Sister Jane Spring Collection 2017

I absolutely love Sister Jane's new Spring collection. The collection is an alternative take on the girl gang look. Instead of biker jackets and jeans think peter pan dresses, ruffles and bell sleeves. The designs are feminine, fun and true to the London based brand's retro style. 

1. Forget Me Not Jacquard Dress

2. Confetti Shadowplay Dress

3. Belle De Jour Volante Sweater

I thought I'd start with my three favourite pieces. The forget me not jacquard dress has the most gorgeous floral design and flared sleeves. It  reminds me of a dress from Valentino's A/W 2013 collection. The jacquard material is also used in cigarette trousers and a blazer. The confetti shadowplay dress is one of my favourite dresses from the collection. The combination of tweed and pleats is very Chanel-esque and the lace back really adds to it. Tweed is a major feature of this collection. They have with a pink and grey tweed blazers, skirts, tops and dresses. The belle de jour sweater has amazing ruffle detail on the sleeve, it also looks like the comfiest jumper ever because it is in a soft suede material. 

1. Mint Condition Blouse

2. Saved by the Bell Dress

3. Teen Idol Tunic Dress

 Exaggerated sleeves are such a big trend this year and a major feature of this collection. I love the pleated front and the black brooch on the mint condition blouse. The saved by the bell dress is a modern take on the fifties silhouette, with bell sleeves and a full a-line skirt. I love the fun doodle print on the teen idol dress. It is also featured on the red teen idol ruffle blouse. 

1. Chartreuse Lace Top

2. Madeline Coven Dress

3. Primrose Tiered Top

There are some lovely mustard coloured pieces in the collection, including the chartreuse lace top which has the most amazing flared sleeves. The peter pan dress is always a staple of Sister Jane's collections and it returns this season with a contrasting mint pussy bow. The primrose tiered top is in a delicate pink shade with amazing tiered ruffle sleeves. 

1. Macroon Oxford Dress

2. Main Squeeze Rabbit Dress

3. Dear Diary Coven Dress

Sister Jane is one of the best places for retro dresses with a modern twist. The macaroon oxford dress is a classic sixties shift dress, however, the ruffled bib gives it a preppy look. I love the pearl embellishment on the collar of the mustard dress. The main material of the dress is also slightly see through in places to reveal the lace overlay. The dear diary coven dress is one of the few darker pieces of the collection. The high neck collar, ruffle sleeves and swing shape is a modern take on the LBD.

Support your local girl gang and visit the Sister Jane website

The Band Jumper | Hades

You must think I'm crazy talking about jumpers in July but these band jumpers from Hades are just too damn cute to wait until Autumn to show you! I discovered this brand when I seen a picture of Carrie from WishWishWish wearing the pink Smiths jumper. Hades is a British knitwear brand that was established in 2015 and uses Scottish lambs wool. Their current winter collection is called 'Some Girls are Bigger Than Others' and is based on the celebration of cult status bands and musicians. The collection reminds me of Bella Freud's famous 1970 Jumper. They are priced at £160 so they are cheaper than Bella Fraud but still a little upmarket. The collection is available to shop on the Hades website or at Liberty London. Liberty London have an exclusive version of each jumper from the collection. The inner fangirl in me wants to buy them all ... 

Sonic Youth

Patti Smith

The Smiths

The Slits

Visit the Hades Website

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Sophia Webster Autumn/Winter 2016

all photos from vogue.co.uk

I should be studying now but I couldn't resist posting about Sophia Webster's Autumn/Winter 2016 presentation at London fashion week. The presentation is a collaboration between shoe-queen Sophia Webster and queen of everything else Edward Meadham. I didn't expect to see Edward Meadham grace my instagram feed this morning because of the closure of Meadham Kirchhoff six months ago so I was very pleasantly surprised to see such an amazing collaboration. In an interview with AnOther magazine, Edward Meadham reveals that Sophia's inspiration for the collection drew from Lydia Deetz from the film Beetlejuice (played by Winona Ryder) and Miss Havisham from Dicken's Great Expectations. 

Although Sophia's collection has taken a gothic turn, her playful feminine style remains in the butterfly adorned stilettos, crystal encrusted clutches and crushed velvet bows. Meadham translates Sophia's gothic femininity into clothing by creating delicate lace veils, flower crowns and satin mini dresses. Meadham's signature use of tulle gives a personal mark to the collaboration. The influence of Lydia Deetz can be seen in the veiled headpieces, the thigh high lace up heels, and the beaded clutch bag that reads "I myself am strange and unusual". The statement bags which make unapologetic jokes like "bored to death" and "drop dead gorgeous" inject a touch of black humour into the collection.

The drama of the presentation is partly due to the setting at Soho's House of Saint Barnabus. The collection is presented to the backdrop of beautiful stained windows lit with purple mood lighting. Some of the shoes and bags are presented on boxes of dead flowers and dried butterflies which give the presentation a Dicken-esque feel. The gothic drama leads to the presentation of the wedding dress inspired by Miss Havisham. The dress is made from reems of lace which form a trail at the back and cling to the chapel's wall at the front. Part of the lace dress is cut out, frayed and torn to resemble decay. Webster's intricate white lace heels are visible under the frayed lace. The model also holds a tongue in cheek clutch bag which reads "wifey for lifey". I love the drama, fun and gothic romance of this collection... plus the shoes are to die for! 

Christian Dior Autumn/Winter Haute Couture 2015

all photos from style.com

Dior's Autumn/Winter Haute Couture show first caught my attention on Instagram because of the amazing set. The structure resembles a type of greenhouse with pointillist panels suspended over a runway of purple astro turf. The collection reflects on historical moments in art by referencing impressionism, pointillism and the work of the Flemish masters. The exaggerated fur sleeves on the over sized coats references the famous painting by Titan while the white silk dresses reflect the focus on female purity by Dutch artists like Vermeer. The collection often sways between purity and sexuality. Dresses are cut with deep v necks and side slits that are held together by gold chains - which reminds me of the dress worn by Veruschka in Blow Up. Coats are lightly held together to create the impression of concealment and the virginal quality of the long dresses is thrown off balance by the injection of bright red, leather and velvet. The collection also makes a dramatic contrast between lightness and weight. White silk dresses are offset by chain mail and over sized coats are worn over flared trousers. I think the contrast between conservatism and sensuality makes this collection feel modern and dynamic.   

photo by Pierre Debusscher