Shearling watch...

AW10 models had barely turned their heels at the end of the runway and everybody is already at it. Of course with me being the ultimate keen-o, I acquired my (vintage) shearling oversized (delboy-ish) jacket two seasons in advance taking immediate inspiration from Prada and Burberry and it seems shearling will be the thing of AW10

@ Jaegar

@ Dr Martens

*cant remember where i took this photo*

@ Kickers

I am still yet to find my favourite shearling shoe... And then of course, i pose a question- "Can one do double shealing...?"

Puppy fashion week- LFW AW10

Credit has to be given to beautiful dalmatian puppy Bernie (who finally turns 1 later this month) for keeping up to date during this years London fashion week. Although he was not allowed to attend any shows, on account of the fact that he is a very excitable pooch, he stayed loyal to his fashion roots and kept a day to day London fashion week clothes diary*...

Day 1-

Clashing fur prints
Fur from So High Soho

Day 2-
Double breasted jacket cover up
Jacket- Vintage

Day 3-
"Studs are here to stay"
T-Shirt by Prada
Jacket by Comme des Garcons
Day 4-
Trench coat by Burberry Prorsum
Day 5-
Glasses by Niamh O'Connor
Day 6 (menswear day)-

Toggle belt clip worn as a collar, jumper and cardigan all by Carolyn Massey

Day 7-
London Fashion Week over, and Bernie slips into his usual lounge wear.

*No dalmatian puppies were harmed in the making of this feature. All clothes styled by Bernie

Paris fleas: My silver lining

Paris is amazing for many things and one of the most amazing is the aray of vintage and trift (freep- as they say in Paris) and flea markets and didnt i find this out...

After a false start on day one in Milan, where my two favourite coats were stolen at the infamous Punks Wear Prada party, i was livid and upset. Not only had all my outfits packed been carefully planned around these two coats, but also that someone was and is walking around Milan looking fabulous! The plan was to shield myself from the cold with the vintage rabbit fur and then wear a variety of grey sweatshirts and over sized tee shirts underneath teamed with leggings and tights... easy and then any one of these shoes! And then at night throw on my River Island denim Balmain style biker jacket- all effortlessly of course...
Anyway, after drunken tears and a 5am total wardrobe re-think, i had a plan. The coat that got me through the Milanese cold was this military red beauty:

This and of course lots and lots of layering.

Anyway upon arriving in Paris, i did my research and within 2 hours of touching down at Charles de Gaud airport and into our beautiful Marais apartment in the 3rd, i was down to Guerrisol and had acquired these beauties...

This luscious fox fur coat in an amazing ginger colour matching my ginger mane- A snip at €30Del-boy-esque/Prada AW10 style sheepskin 70s coat- a steal at €10

They say every cloud has a silver lining. Maybe this cloud is lined in Parisiene thrift!

*PS- If by stroke of chance anybody does know the wearabouts of my two stolen coats, please do let me know as i am still pining over them...
x

My First: Video shoot- "Brave New World"

So i arrived back from Paris and Milan a week ago, tired and a bit dazed, but had no choice and was plunged straight back into the thick of it. While in Paris and Milan, as well as all the shows and reports and filming and editing, there was also the premiere of my first video shoot to organise. I began working with film maker James Yeoman over a month ago after i had seen his behind the scene video he had produced for the Dazed Digital website. After looking at his other videos, i tracked him down via the interweb, i was totally blown over by his work. We began working on an idea and theme for one of Buckstyle's AW09 major trend. I did the creative direction working on getting the right models, the perfect location, writing the script alongside Jim, and of course all the styling. The shoot had to reflect the AW09 trend that YSL, Prada, Hugo by Hugo Boss, Raf Simons showed on the catwalk, the mood of security and protection, a futuristic matrix style ambience. Alongside those brands, i also called in high street and vintage brands like Topman, H&M and The East End Thrift Store. Colours and shades are dark, footwear is high topped and hard wearing, details include straps, studs and exposed zips . A post apocalyptic feeling was portrayed with models Alex Jermy and Holly Dormon, seemingly trapped in a decaying deserted world exploring survival.

This video is going to be a first of many video shoots to come out of myself and also Buckstyle. As the title suggests, it is a new medium which is relatively new. But i am so excited to begin working on it.... Hope you like the film.

Styled and Creative Direction Ceila-Jane Ukwenya
Filmed and Edited by James Yeomans
Hair and Make up by Sarah Barrow
Stylist Assistant: Jack Cassidy
Many thanks to The Pidgeon Wing studio

Milan fashion week...Overview

Apologies for the lack of posting, even though i did promise lots of blog posts while in Milan. I have been having technical difficulties with the internet connection to my room. Dont ask. It has been extremely annoying, cutting out mid-blog... Highly frustrating. So what i have got here are highlights of the last 4 days in Milan. I am off to Paris later today and am quite excited about it all. Had a really good sleep last night and i am now re-invigourated and refreshed and ready to tackle the next 6 days of non stop fashion... The internet situation should be a whole lot better in our Parisienne apartment (finger crossed). If anyone knows a way of blogging from my iphone or an app to down load, please let me know, would make my life whole lot easier. There has been online twittering from myself and the Buckstyle team here, so keep up to date on there too. Hope you have had a look at the Buckstyle website and seen all that we have been up too. In addition to reporting, I can now add camerawoman and film editor to my CV! I now go under the name of Celia Speilberg.... Ha!

DAY 1
First day in Milan, and things are looking good! Such a brilliant show at Burberry and managed to get an interview with Christopher Bailey! Interview will be up on Buckstyle is up now, go read it here... I only had a few minutes with him, but he was so sweet. The show had a real summer feel, with pastel colours mixed with bold primary coloured sportswear. Knits were lights with straps across the torso and ruched detailing in the macs and blazers. Amazing rucksacks too, very well executed. I shot some behind the scenes videos backstage at the show also which is available here.

My day 1 outfit

The Les Hommes show was brilliant too, a very Lawrence of Arabia feel with an emphasis to detail on the trousers. Lots of sheer, ruched, drop crotch brilliance... and a fantastic black sequined trouser number. I filmed and edited a video also on Buckstyle.com, find it here.

The designers (Tom Notte and Bart Vandebosch) of Les Hommes following our interview

The night ended up with a fantastic party called "Punks Wear Prada". I tell you i have never seen so many models in one place...Model Ash at Punks Wear Prada party

DAY 2
A jam packed day of press appointments, shows and presentation. Plus more ticket arrivals... Prada the most exciting yet. Neil Barrett, Car shoe, Churches, Sergio Rossi, Diesel and the stupendous Alexander McQueen. At Sergio Rossi and Churches there was an emerging trend of using foam like material on the soles as supposed to the traditional leather or rubber soles.

McQueen showed a presentation and a short film this year(Watch a clip of the short film here on Buckstyle.com), opting out from a grand runway show, something i have grown to love and sometimes prefer. You get a really detailled look at all the garments, in a more relaxed atmosphere, with the PRs on hand to explain ideas and inspirations. The collection did not let me down... Absolutely amazing collection. Based on paint splatters and with a somewhat workwear feel. Paint splays prints, hand painted and hand-drawn patterns on blazers and shirts, frantic and kinetic splatters on jeans and hats. Bloody brilliant.
Lots of the familiar faces of the Milan fashion week crowd present at the brilliant outdoor location, McQueens Milanese showroom.
Later we went to the famous Frankie Morello fashion week party…. To much fun… Amanda Lapore, half naked Milanese models on stage, and more models. One of the best parties I have ever been too!My Day 2 outfit for MFWAmanda Lapore at Frankie Morello party

Beautiful sporty gladiator sandals at Sergio Rossi

Paint splattered shorts art McQueen
Painted seam blazer at McQueen

A burnt car at Diesel...

Prada invite

Elliott and Steve discussing the importance of fashion in our lives

The Duomo

DAY 3

The third day saw the Moschino show today and the long awaited Prada show. The Moschino show revealed newspaper prints and floral prints, the show had a nice atmosphere. The Prada show was at 7pm, and the invite that came to the Buckstyle team left all of us wandering what he theme might be. The invitation showed an enlarged script with some unknown prose on it and the walls of the show had similar text on the walls.The show was a suprise to me for a SS show. Muiccia choose sombre and dark colours as opposed to the brighter shades we had seen in other shows. Grey i feel will become a popular colour in suiting in SS. The collection showed deep Vs in shirts and raw edges on shirts. Tank tops and lots of suits. Click here for the video i filmed and edited.

After the show we were treated to drinks at the venue some perculiar black bread with cheese canapes. Me not been a fan of cheese and my wheat intolerance meant that it was not at all enjoyable. But Steve and Elliott could not get enough of it. Canape recipe to come on Buckstyle.Elliott and myself discussing the joys and woes of fashion in our lives after Prada show

My Day 3 outfit

DAY 4
The Dsquared show like last year was a fun production, this year based around the idea of camping and the great outdoors, with the set resembling a campsite with tree trunks and tents. This seemed like a transition to the mountaineering trend we saw in some of the AW09 catwalks last season. Lots of models in shorts, plaid on garments, backpacks, protective ponchos and most importantly, tight speedos. Mmmmm! The show ended with rain (part of the production)... I did film some of the show, i will try and get that edited as soon as possible and post on here. In the mean time, have a look at the show report here.

We bumped into this lovely fellow after the Dsquared show, no it is not Elliott dressed as an egyptian.Day 4 outfit

Woolrich Woolen Mills followed the Dsquared show with a chat with Daiki Sazuki, the creative director of Woolrich at the showroom presentation. He talked about his inspirations for the collection been the surf culture from the past decades in America. He himself is a keen surfer referenced 1960s surf culture and drew inspiration from outfits they wore then. A recurring pattern within the collection had this nautical image of a ship and ropes:
The clothes were very wearable, catch the show reports and Top5 on Buckstyle later today...

Trends i picked up on in Milan include:
Shorts and crop trousers are here to stay with shorts getting shorter
Bright primary colours
Rucksack and backpacks everywhere
Grey in suiting
Foam soled shoes

Will keep you updated on all the fashion week going ons... Ciao, the next time you here from me will be in Paris... Bon Voyage to me!
x

Crap blogger

I am so so so sorry! Talk about crap blogger! Sorry for the lame blog posting, it has been 10 days since my last blog post. I am so sorry. But i have been so goddam busy. I finished my first Video shoot for Buckstyle yesterday. It went amazingly, watch this space for snippets from the shoot. I shot with brilliant film maker James Yeoman and shot YSL, Prada, Hugo by Hugo boss and Aexander Mc Queen to name a few! It is terribly exciting!
Right i have got so much to Post on so here goes!

Islands In The Stream....

Well, the high street is thoroughly impressing me, bowling me over left right and center. Now with the high fashion press days, you had either seen the collection at the shows or online, so you know what you're going to see. In the presence of Chanel, Louis Vuitton or Prada, i get the same "bowled over" feeling, but knowing fully well that i might be able to afford maybe one piece from the whole collection. God bless the British high street. River Island designs are becoming more and more trend led and fashion relevant, offering purse friendly alternatives to the high end counterparts. Here are my favourites from River Island press day:
Janitor style coats: There are a few of these coming up in AW09 from RI and i have already noticed a few in store. I really like the idea of these oversized jackets, but they just don't work on me as i have broad shoulders. Boooo to my bad genes!
Both above have that great Balmain look. Its great to see that the high street have taken inspiration from that show. I think it is probably one of my favourite looks on the high street at the moment, that and the nautical look (which i am showing a slow death, in my everyday wardrobe). I need to get me that jacket before i am off to the Milan and Paris menswear shows!
Military/Nautical (ish) inspired jacket (modelled by the fabulous River Island PR, Arieta)
Mary Katrantzou style oversized tee. I think you all know how much i covet her collection. Great print!

Trend premonition at Arcadia

To be honest most of us can only dream about owning all our designer fancies. Myself included. So last week was a great opportunity and privilege to see more of the styles that most of us will be able to afford and be sporting by way of the Acadia press day (this included Miss Selfridge, Topshop, Topman, Dorothy Perkins, and so on. So here is a look at the treats we have in store for AW09 on the high street. I feel like i have seen the future and it is good! So damn good!

Miss Selfridge are continuing and sticking with the rocker look. Mainly blacks and metallic shades continuing the "I'm with the band" theme. Think oversized tees, black oversized blazers tight black leather or leather look mini's and trousers, metallic finishes, sequins, rivets and studs. All sounding very very familiar, in fact sounds very much like my current and growing SS09 wardrobe. Lovely now, but to think that in 6 months we will still be expected to stick to the looks we are already perfecting now. To be honest i was more impressed by the visual merchandising and set up they had in the Miss Selfridge area. The mannequins were made to look like they were performing in bands either propped up against a mike; with a bass precariously wedged in their arms, and sat at a drum kit. Bring on the festival me thinks!

I moved on from Miss Selfridge to Topshop with the wide-eyed delight of a 5 year old entering a sweet shop. On my gasp-filled travels around the Topshop area, i came across some a few pieces that stuck in my mind "I am sure i have seen these somewhere else before..."*
*Without using the word copy, i will tend to say "In the style of..."

In the style of those controversial Peter Jensen bootsIn the style of Christopher Kane's recent AW09 collection. Absolutely loving the cage skirt and the see-through top combo!

In the style of Prada recent AW09 shoes (see my recent post)

In the style of "Those" YSL cage shoesI noticed a gorgeous trend of the caged stuctured skirt running throug a few stories in Topshop and also on Asos (press day news and pics to come)

Celia Blue Watch: More thigh high and cage shoes!

In the style of the Kenzo AW09 boots! I love the retro rubber heels and the clean space and barely any detail except the small buckle and minimalist lace up detail.

Topshop design boots, i predict these will be the boot of AWo9 from Topshop, they came in varying styles and colours.90s...? So Spice Girls circa 1998!!

90s.......

Yes! The good old 90s are definitely in, and if you are not ready just yet worry not, take this as a trend alert, trend forecast...no trend premonition. Worry not for now, lets make the most of our belly tops, denim shirts, play suits and mid-rifts, they will be around in about 6 months. No your eyes do not deceive you, below and above you do see shell suits! I am so looking forward to it!

Ive seen the future! And it is rocks!