Caroline De Maigret

Wow. I just discovered Caroline De Maigret - a French model - while flicking through images on style.com. I just love her look, she is the epitome of Parisian I'm-too-busy-being-an-intelligent-women-to-care-about-my-appearance chic. Her hair is a messier, darker version of Collette Dinnigan's and I just love how effortlessly beautiful and raw she looks.

I found this piece on vogue.com and had to share. It makes me feel much less lazy about my uhh...low maintenance hair routine. Have a read.

*images care of style.com & vogue.com

Marc Jacobs makes a valid point.

Recently I was reading through the news on the Vogue UK Daily News iPhone application when I stumbled across an article about Marc Jacobs and why he turned down a job offer from Dior.

In it, he says that there are very few Journalists he respects because there are so many that publish stories where the author claims to either love or hate a piece of clothing or a show, or a whole collection. Just because.

Here's a very recent example of poor journalism (bit.ly/Y0eMIG). Clearly the person who wrote this story a) has zero knowledge of Australian racing style and b) doesn't understand how to use Google because a quick search would have let them know that the Gold Coast is in Queensland, not NSW. But that's getting off topic. The point is that this Journalist doesn't understand what they are criticising, and therefore the story is irrelevant.

I think that in order to write stories that really mean something, you need to understand exactly what it is that you are writing about.

Thank you Marc Jacobs, you have made a valid point and today I have learned something new.

Earlier in this blog I stated that I 'loved' British fashion. I totally get that someone could look at an item of clothing or a style of clothing or a trend and love it based on aesthetic alone. But to be a successful fashion writer you need to be able to state WHY you love it. Or hate it. Whatever. If you don't have a valid reason, don't write it.

And so, here is why I love British fashion, or more appropriately, British style.

When I say 'British fashion' I'm referring to the enduring style of London in the swinging sixties. The 'Twiggy dresses' and headline causing shorter hemlines. The figure-hugging cuts, the leather, the bold colours and the mixed prints and patterns inspired by the women's movement of the 1960s. Clothing made to show off a new type of femininity - clothing originally worn by women who had control of their sexuality and their independence.

I love this classic British style for what it represents. Emaciation. I also have a soft spot for it because I was born in the UK and often feel as though I'm naturally drawn to anything British.

So there you go.

Where I get my fashion fix.

There are five iPad and iPhone applications I rely on for my industry updates:

Vogue UK/Vogue Daily News (iPhone)
Net-a-Porter TV (iPad)
Style.com (iPad and iPhone)
F Network (iPad and iPhone)
The Cut (iPad)

The Chanel iPad/iPhone ap is amazing too but obviously it's brand specific.

All of these applications are free, bonus!

The AW fashion weeks in New York, Paris, Milan and London start next month so F Network and Net-a-Porter TV will be off the chain! Get into it.

Jacquard, it's 'on trend' yes?

Jacquard trousers. Skirts. Jackets. Dresses. Jacquard is all over Europe and North America right now and I can guarantee it'll hit the streets in a big way come our cooler months this year. It's not new at all but if we are talking trends, this will be huge.

According to fabric.com, jacquard is a 'raised design or pattern woven into a fabric as opposed to being printed on the fabric'.

When I first saw the jacquard pieces in the fashion cupboard at work a couple of months ago I was all 'gosh, those pieces are awfully shiny', but I must admit, the look has definitely grown on me. Most of the pieces constructed from jacquard appear to be more structured and statement-like.

I've scanned through asos.com and picked out a few of my favourite jacquard pieces. I suppose you could call this my first edit! Roll on AW13 I say.

I just finished reading 'Grace'.

a) I cannot believe she still has the energy to do her extremely demanding job in her 70s and,
b) I don't know what to do with myself now I've finished reading it.

I probably couldn't have picked a better book as my first 'fashion' read.

As well as offering an extraordinary insight into recent fashion (mostly Vogue) history (1960s to now), Grace Coddington writes openly and freely about her (numerous) romantic, friendly and professional relationships - which I find fascinating.

She has seen a lot of death and tragedy in her time but I suppose once you reach 71 this might be, unfortunately, common.

I like how matter-of-fact she is, but found myself frowning during the chapters where she complains about technology and the affects of the 24 hour news cycle. I imagine there are only a few people out there who have worked at her level for so long, experiencing the changing media landscape in relation to fashion, first hand.

I love behind-the-scenes type stories, so reading about the goings on at Vogue photo shoots had me hooked. Often people flick through fashion magazines without a seconds thought as to what goes into creating the images they are seeing. I can tell you, it's a lot. Someone has to think of a concept for the shoot, have it approved and then a team of people (size dependent on resources and the photographer), must gather appropriate clothes and props, cast models and talent, travel to the location of the shoot and then produce a version of the original concept. There are so many factors to take into account. I especially enjoyed the chapter about Annie Leibovitz and the Kate Moss/Puff Daddy shoot. Chaos.

While sometimes I found myself becoming frustrated with Grace, (I rolled my eyes a few times, and would she give a toss? Absolutely not.), her experiences, her knowledge, her passion and her determination just blew my mind.

I also felt very humbled, after all, I am just another nobody with an iPad. But then again we all have to start somewhere. Actually, I've already started. Two years ago. So I am somebody. Just a junior somebody.