Spring Summer '13 ~ Favourite Catwalk Looks.

I could literally talk about almost all the SS13 collections which were premiered late last year, but instead of talking generally about my favourites from the Ready to Wear collections I thought instead I would just choose out my favourite specific ensembles. Some of these represent collections I adore, some of which are isolated preferences. There were a ton of looks that were objectively interesting but I've chosen things that personally appealed. This won't be the one post about this topic, very soon there will be another post about finding affordable alternative to catwalk looks, which will feature other collections and ensembles I love!

 Dior - The Blazer Dress

 I felt some of Dior was a bit underwhelming (am I allowed to say that?). I didn't really enjoy their use of iridescent fabrics, which I usually love the look of, but did not like how they layered them over garments that didn't really need it, although their dresses at the end were alright. I did however really like their new take on the blazer; the blazer dress. There were a few different shapes but this is my favourite one.

 Carven - Cut Out Toile Print Dress

I'm on the fence about Carven's '13 offerings. Some of the cut out features worked well, adding edge to an otherwise well tailored but simple design. Other times it didn't reallly seem to flow well. And this dress I think is a bit too busy.

 Gareth Pugh - Matrix meets Firely

Oh Gareth Pugh, you have drawn out my inner Sci-Fi girl and made her very happy. Seriously, look through all of this collection if you like Matrix and/or Firefly and Serenity. This is the dystopian future! I also loved the makeup and hair; red eyes plus parallel horizontal chopsticks.

 Balenciaga - Monochrome Ruffles

This is an example of something I wouldn't wear, but where I like the individual elements. Two tone ruffles seem like a really cool way of getting both the monochrome and the ruffle trend in one fell, fashionable swoop. And that gorgeous neckline. When neither of these features were present in the clothing of the collection I wasn't too interested, but gosh, that neckline.

 Haider Ackermann - Effortlessly Cool Kimono

I want to stroke all the clothes. All that satin on bare skin looks cool and probably feels awesome too. Is that weird? Probably. Either way, sophisticated and calm, I liked this collection. I don't think I'm cool enough to pull off a kimono but anyone who can, do it! 'Cause it looks awesome.

 

 Jean-Paul Gaultier - '80s Icons

It's interesting to such a strong influence so evident within a collection, especially when that influence is specific people. I especially enjoyed the Madonna and Boy George looks. I want a cage waist cincher please.

 Jonathan Saunders - HOLOGRAPHIC STRIPES!

Okay. Seriously. Seriously. Stripes are massive. Holographic effects are massive. The combination is immense. And then in a cropped style as well. Standing ovation for Jonathan Saunders. Special mention to the awesome 60s gradient wallerpaper jumpsuit.

 Julien David - Spoon Print Dress

I mean. It's got spoons on it. Do I need to say more? (Yes: kitsch patterns on the runway is fun, I approve! Refer to Sugarhill Boutique for a brand that has been doing this on the highstreet for a while).

 Moncler Gamme Rouge - Beaded Swimming Costume

I get Gatsby tingles when I see this. Even though this collection looks mainly to be 60s inspired but still, you know what I mean right? I really love the cut of this costume. In this collection I also liked the shallow water print that appeared.

 Louis Vuitton - Checkered Patterns Everywhere

I really like the long, slim, pillar-like silhouettes that were featured and although brown and white may not seem like a good idea I think it works. Another modern take on 60s fashion, where straight lines are dominant, both in pattern and in shapes. Is it weird I quite like the micro top?

 Mugler - Beetle Shell Skirt

The only thing that really interested me about this collection were the black and brown skirts that made me think of woodlice and beetles...in a good way. I'm a fan of inspiration from nature (other designers of note include McQueen's bee inspired collection, but more about that in another post...).

 Saint Laurent - Sophisticated Gothic School Girl

I love everything about this dress and this collection. Black, chiffon pussy bows and flowing skirts, leather, silk, palazzo pants and capes! I need it all.

 Peter Pilotto - High Neck, Off Shoulder Dress

Another example where I wasn't too excited by the whole collection but I really like this particular dress. I like combination of the popular high neck plus the additional off shoulder section. Plus this is a great example of monochrome coming back, as well as mirror effects, which is something I've noticed a fair amount in different collections (including Viktor & Rolf).

Valentino - Floor Length Beaded Dress

Demure & elegant, full of floor length dresses in lace, silk and chiffon. The shapes are simple but convey laid-back maturity. I don't think I'm graceful enough for these gorgeous creations, but I love them regardless.

And finally special mention to these amazing hats by Philip Treacy.

So that's it for now. Look out for the aforementioned affordable alternatives post coming soon! Also, what is your favourite S/S13 designer and more importantly, why?

Outfit of the Day ~ Red, red roses.

 Babydoll dress ~ Urban Outfitters

Suspender tights ~ New Look

Wedges ~ ASOS

Antique watch ~ hand-me-down

I haven't posted in nearly a week (if you haven't already been informed via my twitter - @L_Figment) but I've got a lot of post ideas regarding the recent Spring Summer collections thanks to a massive Vogue/fashion magazines binge, so get ready for a lot of that.

As for the outfit, I really like it, it's pretty simple and mainly comprises of new things but I feel like my style is changing a bit and this is a nice representation of it. Also, if you hadn't noticed my hair is no longer the swampy grey-green it was, I just updated it (with some help) with some Directions in Midnight Blue which is a nice colour, although I'm craving pastel teal. I've decided I can't bleach my hair anymore until it's grown out a bit 'cause the ends are so damaged.

I've started watching Girls because Company Magazine told me too, it's interesting, a really different kind of comedy than is usually available which is enjoyable. On Valentine's day the boyfriend and I are playing squash. It wasn't a purposeful decision but it was only next available day we can do. We're not doing anuything special though, I'm not going to go all high and mighty and be like 'I don't believe in Valentine's day' but we do enough nice things during non-Valentine's day days (like non-birthdays!) that I don't feel like there's a need...there'll be loads of people out everywhere anywhere, and who wants that? I used to love Valentine's day when I was single, I remember one year I bought a dozen roses and gave them out to all my close friends, and another year, when I was much younger I wrote fake Valentine's cards for my friends so they'd feel loved. I know, I'm so mushy.

And finally, in recent breaking news, last week I had to do an experiment on a freshly detatched cockroach leg. Neuroscience degrees are so glamorous.

Winter Haul ~ Urban Outfitters, ASOS, Missguided & more!

I think it's a unanimous opinion that this year's post-Christmas sales were a bit disappointing, but I still managed to get a few things (some of which were thanks to student discount as opposed to actual sale). So these are my purchases from Decemeber and January.

Primark 

Faux Leather Studded Sleeveless Jacket, £18

 

The day after my first exam I was very up for spending some money and the idea of this style of jacket had been playing quietly in the back of my mind for a while. I'm still not sure how I feel about it but I thought I'd get it anyway. I might add some badges or something, just to make it a bit more personalised.

 Urban Outfitters

Staring at Stars ~ Rose Print Crepe Dress, £25 (was £55)
Silence + Noise ~ Long Sleeve Full Length Maxi Dress with Slits, £22 (was £48)

The long dress is definitely not something I would usually buy but it's so vampy I just fell in love with it. I want to buy a choker (maybe spiked) to go full goth with it. I quite like the idea of pairing it with a big, floppy hat as well. I intend to wear this casually and just feel like Morticia from the Addams family during my every day life. I had previously fallen in love with this dress but had given up on it since it was originally £55, when the UO sale started I looked but couldn't find it, so I googled it and found it...wierd?! I wasn't sure about it after I repurchased but then it sort of 're-grew' on me.

  Missguided (with 15% off - not included in prices)

Dayna High Neck Sleeveless Crop Top ~ £5.99

Sienna Bardot Off Shoulder Crop Top ~ £8.99

Berendeta Burgundy Velvet Skater Skirt ~ £13.99

Kareena Faux Suspender Leggings ~ £14.99

I had a bit of a spree on the Missguided website with my discount code from Uni Days. These are my first proper crop tops which is a bit scary but rest assured I will only be wearing them with high waisted things. The off-shoulder one is pretty much a dupe of one Motel had, but so so much cheaper, and as we all know, I love off-shoulder. The skirt is longer than expected but the colour is really pretty...I know, even more velvet, when will it end!? You can find me talking about the suspender leggings in my dupe post. I had also bought a similar style high neck crop top from New Look in velvet but the sizings were weird which means I had a lot of exposed bra, luckily this fits me much better.

New Look (with 20% off ) 

Black and White Creepers ~ £24.99

Pretty Polly Suspender Tights ~ £9.99

Black Spike Leather Cuff ~ £4.99

I had been given a voucher for Christmas but I knew the 20% off offer would come eventually so I waited and then I bought all of thiiiss! The spiked leather cuff is the addition to a beautiful collection which includes two pre-existing spiked headbands and a soon to be purchased choker (maybe...or I might just get a plain velvet one, can't decide). I've also been craving new plain creepers ever since my ebay ones fell apart, although I do have my green pair they don't necessarily go with everything I own. 

This Is Not a Butchers

Crow with Top Hat Brooch ~ £2.50 (originally £6.00)

Swan with Crown Brooch ~ £2.50 (originally £6.00)

If you follow me on Instagram (@L_Figment) then you will have seen these cuties. The first time I saw them I could decide which to get, even though at £2.50 each it was kind of a no brainer, so a few days later I returned and the lovely lovely man at This is Not a Butchers let me have them for the sale price, even though they technically weren't on sale anymore. What a babe!

ASOS (with 25% discount)

Wedges Chelsea Ankle Boots ~ £18

Photographic Stargazer Print Leggings ~ £25??

Hanging Crystal and Chain Headband ~ £15

I had previously bought these wedges but just couldn't make my mind up about them, but after I sent them back I kept thinking of outfits I could wear them with...so I bought them again. Plus they had been reduced further so that was a bonus! I have wanted galaxy leggings ever since I set eyes on Black Milk, but all the dupes I had found didn't look to be so great, I'm hoping these ones are as good as they look! Finally, this headband, which I had spotted ages ago and decided not to get because it was a little bit ridiculous, then it was sold out but then it came back and I snagged the last one!

Nerdy Little Secrets Horn Hair Clips ~ £4.09 (including 20% off - originally £5.10)

 To Be Worn Again headscarves (shop in Brighton) ~ £3 each

I haven't actually got a photo of these since they haven't arrived yet but they're so cute I wanted to show you before it takes inevitabely months for me to include them in an outfit. I realised I had lost my only headacarf of this style, so I bought two new ones! I didn't get any in red like my original one because I still cling to the hope I'll find it again.

So, that's about it. And now to not spend money for a very long time.
Have you snagged any bargains in the sales recently? Or just generally?

Face of the Day ~ Arabian Mermaiden.

Lips

Portland Black Lipstick Company in Indigo Bridge

+ generic purple glitter

Face

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light

Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation in RF133

Collection 2000 Pressed Powder in Ivory
Sugarpill Pressed Eyeshadow in Velocity used as blusher

Eyes

 Sugarpill Pressed Eyeshadow in Mochi, 2am and Velocity

Collection 2000 Dazzle Me! in Heavenly, Bewitch and Fairy Dust

Illamasqua Precision Ink in Scribe

Barry M Kohl Pencil in White 

+ shimmery eye shadows from generic palette

I know what you're thinking, it's Mermaid week and I didn't use pearls!? Believe you me I was tempted, but I decided that actually I might prove that I'm not a one trick pony - plus gems are just as fun! On a plus, the stenciling worked out nice, unlike last time! Which I am pleased about. The whole look is still a bit messy, but I'm quite happy with the outcome. Doesn't help that I basically poured a lot of white liquid eyeliner into my eye whilst trying to apply is as mascara, the boyfriend was all "wash it all" and I was all "no way am I putting water on my nearly finished face" so I just sort of, cried it out. When I was researching inspiration for this look I realised I didn't want to go too generic and do a pastel mermaid or use that fishnet effect that is everywhere and occasionally looks like scales. Those two looks do look nice but I wasn't up for copying either of them. I sort of wanted to do a slightly creepy mermaid, hence the white eyelashes and eyeliner. If it isn't evident the shape on my forehead is inspired by a whale's tail and was sort of the boyfriend's idea, so kudos to him. Go here to see the rest of the Mermaid looks done for the tag. They both look awesome. Next look, in two weeks' time involves choosing our favourite spring/summer collection and doing a look inspired by it. Exciting! Don't forget you can always join in, just head over to the previous link and Bekki tells you how!

Outfit of the Day ~ Tartan + Thigh Highs.

Tartan skirt ~ gifted

Cross t-shirt ~ Topshop

Thigh high socks ~ Primark

Planet necklace ~ ASOS

Treble clef bracelet ~ gift

Dark blue lipstick ~ Illamasqua in Disciple

Black and white creepers ~ New Look
Unicorn Dog ~ came with house

Yay an outfit! Unfortunately inside, and if you're the boyfriend then you know I'm really particular about where I take photos indoors, I hate any kind of mess in the pictures, so I was kind of a nightmare that day but it was way too windy to go outside and I had a free day so I was determined to do an outfit. Plus the day before I had had my hair cut and I wanted some kind of photographic evidence of it - as always took advance of the £10 cut for being a model for the trainees. I still don't like the mess in these photos and the fact the light isn't consistent but hopefully you'll forgive me for it!

I'm pretty fond of this outfit although I swapped out the socks with tights when I went out - I don't think my legs are toned enough to be sporting them, plus I'm just not confident enough anyway. But I'm starting to play squash with the boyfriend once and week (in two weeks time) so hopefully that'll help solidify some wobbly bits. The skirt was from my gran, originally it was a lot longer but she shortened it for me and now I can't stop wearing it! As is often the case I realise only now that my under eye dots aren't symmetrical...I probably shouldn't draw attention to it but I just have. So there!

January has been pretty busy for me, what with exams and then straight into the start of uni. It's been good though, there was of course the snow which was awesome; the boyfriend and I went sledging with his parents and the dog (who you can see pictured! I call her my unicorn dog and she is lovely and ditzy) and that was so much fun! I also saw Pitch Perfect and Les Miserable this month - both good films but obviously Les Mis was stunning, I think everyone is genetically predisposed to cry at that film, it is amazing.
And I think that's all! I've got a haul post coming up as well as the bi-weekly makeup tag which this week's theme is Mermaid (yay!)
I hope you enjoyed your January!