i've a confession...

for those who don't know me, you must must know that one of my favourite designers of all time was and will be for a very long time, mr alexander mcqueen, his innate flair for tailoring, proven by his acceptance onto a course at c.s.m without a formal interview, and then after which he was picked up by isabella blow, and sky rocketed from there. but i'm not here to tell you his biography, there's a book to do that... i'm hear to talk about the clothes and my favourites from over the years.

please be warned, some images contain nudity/sensitive ideas.

 

2010
spring rtw ''plato's atlantis"
models: edythe hughes, drielly oliveira, polina kasina, anastasija kondratjeva,
heidi mount, kasia struss, anya kazakova, hanne gaby odiele

this is one of last collections that mcqueen oversaw personally, and for me it's a slightly sentimental collection. i remember sitting in the study area  for the sixth form with my best friend kelly hanging over a battered acer laptop from two thousand and never, eagerly waiting as the images loaded to see what genius he had come up with this time. kelly and i were greeted with the lovechild of gaga and darwin, with models covered in white pan and hair done up in the shape of antlers and rabbit ears. these alien-esqe pieces are developed from images of snakeskin, leopard print, and other animal skins which were then digitally enhanced and moulded to form patterns that resemble an animal print you can't quite put your finger on, is it a sniger? a pea-raffe? the black patterns are then printed onto a multi-coloured fabric from greens, blues, yellows and tans. but that's not the only thing that this collection covers, the later pieces look like the remnants of the alien's suits, metallics, blues, wiring and holographic fabrics in silhouettes both streamlined and angular. it's impossible for me to find something i dislike about this collection.

   1995
couture 'highland rape'

the catwalk is lined with moss, clumps of scottish oak leaves and pumped with clouds of dry ice to give the sense of a foggy scottish moor. all this so mcqueen can talk about the 'rape' of scotland by the english and a subject which had resonance with the designer as his family is historically scottish. the collection is heavy on tartan (how couldn't it be?), chiffon and even tampons at points. the dresses are torn, highly revealing, and this is the least controversial part of it! the chiffon is dyed in moss and lichen colours and heat distressed to look like it's lain out on the moor for a month.

2001
spring ready-to-wear
models: jade parfitt, kirsten owen

a large box awaits the audience center stage, the lights come up and it's a 1950's psychiatric ward for women. the models wore alice in wonderland costumes; great eagles perched on fabric wrapped branches; and head scarves wound so tightly they seem that they have mutated from the ladies' head:  extraordinary mussel-shell skirts to impossibly chic pearl-colored cocktail dresses; they slithered and strutted while uselessly attempting to fly over the cuckoo's nest.   

and the future for the mcqueen label? well sarah burton has taken mr mcqueen's place, and although she's not as daring as alexander mcqueen, she chanels the mcqueen code in everything she does, take the baroque opulance in the resort '12 collections for example (pictured below) ms burton takes clasic office and evening wear and twists it to make glizty over-the-top but perfect dresses, and lace blouses fit for any office. 

2012
resort
model: josefien rodermans

wellies&wailers

well, it's true festival season is truly upon us. with my friend heading off to download, one of the grimier festivals, i decided to put together a kit of things to stay fresh and beautiful whilst enjoying all of your favourite bands at the main stage.

i love this leopard print bandeau from topshop, £10, but i'm not quite confident enough to bare it alone so i would probably accompany it with this sheer pocket shirt in beach pebble from gap £32.95, which would also look perfect with these lightwash denim shorts from new look £21.99.

maybe it was my visit to the spaghetti western film sets in southern spain or my secret wish to be a cowboy, but fringed bags, and boots have been on my mind for a few years now. so imagine my excitement when i found this taupe fringed leather satchel £35 from topshop and these black mocasins also from topshop £36, both of which are perfect for accessorizing your festival outfits, and keeping your essentials on your person.

or, if it's too wet for moccasins and flip flops, how about these union jack wellies from newlook £19.99, since the royal wedding i have never been prouder to be british and wear our union jack, so these wellies are perfect for me.

if you're like me, in the heat my makeup slides off my face faster than ice cream on a hot car bonnet, but this gel liner in ink topshop £8, is long lasting and tiny enough to fit in practically any clutch, and this ultra fine eyeliner brush from bobbi brown £21 is definately worth a splurge as it is so easy to handle and produces smooth even lines.

of course no outfit is complete without jewellery. i do have a tendency to over accessorize when it comes to jewellery and end up looking like a mr t auditionee reject but this lizard necklace from topshop £10 has really caught my eye as a statement piece. maybe it's my boyfriend's live-in roommate big dave, the blue tongued skink, who after several bonding moments, a feeding and a mistaking of my finger for food is now my best friend, or alexander mcqueen's final collection but lizards and lizard-skin print are drawing me like wasps to a summer picnic

it's so easy to forget the most important things, so this ultimate festival kit from firebox £26.49 contains evrything you need with  lip balm, a PVC poncho, pocket-size tissues, face wipes, a tube of SPF30 sunscreen, a UFK keychain torch, toilet seat covers, anti-bacterial hand gel, a travel toothbrush with paste, chewing gum, an emergency blanket, a mini first-aid kit, a glow in the dark whistle handy for ravers stuck in a timewarp and travel size Kiss My Face shower gel, deodorant, shampoo, condoms and earplugs to block out those late night drunkards stumbling back to their tent, all of which come in a handy canvas bag.

and where are you going to stash all your goodies whilst you stand knee deep in mud at the front of marina and the diamond's set? only in this cute three man pop up tent from argos £85 with the bright spots, you'll never lose your tent in the sea of mud spattered green canvas. 
to keep yourself fresh, with these tea tree facewipes from superdrug £2.92, one of my personal makeup kit must-haves, due to their skin revitalizing ingredients, accompanied by this simple sun-kissed moisturiser from boots £3.49 which has a gentle sensitive skin gradual tanner for your face which means that your face will match up you face with the rest of your body with daily application. i don't know about you but during the summer, my hair is good for nothing but a simple plaited updo to keep it away from my neck to keep me cool, and elnett normal from superdrug £3.49 is the one brand i can rely on to keep my hair up and away from my neck.

and to keep all those memories without damaging your shiny new slr? this kodak ultra, compact single use camera £9.99 produces high quality photographs with bright vibrant colours.

so what about you? what're your festival favourites?