..Miss Brightside..

While browsing some blogs recently I came across some runway photos, and although I wouldn’t say I’m an avid watcher of the high-end designers (partly due to my inability to ever purchase their items!), yet I’ve got to admit I’m slowly being sucked into the excitement and suspense of watching the runway shows. Below are some examples of the designs I liked, and that I feel even us poor graduates can interpret into our own daily wardrobe.
+ Catherine Holstein

The trend for high-waisted belts and shorts will obviously be with us for a good while yet… and why not? As well as flattering the figure, it means you can bring together a whole new element to an outfit purely with the simple addition of a good belt. I also love the incongruity of pairing a tiny vest top with an oversized cardigan!

Nautical stripes are another big trend that just doesn’t seem to go away, and I think a navy, red and beige colour scheme can never fail to draw attention. Oversized t-shirts are great staples of anyone’s wardrobe because with the simple inclusion of a good belt you can create a flattering shape. Holstein recognises this and paired the stripey top on this model with a one-off, triple-tiered skirt. While I don’t think I would ever wear something like that out of the house, you could implement the ideas from the design by teaming a nautical top with a suitably basic beige skirt… add a red belt and voila!

It seems absolutely ridiculous to place a thick belt OVER a cardigan, and yet this is precisely what Holstein does… Obviously there is a lot of room for this look to fail in a big big way, but I like how it is evidence of a certain playfulness with fashion conventions. Holstein’s collections had a big emphasis on shoes in nude shades, so as not to distract away from the clothes themselves! Living out of a suitcase for the past few months, I made sure I packed a few pairs of cream/beige/nude coloured shoes to ensure they work with as many different oufits as possible!