London fashion week

It was a fabulously fashionable affair filled with the best of Britain's style crowd.

But superstar Rihanna had no trouble at all eclipsing everybody when she attended Stella McCartney's Winter 2012 London Evening Wear Presentation and dinner in Mayfair, London on Saturday night.

The singer oozed sex appeal in a slinky green wrap dress which broke all the tradition rules with a plunging neckline, tantalisingly low back and thigh-high slit, but worked beautifully.

These days I find that this luzurious flowing satin is very popular.
There are the most beautiful shades to choose from and you can use the shiney side in contrast to the dull side.

However I loved the detail  of her outfit for the Brit Awards.
She wore a gold backless gown by Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci
The mix of dress detail and the beads, even the contrast of the leather gloves were stunning.

               

 

Katie Melua wore a black flrity dress by Danniii Minogue's fashion line

Kylie in an Yves St Laurent dress

Jessie J at the Brit AwardsSongstress Jessie J wore a striking red sheer gown by Falguni & Shane Peacock

Then in anVivienne Westwood red dress Lana Del Rey. However back to the London Fashion Week.

Designer Vivienne Westwood hits the runway with models from her Red Label show at My Beautiful Fashion held in Goldsmith's Hall on Sunday. On launching her new collection, the couture queen said people have "never looked so ugly as they do today, regarding their dress".
However Dame Vivienne got a hard time for what she was wearing .

Ambassador for the British Fashion Council (BFC) Samantha Cameron hosted a reception for the movers and shakers of London Fashion Week at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday night. From left: BFC chief executive Caroline Rush, designer Mary Katrantzou, designer Roksanda Ilincic, designer Sir Paul Smith, Samantha Cameron, Net-a-Porter’s Natalie Massanet, BFC chairman Harold Tillman, designer Anya Hindmarch and Vodafone’s Danielle Crook

Model Cara Delevingne leads the runway at the Burberry Prorsum show in a specially erected glass house in Hyde Park. The production team put on special weather effects to show off Burberry’s autumn/winter collection for London Fashion Week.

While Issa's collection seemed to have a "Kate" look.

Models walk down a carpet of brown autumn leaves for the McQ Alexander McQueen show.

Inspiration indeed.

New York Fashion Week

Models walked a wintry runway for Badgley Mischka’s fall 2012 fashion show on Tuesday, the sixth day of New York Fashion Week, taking place at Lincoln Center, New York
Last weeks New York fashion week as always was an inspiration. It is good to see the trends and to keep up to date with what is up and coming. This week we have London Fashion Week. I thought I would help you follow what I find interesting.
So you know and adore Alexander McQueen. You've followed Sarah Burton down the aisle at the royal wedding. Now it's time for you to get to know Sebastian Pons, one of the founding members of the McQueen design team.
Formally one to shy away from the spotlight of the McQueen legacy, Sebastian Pons recently unveiled his watermark collection under his own name at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City.
After gathering his inspiration back in his hometown of Majorca, Spain (not a bad 'hood to pick up some visual inspiration), Pons prepared his collection in the heart of Gramercy Park here in Manhattan.

Sebastian Pons' two-part presentation featured demi-couture womenswear inspired by folk art, laced with Victorian period details. He's totally fascinated with American heritage, so it's no surprise he held his intimate presentation at SPiN, Manhattan's finest ping-pong club-turned-bar owned by Susan Sarandon.

Pons' pieces definitely have a little McQueen in their silhouettes of bustles and bustiers. But his personal flair is all in his daring mixing and matching of textures.

"Vintage revival is something relevant to the American story of today and something I focus on with this collection," said Pons. "I start by recycling elements and materials of the old to create something new in the dresses, skirts and jackets in a similar way that pieces and love and heritage are brought together to create the American quilt. I hope my designs touch all kinds of women–modern women inspired to incorporate pieces of this collection into favorite wardrobe looks".

I know it is not what we would be seen out in while doing our shopping in Northern Ireland, but it is good to think outside the box and take a bit of inspiration from the past and mix it up and make it funky and modern . These ideas can easily translate in to bridal. Study the veil in this picture with the hat and this is a modern take on the idea of a veil for a bride.

To give you more inspiration from the New york fashion scene, have a look at these designs from

Badgley and Mischka with a more sharper edge for 2012.

To all the brides out there, be as individual as you can. The bride who dires to be different will be remembered, hopefully for the right reasons. If you reflect who you are, and your friends and family know you, you should be able to get it right. My favourite compliment is when I hear someone say that was just the bride. Get help and advice if you are not sure of what you think suits you. Try on different things just to check that you are sure that you have got it right. You only do this once so enjoy the fun of it all and also make sure you don't make any mistakes.