Turkish delight: Zeynep Tosun S/S 13 review for Stylogasm

 

Zeynep Tosun’s SS13 collection was inspired by the legend of the Phoenix, the bird who witnessed and recovered from the devastating end of the world three times. This story influenced a collection strong and wise, yet still brimming with soft femininity.

Dominated by the European and Asian influences of Istanbul, her birthplace, Tosun’s collections are generally characterized by high expressiveness and many contrasts, be that in material, colour, texture or style. Clothes were army apparel across a delicate palette of lilac, beige and icey blue with real metal caps and intelligent layering with sweeping nylon and chiffon enveloped by slashes of cleavage at the neck, front and side cutting a sporty luxe shape.

Pieces were complex in terms of layering, tailored feminine separates, dresses blazers and trousers were juxtaposed with tough buckles, spikes and strapping heels.

Beautiful hand sown metal mesh by Bartin locals shimmered down mysterious crème and black voile, like glistening morning dew cascading down delicate petals. Fabric was held in place by tough metal helmets to drape the wearer in a cloak of shimmering subtlety to frame the superb, yet complex tailoring.

A black dress nodded to the classic channel quilted handbag, simultaneously echoing the undercurrent of a riding jacket. Mostly all pieces used the neck as a centre point, with collars varying from spiked, chain mailed or integrated into a dress or shirt, a motif echoed from the previous collection, much like the sharply cut tailoring is holding the wearer prisoner.

With a career that began with Alberta Ferreti in 2006 leading right up until last season with her House of Evolution showcase, Tosun has both the knowledge of experience and youthful brand development that makes for an intriguing collection. With complimentary comparisons to the likes of Balenciaga, Zeynep Tosun is a designer who continues to be an aesthetically savoured Turkish delight.

Designer & Brand Info: www.zeyneptosun.com
PR Team: Katch PR
Article by Tania Willis
Photography by Alan Christopher Parker
© ACP / Stylogasm 2012

Twilight shoot

Improving/ creating a more formal online portfolio has been on my to do list for the past year now, sifting through portfolio worthy material, I came across a shoot I styled, directed and photoshopped when I was Fashion Editor at Nerve* magazine. The styling was entirely inspired by Twilight, and the spooky early evenings in Autumn.

Photographer credits: Ben Pruchnie

LFW: Craig Lawrence

Another show I reported on, from a man who dresses the likes of Lady GaGa and Jessie J, didn't disappoint in his futuristic collection:

LFW: Craig Lawrence SS13

September 17, 2012

Doing a little bit of background research and seeing Craig Lawrence has dressed some of the sartorially sassiest ladies of pop; queen of quirk Lady GaGa and princess of spandex Jessie J, I was set up to expect something equally as impressive as his preceded collections.

Craig Lawrence opened in the Portico Rooms at Somerset House with the magical sounds of a jewellery box springing into action, gradually introducing the ring of a tambourine and Jamaican drums, which sprung the first model onto the runway.

 Models cascaded onto the runway sporting ghetto hair with an elegant twist; sideburns were pressed into stylish swirls cascading down both cheeks with the rest of the hair slicked back into a sleek pony tail paired with a polished red pout.

The official theme of the collection was inspired by ‘phosphorescent plankton that glow in the ocean at night’ with knitware designed to imitate ‘Urchins, Sponge and Scale’, however to the non-aquatic among us aesthetics boarded more on team NASA dressed in sexy knitted chainmail.

Spring/Summer 2013 demonstrated metallic silver knits in optic fibres, with clear and reflective yarn stretched across the body creating a peekaboo flesh effect.

Shapes varied from dress to trousers to trouser dress, combining skirts and woven silvery leggings.  The most exciting pieces protruded silver hair from silver woven dresses, creating the impression of a sparse horse’s mane hugging the figure. The footwear du jour were grey ankle socks combined with black leathered chunky platforms. Accessories consisted of clear perspex bum bags doubled up as waist belts or the occasional upper arm purse, giving the whole look a more futuristic feel.

The whole show built to a space style crescendo, plunging the brightly lit space into darkness casting a UV light on the models strutting the 8 different looks in a luminescent glow, a bit like a parade of UV jellyfish.

The ever modest designer, Craig Lawrence nimbly stepped out at the end giving a small and humble wave, before disappearing like the sea creatures before him behind a mirrored wall.

LFW: Felicities presents

One of the loveliest events I went to last week was Felicities Presents at Somerset House, an innovative way of showcasing new designers by making the party a little bit more interactive by inviting guests to watch each brands fashion video on ipads. The videos were brought to life by having the models featured in the video wearing the collection and accompanying the designers stand. 

This is a straight copy and paste from my report for Who's Jack:

LFW: Felicities Presents SS13

September 18, 2012

Felicities is a boutique East London creative PR agency who looks after some of the most talented and unique up and coming designers and brands, and weren’t afraid of showcasing them last night in Somerset House Portico Rooms.

Felicities represented a global range of emerging designers, from the GreekEvmorifa to the Russian Xsenia and Olya to home grown talent such as Beautiful Soul and Tramp in disguise.

Evmorfia designer and model

All designer films were available to watch on ipads

The evening was a digital premier of fashion films from each brand, showcased on ipads around the room with models bringing the digital collection to life wearing covetable pieces from the short films.

Beautiful Soul’s videography featured a life in the day of a very well dressed girl in Beautiful Soul’s pretty feminine and floral designs shopping on Portobello Road, returning to her house and getting ready for her date, all to the tune of the wonderful Eddie Halliday.

Other fashion films that got their premier last night included Ada Zanditon, Arianna Cerrito, Tramp in disguise, Phanatiq and Xsenia and Olya.

Head wear seemed to be the fashion statement amongst attendees, ranging from diamond encrusted bindi’s to a toupee/ hair piece entirely made up from Swarovski crystals.

Felicities rewarded us with rows of delicious bottled raspberry martinis cleverly packaged in plastic and disguised as smoothies, and goody bags filled with treats from Chocolate Alchemy to silky intimates from Playful Promises.

LFW catwalk report: Ashish SS13

I was invited for the third year running to be part of the Who's Jack London Fashion Week reporting team, 

team, another flurry of fabulousness; free haircuts from Tony and Guy, make up from Mac, goodies from smoothies to posh panties, and the joys of sipping elderflower martinis with Gok Wan. 

Below is a copy and paste of the catwalk report I wrote for Ashish SS13 collection, an assortment of beautifully mismatches designs, encapsulating kitsch cool.

LFW: Ashish SS13

September 18, 2012

The Ashish Spring/ Summer 2013 beautifully mismatched collection was a high school catwalk of the unofficial coolest girl in school, forget the pristine matchy matchy cheerleaders, this show was all about the girl who didn’t fit in, for all the right reasons.

Outfits morphed between trousers and skirts, always leaving something out, or opposite paired together. One leg of a trouser was black sequins paired with denim or one grey cotton leg paired with one denim, or even two different shades of denim for each leg.

Tops always left something out, either armless, backless or frontless separates stark white shirts layered with chiffon and sparkly polka dots.

Jumpsuits featured with half the body in black sequins and the other half in denim, often thrown over a crisp white shirt, or pale shirt adorned with black thick type faced letters of the alphabet or a silver sequin bodice shimmering through.

Each girl’s hair scraped back into a sequined scrunchie ranging from white black and midnight blue, the beautifully dishevelled looks were accessorised with white reebook’s and mismatched sequin socks. Vintage wide eyed glasses with gold frames graced the young girls freckly faces, topping off the geek chic look.

The collection matured into floor length fitted sequined gowns, from a sparkly peach to a deep midnight blue bringing the beautifully dishevelled collection to a close.

Paradise: park Tayrona, Colombia

http://instagr.am/p/Omzuj-KBtc/

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The Hambledon

Today I discovered the most beautiful shop which sold just about a bit of everything, called The Hambledon. It is in Winchester. I have never been to Winchester before today but I thought it was thoroughly beautiful, and had several charity shops open on a Sunday which always makes for a good city.

Their website is here, but its doesn't really do the vibes of the store justice, and the helpful shop assistant told me they were launching a new one in around a month.

Loves Saves The Day

Spirits were certainly not dampened by the summer downpour at Love Saves The Day festival in Castle Park, Bristol this weekend.

Thousands of people made their way to the sell-out dance festival in the heart of Bristol on Sunday. Despite the day time drizzle fans turned up in droves to support the likes of Jessie Ware, who managed to get a field full of fans waving their umbrella’s and singing along to former backing singer Jessie’s current single 110%, which she performed with faultless vocals.

Annie Mac was next to warm up the main arena, smashing out some brilliant Jay-Z and Drake dance remixes, followed by youngsters Disclosure, brothers aged 17 and 20 who lit up the main stage, thanking their booming audience graciously, saying it was ‘lovely’ to be playing in Bristol.

Jessie Ware at LSTD

Dance music was not the only sound of the day with the Dance Off arena boasting Sticky and the nostalgic garage sound of DJ Luck and MC Neat, who played their classics Sambucca and A Little Bit Of Luck to the crowd stomping their wellies on a raised dancing platform adorned with vines and camouflage netting.

Love for the Jubilee weekend was clearly displayed in the Jubilee marquee, which provided some much needed shelter from the English summer weather, reggae from the aptly named Rainy But Funky, and hip hop jazz artist Mr Scruff whose popularity saw mile long queues round the tent to catch an earful of his 4 hour long set.

The one-day event also included sets from Bonobo, UK rap legend Roots Manuva,Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Maya Jane Coles, Jamie Jones and Joy Orbison. Bristol acts also got a look in too with the well-known veteran DJ Derek and Joker among local acts featured.

See you again next year Bristol!

Words: Tania Willis

Link: http://www.whosjack.org/love-saves-the-day-festival-review/

Simmi Shoes

I really like these pink things from Simmi Shoes. I am not sure if I like them enough to buy though... And I am not sure if I like blue more...

I have found a new floor.

Thanks to Fabulous Magazine gorgeous retro chic shoot, I discovered the beautiful Three Floor. Apparently designed by (you will be really really really UN surprised by this) a Central St Martins grad, I am putting the matchstick red body con on my wish list. Potential birthday dress? hmmmm #pleasehaveaspringsalepleasehaveaspringsale