I like my money right where I can see it....hanging in my closet

My sister shamefully reminded me I have two feather skirts already. Yeah... but not in a punchy red! In Zara, Covent Garden, I picked up the bouncy skirt, when my sister informed me that my perfect ideal man was leaving the store. It was him or the skirt. I picked the skirt. The fact it was discounted from £79 to £20 made this victory all the sweeter. An Elmo red feather skirt... I’ll admit it's pretty ballsy. My sister is not a fan and the fact that it’s been reduced loads screams that it’s unpopular. Who cares?! I think it’s the perfect interpretation of the avian print that is going to be huge this spring. Why wear a bird when you can be one? Matthew Williamson said "The woman in a feather dress is confident in her fashion choices and exudes playfulness....it is reminiscent of the Twenties, a time of prosperity and luxe." I’ll fit right in then. Joking.

The Little Feather Dress (LFD) is a hit with many. Olivia Palermo at Giambattista Valli wore a feather-trimmed dress. Meanwhile, Kate Moss climbed off Marc Jacobs's carousel to close the show in a feather mini-dress. At D&G, over fluffy feather skirts in rainbow hues were paired with bright T-shirts and wedge-heeled trainers. Not sure whether to wear it like feather trim dress with a long tank with a few feathers poking out at the bottom. Or copy D&G and dress it down team with a tee. Probs both.

Zara

Oscar de la Renta

Print n Mix

2012: Supposed doom and gloom: Global recession and the end of the world. Yet the Spring/Summer 2012 collection couldn’t be any more different.... its incredibly upbeat. A print revolution dominates, graphics, florals, paisleys, abstract, birds, tribal and baroque created a colour kaleidoscope. We’ll see retro-Americana, metallics in every shade, jewels and a twenties comeback in the shops. Dark gothic looks, colour blocking, splashy watercolour motifs and new simple silhouettes in sporty pieces just in time for the Olympics. Plus a nice palate cleanser with white romantics and candy coloured pastels. They'll be gold accessories, tassels, cat eyed and John Lennon sunglasses, cut outs baring midriffs and shoulders plus the peplum skirt. Button up shirts, pyjamas, mesh and open weave materials will all make an appearance. Hair and beauty is diverse also: Coral orange lips, wine lips, buns, ombre hair and Hollywood retro curls. I’ll add a trend preview when I can as there's just so darn many.

FLORAL

Flower Power in spring? Hardly a surprise. But this seasons collection was so varied I was never bored. Chic botanical patterns, petal appliqués and bright 3D florals created a blossoming explosion of prints. London and New York catwalks were the most experimental and in Milan, the florals were more retro. Stella McCartney's Resort 2012 collection tops her Resort 2011 citrus prints. Blumarine and Proenza Schouler also went for the vibrant tropical look . A bit too extreme for myself. I preferred the mismatched florals at Mary Katrantzou, Sportmax and Erdem. Christopher Kane focused on candied, stick on flowers teamed with organza dresses and coats. Sixties daisy prints charmed at Marni whilst Peter Som opted for photo realistic roses. Crazy coloured blooms not your thing?, Alexander Wang, Dries Van Noten and Valentino took a subtler approach with monochrome florals. Valentino and Alberta Ferretti's modern romance collection charmed with intricate floral appliqué and  sheer dusty pinks. If your not brave enough, team a floral blouse with cigarette pants or complicate a solid skirt. Zara has an amazing shirt seen on many bloggers. I love the vintage floral look most. If printed perennials are too feminine. Add high top trainer wedges, Rosie Huntington Whiteley style. Jason Wu collaborated with graffiti artist KAWS on a petal print. It added a bit of street cred. Also, It’s all about the printed trouser this season. Get one!

Versace H&M

DKNY

Topshop Leggings

Zara Shirt

                                                                                                    

ASOS Shirt with Placement Floral Print

ASOS Blazer in Scenic Print

                     

PAISLEY

If feminine florals aren't for you. Check out Dolce and Gabbana SS12 show. The clash of psychedelic colours mixed in with fruit, floral and paisley prints, made it look like a massive crazy party. Scarf prints were everywhere right down to platform heels and oversized clutch bags. Prints contained Medusa and Italian motifs. Oversized, gold coin statement earrings, teamed with a  sombrero like hats added drama. I'm thinking find a vintage or Hermes scarf and tie it anywhere on your body. Paisley prints were splashed over tailored pieces at Jil Sander while Emilio Pucci updated it's signature print with a more mismatched creation. Silk pyjama paisley pieces at McCartney and JW Anderson is a double trend hit. Whilst Paul & Joe, Matthew Williamson had a boho theme to their paisley pieces with maxi dresses. The first picture is Prada's Spring Ad campaign-loving the green paisley bodysuit.

M.I.A in Versace

Stella McCartney

Thakoon

Jil Sander

Sport Max Mara

JW Anderson

                 

               ASOS paisley playsuit

Baroque is my second favourite print this season after paisley. Graphical baroque print looks luxurious whether it’s found in the fabric or embroidery. Other intriguing prints are digital flowered images from Mary Katrantzou, abstract art with mirrorlike geometric shapes at Hermès and swirling graphics at Vera Wang. Jill Stuart put birds on pyjama-inspired wear and Marc by Marc Jacobs runway showed bright, abstract birds on a cocktail dress. There’s a print for everyone this season. Spring takes prints to the next level with combined print ensembles. Pairing floral tops with matching bottoms is a high fashion look. The head-to-toe look in all-over florals looked good at Peter Som. The S/S12 season showed flowers combined geometrical prints, polka dots also. Not for me I’m afraid. Only supermodels could probably pull that off. Topshop baroque hotpants and Nasty Gal's painted prints below are cute.           

Topshop Baroque 

                                                   

                                                   

Topshop Unique

Hermes

Balmain

 

                             

Drawing inspiration from the Cookie Monster, Chewbacca and Yaks

Vogue December 2011

The awkward moment when your sister counts your coats in disgust and another fur one is delivered through the post at that precise moment. I admit I probably have too many coats. But its not the quantity that bothers me. It's the diversity. I have fifteen in total (blazers, coats, leathers, capes, sheepskin, faux fur, vintage real fur, chiffon, yeti, denim, tribal, fringe)and I still have a trench, feather, cocoon, tweed and a tuxedo coat on my hit list this year. Plus I saw a gorgeous flannel jacket in Rokit, Covent Garden on Friday. Sigh.


Anyway, my attention is on faux fur today, fur without the guilt as I call it. More importantly: The shaggy yeti coat. I wish I was an eskimo...so I could wear it all day long. I love them. The Yeti had inspired the Sixties and Seventies and was seen recently in December's UK Vogue. Whilst I have a Kate Moss Topshop shaggy number in grey, I love the white monster look. Very reminiscent of Isabel Marant so I bought the Romwe version. Teamed with mahoosive lennon round sunglasses I was channelling daily my inner Janis Joplin.

Romwe Faux Fur Coat

Giles Yeti Coat

Fur and animal skins have dominated the runways season upon season. Just Cavalli's long camel flavoured yeti piece and Chanel  looks, F/W 2010-2011. Models rocked huge beehives with yeti trousers and the classic tweed jacket was coupled with shaggy rims. Whilst I was loving the iceberg purses and shaggy rucksacks, copying this look precisely would make me look like a huge yak. In the Fall/Winter 2011 season,  I adored Gucci, Furstenburg and Prada's vibrant of emerald, ruby and sapphire toned furs teamed with 1970's dresses and blouses. Frida Gianni, Gucci's creative director displayed hairy fur stoles, thigh slit chiffon dresses and a strong lip. It epitomised the Gucci woman: dramatic, powerful and sexy. Gucci continued its love affair with fur with Mary J Blige in November's Elle. The jewelled toned furs of Marios Schwab and Dolce & Gabbana's was to some too much Elmo and Bigfoot. For me, the yeti pinks of D&G and Topshop are too much but I adore other rich colours such as the below mustard.

The Fall 2011/2012 season focused on ingraining fur into pieces: fur collars both lapel and peter pan to fur cuffs. Total fur took a bit of a backseat. But fear not, 2012 Spring trends include pastels, candy cane colours and whites.  So why not add a bit of texture and luxury and incorporate a shaggy coat into that look.

Carine Roitfeld a connoisseur of effortless chic, shows just how to do it. She reminds us that shaggy yeti fur coats are a voluminous key piece and needs only to be accessorized with a heel and black tights. Teaming boxy faux fur with sleek skinny leather trousers/cigarette pants and sunglasses like Mossy and Erin Wasson gives a simple contrast. I wear my white version with just a House of Harlow Necklace or fedora hat. As a sufferer from chunky thigh syndrome....im a firm beliver that the bigger the jacket the thinner the thigh.

 

I'm pretty sure investing in a shaggy can add to any look. Glam rock: team with metallic or white tees, thigh highs and boots. Bohemian Chic: vintage fringed kimonos,velvet leggings, turban headbands and wine stained lips. Very early 80's Vivienne Westwood. Luxurious: rich reds mixed with brocades,embellishments and floaty midis. Day time: acid wash jeggings, brogues or cream converse. Anyone can look shaggalicious.

Fifty percent of magazine readers thought Kelis's mongolian yeti coat was a huge fashion mistake. Whilst seventy percent thought Beyonce's deep red Cavalli yeti was a fashion faux paux. Bleeergh what the hell do they know?!

Attack of the Green Eyed Monster

Sequins.....a little played out sometimes, especially at Christmas. We've seen it all before....silver, gold, reds. First came the dress, headbands, then the harems, bralets, high waisted shorts, jackets. Incorporated as a daily staple on The Only Way is Essex and copied by every girl on a Saturday night proved that high street imitations can create a fine line between looking expensive and cheap.

But the emerald greens sequin trend in 2011 was a twist. Sheer genius in my opinion. Maybe its the inner child in me, recalling the days of wanting be a like Ariel in the Little Mermaid. Glimpses had been seen previously in 2009 Balmain, Ready to Wear Collection 2009.  Jennifer Connelly rocked a Balmain version and I'm pretty sure Topshop Premium had an embellished version last year.

                                       

Cue Elie Saab Spring/Summer 2012 at Fall's New York Fashion Week. Zoe Saldana and Gwyneth Paltrow  both looked outstanding in Elie Saab. However, I did wish that Gwyneth sported an updo and left that choker at home. I can't help feeling that a pear shaped figure would look dazzling in this number. Maybe J-lo should have worn this, to recreate an updated version of that striking Versace jungle dress for another history making moment.

Remember Angelina Jolie at last years Golden Globes in Atelier Versace (one to watch in 2012) and Dolce and Gabbana F/W 2011? D&G's interpretation was a firm favourite, from Anna Panquin on V magazine, Beyonce and Vogue's September issue.

               

French designer BCBG Max Azria.

My mind was set. I trawled online and vintage stores in London for a few weeks to see what I could find.I fell in love with the two ASOS versions.

Stunning. I'm mad about ASOS but I decided on a vintage piece from.... shop.thecobrasnake.com. (As Seen Below) Could I pull this off? I didn't even think about it and clicked the buy button. I this will look perfect with a dark wine lip and my hair in a high pony or messy bun. Cobrashop is in LA and only took about a week to arrive to London.  

I've noticed a few blog favourites of mine (Anna dello Russo and Chicmuse) leading the way. And I will join them. Yes, sequin season is probably over but other greens have been all over the catwalk. Emilio Pucci cut out dresses as seen on Jennifer Lopez and  Marc Jacobs velvet pieces. Also Lara Stone for Tom Ford Beauty , Kurt Geiger and even Versace for H&M. Whether you invest in a sequin piece or not, intense greens will be huge. 

So....I dare you.

*elie saab runway photos via style.com