SO TOTALLY

Outfit Post #1: Topshop Fashion Role Model

2012-05-06T20:01:00.000+01:00

Nails in 'Art School - £5

Fold Over Waistband Maxi Skirt - £18

Animal Crop Tee - £12

Earrings - Discontinued

All from Topshop!

Frances Bean x Hedi Slimane

2012-03-23T13:43:00.000+00:00

Liberty Print Wrap Watches

2012-01-31T21:03:00.001+00:00

Above: Edenham Liberty Print Wrap Watch. £85

From Michael Kors to Libery London. Newly released, these Liberty print wrap watches showcase some of the stores most iconic and sought after fabrics. Encased in a leather strap that wraps twice about the wrist, and with a square face, this collection of watches reflects individual style and taste. My personal favourites are the edenham and capel prints, featured above and below. For only £85, not only do you get a pretty accessory, you will be buying into Liberty heritage of prints.

Above: Capel Liberty Print Wrap Watch. £85

Above: Claire-Aude Liberty Print Wrap Watch. £85

Above: Fairford Liberty Print Wrap Watch. £85

Above: Wiltshire Berry Liberty Print Wrap Watch. £85

Above: Betsy Liberty Print Wrap Watch. £85

Michael Kors: Chronograph Watch

2012-01-31T20:35:00.000+00:00

I saw someone wear this the other week and I could not take me eyes off it - without a doubt, it's gone straight onto my luxury list of must-haves.

I've always been a fan of Michael Kors watches, and this one is particularly unique and beautiful with a high-shine rose gold strap and navy dial. You can get one in Harrods for only £239...hardly breaking the bank!

Of things to come x Italy 2012

2012-01-10T19:42:00.000+00:00

It's happening & I cannot wait!

Flights are booked and I'm planning my travels through Italy. First stop - fair Verona. After having watched 'Letters to Juliet' recently, I was taken back by the fantasy surrounding Casa di Giulietta (Juliet's House). People from all over the world come to visit the Capuleti household to sit in her courtyard and write her letters, to which her secretaries will reply. I want to write my own.

For once, I have the means to go and do anything I want - I've no ties holding me back and I have no plans. With my main passion being travel, I've decided to follow my own feet and set out by myself. Most people are shocked that I'm going solo, and want to know why - well, after the last few years I've had, you'd understand why I'd want to be alone, a little alienated, and back in one of my favourite countries...I also miss the ice-creams and pizza.

If you know any local haunts, have any words of wisdom or live in the Veneto or the north - please get in touch. I'd love to hear from you.

Topshop Christmas Windows '11 - Armoured Beauty

2011-12-22T09:09:00.001+00:00

Under white spotlights and with repurposed wood-chip trees scatted about, Topshop windows this Christmas sport an almost alien, yet somewhat futuristic, quality. Mannequins have glittered lashes and wear golden armoured masked delicately laser-cut and moulded to hover in place.

Liberty Christmas Windows '11: Maidens & Swans, Peacocks & Fantasy

2011-12-20T17:26:00.000+00:00

No Christmas trip to London is worthwhile without going to see the extravagant window displays, and Liberty is famous for their intricate stages. This year, centring around the theme of the Twelve Days of Christmas, Liberty windows are a captivating with walls of peacock feathers, golden vintage bird frames and tiara clad swans, drenching in glitter and with designer items delicately draped about.

Oh' The Weather Outside Is Frightful x London Lights

2011-12-20T12:21:00.000+00:00

From Westfield Stratford to Bond Street to Brook Street to Selfridges to Oxford Street to Liberty London - such a long, but successful, day of shopping! It may have been drizzling instead of snowing in the capital, but the Christmas lights sure lifted the spirits even if my bags weighed me down.

Above: Oxford Street, Selfridges.

Below: St Molton Street leading to Brook Street.

Manolo Blahnik x The Elves & The Shoemaker

2011-12-16T23:11:00.001+00:00

Well excuse me if this isn't the cutest little keepsake!

Manolo Blahnik, renowned shoe designer, has used his creative and remarkable illustrating talents to create a half biography–half fairytale version of The Elves & The Shoemaker, written by his longtime friend, fashion writer Camilla Morton.

I stumbled across this fashion memoir, recently published only last month, on Net-A-Porter (although it's also available in Waterstones) and it has instantly gone onto my wish list. I fell in love with his drawings after receiving Manolo's New Shoes for my 21st, and even more so when I met the man himself at his book signing in Liberty, London.

At only £12.99, it must be snapped up quick!

Food For Thought

2011-12-15T21:48:00.000+00:00

It has been a busy last few months for sure, with the last year of uni coming to a close and a dissertation hauntingly looming overhead, but 2012 is definitely going to be an awesome year, with a sure prospect of moving my Topshop love to the official HQ! Yes - I am terribly excited and with all fingers crossed. The only issue on my mind is how to update my wardrobe so I fit in with that swanky lot!

All images © Topshop / topshop.tumblr.com

National Wedding Show, London x 2011

2011-12-14T22:17:00.001+00:00

Its been a while since the event, but here are a few shots from the National Wedding Show, 2011.

Backstage...

A few shoots for the Implausible Blog; see the full video coverage including a little commentary of the event here.

Vauxhall Fashion Scout: Ones To Watch SS12 x Malene Oddershede Bach

2011-10-04T00:22:00.000+01:00

Digital animal prints in acid yellows, vivacious turquoise and bright pinks - Malene Oddershede Bach certainly bought the runway to life. Her collection drew inspiration from the sensation of loss and the feeling of unfulfillment, mixed with the psychedelic films of Gaspar Noe and David Cronenberg. I do find it hard to see where Malene Oddershede Bach translates loss and unfulfillment here, other than the faux sleeves, cut-out details and asymmetrical bodices - I believe this was a wholly position and bold collection! All one colour twin-sets were definitely a highlight, with black as the stark contrast to the rest of the collection. Intricate embellishment on skater dresses emphasises femininity but also showcases the designers extreme talent.

all photographs © Natalie Green / So Totally

Vauxhall Fashion Scout: Ones To Watch SS12 x Alice Lee

2011-10-03T23:52:00.000+01:00

With apparently no inspiration, Alice Lee mixed soft knits with leather stitching, creating strong silhouettes with bold statement additions. Ridged hems, large sculptural cowl necks and alien-like head gear, Lee's collection was a stark point of difference paired with the other Vauxhall Fashion Scout One's to Watch. Where the others had fluidity and an obvious femininity, Lee focused on rigid shapes and clean cuts, with the body-con key. The palette was mainly monochrome, once again, with red as the bold colour addition. Overall, a weird and wonderful collection that pushes the boundaries of knitwear fashion innovation.

all photographs © Natalie Green / So Totally

Vauxhall Fashion Scouts Ones To Watch SS12 x Phoebe English

2011-10-03T23:24:00.002+01:00

Phoebe English was another Central Saint Martins graduate named as a One to Watch for SS12. Her collection focused on heavily pleated shift dresses with black leather slips, raw edges and long fringing. Wholly a monochrome palette and boxy silhouettes, it's organic quality draws the line, making it a simple but unique and extremely wearable collection.

all photographs © Natalie Green / So Totally

Vauxhall Fashion Scout: Ones To Watch SS12 x Shao Yen

2011-09-30T21:38:00.002+01:00

During LFW AW11, I went to the Charlie Le Mindu Off-Schedule show and was shocked to see models walk down the runway starkers, only wearing overly eccentric Gaga accessories. Now, a little bit of flesh isn't such a controversy, but it makes me wonder how on earth would the average woman wear such a collection! Sometimes, fashion has to be looked at like an art form or expression and not simply as garments we clothe ourselves in - Central Saint Martins graduate, Shao Yen, fits into this category for me.

When I first saw this collection, it evoked images of Asian fishermen. The triangular black weaved net hats, sheer satins and brushed mesh dresses inspired me to imagine a life at sea - sobre and somewhat macabre, perhaps even a shipwreck but somehow with elements of Asian culture and ancient tradition. However, when reading about Yen's actual inspiration, I couldn't have been further off the mark! It's all a matter of interpretation and to have a collection translated through another's eyes, especial through those who created it, can be fascinating. Yen's inspiration came from images of 80s-90s street wear, punk, bondage and tribal women, but in particular, an image of some prostitutes!

I was interesting to see how the body could be shown or exposed in a different way and the different meanings of that. For example, if it's tribal it might be for decorative reasons but the prostitute has to show their body to earn a living. So I am trying to bring those elements together and they all have the same kind of raw and rough finish. - Shao Yen

Waist high splits, chest cut-outs and mesh bodices were certainly one way to experiment how the body was put on show. Sheer fabrics and body clinging silhouettes didn't leave much to the imagination either. Leather straps across the body clearly evoked a bondage and darker side to the collection while a seasonal mustard was a refreshing splash of colour.

Vauxhall Fashion Scout: Merit Winner x Leutton Postle

2011-09-30T20:57:00.000+01:00

Leutton Postle is a luxury knitwear label that experiments with riotous colours and surface textures, creating unusual statement patterned pieces for the daring and bold woman. Created by Saint Martin graduates Sam Leutton and Jenny Postle, the duo were the named recipients of the Vauxhall Fashion Scout SS12 Merit Winner award and I was lucky enough to attend the show. To see my coverage of backstage and pre-show going ons, click here.

Jumbo fringing, chunky crochet knit patchwork skirts, one legged trouser slips and an array of sewn geometric designs with plaited detailing - this collection is unique and pushes every boundary of fashion design. Asymmetrical shoulders and neckline cuts, intricate detailing and with loose fitting poncho silhouettes, this collection evoked images of African femininity.

To see the full show, click here. I conveniently placed myself at the end of the runway so I was the first to see the models as they walked out, and had a good view when they headed back. At 4:27 you can actually see me on the right, telling the other photographer to get out my way! Click here to see a short video I took of the final credits. I'm fairly new to the video capacities of my camera but expect to see plenty more clips in future posts as I get the hang of it all.

Behind the Scenes: Vauxhall Fashion Scout: Merit Winner x Leutton Postle

2011-09-28T22:38:00.000+01:00

In this industry, it not always about what you know, but more of who you know that gets you places. As I've mentioned in previous posts, my chance meeting with talented blogger Farrukh, from The Implausible Blog, completed my SS12 London Fashion Week. One stroke of luck saw me behind the scenes of Vauxhall Fashion Scouts One to Watch & Merit Winner Shows.

This was a totally new experience for me, watching the rush before the show, even though I'm no stranger to the talents the showcase in VFS. In 2010 I did a summer internship at the leading commercial online fashion forecasting company, MPDClick/Mudpie. While dabbling in fashion forecasts for the upcoming seasons, I was also given the chance to contribute to their online monthly publication. My first effort was focused on the Merit Winner of Vauxhall Fashion Scouts at the time, Eudon Choi. To see my article click here, but I will be adding it in a later post to archive it here too.

So before I publish my report on the actual show, I thought I'd share my backstage experience. The below pictures were all for the SS12 Merit Winner, Leutton Postle, even though I was wondering between rooms and weaving my way through models for the Ones to Watch show too. Reports for all shows will follow shortly:

Leutton Postle is a luxury knitwear label that experiments with riotous colours and surface textures, creating unusual statement patterned pieces for the daring and bold woman. The lip make-up for this show mimicked the colours in the actual collection, with haphazard application, often uneven and spreading onto the face.

All the models clothes were ordered, packed and labelled at the back of the room ready for when make-up and hair was complete.

If the models weren't getting their hair done, they were sat at the mercy of the make-up artists who had inspirational pictures of the desired look they had to create. With little room to maneuver, artists and models alike were working in very close proximity - I tell you, there wasn't much glamour in that! Especially when it came to the models getting changed into their designated outfit for the show...

Last minute adjustments and mends were being made all over the place!

Backstage I could get a little bit more up close and personal with the collection - just look at these shoes! So utterly random, and dare I say, not very durable, these shoes were another mimic of the whole collection with a mass of different surface textures and a mash of colour. Every pair had the be repaired before the models headed out onto the runway as the yarn kept unravelling. We also had one model face-plant in the practice walks backstage! Luckily, the final show ran perfectly.

Before the show, all the models were posing for the media. One guy asked these two models to blow a kiss - I don't know where he was from or where the picture/video of this is - but as he was taking it I swooped in and took my own sneaky pic.

When getting in order just behind the scenes of the runway, ready for the trial walks before the audience was let in, the team was literally on their hands and knees making very last minute alterations - those shoes did not want to stay intact!

Still in their own gear, the models are waiting for the trial walk down the runway. All are wearing the shoes belonging to the collection as to get used to walking in them for the actual show.

The venue is more or less empty as the models do their practice run. All the make-up and hair team are out front to watch, with most of the photographers already set up and waiting at the end of the runway.

Bernard Chandran SS12

2011-09-28T20:00:00.001+01:00

Admittedly, I hadn't really heard of a Bernard Chandran on the fashion scene before I was kindly invited to his show on September 16th. While having a Pret A Manger lunch in the rose garden in Hyde Park, I thought I'd brush up on the Malaysian designer before I scooted to my new LFW location down Grosvenor Place, at the Grand Gallery of Il Bottaccio. It was a strange location to have a runway show with models walking round corners and shabby seating arrangements, but Chandran sure seemed to attract a crowd. I spotted even spotted a few celebs, including Jay from Channel 4's Dirty Sexy Things and Sugababes Jade Ewen.

I was quite disappointed with my photographs on first glance and was half considering dismissing publishing them at all. Most images look like the models were speeding by surrounded in some ethereal light, or that I kept dropping my camera mid-shot! Then, looking back over the collection, my first impressions were of a futuristic glamour, a new-age luxury - and suddenly, my photos actually made sense. Sheer organzas over delicate satins mimicked 50's elegance with floor sweeping prom dresses and elbow length gloves. Traditional cuts were updated with asymmetrical detailing, exaggerated bodies, side splits and mullets. The eye make-up made the whole look, as the electric blue liner, in stark contrast to the models darker skin, were meant to be an imprint of cat-eye glasses without the whole 'dated' appearance. Beginning with luxe metallics and soft champagne, pops of bright pink and turquoise shocked the audience, and trims of feathers, cut outs of lace and simple surface embellishment added interest throughout.

All above photographs @ Natalie Green / So Totally

I didn't get a decent shot of the designer, Bernard Chandran, as he walked round the runway with his key piece, so I borrowed one from someone who did. If you want to talk logistics, the woman in the beige and pastel green dress (bottom left) is Jade Ewen, as mentioned above, and I would be standing behind Chandrans head...One second later and I would have been in this shot!

@ kris atomic

Caroline Charles SS12

2011-09-23T14:45:00.000+01:00

Caroline Charles was my first show of London Fashion Week SS12, after regrettably giving up going to Corrie Nielsen. Perched on the second row, I was in the perfect spot as the models posed in alternated coloured spotlights walking back along the runway after their strut to the heap of photographers.

Classic glamour with an over tone of vintage 1920's Chanel-esque silhouettes, Caroline Charles is no stranger to the runway having been established for over 40 years. Twin sets, front pleated buttoned up shirts, heavily embellished bow-tie necklaces and blazers lent her SS12 collection to a conservative and mature consumer, with a touch of French Riviera and, dare I say it, a little Sex And The City! Bold flashes of colour and prints of gingham, china florals and polka dots were in contrast to a selection of monochromatic pieces, with the straw hat acting as a key accessory. Overall, an effortlessly delicate collection denoting luxury and a refined classic taste.

PRESS: London Fashion Week SS12 x The Implausible Blog

2011-09-23T12:36:00.000+01:00

The success of LFW SS12 was all thanks to Farrukh, from The Implausible Blog. Watch his amazing video coverage below, and watch out for me!

London Fashion Week SS12 Begins!!

2011-09-17T10:16:00.000+01:00

It's that time of year again for London to host the Spring/Summer collections by renowned fashion designers from all around the globe, and of course I was there to snap everything first hand. Unfortunately, this season, the 'Press' criteria has been kicked up a notch so UK Bloggers, such as moi, are only issued with an Exhibition Pass. Don't worry, I do plan to fight my case but initially I thought my chances of sneaking into fashion shows were bust. However, while queueing for Caroline Charles, I met a follow blogger who was kind enough to invite me along to a few shows, including behind the scenes, parties and more! So apart from saving my day, Farrukh has totally made my London Fashion Week!

Kind thanks to Farrukh for the photographs

It's the little things...

2011-08-17T12:49:00.001+01:00

This post is in aid to my despair when, yesterday, I went in search of the Mulberry Heart friendship bracelet, featured in a couple posts previous, only to find that it is no longer available!

I'm sure you can still get hold of it somewhere, but it's not exactly the same if you can't see it on the site. I'm gutted...but naturally there are plenty of other little wonders I want to collect and I thought I'd share just these three...

First, is this simple 22k rose gold coated skull bracelet by newly graduated designer, Leila Kashanipour of LeiVanKash (£90). Don't be surprised if you haven't heard about her yet, but keep your eyes peeled as she is quickly grounding herself as an extremely talented and unique jewellery artist. I have become fond of quite a few of her pieces, so will be following her developing career with some interest.

The Blonde Salad has already featured the skull bracelet. If you look closely enough, you'll also notice she is wearing the 'Peace' Mulberry friendship bracelet too!

Next up is this delicate creation by Redline. The Pure Bracelet comes in two colours and boasts a single white 0.05ct diamond set in 18ct gold: the pink string symbolises fantasy, whilst the orange symbolises energy. At a pricey £349 each, I am attracted by its simplicity and subtle nature.

Finally, an 18ct gold Hamsa charm bracelet by New York-based brand, Halleh's (£425). The talisman charm is from Persian culture and is a symbol of good luck. I find the notion behind this charm very interesting so I would not only wear this bracelet as a delicate addition, but also for the meaning and symbolic reference.

Waterfall Leather Lust

2011-08-17T11:21:00.001+01:00

It's coming to that time of year again when the stores are starting to fill with knits and coats, snoods and boots - summer '11 is well and truly over!

Already, I have my heart set on a few pieces. One such item on my wish-list is this beautifully crafted luxe washed-leather Rick Owen's black biker waterfall jacket. 'Ain't it a beaut! The label has an air of edgy sophistication, which is right up my street. The only downer is that to get my paws on one of these would set me back a staggering £1'320, and that really brings a tear to my eye. No doubt it would be an investment piece though - I live in my old Topshop leather.

To make matters worse, Freja Beha Erichsen, one of my favourite models and girl crush, already has this as a statement piece...

Fear not - I have found a Zara alternative for £139. It's not exactly washed or worn leather, so it might have to take a few beatings before it looks half as good as the Rick Owens creation, but at the fraction of the price I suppose you can't argue.

Heart & Lock Mulberry: New WANT

2011-08-08T15:58:00.000+01:00

It's a Monday and it's come to that time of day when time seems to have some the an abrupt and rather painful stop -

So naturally I've taken to pointlessly surfing of the net and I have just stumbled across this adorable friendship bracelet from Mulberry which has perked me up a little and has gone straight on my wish list! So simple and delicate, this could be worn as an everyday statement with even the possibility of sentimental value if bought by someone special as a mark of friendship. At only £55, the branded golden Mulberry heart is on an adjustable black waxed cord, making it a lasting and affordable piece.

Kate Moss x Terry Richardson

2011-08-01T14:03:00.000+01:00