Who will sell you if you don't sell yourself?

Flicking through the street chic at the Chelsea flower show section of vogue.com, I came across 2 pictures that started a curious train of thought:

Daniella Issa Helayel says "I'm wearing Issa, a Philip Treacy hat, a Chanel bag and a clutch by Corto Moltedo."

Meanwhile, Julien Macdonald says "Today I'm wearing Dior Homme, American Apparel and Gucci."

Now, whilst I am aware that Macdonald doesn't design menswear, this got me thinking about what designers do wear. Is it OK that Issa is wearing Issa? Should/do we expect designers to wear their own collections or does it seem too self promotional and, well, naff?

Yup, i'm thinking about you, Donatella Versace!

I think this is a tricky area. Issa is wearing her own collection, but she isn't wearing it head to toe and the overall look is very chic. To me this is self promotion that works. Donatella on the other hand seems to wear Versace head to toe, day in and day out, and therefore we stop admiring the gowns/resort wear and see the clothes instead as a stereotypical extension of her persona.

Karl Lagerfeld always wears his own sunglasses, whilst Marc Jacobs is also famed for wearing his own collections. However MJ also drew the attention of the world press to the Commes de Garcons kilt for men by wearing it onto the stage at the fashion show showcasing his own collection back in 2008. I wonder what people found more shocking; that he was a chap wearing a skirt, or that he was drawing attention to another designers garment which seemed set to overshadow his own collection?

I am all for shameless self promotion (have you read about http://www.yourlondonstylist.co.uk/ yet, by the way?) but I also respect designers who wear other designers clothes; they must love fashion (or they wouldnt be in the business!) so it seems natural to me that they would want to wear beautiful things, as well as have variety in their wardrobes. However I think a designer would have to be very stupid (or too famous for it to matter perhaps!) not to wear their own clothes occassionally, simply for that priceless red carpet moment when someone asks what you're wearing, and you can say yourself. I bet Daniella Issa thought all her birthdays had come at once!

What says you Karl?

An interesting point well made!

Love, Tor xx

Erase and Rewind (and the launch of yourlondonstylist)

....'cause i've been changing my mind!

I don't know why but whenever I sit down to think of a title for a post, song lyrics come into my head. Sometimes you just have to go with it!

I think the theme of this post, or a summary in a sentence, is a change of direction. Its time for me to make a change that I am very excited to be sharing with you all, but as usual I shall probably ramble around it for a couple of paragraphs.

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As I approach my mid 20s (I'm 25 next month, despite my baby face!) the fact that I live in a real world where I have responsibilities and an obligation to give every oportunity my best shot becomes more apparent. I live and breath fashion; I think I always have since the first time I stuffed my chubby hand into my mums jewellry box! I always thought this love would manifest into a career as a fashion writer, but although I have truly enjoyed all the freelance work I ave done and will never give it up, this really hasn't been regular enough to count as a career!

This is where the change comes in. As part of a role working for a small fashion website, i had to style the models for a PR photoshoot: this was so much fun! Then a friend asked me to take her shopping to find an outfit for a wedding. after convincing her to try on a dress shhe would've never picked up and finding she looked amazing I was hooked. I knew that if I could do anything for a living it would be to go shopping (who doesn't dream of that?!) and use my knowledge to make other people look and feel fantastic. Six months, and a smattering of personal shopping appointments later, YourLondonStylist is born.

YourLondonStylist is me; starting up in the middle of the recession (because apparently i'ma lunatic!), taking people shopping, detoxing their wardrobes, and hopefully making them feel great! Over the next couple of weeks I will be rebranding the blog so that it matches the new website (because it just makes sense really!) but don't worry; the content will be exactly the same, no changes going on there! I hope the rebrand doesn't put you off and you keep coming back!

And because the pictures on the new website are so small, and I am possibly the vainest person in the entire world, here are my PR shots; I will actually go as far as to say (deep inhalation please!) that I think I look kind of pretty!

Lots of love, and wish me luck!

Tor x