most wanted: Prada stripes

I MAY have already seen a few new season fashion faux pas since the sun has emerged from it's cloudy enclave (think 'stripe / midi-length / ballerina' combo's with a bit of colour blocking thrown in for good measure) but it's not going to stop me from sticking steadfastly to my love of stripes. And if money was no object then Prada's contributions to this particular Spring / Summer trend would definitely play a part in my wardrobe.  Their bold colours, varying widths, feminine details and playful mixing with exotic prints all make for stripes that put a smile on your face and spring in your step.

katy grannan's granny (not literally)

THIS image immediately threw up a question in my mind. One that is probably quite common amongst women in today's image obsessed society. 'At what age should you stop wearing short skirts?'

Now, before seeing this photo I would have possibly made a stab in the dark guess at around 40. (Maybe later if you're a celebrity with the ability to apparently stop the aging process at 30.) But upon seeing this image I think I may have changed my mind. 

I am usually the first to balk at any form of varicose veins, orange peel thighs or knobbly knees. It just isn't necessary to subject others to those sights. Yet this woman (dare I say it) looks cool. She's got attitude. And was clearly used to having all eyes on her in her youth - just look at the pose she's striking for the camera. 

In an outfit that wouldn't look out of place on an Alexa Chung wannabe this San Francisco granny has also done what many young girls often fail to do - by balancing the above-the-knee skirt with a long-sleeved shirt she has preserved her modesty. The result being an alluring outfit without needing to bare all.

However, there is one major reason why this woman's choice of short skirt has not made me express views of a completely different nature. And that is that this lady clearly lives in a hot climate. I mean real heat - not the measly 25C that sees Britons banding about the word 'heatwave'. 

And so in the name of comfort, (and also because if you can't think 'fuck it' at the age of 65 then when can you) I applaud and support her style. 

That's not to say that I want to see grannies stripping down by the dozen all around me. Simply that there is a time and a place where - if done well - the dare-to-bare attitude can be pulled off at any age.

birds of paradise

male and female : cecil b demille 1919

BIRDS of Paradise is the 3rd Fashion in Film Festival, which started yesterday and is on until 12th December. Screening rare and unseen films from the 1920s through to the 1970s (often with live piano accompaniment) it aims to provide "an intoxicating exploration of costume as a form of cinematic spectacle throughout European and American cinema."

Learning about the previous festivals too late, I'm excited about having the opportunity to go to some of the events this time round. And what a theme. Clips of footage to be exhibited show mesmerising scenes of opulent costumes flitting across the screen, frequently enhanced by painted-in accents of colour. The inclusion of live music will surely only heighten the experience, drawing you in to a world of sumptuous glamour.

I am slightly disappointed that the festival is on for such a limited time as it means an inevitable clash in programming of must-see events. Adding to this that many of these are occurring on Friday and Saturday nights - 'great' planning on behalf of the organisers considering it's currently the party season - means that I have resigned myself to the fact that I will be missing some of the good bits.

However, seeking the best in purely magnificent visuals means that one film I won't be missing is La Revue des Revues, being screened at the BFI Southbank. Not only will it be a non-stop whirl of 1920s dancing, including routines from Folies-Bergere and Moulin Rouge, but it also promises "an audacious and colourful parade" of sets and costumes. According to the blurb "pure spectatorial pleasure" awaits...

male and female : cecil b demille 1919

fashion space gallery

THE Fashion Space Gallery at the London College of Fashion is where I came across the work of Axel Hoedt. In a large, bright and airy room his photographs silently diffuse an oddly ominous tone. Depicting the costumes worn by those celebrating an annual carnival held in Germany called 'fastnacht', their bizarre and often grotesque appearance is designed to chase off the spirits of winter. Hence the images' unsettling energy. Isolated figures are presented on both large and small scales (my favourite being the postcard sized pictures resting in a row along the left hand wall as you enter) and are interspersed with equally bleak landscapes.

This current exhibition is only on until the weekend, but even if you can't get to it I would recommend visiting this compact venue at some point as it offers a great little culture fix, allowing for a guilt-free interlude from the shopping frenzy on the streets outside (Oxford Circus is just metres away). I will be keeping an eye out for forthcoming events as the gallery's website is promising me shows of 'innovation and excellence'...  And all for free!

COS

I ABSOLUTELY love these images from the COS autumn/winter '10 collection campaign. The styling is fantastic, bringing to the fore what COS does best: great tailoring with a twist.

Clean and crisp, with a splash of ingenuity and bags of character, if I wasn't already pledging my allegiance to this brand then these images have certainly secured my admiration.

Browse the website for not only more campaign photos but key looks, an online magazine and 'things' that they like. (And you may just discover where I came across Soojin Kang's chairs...)

bring me sunshine on a rainy day...

IT may be ancient in fashion terms, but my dearest Stormer recently brought to my attention that Vanessa Bruno's film, starring Lou Doillon for S/S 2010, is one to watch when a smile is missing from your face. For guaranteed happiness, bringing you sunshine on these ever more frequent rainy days, watch this...

profile: Christian Wijnants

THIS designer's use of block colour and creation of interesting silhouettes in his latest collection caught my eye on the Sien website. A graduate from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp in 2000, Christian Wijnants launched his own label in 2003. Over the years he has been praised for his knitwear research and has gone back to teach at the Royal Academy.

Although not all of his designs are consistently something to shout about, at times Wijnant's experimentation with form manages to result in unique items which are thoroughly wearable. But what I found most appealing about his designs were the playfully styled images through which he presents them, as can be seen in the 'catalogues' for more recent collections on his website. 

joie de vivre

WHEN I was searching SHOWstudio for 'Make Up Your Mind' I came across Ruth Hogben's latest collaboration with Gareth Pugh for his Autumn/Winter 2010 collection. 'Joie de Vivre' features Raquel Zimmermann in a stunning display of dark and glamorous, 1920's inspired clothing.  

I always love Hogben's films, but what surprised me was the glaringly obvious similarities between Zimmermann and Lady Gaga. Not literally - though at times I did do a double take, leading me to double check that it was definitely Zimmermann not Gaga that I was watching on screen - but more so in the styling of the jerky, robotic movements that accompanied the achingly cool soundtrack (provided by Lukid). This simply reinforces my suspicion that, despite initial (strong) reservations about Lady Gaga, she is fast becoming an icon of our time, influencing not just music, but style too.

maison martin margiela at somerset house

VISITED the Maison Martin Margiela exhibition this week at Somerset House. I think it has to be one of my favourite gallery spaces in London, always presenting shows in such a manner that gently guides you through the ideas and logical ordering of what is being exhibited. This was unlike 'Skin' at the Welcome Collection, where I found myself floundering in the middle of the room, uncertain of which way to view things and unable to make out which bits of text went with what. Not to mention the inexplicable decision to place descriptions next to some pieces so low that it was rendered unreadable unless you were a child, midget or crouching on the ground.

But back to the good stuff. The Margiela exhibition was a wonderful amalgamation of key themes, pieces and surrounding material that cohesively explained the aesthetic and drive of the brand. And it was perhaps even enough simply to look at the collection of past fashion show invites to be able to grasp an understanding of the label's ethos. I would do anything to a) be a proud owner of this collection, and/or b) have personally received one of those invitations. 

From a presentation point of view what struck me most at the time, and has lasted in my mind since, was the exhibit depicting the evolution of Margiela's tailored shoulders. Hovering upon the horizon as you entered the exhibition was what appeared to be plaster casts of this ever changing silhouette. Yet as you came closer it became apparent that they were in fact plain fabric reproductions of past garments, supported from within and made to look uniform in order to allow the viewer to focus on the form, nothing else. Their positioning on plinths elevated the status of this simple exhibit into one that demanded attention. For me it was an excellent example of effective exhibition design, keeping it simple and void of technological gimmicks.

doing it granny style

FIRST coming to my attention on Another Magazine's website, these images make me grin from ear to ear every time I look at them. If I can still have even half as much fun dressing up when I'm a little old lady as these guys appear to be having then I will one very happy OAP. The pictures are from a shoot for Dazed and Confused and were featured on a blog called Advanced Style, a blog that claims to provide: 'Proof from the wise and silver-haired set that personal style advances with age'. Although my favourite images from this blog do seem to be from Dazed's editorial, it's definitely worth a look to see some of New York's finest stylish and sometimes cutest (though am really  trying not to sound patronising when I say that)  older ladies and gentlemen...

This lady was clearly delighted to be having her photo taken!

Some effortlessly understated cool is being demonstrated by this lady...

And finally, a perfectly co-ordinated outfit is worn by this cheery fellow. Look at the shoes!

most wanted: Parrot Jumper

LOVING the print design on this JC de CASTELBAJAC jumper that I came across in Selfridges yesterday. If I had a spare £670 then it would definitely be hanging in my wardrobe right now. Sigh.

profile: Seana Italia Redmond

THE Gorilla Coat is the amazing hand knitted creation of Seana Italia Redmond, by far my favourite piece within her collection entitled 'Traces'.  Of this body of work Seana explains that:  

"Photography has been a tool to capture the elusive movement and texture of my knitwear; the capture of these garments means they are precious frozen frames of moments in time which could otherwise have been lost in the blink of an eye. The knitwear is therefore driving a mood and tempo rather than merely being a static collection that is captured and presented through a photographic record."

Following on from an evocative series of photographs, Seana has produced a film, which can be viewed on Vimeo.

profile: Verity Brown

AT Saturday night's University of Brighton graduate fashion show, Verity Brown's understated collection stood out in my mind, showcasing pieces I would love in my wardrobe. Inspired by the theme of optical illusions, Verity presented beautifully layered sheer striped trousers that were a joy to watch sashaying down the catwalk.

profile: Daisy Newman

THESE wonderful fashion illustrations are the work of Daisy Newman, whose recent fashion textile collection revolved around the theme of superstition. In addition to creating an innovative range of printed textiles that were transformed into an imaginative yet wearable clothing collection, Daisy has produced brilliantly dark film called Internal Superstition Externalised, featuring garments and headpieces from the collection.