Friday 24 December 2010

Winter was on us at the end of my nose, but I never love England more than when covered in snow.








A few pictures from my favourite Christmas-y editorials, as listening to the beautiful Laura Marling and hanging up my stocking has left me feeling unexpectedly festive, despite the current situation.
A stupid accident has left me bandaged up to my chin, leaving my wardrobe options as turtlenecks and... turtlenecks. Sadly, I'm feeling distinctly un-sparkly, but it's comforting to know that fashion is still reliably dazzling, whatever my circumstances may be.

Have a fabulous Christmas!


Lily xoxo

(Photo credits; Amanda Norgaard by Sanchez & Mongiello for New York Times Style, Winter 2010;  Chanel Iman by Terry Richardson;  Constance Jablonski by KT Auleta for Vogue Russia, 2009;  Du Juan by Richard Ramos for Vogue China, December 2010;  Maryna Linchuk for Vogue Turkey by Ellen von Unwerth, December 2010;  Vlada Roslyakova by Horst Diekgerdes for Numéro, 2008;  Vogue UK, December 2010)

Wednesday 15 December 2010

Bestseller








Yasmin Le Bon photographed by Martin Brading for Marie Claire Germany, April 1992


I thought I'd post this editorial because I feel that everything's been a bit modern lately. I'm a little bored of now.
Of course Yasmin Le Bon is stunning, but I love the vulnerability and innocence in this shoot. The light is really soft and sensitive, but still mysterious and the whole thing is so gloriously nineties, especially the first shot. I think it's exactly what I needed.


P.s. Sorry about the weird thing on the fifth shot...

Thursday 9 December 2010

Black Magic.









Dress, charity shop; Shoes, Topshop.


I found this in a charity shop a couple of weeks ago, and I've been meaning to post about it. I saw it when looking for a book for my art final piece, and got a little bit beside myself.

The black velvet is so silky, and just the right weight so that the slight fish-tail swishes when I move. It has a subtly draped neckline, which you can't really see here, and the lacing at the back is a curious but lovely detail. It fits like it was made for me. For no money at all. I'm so in love.

Now I just need to stop putting it on while tidying my room, and hope for somewhere fabulous to turn up so that I can actually wear it.

P.s. Apologies about the messy hair.

Monday 6 December 2010

I LOVE YOU EMMA STONE

Because...

Okay, so I have this really weird obsession with husky voices, as in the kind people get when they're getting ill. I find them so, so attractive. Like I said, it's weird. But you have one naturally.

You are naturally blonde, but decided to be a red head.

You were so fabulous in Easy A, which I watched this weekend. Brilliant film. Almost Mean Girls standards.

You went to an all-girls catholic school for one term, then gave your parents a power point presentation set to Madonna's "Hollywood" to convince them to let you to move to california to pursue your acting career.

That plan actually worked.






Ooh, haven't done one of these in ages.

Friday 26 November 2010

The Seven Wonders.

Marilyn Monroe said "I don't know who invented the high heel, but all men owe him a lot."

Bette Midler said "Give the girl the correct footwear, and she can conquer the world."

Karl Lagerfeld said, simply, "Oh yes, I do love to do shoes. I am not a fetishist, but I love to do shoes."


Shoes. Fascinating, aren't they?
We wear them almost every day of our lives, from cradle to coffin.
They don't discriminate against size and shape, but heels possess the ability to transform any pair of legs.
Countless women all over the world are willing to spend hundreds of pounds on just one pair.

And I admit, shoes are my vice.
I just love the way I feel so much better about myself and so much more confident when I'm wearing amazing shoes. I love to be tall. I love the way shoes can completely change an outfit. And I love the way that it is difficult for designers to come up with fresh, new ideas for clothing, but with shoes the possibilities seem to be endless. There is so much that hasn't been done yet.

A few months ago I cleared all the books from the bookshelves in my room to create... "shoeshelves".
Evidently, I love shoes. Too much.

So, I thought I share with you my current seven favourite pairs...



The I-was-broke-but-they-were-pink-and-on-sale Shoes.
My most recent shoe purchase. I was in Topshop and I saw them and it turned out that they were the only pair left in my size. So of course all rational thought disappeared and the fact that I had no money ceased to matter. I asked them to hold them at the till while I called my mum and begged her to transfer the money to my account, I'd pay her back later, it was really important.



The Designer Collaboration Shoes.
The Christopher Kane/ Topshop collaboration was one of the most exciting and highly anticipated and, of course, I thought the boots were the best bit. Plus, as far as I know they are my highest pair of heels. I feel like a GIANT when I wear them. It's great.
The only annoying thing is those tassels which I'll have to replace. You just look at them, and the leather strips fall out. Serious design fault, Mr Kane.



The Summer Shoes.
I don't really have any excuse or explanation for buying these, only that I love them and I needed some summer heels. And they make me feel like I have hooves. 




The Vintage Shoes.
I found these vintage DMs on Ebay fairly recently, and I think they are the best vintage item I've ever bought (so happy I set my alarm and got up extra early to bid, yes the shoe problem is that serious). I couldn't help giving you a little close-up of the gorgeous print, I've personally never seen any the same. Apparently the person I bought them from bought them while at art school here in London in the 80s, but they are in absolutely perfect condition. They're my first pair of Doc Marten's and they are so very perfect for me, being so resilient, as I notoriously destroy boots by wearing them to death.



The Shoes That I Fought For.
These are not so much a favourite pair, though they are definitely attractively preppy and chunky, but more a pair that I feel are significant and have earned their place on this list. They are in fact my school shoes, but when I first bought them I was told that they were "too fashionable for school". Of course indignation and general outrage followed, as I was not exactly aware that being fashionable was against school rules... But after weeks of e-mailing and arguing and defending them, I won. 
I think that's dedication :)



The Break-up Shoes.
There's not a lot to explain really - my boyfriend broke up with me and so I went out and spent over £100 on a pair of shoes. I would just like to say I have never found a way of making myself feel more content more quickly. 
They are beautifully warm and just generally heavenly.
But I'd like to apologise for how dirty they are, I wore them to my halloween-slash-birthday party where I dressed as a slutty fox (yes, I know) and it rained and there was a sea of mud in my kitchen. 



The Shoes That Soldier On.
I mentioned above my habit for destroying boots, but I think my Aztec boots have suffered the most. I photographed them in my bed because they find it a little difficult to stand up other wise. They are missing a strap, a buckle, the backs are totally collapsed, the lining is ripped to pieces and they have been re-heeled more times than I can count. They are my walking wounded shoes. But I still wear them more than the majority of my other shoes.
True love never dies.



I don't think anyone will ever be able to truly explain shoe phenomenon, but personally I think Manolo Blahnik puts it best:

"You put high heels on and you change"

Thursday 25 November 2010

There are two things in life for which we are never truly prepared: Twins.










Ann Kenny and Kirby Kenny photographed by Beau Grealy, styled by Celestine Cooney for Twin Issue III Fall/Winter 2010.


I realised that I haven't posted an editorial in forever, and I thought this one was really lovely. It's not exactly ground-breaking, but I find Ann and Kirby Kenny intriguing. I was always desperate for a sibling when I was little, especially a twin sister so I find them oddly fascinating, especially with those haunting eyes.

I like the way they've been given different hair colours in this shoot , it gives them their own personality and their interaction in the little black and white shots is great. I can't understand why they weren't made bigger, they're by far the best part of the story.

Sunday 21 November 2010

The Cappuccino Effect.





Karl Largerfeld is just the embodiment of over-the-top cool, isn't he?

Monday 15 November 2010

Guess who has a Macbook?



Oh, right, yeah. That's ME.
I pinky promise to post more from now on.

Saturday 25 September 2010

Alberta Ferretti S/S 11.














I hold my hands up, I am a failure of a fashion blogger. 

Until now, I have completely ignored the new season. It just feels so wrong to be thinking about spring and summer and cloudless skies and bare legs, when it's six degrees outside and all I want to do is pile on my cashmere sweaters, pull on my (gorgeous) new, furry, platform boots, curl into a ball and not emerge for a good few weeks. And it's not even October. 

But I have to say, this show inspired me. Despite the temperature and the fact that I am actually wearing ski socks, I did not find it at all difficult to imagine dancing around in a grassy field and soaking up the sunshine. The floaty shapes, sheer, weightless fabrics and muted florals are so romantic. The stars of the show were, of course, the beautiful, floor-length skirts and dresses. Which are, essentially, princess dresses. The kind of fairytale garments that every little girl dreams of wearing, and every grown woman still wants to wear.

The best thing about this show was what a change it was for Ferretti, whose previous shows I have always found so prim and proper. This new imaginative, fantasy femininity has transformed my opinion, definitely for the better. I do love it when a designer surprises me, and I would also like to thank her for stopping me from going into hibernation.