How To: Wear Latex

Originally written for Liberty Belle (March 2015), read it here.

Kim Kardashian and Rita Ora have both been out and about recently in pink latex dresses. And you can steal their style. (Yes, really!)

Last week, Kim Kardashian and Rita Ora were both spotted wearing latex dresses in a particular shade of dusky pink. Latex clothing has been around in fetish wear and subculture scenes for a long time, its precursor being the bondage leather looks of 1970s punks. These days, with the nod from bodycon queen Kim K, its set to become a lot more mainstream.

This is easier said than done though as the look is very high fashion and not necessarily something you can just slip on for nipping to the shops. Separates such as bralets, skirts or leggings are the answer here and are only a small sartorial step up from the wet look/PVC trend. Mixing up colours and textures is another way to make latex more day-friendly, dusky pink with black or grey separates would be an ideal pairing. The head to toe latex look is very difficult to pull off, even Kim K accessorising her midi dress with a beige fur coat to soften the effect. Basically, try to avoid looking as if you’ve come dressed as Catwoman.

Both Kim and Rita’s dresses were designed by Japanese designer Atsuko Kudo, who has been working with latex since 2001, and frequently designs for Lady Gaga. She says that latex “holds you in like a second skin. It's empowering. You become like Superwoman!” It is definitely a very overtly sexy fabric choice, which is not for the shy. Its stretchy quality meaning that it has to be incredibly tight to the skin – enemies of bodycon beware.”

Latex is a versatile, beautiful medium which Atsuko Kudo’s new lingerie collection for her brand reveals. Alongside jewellery and hosiery she premiered lace patterns, filigree, fringing and fish scale effects all constructed entirely from latex. Both celebrities’ dusky pink dresses are available on her website along with some much more avant garde pieces, although with the steep price tag if you fancy experimenting with the style you had best stick to the cheaper (and probably much more wearable) PVC copycat versions on the high street.

Trends to Watch: LFW/NYFW September 2014

Originally written for Liberty Belle (September 2014), read it here.

Another September, another round of fashion weeks.

Each season we are bombarded with dozens of catwalk shows to fawn over but there are so many outfits it can be difficult to spot the stand-out looks. Never fear, Liberty Belle is giving you the run down of the most interesting Spring Summer trends that emerged from New York and London fashion weeks.

Unusually for this bright season, dark colours are everywhere. At Marc Jacobs, clothes inspired by military and nursing uniforms appeared in shades of grey, navy blue and camouflage green. Alongside this dark colour palette, large buttons and over-sized tailoring meant that the collection had a masculine/androgynous feel – something which Jacobs deliberately drew attention to with the bright pink Barbie dreamhouse set. The look here is extremely casual and far from girly, think Chrissie Hynde hair and minimal detailing in seatbelt-style belts and plain studs.

Black clothes also dominated the runway at Tom Ford in a sea of leather, shiny and sheer fabrics. Definitely a show for the summer goths, this presentation was full of edgy outfit ideas with capes, see-through shirts and awkward cut outs flashing the flesh of almost every heavily-eyelinered model.

Erdem showed dark clothes too, but this time in billowing chiffon and co-ordinated with panels of jewel-toned feathers. The cliché spring florals have also had an overhaul with blown up motifs based on greenhouse exteriors and gardening labels at Erdem and Burberry Prorsum.

Texture-mixing is a strong, emerging trend that will be very easy to replicate. Both Rodarte and Mary Katrantzou paired boxy, heavy jackets with asymmetric skirts in floaty, sheer fabrics. Taking inspiration for their collections from the unusual concepts of the deep sea and the evolution of the earth, these designers also showed heavy embroidery on delicate dresses covered in plenty of sparkles. Again, the darker colour palette of muddy blues and greens shone through.

Burberry Prorsum revealed a collection full of pastels with pieces in pleated net, denim and chiffon, giving this mismatching trend a far more wearable feel. The dresses covered in enlarged sequins are less practical, but still fit for everyday wear.

Fantasy, or more specifically nostalgia for decades past, is also featuring heavily on the catwalk. Ashish’s sequin-filled display demonstrated that the 90s revival is going to stay relevant for at least another year as an all-black model cast walked down the runway wearing more glitter than you thought existed. This show included denim and casualwear reimagined with sequin patterns of snakeskin and motifs of Kimye, Miley Cyrus and the One Direction boys on jeans and sweatshirts.

A nod to the sixties can be seen at both Thom Browne and Oscar de la Renta, though at complete opposite ends of the spectrum. While Oscar de la Renta took a more muted approach with lace cutwork, pastels and midriff-baring gingham separates, Thom Browne presented a whimsical collection that looked like the wardrobe Twiggy would have had if she worked in an alien circus. A mixture of textures also reared its head here, with classic Chanel-style jackets seen next to satin and sheer pieces. Both collections showed that pastels, prints and co-ords are going to be a big thing next summer.

So, plenty to choose from. Whether you aspire to be a pastel fantasist, a Patti Smith mini-me or a military babe there is definitely something for everyone next season. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be sat here waiting to see how ASOS interpret the head to toe sequinned look.

You Can Wear Gingham

Originally written for Liberty Belle (May 2014), read it here.

I have always been obsessed with all things girly. Frilly socks, pink dresses, tights with animals on – if you wore it when you were six I’m definitely wearing it now. This summer the most primary-schoolgirl trend of them all, the lovely gingham print, is returning and I can’t wait to welcome back to my wardrobe. If you’re not nearly as enthused by girly fashion as I am, don’t worry! Gingham has grown up for 2014, and it’s actually a lot more versatile than you think.

The colours have changed: pillar box reds and bottle greens of school uniform pinafores are nowhere to be seen and instead sugary sweet pastels are the shades of choice. Choose pink or blue to keep it casual, or go for lilac or sunshine yellow if you’re a fan of summer brights. Monochrome is also a great option, with tailored, skinny trousers, leggings and shorts in black and white check print being the most effortless way to nod to the trend.

This trend takes a lot of influence from prairie girls and Americana so red, blue and white are everywhere. Frilled crop tops paired with denim are a classic take on this look, with gingham scrunchies, headbands and socks all adorable possible accessories. There are lots of gingham shorts on the market too, so this style can be switched up however you choose.

A lot of brands are mixing up the sizes of the checks and big, zoomed in squares are the most popular. Find these on smock dresses and loose-fitting tops to keep the look completely fresh and out of the schoolyard. If you’re into graphic patterns, blocks of different sized checks and patterns such as hearts or cartoon flowers are ideal for making a bold, less saccharine statement.

Gingham print is the ideal print for beach days and warm nights, it’s cute without being overly twee and fun without being too silly. I have two gingham pieces in my wardrobe already (skinny red trousers and a lilac smock dress) and my mouse is currently hovering over the “place order” button of another.

Gingham is well and truly here for the summer!

Cartoon Style on the High Street

Originally written for Liberty Belle (August 2014), read it here.

The 90s revival is pretty much my favourite fashion thing that’s happening at the moment. Given that I -along with most of the Liberty Belle team- was too young to really appreciate the finer points of 90s style, I love that the opportunity to dress like Cher Horowitz or Sabrina Spellman has come back around again.

However, there is a trend linked with this revival that is much closer to what I can actually remember from my hazy early childhood years: cartoons.

Cartoon inspired clothing is almost everywhere you look on the high street this summer. From outrageously bright Disney printed leggings that sit just the right side of garish to dreamy Care Bear motifs, the chances are any cartoon you could possibly think of will be dangling from a clothes rail somewhere.

If you really want to embrace this kooky trend, the designs you should be looking for are a bit more interesting than the standard motif t-shirt.

Primark has the super bright, verging on the obnoxious corner of the market covered in its all-over printed leggings and sweatshirts. In a quick browse the other day I came across the Little Mermaid, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and basically any Disney character you want emblazoned across a range of jumpers. If however you’d like to be a bit more subtle and, let’s face it, a bit more girly in your childhood cartoon nostalgia, try looking for My Little Pony and Powerpuff Girls printed pieces in faded, pale colours.

This style is definitely geared to those with a sense of humour, and Lazy Oaf’s Garfield inspired collection is perfect. Think outside the usual realm of childhood favourites with their Garfield-printed socks, crop tops and swimsuits. Mickey and Minnie Mouse prints might seem like the most obvious and therefore most boring prints for this style, but the pieces involving this pair are refreshingly unusual. Find jumpers with motifs appearing on elbows instead of chests and dresses covered in hundreds of Mickey’s disembodied arms at ASOS.

Of course, if you’re not really the nostalgia type you can always give a subtle nod to the trend instead with some spotty Minnie inspired nail stickers, or even pick up something from the MAC x Marge Simpson collection.

However you want to play it, Cartoon style is a must have this summer.

Fairytale Fashion Hits the Catwalk

Originally written for the Liberty Belle blog, March 2014, read it here.

Catwalk fashion has always had an element of fantasy about it. But this year, designers went a step further and took inspiration directly from fairytales for their Autumn/Winter 2014 collections.

Ashish’s collection is a perfect example of modernised princess style with clothes completely covered in sequins and beads. Pastel colours and sparkles are the key features here, which is easily interpreted by layering up pearl necklaces over fluffy pastel jumpers. Personally, I am really excited by the 90s revival that fashion is experiencing right now and the off-duty princess style tulle skirts and glittering jeans of this collection are sure to find their copycat equivalent on the high street soon.

In a less saccharine approach to fairy tale style, Dolce and Gabbana have produced a beautiful, Red Riding Hood inspired collection full of references to traditional folk tales. This collection is full of floral prints in floaty fabrics with red as the obvious stand out colour, definitely something which can be copied on a smaller scale. Fairy tales take on a more woodland feel here with whimsical appliques of squirrels and foxes and touches of fur, a less innocent princess and a darker, more intrepid heroine. To replicate this look on a small budget, look for textured jackets and structured pieces with rich detailing such as gold buttons. Tones such as red, burgundy and gold are used in the key motif pieces, which are sure to be interpreted on the high street soon.

Some designers have taken a looser inspiration from the princess theme and come up with collections that are altogether spookier. Taking inspiration from Star Wars, Rodarte’s AW14 collection is gothic but still manages to be delicate and ethereal with soft layers of fabric. Though this is less wearable than other collections, the landscape prints and jewelled star effects will make for some pretty incredible statement pieces once they reach the high street. Also going for a less orthodox approach to princess fashion are Meadham Kirchhoff. Girly but with more than a hint of weirdness, their show featured models swathed in layers of pastel coloured lace, in some instances even wearing veils in an interpretation of the wedding dresses so many fairy tales end with. These looks seem like they could have stepped out of a Tim Burton film and are perfect inspiration if you prefer your fairy stories with a subversive twist. A veil might be quite tricky to work into an everyday look, but introducing an element of lace into your outfit is an easy nod to this trend that shouldn’t be too over the top.

As Lupita Nyong’o collected her Oscar last weekend in a pale blue dress reminiscent of Cinderella’s famous gown, you could practically see the cartoon bluebirds swooping around her head. It’s clear, princess-inspired fashion is going to be everywhere. There are so many different ways to interpret the trend; I personally can’t wait to embrace it.