Swinging Sixties Style

Posted on February 12, 2013 by louise annabel robertson

The London Lassie explains how even though the year is 2013, the vibe is definitely the sixties…

60s IT-girl, Edie Sedgwick

The sixties was a special decade. We landed on the moon, the Beatles wrote songs that would nestle longingly forever in our heads, skirts got dangerously short and classic beauties like Bridget Bardot and Grace Kelly were in their prime. This summer it’s time to celebrate this amazing decade, as spring summer 2013 style brings with it an array of minis, shifts, psychedelic prints, felt tip eyeliner and bouffant locks. The dark gothic themes of winter have melted into an array of bright and bold geometry, lines and prints. Groovy baby!

As Louis Vuitton’s chequered twins glided down escalators last September one thing was clear: psychedelic chic is back with a bang. As Marc Jacobs brought monochrome and primary coloured checks to Vuitton, he brought similarly toned modish lines to his own collection with barcode clad Edie Sedwick style models. At Moschino the vibe was sixties meets Lana Del Rey as models donned with bouffant locks wearing belted and pocketed floral shifts along with matching plastic handbags and white bug eyed glasses graced the runway.

Louis Vuitton ss13

Marc Jacobs ss13

Moschino ss13

Just like the pop art of Andy Warhol caused a storm over fifty years ago – colour blocking, popping and contrasting is huge for spring-summer’13. Michael Kors utilised black and white as well as bold colours such as scarlet, emerald green, canary yellow and sapphire together with stripes and sixties inspired curves in shift dresses, A-line skirts and crops to create a collection any sixties chick would kill for.

Michael Kors ss13

Fashion genius Tom Ford showed that sixties can be modern. Nostalgia was brought in the sense of Bouffant topped models in monochrome looks that mixed innocent covered up suits and hoodies with dominatrix style thigh gladiators, sheer panelling and suggestive bandaging. As for PPQ, the sixties hippy was brought back with colourful paisley high necked mini dresses mixed with teased Catherine Deneuve style tresses.

PPQ ss13

The sixties is too great a decade not to bring back into style now and again, but why now? Quite possibly the release of “Hitchcock”: the biopic based around the making of Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic horror, Psycho. The suspense master’s heroines were always, classy, understated and beautiful (he famously dismissed Marylin Monroe as being “too obvious”). The likes of Miu Miu showed us how to create the heroine look right now with over the knee skirts, demure blazers and faux fur stoles. Grace Kelly and Janet Leigh, eat your heart out!

Scarlet Johansson in ‘Hitchcock’

Get your eyeliners st the ready girls and get the Kinks on the iPod – it’s time to embrace your inner sixties goddess. For skinny minnies, go for the chop and rock the Edie Sedgwick/Twiggy pixie cut with a monochrome mini skirt and crop top a la Vuitton. For buxom blondes, grab your backcombing brushes and make that hair sky high. Finish off by slipping into a Hitchcock style skirt and jacket combo. And for anyone who fancies a sixties vibe on a night out, make your eyes dark, and slide your figure into a bright shift dress from PPQ or Moschino. Nostalgia never looked so good.

A Hole in One Won’t Impress Anymore…

Posted on January 29, 2013 by louise annabel robertson

The London Lassie explores the rising trend of piercings and their shift from ghetto to glamour.

Hedvig Palm in Vogue Jan’13

Piercings aren’t new: some of the oldest mummies discovered wore earrings, nasal studs and hoops date as far back as 1500BC and lip and tongue piercings have commonly been found in African and American tribes. Even nipple piercings date back to Ancient Rome and female genital piercing dates back to Ancient India. Price Albert famously pierced his genitalia to help hide the appearance of his large penis in tight trousers (lucky Victoria) and thus, the name for that specific special piercing was born.

It’s true that piercings have been around for eternity, but it feels like the way they are perceived is about to change. In modern times, puncturing the body (apart from the ear lobes) has been seen as rebellious. Punks in the seventies adorned their faces with spikes, nineties kids pierced their brows, Christina Aguilera changed her name to X-Tina and pierced every part of her body, and remember the absolute horror of the Royal family when teenage Zara Phillips got her tongue pierced? Nevertheless, it seems this shock factor is about to disappear as the fashion world embraces body modifications.

British Vogue Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Shulman recently stated “I had my ears pierced, but…I have never been tempted by any other kind of piercing. However, recently I’ve found myself starting enviously at those who have multiple piercings”.

Hedvig Palm in British Vogue Jan ’13

January Vogue included stunning beauty shots by Patrick Demachelier of model Hedvig Palm adorned with multiple ear and nose piercings decorated with thousands of pounds worth of exquisite studs and hoops. Model of the moment, Abbey Lee Kershaw recently said of her 10 bodily punctures, “I see my body as a blank canvas that’s aching to be decorated. 40-year-old model and Vogue contributing editor, Laura Bailey says of her newly pierced ear cartilage “I did it to feel a tiny bit like that pretty, carefree teenager. To make grown-up life and fashion feel a bit more punk, a bit more free”. With a boost in popularity with the fashion pack could it be that piercings are now chic?

Chanel RTW and Givenchy couture tried it last year. With elaborate nose ornaments and pearly punctures we all stared in awe, partly due to our love of the movie Girl with the Dragon Tattoo where the heroine had plenty of piercings. But they didn’t really catch on. Too much too soon perhaps? It seems like steadily we are seeing more discreet piercings on the catwalk and even earrings are becoming much more ornate, large and impossible to miss at Dolce and Gabbana, Balmain and Gucci this Spring.

High fashion piercings at Givenchy Haute Couture (left) and Chanel pre-fall 2012.

In London’s east end you are never more than 10 paces away from a facial piercing, but more and more ‘mainstream’, pretty girls are adopting bull hooks and nose studs. Also, very few people now have a single stud in the ear, with every groove on the lug being a possible puncturing spot. Celebs like Miley Cyrus, who used to be girly, now have nose rings.

Singer of the moment Emeli Sande with her nose ring

So you want to go for the plunge and get pierced? According to New York’s prestigious piercing salon, New York Adorned, a consultation is recommended. J. Colby Smith, resident piercer says “Everyone’s ear is totally different. One thing works for you, it won’t necessarily work for her. I spend the majority of my day batting with people about that” As for the trends he recommends, “Septum chains have gone out a little bit, and backdrop chains are in”.

Yes, this could be a trend that could come and go, but they’re not permanent! Getting a piercing is like jumping on a seasonal trend. So for Spring Summer ’13’s trend piece, if you’re undecided between a nose piercing and the Prada toe-break platforms-we suggest the nose ring. After all, it’s exceedingly cheaper, and to be fair, less shocking.

As published on the Avanni blog.

Shop online at http://www.avanni.co.uk/

3000 BC (before couture)

Posted on April 15, 2012 by louise annabel robertson

The London Lassie looks back at how Ancient Nile Style has been carved into the modern fashion world…

Millennia before couture there was a world that has facinated designers, architects, and film makers alike. Ancient Egypt was enriched with luxury, spirituality and style. Style that still sporadically resurects. Everytime we skillfully stroke kohl eyeliner, we’re engaging in a trend thousands of years old.

In the 1920’s Tutankhamun’s tomb was found, introducing the world to Egyptian style. This decade sparked a change for women – discovering they had a voice. Fearless flapper girls were born. They adopted sharp bobs and heavier use of cosmetics like kohl, similiar to powerful Pharoh Cleopatra.

Decades later in the swinging sixties iconic model Jean Shrimpton was photographed wearing a Pharoh-style gorgerine necklace. Shrimpton caused a sensation when she wore a dress ending above her knees to the conservative 1965 Melbourne Cup. Elizabeth Taylor also caused controversy whilst filming Cleopatra (1963) due to her turbulant love life. She famously asked the directer for a million dollars as a joke – he gave it to her. There seems to be a correlation with Egyptian style and powerful woman.

By looking at the current SS12 collections it’s clear to see the Egyptian theory that nothing dies was right, the trend is reborn. Be awed by Alber Elbaz’s Lanvin collection. With luxuriously draped material, gold plated shoulders, and encrusted snakes teasing their way towards the neck, it’s clear Elbaz had a lady of the Nile in mind when designing this collection. Marni’s collection delivered structured statement pieces infused with exotic prints which would look at home on ancient beauties. Holly Fulton added a playful edge to Nile Style with body-con pieces with startling shades such as turquoise and canary yellow. As well as this, Burberry Prorsum showcased gorgerine styles and colourful woven handbags.

Something to remember is that Egyption fashion in previous millenia was not just for the wealthy – peasants made exquisite jewellery from colourful pieces of clay. This is the same today. Cast your all seeing eye on the highstreet where Topshop is giving Egyptian fashion eternal youth. Accessories include elaborate arm cuffs, Scarrab beatle rings, and mummy earings. The Unique collection includes a ‘Cleopatra Tee’, and a ‘Hyroglyphic Dress’.

So why has this trend stayed for millenia? Simple. Ancient Egypt was ahead of its time. We feel modern and on trend when dressed like this, even though we’re wearing ancient styles. Egypt was home to powerful woman, like Cleopatra. Also, we are still learning about this fascinating era. Hence, a woman who wears this style will encompass these wonderfully special traits – beauty, power, and mystery.