Chanel Haute Couture S/S 2013

What: Chanel Haute Couture S/S 2013

Where: Grand Palais, Paris

When: Tuesday 22nd January 2013

It's Paris Couture Fashion Week! 

And who better to set the stakes high than King of Couture, Karl Lagerfield!? 

Set in an enchanted forest created under the wooden dome of Grand Palais, the beautiful fairy-like models of Chanel Haute Couture amazed the fashion crowd with their gothic take on Midsummer Night's Dream. 

Models such as Stella Tennant, Cara Delevingne and Lindsey Wixson walked in the sugary sweet wonderland, clothed in flowy floral concoctions and feather-coated bell skirts. 

A darker, more sinister take on the classic spring trend, Chanel used dreamy flower prints, chantilly lace and their trademark tweed in a palette of basic pales, creams and blacks. 

The drastic eye make-up (resembling mine after watching The Notebook) put a lovely contrast against the la-di-da type designs and, on some of the models, feathers and neat netting were stuck on instead of lashes, which gave a pretty effect on the runway.

 I think this was a creative and unique show, and Karl Lagerfield did a great job! Not to mention, one of the more extravagant dresses took a scary 2000 hours to make! No pain, no gain.

-R xo

Model Muse: Gemma Ward

                                                                       

 Gemma Ward, age 25, is a fashion model turned actress from Perth, Australia.

She was scouted at the tender age of 14, when she was accompanying her friends to a model search competition, Search For a Supermodel. She was dressed in 'a big, gray barn jacket and was covered in mud, having just returned from her Uncle & Auntie's farm. The scouts weren't interested in her friends though. They wanted her. 

When asked if she was interested in taking some tester shots, she initally said 'No, thank you." and kept on walking. Unknown to her, having already noticed her supermodel potential, forged her parents' signature, and thrust her in front of the camera.


  In 2003, aged just 15, Gemma made her Australian Fashion Week debut, wowing the anticipated crowds.

  At 16, she was featured in prestigious fashion magazine, US Vogue, and had walked for the likes of Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta. 

 At 17, she beat THE Kate Moss to the job of promoting Calvin Klein's new fragrance. Now that's something.



  After being declared as the 'Model of the Moment', and having s hugely successful career throughout 2003 to 2008, Gemma decided to retire from modelling to take up acting, something she had wanted to do for a long time.

  

She has now had roles in movies such as Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides, The Black Balloon, and is currently filming the big feature film adaption of The Great Gatsby!

I find her beauty very ethical and natural, and she has such an intriguing style, which is essential for any model. Not to mention, Karl Lagerfield has previously declared her as his 'muse'. Wow.

My favourite picture of Gemma Ward is her cover for Numero magazine. I drew this cover for an art project back in July, not knowing who she was, but determined to find out! Here's the picture I drew and the original:

Hope you like it!( Its A3 ,so sorry for the awful quality!)

-R x

Daphne Groeneveld

Daphne Groeneveld was born on the 24 of December 1993 in Leiderdorp, Netherlands and was first scouted whilst shopping with her mother in Amsterdam  by Bloom Model Management.

She works for London, Milan, New York and Paris modelling agencies and has taken part in numerous campaigns this year, such as;

• CK Fragrance S/S campaign
• Jill Stuart S/S campaign
• Dior Addict Fragrance S/S campaign 
• Roberto Cavalli S/S campaign
• Dsquared2 F/W campaign
• Vogue Korea, Vogue Russia, Self Service, i-D covers

 And has looked beautiful in all of them might I say! To be honest, she really is a beautiful model. With her long blonde locks, bright blue eyes, big, full lips and flawless figure. She can carry off any outfit without it looking too heavy or frumpy on her slim frame of 179 cm.

She has graced the front covers of Vogue with Tom Ford, walked in Valentino, Chanel and Dior Haute Couture fashion shows in Paris. She even recieved dance moves from the queen of pop Madonna for a Miu Miu ad campaign. Wow! Can me and Rebecca get dance moves from her!?

-Olivia x

Mary Katrantzou S/S 2013

WHAT; MARY KATRANTZOU S/S 2013

WHERE: LONDON FASHION WEEK

WHEN; 17TH SEPTEMBER

Cara Delevingne backstage at Mary Katrantzou S/S 2013

Reknown internationally for her distinctive digital prints, Mary Katrantzou wowed the crowds at London Fashion Week with her unique and powerful collection.

Using international stamps, from countries such as Venezuela, Mongolia and Finland, and bank notes, including Norway and Germany, Katrantzou created a vivid and bold line, that showed a more sophisticated side to the quirky designer.

A mix of bold and bright, to pale yet perplexing

Inspired by world history, global exploration and Guilloche pattern play, the streamlined and fitted dresses were a beautiful contrast against the perplexing prints. 

Some of the more outrageous prints of the collection

Originally from Athens, Greece, Mary attended the prestigious Central Saint Martin's College in London, where she completed a Bachelor's and Master's Degree. Originally developing prints for interior design, she later turned to fashion, although many of her interior influences can be highlighted in her previous, and current, collections.

Models backstage having their make-up applied before the show began

The make-up for the S/S show was minimal, except a singular stripe of eye shadow, in brights and earthy hues. The hair was slicked back, with a small bun at the nape of the neck, so not to distract from the loud outfits.

As in the words of Mary Katrantzou herself, her collections are full of 'bold graphics and have a hyperrealist aesthetic', and, judging by the exciting prospect of this season's show, we can't help but agree.

Cara Delevingne showing off her best poses backstage

-R x

None of the photos are our own :-)

Matthew Williamson, London Fashion Week

 "I am known for my use of colour, print and embellishment."

Matthew Williamson, by far one of my favorite designers (My duvet is even one of his creations from one of his most recent collections; Matthew Williamson Butterfly), was born in Manchester and soon became a graduate from Central St Martins college of The Arts.

(Me and Rebecca have always wanted to go there!)

His style is very bohemian, laid back, extremely colorful and just something special. His first job was a freelance design project with Marni. Soon enough, he was employed by Monsoon and Accessorize, following frequent trips to India.
These trips gave him the confidence and knowledge to put his own unique swatches into development which later became his first collection 'Electric Angels', shown at London's Fashion Week in 1997.

Moving on from the old stuff and onto the new stuff, did you see his creations at this years London Fashion Week!? W-O-W. Looking at his SS2013 collection, I can't help but feel excited!

The outfits are absolutely breath-taking, using mainly blues, pinks and oranges. Symmetrical and ombre patterns are a definite must right now, every girl should have a piece of clothing like that in their wardrobe.

The models makeup was neutral and their was hair pulled back in a bun with a center parting. C'est magnifique in my eyes. Hey, take a look for yourself...

- Olivia :) x