Every spring is the only spring - a perpetual astonishment. ~Ellis Peters
After a long winter and the death of Alexander McQueen, Sarah Burton stepped into the tragically and usually treacherously high heeled shoes of his label. She did not do so with the intention of breathing life into a label that had lost it. She paid tribute to an artist taken before his time revisitting motifs from old collections as well drawing inspiration from Spring as a season itself. The collection saw classically McQueen feather bodices and flowing printed chiffon skirts as well as smart and clever tailoring with torn shoulders and double waists, creative cutouts, ruffles galore, pirate buckles and embroidered military jackets. Drawing on Spring the collection began with virginal whites like snow drops creeping up through the ground-the collection came to life on grass pushing its way up through wooden floors in search of light.
There were also intricately weaved wheatsheaf dresses and hair thatched like the roof of a farmer's house. Butterflies came out of hiding too to adorn dresses and ornate wedges-perhaps a metaphor for the brevity of life ala Keats.
"I almost wish we were butterflies and liv'd but three summer days - three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain."
— John Keats (Bright Star: Love Letters and Poems of John Keats to Fanny Brawne)
Gold lace and black flowers almost looked stitched straight into the skin in the way of weeping willow dresses and chiffon was dyed and pleated to look like the twists of a wood grain or a sky swollen with rain.
In the finale dress Nimue Smit, with the face of a wood nymph floated down the runway in a lilac feather gown worthy of Persephone, the greek goddess of spring, pulling the buds up through the soil by hand to see the light of a new Spring.
On-screen couple Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams lit up the cover of W Magazine promoting their new film 'Blue Valentine' which has received rave reviews and even Oscars talk during its film festival premiere and press tour.
'Blue Valentine' is a character study by director Derek Cianfrance charting the romance of a married couple through a series of flashbacks weaving present and past with a beautiful soundtrack. Casting Ryan Gosling makes this a definite must-see for me as a huge fan of his work on screen and on piano in his dark, gothic band, Dead Man's Bones.
Never heard of Ryan Gosling and want to see more of his films? I'd suggest either quirky tragicomedy 'Lars & The Real Girl' or thought-provoking, quote-worthy crime drama 'United States of Leland'.
I don't think it's any coincidence that 'Carey' is Latin for beloved. I can't be the only person whose fallen head over heels for Carey Mulligan's softly spoken classically British accent and adorable dimples since seeing 'An Education'. Her appeal stretches across the pond at the very least with Vogue US casting her as their latest cover star in a couture shoot.
She also wore a customized Christopher Kane galaxy print dress to the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of intriguing new book to film adaptation 'Never Let Me Go'. Carey stars in the film with two of my other favourite actors, new Spiderman Andrew Garfield and premiere regular Keira Knightley.
The length and high neckline are demure whilst the tight bodice and clashing heels inject a little playful sex appeal. Carey is both beloved and beautiful.
I save photos of celebrities wearing inspiring or comment worthy outfits daily to share with you lovely readers and obviously with my absence a backlog has amassed. Hopefully you don't mind at all and I'm showing you something you haven't seen before. If not, apologies & virtual cookies?
Gleeis huge right now so are it's sought and enamoured after stars. I want to have a girlcrush on beautiful italian Lea Michele but not having watched the show I don't have much to base it on other than her otherwordly vegan powered legs, gleaming skin and that beautiful head of hair! If you love Lea Michele tell me things about her to send me over the edge to girlcrushing or even try to convince me to start watching Glee? Here she is at the new season afterparty wearing that dazzling, dimpled smile and a peekaboo lace dress by Erdem.
Stunning co-star Diana Agron was also at the party. She went for brights too but in butter-wouldn't-melt yellow instead of turquoise-a dress with intricate shoulder detail by Carolina Herreira.
Moving on to, television legend 'The OC' alumni, Rachel Bilson who has been looking effortlessly stylish at several fashion events this season.
She looks gorgeous dressed up in an eyecatching dress by Suno and just as gorgeous dressed down in cute and casual shorts and blouse combination by Vanessa Bruno. I am in love with her two-tone California blonde hair.
Blake Lively has been jet-setting across the globe promoting a slew of new films as well as filming the new season of Gossip Girl in Paris with the rest of the cast. Press tours are a great opportunity to showcase different styles hot off the runways and Blake's long and lean body makes her the perfect mannequin, already favoured by many of fashion's top players including Editor-In-Chief of Vogue US, Anna Wintour.
Blake looked feminine in masculine tailored trousers with a wrap obi-style belt & an oatmeal blouse by Preen at a premiere for her Ben Affleck directed flick 'Town'. Blake didn't wear the trousers at the Toronto International Film Festival. Instead she opted for a blood red sequinned bodycon dress by Chanel and matching pumps. Earlier in the month she was spotted at Fashion Night Out in NYC in a colourful print bustier number by Marchesa.
Masculine chic, blonde bombshell, pared down girl next door-what can't Blake pull off with ease? How about her troubled character in gritty crime drama 'Town'?
Charlestown is a world away from the glossy upper east side of Serena Van Der Woodseen.
Many apologies for my lack of updates thus far but life is becoming hectic with university oncoming. Exciting but currently uncertain-fingers crossed for me that financial problems sort themselves out please. In my absence in the blogosphere certain celebrities have been knocking it out of the park style wise. Film festivals are packed back to back with red carpet premieres just made for beautiful gowns and Venice is just the city to revel in artistic creations that conjure up images of another time.
"Venice is like doing acid. If you can't take it with you after you either come down or move away, you were never really there in the first place."
Anne Alexander
I went to Venice as a teenager on an art trip with my school and it has stayed in the back of my head ever since calling me back. It was just so beautiful and laid back-a truly beautiful city with art and beauty over every bridge. I may have had eye-catching waist length braids but I never had the priviledge of wearing anything as beautiful as these girls...
I give the beautiful Michelle Williams a thumbs up for her Jason Wu gown.
Super cute rising star Elle Fanning was also at the Venice Film Festival to premiere her new movie 'Somewhere' by Sofia Coppola. I love the whimsical under-the-sea-blue Marc Jacobs dress she chose to grace the red carpet but the love stops there. The shoes may be age appopriate but they're less than fitting for a dress so divine it looks like it grew up out of the Venetian canals. Here are my shoe suggestions for walking in a city of water;
Heel conscious but ultra chic sude bow Giambattista Valli pumps or slightly more adventurous lace front Alais peep-toe ankle boots.
These coveted Alexander Wang peep-toe boots would have made her dress pop whilst the clear plastic crystal embellished Brian Atwood platform sandals would have played up the fantasy theme.
My name is Jasmin but I've always liked boys with girls' names and names that end in -ie.
I'm an insomniac. I like to stay up late to watch the sky change from blue to black to beige and blue again. I'm a critically indecisive realist whose in love with the little things. I enjoy writing lists and schedules but never stick to them. I want to learn to do a million things like speak Swedish, play guitar, skateboard, hula hoop and play poker. My mind is always turning over a million things but I am a simple girl and I never ask for much. I'm a typical nerd and I'm excited by fashion, photography, books, ideas and theories.
I could pour through books and magazines until my eyes dribbled down my face in a torrent of glitter and sequins. It's true.
I like to paint what I write, write what I think and photograph what I see.
"Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everybody I've ever known." Chuck Palahniuk, INVISIBLE MONSTERS
