Musings and Memoirs Of A Fashionista

Is that you Rihanna?

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 02:20:00 +0000

Most people who know me are aware that I am really not a fan of Ms Fenty for a few reasons. One of which being that, personally, I feel that her sense of "style" leaves a lot to be desired, ~~and doesn't leave much to the imagination,~~ let's just say.

However, I was pleasantly surprised when I came across this image of her wearing a fabulous olive-green, halter neck creation from Alexander Wang's pre A/W 2012-13 collection whilst she promoted her new film Battleship this week.
She paired the dress with black Christian Louboutin pointed courts and a Maria Black gold bracelet.

It's always good to give praise where it is due and so I'll say that she looks gorgeous and rather elegant in this number. It's also a far cry and lovely change from what we're used to: the 80's grunge look she seems to be consistently sporting of late.

Well hats off Ri - more of the same, please..

..Less of this...

!!!!!

There are no words...

Handsome Prints

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 03:34:00 +0000

The Print Trend - Spring/Summer 2012

As I'm sure you've observed, prints are a massive trend for this Spring/Summer season.
The High Street is exploding with a whole plethora of prints that are vibrant, exciting and fun to wear and most definitely make a fashion statement with!
Currently, some of the most popular prints are:

Baroque

Tank top, blazer and cropped bandeau - River Island
Maxi dress - Mango
Shorts - Topshop

Floral

Jeans, sleeveless blouse - Topshop
Wedged sandals - New Look
Scarf - Zara
Body con dress - H&M
Brogues - Accessorize

Animal

Scarf - Accessorize
Leopard print body-con dress - Topshop
Snakeskin shift dress - French Connection
Snake skin hand bag - Fiorelli
Leopard print peep toe shoe - Kurt Geiger
Snakeskin bangle - Accessorize
Zebra print cardigan -Dorothy Perkins

Aztec

Head band - Urban Outfitters
Shopper bag - Mango
Chunky knit cardigan, sequinned dress
and sleeveless top - ASOS
Beaded bangle - Forever 21
Jeans - Topshop

There are many different ways to wear prints. But just how you pull a printed outfit together depends on your personality and to some degree, how daring or adventurous you are!

So let's take a closer look at the various ways to wear prints:

Pairing with a matching block colour:

Prints and matching block colour on the catwalk: PPQ and Rue Du Mail S/S 2012

On Style Icons: Joan Smalls and Solange Knowles both wearing a fabulous print and matching block colour outfit

The easiest way to wear print (and one way to guarantee pulling it off!) is the conventional way - to simply pair it with a complimentary block colour.
Not sure which precise colour matches with your chosen printed piece? You're not alone. I find that this is a common query that Clients raise in the Personal Shopping appointments that I conduct.
What I always advise is to try this fail-safe technique: simply select one of the prominent colours in your printed piece and pair it with an item in that very same colour. Voila! There you have your perfectly colour coordinated outfit!
Pour examplé:

ASOS

Printed accessories:

Have you never felt brave enough to wear print but want to test the waters this season? Maybe begin with small steps and ease your way into this trend by opting for printed accessories instead, ie. shoes, scarf or a handbag etc.

Ashley Olsen and Beyoncé don animal print accessories.

Clashing Prints:

Clashing printed vest and skirt - ASOS

Olivia Palermo totally nailing the clashing print trend:
she pits together leopard print

court shoes and floral print trousers - an interesting
and more subtle

way to clash prints

Clashing prints is the most adventurous and fun way to put together a printed outfit but is certainly only for the most committed of fashionistas!

If you've not ever ventured into the world of clashing prints but want to experiment and are unsure how to do so, here's another style tip: select 2 clashing prints of a similar size within the same colour palette and team them together.

Here we have Solange's interpretation of what an exciting clashing print outfit should look like using this technique:

As always, Solange inspires us with her take on the trends.

To view my clashing prints outfit, go to my Style Diary.

What is your favourite print this season and how will you wear it?

Paris Fashion Week 2012 Highlights - Alexander McQueen A/W '12 Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:50:00 +0000

Sarah Burton outdone herself with her spectacle in Paris yesterday. What was displayed was innovative creativity at a high level.
Sci-fi and futuristic elements (the mirrored visors were just genius!) fused with abundant flamboyance in the form of voluminous and interesting shapes cleverly using ostrich feathers, goat fur and Mongolian lamb.
Generally, I find myself most intrigued by edgy and unusual creations and love to blog about them. I find this collection particularly inspiring:

Images courtesy of style.com

Red Carpet Fashion - The Oscars 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:54:00 +0000

The Best Dressed

Some of my favourite ensembles from the "Glamouratti Squad" at this year's Academy Awards..

Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab

Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoii with Lorraine Schwartz jewels.

I love the fact that she is wearing a dress created of fabric
which has fluidity to it as her voluptuous body shape
requires this type of fabric as it is more flattering.

Cameron Diaz in Gucci Premiere

Cameron Diaz has light (blonde) hair and light (blue) eyes
therefore she is able to carry off light, bright colours well.
Especially as her skin is also somewhat tanned.

Stacy Keibler looking positively stunning in Marchesa

Judy Greer in Monique Lhuillier

Viola Davis looked fabulous in a custom-made Vera Wang gown.

How is it possible that someone can have so much cleavage on display
and still manage to look so classy? I love this pea-green colour
on her - it suits her beautiful, glossy skin tone very well and her
golden brown tresses are a great contrast.

Glenn Close in Zac Posen

Rose Byrne in Vivienne Westwood with Chanel jewels
and Jimmy Choo shoes.

She embodied glamour in
this gorgeous shimmering number.

Images courtesy of Style.com

The show that everyone's talking about - London Fashion Week Highlights 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:22:00 +0000

Burberry Prorsum Autumn/Winter 2012 Collection

Burberry sets the standard and, according to Vogue "acted as the official announcement of some of London's trends" for this coming Autumn/Winter.

In synopsis: prominent features were heavy texture - tweed, wool and corduroy, stripes, large pocket detailing, high-waisted elasticated belts with bow features, calf-length skirts, blazers and coats with double-breasted, ruffle and peplum detail.
Key colours are shades of mustard, burgundy, olive and brown.

The "big hitters" of the fashion world show us how to layer up for next season.

London Fashion Week 2012 Highlights - Mary Katrantzou - A/W'12 Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:47:00 +0000

Mary Katrantzou is one of the designers of the moment and the spotlight has been on her unusual and inventive collection at this year's LFW which took place at the Topshop Showspace.

Lampshade-sculpted dresses and Elizabethan corsetry, outfits were accented with spoons, phone dials, typewriter keys, luggage tassels and clothes hangers.
One dress was even cleverly created from yellow pencils - how droll!
Dramatic, stiff and structured silhouettes contrasted the softer and fluid creations.
These pieces would probably not be a choice for an everyday outfit and they would prove to be daring for even the most outlandish among us. But I certainly do appreciated the uniqueness and creativity of this collection. It is no wonder that she was the winner of the Emerging Talent Awards at last year’s British Fashion Awards

Mary Katrantzou currently has a much coveted Spring/Summer '12 capsule collection in Topshop featuring the signature prints that she is famed for which has already "flown off the shelves"! A minimal amount of pieces are still available online.

Style File: Solange Knowles

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:02:00 +0000

Solange Knowles seems to be in a league of her own when it comes to her unique style. She just never appears to get it wrong.
Over the month of February she is the featured style icon on vogue.com for the "Today I'm wearing.." photo blog where she shares her chosen ensembles everyday.

When I realised that she is this month's "Today I'm wearing.." style-sharing star, I decided that I just simply had to blog about her!

I love her chameleonic and adventurous style and outfit choices and the fact that she is clearly not afraid to explore with a broad variation of colour, print/pattern, texture, style and design.
The words fabulous, elegant, original, ethereal, bold are just some words that come to mind when describing her style.

Here is her photo blog to date:

February 1st and 2nd

First outfit: T by Alexander Wang sweater, Guess by Marciano leather pants, BCBG shoes, Linda Farrow glasses and a CC Skye clutch . Second outfit: Tibi trousers, Alexander Wang shirt-dress, Dries Van Noten shoes, Aldo rings, and Illesteva glasses

February 3rd and 6th

Third outfit: H&M gloves, a Velvet sweater, Gucci leather leggings, Phosphorescence glasses, Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte shoes. Fourth outfit: Torn by Ronny Kobo minidress and Alaia shoes

February 7th (Day and Eve)

Fifth Outfit: Proenza Schouler jacket with a DVF blouse, Armani trousers, a vintage YSL envelope clutch, Lorraine Schwartz turquoise earrings, an Urban Outfitters hat and Lia Spohia and Konstantino rings. Sixth Outfit: Vera Wang gown

February 8th and 9th

Seventh Outfit: Velvet sweater, Zara trousers, Mulberry Alexa and Linda Farrow sunglasses. Eighth Outfit: Vintage jumper, American Apparel pleated skirt, a Phillip Lim belt and Miu Miu dragonfly shoes

February 10th and 13th

Ninth Outfit: Opening Ceremony crop top, Cacharel leather skirt, Zanotti gold wedges and a Cavalli clutch. Tenth Outfit: Alexander Wang romper and shoes by Dries Van Noten.

Solo, I salute you!

Shoegasm!

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:41:00 +0000

Zara are always on point when it comes to their footwear range -ever elegant, chic and cutting edge.

As soon as I clapped eyes on this foot-candy from Zara, it was love at first sight! Making at least one of these pairs, or maybe even both (!) the new additions to my ever-increasing shoe collection will definitely be a step in the right direction!

Paling Into Significance

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:05:00 +0000

The Pastel Colour Trend - Spring/Summer 2012

"Spring is drenched in the palest of shades.."

Louis Vuitton SS'12

Turn your attention to subtler shades for Spring/Summer 2012 which are set to massively take precedence in the season soon to be upon us.

I'm talking about soft and muted tones: mint greens, rose pinks, lemon yellows, glacier blues and as always we observe the catwalks for inspiration:

Calvin Klein Collection, Diane Von Furstenberg, Dolce and Gabbana, Erdem

As above, wear your choice of pastel head to toe, if you're feeling daring enough.

Or as an interesting alternative, revive a trend of yesteryear by pitting or "blocking" together layers of diverse pastel hues in one outfit or combine varying shades within the same palette:

3.1 Phillip Lim, Just Cavalli, Fendi, Etro

A pop of bright colour, in the way of shoes to accent your candy hued oufit is guaranteed to add a dramatic effect, as seen on the Just Cavalli catwalk (above).

You can also rack things up a notch by opting for pastels featuring fusions of metallics, prints or even one pastel colour fading into another:

Giambattista Valli, Jonathan Saunders, Hervé Léger, Richard Nicoll

Style Tips: Choosing the correct pastel shade is important as you want to ensure that it compliments your skin tone .
Those with pale skin, light hair and light eyes should avoid certain muted colours, particularly dusty rose pinks and beiges as it will be sure to "wash you out" and create an insipid complexion. Instead opt for warmer tones such as lemons and greens.

So for this Spring/Summer 2012, be sure to walk into the light!

Hairspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:24:00 +0000

So, I made the decision about a year or so ago to cease the damaging and detrimental process of chemically straightening my tresses and have since been attempting to go back to my curly roots.
This has involved a fair few hair cuts, use of various products, a new hair regime and an immeasurable amount of patience (!) but my spirals are now back!
The mission is far from over, however - oh no, I press on! I intend to continue to grow my hair so that it eventually resembles this...

LOVE!

That is all....

Kate and John

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Kate Winslet is absolutely smouldering in her second installment as "poster girl" for the brand St John in their Spring 2012 ad campaign.

The striking, sultry look in her eyes, the solid pose, the great use of bright lighting, flawless make-up and the flattering muted pink knitted jumper that she's modelling - revealing a little shoulder (in a classy manner!), all cohesively create a super-chic and stunning image.

The second shot takes on a more relaxed tone as she reclines on the couch looking effortlessly elegant.

The combining of the deeper, low contrasting hues

(i.e. dress, the couch and background) offset by the snakeskin clutch works very well.

It's no wonder that the Creative Director for the ad campaign, George Sharp, has claimed that women have displayed "receptiveness to her beauty.."

Picture Perfect....

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:12:00 +0000

...Versace's Spring/Summer '12 Advertising Campaign

Gisele Bundchen always exudes such allure and appeal.

Clearly this is the reason she was chosen as 'the face' of Versace's beautifully shot Spring/Summer '12 ad Campaign.

I love the prominent, strong and vibrant varying shades of blues and greens that dominate each image with the effective use of radiant sunlight aswell as shadowing, complimented by the crisp white Versace pieces.

White is one of Spring/Summer's colours and Versace's white ensembles feature some typical and classic detailing that the label is reknowned for such as the gold stud embellishments which, in this collection, are arranged to resemble delicate marine creatures.

Each of these pieces are so feminine and the separates in particular (i.e. the cropped bandeau top and pencil skirt) will definitely only appear flattering on the super-toned, super-bods among us! Take note of Gisele's perfectly ample abs!

I would personally love to get my hands on the shorts featured in the 3rd image - trés cute!

Red Carpet Fashion - The Golden Globes 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:45:00 +0000

Last night, I was sat in front of my TV a few minutes before the Golden Globes 2012 began pre-empting the lavish and elaborate designer gowns that would make an appearance on the Red Carpet and who would be the "fairest of them all".

Hollywood was out in full force last night and as usual, the "Glamouratti Squad" (as I call them) did not disappoint...

In The Nude

Charlize Theron chose an uber feminine detailed Dior gown with elaborate waist bow and bejewelled headband . She broke one of the "Fashion Rules" with a plunging neckline whilst also displaying a lot of (rather toned) leg, but appears to have made it work! Another plunging neckline gown was donned by Kristen Wiig with very simple details: a central knotted feature and thigh-high split - design of Bill Blass. Jessica Biel captured some vintage glamour in her lace embroidered Elie Saab Haute Coutre number. Heidi Klum opted to tone it down and wore a subtle but elegant Calvin Klein Collection option proving that, in this instance, less really is more. She completed the look with a bold, turquoise statement necklace by Lorraine Schwartz.

Vibrant Hues

Laura Dern looked graceful in this full length, fully embellished sparkly emerald green Andrew Gn gown. Canary yellow was pulled off very well by Paula Patton in her ruched detailed Monique Lhuillier dress. Her dark features and olive skin tone allowed her to successfully carry off this bright colour. Madeleine Stowe's violet corset, fishtail gown was beautifully custom-made by Vera Wang. Penelope Ann Miller looked a vision in her ruby-red Pamela Roland sweetheart neckline, bandeau gown. She teamed it with a contrasting silver clutch but matching ruby red lips.

Metallics and Embellishments

Jessica Alba was stunning in a Gucci lilac, embellished, ruffled, tiered gown that flowed into a sheer train. Love that she also went for the "matchy-matchy" look with the Roger Vivier clutch. Nicole Ritchie shimmered in this figure-hugging Julien McDonald beaded metallic silver dress - one of my personal favourites. Lea Michele dared to bare in transparent mesh with some metallic silver feather design detail which obscured her "modesty". This gown is from Marchesa's Spring/Summer '12 collection. Tilda Swinton stood out by giving a nod to the Androgyny trend with this metallic powder blue structured blazer with broad, strong shoulders and cropped 'boyish' hair. The slightly rolled up sleeve was a nice touch. The stiff fabric of the blazer is a clever contrast to the softer, fluid, sheer skirt that she paired it with. All together a great and memorable Haider Ackermann ensemble.

The Weird and the Wonderful (or just plain weird!)

Evan Rachel Wood's unusual but rather flattering Gucci Premieré ostrich feather-embellished gown must've caused heads to turn. I actually happen to like it! It is different and the contrasting fabrics and embellishments work well together.There's no blending into the crowd with this one! I'm rather disappointed by Meryl Streep's vintage Jaegar choice, however. The cotton fabric and rather office-esque design to the upper part of the dress makes it rather dull and almost unfitting for the occasion. I definitely don't think that this was Sarah Michelle Gellar's best look. I'm convinced that she could've done better than this billowing smoke-printed blue and white ensemble by Monique Lhuillier - I'm really not a fan. Sorry Ms Lhuillier!

Well there you have it - until next year..

Chanel Pre-Fall 2012 Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:04:00 +0000

Karl Lagerfeld created some absolutely beautiful ensembles with his presentation of a Paris-Indian fusion that is the Chanel Pre-Fall 2012 Collection showcased at the Paris-Bombay Métiers d'Art show a few weeks ago.

Rich, luxurious fabrics and elaborate accessorising and embellishments produced such opulence.
I have a great appreciation of the intricate details in this collection, along with the combination of textures, the mixing of metallic colours and general grandeur of each piece.
Little commentary is needed as the creations definitely speak for themselves..

Images courtesy of style.com

Sparkle, Shimmer and Shine - Fabulous Festive Looks

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:37:00 +0000

Well that time of year is upon us, once again...Christmas! And hasn't it spun around rather rapidly this year?!

Are you slightly anxious about what to wear for all the Christmas and New Year Dos that are happening?! Well, I have selected some on-trend pieces to give you ideas on what to wear for this party season along with some tips on accessorising and dressing for your shape.

It really is all about maximising on the glam this festive season! Sequins, beading and glitter in abundance and this is the time of year when you can go completely over the top and get away with it! After all, its tradition, right? What's more, the catwalk sparkles massively this season, with designers such as Dolce and Gabbana leading the way:

Dolce and Gabbana A/W '11

Now, if you really want to shine (literally!) at the Christmas Do this year, then opt for the ultimate statement dress - a fully sequined number, like the two featured below.
Team with contrasting but complimentary coloured accessories that also contain hints of the colour of the dress or chosen footwear to pull the outfit together cohesively.
But you can also, alternatively, just let the dress speak for itself and keep accessories to a minimum.

(left to right, anti-clockwise) River Island gold,full length, sequinned dress, Aldo green siaperas, Topshop deco embellished clutch, Dune champagne platform court, Kurt Geiger bejewelled black sandals, French Connection cobalt blue sequinned, cap-sleeved dress, Topshop beaded clutch.

Are you tall with super-long legs and a slim frame? Then maybe go for a dress like the gold-sequined full-length River Island gown (as above). Do you possess an enviable curvaceous figure - particularly voluptuous hips? Then you can "rock" a dress like the French Connection cobalt blue which is structured to be fitted to show off that hour-glass shape whilst still keeping it chic.

Notice the similarities between the High Street River Island ensemble and the Dolce and Gabbana gown:

Optimum glitz: Right: Dolce and Gabbana. Left: River Island.

Metallics are also all the rage this season so experiment with mixing textures using other on-trend fabrics such as fur, velvet and leather with your chosen metallic piece for an edgy, "glam rock" look. Fur is always a great way to bring in some háute couture:

Left to right, anti-clokwise: Topshop velvet gold studded corset, Topshop silver metallic pleated skirt, Zara patchwork sandals, Topshop Premium white square earrings, Warehouse flower double Alice band, Zara metallic dress

Whatever your outfit of choice this season, ensure that you carry it off with grace, individuality and class.

Happy holidays!

Vogue's Online Fashion Week - Chanel Party Beauty Video

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:36:00 +0000

Make-Up Giant Chanel have shot a short video for the second day (today!) of Vogue's Online Fashion Week 2011 with ambassador Kate Montano sharing tips on how to look after winter skin, creating the perfect party looks and festive glamour along with Red Carpet make-up "cheats" using Chanel products. Enjoy....

Chanel Party Beauty Video - CLICK HERE

Oh Beyoncé! You are beautiful, but where are your clothes, my dear?!

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:05:00 +0000

I was one of the millions of viewers, undoubtedly, who was intently watching ITV's "An audience with Beyoncé" last night.
It has to be said, the girl's really been blessed with some raw talent. Her stage presence and commitment to her performances is unparalleled and as a fellow singer, I do also appreciate her incredible, effortless vocal ability.

However, I have a a little gripe with our friend Bey, I'm afraid, and that is her apparent increasing desire to be "scantily clad"! A particular example being the ridiculously risqué embellished catsuit (below) that she donned on the stage during last night's performance. The design and flesh-coloured fabric was very blatantly structured to make her appear to be almost naked (tut-tut), with just a few sequins and diamontés strategically placed to partially conceal her modesty.
Suffice to say, there was almost nothing left to the imagination.
Beyoncé has a fantastic body with covetable curves in all of the right places, but some of them should really just be for Jay-Z's eyes only.

The revealing catsuit, ITV performance

Here's another "barely there" (and trés tacky) outfit that Beyoncé rocked back in 2009:

MTV Music Awards 2009 - Red corset and suspenders...really, Bey? Oh, this is very disappointing!

It seems to be all the rage for artists to parade in next to nothing whilst gyrating erotically across the stage - Rihanna is an avid believer in this, as is JLo, Lady Gaga and even our Kelly Rowland appears to have jumped on that bandwagon. These are all attractive and beautiful women who have no need to strip off in order to be viewed as such.

"But it's a stage outfit and she's an artist..", I hear you say. But is that ever really a viable excuse to be indecently exposed? I ask you: does a breast or derrière cease to be what it is just because it is being displayed on a stage as opposed to the street?

What is of paramount concern is that these artists are essentially "role models" to the impressionable young girls of today who hold them in high esteem. They are being conditioned to believe that there are no boundaries when it comes to attire and sadly will desire to emulate this type of tacky dress-sense.

It is not my wish to come across as self-righteous but I am expressing these views in the hope of stimulating thought and encouraging modesty.

One of my mottos that I have in regards to fashion and displaying dignity and class that I would like to share is this: you can be appealing without revealing.
Don't subscribe to the lie, ladies - less is definitely NOT more and certainly not at the expense of your dignity.

On the flip side, and in the spirit of striking a balance in this argument, here are some images of Beyoncé where she looks postively stunning, classy....and fully dressed!

Milan Fashion Week - S/S 2012 - Gucci Blazer Beauties

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 04:50:00 +0000

"Ok, so I seriously just want absolutely EVERYTHING I see..!!" - My first thoughts whilst intently watching the Gucci S/S '12 Fashion Show from Milan Fashion Week on Vogue this week.

The blazers, in particular, were blazing! (Sorry, a tad cheesy, I know!)

I have a thing for blazers at the moment, I tend to go through these little phases where I must have as many as I can possibly get my hands on of one particular fashion item- in varying versions, of course!

A couple of months ago it was all things leopard print (although I had to curb that desire after a few weeks as it was just getting ridiculous!)

For the present moment, the collarless, cropped blazers and jackets are really drawing me in!

These were prominent on the Gucci catwalk for S/S '12, with splashes of embellishments to add some spice!

I'm sure it can be unanimously agreed that Frida Giannini was "right on the money" with these designs - they are just beautiful:

I love the strong structure with straight lines and the "sculptural glamour".

These blazers are perfect for angular shaped upper bodylines.

Now, where's my credit card...!

"Testing, Testing..."

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 02:50:00 +0000

Recently, it's been all about the hustle. You see, as an emerging creative, you have to be able to network effectively and be proactive about seeking opportunities for the furtherance of your career. Well, I have been doing just that! Building on the momentum of the V&A Event (Afropolitans) that I styled at, I've recently collaborated with some photographers, designers and other creatives on various projects. One of these was a Test Shoot where I worked with a fantastic photographer named Lucy Eleanor Brown for the mutual development of our portfolios.

So, a couple of sunny Sunday afternoons ago, I traipsed over to Bank, London - my Stylist suitcase in tow - where our location shoot would take place.
The theme of the shoot was edgy, urban with a chic twist and I'd managed to"pull" some really cool and unusual pieces that I thought would work well and fitted with the concept. I was excited about unleashing my creativity!

The end result was fab! The model - Charlie Jackson (formerly with Storm Model Management) was fantastic and extremely photogenic (as you will see below). She really had that special "something" and contributed massively to the success of the shoot.

We were all pleased with the outcome and I thoroughly enjoyed working on this project!

More to come..watch this space!

For the full collection of images from this shoot, please visit my Portfolio page.

Style File: Victoria Beckham - Pregnant And Still Prim!

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 02:27:00 +0000

It has to be mentioned: Victoria Beckham does look pretty good in her pregnancy! She seems to have had a fortunate escape from signs of swollen ankles, bloatedness, skin break-outs or any other horrid ways that the body can sometimes alter during those 9 months of having a "bun in the oven" - much to her relief, I'm sure.
What's more, her wardrobe doesn't appear to have altered much either during her pregnancy - no frumpy floral maternity dresses or detestable dungarees for this singer turned fashion designer. In fact she has managed to maintain her impeccable style with ease throughout her pregnancy and be as consistent as ever with churning out one stylish outfit after the other. Clearly, the nonchalance with maintaining a great appearance due to the exhaustion of pregnancy is completely alien to Victoria. But hey, would we really expect anything less from this style icon who is reknowned for her efforts to always look her pristine best?!
Here's some of her latest "get-up":

I love this structured jacket - the silk lapelle and broad shoulder detail adds interest and is great for those with narrow shoulders. She has teamed it perfectly with the over-sized clutch.

Don't you just love that little rectangular bag? Very versatile.
I need to get myself a pair of skinny leather trousers!

There's just so much I like about the first outfit - the woollen jumper dress: the loose-fit and how comfortable and easy it is to wear. Also the fantastic way that she has accessorised the dress with that lovely scarf in a low-contrast colour (thumbs up!), the suede ankle boots (absolutely fab!) and tote bag. This dress is a good option for slim, angular or cuvacious (slim) body types alike and is great for the AW 11 wardrobe!
The leather trim on that casual LBD (second image) adds a touch of pizzazz to what would otherwise be a very plain dress, and again, those great ankle boots.. Love!

This is quite inspiring and I hope to look equally as good when I am pregnant!

Afropolitans - V&A Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:56:00 +0000

Last Friday was truly the highlight of my Fashion Styling career thus far and I find that I am actually still slightly overwhelmed by how amazing an experience it was! Ok, so let me explain: I was invited to come on board as the Lead Stylist for a fashion installation at an event called Friday Night Late: Afropolitans, which was held at the prestigious V&A Museum, London.
It was an evening exploring African photography, fashion, style and identity in celebration of the exhibition Figures & Fictions: Contemporary South African Photography.

I had the pleasure of collaboratively working with the Show Producer - the lovely Minna Salami (MsAfropolitan) and Ola Shobowale, who was the Creative Director and host of the show.

I was absolutely thrilled and very honoured when Minna called me, one evening, to ask me to be a part of this fantastic project. It was great to throw ideas around with her and Ola and be involved with organising certain logistics.
As Lead Stylist, my role, in particular, was mainly to liaise with the MUAs, hair stylists, the shoe sponsor, my assistant etc and brief them on the concept for the outfits and make-up that Minna had chosen.

I therefore put together a style board and make-up concept board (below) which provided a useful visual aid for the MUAs and hair stylists and made it easier to share with them the looks that she wanted to create:

Afropolitan Style Board

Make-Up concept board

On the day of the event, I was almost ready to combust with excitement!

It was my first experience of having so much freedom to be as creative as I pleased and put together outfits using beautiful pieces from talented African designers: Eki Orleans, KemKem Studio, Duro Oluwo, Chichia London, Beatrice K Newman, Bestow Elan, Tiffany Amber and many others.

Accessories were by Bianou, Hayley Kruger et al and the fantastic shoes were kindly lent to us by Mosaic.

The requisite purpose of the Afropolitan fashion installation was to harness and display the essence of African beauty, elegance and splendour.

So my whole aim was to do my best to fulfill that by enhancing the model's natural beauty by creating a variety of outfits teamed with accessories to suit their body-shape, height and complexion. I wanted to ensure, above all, that each model looked strikingly beautiful, distinguished and somewhat endearingly unusual in order to ultimately emphasise the uniqueness of the beauty of African women .

Compounded with this, Minna and I also discussed creating original and eccentric looks that the ordinary woman would not necessarily wear, which I believe I managed to pull off!

Here is a taster of the finished products:

KemKem Studio (left)

Beatrice K Newman

Eki Orleans

Chichia London (jacket) and Zebra (trousers)

Beatrice K Newman

Neckpiece by Bianou (left)


Headpiece by Hayley Kruger


The Kora player - Jally Kebba Susso. Models strutted down the catwalk to his renditions

Some of the Designers: (l-r) Hazel of Eki Orleans, Christina of Chichia London and Erzumah of Bestow Elan and MUA Misha Terret-Njie

Myself with Shingai Shoniwa from the Noisettes (centre) and models

Dream team: myself, Minna Salami (Show Producer) [middle] and Ola Shobowale (Creative Director).

[I will aim to add a few backstage shots as soon as I can!] For more catwalk images, please see my Styling Portfolio.

What an amazing event it turned out to be! The response and turn-out was incredible, so much more than we anticipated! The Raphael Gallery where it was held was completely full to capacity, to the point where, unfortunately, some were unable to enter!

We have received rave reviews and there have been requests for us to recreate a similar event at some stage..so watch this space!

[Images courtesy of Photographer Rob Sheppard - www.robsheppard.com ]

Loud Mouth

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:44:00 +0000

Having injected some brighter, vibrant colours into our Spring/Summer wardrobes, why not incorporate some into our make-up bags also?!

Bold colour to make those puckers pop is all the rage this season. Pay particular attention to ranges of orange and coral, which has been prominent on the catwalks and a notable S/S 2011 Beauty trend.

Marc by Marc Jacobs


Milly by Michelle Smith

Spring 2011 catwalks of J. Mendel, Ohne Titel, Imitation, and Mill

Are you sold? Thought so..well here are some suggestions of orange or coral lipsticks to compliment each type of skin tone to help you select the correct shade:

Pale Skin:

YSL- Dewy Papaya

(Volupté Sheer Candy range)

Other lipstick hues that suit pale skin are:

Esteé Lauder - Melon ,£18 (Pure colour range), Esteé Lauder - Orange Poppy (Pure colour gloss stick range), £17.50

Medium/Olive Skin:

MAC - Meltdown, £13.50

Other lipstick hues that suit medium skin are:

Esteé Lauder - Crystal Coral, £18 (Pure colour range), Dior - Andalouse [435] (Rouge Dior range).

Dark Brown Skin:

YSL: No 21 (Rouge Pur Couture range)

Other lipstick hues that suit dark brown skin are:

Esteé Lauder - Coral fantasy, £18 (Pure colour range), Nars - Beautiful Liar (sheer) or Casablanca (satin), both £17.50 .

For more info on rockin' lippy this summer, see my article: Gettin' Lippy With It.

[Images sourced from respective cosmetic websites]

Graduate Fashion Week 2011 - Highlights

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:48:00 +0000

Graduate Fashion Week swung around again last week (5th-8th June) at Earls Court 2, London.
The initiative behind this event is to provide a platfom for the best BA Graduate fashion designers from Universities across the UK to showcase their talent.

What tickles me about GFW is that there is always plentiful evidence that these creative innovators of tomorrow truly believe in "stepping out of the box", veering away from conventionality and bravely venturing into the world of unrestricted originality. It is definitely one of the fashion scenes where you can behold creativity at it's best. I admire the use and juxtaposition of multiple shapes, concepts and colours.
It's refreshing that with GFW there really are no rules or criteria, just free reign to concoct the kookiest, quirkiest and wackiest of fashion.
The fun element of fashion is harnessed and what you therefore experience is this:

Rachel Cogley

Nicola Chisnall

Laura Sorensen

Edward Lord

Sarika Pancholi

Lucy Penney

Laura Jane Bailey

[Images courtesy of Photographer, Rob Sheppard - http://www.catwalk-capture.com]

Backstage Report: Afro Hair and Beauty Live 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:29:00 +0000

Over the most recent May Bank Holiday, once again, I was flitting around backstage at a Fashion Show! On this occasion it was at the Afro Hair and Beauty Live event which took place at the Business Design Centre in Islington.

I have been meaning to blog about this a lot sooner, but balancing a full-time job as well as other fashion-related projects outside of that is certainly no menial feat! (More on these projects in the coming weeks)

Sleep deprivation is all too familiar nowadays!

The Afro Hair and Beauty Show has been running for the past 30 years and is an event tailored for women from African and Caribbean heritage.

It is reknowned for it's mini shows and exhibitions featuring the most outlandish hairstyles and wacky fashion creations!
A sea of various boutiques and stands can also be found where companies and brands promote and sell their products and services, using interesting demonstrations.

During this two-day event, I worked as part of a team who jointly co-ordinated the ~~mayhem~~ logistics and assisted with the styling at two installments of the "Zed Eye Presents" fashion shows where established as well as emerging designers showcased some samples from their collections.

There was also a pop-up boutique where some of their ensembles were on display and available for purchase.

The first show featured samples from the emerging designers including Lanyero, Adopted Culture, Monsura Boutique, Yaa Ataa Bags, Honey Malalou and Yummi Kouture.
The second show was a display of the established designers: Zed Eye, Ayakai Couture, Afro-Chique, Oheme Ohene and Tina Lobondi.

Here are some catwalk shots:

Lanyero

Lanyero Designer (left)

AfroChique

Honey Malaolu

Tina Lobondi

Yaa Ataa Couture Bags

...And some of the backstage happenings...

Myself and a fashion assistant organising the collections and "running order" prior to the show

Doing what I love best..

The uber-talented MAC MUA- Stacy Okafor

Backstage, minutes before the show (and crazyness!) begins. All models dressed in Zed Eye Designs

(L-R) Stacy (MUA), Yolande (Show Overseer), Zi (Fashion Designer of Zed Eye Designs) and Bumi Thomas (photographer).

Backstage Report: House of Fraser Mini Fashion Show

noreply@blogger.com (Sharna-Marie) — Fri, 27 May 2011 11:52:00 +0000

Last week I had the fortunate opportunity to manage backstage at a Fashion Show at House of Fraser, organised to aid the promoting of their Personal Shopping Service.

The idea was to create a mini show using pieces from House of Fraser's concessions.

It was great to be a part of this project and compared to the larger shows that I have worked on, particularly London Fashion Week shows, this mini show really was a "walk in the park"! Even though there were a few moments of mania backstage, generally, it was a lot slower paced. There was also a lot less planning and general co-ordination to do than I'm used to!

I arrived at House of Fraser in the afternoon and my priority was to ensure that we had all the necessary items to create complete outfits along with other logisitics as well as helping with co-ordinating the rehearsal.

When it was "show-time" I was backstage managing the dressing of the models, putting outfits together and cueing them for the catwalk.

I had the pleasure of working with a great team of gorgeous models who, thankfully, kept the diva-esque behaviour to a minimum!

A range of beautiful pieces were used from the following collections: Day Birger, Anya Hindmarsh, Biba, Warehouse, Oasis, Ted Baker, Stefanel, Bastyan, Pied a Terre, Label Lab, Hugo Boss, Linea, Episode and a few others.

The items selected were catergorised into 4 different looks or collections: Casualwear, Workwear, Occasionwear and Eveningwear.

Model behaviour: The lovely models - Julia (left) in halter-neck bead-trimmed dress and wide-brimmed hat by Ted Baker. Alessandra (middle) in leather shorts, silk Safari shirt and silk scarf by Biba. Arna (right) in long tassled dress, cardigan and necklace by Day Birger - All from the Casualwear Collection.

I simply loved the Biba outfit (modelled by Alessandra - middle). It is the type of outfit that is perfect for those hot summer days spent, for example, on an excursion whilst on holiday, or a friend's BBQ and such occasions.

Here's a closer look at the pieces:

Biba beige, silk, safari blouse - £66
Deep beige, leather shorts - £75

Style Tips: The fluidity of this fabric is preferable for those with a curvaceous upper-body as it will comfortably flow over the curves and the loose fit allows for ease of movement.

The structured shorts can be proudly donned by those with very shapely, toned legs.

I also fell in love with this beautiful Ted Baker silk bead-embellished maxi dress that was showcased as one of the Eveningwear looks. I unfortunately was unable to get a shot of it being modelled but found an adequate one on the Ted Baker website:

Orange delight - Ted Baker - £249.00

I am contemplating purchasing this dress as I think it would be ideal for a friend's wedding I am attending over the summer in Italy. This would also work well for a summer ball or a gala evening.

Style Tips: As this dress is loose fitting and flowy, it works well for those who either do not have a defined waist but are, rather, straight / angular-figured or those who have unwanted weight surrounding the waist area as it will obviously conceal this.

If you have very broad angular shoulders, a strapless dress will only serve to emphasise them. Therefore a dress with thick straps will work best for very broad angular shoulders as it will give the illusion of the opposite, i.e. narrower shoulders.

To my dismay, it was not possible to get any images of the outfits on the catwalk on this occasion. But here's a snippet from backstage:

Myself with the fashion show organiser, Vicki (leopard print dress, blonde hair) and the lovely models

The show ran relatively smoothly with good feedback from the organisers and audience.

[Images courtesy of tedbaker.com and houseoffraser.co.uk]