Death by Handbags: Visiting the Amsterdam Museum of Handbags and Purses

You know that feeling when you have to touch something such as clothes on rails or the fur of an animal. Well the Tassen Museum Hendrikje (Museum of Handbags and Purses) in Amsterdam was exactly that. Being surrounded by exquisite one-of-a-kind hand wear may sound quite a bore but believe me, it was magical. Even one who is not that enthusiastic regarding attire would enjoy this because every single handbag was unique and differed from the rest providing both an historical essence and a feeling of attraction towards the item. Vivienne Westwood, Chanel, Orla Kiely, Bottega Veneta and many more well-known designers ranging from the 1400s to the present day all exhibited in opulent glass shelves.

Placed upon an idealistic Dutch street in Amsterdam, the museum began through an avid handbag collector called Hendrikje Ivo who found her fascination amongst the year of 1820 when she discovered a leather handbag with tortoiseshell capping near Norwich, England, of which she then went on to uncover its history thus did the same for her future handbag purchases. Around 75 years on, the museum currently speculates 4000 handbags that all have compelling disparate origins.

Firstly I came across this beige velvet bag created in 1550-1570 with rose detail that we all know, is still used today. The bag is part of the Rothschild Collection and was used by both women and men which they attached to a belt as there was a lack of pockets during the 1500s. Overall, the hand attire would have been viewed as advanced clothing back then due to its strong iron clasp and variety of hidden locks. Focusing on uses, bags in those days were frequently used for carrying coins, the bible and alternative personal requirements.

Next is this range of coin purses from the 1700s which obviously conveys the century’s allure with embroidery, mainly being flowers alike to the previous handbag. Personally, I adore the draw string locks as they provide dimension rather than a flat surface. Not only were these pouches used for carrying personal belongings but they also acted as an ostentatious carrier of expensive perfumes called ‘sweet bags. These sweet bags would then be reused as pretty carriers of money that would be given as New Year’s gifts towards royalty; moreover the bags would be placed upon attire to maintain a distinct aroma of perfume which was viewed as a high-class action. Alternatively, pouches were used as gaming bags for chips. These specifically consisted of a flat bottom to aid the purses in standing upright. Decorated at the surface was usually a family coat of arms therefore the players could easily distinguish their own pouch. Almost every Dutch woman tended to wear their bags upon harnesses, chatelaines or belts similar to the 1400s. 

Amid the 1800s, craftsmanship progressed greatly starting with the use of silk reticule however ending with the popularity of leather fabric attire. This was mainly a root from the French Industrial Revolution meaning that items were made more efficiently thus larger quantities of each product could be made at a quicker rate. As a result the pinpoint of handbags was made: the reticule. The reticule  was a pouch with either a cord or chain (corresponding to the classic Chanel Chain Bag), of which the term ‘reticule’ originated from the Latin word reticulum defining a miniature women’s mesh bag used during the times of the Romans. Another consequence of the French Industrial Revolution was the increase in transport and wealth generating a brand new market of carrying attire decorated with images of individual locations often bought to bring home to friends and family as a souvenir. Bringing the 1800s to a final was the popularity of leather handbags and purses. Quite peculiarly they were attached to a metal ring and worn upon the wrist to carry purses, diaries and train tickets. Above all, I regard the 1800s as being a major pinnacle in handbag and purse development considering that the base of mode, Paris, went through an Industrial Revolution. 

Forwarding on to the 1900s, this century saw leather handbags change from basic leather to leather with added element using features such as shimmering metallic and textured beads. For example, colours other than beige and black were implemented upon leather. One hand garment at the museum was a sophisticated lilac evening bag with enamelled adornment in gold from France in 1915 conveying the sense that women began to have particular bags for the day and evening, of which day bags were most commonly briefcases and satchels, whereas evening bags involved pouches with a larger amount of decoration rather than one set colour and print. Not only did leather become vastly successful but also glass beads mainly from the Czechoslovakia, Germany, France, Italy and Austria. These beads would be organised to display flowers, landscapes and historical scenes in a theme of art deco and orient. Furthermore, I saw a synthetic lucite bag which resembled that of glass. With a mahogany shade and structured design, it was one of my favourites contained in the exhibition for the reason that despite the formal shade, the gloss of the product made it appealing thus I believe the designer (which was not stated) to have been very intelligent and creative. Moreover, hand garments corresponding to this bag of that age all came together to inspire box bags seen today, for instance the plastic Chanel clutch and the cube shaped handbags Alexa Chung constantly wears. 

Finally arriving in the 21st century, the time we all know too well. Here was an array of designer names that dominantly made their mark on the external of the handbag. Think the Louis Vuitton ‘LV’ print and Vivienne Westwood’s signature crown jewels logo centring the product in an opulent pre-eminence of gold. Besides these, the one I found most preferable and surprisingly my mum too, was the Chanel Lego Bag in pastel blue. Why do all my posts turn into an advertisement for Chanel? Anyway, this bag is timeless even though it has only been available for at most ten years, the Chanel Lego Bag is the first item I would purchase if I was in possession of 10,000 pounds, it is what I define as perfect. Of course the clutch was shown exactly at the midpoint of its case just to give you that urgent need to grab it and run. Anyway, this bag is and will forever be my uttermost need of handbags. 

To conclude, the Museum of Handbags and Purses was for me, a once in a lifetime experience. There was no need to travel to various different designer shops just to see their offerings of handbags, everything was grouped into one and I constantly got won over by one handbag and then another and then another. Additionally, it is very surprising that there is so much information and in-depth origin in the field of hand garments as they are such a necessity in everybody’s lives today and provide such an impact to getting around. To be honest, my entire knowledge of fashion was pleading for some extra notes in the bag field and without a doubt these notes are now covered. 

Please pop a comment below of feedback regarding this post and make sure you view the gallery linked to get lost in a multitude of handbags from the early 1400s to the present day all taken at the Amsterdam Museum of Handbags and Purses.

Thank-you for reading,

Poppy ~ Largerfeld Enthusiast x

Make sure that you follow me on Instagram just because I’m fabulous –         http://instagram.com/carmamademedoit

Does Age Effect Style?

I am in complete admittance of being at a stage where in four months’ time there will lay fifteen candles upon my birthday cake, despite being scared of growing older my biggest concern at the moment is the fact that I am practically half way to turning thirty. Now the majority of my viewers (I hope) will be close to this age therefore probably thinking that I am lucky to still be in my teens whereas others may currently be in the same stage of being an adolescent and only just understanding your true self. Anyway, I believe that whether or not age effects the clothes you wear can be quite a controversial topic. In my opinion, it does because a 50th wedding anniversary party isn’t usually filled with attendees attiring mini-skirts unlike that of an eighteen year old’s birthday bash.

Firstly, I find myself repeatedly talking about modern day technology however we all have to agree that it is a major factor of trends being set. Now by this I mean social media. Having a target audience of teens to about fifty year olds, there are only so many elders sat in care homes checking up their Facebook… on an IPad. So the fashion we see on these sites is created to correspond with the reads therefore those standard yarn ‘granny cardis’ are deliberately pushed aside and instead our Instagram feeds receive infinite images of Superga trainers and what the general public call ‘kimonos’ even though they’re not kimonos, just fringed jackets. 

Secondly is advertising, Chanel’s latest ad for Coco Mademoiselle sees the 29 year old Kiera Knightley playing a seductive ‘carefree women’ in a monochrome Chanel-all-over-it party of sophistication involving no hint of anything thirty years or over. Even the (I hate to say it) frail 81 year old Karl Largerfeld couldn’t resist the intention of attracting a 20 something audience, although I think that Chanel has an extremely extensive range of viewers through its range of products (make-up, furniture and clothing). Thus, elders aren’t attracted to smart-phone-filled adverts with celebrities they’ve never heard of, their more drawn to real women wearing the clothes (the M&S adverts being an evident example) or a middle-aged man snuggling puppies whilst enthusing about the latest life insurance dealer. It may be difficult to accept, but designers don’t want these people wearing their clothing, they’d rather have an enticing young icon like Alexa Chung strolling through London clutching the label’s metallic purse. 

Another frequent association with dressing too young for your age is miniskirts. We must all come to the agreement that when you throw on a mini-skirt, chances are you’re not looking for glances of people thinking how chic you look, on the other hand your being a free bit of eye candy. For example, it fairly obvious on a first date to differentiate what a women wants just by regarding whether she is wearing a secluded blouse with boot cut trousers or some hot pink vest top and a pair of skorts. Moreover, when dating young, people will by fact, get together and then be over within 3-9 months whereas when older women look for love, their direction is for finding a permanent relationship with other people similar to them therefore won’t need to make as much of an effort.

Overall, the celebrity whose fashion sense I most deem to be way out of their age range is Madonna’s. The gothic black fish nets and Marilyn Monroe replicas where all acceptable until she turned 40 where, we all expected it to stop but instead it continued on. Loud and proud, she was seen at the Met Gala with a black bob wig along with that ghastly tartan body suit and let’s all shudder as I harshly reminisce about her retake of fish nets on not only the arms, but the chest, ugh. And when you thought that it couldn’t get any worse, she had to sneak on some hot pink point stilettos. Yes, you could think that this is one of those chic street-style outfits that looks trendy because it doesn’t match, but this certain ensemble is an outfit that doesn’t match in the negative form.

Without a doubt, there will be several readers, maybe you, who ultimately disagree with this entire post and my personal opinion and that’s your decision of which I fully respect. Though you definitely won’t find me sat beside my birthday cake upon where 70 candles are lay still wearing this florescent jacquard skirt. Actually, maybe you might because trends change and while we all continue to go to the moon and back just to be viewed as a high-class individual after purchasing an £1,000 Marni blouse, most older women don’t bother because they may have an effortless outlook to style that we all desire nonetheless are too scared to achieve thanks to the media. Don’t think that I am careless in regards to fashion just understand that we all must acknowledge the fact that looking as good as you did today didn’t only take a single glance in your wardrobe.

My October Favourites

I’ve seen frequent post titled under the bloggers favourites of not just fashion but general things therefore, after being quite stuck on what to post, I have decided to join in. Every season, I will provide a list of stuff in which I have been enjoying at that current time. Don’t expect just fashion because I will also list other products such as books and décor. Even though, these posts will not be centred around style, I still want my blog to be based around that subject so please don’t lose interest in this site by virtue of this alternative subject, just remember that Largerfeld Enthusiast is still a fashion blog and in no way whatsoever do I intend for it to be a lifestyle blog or any other kind.

Sleeper Earrings

To be honest, I believe that the large sleeper earrings appear as quite ‘chavvy’ however I have a major love for the ones measuring in at 4 cm and under. Unlike regular stud earrings, sleepers are vastly definitive, they move whenever you move not only adding activity to a piece but also dimension. Moreover, they are the perfect add-on to an outfit lacking dimension such as a suit or trousers and tee. Sienna Miller wore the hoops well during a charity event she attended in Los-Angeles, not only placing them on the lobes but the helix also. 

 The silver ones are from Claire’s and the gold ones are from Urban Outfitters.

Tartan Scarves

Let’s not discuss how I ended up with this (it is not my mums ok) but I think tartan is such a beautiful pattern especially in the classic Scottish reds, blues and whites in addition to your standard Burberry beige. Literally everyone I see is attiring the print in the form of a checked scarf and what’s more, scarves are an absolutely wonderful accessory due to their versatility. You just Google image ‘scarf’ and in an instant appears oceans of different methods of knotting the garments. My favourite is possibly the most common technique; I’ll place a picture of it below. Anyway, scarves are a considerable bonus during this season as it is starting to get cold and we all want to be consistently comfortable whilst still looking chic. 

Vintage Postcards 

One of the few items that is cheap yet can make the biggest of differences are second-hand postcards. But I’m not talking about that trashy but classy man-wearing-Speedos-with-a-colourful-filter Benidorm merchandise, I’m meaning the ones that sell for 25 pence (40 cents) a piece in vintage shops. Lord do I love vintage shops. Anyhow, a few months ago I discovered some exquisite, inkwell-style postcards in a secluded vintage store in Kirkby Lonsdale down near Cumbria, England. One was originally from Venezia and featured a man and women attiring very opulent clothes. Whereas the other was taken at Wells Cathedral in the UK showing a sample of the building’s striking architecture, think opulent columns and arched walkways. Unsurprisingly, these postcards are visually compatible besides the three (again monochrome) postcards’ I bought at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which I now know as my dream place of inhabitance. 

Redbubble.com

Subsequent to receiving a new phone, I immediately needed a case so being the stereotypical Tumblr girl; I began my find for the perfect Tumblr quote case. By ‘Tumblr Quotes’, I mean ‘Can You Not’ or ‘Too Sassy for You’ I would have been perfectly fine with a mediocre Mean Girl’s ‘you can’t sit with us’. Surprisingly I couldn’t find a single one so instead I ordered a clear case then uncovered some Tumblr stickers reading ‘Nope’ ‘Can You Not’ ‘Go Away’ and ‘100% Done’ upon a quirky site called RedBubble.com. Basically the shop other a wide range of designs but they are all ones that people like because it’s independent sellers who create them rather than one big brand. Not only do they sell an assortment of quirky stickers but also Wall art, Stationary and many others. And I won’t forget to mention alternative designs, the ones that I most take an interest in being Karl Largerfeld, The Great Gatsby and Cats holding up Canon Camera’s. 

(Can I just mention that this is all my personal opinion and RedBubble has not asked for their feature in this post.)

1984 by George Orwell

I confess to being the ultimate bookworm, I’ve read The Fault in Our Stars and the remainder of John Green’s books though not many alternative teen-crave novels (The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, The Maze Runner etc.) More so, I am most probably the only living 13-16 year old who has not yet seen any of The Hunger Game movies, neither do I have a desire to since not being a stranger to falling asleep midst the showing of any Harry Potter film. Despite this I am currently making my way through the top 20 penguin classics to complete my bucket list goal of, you guessed it: ‘Read all the top 20 Penguin Classics. Now, without a doubt, some that I’ve read so far have been a bit too old English therefore my head hasn’t completely figured out the storyline (essentially every single Jane Austin book, I’m sorry but I’m not sorry ok). Yet, the last one I finished, 1984, was exceptionally good. I won’t spoil anything but it’s basically about living in a world dictated by a Utopian government and besides being a novel that’s impossible to put down, it is quite educational and if your studying law in any form, I would read it asap.

Maxi Cardigans 

Forget those long black cocoon coats that are practically seen in every single street style image of 2014 and on the other hand, take note of cardigans, maxi ones in particular. To start with they are extremely versatile, but be cautious regarding colours, as I preach constantly, black is best. Worn with a patterned pencil skirt, tights and a plain tee, a cardigan can make a summer outfit become the perfect forest-wanderer for autumn. On the contrary, go all one colour. For example, grab a grey knit cardi; some grey skinny jeans and a grey top however add on some striking white and black Adidas originals for the look of a minimalist city-commuter. I adore undertaking the look of a base colour with one prevailing contrast of shade, in addition to being the culminating a la mode of looks; it is markedly affordable and convenient.

Leave a comment below if you have anything in common with my likes listed, I will always reply.

Also, if you have any ideas for my next post please do not hesitate to either contact me via my page or leave a comment below in behalf of the fact that I am quite lost on ideas at present.

Thank you for reading,

Make sure that you follow me on Instagram just because I’m fabulous –         http://instagram.com/carmamademedoit

Poppy Grundy x

Weddington Way October Style Challenge

 

http://www.weddingtonway.com/all/bridesmaid-dresses

Is That Designer Handbag Really What It Says On The Tag?

Since the internet became an intense part of people’s lives, the majority of fashion labels have created online shops where a buyer is able to purchase there desired item with no hassle of attending the shop itself, just a filling in details than clicking once for the order to be sent. As well as their own webpages, designers such as Louis Vuitton and Burberry’s products can be easily found upon Ebay. Obviously, the idea of purchasing an £1,000 handbag from a stranger who lives 15,000 miles away from you usually makes you question whether the apparel is genuine thus we need to be certain that what is stated as the ‘Camubutterfly Valentino Handbag’ is exactly that.

1) Firstly, make a visit to your nearest store that sells designer handbags, in Britain I’d recommend Selfridges or House of Fraser, when you arrive just analyse the fabric of the designer handbags because fakes are generally made out of a coarse fake material which the two can be distinguished without difficulty. Furthermore, the real handbag will feel a lot more comfortable when compared with a fake of which the producer would have most possibly only taken the aesthetics into account.

2) Secondly, take into account the stitching’s appearance on the bag, proper designer goods use quality and faint stitching for their inside labels so that the tag blends in well with the remainder of the product. If the string is blatantly obvious, there is a large possibility that the bag is a fake. Additionally, the stitching is generally completed in a careless manner thus if the string is rather chaotic and rushed there is no doubt that the bag is not by the real designer. 

3) Even -though some fakes have replicated buttons, there are a few who don’t. View the actual handbag online or in the shop taking to mind the buttons. If the buttons are meant to present the name of the designer, then they should. For example, a Chanel handbag is most unlikely to have ‘HK12U’ upon the buttons because it wants the labels name to be mentioned as repetitively as possible to further draw more purchasers of the designers items. 

4) Centred around the Far East and Asia lie boundless amounts of market stalls selling fake designer bags, the most common being Versace, Louis Vuitton and Chanel. Accordingly, it is obviously much safer to order from the evident label’s online store or trusted stores who will have workers that are professionally trained in investigating authentic designer goods.

5) Most commonly, fake dealers use the acronym BNWT (Brand New With Tags) this is an immediate indicator of dishonesty. Could you ever imagine Valentino sticking some tatty tag to one of their £1,300 Rockstud Leather bags reading ‘BNTW’ in permanent marker, no me neither. The tag must be opulent and have a high element regarding that it is a main contributor to encouraging the audience to invest in that piece. Besides, why would Valentino accept some dodgy market worker to legally be a seller of their company’s creations? 

6) Forwarding on, quite a substantial give-away will be the price, the only barrier between yourself and your dream accessory. As mentioned in past points, research the bag and find the price conveyed upon the official designer’s webpage – £1,350. Well her it is being displayed at a worthy cost of £2,000. Everyone wants to save money amongst this day and age so why not accept that it’s a non no and order it from the genuine, 99.9% more trustworthy dealer. 

7) This point directly applies to those viewing online. Read the feedback of the dealers already completed purchasers. Make an instant exit if you see negativity considering that when you’re paying almost £2000 to an outright anonymous, how unsatisfying would it be to have that garment in the post, you open it and it’s the supreme opposite to what you bargained for. 

Despite the on-going worry of being sold counterfeit goods, the number of cases has declined. For instance, 7,800 fake designer products were purchased in 2012, this lead to an overall cost of £87.3 million ($133,000), whereas during 2011 the number was 8, 094 coming in at a total price of £90 million ($142.3 million). Unsurprisingly, the majority of these purchases took place in China where over the course of 12 months, a hefty 697 false designer product’s websites were eradicated. 

Alternatively to China’s vast involvement, Vogue released an article last week regarding a raid of warehouses in Malina, the Philippines where an astounding 14 million pounds worth of counterfeit designer handbags were discovered. More specifically, these handbags included replicas of Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo and Micheal Kors. 

Do you have any stories associated with counterfeit designer goods? Make sure to post your perception in the comments, I’d love to hear from you. 

What did Coco do?

Let’s forget Karl for just a second and reminisce about the original, insanely intuitive Gabrielle Chanel or if you prefer – Coco Chanel. Now we all understand that this inspirational designer went beyond others of her time, making women’s fashion that radiated femininity opposing against the strong demand of the common uncomfortable attire, a frequent being that of tight corsets. But how did she do this? What were the specific elements that combined to give Gabrielle such a prodigious reputation in fashion?

Using Jersey

This fabric was viewed as the main for men’s underwear and nothing else. Coco decided that jersey would be suitable for her creations due to its low cost compared to alternative substances that had suddenly risen in price after the war. Daringly, Chanel was the first designer to involve jersey in her creations stating that it had a quality finish and an exceptional drapery. In addition, the fabric suited Chanel’s influence of straightforward and convenient menswear making it a perfect match for her ideas.

Inventing the Little Black Dress

Everyone has one, it’s that noted classic yet do you know that Chanel is the women to thank? Previously, black was the dull, unnoticeable shade viewed as a principle look for only funerals and the grief of widows. Gabrielle discovered the hues secretive aspect and came with the ever valued belief of it being a major contribution for fashion. To be honest, I cannot imagine a world without it. Dominant reds, greens and sharp blues were referenced to making Coco “feel ill” later on she quoted “these Women, I’m bloody well going to dress them in black!” Noticed by Vogue, they first introduced Gabrielle’s time-honoured black masterpiece in a 1926 issue spreading word of the commodity to a larger amount of fashion enthusiasts which is still growing today.

Labelling Perfume

Back then, scents were a mixture of completely natural aspects focused on floral aromas unlike the artificial perks involved nowadays. 1921 was the year Coco released her favoured perfume, possibly the most acknowledged of scents today, Chanel No.5 after the instance of it being the 5th perfume tested. Yes, Paul Poiret recently launched his own scent earlier in the year however there was an absence of his name. Gabrielle was of course intelligent enough to be the first of brands to officially have their name placed on the bottle. By doing this, people recognised the scent and knew it was Chanel no.5. Famously a particular lover was Marilyn Monroe repeatedly noting the scent during interviews “I said Chanel No 5 because it’s the truth.”

Releasing Extravagant Jewellery

Chanel is all about the elegance and high-class of the wearers so it is no surprise that Gabrielle was one of the first to produce costume jewellery in her collections. Likewise to before, Paul Poiret was the first nevertheless Coco’s range constituted of flamboyant white pearls placed besides each other, the reason why you have that treasured pearl necklace in your jewellery box. She adored the idea of exaggerated gems contrasting with her minimalistic and sophisticated apparel. Moreover, the combination of speculating both fake and legitimate in one look.

Having Tanned Skin

Surely, Gabrielle wasn’t the original copy of those orange faced stags you see on a night out; she was the opener of healthy, sun-kissed skin. This greatly rebelled against the standard appearance of pale faced complexions resembling porcelain dolls by the adding of bright blusher and rouge lips. She caught hold of the present man’s thoughts of an idealistic women being as alike to paintings as possible. Coincidently, Coco caught a beautiful tan amid her cruise holiday along the French Riviera. After arriving home, her peers exceedingly desired for the same coloured skin furthermore passing the fascination to other members of public enough to make it a trend all around the world as well as an ongoing accessory for years to come.  Even though the expression is generally viewed as being cheap when by the use of fake tan, formerly it gave out a reputation of prosperity and refinement.

Females Wearing Trousers 

Especially amongst the time of war, women working in factories would usually custom that of a pair of trousers for efficiency and health and safety reasons though not prior to Coco did the forms of attire become a general clothing item to females. It was when Gabrielle became anxious about displaying her figure to men precedent to having to wear a swimsuit that she refused and instead astounded people with walking out in a pair of sailors pants, this occurred at the society beach resort in Deauville (been there, just saying). Similar to how those of us in the Alexa Chung fandom attempt (and tremendously fail) to manipulate her style, Gabrielle’s fans did the same. Despite the women’s wearing of the clothing, she ensued to proclaim “I came up with them by modesty. From this usage to it becoming fashion, having 70% of women wearing trousers at evening dinner is quite sad.” I thoroughly disagree with her.

The Fashion-Changing Chanel Suit

The Chanel suit was the pinnacle of Coco’s clothing creations; it was the first of its kind. Recommended by major fashion icons consisting of Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy (worn on the day of her husband’s assassination) and Grace Kelly, the garment was trimmed with braid, had fitted sleeves, no collar and metallic embellished buttons. Additionally, the boxer jacket was combined with a sophisticated slim-line skirt emphasising that typical aristocratic Chanel women.

Warby Parker’s Limited Edition Corner Capsuel Collection makes Contacts a thing of the Past

Now Warby Parker is a brand whose concept, those of us with an average person’s budget can all thank. They saw the growing possibilities of the sunglasses industry and having experienced a college student budget, created Warby Parker. Both sunglasses and optical wear are available in store and they now have concessions in major American locations such as New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, their success is expanding by the day. Their other focus is charity work, they have partnerships with non-profit organisations, one being Vision-Spring, which assures them that a less fortunate person in need of optical eye wear will receive a free pair of optical glasses for every pair of Warby Parker glasses that are purchased.

Amidst their limited edition Corner Capsuel Collection, there are 5 new styles for both eyeglasses and sunglasses fitting any wearer’s preference. Uncover your inner Hepburn with the seductive leopard print cat-eyes or reminisce about the seventies with some transparent box lens eyeglasses. What’s more, the label has successfully added two contemporary hues, Rhubarb and Quartz. Incorporated with Parker’s professionally polished eye-wear, the distinctive shades provide sparking up of your standard plain pair of glasses.

I myself was immediately won over by the Teddy 285 Topdown Suns. An Emerald Lens rimmed with exotic leopard print upon quite an obscure style. Yet the elements combined together make a peculiar masterpiece, it isn’t like your typical pair of sunglasses where a designer takes them, uses one fixed colour then adds just one differentiating pattern or shade so they can place the word ‘exciting’ throughout its description. Alternatively, this model goes where others fear and I can assuredly affirm that risk as being an ultimate triumph.

Another positive feature is the collection’s reoccurring theme of British styles. To start with, some have that mahogany look; a style one would most commonly associate with a man carrying a satchel in chinos. It’s that business sense, moreover sophistication. You are able to wear these to work without appearing as overdone however they still act as a stylish accessory. Forget those only-child-with-glasses days and finally be satisfied with that identification. Who needs contact lenses when we have Warby Parker? There is no doubt that the attire will be noticed amongst a crowd.

Forwarding on to pairings, cat eyes look great with suits because you’re mixing both the masculinity of a blazer and trousers with the femininity of the all-important point upon the glasses. Never the less, use modernistic colours such as solid blues, blacks, whites and silvers to amplify the contrast between Hollywood vintage and the 21st century, for this look use the Warby Parker Goodney 100 Angel Suns. Secondly, let’s discuss the Hutton Topdowns for men. Appearing as a narrower though protracted form, these are suited for those with oval shaped faces who desire for them to look a meagre amount larger. By the small, square shaped rims, this style will sharpen the eyes whilst elongating the face providing a more muscular presence which is a goal most men strive for.

Alternatively to the Hutton Topdowns, the collection includes a quirky pair called Topper Topdowns. This has a combination of the classic almond brown with sparks of white that emphasise the glass’ tremendous glow. These glasses correspond to that of Ray Ban’s tortoise shell acetate products however they are a lot cheaper, giving out that they look remarkably prodigious over other models without a lack of sensibility.

‘The Corner Collection gets its name from our seasonal preoccupation with silhouettes and angles. This time around, we’re experimenting with traditional shapes; think crisp keyhole bridges, sloping brow lines, sharp temples, and straight-edged brow bars in a handsome mix of horn-inspired acetate and stainless steel.’

The New Corner Capsuel Collection matches Warby Parker’s creation process combining the unique inspiration of global features with hand designed quality pair of glasses. In addition, their material is always the best quality ranging from premium Japanese titanium to custom single-sheet cellulose acetate all manufactured its own family-run factory.

Overall this Corner Capsule Collection bravely explores like no other brand. It captures new trends, combining patterns and shades in a group of exclusive eye-wear that is the answer to all our prayers. Their limited edition collection would make the perfect photo base for Instagram, they are the styles you see on a popular fashion blogger’s feed, and thus they are a clear portrayal of futuristic trends with a touch of the trendy vintage past.

Be sure to comment your favourite pair from the collection.

Warby Parker’s Online Store – https://www.warbyparker.com/

Warby Parker on Twitter – https://twitter.com/WarbyParker

Warby Parker on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/warbyparker

Warby Parker on Instagram – http://instagram.com/warbyparker

What did Coco do?

Let’s forget Karl for just a second and reminisce about the original, insanely intuitive Gabrielle Chanel or if you prefer – Coco Chanel. Now we all understand that this inspirational designer went beyond others of her time, making women’s fashion that radiated femininity opposing against the strong demand of the common uncomfortable attire, a frequent being that of tight corsets. But how did she do this? What were the specific elements that combined to give Gabrielle such a prodigious reputation in fashion?

Using Jersey

This fabric was viewed as the main for men’s underwear and nothing else. Coco decided that jersey would be suitable for her creations due to its low cost compared to alternative substances that had suddenly risen in price after the war. Daringly, Chanel was the first designer to involve jersey in her creations stating that it had a quality finish and an exceptional drapery. In addition, the fabric suited Chanel’s influence of straightforward and convenient menswear making it a perfect match for her ideas.

Inventing the Little Black Dress

Everyone has one, it’s that noted classic yet do you know that Chanel is the women to thank? Previously, black was the dull, unnoticeable shade viewed as a principle look for only funerals and the grief of widows. Gabrielle discovered the hues secretive aspect and came with the ever valued belief of it being a major contribution for fashion. To be honest, I cannot imagine a world without it. Dominant reds, greens and sharp blues were referenced to making Coco “feel ill” later on she quoted “these Women, I’m bloody well going to dress them in black!” Noticed by Vogue, they first introduced Gabrielle’s time-honoured black masterpiece in a 1926 issue spreading word of the commodity to a larger amount of fashion enthusiasts which is still growing today.

Labelling Perfume

Back then, scents were a mixture of completely natural aspects focused on floral aromas unlike the artificial perks involved nowadays. 1921 was the year Coco released her favoured perfume, possibly the most acknowledged of scents today, Chanel No.5 after the instance of it being the 5th perfume tested. Yes, Paul Poiret recently launched his own scent earlier in the year however there was an absence of his name. Gabrielle was of course intelligent enough to be the first of brands to officially have their name placed on the bottle. By doing this, people recognised the scent and knew it was Chanel no.5. Famously a particular lover was Marilyn Monroe repeatedly noting the scent during interviews “I said Chanel No 5 because it’s the truth.”

Releasing Extravagant Jewellery

Chanel is all about the elegance and high-class of the wearers so it is no surprise that Gabrielle was one of the first to produce costume jewellery in her collections. Likewise to before, Paul Poiret was the first nevertheless Coco’s range constituted of flamboyant white pearls placed besides each other, the reason why you have that treasured pearl necklace in your jewellery box. She adored the idea of exaggerated gems contrasting with her minimalistic and sophisticated apparel. Moreover, the combination of speculating both fake and legitimate in one look.

Having Tanned Skin

Surely, Gabrielle wasn’t the original copy of those orange faced stags you see on a night out; she was the opener of healthy, sun-kissed skin. This greatly rebelled against the standard appearance of pale faced complexions resembling porcelain dolls by the adding of bright blusher and rouge lips. She caught hold of the present man’s thoughts of an idealistic women being as alike to paintings as possible. Coincidently, Coco caught a beautiful tan amid her cruise holiday along the French Riviera. After arriving home, her peers exceedingly desired for the same coloured skin furthermore passing the fascination to other members of public enough to make it a trend all around the world as well as an ongoing accessory for years to come.  Even though the expression is generally viewed as being cheap when by the use of fake tan, formerly it gave out a reputation of prosperity and refinement.

Females Wearing Trousers 

Especially amongst the time of war, women working in factories would usually custom that of a pair of trousers for efficiency and health and safety reasons though not prior to Coco did the forms of attire become a general clothing item to females. It was when Gabrielle became anxious about displaying her figure to men precedent to having to wear a swimsuit that she refused and instead astounded people with walking out in a pair of sailors pants, this occurred at the society beach resort in Deauville (been there, just saying). Similar to how those of us in the Alexa Chung fandom attempt (and tremendously fail) to manipulate her style, Gabrielle’s fans did the same. Despite the women’s wearing of the clothing, she ensued to proclaim “I came up with them by modesty. From this usage to it becoming fashion, having 70% of women wearing trousers at evening dinner is quite sad.” I thoroughly disagree with her.

Creating the Chanel Suit

The Chanel suit was the pinnacle of Coco’s clothing creations; it was the first of its kind. Recommended by major fashion icons consisting of Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy (worn on the day of her husband’s assassination) and Grace Kelly, the garment was trimmed with braid, had fitted sleeves, no collar and metallic embellished buttons. Additionally, the boxer jacket was combined with a sophisticated slim-line skirt emphasising that typical aristocratic Chanel women.

Gown; an essential

Everyone needs that one special gown that was a complete one off, a garment that they hesitantly “umed” and “ahed” about thoroughly previous to finally giving in and handing over the ‘one off’ sum of change. It’s that piece that provides such a depth of satisfaction when you delicately place it on. The apparel that makes you constantly glance over at your reflection whenever a mirror is passed or a shop window is seen. Despite an evening dress’ overwhelming elegance only some designers dare to include it in their collections, particularly during this season it included that of Emilia Wickstead, Oscar De La Renta and Christopher Kane. But of whom ended in a success and of who ended in the idea that it should not be taken any further? Amidst this post, I will pick out my most favoured attempts yet also the ones I greatly oppose.

Alberta Feretti produces quite bohemian style pieces in nature related colour for instance: camel beige, subtle nudes and patent whites. Overall, its gowns are exceedingly angelic and in my opinion, would make the perfect prom dress catalogue. Specifically, I adore her undertaking of lace which being saintly itself is embroidered to create ethereal attire that when developing a-line skirts can sneakily cause a 1 foot increase in any ones height. Throughout presenting lace clothes, the label uses dominantly ginger haired models further emphasising the sense of outdoor environment as well as an indication to religion due to the fact that Eve herself (stated in the bible to be one of the first people God placed on planet earth along with Adam) had red hair. Moreover, we can all continue to note infinite connotations of spirituality but if I did we would be here all day. Anyway, I love the patterns symmetry upon the dress, Victorian style floral mixed with the sudden full block of white located at the bottom hem. Unlike other designers output of the lace material, Alberta Feretti makes sure that the piece isn’t overwhelming (dissimilar to approaches by designers such as Valentino and Roberto Cavalli), instead it can be worn by everyday people without looking out of place.

On the other hand I am not a fan of Prada’s new collection of gowns exhibited at Milan Fashion Week mainly due to the thorough overuse of pattern and colour. Although the shades involved in each gown tend to be paired with each other often, at this specific occurrence, the concept has clearly not worked. Furthermore, I believe that this point has caused the dresses to appear behind time. Yes, vintage is the new contemporary but this example is grandma vintage which only grandmas can wear. However, if you disagree with my opinion which is possible since everyone has a different taste, you’d best be placing an intensely patterned gown with that of some plain garments. In this case, ditch the socks and wear flat gladiator sandals as well as a sun-hat because it is extremely rare to see one in a single layer during winter.

Next, as well as discovering a new collection of dresses, I discovered a new designer called Matthew Williamson. Some may be wondering where I’ve been all my life but it turns out that he is a big label. For instance, he has had models such as Kate Moss and Cara Delevigne speculate his creations which include a fascinating group of gowns. In particular, I chose a kind of hallucination style of dress with the dominance of a black rose bunch as a belt. To be honest, I am not completely sure about the material types however I suspect it to be tweed. Tweed is an incredible material due to the versatility as well as the texture it provides to apparel, not only to the fabric but the colours it placed with. As a result, I believe that this dress wouldn’t be as enhancing to the eye without its focus on the material. To pair this piece or something similar comes as a remarkably simple task; just add heels, a clutch and your good to go.

Another dress I absolutely loved however found 2 years ago and have remembered well was the dress Emma Stone wore to the Met Gala in 2012. Covered infinite, what look to be plastic transparent poppies, this is possibly my favourite red-carpet outfit in history and being honest, I was never a fan of red until this came up on my We Heart It feed. She looks so beautiful and dainty; I would do anything to be in the ownership of that gown. By Lanvin, the dresses opulence came as no surprise also I am in total guilt for staying up till 3am by endlessly browsing the Lanvin web-store. Unfortunately, this dress is so uniquely magnificent that I was unable to find similar high-street attire. Anyway, I am forever dreaming.

Returning back to my dislikes, the Funlayo Deri Celestine Evening Gown is a definite no-no. Firstly, the placement of the satin ribbon puts me off considering it being under the bust which possibly can disfigure body shapes making them look less appealing than in reality. Secondly, I personally believe that the satin segments of the skirt resemble that of the curtain in your living room and I originally hated thigh cut outs being what this style corresponds to (just replacing the thigh outline with the material). Overall, the gown is tremendously random and clashes greatly. Moreover, it has the capability of highlighting the places most women try to avoid signifying throughout all their attire. I was unable to place a picture of this dress so if you wish to view it here’s the link – https://www.wolfandbadger.com/celestine-evening-gown/?mid=36620&siteID=Hy3bqNL2jtQ-DzJhhvUMgAUlvPJ67ixO9w .

A Review of Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2015 Show – Chanel Boulevard, Grand Palais, Paris

So Karl Largerfeld isn’t a stranger to conveying real life society in his fascinating Chanel catwalks and the recent s/s 15 show was no exception. Take a look at the major feminist protests on the news, now convert the women into models and place a complacent black and white figure in the lead under the name of Karl Otto Largerfeld. Only he could be the designer to take on such a contradictory topic. Fortunately, there was no police involved just the enthusiastic appraise of a style filled crowd including Alexa Chung (yes I always mention her) and Poppy Delevigne.

Despite the usual chaotic atmosphere of a protest, Chanel consisted of a much greater elegance. Models consisting of Cara Delevigne, Kendall Jenner, Gisele Bundchen, Edie Campbell and Georgia May Jagger partly sauntered along the Chanel Boulevard in the Grand Palais, backs as far back as possible and faces as expressionless as possible, then for the finale, followed Karl along the catwalk carrying cardboard signs reading ‘Make fashion not war’, ‘Sans femmes plus d’hommes’ (Without women more men), ‘Tweed is better than Tweet’, ‘Be your own stylist’, ‘Free freedom’ and ‘Ladies First’ meanwhile Karl had Cara Delevigne and Gisele Bundchen shouting “What do we want? When do we want it” through the most trendy megaphones around (they were quilted underneath the Chanel logo). But let us not forget the advantage of receiving Alexa’s views on feminism after Grazia Magazine raised the question, her response being ‘a no-brainier that every women is a feminist and men should be them too’, she says this whilst two women appear behind looking star struck as hell to see her in reality (forever jealous). Moreover, Karl was also filmed capturing a selfie however the mouth stayed shut and the glasses remained covering the eyes. Not even a French tourist repeating “tout le fait” could give him the slightest bit of remark. 

 

Focusing on the important features, the collection started off with vibrant colours including the themes of art deco and floral however the garments turned to the classic Chanel look; monochrome and gold through lace, metallic leather and delicate silk. Each look fit the specific model perfectly as some convincingly strode on in pairs or threes chatting to each other on a street that if real, would be an exceedingly opulent location in the world. Besides the fabrics mentioned, tweed made a continual presence throughout attire from the rim of maxi-coats to the sleeves of crop tops, as well as this, two looks deemed to be very hipster based depicting the finale of protest. One was made up of a khaki shoulder bag with the double Cs placed right in the middle of it, as if the Chanel logo is the new peace sign (I am so for this). Whereas the alternative hipster reference combined a distressed shirt dress with a bag bursting with rouge and rose embroidery yet what was most unique was the handle being leather and resembling that of the random school craft box material segment you use to stick on your collage back in primary school (elementary school). 

What appealed the most were the accessories. I would die for every single one of them; chunky gold belts, petite bags reading ‘females first’ and those 70’s square glasses only nerds would wear… but in white. And let’s not forget the fact that Chanel can now be associated with maths after presenting a bag reading ‘5 x 5 = *Chanel Logo*. This leads me on to my next point, In the midst of the show there was quite a school vibe (i must say that if Chanel was a school it would get an ‘outstanding’ report from Ofsted as well as be private without a doubt). I believe this because of the white blouses and frilly collars likewise to the school girls in an anime film. Moreover, there was an exceeding amount of stripes both vertically and horizontally also demonstrating a sailor vibe, nonetheless the unimaginably expensive diamond Chanel logos, glossy brogues and childish buttons turned it into a kind of Gabrielle Chanel style mass. 

Overall, my favourite look was Marie Antoinette pale white dress complimented by a chin cross-body bag, thick gold belt, what looks to be shiny brogues combined with sandals, some gold jewellery but most of all, glittery tights. Now I’m not usually taken by coloured tights, blacks as far as I’ll get but these look beautiful. Similarly futuristic due to their astronomical aesthetic, plus the skin colour of the leg is not completely coloured, there is neither too much nor too little of that sparkle of Chanel. What’s more, you would usually expect gold tights to appear as rather tacky and reasonably cheap though this form doesn’t relate to not either of the two mentioned points, it just has Chanel written all over it.

Next, a tweed red and blue twin set over a thin polyester pink shirt. What instantly comes to mind is an utterly negative clash, still the wonders of Chanel managed to pull it off as one would expect. An exceptional example of the idea that each model wore the outfit that fit them was through this Scottish attire and tie-dye blouse (complete opposites) considering this already existing clash added to the bleached long hair of a model, this was beyond clashing. Beyond Clashing so much that it worked. This set fits your school P.E teacher (sports teacher) perfectly having a mature, non-movement outfit withal a quirky little silver whistle to justify their occupation. And when you thought that Chanel actually exhibited an outfit without some high-class bling, there was the essential Chanel Logo upon the key-ring of the set’s clutch (but no chain?). 

 Everything in the show screamed glamour and delicacy which was extraordinarily emphasised by the idealistic street setting. It was corresponding to that of a street style location covered in Chanel. Karl risked some new looks for instance: grunge, school girl preppy and tie-dye (not generally seen on the designer catwalks) while he also stuck with the same standard Chanel sense of sophistication and a major amount of feminist intensity in the manner Gabrielle Chanel did back after World War I when she revolutionised women’s fashion from the influence of men.

 Thanks for reading,

Poppy x

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