Jacquard and Retro prints ... Do you dare to wear?

 Etro

 Jonathan Saunders

Louis Vuitton

 Miu Miu 

Prada

Smart, colourful and vibrant prints

Friday fashion inspiration.

Have a wonderful weekend all!

{all images photographed by Nick Knight for UK Vogue Sept 2012}

xx

V&A Ballgown Exhibition, London

Ballgowns,  " ... remain a special part of a woman's wardrobe" - H.R.H Princess Alexandra

They are the highpoint of a designers seasonal collection requiring creativity and many labourious hours in craftmanship to produce.

This post is dedicated to my good friend Virginia from Glamour Drops who would have loved to see it in person ... you still have plenty of time for a visit Virginia, it's on until January 2013!

Erdem's 'Rumina' silk with appliqué, quilting and beading

Photograph by David Hughes

This Erdem creation, I must admit was my favourite. The fabric, appliqué and beading towards the bottom of the skirt was exquisite!

The exhibition is displayed over two levels of the newly revamped fashion galleries of the museum.

As you enter the ground floor of the exhibition, you are immediately struck by Yuki's raspberry-pink silk chiffon kaftan dress (1972) on the left.

 Continuing around the ground floor, creations from the '50's up to the turn of the 20th century are displayed, from royal ballgowns including the "Elvis dress"designed by Catherine Walker for Princess Diana, to a large number of posh formal wear, created for débutante balls by the likes of Hardy Amies, Zandra Rhodes as well as royal couturier Norman Hartnell.

However, the new upstairs mezzanine level featuring 21st century British designs displayed in the brand new crinoline-like domes were the highlight for me. You were able to get up close to the gowns to see the exquisite details ... and some of the mannequins were on rotation.

Vivienne Westwood 2011 silk satin & tulle  ©V&A

Craig Lawrence 2010-11 ©V&A

Designers on show included Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Gareth Pugh, Mary Katrantzou, Giles Deacon, Roksanda Ilincic, Craig Lawrence, Mark Fast, Hussein Chalayan and Stella McCartney to name a few.

Unfortunately photography was not allowed in the exhibition, but I did manage to take photos of the revamped fashion gallery around the exhibition below. This part of the exhibition is free.

Images of the gowns were projected on the ceiling alcoves around the exhibition

Christian Dior

Ossie Clark

images 7-15 belong to Iced VoVos

If you can't get enough and would like to see more of the Ballgown exhibition, head on over to Fashionista Barbie's Facebook pages for lots more images.

Or better still, if you can get your hands on Ballgowns British Glamour since 1950 by Oriole Cullen and Sonnet Stanfill ... the photographs by David Hughes are spectacular!

I also picked up Twentieth Century fashion in Detail by Claire Wilcox and Valerie D. Mendes ... a must for any fashion enthusiast, showing lovely close-up photos of detailed seams, gathers, pleats, bows, applied decoration etc.

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

xx

40's Glam ... Frida Gustavsson

images via fashion gone rouge

I'm loving Frida Gustavsson wearing glamorous 40's inspired dresses from Miu Miu, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs and others styled by fashion editor Linda Lindqwister.

Photography by Andreas Öhlund for Elle Sweden

xx

Oh Oscar ...

some gorgeousness  from Oscar de la Renta ...

Source: tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com via Marina on Pinterest

Source: dustjacketattic.blogspot.com via Marina on Pinterest

Source: dustjacketattic.blogspot.com via Marina on Pinterest

There are a lot of Oscar de la Renta shots doing the rounds of blogs, but he truly is the master! 

xx

Strike a pose ...

{All images Copyright Carla Coulson}

One of my favourite Aussie photographers is Carla Coulson, a real inspirational woman, who not only left her corporate job, but also her homeland Australia, to pursue her dream, where she discovered her love for photography. She has written three books of her own (which I have) and collaborated with many others. I know a lot of you know her already, but if not click here.

The two photos above are shot at the breathtakingly beautiful Four Seasons Hotel in Florence and I simply cant take my eyes off them!

Read more here from her blog on how she captured the shots.

Simply beautiful Carla ....

xx

Have a wonderful weekend 

Gucci inspiration for a Scottish weekend ...

Gucci really nailed it for autumn/winter 2011

I love this palette of petrol green, from the romantic chiffon gowns

to the furs and frills of the jackets.

It's that time of the year again when Mr N and I go to

Glasgow for the ceilidh we attend each year,

see also here and here.

I'm hoping these images give me some inspiration for my outfit this year.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

xx

Loving ...

JCrew via

The tousled hair, the pink lips and the beautiful layering of clothes

Perfect autumn look ...

xx

Dots + Zig-zags ...

{Image from Bergdorf Goodman}

Dress: Etro Zigzag Print

Tights: Wolford Bonny Dots

Shoes: Gucci Houston Mary-Jane pumps

Monday's Inspiration ...

xx

Breathtakingly regal ...

All fashion images from me to you

Image 2 Pinterest

Image 3 Pinterest

Image 5 So Haute Style

Image 7 Pinterest

Wasn't the Prabal Gurung show amazing .... so much texture, colour and incredibly romantic.

It was captured amazingly by Jamie Beck on her blog from me to you ... she is so inspirational!

I hope you had a lovely weekend my friends. We went to the annual Alliance Ball, which raises money for UNICEF (this year focusing on the vaccination program for children world wide) and had a wonderful time being entertained by the Royal London Ballet, as well as the band Madness (remember them) ... so much fun.

PURPLE ...

favoured by those with good taste and

a liking for the arts,

a powerful colour signifying rank and royalty

is demanding and can be overwhelming if used in quantity

There's nothing wrong with being a little overpowering ... what do you think?

Have a beautiful Monday.

xx

Ebony = Glamour ...

Oscar De La Renta via from me to you

via tumblr

via {this is glamorous}

Hasn't this week flown?

With all the fashion from NYFW

and design week starting in London,

here are a few images that have inspired me this week.

Have a wonderful weekend my friends ...

xx

White ...

3 more days ...

Images from Harpers Bazaar Spain July-August 2011

via iiiinspired

xx