LFW Diary AW11: Yang Du

A delight to see each and every season, I always look forward to checking out the Topshop/ NEWGEN tents and rooms to get an early peek at Yang Du's latest collection. Undoubtedly my favourite queen of kitsch, everything she turns her hand to screams fun and I love the spirit that her eponymous brand embodies. A visceral treat of texture and colour to look forward to in AW, Yang Du makes winter not seem so dark and dreary, after all.

Garment of the Week: Ashish for Topshop

This week's decision was a no-brainer. On Monday - which isn’t *technically* this week - one my favourites, and no doubt the most fabulous London designer of them all, Ashish launches his sixth collaboration with Topshop featuring dazzling prints that will appeal to his magpie fashion fans and the surrounding Oxford Street pigeons alike. Whether you're in the mood for something sweet or savoury, to be frank, it doesn’t matter as Ashish’s veritable feast for the eyes is so retro-kitsch you’d be a fool not to want a piece of the action – or should I say, a piece of the pie?

Clearly inspired by the fast-food industry, when I first saw the four designs on offer (two oversized t-shirts and two sweatshirts, pictured above and below), I genuinely thought I might lapse into a sugar-fuelled coma. After coming to my fashion-senses I marvelled at how mass-produced and fake the foods look, which strangely makes me love the prints even more. Perhaps because junk food is a no-no in my house, the collection makes me feel like I can still indulge in things that are bad, and even have a (fashion) binge or two.

Speaking of the collection, Ashish said: “The inspiration was very easy – I love junk food! I was thinking of what I would like to wear to the gym, and I thought junk food on t-shirts and sweatshirts would be perfect! Perhaps not very motivational, but definitely very amusing!”

As luck would have it I have an appointment in Topshop on Monday so I’ll see you there, and be warned; I am prepared to (fashion) fight for my fave piece, the doughnut sweater.

Prices start at £40 and items are available from Monday morning in flagship London stores and online.

Mossy pouts for Topshop!

I'm still undecided on what I think about Ms Moss' new advertising campaign for her eponymous SS10 Topshop collection. I like the music, but am not so convinced about all the pouting and retro dance moves... should she stick to the day job?! I do however like that it was shot by SHOWstudio founder/director Nick Knight.

The Big Swish

On Thursday myself and my sister attended the London leg of The Big Swish UK Roadshow held at Tiger Tiger in Piccadilly Circus. For the organisers, securing such a central venue must have seemed like a coup - in terms of the ample space inside - but for me it just felt a bit weird having hundreds of discerning fashionistas descend on what I would describe as a venue only frequented by tourists.
So there we were in Tiger Tiger trudging through the semi-full dining area in this three story bar in our hundreds. What ensued was a lot of waiting clustered around the stairway which led down to the basement’s nightclub where the night’s festivities were scheduled to take place. Whilst the wait was pretty ridiculous I was just glad not to be a diner as if I was made to enjoy my meal with a side order of 200 people cramming around my table I would have been (more) pissed off to say the least.

When the festivities finally got underway there was an ‘underwear’ fashion show and a hideous auction that didn’t do much to help raise funds for Cancer Research UK. Luckily we avoided most of it but when the bidding began for an unsightly Lady Gaga donated Dolce and Gabbana leopard-print ‘dress’ – which looked more like something one might wear to bed for a saucy night in – the hapless compare was so clueless that he quipped ‘This is D&G, why are you bidding in £5 instalments, its Gaga!’ With the response being that he was too stupid to realise that it was his job to set the pace of the bidding – hello, has he never mistakenly caught an episode of Flog It?

Frustrated at having to wait for so long and watch the evening painfully gain momentum, the Swish was finally declared ‘open’ so down the stairs we all went with several over-eager twats creating a massive crush which saw my SLR digital camera nearly break and worse still, a lady on crutches tumble down a step or two  – not a good start I’m sure you’ll agree.

After waiting to get our stuff checked in earlier in the evening everyone was supposed to go away so the staff could do their thing, but as it turned out a select few staked out the rails and grouped together things they wanted. That meant that when the 180 strong rule-following swishers got through we found that all of the good items had been squirreled away, with the remaining items being saved – if only for an evening - from their collective destiny to live out the rest of its days at the bottom of a charity shop bargain bucket!

To make matters worse, as we were swishing in a nightclub basement it was pretty dark and what little light there was came courtesy of dance floor spotlights. I actually witnessed several swishers inspecting the interiors of handbags and shoes (and performing the obligatory once over for pit stains) with the lights of their mobile phone screens.

I lucked out on a couple of items, but neither my sister nor I left with as many items as we’d arrived with. In her desperation my sister very nearly walked away with a top that I myself had donated to the Swish – which I think says it all! As with several other clothes swaps I’ve attended in the past year, this too ended in disappointment.

So a word to the wise, if I may: For all those who want to get new clothes – without spending money on the high street – avoid all the stresses of swishing with strangers and throw your own swap, inviting only your most stylish and non-aggressive friends.

Here are the items I walked away with:

Marks & Spencer's Limited Editon dress

Vintage smock

Topshop jacket

H+M silk square scarf

Listings time...

Phaidon Warehouse Sale

Up to 70% off thousands of books: 1 - 10 January (9am -7pm)
Phaidon Store, 173, Piccadilly, London.

Ann-Sofie Back capsule collection for Topshop launches 6th January.
Clockwise from left: Black jersey slashed dress, £60- Grey T-shirt dress, £50- Black sleeveless dress, £70- Black long-sleeved top, £55.

Orla Kiely sample sale at the Old Truman Brewery: Thursday 7th January - Sunday 10th January.

Opening hours are 11am - 8pm Thursday - Friday, 11am - 7pm Saturday and 11am - 6pm Sunday. Admission is £1.

This great exhibition at Tate Modern ends soon- don't miss it... just realised I missed a Tracey Emin talk there a month ago.... GUTTED!

Also the final chance to see the Ed Ruscha exhibition at the Hayward gallery which runs until 10th January.

Dress Me Up at Topshop- A-lister’s donate their dresses for party season hire and post Christmas auction

Image courtesy of Topshop website.

I think I’m a little late on this, but as it’s for a good cause I don’t mind being fashionably late! For 10 days (26th- 6th Dec) only Topshop are inviting shoppers to go into their Flagship Oxford Circus store to try on dresses donated by some of the hottest A-list celebrities of the moment. Dresses will be available for hire through the party season (7th- 23rd December). Dresses on offer include come from some of the most fabulous A-lister’s wardrobes including; Scarlett Johansson, Dita Von Teese, Freida Pinto and Kate Moss.
Prices start at £40, which is a bargain and with all of the money going straight to both Age Concern and Help the Aged. I honestly can’t think of a better way to wow your colleagues at the office Christmas party!!

SS10 PRESS DAYS: Part Seven

Last night I popped into the Arcadia Group press day in Bloomsbury on the way to meet an old friend. I was really impressed with the huge space the brands had used in Victoria House to stage the press day and I was genuinely really impressed by all the collections which made me long for summer. Really loved the Evans collection a lot as there were lots of animal prints, dark natural colours and a beautiful maxi dress which I think is going to fly of the racks in a few months.
The only items I took photographs of were from Miss Selfridge as my camera was dying and I only wanted to capture my favourite bits. Topshop was old hat really, nothing bad all the clothes and accessories were beautiful but for me Topshop is Topshop– we’re socially programmed to love it! I find Miss Selfridge more interesting as for me it’s kind of like Topshop’s little sister who will eventually grow up and start to get all the attention.

Themes through the collection were very varied, there was mad hatter’s tea party, authentic cowgirl, and 80s glam. My favourite pieces were the white and black polka dot jacket with huge statement shoulders and ¾ sleeves and a great cut.

Also loved the interesting mix of styles in this red Indian and cowboy influenced dress with added sequins for sparkle.

The accessories were what stole the show for me. I absolutely fell in love with these bright red floral embellished heels which will look so cute next summer. The only trouble is with our recent track record of damp summers you’ll have to choose which day you wear them very carefully.

Loved this cute what I would call pillbox heart shaped bag. Great for an evening bag as it’s really subtly embellished with sequins and the metal chain is set to be very on trend again next year.

Lastly a recurring theme throughout the Miss Selfridge collection was that of fun which I felt was epitomised in this really kitsch ice-cream and sweet charm necklace– very cool indeed.

If that wasn’t enough I got a very big surprise when I was contemplating leaving only to realise I’d walked passed and not noticed a certain Boy George spinning tunes on the decks. As a big fan of Culture Club it was nice to see him, but after his recent brushes with the law, they’re unfortunately what I instantly thought of, and like everyone I couldn’t help but thinking; why is he here? Was definitely a nice touch and very fitting when taking into account that the 80s are again set to be huge next year as even if no one else is championing them Arcadia are which means everyone will once again be channelling the 80s in their dress next summer. I for one cannot wait!

Window shopping in Topshop

Ignoring my better judgement I visited Topshop a couple of days ago under strict instructions that I was to window shop only. Naturally I gave in and felt I had to purchase something so snapped up two basic vests for the bargain price of £9.00. Satisfied that I had bought something justifiable, (in that most of my basics have seen better summers), I was able to look at all the new stock without feeling compelled to spend more money that I don’t have.
The first item I found worth making note of was this beautiful two tiered dress by Reko (pictured above). As anyone who knows me well will tell you I was drawn to this dress largely due the navy blue skirt as this is one of my favourite colours especially when it comes to clothes. I love everything about this dress from the kooky and playful polka dot bow pattern on top, down to the delicate pleats of the skirt and the central oversized bow detail at the waist. Mostly I loved the simplicity of this dress’s shift design as its one of those staple wardrobe pieces that can be worn for almost any occasion making it a bargain piece At £40.00.
Another garment I found and felt compelled to bring to your attention was this grey sweater dress (pictured above). Designed as what I can only assume to be a transitional wardrobe piece to be worn from the end of summer through autumn. On the surface this looks like a lovely fine knit sweater dress, but on closer inspection, whilst made and finished really well the bottom skirt added to the dress just doesn’t sit right neither on the hanger nor myself.
After looking on the Topshop website I have found another similarly offensive dress (pictured above). Whilst I think I just about get where the Topshop designers were coming from adding an alternative skirt to the bottom, I feel that they perhaps used too much fabric which ends up looking a bit OTT. I definitely like the contrasting colours and cute ditsy floral print from the dress I tried on; however as it’s a much lighter cotton fabric it doesn’t serve to weight down the hem of the dress properly, instead making it very frilly and an easy target for the often flirtatious autumn wind. At £38.00 it’d definitely be worth a punt (as they say in Dragon’s Den), however I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking to get maximum mileage for their money.
Final image courtesy of Topshop.com

Kate Moss for Topshop FW09 collection

For decades I have long been a fan of the legend that is Kate Moss. I have always shied away from writing about her in the past as I was so enamoured with her in my youth that even now I’m tempted to write a gushing essay about not only her beauty, but the tangible presence that I feel as a fashion lover, enthusiast and consumer- she brings to each and every one of her shoots, which is why I feel that she is a British style icon who will always be a household name.

My love for Kate Moss aside, originally I was sceptical about her collaboration with Topshop back in 2007, but after watching each collection from a safe distance I feel that she has gone from strength to strength. What started as a fashion collaboration not more than two and a half years ago has seen one of the biggest names in fashion partner with one of the UK’s leading high street retailers, Topshop. It is also Kate’s widely publicised friendship with Topshop owner and retail guru Sir Phillip Green that has caused so much media attention and endless speculation as to what they will produce together in the future.

Today sees Kate launch her 11th- yes 11th collection for Topshop and it is by far the best. Great for any British woman aspiring to have the laissez-faire style and nonchalance of Britain’s most celebrated supermodel. As with every collection, Kate has drawn upon the eclectic style that she has become famed for and has cited her extensive wardrobe as a source of inspiration for her range.

When it was first disclosed that Kate was using her own wardrobe as a base for her designs I like most people wrote her off and waxed lyrical about models trying to be designers without the intrinsic skills of both design and cut which are honed to perfection by professional designers who have learnt their craft. However when you actually read or see interviews with Kate and hear her referencing some of her favourite garments, they are mostly one off pieces that are from thrift stores or vintage shops which encapsulate the fashion and spirit of the 20th Century throughout the decades. Taking this into consideration I believe that Kate is actually doing something really great for British fashion and let’s face it our failing high streets. It would have been all too easy for Kate to create a diffusion line with one of her celeb fashion friends such as Stella McCartney or Karl Lagerfeld, so for her to team up with such a renowned and well loved British store to bring great pieces to the masses is something which cannot be snubbed.
For the highly anticipated new collection Kate offers high voltage glamour at high street prices. Interestingly Kate references the ‘flamboyant ‘80s’ as her inspiration for the collection; however as a huge fan of the 1940s I would say that the glamour depicted is more reminiscent of the Noir heroine. From the beautifully iconic black and white campaign photography you get the sense that there is more to this collection and that Kate is playing the role of heroine in her own film. For example my favourite of the campaign images is that of Kate in the Jacquard bandeau dress in gold (pictured left). This is a very evocative image as it bears a striking resemblance to the iconic scene in Gilda (1946) where Rita Hayworth is performing a striptease in a Buenos Aires casino bar.

Brimming with vintage inspiration Kate uses a variety of fabrics from chiffon, faux fur and wool to create a range which brims with elegance, sophistication and sexiness. Key pieces include the delightful Butterfly dress, which retails at £65.00 and the tribal looking Butterfly long scarf which retails at £40.00 (pictured left).

My favourite piece from the collection is the limited edition Double Layer dress (pictured right). For me this £120.00 dress is a stand out piece inspired by the late 1920s-30s and features beautifully constructed beading on the outer slip of the dress. For me this is a runaway winner as it reminds me very much of the fashions described by one of my favourite authors F.Scott Fitzgerald in his 1926 novel ‘the Great Gatsby’, which could well have been the inspiration as I know (very ashamedly) that Kate also rates Fitzgerald among her favourite authors.
The new collection by Kate Moss in on sale today!

All imagery courtesy of Topshop.com.