Iron Fist SS15 Collection - Sneak Peak

I personally am getting bored of the drabness of winter. I'm pushing through it though with anticipation for the summer months, and all the awesome trends that will come with them. 

You may have read on my blog recently that I attended the London Edge event as a blogger. One of the best things about this event is getting to see the SS15 collections for a variety of alternative fashion brands, and planning your summer wardrobe. 

Iron Fist's SS15 collection stood out above the rest for me. Dropping in March, this collection is cute, fun and tongue in cheek, and I thought I'd give you lot a sneak preview. 

I've always loved Iron Fist as an alternative fashion brand. They're not cliche, and are constantly making their own stamp on the alternative scene, whilst incorporating current trends into their collections. 

I didn't take too many pictures due to exclusivity being for buyers, however from the pictures I did take, I'm sure you'll agree that calling this collection colourful is an understatement. 

This is a collection that will definitely appeal to the emerging cutesters, a trend that seems to be the 2014/15 revamp of the mid-2000s scene kid. Candy pastels, Care Bears, monster burgers and cupcakes contrast dramatically with the more gothic side of the Iron Fist collection consisting of cleated soles, bat wings and the brand's signature skulls. 

Now I was a bit too old for Care Bears when they first came out. but always secretly envied the younger kids with their colourful, cuddly companion. So you can see why I fell in love so quickly with the Care Bear travel bag. 

I'm ridiculously excited for this collection and have made mental notes of which items HAVE to be be in my wardrobe. 

I hope you've enjoyed this sneak preview of the Iron Fist SS15 collection, and look out for its release in stores and online in March.  

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London Edge Trade Show and Blogger Meet up with Kat Williams

(picture by Rage Studios)

 

Last weekend I got to attend London Edge alternative fashion trade show at the Olympia Exhibition Center, London. It's an event only open to fashion buyers and press, and is a place where gothic, grunge, punk and vintage brands show off their latest collections to potential buyers. 

I heard about the event last year and knew it was something I had to attend, but underestimated how amazing the event would actually be. Not long after registering as a blogger I was invited to attend the Blogger Meet-Up which was to be hosted by the fabulous Kat Williams from RocknRoll Bride. 

I was overwhelmed by the range of brands and the variety of unique styles they presented. It's a brilliant place for seeing your favourite brand's latest collection before it's released, but also for discovering new brands that you just can't wait to spend your money on. 

Iron Fist and Killstar have been fixed favourites of mine for years now, so it was awesome to see what they've got coming up for SS15. I've already got my eyes on a few pieces. Keep your eyes peeled for sneak peak at the Iron Fist SS15 collection. 

I discovered some new brands that I fell in love with. Lip Service's sexy yet elegant use of lace, sheer fabrics, vinyl and velvet had me drooling, whilst Alice Takes a Trip were channeling some Cutester vibes for the Summer with adorable bee motifs and rainbow fur inserts. 

Jawbreaker and Voodoo Vixen were hosting the after-party, and many bloggers, including myself, were asked to attend the show as a VIP of the brands, and were given a free dress to wear to the after-party and a make-over, which included vintage hair styling and make-up. I decided to change into my dress last minute, but many wore theirs straight away. As a result the show was a sea of A-line silhouettes and victory rolls. It was quite a sight. 

The Blogger Meet-Up was a perfect opportunity for me to get to meet some like-minded bloggers. With free champagne, sweets and the biggest goody bag I've ever received, conversation was focused on how generous the brands had been. Many selfies were taken and Instagram names swapped. I always feel quite nervous about things like this, but it was a lovely atmosphere with a lovely group of ladies. I had the pleasure of meeting Emma from Emma Inks who's an absolute babe, and Claire from clairelouise.net

Kat Williams was a sweetie as always, answering our questions about blogging and finding your own niche, and walking around with us as we checked out some of the brands. 

The whole show is one big blur for me now, but getting my hair done by the talented Nicola Abraham stands out clearly as one of the best moments of the day. I'd wanted something a bit different and told Nicola that she had free reign to do whatever she wanted with my hair. The end result was epic (see first picture above). I'm actually going to do a whole blog post on the VIP experience, so watch this space to see the final look. 

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Bad in Plaid - OOTD

'Is that a some red and blue I see before me?' I hear you ask. YES! Don't have a heart attack, but I am actually wearing something colourful. I know it's not all the colours of the rainbow, but for me, red and blue is a breakthrough. 

Fax Fur Coat - Ark
Plaid Shirt - Vintage
Leather Skirt - Pretty Lavish
Heart Motif Tights - Accessorize
Boots - Dr Martens

I've actually had this shirt for years. I bought it from a vintage store in London when I was 18, and it's been a timeless addition to my wardrobe. I was worried that it wouldn't work with my hair and that I'd have to banish it to a draw for a time when I could wear it again, but I think it actually works quite well, especially with this leather cut-out skirt from Pretty Lavish .

I've never really been much of a skirt person. I think being quite curvaceous makes it hard to find skirts other than pencil skirts that are flattering for your shape, but I thought I'd give this ago seeing as it was in the sale. I love the detailing, and it's the kind of skirt that can be dressed up and down.

This outfit is a bit mish-mash, but it works and I don't really know why. I feel like it shouldn't. There's a lot going on, but I feel the textures and patterns contrast but compliment at the same time.

The heart motif tights have become my new favourite accessory. I also bought some polka dot ones too. The sheerness of the tights give them a grunge edge, whilst the heart / polka dot motif adds a touch of feminine kitsch.

This outfit is a prime example of why you should play around with what you've got i your wardrobe. You may be surprised as to what items work well together. You could end up with a whole new outfit.

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The Velvet Underground

 I find dressing up at this time of year so difficult. It's so hard to look elegant and sexy in something that keeps your entire body warm, so we resort to attempts at refreshing dresses from warmer months in the hope no-one notices the raisin-smuggling situation. 

Velvet Choker Dress - Oh My Love London

Faux Fur Coat - Ark
Satchel - F&F at Tesco 
Block Heel Boots - Public Desire

I've had this dress from Oh My Love London in my Pinterest wishlist for months now, and when I saw it was reduced massively in the January sales, I knew it had to be mine. 

I suck at compiling a capsule wardrobe, so there are many moments in my life when I simply don't have an appropriate outfit. 

I bought this knowing that it would come in handy for meals out or trips to the theatre;  those kind of events that require you to add a little more formality to your style than you're used to. 

This dress is so simple but so elegant and ceremonial. The velvet does all the talking, making it a definite evening piece, whilst the sequin and pearl embellished choker-style neckline gives it quite a regal edge. 

I feel this is a garment you can dress down to a certain extent. I found it went really well with my shabby coat, the tufts of fur contrasting with the sleekness of the velvet. I tried it with my Dr Martens and they looked really out of place, but my slightly less casual patent boots from Public Desire worked a treat. I think this dress would look stunning with some Mary Jane flats or t-bar heels. 

P.S In case you're wondering, these pictures were taken at Hadleigh Castle in Essex. There's not much left of the castle, just some ruins, but it's a great place to see some spectacular views of the Essex countryside if you're ever near by!

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Black Crow Queen - OOTD

 

Textures! With the temperature dropping, we're wrapping up in as many layers as we can carry. But the only way to avoid looking like a giant ball of cloth is with contrasting textures. 

Choker - Regal Rose

Lace Dress - Ark

Fur Coat - Ark

Satchel - F&F at Tesco 

Boots - Miss Selfridge

As someone who's addicted to wearing black, it's so important for me to invest in textures. It's the only thing enabling me to tell where one item of clothing ends and another begins. 

I'd noticed lately that my wardrobe was lacking not only in textures, but warm outerwear. With the weather dropping to -10 C, my leather jacket just isn't going to cut it. So I went on a search to see if there were any goodies leftover in the January sales, and I wasn't disappointed. 

I bought this crochet dress for £15 and the fur coat for £22 , both from Ark. I've loved Ark for so long. Not only do they stock some awesome brands, but their own stuff is so reasonable and trend-lead. The crochet dress has amazing detailing and I'm thinking it will make an gorgeous beach dress in Summer.Crochet is going to be everywhere next season so I might as well start stocking up early. 

I thought the strong detailing of the crochet would contrast well with the messy fur of the coat, whilst maintaining a soft and feminine feel. 

The Regal Rose choker I'd had my eye on for a good few months. I'm so happy the choker trend has had a bit of a revamp and a revival and seems to be making more of a fashionable mark than its 90s debut. This choker is so different from the generic ones that are out on the high street at the moment. The design is really unique, and the use of gunmetal gives it a grunge element that contrasts well with the shimmer of the crystal. 

This shoot was nowhere near as cold as the last one, or as windy, but that coat kept me ridiculously cosy. I like to think I look like a disheveled raven. CAWW CAWW. 

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