Lookbook: The Libertine

Hellooo there! So I've recently become a member of my beloved lookbook.nu and below is my first look, so if you like, please hype (click on the black HYPE button next to the photo) cos then I get cool points :D

Lookbook

Hallelujah!

Just a quick post to rejoice in the news that our Cheryl finally realised to rid Chelsea player (I do apologise for using such a cliche tabloid phrase) love rat Ashley Cole from her life completely and offcially filed for divorce yesterday. To celebrate, I thought I'd share this stunning picture of Cheryl from a couple of Vogues ago wearing a maginificent piece of haute couture at this year's Brit Awards. If I had access to such a work of art and had Cheryl Cole's body, I don't think I'd wear anything else ever again.

War! Huh! What is it Good For?

...Absolutely Nothing! - Apart from the clothes that is. The Military Look; distinguished, structured, rebellious and dishevelled all at the same time. For me, this style ranks higher than any other. The fashion world, for decades now, has embraced the soldierly look and it marches back into fashion almost every couple of years, so it's always worth holding onto purchases from the past. Looking towards popular culture for inspiration, people such as Michael Jackson and Adam Ant epitomised the style, but this season we welcome a more subtle, elegant way to rock the military look. Frogging details give an edge to pretty feminine dresses, epaulettes and badges adorn shirts, khaki enjoys a prime position in this seasons colour hierarchy and utility trousers are ubiquitous. A military jacket can instantly transform any outfit, as shown above, in French designer Balmain's spring/summer collection, which was heavily militarily influenced. Another key garment to have in your wardrobe, is the military shirt. Pretty common amongst mens clothing, the military shirt has joined in with the girls and is a great way to give an effortlessly regal yet casual twist to your clothes, as shown by Alexa Chung below.


I seem to have gone slightly military mad and have done quite a few posts about girls clothes, guys clothes and my own clothes...
Welcome to my Military Style Extravaganzaaaaa!



Alexa Chung in a military shirt
Coldplay
Rihanna in a Balmain military jacket.

The Libertine

I recently went to Portabello Road with a couple of friends for my birthday and was delighted by every little tiny, crook and cranny detail of it. I felt myself morphing into a magpie, being distracted by every shiny antiquey vintagey object and flapping over to every stall in sight. I later found an army clothes stall and fell in love with a red libertine style military jacket, not unlike the one Cheryl Cole wears in that 'Fight for this Love' video, but a lot more authentic looking, like it had actually been through the wars. I spied with my magpie eye two more red military jackets when we moved onto Camden Market, one actually descending from the 1800's. But alas, I supressed my frivolous fancies as they were all a bit out of reach price wise for me. I shall own one one day though, it is written in the stars. I know it. Anyway, for now, I have soldiered on and have a bit more of a toned down but still as exquisite (in my humble opinion) version, in cardigan form.

Military Cardigan, Rare. Top, Topshop. Belt, Asos. Tights, by House of Holland at Asos&Topshop.




This bag was one of my many purchases from Portobello Road. I saw it from across the market, hanging gracefully from a stall shelf, and like a siren, I followed its allure and headed straight for it. Its an authentic army satchel from 1950's France, complete with a leather interior and the guy who sold it to me (people say Londoners aren't friendly, but I think Portobello is the exception) had fixed and stitched up a few distressed bits here and there. For £35, I think it would have been a crime not to have bought it, I can now sling a little piece of history over my arm whenever I like.

Different Ranks?

I can't get enough of military jackets.
The epaulettes on the Warehouse jacket are most resplendently beautiful and the tailcoat detail on the New Look jacket gives it a lovely quirk that you probably won't find amongst your jacket collection.
Despite the similiarities, I would get both these jackets if I could, but they're selling out Speedy Gonzales fast.


(at the top) Military Jacket, Warehouse £100


(at the bottom) Tailcoat Military Jacket, New Look, now reduced from £65 to £20.

Military Shirt, Warehouse


I want this. Frogging Detail Jumper Dress, missguided.com


Although Khaki is one of the key colours for the season, mix up the military look and add it a bit of colour
to stand out from the crowd. Jacket, modcloth.com


Lions conjure up thoughts of majesty, royalty and the sublime and are a perfect accessory to complete any military outfit. Necklace, modcloth.com


Skirt, Topshop

A brooch perfect for bringing some regality to any jacket.
Brooch, www.tattydevine.com

And for our fellas... the military style will suit you, any of you, all of you -I guarantee it. Think a little less head to toe in camouflage (unless you actually work in the army) to avoid the scary protestor who lives in a caravan look and think a bit more Kasabian and Chris Martin - who are much easier on the eyes.

Czech Military Bag, Urban Outfitters


Majesty S/s T-Shirt, All Saints
Boots, Urban Outfitters



Military Coat, Topman

Mad For It

Aaah. There's nothing quite like a bit of retail therapy to make up for a horrendous three hour Arabic grammar exam, is there?

I came across the quote below, uttered by renowned fashion designer Betsey Johnson, a few weeks ago and thought it apt to post it on here. So, at the risk of sounding self absorbed - no, YEHMATEMADFORIT (said in a cockney accent) laaaaaaaaaads from the garage across the road, I do not wear what I want because I want to be berated by your incessant cat calls, as you might like to think, no, I wear them because they make me feel good and look a million times better than any of you. HA. *Swishes hair and struts off.*

Ok, rant over. On another note, if we regress slightly to the Cats and Swallows post, I saw yet another Miu Miu inspired dress in Primark today. This trend seems to be spreading like wildfire.

Flesh and Bone

Let's deviate a bit and get all arty. These compelling pieces of craftsmanship you see before you are the works of talented embroiderer Louise Riley, whose exhibiton - aptly named 'Flesh and Bone' - opened recently in London, containing numerous enchanting and intricate displays of embroidery at its finest. So let's embrace this undervalued skill which is so prominent in the fashion industry today and give embroidery the recognition it deserves.
Louise Riley's blog: http://louiseriley.blogspot.com/

Losing the Faith

These are sad times for shoes. High Street Footwear retailer Faith have announced that they've gone into administration. Damn the recession!
Of all the retailers, Faith always seemed to be a safe one for me; girls need shoes, ones that are a bit more durable that the pair purchased from Primark but are kinder on the bank balance than those from Kurt Geiger.
I had dismissed the idea that they were in trouble, even when I saw their branch back home plastered in red and yellow EVERYTHING MUST GO signs. Nooo, surely not...maybe they're moving to another part of town...but I was wrong. I popped into the Faith store in Leeds a couple days back and it was an absoulte chaos of stilettos, size nines and single shoes being up for sale. The assisstants working there were frolicking and giggling outrageously like school girls on a sugar rush - albeit highly unprofessional, I don't really blame them, they might as well have fun while it lasts. It's sad to know that another beloved British store has fallen victim to the credit crunch, it was hard enough when Woolworths closed down and my heart sunk when news of Borders came out. But, apparently, it's not all doom and gloom. Rumour has it that Debenhams might snatch up the business and make it their own - for better or for worse though, I'm not entirely sure. Either way, it looks like this is the end for Faith, so lets cherish these last few days we have with it together and take advantage of their '20% off everything' deal.
R.I.P Faith.

Cats and Swallows

If I'm honest I'm not really into big designer names and expensive clothes, but this picture (above) caught my eye a couple of weeks ago. It shows Miu Miu's latest range which includes that intriguing garment, the collar. I'm liking this innovation of shirtless collars and think they look quite charming in the picture above with their playful, almost storybook-like cat and swallow illustrations. I do think though, sadly, that if I were ever to wear one, I'd look slightly less charming and a bit more Wednesday off the Addams Family ish.
So, as I was loitering around town today, what did I suddenly start noticing everywhere? That's right, the High Street stores have already clocked onto this little trend and the shops are now swamped with Miu Miu inspired cat and swallow detailed outfits.
Below shows a top and a drop-waist dress that I came across in Zara. The next shows me trying the dress on and it unfortunately not suiting me very well.
And on my exit out of town, I observed that our feathered friends have even flocked to the lingerie shops, when I saw one of Ann Summers new range of bikinis (below) in their window display.





Cat and Swallow prints are all the rage at Miu Miu's new summer range.

New Shoes and New Camera

...Talking about canvas tie up wedges, over the weekend (my birthday weekend in London) I whimsically purchased a pair from Topshop. I was verily amused by how much they reminded me of baseball shoes, but then when a friend suggested I put them on...that was it. My attraction for strange things stopped me in my tracks and I couldn't take my eyes off them when looking in the mirror. They'd never be something I'd go for usually, I'm still half confused as to whether they're actually nice or not and they don't seem to go with anything I have in my wardrobe - but because they're so different to anything else I have AND the fact that they're sooo immensely comfortable, they've sneakily won me over. Above are some pics of me prancing around in them and messing about with my new SLR camera :D (which arrived a week late, poor show amazon).

Return of the Wedge

Wedges have been and always will be my favourite kind of shoe, simply because they create killer looking legs and are incredibly comfortable at the same time. With wedges, you can have the gain without the pain. They make a comeback every spring/summer but this year they've grown to even higher heights and instead of the usual summery sandal wedge, they've evolved into a multitude of shapes and styles. Now you can find beautiful oddities such as wedged shoeboots, wedged tie up canvas trainers and wedged gladiators.
Starting from the bottom up:

1. Topshop
2. Aldo
3. Office
4. Kurt Geiger