Amy's Adventures in Fashionland

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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

She Who Can Do No Wrong Pt. 3: Barefoot and Fabulous

If after a frantic summer wedding season you are bored to death of cookie-cutter brides who all look alike (and don't look anything like their usual fashionable and fabulous selves) then you make enjoy this episode of She Who Can do no Wrong. Introducing Mrs Beth Ditto-Ogata!

Yes the inimitable vixen with the enormous voice married her long term partner Kristin in a casual ceremony on the Hawaiian island of Maui sometime recently. The happy bride logged her thanks to Jean Paul Gaultier on her bands facebook page in the weeks after the wedding, sweetly rhapsodising about her "dream-come-true dress!"

And what a dress. A beautiful tulle confection, strapless and perfectly proportioned to Ditto's famously short stature and abundant curves. The daringly plunging neckline was well constructed to support her assets as one could expect from a couturier of Gaultier's tenure. Her dark hair was waved under her short veil and the bride went barefoot, the only other accessory: her lacy heart tattoo on her right arm.

What I love about Beth in her wedding outfit is how comfortable she looks, how like Herself. So many brides make the mistake of wearing a meringue or something that wouldn't look out of place in a period drama. Fine if you're a dedicated donner of vintage, but for the rest? well I'm assuming a lot of grooms must peer down the aisle and wonder who the hell is tripping towards them on the arm of their future father-in-law.

Beth is fearless in her fashion choices, often matching her loud soprano voice with a suitably loud look, she's unselfconscious and daring and it usually pays off. I love how she looks the majority of the time. This may be one of her quieter choices, but it sure speaks volumes about the kind of dresser she is: unwaveringly true to herself. Take note brides-to-be!

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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

The Power of Social Networking

I had a little mention from Harrod's two days ago on Instagram. They didn't even show any of my work, just a snap I took while visiting the store recently and in less than two days the post has 10,000 likes!!!!!

Lets see if the mention translates into increased website traffic. I'll report back as to whether any of my enquiries for services stem from this link, would be pretty impressive if a simple mention from a powerful brand like Harrods could influence popularity in this way. Interestingly enough they originally shared this image on their facebook page and it received a measly 350-ish likes. Does this disparity mean the rumours are true and Facebook's deathknell has already rung? Is this a symptom of our shortening attention spans, meaning we only like to see single snapshots or 150 character items of news rather than larger swathes of info? Answers on a postcard or in the comments below.

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New Editorial. Cake Magazine. Wish I Could

Out this week in Cake Magazine is another collaboration of mine with the fabulous duo of AL&K Photography. The Wish I Could Editorial is inspired by the pared back aesthetic of the late, great Corinne Day's early work. The styling and beauty are minimalist, the look often focusing on a single luxurious piece, such as the cashmere cardigan in the shot above. Featuring the stunning Vanessa Jobb of Premier Model Management the shoot had an all female crew on the day including Make Up by Shino Ariizumi and Hair by Michiko Yoshida. I think the result is an intimate snapshot of a girl, home alone, unselfconscious and lost in thought. Click the image below to see the entire editorial on Cake-mag.com

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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Just in Time for Baby Mania

Right at the culmination of the worlds mania for the Royal Baby (or maybe thats just the media making it seem like we've all gone mad when really people aren't that bothered) comes a product that many cosmetics aficionados have been waiting for: Maybeline's Baby Lips lip balm.

Until today this product, a cult item stocked up on by fashion editors and beauty junkies alike on New York trips, was US only. But low and behold, days after the birth of the new Prince of Cambridge you can buy Baby Lips without the panic that you haven't got enough air miles to bump up to business for the obligatory shopping trip.

Is the timing a cynical marketing ploy? Probably, but who cares, this stuff is great so get yours before they're gone. Available in Hydrate, Mint Fresh, Intense Care, Pink Punch, Cherry Me and Peach Kiss the balm is a blend of shea butter, vitamins, centella and SPF20 protection (in three of the six) and cost just £2.99 each. So in demand has Baby Lips been in anticipation of their arrival Boots had to set up a waiting list, making this product the Birkin of lip balms.

The word baby is on everyone's lips right now. Now have it in more ways than one.

www.leonardfashionconsultancy.com

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Jack of all Trades, Master of Some

Being head of a small company you quickly realise that your responsibilities lie far outside of the tasks in your main job description. Hence I am web-designing away at ten thirty on a Tuesday night. I won't lie I've always enjoyed fiddling with Photoshop and pals, and taking on these tasks has some advantages. In this case I can update my site as and when I fancy, making multiple tweaks without having to send seven emails and have a twenty minute phone call with a webmaster (if that is the correct term, que a barrage of corrections from real techies). So for now I am my own webmaster, one day I will have to devolve responsibility for tasks like these but for now I will continue to be a control freak. The debate about devolving responsibility, delegation, work/life balance and productive use of time I will leave for another post. Pop over to my website today to check out newly released editorial for Berlin based Kaltblut magazine.

www.leonardfashionconsultancy.com

www.amyleonardstylist.co.uk

Thursday, June 6, 2013

She Who Can Do No Wrong Pt. 2

Kirstin Dunst I salute you. Your blue-on-blue, leopard printed, silk double-breasted pajama blouse with white piping paired with black skinny jeans and topped off with oversize dark sunglasses and black Chloé sandals is about as close as you can get to a perfect long haul outfit, without sweatpantsing out. Given the constant hovering papps the sweats situation isn't really an option for Kirsten. And if you're going to go pyjama, then definitely make it high end luxe, this blue lovely is by Louis Vuitton from the Resort 2012 collection. She is also carrying a smokey white ombré “Alma” satchel and a monogram “Pegase” rolling suitcase, both from Louis Vuitton. Despite going three for three in LV she has avoided the branding overload (and any similarity to Alan Garner at the airport in the Hangover 2: "That is a Lewis Vuitton").

Take notes for when you next dress to head to the airport. Leave the stripper heels to VB, she does it so well you'll never compete.

amyleonardstylist.co.uk

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

She's Baaaaaaaack!!

The one-time journalist and fashion editor of British Vogue Luella Bartley was perfectly placed in terms of knowing what cool girls wanted to wear when she launched her eponymous fashion label "Luella" in 1999.

Her first collection had the tongue in cheek title of "Daddy, I want a Pony" and the kitchy, instantly recognisable designs, fashion moments in themselves, landed on most wanted lists from the get-go. A year later she was awarded Britain's Young Designer of the Year award, in short her rise to the top of the British Fash-Pack was nothing short of meteoric.
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But as is often the case what goes up must come down. In the early noughties the support that new designers receive was far more scant, and Luella's business, despite the support of a Singaporean investor, floundered. Fashion fans mourned when it was announced in November 2009 that the business had ceased trading. Finding some of Luella's final collection languishing on a rail in a TK Maxx basement was emotional, the business had been folded, it's assets sold off and the rumoured rescue of the brand by faceless money-men was never going to materialise. End of an Era.

Until this week that is. The news is that Luella Bartley has made her long-awaited return to fashion! The designer has joined fellow Brit, and former colleague at Luella the label, Katie Hillier at the helm of Marc by Marc Jacobs. Jacobs has for the first time handed over control of his eponymous label to this dream team.

With their particular skills for accessories the business is in fabulous hands. With Bartley credited with reviving the ailing Mulberry brand in 2002 through the instant success if the "Gisele" bag she designed from the best selling "Luella for Mulberry" collab and Hillier having a rake of awards under her belt including Accessory Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards 2009 I feel there may be a new focus in the pipeline at Marc. They are due to unveil their first designs for the brand for autumn/winter 2014-15. Press releases have advised us to expect an emphasis on quality, "interesting" capsule collections and and introduction of new product lines, I for one can barely contain my excitement.

leonardfashionconsultancy.com

Monday, June 3, 2013

She Who Can Do No Wrong Pt. 1...

The acid yellow skinnies. Skinny belt. Perfectly proportioned bright-white tank. The front of shirt in waistband tuck. The original bleached out hair. Aviators. Coordinating primary-coloured superhero outfit attired child. Yep Gwen Stefani you're my hero.

amyleonardstylist.co.uk

leonardfashionconsultancy.com

Friday, May 31, 2013

Fridays Child is full of shoe?

THIS is a Friday Shoe. Leave it to Rupert Sanderson to cater to our daily needs. And what Friday needs is a disco shoe.

The Metallica brights are so summer, although its yet to show its face. If you don't feel you have it in you to crack out your high-summer 'fashion-moment' pieces when the sky looks like sludge then may I suggest you have a mini moment in footwear form.

Team a show stopping 'nailing a trend in one item' shoe such as these Sanderson lovelies with a narrow black trouser and wispy blouse and pull off summer without looking like a crazy tranny wandering bare legged in the snow. They're a ray of sunshine in themselves!

Monday, May 13, 2013

One Weekend...

...Two very different shoots

Friday, May 10, 2013

Amy Leonard shared an Instagram photo with you

https://distilleryimage9.s3.amazonaws.com/c9351e78b94f11e2986822000aa8062e_7.jpg

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Behind the Scenes for Glacier Magazine- The French Art of Seduction

Shoot with Al&K photography

Makeup by Joey Choy

Hair by Atsushi Takita

Styled by me (obviously) Amy Leonard of Leonard Fashion Consultancy.

leonardfashionconsultancy.com

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

DRAWN TO FASHION

IN CASE YOU'RE BECOMING BORED OF PAPPARAZI-SNAPS OF CARA DELEVIGNE READ ON...

FOR THE DRAWN TO FASHION ISSUE, V MAGAZINE EDITOR-AT-LARGE DEREK BLASBERG ASKED L.A.-BASED ILLUSTRATOR JAMIE LEE REARDIN TO DRAW HIS FAVORITE BLOGGER-BAIT BABES... INCLUDING CARA.

SEE HER SKETCHY-STYLE BELOW, ACCOMPANIED BY THE NEVER OVEREXPOSED, AHEM, ANNA DELLA RUSSO AND STREETSTYLE SNAPPERS FAVE HANNE GABY ODEILE

WHAT YOU THOUGHT THIS POST WOULDN'T CONTAIN

AN IMAGE OF CARA?? SILLY.

amyleonardstylist.co.uk

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Go on, allow yourself a naughty little video on this grey morning!

From the Glacier Magazine Art of Seduction Shoot for their Winter issue, Featuring the beautiful Tamara Zhukova, a Film Shot by Al&K Photography.

Styling by Amy Leonard, Make up by Joey Choy and Hair by Atsushi Takita . Enjoy.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Stepping Up to the Plate for AW13-14

Gareth Pugh created a tremor of excitement amongst the slightly jaded fashion-month caravan with his Aw13/14 showing. The British Boy-Wonder who has been showing in Paris since 2009 had historically been somewhat in the shadow of Paris's other major London expat, Alexander McQueen. Despite similarities in their aesthetics and their common wont of conceptualising their work Pugh's work was usually distinguishable by a couple of factors. The first, a far tighter budget than the more established McQueen, was often evident in the scale of the offering as well as fabric choice, although fans of Pugh's early trash bag styles might argue this was fashion Nirvana. The second factor was a slightly inferior technical pattern cutting hand and the third, and most significant point of difference, was Pugh's modernist leanings which aligned his work more to the Rick Owens school of design.

Fast forward a couple of years and it's a different time. The loss of Alexander McQueen was a massive blow to the fashion world although in Sarah Burton's exceptionally capable hands his legacy will not be squandered or let go to fallow. After years of excess in fashion (as well as in our lives) the board was wiped clean when Phoebe Philo triumphantly ushered in the reign of clean modernism with her first collection for Celine. And the door is open for Gareth Pugh to take the spot light and with an evident maturity and the confidence of experience he's more than willing. The big ideas are still there, as are the overscaled pieces but now it's tempered by a thoughtfulness and sensitivity that resulted in a beautiful collection that combined the best facets of Pugh's design repertoire: Dramatic coats and dresses, leather, armour inspired shapes, raven blacks and an eerie twig print, all tempered by Pugh's streak of contemporaneous sharpness, meaning that full skirts came balanced with oversized funnel collars or hand draped angular lapels and a victorian leaning high necked dress had a shoulder and hem of Pugh's beloved trash bags as fringing. It was just right for right now and I for one am already excited for next season.

Speaking of stepping up to the plate I can't not mention Alexander Wang's first outing in the hot seat at Balenciaga. Many an perfectly manicured eyebrow was raised at the thought of this kiddo who is famous for his perfectly lightweight t-shirts taking over from creative and technical genius Nicolas Ghesquiére but the tentative common consensus is that he has managed to pull it off.

It was a considered effort and it was clear that Wang understood that this needed to be about the House that he was guest in rather than himself, he has clearly spent time in the archives. The scales and curved proportions as well as the weight and stiff structure of the pieces all said Balenciaga, and were reflective of the stature and history of the House. It was a more minimalistic vision of the brand than we had historically received from Ghesqueiére which is where Wang's signature was legible. A good start, lets see where it goes.