The United Kingdom Fashion Round Up

By Paige McKirahan

 

Welcome back, Talkingfashion travelers! Our passport is getting stamped again this week as we head towards the United Kingdom; while it may seem hard to remember which European countries fall under the UK’s umbrella, we were sure to do our research so we could be great tourists! The United Kingdom consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so it’s obvious that they have a rich group of bloggers and influencers in the midst worth spotlighting. Though there is no fashion week that occurs in these countries, that doesn’t mean they don’t know the industry from the inside out; some of our favorite designers like Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen hail from great British states, as well as some of our new favorites you can find below! Read on to see which British bloggers are blowing up the fashion world this year and see if you recognize any names!

 

Inthefrow

 

 

Victoria Magrath, the pioneer behind this award-winning style blog, is putting her Ph.D. in fashion to good use; her expertise and perfectly curated aesthetic capture the attention of her followers, which would explain why time and time again Inthefrow has been rated the Best UK’s Women Fashion blog by Vuelio since 2017.

 

Disneyrollergirl

 

 

Since her blog’s conception in 2007, Naz Batliwalla has watched the UK blogging landscape completely transform and expand entirely over the past 12 years. She uses her platform to provide her audience with honest fashion advice and her affinity for the industry has landed her partnerships with high-end brands like Chanel and Dior.

 

Advanced Style

 

 

 

As one of our favorite accounts on this list, Advanced Style was created by Ilona, Joyce, and Lynna Dell who range in age from the early 80s to the early 90s. They focus on street style and advice for older fashionistas, making such huge waves in the industry that they even have a documentary created in their honor out covering their success! 

 

Shewearsfashion

 

 

 

Kavita Donkersley undoubtedly has blogger blood running through her veins; this Sheffield native has been running her now emblematic fashion blog since the age of 16 in order to share her vintage finds with followers. Today, she still discusses her thrifty practices in Shewearsfashion, along with her takes on fashion, beauty, and lifestyle habits. Her love of vintage made her a standout for us and her “Thrifty Thursday” posts make her worth the follow! 

 

A Fashion Fix

 

 

 

This Brighton based blog is run by travel aficionado and the queen of simple aesthetics, Hannah Crosskey. Her feminine style with a twist perfectly encapsulates the cool-girl look that influencers everywhere are begging to curate. A Fashion Fix puts all of this on display and also offers a way for followers to get their hands on some pieces coming directly from Crosskey’s closet through Depop!

These influencers are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to standout UK fashion fanatics and to check out who else is dominating the influencer landscape across the pond, check out this article! Moving on the brands, there are many Instagram-worthy accessory designers rising up among the rest of their British counterparts. To feel like a million bucks without spending that much to do so, check out these fashion-forward jewelry brands that are sure to make you (and your bank account) shine.

 

Edge of Ember

 

 

A one-stop-shop for all of your favorite gold separates, this jewelry brand makes dainty pieces that emulate Celine’s initial pendants on a budget. This female-led company was founded by Lynette Galdstone in 2014 and has ensured that her designs are ethically and artisan artistically created.

 

Alona

 

 

A brand that garners inspiration from vintage collections and Middle Eastern aesthetics alike, Alona is effortlessly chic and reminiscent of ancient Mediterranean treasures. The designer, Alona Shelemy, is the daughter of a fine jeweler; she understands the weight of her success and donates 10% of her proceeds to ocean conservation efforts.

 

Alex Monroe

 

 

Alex Monroe is far from a new player in the jewelry game; now on it's 32nd year of operation, his namesake brand features nature motifs in their handmade pieces with their iconic bumblebee design being at the forefront of their brand for over 10 years. All of the pieces are produced in the designer’s workshop in London Bridge, with an accompanying boutique located directly below!

 

Otiumberg

 

 

The pair behind this fashion-forward jewelry brand was more than qualified for the job when they founded their company in 2014. Christi and Rosanna Wollenberg, who are sisters with backgrounds in the fashion and art world, create contemporary silver and gold pieces that work with everyone’s style.

 

Missoma

 

 

Designed for daily wear, Missoma’s pieces are delicate and made to be personalized. Whether you wear them in multiple layers; add studs, pendants, or charms; or simply wear them alone in their original form, these distinctive designs are both refined and whimsical. 

Though this trip to the UK wasn’t long enough for us to pick up an accent, we did have a great time exploring all of the wonderful fashion finds that the area had to offer. Your following list is now going global, so why stop here? Stay tuned next week for a quick trip over to Italy right before Milan Fashion Week!

 

Designer Spotlight: Christian Dior

 By Paige McKirahan

 

As a household name in both the fashion world and among creatives alike, Christian Dior was the obvious choice for our designer spotlight this week. This French couturier was born on the coast of Normandy in 1905 as one of five children born to a wealthy fertilizer manufacturer. He moved to Paris at the age of 5 and used his artistic inclinations to sell his sketches on the streets for small change. Though his parents hoped that he would become a renowned diplomat, he was adamant about pursuing his art, prompting his father purchased a small art gallery for him to take over after he completed school. The gallery held a variety of artistic works by artists like Pablo Picasso and tiny but mighty gallery saw small success. Despite this,  Christian was forced to close its doors in the wake of the Great Depression in 1929, the deaths of his mother and brother, and the demise of his father’s business. 

 

Christian Dior Art Gallery (source)

 

Following this event, Christian began working with fashion designer Robert Piguet and did so for around 10 years until he was chosen for military service in 1940. He served for two years and then went to work with couturier Lucien LeLong who dressed the wives of Nazi officers and French collaborators in order to preserve the industry’s economic and artistic prosperity. During this time, Christian was the primary designer at LeLong’s fashion house and worked alongside Pierre Balmain which, as you may have guessed, is the founder of the Balmain fashion house created in 1946.

After working with and under some of the industry’s most prevalent names, Christian decided he was going to found his own fashion house; in December 1946, he founded the house of Dior in Paris and was backed by Marcel Boussac, a cotton-fabric Magnate. Many say that the house was not truly open until 1947, which is when Christian debuted his first collection. 

 

New Look design from first Dior Collection (source)

 

This first collection, containing 90 different looks, was considered the pinnacle of the “New Look” as defined by US Harper's Bazaar magazine editor Carmel Snow. His designs were not aligned with the wartime fabric restrictions and featured calf length, full skirts, cinched waists, and fuller busts. The look garnered some criticism on account of its overall opulence, but it was this lavishness that allowed Paris to re-establish itself as a head player in the fashion world. 

His was an immediate success and was overwhelmed with orders from world-famous icons like Rita Hayworth and Margot Fonteyn. The British Royal family even invited Christian to have a private showing of his collection despite the fact that King George V barred young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret from wearing his controversial New Look pieces. After he became an established name in the industry, he established his ready-to-wear house on New York’ 5^th Avenue in 1948 as the first of its kind. His debut perfume line launched in 1948 as well with Miss Dior being his first fragrance, which was named after his sister.

 

 

Christian meeting Princess Margaret (source)

 

Not to be outdone by any of his counterparts, Dior was the first haute couture brand to license the production of its designs beginning in 1949. Christian realized that his New Look pieces worked hand in hand with one another and he along with his business partner Jacques Rouet saw the importance in licensing his name to an array of luxury accessories including furs, hats, stockings, and ties. This decision was met with great criticism as it was said to “cheapened the haute couture industry”. Regardless, his massive success with the endeavor inspired nearly all other couturiers to follow the same model.

In 1955, Dior hired 19-year-old Yves Saint Laurent as his design assistant and almost immediately knew that Laurent would be the one to succeed him at Dior. He told Laurent’s mother this at the age of 52 and she was quite confused about the remark until he suffered from a fatal heart attack in October of 1957 shortly after his meeting with her. His funeral saw over 2,000 attendees that included his staff and multitude of famous clients with the Duchess of Windsor at their head.

In the wake of Christian's death, Rouet appointed 21-year-old Laurent as the house’s artistic director in an effort to counteract the disarray caused by the event. He held the position until he was drafted and was succeed by Marc Bohan who defined a new era and silhouette for Dior that is known as the Slim Look. This modernized, sleek version of Christian’s iconic look proved to be a hit in the industry and he was an artistic director until 1989. Gianfranco Ferre followed him and then was replaced by John Galliano in 1997 as he was said to have a creative talent that aligned perfectly with Christian’s. Ferre and Galliano transformed the designs and Dior’s ready-to-wear lines shot up in popularity. Galliano’s name was plastered on headlines everywhere when fashion and philanthropic icon Princess Diana wore his first couture dress for the brand.

 

 

St. Laurent design for Dior, 1955 (source)

 

Galliano also was a pioneer in using branded logo motifs and he used that design to create his now iconic saddlebags that were in the hands of every it girl of the era. His brilliant work dazzles but also brought controversy, and he was eventually removed from his position after making anti-Semitic statements on film after a wild night out. Raf Simons then was appointed to the role of artistic director and was a great success from 2012 to 2016. After his departure, the decision surrounding who would succeed him was difficult but game-changing; Maria Grazia Chiuri, the former Valentino co-creative director, took over operations at Dior as the first female to hold the position. Her unapologetic approach empowers women and ensures the brands' success for years to come! We may not have any Dior in store, but we do have a great Saint Laurent piece sure to sate your designer appetite!

 

Sources:

Bannerman, S. L. (2018, July 19). The History of the House of Dior. Retrieved from https://theculturetrip.com/europe/france/articles/the-history-of-the-house-of-dior/

Sowray, B. (2017, August 23). Christian Dior. Retrieved from https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/christian-dior

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Year Style Resolution

By Paige McKirahan 

 

As 2019 is now underway and everyone is adamantly compiling their list of resolutions for the new year, we invite you to create a style resolution list that will be sure to refresh your closet and reset your fashion outlook from January all the way until December! Our resolution list features something dear to us at talkingfashion, and we hope that you are inspired to add it to your list, too; buying and wearing more accessories and pieces that are sustainable, handmade, and vintage is one of our favorite practices and is an easy way to bring new life into your already fabulous collection! Not only does shopping sustainable and vintage have great benefits to you, the environment, and the designers, it also has a rich history that you can read about here on our blog! 

 

This resolution is one that you can truly commit to and even incorporate into the other goals on your list! Shopping for sustainable fashion items can be done right here on our site as our vintage and bijoux items allow you to be sustainable, unique and chic in one swoop. Whether you want to wear more heels, incorporate varying colors into your wardrobe, or experiment with new accessories, don’t be fearful of change or outsider opinions. Always remember: wear what you love, everyday!

 

Have a fantastic 2019 peeps!

The Master of Bias: Charles Kleibacker

 By Paige McKirahan

 

Though there have been many iconic designers in the past century that have made a substantial mark on the fashion world, Charles Kleibacker may be the most enigmatic. Born in 1921 in Alabama, this American creator earned his nickname “Master of Bias” because of his affinity for complex gown designs involving cuts diagonal to the weave. Despite his iconic status in the fashion world, Kleibacker wasn’t always so well versed in the industry; he attended the University of Notre Dame and majored in journalism, which lead him to attend New York University for his graduate studies.

 

 

Kleibacker in 1565

(photo credits to threadmagazine.com)

He eventually relocated to California and met singer Hildegarde in San Francisco after running into one other in the same hotel. His large station wagon landed him a job as her driver and he toted around her and her entourage on tour all around the globe. It was in Europe when he finally realized his love for fashion after meeting a multitude of fashion designers through Hildegarde. His interest was piqued while in the offices of Christian Dior, and this prompted him to submit a set of early designs that earned him a spot at Lanvin in 1954. He worked there for three years and promptly returned to New York to work for Nettie Rosenstein, on the most highly regarded American fashion designers of her time.

 

Kleibacker for Lanvin, 1967

(photo credits to pinterest.com)

In 1959, he moved out of the shadow of others and into his own light when he began designing his own collection out of his brownstone in the Upper West Side. The line was a huge success and by the mid ‘60s, he was creating pieces for some of the most exclusive luxury clothiers including Henri Bendel and Bergdof Goodman. His trademarks were silk and wool crepe and of course, the bias cut; this special practice created designs that had a true cut look, not one that appeared stamped out.

 

Kleibacker designs

(photo credits to garmentozine.wordpress.com)

After his great success in New York, Kleibacker came to Ohio and became a Designer- in- Residence at The Ohio State University’s Costume and Textiles Collection. His work was a part of a 2005 exhibit there in the College of Human Ecology. He then became an adjunct curator of design at the Columbus Museum of Art and organized multiple fashion related exhibits. He remained there until the time of his death in 2010, when he passed away due pneumonia at 88 years old. Our very own CEO had the pleasure of working closely with him on multiple local fashion shows and events, making him also a close companion of our brand here at TalkingFashion. As an amazing designer so close to our home office, we felt it would only be appropriate to celebrate his wonderful life; one with a nickname like “Master of Bias” is hard to forget.

Sources:

Charles Kleibacker. (2018, October 06). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Kleibacker

 

Pop The Cork on New Year’s Eve Fashion!

By Paige McKirahan

 

As the biggest party of the year is looming towards us at a rapid rate, panic surrounding finding the perfect New Years Eve outfit is rising. With a year as fabulous as 2018 coming to a close, it is only appropriate that we look just as fabulous as we bid it goodbye and step into the last year of this decade. Though some people tend to rely on their clothing itself to provide them with their NYE glam, we here at TalkingFashion think that this year’s make or break pieces will lie in one’s accessories. Not only can you completely transform a clothing piece with jewelry and other fun additions, you can also create a complete, cohesive outfit that stuns from head to toe!

 

 

Accessories can emulate more vibes and attitudes than just clothing alone, which makes them an integral part of a party outfit for all types of fashionista! From minimalists to haute couture connoisseurs, accessorizing can elevate a look from basic to Times Square chic.

Are you a fan of the little black dress instead of the disco ball aesthetic for your impending New Years fun? Personalize that classic piece by adding everything from a head scarf to a dazzling bracelet to allow your personality to shine as bright as the Times Square Ball! You’ll be the talk of every party with your expertly curated style; if you are lost on how to create your perfect look, we are here to help! Check out our collections or enlist one of our expert stylists to assist you in making sure you’re walking into 2019 as fashionable as ever!