5 of the Best: One Piece Swimsuits

It’s not often that the British sun graces us with its presence but the past two days in England have been beautiful!  What better way to celebrate the sunshine than by hitting the coast with the girls or persuading that one friend with a pool to host a cocktail party? If there was ever an excuse for showing off the summer body you’ve been working for since March and dusting off your mum’s thigh baring 80s one-piece it’s certainly now.

The swimsuit is undeniably the hottest swimwear trend of the summer and there are countless options to choose from. As usual, I do like to keep things simple which means that if I do buy into a trend, the colour palette needs to be neutral so that there is more longevity and I can wear it for more than just one season.

Here is a selection of my favourite monochromatic swimsuits that will fit any budget and  feature details such as romantic ruffles, sporty straps and Parisian polka dots. When the weather decides to turn wintery again in a few days, wear your one-piece under boyfriend jeans as a body substitute and I guarantee nobody will notice the difference!

Zimmermann halter top
net-a-porter.com

For Love Lemons swimsuit swimwear
nelly.com

New Look swimsuit swimwear
newlook.com

One-shoulder Bodysuit $34.99
£26 – hm.com

Tavik Swimwear one piece bathing suit
£150 – shopdashonline.com

Best of LFW

I’ll be honest, when it comes to London Fashion Week, I never expect too much. There has not been a large shift in variety from the sheer boxy fit crop tops, 3D flowers and laser cut fabrics that I remember from 2009. I see them every single September during the Spring/Summer shows and it’s starting to get extremely tiresome. Isn’t London supposed to be the fashion capital of the world with some of the best design schools around? The answer is most certainly yes, so why is there such a lack of originality from our current British designers?

I really had to think hard about which shows I would include in this post and although Erdem was outstanding (usually a given), there were only a couple of other shows that really stood out for me. While it may seem like fun and games designing sheer shapeless silhouettes in pastel tones, not all of us want to look like we have just rolled around in an ice-cream shop. I am really hoping to see more diversity next season but at the same time, I know better than to get my hopes up.

Versus

Belgian designer, Anthony Vaccerelo showcased a collection that stayed true to the Versace ethos of supermodels and 80’s rock and roll – a look which verged on the brink of being trashy but somehow worked. There were plenty of cut out details on asymmetrical dresses that can be seen on current Versace designs. Strappy bralets were crafted out of leather to add edge, while brass buttons were emblazoned on waistcoats which were worn as dresses. Silver appeared in the form of piercings, lion crested hardware and zips which was a pleasant change from Versace’s signature gold. I find silver is more understated and less brash than gold which is why I tend to favour it on clothing details.

This show was only Vacerello’s second season for Versus but he seems to be taking a different angle than his predecessor, Christopher Kane, something that Donatella seems thrilled by. She has been quoted saying that Vacerello really gets the brand and even named him ‘The One’. It was, however, nice to see Christopher sat front row for the show, suggesting that there is no hard feelings between him and Donatella since he left as creative director.

Erdem

Erdem Moralioglu is known for his beautiful floral creations that one could only describe as ‘delightful’ and ‘charming’, however he definitely took a different approach to Spring with a collection full of darker flowered patterns and melancholy vibes. The Victorian era was ever present in floaty Dickens-esque creations complete with dramatic sleeves and high ruffled necklines.

A personal favourite was a baby blue organza dress with a black ribbon, partially tied at the neck and left askew. I love when looks are not too ‘done’ and there are slight imperfections; it looks less pristine and more effortless. Another interesting element to these dresses was that some possessed cut-out arm details making them an innovative modern take on the 80s trends arising.

Marques Almeida

I remember seeing a recent collection Marques Almeida did for Topshop, it was all one-tone frayed denim and Barbie pink crop tops – clothing that displayed all the things I hate about 90s fashion and would also be very out of place in my wardrobe. It was such a refreshing surprise to see their SS16 collection was miles away from this with the two designers, Marta Marques and Paulo Almeida (both Portuguese), describing the collection as their true identity. There was still lots of their signature rips and frays but the colour palette was largely neutral giving a softer approach to the designs that were crafted from sheer fabrics and adorned with ruffles giving a glamorous grunge vibe.

Although their designs may not be so wearable on account of being very shapeless, I can really appreciate their talent as designers.  They strike me as similar to J.W. Anderson, who started with very unwearable garments, but is someone I feel is really starting to find his feet in the industry with his Spring collection. Marques Almeida are still finding their way but I am extremely interested to see what next season brings for them.

What did you think of LFW? Let me know in the comments box below!

Midsummer Night’s Dream

Midsummer Night’s Dream by ionarose featuring glitter headbands

Purple dress
£625 – 1stdibs.com

Acne Studios black wedge sandals
£425 – barneys.com

Valentino black handbag
£880 – tessabit.com

Jennifer Behr glitter headband
£530 – net-a-porter.com

Chloé Pre Summer 2016

As seasons come and go, I can honestly say there are a handful of shows that I really look forward to. They are the shows I know will deliver time and again whilst never failing to disappoint. The past few collections from Chloé have been outstanding to say the least, offering a convergence of masculinity and femininity –  a quality that can rarely be found or executed perfectly among other brands with the exception, perhaps, of Isabel Marant.

Keeping with their modern take of the 1970’s from past collections, Pre Summer 2016 saw loose, languid silhouettes in lace, crepe and chiffon adorned in indicate embroidery. Ethereal maxi dresses were paired with cropped leather waistcoats and ruffled blouses were nonchalantly tucked into wide twill trousers to create laid back looks that could easily be worn on breezy Spring evenings.

The lack of strong colour was another thing I admired in the collection. I tend to prefer understated tones that can be worn with anything, so the dusty brown tones of espresso and cafe au lait were especially appealing when combined with leopard print. A particular favourite was the black double breasted jacket worn over an oversized white shirt, shorts and matched with heeled loafers. Springtime in the UK has never possessed the dry heat of the Mediterranean so a thick jacket is still a must.

Chloé‘s target customer appears to be a young French woman who is somewhat polished without trying too hard while each piece, although beautiful, is almost daring the wearer to dress it down. After seeing this collection, I am intrigued to see what Chloé has to offer for S/S ’16 – I’m sure it will be worth the wait until Fashion Week!

Cruise Control – Louis Vuitton

Nicolas Ghesquière showcased a cruise collection poles apart from his last for S/S ’16. Gone were the vintage hues of the sultry seventies and instead a Mad Max theme was present under the dusky summer sun of Palm Springs.

Location is always an extremely important element to any LV show and with the frequency of tailored trousers, leather flip flops and breezy fabrics, it was possible to see why the estate of Bob and Delores Hope was a perfect choice.

I loved the dresses, especially the black embellished maxi dress with slashes of forest green alongside a floral chiffon creation  with Medieval nuances – ideal for the rebel bohemian. The Petite Malle bags were even updated with a palm tree print to fit the  tranquility of the location.

An overall favourite of mine was definitely the silver crocodile box jacket which would look incredible with black leather hot pants and some killer biker boots for a futuristic rock and roll vibe.