The 1st American Vogue-1892
“Celebrating the ceremonial side of life, which attracts the sage, as well as debutante, men of affairs as well as the belle.”
The 1st British Vogue-1916
“The time has come to talk of many things, -of shoes and furs and lingerie, and if one flares or clings, and where the waist-line ought to be, and whether hats have wings”
The 1st Paris Vogue-1920
An illustration by Helen Dryden of two ‘tennis women’- a celebration of the ‘sport of the moment’.
So, I know we were all wooed by those McDonald’s inspired Moschino pieces, and then later, by those supermarket inspired handbags (lait de coco, anyone?), but after doing my research I found that maybe such quirky pieces aren’t so original after all…
In the 1940’s designers, like Anne Marie de Paris, took the surrealist movement to the next level by creating witty and playful items inspired by unusual objects that had never been seen before. Sometimes we can get so stuck in the future when it comes to fashion, but it’s always good to know about the history of trends,too. Anyway, I thought I’d share some of these true vintage pieces with you guys, I know I was inspired, so enjoy!
Anne Marie de Paris: Surreal Handbags
(Champagne Bucket, Cocktail Bar, Carousel, Sugar Bowl, Telephone, Playing Cards) 
From soft and feminine to military chic there were many different faces to H&M’s most recent catwalk show in Paris this week. The khaki green sweater dresses, knee high black boots and black patent bombers made for an edgier look, although this was occasionally softened somewhat through fluffy fur coats, pretty lace detailing and silky slip dresses. Elsewhere in the show we were shown long, soft, cashmere coats, in both navy and khaki, that were a refreshing step away from the sugary sweet pastel versions we’ve been seeing. Navy seemed like the new black for this show, giving us a classic look, but this didn’t take away from the youthful glow-it wasn’t long before we saw clashing animal print, sequins and pretty turquoise hues (not forgetting those amazing clashing orange/khaki colour combos).
H&M have managed to find a perfect balance through the use of simple shapes, rich colours and the mixing of different textures, for a tough, but feminine, approach to dressing.
It was only last year that designer Calla Haynes first showed her collection during NYFW, and yesterday the designer was back again to show off yet another vibrant collection. Haynes is known for her strong print designs, which is why it came as no surprise to see a collection full of bold clashing prints, a nod towards ‘relaxed luxury’, as the designer herself describes her collection. The designer has managed to create a modern twist on ‘easy to wear’ fashion, by mixing quirky prints with more classic ones, like plaid and bright florals, which has led to a youthful, yet luxurious, collection. 
‘Street Style’ is just as inspirational to me, if not more, than catwalk shows and designer campaigns, because I love to admire what others are wearing in the real world. It has occurred to me that there are so many inspirational cultures and fashions across the world that I need to have a closer look at, which is why I’ve chosen a few of my favorite looks from across the world, so enjoy and be inspired!
London: expect oversized coats, sportswear, amazing tailoring, mixed prints, and a great use of separates.
Tokyo: expect a lot of experimentation, lots of colour, a playful take on dressing, and individuality everywhere you look!
Paris: expect sleek, simple structures, flat oxford shoes, and a chic, classic and feminine approach to styling.
Moscow: expect a more daring approach to dressing, humorous and sporty twists , furs (of course), bright colours, eclectic patterns, and a great use of darker colours.
New York: expect an eclectic mix of sports, boho, feminine tailoring and an ‘undone’ look- half untucked shirts, unbuttoned blouses- and a surprising amount of denim.
New Delhi: reminiscent of the Indian culture you can expect an underestimated sense of glamour achieved by mixing bright colours and patterns.
