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.