ARTICLE FOR MILK AND HONEY

SCANDI-LICIOUS

Cheap Monday’s A/W 2012 collection, taken at Copenhagen Fashion Week, on February 3 2012, photograph by Samuel Trottman.

Forget all those fancy frills and elaborate embellishments -strip down to clean lines and simple cuts. It’s the smaller details that matter this Autumn/Winter and the ‘Scandies’ couldn’t be happier.

Rethink the lookgood, feelgood glamour of London, Paris, Milan, New York and envisage a clean, refreshing, back-to-nature aesthetic- embraced by Scandinavians. It’s their signature, minimalist, architectural style, that’s making “The Killing” this season and I wonder why…

Industry spies have been watching Danish fashion shows like a hawk, looking for clues in style and design to snatch, from the likes of Acne, Steiner Goya, Henrik Vibskov and Wood Woodwho compete as major players in the fashion market. These are the dark-horses of Scandinavia. Admired and coveted by Rihanna and Lady Gaga. The spring shows of Copenhagen Fashion Week highlighted, traditional Nordic design, mixed with a modern, minimalistic twist. Simple, unstructured shapes, which are eminently wearable by all.

It’s hard to miss the increase of Scandinavian brands in menswear on the high-street. It’s everywhere, in menswear boutiques and online retailers such as Wild Swans, which specialises in Scandinavian branded clothing. There are jeans by HUMOR and Cheap Monday, underwear by Bjorn Borg, backpacks by Sandqvist or Fjallraven or coats by Stutterheim. Ideal for men who want to invest in something long-lasting. Jamie Cansdale, who co-runs the Bristol menswear boutique “Donuts” is one of the many buyers who has noticed the stereotypical Scandinavian stark simplicity and sees it as an advantage. “There’s definitely an understatement with brands such as Norse Projects and Wood Wood, but they are also not afraid to use bright colours. or bold patterns on the right piece and couple it with an emphasis on materials and quality “ he says.

 So, how did the Scandinavians make functional the new fashionable. Is it the continued success of Swedish brands high on the fashion scene, like Acne, which recently launched its new 400 square foot flagship stores in Soho, New York and their second in Paris. Or the popularity of the Faroese jumper worn by character Sarah Lund in Danish crime drama, ‘The Killing’.  What about the beautiful Lana Del Rey’s recent shoot for H&M’s Autumn 2012 collection? Of course these are all contributory factors. But it’s the ‘we don’t need no logos’attitude that sets Scandinavian designs apart from all others and one that makes their clothing not only unique, but seriously in demand.

“Sweden has never exported so much fashion as it has during the first half of 2012.” says Ola Toftgaard, of the Swedish textile and clothing industries. With up to an increase of 26 % in the last year with brands: Tiger of Sweden, Acne and J. Lindeburg the popularity of Scandinavian clothing is ongoing.  From Malene Birger to H&M Scandinavian designs are hitting the streets like never before.  So, stride out in Scandinavia’s finest. Dressing is still a glamorous affair, just deliciously functional.

Words by Olivia Todd

Desires in September

Desires in September by olivia-todd featuring crop tops

Crop top
topshop.com

Army jacket
topshop.com

Pleated skirt
topshop.com

River Island black strappy sandals
$105 - riverisland.com

Zara clutch handbag
zara.com

Festival Of Vintage at Epsom Downs Racecourse

 Throughout the summer I've been involved in a very exciting venture, organising a vintage fashion show, which took place at Epsom's Festival of Vintage today. Everyone was involved in some way or other. My sister and friends looked fab and were modelling looks from the 40s and 50s, my boyfriend helped with the music and friends and family came to watch the show,  as well as to scour the various stalls and rails for any vintage gems. There was so much going on at the festival dancing lessons, make-do and mend workshops, vintage tea rooms, you could even go to a vintage salon and have a classic vintage-style hairdo. I couldn't think of a better way to spend an otherwise boring Sunday afternoon. 

Here are some photos I took whilst I was there...

Ox

London Fashion Week Review for Milk and Honey

LFW: TIMUR KIM SHOWCASES SS13 COLLECTION

The emerging St Petersburg designer Timur Kim presented his S/S13 collection at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, Freemasons Hall, London on 14 September 2012 as part of London Fashion Week. Heads turned as flowing seas of silk in mismatched vintage style floral patterns and angular designs in silvery greys, off-whites, blues and teals surged onto the catwalk in the form of shimmering separates, maxi dresses and jumpsuits.

These were paired with translucent, wet-look raincoats and lace, giving the pieces sophistication and huge catwalk presence.The combination fitted perfectly into  the setting of a new, early spring day full of all the exciting anticipation of summer  and captures a soft, delicate elegance caressing the body with an unusual and interesting take on femininity. Kim’s intention was to combine sophistication, wear-ability and quality designs and textiles. In conversation, Timur Kim described  his S/S13 collection to me as “effortless and chic” and I couldn’t agree more.

The collection’s highlights were a silver jumpsuit emblazoned with grey flowers, a strapless, ivory filligre lace top, paired with a floaty and a floral high-waisted A-line skirt, a floor-sweeping ivory and grey maxi dress and a v-neck dress that plays around with floral patterns and angular designs in shades of grey, teal and silver.

 Worded & Images by Olivia Todd

London Fashion Week Review for Milk and Honey

LFW: JEFFREY MICHAEL SS13

Yesterday,  Jeffrey Micheal conquered the seas with his S/S 2013 debut collection, “From The Water“, at Goldsmith’s Hall.

The collection showcased an eclectic mix of high couture, together with wearable, playful separates in dramatic hues and simple ivory,  epitomising sophistication and glamour. Models wore strapless, laced bodices, encrusted in sea jewels and coupled with the designer’s recurring signature triangle print, floaty gossamer skirts and skin-tight leggings, reminiscent of the scales on a fish tail. 

Chiffon cross-over halter-neck tops skimmed the body like sea foam and were paired with minuscule white shorts- crisp stylish beach wear with an underwater influence. 

Waves of gorgeous cobalt and layered reefs of coral silks bedazzled on the runway in the form of elegant and feminine evening dress. The pearl in this sea of chic was the mesmerising butterfly gown, created as a result of a unique collaboration with Nick Jeffrey.

Worded by Olivia Todd

London Fashion Week Review for Milk and Honey

LFW: TAHIR SULTAN S/S13 COLLECTION

Sultan swings into Spring/Summer 2013, with a captivating collection, delighting audiences at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, Freemason’s Hall yesterday morning.

His collection featured unstructured, asymmetric gowns  in neutrals, deck-chair stripes and smoky charcoals,  accentuated with bursts of vibrant neons and teamed with  dazzling, colour-popping, spiked platforms and shoe boots.

 

These were contrasted with neutral clean-cut separates, combined with tiered  flapper-style skirts in jewel- coloured silks and topped off with tailored blazers , capturing “Great Gatsby” glamour.

 

Gilded spiked sleeves and epaulettes were a reoccurring theme throughout the ensemble, as were the dramatic pointed shoulder pads and the heavily embellished chokers.

The piece de resistance being  the ebony grecian-style evening sheath, embellished in iridescent sequins and fringed with feathers-reminiscent of the beautiful and mysterious “Black Swan.”

Worded by Olivia Todd

London Fashion Week Review for Milk and Honey

LFW: ZEYNEP TOSUN’S SS13

 It was straight-laced meets sexy at up and coming designer Zeynep Tosun’s S/S13 show, thisLondon Fashion Week. On the 14th September 2012 Vauxhall Fashion Scout saw models strut their stuff down the catwalk,in transparent billowing, silk voile shirts with sporting equestrian-style glamour with a hint of Foreign Legion.

 Re-imagine the tight-fitting, body conscious jodhpur or the dressage shirt, quilted jacket and riding boot and envisage Tosun’s collection, which comprised of day-wear in tailored  separates, dresses and blazers in neutral colours of beige and white, together  with the obligatory monochrome – complete with buckles, strapping and a pair of killer heels.

The star of the show was the distinctive, veiled, peaked headgear with guilt buckle. It was truly a show of stark contrasts.

 Worded by Olivia Todd

Day to Night Wear

Unfortunately for a shopaholic, fashion-obsessed girl like me , along with being a poor student, I can't always buy everything that I want to. Meaning I quite often have to think of ways to wear the same outfit twice, but changing it up a bit  with a different accessory, hairstyle make-up or jacket to suit the time of day, 

Here are my yesterdays outfits from day to night...

Daywear: 

(Lace top from H&M and Blue Skinny jeans from Topshop)

...

 Eveningwear:
(Black Pleather Jacket from Primark, the same lace top from H&M, Black skater style skirt from Topshop, Black tights from H&M , Camouflage studded flats from Zara, the ring is one I found in my room and I painted my nails in Deliciously Dark by Rimmel with a half coat of Radiant glitter polish by Revlon.)