NYFW: MARC JACOBS AND ANNA SUI

Watching the Twitter reviews of the Marc Jacobs SS13 show flooding in, I couldn't help but roll my eyes like the cynical bastard I am. Sixties, Marc? REALLY? Yawn.

But then I saw it. And you know what I realised? NOT ONE PAIR OF TROUSERS. Finally my dream! As a short-arse who's packin' in the back, trousers and I have a horribly abusive love/hate relationship, and after season after season with tailored or patterned breeks taking centre stage, it's a relief to finally see a collection that shunned them entirely. In typical wacky Marc Jacobs style, rather than offer us an alternative he just pulled them completely, leaving the models strutting about in their pants. Not sure I can (or WANT to) see that look recreated on Argyle St next summer.

But overall, as much as I was ready to be massively unimpressed, I'm afraid I had to eat my eye-rolling. Or something. This was simple and elegant... Chung-ready and trouserless. Basically perfect.

And guess what else... The makeup was to DIE FOR. Just check out the brows on Cara!

I like that they didn't go for an obvious winged liner but instead opted for a smoky cut-crease, and paled out the lips. I basically rock a bold brow and nude lip on a daily basis and now amma hankerin to try this slightly more amped-up version for a night out. What do you guys reckon? ALSO, could the extreme side-parting from my days as an emo really be back on trend?

Another collection worth mentioning is Anna Sui. Part Where the Wild Things Are, part girlish rock n roll, part Harajuku, this is a collection I'd happily style someone like Gwen Steffani in. And, I mean, she's amazing, so...

And again, loving the makeup:

   

What did you guys make of NYFW this year? I feel like most of it passed me by to be honest... And I hate myself a bit for saying it but I was mightily let down by Alexander Wang. SOB!

Onto LFW now. Highlights are sure to be old favourites Christopher Kane, ACNE, Topshop Unique, Meadham Kirchhoff and Mary Katrantzou. Are we all PUMPED?

SALE! MARC JACOBS COAT FOR £250

Yo guys, sorry about the lack of quality posts at the moment. I've been busy with work and not been feeling hugely inspired fashion wise recently. I DID go slightly crazy in the sales and pick myself up some goodies from Urban Outfitters, Jeffrey Campbell, Mulberry and Toppers amongst others, but I've seen loads of sale posts around recently so I figured you guys probably wouldn't give a tiny rats ass about my swag.

I promise to be back with a vengeance in the next few weeks. I've been doing some really exciting things this past wee while - including working on a lookbook shoot, expect awesome photos soon - and I'm back in at the Herald this week so hopefully that will kickstart my fashion mojo again.

IN THE MEANTIME, I wanted to let y'all know, in case anyone's interested, I'm going to be having a bit of a clearout. I've accumulated SO MUCH SHIT this last year and yes I know, it's a hilarious running joke with my pals, but I have GOT to stop spending as much cash on clothes and start saving if I ever want to move out/do anything of real value. It's deep, guys. It's deep.

SO, to that end I present my first offering for sale - my gorgeous, and now totally SOLD OUT Marc by Marc Jacobs boucle-wool cardi coat:

It features a comfy, slouchy fit, notched over-sized lapels, long sleeves with cuffs that turn up to reveal striped lining (but you can keep them turned down too if you want), two gold buttons to fasten and flap pockets at front.

This coat is beautiful, super soft and comfy, but I've only had it on twice and feel like it deserves to be worn much more. I won it as part of my Net a Porter prize back at the end of 2010 and it was £555. In the Net a Porter sale it went down to £388 BUT I'm selling it now for £250. A considerable markdown for a virtually BRAND NEW designer coat!

Believe me, I DO love this and wouldn't part with it were it not for the fact that it's just a little too long/big in general. I have it in the small size but it would comfortably fit sizes 10-14+ since it's over-sized and stretchy/slouchy wool (not massively structured). I'm 5"2 however, and find it fits a bit long on me. Shame to have to sell it but c'est la vie.

I'd prefer to sell it on here than Ebay since the last time I tried that it was big ole mess and I got WAY confused. SO, if you want it, leave a comment or e-mail me at k-mclaren@hotmail.com. I'll only be accepting PayPal and I can discuss sending you it out when you contact me.

First come first serve. If no-one wants it it'll be going on ebay!

Just for fun, here's a cool Asian chick rocking it...

You GO wit you're bad self!

I'll more than likely be selling other stuff on here in the weeks to come, including a vintage mohair tartan cape and possibly some more designer threadz.

Keep em peeled!

Gray bouclé-wool cardi-coat with two gold button fastenings at double-breasted front. 61% wool, 35% alpaca, 4% other; sleeve lining: 100% acetate. Dry clean. Designer color: Waking Night.

QUELLE HEURE EST-IL?

Awwwww *sadface* That's my two weeks at the BBC over now. So gutted, I can't even begin to tell you :(

Although I HAVE asked to work The Review Show on the 1st of April as wee extra, because Germaine Greer is a panellist and I'm a STUPIDLY ridonculous fan and will no doubt fall all over myself getting her glass after glass of wine, and say things like "I puuuuuuuure love you," while blushing and coyly looking away like a prize fool. Fooltastic, that's me!

I really want to ask her to sign my copy of The Femal Eunuch... Is that too far? I think I already know the answer to that question, but I kind of don't care anyway... What can I say, THE HEART WANTS WHAT IT WANTS.

Aaaaanyhoo, back to business. I've not had a huge amount of time to read blogs/magazines/generally tap into the fashion conscious of late, however one lovely lady I met at the beeb was sporting a super-dooper chunky gold watch the whole time I was there, and I simply couldn't take my eyes off it!

I never normally wear a watch... in fact recently I've not been wearing much jewellery at all apart from rings... strange. But I've definitely decided I'm partial to a chunky gold mofo. Bling is back, ya'll. Don't believe me? Take it from Kanye...



Rocking a rose-gold Rolex like a P.I.M.P.

Here's a few of my favs for you to drool over. Some mild watch-porn, if you will...

Vintage yellow gold Rolex - white face.

Vintage yellow gold Rolex - gold face - 11 GRAND according to watchfinder.com?!

Vintage rose gold Rolex - 13 GRAND according to watchfinder.com?!

Michael Kors rose gold watch - £240 from Net a Porter

Nixon yellow gold watch - £400 from Net a Porter

Marc by Marc Jacobs yellow gold/white face

Weirdly I think my favourite is the Nixon one, or the rose gold Rolex. But at £13,000 its just a SMIDGEN out of my price range.

Damn.

WALK WALK FASHION BABY

I don't have a fashion degree or any professional experience in fashion writing or criticism (I wish!) - just an unhealthy passion and a myriad of opinions... hence this blog!

I guess that's why, in a way, I feel free to say exactly what I feel about collections and designers without any pre-programmed fashion ideology about who's better or worse than anyone else. I base my opinions purely on aesthetics, progression and context - not reputation.

I have a point, I promise! What I'm talking about is Fashion Week. I'm very excited to see the SS11 collections at London Fashion Week, in particular PPQ, Topshop Unique, House of Holland, Betty Jackson, Richard Nicoll, Mulberry, Christopher Kane, Holly Fulton, Erdem, Pringle, Burberry and Ashish... and eclectic mix, but I have reasons for them all, trust me!

But, if you've read this blog before, you'll know that Spring Summer collections are not my favourite - I find them the most uninspired out of SS and AW, often safe and occasionally predictable. To illustrate what I mean, here's the Marc by Marc Jacobs show at NY Fashion Week:



I mean, flashes of bright, preppy, primary colours against neutrals and pastels, 50s-style dresses and slouchy tshirts just don't excite me. Of course some individual pieces were beautiful and I did love the mad brushed-out bouffants... but overall I just cannot get excited by this.

But then, on the other hand, Alexander Wang made me think I really need to be more open-minded about SS collections. This is GORGEOUS and edgy:



The middle portion with the sheer, shimmery fabric over the metallic pattern cut in a feminine, yet still somehow quite angular way, reminded me of the Rodarte AW10 collection - but much softer and more tactile. Plus, Abbey Lee's gone ice blonde and it is HOT! Is there no look she doesn't suit?

Anyway, I digress. I'm looking forward to seeing the collections I mentioned with an open mind - just please, no more stripey tshirts and 50s tea dresses!