The days are gradually getting longer, the sun is showing its pretty face and the sweet promise of spring is in the air.  I'm so excited that it will soon be time to swap our heavy layers for something lighter and fresher.  With that in mind, here is my compilation of the top 10 trends you'll be seeing in the shops and on the street very soon:
1.  All beige - an unexpected trend as it tends to be associated with a safer and more mature audience, beige all over will be a big hit, as seen at Balmain, Burberry and Max Mara.   This neutral shade will be especially popular for utility, tailored and glamorous looks.  Add a small accent of a bold colour from the crayon spectrum to make it more exciting and current, whether as a bag, shoe or accessory.   Style tip: hold various shades up to your face before committing to buy as some will wash you out and others will make you glow depending on your skin tone.
2.  Lace reworked - for spring, lace will be chopped up and worked into sections of garments, rather than making up a whole piece.  Seen at Erdem, Christopher Kane and Alexander Wang, lace will now be refreshingly edgy or slipped into masculine silhouettes. 
3.  Fluffy textures - fringe and feathers were all over the runway, whether as a trim to add extra dimension to a day look, or all over for evening luxe appeal.  Givenchy, Loewe and Valentino were just a few designers to celebrate daily fluff.
4.  Big hats - vintage vibes abound, this one brings to mind '70s summertime indulgence and '80s power dressing.  Seen at Giorgio Armani, Chanel and Moschino, a big hat is a quick and easy way to make any outfit feel fierce.  Style tip: consider the size of the hat compared to the size of your face, for instance a super-large brim will drown petite features.
5.   Clashing prints - as with the 'all beige' trend, this look is mean to be worn all over but it's the polar opposite to beige's plain mood.  Bold prints, in bold colours, are mish-mashed together, the more insane the better.  Seen at Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana and Paco Rabanne.
6.  Acid wash denim - I'm so happy that the '80s is here to stay for now!  One of many ways the decade has been revived is with acid wash denim, as seen at Isabel Marant, Lemaire and Off-White.
7.  Utility - make way for practical clothing that is comfortable and multi-functional; think pockets everywhere and a revival of cargo trousers.   Alberta Ferretti, Sacai and Marine Serre were but a few designers to play with this trend.
8.  Waistcoats - whether cropped and tailored or loose and over-sized, waistcoats will be a quick and easy way to update a basic outfit.  Proenza Schouler, Tibi and Louis Vuitton demonstrate some of the ways to rock a waistcoat in spring.
9.  Blazers - worn with casual mini skirts, dresses or eveningwear, blazers will be another way to instantly elevate an outfit and add major confidence.   Seen at Gucci, Marc Jacobs and Miu Miu, some of the varied ways to rock a blazer will be oversized or in vibrant blocks of crayon shades.
10.  Sequins - don't neglect that sequinned dress in a dusty corner of your wardrobe because this spring it will be on trend and can be worn as daywear, as well as eveningwear, as shown at the Ashish, Halpern and House of Holland runway shows. 
 
Some of these trends will be incorporated into our Virgo Punk SS19 collection and I look forward to sharing more very soon!  

It's that time of the year where it feels like winter will never end and, if you're anything like me, you just wanna hibernate.  Venturing outside seems like a massive chore, getting layered up to brave the chill wind and long nights, though it is possible to be both warm and on-trend this season. 

One of my favourite fashion bloggers is Jenny Mustard; she has her own unique style which is chic, minimal and sustainable.  Here is one of her recent vids showing us how easy it is to look damn good while being perfectly cosy, making good use of pieces that a lot of us already have in our wardrobes.  WARNING: you may find yourself going out more just so you can have fun trying these ideas out!

I especially love the double jacket tip, making use of those light jackets that usually get neglected at this time of year, as well as the jumper dress with the trending chain belt.  Which tips are you going to incorporate next time you brave the cold?  

Introducing the new Vintage French campaign which I had the pleasure of being involved with recently.  Neil Dawson's agency and Photographer Alex Bamford cooked up the genius idea of a mime expressing sheer ecstasy at the opulent range of furniture to be found at Vintage French by opening drawers, leaning on foot stools and so on though of course you can't SEE the furniture because that would make a mime's job redundant!  The photos were given an aged effect when retouched which really works with the brand's USP of selling aged and magical pieces.  The inspiration for the mime himself was Marcel Marceau who was a French actor and mime artist from the 1940s; our Vintage French mime therefore had a costume inspired by Marcel's look, down to the flower in his hat.  The top tended to distort and bunch up while actor Dom skilfully changed pose and so HMUA Ela kindly assisted me in sewing brave Dom's top to his trousers so that the outfit would behave while moving.  I always love the result when a group of creatives put their heads together.  Click here for a related press release from Vintage French.

Gaultier's Autumn 2018 collection is possibly my favourite of the season.  The French genius has reinvented the tuxedo in ways you could never imagine.  Fusing sumptuous textures, such as velvet and feathers, with crisp black and white and then adding a twist of both the East and a cyberpunk vibe, he has created a collection that has to be viewed and savoured several times to really take in how very clever it all is.  Gaultier's AW18 collection also blurs the lines between the genders which makes it even more current, exciting and accessible to everyone.  Here are just a few of my favourite looks (click on image to view full-size), all from Vogue.com where you can view the whole collection: www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/fall-2018-couture/jean-paul-gaultier

I was excited to work on a mock news pilot for Channel 4.  Produced by Electric Ray, it looks at current affairs in a new and random way, perfect if you enjoyed watching Brass Eye or Spitting Image.  It's available between July and August - www.channel4.com/programmes/news-crack/ Which sketch is your favourite? 

If you are passionate about sustainability and diversity, like I am, then Biscuit Couture is a designer to watch out for.  Seeb lovlingly hand-crafts lingerie for all genders and it was a pleasure to collaborate with her on a lookbook for her two latest designs, the gingham and unicorn panties.  We had a fun day shooting with gorgeous trans model Selina.  I styled and photographed the shoot, keeping the aesthetic light and playful to match the kawaii (cute) panties.  A highlight was snapping Selina juggling and chasing bouncy balls around the room!  To check out Seeb's blog and the gorgeous variety of lingerie, corset and bow-tie designs she has available please visit 
biscuitcouture.com/panties-for-all-gender-identities-photo-set/ 
​Let's break free from social constricts and enjoy being true to ourselves! 

Female creatures emerge from the sea swathed completely in plastic garments; they have arrived on land with a fierce message for humans to reduce plastic waste which currently accounts for 90% of the oceans’ pollution.  

I had great fun turning various plastic materials into four distinct looks while the models were getting their hair and makeup done for each look.  The shoot wouldn't have been possible without the talent and hard work of Photographer Alex Bamford, HMUAS Brittany Jamison-Lackey and Elżbieta Zakościelna or models Nelly Fee and Denisa Jahlová.  Check out issue 182 or the visuals on the Fashion page. 

Every season we are presented with so many trend options that it can get overwhelming to know what to focus on.  After looking through nearly a hundred SS18 collections I present five key trends to incorporate into your wardrobe that will leave you wanting more.

1. Feathers, fringe and fluff – seen at Balmain, Erdem and Moschino just to mention a few, adding feathers and fringe to clothing and accessories is a tactile way to stay ahead of the game.   Add to sleeves, the hem of a skirt or as panels furnishing a whole dress but just check that care label before washing so your Swan Lake garment doesn’t become a bird’s nest.
2. Ruffles – seen at Balmain, Chanel and Rodarte, the ruffle trend isn’t going anywhere.  Wear all-over for a dramatic entrance or wear on your smaller half if you are top or bottom heavy.
3. Shoulder armour – big, fierce shoulders were seen at Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen and Lanvin.  A revival of the ‘80s trend which was a revival of the ‘40s trend, this season it means business.  This trend comes in several guises, whether a sharply-padded blazer or over-the-top shoulder puffs on blouses, and is great for bottom-heavy gals. 
4. Rehash – check out the shows of Alexander Wang, Christopher Kane or Vivienne Westwood and you’ll find garments that have asymmetrical cut-outs or extra fabrics attached in unexpected places.  Not for wallflowers, this trend will get you seen.  Then again, if you’re a little shy now might be a good time to embrace this eccentric trend which will boost your confidence for its bravery.
5. Pastel pretty – seen at Tom Ford, Michael Kors and Victoria Beckham, wearing head-to-toe pastels is massive this season.  You can do this by matching a dress and shoes or layer separates in the same pastel colour.  Experiment by bringing different pastel shades up to your face first to see which ones make your skin and eyes glow and then commit to a whole outfit in that shade!

Bonus trend tip: the Pantone shade for SS18 is ultra violet so grab a garment in this shade to incorporate in your wardrobe.  If this vivid colour doesn’t work for you as a garment then buy an ultra-violet accessory instead.

Guys tend to prefer function over fashion though you’re probably being trendy without realising it – ripped jeans and muscle shirts, anyone?  Incorporating a little sprinkle of current trends into our style will keep us feeling fresh and youthful every day so read on for five accessible trends to be aware of this season.
 

1. Tone it up – wearing one colour tone all over is a big trend for both men and women.  Matching the tone of your top, bottoms and even shoes is a current way to make use of what you already own or an excuse to buy those gleaming white trainers so that they complement those white jeans.  Whether it’s safe navy or black, neutral mid-shades like khaki or whether you’re feeling a little brave and want to have fun with pastels, wearing one block colour tone from head to toe will get you in the know.
2. Don’t side-step the side stripes – designers were inspired to revive the ‘90s side-trouser stripe trend for this season, as seen at Balmain, Prada and Valentino.  The key to keeping them current is to match them with non-sporty garments, for instance a casual slim-fit shirt or crisp denim jacket.  Side-stripes don’t just mean baggy pop-ups (I had a pair the first time round!) as we are also talking slim and skinny-fit too.  Who says comfort can’t look good?
3. Check it out – checkered clothes are always in style though the current way to work this trend is to wear large and more complex check patterns – step away from the gingham!  Balance is key so wear one statement check, be it a top, bottoms, or outer, but keep the rest of the outfit unprinted so that each garment isn’t competing for the limelight.
4. Shirts of the tropics – if the mention of a tropical shirt brings you out in a cold sweat with visions of Ace Ventura and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas then you can breathe a sigh of relief because this season the tropical shirt is understated.  Grab a shirt with two or three colours in neutral or pastel colours and pair with dark bottoms for a mature take on the tropical shirt – rainbows need not apply.
5. Layer game – if last season was all about the single layer then this season it’s a case of more is more. The key to trendy layering is by adding shorter tops over longer tops, for instance long-line tees peeking from under jackets or shorter tops.  This trend is great for guys with a straight up-and-down figure as you can create more volume but still be in balance.