Local Designer - James Steward Couture

This is a post I have been meaning to do for sometime. I am hoping to build this blog up with fashion from the high and designers and most importantly local designers I have had the pleasure to come across.


One lovely lovely person and exceptionally talented bloke is James Steward, now you may not recognise the name but let me tell you, you soon will and you will without a doubt have seen his wonderful designs. James was a co-founder of the label Aqua and some of his designs are still the staple pieces which are brought out every year.


James is now an independent couture designer and specialises also in wedding gowns. James is living in Leeds at the moment and has a client list which is enviable. I am going to walk through some of James last season and explain my thoughts on it, however I would say one thing which has always stuck in my mind with this chap is he knows how to make a woman look good and his things always fit well and are extremely well made.

Orange Blouse(also in white) and Wide leg high waisted Trousers.

This outfit is a great combo. The trousers which are concealed underneath the top in this picture go right up to waist level and in thick wool are extremely flattering and nip you in, the legs are extreme wide flared and so lengthen the leg and you can wear killer heels with them. The trousers for me are a classic piece that will last for seasons given that the 70's look is really in these are a key piece in my wardrobe! The blouse also looks great tucked in for a more formal look. James is also showing the colour orange that’s due to be VERY popular this season last season!

Grey dress with Nude/Pink detailing

What a killer dress!!! The material is stretchy and has give so you wouldn’t have to be a model size 8 for this one and you can even have boobs!

The DRESS

Katherine Kelly (she's Becky in

Coronation Street

) wore this dress to an awards ceremony and it received rave reviews and even named as best dressed. The front view is a high neck almost halter look and the spine detailing has been changed a few times to create different looks from James. The dress sweeps the floor on even the tallest person and sits perfectly over the hips which give’s a slimming effect. I think if I was going to any large work do's or unrealistically some fancy TV awards I'd wear it in a flash!

Tie dye Dress

This dress again is a show stopper but also I think this one could be dressed down and worn during the day for a really classic look. This is also a REALLY good dress for the girls who are slightly lacking in the boob area as the detailing under the bust would accentuate that area!

That is all really love the work! Enviable classic looks with a twist and something that everyone should treat themselves too!!

 

SHOOOEEESSSSSSS

So the first of my post's is actually quite unusal for me its shoes!! which I am not normally as obsessed with however I am loving the current trends that are coming through and the colours. I have three pairs of shoes which I really like but also think these are the concepts for this season SS.

Going out

These are from ASOS and quite frankly are amazing they tick a lot of boxes!! Firstly the colour it’s the one to watch orange/tangerine/brunt orange is going to be everywhere this season so embrace it and get yourself in it first. Secondly the chunky heel is 70's which is really now but this shoe still has the sexy platform which I think gives it a kick in comparison to some of the other chunky heels I've seen. I also love the Mary Jane straps and think it adds a cute look which means you could team these with ankle socks for a different type of look. Their £65 and I really need them in my life. Yesterday.

Daytime Dressy

So we all knew this was coming WEDGES their back with vengance this year! and I love these topshop ones for the splashes of colour and again the orange is out. There are super high and so not for the faint hearted or giants like me but I can dream!!!

Daytime/Helen shoes

I have these, three pairs of them in navy and tan. Their boat shoes and I love them and need I say more!!! There gonna be/have been HUGE for ages!!

LOCKED OUT

So many of you know me well and my memory (or the complete non existance of one) and so the reason for recently having no post's is because I locked myself out. I forgot the email and password for this account! Typical!

I have so much I want to update and post on so the next few days I am going to spam with ideas and thoughts on summer fashion and my favourite festival looks!! and Shoes and handbags!! and oh good god I cannot wait.

BRAND ALERT

So I've recently come across this Brand DARLING and well quite frankly its just Darling, Darling!

I love the floatly hippy chic of it and I just think it would be great for spring and the weather today has me inspired to burn those tights I have been wearing all winter and wonder round in plimsols and pretty dresses so this is quite apt.

You can purchase these beauties on ASOS or on the Darling website for the wider range!

This shape skirt is my new favourite shape having big hips its great for slimming the waist!

The prices are quite reasonable and I for one will be adding a few of their pieces to my spring wardrobe!!

All hail SPRING TIME!! woohoo Happy Sunny days guys!

- On a serious note feeling very grateful living in such a safe enviroment at the moment and thinking of the people of Japan.

In LOVE

Hello, so I've been a little slack with the old bloggin to say the least I'd love to say this was due to all the Ravin' and Misbehavin' I've been doing but purely its work related and household upgrade related. What am I going to do today on lunch is go crazy with updates and future purchases I have a full week of fashion thoughts to divulge. I have literally gone into overdrive this month of purchases I desperately want/need however I have significantly lower funds than normal this month and to add to that I have recently lost my debit card. This one actually made it past the three months old mark which is highly unusual to me I feel like I’ve lost an arm.

Anyway so first little snippet is this, all the girls in my office and myself are completely in love with this dress and it can be found no where. Now believe me I have tried this is Kate Moss for Longchamp (handbags) in what can only be described as the dress I need to own!

Weekend Looks

Weekend Looks

Yes I have already pretty much decided what I wearing this weekend. Local Friday night and then big girls night out on Saturday all is planned well in advance to (hopefully) avoid the last minute panic buys or last minute 20 outfit changes and absolute carnage all over the bedroom!

I do feel this will happen anyway no matter how meticulously I plan, Oh and something will go wrong with the hair and make up but lets be optimistic!

Friday!

I love this fit and flare skirt I got a few weeks ago its really flatterriong and has a good stretch in the material (everyone knows this works wonders) also its a size 10 so I'm wearing the label on the outside. FACT. I am going to team this with a tucked in black boobtube or maybe even a black and white stripy top (if I can dig out a fitted one in my wardrobe) and of course my over the knee socks, loafers and standard leather jacket in black.

Saturday

I will be wearing these shorts out on Saturday, they are suede high waisted tan shorts. I will team up with my Topshop Velvet bustier in black, some killer black shoe boots I have, and a little black Clutch or maybe even my Gold solid Reiss one.

Twenty8Twelve Jacket

This is the jacket I purchased at the weekend! I am in loveeeeeeeeeeeeee 

The colouring on this picture looks camel/beige however the jacket is a nude/dusky pink and its B.E.A.Utiful! its a camel leather and is so soft to touch although will have to be careful with the English rain on it.

Hot LOOK - SS2011

Non- Black Leather Jackets!

Want Want Want!! Burberry Prorsum - Leather Jackets

In varied styles with studs or without - Amazing

I think this season leather jackets will be big once again, and coloured ones are the way forward. I love this but once again (at £1500) I am striving for the unrealistic, so I've bought myself a significantly lower priced one in a nude colour from twenty8twelve at the weekend. Its beautiful will try post it soon!

2011 Hair what will you be wearing?

The bob with Bangs is back and personally I am super pleased. I am not the most adventurous with my hair, I have just gone back to classic brunette having sampled the grungy dipped blonde look rather unsuccessfully. I think this look is classic and edgy and if I had the guts and thick enough hair this is what I would be wearing this season.

I think this season is also one for CHANGE, hair colour - the brightest and as noticeable as possible. I think dark Brown, White Blonde or Red (but pick a shade that everyone else doesn’t have I have seen many Rihanna look-a-likes wandering in around Leeds - it doesn’t work for everyone including me). Try working with your natural colourings and remember as you get older you should lighten your hair as your skin looses pigment and so whacking a gothic black on will not be cool and edgy but instead make you look like the living dead.

Shiny Happy People

Hello!
So I’ve decided to start a blog to jot down my constant thoughts around fashion, in the hope this will curb my spending. You see like many girls in their 20′s this is a huge part of my life, which I am yet to ever imagine will disappear (until I have something I love as much to centre my world around)
I have been obsessed with Fashion since I was about 5 when I threw myself on the floor at Dunnes store in disgust at my mum wanting me to wear corduroy trousers (this was the 80’s after all, my god it could’ve actually been worse!), since then I’ve not looked back. I actually blame my mum partially for the complete obsession and excessive spending on clothes I’d rather eat beans for a month than go by without a new purchase I, like others (I hope) don’t even have to wear these immediately its merely the knowing I have them in my wardrobe (this is lucky really as I rarely have any money left for excessive nights out) Anyway back to my mum, she is incredibly controlled sensible spender, and although I had everything and anything a child could possible want when I was younger I wanted more always, I would always want the most expensive trainers, trousers, or whatever you name it but my mum would always give me a budget. I believe this budgeting has directly led to me, having no concept of sensible budgeting in later life, and that’s the excuse I am sticking to!
So in brief that’s me I’m fashion obsessed, I Live in Leeds which I love as many of you will know and I get no greater pleasure in life than purchasing beautiful things! wherever they may be from. I am going to use my blog to show whoever wants to look the fashion I love and the things I think are amazing, so that’s it read for pretty things and hopefully you will like!Thanks
Helen