Looks of the Week - 31/05/14

The weekly roundup of celebrity style, on and off the red carpet.

City Slickers

Olivia Palermo strolled NYC in a suave striped red and beige Peter Som romper, styled with a black and white striped coat, black tights, Rebecca Minkoff boots and a dashing Delvaux bag.

Taylor Swift was radiant in a fifties inspired little red Oscar de la Renta dress, accessorized with a tan Tods tote and nude Prada peep-toes.

Lea Michele tried out the cropped top trend in white, prettily printed with a Bibhu Mohapatra pencil skirt, red leather IRO biker jacket and Bionda Castana white scalloped pumps.

Kate Hudson was chicly spotted in a black and white Osman printed tee and slick RVN pencil skirt, teamed with a classic quilted Chanel bag and yellow Louboutin pumps for a dash of colour.

Spring Stroll

Lily Allen enjoyed her Cannes stay in a breezy resort inspired outfit with white lace edged tank top and paneled maxi skirt.
Jessica Alba takes her pastel pink coat into Spring, styled with a mesh My Tribe top, skinny blue jeans and pink belt, a Louis Vuitton shopper bag and cream d'Orsay pumps.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley treads the airport in an elegant little white dress, rose pink Stella McCartney blazer, a white leather Dolce & Gabbana bag and printed Christian Louboutin pumps.
Camilla Belle was cutely outfitted in a printed shirt and distressed denim jeans, along with a boho headband, blue Michael Kors bag and white loafers.


The Elegant Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt had a busy week promoting her new film, 'Edge of Tomorrow' and wore equally enthralling looks to match the magnitude of the movie tour.
Left: Emily looked ravishing in a poppy red Prada column dress with sculpted sweetheart necklace, a hot pink clutch and lip to spice it up.
Middle: Emily was engaging in a summery floral printed frock by Dolce & Gabbana, uplifted by cerise pink sandals.
Right: The British actress was eye-catching in this jazzy flower and paisley patterned Osman midi dress in lovely shades of pink, red, purple & blue. Bright pink Kurt Geiger pumps style her look.


Cotton Candy

Michelle Keegan mixes pastels in this mod rose pink leather pencil skirt and powder blue high neck top, all by River Island. Lilac pumps & a grey box clutch complete her tasteful look.
Peyton List looked sweet in a metallic jacquard Alice + Olivia mini dress with silver strap heels.
Annalynne McCord showed off her svelte figure in this ice blue high-neck cut-out Missguided dress with dazzling silver beaded Jimmy Choo sandals.
Zendaya picked out a flattering petal pink Ted Baker sporty silhouette dress with black panels and frilled hem. Matching pink Louboutin peep-toe sandals finish her outfit.
Kristen Stewart makes a surprise appearance on this list, due to her fetching white embellished Chanel jumpsuit that she wore in Cannes this past week.


Daylight Glamour

Heidi Klum's leopard print pencil skirt was contrased with a black beaded cut-out top, both by Roberto Cavalli. Simple ankle strap sandals style her look.
Daisy Lowe looked polished in all black - a leather pencil skirt, strappy camisole and cape.
Cara Delevingne graced Cannes last week wearing a glittery sequined mini dress by Chanel.
Olivia Palermo's black leather military jacket with gold buttons was aptly paired with sleek leather leggings, a leopard printed bag and burgundy pointy-toe heels, both by Christian Louboutin.


Gown and Out

Elle Fanning once again plays a real life princess in this ethereal periwinkle blue embellished Elie Saab off-the-shoulder gown, decorated by dainty floral appliqués.
Nina Dobrev wore a glitzy lemon and gold beaded Jenny Packham dress with low V-neck.
Paz Vega stunned at Cannes in this exquisite Ralph & Russo Couture silver beaded gown, ornamented by a large black fabric rose and black belt.
Angelia Jolie reworked her comfort colour of black in a nouveau way, wearing a latex looking Atelier Versace strapless gown with full draped skirt.

Who is your Favourite 'Look of the Week'?

Ten Good Rules to Live By

1. Realise your own worth. Avoid comparing yourself with others. Each of us is special, because we are different one from the other.

2. Set your own goals based on what is important to you, not what others think is important. Only you know what is best for you.

3. Treasure the things that are closest to your heart. Cherish them as you would your life, without them life is meaningless.

4. Live your life one day at a time, in the present, each day to its fullest. Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future.

5. Be relentless when you have something to offer; never give up. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

6. Embrace risk, don’t be afraid. We learn how to be brave by taking chances.

7. Love deeply, freely, and with all your heart. The quickest way to receive love is to give love, the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly, the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

8. Live your dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope, to be without hope is to be without purpose.

9. Slow down. Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you have been, but also where you are going. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savoured, every step of the way.

10. Surrender to your destiny and have faith that it will unfold as it should. Choose to be happy, at peace and one with the universe.

*Author unknown.

Fashion Illustrating with Meagan Morrison

I recently discovered the design blog of the very talented Meagan Morrison, whose stunning fashion illustrations have truly awed and inspired me. I was honoured when this creative New York based artist agreed to an interview with me. Meagan specializes in fashion illustrations made for print and digital media, blog layouts, accessory and stationary design. Her ingenious work features true-to-life drawings mirrored from the runway, fashion events, and magazines. This is a glimpse inside the imaginative world of fashion illustrator, Meagan Morrison...

Mary Katrantzou Illustration

Q & A with Meagan Morrison

1. What sparked your interest in fashion illustration?

From the time I was very young I had two unfailing loves, painting and fashion. When I was around 7 years old, I can remember sketching a collection of 30 women's looks under my stairwell in my childhood home. I had no interest in learning how to make the clothes I illustrated, but I knew that I wanted to keep drawing them. It took me about 15 more years to discover that I could actually have a career doing just that!

Coco Rocha Illustration

2. Where are you based and what does your job entail?

I am currently based in New York but originally from Toronto, Canada. I also spent four years in Montreal, Quebec obtaining my Bachelor of Commerce at McGill University. I came to New York five years ago to pursue my fashion illustration career and have been here ever since...

Anna Sui Illustration

As for my job, it is a 24 hrs a day/7 days a week commitment of hard work, discipline, and passion. When who you are and what you do are the same, you live and breathe your job. My blog and my fashion illustrations are a complete reflection of my most intrinsic self. Currently during the day I work as a Senior Digital Designer and Social Media Editor for an accessories company in Manhattan. But on my evenings and weekends I spend all my time illustrating, either personal work or commissions, and tending to my social media accounts. I nurture my social media like a garden. It takes maintenance and engagement in order for it to grow.

Moschino Runway Illustration

3. What is your illustrative style?

My style has been described as being very whimsical. I always incorporate lots of color and infuse it with both travel and fashion inspiration. Some drawings are rendered loosely in 7 minutes or less, illustrated straight to paper. Other illustrations are slightly more rendered and involve conceptualizing in my sketchbook, transferring to watercolor paper, and more attention to detail in their finishing. I'm not a 'one style for all scenarios' illustrator. I have flexibility in my paint handling.

Macaron Marie

4. Of all your illustrations, which one is your personal favourite?

Hmm...my personal favorite is probably Macaron Marie. It was the first painting I did after finishing my Fashion Illustration AAS degree at FIT in New York, and it's very indicative of my personal voice and brand. It incorporates travel, with Parisian macarons from Laduree, and merges it with a fashion style portrait of Elle Fanning as a modern day Marie Antoinette. Friends have said that when they think of me, they think of that painting!

Custo Barcelona FW13

5. Do you prefer illustrating digitally or by hand?
Totally, 100%, I prefer painting by hand. Nothing brings me more joy than washy inks or watery gouache touching fresh watercolor paper. There is a spontaneity in live painting that can't be replaced or replicated with computers. That said, I always scan my works and clean them up in photoshop when they are finished. Not all accidents are happy ones!

Dolce & Gabbana

6. What are your influences and inspirations?

This is always a fun question to answer. I'm definitely inspired by living in New York. From the time I walk out the door in the morning, until I reach my office 20 minutes later, I've already soaked up oodles of inspiration. It could be the way a woman is dressed en route to work, or the shop windows in my neighborhood. We have access to the most incredible art galleries, exhibitions, restaurants, markets, street style, nightlife...everything here is magic. I also collect so much inspiration from my travels abroad. I love to see how other people live, their culture, how they interpret style and fashion, how and what they eat, where they pass time.

7. Are there any specific designers that you would like to work with? 

My absolute number one designer to work with is Kate Spade. I feel that their brand DNA is in perfect alignment with my own. They are all about living colorfully, taking influences from travel and incorporating it into their accessories and inspirations. They also utilize so many illustrators for their capsule collections. They've partnered with Garance Dore and most recently Bruno Grizzo for their Year of Travel collection. For similar reasons I would also love to partner with Henri Bendel. They've worked with the amazing Izak Zenou and Megan Hess on beautiful fashion illustrated silk scarves, travel cases, and accessories.

Moschino

8. Ideally, where would you like your career in fashion illustration to go in the future?

I want it to grow, grow, grow!! In the very near future I want to be running Meagan Morrison Studio full-time, an illustration and creative services company. I want to design my own line of accessories and stationary as well as continue to do editorial and custom illustrations for magazines, designers, and personal commissions. One area I'm really interested in now is collaborating with other designers for artist series projects. I love the idea of bringing two different creative sources together and designing a limited number of items to sell. I also want to continue building my blog and social media community. I love engaging with other artists and followers who share my passion for fashion illustration. Having my blog has been the driving force behind my growth and personal development in my illustrations. There is only one way I would like my illustration career to go, and that's up!!

Meagan Morrison is a New York based fashion illustrator & designer available for freelance commissions, including blog designs, headers and layouts.

Blog: http://travelwritedraw.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.meaganmorrison.com/
Email: mmillustrations@gmail.com
Instagram: @travelwritedraw

A very special thanks to the lovely Meagan for participating in this interview and for sharing her beautiful designs!

Wedding Hair Couture by Jannie Baltzer

Bridal fashion, just as much as any other type of style, evolves with time and trends. Long gone are the days where trailing floor-sweeping veils and gaudy pageant tiaras seal off the perfect bridal ensemble. Designers like Copenhagen's Jannie Baltzer has redefined bridal style, creating exquisite hairpieces and fascinators for the more modern and fashion-conscious bride-to-be. 

Jannie shapes extraordinary couture headpieces from the daintiest French and Edwardian lace, silk, pearls and Preciosa crystals. Her romantic floral fascinators are crafted using the highest-quality hand-made flowers, in a new and imaginative way. The thematic pieces reflect everything from a bohemian bride, to Hollywood starlet, a Grecian goddess, a classic wedding belle and a fairytale inspired princess.

Whether your wedding style is over-the-top glamourous or simply understated, Jannie has taken all possible brides into consideration with her wide variety of head candy. Take your pick from a stunning array of intricately beaded halo's, crystal hair combs, demure netted veils, sequined floral vines, petalled barrettes and sparkling pearlized silk headbands. The less formal Alice bands would also be perfect for bridesmaids, proms or party guests.

Crown your special day with one of these captivating headdresses from Jannie Baltzer's 2014 collection.

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Which of these beautiful bridal fascinators would you choose?


All images found via janniebaltzer.com

Looks of the Week - 24/05/14

The weekly roundup of style, from Cannes and beyond. 

Salute to Summer

Jessica Alba looked summery in a white lace top with matching midi skirt by Tanya Taylor. She casually styled her outfit with black pointy-toe flats and a Lanvin bag.
Ahna O'Reilly was florally printed in a rosy pink and black pencil dress by Monique Lhuillier.
Diane Kruger was spotted out in LA wearing a cerise pink and white printed frock with ruffle pleated high-low skirt by Giambattista Valli. Minted pumps complete her outfit.
Jennifer Lawrence stepped out in Cannes wearing a grey and pink striped tank and multilayered printed handkerchief skirt by Christian Dior.

Black Velvet

Natasha Poly wore a winsome black tulle Oscar de Renta dress with sheer wispy mesh skirt.
Julia Restoin-Roitfeld exuded finesse in a black satin peplum gown with frilled hem by Givenchy.
Cheryl Cole returned to the Cannes 2014 red carpet in a strapless black textured jacquard Monique Lhuillier dress with high-low hemline and Gianvito Rossi ankle strap heels.
Paz Vega smouldered in a black plunge-neck gown with exaggerated hips and gold metal belt by Fitriani Couture.

Off The Shoulder

Lara Stone drew attention in fluorescent pink column gown by Calvin Klein.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wears a marigold yellow one-shouldered draped Emilio Pucci dress.
Jessica Chastain makes the most of naturally red hair by complimenting it with an elegant cobalt blue Atelier Versace one-shouldered gown.
Toni Garrn thrilled in a snow white asymmetrical cut-out Elie Saab gown with thigh high slit.


Into the Glitz

Aishwarya Rai had cameras flashing in this glittering gold embellished Roberto Cavalli gown.
Chanel Iman was dipped in a liquid gold silky draped Reem Acra gown with strappy Jimmy Choos.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was breathtaking in a strapless dove grey beaded Gucci Premiére gown with belted waist.


Cannes Confidential

Liu Wen enchanted in a sky blue Vionnet dress with low V-neck and cut-out sides.
Toni Garrn does retro glam in a fluid silk Redemption Choppers ensemble.
Alessandra Ambrosio was beautifully dressed by Emilio Pucci in a blush pink beaded gown.
Jessica Hart picked a feminine rose pink halter neck Roberto Cavalli dress.
Alessandra displayed the mastery of this white fully embellished Atelier Versace gown with draped asymmetrical bodice and sheer beaded skirt.


Belles of the Ball

Huiwen Zhang wore a cake-topping vanilla whipped three tier taffeta gown by Lanvin.
Izabel Goulart had a fairytale moment in this petal pink Emilio Pucci confection, decked with feathers and a ruffled organza mermaid skirt.
Marion Cotillard does her Dior ambassadorial duties dressed in a sumptuous ice grey pleated frock with an A-line layered skirt cut just above the ankle. Gold sparkly Louboutin heels fit her feet.

Who is Your Favourite Look of the Week?

Friday Frills

You never achieve real success unless you like what you are doing.

No one has ever succeeded in a line of endeavor which they did not like.

Your chances of success are directly proportional

to the degree of pleasure you derive from what you do.

If you are in a job you hate, face the fact squarely and get out.

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

It's better to be a failure in something you love,

Than attempting to be a success in something you don't.

Don't set compensation as a goal.

Find something you are passionate about, and the compensation will follow.

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. 

Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars.

 

Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your step. 

The irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas.

The more you love what you are doing,

the more successful it will be for you.

The Elie Saab Allure at Cannes 2014

Cannes Film Festival 2014

Elie Saab Red Carpet Dresses

It goes without saying that Elie Saab is one of the most favored and admired couturiers in the world and where better to showcase his unprecedented talent than at the Cannes Film Festival. This year, the Lebanese designer dressed a host of supermodels and actresses in some of his finest evening wear from his current and former couture collections.

Alessandra Ambrosio looked stunning in an avocado green silk chiffon draped gown with lace detailed corset and a ribboned belt from Elie Saab's SS11 Couture collection. Coral Chopard jewels complete her look.

Jessica Chastain floated in a lavender blue gossamer silk gown with slitted skirt, a leather belted waist and asymmetrical shoulder with trailing scarf.

Adriana Lima had jaws dropping at the sight of her sultry ivory Elie Saab SS11 couture gown, featuring a draped skirt, ruffled sweetheart strapless neckline and a glittering Chopard diamond necklace and earrings.

Veteren model Eva Herzigova portrayed light and beauty in this wispy lemon chiffon strapless gown with high slit from Elie Saab's Spring 2010 couture collection.

Brazilian model Izabel Goulart was captivating at the Cannes Grisogono Party in a salmon pink Elie Saab SS14 RTW gown with sheer lace long-sleeved bodice and slitted skirt.

Liu Wen was beguiling in an aquamint billowing strapless dress with flower ruffled motif on the bodice and thigh-high slit, which is from Elie Saab's Spring 2010 archive.

Dominican model Arlenis Sosa made an outstanding Cannes debut in this vanilla one-strap lace paneled dress from Saab's Spring 2011 couture range. A dazzling display of Chopard rubies adorn her neck.

Eva Green complimented the red carpet in a ravishing wine shaded chiffon gown with sheer fluttery sleeves, embellished bodice and sweeping skirt. Her dark brunette waves and red lips beautifully enhance this outfit.

Petra Nemcova was a blushing beauty in a dusty rose silk gown with extreme high slit, tulip draped skirt and lace enriched bodice.

Bollywood fashion maven Sonam Kapoor was gloriously dressed in a fluid sky blue silk pleated Elie Saab Spring 2014 gown with geometric neckline, fitted waist and cascading waterfall skirt.

Sonam Kapoor turned heads in this spellbinding black couture gown, swirled with floral beadwork and fitted bodice that blooms into a capacious ballroom skirt. This dramatic art piece is from Elie Saab's Spring 2014 collection.

Which is Your Favourite Elie Saab Look from Cannes 2014 so far?

Pleats Please - A Spring 2014 Editorial

Stylist Damian Foxe selects one of Spring 2014's major trends - pleats - as inspiration for this electric fashion spread in How To Spend It Magazine. Entitled 'Pleats & Plissé', Ukrainian model Alla Kostromichova wears a few beautifully folded looks from the SS14 runways, spinning new ideas for wearing this age old design.

German brand Wunderkind presented a polychromatic polyester pleated gown at their Spring/Summer 2014 show, styled with a plastic belt, cork heel shoes and printed shorts.

Alla wears a stunning one-strap powder blue silk pleated dress, decked with glistening beaded embellishments by Christian Dior. Firmly pinned back hair and exaggerated smokey eyes provide a futuristic feel to the styling. 

Displaying the more casual side of pleats, Alla is styled in a navy blue silk-georgette Chloé halterneck plissé dress, sportily styled with a grey cropped polyester hooded jacket and yellow backpack by Issey Miyake's Pleats Please label. Her bright blue trainers are by Céline.

The Ukranian model is dressed in a multitude of shimmery pieces from Emporio Armani's Spring 2014 line, including a finely pleated coat, silk dress and shorts. Her crepe & leather flat sandals are by Bionda Castana.

Lanvin combines the heavily trendy metallic trend with intricate miniature pleats in this sculpted bronzed silk jacket and ruffled hem skirt, styled with a blue lamé scarf and tshirt.

The dramatic appeal of accordion pleats is magnified in this astounding architectural creation by Thom Browne, which features waves of rolling white silk.

Alla is metalized in a black and gold plissé cut-out strapless viscose dress by Haider Ackermann, which is edgily paired with slick leather trousers and ankle boots.

The prettier side of pleats is shown off in a prepossessing cerise pink cotton printed dress with layered asymmetrical skirt, which is by Thakoon.

This elegant ivory silk dress with leather strapped bodice that spills into soft knife pleats is by Salvatore Ferragamo.

Pleats form the focal point of this remarkable Dries van Noten dress, arranged in cream and beige layers with a metallic gold fabric rosette adorning the skirt. Alla's outfit is styled with a black sleeveless gilet, Givenchy leather sandals and a sequined Attilio Giusti Leombruni bag.

What Do You Think of the Pleated Trend? Which is Your Favourite Piece?