Rob Ryan, of lovely prints fame, has collaborated with Mini Moderns to produce this lovely wallpaper in three colours. I’m a big fan of Rob Ryan’s prints but for me, a large part of the appeal is the fact that the whimsical, fairytale impressions are limited to small spaces like plates, cups, tiles, cards, etc. This brings a little jolt of fancy into my otherwise practical life so, I’m glad that the wallpaper design is not too much, allowing me to continue to pretend to be grown-up.
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Posted in Designer collaborations, designers, NAP
Emma Gibney is a photographer who first came to my attention when she shot Brooke Roberts’ latest collection. I’ve always been interested in photography, what makes a good photo and why certain photographs appeal.
This photo is Emma’s personal favourite and here’s why:
This photograph was such a happy accident; we turned up in Dungeness to shoot and the weather was awful. The wind was lifting the front of our car off the floor but luckily the model, Aza, was really up for shooting and we ran off into the wind. It turned out alot better than planned. This is my first image in a body of work I’m starting called ‘Sogni Profetici’, which concentrates on dreams and the subconscious. It’ will involve film and photography and I’m hoping to build up a large collection of images under the same title.
Next up is:
And here’s why, in Emma’s own words:
I usually shoot with a small 35mm camera with automatic flash alongside whichever camera I’m shooting with for the day. I love the look of the images the smaller snapshot camera takes (this image is one of those) and also the way people tend to be more relaxed if I’m only snapping away with the small 35mm. I like that the shots are less posed that way.
And last but not least:
I love the colours here. It looks almost sepia toned because of the warmer background, the colours of the catsuit and the models hair. It was shot with another new face from Storm Model Management and also with Brooke Roberts’ catsuit. This shoot was the first time I collaborated with the makeup artist Elkie Phillips and I love her style of makeup too, it’s strong without being overpowering. And finally, the duplication is something I’m quite interested in and that I’ve been playing around with.
You can see more of Emma’s photography over on her Flickr and her blog.
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This lady doesn’t look very happy wearing this lace trim cardigan from Vaudeville & Burlesque. I reckon I’d look a lot happier if it was my twelfth day of Christmas treat.
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Are big shoulders over? Did anyone wear them again before they were ‘over’? Does it really matter?
I don’t care. This top, from Full Circle, looks good and I’d wear it. That’s what counts.
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I’ve got my work Christmas do on Friday and whenever these dos come around, I wish I had a pair of shoes like these slightly ugly/amazing Miu Miu heels. I never buy them though so they’re the perfect Advent treat.
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As promised, Brooke Roberts’ Spring Summer collection is out and after a sneeky peak at that turban, I’m happy to report that I am already coveting more than one item.
Brooke’s inspiration for this season has come from African tribal prints, her work as a radiologist and CT scans. I think you’ll agree that is a highly eclectic mix but it definitely works – I’m a fan of print, colour and sheer and this collection ticks all the boxes. With some knits thrown in.
This is one my favourites - this print makes another appearance in orange later on
The same knit as the previously featured turban
As you will notice, the looks also incorporate Brooke’s very first jewellery line which we were once lucky enough to have a sneak preview of right here at DNL.
On another note, apologies if we’ve been a bit lazy on the blogging front lately. The lovely S is being being a good citizen on jury service and I’ve been working my butt off whilst my boss is on holiday (in a good way). This is handy because actually I’ve been trying to work my butt off for years so maybe all this working will help.
Anyway, back to Brooke, as they say. If you like her stuff then get in touch with her through her site or tell us and we’ll pass it on. Have I gushed enough yet? Excellent, I’m off to bed.
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Posted in designers
As we’ve said before, we’ve got a lot of love for Brooke Roberts but what to do when you’re talented and lovable? Ah, c’est la vie. And then this popped into my inbox – I am assured that a whole, exciting Spring Summer lookbook is coming my way soon but in the meantime, here’s a glimpse of what’s in store. The turban is made from knit designed by BR herself and hints at the colours we’ll be seeing soon.
As Brooke put it: “1 x cosy turban = 1 x cosy person?”
I couldn’t agree more.
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I don’t know about you but London Fashion Week always leave me feeling a little bit dazed. All other times of the year, I want to devour all fashion magazines within reach but the fashion weeks, not just London, always make me feel a bit overwhelmed.
S has been lucky enough to attend a few shows and as you can always find show details on Style.com, I have resisted the urge to put up picture after picture of some show. Until now. I loved the Erdem florals for SS10; the shapes were flattering without being too sickly, the embroidery detail delicate but expert and I can imagine bursting into spring wearing something so well designed to perk me up.
Beige in a sea of floral
I’ll be taking inspiration from this and wearing tops over dresses, which is something I’ve been doing this year to give life to my old dresses.
I love the colour combination here and the way the black peeks out from under the embroidered blue.
This black dress looks quite dull until you look a little harder at the detail…
…which is textured and wonderful. It is the sort of item I would love to have and admire in my wardrobe. It doesn’t look like much but close up, the skill of the designer shines through.
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Posted in designers
Tagged Erdem, Erdem SS10, London Fashion Week, London Fashion Week Erdem
Last week, a survey found that 37% of female shoppers will buy shoes even if they don’t quite fit (it pains me to link to the Daily Mail). On the first read, this probably sounds like utter madness to much of the UK’s population but I imagine that at least some of those reading this will have done this at some point. And the more I think about it, the more it seems like total madness, despite also having done it myself.
I’m always a bit suspicious of these surveys because they tend to be used (especially by those commenting on the Mail website) as a way to pointing an accusatory finger at women’s fashion and ‘how stupid it all is’. Ergo women and fashion are ridiculous. Obviously, this is not the view of yours truly, and riles me no end. But as I mentioned, when I heard about this survey, I could well believe it. I have had moments in shops, inevitably by the sales rack, where I am practically salivating onto a pair of shoes that I have tried on, caressed and thought about buying even though they are the wrong size. And I have done this with shoes more often than with clothes – no-one will tell you that it is tragic to buy the wrong shoes in the same way it seems tragic to think you will lose weight and look better in a smaller sized version of that item of clothing in your hands. But after a certain tender age, your feet will not change size so why do this to yourself? I have convinced myself that it will be ok to squeeze my foot in and I definitely won’t be making that mistake again.
But it is worth looking at the survey fine print before jumping to conclusions – 4 out of 10 women will ‘put up with uncomfortable shoes if they are in fashion’. Now this is a completely different ball game. It might be daft to buy shoes which are the wrong size but buying uncomfortable shoes that are fashion? Surely, most shoes, especially at the moment, which are in fashion are uncomfortable. If I know a few people who have bought shoes which are the wrong size, then most women I know will put up with uncomfortable shoes for the sake of fashion. Or maybe this is daft too? I like heels but these days, I always have a pair of flats in my bag.
Louis Vuitton tribal heels, anyone?
In order to be fashionable, you have to make the effort. And if, in making the effort, you look as if you made no effort whatsoever, then extra points to you for being so effortlessly stylish. But surely, you shouldn’t be buying shoes that actually hurt when you put them on? Or if they’re the wrong size? There is a certain element of fashion houses making us fall in love with their brand/clothes/accessories which means that we will pay over the odds to get our hands on said desirable item, but there is little point in fashion that you’re buying just for the sake of it. And if you can’t wear it, is it really ‘fashion’ anyway? Basically, if the shoe doesn’t fit then it is not worth it, not even for fashion’s sake.
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A quick reminder that today is the last day you can enter our competition to win tickets to Paris on Eurostar. You get to travel Leisure Select, and all sorts.
If you’d like to enter then tell us who your French icon is, and why, in the comments here.
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