ASOS SS14 Preview

It's hard to believe ASOS was founded nearly 14 years ago, yet I still remember the years leading up to my teens and thinking it was the most amazing thing to come out of fashion at the time. Back in the day ASOS were known simply by "As Seen On Screen", though fast forward nearly a decade and they are leading the way in young British fashion, taking influence from us their audience, culture, music and travel. And with over 21 million visitors a month it's no wonder they're the UK's largest independent online fashion retailer, plus gaining a cool revenue of £750m this year!

Last month the retailer had their Spring Summer 2014 press day... and I. am. in. LOVE. ASOS are truly playing with their strengths in contemporary fashion and they are going in such an interesting direction. The pastels remain, the florals remain and I've chosen some of my favourites below. 

Credit to Milk Teef and Fashion For Lunch for the pics.

Ugh. How beautiful, love the scallops and the colourway. Even if I buy this just to try it on and send back to get a refund, I just feel it will be amazing to wear.

The florals are back! Well they never go away really do they, but whatever this is applied to it's extremely intricate and gorgeous!

More florals! Love the contrasting colours going on here, looks like a lot of sheer fabrics and repeated forms will be used for SS14.

Sandals, sunnies and a pastel clutch- perfect for the beach if you're going abroad. Though the British weather might surprise us!

I spy an iridescent clutch bag and some cute colour coordinated outfits! A-Line swing skirts perfect for a Spring/Summer picnic.

I think my favourite Topshop frilly socks have a new rival...

Winter Bits and Bobs!

Ok I lied, uni is overtaking my life and I broke the promise to blog every week! But I'm forcing myself to stick to time plans even if I have countless samples, sketchbook work + a Christmas craft fair to organise and make for. Which I'm very excited about with Christmas literally just around the corner! My knitwear is officially out nearly every day and I'm making DIY lace and brown paper gift tags as we speak. I love getting crafty at this time of year as Christmas decor is all about re-using things again and again, plus things like gift tags take a minute to make!

Below I've put together some of my current favourites from this year's winter ranges...

Dunelm Mill & Kirstie Allsopp for Tesco:

Dunelm are doing a beautiful Nordic inspired range at the moment, with cosy throws, lanterns, fairy lights, etc. at the forefront-
Throw: £6.99, Floral Storage Box: £3.99, Floral Lights: £3.49, Tea Light Holder: £4.99, Heart Box: £4.99, Canvas: £14.99

Kirstie Allsopp (my part craft idol) has produced a range for Tesco and I absolutely fell in love with the patterns when I saw the collection-
Note Cards: £8, Box File: £10, Photo Album: £12

Fashion Union:

Biker Coat: £50, Cropped Fluffy Jumper: £25, Check Coat: £60, Floral Tartan Dress: £24, Rabbit Jumper: £18, Snood: £9, Velvet Skirt: £16, Chelsea Boots: £25

Topshop:

Tartan Skirt: £32, Cable Knit Jumper: £46, Nails in Moondance: £6, Lips in Beguiled: £8, Rabbit Jumper: £45, Pom Pom Scarf: £16, Pinafore: £15, Fur Clutch: £30, Shorts: £34, Fur Jacket: £68, Boots: £190 

Cath Kidston:

Cup and Saucers: £30, Fabric Bundle: £25, Floral Bag: £50, Mac: £30, Scrapbook: £12, Lamp: £48, iPhone Case: £24.95

Bonjour!

Sorry for the absence as of late I've been uber busy with uni work but who isn't these days?! So much has been going on including the fab news that I got FINALLY got tickets to see a certain Mr Timberlake next year!! I’m writing up some new posts as we speak so bear with me I haven’t abandoned you all!

As part of my university assessment I’m being marked on social networking and blogging exposure for one of my modules so I've set up another blog www.sophiehearntextiles.tumblr.com if anybody wants to check it out. That page will be updated with my textiles work and projects plus all the inspiring things I’m looking at in relationship to my work. I’m still going to be using TTWAB just as much so don’t worry and I promise I’m going to force myself to update this page on a more regular, weekly basis!

LONDON FASHION WEEK SEPTEMBER 2013

Held twice annually in February (Autumn/Winter shows) and September (Spring/Summer), London Fashion Week is one of the big four fashion weeks alongside New York, Paris and Milan. The event which turns 30 next year is organised by the British Fashion Council and plays a major part of the reported £21 billion the UK fashion industry is worth. Fashion itself is Britain’s second biggest employer and the largest of all creative industries, responsible for over 800,000 jobs.

During LFW there are approximately 60 on schedule catwalk shows and below I've put together the best looks from some of my favourite collections which have recently graced the runway.

Sicilian Adventure Inspiration//Luxurious Fabrications- Jacquard and Tulle //Detailed Textures//Sculptural Shapes//Block Colourways- Fuchsia and Magenta//Traditional Gowns//Floral//Laser Cuts

1970s and Art Deco Influence//Opulence//Colourways- Coral, Denim Blue and Lavender Hues//Intricate Patterns//Fabrication Contrasts//Digital Print//Rendered Cut Outs

Pastel Colourway//Fabrication- Lace, Satin, Waterproof Transparent//Polka Dot and Striped Patterning//Floral and Ruffled Embellished Accessories//Straight Cuts//Loose Bodice Shapings//A Gorgeous Finale!!

Inspired By Art Deco, Miami and Architectural Interiors//Bursts Of Acid Colours, Sugary Pastels and Whites//Printed Florals//Tailored Trousers and Abstract Cut Cocktail Dresses//Fabrication- Organza, Chiffon, Silk, Foil, Rubber

Inspired By 'A Trip To Mexico City'//Ode To Romeo + Juliet '96//Fabrication- Denim, Lace Layering, Metallic Silks//Florals, Checks and Leopard Prints//Mini Dresses//Trenches//Two Pieces

Inspired By Kaleidoscopic Prints and A 'Youthful Girl's Bedroom'//An 'Explosion' Of Floral Colour Bursts//Over-Layering Of Patchwork Imagery//Contemporary Presentation Show//Silk Fabrications//Key Looks- Skater Skirts, Bomber Jackets, Cigarette Cropped Trousers

Simplistic Elegance//Mismatched Prints//Clean White and Navy Colourway With Bursts Of Candy Yellow//Intricate Beading and Applique Blooms//Re-Invention Of The 'New Look'//Ancient Tuscan Printed Catwalk Set

There were many more highlights across the whole week supporting emerging and established designers. Continuing its height as the global fashion capital, London is certainly pushing the boundaries in opportunity through branding and marketing. Innovative means of showcasing collections this year are evident from Burberry's collaboration with Apple and the iPhone 5s to Henry Holland taking to the UK roads with a clothing retail ice cream van, selling exclusive items. 

It definitely seems that London are shaping up for us to have our slice of fashion week more readily available. Burberry are a key example to the future of fashion not just in London but globally. 14 iPhone 5s' captured the SS14 collection, live streaming the action to millions globally in just minutes. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest- you name it, it's covered.

♥

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has viewed this blog and commented on it outside of the web world. I'm hoping to update it a lot more than I currently am, I promise! I'm building a following on my Bloglovin page but would really appreciate it if people could follow my blog on there too so I can check out all your lovely blogs as well!

Just click on the link below! xo

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NYFW- Victoria Beckham SS14

New York Fashion Week is in full swing but after London took over as fashion capital, there's only 1 week I'm waiting for. Primarily not because I'm biased towards my own hometurf designers but because I believe that London has some of the best contemporary talent showing across September. Nevertheless, New York always manage to put on a show from the 'big guns' like DKNY, Diane Von Furstenberg and Zac Posen, amongst others.

One 'designer' (as always argued), that many are surprised to see at NYFW perhaps instead of LFW is original Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, who for the record was my least favourite member but kudos to her for that little black dress I probably tried to recreate several times with a black bin liner! Many of us know that VB is famed for her frocks but all eyes were not only just on the FROW where Harper stole the show, but also to the more casual inspired collection that was shown on Sunday at Cafe Rouge. 

Proving that a trend can be recycled twice in a year, Beckham took inspiration from the sports luxe style in which current AW13 monochromatics were present with an injection of Spring/Summer pink tones. After cooing over Harper, I got the impression from VB's past collections that this was going to be a pristine catwalk show with clothes designed to suit the professional women. As the first looks stepped onto the lacquered white floored runway, it was evident as the show went on that the use of geometric panelling and cut in predominant areas of garments were the stand out looks of the show. The bursts of fuchsia and reds in these outfits were probably the most interesting parts of the show for me.

Victoria has been seen somewhat as a style icon for the best part of 2 decades but between wearing and designing, they are 2 very different things and giving a proper critical review of her as a designer can be difficult for many to judge, based on where her fashion origin has derived from. I do however admire the fact that she knows how to build and develop a brand, sticking by her team and following after criticism and appreciating what women want to wear. Maybe I will grow to appreciate the balance she inputs between both her personal life and business work ethic. I guess time will also tell as to where the label will go in the future but overall this is a solid collection that showcases contemporary British tailoring and production, with the potential to grow in surface and pattern design. 

AW13- The Trends

Fashion Week is fast approaching and fashionistas around the world are preparing for yet another intake of what trends we'll be inspired by and wearing in Spring/Summer 2014. Like many, I anticipate what direction designers and brands are going to take next and lust over the designs that grace the catwalk and beyond. 

The fashion world witnessed Autumn/Winter 2013 collection shows back in February and I'm looking forward to reviewing some of my favourite looks from Spring/Summer 2014 shows in an upcoming post. With the introduction and development of high street brands now hitting the catwalk such as Topshop Unique, H&M and a collaboration between Rihanna and River Island, many of us can now shop the trends at a reasonable price. Whilst we hold onto the last of this year's Summer fashion, I've put together some of my favourite pieces that are shaping key looks for the months ahead.

Topshop: Tartan Tee- £30, Trousers- £42, Skull Scarf- £22, Miss Selfridge: Printed Tee-£32, Printed Playsuit- £39, ASOS: Shredded Jumper- £28

 

Miss Selfridge: Floral Print Dress- £45, Printed Organza Dress- £25, Topshop: Ruffle Top- £34, Zip Satchel Bag- £32, Zara: Floral Blouse- £25.99

Topshop: Cobweb Snood- £16, Mini Block Heel T-Bar Shoes- £35, Fashion Union: Rabbit Knit Jumper- £18, Primark: Pastel Coat- £25, Zara: Trousers- £29.99

Forever 21: Floral Jumper- £19.75, Boohoo: Leather Buckle Wedge- £25, Dorothy Perkins: Floral Necklace- £12.50, River Island: Check Tee- £28, Sandals- £55, Accessorize: Bag- £13.50, Fashion Union: Jumper- £15

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Sorry for the lack of posts recently! I have been très busy with my summer and preparing for my 3rd year of uni, which seems crazy to think is happening already. University life got me thinking about one of my major loves- home interior. Going to university is a really exciting prospect but leaving the comforts of your own home can be in essence a daunting prospect for many at the start of the academic year.

Although the revelry of next month's freshers week is the number 1 top priority for many of us students, the welcome of a somewhat homely room is sure to make everyone feel at ease in an unknown environment. Many home stores offer a range of home decorative accessories that can add a quirky touch to any room. With many, if not all students on a budget, the smallest of objects can often make the biggest impact. I commute to uni only living around 20 minutes away but my bedroom at home reflects my interests and gives me admirable space to work and store all my little bits and pieces away. I'm planning to  hopefully move out for my final year with some friends and I know that I don't need to take my whole existing bedroom to make a new place seem homely.

I've put together some of my favourite items below and some tips on how to make halls feel like home.

1. Old touches- You probably have tons of existing bedding, lamps and decorative items stored at home in the loft, your parents won't need them and these can be given a burst of new life in your new room. Storage boxes are a great way of keeping clutter away and can easily be tucked away too.

2. Photos and posters- Taking pictures of friends and family with you and placing them in frames or on pinboards is a great way to make you remember old memories and home. Although it might be a bit overwhelming at first, the photos of university life will make you in years to come remember the new memories you had.

3. Lighting- Lights can massively change the shape of a room and you'll need to have good light when studying. Fairy lights always add cosiness to a room and you can pick these up almost anywhere. 

4. New touches- The feeling of independence grows with the thought of buying new things for your uni room and the thought of adding your own touch to a new environment is a fun thing to do before starting your course. Making your room comfortable and suited to your interests for when friends, family or flatmates decide to drop in for a quick visit will make them feel comfortable too. You could even get crafty on a rainy day or before you start and make some DIY interior accessories!

5. Keep it clean (!)- The thought of tidying your room at uni is probably the last thing on your mind and it probably brings back reminders from home, but keeping your room tidy makes a tidy mind and you need some space to work and find things quickly if you wake up late for lectures from an evening at freshers!

Mirror- £39.99, Bird Cushion- £9.99, Cupcake Cushion- £12.99, Lantern- 49p!, Trunk Box- £7.99, Birds Cage- £1.74, Owl Jewellery Stand- £3.49, Heart Tealight Holder (I recommend!)- £3.99, LOVE Blocks- £2.99, Flower Vase- £1.49, Roses Bunch- £6.99, Home Canvas- £9.99

Lace Borders- £4, Milk Bottles- £12, Honeycomb Balls- £6, Roberts Radio (for a real moving in treat)- £159.95, Liberty Notebooks- £9-£10, Marshmellows (to share with your flatmates!)- £4, Crafty Storage collection- £8-£35, Candle- £8.50, Cath Kidston Fabric Bundle- £25

URBAN OUTFITTERS

KIKI'S BOUTIQUE

HOBBYCRAFT

THE RANGE

NEXT

DOTCOMGIFTSHOP

H&M

HOMEBASE

EBAY

There are a whole host of other stockists that sell a range of home interior accessories and a quick tip is to always check out websites that list 'Gifts' in their menus- this always pulls out some fun and quirky items to fill your room! So whether you're moving from the family home to halls or from halls to a new home with your uni friends, I hope I've inspired you that home is where the heart is!

xo

Illustration Inspiration

I'm currently in the process of writing up a plethora of posts but thought I would quickly share some of my current inspirations from the world of illustration.

Illustration falls under the words of Individual, Inspiring and Innovative. No I haven't gone alliteration crazy (!), but these are all things I always research and incorporate when I'm designing and gaining inspiration from others. The illustrators below are all designers I've been hugely inspired by over the last couple of years and it's been exciting for me to learn from their work, yet at the same time watch how they have been able to develop their individual styles to a wider audience through the means of various media.

Once again I've been on trusty Photoshop and have collated some of my favourite designs from each illustrator below. When putting the images together it was so nice to see how quickly you can identify their style and interests. Enjoy!

A German native, Sabine Pieper's illustrations are marked by strong expression, unique compositions and colour. Through the strength of her past photography career, she has been able to use this to her advantage by using soft photographic techniques within her drawings. The creation of subtle, yet energetic lines is synonymous within her portrayal of femininity and beauty. Sabine has seen her predominant fashion and beauty illustrations featured in various publications such as Vlisco and Elle UK. 

www.sabinepieper.com

Inspired by the freedom and confidence of illustrators such as Julie Verhoeven and providing much comparison to Sabine Pieper's work, Sarah Hankinson's designs are defined by feminine subjects and bursts of watercolour. Sarah has been one of my favourite illustrators for a while now, her designs are so simple yet in a sense quite flirty and energetic with the colourings and lines she develops. She has also seen her work published for Harpers Bazaar and Maybelline, amongst others.

www.sarahhankinson.com 

Out of the illustrators featured in this post, Kelly Smith aka Birdy & Me is probably the one who has achieved the most commercial experience, exposure and success within fashion illustration. Working with Vogue, H&M and net-a-porter just to name a few has already provided her with the room to develop even higher. Kelly's definitive pencil lines and toning make her work unique in capturing every detail of her subject.

http://www.birdyandme.com.au/

I've been following Stina Persson's work for around 3 years now and she is always one illustrator I look to when creating mixed media pieces. Her exploration of cut paper, watercolour, ink and photographic manipulation shows a utilisation of incorporating any medium into a drawing. I've always been worried when using the watercolour "dripping" technique that it will ruin what I've already done but Stina has taught me that you can do this technique and still make a piece work effectively. 

www.stinapersson.com

Summer Lovin'

Here are some of my current loves and lusts for Summer! I'll be reviewing A/W 13 preview collections very soon, so watch out!

♥♥♥

Holographic Nails In Moondance- £6, MOTO Pink Crochet Hotpants- £35, Spotty Casual Crop Top- £29, Rachel Dress by Jones and Jones- £65, Martie T-Bar Geek Shoes- £32, Nano T-Bar Clog Sandals- £45, Dip Dye Crochet Cami- £32, Edge Paint Satchel- £28

Black Floral Mini Dress- £25, Black Suede Cross Front Wedge Shoe- £28, Navy Pinafore Playsuit- £10, Tan Buckle Cross Wedge Shoe- £32, Multi Florence Floral Headband- £3

 Print Top- £9.99,  Jacquard Skirt- £12.99, Denim Waistcoat With Crochet Back- £9.99, Oriental Print Jumpsuit- £19.99, Embroidered Dress- £19.99, Fantasy Twist Jersey With Open Back- £12.99, Oriental Print Trousers- £15.99, Jacquard Linen Dress With Full Skirt- £15.99

Pleated Floral Print Dress- £18.75, Floral Print Wedge Sandals- £24.75, Cat Graphic Cropped Tee- £12, Lace Trim High-Low Dress- £19.75, High-Low Georgette Dress- £24.75

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