Look of the Day; Daydream in Blue at Salthill

Tags

Beyond Retro, Galway, Ireland, Look of the Day, Salthill, vintage, Zara

Hello world,

The story behind the dress in today’s outfit post is actually quite a nice one. My Mum bought it for me many years ago during one of her trips to London, way before I ever heard of the vintage store Beyond Retro and even longer before I had any clue about what London was like. I loved the piece, but never knew what to do with it and I think she despaired that I’d ever wear the dress because it always didn’t seem the right time. So it sat in my closet and as I grew older I grew more and more into the dress, so that now at 26 I can fully appreciate how beautiful it is and the intricate beadwork done to create it.

Sometimes you just have to age yourself a bit until you can appreciate something so beautiful. It seems to be a theme for the week, because ever since I had my birthday, which ironically is when these photos were taken, I’ve been considering the evolution of my personal style.

Anyway, these photos were done when I went home to the west of Ireland for my birthday. There’s this very touristy part just outside Galway city called Salthill with the iconic diving board. It’s been somewhere I’ve wanted to do a shoot since I saw the Irish film ‘The Guard’, which by the way is one of the funniest films out of Ireland since probably ‘Intermission’ or ‘The Van’.

So these photos are the result of my Mum waking me up on the morning of my birthday and asking me what I wanted to do today. I don’t know whether it’s a good or a bad thing that my answer was to do a shoot for the blog, but it goes to show that even when I go home or on holiday my blog is always with me.

Let me know what you think of these images. I’m really happy with them, but then they were shot by my Mum and she’s a really good photographer anyway. Though her fear of heights did make it a bit awkward towards the top of the diving board. Poor Mum.

Dress: Vintage from Beyond Retro
Shoes: Zara
Sunnies: Ray Ban Blue Aviators

Until then,

Franzi

xoxo

Topshop Blushing Brides, by Richard Nicoll

Tags

all the pretty dresses, bridal, collaboration, Richard Nicoll, Tie The Knot, Topshop, wedding dresses

Hello world,

Did everybody a while back remember hearing that Richard Nicoll was doing an affordable bridal range for Topshop? Good, because the first images have just been released and they don’t disappoint!

This isn’t the first time Nicoll has collaborated with the Topshop brand, as this is now his sixth collaboration with the retail giant. Thankfully his signature style is present throughout the collection from his contrasting sheer and matte fabrics to tailored and floaty shapes, the wedding dress-inspired collection includes four beautiful designs in pure white and pale pink that would be ideal for a beach wedding or something much more relaxed than a stuffy church ceremony.

 

‘I loved the idea of doing wedding dresses with Topshop because I wanted to offer a younger, cooler alternative to meringue culture, something special, but not precious, like my friends, something they would wear if they were getting married,’ Nicoll says of the collection. ‘These pieces are perfect as party dresses too if you’re not the marrying kind’.

The collection is aptly called ‘Tie The Knot’ and will be available online and in selected stores from the end of June.

What do you think of this latest collaboration with Topshop. Does it get you excited, or will you let this one pass you by? I for one, am quietly confident it’ll be a good one and I’ve already decided to try on the long white dress once it’s released. I may not be getting married but that baby has my name all over it!

Until then,

Franzi

xoxo

Images courtesy of Topshop’s Inside-Out blog and Grazia Daily.

 

Inspiration; The Best Beachy Editorials

Tags

Abbey Lee Kershaw, Ali Stephens, American Vogue, Anja Rubik, Bambi Northwood-Blyth, beachwear, British Vogue, Carter Smith, Catherine McNeil, Christy Turlington, Corinne Day, editorial shoots, Enrique Badulescu, Erin Heatherton, fashion shoot, Gemma Ward, German Vogue, inspiration, Linda Evangelista, Max Doyle, Muse Summer, Patrick Demarchelier, summer, Thomas Schenk, Tim Barber, US Vogue, Vogue Australia, Vogue Russia, Vogue UK

Hello world,

I’m lamenting the loss of our great summer weather as the usual clouds and low temperatures have returned today, and will no doubt remain for the rest of the summer. So here’s my little ode to the best summery editorials that I found to help brighten my mood, and maybe entice the summer weather to come back.

Failing that I’ll just book a summer holiday somewhere very far away and very, very sunny! Enjoy!

Bambi Northwood-Blyth by Tim Barber for Muse Summer 2011

Ali Stephens by Thomas Schenk for Vogue Germany, January 2010

Anja Rubik by Carter Smith for British Vogue, June 2005

More Anja Rubik from the same issue of British Vogue

Catherine McNeil by Patrick Demarchelier for British Vogue, January 2010

Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista by Patrick Demarchelier for American Vogue, April 1991

Erin Heatherton by Enrique Badulescu for Vogue Russia, July 2011

Gemma Ward by Corinne Day for British Vogue, October 2005

Abbey Lee Kershaw by Max Doyle for Vogue Australia, March 2010

One more Abbey Lee for Vogue Australia

Which one is your favourite? Let me know.

Until then,

Franzi

xoxo

Images courtesy of fashionista.com, fashion-spreads.com and their respective titles.

H&M Autumn 2012 Sneak Peek

Tags

H&M, preview, ooh they're so pretty!, Autumn 2012, sneak peek

Hello world,

A video previewing the autumn/winter 2012 H&M collection has just dropped and by God am I excited!!! Can we ditch our half-assed summer already and move on to autumn already? I’m sure I’ll change my mind again in about three hours, but seeing this video has made me so excited that I just wanna buy these clothes now!

Have a look at the video I posted below and I also got a few screen grabs of some of the items for closer inspection.

These babies won’t be hitting stores until September, so it’s still a good three month wait.

Sorry I went a little mad with the screen grabs, but I couldn’t help myself. Did you see that bejewelled baseball cap and that white tee with the ‘V’? I’m in love!!!! Not to mention those sequined dresses, those metallic woven trousers and that muted floral print! And that leather waist piece that can only be called some form of belt, How dominatrix!

Okay I’m gonna stop gushing now. Which item is your favourite and what do you think of this new collection?

Until then,

Franzi

xoxo

Images and video courtesy of brightcove and H&M

Look of the Day; Basic Instinct

Tags

American Apparel, H&M, H&M trend, Look of the Day, white

Hello world,

It seems a bit depressing to post an outfit shoot when I’m still desperately clinging onto the brilliant weather we’ve had for the last week, but it looks like the rain and wintry weather is coming back, kinda like in these pictures. Yay!

Sarcasm aside, these images have been sitting on my desktop for the last couple of weeks and I’ve never quite found the right time to post them.

I was trying out a completely different style to what I usually wear. I’m not much of a white wearer and even less into the whole suit combo, but I just loved this white jacket and matching skirt from H&M Trend. They’re so asymmetrical and minimalist it really reminds me of Nicole Farhi or what Phoebe Philo done with Celine a couple of years ago.

I’m also quite liking my hair slicked back. It’s not something I usually would have done myself, but it’s really growing on me recently and I’m liking the idea that I don’t have to fuss with my hair so much during the day.

So what do you guys think of this shoot? The last two images had to be done inside, as it was just raining too hard to stay out there for long. It’s not my best, but I still love the outfit, though it might be quite a while until you see me in all white again.

Jacket: H&M Trend
Skirt: H&M Trend
Shirt: American Apparel
Necklace: Jimmy Choo for H&M
Shoes: H&M

Until then,

Franzi

xoxo

A Zara Handbag Bouquet

Tags

bags, bags and more bags, mini shopper, ooh they're pretty!, studded bag, Zara

Hello world,

I’ve been a little obsessed with the bags from Zara lately, and these babies here are no different. I’ve been a fan of the brand’s coveted ‘Shopper’ for quite a while, but I always found it just too big for someone as small as me. Honestly I look like a small child wearing one of those monstrous bags.

Images courtesy of Zara

So you can imagine my delight when I saw they had released the iconic ‘Shopper’ bags in mini form for the summer. And even better they come in a multitude of summery colours to brighten up any outfit. I’m in love, and I know I shouldn’t be spending more money on bags, considering I’m waiting on my Hermès and that alone costs the price of a small car, but I just couldn’t help myself with these mini shoppers.

So which colour is your favourite? I’m leaning towards the bright yellow as it’s just so happy and matches our lovely sunshine outside, though that studded Zara clutch is so McQueen I can’t say no.

Zara Die-Cast Mini Shopper, £59.99, available in yellow, coral, green, fuschia and electric blue.
Zara Studded Evening Box Bag, £59.99

Until then,

Franzi

xoxo

Look of the Day; Beckton Gas Works

Tags

New Look, Forever 21, vintage, H&M, shoot, Look of the Day, London, Beyond Retro, H&M trend, Beckton Gas Works

Hello world,

Here is the ‘Look of the Day’ I done out in east London a while back, out among the docklands. The whole area kinda got forgotten about since the eighties when London’s docklands were abandoned and they’re only now trying to do the area up again. It’s very  weird going along some of the more remote parts, as it looks completely locked in time.

This one here is Beckton Gas Works and the jetty along the Thames and it’s actually pretty cool to explore. I love going adventuring in London and I’ve a list as long as my arm of places I want to explore, so you might end up getting even weirder places that I shoot.

there’s actually a bit of a funny story to when I went and scouted out this location. You see the jetty is surrounded by loads of restricted areas that have security guards and high barb wire fences. So silly old me, I went the most direct way towards the jetty, almost getting caught in the process and almost injuring myself on a rusted old metal pipe. It was only when I got to the jetty that I saw there was a simple side way onto the main road that only involved jumping over one barrier.

Still it was pretty fun and certainly gets the adrenaline going. Not to mention it’s really remote so no-one will bother you out there.

The dress is H&M Trend, as per usual. I really have to learn to shop elsewhere, but it was such a lovely shade of citrus green that really glowed in the sunshine I couldn’t help myself. It was such a simple and relaxed shoot, I really like it for that reason.

These pier columns are the coolest things ever and they’re over 10 metres tall. When I arrived the water was out and I so wanted to climb them, but apparently the sandy bedrock isn’t bedrock at all, but a really deep sludgy quicksand. It was probably a good thing I didn’t try and get over there. Still they are so impressive looking, I had to snap another photo of them.

This is just some of the really cool graffiti artwork on the walls leading back to the main road. They’re quite good, no? Love the Chinese influence in this one, so I had to take a photo.

Dress: H&M
Belt: Vintage from Beyond Retro
Sequined Collar: Divided by H&M
Bracelets: Forever 21
Watch: New Look

Until then,

Franzi

xoxo

Sneak Peak; Beckton Gas Works

Tags

Beckton Gas Works, Look of the Day, sneak peak

Hello world,

Here’s a small sneak peak of tomorrow’s ‘Look of the Day’ honouring this great weather we’ve been having in London this week. Twenty-six degrees Celsius? Don’t mind if I do!

I will be eating lots of ice-cream and sitting myself down in a nice place in the park and maybe go for a swim if I feel so inclined. It’s gonna be a lazy day today!

Come back again for tomorrow’s shoot at Beckton Gas Works, which has an amusing story of me jumping over fences in restricted areas to get to the perfect location.

Until then,

Franzi

xoxo

For The Love Of A High Top

Tags

high tops, River Island

Hello world,

Something really rather strange and exciting happened a few days ago. I went and bought a pair of high tops with built in heel from River Island. To explain why this is so strange, let me explain to you my relationship with sports shoes.

To be honest, there is none, because for years I never bought a pair of trainers. It just wasn’t my style and I think the only reason I ever owned a pair of trainers was for gym class in school and then the gym in college, which I deigned to visit about once a year. Honestly, I can’t stand them as a type of shoe; they’re horribly unflattering, make your feet smell and haven’t been in fashion since the eighties.

So when the sportswear trend showed on the catwalks last autumn, I was a little hesitant about them. But somehow over the months they won me over. So I went and bought myself a pair from River Island, and now it’s a case of wondering where I’d ever been without them.

They are so ridiculously comfy, even though there’s a built in heel, they always go with skinny jeans and pair them up with a bright colour block pencil skirt and you’ve got a brilliant take on the sportswear trend. Honestly, I even teamed them up with a baby blue bodycon dress and it still looked amazing. These shoes really can do no wrong!

I’ve got a couple of shoots coming up with the high tops featured in them. In the meantime I’ll just wear them every day.

What do you think of high tops as a trend? Love or loathe?

Until then,

Franzi

xoxo

Gucci vs. Guess; The Result

Tags

copyright infringement, courts, Gucci, Guess, Judge Scheindlin, New York, trademark

Hello world,

News out of New York yesterday revealed that the long-running (three years to be exact) battle between Gucci and Guess over trademark infringement has come to a close. Judge Scheindlin ruled in favour of Gucci and asked Guess to pay $4.7 million in damages.

While the lengthy saga may be over for now, two really interesting things have popped up as a result of the ruling. The first is that Gucci were awarded only $4.7 million of the $221 million they had asked for and two, the ramifications of this court case on the future of fashion.

The offending design in question. Top is Gucci and bottom is Guess.

Well the first is interesting, because even though the Judge sided with Gucci, $4.7 million for such a gross trademark infringement is very low. So more than likely, what the Judge ruled for is that trademark dilution occurred here, as opposed to outright trademark infringement. This is interesting as it could mean more and more lawsuits of this kind will start appearing before the courts, but the sums will be much reduced than what would originally have been expected. By this model only outright copying or counterfeiting will be prosecuted under trademark infringement.

The second interesting thing to come out of this, is the ramifications on the fashion industry. As a result of this lawsuit it’s quite possible that there will be stricter controls on patterns, stitch designs and specific fabrics to prevent a repeat occurrence of this type of lawsuit. That means it’s going to be a lot harder to be influenced by other designers, and in my opinion stifles creative freedom. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen.

But as one fashion scandal ends in the courts, others I’m sure will arise pretty soon. In the meantime, have a look at what Judge Scheindlin said about fashion. It’ll make you giggle or snort, depending on your sense of humour.

Over the past three years, the parties have put in countless hours and spent untold sums of money, all in the service of fashion — what Oscar Wilde aptly called ‘a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.’ With the instant [i.e., immediate] disputes now resolved, and with Gucci’s entitlement to the relief noted above, it is my hope that this ugliness will be limited to the runway and shopping floor, rather than spilling over into the courts.

Until then,

Franzi

xoxo