Kingdom Of Style

Window To The Self

For their AW11 collection, Self Similarity, the London based label Belle Sauvage have created a rather dark and sexy video to showcase their signature digital abstract prints.

Queen Michelle

In The Clutches Of Animals

I definitely can't have this:

Hugely unlikely I'll ever have this:

But this is do-able:

Queen Michelle

The Good Shepard

Dora Abodi always make the most texturally delightful collections. Heavy on embellishment, really tactile fabrics and interesting shapes.

For the Budapest based brand's AW12 season, they have gone all out on the lush factor with metallics, velvet, lace, tulle, faux fur and pretty much every other luxurious fabric you can include in a single collection.

The inspiration for the collection is, "the 'finesse', sophistication and decadence of the XVII century Paris, the dark and foggy world of the Wolfman movie and the simple but warm clothes of the Transylvanian sheperds,  wandering with their sheeps in the romantic Carpathian mountains, the collection embodies a fantasy about a spoilt young countess living in a dark, ruinous, isolated castle and a young sheperd, falling in love with each other."

When I read "the collection embodies a fantasy about a spoilt young countess living in a dark, ruinous, isolated castle", I admit the 16th century Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed immediately sprang to mind - a deplorable historical figure who both repulses and fascinates me in equal measure. She was often described as being out-of-fashion for the time, wearing clothes that the European courts had long since left behind, sticking to the ornate ruffs and heavy velvets of the decade before.

Of course, Dora Abodi's collection is not inspired by the evil Countess but rather "Transylvanian sheperds" hence the title, 'The Velvet of the Shepard'.

Queen Michelle

Shop Stud

Even though I've only been tweeting for a couple of months, I have found it to be quite useful in many respects. I get followed by shops and labels I've never heard of which is perfect when you need to blog 2 or 3 times a day, 5 days a week, which involves constantly looking for content.

When I do get followed by shops/designers/labels I always make the effort to click through to their websites a/ because I'm a nosey cow and b/ because this is when Social Media really comes into it's on.

So last night I noticed a shop called Stud & Stud started following me and when I clicked though to the shop I was very excited. It's a small shop at the moment, which has only been going since January, and every label, bar one, I have excitedly enthused about - so, in other words, a shop completely after my own heart. Labels and designers like Gabriella Marina Gonzalez, Masha Ma, Bordelle and Simon Preen.

Their manifesto states:

Each label offered on the website has been carefully chosen for it’s stand out individuality, focusing on emerging talents, recent graduates, or rare boutique labels.
Not only does Stud and Stud nurture and work with designers who believe originality is key, but also encourages creativity and a sense of playfulness from its customers. Stud and Stud is proud to offer made to order, bespoke pieces from many of its carefully selected designers, as well as stand out pieces especially designed for and exclusive to Stud and Stud.

Simon Preen body suits, Obey My Demand studded lingerie and Bordelle sheer black and pink triangle bra are all on my purchase list. This is definitely my new favourite place....

Queen Michelle

Remake

I assume the title of Richard Borges latest collection, Make Do and Mend, means he has designed this collection from rescued and reclaimed fabrics and clothes. Perhaps not, of course, but I like the idea of it none the less so I hope that's where the title comes from.

I'm a big fan of reappropriating clothes. I take a great deal of pleasure in converting something fundamentally crap into something really cool. It's cheap, generally, and very rewarding and usually rather easy. Although I can't imagine Borges rummaged the local Cancer Reasearch, but you never know!

The collection is a subtle kind of edgy with nods to the 80's.

Queen Michelle

Uncreepy Crawlies

I'm not one of those girls that squeal at the mere sight of a mouse, rat or other little rodent but show me an insect however and I do feel a bit creeped out. The Queen Mum suffered terrible arachnophobia and it was awful to watch such real and intense fear on someone's face. I don't have that, thankfully, but I do have the more usual reaction of shouting at Prince B to remove any offending spider/creepy crawly with a shout of "but don't kill it though!", whilst ensuring I am at arm's length to said crawly.

However, my unease with real life insects and arachnids doesn't affect my love for them in jewellery form. I have a very precious rose gold spider Prince B's mum gifted me some years ago and it's truly a stunning piece of vintage jewellery. Beetles are another favourite when they are translated into jewel form.

Philippa Holland, a London based jewellery, has created a beautiful range of animal and insect shaped jewellery which is soon to be stocked on Net-a-Porter. The beetle is by far my favourite.

Thankfully there is no requirement to run around the house trying to capture these critters in a glass!

Queen Michelle

Fragmented Thoughts

Alicia from Sea of Ghosts and designer behind Drown Jewellery is back with her latest collection, entitled Fragments.

This season her work is much more delicate and tempered than before. For me, the stand out pieces are the rings and bracelets. Both absolutely gorgeous in their execution.

I get endless wear from my own Drown necklace because the size, weight and quality are prefectly considered.

Photographer: Kelly Defina / Hair & Makeup Artist: Holly-Rose Butler / Stylist: Ricky James Flynn / Models: James and Rachael

Queen Michelle

Machine To Kill

Way back, over a year ago, I posted about Slovanian label Nioka, designed by Nika Ravnik.

Nika graduated in Fashion and Textile Design from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering at University of Ljubljana. She went on to study Fashion Design at Designskolen Kolding in Denmark, finally prresenting her final year collection at Copenhagen Fashion Week in 2008.
she describes her latest collection as:

...inspired by the human body with all its advantages and disadvantages.The body is a timeless design that is given to us. In different cultures it is idealized, presented and cared for in different ways. It is an instrument to create and a machine to kill. On a psychological and physical level a human body itself is so strong that can take us far beyond the limits. On the other hand it is so sensitive and fragile that can be destroyed in a moment. The paradox of perfection is transferred to the collection metaphorically. “What does it mean to be perfect and right?” niOka found the answer in putting together the basic garment patterns, as an ideal body, in unstandard ways or in the wrong positions. 

Her work is always very wearable with softly draped tops, loose trousers and sheer jumpers in unobtrusive colours.

This season she has included some beautiful long skirts which are always a winner for me. The sheer black one being especially pretty.

Queen Michelle

Perfect Pebbling

So basically the Outnet have one of my favourite handbags on sale and I can't buy it. Major hurrumph. It's by Alexander Wang and it's perfect right down to the pebbled brown leather.

I'd never get bored of this bag. If anyone wants to buy me an early birthday present then this will do nicely. Thank you.

*sigh*

Queen Michelle

Genius Engenio

I have a vast amount of admiration for creative photographers. How they can create these alternate universes using real life as the backdrop.

I was having a laugh to myself at the weekend when Queen Marie was taking some photographs of me in Hilary Laing dresses and she said, as she tried to get me to move or just do something in general, "you don't like doing anything but standing straight, do you?". I couldn't argue! I'm terribly unphotogenic and I always have been, but that's just luck of the draw. Some people are fortunate enough to really come to life when the camera is on them, but not me. I don't even think I would light up the screen even if Tim Walker shot me! Still, doesn't stop me admiring it in others.

Eugenio Recuenco creates some outstrandingly beautiful shots.

I especially love the photographs which look like gothic/medieval paintings.

Queen Michelle