TREND REPORT: CÉLINE SS14 RTW

After 5 years of minimalistic shapes and safe palettes, Phoebe philo has reinvented Céline once again by injecting bold colour and movement into it's SS14 RTW collection. 'Power to Women' Philo has described the new collection as and there is definitely a celebratory vibe in the choice of colours and fabrics. Wide brush strokes of contrasting shades of reds, yellows, greens, blues and black (reminiscent of abstract expressionist artwork) stood out to me, as did the chiffon pleated skirts and dresses (expect to see the highstreet flooded with copycat inspired pieces next year). 

Footwear ranged from 'Birkenstock-esque' sandals with gladiator straps lacing up the leg to leather sling-backs with buckles and perspex heels. Bags were a combination of leather and suede with structured metal handles and flowing tassels - not as refined as the infamous classic box bag (which is still on my wish-list).

Phoebe has definitely caught the attention of the fashion world with her loud and change-in-direction designs, however I have to admit, I am a fan of her minimalistic and some-what reserved collections; but then again, I shy away from colour! 

What are your reactions to the much anticipated Céline collection? 

I'm Wearing... Zara Combination Patchwork Jeans

Here I am dressed head to toe in Zara along with my trusty Celine Trapeze and MK watch. These Zara combination jeans are not the most flattering pair I have ever worn however I love the patchwork effect (almost reminiscent of that Isabel Marant patchwork shirt) and they are so soft and comfortable.

Fashion Means Business

Street Style is always inspiring. Even if a look isn't to your personal taste, there is always an aspect that you can take away with you; whether it is a garment, accessory, hairstyle or even a location. Seeing how an individual mixes and matches colour, print, material and shape to their look immediately grabs my attention. I could scroll and click through pages of Street Style inspiration for hours on end. 

For IFB Project #113: Street Style Inspiration I have collated photos of some of my favourite suit trends (I particularly love the white on white - timeless).

Image sources: Nobody Knows Marc, Vogue, Le 21eme, Street Peeper 

NYFW SS14 Trend Report

White on white on white... Nothing shouts Spring/Summer louder than clean, fresh and crisp white. It can be leather, PVC, sheer, silk, contrasting layers, loose, fitted, structured, flowing - as long as it is white. Both Jason Wu and Helmut Lang's collections did it for me. The casual and care-free slouchiness of their pieces are the epitome of Spring. Victoria Beckham continues to channel the preppy prefect/tennis player into her collection whilst Wang manages to design pieces which look so white and shiny that they could've been made from a batch of Marshmallow Fluff (And that is not an insult).

    

Another trend which was undeniable on the NYFW SS14 catwalk is Monochrome. I am always on the fence when it comes to black and white print, we saw a lot of it last SS in the form of horizontal/vertical stripes and checks (think back to Louis Vuitton). However, this season the prints are more refined without losing the strong geometrical patterns  that graced the catwalk last season. Proenza Schouler really impressed me with their noisy prints yet elegant cuts. 

Last summer we saw the 'Holographic' trend with the likes of Jonathan Saunders and Burberry. We saw the shiniest of shiniest and I have to admit that even Proenza Schouler's holographic PS11 got me excited. This season we saw shiny, but more muted and easy on the eye. Marc by Marc Jacobs demonstrated this trend through metallic leather whilst Thakoon and Misha Nonoo's designs were softer with a pearl-like shimmer. My favourite pieces from this trend have to be 3.1 Phillip Lim with his almost rusty, metallic, distressed leather sleeveless biker jacket and buttoned shirt.

There are a lot more inspiring pieces I saw on NYFW SS14 catwalk but I would be here all week writing about them. Who was your favourite designer or trend from NYFW?  

  

This post was submitted for IFB Project #112: NYFW Favourites

I'm Wearing... Zara Studio Rounded Shoulder Sweater

Oversized rounded shoulders were all over the catwalk for AW2013, Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Burberry, Christopher Kane - just to name a few. I teamed this Zara Studio neoprene sweater with a black pencil skirt to create a contrast of silhouettes and I love the way the material folds and creases when the sleeves are rolled up! 

Zara Studio sweater and pencil skirt, Whistles Sandals, Michael kors watch, Louis Vuitton Sofia Coppola bag

I'm Wearing... Birkenstocks

I'm wearing a Zara cashmere tank and suit trousers, Michael kors watch, Celine Trapeze bag and Birkenstocks. I tend to dress for comfort and Birkenstocks have been my 'go-to' sandal this summer. Also seeing Miranda Kerr dressed in nothing but over-sized masculine coats and Birks' in Vogue has given me re-assurance that dressing like a business man on vacation is acceptable. 

September Trend Report

My favourite time of the year; Apart from Birthday celebrations, September marks the end of Summer and the beginning of Autumn. Darker hues and knitted textures, ankle boots and funnel necks. We start to see the new seasons entering stores and I'm struggling to select only a handful of items as there are far too many. One word: ZARA. My daily routine starts with checking their 'New In' and excitingly scrolling through their page. Anyway, I am all for full suits and checks, and eagerly waiting to wear layer over layer over layer...

Inspiration #1

Andreea Diaconu, Jil Sander, Whistles lookbook, Celine & MK in Vogue.