Alexander McQueen...hmmm.

The New York Costume Institute's exhibition of the work of Alexander McQueen has been much applauded but these little beauties hidden in the gift shop - I'm not so sure. Children's versions of his Armadillo boots. Really?

Favourite things.

Available from today at Topshop. I love it, classic with a nice modern twist. 

Anything old fashioned is a big winner for me and whilst these creations from Topshop Boutique might be vanity cases, I think they're perfect for wandering around the park with on a hot summer day. 

 It's soo out there, but it's so amazing. Mary Katranzou's beautiful trompe d'oeil dress is a real investment piece.

Topshop Secret Store!

Topshop's secret store at Oxford Circus has opened today. My hint to find it - follow your nose for flowers.

Favourite things.

As you might have noticed, I'm a sucker for anything vintage looking and this coat has such an elegant Hollywood Golden Age feel. It's from Maxmara's Pianoforte range which emphasises quality and style.

My boyfriend is disgusted by this, but I'm quite taken with it. If you have to have ornaments in your house they really should be Lanvin, right?

I love this - fusty antique looking lace tempered with a cut out midriff. Perfect for summer from Topshop.

Lulu Guinness's Pin Up.

For Clerkenwell Design week Lulu Guinness has set up an art installation called; 'Be the Pin Up.' This installation is interactive and allows passers by to imprint their own image onto the pins. The most imaginative, as judged by Lulu will win one her iconic Lip Clutches.

Christopher Kane in Neon.

A double Christopher Kane post? This time about his use of neon in his latest collection. Kane says; "I love neon - it's so man-made and and loud and obnoxious, but that's why I gravitate towards it." But that notwithstanding, as stand out and brash as his designs are, they manage not to be obnoxious or garish. Love.

Christopher Kane's Taxis.

Christopher Kane in conjunction with Vodafone has created a new design for several London black cabs.

Kane said he was honoured about the project since the London black cabs are such an iconic part of the city's landscape. I like Kane's distinctive dreamy galaxy touch to the cab but I'm not so crazy about the Union Jack design. Is it not so far beyond clichéd now?

Christian Louboutin vs YSL.

Christian Louboutin is still intent on chucking all of his toys out of the plan and launching his lawsuit against YSL for copying his red sole trademark. YSL have responded by saying that Louboutin did not invent the red sole. I don't really have a lot of interest in the case. If I have to venture an opinion it would be that Louboutin shouldn't have chucked such a silly strop as it is a tactic that will only bite YSL on the arse. After all, the flash of the red sole is synonymous with celebrities Louboutin nowadays - which is exactly why it's also been picked up on by so many lower end high street brands.

What I did find interesting was this quote from YSL about the history of the red sole from their court notes.

"Red outsoles are a commonly used ornamental design feature in footwear, dating as far back as the red sole worn by King Louise XIV in the 1600s."


So there you have it. Everyday's a school day.   

Favourite things.

This is a very artful design from Topshop. I love the 1920s style drop waist on its own but the cleverness of weaving it around to form a very modern twist on the caped open is the cherry on the cake. That and the little silver studs give it a pretty urban edge.

Not a new design by any means, but these vintage YSL heels have just become available at ModCloth at an absolute steal at only $49.99. They put me in mind of Audrey Hepburn and that surely can't be a bad thing? 

And finally, this gorgeous Italian taffeta dress from All Saints. What I love about this is that it's ruffled without being fussy or too girly. All Saints seems to have a knack of bypassing girly and moving straight onto urban toughness, something that almost any other designer working with ruffled taffeta would find impossible. The quality of the taffeta is also amazing - there is none of the cheapness that we find amongst so many ruffled dresses on the high street today. 

Favourite things.

Alexander McQueen. The embellished tapestry of the hummingbird puts me in mind of Pre-Raphaelite designs with a distinct digitalised modern edge. 

Completely impractical, connotations of both the Gestapo and sex offenders...yet I can't help wanting it. Badly. Burberry London. 

Beautifully tailored and with a harder and more futuristic edge than Chloe is usually known for. 

Topshop Display.

Loving the new display in Topshop's Oxford Circus store by Gary Card.

I've Come Over All Vintage.

London born brand Darling has hit ModCloth and boasts some of the sweetest designs I've seen in a long while.

Princess Beatrice's Hat.

If it's good enough for Isabella Blow, Philip Treacy should be good enough for the British public but people can't get their head's around the fact it's sold for £81,000 on ebay. Not that it's worth that much money, I suppose we can stick that down to the current royal mania. In fact, it's a beautiful statement hat, but really it just wasn't for Princess Beatrice. She's not cool enough or old enough to pull off something so out there.

Nicholas Kirkwood.

Nicholas Kirkwood has always wanted to create footwear that could match McQueen's achievements in clothing and Philip Treacy in millinery. His new display in his London store claims to have merged the boundaries between fashion and art but is it just me or do these designs just look a little try hard and ostentatious rather than truly artistic? 

Don't suggest that I don't think Kirkwood has an incredible capacity for artistic footwear. The architectural features of these are exceptional. 

And I love this pair even though I can't help but think they've stolen the colour scheme from a precocious French teenager's bedroom. 

And of course, there is this iconic pair worn by Nicole Kidman and oozing with Moulin Rouge-esque extravagance... 

And finally these. Not because they are especially innovative, but because they're pure sex.