Style Envy: Elle Fanning

Elle Fanning, Dakota's sister, is only 12, but she's already made a film (Somewhere, directed by Sofia Coppola, which I really want to see). She has amazing style - wish I'd had her style like that when I was her age - or now even. 

She wore the most beautiful pieces of Valentino couture - a gorgeous dress and some amazing shoes - to the Somewhere premiere. 

I think dressing someone Elle's age is difficult - we all remember what Emma Watson wore to early Harry Potter premieres. This is the perfect balance; classic and not age-inappropriate. 

I need a pair of low heels. Preferably jewel-encrusted, low heeled mules with a bow detail. 

I love this Peter Pan collar and headband look - it's so simple and the ribbon threaded through the plait is genius. 

If my hair was still long I'd try and plait it like that.

Elle wore this Chanel dress in a shoot for Interview magazine. 

I've never really like that kind of dress, but worn simply like this, it's something that I might try to emulate.

Prom dresses

My END OF SCHOOL FOREVER ball is coming up, and I have to make* a dress (I'm not buying, I don't want to take the risk of turning up in the same dress as someone else). I decided on a 50s style dress, to be made with a Butterick pattern. It will be pale pink with a layer of black lace over the top, based on a dress I found in a vintage shop in Covent Garden. The dress Anne Hathaway wore to the Met Gala has an identical bodice, but a much longer skirt.

But then I was messing around on the computer, googling dresses for inspiration and I saw THIS DRESS. 

Emma Watson in Ossie Clark at the most recent Harry Potter premiere. I had totally forgotten about how gorgeous is. All my plans for my prom dress went out the window. THEN I saw the price. And my little ball gown plans were back on. BUT I am going to a wedding soon (holiday pending), so I might make* one.

Flo x

 *By "make", I mean, enlist Mama E's help. 

Images via: Google images

I LOVE ZOOEY DESCHANEL

Sunglasses in the dark....what a diva

I love Beyonce. There I said it. And I didn't think I could love her anymore after she pointed at me when I went to see her (she did point at me! We made eye contact! There was a moment!). And then she went out wearing the embellished tweed Chanel jacket (with denim shorts!!) that I have a picture of somewhere on my aspirational wall. I know it's shallow that my love for her grows with what she is wearing and blah blah blah. But I don't care. Because she is a goddess. 

I'm off to practice the Single Ladies dance now.

Flo x

Image via: Google images

Burberries.

Christopher Bailey is a very clever, and very nice, man (I shook his hand once). 

What he has done with the brand since he joined in 2001 is very smart indeed. It went from being stuffy, just-for-the-upper-crust to being quite hip and trendy. 

Getting Kate Moss on board (after the cocaine scandal) really hyped the brand up, and this picture made me really want a trench coat . 

Then came the group ads, which I have BIG LOVE for, especially the really early ones featuring Agyness Deyn and Alex Pettyfer. 

Then Emma Watson was made the face of Burberry, and as one of the most recognisable actresses around (hello! she's Hermione!), everyone went a little bit crazy. 

I LOVE the Autumn/Winter '10-'11 collection that Bailey presented at London Fashion Week on Monday. I love the colours, the mix of light and heavy fabrics, but most of all, I love the coats. Military jackets, shearling  aviator jackets, fur, ponyskin, wool and suede coats. 

 

I don't care that this is a man's coat. I adore it. I want it. Now.

However, as much as I want to rave about Burberry, I can never forget this image that has been burned into my brain and given me and aversion to the legendary Burberry check: 

Flo x

Catwalk images via: vogue.co.uk

All other images: Google images

London Fashion Week, er, Sunday

Yesterday, after a minor car-related disaster (apparently the oil-gasket blew while we were on the motorway), Dad and I headed for London Fashion Week. Thanks to the car, and the ineptitude of South-Eastern rail services, we missed the Betty Jackson show (grrr), but we were right on time for Margaret Howell. We sat front row, which was more than a little bit cool, and we were opposite Alexandra Shulman (I had a minor fashion geek meltdown). A few people down from us was Alexa Chung, who is one of my style inspirations, but I did have to explain to my father who she was. 

I do wish I wasn't wearing my glasses in this picture though - I look a bit stupid. 

Margaret Howell's collection was as good as ever - lots of chunky knits and tartan with belted waists and mannish trousers, jackets and shoes. The colour scheme was definitely toned down, but there a couple of bright splashes of red here and there. Also in the collection were some gorgeous coats, which I may have to get my parents to invest in next season.

Todd Lynn was next, presenting a uniform-inspired collection, in muted colours similar to those at Margaret Howell, with lots of big furry shoulder pieces.

Military style jackets and narrow leg trousers made up a large part of the collection, so I don't think I need to be worrying about parting from my skinny jeans just yet. 

The next show was Louise Goldin for Topshop, which I didn't get any pictures of (sob). But I think all that really needs to be said of the green-themed collection is that Lady Gaga will probably be putting in a large order soon and that I really want some red rhinestone studded leggings/cycling shorts. 

Finally, we headed to the Banqueting House for Julien Macdonald. The first show I was at LFW was when I was 15 and it was a Julien Macdonald presentation, with Naomi Campbell and Lily Cole on the catwalk. Unfortunately, we couldn't get seats because the security guard had taken on the belief that everyone needed to KEEP BACK and away from the catwalk. But even with my limited view of the show I could see that lace, thick knits and muted colours will be the way to go next season. 

When we returned to the car, much later than expected thanks to signal failure at Victoria, it was still broken, so while we waited for the AA, we ended up in a pub in Rochester.  As a result, my outfit photo was taken on my phone, which has a terrible camera.

I'm wearing a vintage scarf, which is actually meant to be part of a sari, that I stole from my mother, Topshop (faux) leather jacket, Topshop net skirt with petticoat and my lovely New Look boots which Alexa Chung told me she liked, when I said I liked her Chanel ones. 

Flo x

Best Glamour Shoot EVER

This has to be the best shoot Glamour (UK) has ever done. Every clique in the common room had this stuck up on their notice board, until our head of year told us to take them down. 

From the October 2008 "If men edited Glamour" issue, this is a typical Glamour shoot - fresh faced model looks gorgeous in party frocks - but add Ed Westwick, and suddenly it's quite special. 

My favourite part? They've tried (and failed) to disguise the fact that the model 

is several inches taller than Ed Westick.

Flo x

Wardrobe of Inspiration

I like to cut editorials and adverts out of magazines and stick them up on my wardrobe. My mother is convinced it's some body-aspirational thing, and is worried that I am going to develop and eating disorder, but really it's just that I like what's in the pictures. 

Flo x

Chop chop

If I cut my hair short I would want it to look like this: 

Natalie Portman

Mia Farrow

Audrey Hepburn

I think Audrey's cut would be best, because her hair curls, like mine does, and it's my favourite. 

And while I would love my hair to look like that, I don't think I could ever bear to not have long (ish) hair - it's a security thing, and if I hated the cut, then it would take forever to grow out again. 

But all of these ladies were very successful after they got their pixie cuts. Maybe I should get it cut in time for my exams. 

Flo x