The dramatic Dr Suess-esque collection that was Christian Dior Haute Couture Autumn Winter 2010/2011

Round of applause for Galliano everyone!
His new haute couture collection for Dior is incredible. Inspired by Christian Dior’s childhood garden he created a bouquet of fashion delights with gigantic corsages in Alice in Wonderland evoking scale, topped off with exotic colours, prints, dyes and textures.

The beauty aspects of the collection were even more breathtaking with neon bright stripes of colour which come the grey and bleak winter (sorry, I know I don’t want summer to end) will truly inspire as the eye makeup was injected with an array of bold colours. I predict the darker plum shaded lips will be a big hit and how could I forget the cellophane veils, reminiscent of the collages I would piece together in primary school, which make the models look even more like a bunch of flowers. Truly inspired.

Then there was the Dr Seuss-esque hair styling with gravity defying hair designs, echoing the stems of flowers.

It was just spectacular. Just looking at the collection on Style.com (the source for all the photos) gave me a marvellous colour induced headache.
Everything was so dramatic- but then what else would you expect from the man who created the ‘les incroyables’ collection?- that I can easily imagine a hyperactive Galliano raiding the Dior archive of prints and colours, similarly to a child in a colouring box who snatches every single Crayola crayon.

Check out the collages I have made of my favourite looks:

Dr Suess hair styling. I wish I could try this one out myself.

I am definitely going to try out my own verision of this bold blue look. I', a sucker for "cat flick" eyes anyway but this makeup look is fabulous.

Gorgeous use of colour. Loving the complete disregard for the "lips or eyes" rule.

Fairytale shoes

Queen of the flowers. These models look like they could have lept out of a fairy tale book with their fantastically flamboyant dresses and haughty expressions.

Does anyone know who this model is?!

I love that she is sitting backstage at the Christian Dior Haute Couture show reading Oscar Wilde "The Picture of Dorian Gray" proving that she is a girl of my own heart (I would do the exact same thing) and also that it's not true when people say that all models are stupid.

Beth Ruby xoxo

Gladiator Sandals. The "frenemy" of the shoe world.

A few weeks ago I went out and bought my first ever pair of Gladiator Sandals. (Excuse the rubbish photograph and my thunder thighs, I just needed a photo to show the happiness I felt at the thought of my new shoes)

The trend has been around since 2008 which makes it ancient in the fashion world and because of this, they are now deemed by many fash mags as "a wardrobe staple."
The only reason I jumped on the bandwagon so late was because of my freakishly-fat-duck-feet which made it near impossible to find a pair which fit. But then I found a pair. Simple brown and metallic gladiator heels and as a bonus; they were less than a tenner. I was buzzing.

Then the next day in the Guardian Weekend I read that Jess Cartner-Morley (the fabulous fashion editor at The Guardian, and a woman who always talks sartorial sense) said this about Gladiator Sandals and Clogs (you already know how I feel about them)

"The only positive benefit of the return of clogs to fashion is that, by comparison, they make gladiator sandals seem both flattering and comfortable. Gladiator sandals are, of course, neither flattering nor comfortable: they make all but the most photogenic of feet look like slabs of undercooked meat, and the law of averages states that if you crisscross a hot pair of feet with 14 leather straps, then at least one of those straps is going to rub. But the alternative, this summer, is to wear clogs. Oddly, there is nothing that accentuates a tree trunk leg quite like attaching a log to the sole of your foot."

Ouch. "Undercooked meat." Really Jess?
But then surely enough I looked down at my newly clad feet and indeed they did.
The next day I went for a walk to the park in them. Mine have 5 straps across them and just as wise Jess predicted it gave the seemingly harmless sandals a gazillion opportunities to rub my now absolutely battered and bloodied feet.

I now can't wear the Gladiator without bandaging them up, not unlike a lady from Imperial China by covering them in plasters, which I think you'll agree isn't exactly the chic and on trend look I was aiming for.

Then I read last week on Lourdes' new blog (yep Madonnas daughter has a new blog and she actually sounds like a perfectly normal young teenager) said:

"OK but no joke gladiator sandals are OUT. They came out in summer 2008 and I was like, ok those are really cute. Then 2009 comes around and people are still wearing them so I’m like, ok whatever it’s just a phase. BUT NOOOOO. Because good old 2010 is now coming along and people are STILL wearing them, and then I was just like OK NO! It’s been three years people COME ON!!!!!!!!! I’m just like what????"

Now I don't know whether I can trust the opinion of a girl who apparently likes "My Chemical Romance... for realzzzz" and over uses punctuation marks but she may have a point.

So people of the blogging world, let me hear your thoughts!

Shall I put away my blood stained, uncomfortable Gladiator Sandals? Or continue to wear what may be a "fashion staple" but just by the pool with a bikini?
They have to be the ultimate "frenemy" of the summer sandal world. You don't know whether you love 'em or hate 'em (just like Simon Cowell and Marmite)

Beth Ruby xoxo

ps) I just have to dash off now and check on the numerous Nigella recipes I am making as part of my Summer Challenge 2010 list which includes "Cook 3 course meal."
I don't want it to burn like my epic fail batch of brownies earlier. Follow me on twitter here if you want to see my Summer Challenge updates (and also photos from the disaster that I now refer to as "Brownie Gate")

DESIGNER ENVY- My soft spot for gimmicky heels

It has been awhile since I have had a full on designer shoe envy (probably due to being locked up revising in my room and spending less time on Style.com and Sea of Shoes if anything else)

But once I laid eyes on these DSqaured shoes which have a SPINE FOR THE HEEL (!!!) I fell a little bit in love.

"It's just such a genius idea!" I cried.
And then after getting a major deja vu I got thinking about the sheer amount of times I have said that after seeing a rather cool pair of heels.
After trawling the extensive albums of photos of shoes which are knacking up my computer hard drive I realised just how many gimmicky heels there are out there.
Shoe designers love a good novelty idea to get people talking and buying. (If this was a power point I would add the cheesy *KERCHING* sound effect here)
It makes sense really, I mean I know a girl can own a lot of shoes but there are only so many plain black sling-backs someone can have before they crave the crazy.

And I know I would rather have a pair of fierce, eye catching, compliment attracting, fabulous shoes than a pair of plain. fabulous shoes (remember my rant at the beige schmeige and boring ol' Celine's "Wardrobe Staples" ?)

So here are some more gimmicky heels I found.
I'll shut up now and let them do the talking:

Dolce and Gabbana 'Face' shoes- photo from Sea of Shoes

The Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte 'Melted Wax' heels (which I thought looked like the Wicked Witch of the West melting...) Source unknown

The legendary Chanel 'light bulb' shoes (source unknown)

And the lovely new 'Chandelier' heels from the Prada collection.

Can you think of any more shoe gimmicks?

I could go on but I really must go back to revising Vietnam and Womens rights for my exam tomorrow. Exciting I know.

Ciao!

Beth Ruby xoxo

ps) Happy fathers day!

J'adore Dior- Sex and the City 2. Harmless fun or offensive drivel?

The Guardian has called Sex and the City 2 the epitome of the “rise of the critic-proof movie” meaning that no matter what the reviews have said about how awful the film is, people will still flock to see it.
So where do my allegiances lie?
Well I love Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte (in that order- I love asking people who their favourite character out of the 4 main girls is. I think it does tell you something about what kind of person they are) and I love the TV series.
I saw the first film and thought it was very bland and disappointing however according to many reviews this new film is supposed to be even worse.
The glorious Hadley Freeman, my favourite columnist for the Guardian (Ask Hadley is simply brilliant. Check it out now) said that “The Sex and the City films have destroyed the legacy of a funny and fantastic TV show.” Then there is the genius review from Linda West which said that Sex and the City 2 is pretty much "a home video of gay men playing with giant Barbie dolls."
The hilarious reviews have put me off but with the fun, the frocks and the friends, it’s just a bit of harmless fun.
I will have to see it before I can judge it properly but at the end of the day it just comes down to a couple of hours of escapism. And call me materialistic to watch it simply for the clothes- especially the J’adore Dior tee which SJP wore, pictured above- but I don’t think there is anything wrong with that.

Have you seen Sex and the City 2?
What did you think?

Beth Ruby xoxo

Kate Moss Spring Summer 2010 collection

As usual I love some of the Kate Moss for Topshop designs (those gorgeous maxi dresses and that fab Kimono) and loathe some of the others (a multicoloured feathered cape springs to mind...)
But for once I think I have found a dress that I could actually wear (see below)

Obviously the whole appeal of the Kate Moss for Topshop collection is that the supermodel herself played some part in coming up with the collection- however the sceptical side of me says that this was not very much- and this is the aspect which shoppers are attracted to.

Many bloggers and magazines critical of the collaboration say that the poor and deluded Topshop customers shop the range because they think that this will make them look like Kate Moss.
But no one is stupid enough to think that one perchase of an embellished shift dress is enough to make them look like the famous multimillionaire supermodel, pouting in the adverts.
Instead they buy the clothes because they look good and they want to emmulate her unique and celebrated sense of style. Sure they want to buy into her brand as well, like any other well established designer or label. I mean I love that little 'Kate Moss' logo as much as the next girl, but people who are interested in fashion can think for themselves too. They are not going to buy just anything with Kate Moss' supposed seal of approval.

But I do have approval for this printed swing dress, from her new collection. So tempting...

Star blogger Q&A- Stylestalker

I caught up with Rachel, half of the design duo 'Stylestalker' which she works on with her friend Sue-Ann to ask her 10 quick fashion and design related questions.

If you want to find out more about her check out her fantastic blog here and her shopping website here.
And if you want to take part in a Star Blogger Q&A just send me an email on amore-fashion@hotmail.co.uk and I will get back to you.

1. How did you both meet?

We met at uni, Susie was the best dressed girl in the course, so
naturally I sat next to her. We spent a lot more time skipping off to
the library to read Vogue Italia, than we did doing our assignments.

2. What inspired you on your latest collection "Midnight?"

Midnight was inspired by bringing the past and the future together. We
borrowed inspiration from the ‘supers’ era of the 90’s with it’s
strong shoulder silhouette, as well as the modern gothic revival and
combined it with the futuristic movement characterized by strong
angular shapes and delicate metallics.

3. Out of all your designs which one is your favourite?

The conspiracy dress is my all time favourite. (pictured above)

4. How do you usually come up with ideas together for designs?

First we search high and low for inspiration. We scour runway,
magazines, blogs, vintage stores, movies, museums… stalk down old
grannies on the street if they have an amazing hat…anything really.
We mash up all the information and spew out ideas, which we bounce off
each other. We both have to love every piece that makes it into the
collection.

5. What was the last thing you bought?

Topshop suede wedges (I'm in London right now so I can go straight to
the source woohoo!)

6. What is your favourite item in your wardrobe?

Aside from stylestalker- a vintage Jean Paul Gaultier laser cut trench
coat that I picked up on a recent trip to Hong Kong for only $50!

7. Who are your style icons?

Carey Mulligan, Georgia Jagger, Jen Brill, Lady Gaga

8. What are your latest favourite trends?

I love all trends. Sue-Ann and I will try anything

9. Who are your favourite designers?

Alaia, Pucci, Julian McDonald.

10. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

Too many to count!

Minimalism? Or just plain old boring?

A whole bunch of bloggers, fashion editors and street style photographers are going crazy for 'minimalism' at the moment.

And every time the word 'minimalism' is used I will bet you that it is followed by some remark about how amazing Celine is. That Phoebe Philo, who used to work at Chloe, and is now responsible for the french label is bringing basics back (with a ginormous price tag) and in particular is credited with that brown leather mini skirt from the Spring Summer 2010 collection.
White shirts, simple tees in neutral shades, nude work trousers and chunky shoes-blah blah blah I could go on- these are the Celine aesthetics in a nutshell.

But to me it all looks so darn boring.
Where is the colour? The prints and the florals? Its summer after all which means that it's time to experiment a bit more because you are not confined to knits and massive jumpers of winter.
I understand that she works in designing wardrobe staples, in particular for working women but do basics have to be so boring?
The brown leather skirt, made famous for being in the equally pared down and simple advertising campaign is nice and all, but nothing more than that.
For the amount of money that these plain clothes have you could buy something truly fabulous which could make you stand out from the crowd.
Why could you settle with the same old boring when you could have the brilliant and unique instead?

As ever let me know what you think,

Beth Ruby xoxo

At least it's out in the open now: Christopher Kane took inspiration from my primary school uniform.

Fashion moves so fast, it's hard to keep up seeing as the world is always a season ahead.

But now it's finally Spring, I feel like I can appreciate the Spring Summer 2010 collections a lot more; I need inspiration for a new season wardrobe and as the sun is shining it no longer seems ridiculous to be looking at summer dresses when it snowing outside, in the middle of winter.

Especially the Christopher Kane collection. He is my favourite designer, so I was always going to fall in love with it, but I mean really, it's beautiful isn't it?

Vogue called his collection "pretty yet perverted" and you only need to take one look at the collection to realise this is spot on.
The checkered picnic table style pastel dresses conjured up an image of a sickly sweet school girl, like Anne of Green Gables, striding across the fields. But then you notice the flashes of bare flesh through the panelling and the thigh high slits and realise that this Anne may have a sexy side.

My favourite look was this yellow checkered dress with the navy cardigan (above)
It conjures up images of my childhood, as these were the colours of my school uniform at primary school.
It's actually pretty similar to the little gingham summer dresses and the navy woolly jumpers we used to wear- except of course I didn't have the lovely strappy heels.
So take that Kane, I was one step ahead of you!
Just call me your new fashion muse and I won't sue you for copyright.
Deal?

Beth Ruby xoxo

Current Style Obsession- The Mad Hatter

I was slightly disappointed by the new Tim Burton film Alice in Wonderland.
Looking back I hyped it up so much in my head that the stakes for the film were unbearably high and could never really be met.

It had my favourite director, Tim Burton. It had my favourite actor, Johnny Depp. It had the amazing Danny Elfman creating the soundtrack. It is based on one of the best and the most imaginative children's books ever written. It had Matt Lucas, Stephen Fry and ALAN RICKMAN- Severus Snape is irresistible. And of course the magnificent Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway playing the two Queens.
So yeah basically an amazing cast. But it was also in 3D and a collaboration with Disney!

The possibilities for the films greatness were endless!

But it just didn't quite deliver, for me.

Sure on one hand it was a snapshot into Tim Burton's undeniably brilliant mind and a directorial wonder with some great performances. On the other the plot was lacking and not as engaging as it should have been seeing that Burton declared "he never felt a connection emotionally" with the book.

Good job then that the costumes were fantastic, they kept me distracted from the not-quite-right plot of Alice revisiting Wonderland.
Colleen Atwood is a genius. I found out through a quick IMDB search that she also did the costumes for Chicago and Nine (remember me raving about the costumes here?) and has won 2 Oscars, so there is no denying she is one talented lady!

I LOVED:
-Alice's little (or big depending on how much of the "drink me" potion she had taken) blue dresses
-The breathtaking corseted gowns in the wedding scene in the beginning, which looked as if they had just stepped out of a period drama

-The heart motif which was on every Queen of Hearts piece (Helena BC was of course, amazing in the role)

But above all else there was the Mad Hatter with his amazing liquorice allsorts bow tie, pocket watch, crazy hat and old beaten up patchwork suit. He look incredible.

Just don't mention that ridiculous Jaberwocky dance...

Beth Ruby xoxo

We need to talk about Gaga

So yesterday before school I watched the Lady Gaga and Beyonce music video for 'Telephone'. Today I open up my weekend newspaper, The Guardian and there she is on the front page entitled "Pucker Face- Gaga's Lesbian Row" with anchorage of "A surreal nine-minute video by Lady Gaga and Beyonce, featuring murder and lesbian sex, triggered hot debate and half a million hits online within 12 hours."
And now it has actually had nearly 7 million.

(If you haven't already seen it then click here and let me know your initial reaction in a comment. If you have already seen it then read on and then let me know what you think and whether you love it or hate it)

But here is my reaction to the controversial video.

First of all I was shocked.

There was swearing. Both Beyonce and Lady Gaga said "motherfucker" and "bitch" was heard countless times. There was gyrating in bikinis against cell bars (which reminded me of an even more sexual version of "Cell Block Tango" from Chicago)
There was the moment when Lady Gaga flashed and rubbed herself against the bars of her cell.

There was groping. There was lesbian sex. There was murder.
And it was all so un-necessary. It's a great song with two great artists. The part of the video at around 8.10 minutes where both ladies are doing what they do best-which is dancing and singing in case you have forgotten- is great.
Lady Gaga should have realised that what her fans want isn't some high sexualised 9 minute inappropriate video (which simply does not target either artists main fan base demographic of tweens who look up to them both) but a less extreme video- well Gaga could never do "normal"- of them dancing and singing together and showing the world how talented they are.

Then I was disappointed.

I had expected much better things from two of my favourite women in pop music. I couldn't believe that Beyonce, or "Honey B" as she is nicknamed in the video gave the go ahead on this video. The video was so out of character for her. Normally I am used to her singing "Halo" or "If A Were A Boy" and of course my favourite video of all time, the sassy "Single Ladies" as Sasha Fierce. She is so talented she doesn't need to resort to demeaning close ups of her breasts (which I am sure the director Jonas Akerlund loved) and driving around in a "Pussy Wagon."
I used to think of her as so inspiring. She sings songs about being sassy and not taking any shit from men. I have had second thoughts on her old empowering, booty shaking, independent persona Sasha Fierce, which her fans (including me) loved after seeing this video which obviously is just meant to appeal to men.

Finally I was angry.

It was so blatantly sexist.

The guy who Beyonce kills by slipping poison in his food slaps one girls arse and there is so much dancing in underwear and provocative speech and dance moves that it is hard to think of the video as anything other than misogynist.
Male singers don't whip out their bits when they are singing so why does Gaga have to?

It just means that people don't take her seriously.

Which is a shame as she is so talented. She started playing the piano at 4, wrote her first ballad at 13, started performing at 15 and is so unique in the music industry of big-boobed-tight-mini-skirt types that her dose of crazy dancing with a telephone on her head makes her stand out.

But this video makes her stand out in completely the wrong way and I can't help but think that she did it all to simply create column inches and controversy.
You can't shoot groping, sunglasses made out of lit cigarettes, lesbian sex, a "Pussy Wagon", murder and naked writhing without expecting some kind of outrage in people.

Current style obsession- Stud it up

My current style obsession has to be studs. It all started with the Balmain heels (above) used in the SS09 collection and since then my love for all things studded has grown.

In the past I would associate studs with either some punk rebel types or the classic female rock chick look as worn by Kate Moss and Taylor Momsen.
But now studs are everywhere; from the cat walks to the high street which means that they have predictably lost some of their original rock star connotations.
However I see this as a very good thing for me, a person so goody-too-shoes that the most rebellious thing I do is jay walk.
So because studs are absolutely everywhere at the moment it means that anyone can wear them and they don’t even require any rebellious rock star attitude to go with them like they used to.

The key is to keep the stud trend simple. Don't go for a head to toe studded look unless you want to look like a Johnny Rotten impersonator.
Instead stick to one key piece such as a sprinkling of studs on a pair of heels or a few encrusted on the bottom of a bag just like the gorgeous Alexander Wang 'Rocco' bag below. Another example is just a couple of weeks ago I bought a lovely black studded belt from H&M. Low-key but awesome nonetheless. And finally never wear these Louise Goldin for Topshop spiked heels on an aeroplane or they will without a doubt be taken off you at airport security. These are literally a pair of killer heels:

Beth Ruby xoxo