This dress originally belonged to the short tight skirt/ baggy top clan of dresses that were swamping the high streets a few years back. My excuse for purchasing it was its scope for ‘altention’ - here, I wore it pulled down to the knees to create the longer length and brought in the waist with a ribbon. I can’t say I’m a fan of fitted upper and lower form, so the addition of the cape (worn back to front) was a necessity to break up the lean silhouette. I think I injured my shoe on the pile of bricks, damn my bravado.
Whilst perusing the surprisingly lurid depths of the internet, I stumbled across the work of Dutch designer Larisa Katz. The otherworldly, architectural quality of her pieces, with her mishmash of textures and pale palette, culminates in something quite ethereally beautiful. She uses fabrics and shape to reflect the geometry of nature in the most romantic way, and let it be known that with my penchant for top heavy silhouettes, volume and frills fulfilled, I was most definitely romanced.
Of late, I’ve taken to lacerating many of my old tops to half their original lengths to satisfy my cropped top habit, and a habit is exactly what it is.Fortunately for this cardigan, its end/ alteration was not so violent and it became the subject of severe altention, being swivelled and tucked under to create the desired effect. Monochrome prevails.
I realise I'm posting more and more pictures per post, apologies, I'm far too indecisive to choose between photos so I end up posting all my favourites.
A social engagement in London over the weekend coincided with Graduate Fashion Week, so Mr. Pseudonym Photographer and I made a trip down to Earl’s Court. Immediately, my eyes were drawn to the floor as I unashamedly gawped at people's crazily amazing shoes of all heights, shapes and colours. Having meandered between the stalls and perused through countless portfolios, my mind became stuck between a place of awe at the talent of these students, with their meticulous drawings, ever so neat seams, and intriguing concepts; and a yearning for a particular oversized faux fur and feather jacket/ cape thing (fur and feathers, yum).
My mental appease, however, was soon upon me - a vision in orange, cooped up in what appeared to be a Perspex box. Susie Bubble. Having long admired her ability to combine unlikely pieces in unexpectedly beautiful ways and her astute observations and insights into all things fashion, I found myself blabbering something about loving her blog and asking inane questions to which I already knew the answers. Smooth.
We saw the Edinburgh College of Art show and couldn’t have chosen better as I discovered when Raine Hodgson's models stomped onto the catwalk. My personal favourite, the Mongolian/ Eastern European folk inspired collection saw the models awash in wool, cotton and silk with leathers, sheep skins, feathers and horse hair (all ethically sourced). A pleasant break from the clean lines and nudes of summer, the ornate robes and heavylayering, coupled with the headscarves and incredibly tall fur hats, fulfilled my fervour for all Russian-inspired things and sent me into a reverie of snow and fantastical faraway lands.
The lofty pillbox hats featured again in the show, this time in felt and sequins (sequins!), and before the end, I found myself wanting to dress like a folksy, gothic doll in a mid-calf length skirt and voluminous jacket. Well done, Edinburgh.
