Sunday 28 September 2014

Jean Paul Gaultier @ The Barbican 2014

In response to Jean Paul Gaultier's SS15 show at Paris Fashion Week, I decided to share some photos and insight into the recent exhibition in London celebrating the "enfant terrible" of fashion. This latest show marks Gaultier's retirement from Ready to Wear in order to focus on Haute Couture and his perfume line.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk was a recent exhibition held at the Barbican in London showcasing his most famous pieces and collections over the last 40 years. He has used his position in the fashion industry as a platform for challenging the conventional standards of beauty in the fashion industry - from selecting runway models such as Beth Ditto and drag queen and Eurovision winner, Conchita Wurst.

The exhibition took us back to Gaultier's childhood where he would spend his afternoons in his grandmother's apartment watching TV without restriction. This unlimited access to other worlds on the other side of the screen sparked his imagination and cemented in his mind that he wanted to be a fashion designer.

Most of Gaultier's collections were inspired by street style trends and pop culture: from punk rockers on the streets on London to the uniforms of the sailors he saw while growing up. This nautical imagery led to Gaultier's infamous use of the Breton stripe. I adore the knitted dress that morphs into a feathered skirt; a genius contrast between casual and glamour.


























The couturier is also famed for drawing his inspiration from different cultures across the world and celebrating diversity. I think this was my favourite part of the exhibition. I am absolutely in LOVE with these feathered boots, they are ridiculously cool! A perfect twist on the current over-the-knee boots trend - I could really do with these babies for the coming winter... *hint hint*




This next look is inspired by Mongolian traditional dress and it was hands-down my favourite look from my whole visit. The white fur hat is so adorable with eccentric ear flaps and pink embellishment, contrasting with the dark bodysuit and that brown fur backpack! The oriental-inspired blue satin thigh-high boots are gorgeous and so unexpected; everything about this look is perfect. I really like how every outfit feels so complete and cohesive from head to toe.




Of course JPG is renowned for his work with stars of the music industry, especially stage-wear, from Madonna to Nirvana and Kylie Minogue. There was a whole collection of his famous corsets - it was really interesting how this iconic item of clothing was reworked from something which was used to oppress women and their bodies into a celebration of the female form, empowering the wearer to exude strength and sexuality. 




The ICONIC conical bra from Madonna's Blonde Ambition tour.



My favourite from this section was this black, diamanté-encrusted corset reminiscent of a skeleton - but with curves in all the right places. It really looks like the deconstructed, dark and shiny exoskeleton of an insect. I love the contrast between something that is like armour but also intimate; gothic yet glamourous, embodied by the original woman who modelled this piece on the runway, Dita Von Teese.



Jean Paul Gaultier is probably as famous for his perfumes as he is his couture. The blue sailor-style bottle for him and satin-pink corset bottle for her paint a captivating tale of French romance. I really enjoyed how the exhibition transported you into the Parisian boudoirs behind the story - showing the inspiration, outfit and perfume bottle in one succinct and elegant image and summarising the undeniable impact that growing up in Paris, absorbed by the stories told through his grandmother's television, has had on Jean Paul Gaultier throughout his entire fashion career.



Did you go to see the exhibition? Let me know what you think!

xxx


Wednesday 24 September 2014

Dolce & Gabbana SS2015: Review

Milan Fashion Week 2015

Elaborate embroidery, lace, fringe, gold, pearls and LOTS of roses: Dolce and Gabbana's SS15 collection had it all. Inspired by 16th and 17th century Sicily, the collection was filled with an uncompromisingly bold colour palette. Black and red conveyed the power and sensuality of a flamenco dancer, while splashes of gold and jewelled embellishment gave an heir of royalty. This collection was made for a strong woman who takes no prisoners.





This outfit is wonderful! I love the bold red flowers on the delicate white lace and scalloped hem; it strikes just the right balance between cute and classy. These shoes are also perfect! The ankle strap keeps it young, adding a new twist on a worn out staple. I'm always impressed by an eye-catching flat and the gold-on-black-on-red print makes these spot on.


There was a definite focus on detail: a golden padlock and black trinket flower with deep red clashing against pure white lace; a golden bustier emblazoned with red jewels and pearls; winding embroidery tracing the silhouette of garments; sheer polka-dot skirts adorned with roses. 










Although this level of detail gives individual items an essence of luxe, the layering of fabrics and embellishment left the collection as a whole looking heavy at times and teetering on excessively ornamental. However this boxy handbag is adorable and the colours marry seamlessly.



While the details were beautifully intricate, the silhouettes were clean and feminine - skater, shift and body-con dresses were all seen on the runway. However there were also a few Spanish twists: fringed capes and embroidered bolero jackets were reminiscent of a matador's uniform as well as flamenco-inspired ruffled hems.










This black lace bralet is gorgeous and I love the flattering high-waisted skirt before erupting into dynamic ruffles creating great movement on the runway. However the large polka-dot print is somewhat garish and unnecessary, sticking out from the rest of the collection. The smaller print on the dress in the background is much more flattering.



Slim-cut tuxedos were also seen on the runway - a trend gracing street style at all Fashion Weeks so far (NY, London, Milan) - in luxe, gothic fabric. 

What I loved about this collection was that the outfits were so desirable, impressive AND wearable! There are so many of these pieces that I want and could be mixed and matched effortlessly for a sultry but classy wardrobe. The use of netting, sheer fabric and lace was very tactful in tastefully contrasting gothic colours against flesh - flattering and flirtatious. There are items that any woman of any age could wear for any occassion - pieces were individually interesting and luxurious. Aside from the clothes, the roses used for styling the hair were divine.

So here are my few more of my favourite looks from the Dolce & Gabbana SS15 collection, enjoy! 








What did you think of the show? Let me know! 

xx







Disclaimer: I do not own any of these photos









Sunday 21 September 2014

London Fashion Week

Unfortunately this post is a little late as I've been catching up on uni work, which of course I left to the last minute, but last week was London Fashion Week and luckily I happened to be visiting my boyfriend in London at just the right time ;)





 The print on these cigarette trousers is so striking and they were only £11! I decided to keep the rest of the outfit very streamlined to let the trousers really do the talking. I paired them with this Forever 21 crop top - I love the leather piping around the edges, such a great way to add edge to a wardrobe stable. 

I've been looking for some comfy throw-on shoes for uni for ages now and I finally stumbled on these in TKMaxx and I love them! I adore all things tasselled and they're so comfy and versatile - perfect for popping to lectures or labs.

Trousers - PRIMARK
Crop top - FOREVER 21
Suede shoes - TKMAXX

Let me know what you think!

xx



Sunday 14 September 2014

Back in London












So after spending the majority of my summer working in Birmingham, I'm so glad to be back in London! I spent the day at a friend's BBQ in Marylebone and the weather was beaut - so good to bask in the sun for a change after being stuck in an office.

I've been looking for a cold shoulder dress for a while and I absolutely fell in love with the retro print on this one! I paired it with my black suede lace up boots from TOPSHOP and a statement necklace from FOREVER 21 - I love the contrast between the spikes and the pastel blue.

Dress - URBAN OUTFITTERS
Boots - TOPSHOP
Necklace - FOREVER 21

xxx

Wednesday 10 September 2014

New post up this weekend!

I've just set up a new tumblr! Follow me for more outfit updates and daily style inspiration.


You can now also follow me on instagram!

http://instagram.com/throwonyourwarpaint

This is my last week at work (only 2 days to go!) then heading down to London! New outfit up this weekend, lovelies!

xxx


Monday 8 September 2014

Welcome to my new blog!

Hi! I’ve been meaning to start a personal style blog for a while but for some reason or another I kept putting it off. So this is me finally biting the bullet. I took the opportunity to shoot my first look in Paris, mostly because the weather was actually sunny in France! Here’s my first ootd post and I look forward to sharing more with you in the future xxx





A Day in Paris


I LOVE this playsuit from MISSGUIDED! The printed velvet and tassels feel so luxe but it’s also crazy comfy which is a huge plus when you’re walking around all day. I threw on this oversized black biker jacket from H&M which is my absolute fave because it goes with almost anything and looks effortlessly cool.
We spent the day running around being tourists – visiting the Eiffel Tower, eating macaroons at Pierre Hermé and visiting the Musée d’Orsay where they have the most incredible Impressionism collection. Needless to say we were pretty pooped by the end of it all but we were only in Paris for 3 days so it was worth it!


Jacket – H&M
Playsuit – MISSGUIDED
Boots – TOPSHOP

xxx