Tweed Tweed and more Tweed…..a perfect revival.

Finding a great Tweed jacket and how the designers and re-creating it this A/W'11.

My mother and I decided that it was time to sort through her overwhelmingly large collection of coats. Not only were we deciding what disasters she had that needed to go, but also what could be revived and reworn. I didn't have the highest hopes (sorry) as I was expecting lots of long 1980's style coats, that although were fashionable at the time, should not come back. Ever! It was of course a hilarious exercise, nearly all the coats having delightful shoulder pads….a trend that should again should stay in the 80's! 

The oversized trend, however, is a great look when done well, but no-one wants to go around looking like they have the shoulders of a weightlifter. So after putting the first few into the awaiting charity bag we stumbled on her old tweed jacket, this one i did not laugh at! Not only does it look great on her, the plaid compliments the autumnal colours of reds, greens and brown. Tweed has always been a great material and has been used from designer clothing, to country classics as well as copious amounts being used in Scotland! 

My Mum's Jacket. 

As a trend this A/W '11 designers have reinvented the original colour design of most tweed by breaking out of the traditional colour box with bright bold squares, giving new colours to offer more alternatives. Designer are also suggesting the we should double up the plaid, as long as we acquire some check, we are on trend! 

Moschino- Cheap and Chic

Burberry Prorsum

  

I have been hunting for a tweed jacket for a few weeks now all over the place so mum offered me the jacket, I refused, however, as I thought it looked far too good on her and it was her exciting find. Apart from a slight moth hole which can be easily stitched (an unfortunate truth when things get forgotten and left in a wardrobe) it is a great jacket and i am of course rather jealous! I am sure she wont mind the occasional jacket share though. I myself managed to find a great tweed jacket on Ebay, it only cost me £6.50 and I LOVE it! 

My new old man style oversized tweed!

I was also after a new coat as well and could not help myself when i saw this beautiful tweed coat in Topshop, Although it was a lot more expensive I just had to have it as it was the perfect example of what i was looking for. I wanted a black coat that could be dressed up or down, a boyfriend style with a bit of a twist and something that would last me a long time. I dont regret buying it for a second!

Tweed is a great addition to your wardrobe, if you dont want to double tweed up then just choose one key piece and wear it as you central trend piece with block colour background. Check out Burberry Prorsum, Mulberry, Daks and Christian Dior to see how they use statement pieces  to transform an outfit! Enjoy :) 

Inspiration; Where does it come from? Magazines such as Vogue? Topshop's window display? Celebrities new looks? Family? Friends? Style Icons?

I would say all of the above. I think inspiration for fashion and style comes from everywhere, especially if you are someone like me and constantly on the lookout. As a drama student  i was lucky to be surrounded by constant inspiration in art, theatre, people and the costume department! What i feel is most important when looking for inspiration for an outfit or a new season must have, is not to mistrust your own judgement. If your not going to wear it, or its not going to suit you….then don't buy it (even if seven magazines are telling you its fabulous). You must have an awareness of what is right for you and spend some time searching around to find it. I guess what i'm getting at is the art of personal styling, finding the inspiration from the current trends and suiting them to you, just because fetish/S&M is a A/W '11 trend doesn't mean we should all buy leather all in ones and chokers….it is just inspiring us to re insert sexy style back into our wardrobes as well confirming that black is back, in a big way!  

As a lover of colour and a an avid supporter of the colour block S/S '11 trend, going back to black was a rather hard transition for me so i decided that for me i would indulge in this trend through some H&M wetlook leggins and return to my faithful black stilettos from Office. These matched with anything would add the sexy element to the outfit, yet avoiding the crisis of over styling!

Alexander McQueen's A/W 11 collection, embracing everything from fur, leather and lace up stilettos to fully commit to this trend.

A big inspiration to for me are members of my family, my Mother, Grandmother and Nanny. My Nanny in particular has always been the fellow clothes lover in my family and the person who really inspired me growing up. She is a woman of classic style, she always looked immaculate, elegant and sophisticated. It was her who told me that my birth stone was diamond and that it was extremely fitting as i had always been obsessed with anything glittery or expensive growing up! Her style does really come from the classic hollywood era or Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn, figure heads in all things chic and classy. Their simple cuts, shapes and colours resounded in feminine glamour and created a real impression on the women of the time. In an interview with Jill Taylor, from thevintageseekers.com, about the costume selection in the new Marilyn Monroe film, Jill comments that "She was a Calvin Klein girl before there was Calvin Klein." Marilyn knew how to show off her femininity in a classy yet sexy way. 

Marilyn Monroe in her classic day wear.

Grace Kelly looking chic and glamourous 

Audrey Hepburn in her classic black silhouette. 

Grace Kelly glamour, the height of elegance.

Marilyn taking one for the team! Always  keeping her feminine glamour with highwaisted figure hugging shorts and of course HEELS! 

Audrey looking classic and feminine in a simple shape and print. 

The white oversized shirt, a classic sexy look that will always  capture style at its finest.

Grace Kelly in a chic white blouse  and red lips, sexy and elegant.

One of my favorite pictures of Marilyn, so elegant yet vulnerable. 

My Nan, in the same way that these famous women also did, taught me that dressing up and using clothes as a way of expressing a part of yourself could be done all the time. She continues to always look her best, although she has now hung up her high stilettos, in an effortless way and it is that which to me is most impressive. She has been a great inspiration to me, and reminds me that style is always about confidence and simplicity. As Alexander McQueen said "British fashion is self confident and fearless. It refuses to bow to commerce, thus generating a constant flow of new ideas whilst drawing of British heritage" (Alexander McQueen in British Vogue Oct 2011)    

Aztec Leggins.......I need a pair!

Some lovely Black and White design Aztec Leggins.

Dress up with heels or go casual with a chunky knit!

I have decided that I am in desperate need of a pair of Aztec leggins. This has unfortunately come at a rather unfortunate time, im a little too late! Its not usual for me to admit to being behind the times....but in this case I really should have jumped on the leggin bandwagon quicker this a/w. I think my main opposition was that I am not usually a leggin wearer. Dont get me wrong, when they first came out i was ALL over the leggin feud but i quickly moved on to shorts, tailored trousers and highwaisted everything. This sudden decision to go legs out leggins again has come from my new obsession with my wet-look leggins, a cheeky way to set off the kinky and sexy s&m trend that has featured this A/W 11. Now I have committed to them, Why stop there?? Well I havent and am now on the avid search for some cheeky aztec leggins! Ebay, again for too many times this month, here I come!!!!  

Beckham, Barton and well of course Rihanna looking sexy in their wet-look leggins!

Handbags; Mulberry, Longchamp, DKNY, YSL, Miu Miu, Chanel, did i mention Mulberry?

I guess you could say my obsession with owning a Mulberry bag is rather worrying, I however think it makes complete sense and I am sure those who are lucky enough to own one do feel their life is slightly more complete. I admit whole heartedly that I have succumbed to their advertising and merchandising over the last few years and am now besotted. I think they are truly classic and offer all a women needs from a bag. They are not over the top, they go with everything and you can dress them up and accessorise them without ruining their elegance. My personal favourite is the Small Heritage Bayswater Satchel in burgundy new in for the A/W '11 collection. I have been visiting it (an unhealthy amount) just so for a few brief minutes I can carry it around House of Fraser pretending it is mine. I know you may be thinking crazy much?! But when you fall in love with an item its hard to resist. All I know is that when I can afford a Mulberry it will be a proud moment- Lets hope the blog takes off hey!

Check out my Favorite through this link!

http://www.mulberry.com/?gclid=CJyrhsWZm6wCFUtB4Qodtm0BxA#/storefront/c5481/6525/moreviews/ 

Of course when talking about handbags you can never just talk about one, I don't think i know one women who only has one handbag. That is because we do not simply see them as places to keep all of our many items that we insist on carting around with us! They are part of the outfit, they are a necessity, as well as the head to toe look and that is why we cannot resist owning as many as we can. I love leather bags in all shapes and sizes. I have managed to acquire a few favourites shopping around markets and charity shops. This is a great way to shop for leather bags as you wont end up spending a fortune and there is nothing better than stumbling upon a new bag for under a tenner! A little bit of wear and tear can be expected when buying second hand, but that is all part of the all important charm and history! 

My newest purchase is a beautiful vintage Clarks envelope style bag that has all the gorgeous compartments and extras that every women's bag should have, the mirror is a personal favourite. This bag was won on Ebay, and i am extremely happy that i won!! (a quick note: you can get rather carried away and must keep a clear head when it comes to bidding, make sure you are sure about how much you are willing to pay for something you haven't actually seen!!)

The real beauty of the bag is that you can accessorise the accessory and really chose ones that suit you. I will keep you posted on any new purchases and places to purchase!