Blooming beautiful

Ahhh the Chelsea flower show. One of my favourite world events of the year. That and London Fashion Week and World's Strongest Man. I have an eclectic bunch of interests.

Whilst I'm not sure what I could post as fashion-related to World's Strongest Man - muscle vests and knee strapping perhaps - I do know exactly what to write about when Chelsea is on.

Flowers.

I've never been lucky enough to visit the world's best flower show that is The Chelsea Flower Show, but I did recently visit the wonderul Keukenhof in Holland. Unfortunately, although it was early April, the blooms were not out in full splendour as they should have been because of the silly cold weather. Not that I blame the buds, I don't come into bloom unless it's at least 17ºc.

The wonderful indoor displays in Keukenhof of tulips, lillies and orchids amongst hundreds of other species made up for the lack of colour outside. Not to mention the fabulous fashion and London-themed displays.

An indoor tulip display at Keunkenhof

Hats and flowers make the best of talking pieces

If I could, I would wear a dress entirely made of blooms. Imagine the fresh and sweet scent for one thing. Alas, it's probably not that practical. 

Hello pretty

Sitting on the bus would be problematic for one thing. In fact moving, would probably not work period. I'd shed petals faster than you can say 'walking pollenator'.

Never mind, the designers have floral fashion covered.

Givenchy 1956

Christian Dior s/s 13

Christian Dior s/s 13 Haute Couture

Be inspired and bloom.

Holly Fulton s/s 13

Prada s/s 13

v

Let's keep things short.

Please excuse my tardiness in writing another post. 

I’ve just made the leap over to Sweden from the UK, and journeyed through seven countries in two weeks before setting up camp here in beautiful Stockholm. I’ve therefore been rather too busy to indulge in any writing whatsoever mores the pity. My fingers have grown chubbier and less agile in the interim, my brain is rather stodgy and both limbs and organs are in drastic need of creative stimulation.

So, here I am; sitting in my new bedroom next to a window looking out on a park where birds are chirping, children are playing and thank the heavens, the sun is shining. Thoughts of sunshine and happy summer days has lead me to ponder what we shall be wearing this summer should the temperature rise (as it rightly should).

Causing quite a stir both on and off the catwalk is the crop top. That little piece of insignificant fabric you wore without worry as a child, much like the bikini or (ahem) cycling shorts, but in adulthood, an item of clothing that stirs up body image issues and thoughts of unwanted chills around the midriff.

That said, I rather like the idea of the cropped or crop top; one need only look at the very recent Coachella festival to form an image in our minds of an item of clothing that in its very form is wonderfully free-spirited, bohemian, cute perhaps? A little daring? 

Left to right: Alexander Wang s/s 13, Balenciaga s/s 13, a Coachella 2013 sun-worshipper

Of course, done right and the crop top can also be elegant and chic. Karlie Kloss and Diane Kruger have both recently managed this to perfection by coordinating top and bottom, showing only the narrowest and daintiest of gaps in between. A delicate tease of skin.

The crop top is not a classic, it’s not practical or even easy to wear (unless you're Alessandra Ambrosio). But this season's crop top is far more refined than its predecessors: in delicate matchy-matchy prints, geometric cuts and sophisticated cloudy tones of white, grey or blue.

But no matter how it is dressed, the crop top will always be a little cheeky, ever-so nonchalant and a trifle playful.

And just as before, the crop top will come and go and it is its frivolity that makes us fall so easily in love with it every time Summer rolls round. Crop tops allow us freedom, the kind we enjoyed as a child or teenager before we lost out and became adults.

I remember as a teenager quite often showing off my midriff, my grandmother telling me I would catch a cold by doing so and ever so concernedly, shuffling my t-shirt down a cm or two before the fabric reaffirmed its rightful place just above my naval.

And surely, that is the very essence of the crop top: care-free clothes that are meant for frolicking in the sunshine and show we don't give two hoots whether we get a little chilly or not. 

And heck, if we are lucky enough to bathe in sunshine this summer, there will be no stopping us. Our daring, laisez-faire teenage spirit will be out in full-flow and who knows, we might just have fun.

Mr Sunshine, don’t let us down.

v

Black or white; good or bad; day or night. Who's best?

For spring/summer 2013, the great battle between dark and light is again to be at the forefront of all our fashion brains (FYI, I know this isn't actually true but I watched Lord of the Rings last night and I'm all caught up in light/dark, good vs evil kind of stuff). 

For next season, the two opposing forces combine in a fresh and unifying fashion moment that is every inch the epitome of chic but is also electric and positively charming.

Black is moody, stirring, demanding, sophisticated, understated; white is angelic, pure, stark, sanitary and innocent.

The dynamic trend for contrast has been seen in sequin weaves at Marc Jacobs; enchanting dottiness at Chanel; laser-cut leather slices at Alexander Wang and soft, sumptuous silk knots at Céline.

Drawing on age old simplistic romanticism; Fifties Hollywood glamour and of course reminiscent of Sixties pop playfulness of geometric shapes, the tones are the same, however 2013's spring/summer has the freshness of being soft or mathematical, subtle or bold, but always easy über sophistication.

Black and white have that wonderful ability to create silhouettes; just think of the nostalgic and evocative quality of those simple 18th century profile images. Even when cliced and cut into amalgamations (Alexander Wang, Narcisco Rodriguez), we see the overall shape created; we're drawn to the idea of shapes through contrast.

Of course, Marc Jacobs also gave us white with claret and white with the nudest of nudes. Contrasts can be more than just black and white; the effect a little sportier or a trice more feminine. Because let's face it, we don't often think of black and white as spring/summer colours - navy and white, yes - black and white? Isn't that a bit, well not summery?

Marc Jacobs spring/summer 2013

Which is perhaps the genius of this trend.  

2012 was a year of dynamically changing contrasting seasons; weather of polar opposites that rained when it should have shined and was friggin' cold when it should have been sweltering. 

The contrast trend is surely an emphatic nod to exploring the power of opposites in unexpected, unpredictable times which is ultimately what makes it so super exciting.

v 

TREND UPDATE: Dreamy pastels...

Oh I'm so pleased about the pastel trend and no more so because at the time of writing this I'm standing, peering through the window at a snow-covered garden. 

Pastels - ok, so its definitely a spring trend and obviously winter still has its icy white hold on us, yet pastels would look so divine in the snow:

Pale orchid purples, the creamiest of milky whites, mellow hibiscus yellows and blush pinks - the pastel trend is so dreamy.

Remember the Louis Vuitton spring/summer show? Heavens, it made me melt.

Pastels at Louis Vuitton Paris Fashion Week 2011

Philip Lim - pastels done simply

LV showed the uptmost ladylike of shapes in boxy jackets and full midi-skirts with delicate cut-out collars and princess up-dos. For an extra flounce, the French fashion house also showed full-fifties skirts made of dandelion-light marabou feathers. 

If, like me, you prefer wearing trends a little understated, take some inspiration from Philip Lim. In his spring/summer 2012 collection, pastels were boxed into soft shapes; a no-nonsense, divine in its simplicity, alternative to Louis Vuitton's fairytale yet everybit as dreamy. 

My tip - let the pastels do the talking. Mix them up but keep it simple. Like pearls, pastels are so feminine that adornment and embellishment just aren't necessary.

Lovely.