Mary Katrantzou x Topshop: A review

Smart Mary K: Trousers, orange clutch and boots – ASOS | “Natural Urge” polo neck – Antipodium | cape – Zara | Green velvet bow from my ribbon box

I should preface this post by stating for the fashion record that I have never really been excited about a high street x designer collaboration before. Lanvin, Swedish Hasbeens, even Versace passed me by and I didn’t really notice or miss them. But the one collaboration that I have been waiting impatiently for over the last few months, lusting over images of the collection and nervously checking my bank balance for sudden miraculous growth, was Mary Katrantzou for Topshop. Since her first major collection three years ago I have adored Mary. So unafraid of colour and mind-bending prints, and consistently encouraging us to ditch our black garments and join her on a joyous acid trip through every hue imaginable. Colour, colour and yet more colour on colour with a hint of… Colour. That’s my kind of designer.

Casual Mary K: Jeans – Marks and Spencer | wedges – Marni, thrifted | octopus necklace – Rock ‘N Rose

My first impressions of the collection, based on the images circulating through the fashion press and blogland, were mixed. While the print designs were every bit as beautiful as I expected them to be, I questioned how wearable a vibrantly printed lampshade dress would be for anyone not 6ft tall with no leg muscles! In a dress like that I would certainly end up looking like only one thing: a lamp. However, the rest of the collection seemed eminently wearable for someone shorter and rounder like myself, so last Friday morning when I joined the online scrum for garments I opted for this sleeveless silk blouse. Endless rounds of page refresh and a few site crashes later, and I finally got one through the checkout. £80 is a lot more than I would normally spend on a blouse, but not only is it 100% silk, it was also made in the UK. And designed by Mary K. All solid reasons for profligacy!

Print mash-up Mary K: skirt – vintage | kimono jacket – Dorothy Perkins | shoes – Office

My blouse arrived on Saturday morning, and was then the star of several hours of dressing up (as you can see). The quality of the fabric is superb and garment is well put together and well finished. The print is as lovely in person as pictured. Initially the design looks like a bold floral print, but if you look more closely you realise that the flowers are made out of little jewels. I bought a size medium, although to be honest I could have got away with a small (I’m size 10-12 on top) as the cut is very loose. The slouchy, baggy nature of the design is part of the appeal for me though; it looks great tucked in or hanging out. This piece is the start of my summer beach wardrobe!

Did you buy anything from Mary K x Topshop? I’d love to hear your opinions!

This is the year seemingly when the high street collaborates with designers that I actually care about. Next month I will see you in the crush for Marni x H&M! Apologies in advance if I trample you. x

P.S. I have spent the last few days madly preparing for tomorrow’s MODO show, which is super exciting/scary! For more information about my debut (and possibly only) fashion collection, click here.

London Fashion Week: HEMYCA AW12

A little fashion fairytale

Every now and again something magical happens that reminds me why London is the greatest fashion town in the world. During September Fashion Week last year I was wondering along Pall Mall on my way to the Wool Modern exhibition, when from out of nowhere a man came charging across the road and asked me if I wanted to go to a fashion show. I wasn’t actually wearing my pin that says “I’m a fashion blogger, ask me how”, but possibly the big blue hat I was wearing gave the game away. I found myself, white wine in hand, in a small attic-esque display space in La Gallaria watching “Fragments of Illusion”, the AW presentation of west London-based brand HEMYCA.  Which turned out to be a stunning collection that I was totally unable to photograph because I forgot my camera memory card. Fail!

This time I adopted a more formal approach, and got in touch with their press office for an invite. And I’m very glad I did, as this particular off-schedule collection, entitled “A World of Glass”, was something pretty special. The devil was in the details: art deco designs in laser cut leather overlaid onto soft brocade fabrics, double collars in contrasting weight fabrics and subtle metallic embellishments. Double peplums in stiff fabrics, straps and buckles, and feathered epaulettes added an almost military feel to some of the garments. According to designer Myra (half of the design duo at the heart of the brand) the designs are like armour, moulding to and protecting the body. I am not surprised that HEMYCA was named “the brightest and most directional fashion brand in the UK” at the 2011 Fashion Press Week Awards.

And no LFW post would be complete without a little blogger love! Despite having been at the same two events recently, I had never actually met the lovely Monica Beatrice of The Elgin Avenue until now. We had a good old chit chat, and got very excited about the top secret Tom Ford presentation that was going on in the next room! Incidentally, important fashion person spot of the day (and probably the year): Anna Wintour and Franca Sozzani being admitted into the hallowed inner sanctum of Tom Ford. I wish I’d had my wits about me and taken a photo.

As usual there are more pictures of the event on Facebook. Enjoy! x

My debut collection: MODO 2012

About this time last year I reported from the front row of a rather special fashion event. UCL’s fashion society, MODO, is a motley collection of students from all academic backgrounds who all have one thing in common: a love of fashion and dressmaking. Any member of the student body can join and design a collection for the annual fashion show, held every February, without having to undergo any selection criteria. The result is an eclectic mix of techniques and approaches, which is fascinating and exciting to watch. This year one of the students presenting designs will be me. As London Fashion Week draws to a close I will start gearing up for the MODO show, which will take place on the 25th and 26th of February.

Since last October I have been browsing discount fabric shops, feverishly scribbling designs and spending hours locked in front of my sewing machine. The end result will be two items of womenswear and two items of menswear, inspired by MODO’s chosen theme for the year: “Olympic”. While I don’t want to give any of the designs away – there will be tonnes of photographs and hopefully a video to show you next week! – these photos are just a little sneak preview of what I’ve been working on. What always makes a collection stand out for me is a mixture of textures, so I have had a lot of fun incorporating different types of fabrics into some of my garments, and even hand knitting a couple of pieces.

If I sound remarkably composed, it is all a lie!! I am in MAJOR stress mode and still have one menswear piece to make. But it will all be ok, all I have to do is not sleep before Saturday and everything will get done. In the meantime, I would like to extend an invitation to the show to you all.

MODO Fashion Society presents

“THE OLYMPIA SHOW”

25th February 7pm

26th February 6pm

North Cloisters, UCL Wilkins Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT

(nearest tube: Goodge Street and Euston Sqaure)

Tickets are priced £8 each, with all proceeds going into next year’s show, and can be purchased online here. As with all fashion shows there is a mixture of runway seating and standing, and you can purchase tickets for either. Standing tickets only will be available on the door, also priced £8. And like all fashion events worth their salt, we’re sponsored by Vitamin Water, so you know that we mean business.

If you have any questions or are interested in coming than do drop me a line via email (scientistchicblog(at)gmail(dot)com) or on Twitter (@Scientist_Chic). I can’t promise I’ll be compos mentis on the day but I’ll try and pop out from backstage to say hi! x

A week in the life of my bathroom cupboard

Monday

Loreal Elvive Re-Nutrition shampoo and conditioner. My hair is quite fine and even after a day it feels heavy and greasy, so I end up having to do a daily wash. I tend to switch hair products around a fair bit, but for the moment I love the honey smell of this particular shampoo.

Tuesday

Simple Spotless Skin Cleansing Wipes and Clear Skin Oil Balancing Moisturiser. When it comes to my face, I’m definitely a Simple girl; they were the first and pretty much only face products I have ever used. Normally I use a much lighter moisturiser than this, but I’ve been going slightly nuclear with my cleansing/moisturising routine recently because I have a lovely sprinkling of red spots across my face. Damn you winter skin! So dry and speckled.

Wednesday

Champneys Perfect Pedicure Intensive Foot Butter. A little midweek treat for tired feet, for when the weekend seems such a long way off in either direction. Who doesn’t love a little minty foot massage, especially after a long day in London Fashion Week shoes!

Thursday

Nivea Lotion and Simple Vital Vitamin Foaming Cleanser. More face washing products! I told you I was serious. My mum made an unusual recommendation to me not so long ago: wash your face with moisturiser. It’s far more gentle than a soap or a scrub, and doesn’t dry your skin out. Just use any facial moisturiser in the same way as you would a face wash, remove with a clean damp face cloth and done. The beneficial effects are almost instantaneous! I like to use Nivea Lotion for this as it is not too greasy and washes off easily leaving my face soft and smooth.

Friday

Dirty Works Think of England Bath Soak. TGIF, am I right? And at the end of a long crummy week there is nothing I love more than a hot bubble bath. I discovered Dirty Works quite by chance while poking around the bath products aisle of Sainsburys. Perfect for a luxurious Friday night soak in a hot camomile scented bubble bath. And yes, that would be a rubber ducky, no bubble bath is complete without one.

So there you have it, the products that make my week. What chemicals and compounds would you be lost without? x

Mint green: my new colour obsession

Dress and sweater – ASOS | Shoes – Le Bunny Bleu

Brain: “Bare legs will look fab with this outfit, especially with the little bunny pumps. Time to make like Middy and bust out some flesh tint nylons.”

Legs: “Oi! We’re bloody cold down here!”

Feet: “So are we! Have you looked at the temperature today? No, didn’t think so. Well we’ve got news for you buddy – it aint spring yet. That frickin’ jumper has gone to your head again. Proper shoes please!”

So went my internal dialogue on Tuesday morning. The argument was eventually won by my feet, and once again my poor bunny pumps had to stay at home and wait for proper spring to appear. Spring that features ballet-pump friendly dry weather with a hint of warmth. Not the pretend spring that is happily romping through my brain at the moment, ignoring all the cold and wet outside and encouraging flamboyant experimentation with orange and yellow and minty green. I love mint green; it’s the colour of glaciers and my favourite ice cream, and this sweater seems to go with everything – a pastel print dress, black jeans, purple shirt dress, pink chiffon, even an orange skirt. Mmm, mint green and orange… I’ll be road testing that combination this weekend!

What spring colours are you loving at the moment? x