I'm not her biggest fan, but if I could have the face of any celeb...

A recent visit to the cinema meant seeing the critically acclaimed and rightfully so - Atonement. A beautiful film in everyway and even made me shed a tear or two, but that's beside the point! I can hear the yawns already as I mention the name Keira Knightley, but she is perhaps, what Emma Watson was to fashion blogs back in July, meaning she is everywhere! With good reason too though, as Keira, despite her sometimes questionable acting skills, (this does not include Atonement, where Keira was utterly believable in her role) and sometimes irritating manner, she is always impeccably dressed and has in my opinion a face, so exotic, that it is the only face among young actresses today that could achieve iconic status, in years to come.

Recent Red carpet appearances prove Keira to be every inch the screen siren

Still form Keira's upcoming film'The Edge of Love'


It is common knowledge that Keira is forever under speculation about being 'too skinny', 'anorexic' etc. As much as this is a serious subject, these are also serious accusations, based on no grounds other then her skinny frame and lack of 'womanly' features. I find it rather tedious, the fact that she must spend almost every interview denying that she has an eating disorder. To me, Keira does indeed appear skinny but come on, there are so many other actresses and celebrities out there who are too, and rather unlike Keira do not appear as though they naturally are. As well as that a browse through the comments left beneath paparazzi shots of Keira at JustJared.com gives a clear indicator of what many people think of her appearance. Referring to her as 'Queen of the Bobble heads' and 'Walking Death' and saying that 'She looks like she's about to fall over and die', as well as countless "horribles'", "awfuls'" and "fuglys'", just leave me thinking why are you even bothering leaving these remarks. Sure Keira is far skinnier then the average person but amazing as it may seem, some people are naturally slim and obviously sense she works in an image obsessed career she is hardly going to dining out in McDonalds on a daily basis either. In all, I think this Keira bashing is only due to that she has a far more beautiful, striking face then most of Tinseltown put together.

As well as appearing in Atonement, which just for reference has Keira in gentle curls, flimsy floral dresses, 40's trenchs and of course that envious emerald green silk dress, Keira is also the much publicised new face of fragrence Coco Mademoiselle, a post once held by none other then Kate Moss. The advertisement is sumptuous in everyway, and if any one was to be the face of Mademoiselle, then no one could do it better then Keira, what with her natural good looks, that enbody the Chanel elegance. When on the subject of natural good looks, this does actually include her crooked but none the less endearing smile, or what someone on JustJared referred to as her 'British teeth'. Does anyone else find it refreshing that she hasn't had professional orthodontics in this age of perfection?

A sweet Keira at the Venice Film Festival, shows that imperfections can be perfectly fabulous

Keira as she appears in Atonement, a film worth going to see for the sake of beauty as much as it's powerful plot

Her off screen style is very relaxed, youthful with a slight touch of the London rock chick. Wide leg trousers, straw fedoras, long chain necklaces and Topshop dresses. She tends to look very natural and young, and her face is clean of makeup and her hair naturally wavey. Her red carpet style is in my opinion one of the best around, recently anyway, what with her fabulous looks for Atonement promotions. Always very feminine - delicate colours, floaty fabrics and there is almost an innocence in her flawless, ethereal appearance. Chanel, of course is her designer of choice, which means her clothes are classic and ever beautiful too.

Off Duty Keira is always effortlessly stylish

Keira resembles nothing more then a Grecian goddess in this flowing Rodarte ensemble

Newsflash! It's an outfit post!

Special occasions always mean a new outfit, and lucky for me I got just that for a family occasion recently. The outfit, which had been planned meticulously for several weeks, was what I would consider very 'trendy' , when compared with what I would usually wear.
Points of note:
Ribbed tights are the coolest and easiest way to update a dress, and even more so if they are coloured.
Purple is the colour of the season. Fabulous too for occasions, as it is rich, royal and uber luxurious.
I think most regular readers will know, that I am quite frankly obsessed with super sized clutches. They are opulent and glamorous; two adjectives I love!
Black patent heels, always in style and can be worn with everything.
Tuxedo Jacket, well if Sienna's wearing it, the Olsen twins are wearing it, and Kate loves them, then that's good enough for me!
The outfit -

Dress: French Connection Jacket: Bershka Bag: Warehouse Tights: Oasis Shoes: Faith

A little bit of inspiration was found in this fabulous picture from the September edition of Vogue UK. I just love the purple and sequins combination, which in my opinion, makes the outfit sumptuous and even regal.

Purple, perfect for opulent glamour

*Apologies for such a weak post, school is selfishly taking up all my time. Promise, a better post is on it's way.

In a Fairytale World

If only I lived in London or indeed anywhere on the Island of Great Britain, I would be crossing off the days on my calendar as I await the V & A's Golden Age of Couture. The exhibition celebrates the art of couture and features work by Parisian couturiers such as Christian Dior, Cristobal Balenciaga and Hubert De Givency, as well as their London counterparts, from 1947 to 1957. The exhibition is currently occupying much column inches and coverage as it prepares for it's September 22 opening.

Most remarkably, Vogue UK's October edition, is as it's editor, Alexandra S. puts it " a tribute to this rarefied, extravagant and totally glorious aspect of the fashion industry". A wonderful shoot, captured by Corinne Day, is opulent, feminine and utterly eye - catching, everything couture aught to be. Day, as usual adds an edge to the photo story with a grungy city backdrop and even Jessica Stam hitch hiking along a country lane in sinuous Midnight blue Gaultier. Some of the photography is based on original couture shots from the '50's.

(Jessica Stam, left in Armani Prive)

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Christian Dior launched his 'New Look' in 1947. He created a new silhouette and exaggerated the female form to cartoon like proportions. The 'New Look' was controversial in that it was both loved and scorned at. Some saw it's sheer flamboyance to point to a future of prosperity following the hardships of the war years. Whereas others were less then pleased as they found the luxury and extravagance vulgar and out of tune with the tragic state of post war Europe. Nevertheless, Dior created one of the most iconic decades of fashion history. You do not have to be a fashion fanatic to be able to recognise those glamorous A - line dress as being those of the 1950's.

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An original Christian Dior collection, 1957

The '50's was the last decade of true femininity. Never again were we to see the ladylike glamour and extravagance of that era. Often today, women, regarding fashion, are willing almost to accept this notion that it is "A Man's World" and to succeed in it we woman have to dress almost like men, all harsh lines and shapelessness. Even worse is the idea that women must fit the male idea of a woman and dress in a cheap, tacky way. The '50's was a time in fashion when women were happy to embrace their femininity. I just wish we could have the best of both worlds; be as successful and equal as women are today but dress in that beautiful fantasy of the Dior days.

Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn (in background) epitomise what is meant by feminine dressing

Here are some pieces which echo the elegance of the lost Golden Age of Couture

I just couldn't resist

What Katy did wrong

Is it just me, or is anyone else shocked that the so called allusive Kate Moss, has sold out and released a signature fragrance? Maybe I was living under a stone, but I was not aware that her perfume was to be released this September, until I was flicking through the complimentary magazine with a Sunday newspaper, and stopped short at the sight of the two page advertisement. Kate, with her usual sultry expression - parted, full lips, her eyes, dark and magnetic, engulfing the consumer in her allure. All flaxen hair, shadows and dusty colours, certainly provocative imagery. A dark, plum rose sits beneath her lips amid a wash of blues and grey.

Kate's new ad campaign for her fragrance 'Kate' which tries to, in Kate's own words "encompass the elements of being feminine - a bit rock 'n' roll, a bit edgy, a bit light and a bit dark."

Titled simply 'Kate' and promised to be a 'Vintage English scent', things appear promising. Somehow I'm not convinced. Not only am I taken aback because of my forgetfulness that she was indeed selling her own fragrance, but also I am disappointed. Kate Moss, the Garbo of our time we all thought, 'She'd rather be alone'. Yet here she is wearing her cloak of 'corporate sell out', joining the ranks of Z Listers, such as Jade Goody, Jordan and that fallen A Lister, Britney. I was left baffled as to why this icon, would feel the need to make her name even more of a global brand, then it already is. This is the woman who so very famously, has never given a television interview or who appeared as though by magic, to the shock but yet excitement of onlookers for a bare few seconds on the window of the Topshop flagship store on the morning of her line's release. Her aloof and enchanting persona and her shunning of media attention, is what made Kate Moss.

Kate at the launch of Kate Moss for Topshop was too 'aloof' to make a proper appearance on launch day yet was happy to sell off her style

Cracks began to show in the legendary Moss campaign of 'keeping out the media', when a month prior to the much awaited release of her Kate Moss at Topshop line, Moss broke and shamelessly plugged her collection in the April 2006 issue of Vogue UK. Now that we knew she was actually capable of giving an interview and not completly adverse to the idea, suddenly we were wary and perhaps nervous for her; for her greatest attraction was her ability to keep us wondering. Her relationship with Pete Doherty didn't do anything to help the matter, for week after week, sloppy tabloid stories, in their monochrome block letters, fed us the gross details of their turbulent relationship. The same could be said for her Topshop collection, for now some of the excitment of Kate's wardrobe was stolen, for every teenager in Britain could suddenly dress like her if they wanted. Of course not that every teenager or young woman could pull it off, but still Kate had practically sold her wardrobe to a huge global chain for little reason. She didn't exactly need the money or the profile boost but was simply endorsing her own fabulous personal style as a money making campaign.

So here's Kate now, with her latest project, her 'Kate' perfume that is even accompanied with the rather twee if not cheesy tag line "Wild Beauty Blossoms", which had no hint of the effortlessly cool, edgy, rock and roll Kate, we all love. Even more disturbing are the TV ads, featuring Kate frolicking around in fields and I can not help but think, despite my love of Kate, are these just the last ditch projects of a tired model? In honesty, I would prefer Kate to keep her crown as a fashion icon world over without uttering a word, then succumbing to what the media expects of it's celebrities.

Check out this video of the 'Kate' perfume launch HERE

You make me feel like shopping

So, recently, as regular readers will know, I had a little rant about 'Celebrities taking over the fashion industry and splashing their beautiful, bronzed faces all over my fashion magazines' or something of sorts. Anyway, remember I was flicking through the September issue of British Vogue, scouring for exotic or interesting non celebrity ads. Such are becoming mythical, as few of the advertisements amid Vogue's amble selection had me captivated.

Fashion changes in everything, not just our handbags and 'colours of the season' but in fashion advertising too. As I rifled through, the crisp, glossy pages of Vogue, my eyes wide with anticipation of what the next advertisement would hold, only to be let down when met with a series of mundane, prentention - stinking adverts. Gone are the days, of glamour and visual princesses selling us the must coveted of luxury brands, now faux glamour in the shape of money, sex and debauchery (That's you, Dolce and Gabbana, bottom right), and superiority are what are supposed to make us swoon. Must of these advertisements are joined with a common denominator of similar themes - moodiness, darkness, monochrome, shadows, brooding men and sultry stares(ahem Burberry Prorsum left). To the untrained fashion eye, it may appear that the fashion industry is wishing to sell us depression along with their latest 'it' bag.

However it was not all doom and gloom on the fashion advertisement front; there were some advertisements worthy of mention for managing to steal my concentration from the difficult task at hand. Of course, they do contain some of these fashion advertising trends, that I mentioned above, but they succeeded in the challenge by grabbing my attention, and must importantly making me want to buy the products.

Bottega Veneta
A definite escape from all the provocative camera staring and pouting lips, shot in tones of dull gold and ochre, a luxurious, 20's flapper girl dressing room scene ensues. Undoubtedly a mood lingers in the air, adding to the alluring concoction of rich garments and interiors, and 20's glamour. Poetic and dramatic, Bottega Venteta certainly succeeds.

Miu Miu
Sensual imagery of a glamorous, lounging lady (Laetita Casta) wearing a fuchsia 40's skirt suit and enviable nude and coral heels. Scarlet lips and tousled auburn hair seduces whilst the vivid jewel colours of ruby, amethyst and pink Sapphire grasp the eye.

Miu Miu does sultry glamour in fuchsia

Longchamp
An indigo corsetted, peroxide haired Moss, poses dreamily beneath a veil of inky blue, draped across her porcelain face. A Longchamp bag sits precariously on fragile limbs against a Monet -esque blush of blue. Ethereal and beautiful, this Longchamp campaign is a precious gemstone among it's competitors.

Kate royal in blues for Longchamp

Gucci
Although set with the gloomy backdrop of an old stage set, in dirty colours of olive and dark green with the murky cloud of greyness overhead; there is something different and exciting about this advertisement, contrary to the sombre mood. Another red lipped lady reminiscent of 1940's starlets, stands nonchalantly with her hands in her pockets a la Katherine Hepburn; is a vishion in flowing white, gold belt and Veronica Lake waves. Impressive things from Gucci, far more so then the high profile Indie campaign.

Gucci proves there's no need for props in their simple yet intrigueing campaign

Worthy of a mention ~ Chanel
An interesting and intelligent campaign from Chanel this season. Dark, seasonal and artistic, an atmospheric showcase for this season's collection.

Winter has come at Chanel

Thoughts? Love or loath this advertisements? What fashion ads make you feel like shopping this season?