“I just knew in my heart that there was more. And I don’t know what that necessarily means, maybe it was just a yearning to live outside the parameters I lived in. I knew - particularly when I was a teenager - that I wasn’t cut out to live where I was from, where I was born.”
Karen Elson

I've re-blogged this quote, originally found on Russh.

It's something that I can relate to. I thought a lot more people felt this way, until I realised they were there and I was here. I thought we all wanted to escape. I guess contentness comes in many different forms. Like Karen, I just wasn't cut out to stay put.

Karen Elson & Jack White: Vogue US June 2010
Picture credit: Fashionising.com. Click to enlarge.

Chanel AW

If you've been reading this blog, or indeed if you know the inner-workings of what I covet, you will know that my ears prick up with any news relating to the French house of Chanel.

Creative Director Karl Lagerfield, has positioned the brand into the 21st Century, retaining Coco's original ideas of modesty, grace, sensuality and above all, tailoring. It does pain me to see fake chain bags hawking past from yet another unnamed high street retailer; I know trends are ripped off all the time, but this is like copying the most gorious of handbag hardware, one that has roots and class and all the goodness a ladies bag requires.

Though enough of my ranting on Chanel copies, this post is about some delightful news indeed!

The lovely Australian model Abby Lee Kershaw (below), has recently been announced to front Chanel's AW 10/11 campaign- a considerate feat for a 22 yr old Australian. Apparently, Lagerfield sees Kershaw as a 'modern beauty', and although I definately agree, I somehow did not consider her to be a Chanel lady. How I shall be proven wrong.

The campaign stars Freja Beha Erichsen and Brad Kroenig (excellent choices), and apparently features a considerate amount of fur (perhaps not such an excellent choice).

And just because I think he's a gas, here are some quotes from Karl Lagerfield. Mad-hatter that he is.

'What I hate most in life are people who are not really the peach of the day but who want to be young and sexy. You can fool nobody. There is a moment when you have to accept that somebody else is younger and fresher and hotter. Life is not a beauty contest.'

'There is a sort of melancholia which I find quite elegant after the 'bimbo years'.'
  
'Yes, some people say to me you're too skinny, but never a skinny person says that to me, only people who could lose a few pounds say that.'

Perfection

One word: Amazing.

I ♥ this cover.

Natalia Vodianova- UK Vogue- Feb 2010

V Magazine. Summer 2009. Mario Testino

V Magazine swimwear fashion editorial, by Mario Testino.

Featuring Lara Stone, Raquel Zimmermann, Natalia Vodianova, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Isabeli Fontana, Gisele Bundchen, Eva Herzigova, Erin Wasson, Claudia Schiffer, Catherine McNeil, Carolyn Murphy, Doutzen Kroes, Carmen Kass, Daria Werbowy, Anna Selezneva, and Angela Lindvall.

Amazing. Beautiful.

Who's your favourite?

It's controversial, though I think it has to be Daria.

Real models take the catwalk

A stylist walking out because of a designer's decision to use a figure that resembles more than 50% of the population, rather than an idealistic, child-like female form thought up by a market run by mainly gay men.

What world are we living in?

How is a size 12-14 size model threatening, apart from force the guilty-conscious to look at what they are promoting?

Careful, the bodies will become a bigger focal point than the clothes. And yes, this is a massive PR coup, though who is actually talking about Mark Fast' frocks?

What is interesting is that the use of these models makes you place yourself in the knits that Fast has created. Instead of seeing the clothes from a aesthetic side and deconstructing them, one can image themselves at a dinner party et al, purely because three of his models have a body like yours. Perhaps that is what is threatening- no longer will clothes be elitist.

Side note: the models were hot shiz. Let's see more Joan Holloway's up on the catwalk.

Beauty

I was so drawn in by these photographs.

And affected.

I can't look away.

American photographer Steven Meisel's editorial featured in Italian Vogue in July 2008, though not being a purchaser of said magazine, it eluded me until about a month ago. It is a narrative of beauties gone mad - shaving their heads (one model actually shaves her own head in a bathroom mirror), flashing their crotches while exiting their Town Cars, lolling around town in head-to-toe black with the heat bearing down.

Sound familiar?

As Italian Vogue goes, there's tasteful nudity, plenty of ciggies and above and beyond styling. Plus, it's friggin' 52 pages long.

I'm trying to ignore the fact that I'm so behind the style times. I'm just concentrating on the twisted, mental (no pun) brilliance. Some more images here.

Give me a wand and I shall produce a fairy

I still have the mark on the end of my nose,
Footprints from the fairy’s toes,
I think they’re speckled,
But some say they’re freckled.
There was a fairy on my nose!

- Joannda Riche

I want the old Kate back

It's inevitable to mention the latest installment of the Kate Moss collection for Topshop, one of Britain's most successful high street chains. What is not inevitable however, is my views on the aforementioned- I just don't like it.

I love Kate and I have been following her career since her infamous Corinne Day shots. Her style before it became iconic was always appealing to me, the way she put herself together and was always elusive, no matter how wanted she was. I just loved her freshness and ability to play with her garments.

Forgive me though, I'm just waffling now as that has little to do with her design capabilities, as Kate freely admits herself. 'From being a model and doing fittings with really great designers, you do learn what feels right and looks right. It’s like, most people know when a pair of jeans fits them really well. It’s the same thing,' she tells Cat Callender of The Telegraph. Yes the fit you say Kate, I get the fit, I'm all over the tailored, well structured (insert any clothing here), yet I'm seeing a little contradiction- your latest collection does not look like appraised garments that I would expect from your experiences, it simply looks boring.

It's true, not everyone knows what looks right, not everyone has a instinctive radar on a look. Kate the clotheshorse certainly does, that is unarguable, though can she apply it to the hordes of Topshop devotees that have flocked to pick up her latest collection. Um, sadly I think not.

The Spring collection which hit shops yesterday, is in my mind a disappointment. Is this view coming from the same girl that adores Toppa's and immediately snapped up the coveted Poppy tea dress from the very first Kate collection- oh yes, how far I have come.

The latest offering's from Ms Moss looks like it belongs in Primark, and very quickly may given their reputation for snapping all the latest looks and charging a fifth of the price. The unoriginality really bothers me, considering this was the collection that was supposed to be, according to Kate, 'what I think I am going to wear next season.’ Hmm, does that mean you're going to fall off the fashion horse?

The asymmetrics, the babydoll dresses, the playsuits and vests! I just wish I could ask Kate some hard hitting 60 minute style questions-

'So Kate, what exactly where you thinking?'

'Well I was considering the seasons-'

'Yes, though you clearly were high, because this is in no way classic, nor fitted as you say you covet nor very flattering. I mean, seriously do you think you're worth the one mil Phillip Green is reportedly paying you?'

'It is clearly not about the money-'

'Clearly Kate, it is not given the fact that you've produced a load of trollop.'

Oh the publicity shots are deceiving, are they not? The lighting, that soft hue and outline of colour really do work a treat for the cheap and tacky fabrics. The seductiveness and of course the model, what can't she get away with? We all know even cocaine charges can be shrugged off.

I am truly not being malicious for the sake of filling space or to be verbose, I have just failed to see how this collection could possibly net the rumoured £40 million in future sales. All the obvious pieces are covered though nothing is outstanding, not one item can be seen as a must have or a standout item. Looking at the Safari playsuit, or the Liberty Poppy Bandeau dress, or the Stripe Sailor cardigan, it was just insulting to a consumer- we are expected to pay £45.00 for that? Um, no. And God knows I love a good sailor cardi!

I think you can only judge if you've seen said items in store, given the flattery of the fashion shots. Take a peek, inspect the fit, the style, the fabric. Go on, push through the crowds who want a piece of Kate and see what you think. I'm just one opinion.

Fridayesque

I've been stumbling down memory lane and have perused some past fashion shots that j'adore.

And sharing is caring.

VOGUE Italia/Dec 2007/Steven Miesel

VOGUE Russia/Natalia Vodianova/March 2008

NUMERO 87/Lily Bird/Greg Kadel

VOGUE France/Hedi Slimane/April 2008

Of course, I had to limit myself at 4 otherwise who knows when I would have stopped. It's Friday afterall, places to go, people to see. Including a trip to the V&A tonight to see 'Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones'. Perhaps I will pick up a little something, such as this cute as a piglet Alice hair band.