Scottish Fashion Awards 2012
Courtesy of Scottish Fashion Awards, Getty

Last night the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow saw the 2012 edition of the Scottish Fashion Awards. This is the 7th consecutive year of the awards and it looks like they're getting bigger and bigger. I am a big supporter of new independent initiatives like this because, even though the CFDA or the BFC help give exposure and tutor young talent, they're a bit limited to their areas. Hayley Scanlan was the winner of this year's Scottish Young Designer of the Year. You must check out her designs. You may notice certain influences from other British designers in her work, which is a great symptom of how much the British fashion scene is growing at the moment.
Alexa Chung hosted, once again, the award ceremony dressed in one of Kane's designs and following on the shirt-under-dress trend she started herself at the Met Ball. I'm still unsure about it.

Click below on read more to see the full list of winners from last night's Scottish Fashion Awards.

Courtesy of Scottish Fashion Awards

Gossip Girl Fashion: 'The Princess Dowry'
HomeoftheNutty.com, JustJared

This week's episode of Gossip Girl, 'The Princess Dowry', was one of the best we have seen from all season 5 both in terms of plot and of fashion. I feel like only Georgina stirring things up can make the plot exciting. We should have enough interesting episodes once the show comes back in about a month's time.

Apparently all it took for everyone to dress their best was for CeCe pass way. Her funeral reception made everyone turn up in their finest attire. Serena wore one of the simplest looks yet – a long-sleeve black tee tucked into a super chic Derek Lam printed skirt, which she accompanied with a beige Fey coat and one of Mulberry's  new travel bags. Blair was also quite simple, by her standards anyway, in a Zac Posen skirt and a beautiful Jason Wu lace top.

Georgina also looked incredible this time in a sexy Carven cut-out dress that really suited her. She covered up in another Burberry, this time metallic, trench coat. She does love a bit of a British touch. Lily wore a Chantilly lace Dolce & Gabbana dress and I loved the effect of the statement necklace over the see-through neckline – perfect for the occasion. And even Ivy (or Charlie) looked pretty stunning in a Milly lace dress very much in line with what we've seen the Duchess of Cambridge wear lately.

HomeoftheNutty.com

Mulberry SS12: A perfect wardrobe for the British summer
Style.com, Mulberry.com

I have saved my post of Mulberry's Spring/Summer'12 collection until now because watching the show last September during London Fashion Week it seemed to me like it would make a perfect introduction to the new season. It's always hard to know how to start introducing new season pieces in your look but Mulberry's got it just right.

It is funny because the reason why the collection is so spot-on is because it's meant for a British summer. There's a lot of amazing maxi skirts paired up with (my favourite) really cute kagools in waterproof yellow or chic nude with a three-quarter sleeve.

The whole style of the collection was was a really interesting take on eclectic British style –being sexy and cool but having to somehow cover up– mixed with one of the main SS12 trends: sportswear. Creative director Emma Hill introduced the trend by adding drawstring to tie the shorts or the tops at the waist, which contrasted with the silks and leathers they came in.
The bags were, of course, another of the highlights. My favourites were the patent leather yellow Bayswater the genius camera cases and the nude versions of the Taylor. I also loved the platform sandals in yellow with the espadrille and braided leather details.

Last week I eventually decided against posting about Gossip Girl because I didn't have time to do it for Wednesday/Thursday and, to be honest, the fashion wasn't that notable anyway. This week's 'The Big Sleep No More' episode isn't particularly exciting fashion-wise but at least there's a couple of changes of clothes for every character. Even Serena!
Blair had a big big miss and quite a hit in this episode. The miss was her day look. I don't know if they're getting too much inspiration from the Duchess of Cambridge but it's not working. The headpiece is completely out of place and even though I love the Dolce & Gabbana dress the thick black tights really spoil the vibe. I did appreciate the details, though. I love the Roger Vivier 'Diligence' bag and the cuff and the Phillip Lim shoes are super chic. The hit was her evening look –an embellished cocktail number by Oscar de la Renta that needed no extra accessorising. Alas, this better look is only in the episode for a short time.
My only question is, why isn't anyone wearing a coat? This is supposed to be New York in November.

CWtv.com, JustJared, Style.com, RogerVivier.com

Once again Serena (and when I say Serena I really mean the show's stylist, but you get the idea) was the best dressed this week. Not because she's trying particularly hard but because everyone else is looking so rubbish. Especially Charlie/Ivy. I have no words for her day look. It's like she's trying to be Serena on a budget and with a flat annoying face. I am only hoping that the cute M Missoni cardigan she wore this week is the beginning of slightly better fashion choices. Her evening dress I could have not minded were it not for the tacky flower details at the bottom of the skirt. Could someone put in a request for a wonder bra for her?
Serena's day look was very her. I am starting to get a bit tired of these boho city looks, though. Start wearing winter wear, it's bloody November! Serena is a huge Mulberry fan, I gather, and this week she's trying out the 'Harriet' bag, which she paired with a stunning statement necklace and a pair of studded burgundy Brian Atwoods that I loved. Her Moschino evening moment was so sexy. Not many people could pull off that many details on a dress but she looks very elegant and young. I simply love it!

I should know by now that the first episode of each Gossip Girl season is always really good fun but the episode that follows usually disappoints... 'Beauty and the Feast' is not a very eventful episode. We do get to see the last of the cast in LA, which I already said last week I enjoyed, but everything else is otherwise very blah.
What's not blah at all is the Serena's only outfit in this episode. If a van der Woodsen is not going to change three or four times she might as well make an impression with just the one outfit.
Coral and turquoise look so great on her so I'm glad she keeps wearing both. The jacket, which I first thought was this Vanessa Bruno one Rachel Bilson wore months ago, it actually Top Shop. I loved the fact that it was cropped so they paired it up with a high-waisted super short skirt and a striped tank top. And I loved the accessories even more –muted suede Prada sandals, an aquamarine Mulberry 'Taylor' bag, and (my favourite) a pair of Oscar de la Renta earrings with coral, green and turquoise stones. The only thing I wasn't too keen on were the two big flower rings, one also by Oscar, that were just a tad too much!

CWtv.com, SaksFifthAvenue, Mulberry, Lyst.com, Net-a-Porter

Blair's looks weren't as good as in the last episode but I stand by what I said about her grown-up style being a lot more chic than before. For the first part of the episode she wears one of Stella McCartney's famous citrus skirts from SS12. And I loved that she went over the top and kept the citrus vibe alive with a yellow ruffled silk top, an orange handbag and orange Brian Atwood pumps.
I realised I failed to comment on Blair's new hair colour this season. It's so chocolate! But it doesn't always look great. It depends so much on the colours she's wearing, which is a bit of a shame... But it looks amazing throughout this whole episode.
My favourite look this time was this very subtle golden brocade dress by Prada. It fit her like a glove and she kept it very simple but chic with aquamarine earrings and and a pearl colour tube clutch.
The third look was supposed to be some sort of laid-back pyjama ensemble but, of course, it's Blair so there's only so relaxed you can go. No trackie bottoms. Instead, Blair wears a sleeveless silk printed shirt that I really wish they made with a long sleeve for men. I would wear it with a blazer.
It looks like now that she's expecting and marrying a prince she's really stepping the fashion up. It was about time!

I have mentioned a couple of times in the past about how big a fan I am of the so called 'airport chic' style. There is something about dressing up or down or wearing odd clothes combinations that simply fascinates me. I have a lot of fun doing it myself and I even go as far as buying things I will only wear to fly (i.e. my Lanvin x H&M merino wool bottoms). I also keep a good folder of celebrity airport look pictures. My absolute favourites are Charlize Theron, who always looks so effortlessly stylish, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who will literally wear everything and anything paired with anything from a furry puppy to a vintage Kelly bag. I'm also quite keen on some of Victoria Beckham's and Rachel Bilson's looks as long as they're not too dramatic. And it's because of this that I'm fascinated with Lily Allen's latest look. She was recently seen at LAX carrying a Pegase 65 Louis Vuitton suitcase with the initials L.R.C. and one of Prada's Mexican delirium totes from this season. So I obviously went looking for my favourite travelling bags on line right away and this is the result.

1. Personalised Pegase 55 trolley @LouisVuitton.com , 2. Trussardi 1911 ethnic print bag @ Yoox.com, 3. Lanvin quilted leather suitcase @ Net-a-Porter, 4. Prada striped tote @ Saks.com, 5. Mulberry hot pint fold-up bag @Net-a-Porter, 6. Missoni travel bag @ Yoox.com, 7. Alexander Wang leather back pack @ BrownsFashion.com, 8. Personalised Keepall 55 @ Louis Vuitton.

she-bag

Some are old and some new. Some a sigh and some a snort. But they all took their name from someone special to their creators. The Birkin and the Kelly are veterans and the ladies they took their names from marked a style in their era. The Ricky (Ralph Lauren's wife) and the Gisele (Bündchen) have been in the market for a few years already and they keep getting facelifts trying to find their place in fashion history. And the Hayden (Panettiere) and the Alexa (Chung) are the latest additions to the club —to me the first doesn't stand a chance and the second is stunning. Which one is your favourite?

I'm off.

WINTER espectaculaire

Bring together London, my love for winter and a very inspiring Vogue issue and this is the result after going through my filter. My usual inclination toward plain, simple and clean is particularly disturbed by the event of the year —Christmas. I feel like a treat is in order and what is is a treat in the fashion world but rich accessories and some striking detailing on your clothes? So I made a selection of a few of my favourite pieces from this winter collections and organized them into outfits that I would love to see out in the street. The keys are texture and shafts of colour that blend with grey, black, beige and brown. Have a look.

Boho-rock: Celine jumper, Alexander McQueen leather skinny trousers, Rupert Sanderson ankle boots, Chloé python bag, Erickson Beamon ring.

Glam tailoring: McQ oversized blazer, The Row trousers, YSL shoes, Marc Jacobs shopper bag, Roberto Cavalli ring.

Á la Rachel Zoe: The Row fur coat, Chloé cropped velvet trousers, Marni ankle boots, Mulberry blue leopard bag.

Downtown chic: Rick Owens leather biker jacket, Aminaka Wilmont flare trousers, Christian Louboutin ankle boots, Balenciaga bag, Marni brooch.

Mimic the landscape: McQ oversize blazer, Chloé cashmere cardigan, Michael Kors cropped plaid trousers, Fendi ankle boots, Marc by Marc Jacobs patent leather bag.

Rock layers: Helmut Lang drape cardigan, Thomas Wilde quilted wistcoat, Alexander McQueen leather skinny trousers, Pierre Hardy ankle boots, Givenchy snake bag.

Daring: Elizabeth and James blazer, Alexander McQueen tailored jumpsuit, Christian Louboutin ankle boots, Lanvin leopard bag.

Edgy classic: Michael Kors trapeze coat, Mulberry skinny trousers, Prada purple leopard pumps, Chloé shoulder bag, Chloé poppy cuff.

[Picture credits: Net-a-Porter.com, Barneys.com, Polyvore.com]

I'm off.