Gray Day

It was the downturn in the weather that did it! One all-too-early morning last week the girls at the HQ slunk in decked from head-to-toe in black and gray. You'd think it would make for a drab field of view but no, on the contrary, I loved the easy achromatic vibe.


The central theme was the heather gray jersey piece. Is it its wear-with-all easiness or the effortless insouciance it imparts - who knows? Either way, a slouchy gray jersey piece will never steer you wrong. So the next gray day, tomorrow most likely, take a leaf from our guide to style and don your gray jersey piece with pride...It So Stylistic.

Stella McCartney Fall/Winter 09 ad campaign.

I simply *heart* the new Stella McCartney Fall/Winter 09 ad campaign.

Photographed by Ryan McGinley, featuring Sigrid Agre.

courtesy of Fashion Indie

Style Science

If for some reason the video is not working, check it out here: http://www.style.com/video/guest-directors/guest-directors/1896809785/the-deep-end/29831951001






The Rodnik Band designer Philip Colbert invited author and philosopher Alain de Botton to hold forth on why fashion is much more than mere frivolity.

Alain de Botton says in this interview that "people would love to know how things were made"....which takes me back to last weeks vlog on how a Chanel couture piece is made. It also reminds me of Aquascutum's 16 page book on 'The Great British Trench' I nicked of Ms Sart. The mini book outlines the history of the trench and the processes behind its production and what's even better is that it features some of the people who actually make these iconic trenches. Even if it is just a glimpse, I love that a brand like Aquascutum would do this because truly these unsong heroes really do keep our little fashion world spinning on its axis.

Image of the day

I couldn't decide which one of these inspirational pics should be my image of the day, so I posted both - what would you have choosen?

OR

courtesy of JAK & JIL

It's Fashion Marmite

The "love it or hate it" slogan perfectly describes most peoples reaction to Marmite, and Judith Lieber designs. This binary response is exactly what occurred when crystal-embellished jaguars, owls and cupcakes descended on the HQ last week, split opinion right down the centre. Not all the designs catch my fancy, but for the most part I am leaning on the side of them being cute and kitsch. Some of my colleagues beg to differ, handling these gem-sprayed goodies with contempt and sporting expressions that weren’t too far off Carrie's in that episode of SATC, you know!? the one were Big presents her with a Swarovski-encrusted duck. Well, I stand by my assertion that there is a Judith Lieber's clutch for EVERYONE and so for this post, I have set myself the task of assigning a JL bag to the girls of the HQ.

For me, because its fierce:

'Say hello to my little friend'

An art-deco-inspired clutch for Ms Sartoriology to add a touch of whimsy to all those vintage '20s piece :

For NewFavouriteThing - have you ever read her blog? It's all pinkest and light:

For Freelance Fashionista, a lil' pill box that's as cute and small as she is:

One for Ms Hufton because one of us had to have the cupcake clutch

Still on the hunt for that special clutch for Tinker-tailor but in the time being here's some more JL goodies...

Wild nights, city light - who doesn't love sin city...

yes, it's a little done but I loves it! i *heart* NY

and the baddies...

because a crystal embellished frog would improve my outfit...how?

a little sacrilious, no?

why?

This is Couture

A single couture piece can cost the size of a brand new family car or a deposit on a flat or even several round trip flights around the world. Well, this 4min 30 second video from Chanel does a pretty good job of justifying the expense.

Video: The Making of a Chanel Haute Couture Outfit

More campaign love...

This post has been languishing in my drafts since the 19th of June. How is it that I can work on a post for hours and then forget I wrote it? the mind boggles.

Here it is anyway, some not-so-new and some even less new ad campaigns. First up, Marc Jacobs' FW 09 campaign, shot as usual by Juergen Teller featuring Natasa Vojnovic, Ajuma Nasanyana, Kamila Filipcikova & Olga Sherer as glamorous New York partygoers.

Courtesy of models.com

CK Jeans

So this is (was) the new CK ad that's has been causing all the fuss...? I don't have an opinion, which is a first.

This, I definitely have an opinion about, it's not new but it's fabulous, I would have give any non-essential part of my anatomy to have been on this shoot! Watch the making here...

CK and Longchamp videos courtesy of cyana.tv

And lastly....sometimes in researching posts you really hit on some weird and wonderful things, the following ad campaign certainly falls into the latter. What do you think?

Apparently, sometime in the 90's, these ads were pulled from the air. They were found to be offensive. I'm not sure that I am that offended, I'm just a little creeped out - the word 'grooming' comes to mind. *Shudder*