Mulberry Magic

If only it was as simple as it looks...

The process of making a Del Rey

The greatness of Gatsby

The 1920's is renowned for glamour and the highly anticipated film remake of The Great Gatsby is set to live up to all expectations.  I don't think you can go wrong with elegant old-school glamour, beads and sequin embellishments are an instantaneous winner for evening wear and this fashionable era has influenced the catwalks for both seasons this year and is predicted to stick around until the movie is released.

The allure of the costumes grabbed my attention in the action packed trailer and the fashion potential of the film has just got even greater. Miuccia Prada has reworked over 40 dresses from Prada and Miu Miu archives to be worn by various characters throughout the film and they join Tiffany & Co (the jewellery providers for the film) - ensuring the outfits will match the star-studded cast. Having postponed the release date from December until summer 2013 we can continue to wear trends inspired by the most decadent of decades to ensure we look great whilst we wait.

Carey Mulligan on set of The Great Gatby

1) Anton Heunis Ring 2) Olga Berg bag 3) Temperley London

4) Valentino necklace 5) A-Wear skirt 6) Frock'n'Frill dress

Jenny Saville

"There is a thing about beauty. Beauty is always associated with the male fantasy of what the female body is. I don’t think there is anything wrong with beauty. It’s just what women think is beautiful can be different. And there can be a beauty in individualism. If there is a wart or a scar, this can be beautiful, in a sense, when you paint it." 

- Jenny Saville

The massive expanse of a fat naked woman's flesh in front of you shouldn't be appealing but in Jenny Saville's paintings it somehow is. My interest in the artist began in sixth form looking at her earlier work and how she challenged the typical aesthetics of female beauty, essentially by painting female subjects that were the exact opposite of those often idolised by media. Seeing Saville's work first hand at Modern Art, Oxford made me realise that books simply can not do the art work justice. Even when you read the dimensions of the canvases it's hard to visualise their vastness until you see the figures encompassing the whole wall from across the gallery. It's hard to imagine working so close to a painting for years when ultimately it is designed to be viewed from a distance.

Saville's work is paradoxically ugly but beautiful. It captures the contours of flesh through unblended and textural brush strokes and the paint is built up in layers as if she's sculpting the skin herself. I think the artwork relies partly on the shock factor upon the audience, perhaps a flesh carcass may not be your cup of tea, but there's no possibility that you can see this work and not be seriously impressed.

Images from Modern Art Oxford

The best winter blues

For me cobalt blue will always be a winner. It works on all skin tones, it works in all seasons, it is timeless. But it comes and goes in phases, the good news is that it is coming back for Autumn / Winter '12 - in a big way. It made a bold statement on the catwalk from the likes of Mulberry, DKNY and Erdem brightening up the traditional autumnal hues. So keep your summer tans and thoughts of ocean azure by making cobalt the primary colour of your wardrobe.

On the catwalk: Mulberry autumn/winter '12

1.  Rag and Bone Jean 2. Rosatica, Amore lapis lazuli necklace 3. Erdem, Drisana lace gown
 4. Proenza Svchouler, Merino wool sweater 5.  Stella McCartney, Giannina intarsia wool sweater 

Vintage treasure

For my sister's 18th birthday I wanted to get her something special and something that would last, which explains why jewellery is always such a common present. However when I came across this great find in a junk shop in Edinburgh I saw the potential to create something unique that she could take with her to university.   

The original case was lined with wallpaper but I decided to brighten and freshen it up by improving the lining using Cath Kidston fabric. I used a 90% PVA and 10% water mix to stick the fabric down and once this had dried I applied another layer (of 50% PVA, 50% water) on top to help stiffen the fabric. To tidy up the edges I stuck a coordinating ribbon around the rim of the case - a lot easier than trying to fold over the edges.

I'm really pleased with the transformation because the case still retains its vintage charm from the exterior but when you open it up its prettiness is surprising. To continue the Cath Kidston theme I made her a few cushions cutting out scraps and patterns from left over fabric and then bought some items which will add homely touches to any uni room.

Florals continue to flourish

Any pattern which can brighten up the usually dark and dull autumnal palette is bound to be a winning trend. By the looks of the catwalk, floral prints are entering another bloom and here to stay for another season. Move on from this summers pretty pastels, the new florals are all about texture, bold and commonly feature striking cobalt blue hues. Forget delicate, be daring. 

From left: Erdem, Dolce and Gabanna,
Burberry Prosum, Temperley London

The power of flowers

Raf Simons proved that quality and quantity really did matter in his debut show for Dior (previously blogged). This video shows the spectacle being created with over one million peonies, orchids and roses (plus four days of hard work).