Walking In A Tim Burton Wonderland…
With the long anticipated release of ‘Alice In Wonderland’ creating a merchandising frenzy -perhaps the biggest since the High School Musical uber annoying franchise- here’s my pick of the best to get your own Wonderland look.
The resurrection of the childhood classic has prompted collaborations from everyone from OPI; with nail lacquers kitschly named ‘Mad As A Hatter’ and ‘Absolutely Alice’; to Stella McCartney who has put her hand to designing some Wonderland themed jewellery and also London department store Selfridges who have coined “The Wonder Room” within the store featuring costumes from the film and an assortment of memorabilia in ode to Alice.
Tim Burton’s signature kooky take on the childhood classic by Lewis Carroll, sees Alice all grown up and back in Wonderland.
Alice is played by little known Australian actress Mia Wasikowska, alongside Burton regulars Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen, and Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter. The motion picture also stars a gothic looking Anne Hathaway as The White Queen and Little Britain’s Matt Lucas starring as both Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.
Lucky for die hard Wonderland fans, this spring’s trends also have Alice’s look nailed down to a T.
Make like Alice in gingham, which has gone all grown up this season, courtesy of Christopher Kane who sent the iconic picnic tablecloth check down the runway adorned to fine chiffon bustier dresses and pencil skirts with thigh high slashes for a more grown up look.
Also on trend this season are feminine, floaty fabrics in an array of mouth watering pastels from mint green to buttercup yellow via sugared almond pink- but don’t forget to add the Burton-esque gothic twist with flashes of black lace and satin.
And that’s not forgetting the trademark Alice staples to nail the look: Alice Bands-coined after the lady herself don’t you know- looking glasses, tick-tocking pocket watches, cute mary-jane shoes, oversized key charms and or course, the humble cup of tea.
Spring In A Bottle? Nailed.
Trust Chanel to help nail the look
In a life-long battle to stop biting my nails, I have a new game plan this week. My inspiration? I want WAH Nails, and I can’t get the WAH factor with chewed cuticles can I?
WAH is a nail salon with a difference. Based in Dalston, East London WAH have also recently opened a pop-up shop in the mecca that is Topshop Oxford Circus.
Now, normally I would say that nails, indeed nail art applique, is the height of WAG-a-like chav chic. But I think that WAH are so obviously chav that they cancel out the chav-ness- if that makes sense? Either way, I want.
I have tried numerous anti-nail biting solutions which taste like bleach if you try to sneak a nibble, all good I hear you say, as this will surely stop the temptation: only problem being that handling a sarnie, crisps or any other finger food for that matter, the taste transfers to your snack! Not good.
So this time around I am using cunning reverse psychology on my talons in a tactful plan to make them grow!
I have treated myself to the must-have Chanel nail polish for Spring, ‘Particuliere’ (see above), a beautiful putty mink-brown shade. So far so good. OK so it doesn’t look amazing on my miniscule manicure, but it has lessened the temptation to bite said nails as the colour is so pretty. So give it a couple of weeks, I will report back- hopefully with longer more elegant nails.
Here are a couple of WAH Nail designs so you can see what the hype is about. Follow @WAHNAILS on Twitter to see more.
Chanel interlocking C's
POW!
Tiffany boxes with bows a la WAH
Check Mate.
In Your Dreams… In Your Wardrobe
Head to….
Marching orders at Balmain s/s 2010
Tarnished gold, chain mailing and khaki separates at Balmain
Zara and Warehouse for the best Balmain khaki, utility look.
Balmainia- this time minus the shoulders. Military Coat, from Warehouse £100
Zara (again) for Celine neutrals and Chloe blouses.
Blouse, £25 Zara
Do nude the non-naked way like Chloe
Check out this almost identical skirt, £39.99 Zara
Neutral Delights at Celine s/s 2010
work leather in to your daytime look a la Celine
£45 for this Leather Wallis Can't-Tell-The-Difference Gem
Copy Chanel and Miu Miu’s clogs at Topshop, Kurt Geiger, Zara and Swedish Hasbeens.
Go Dutch. Chanel s/s 2010
Clogs, £150 Kurt Geiger
Clogs, £40 Topshop
Channel Louis Vuitton and D&G bum bag style at Marks and Spencer, Topshop Unique and American Apparel.
Bumbag, £25 Marks and Spencer
Quick step down to Whistles for amazing jumpsuits.
Jumpsuit, Whistles
Go to Cos for utility and pared down chic.
Get leathered at Zara, Cos and Marks and Spencer.
Grab an on trend maxi skirt at River Island and Topshop a la Chloe.
Skirt £24.99 River Island
Long 'n' lean at Chloe s/s 2010
And don’t go to West One, ever.
In Your Dreams…In Your Wardrobe
Channel Burberry Prorsum’s spring summer look with these look-a-likes from River Island and Topshop. Now the sun is starting to rear it’s bright head. Team with socks and sandals, Jesus style. Amen.
The whole Burberry collection contained elements of bandage style twisted fabric, be it chiffon like on this skirt or even on a trench coat for a smart updated look. Twiggy was spyed wearing hers at the autumn/ winter show last week.
Burberry Prorsum spring/ summer 2010
Get twisted, Burberry Prorsum style at River Island
Or try this minty marvel from Topshop
Kinder Aggugini a/w 2010/11
Bianca Jagger and Sharleen Spiteri on the f-row at Kinder Aggugini
With Bianca Jagger and Sharleen Spiteri of Texas on the front row, Aggugini delivered a strong collection of military looks, softened somewhat with the inclusion of silk maxi dresses with digital prints.
Leather biker style jackets were also apparent in the collection as was velvet again. black leggings with dimante back seams in the style of 40s hoisery also featured as did tail coats and a trompe d’oeil jersey wrap dress
Hair was thickly powdered black and featured fascinator hats by Philip Treacy.
Hannah Marshall a/w 2010/11
Marshall’s show heavily featured velvet and leather (noticing a trend emerging here i think). Many of the designs she sent down the runway featured slits in the elbows/wrists/knees and again, shoulders were noticably big still.
A pair of YSL-esque leather shorts featuring their siganture slash were sent down the runway as were many styles of stretchy velour material as well as silver metallic leather. cut out velvet swimsuits also featured along with a striking boxy-hip shaped techno fabric dress
Emma Hunt, fashion intern and blogger. I basically like shoes. Quite a lot.
