LFW AW14 | Holly Fulton

I literally sprinted past one bouncer and under the massive arm of another as they yelled "Right that's it, no one else", as due to bloody trains I was late AGAIN. But I wasn't going to miss this Holly Fulton AW14 show, no way, as it's been the only one I can make so far and possibly one of the few I'll get to due to shoots and workload at the moment (and random teenagers and Z listers nabbing all the tickets, GRRR).

So anyway I made it in and shuffled on the end of a back row without much time to sort my camera, hence very few shots except of behinds from yours truly below, have had to use the pros.  In fact I spent so much time fiddling with my iPhone in one hand and camera's aperture button in the other that before I knew it the show was over. What I did see flash past was Holly's trademark graphic prints and luxe fabrics in a beautiful colour palette of camel, nude, pale blue, red and black. Hurrah, colour for Winter!

What really stood out for me were the gorgeous printed coats in cool, mannish shapes and the beautiful, delicate feminine dresses in sheers and metallics.

Here are some of my favourite looks...

Photos Kim Weston Arnold/Indigitalimages.com/Chloe Wood

Beauty Buzz | Latest Cruelty-Free Favourites

I am always researching what brands don't test on animals as I strive to only use these where possible. It's pretty hard sometimes but I try my best.  Deodorant was always a tricky one to find but good old Marks & Spencer's have recently come up trumps. Thanks M&S, I was worried I'd have to use some unsuccessful hippy crystal for a while there...

I've just finished a month's detox and boy did it do my skin some serious good. But what also helped was one of my trusted 100% organic and cruelty-free skin care brands I discovered about a year ago, Spezia Organics, a small, super-ethical company based in Cornwall. I am currently trying out a mini version of their rose & vanilla face oil at the moment which is new to me, and using their nourishing moisturiser too, and my skin has been glowing. Definitely recommend if you have sensitive skin like me.

I just got sent some new cruelty-free make-up products to work so am trying those at the moment too.  I'm a sucker (or should that be pucker? Groan...) for a coral lip, so this mega-watt matte orange lip tar from Obsessive Complusive Cosmetics caught my eye immediately. This is a New York brand favoured by industry insiders and is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. It goes on a treat and I shall definitely be wearing it this Summer. Plus it comes with a cute little brush and wallet. Sold!

#LFW Street Style: What I'll be Wearing

London Fashion Week in T minus 3 days guys...

To those of us that work on High Street mags, it isn't the be all and end all, i.e. we won't be front row with Harry Styles and Pixie Geldof, but it is SUCH a buzz and so much fun to get the chance to go to the shows. I always look forward to the Topshop Unique show (see here for a review of their SS13 show where I met Cara and Jourdan backstage) as it's so exciting to see a High Street brand put on a MAJOR catwalk affair. Plus the celeb spotting, new model face scouting and general fashion high. Oh and the champers and canapes, can't forget those.

For a feature for Look magazine this week they wanted to see what we, the editors, would be wearing to the shows. Uh - oh, This means a picture. Of me. In the mag. I prefer to be the other side telling people what to do but thank God it was a pal and old colleague, the very talented Alicia Clarke, who took our pics.

I scrubbed up a bit more than I usually would (bit of a scruffbag sometimes, me) and got to borrow some lovely bits from my PR pals including including ASOS, Topshop, River Island, Marks & Spencer's and Schuh.

I mixed in my usual faves - stripe, denim, neon and neutrals. Here's a couple of my looks:

Coat and jeans, ASOS; heels and jumper, Topshop; bag, River Island; sunglasses (in hand), Miu Miu

Dress and bag, Marks & Spencer; coat, ASOS; shoes, Schuh

All pictures ©Alicia Clarke/Look Magazine

New Website

I have finally updated my work online and built my own shiny new website one very long Monday night. So please take a peek here if you have a second. 

2014: New Starts and a New Role...

It's been a while and I'm kicking myself I haven't kept up with my blogging, but with a big hit of foreign travel, a large slice of Christmas and now a brand new permanent role as Fashion Editor at LOOK magazine it's been tricky to do much in between since the start of December. So let's see how 2014 goes... It's looking hectic already!

It's taken a long time for the right opportunity to come up for me, I've been very specific about wanting to work on a slick High Street magazine that does really great fashion at editor level. I'm chuffed to bits to be their new Fashion Editor. So excuse future sporadic blogging, I think it's going to be a busy year...

ASOS SS14 PREVIEW

The mighty ASOS has truly outdone itself for next season.

This is a brand who, many moons ago when I started my days of work experience in the industry, was a small, lesser known label called As Seen On Screen, and did rather cheap-looking copies of Paris Hilton's party frocks.

Cut to about 12 years later and this brand is leading the way in young British Fashion. Up there with Topshop, ASOS is creating it's own trends from it's observations of music, travel, culture and everything cool in Britain, and around the world.

I really love this brand.

I may have started to drop out of their demographic (the amazing ASOS magazine for which I used to work really is aimed at a younger audience than a thirty something like me) but from a Fashion Editor's point of view this is one of the best brands to be shooting right now. Exciting, standout and fun.

Their fantastic SS14 collections that we previewed at the Press Day today saw a few of the favourite ASOS themes remain; a heavy sporty influence, plenty of neoprene, colourful ethnic print (Indian and Hawaiian this time), digi patterns, but the grown-up ASOS White collection was a little modernist haven for the more demure dresser. And the new ASOS Salon collections were beautiful Summer wedding outfits sorted.

Accessories were also show stealers. Cool-as-they-come sunnies, crazy chunky sandals, fun logo bags, and then also more delicate, fine-looking jewellery for those of us that don't necessarily want to scream trends. (Although why not?!)

I cannot wait to see this stuff hit the site and start shooting it. Well done ASOS.

Here are a few phone snaps from the day...

Love this!

ASOS White

ASOS Salon

Launching This Week: Isabel Marant for H&M | Sneak Preview

As you'll have seen all over the fashion mags of late, the latest in a long line of designers to work with High Street fave H&M is Isabel Marant, who has for years brought us cool denim, fringed boots, wedge trainers, and general laid back luxe - styles that have seriously infiltrated the High Street of late.

And now the French fashion designer's oh-so-cool signature styles will be available for us peeps that can't always afford a high end label. The countdown is on. Isabel Marant for H&M goes on sale in two days, on Thursday 14th November, at 9am. (Not that we're counting or anything)

The British fashion press, including little ole me, were given a sneak preview the other week at the London head office of the brand. The pieces ooze that French Marant cool, yet still have the comforting H&M feel to them. I like. Easy-to-wear but not as 'out there' as some of H&M's other collaborations like Anna Dello Russo's, where, after a Season, you'll look like a bit of a twonk in those crazy sunnies, let's be honest.

Take the grey sweater below for example - a wardrobe staple. That's what I'd go for. But is it worth the queue on the 14th? Well, we all want a little designer in our wardrobes when we can, non?

Check out the full range here.

H&M's Holly rocks top to toe Isabel

You see I really WAS there!