Tom Ford reclaims his crown

When Colin McDowell visited Ravensbourne earlier this year to give us a talk on all things fashion, he commented on Tom Ford and how he had lost his power in the fashion industry and was no longer relevant, but is Ford ready to reclaim his fashion crown? Ford has recently opened his first store in Sloane St. but the designer hopes to have over a hundred stores open worldwide by the end of the year. Along with this Tom Ford has also launched a cosmetics line for men. The question is are men ready for cosmetics?

The collection will feature a facial cleanser,moisturiser,concealer,eye treatment, mud mask, and a bronzer. Ford has admitted he is partial to wearing makeup.. " People think i am always tan, but i wear bronzer every single day!" He also believes more men are wearing it than we think "I know so many guys-gay,straight,whatever-who steal a womens concealer and dab a little on when no one is looking."

The metrosexual trend has become more prominent in the last decade with poster boys such as David Beckham, using products and grooming themselves. I think its good for men to take care of themselves, a little moisturiser never hurt anyone. Personally I prefer the more rugged look and no one wants a boyfriend who takes longer putting their makeup on than them!

….EDIT- Just found out Tom Ford is 52 years old, he looks so good for his age! so maybe all men should be moisturising and wearing concealer after all..

Camouflage -here to stay?

Camo is a trend that seems to keep appearing and fading away but it's tipped to be the hot trend of the season, we've seen pixelated,arctic and even neon camp so what makes this season's so different!?  I think this seasons camo will have a more sophisticated,polished look. We're used to it being quite a grungy, dishevelled trend in the form of oversized shirts and jackets.. this season it will take a more glossy style in the form of evening wear, dresses, heels,clutch bags. Designers such as Michael Kors, Phillip Lim and Christopher Kane are all ensuring this trend sticks around!

Michael Kors

Christopher Kane

Valentino

Valentino

Alexander McQueen

Michael Kors

Faith Connexion

Phillip Lim

Style Manifesto

1. Never wear tights with open-toe shoes, particularly with american tan tights. 

Not a good look Megan Fox!

2. A bag changes everything.. and a girl can never have too many. It can be a plain black outfit, but accessorised with a bright bag, the outfit is complete!

Victoria Beckham proving my point!

3. Don't ALWAYS listen to style rules. My mum is adamant that you should match the nail polish on your fingers and toes… i will continue to tell her she is wrong!

( FYI a poll last year showed only 6% of women match their nail varnish!)

4. Don't jump on every new trend. Some are just wrong (harem pants and wedge trainers anyone?) and some trends are over before they start and just aren't worth your money!

5. Attempt 'double denim' with caution, pulled off well it can look really good. But its so easy to get wrong..

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake working that double denim!

6. Know what looks good on you. Just because a crop top and skirt looks good on Cara Delevigne.. does not mean it looks good on you. But there definitely is something to flatter every size and shape.

7. No matter how many times they come back and who's wearing them never do kitten heels. They are the work of the devil!

.. need i say more?

8. A striped breton top will always look good.

9. You can never go wrong in a black outfit! especially with a statement lip, bag or shoe.

10. If you really love something buy it! The feeling of finally getting on your hands on something you've been admiring for months feels brilliant.. even if that Mulberry bag means not paying rent or eating for the next month...

Has Street Style lost it's style?

Once upon a time Street Style was cool, edgy and interesting. Now everyone and their nan has a blog full of it. There are now websites and blogs devoted to street style and a riot of people attend Somerset House during London Fashion Week purely to get papped for their 'street style'. With no tickets to see a show, people sometimes turn up to walk around and get themselves noticed. Street style was a  concept that i feel was once so organic,real and interesting is now a bit staged and forced. The Sunday Times recently highlighted the fact that people are now consciously dressing ridiculously or flamboyantly at Fashion Week, to deliberately shock and get the attention of photographers to end up on street style blogs.

I think if people naturally dress slightly 'out there' as a form of expression and like to dress like that its brilliant (i kinda wish i had the confidence to pull this look off..)

but its so desperate and embarrassing that people purposely go out their way to look wacky and eccentric just to get attention and to be photographed. 

So eccentric style or try hards?...

and my personal fave...

..Yes that is a walking blow up doll, complete with blow up dog.

NEON.

Neon has been big recently, it's something I think is going to carry on through Spring/Summer as the weather warms up and festival season arrives. We've seen it on the catwalk from the likes of Proenza Schouler, Topshop Unique and Simone Rocha and its a trend shops from the highstreet have grabbed with both hands. I love the neon trend, particularly a black outfit with a neon accessory to really set it off.