if only my room looked like this.....

galloping horses

Galloping horses is the theme of this top. The flared trousers are my latest obsession. My friend, Poly V (famed journo) happened to be in the same changing vicinity while I was trying them on and absolutely convinced me to get them. She also stressed that I only wear them with heels! So - no alterations!! Well Polly, I love them and glad I got the fashion O.K from you.

(Top and flared trousers from Whistles)

wishing winter away

(Dress from Topshop, Boots from Office, Cuffs from Mango, Necklace from H&M)

chanel brings culture to shanghai

Last Friday sees the opening of the Culture Chanel exhibition at The Museum Of Contemporary Art in Shanghai.

Curated by Jean-Louis Froment the exhibition will focus on the enduring fashion icon that is Coco Chanel. Using her designs and literary and artistic influences it aims to piece together and interpret the world of this extraordinary woman.

Supported by the House of Chanel, the exhibits will span both floors of museum space and focus on the themes of Origin, Abstraction, Invisibility, Liberty and Imaginary. Amongst the 400 pieces to be showcased are coveted Chanel designs, artwork, manuscripts and films.

Culture Chanel at The Museum Of Contemporary Art in Shanghai will run from 15th January to 14th March.

www.culture-chanel.com

Images taken from the new exhibition. Credits below are from left to right.
Gabrielle Chanel. Original 'Comete' brooch created by Mademoiselle Chanel in 1932 for her exhibition 'Bijoux de Diamants'. Collection Chanel, Paris. Photo by Didier Roy.
Alexandre Cealac. Pen and ink image taken from pavement of the abbey of Aubazine, orphanage where Gabrielle Chanel lived. 1996. Collection Chanel, Paris.
Chanel. 1965-1980 Haute Couture collection. Collection Chanel, Paris. Photo by Olivier Saillant

Images courtesy of Chanel

pitti screening

unravel: knitwear in fashion

The Fashion Museum Province of Antwerp (MoMu) will host a brand new exhibition this March which explores the history of knitwear in fashion.
Unravel: Knitwear in Fashion will present international designer names such as Vivienne Westwood, Maison Martin Margiela, Sonia Rykiel, Mark Fast and Missoni, showcasing contemporary knitted garments and accessories alongside knitted historic couture pieces from Schiaparelli, Chanel and many others. Retrospective installations from Antwerp-based knitwear designers will pay a special homage to Belgian designer Ann Salens.

Unravel: Knitwear in Fashion will run from 16th March until 14th August 2011 at the MoMu, Antwerp.

navy goes live online

Jil Sander Navy, the secondary collection from Raf Simons, previewed back in May and available now in JS stores, debuts its new Web site, JilSanderNavy.com today. The site will spotlight the new, David Sims-shot campaign with Valerija Kelava and styled by Beat Bolliger. Selections from the 200-piece collection will be available for purchase online for the very first time!!

a lesson on what you have to have

Topshop - SPIRIT Leopard Print Paltform Heels
Topshop - Navy Saddlery Print Square
Whistles rope bracelet
Erickson Beamon - Razors Edge 24-karat gold-plated earrings
Miu Miu - Polka-dot silk crepe de Chine shorts
Proenza Schouler - PS1 medium linen satchel
Topshop - Lemon Exposed Zip Back Vest

and if i had to choose...

"It's never too late to be who you might have been."
George Elliot

This is a daring jumper with all the bells and whistles ( not my normal chosen kinda jumper). It makes me feel like a light feathery cloud. I love it! It's simple enough and distracting enough.

(Jumper from Topshop)

model of now

YSL Spring 2011campaign
Creative direction: Stefano Pilati

Model: Arizone Muse
Photographed by: Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin
Location: Palmeraie in Marrakech

animal on acid

This is SICK!! Love the print and the colours! It is fun and vibrant and is definitely inspiring me to convert a section of my living to match this trend. Aaaarrrrrrr....

textures of spring

I am really inspired by these images from Proenza Schouler. The colour variations and effects are amazing. Mesmerising. And yes, there is lace. What a beautiful under-pinning! This feels to me like a true mind explosion of all the fantastical images and colours all mixed into a giant stew pot and this is the result! Texture, pattern and colour!

Proenza Schouler S/S2011 collection
Images via jaknjil.com

tom and the dock

One of my most memorable Christmas dinners was here at the Dock Kitchen. This used to be a pop-up restaurant all around Central London but the purveyors have now resided permanently at Portobello Dock. The menu changes weekly and January's Indian Tales theme sounds very inviting. Definitely worth another visit.
Underneath, a fantastic showroom cum studio that Tom Dixon is calling his home for now together with available spaces for more chic interior pop-ups. It used to be the Virgin recording studios but now it houses a melee of furnishing items and all of Tom's designs. He was about to close when I ventured to the door but very kindly let me peruse round.

Dock Kitchen

344 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 5BU

lusting after lace

I have to say that I was quite defiant to any lace additions to grace my wardrobe this season. Me? Frou frou? I think not! But, after careful consideration, I relented. I have these pieces, one of them not lace but frills all the same, the tones are all similar - dark blues, navy and greyish blue hues. I think they give a little more edge than black. As for the acid ones, watch this space, more might be revealed... as the season progresses? This trend is not over yet!

(Dresses from a selection by Reiss and Whistles, boots from Topshop)

putting some randoms together to chunk it up

Feeling festive even after Christmas! Love the shape of this dress and am crazy about these necklaces I have put together.

(Dress & necklaces from H&M, shoes from Giuseppe Zanotti)