H.M.F Wish of the Week

SWAGG

- F.U.N -

Earrings £7.99

Is the sun still on holiday? Because I'm really starting to wonder when summer is coming to the U.K. I'm so impatient I want the S.U.M.M.E.R.T.I.M.E... Lazy days in the park, afternoons in beer gardens and trips to a beach that for the most part of the year, apart from those loyal dog walkers, has be virtually neglected. 

These earrings from swagg.co.uk are are INCREDI-BARBIE and I want them!  At just £7.99 I think they might just have to come and live with me. Swagg has some great stuff at good prices so take a look and E.N.J.O.Y!

Somerset House

Wool House Exhibition

- It's all for a wooly good cause -

The more fashion-conscious sheep greet you at the door!

Sheep are from a farm in the Cotswolds - breeds are a mix of: Kerry Hill, Lleyn and Cotswold. 

Left - Mammoth Wool Chair upholstered by Amy Somerville
Right - Metal Sheep & Lamb by Harriet Mead

Impeccably dressed gentleman, David Hevans & fellow blogger - greyfoxblog.com 

The Savile Row Room

Edward Sexton - Replica of Mick and Bianca Jagger's Wedding Suits

Left - Union Jack Chairs, Melanie Porter - Bag, Krafthaus South Africa  
Right - Original British Battledress Jacket

Holland Esquire - Tailored by Nick Holland 

Holland Esquire - Tailored by Nick Holland

The 'Natural Room' designed by Josephine Ryan with the help of many suppliers

 The 'Drawing Room' designed by Fox Linton Associates with the help of many suppliers

A few days ago I visited the Wool House exhibition supported by The Campaign for Wool at Somerset House and I was amazed at just how V.E.R.S.A.T.I.L.E wool really is. The campaign was launched by Prince Charles in 2010 and aims to prevent any more decline in the worldwide population of sheep. This will be  achieved through educating us lovely people about how fabulous this sustainable, renewable and natural material actually is. The exhibition is the biggest I have ever seen at Somerset House, featuring everything from Vivienne Westwood platforms and Alexander McQueen wallhangings to beautifully designed rooms.  

The exhibition is fun, informative and for a great cause. So if you have some spare time in this wonderful city of London you should go along before it's over on 24th March! Oh and be sure to check out the events calendar HERE.  

H.M.F Wish of the Week

Astrid & Miyu

- J.E.W.E.L.S -

Image: Astrid & Miyu

Aztec Princess Necklace £29

I love Astrid & Miyu, and sooooo want this N.A.U.G.H.T.Y but very N.I.C.E spiked necklace! 

Astrid & Miyu only started in 2011 and has already been worn by the likes of MTV's newest recruit Lilah Parsons, and the shopping editor at Grazia Lily Russo. Oh and here's a little fact that I love: Astrid means 'exceptionally beautiful' in Swedish as does Miyu in Japanese. I think this says a lot about what the brand stands for and produces I'm in L.O.V.E!

Go to: www.astridandmiyu.com to discover more of their gems and more about their story!

Sofa Day

Under the weather

- I.N.D.U.L.G.E.N.C.E - 

Clueless, Sex and the City 2, Californication season 3! Via me & Instagram 

As I'm not feeling too great today I'm going to be curled up on the sofa indulging in some of these fine (not much brain power needed) DVD's! I hope you're all feeling better than I am. I'll be back to my normal blogging self asap. Have a great day!  

Clothes for my body...

OFF  WE  TROT  

- D.A.N.C.E -

Shoes - Reiss | Disco Pants - American Apparel | Tie Accessory/Ring - Vintage |Top - Vintage Hobos Cardiff | Three Tier Necklace Topshop 

Scarf accessory that I use as a ring, as you can see - Vintage 

My Birthday Shoes - Reiss

These pieces keep begging me to go out. Maybe this will be their lucky weekend!  

Career Day

Quotes 

- P.L.A.Y  H.A.R.D  W.O.R.K  H.A.R.D -

As a twenty-something graduate in these somewhat T.E.S.T.I.N.G T.I.M.E.S it can be hard to keep up my enthusiasm that the life I desire will work out. So today I'm going to collect some inspiration to make it happen!

When I was in uni moaning about my next assignment my Dad always quoted Winston Churchill and said "just keep buggering on", you just have to "keep buggering on" kiddo. That will never leave me but while I "just keep buggering on" I also have a desire to do better. Focus is the key I think, as youngsters we can loose ourselves in simply having fun. Now obviously this is of M.A.S.S.I.V.E importance but as the motto goes, we have to "play hard and work hard" we mustn't forget this vital ingredient if we want everything and more. So here are some quotes that I find an inspiration for success in work and in play. E.N.J.O.Y!

"If everything seems under control you're not going fast enough" Mario Andretti

"There is nothing that is more a certain sign of insanity than to do the same thing over and over and expect the results to be different" Einstein 


"There are no short cuts to any place worth going" Beverly Sills  


"If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun" Katherine Hepburn   


"Follow your heart even when it leads you off the well worn path and that will make all the difference" Steve Jobs 


"Your qualifications, your life are not your CV" JK Rowling


"It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so consciously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you've failed be default" JK Rowling 


"Fun is a good thing but only when it spoils nothing better" George Santayana


"The only way to do great work, is to love what you do, if you haven't found it yet keep looking and don't settle" Steve Jobs

H.M.F Wish of the Week

Rihanna for River Island

"I designed everything here"

 Rihanna - MTV TV March, 2013

Image: River Island Clothing Company Ltd. 

Double Top Jeans £60 | White Cropped Tee £20

Image: River Island Clothing Company Ltd.

Navy/Denim Zip Front Skirt with Shirt Detail £50 | Dungaree Top £30 | Double top Jeans (as seen above on Rhianna) £60 | Overall Dress £70 | Black Cropped Tee £20 | Black Thigh Split Maxi Skirt £40 | Black Double Tee Dress with Tied Waist £70 | Black Tie Front Boots £95

Image: River Island Clothing Company Ltd.

Painted Stripe Bra Top £30 | Painted Stripe £45 | Painted Stripe Shorts £35

Image: River Island Clothing Company Ltd.

Yellow Slash Back Dress £50 | Thigh Split Maxi Dress £45 

Rihanna showed her debut clothing line for River Island this London Fashion Week and now the 56 piece collection is in stores for all of you B.E.A.U.T.I.E.S to purchase. Rihanna took inspiration from her own wardrobe and set out to create a classic/laidback collection, which as you can see she has achieved. L.O.V.I.N.G  I.T!


Here is what Rihanna had to say: "I was being a little bit selfish I designed everything I would want to wear and for the women that I'm with ... everything is simple, everything is classic I wanted to make things that you could wear ten years from now and ... not have an era attached to it" Rihanna - MTV TV March, 2013 


Here is what I wish for this week from Rihanna's collection...

Image: River Island Clothing Company Ltd.

Thigh Split Maxi Dress | riverisland.com | £45

Image: River Island Clothing Company Ltd.

 Painted Stripe Bra Top | riverisland.com | £30

Check out the entire collection at: 

riverisland.com/women/rihanna-for-river-island-collection

Phoebe Rudomino

Phoebe Rudomino

- D.I.V.E  I.N -

Yesterday I picked up this postcard at the Saatchi Gallery and as I often dream of my own fabulous U.N.D.E.R.W.A.T.E.R  W.O.R.L.D, I instantly fell in love with this image. 

The image (or still) was part of a TV commercial created by Phoebe Rudomino for a Johnson & Johnson's Total Hydration Body Wash. It was also part of Rudomino's, 'Water on the Lens' exhibition at County Hall on London's Southbank in 2009. Known as 'Imagine' the image certainly inspires dreamy thoughts and I think it's I.N.C.R.E.D.I.B.L.E!

Based at the Underwater Stage at Pinewood Studios, Phoebe Rudomino is a commercial diver and photographer. Rudomino specialises in underwater imagery for feature films, commercials and TV working with BBC, CNN, ITV and on films such as: Elizabeth The Golden Age, Casino Royale, Atonement and Clash of the Titans to name a few. What an I.N.S.P.I.R.I.N.G talent...

#InstagramIt

Sunny Saturday in Covent Garden

- F.U.N  T.I.M.E.S -

I had such a lovely Saturday this weekend. The sun was shining so my friend and I decided to go and have a few glasses of red on the balcony of one of my favourite London bars. I love watching the acts and there is just something about Covent Garden I think it might be my S.P.I.R.I.T.U.A.L  H.O.M.E haha! I literally have no idea how the street statue (top, right) floats in the air like that... I might need to google that after this post. The British Heart Foundation 'Share the Love' fundraising display is pretty cool too (middle, right). Not to mention how much that Calamari hit the spot! Now I just need to find some more fun things to do this week/weekend.

Bill Cunningham New York, Documentary

"Let's get snappin' and crackin'"
Bill Cunningham - Bill Cunningham New York, 2011

- F.A.S.C.I.N.A.T.I.N.G -

My Bill Cunningham New York DVD image created via me & Instagram!

I've loved Dogwoof documentaries for a while now and this is a must for all fashion lovers. I can't C.A.P.T.U.R.E the raw beauty of this documentary with my words so, I will just tell you a bit about Bill Cunningham and a bit about the documentary. 

For those of you that don't know, Bill (yes we're on first name terms now) is an American photographer who cycles the streets of New York, day and night in search of E.X.Q.U.I.S.I.T.E.L.Y  dressed humans. Bill was born in 1929, currently making him the splendid age of 83 and he is still working. Respected by everyone in the fashion world this man is a true inspiration. 

Bill has been photographing people on the street since World War 2 and has always had an interest in the fantastically dressed. But it was after photographer David Montgomery gave him a camera in about 1966 that Bill began to really D.O.C.U.M.E.N.T the fashionable streets of New York. This, along with an impromptu photograph of Swedish actress Greta Garbo led him to the New York Times, where he remains.    

His private life remains hugely private, leaving those who have known him for decades in the dark when it comes to his personal life. We do know though, that for most of his life he has lived in Carnegie Hall in a small room with a shared bathroom down the hallway. He B.E.L.I.E.V.E.S "money is the cheapest thing, liberty & freedom are the most expensive" and on the subject of food "the cheaper, the better". He doesn't work for money because as he says, "if you don't take money they can't tell you what to do". 

People like Bill are very few and far between, I love a rebel and I can only dream of being as happy in my life and work as Bill seems to be. He is a C.O.M.P.E.L.L.I.N.G character with such grace and kindess. One last thing, it took director Richard Press a total of 8 years to convince Bill to do this documentary which I find incredible. Watch and E.N.J.O.Y!     

All quotes from the Bill Cunningham New York, Documentary.

Tom Ford - Visionaries

Quote

- T.H.I.N.K -

Image not my own. Tom Ford, originally s/s Tom Ford Eyewear advert, 2010
Models: Nicholas Hoult & Carolyn Murphy 

Hope I've got the their/there's correct hehe...

Selling Dreams: Royal West of England Academy 2012

Selling Dreams & Summer Days

- I.N.T.R.I.G.U.I.N.G - 

Image not my own. Horst P.Horst, originally featured in American Vogue, 1939

Image not my own. Rankin, originally featured in Dazed & Confused, 1995

Image not my own. Rankin, originally featured in Dazed & Confused, 1996

Image not my own. Elaine Constantine, originally featured in The Face, 1997

Image not my own. Tim Walker, originally featured in Italian Vogue, 2005 

Image not my own. Steven Klein, originally featured in L'Uomo Vogue, 2006 

Image not my own. Steven Meisel, originally featured in Vogue Italia/limited edition puzzle, 2007

I was just going through an old note book and came across a load info about the 'Selling Dreams: One Hundred Years of Fashion Photography' exhibition that I went to in Bristol last year. At the time I was studying at university and looking at the images with an analytical eye. Now I can look at them with F.R.E.E.D.O.M. which makes me as happy as the '96 Rankin image should make you! (Featured 3rd on this blog post.) Above are just a few of the images exhibited at the gallery.

I will not bore you by going in depth about each image but I must point out that Horst wrote, of the iconic image (featured 1st): "It was created by emotion ... It was the last photo I took in Paris before the war ... The photograph is peculiar for me. While I was taking it, I was thinking of all I was leaving behind." Which gave me shivers down my back at the time. I didn't realise the exact history of the image until going to the exhibition. 

On a happier note... How awesome is the Elaine Constantine image? (featured 4th) It reminds me of refusing to wear shoes as a kid and then going bare foot on my bike. Then hours later as the sun was going down, I would return home with grazed toes and a half melted Mr Freeze ice pop! S.U.M.M.E.R  D.A.Y.S!

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H.M.F Wish of the Week

White Summer Dress

- C.U.T.E -

Image: ASOS.com

Applique trim cut-out pinafore dress | ASOS.com | £38 

White is all over the catwalk this s/s and I totally adore this little number. Can you image wearing this in the summer with some pink sandals and chunky gold accessories! Oh so P.R.E.T.T.Y! 

Oscars 2013

H.M.F 2013 Oscar Edit

 - B.E.S.T  D.R.E.S.S.E.D -

Image created by me - photographs not my own

Starting from bottom left: 

Charlize Theron: Styled by Leslie Freemar - White Hot Gown, Dior Haute Couture - Jewels, Harry Winston. 

Reese Witherspoon: Styled with the help of, almost identical daughter Ava Elizabeth Phillippe - Rich Blue Gown, Louis Vuitton - Jewels also Louis Vuitton. 

Kelly Rowland: Hosted ABC's 'The Red Carpet Live!' - Monochrome Gown, Donna Karan Atelier - Jewels, Lorraine Schwartz.

Jennifer Garner: Dark Magenta Gown, Custom Gucci - Clutch, Roger Vivier - Jewels, Neil Lane.

Amy Adams: Dove Grey Oscar De La Renta Gown - Jewels, Mouawad. 

I only got to see the Oscars today but the dresses kept me up last night! What a Brilliant PR stunt from Helen Hunt or her people? H&M on what is known to be T.H.E  M.O.S.T  G.L.A.M.O.R.O.U.S red carpet in the world! Don't get me wrong H&M is great for casual summer dresses and comfortable aeroplane pieces but for the red carpet? Didn't really work out for her did it...? 

On the other hand though, we had some chic modern gowns that (in my opinion) worked wonders for the ladies above. All of them went for an unstated look which will give these stars an upper-hand when the 'Best Dressed of All Time' comes around in years to come. I know Amy Adams is slightly more statement but her gown still has the elegance and class to ensure longevity.  

Finally, I just want to say C.O.N.G.R.A.T.U.L.A.T.I.O.N.S to Adele for winning the 'Best Original Song' for Skyfall, and to Anne Hathaway for winning 'Best Actress in a Supporting Role' for her role in the film adaptation of, Les Mis. You talented souls! 

Oscars 1960

Queen Elizabeth of Hollywood 

- A.L.L.U.R.I.N.G -

Images are not my own

Elizabeth Taylor wore this very G.L.A.M.O.U.R.O.U.S Christian Dior dress to the Oscars in 1960. That year she won an Oscar for 'Best Actress' after playing Gloria Wandrous in 'Butterfield 8'.

A few weeks before this Miss Taylor had been in hospital with Pneumonia and even had surgery. Obviously not even that could stop her attending. Some have said that immediately after receiving her Oscar she went to the bathroom and fainted, although this isn't for certain.  

Oscars 1955

Always doing it with Grace...

- C.L.A.S.S.I.C  B.E.A.U.T.Y -

Images are not my own

Grace Kelly won 'Best Actress in a Leading Role' for playing Georgie Elgin in 'The Country Girl'. This dress was designed by the renowned Edith Head, who won a grand total of 8 Academy Awards for 'Best Costume Designer' - more than any other woman to date! 

Grace swiftly became P.R.I.N.C.E.S.S G.R.A.C.E of Monaco the following year making it clear this satin number did the trick.

Oscars 1954

Audrey Hepburn in Givenchy

- S.T.U.N.N.E.R - 

Images are not my own

As the Oscars are taking place in Hollywood today I started looking back at some old pictures/dresses/actresses and came across this B.E.A.U.T.Y! Hepburn won 'Best Actress' that year (1954) for 'Roman Holiday' in which she played Princess Ann. I think this Givenchy dress is perfect for her - it's graceful and pretty, just like her. Let's not even mention her tiny waist... 

Cara Delevingne

Cover me Cara

M.O.D.E.L - S.O.C.I.A.L.I.T.E - P.E.R.S.O.N.A.L.I.T.Y 

Images are not my own - obviously 

Crowd pleasing C.A.R.A was awarded 'Model of the Year'in 2012 at the British Fashion Awards, and is currently ranked #17 on models.com. This girl has walked so many catwalks this season I would say I don't envy her, but I sort of do.  

Born in London, raised in Mayfair this 20 year old was bought up in P.R.I.V.I.L.E.G.E and grow up with the likes of Georgia May Jagger. Miss Delevingne has also become a tabloid favourite with her BFFs including Jourdan Dunn, Rihanna, Harry Styles and Rita Ora.  

How refreshing to have a beautiful young girl in the media who is just having fun and living life, while also keeping her D.I.G.N.I.T.Y intact. I can't wait to see how this flower blossoms!

The Brit Awards 2013

H.M.F 2013 Brits Edit

- B.E.L.L.E.S  O.F  T.H.E.  B.R.I.T.S -

Image created by me - images from independant.co.uk & zimbio.com

Wiz Khalifa would be proud with these two beauties making the most of black and yellow, black and yellow! For me Jessie J and Jourdan Dunn were the belles of the brits. S.I.M.P.L.E and S.T.U.N.N.I.N.G!  

Sister by Sibling A/W 2013

Sister by Sibling says: W.R.A.P U.P W.A.R.M this A/W

Image created by me - using images from catwalking.com via londonfashionweek.co.uk

I adore this young brand and their autumn/winter collection this year does not disappoint! Sister by Sibling has given us: over-the-top knits, colour, creativity and best of all A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E - the perfect mix for a/w. Thank you Joe Bates, Sid Bryan and Cozette McCreery's!