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.

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

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

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

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

My one concession to romance this year: heart-shaped tea lights! I saw them in the supermarket and couldn’t resist the cuteness. Hello lovers, yes it’s Valentines’ day. That one magic day of the year where we sacrifice chocolates and roses on the alter of Saint Valentine, the patron saint of PDA, and celebrate all things L O V E.

I’m not an un-sentimental person by nature. I love romantic films and thoughtful bouquets (even if I will kill them with my ineptness), slushy movies and long loving gazes. But my blessing and curse is to be incurably curious about the origins of everything. And that means my sentimental heart often find out stuff it didn’t want to know. Take the romance of Valentines’ day: it’s a 14th Century fantasy, invented by Chaucer and his ilk in order charm their way betwixt the maiden’s comely knees. “Oh fairest lady, wouldst thou deny me on this, the day of most loving Saint Valentine’s sacrifice?” etc etc. There were three Roman era Christian martyrs that we know of called Valentinus, and although they all died horribly, and had some of their bits, including a head, preserved in various Catholic churches (err, ewww), none of them were specifically romance inclined. No, say it isn’t true! The whole day is a fraud designed to sell greetings cards!

But actually, I don’t care. Love is a pretty awesome thing, whether it’s between friends, family or lovers, so regardless of whether any of the story is true or not, I say we party! I’ll be spending this evening with my four heart-shaped tea lights, one boyfriend, two steaks, a Terry’s chocolate orange and a bottle of wine (or two). I may even raise a glass to Chaucer, and will certainly be making telephone calls to all the beloved people in my life.

Happy Valentines’ Day one and all! x

Chris and I finally booked a holiday a couple of days ago: two weeks of sunshine, sea and adventure in Mexico. I am beyond excited, as we’ve not had a proper chilling out-type holiday for about a year. And because we are going in April (2 months and counting) I get to legitimately ogle all the lovely SS collections out there at the moment without worrying about when I might get to wear them! Bye bye sleet and snow, hello beaches of the Yucatan. And following the blogger event at Melabelle‘s Portobello Road Pop-Up Shop last night, I think I may have spotted a few pieces that would be perfect for an escapist spring break.

Melabelle, the baby of designer Bella Cager, is a relatively new clothing brand specialising in high quality clothes designed to look amazing on any woman. I fell in love with the various different prints available throughout the collections. Flocks of birds for autumn have now given way to stylised flamingoes and dragonflies for spring. Bella herself was on hand to talk me through the collection and its inspirations, and even encouraged me to try on several pieces. My personal favourite was this gorgeous emerald green dress - perfect for a sunny stroll along the beaches of Cancun, or sipping margaritas by the pool. I want holiday now please!

Thank you so much to Bella and the team from Melabelle for showing off the collection with such infectious enthusiasm, and for letting me play dress up! Also many thanks to Gemma and Mel from Jam for the invitation and for being so welcoming.

The Melabelle Pop-Up Shop will be located at 201 Portobello Road until Sunday 19th February, open 10am – 7pm on weekdays and 9.30am – 5.30pm at weekends. Don’t miss it!!

I have posted more photos from the event on Facebook - enjoy! x

Recently I have noticed quite a few posts popping up in the blogosphere in which bloggers have shown us the gorgeous, lustworthy conditions in which they house their clothes. Elsie (of A Beautiful Mess) is just one of several examples that I can think of. Airy, walk-in spaces with shelves for shoes, where everything is colour-coded or neatly organised into sections, and bags snuggle gently into little custom recesses so as best to show off their shiny leather beauty. Looking at these shrines to organisation and personal style is inspiring, but also fills me with quite intense jealousy.

Because my closet does not look like that.

At the other end of the spectrum, there is my wardrobe. So crammed full that nothing else will fit into it, and when I take out my dress of choice for the day three others are dragged along for the ride. If I take down a hat from the shelf I get buried in a mini hat avalanche. And don’t even get me started on the shoe situation! I will admit, this cave of chaos has come along way since my undergraduate days when I had purchase a flimsy hanging rail to supplement the minuscule closet space available in my rented accommodation. This piece of kit was held together with tape and would periodically collapse under the weight. So when I arrived in London, and was greeted with a very sizeable Pax “wardrobe system” from IKEA (thanks Chris!), I thought my clothing woes were over, that I would never run out of space again. Haha.

Because Sod’s Law as it pertains to fashion states that a clothing collection will always expand to fill the available space. And then start to overflow, until a new space is required. I have physically no more room for clothes. Not that this stops me buying them. So if I had a whole room to play with, I wonder how long it would be before I once again ran out of space. Answer: Not long! So I derive a little bit of comfort from the thought that, even though there are some lucky people out there with walk-in wardrobes, they probably have just as little space as I do. Until the day when I can turn a spare bedroom into a wardrobe, I shall just have to keep coming up with neat storage solutions instead.

Are you lucky enough to have a walk-in wonder? Or is cave of chaos more your style? xx

Spring/Summer 2012 collar designs, from Style.com

Collars are one of those trends that refuse to go away, and are set to be even bigger for spring and summer. In a recent interview for Company magazine, bloggers’ darling Alexa Chung said that at age 90 she will probably look like “a shrivelled prune in a Peter Pan collar”. Her and me both! Collars started out little and demure, a dab of contrasting colour at the neckline, but now they span the full spectrum from cute little Peter Pan to sharp and sparkly to full on tropical print fun time, courtesy of Marni. I would soon be bankrupt if I was to buy every single collar or collared garment that flapped its lapels seductively in my direction, so instead I’ve started making my own…

The first, slightly ropey attempt!

Getting better…

My favourite yet! Prada-style paillettes in sugar pink, perfect.

I found this awesome little tutorial for a faux fur collar over at Coletterie (which is just too cute for words). The pattern can be used to make any Peter Pan collar, and the tutorial instructions are very straightforward. Next on my list to make is a Louis Vuitton-style big broderie coller in a sugared almond colour, and then a sharp and zingy tropical number ala Marni. A great, no sew way to get a collar or two is to snip them off old men’s shirts, and then decorate as you please. I have a plain white one kicking about somewhere that is just begging for a few studs. The ever colourful and awesome Lucy from Snippets of Shiny Thoughts has a brilliant guide for customising old men’s collars.

So what do you say: fancy doing a little fashion DIY this weekend? Whatever you’re up to, have a good one! xx

Do you find that certain colours automatically cheer you up? For an instant mood boost I love reds, oranges and other bright citrus colours. So as you can imagine, I am pretty happy with the colour palette for the upcoming season; it’s one big colour-fest! According to a poll in this week’s Grazia magazine 68% of readers think that it is too early to start wearing this season’s pastel colours. Well, if busting out the summer brights in February is wrong then I don’t want to be right!

As you might be able to tell from my pale complexion and dark under-eye baggage, I’ve not been feeling my best recently. Yesterday I was completely bed-bound with some kind of fever, and on the one occasion I felt strong enough to get out of bed I fainted onto the bathroom floor. Oops! Feeling much better today, and after a morning of bed rest, reading new blogs and mainlining neurofen I decided to have a little trip into the sunshine to road test my new coat. I firmly believe in the healing power of bright colours! Also that if you are too old for infant Calpol (pink, sitcky placebo of goodness) then there is no better medicine than Buffy The Vampire Slayer. That series saw me through many a bout of freshers’ flu.

Coat – Boden, via ebay | Jumper, jeans and shoes – Marks and Spencer 

I spent a little while on ebay hunting down a classic camel trench coat for spring, so naturally I ended up buying a bright yellow coat with a blue polka-dot lining instead. Ooops! When faced with bright colours my inner child kicks in and ignores anything even remotely neutral. I think the combination of yellow and cobalt blue in this outfit has done wonders for bringing down my temperature. Throw in my favourite leopard print shoes, and I’ll be right as rain in no time.

How are you all this beautiful sunny Thursday? xx