Hair of the Dog

Miu Miu, Prada, Louis Vuitton and Jean Charles de Castelbajac have brought a catwalk stampede of elephants, monkeys, swans, giraffes and leopards along with them for Spring/Summer 2011.


But the animal instinct doesn't appear to stop at clothing..........I bring to you Japanese artist; Nagi Noda!

The multi-talented Noda uses mold and wire mesh to carefully create enchanting animal hair weaved sculptures on to her models.  Okay, perhaps this animal-inspired look is maybe taking things a little too far but you have to admit, it's fascinating nonetheless.

There doesn't appear to be any animal shape that Nagi Noda hasn't crafted into a beautifully obscure hat of hair.

What do you think?

Take a look. The poodle is definitely my favourite.

(Images: http://www.naginoda.com/top_en.html)

Nagi Noda unfortunately passed away in September 2008 but her short films, commercials and sculptural creations remain as timeless, cutting-edge works of art.

Magdalena Frackowiak: A Sugar Coated Beauty

As seen at Nina Ricci, The Row and Antonio Berardi, sherbet shades are key this Spring/Summer.  April 2011's Vogue Italia rejoices this season's sugar-coated palette through the beauty of Magdalena Frackowiak.

Ballet is back

 

I've decided to take up ballet lessons. Well, hasn't everyone since seeing the a-mazingly beautiful Natalie Portman in the Oscar-winning Black Swan? 

Tutus, ribbons, barres and buns, I very much enjoyed my ballet lessons as a pre-teen. I attended all the competitions and even won 'performer of the year' at my local Born to Dance studio.

Pliéing (well, generally prancing) around the garden, I would showcase my latest moves to my bored yet patient parents. It was the baby pink shades and prettiness of ballet that I fell for. Feeling graceful and dressed, as I believed, like a princess, I couldn't wait for my weekly Friday classes.

But I soon reached that age when ballet wasn't 'cool' anymore. Pink became babyish and my definition of 'pretty' altered with age. I  began to dread Fridays, pushing my feet into those pumps and tying my hair up in those sickly ribbons - I couldn't wait to stop my ballet lessons.

Fast forward twenty years, with thanks to Hollywood and high fashion, my beliefs in ballet have now reversed. Pirouetting into Spring/Summer 2011, russian ballet-inspired designs are just...inescapable. David Koma, Chloé and Erdem present floating and flared silhouettes whilst Erin Fetherston and Marchesa provide neutral palettes filled with stone, powdery pink and flesh tones. Chiffon, lace, embroidery and embellishments are cascading the catwalk. 

It appears ballet is back!

So it seems my refound interest will be keeping me bang on-trend for this coming season. I should get practising my pose and points then, shouldn't I? I know my revival performance to my parents in the garden will be eagerly anticipated. 

(Images: found. Top: David Koma, Chloé, Erdem, Erin Fetherston, Marchesa and Marchesa. All S/S 2011)