pack up your troubles

I'll keep this short and sweet as I have to be up in less than 5 hours, but I thought I'd share with you all my 'light packing'. I impressed myself! Will share everything on Paris tomorrow I promise.

essential fashion week items

Salut lovelies! As you probably already know from my compulsive twitter updates expressing my excitement, I'm attending to Paris Fashion Week (the big cheese of all fashion weeks!). Now, I'm one of these people who isn't a fan of planning out the fine details of outfits beforehand. I much prefer just chaotically raiding my wardrobes in the morning in search of something that suits my mood and where I'm going. However, with a very limited amount of space for packing (and slight concern that the Eurostar staff will hurl my precious clothes onto the platform if I take more than a measly suitcase), I've decided to put together an ultimate guide of essentials to help you out with packing for fashion week to avoid ending up with a room looking like a bomb just hit it piled up with possible outfit choices. 

1) Blazers- tailored chic that adds an extra layer and allows any feminine look to be toughened up 

2) Jumpsuits- simple all-in-ones mean you can still have the wow-factor without needing to worry about throwing together a top and bottoms 

3) Leather- try a high-waisted leather skirt (there are some amazing camel ones around at the mo) or leather skinnies 

4) Fur coats- leopard print is so this season and fur is definitely necessary to keep you toasty warm in the winter months

5) Wedges- oh the challenge of stumbling across the cobbles of Somerset House in stiletto heels; I seriously advise you to invest in height without the pain 

6) Statement necklaces-  it's fashion week so you need to make a statement and be noticed, right? 

7) Tailored trousers- timeless look which can just be paired with a simple loose tee 

8) Maxi skirts- there are days when we just don't feel like showing off our legs, so a flowy cute print is perfect for this

9) Aviator jackets- leather and fur allows you to kill two birds in one stone in terms of trends 

10) Oversized clutches- enough room to carry everything you could possibly need! 

11) Cat-eye shades- who cares if it's not sunny, it's fashion week 

12) Lace, lace, lace- ladylike and versatile enough to be mixed and matched with literally everything.

hi elisa sednaoui‏, i like your style

When I opened up a Who What Wear newsletter email yesterday, I was intrigued by who they had chosen as their girl of the month. Meet Elisa Sednaoui- a name you may or may not be familiar with. She's not just your average 22 year old model- she's has her own sense of style clearly influenced by her multi-cultural upbringing in Italy, Egypt and France, as well as a killer wardrobe to back it up.
                                                                                    

   

H&M's current advertising campaign it-girl is all about 'ladylike chic'. Elisa tends to wear a lot of timeless black and white, sticks to classic French designers (note beaucoup du Chanel et Louboutin) and has a bit of preoccupation with lace and leather. This isn't anything new I hear you say? Sorry but hello, who the hell else could make a baggy pant leather jumpsuit look this amazing?

My all-time favourite look from Elisa is definitely the strapless floral mini complete with a train. She proves through this dress that you can't beat summery simplicity. It's also refreshing to see that Elisa has put her own spin a Parisian style through her awesome white shirt jumpsuit. She likes to keep accessorises to a minimum, by just relying on a fierce pair of heels to do all the talking.

With such natural beauty, Elisa Sednauoi knows exactly how to dress in a way that doesn't detract us from this.

Are you a fan of Elisa's style? Which is your favourite of her outfits above?

paris has stolen my heart

I'm going to Paris Fashion Week. How crazy is that!?

I've only been to Paris once in my life- when I was eight years old, but I obviously was too young to appreciate its value. For some reason, I appear to have a mental block of virtually my entire childhood so the only memories I have of Paris are ones trawling around Disneyland with my parents and brother, and watching the Rugrats in French but not being able to understand a word.

However, I'm now ready to have my own love affair with Paris! I speak the language after 7 years of studying it in depth at school (well, kind of...), am ridiculously intrigued by Parisian style (I mean, who isn't?), and would kind of love to meet a few gorgeous French guys, shop shop shop and explore the architecture along the way.

If you're a regular to Paris, please do share your favourite restaurants, bars, shops etc.etc. with me. Also if you're hitting up Paris Fashion Week, please drop me a line and perhaps we could arrange to all meet up?

Image on the left from 'A toute tambes' by Terry Richardson; Vogue Paris, June 2009.

Bisous xox 

bohemian beachcomber done luxe

The designer currently behind Emilio Pucci, Peter Dundas, added Mediterranean flare to day 4 of Milan Fashion Week.

The show which started a casual 45 minutes late thanks to Kylie Minogue (who strutted her stuff in a off-the-shoulder gold spangly Pucci dress, naturally) running a little behind schedule thanks to Milan's heavy traffic (apparently), took its inspiration from island life. Throw away your bikinis girls- all-in-one swimsuits are clearly going to make a huge appearance next Spring/Summer, perfect for partying away in Ibiza.

The spirit of Athodite was seen in toga dresses and traditional Greek patterns. Floor length designs, sweeping trains and ruffles were used to the max in this part of the collection. Colours of sunshine orange and sky blue painted the runway, as did camel shades which look to remain for a very long time in the trend stakes.

Thigh high boots, lace and cutouts proved the vision for a Pucci woman is somebody who isn't afraid to show off her body. She is obviously self-confident, feminine and sexy (and is proud of her curves!).

Black sequin trousers provided perfect evening wear glamour. Accessories were also used in this collection to the max. Note jangly bangles, casual tassled shoulder bags and a series of bandanas.

A collection all-in-all reminiscient of carefree European travels.

Are you a fan of Emilio Pucci SS/11?

i think i just died and went to heaven

I knew these tan suedette shorts were mine the moment I cast my eyes upon them. Thank God somebody decided to save girls from the leggings/daisy dukes combo, by creating shorts which are actually wearable during AW. Definitely throw on a strippy tee, bib necklace, opaques and wedge boots along with these badboys. We've been spoilt by this season's colour and texture thrown into one garment, haven't we? These shorts are beyond perfection with their tied waist, providing structure/shape and high-waisted appeal. Daytime chic- you're my new best friend.

Miss Selfridge, £35

inspiration= arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity

prada proving the world could use a little more glamour

As Miuccia Prada's Spring Summer 2011 collection was unveiled at Milan Fashion Week last night, spectators gathered to witness a vision of the Creative Director that we've never seen before.

Outlandish colours, block prints and jungle designs transformed the runway into a walking rainbow. ER-inspired medical scrubs gave way to cinched-in waist skirts, spaghetti-strapped sundresses and raw hemlines. Banana patterned shirts and sombreros added Latin America nostalgia, whilst an edge of superwoman Josephine Baker glamour was thrown in through the use of dancer silhouettes and slicked-back hair.

Menswear also made its mark as models took to the runway in a series of tailored suit jackets and brogues. Dramatic glitter eye make-up by Pat McGrath was all that was needed to strengthen these looks.

Killer red-carpet LBDs wrapped-up the show to the sound of an old tango record. Daring v-necks spoke Miucica Prada’s message loud and clear through the collection she labelled ‘minimal baroque’: to be bold.

Which is your favourite look?

a naomi moment

Ouch! My heart went out to the sixteen year old, Nina Porter, as she fell on the Burberry Prorsum catwalk this week in front of the likes of Sir Phillip Green, Alexa Chung, SJP and Cat Deeley. If I had been lucky enough to get tickets to the show, I'd probably have ran over to give her a hug! Good on Nina for just ditching the shoe and getting on with though; at least she made an impression and it has allowed more people to know her name. The moment was definitely reminiscent of Naomi Campbell's trip at the 1994 Vivienne Westwood show in Paris which arguably made her.

Nina herself is gorgeous- ridiculously perfect bone structure, 90s cropped hair, a dash of quirkiness and a strong editorial look.

So, do you think Nina Porter is the next big thing?

quote of the day

"Jack Wills brings all the rahs to the yard, and they're like, put it on Daddy's card".

the best dressed of LFW

Another Fashion Week has passed here in London (cry!), but boy hasn't it been a good'un? Put the most self-important figures of the industry together to compete to out-do one another and how can we not get fabulous results? Olivia Palermo and Nicola Roberts undoubtedly topped the celeb style stakes, so let's have a little gange at what they wore over the course of the event...

Olivia Palermo

1) Pleated skirt, Marios for Topshop; 2) Tan Birkin, Hermes; 3) Minerva laser-cut suede pumps, Charlotte Olympia; 4) Vintage clutch, Hermes; 5) Biker suede jacket, Topshop; 6) Ruffle maxi skirt, Topshop; 7) Eve ankle boots, Charlotte Olympia; 8) Custom made zip jacket, Frank Tell;  9) Belle skirt, Diane von Furstenburg.

Ah, you've got to love it when the wonderful Olivia Palermo is in town! I was slightly taken aback when I noticed half her hair missing though, seeing as her hair has always been her strongest feature. I quite like though and change is always refreshing- what do you think? Olivia's style itself also appears to be evolving away from the cool city vibe of chunky jewellery, menswear and bold prints to a more classic look consisting of trademark jackets, black, flouncy skirts and minimalism. I'd honestly kill for the DVF skirt that she wore to the Julian McDonald show. She also appears to have a slight Charlotte Olympia shoe obsession going at the moment- they're gorgeous but their price tags definitely aren't!

Nicola Roberts

1) Black 2.55, Chanel; 2) Wolf print silk tutu dress, Topshop Unique; 3) Woodland turtle neck maxi, Topshop Unique.

I think it's fair to say, gone are the days of being labelled the 'ginger one from Girls Aloud'. I was actually pushed into Nicola in the paparazzi frenzy outside the Topshop Unique show (my friends were a bit too keen about getting in the background of her pics!) and in real life she definitely resembles nothing but a doll with her fierce hair, pale skin and tiny waist. I'm loving the simplicity of her LBD at the Vivienne Westwood Red Label show in particular. Nicola never fails to ooze sophistication and she should definitely be applauded for pulling off a full length dramatic print topped off with a turtle neck so well! The term 'style icon' isn't one which should be thrown around loosely, but Nicola Roberts definitely is worthy of the status.

The best of the rest

Anna Wintour made a flying appearance at the Burberry Prorsum show in an oversized aviator, tiered patterned dress and her trademark shades; alongside the wonderful Sarah Jessica Parker who dressed head-to-toe in khaki/camel military finished off with tousled hair- arguably one of her biggest style hits to date. In other news, Sienna and Savannah Miller kept it casual in acid skinnies and high-waisted tailored trousers backstage at the launch of their SS11 Twenty8Twelve collection. They look lovely, but probably didn't want to overshadow Jude Law's appearance at the show or have people talking too much about what they were wearing instead of their designs!

the rest is definitely still unwritten

Oh the irony of hearing this song as I indicated off the motorway, arriving back in my hometown after undoubtedly the best month of my life. Call me naive, but growing up I knew I didn't want anything else except the lifestyle of Lauren Conrad that was portrayed on MTV. And with a killer internship, I genuinely felt like I was living this dream.

I've made friends for life, lived in a city that actually inspires me, sat second row at fashion week, am certain about what I want to achieve and the words 'oh my God, Jimmy Choo is about to walk past us' have actually come out of my mouth. Doors are beginning to open for me, and although I'm expecting a bumpy journey, it's hopefully going to be a rewarding one. I've always aspired to be a career girl- the thought of being married by my late twenties with several children frightens the bloody hell out of me.

So why an egotistical blog now? I honestly don't know. Maybe it will be exciting? I guess I just like the idea of being brutally honest and yet somewhat mysterious. If you've stumbled across this blog and are still reading (I salute you!), I hope you enjoy whatever is going to follow from the mind of a Tainted Blonde.