this is a man's world ?

Now more so then ever, menswear has played a predominant role in fashion. With men becoming more aware and conscious about their appearance and what they wear. In their previous runway shows designers including YSL and Dolce & Gabbana showcased drop crotch trousers for men in an array of fabrics such as Denim. HIgh street stores such as Topman and All Saints have adopted this trend as well as low cut v-neck, teardrop t shirts, scarfs, and braces. Pop culture influences such as pop bands JLS and The Wanted, and television reality show Geordie Shore have lead to these trends having a surge of male followers who unlike the average woman are not phased by the fact that someone stood right next to them is wearing the exact same outfit. Did I miss something here ? Since when are men more conscious about what they wear then women. And since when and why did women become attracted to this new breed of "males" ? In my opinion a man who has a knowledge of fashion is a keeper, and every woman loves a good six pack. But the fashion choices some men are making today questions their masculinity.

Gerodie Shore's Gary in a low cut vest !

Geordie Shore's James in an even lower cut vest !

Drop croth chinos.

Luckily Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have put the masculinity back in menswear with their Spring 2012 collection. The influence for the collection was netting whether it be the net of an Italian fisherman or the net of an Italian footballer. Netting was apparent throughout the collection from jackets, to trousers to shoes. The collection consisted of silhouettes of casual, smart and sportswear in colours and tones of black and grey. 

Watch - Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2012 Menswear Collection

The design duo did what they do best creating beautifully tailored and crafted suits. Which were made even more beautiful by Dolce & Gabbana model, David Gandy. Like my mum says there's nothing better then a man in a suit.

I'm thankful I can count on two gay Italian men who know how to dress men !

This link is dedicated to my mum - Watch !

Photographs from Style.com and MTV

Videos from YouTube

Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend !

I don't know whether it is because I'm a fashion styling student, I'm terribly spoilt or because I have a love for fashion, but I have managed to accumulate a large amount of clothes and accessories. To give you a rough estimate I have enough clothes to fill three or four wardrobes. So in attempt to earn some money (probably for more clothes) and to clear my over bulging wardrobe, I have decided to place some items on ebay. So far I have only put jewellery on my ebay page, but given time I will be selling vintage and high street clothing, and also accessories such as handbags and shoes. So keep checking my blog for news of new items up for sale.

Buy - Karen Millen Swarovski Teardrop Earrings

Buy - Karen Millen Swarovski Bracelet

Video clip from YouTube

My Loves ! My Lusts !

So the Summer season should be upon us, although looking out of my window this statement is questionable. And my new summer wardrobe is slowly but surely building up. I'm dedicating this edition of My Loves ! My Lusts ! to my favourite items I've bought so far. I'm sure there will be more to come !

Cream Sheer Cape Top, from Yayer.

Floral Midi Skirt, from New Look.

Brown Pleated Midi Skirt, from Primark.

Tan Brown Suede Loafers, from asos.com.

Red Bow Jelly Shoes, from Miss Selfridge

Blue Silk Scarf, from TK Maxx

What key trends are you following this Summer ?

What have you bought for your own Summer wardrobe ?

my evergrowing closet !

For the second year running, UCLan's International Fashion Institute brings you the Stylists Closet.

In the Summer of 2010 UCLan hosted the Stylists Closet, a one day event wear the general public could come and recieve professionally advice on trend and style tips. Working the event was Personal Stylists Emma Jade Parker and UCLan's very own Fashion Promotion/Fashion Styling students, plus professional make up artist Natasha Litwinenko. Due to popular demand and the high rate of success it achieved the event, it is being held once more, however the closet has gotten a lot bigger !

This Summer the Stylists Closet is being held at Manchester's The Trafford Centre on 11th & 12th June, where Emma Jade Parker is being joined by Stylist Steven Spencer, and of course Fashion Promotion/Fashion Styling students (including myself). Confirmed shops participating in the event include Next, Mango and Marks & Spencers. So if you have any queries or feel confused by this years Summer/Spring trends and knowing what will suit you and your bodyshape. Click Here to book an appointment. A visit to the Stylists Closet consist of a private and tailored consultation with a professional stylist, a hair and make up make over and a look through the rails of this season's must have trends.

To keep up to date with news of this event be sure to follow the event on Twitter by following @STYLISTSCLOSET.

More posts about this event will follow !

let's play dress up in the library ?

With the new concept in place, the styling for the photo shoot had to be completed. I was personally more excited about this concept as it was more fashion based rather then costume. 

For the different looks for each model I drew inspiration from this seasons collections and from garments I owned myself.

This is dress is from my own wardrobe !

I took references from the Spring 2011 R-T-W Balmain collection !

The busy print of the dress reminded me of Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 2011 R-T-W collection !

This sheer fabric shirt is from my own wardrobe !

I was inspired by Hannah Marshall's Spring 2011 R-T-W collection and her use of sheer fabrics for her garments.

We sourced this blazer jacket from the high street !

The jacket we sourced in reminiscent of 3.1 Phillip Lim's Spring 2011 R-T-W collection !

These wet look leggings are from my wardrobe ! 

For the male models look we took inspiration from the Spring 2011 R-T-W collection of Burberry Prorsum !

Roses are Red ?

Day 7 - 20th February

Today, I made this flower corsage out of a black bin liner bag. I then used a gold marker on some of the edges of the flower. I created the corsage to be used as part of my photoshoot for my fashion image module where I have collaborated with two photography students. The fashion story behind our photoshoot is of a girls night out, and her outfits are made out of recyclable materials, one of them being black bin liner bags. This flower will be used as part of an outfit.

But it has become apparent that with so many silver and gold accessories available in today's fashion and retail industry, sometimes it's nice to try different alternatives to our standard metal options.

Rose gold is a type of gold and copper alloy that is beginning to surface as a popular trend for this years spring collections. The metal itself has a unique "rose" tint to it resulting in a warmer and more aged appearance than gold.

Designers from Dominic Jones to Michael Kors and House of Harlow 1960 to Murberry all at different price points are adopting the rose gold trend in their own aesthetic interpretation.

i heart my bag !

I saw this image in a page of my Cath Kidston catalogue as part of an editorial feature on their bag collection. I think it so adorable ! I found the image at a perfect time as it fits in nicely with my new purchase which is my Buy of the Week.

This is my gorge new bag which I unexpectedly bought as an impulse buy. I bought it from the high street store Bank which I usually stay very clear of because I associate the store with brands such as Henley which I really really don't like. The bag was in a window display and immediately caught my attention. There are three compartments including a zipped middle pouch.

Norma '501' Jean

After a morbid Wednesday night in, and with the prospect of having to go to bed early due to the lack of entertainment on the telly ! I stumbled across Kimberly Walsh: Blue Jean Girl. The Girls Aloud singer had jumped over the pond to investigate the wardrobe staple jeans ! Kimberly discovers the origins of denim and their changing status from an item worn by American gold miners in the 1800s to the cowboys of  the 1930s.
But it's the 1960s I want to talk about and in particular one actress, pop icon and my idol who is still on everyones mind even after her tragic and untimely death.


I am of course talking about Norma Jean a.k.a Marilyn Monroe !

From watching this programme I discovered that in the 1960s during the filming of Arthur Miller's TheMisfits, Marilyn Monroe began wearing the classic mens Levi 501 jeans. It is unknown whether this was due to her starring in a Cowboy/Western movie, or because Marilyn was simply pioneering the unisex way of wearing what had previously been reserved as men's apparel. Whatever her reasons I think we all owe Miss Monroe a thank you for setting the trend that we know today as the "boyfriend jean"