London Fashion Week is here already. Cherrydial has a love for outerwear more than any other clothing item so I was keen to view the newest items on the catwalk by Burberry Prorsum. Designer Christopher Bailey presented strong silhouettes with peplums on some jackets and coats. Puffa jackets were kept short. Military styling was a strong theme as were large pockets just below the waist. Bow belts created the cinching for a womanly finish. Skirts hit the knee for a grown up, flattering shape. Sometimes these were adorned with diagonal frills. The colour palette included khaki, brown, grey and beige. In all it was an exciting range for women who love a fitted look.
Fashion: Tracy Reese adds gold dazzle to autumn collection
18 FebBefore we leave the delights of New York Fashion Week, let us dip into the delights of the Tracy Reese collection. She gives us a taste of sunshine to look forward to in the midst of Autumn/Winter with her shades of yellow, orange and gold. It’s a spirited mix of fun items to bring you alive in the depth of gloomy weather. It does have its more serious shades such as dark purple but each item is injected with fun. The collection offers a broad range of hemlines for dresses and skirts alike. Also for tops you can select from v-necks and crew necks.
Fashion: Victoria Beckham unveils her Autumn collection
16 FebVictoria Beckham’s catwalk show for Autumn at New York Fashion Week makes no attempt to distract you from the main highlight – the clothes. With a stream of models clad in slimline figure-hugging mid-length dresses in muted, serious shades designed to focus you on a womanyly shape, the clothes are the star. You home in on the contrast panels shaped to the female silhouette and the long zips at the back which flow over curves to a seductive split. Sometimes there’s a cut-out back to add to the femininity or accentuation of the waist with a belt. Straight coats add a chic cover-up and of course a boxy handbag to set up the complete look. There’s the occasional A-line mini dress skimming the hips too. All very alluring.
Fashion: New York Fashion Week is here!
14 FebWell Spring is about to launch but it’s time already to look ahead to what we’ll be enticed to wear in Autumn. New York Fashion Week started on 9th February and continues until 16th February.
One of the highlights so far has been Alexander Wang’s collection of tailored womenswear in mainly black, white with some flashes of colour. His models weaved between urban blocks in a grey urban ladscape to show off boxy coats and jackets, boots gracing the knees, slim trousers ending at the ankle, centre-split pencil skirts with tight figure-hugging dresses with shoulders out (see more in the video above).
Theatre review: The Ladykillers
8 FebThrough the snowy London streets we tripped to reach The Ladykillers at the Gielgud Theatre. We wanted a show that warmed us up in the icy February night and this Ealing comedy transferred to the stage did the job.
When a gang of robbers, headed by Professor Marcus (Peter Capaldi), rent a room at little old lady Mrs Wilberforce’s (Marcia Warren) home, their attempts to disguise their criminal activities raise many laughs. There’s ex-boxer One Round (Clive Rowe) who’s slow off the mark, Louis Harvey with a dislike for old ladies, James Fleet as Major Courtney and Stephen Wight as the accident-prone Harry Robinson. It’s a starry cast that keeps the pace and humour going in this production directed by Sean Foley.
Strawberry sorbet chic!
29 Jan
Cherrydial’s homage to all things pink this month closes with searching through my jeanswear and jumper collection. I found the corduroy (Next) and denim trousers (NW3) featured and a cute pink fluffy jumper (Miss Selfridge). I was desperate for some strawberry sorbet or some smooth ice-cream after gazing at them. Perfect items for Spring.
Film review: Shame
25 JanIn director Steve McQueen’s film Shame, being a high flyer in New York doesn’t harness fulfilling relationships when you’re a sex addict. Michael Fassbender who has graced our screens in numerous films such as X-Men First Class and Haywire over the last few months, plays Brandon. His restrained and stark life revolves around meeting women for one thing only – dispassionate and emotionless sex. Caring very little for the woman he engages with is essential. He is essentially commitment phobic and to build a relationship would be to risk letting his guard down and in his eyes feel trapped. Marriage appals him and the possibility that you could be with someone for any length of time is unbelievable to him.
Into this environment steps his singer sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan), the woman whose calls he’s been deliberately avoiding and deleting. She has her own problems of wanting love and feeling needed. Her forcing herself into his life unsettles him. A desire to change is triggered when he starts to feel something for Marianne (Nicole Beharie), a woman at work. The magnanimity of the situation challenges him. Then there’s his sister who wants to cling to him further, especially after he tells her off for an affair with his boss. Brandon experiences some rock bottom moments when he even seems to be punishing himself to the extreme.
The film takes you to some bleak places through the addiction convincingly expressed through Fassbender. Carey is the best we’ve seen her so far in a role that requires so much more of her. At the end of it all, you’ll still be wondering why he turned out this way. See the film without expecting clear answers.
Fashion 2012: Think pink!
15 Jan
My pink Hobbs NW3 coat is coming out for this season
As we look forward to longer days and have our fingers-crossed for warmer weather, a new fashion season is here. An old favourite is back on the scene – the colour pink! This time it’s not just for little girls but us big girls can get our hands on loads of it too. In the interests of being frugal – I delved into the back of my wardrobe and picked out an old pink coat of mine from NW3 at Hobbs. It’ll keep me warm while brightening me up on these chilly days.
Musical review: Hello Dolly!
24 NovThe song “Hello Dolly!” is one of those songs that once I hear it, I hum or sing endlessly for at least a couple of days. So it was very fitting that I was treated to the seeing the production of the Jerry Herman musical it’s from when it was performed by the Cassio Operatic Society at the Watford Palace Theatre this month.
The story’s set in New York as the 19th Century transitions to the 20th. Dolly Levi (Julie Lilley), a widow and matchmaker has her eye on winning over the cantankerous millionaire Horace Vandergelder (Jeff Eales). But she realises that to be successful, Horace needs to make him feel it’s his idea and see her as the best choice while she appears to be helping him.
Potential wives for Vandergelder are hat-shop owner Irene Molloy (Fiona Wilkie) and heiress Ernestina Money (Clare Cordell). Dolly sets out to make them seem less favourable candidates. She’s also on a mission to help artist Ambrose Kemper win the hand of Vandergelder’s niece Ermengarde (Jeni Bolitho-Jones). A parallel story involves Vandergelder’s clerks Cornelius (Gareth Edwards) and Barnaby (Stephen Smith) getting involved with Mrs Molloy and her assistant Minnie.
Julie Lilley’s light and enchanting performance creates an endearing Dolly who carries the show along with the help of lively cast. The Cassio team delivered a spirited evening – an antidote to any subdued mood.
Going back in time with… coats
13 Nov
Winter’s nearly here and my thoughts have been turning to coats. I’ve been delving into my wardrobe to see what fits that seventies trend that I mentioned in my blog earlier in the year. My latest seventies styled coat is the burgundy one above from Wallis. I also found a couple from years gone by – a brown leather one from Rocha.John Rocha and a yellow check one from TopShop. Cherrydial loves a bit of colour.
Cherrydial 