Marchesa

Marchesa dresses can only be described as every girl's dream. Their stunning combination of exuberant organza dresses contrasted with their minimalist drapery creates collections which are truly to die for.


Marchesa was started by Georgina Chapman (Wimbledon School of Art) and Keren Craig (Brighton Art College) who combined their degrees of Costume Design and Print and Embroidery Design to produce what has to be one of the most beautiful design houses I've ever seen. Their evening wear shows influences from both vintage and Asian cultures and has an element of drama and eccentricity held in the confident structure of the dresses.


Regularly showcased on the red carpet, stars such as Halle Berry and Rhianna have been wearing some of the English duo's collection - showing off its sophistication and elegance.

A favourite collection of mine is the Spring 2011 collection. The clear Asian influences in this collection lead to structural masterpieces. The folds in the dresses add to the drama of the overall look and the variety of shapes showed in this collection show the designers' skill and diversity.

The Fall 2011 collection is a taster of some of Georgina and Keren's finest organza work - the theatrical element to their collection shines through in their minimalistic colours brought to life through the experimental structure of the pieces. These dramatic pieces are contrasted with the other simplified designs with a variety of textures. The range of textures they create with the same fabric is jaw dropping.

Marchesa has its 2012 collections, Bridal Wear and Resort collections also available but, for now, I think the Spring and Fall 2011 collections are enough to digest. Their use of fabric, shape and drama is absolutely stunning and Marchesa will always remain one of my all time favourite luxury brands. If you want to see more of their designs before I blog about them next, check out www.marchesa.com

They are definately worth keeping an eye on and will be forever featuring on the red carpet. If I could work at one design house, Marchesa would definately be it.

X Factor Live Shows (Week One) - THIS IS WAR!

This weekend, millions of people across the UK tuned in to watch the first ever X Factor Live Shows with the new generation of judges.

The country was watching and as the doors opened to reveal what Kelly and Tulisa were wearing, was it a good surprise, or a bad one?

Saturday Night:
This Satuday saw Kelly Rowland sporting a skater-skirt Atelier Versace dress, whilst Tulisa opted for a Herve Leger bandage dress. A lot of reviews of the Saturday night fashion said that Kelly's striking dress undermined Tulisa's safe option. However, just because Kelly's dress was more memorable, that does not necessarily mean that it is nicer than Tulisa's. Tulisa's nude dress is in the height of fashion right now and the shape flattered her curves. Kelly's dress was daring and I felt that she opted for a dress that people would take notice of and not necessarily one that is the most flattering (she looked a bit like an Irish Dancer!).

So, my winner from Saturday Night is...TULISA! Keeping it simple and sophisticated in nude.



Sunday Night:
Kelly's dress on Sunday night was definately more sophisticated and flattering. The combination of textures on the Roberto Cavalli design added interest to the simply shaped dress. It also enabled Kelly to show off her amazing figure yet still being classy. Tulisa's metallic mini-dress was an exciting twist on the standard mini-dress and her makeup and hair complemented it perfectly. I do think, however, that it was less sophisticated than the night before, and compared to Kelly's dress, it is slightly garish.

So, winner from Sunday Night is...KELLY! The textural combinations create a classy, yet interesting dress.

Who do you think wins this weekend's fashion wars?? Comment below and tell me!

X Factor Contestants

With the X Factor Live Shows fast approaching, all eyes will be on the contestants' fashion. Last year, contestant fashion was highly criticised with contestants like Cher Lloyd and Katie Waissel pushing the boundaries of style.

Because the acts now have a stylist, and do not choose their own clothes, the main thing is that the personality of the individual shines through. So far, my ones to watch are:

Amelia Lily - her rock-chic-goes-glam style is one to keep! The combination of textures and use of accessories is very individual and the new take on Michael Jackson's one glove reflects her singing style - putting a new twist on the old classics.

Misha B - love it or hate it, you have to admit that Misha's experimental use of clothes adds to her whole image. She's got a big personality and a big voice so she needs big, statement clothes to go with it.

Rhythmix - their individual, fresh style adds to the quirkiness of the band and completes their image perfectly. Each member has their own distinct style but when combined, the band as a whole sends out a positive message to viewers - they're not your average girlband...watch out!


Frankie Cocozza - his Indie style complements his voice and overall image. As Gary said, he hasnt got the strongest voice out of them all, so his image is even more important and, so far, he has dressed like a new upcoming popstar!



Nu Vibe - they definately know how to 'dress to please'! Their fashion sense adds to their modern boyband image and completes their look perfectly and will send the girls crazy!


Hopefully, the new stylists will allow the contestants to keep their individuality. Can't wait to see what the Live Show Fashion will have to offer.

Designer to watch out for...

This week, I'm loving the designer Alexis Mabille! He's a French designer who worked at Dior, alongside John Galliano, for 9 years. Mabille began his own line in 2005 and since then has burst onto the fashion scene creating a new look for old fashioned minimalism.

The combination of fitted bodices, slim waistlines and floaty skirts creates a flattering silhouette and the flower and bow details make up for the lack of colour.

This is possibly the most inspiring minimalism I've seen since Dior's New Look and I will definately be keeping an eye out for Mabille in the future!