SNAP Fashion

Discovery Monday: Huishan Zhang (LFW special)

I was blown away by Huishan Zhang’s presentation at LFW. Think 1960s perfection teamed with Piet Mondrian’s ‘Compositions II in red, blue and yellow’ painting with some bonus sparkles.

Born in China and a graduate of Central Saint Martins with experience at Dior couture, Huishan’s signature style is ‘Chinese tradition meets western influence and modernity’. Huishan’s recent collections have featured his trademark piece. “The cheongsam dress is a recurring piece in my collections. I think it embodies everything that is sexy and feminine about the Chinese culture and tradition, yet it remains very adaptable to Western society and easy to embellish with a modern twist each season,” he told LFW.

Yes there were 1960s-inspired shift dresses, A-line swing coats and geometric shapes, but they looked super fresh, which was surprising given their retro shapes and arty influences from one of modern art’s most famous painters. The Mondrian-esque black lines separated panels of exquisite lace, which was not in the least minimalist with accompaniments of sugary pinks, power blues and panels of sparkling crystals. But everything was meticulously placed, balanced and somehow restrained.  I adored the grey lazer-cut coat and will be attempting to re-create the beauty look at home…in vain I’m sure!

Pics: Sarah for Snap Fashion (feeling smug)

Ossie Clark hits Debenhams

Last week legendary 1970s label Ossie Clark went on sale again…this time in Debenhams.

Celebs still can’t get enough of Ossie Clark’s iconic designs with plenty of people gracing the red carpet in vintage frocks, including Emma Watson. And if you were watching the SS13 fashion shows carefully, you’ll see that 1970s shapes were very much en vogue, particularly at Saint Laurent…so if you’re feeling fashion savvy pick up bohemian silhouettes.

Nicolas Georgio, who has worked with Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano got the fun job of trawling Ossie Clark’s seventies archives to create the new line.

He told Vogue: “These sources inspired me to learn about the shape, cut and fabrication used on the original designs.The new range will have all the necessities of on-trend fashion but keeping with the DNA of Ossie Clark. It’s going to be accessible to everyone who loves fashion, bringing them something genuinely unique with beautiful fabrics, a fabulously rich heritage and a wealth of design.”

Most shapes are less billowing and sleeker with higher necklines but still with the feminine, romantic aesthetic of the originals.  Like all of Debenhams designer collaborations, prices are accessible (starting at £49) and available in sizes 8-18.

Nicolas reportedly said: “The concept behind this was to rebuild a beautiful label, made available to the masses. Ossie Clark did the same thing himself back in the Sixties and Seventies, when he launched Ossie Clark for Radley, making London style available to thousands by bringing his signature couture look to the high street. The current worldwide economic market is tough and fashion need not be safe or predictable to be affordable.”

We’re not crazy about the suit-like separates but like the Iconic, Regent and Saint Martin dresses particularly for their boho seventies qualities with a twist. It will be interesting to see how the collection goes down. Here’s hoping it is as successful as another sixties super brand, Biba, which is now stocked by House of Fraser.

My favourite – the simple ‘Iconic’ dress £149

Twiggy wears Ossie Clark

Floral Saint Martins design £149

Pics: The Telegraph and The Daily Mail and Ossie Clark.

Cheryl Cole rocks retro sixties look

Cheryl Cole’s next music video Under the Sun sees the starlet sizzle in sixties-style clothing and her favourite beehive-style hairdo. The Daily Mail has got hold of some pics and we can’t wait to see the full video.

P.S. Some of Cheryl’s shoe collection is priced as low as £25 in the Stylistpick summer sale. Bargain of the century?!

Emma Stone for Vogue

It’s yet another Emma Stone cover (check out our devotion here). We have yet to buy the August issue of Vogue but apparently the editorial is lush. Here’s the cover and a pretty picture.

Yet another sixties-inspired cover

THE cover girl of the season

Images: Vogue.

Alexa Chung turns sixties siren for Maje

It’s like Christmas come early as we hear that one of our fav models, Alexa Chung, is the new face of one of our fav brands, Maje – and its AW12 campaign to be exact.

Alexa is doing what she does best- looking amazing and slightly brooding in a 1960s way. These amazing shots by Glen Luchford (down a Metro station in Paris) remind me of a Rolling Stones cover and are rather different to Alexa’s recent bright and breezy Superga campaign.

Maje said: “Elegant yet edgy, her attitude reflects a personality that is both glamorous and rock ‘n’ roll.”

We say: “We agree and we love it.”

Pics: Glen Luchford via The Telegraph

Discovery Monday: Raoul

We love 1960s style clothes and this season’s sporty aesthetic and Raoul combines both in a candy coloured collection that is soooo sweet it will give you a toothache.

We are obsessed with the perfect pink bag after spying it in Selfridges and it has a seriously cool clasp (a bit of a Raoul thing) where you align the rotating silver circles to secure the opening. More impressive still is the brand’s use of vegetable leather and its sexy simplicity – these are clothes that look fabulous on the catwalk and you just want to wear – with a big smile.

Why Breton is best

Sometimes it is exhausting keeping up with trends and fashion angst can set in – print clashing is a perfect example of a tricky trend. We always hear fashion editors banging on about wardrobe staples – a good pair of jeans, white shirt etc etc and while we love individual style, we also adore handy items of clothing you can thrown on with a favourite pair of jeans and still look chic whatever the season…which is why we love Breton stripes.

So this fashion blogger diligently did some research (ahem Wikipedia) and it confirmed that Breton does indeed come from Brittany France (they even have a stripy flag) but is also a breed of horse (not stripy) and a type of crepe– who knew?!

Hello sailor!

The stripy shirt we all know and love made its first appearance just after the 1858 Act of France which meant that all guys in the French navy in Brittany wore this most stylish of uniforms, although it was called a marinière and had 21 stripes for each of Napoleon’s victories (my equivalent from H&M does not!)

Unsurprisingly folks around the area realised how effortlessly dashing these sailors looked and adopted the Breton top for themselves…as have plenty of fishermen and sailors since. Aptly I believe the real McCoys have a ‘boat’ neckline!

Coco Chanel made Breton chic again in her nautical collection of 1917 and posh folk holidaying on the French Riviera couldn’t get enough of it – women were still cramming themselves into corsets, which are not so handy on the beach so you can see why! Apparently Coco’s Breton top was designed to be worn with long flared trousers and in the 1930s women updated the look teaming their stripes with a natty blazer and shorts.

Coco

Onto 1950s Hollywood now and Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn were big fans. Apparently it first popped up in Marlon Brando’s film The Wild Ones, but was more famously worn by eyecandy of the day James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause and Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief.

Oh to look like Audrey!

James Dean

Andy Warhol and Edie Sedgwick ensured that the simple design survived the swinging sixties and it has always been big on the art scene with Pablo Picasso a MASSIVE fan.

SO sixties – Edie

I have been a Breton devotee through the nineties, noughties and now…and will never give it up! It is so rare that you find a pattern that never lets you down and is truly effortless – skinny jeans, ballet pumps, Breton top and trench coat – done. Current obsessions include: Cos’ bright Breton tees, Alexa Chung’s Breton addiction, Kurt Cobain’s indie take and forever the work of Jean Paul Gaultier. How do you wear yours?

Adore

Info: Wikipedia and WikiFashion

Mondrian, YSL + fashion

There’s an amazing exhibition Iwant to see at Somerset House (home of the BFC and LFW) called Mondrian Nicholson in parallel for a master class in minimalistic modernism. While both men were geniuses and have left their mark on every part of modern design, Mondrian’s work inspired another French genius – Yves Saint Laurent and having read so many reviews about the art exhibition, I had to blog about YSL’s 1961 Mondrian dress, which looks almost as current today as it was then and continues to inspire. It’s hip to be square.

The artist

The designer

Sixties magic (pic:Designkultur)

Just an amazing cover (pic:SewingByTheSeatOfMyPants)

Inspiring limited edition Vans

...a seductive swimwear collection...

...and power courts by Ruthie Davis

Sarah Schofield's eye-catching swimwear would sure turn heads round the pool (pic:Trendland)

Kate Moss x Mango

It’s that time again…more Kate Moss for Mango! I am crazy for the yellow dip-dyed dress that is a steal at £22.99. Are you bored of Mossy for Mango or a fan like us?

The colour of this summer

One seriously retro shift

Elizabeth Olsen rocks velvet suit

And here were we thinking that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were the edgy dressers of the family. Elizabeth Olsen has stepped out in the trickiest of ensembles – a velvet suit – and has managed not to look like a 1960s throwback (think Austin Powers) or one of those matchy-matchy velour and diamante tracksuit gym bunnies.  Go Elizabeth!

Elizabeth Olsen makes velvet suits cool

What do you think?

Pics: The Daily Mail.