Pretty in pleats; dress, £76, Topshop

With more than a whiff of a Valentine’s theme, this grey and white polka dot chiffon frock has a pleated skirt with panels of pink roses peeking out between the pleats. I love it.

Happy Valentine’s Day, me.

xxx

My Wardrobe Mistress has been a busy lady recently – not busy blogging unfortunately (sorry about that, I know it’s frustrating for regular readers).

I have started a new job working for lingerie brand Boux Avenue which is set to launch next spring. I am very excited about this new venture, as it is a multi-channel lingerie brand which literally offers sexy, simple and stylish lingerie with great quality and fit (and all at totally affordable prices – yeah!). I’ve never covetted so much lace, silk and sumptuous loveliness in my life!

As so much of my time is now dedicated to researching, reading, shopping and learning about the wonderful world of lingerie, I have decided to start a new blog which I will be working on while we wait to launch. You can find my new blog ‘Backstage with Miss B’ at www.bouxavenue.com - just follow the step backstage link.

Although I won’t be abandoning My Wardrobe Mistress, I will definitely be updating this blog a little less while I concentrate on Backstage with Miss B. Do check it out, as I will be commenting on more than just behind-the-scenes at Boux Avenue, cool competitions and lingere, it will also include style, fashion, art, design, inspiration and all the exciting things that make us smile – so  please do come and visit.

If there is one thing I love more than red coats (see previous post), it’s leopard print coats. I have two; one belted mac – very feline and sexy, and one cropped faux fur number- very retro and cute. However, there’s always room for one more addition to my big cat collection. The latest hero ‘Leo’ is this rather mod-ish somehow Parisienne-looking grey and black leopard print coat by Reiss 1971.

Grey leopard print coat, £225, Reiss 1971

I love the wide deep collar, cropped sleeves and double breasted buttons. It’s cosy, contemporary and cool, but with those vintage touches I can’t resist. It’s a little pricey for a coat I don’t deem highly practical (those cropped sleeves lead to goose-pimpled wrists and the shorter length means bottoms could feel the breeze!). However, I am a little bit in awe, so depending how my crimson coat quest goes, this ‘Leo’ could be scooping up all my winter love. Will keep you updated on my final purchase(s).

I love red coats. This is a long standing opinion of mine, and it’s not likely to change anytime soon. However, despite my love for the crimson cover up, I don’t actually own one – and not for want of trying. This season though, I intend to change this, and have been busy scouring the high street for a beautiful coat that little red riding hood would be proud of (come to think of it a cape would be even better). I still intend to keep my eyes peeled – so any tips would be more than welcome - but I have spied a few contenders.

Here is a little red coat collection, some of which I will be trying on, and one of which could be winging its way to my wardrobe very soon.

My favourite; double breasted coat, £195, Whistles

A cult classic; tucked sleeve crombie coat, £100, Oasis

Curve enhancing; belted coat, £160, Monsoon

Perfect dressage; riding coat, £949, Paul Smith

Sleek styling; straight coat, £129, Zara

 

After a lazy weekend of bubble baths and black and white films, I was in a really retro mood. Add to this my X-Factor favourite Rebecca Ferguson belting out a bit of Nina Simone on Saturday night and a mooch around Brick Lane’s vintage shops on Sunday, and I am positively brimming with 50s inspiration.

Good thing too, as all this vintage love will come in handy for my new job (writing for a gorgeous lingerie brand launching next year). So, while feeling ‘really retro’ (loving that expression), my obsession with saucy pin-ups came to the fore in the name of research for all things beautiful but a little risqué.

My favourite pin up artist is Gil Elvgren, I love the detailed scenarios in which he paints his pin ups, they never lack imagination or sass. Knowingly innocent, they are as much about fashion as they are about sex, I find myself lusting after the outfits and forget that they are intended to be lusted after for other reasons…

Here is a pick of a few of my favourites, which one do you like best?

Gil Elvgren - Potluck

Gil Elvgren - Finders

Gil Elvgren

Gil Elvgren

Gil Elvgren - Neat Package

Gil Elvgren - TV

Gil Elvgren

Gil Elvgren - Beat That

Gil Elvgren - Toast of Town

Gil Elvgren

Take note from Elvgren, and if you dress up to be sexy – also be stylish. Oohh la la!

Today I only went to one show, as it was in South London so nice and local for me. The Matthew Williamson show was in Battersea Power Station, so I was really excited to check out the collection in an amazing location.

The pretty Matthew Williamson show invite

Arriving to the show was an unglamorous moment, as walking into the disused power station the car park was a whirlwind of dust, so with designer grit in eye, I made my way into the building and took my seat in the pristine white setting inside the ruins of the power station.

Cool location; Battersea Power Station welcomed the fashion pack

Models entered through the ruins of the power station onto the pristine white catwalk

 The front row was packed full of sparkly blondes, including Sienna Miller, Cat Deeley and Poppy Delevigne, so the tone was set for a high voltage show. Matthew Williamson is famed for his bohemian style, and while his collections have become more polished over recent seasons, the global traveller vibe is still very much alive in this collection.

Dresses came in strapless brocades, graphic printed silks, voluminous parachute maxis with dramatic built-in capes and chic animal printed shifts with peek-a-boo cut out detail under the bust. Trousers were Seventies-inspired high waisted and super, super wide with back pleating detail, or slouchy silk harems with a utility feel. Tucked into these trews (and a few pairs of shorts) were strapless corset tops keeping silhouettes streamlined. Here are a few pics I managed to take during the show (sorry, not brilliant), so you can get a feel for the full on glamour this show gave us.

Grrrr; leopard print on the catwalk

Shake it; the pretty macrame and fringed mini dress

Long story; trousers were super long and super wide

Pretty parachute; voluminous silk maxi dresses were plentiful

Caped crusader; built-in capes add extra drama

 I really loved this show, and was really feeling on such a fashion high when I left that I didn’t even mind that car park grit in my eyes!

As I was working yesterday I missed the first day of fashion week, but today I made doubly sure I was in attendance for my front row fashion fix. Slightly hungover and still tasting tequila, I’m afraid I wasn’t taking my blogger duties seriously enough as I forgot my camera – sorry! To be honest, my photography skills are so awful it’s probably best it did stay at home.

First up was Osman. Here we saw beautiful minimalism in a block colour palette of toffee, neon pink, black, white, zingy yellow and apple green. Using soft patent leather, lightweight silk and sculpted cotton it was a stylish but understated collection. I loved the simple shift dresses with asymmetric hems, parachute backs and sculptural shapes. A stand out dress for me was a yellow pleated parachute dress with a delightful flippy short hem. I also loved a fitted white dress with structured short sleeves and full skirt. Overall, this was a grown up, classy show with lots of wearable, beautiful clothes. Minimalists and maximalists alike will find something they love here.

Next, was a speed walk up to New Oxford Street for the House of Holland show. Always a big hit with the young and trendy Shoreditch crowd, what Henry Holland lacks in design finesse he makes up for with fun attitude. It was battle of the bobs on the front row as a tiny preggers Lily Allen with a sleek 30s raven style competed with Pixie Geldoff’s messy tousled one – I preferred Lily’s. Along with Nick Grimshaw, Agyness Deyn and Jamie Winstone, the front row was as cool as you would expect. On the catwalk we saw exotic leaf prints in turquoise, green and purple on sexy dresses with fringing detail, cute retro jackets and utility shirt dresses. Models wore huge fur ball pom pom earrings which I don’t see catching on, but the metallic star appliqué pale denim was super commercial and designed with those cool cat pals of his in mind. I really liked the layered pleated dresses and cute metallic pleat skirts. The disco glitter gold dresses at the end were a bit gaudy, but overall I thought the show was sexy and fun with a touch of Versace glamour.

Last on my list was John Rocha. In a show of entirely black and cream, the monochrome collection was big on shape and texture as opposed to colour. With corsetry, cocoon shapes, origami and tulle creations, I loved the full droopy backs on dresses and big back packs. Huge puffy hair and cloud like tulle hats helped cement a dreamy collection which also included cute crochet and beautiful silk bias cut dresses. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable and wearable collection from a London Fashion Week stalwart.

More to come tomorrow…

Firstly, sorry for my absence from the blogging world over the past two weeks, I have just started a new job, and haven’t had much time for writing. Secondly, I felt it was necessary to write a blog pre-London Fashion Week, which excitingly kicks off tomorrow, so here goes…

Five days of catwalking next spring’s super trends and lust haves is on our fashion horizon (hoorah). Editors, buyers, stylists, writers and celebrities alike will all be cramming into buzzy, charged, hard to get into venues across the capital to watch the approximate ten minute spectacle of high energy, loud music, super-strutting fashion. Basically our next season style delivery, the fashion show is a whirling adrenaline rush of clothes, shoes, bags, hair, make-up and fabulousness, but so often you learn as much from the parade off the catwalk as on it.

May the style-strutting commence

This is every fashion week attendee’s time of year to really ramp up the fashion factor and tick off as many trends as possible to prove their hardened style credentials. Of course not everyone is so bothered, big editors rarely wear anything except head to toe black, wacky fashion ‘characters’ will compete for most outlandish outfit, and some just go low key but with stylish details. Either way, it’s always a great show, and a pure fashion fest.

The Sartorialist captured this at New York Fashion Week - will London follow suit? www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com

 I can confirm that my fashion week attire will revolve mainly around being stylishly comfortable (boring, I know). Absolutely no ridiculous, sky scraping heels from me (you always spot so many high shoe casualties at LFW – their blister shuffle gives them away!). I will probably be rocking my Converse as running from show to show is no joke, and no one can ever argue they are last season, the longevity of the timeless basketball pump is my fashion week saviour. No blister shuffle for me – I’d get trampled on in the crush to the Matthew Williamson show darling! Ha ha ha.

The knackered Converse - who can argue with these beauties?

Stay tuned for my fashion week updates, from the shows to the sartorial sights, it will be a fashion-fuelled week indeed.

I hate to be a constant reminder that summer is on its way out, but this does mean we can start bridging the gap between our summer and autumn wardrobes after a disappointing end to August.

Although it may be tempting to jump head first into hardcore winter trends, it just isn’t cold enough. During these style doldrums look to transitional pieces instead to warm up a late summer’s day without looking out of place. At the moment, my favourite fashion transformer is the humble sock.

Socks may not initially scream glamour, but cute ankle socks and knitted, ribbed school girl over the knees were a huge hit on the autumn/winter catwalks. From colourful cable knit knee highs at Prada, to prim grey ankle socks at Marc Jacobs and sheer striped hold ups at Marni, socks and shoes were a key look this season and are set to replace the reign of footless tights. Take the opportunity to experiment and try socks as the focal point of your look before temperatures put the trend to rest.

Colourful cable knit socks at Prada

Striped sheer hold ups at Marni

The look also works with boots at Marni

Retro ankle socks at Marc Jacobs

Going ankle, slouchy, knee high or above the knee is admittedly a Lolita-inspired look intended for the long and lean limbed, but this does mean you can push the trend to its limits. Pair OTKs with mini skirts, ankle socks with shorts and heels and slouch down knee highs to ruche at the ankles with anything. If you opt long go classic in grey, black, navy, cream, chunky, ribbed or cable knits. Be bolder with ankle socks, try contrasting colours to your shoes, sheer, ribbed (again) or luxurious printed devore.

Sock it to 'em; Asos.com works the sock trend well

Of course, we aren’t all nubile eighteen year olds blessed with perfect pins, and may feel a bit silly parading around in socks, but don’t let it put you off completely. Look to Prada where the grown up Mad Men trend showed knee high socks that met knee length skirts exposing just a slither of flesh. Or go for a statement sock under cropped trousers (looks great with those pesky peep toe boots from my previous post). Still not convinced? Forgo socks altogether and invest in ribbed tights – cosy, warm and on-trend without the dreaded sock lines…

Grown up socks; ladylike knee highs at Prada

Try Falke, Jonathon Aston, Tabio, Wolford, House of Holland for Pretty Polly, asos.com and also check out Kurt Geiger’s new range of socks which hit stores in October too.

Am quite loving the Prada look myself, if I decide to experiment I promise to post the results on this blog  – good or bad!

We all know that fashion trends are about style over substance – it’s the reason we love them so much. But sometimes, certain trends can verge on the ridiculous. Take this season’s love for peeptoe boots for instance. I can totally understand them during the summer, they look great with cropped, ankle baring trousers and a good pedicure, but fast forward to a washout August and a nearly-upon-us autumn, and these fanciful toe exposing boots become redundant – as well as soggy.

In a torrential downpour (just look outside) these boots might look good on the surface, but when you are slipping and sliding around inside them with soaking tootsies the appeal will soon wear off. Maybe it’s a transitional thing, and in a few weeks the heavier winter boots will have dropped into stores and these daring, dangerous boot-relatives will be a thing for dry days (or maybe next spring).

However, until then the shops are full of them, so if you are loving the look and are more than willing to sacrifice a little bit of substance for a slice of seriously on-trend style, then I wish you and your toes all the best of luck.

Fashion fantasy; leopard print lace up wedge boots, £198, Opening Ceremony at www.farfetch.com

Buckle up; black suede buckle boots, £79, KG by Kurt Geiger

Get lacing; grey suede lace up boots, £145, All Saints

Wonder wedges; beige suedette boots, £24.99, New Look

Mannish brogues; tan leather brogue boots, £100, www.asos.com

Two tone; leather and suede wedge boots, £179, 1971 Reiss

Ruched ankles; slouch taupe suede boots, £85, Topshop