Inspiration - Vladimir Kush

Ananas Crowd

Key of Love

Twelve

Back Side of the Moon

Love it or hate it, read into Surrealism what you will. These images grad your attention. There's just something so playful yet sinister about these images by the Russian Surrealist. Clearly he was inspired by Salvador Dali's work but it still stands on its own, for me. Anyway, this is my inspiration for the week.

Images from VladimirKush.com

London Fashion Week

Now, like most people in the fashion world, I have been totally obsessed with all what's been going on, on the catwalk's over the past few week. Especially London Fashion Week, at the MAN shows. Twitter has been going mad and the morning of the MAN show I was over ridden by all the tweeting going on by fellow bloggers, Cillian Male Mode, Steve Style Salvage, Ian ASOS Tweets, Elliot and Steve Buckstyle and even Topman had Steve from Style Salvage tweeting on their behave. I'm going to leave the review of the shows down to the expect this time, because I don't think I can do them justice, may favourite coverage came from Fashion165, they were reviewing each show as it happened on their blog, even the much smaller shows. They were pulling off some great coverage of the street style that was going on too.

I do feel like I'm missing out being so far up north but it was weird, I felt so close to it at the same time because of twitter. The world really is getting smaller. Still well gutted I didn't get to see the MAN show, Carolyn Massey's show look superb.

One thing that caught me eye was some of the more avant garde shows like Ziad Ghanem’s collection, in collaboration with Firetrap, entitled "Maiden Britain’.

Not for the faint of heart, this collection at first glance is mostly unwearable, but when you break it down it really isn't that insane. Ok some of it is a bit wacky but some of the details are really inspiring, like the also jodhpur/ plus 4 esque jeans, sleeveless sheer shirts, union jack totes, 80s style patterned work-out pants and spike denim accessories (see more close up images at Vogue UK ). All looks weren't complete without Creepers, the crepe soled, stacked shoes, which were all courtesy of T.U.K. All the ones you would expect features, including leopard print, black and white and the tres style hi-shine all black ones.

A pair of creepers is still a high priory on my wish list, Susie Bubble sure is getting a lot of wear out of her. Crepe soles seem to be big business the a/w with offerings from Emma Cook at Topshop and Alexander Wang all doing the rounds at the moment. Are you going crepe the a/w?

Images T.U.K's blog

Went out for magazines....

So I got up early on my day off to go through to Preston, the nearest city from where I live and also where I go to uni. In my mind I had magazines, I also needed to get a few necessities too. After a nice hour long coffee and reading session in Starbucks (the paninis are hotter than the sun aren't they?) I headed off to TKmaxx. If I remember rightly the American version is called TJmaxx? Well I picked up these dusty blue desert boots by a Scandinavian brand called Shoo. I know nothing about this brand but I do know they make an amazing range of shoes.

Reminiscent to the Acne boots from the new S/S collection and Paul Smith ones that have just been released.

I just love the little details on them, the one white eyelet and the light bit stitch below. They were a steal too so I was well chuffed.

I did get what I went out for too, I picked up Noise, 10 Men and Dazed & Confused. There's some great editorials in Dazed, the whole issue is themed on Frankenstein. The image image of the front page features a leather strap mask by Gareth Pugh. I'll take some pics of them soon.

Hair Raising

Creepers featured heavily in some of the shows at London Fashion Week, the most innovative being these hairy so-and-so's in Charlie Le Mindu's show.

Time to grow our hair?

Image from www.tukcreepers.blogspot.com

Spikes

FREAKING AMAZING!

Image from Jak & Jil

Paul Smith Spring 2010 Collection

Paul Smith's latest collections is based on Congolese dandies called the Sapeurs. Paul Smith is set to release a book is about these guys called "Gentlemen of Bacongo". The books about these immaculately dressed gents who live in the run down streets of Congo. They remind me of the SPIVS, who romed the streets of London in the early 1940s selling anything you wanted at knock of prices. Best describes as the first wheeler-dealers.

As you can see the first outfit has been recreated from the image of the front of the new book;

Filled with clashing colours, stripes, animal prints and some abstract this was a mixture of everything and more. The collection also features so creative styling ideas with cardigans been slung off the shoulders and belted, tops were wrapped, bandage-like around the top of arms and mish-mash patterned were teamed with gentlemanly brogues. This collection has really impressed me and is a bit of an eye opening.

There's lots more going on at New York/London Fashion Week right now, some other of my favourites have been Marios Schwab, Todd Lynn, Marc Jacobs and 3.1 Philip Lim. More reviews to come soon.

The book is now going on my wishlist.

Lanvin a/w 09 Ad Campaign

I'm not 100% sure what I think about these, I do quite like the weird sinister undertones, or are they just messing with us? I'm 100% about the colour palette though and styling though. Meow.

Yey or ney?

Visit to London,01/09/09 - 04/09/09

First stop Tower of London...

Clearly getting away from Blackpool doesn't mean we can escape the stupid windiness, me and Hollie got hit by it me big.

Tower Bride in all its glory.

I've only just realised how long me neck is, gee wizz.

Jamesy at his place of worship.

Went for a cheeky half in a swanky pub on Mount St, followed by a trip to the Marc by Marc Jacobs store.

Just a run-of-the-mill mammoth. *apparently is not a mammoth but an unknown mammal*

I had to get a picture with Charles Darwin! Who wouldn't. At the Natural History Museum.

Nicely coloured little snuff bottle

"Jolly men", both at the British Museum.

And all nicely rounded off with afternoon tea at Liberty's.

We got up to lots of other stuff like visiting the National Gallery at Trafalgar Sqaure, meeting friends for food and drink and Hard Rock Cafe and shopping trips around Covent Garden and Regent St.

I will post soon on what I bought, a few nice treats I must say.

All photos by Hollie

This week I will most be wearing...

..this sort of thing.

Selection from ASOS, including coloured chinos, none "in-your-face" check shirt, pastel socks, desert boots and a trusty wax jacket.

My Clarks tan desert boots are going to get a lot milage this Winter as they are now nice and worn it. Also I'm currently looking for a new winter coat/jacket, I've seen one thats caught my eye up to now,

Hooded navy coat by Paul Smith

I'm seriously considered going for this, I just love the vibrant check lining and the little purple and black zig-zags next to the zipper. At £180 it is quite pricey but it's a bit of an investment piece, well that's what I'm telling myself.

And these mint green Grenson desert boots would be the perfect accompaniment for the jacket in question. Though all this would make my bank account very unhealthy.

Look of the Week

This guy features on The Sartorialist just ooooooooozes character and I bet he would be ace to hang out with. The mixture of the same colours in different shades does it for me and his amazing shoes.

Check out images on his blog which were taken at the recent book signing, I'l just have to settle with an unsigned copy.

Images from The Sartorialist.

Fashion156 Re-Launch

I've always found online magazines just "ok", I occasionally read a couple but they never really catch my attention so much, I think it's because deep down I defiantly prefer actually paper magazines.

Fashion156 is the exception. I've been aware of Fashion156.com for about a year I think and it struck me as being relevant, not too formal, clean looking and varied, this was due to its multiple contributors. I didn't think it could get much better, but it looks like I'm going to eat my words. Fashion156 has re-launched its site, to coincide with London Fashion Week.

The whole site has had a facelift and looks fantastic. It looks as slick as ever, with a superb new layout with a great use of space, really nice choice of font/text.

Something else thats standing out a mile is the photography and colour. Punchy and demanding attention.

All the regular features are still there, including photo shoots, grooming & beauty sections and the daily updated blog.

One of the new features is the Archive section, which lets the readers look back at every single issue of the online magazine. This is also one of the things I suggested when I filled in the questionnaire a few months back!

One of my favourite sections is Hype, much improved from the original format. This is more comprehensive from the previous, including Wants, Trend Forecast, Focus and a section on street style.

Other new editions including a film section which includes footage of the photo shoots and I'm sure they will add all sorts of treats for us to watch in the next few months. There's also a Members - Coming Soon!

What do you think of the new improved site?

Everyone at Fashion156 should be really proud of the new site, I'll bet it was hard work but it has paid of because it looks brilliant. Add Fashion156.com to your bookmarks right now!

All images from Fashion156

Photography: Cameron McNee

Models: Joachim and Sid

Lou Dalton Winter Warmers

Twitter has been up to its usual tricks lately, making all the people jealous that there not a New York Fashion week. People Tweeting from the front row from all the biggest shows ect, it's quite exciting when you think about it as now news is available as quick as ever, LIVE in fact.

The daily action keeps me up to date on new products and what's going on and it's became more and more addictive over the past few months. This morning's treat was from our old friends at Style Salvage in the form of news that Lou Dalton's a/w collection has been released at oki-ni just a few hours ago.

The collection includes lots of typical English design elements, like quilted jackets (this one being on Style Salvage Steve's wish list) with all the trimming you would expect. Including a really cool rounded off colour and tartan lining.

This deep red cotton waxed jacket is my favourite, I just love the dark red cotton again the even deeper red cord collar. Really like the Lou Dalton label too, what a nice and simple design.

The collection also comes with perfect accessories to match your newly purchased jacket, including these 100% lamb wool long fingerless gloves.

Want want want those gloves. All pieces are very reasonable prices, jackets being around £250 and gloves just £29. Follow me on Twitter here

Images from - oki-ni