Hey everyone,
Previously I had said that Fashion Loving was going through a little bit of redesign and finally it has happened woohoo! It’s not completely finished (hopefully soon though) but all new posts will be going up on the new blog. You can find the new and improved Fashion Loving Blog here at: http://fashionloving.co.uk
Head on over and please please please let me know what you think!!
Right I’m off to create some more posts for you all to read!!
🙂
xoxo
I have been away for a few weeks due to a few issues with a certain internet provider, that surprisingly cannot provide internet (I’ve been ranting for weeks.. I won’t bore you now!) But with the limited access that I have had, I have been busying around trying to make Fashion Loving that little bit more special! I have been going on about a blog re-design for ages now ha! After a few tantrums and emotional highs and lows, the people involved with helping with this little project have finally made everything come together and the new site should be coming very soon, with lots and lots of lovely fashion!
Here’s a sneak peek 🙂
Nicola from Daffodil Waves Photography did an amazing recent photo shoot! I loved the retro feel to these images, for those of you who are lovers of vintage (or not… but appreciate good fashion pictures) you’re in for a treat! The dresses were all lovely Vivien of Holloway dresses, which gave the shoot that little extra spark of magic. This has go to be one of my favorite vintage shoots to date!
Really love this photographer’s work, she’s flying up the ranks super quick! For more of this fabulous vintage shoot, head on over to her blog Daffodil Waves Blog.
Fashion Houses are taking resort collections more and more seriously. The timely release of the resort collection bridges the gap of the amount of time between the releases of the Autumn/Winter collections to the Spring/Summer collections and is an increasingly important date in the diaries of many fashion designers.
I think Resort wear for me is more relatable as the collection can be worn all year round, it isn’t season specific. In some ways I always think of resort collections as being more a fun side to each designers’ aesthetic. I always enjoy looking through new collections and below are some of the looks that caught my eye.
I really liked the Moschino Resort Collection, those full skirts paired with colorful Blazers looked amazing. The looks were definitely for a rock meets chic kind of girl.
We saw in Chloe’s Autumn/Winter 2011 collection references from the seventies and we see that this trend transcends into the resort collection. I love the simple elegant looks from this collection. The collection is very Parisian chic, something that I look to the Chloe brand for and I’m glad to say they didn’t disappoint!
We saw the sheer trend on the rise this year in 2011, but Maison Martin Margiela definitely shows us how to wear it the right way. I love that skirt, I literally want to take it from the model and the top is great too. I think the collection is simple but just has really good designs that could work well for many people.
I think what caught my eye for Prabul Gurung resort collection was the separates, I really adore the colours and textures (but I think most of all I just fell in love with those shoes ha! But yes the collection is really nice).
What do you think of this year’s Resort Collections?
Blake Lively turned up to the Green Lantern Movie Premiere in a showstopping Chanel Haute Couture gown from the spring 2009 collection pairing it with some gold bangles. Blake chose to wear all white, she gave us all a little bit of flash of her great legs though as the skirt on the gown was sheer. She exuded lots and lots of confidence but was this dress right for the occasion?
The runway version of this dress was paired with a very quaint headpiece, which I think really adds to the drama of this dress, after all it IS Chanel Haute Couture. Without the headpiece does the dress lose the sense of it’s drama it was designed to have? Don’t get me wrong I think the dress was really nice, there’s just something I just can’t quite put my finger on. As Blake is currently the face of Chanel’s Mademoiselle Bag’s I think I just expected a little bit more special from her, the whole look didn’t really give me that ‘wow’ kind of a feeling.
Lyudmila
Lodichka Couture Jewellery the woman behind this up and coming brand is Lyudmila, a very dynamic jewellery artist. She is based in London and she most certainly has one creative mind. The jewellery she makes is always a one of a kind piece of art, which always makes for a special piece of jewellery indeed.
I think Lyudmila has a unique point of view when it comes to her creations, she has ‘a passion for art and vintage designs and loves finding rare antique metals and gem stone of all shapes and sizes’.Â
Lyudmila’s jewellery looks exquisite. What caught my eye the most whilst looking at her work, was the beautiful sketches and detailing that goes into each piece of her work. With this elegant yet inventive jewellery, let me tell you Lyudmila will be taking her online boutique to the top. Although Lodichka Couture Jewellery has been open for what is just a little over a year now, Lyudmila has really achieved a great deal in her business.
Fashion Loving, inspired by all of the lovely creativeness got in touch with Lyudmila to ask a few questions about her online boutique!
FL: When did you know you wanted to become a jewellery artist?


LCJ: It came to me slowly, I started making jewellery for myself first with the feeling that I simply couldn’t find anything that I liked in the shops. I didn’t make anything to sell for a very long time, as I always got really attached to my jewellery and I know that I can’t replace it. The pieces I use are one offs and the gemstones which are used can’t be found again. But being a big fan of online shopping myself, I decided to open an online boutique 🙂


FL: What inspires you and your jewellery designs?


LCJ: Anything can be an inspiration… nature, fashion, movies, people, books, art…
FL: How long does it take to create a piece of jewellery from start to finish?

LCJ: Sometimes more time goes into the designing and sometimes creating a piece takes longer than the design. 
That depends on the piece of jewellery that I’m designing and making. Some of them take very long as I’m looking for the right material, colours and texture. A lot of care goes into my creations I spend hours, days and sometimes months ensuring that I produce jewellery of the highest quality!
FL: What are those lovely gemstones you use when making jewellery?


LCJ: I have a confession to make, I’m an “unique gemstone hunter” , I’m always looking for very original forms and colour gemstones, you can see from my jewellery that many one of a kind gemstones have been used. I look for my gemstones worldwide!
FL: What type of person do you design your collection for?


LCJ: She is free, likes to experiment, loves fashion and not afraid to be a centre of all attention, loves original and one of a kind things.
FL: What advice would you give to someone who wants to design?
LCJ: Just be creative and do it only if you are truly enjoying doing it, as there’s not always a reward for your hard work. I would have given up a long time ago if it wasn’t for purely being passionate for art and design.
FL: Is there anything else that we should be looking out for from you in the near
 future?
LCJ: While last year “Lodichka Couture Jewellery” has grown with more categories, quantities and qualities, I am not planning to stop here.
There is a lot more designs to be completed. I’m planning to launch brooches, hats and fascinators collections as well.
I am so excited to see more of the Lodichka Couture Jewellery!! Check out some of the lovely pieces in the gallery.
You can find Lodichka Couture Jewellery on www.lodichka.com, check it out!!
Have you heard the news? Angelina Jolie is confirmed as the new face of Louis Vuitton’s Core Values ad campaign. I am sure the fashion label is delighted as she brings a certain Je ne sais quoi that makes us that little bit more interested in the brand! To kick off her duties Angelina Jolie has partaken in a very unique yet spectacular photo shoot, she looks really beautiful in this image below (enough to make me very jealous ha!).
If that is not all, Jolie is wearing her own clothes for the advertising campaign. The bag also belongs to Jolie, sadly Louis Vuitton do not make that style anymore, but with Angelina sporting this bag and it being in the ad something tells me there will be a new interest in the bag and it may just be brought back on to the shelves in some form or another!
It really is great to just see Jolie in regular clothes and not overly made up, all of which make for a really classic image. Apparently she isn’t wearing any makeup (Hmm I’m not so sure about this… I see a bit of smokey eye going on there 😉 ).
The ad campaign is expected to run for approximately 18 months. I can’t wait until I see more work from the Jolie-Vuitton ad collaboration, I think we will be in for a treat!
Are you excited for more of Angelina Jolie in upcoming months?
So today is the day that we find out who the lucky winner of the first Giveaway on Fashion Loving courtesy of Poppy Sparkles! Are you excited…. cos I am!! The winner gets a choice of Bold Black or a Pillar Box Red Spotilicious Charm Necklace. For those of you who have forgotten what they look like here’s a reminder 🙂
I got my lovely hat, put all the entries in and pulled out this lucky person…. the winner is JAYNE (I’ll be contacting you very shortly 😀 )
Thanks again to everyone who participated, I’m sure I’ll be doing another giveaway very soon so stay tuned to get your chance!!
The MTV movie awards showcased some really amazing well dressed celebrities. The celebs came out looking stunning, some got it right more than others, there were a few that I got so excited about though and three celeb choices that I almost screamed over (in part excitement and part jealously). Leighton Meester, Kristen Stewart and Mila Kunis were all lucky enough to showcase that lovely fashion name; Balmain.
Balmain is the incredible french fashion label who I absolutely adore! We don’t get to see such high concentration of Balmain looks at red carpet events but the MTV movies awards was a one time exception, a treat if you like, to see some incredible designs
Mila Kunis looked adorable in that embellished skirt, the black top allowed the star of the show (skirt) to shine in the moment. I thought the choice (both of which are from the Autumn/ Winter 2011 Collection) was great for the occasion and most of all she kept the styling to a minimal so as not to overpower the entire look.
We saw Kristen Stewart wearing a very familiar silhouette, she went for the strapless mini dress. It’s great she went for the shape she knows and feels the best in, but for me what I liked most about the red leather ensemble were all the safety pins and stud work it had on it. It was a little bit of a risk that I feel worked well for Kristen’s character. Few could pull this look off in my opinion.
Last but not least is Leighton Meester’s look, it is again from the Autumn/winter Collection 2011. I am loving this silver mini dress with all its fabulous designer wizardry that it has on it, especially the mirrors and beading! The dress just looked stunning from all angles, who wouldn’t look good in this gorgeous creation?
I loved seeing Balmain at the MTV movie awards and the ladies who were wearing the fashion label absolutely rocked it! I love the fact we see the brilliance of the Collection and how it translates so well for red carpet events. The Balmain Autumn/Winter 2011 Collection is absolutely great and yes I would like to have every single piece of the collection, just so I could look as great as the ladies above!! I love the simple minimalist feel that the collection has and I think it certinly works for the celebrities above but at the same time the collection has the ability to transform anyone into a glimmering stylish rock chicks!
Who do you think rocks Balmain the best?
Now that the Sun has finally come out to play, it got me thinking that June is the time when everyone is planning or starting to go on their summer holidays. It’s always so difficult choosing what to wear but the photo shoot below shows just how you can make your bikini or one piece suit that much more spectacular.
I’m always a fan of Patrick Demarchelier and this shoot is no exception, his photography always elevates both the model and the fashion in each frame. Lara Stone also looks great but so much different from her usual self. The styling brings each look to another level just by focusing on accessorizing the swimwear!
Look at more photos in the gallery
These looks are easily translatable for everyday wear and I will most certainly going to stores to find the perfect pieces to accessorize my swimwear.
It’s always great to see the Fashion industry from all perspectives, have you ever wondered how Chanel became one the biggest fashion houses in the world? At what point did the ‘big gun’ fashion designers decide to take that risk and start their own label? Well, everyone has to start somewhere right? Fashion Loving has found a designer based from New York City, who is in the early stages of starting her own fashion line and creating the new collection.
I’m sure it is both an exhilarating and overwhelming experience for any new designer starting out in the fashion industry, thankfully Randi Spoon involved Fashion Loving in her first steps to becoming the next big fashion designer!
FL: How do you feel about the process of starting a new fashion line?
RS: The process of starting my own clothing line has been one of the most exciting and yet overwhelming experiences. At this point, I am at the very beginning stages of starting the line. I could go in a million different directions. Every decision is ultimately mine. The luxury in that is absolutely amazing but also quite scary. For now, I am a one man show and it is up to me to decide every last detail and to make sure I do it with integrity and with respect to my personal design aesthetic. I will say that it sometimes feels safer to work within a team and to use your friends as a sounding board. I simply have to trust myself to make the right decisions and to move forward.
FL: Describe yourself as a Fashion Designer?
RS: I am about the longevity of a design. I am interested in creating garments that can withstand time. I want people to buy my clothes and wear them for years to come. Quick trends are fun, but they get tossed around and eventually thrown out. I want people to look at my clothing and pause, take a moment and breathe them in, to process the actual designs.
FL: What gives you inspiration?
RS: I think the better question is what doesn’t inspire me! It is so important to always keep your eyes open and to take in everything around you. Always be an observer. Keep your eyes open and carry a notebook because its the tiniest things that end up being the most inspiring. If you want a more concrete answer, I would say architecture, art, nature, seasons changing,
color, texture, shape, music… and most importantly, how all of these things relate to one another. The wonderful juxtaposition of different textures layered on top of one another or the way in which light reflects against a puddle of water.
FL: What’s the next step for you?
RS: Since I am only at the very beginning stages of starting the Spoon Fashion line, the next step is to start turning my illustrations into actual samples. I need to work on initial samples to figure out the actual construction of each design. I need to test fabrics and see how they bring the design concept to life. I think this stage of the design process will be the most exciting. It is always gratifying translating a sketch into a reality!
FL: When did you know you wanted to become a designer?
RS: For as long as I can remember, I’ve been creatively driven. I carried a box of crayons everywhere I went and colored anything and everything that came before me. I was a danger to our house, quickly covering our white walls with colorful patterns and designs. Needless to say, my parents were never thrilled with my surprise midnight murals but they always remained encouraging towards my creative endeavors. I think my interest in fashion,
specifically, was there all along. When I played with my barbies, I was more interested in dressing them up and changing their outfits than I was in playing make believe. I loved to try on my mother’s shoes and to play with her pearls. Fashion illustration is what initially drew me into the industry. I filled one notebook after another with fashion sketches and ideas. There was never a doubt in my head that this was the industry I wanted to be in and ever since I have focused every extracurricular, summer vacation, and job towards furthering my dream of becoming a designer and starting my own line.
FL: What advice would you give someone who wants to be a Fashion Designer?
RS: Do it! There is nothing wrong with taking a risk and following your dream. To do what you truly love is the most energizing, exhilarating feeling there is. You wake up every day knowing that your goal is to turn your dreams into a reality. It’s important to continue to build relationships with people in the industry, act like a sponge and soak up all the information you possibly can, recognize what you do and do not know, and ask questions! People love to talk about themselves and what they know… so use everyone as a resource!
** N.B Pictures of from Randi’s previous portfolio. She is still in the design process for her new collection
Wow, this lady certainly has her head on her shoulders, and her designs are awesome already. Can’t wait to see her new collection! If you want to know more about Randi Spoon then follow her on her blog, where she shares all of her adventures on the road to becoming a successful fashion designer!! Randi said “I want people to join me for the ride as I expose my process in building a collection! In the end, I hope to open up a strong line of communication between me and my audience. Their opinions and thoughts are everything to me.”
Lily Allen has created her own vintage 18 piece collection, which is called ‘Treasure Chest’. Lily certainly appreciates the vintage fashion and it really does show throughout this collection.
She designed the vintage line with her sister Sarah Owens (last year, they also opened a vintage shop in London), the line includes really fun dresses, jumpsuits and maxi dresses with lots of colour. I think they have both done a really great job, as a fellow lover of vintage I totally see myself wearing some of these pieces!!
The collection is out this June and will be sold at Harvey Nichols, it is based on the character ‘Lucy’, the story is that Lucy is walking through each decade and there are pieces in the collection that represent this. I love the direction this collection took and I’m loving what I see!
FHM has been the centre of controversy over the last couple of days due to its readers choosing Andrej Pejic as the 98th Sexiest woman in the world. It was FHM’s writers that caused the stir as they wrote as part of a blurb about the supermodel ‘the gender bender has jumped the gun in hoping he might one day be signed as a Victoria’s Secret Model (pass the sick bucket).’
FHM readers were said to be outraged thus resulting in a public apology from FHM and the removal of the written insults from the online version of the article.
Andrej has been the source of so much controversy since his debut as womenswear supermodel. A few months back it seemed that we welcomed the thought of an androgynous male walking the runway as a great idea, but ever since there have been articles after articles that oppose this idea.
Obviosuly the Fashion Industry have no oppostion to the idea of Andrej but this leads me to wonder if the rest of the world is as accepting as the Fashion Industry.
Do you think it is a good idea to promote an impossible boy/guy’s body image as the perfect ‘woman’s’ body or do you think we should embrace the idea of Andrej? I have to ask myself, would there be the same amount of uproar if a woman decided to walk on a runway and do photo shoots dressed as a man.
Leave your comments below!
Since the Royal wedding, Pippa Middleton has become somewhat of a style phenomenon and images of her on her daily routine are cropping up all over the internet. We were all blown away by her in Alexander Mcqueen at the Royal Wedding, she looked positively exquisite. She stepped out into the media with a big bang and ever since we have expected perfection, but has she delivered?
Pippa has been photographed wearing some really chic outfits, with the extra media attention I do think she has done a fine job. I absolutely loved this casual but chic look that Pippa stepped out in London with. It had a real impact because of the mix of colors she chose to wear but for me, I did think the simplicity of the outfit spoke wonders.
But does Pippa really deserve to hold the title of ‘Style Queen’ or is she just a one hit wonder. The outfit below does make me question if Pippa Middleton can be a style guru where the masses flock to her for fashion inspiration. I feel the outfit is a little dull and lackluster, an injection of color would have done wonders. The choice of outfit, I find is a little surprising, considering after the Royal Wedding I am sure Pippa would have been inundated with free gifts from designers. I am sure she could have put together a more inspiring outfit. I suppose only time will tell how Pippa fairs as a style icon.
After recent events, Cheryl Cole has once again been the talk of the nation due to her hasty exit from the US version of X factor. There have been so many speculations as to what actually happened, and why America didn’t gel to her.
There was a lot of emphasis on her style when she was stateside, it seemed everyone couldn’t wait to see what outfit she stepped out in. There have even been rumors that allegedly Cheryl had to lose 2 stones to ensure she would become a well liked style icon. So the question is, did her stylist let her down?
While Cheryl was in America, we did see her want to take more risk with her outfits. The color blocking outfit was a prime example of this, the outfit was ‘meh’ ok, but I do think Cheryl and her stylist were probably trying a little too hard to be this amazingly, on trend fashion icon. I don’t think that big hair helped her either.
I think we know Cheryl for her effortless, fashion forward style, I don’t necessarily think this translated well when she went stateside. For me, I don’t think she needs to change her style or anything she was just good as is.
Sources:
Fashion Loving Blog 