Lula love

Happy fifth birthday to Lula magazine! It really is the most fabulous magazine around, from the necklace on the spine to the relaxing lack of advertisments bar the few first pages. Except the problem is, it isn't really 'around'. With the demise of Borders thanks to the recession I was at a loss as to where to find this issue (ten). Just as I'd literally given up hope after running up to dozens of magazine racks I happened upon it in the Lichfield branch of W H Smiths!

Oh and how lovely it is. And so much style inspiration.

Definitely worth buying a copy and they're so rare if you don't get one now you'll most likely have to fork out a small fortune on ebay later!

The photographs are truly beauitful. I never grow tired of them.

Magazine report: March 2010

It's fair to see that I really love this fashion season, the trends are just so more 'me' than they have been of late so this months round of magazines are much to me liking.

Tatler March 2010- £3.99
I have no shame in admitting I clapped my hands together with glee when I first laid eyes on the cover- oh the floral loveliness, and the accompanying shoot of Amber le Bon photographed by Marcin Tyszka does not disappoint.
There are some gorgeous trend pages including a bold toned one on Romany (below centre), and an ever so pretty Cornflower blue page. There are two beautiful editorials, one that is rather arty and print based photographed by Thomas Nutszl and the other is a more neutral spread called 'Night at the Museum' which appeals to the more ladylike side of me and is photographed by Luis Monteiro.
I would love a DVF print wrap dress but must admit not knowing too much about the fabulous lady herself till I read Vassi Chamberlain's piece on her (photo by Diego Uchitel). Thomas Rusch captures make up looks by Therese Dombek which I think are just lovely and there's also a look into the world of the le bal de Crillon (Crillon Ball) elegantly photographed by Jonathon Becker.

Instyle UK March 2010- £3.60.

I don't really go for celebrity covers but I do love Blair Waldorf's style and Leighton Meester who plays her happens to be on this particular cover and I adore the Burberry dress. The shoot is very soft and pretty- photographed by Matt Jones.

Polyester is apparently making a comback though I do hope it really does feel nicer than the kind you find in vintage shops, (I don't mind it so very much but there are nicer fabrics) but as Lanvin and Bottega Veneta are concerned I am hopeful it will be so. Among the celebrity style pages there's a nude (colour only darling, thankfully) trend, happening and there's an ever so glamouress page on Academy Award style over the decades.

Of course in the trend pages I headed straigh to 'Heavy Petal'- such nice things! Pradas new book looks incredibly nice too, as does this beautiful Roberto Cavalli clutch photographed by Bruce Anderson.

Florence Welch of Florence & the Machine looks stunning in bold graphic prints photographed by Andreas Larsson. Julian Broad photographed bright young acting talent- I love the portrait photography in this kind of spread and Naomi Yang shot some of the key designer pieces from the new season.

There's also the annual Best Beauty Buys supplement which is worth a look at- there are some excellent tips as well as the product recommendations.

Glamour UK March 2010- £2.
So now it's out that I don't really appreciate celebrity covers I might as well say the Dannii Minogue interview doesn't interest me one bit, ah well there's one stunning Alexander McQueen dress on the cover- photographed by Chris Craymer.

There's a look at Collette Dinnigan's new line of underwear for M&S- coming out in March it looks good- and some very nice fashion pages featuring one of my weaknesses- tweed jackets.

Mad Men's Christina Hendriks looks absolutely stunning photographed by Coliena Rentmeester and 'what a doll' may be one of my favourite ever beauty editorials, all the looks are so pretty and there's even one that's very Luella ss10 (photos by Robert Erdmann).

Chris Craymer shot a rather Jak & Jill street style accesories spread and there's an ever so lovely 'pretty cute or pretty cool' spreak- there are bunnies!- with wonderful soft looks. 'Jump into prints... and pretty florals and bold geometric patterns', yum yes please! From the models fantastic cloud hair to the coloured socks this editorial photographed by Arthur Elgort is fantastic.

Vogue UK March 2010- Ouch! Vogue hit the £4 mark this month, though to be fair Tatler is only a penny off! But I am subscribed to both anyway.

I like Alexa Chung's duffle coat Mulberry/Luella style but I'm just not a denim girl- photographed by Alasdair McLellan.

Underwear as outerwear- despite the refined side of me screaming 'no, no, NO!' this trend has a strange allure. I've decided it could work with layering but I'm not a fan of the bare middle look. Back on the ladylike side of things my there's one beautiful dress by Erdem, which also happens to be from my favourite ss10 collection. This month More Dash Than Cash lets me indulge in my love of mixing prints.

I've fallen in love with everything in Mario Testino's 'Girls Allowed' editorial; all pastel colours and lace. Can women have both power and glamour? Well with that Dolce & Gabbana dress I'd say yes; Jason Bell's stunning photograph. And Tim Walker photographed Sasha Pivovarova in 'China White', a very dreamlike spread.

Disclaimer: Although these are my photos they obviously depict the work of others. I have deliberately photographed them at an angle so they are not good specimens for reprinting, keeping them small and not including the whole of an editorial; my aim is to promote the magazines in question not hinder them because I feel blogs should not replace magazines. I have also credited photographer but feel free to point out any errors on my part. If you own any of the images and would like them removed please contact me. To anyone reading this disclaimer and thinking I am a little (or a lot) over cautious please forgive me, but that is just the sort of person I am. :) I also end up saying sorry for saying sorry too much.

Magazine report, a Vogue Feb 2010 special

I was really excited to see this issue of Vogue because the shoot with Nick Knight was viewed by the public at Somerset House and also streemed live online, and I spend more hours than I would care to think about doing some work by my laptop and taking lots and lots of screenshots at interesting moments, (like below). Find lots more coverage here.
I love the pastel colours and soft romantic feel of the cover itself, but it is in great contrast to the corresponding editorial! The fantasy theme was interpreted in quite a harsh, tough way. My favourite look was the ever so gorgeous Dolce & Gabbana number. The dresses are among those that shall be auctioned to raise money for a project that will build play parks across Russia.

These beautiful Valentino shoes were photographed by Andy Barter, Charlotte Kemp Muhl seems to have a fabulous style except for her liking of fur *gives disapproving look*, she is photographed by Isabel Asha Penzilen and Daniel Jackson photographs some gorgeous new season looks.

More Dash than Cash goes for a clean, crisp look this month photographed bu Ben Weller, I adore Harriet Quick's piece (photograph of Lara Stone by Willy Vanderperre) 'What kind of pretty are you'- I think I'm a mix of girly and womanly by the way- and I admire Annie Morris' full-on-feminine skirt and simple tee combination (photographed by Hugh Stewart), which is one I love myself.

With the issue comes a lovely supplement on spring/summer 2010 trends; I get the feeling I'm going to really like the trends this year.

Disclaimer: Although these are my photos they obviously depict the work of others. I have deliberately photographed them at an angle so they are not good specimens for reprinting, keeping them small and not including the whole of an editorial; my aim is to promote the magazines in question not hinder them because I feel blogs should not replace magazines. I have also credited photographer but feel free to point out any errors on my part. If you own any of the images and would like them removed please contact me.
To anyone reading this disclaimer and thinking I am a little (or a lot) over cautious please forgive me, but that is just the sort of person I am. :) I also end up saying sorry for saying sorry too much.

On a side note me hair is now a very interesting colour =] I think I like it but it shall also take a few days to adjust too! I'm so very excited for tomorrow.

Magazine Report: Feb 2010

This is coming rather late in the month but I only just got letters from Conde Nast informing that it will be next month I get Vogue and Glamour handily delivered to my door so I've gone and bought the current issues. As I did such extensive coverage (you know just the odd post.. or six) of the Vogue cover shoot the issue is getting it's very own post tomorrow. :)
Well here's what I shall be reading in the hairdressers:
Glamour (UK) February 2010-£2
It's a pretty cover and there are some lovely shots of Cheryl, taken by Robert Erdmann.
I just love the outfit the lady above is wearing- what gorgeous textures! She was photographed with her boyfriend by Robert Maxwell for a relationships feature. Liking these bright colours of these fun watches muchly too- by Des Lewis.
What a nice, girly shoot from Chris Craymer, with many fabulous clothes I'd love to have in my wardrobe.

And another month of inspiring beauty looks from Glamour. =]

Above photographs by Patric Shaw, Chris Craymer and David Oldham.

American Vogue January 2010- £4.50

This is the issue currently available in W H Smiths in England but could well be out of date over in America.
I'm not a particularly a huge fan of celebrity covers and in general they don't affect me to make me buy a magazine (except sometimes they may actually put me off depending on the individual but that's another post), but Rachel McAdams here is a wonderful actress and I really admire her work on the website Green is Sexy of which she is a founder. The cover, shot by Mario Testino, is just stunning, with those exquisite Dolce and Gabbana rose prints. It could well be one of my favourite ever covers.

At the beginning of the decade I was a 7 year old with absolutely no interest in any Bond Street store or high end magazine so I read the best dressed of the decade feature with intrigue and was very pleased to see a Luella dress (ss10) in there!

Steven Meisel photographed this rather fabulous editorial with Sasha Pivovarova and various musicians. My favourites are the Nina Ricci (those shoes! the lace) and the ever so ladylike Rochas dress.

David Sims shot 'An Education's Carey Mulligan in some kooky but lovely get ups as well as a rather nice 'utility jacket' editorial and 'curvy' model Lara Stone looks gorgeous, but I'm sadly not convinced that curves have truly returned till I see many more models with similar figures, still, it's a most welcome article.

Instyle (UK) February 2010- £3.50 I like Reese Witherspoon (who couldn't love the brains behind Elle Woods) well enough but I've got to be honest and say this isn't the most inspiring cover. Photographed by Mark Abrahams it's pleasant enough but isn't ground breaking. Yet I also love this issue and am really glad I had a flick through and bought it- now it's been looked at so much it's getting a tad scruffy!

There's a fabulous article on young fashion bloggers (horray!), and appropriately my posts And they called it Bunny love and How I feel right now were partially inspired by items within Instyle's pages.

I'm not generally a platform girl when it comes to shoes but oh do I adore those bird print Miu Miu shoes!

So many lovely things to buy.

There's an interesting piece on the Missoni clan and an earring DIY. Hmm gorgeous floral bolero, surprisingly from H&M- it looks so much more expensive! I tried to find it in Birmingham
to no avail but they have got some beautiful 50s housewife style pieces.

Magazine Report: Jan 2010

A Tuesday evening, just days before Christmas, and hopefully we've got everything sorted out by now and have some time to relax.
Here are my picks of magazines to kick back with. :)

Glamour (UK) January 2010- £1.00
The cover, featuring Rihanna, I must admit is not particularly to my taste (photographed by Matthias Vriens-McGrath), but what most certainly is? The 'Confessions of a Dressaholic' shoot. There could not be a more perfect title for me, and just look at the lovelies below. Photographed by Viki Forshee.
I also think Glamour is consistently brilliant with their beauty features. I must admit in general I'm no where near as bigger fan of the beauty section as the fashion one with most magazines, but Glamour has the knack of creating styles and looks I'd really like to try and emulate. Left photograph by Chris Craymer, others by Nicolas Moore. I'd also say as a general rule Glamour is the magazine with the highest percentage of clothes I would like to wear myself.
Tatler January 2010- £3.90

The cover shoot with Joely Richardson has some really exquisite photos which are definitely worth a look at. Photographed by Perry Ogden.
And there's also a delightful Stepford Wives type editorial called 'Home sweet home'. I admit it, it was the hydrangeas that completely won me over. Photographed by Ruven Afanador.

In stark contrast there's also a 'Bright stripes' shoot featuring monochrome with touches of navy and red- I want those brogues! (left picture). Photographed by Kristian Schuller.

My favourite page in the whole magazine is this one:

Featuring my favourite art movement and my favourite fashion designer! What beautiful colours.

Teen Vogue December/January 2010- £2.20

What I love about Teen Vogue is the way they mix trends and patterns, in that way this magazine is styled most to my taste out of any. Cover shoot with Dakota Fanning photographed by Norman Jean Roy.

They also triumph individual style, and also bloggers, which I greatly applaud.

Saoirse Ronan (above) photographed by Gareth McConnell

I think the following editorial is truly fabulous- featuring my past favourite trend which I still like very much, nauticals, and my current favourite, florals.

I adore the floral trousers above so, I've decided to find some lovely fabric and make some of my own sometime. Photographed by Lachlan Bailey. My one vexation about this magazine is that the prices are in dollars and some stores are not available here, but it's so nice to look at and is so inspiring it is still well worth buying.

UK Vogue January 2010- £3.90

The cover features actress Rachel Weisz and the accompanying shoot has a nice retro feel in lovely pastel colours. Photographed by Tom Craig.
Pastels are a trend the magazine seems to love the month- and I do too so no problems there. They also have a feature on lace. Some months the magazine is not particularly 'me', but this issue is brilliant.
This could well be my favourite More Dash than Cash so far, with all the textures and pretty colours and layering. Photographed by Ami Sioux
Teen Vogues UK big sister has also decided to mix nauticals and florals! I do like this shoot- particularly those white Louboutins. I have a pair very like them; except with a mini heel, no gorgeous red sole and they cost £10 in New Look. Photographed by Patrick Demarchelier.

Item of the month:
Well look who's popular! This Prada dress was featured now only in Tatler but also in Glamour AND Vogue. I smell a trend. What fun shoes (also Prada) Tatler put it with too, now those are very nice indeed.

Disclaimer: Although these are my photos they obviously depict the work of others. I have deliberately photographed them at an angle so they are not good specimens for reprinting, keeping them small and not including the whole of an editorial; my aim is to promote the magazines in question not hinder them because I feel blogs should not replace magazines. I have also credited photographer but feel free to point out any errors on my part. If you own any of the images and would like them removed please contact me.

To anyone reading this disclaimer and thinking I am a little (or a lot) over cautious please forgive me, but that is just the sort of person I am. :) I also end up saying sorry for saying sorry too much.