perfection

Vanessa Bruno's new short film for the A/W 2010/11 collection is visual perfection. Lou Doillon and Valentine Fillol Cordier join forces in a beautifully haunting film... just watch.

WOW

Here are some stills as well for you to perve over...

Clothes, girls, songs (including amazing romantic folk Efterklang) - all completely beautiful and inspirational.

palace of princesses

A trip to the Enchanted Palace at Kensington last weekend was just what I needed to start getting me into the Christmas spirit and with the weather being so fantastically wintery (lovely clear blue skies with a cold chill - perfect for wrapping up warm) and the exhibition magical, it made for a wonderful day. Amazing dresses made by Vivienne Westwood, Paul Costello and Zandra Rhodes to name but a few, served to enhance the dreamy installations and the quest to discover the palaces historic inhabitants.

Worth the trip - take a few of your favourite women along and have a girly day of it! Buy tickets and get information here.

lulu & co

Think of some of the most groundbreaking and exciting new designers to grace the fashion world over the past decade and I bet that at least half of them would owe their initial success to the help of one extremely talented woman with an exceptional eye for talent and her legendary company Fashion East.

Lulu Kennedy skyrocketed the careers of now-established designers such as Henry Holland, Roksanda Ilincic, Holly Fulton, Jonathan Saunders, Richard Nicholl, Louise Gray and Gareth Pugh to name but a few and in Fashion East's 10 years of success has managed to maintain that high level of standard in each designer chosen for representation. In homage to this greatest of fashion accolades, and to say a thank you to the woman who

launched their flourishing collections, many of these designers have stepped in to add their key pieces to Kennedy's LuLu & co collection. Comprised of some of the most exclusive and iconic pieces, this is a collection that epitomises the originality and eclecticness of Fashion East and involves either re-issued designs or popular styles with a different colour or fabric twist; Gareth Pugh's patent leather dress, Holly Fulton's renowned printed dress and Jonathan Saunders' ombre maxi are all there.

Matches and Harvey Nichols have the collection, available now to those lucky enough to have the money to purchase, and available for looking/touching/potential trying on only for the rest of us... sigh!

georgia hardinge

With countless editorials, celebrity endorsements and catwalk collections for British Fashion Council's All Walks Beyond the Catwalk, ON|OFF at Fashion Week and Vauxhall Fashion Scout's Ones to Watch, Georgia Hardinge is definitely fast becoming one of my most lusted-after designers.

Her graduate collection in 2008 inspired by 'ancient reptiles, fossil and archaeological stencils...' was a beautifully draped and sculptured selection of mini dresses and it's amazing to see the progression and transformation throughout all of her collections of this initial idea.


For the SS10 collection materials got a lot softer, as did the colours and textures but we started to see the extreme structures and graphics of the current collection creep in...



The 'Cage' collection for AW10 comprised of sharp vs sheer, velvet textures vs satin sheens and monochromatic embellishments with splashes of deep colour. Combined these created a stunning collection that was picked up by, not only those in the industry but others too sat up and took notice.




SS10's show was dominated by shades of black, white and gunmetal grey interspersed with flashes of springtime yellow to a calmer shade that was only just the yellow side of cream. The clothes, again, romantically ruffled yet also perfectly structured with attitude, are the kind of pieces that every girl will have on her wishlist and look to have that special quality in making everyone look amazing - clothes like this are beautiful coming down the catwalk, but once really worn, allow each woman to look uniquely different.

Go to www.georgiahardinge.blogspot.com to visit the designers blog, documenting the new season's collection as well as a photographic history of her previous collections and successes.

enchanting!

Fashion, art and history combine at Kensington Palace to create a wonderfully stunning fantasy world. Have been wanting to visit since the Enchanted Palace exhibition first opened and seeing as that was pre-travelling, I have been waiting a long time! Finally going next weekend - so excited to discover the princesses' tales and dresses on show... Will let you know what it's like and post some photos.

model watch - abbey lee kershaw

Aussie Abbey Lee is one of the most inspirational models of the moment I think. Appearing in numerous editorials and gracing almost every catwalk you could think of, her easy beauty and complete anti-fashion stance make her an interesting alternative to your everyday model (she refused to walk in Alexander McQueens SS 2010 show because of the infamous Armadillo heels!)

vice or nice?

For serious style credentials not generally seen on your average girl on the street, something that will spark that ever coveted 'OH where did you get that?!' from all and sundry visit Bitching and Junkfood's stunning online world. A collective of upcoming and extremely talented designers, as well as BaJ's own in-house labels 'Remade' and 'Two Weeks', this site is full to the very brim with unique and outstanding pieces. My favourites include the Neurotica vine print maxi dress, prettypretty floral cut out cardigan and the Rachel Freire High-Vis Suspender Trio (which I would absolutely kill to own!) although not so sure about the human hair drop earrings...?! Whatever you fancy, there'll be something for you so check it out.

They also have new and vintage clothing in their East London studios and available as stylists (as if you couldn't tell by their gorgeous shots on the site)

etsy finds

New purchase made from Etsy.com... so excited for these snakeskin print harem pants to arrive at my door!

Anyone else completely addicted to the wonder that is this website? Like ebay but you don't have to fight other people to get your fix of vintage or amazingly crafted clothing and accessories OR try and set your alarm to go off at 3:22 in the morning just to get your last bid in. And when you receive your goodies through the post, they are usually wrapped up in beautiful little packages - so cute!

Here are some of my favourite sellers, please check them out and support original, handmade crafts and well-sourced vintage pieces.

Whichgoose - Stunning and ethereal hair accessories handmade with love by this very talented woman (who also looks exceedingly lovely modelling her creations). Have bought many a hair comb and crown here, all of which satisfy my occasional need to get all dressed up like a fairy princess and wander about town as if I am skipping through a field in the countryside. PERFECT for festivals and general summer time, my 'May' natural vine crown was a winner at Glastonbury last year, and I am looking to this store for more this time around.

Thyme2dream - Fairy and elf-inspired jewellery to make each day that little bit more magical. Love their fancy ear cuffs, bohemian ear wraps and circlets, made with colourful beads, curling, looping wire and a lot of creativity. Available as seen on the shop page or as custom pieces for that special and unique piece that you're hankering for, you're sure to find something to charm you!

KnitKnit - Lovely things to be found in this quaint shop with a knitting and felting slant. The Knitted Power Chord is a dream buy... wear it as a necklace, bracelet, wrapped like a scarf or use as a belt - whatever you do with it, you're sure to get more than a few comments! The Felted Cameo necklaces are equally as charming if you're after something a little different...

iheartnorwegianwood - For the sexiest way to accessorise, choose a harness from this amazing shop. This era's corset, the harnesses are the perfect way in which to pull together an outfit - imagine one layered over a silk maxi for pretty/hard look or worn with a little t-shirt and harem pants for a more casual daytime statement. The chain harnesses are my favourite but with the many different colours in the elastic ones, there are loads of options to pick from whatever yor style.

Persephonevintage - Find upon find of vintage goodies available in this shop, the ethnic print skirt, leather shorts and heavily detailed cropped jacket below are just three examples of the high quality vintage pieces that this place seeks out and then stocks for your shopping pleasure; new season trends are always reflected. Wonderful, wonderful stuff - ah to have limitless money to spend here...

Ashaloo - Simply stunning jewellery for the bohemian within. NEED the Gold Shimmer Chain Headpiece in my life - and for my wedding! Equally gorgeous for everyday wear to glam up your normal wardrobe, or for a classically elegant touch to a goodtime outift, this shop will sort you out. The chunky knuckle rings, body harnesses and cuffs are amazing too, ah too too much that I want from here. Now stocked at the influential SpanishMossVintage as well (a true mark of success in my books)

leolucaescobar - More inspirational vintage pieces to be discovered in this shop on Etsy, one of the greatest - I think - for vintage shoes; on-trend espadrilles, clogs and wedges are all here as well as the usual pretty printed dresses, gorgeous blouses and quirky bags - buy buy buy!