Elin Kling for H&M

A fussy introduction simply would not have done this collaboration justice. After all, the very essence of this collection, and blogger Elin's style, is minimal. The simple white tee, the mailbox clutch... and the most incredible draped nude dress I've laid my eyes on. These pieces are amazing. Forget asking me to choose, I want them all. Available exclusively for Swedish customers February 3rd. Too bad I don't live in Sweden. Definitely calls for a ring around to a few European contacts in Gothenburg. 

via Style by Kling

Animal Farm

"I was thinking about everybody's obsession with being famous" Miuccia Prada said in reference to the choice of the red flooring of her Miu Miu runway. And while the title of this post may be more obviously applicable to Miuccia's Prada show, where dancing monkeys featured as reappearing motifs, I feel it has more relevance to her latest outing for Miu Miu. Saying that, the more delving one does into any Miuccia show, the more questions remain unanswered. She is like the George Orwell of the fashion world, every show containing an almost satirical (or at the very least, allegorical) commentary on the society in which we live. The silver lamé dress with leather appliqué (or rather, the placement of said appliqué) could be fraught with sexual innuendo as to the repetition within Hollywood's fishbowl. Who knows? Or perhaps, in Miuccia's way, she was doing nothing more than provoking us to ask unanswerable questions, all the while showing us pretty little things to tempt us into her world. Regardless of intention, any messages will be translated differently depending on the experiences of the receiver. The more I consider the details, the more I am reminded of the Orwell's Seven Commandments of Animalism, where I am sure many in that elusive Hollywood scene are convinced they may be just that little bit more equal than those outside of it.  

Regardless of varying interpretations, it all begs the common question: when isn't fashion allegorical? Most, if not all, collections have a theme, a starting point; inspiration that was based on something, which more often than not is carried right through to the end product. That end product, which, upon viewing, requires thought on behalf of the audience to decipher and do what they will with any possible meanings. Still think fashion is nothing more than a slew of pretty dresses? Take a closer look at any fashion editorial, and you'd be hard pressed to explain why they're often referred to as "fashion stories". Because, I'm afraid, stories they (as well as the dresses within them) do tell. 

Enough literary wonderment. Here's Kasia Struss lensed by Mert & Marcus for Miu Miu's spring 2011 campaign. Allegorical or nay, this campaign is hot. 

 via Style.com

CBN

Caroline Brasch Nielsen.

Backstage Chanel Fall Haute Couture.

tFS

Givenchy SS11

The remaining pictures from Mert & Marcus' campaign for Givenchy SS11 have finally leaked on tFS overnight. Along with Dutch newbie Daphne Groeneveld and albino model Stephen Thompson we have Tisci favourite Mariacarla Boscono in front of the lens once again. They've kept the same hauntingly beautiful thread running through the rest of the pictures, and I love that contrasting shadow shot, where Daphne appears almost as Mariacarla's ghost. And of course, as predicted since her Paris exclusive for the house back in September, Natasha Poly (and her new brown locks) also landed a spot. 

via tFS

Some stud

Valentino and Givenchy. Makers of some of the best studded heels going around. Valentino's autumn/winter 2010 studded heels were endorsed by nearly every editor and front-rower at the spring shows. Especially popular (although not on my radar) were the kitten-heels, with Alexa Chung and even Giovanna Battaglia getting back to basics (if you call Valentino a basic) with the lower-to-the-ground variety. And when talking about anything studded, who can forget C.Centenera, self-proclaimed lover of anything studded, with her t-bar Givenchy sandals. 

via: Style.com, Stockholm Street Style, Google images

Bright skirts and white shirts

Raf Simons for Jil Sander spring 2011. Minimalism's inverse. Maximalism. Couture Giganticism. Terms all considered by Simons himself when it came to describing the inspiration behind his latest collection in which no colour was spared. Fuchsia. Bright orange. Blue, green red. And in every combination imaginable. After the bright and ballooning skirts, whose tailored volume was played down with plain white tees, came the colour-blocking. A pink button-down tucked into orange flares finished with a royal purple coat. A cropped coral blazer over a magenta shirt with a burnt orange peplum. Purple over red and then pink cigarette pants, hidden beneath a green coat; red tucked into blue layers, and a splash of yellow for good measure. Colours that might otherwise be overwhelming were pulled off in the surprisingly simplest of ways. The tailoring was nothing but clean, and the cleverness was found, aside from the tricky colour combinations, in a fitted tee tucked into a puffball skirt, stiff collars with silken oxford shirting, and of course the voluminous lengths of it all. I'm not usually one for excess, but when maximalism becomes minimal - stripped back to the very basics of colour and shape and line - I'm all for it. 

via Style.com

Simple Pleasures

Tea. Diptyque candles. Soft cotton tees. Vogues aplenty. My idea of the perfect day.

Simple pleasures indeed.