Pleats Please

Good morning from Italy!

This week has been quite surreal, just a few days ago I was deep in the bustle of London Fashion Week, soaking in the shows, the people and the clothes, and now I write this post from a lounge chair, overlooking the majestic Lake Garda - I'm here for some much needed relaxation!  

LFW is filled with so many inspiring aspects and this year I was so fortunate to have attended the shows of some of my favourite designers, as well as covering backstage beauty (be sure to follow the Vlogs on my YouTube channel here) and between dashing through shows I still somehow managed to steal a few moments to shoot some outfits for the blog, and this is my final LFW look. (Click here for my first look, and here for my second).

This outfit is more 'my style' than 'London Fashion Week style', but I kind of feel like I'm a little bit over getting dressed up for the street style snaps, dressing for someone else other than yourself. So I chose this feminine floaty pleated skirt - at under �50 it's one of those budget-friendly statement pieces that is my kind of wardrobe staple. The colour is described as 'natural' and in my eyes it almost alters depending on your outfit and situation - here for example I feel that it picks up a pinky hue. 

I styled it minimally with a grey marl T-shirt (every girl should own at least one of these) and my most practical and fashionable new bag - this gorgeous soft leather grey backpack. If you've not tried a backpack before, you won't fully be able to understand the sheer bliss and freedom of being hands free - a delicacy especially during fashion week, when you can barely manage to balance your phone, camera and show invitations in your hands.

The rest of my accessories and more details are listed below, enjoy! xo

Skirt by Oasis   |   Top by Whistles   |   Shoes by ASOS   |   Bag by Radley   |   Sunglasses by Jeepers Peepers

xoxo

LFW | Orla Kiely & Emilia Wickstead Beauty

London Fashion Week kicked off last week in a new location, no longer at the picturesque Somerset House, but instead the streets of SoHo - it was more about the industry itself rather than the glossy image. But look a little closer and the glamour is there, along with the blood sweat and tears of the designers and teams who work so incredibly hard to make Fashion Week happen.

This year I was overwhelmed to be invited backstage at some of the most fabulous shows that LFW has to offer, to catch a glimpse of the collection before it sashayed down the catwalk, and to discover the makeup and hair trends that we will all be lusting for in Spring Summer '16.

I absolutely couldn't miss the Orla Kiely presentation, the collections are always teeming with beautiful prints and textures, and the presentation is always astoundingly creative; in previous years we've seen the models dance through 60s offices or exploring a Safari park, but this season, an entire mini crazy golf course had been set up in one of West London's most fabulous venues.

We munched on golf-ball cake pops as the models stylishly putted their way through the course, laughing and smiling from hole to hole, and perfectly showing off the vibrant collection. The range had a psychedelic 60s / 70s vibe, with pastel details mixed with some earthy tones, and details including lace, leather, and larger than life collars.

Backstage at Emilia Wickstead, I witnessed the girls being prepped and primed ready for their moment on the catwalk. Models skin is often stressed and agitated after constant makeup changes and lack of a proper skincare routine, so Sunday Riley gave the girls a mini facial to bring back their glow before the makeup was applied.

Using products from their new Pro range, firstly the skin was cleansed with the brand new Blue Moon Cleansing balm to remove any makeup traces and impurities from the skin, before a second cleanse using the new floral cleanser, and finished with the matching toner. Depending on the model's skin type, the makeup artists then chose from Sunday Riley's range of oils and serums to give a luminous and healthy finish to their skin.

The collection itself was a blend of apricot, tobacco and strawberry hues, with clusters of beaded embroidery in the shape of an eye - a definite nod to 50's femininity. Girly silhouettes were created with buttoned-up shirt dresses, ladylike blouson overcoats and an enlarged collars were worn with matching pointed-toe flat shoes. Perfect for a lady who lunches!

More daily coverage of London Fashion Week is coming your way, as well as what I wore on each day, be sure to let me know in the comments if this is something you enjoy seeing on Fashion Mumblr!

xoxo

LFW | The SoHo Sophisticate

Are you ready for the London Fashion Week overload here on Fashion Mumblr?!

For the next few days there's going to be an #LFW takeover on the blog, I'll be taking you with me behind the scenes at London Fashion Week, covering backstage beauty, fashion shows, and of course, the outfits! Things kicked off on Friday, and I chose this practical and playful playsuit from Closet London. With day one of fashion week also being my busiest day, I wanted a chic and simple look so this monochrome one piece was absolutely perfect.

Strolling through the streets of SoHo, the new location for London Fashion Week, the fashionistas were out in force, decorating London's streets with lashings of colour, suede and impossibly high heels. Confused faces peered out from office windows, and work men and builders craned their necks to get a glimpse of the glamorous girls strutting through the cobbled streets. Hidden amongst the shops, offices and high rise buildings, the locations for the shows were hubs of style, with photographers lurking behind every corner ready to get the perfect street style snap.

So join me for the next few days to see what I wore and what I got up to at London Fashion Week, and don't forget to check out my latest video to see my Pre-LFW Beauty Routine!

Jumpsuit by Closet London   |   Sandals by Next   |   Bag by Dorothy Perkins   |   Sunglasses by Topshop

xoxo