Proenza Schouler

(fashionista.com)

I was in love with this collection the moment I saw it.  One of the best from New York I think!  Their casual seperates are perfect for a transitioning wardrobe and the neon colours are a refreshing change from all the white we're going to see this season. 

By the way, my maxi skirt collection has more than doubled since last posting.  Thanks for all your votes of confidence!

The Long and Short of It

I have talked about my love for the maxi skirt this winter.  When I discussed it, I deemed it far too impractical in a climate of rain, sleet and snow.  Arriving to work with half the street attached to your skirt and drenched in rainwater is not tres chic.  But let's be honest, when has practicality got anything to do with fashion?  Perhaps I was trying to persuade myself out of it, knowing that only having a few quid in the bank would not accomodate any unnecessary expenditure.  Back then, I had hoped the maxi was a passing fad, a trend that I could lust after but be comforted in the knowledge that it wouldn't catch on.

Silly, silly me. 

This summer, it's all about the maxi skirt darling.  It's also about the maxi dress and the maxi trousers.  It's the only time when ordering something supersized doesn't come with a side of overweight and doesn't make Jamie Oliver cry.

More and more gorgeous maxi skirts are being added to Topshop, Asos et al and it's incredibly hard to ignore them when they promise to come in candy colours, soft chiffon, pleated, tight, printed, jersey - every option you could possibly want all at a reasonable price.  There's also the promise that if you find a maxi skirt not to your liking, shear off half of it and wear it to knee length.  Or shear off most of it and wear it as a mini.  Win win.

Perusing Vogue and Elle over the last few days, they have told me (or rather grabbed my neck through the pages and threatened) that if I don't wear this new length I won't fit in at school (metaphorical school of course, lets not forget I am writing this as a jobless graduate with a BA 2.1 Hons.  SOMEONE HIRE ME).  Except, in small print, they've advised to get myself a measuring tape sharpish and if said measuring tape says I am under 5", then abandon said plans to wear a maxi and lock yourself up inside until the summer of the maxi is over.

I'm 5"1 and a half.  The half is very important don't you know.  I feel Vogue may be talking about me.  But if I listened to what a magazine told me to do, I'd be rocking the minimalist trend AND print, wearing maxi AND mini, wearing white AND flouro colours.

So fuck 'em, and fuck my bank account.  I'll do what I want.  This summer, in fact, tomorrow, I'm wearing a maxi, arriving to work with the street's rubbish and stinking of rainwater.  I won't wear heels with my maxi, I'm going to find the lowest shoes I own and rock them that way.  And when I can't afford to feed myself for the next week, I know I'll only have myself and my utter shite willpower to blame.

(tfs/style.com)

Suit Up

It's hardly a new trend, designers have been toting it for decades and it's now a staple of the workforce.  There is something I love about seeing a women in a suit, it's subversive, sexy and somehow demure.  Thankfully the suit has been a hit all over the red carpet this week, with Leighton Meester, Jessica Alba and Olivia Wilde all attempting the look.  It can be a bit hit and miss - I think Leighton would have done better without the tie and a skinner leg, Olivia could have done with a cropped leg and a better hairstyle and I reckon the only instance where the suit has been done perfectly recently was Rachel Bilson in Philip Lim, although that was quite a while ago - but it can be done in a multitude of different ways.  With pussybow blouses, leather shorts or mix-matched peices there is no reason why the suit has to stay in the office.  I have quite a few blouses and wear them tucked into skinny jeans or high waisted skirts on my "casual" days and blazers are the perfect way to cover up a pretty dress.  Of course it's ideal in the office with straight leg trousers or a fitted pencil skirt and mid-length heel.

Do any of you wear suits to work, or plan on incorporating it into your every day look?

From top: Blouse - River Island, trousers - Elizabeth and James, shirt - Asos, shorts - Bottega Veneta, mid-heels - Giambattista Valli, blazer - Giambattista Valli, brogues - miu miu, blouse - miu miu, shorts - Asos, black shoes - Dior, trousers - Stella McCartney, blouse - Stella McCartney, heels - Brian Atwood.

In other news, the lovely Laura from theblogofobsessivecoolness has kindly bestowed me a stylish blogger award.  She has a wonderful blog which is great to read, which you don't find often.  I seriously recommend you check her out!

Pretty In Pink

(weheartit/tfs/fashiongonerogue/unknown)

Sometimes I get frustrated by the lack of ingenuity the average pedestrians have when dressing for winter.  When I have a lack of inspiration, I turn to a host of cosy jumpers for an easy outfit, but none of them are black are grey.  Instead they are cobalt blue, blood red or pastel pink.  Why must people insist on dressing for winter as if the world is coming to an end; I understand the dark, cold weather does make it feel as if we'll never feel the warmth of sunlight on our face ever again but there's no need to dress for it's funeral!

I love these pictures because they all give a different yet equally great idea of how to dress in winter.  Aqua coloured nails, thigh high grey socks paired with red lips, pink gloss, a thick pink jumper or a pleated dress.  Now there's no excuse for black!

W Sept 2010

Yes, I'm still obsessed with the Mad Men theme. Although, I getting slightly sick of the amount of editorials that feature the trend on a desperate housewife stuck indoors and hanging onto a cigarette.  Here, desperate housewife takes a walk.  Breath of fresh air.

(tfs)

The Girl In Red

(tfs)

Want to set yourself out from the camel colours this winter?  Try a splash of red, as showcased by the lovely eds above.  I love that red can look sexy, classy and edgy.  I've just got to be unafraid to wear it!

Go Nude

Following on from my post about beige, here are some eds to inspire you.  I think the way Chloe styled their show meant that beige was presented as a very mature, classic, professional look, but it doesn't have to look that way.  There's obviously the masculine looks that are ideal for work, but the ways which Topshop have styled their lookbook makes it more outdoorsy and practical.

(images from studded hearts, tfs and instyle)

I'm in the process of deleting my old posts from missspragg from here, they will all be available in that blog though if you would like to look through them.

Beige and Chloé

The new colour for this season is beige.  Love it or hate it, it's everywhere and is very much a part of the minimalist turn fashion has taken.  Beige can be worn in a multitude of ways, from trousers and skirts to this season's staple, a coat.  Beige leather is also gorgeous.  Beige comes in all types of tones, from champagne to rich espresso.  Take inspiration from Chloé, who featured beige heavily in their autumn/winter collection.  Invest in a good beige coat, it's a classic piece that will last you for seasons.  I'm hoping for a champagne knit sweater to cosy up during the winter months.

(Chloé, images from style.com)

The New Sexy

Skin tight dresses are over.  Sorry Kim Kardashian, but you're going to have to find other ways to show off those curves.  This winter, women are required to wear clothes.  That is to say, from head to toe.  Hemlines have fallen below the knee, cut outs are a distant memory and even the skinny jeans are given a break.  Overt sexuality is over, demure is the new buzzword.

The obvious examples are '50s inspired Prada and Louis Vuitton with tight bodices and full skirts.  Regardless of the long length, cleavage is a welcome distraction and the classic hourglass figure is miles away from the size zero ideal of the noughties.  Could the inclusion of buxom beauties Lara Stone, Miranda Kerr, Catherin McNeil et al be a shift away from the straight up and down figures of the Frejas, Lilys and Anjas of the past decade?  It's too soon to tell, and that's not the point of this post anyway. 

If '50s aren't your thing, take your cue from Marc Jacobs, who recycled maxi dresses from the summer by throwing on a thick jumper.  Dries Van Noten also paired full skirts with jumpers on the catwalk.  This season's sexiness is about dressing like demure women, with sexy flashes of cleavage and bare shins to entice.  While Mad Men has proved influential on the runway, we'll see how long it takes to translate onto the everyday woman, if at all.

(D&G, Peter Som, Dries Van Noten, Erdem, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Prada, Louis Vuitton - images from style.com)