Super sweet

The collection was inspired by Nick Cave and Kylie Minogues classic hit "Where the wild roses grow". Floral prints are a staple in my wardrobe, so if someone was willing to hook me up with these ditsy floral shorts next May, I shall not complain.

It was a gorgeous show and I can't wait to look at them on .and dream about mustard coloured shift dresses, veggie hotdogs with mustard and lazy summer days. Surrounded by wild roses.

Look Who Got Papped at London Fashion Week

I was a proud little fashion blogger when I found out that The Daily (the London Fashion Week newspaper) featured a picture of myself and my new fellow blogger friend, the gorgeous Reena from Fashion Daydreams.
We're the top middle!

Whatchoo guys think?

Take two: Sarah Betty's Highlights: London Fashion Week

Louise Gray

The look: Rag doll turned punk. It’s all about the colours for Louise Gray - stripes, patch work. bottle-top and party streamer embellishments. This fun collection was made complete with painted-on white socks.

Colours: Sunshine yellows, oranges, blues through to post box red and lilac

The hair: Straw mohawks in mischievous shades of pink and lilac

Inspired by: Says Miss Gray: “Jenny Holzer, Madame de Staël and old Interview magazines."

Key notes: Invention and imagination are what you should take away from this collection. Have fun with your look

Twenty8twelve

The look: Bohemian cowgirl on a global jaunt. Patterned maxi dresses passed by nautical short skirts and flirty white playsuits. It has a feminine vibe and materials were soft and simple.

Colours: White cottons, denim blues with creams.

The hair: Sienna style – long and bohemian.

Inspired by: Travel and the West.

Key notes: Keep it simple – the attractiveness of this line is in the effortless look and feel.

Emilio de la Morena

The look: Structured belle from the future. POW! Bright colours strutted down the catwalk in eye-popping shades, juxtaposed with night time darks and black pieces. Futuristic structured bandage dresses were at home with floaty layered chiffon.

Colours: Daytime: beautiful nudes, mint green and creams.

               Nighttime: Blacks, golds and reds.

The hair: Hair was slicked back and tied up. Simple, but beautiful.

Inspired by: Daytime and nighttime.

Key notes: This look was topped with sparkling jewellery and illustrated night time stars.

Topshop Unique

The look: Seventies boho babe. Epic proportions ranging from teensy little skirts, to flowing maxi dresses and long skirts. Sequin jumpsuits and dyed denim met with printed layers and trails of tassels.

Colours: Hawt pinks, delicious oranges and neutral nudes, reds and deep black.

The hair: Big. Crimped and backcombed to perfection

Inspired by: The swinging 70s and glam rock.

Key notes: This is all about looking cool. All you need is a tour bus and a hot guitarist.

House of Holland

The look: Fringe benefits. Clothes were printed with stars, banana print and detailed with fringing. It was all so eclectic ala Holland and featured gorgeous pleated skirts, fluffy belts and metallic minis.

Colours: Purples, greens, blues and metallics.

The hair: Beautiful glossy waves.

Inspired by: Miami seemingly.

Key notes: There’s a nod to the 70’s again here, so lots of fringing detail and you’ll fit right in.

London Fashion Week: Louise Amstrup

(Vogue.com)

Undoubtedly one of my favourite collections of the week, recipient of On/Off’s Visionary Award 2010, Louise Amstrup was inspired by the nostalgic desert-based films Badlands and Bagdad Cafe. The Danish designer considered the impulsive lead female characters from each, Sissy Spacek and Marianne Säge-Brecht respectively, combining an image of the silver screen with barren American landscapes, full of dusty, dirty hues and neo-prairie accents.





Menswear components evoked a feeling of the wearer effortlessly throwing on whatever happens to be around, while the collection’s prints continued to be inspired by desert landscape with rock faces, thunder storms and vulture feathers. Stylist Anders Sølvsten Thomsen succeeded in putting together a look that combined practical, wearably relaxed pieces with fashion-forward looks, complete with Amstrup’s signature panelling, proportion play and gathered, haphazard cuts.



Firm favourites included an ombre dusty blue overcoat with silk long-line shirt and warm yellow bloomers, high-waisted wide-leg sand slacks worn with a simple white one-sleeved tank and the sun-faded wide-brimmed Panama hats with georgette veils by milliner Noel Stewart. Raw edges on silk, worn, torn treatments and the gloomy colour palette all add to the washed-out, distressed nature of the theme. Amstrup succeeds in an easy display of skill with many essentials for the season to come.

London Fashion Week: Spijkers En Spijkers & More...

Spijkers En Spijkers

OK, let it be known that I will never be destined for a career as runway photographer, that paired with almost every On/Off show being over-subscribed means I must apologise for the seriously shitty images you’re about to see - those in the pit need not worry. Nonetheless I feel it’s important to share with you the Spijkers En Spijkers show, bought to you by the talented Dutch twin sisters Riet and Truus Spijkers. A collection I have dubbed ‘progressive prairie’, the line combined crisp shirt collars with cutesy a-line dresses, while button down blouses and dresses evoked simple, practical workwear.

Ditzy floral prints played on the naive qualities of prairie life, while black lace inserts, fit for saloon dancing girls, added a touch of mischief.









I’ve also stumbled across Fashionknitsta's YouTube channel, capturing the action live and Amelia magazine’s beautifully illustrated depictions of the London Shows – this, by Andrea Peters, just about sums up this pleasantly wearable collection.



Bryce Aime

Rihanna may be a fan, but Bryce Aime’s neon brights and retro futurism with a Far Eastern overhaul wasn’t really my thang. That said, I do rather fancy a pair of his tech-print leggings – they’d look just lovely under a gigantic black jersey smock with killer wedges...





More coming soon (with better photos, promise), plus I’ll reveal what I was up to in Paris last week! Until then dear readers...

London Fashion Week: what we wore

A few outfits from some of the lovely crowd in and around Somerset House...



(R-L) Mpdclick’s Jen with Rhiannon Jones, the designer behind the fabulously eccentric Bolshie label and Andrea Merlot of Put It All On Me and A-Mazing



On Day 2 of fashion week I opted for an old silk blouse of my Mum's, peach leather Topshop shorts, black opaques and black suede Topshop platform boots - not too inspired, but hey I had just arrived back from Paris sans clean clothes (also the reason for the lack of Day 1 posting)!



My talented friend, the beautiful Coco of Coco, Le Freak, C'est Chic, expertly putting this season's 'texture' trend to good use with suede leggings, a velvet jacket and fur capelet.



Now this lady is my personal style icon (and charming colleague), always dedicated to the good cause that is 90s grunge: Mpdclick's Jen.



Dapper gents, David Nyanzi of The Nyanzi Report with Micheal Stephens, the artist behind Mintpad



Rocking a few of this season's key trends - the capelet, leather shorts and statement wedges; the lovely Jen of The Style Crusader and Daniella of The F Blog take a break from snapping the crowd at LFW



More tomorrow - so much more! Including Basso & Brooke's nostalgic collection and I'll undoubtedly rhapsodize the burgeoning talents of designer Louise Amstrup...

Sarah Betty's Highlights: London Fashion Week Day One

That time of year is upon us again. The outfit planning, the partying and the unveiling of the new season's must-have clothes. London Fashion Week is a whirlwind of excitement, mixed up with twinges of tiredness and look-at-me outfits. Here I outline just what each designer presented, incuding the clothes, the hair and key information that you need to know.

Paul Costelloe:

The look: Pretty and feminine with a rock ‘n’ roll twist. Dresses were short and tailored, nipped in at the waist with a flared skirt. On the other extreme, the maxi was still around, contrasted with a leather jacket.

Colours: Blues, silvers and soft pinks.

The hair: It was all about looking like you’d attended a debutante ball, and then gone to a gig afterwards. Big messy beehives with wisps of flyaway hair.

Inspired by: Says Paul Costelloe, “Madeleine Vionnet, 1920s and 1930s reinterpreted with a rock’n’roll attitude.”

Key notes: Next spring/summer is going to be in the art of contrast. Beautiful hair that got messed up and feminine dresses crossed with masculine jackets.

Maria Grachvogel:

The look: Draped goddess. Silk garments were made into feminine shapes, which both hung and fitted the body beautifully. Bright graphics prints stole the show, but you couldn’t fail to notice the beautiful greys which also made an appearance.

Colours: Eye-popping yellows, graceful greys and bold graphics prints

The hair: Glossy, straight and long with a middle or off-centre parting

Key notes: The only way to make an appearance at a beach or summer party next year is to go bright, bright, bright!

Jean Pierre Braganza:

The look: Dreamy ‘metal’ fan. The collection ranged from draped playsuits, through to tight printed dresses withintricate pattern embellishment.

Colours: Pastel blues and pinks, creams and a sprinkling of black.

The hair: Straight hair with kinks and a slightly messy

Inspired by: Says Jean Pierre Braganza: “Mystical bikes and legends of ravens. Heavy Metal whispered softly by faeries.”

Bora Aksu 

The look: Sophisticated ant on its way to fashion week. Hand knit crochet details on paneled dresses. There were also bodycon shapes strutting down the catwalk and delicious ruffles everywhere.

Colours: Blacks, greys interspersed with orangey reds. Tights were monochromatic fabulousness.

The hair: Little white bugs in hair. Tight topknots, with a messy finish. It’s going to be back again next year!

Inspired by:  Says Bora: “Ants and my mum’s photos from sixties.”

Key notes: It’s all about padding out the lower half and turning it into your key accessory. You must Think Bug.

Jena.Theo (Designer duo Jenny Holmes and Dimitris Theocharidis­)

The look:  A modern Princess of Persia. Models wore draped layers of silk and jersey, in a modern-take on the sari shape. Gold-leaf was charmingly applied to bear legs, or torsos.   

Colours: Purples, pinks and gold leaf

The hair: Hair was either covered in white silk wraps, or back-combed to perfection

Key notes: This is a little of East meets West, so combine drapery with turbans and you’re spot on!

Felder Felder

The look: City princess with a flirty finish. Leather was deliciously customized and skirts flounced about, while other garments twinkled with crystal embellishment

Colours: Bright blues, reds, silver and a cheeky wink of fuchsia.

The hair: Long, free and sexy with middle parting.

Inspired by: Says Annette Felder and Daniela Felder “Colours, textures and free spirits.”

Key notes: You need to give it some attitude with frilly skirts, crystal-encrusted dresses and bright leather jackets.

Hannah Marshall

The look: New York socialite with business acumen. Clothes were sexy, but serious. Beautiful pleats of paneling that fanned open were on display on some garments. High-neck tops made an appearance and sheer clothing is definitely going to be in.

Colours: Muted classy blacks and soft greys

The hair: Swept back and free-falling down the back

Inspired by: Says Hannah: “Control, privacy and technology.”

Key notes: It’s all about displaying an inner-confidence. Give them something, but don’t give it all away.

Sass and Bide

The look: Elizabethan fashion mafia. Ruff collars were centre-stage in the collection, followed by beautiful prints and draped trousers.

Colours: Monochrome, golds, greys and a wink of orange-pink

The hair: Sweet little top-knots

Inspired by: Says Sarah-Jane Clarke (sass) and Heidi Middleton (bide): “Perfectly placed chaos.” 

Key notes: Draping your figure in candy cane stripes and silk items will make the height of sophistication next year!

PPQ

The look: Punctuated with bright geometric patterns, the collection also displayed eye-popping structured dresses and even gold satin trousers! Of course the fez hats also popped-out to say ‘hello!’

Colours:  Electric blues, mustards with a whipping of crimsons and blacks.

The hair: Poker straight with plenty of volume.

Inspired by: Says Amy Molyneaux:  “The girls who work in our studio, the view from our window and Percy, my business partner,” Amy comments.

Key notes: These bright colours can even take you through to autumn and would really stand out with noir tights.