.

The last collection I will talk about today is that of, Lacoste's. As more and more pictures of Lacoste's FW 16 collection came flooding through on social media I felt as if I was falling down a spiral into a modern adaptation of 70's tennis/ski culture. Through Lacoste's use of patent leather, dark greens, teals, vibrant reds, bauhaus-like typography, embroidered ski-inpspired illustrations and a unique interpretation of a sweatband, the inspiration of 70's ski culture apparel was ever present. Through their use of bold stripes and block colouring, I felt the collection maintained the inspiration for their most recent FW collection, The Royal Tenenbaums. Although this collection was obviously not heavily inspired by the Royal Tenenbaum's unlike their last FW collection, a reference to the film maintained it's presence within the brand as well as a 70's tennis culture aesthetic. The use of ribbed knit intensified the 70's ski culture inspiration and helped me visualise what it would be like to ski on the mountains of Colorado in the 1970s. I loved this collection and believe it is a key example of the diverse and unique nature of New York Fashion Week which is most definitely necessary in the fashion industry.

So now, being at the end of this post I've realised three things. One being, New York Fashion Week might possibly be my most loved fashion week, two being, it is now London Fashion Week and we can all get excited because some of the best British fashion designers will be showcasing exciting, new collections, and three being, unlike what I said in my 'In 2015...' post, maybe the 70's trend's moment hasn't ended?

So Long, Raf Simons

Christian Dior's Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2016 show happened not so long ago, but without a certain ex-traordinary (get it) member of it's team, Creative Director, Raf Simons.

It is very well known that Simons has said "Au Revoir" to his job as Creative Director of French Fashion House 'Christian Dior', however when the time came for Raf to acknowledge his audience on the catwalk after all his models had exited it themselves, I sensed a feeling of sadness but also a fresh and exciting new beginning as not him but a team of designers stepped out on to the runway to thank the audience.

This Christian Dior collection was designed largely by Serge Ruffieux, who since 2008 has been Head Designer of Christian Dior, Lucie Meier, who before working at Christian Dior worked at Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga, and of course, it's incredibly creative design team. Cleverly, this Haute Couture Spring-Summer collection has maintained Simons' brand revolutionising modern aesthetic, however largely because it was designed whilst Simons' was still in the job. The inspiration for this collection was "the relaxed and spontaneous Parisienne", who is very much present within this collection as both soft and tailored forms dominate the collection, emphasising the relaxed and spontaneous nature of it. Whilst the collection has maintained Simons' modern aesthetic of which he had developed throughout his years at Dior, the team of designers' key inspiration being "the relaxed, spontaneous Parisienne" was emphasised through their use of structure, textures and colours. Sequinned textures, floral prints, metallics and soft materials combined with a colour palette consisting of navy, black, white, vibrant oranges and pinks as well as muted mustards and blue hues shaped this collection and enhanced it's Parisienne influence.

The forms of pieces within this collection were simple yet dramatised through the use of colour and texture. Off the shoulder pieces were a reoccurring look within the collection along with panelled or A-line skirts which strongly resonated with it's Parisienne influence. The combination of tailored jackets and soft chiffon dresses gave the collection the dimension and aura it needed in order to achieve a collection that screamed "WEAR ME IF YOU WANT TO LOOK LIKE A RELAXED, SPONTANEOUS PARISIENNE".

The shoes within this collection were also beautiful. Throughout Simons' time at Dior, shoes were an ever-developing element within the French Fashion House that continued to amaze me each season; and this season was not any different despite the fact new designers were involved in the design process of it. The incorporation of a leopard print within the design of the collection's shoes was surpirinsly subtle however worked harmoniously with the entirety of the collection. Simple mule-esque heels as well as ones with large bows completed every look and polished off the collection to Parisienne extent they were after.

This collection designed by Christian was beautiful, delicate, harmonious and really encapsulated the relaxed and spontaneous personality of a Parisienne. Although like I said in one of my last posts that it is sad to see Raf go, I am excited for the future of Christian Dior and, if each season they can continue to achieve results like these, I think the death of Raf Simons as Creative Director of Dior would be an event we can look back on more positively (despite the fact it's still really sad).

P.S I wonder who will be the next Creative Director... We must wait and see.

collection archive

Images from Opening Ceremony

Diverse, Bold, Cohesive.

SUNO was founded by Max Osterweis in 2008 and has rapidly developed as a brand over the past 6 years. The brand has been overwhelmingly successful which is shown through the work they produce season in, and out. For more on SUNO, visit http://www.sunony.com

The SUNO F/W 2014 collection is a symphony of bold patterns, earthy tones, and a hint of Scotland. Whenever I look over the looks from this collection, I am reminded of Scotland. The use of knee length skirts and high rise socks imitates the traditional attire worn by the Scottish. The earthy tones such as the khaki and navy blues add subtlety to the designs and contrast against the vibrant variation of reds throughout the collection. The tones are balanced as metallic textures are used, adding a sleek touch.

One thing I adore about this collection is the use of layers. The layers add interest and depth to particular pieces and help emphasise the conceptual influence, that I believe is, Scotland. Layering is used through the physical design of selected garments, but is also used as a way to structure the patterns. Throughout the collection there are layers and layers of pattern that work together cohesively. Bold stripes, florals, and plaid-esque patterns showcase the extent of diversity within the collection.

Small details such as the footwear and socks within the collection add an edgy, military finish. I love the brogue/Doc Marten-esque shoe worn in various colours as it also ties in with the Scottish vibe.

As I say with all of my Collection Archives, I advise you check out this collection as well as SUNO as a whole. SUNO is a diverse, unique brand that designs awesome clothing.

I am also sorry that I've gone completely M.I.A.

I'm not going to cue the excuses, so that is where I will end this post.

paris fashion week ss15

Images from Vogue.com

Slacker alert. 1 month you say I've been gone, forget that ever happened.

Paris Fashion Week has just ended and I've gathered my favourite moments and collections from some of the worlds greatest designers amongst the festival.

One of the most talked about moments of Paris Fashion Week was the gender equality message protested by Karl Lagerfeld and his models in the finale of the Chanel SS15 show. Just like most people, I have mixed opinions about this. Since the release of He For She, a gender equality campaign led by the UN as well as Emma Watson's enlightening speech about gender equality, the issue has appeared a lot in the media. Chanel continued to show support for the issue by holding a protest in the finale of their SS15 show. Whether or not the message Chanel projected was genuine and sincere, the equality of men and women shouldn't be an issue we throw around in order to earn ourselves "publicity points". Saying this is bold and potentially risky, as I'm sure equality is something Chanel do support in achieving. But throwing a bunch of models into a situation they could potentially not care about is something I don't believe is fair. But beyond Chanel's remark, it is disheartening to know that just because I am a girl I am disadvantaged in so many ways. I congratulate Chanel for projecting the issue to a wider audience (the fashion industry), and hopefully they will continue to support the issue as well as the rest of the world.

Emma Watson's UN Speech:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkjW9PZBRfk

Funny how I'm watching Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets whilst I'm writing this?

Stella McCartney's SS15 show succeeded to please me the way all her seasonal collections tend to.  There were both simplistic designs with negative space, and designs with beautiful floral patterns that worked harmoniously with each other. The colour palette was very neutral and muted. Colours such as blush pinks, navy blues and nudes were used. The shoes in the collection followed the trend curated by Chanel in their most recent couture collection which  was the reconstructed jandal/flip-flop. McCartney also modernised the 'Arizona' Birkenstock which helped to complete the collection.

The Dior SS15 show was beautiful. There were clean lines, bold colour choices, and beautifully embroidered floral motifs. There were large references to french aristocracy, shown through the shape and form of some garments. Dresses with small waists and wide hips, as well as the attention to tiny detail all referenced back to the fashion trends of french nobility. The model on the right wears a three-quarter length coat and knee length shorts, taking a more modern and feminine approach to the style of male french nobility. I loved this collection as it was classic, yet bold.

wishlist

Fragrance, Fashion, Fluff.

It is finally the end of the week, which tells us that all of my school's mock exams are over. 

Luckily for me I only had 3, my last being on wednesday, so i've had a little holiday just before the new school week starts.

Here's a collection of things I like, but don't expect to get. Lots of texture and smells, all pretty nice on the eye. 

Hope you enjoyed this short, but sweet post. 

the muse-um

Ah sorry I didn't make a post last week. I have mock exams starting on monday so I'm trying to get as much study in as possible.

Today's post is a lot shorter than usual as it's all I can fit in.

Heres just a little collection or a, muse-um of some of my style muses.

Suki Waterhouse

I love her bangs and the 70's look she has.

Fei Fei Sun

Agh just stunning. Love her look.

Alexa Chung

I think it's just obvious why she would be anyones style muse?

Ellen Claesson

Amazing blogger with amazing style.

Might do another muse post later on in the year as this ain't all of them.

Btw new look on the blog, and its here to stay.

collection archive

I'm literally sitting down eating wontons whilst I write this post, so life is pretty awesome right now.

So, i've been thinking about doing this post for a while now and I've finally worked up the effort (and courage) to do it.

admiration

See, I told you I was going to commit to this 1 post per week thing.

Admiration. I searched 'admiration' on google and the definition it gave me was...

admiration

adməˈreɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

respect and warm approval.

Admiration is something any girl, boy, whatever you see yourself as can feel towards celebrities, movies, novels, or what I admire the most, fashion. To admire a collection, designer, piece of clothing or whatever it is, is to respect and indulge yourself into the hours of work one or several people have taken to construct the bones and final product that millions of other people in the world will admire too. 

Admiring anything in the world is something that one person can become very passionate and almost obsessive about. Fashion is an industry where almost anything is possible (cheesy? Yup) which can sometimes mean it's outrageous and a little over the top. The ability to admire fashion can allow yourself to connect to the background and thought process behind a collection or piece. Although, admiring a collection involves the admiration towards the process and thought ahead of it all, the end result is something more than the background can really explain. Watching/looking at the collections produced by the industries biggest designers showcase the equal amount of attention designers take upon every piece used in their seasonal collections. From coats, to shoes, to things beyond the fashion industry, even the simplest of detail embroidered or printed on to them always succeed to amaze me.

Season in, season out, huge names in the fashion industry never fail to impress millions if not, billions of people in the world. Although, sometimes this admiration and positive impression we lay on these designers doesn't truly come from the honest opinion within ourselves. The opinion we have about clothing or anything often comes from the acquired taste we hold. Whether it's simplistic, complex, or completely and utterly wacky, that is your taste. With this said, I believe that the status of particular labels can permanently lay the opinion we have on their current and previous collections. Although this idea may not reflect everything one label will ever produce, I think it would mean a heck more to a designers career if you focused on the pieces themselves and not the label. However, sometimes your opinion does truly come from within in you. Whether I like one collection and you don't, is probably based on the fact that it's just not your style, but mine. It's hard to say that some of the industries most successful labels have had several "off" seasons, because in reality the creativity and originality they showcase through their designs is exceptional. In the image above are some looks from collections produced by some of the industries biggest names. Miu Miu, Dolce and Gabbana, The Row, Dior, Suno, Chanel, all labels of which I admire with a full passion for their ability to design collections that are individually structured, and aesthetically unique.

This idea is a very controversial topic of which people have an opinion about so, sorry if it annoys you, but, the world wouldn't be what it is without a little discussion.

(I really enjoy doing these wordy types of posts so if you gave me some feedback that would magnifique).

Xx

(untitled)

Well

It has been a long time since I did a post, and seeing as it is the holidays, and I have a lot of spare time, I thought it was right that I would make one.

I am a lazy person. I know that, my family knows that, so pretty much it's a well known fact about me. Getting my laptop and writing up a post just felt like something I couldn't do/couldn't be bothered  to do for a while. I was stuck on what to post and I felt as if I lost my passion for a while. After over a month of procrastinating (one of my many talents), I realised that all the hours of work I had put into this blog was potentially about to be flushed down the blogging drain. Passionately, I have worked up the right attitude to dedicate myself back to my blog. I am going to get back onto my one post a week schedule and commit to it. I apologise to everyone who regularly read my blog and expected a post from me of which I couldn't deliver.

Now with all the deep things out of the way, I think it would be a good time for a bit of an update.

About 2 months ago I was told something that literally meant quite a lot to me. Although it wouldn't mean a lot to anyone else, this made me feel so warm and aspirational. During one of my art lessons last term, my teacher came up to me, picked up my drawings and stared at them. I'm making this sound like a dramatic scene in a movie aren't I? Anyway. She told me that my drawings were nice or something which was such a compliment, but the thing that really stood out for me was this. My art teacher told me that I was a designer in the making. Literally after I typed that my tummy got a weird feeling hahahah. Becoming a designer or working somewhere amongst the fashion industry is a dream I have literally had all my life. Even when I was little my Mum would notice the little details and things I noticed in clothing or even just a sign on the side of the street. When I was little my Mum would often take me to Pumpkin Patch because I was probably nagging her about it. She said I always knew exactly what I liked and what I didn't and that I had a large fascination for the shoe section. I think I can say Pumpkin Patch was one of my favourite places in the world during that stage of my life. From then on to yr 7, when I would draw myself living in Paris with a baby blue Vespa and running my own label, to now when I'm regularly designing any little thing that comes to mind on a free printable from google images, I think this dream has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. Although I do not take fashion design at school there is a reason for that. As strange as it sounds, and as argumentative as it could be, I didn't think I needed to "learn" fashion at school. I do REALLY want to go to design school, and maybe not taking fashion was a bad idea in some aspects, but I think starting off a business with no academic experience can be just as successful. As mean as this sounds, learning how to design with people who didn't actually aspire to be in fashion industry didn't appeal to me and still really doesn't. Fashion is a part of my life I feel so passionately about and I'm sure is the same with millions if not billions of other people in the world. I think the only people that realise my admiration for fashion is my parents. My parents show a lot of trust in my opinion when it comes to fashion. They will often ask me "do I look good?", "Does this look alright?" or even just straight up "WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?". It makes me feel happy knowing that my parents trust me to know what looks good and what doesn't. But anyway, when my teacher told me this, I can't say that I could reply to her with anything other than "aha thank you" as well as a subtle blush on my cheeks. But I know now that what I could reply to her with is something similar to this paragraph if not, more.

That got long oh my gosh. 

On a bit of a less deep note, I'm currently in Wanaka on a skiing trip. The snow hasn't been so good, but my skiing has! I'm am so proud because I can confidently go down blue runs with parallels now which is such a big deal for me. People who ski will probably laugh at that but who cares. The past week of skiing has been a lot of fun and I can't wait to go to Telluride in January as well as L.A (!!!). 

Im trying to think of things to update you on and I just remembered something. I'm thinking of organising some outfit posts soon, so hopefully I will get around to doing that! Stay tuned...

I think this is around the end of this post, but I just want to apologise one more time for my lack of efforts towards blogging recently. As Maya Angelou said, "All great achievements require time".

Xx

winter coats

Lonely Hearts // Karen Walker

So I don't know if you've realised but winter is near (well at least in the Southern hemisphere that is). I know it's so cliché to be doing a "winter coats" post, but there are so many beautiful coats coming out for the winter which I thought I would share some with y'all.

I do realise that both of the coats in the picture are extremely high in price but that doesn't mean I can't admire them.

Both of the coats are similar to a trench coat which is a style of coat that I LOVE. They both look so cozy and warm and ah I want them in my life (never gonna happen). Another thing that makes these coats amazing is that they are both from New Zealand designers, woohoo.

Btw... I hit 10K views on my blog. Thank you so much for viewing my blog, it means so much to me and ah. Thank you.

X