Icon - Mary Quant

Another week another icon. This week it is the turn of 60's goddess Mary Quant.

Now this lady was making clothes in the 50's but is distinctly remembered for her work in the 60's. It is to her that we look to for the 'mod' fashions and the original Chelsea look not what we see on that show 'Made in Chelsea'. She had stores on the Kings Road and later in Knightsbridge.  Some of her best sellers included white plastic collars used to modernise old dresses and black stretch leggings and as I love leggings I want to personally thank you Mary for making them fashionable!

Think of the 60's, think of Mary with her knee high, patent plastic, lace up boots,  tight skinny rib jumpers,  stripes and bold checksthese things went on torepresent the London look of the sixties. It is to her we also lookat for the invention of the micro-mini skirt. According to her girls would come into the shop and keep asking the miniskirts to be shorter and shorter so she came up with the micro-mini skirt.

A personal favourite that she designed was the bright plastic raincoats.  Gotta love something like that to brighten up a rainy day!

In the late sixties she brought out and popularised hot pants so another thing most girls need to thank this weeks icon for. Twiggy also found fame with this designer.

She also received an OBE for her contribution to fashion, well deserved I think.

There really is just something about Mary! 

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Milan Fashion Week Final Day

The final day of Milan Fashion Week had a few last surprises in store for us.

Starting with the DSquared2 collection.

This collection had a distinct 60's feel about it with the style of dresses that the designers chose to show. The first outfit in the photo above appears to be made of fur, and seems to be almost like a sixties print in terms of the position of the multicoloured fur segments. The second dress has serious embellishment detail on the bottom, with a matching jacket made of sheer fabric to make the embellishment detail stand out even more. The stunning white simple shaped dress is topped off with a feather collar, which falls almost like a cape on the models shoulders, a simple addition but it really makes this outfit.

 My favourite piece is the emerald green cape with appliqué details, almost petal or feather like in size and shape. Absolutely stunning! 

Finishing up Milan Fashion Week with a stellar show, pardon the pun, from Stella Jean.

This show was a mega-mix of Italian, Japanese and African cultures. Each look bursting with busy prints, in a mix of simple and complicated shapes and styles. You definitely have to have the matching confidence to wear these bold outfits and give them the attitude which they deserve. This collection featured full length knits in a mixture of fine knits and chunky knits, mohair coats, lampshade shaped skirts, sculptured jackets. A great way to end Milan Fashion Week, on a definite high note, lets see what Paris has to offer us . . .

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The Shoe Thing . . .

It seems everyone is shoe crazy at the moment with Sarah Jessica Parker releasing a collection of shoes in US department store Nordstrom later in February. This news had not even settled before it was discovered that actress Cameron Diaz was releasing her own capsule collection of shoes for brand Pour La Victoire. The difference between these two actresses style is huge so it is no surprise that their designs are totally different. There is no doubt that both of these collaborations will bring in a lot of attention and revenue for Nordstrom and Pour La Victoire, but it should be maybe noted that SJP has put her names on her designs and Cameron Diaz has not.

Here is my top three from both of these ladies collections. . .

I love the above three the most, I can't honestly say her style in shoes are my thing but I do like these three styles the most. The colours are unusual and the pastel shade heels are bang on trend. Other styles available in SJP's collection are flip-flops, espadrille wedges, T-bars, vintage inspired shapes, e.c.t If your the kind of girl who loves Sex in the City then these are the shoes for you, you will love the whole collection!

Cameron Diaz's shoes are a lot edgier with a mix of leather and suede. Definetly a lot more my style I love the ones in the big square with their panels, this collection without a doubt is more modern. It is clear that the audience for each of these collections will be total opposites with what I can only imagine a younger crowd going for Cameron Diaz's collection and an older crowd going for SJP's more classical shapes and styles.

. . .

But it wasn't just these two who decided to branch out into footwear designer Orla Kiely has paired up with the brand Clarks to design a collection of 60's inspired shoes. This capsule collection includes six styles of shoes, including flatforms, platforms, buckled shoes, e.c.t. All in bright colour ways and some even featuring 60's inspired prints, there could be no doubt that these shoes were not designed by Orla Kiely!

Check out my top three below . . .

Love the very 60's inspired platforms in green with the floral print on the toe. The beautiful and bold wedges in the wonderful summer red perfect for walking around on warmer spring days. The more suitable sligbacks for work, still fun and a more practical height.

So three very different styles from three very different people. My overall favourite would have to be Orla Kiely, just more my style. Which is your favourite collection?

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Icon - Edie Sedgwick

Another week another idol!

This week it's Edie Sedgwick, famous for being Andy Warhol's Superstar.

 Edie Sedgwick was an american heiress and socialite. She was deemed to be an 'It Girl' of the time! She had a troubled childhood which resulted in a number of problems that factored in her downfall. She became part of Andy Warhol's Factory set in the 60's and became famous through him. She starred in a number of Warhol's films including Poor Little Rich Girl, Kitchen, Chelsea Girls, e.c.t The two were always seen out together socially, they were the talk of the town.

Sedgwick's trade mark style was black leotards, mini dresses it was the 60's after all, chandelier earrings, short silver hair finished her look. Warhol and Edie became close until he started to estrange himself from her, to find new superstars. She died in 1971, the coroner ruled her death as 'undetermined/accident/suicide'.

Edie was a colourful character, fun and lively it was clear she had issues but she just seemed to know how to have fun, she knew how she wanted to be seen and made herself an Icon of the time.

 Who couldn't say that she wasn't photogenic or a character, she looked like she would have been a lot of fun.

Edie's modern day essentials can be seen below...

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