Spring 2012 Silhouette - The Train Trouser...

...not since the late 90s/early 00s has the skirt over trouser idea been reworked by major designers in such a cool way.  Yes, I remember wearing my skirt over my jeans or trousers when I started my fashion degree, looking back it wasn't the best look but Spring 2012 reincarnations of this idea are something altogether more considered and cooler as the skirt part is actually grown onto the pant. Part peplum, part half skirt, derriere detractor call it what you will {and am sure some sort of hideous hybrid word will appear} but don't ignore this new shape for spring.  See the proof below, if Dries, Ricardo and Phoebe are doing versions, follow suit...

 Dries Van Noten S/S 2012

Givenchy S/S 2012

Celine S/S 2012

Posted by: Miss J

Campaign Cult - Givenchy / Versace Spring 2012...

What do you get when you have the gorgeous Gisele Bunchen in front of the camera and Mert & Marcus behind?... The winning formula for Givenchy's {plus a glossy black rottweiler dog, two male models, black surf boards and truck} and Versace {sans dog, models etc but including a pool backdrop} Spring 2012 campaigns!

 Givenchy Spring 2012 ad campaign shot by Mert & Marcus and starring Gisele Bunchen

Versace Spring 2012 ad campaign shot by Mert & Marcus and starring Gisele Bunchen

{images - www.fashiongonerogue.com}

Posted by: Miss J

'PURL' - molecular mixologists in Marylebone...

My fave Christmas drinks this year have to be the experimental cocktails at basement bar Purl in Marylebone http://www.purl-london.com/.  Think part NY speakeasy part Heston Blumental {out of the kitchen and behind the bar} and you are along the right lines.  I have been wanting to go here for ages and it totally didn't disappoint. Mr Hyde's Fixer Upper has to be the most exciting cocktail I have ever experienced, in a single serve ice bucket and complete with atmosphere inducing liquid nitrogen dry ice, the rum, homemade cola and orange bitters is served in a science-lab style wax sealed bottle that you drink in two parts to allow the smokiness to intensify the liqour. Resembling a pink angel delight dessert the cocktail below is in actual fact a pomegranate foam on top of a sublime gin based cocktail - delicious and dangerously strong, they certainly packed a festive kick!  

Posted by: Miss J

Homemade 'Bijoux' Christmas Crackers...

Every year Miss R and I have certain things we bring home to the Shiers family Christmas.  Miss R, a very talented cook is in charge of Christmas dinner and myself, table dressing and dessert.  I have made Christmas crackers for the last couple of years.  Last year were a Ferrero Rocher filled vintage music paper wrapped affair with festive headpieces and sparkler spiked clementines.  This year I made them from scratch using a template from a cracker making kit and sheets of thick paper printed with Miss R's 'I Scream, You Scream' print and filled them with chocolates, sparklers and cocktail umbrella's {which of course all ended up in my hair after several glasses of Prosecco on Boxing Day}. 

{2011}

{2010}

Posted by: Miss J

Happy Bijoux Christmas...

Wishing all of our bijouxettes a wonderful Christmas day today! Love from 'Mother' Christmas and Bailey {and Miss R of course} xx

Posted by: Miss J

Ugly Christmas Jumper 2011...

We had a competition in the office at our work Christmas party for the worst/best 'ugly' Christmas sweater.  Dress code: Ugly Christmas Jumper. There were some amaze efforts with DIY decorations.  I managed to find this love-worn vintage sweat at Beyond Retro's Great Malborough St's shop, have added some green glitter to the holly of the wreath and think I will be wearing on the 25th with my green hair and jade nails...

Posted by: Miss J

Campaign Cult - Prada Spring 2012...

Filling up in Prada at a gas station!? Models Natasha Poly, Megahan Collison, Elise Crombez, Ymre Stiekema and Katryn Kruger are 50's bejewelled bathers stopping to fill up with gas on their fashion road trip shot by Steven Meisel - cannot wait for the behind the scenes video that I am sure will surface shortly!

Posted by: Miss J

Campaign Cult - Louis Vuitton Loving Spring 2012...

...the Spring 2012 ad campaign shot by Steven Meisel and starring Daria Strokous and Kati Nescher.  Set in an ice-cream parlour and pastel perfect.

{images - www.fashiongonerogue.com}

Posted by: Miss J

Christmas Chocolatier...

Thought I would share the new Christmas incarnation of what have become my signature chocolates. Clementine zest, toasted almond, organic dried fig and sea salt dark chocolate lollies topped with edible glitter!

Posted by: Miss J

Bridesmaid Blooms - Florals turn blue for S/S 2012...

True blue baby I love you....  The Spring 2012 catwalks were awash with florals in varying shades of blue, perfect if you are looking for an alternative bridesmaid dress idea and are following the 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe' tradition.  When Miss R got married last summer I was her something blue in a hand dyed baby blue lace dress made by yours truely.

Christopher Kane Spring Summer 2012

Peter Som Spring Summer 2012

Nina Ricci Spring Summer 2012 

Erdem Spring Summer 2012

Erdem Spring Summer 2012

Aminaka Wilmont Spring Summer 2012

Clements Ribeiro Spring Summer 2012

Alexis Mabille Spring Summer 2012

Normaluisa Spring Summer 2012

 Band of Outsiders Spring Summer 2012

{images - www.style.com}

Posted by: Miss J

Miss R's Christmas Tree...

Small but perfectly formed...

Posted by: Miss J

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas - Stunning Selfridges Store Windows...

I adore Selfridges London Christmas window displays this year.  They are simply stunning.  Starting at the amazing Mark Quinn snow globe-esque orchid in the corner window and walking to the other end of the store I took in all of the winter white wonder in every window, taking a tonne of photos, the 'edit' {there are quite a few} below are my absolute faves.  If you live in London go see in person, the attention to detail and sheer amount of vintage paper concertina bells and balls is immense.  It really got me inspired and even though I hadn't planned on doing any decorating in my little flat this year, I am now going to dig out my own white paper concertina bells and arrange over my white chesterfield.  I will post a photo when I am done.

Posted by: Miss J 

Great Expectations for BBC1's Great Expectations...

As well as excitement for the return of Absolutely Fabulous on Christmas day I am also really looking forward to seeing the BBC's three part adaption of Charles Dickens novel 'Great Expectations'.  The cast includes Ray Winston as escaped convict Magwitch, Gillian Anderson totally transformed as a younger than expected Miss Havisham, David Sucett as Jaggers and Douglas Booth as the older Pip. I loved this book at school and can't wait to see what twists Sarah Phelp's has up her sleeve for it and what parts of the 700 page original will have been omitted to squeeze into 3x 1 hour programs which will air from the 27th - 29th December, perfectly placed between Christmas and New Year.  I am particularly interested in seeing the set of Miss Havisham's Satis house, there is a really detailed article on the Telegraph about the re-make {http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8940068/Mud-dust-and-Dickens-Great-Expectations-at-BBC-One.html} and here is the trailer -  

Posted by: Miss J

Cover lover - Numéro #129...

Karli Kloss's flame hair, the copper text, rich and luxurious dark chocolate brown/black coat and teal  to turq background really do make this cover shot by Greg Kadel and styled by Elizabeth Sulcer 'Magique'.

{image - www.fashiongonerogue.com}

Posted by: Miss J

Sequin Skull Face...

Very early makeup inspiration for Halloween 2012?...

 Wang Xiau styled by Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou and shot by Christian Anwander for 10 Magazine Winter 2011

'The Imaginarium of Caroline' make up by Caroline Saulnier, shot by Rankin for The Hunger Issue 1

{watch the accompanying video to the shoot here - http://www.hungertv.com/issues/1/video/545/}

Posted by: Miss J