ADORE this shoot. How wonderful os this model please?! She looks like a silver scteen siren with a 90s twist. Our new fave look. Will be donning those eyebrows for work today. Yes.

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London-based student Laura Borges-Ribeiro’s wistful photography is wonderfully soft and peaceful. We love her dreamy documentation of her ventures in Portugal and France  -  those sunflower fields are beckoning to us now the sun is fading and winter is closing in fast!

I’m a firm believer that if I’m going to a fashion show I want to see a ‘show’ something that shocks and thrills and leaves me with plenty to talk about, so for me the VFC shows are a delight – the more daring the better!

Jacob Kimmie was a new show for me, having somehow missed it last season, so I really didn’t know what to expect from him -but I was really really impressed.

An almost entirely monochromatic collection, it was a mix of soft relaxed silhouettes in black, white and digitally printed fabrics. Dresses were easy breezy and floaty, many completely sheer or with a sheer cape like overlay on top. Ruffles came into play half way through with feminine and playful maxi and midi dresses. While most of the pieces were easily wearable and rather chic – half way through the show came a few more daring looks. Models came out carrying small bird cage like lanterns in one hand, viels covering their faces and often they had crucifix emblems emblazoned on their chest. The antithesis of the mysterious sheer black and angelic sheer white brought about a feeling of a witches coven – it wouldn’t have felt out of the ordinary if they had started holding hands and chanting spells.  Then almost as quickly as it began the daring phase was over and we were back to soft digitally mastered floral prints on fitted maxi dresses and tulip shaped skirts.

Despite the monochrome palette the collection was still extremely summer driven, mainly due to the layers of soft chiffon fabrics and loose shapes. There was only one dot of colour in the whole collection – a reddish pink layered floral print dress which in strange way looked as if it shouldn’t have been there.

The finale saw four striking models strike an equally dramatic pose in sultry all black sheer dresses, shifts and bodysuits.

According to the designers their trademark is “pioneering digital prints within fashion” and I don’t think anyone would disagree with that – their ability to merge both clashing colours and patterns so effortlessly has given them huge success within the industry in recent years.

For a label like a Basso & Brooke who triumph bold colour and fun prints the summer seasons are where we really see them flourish. For SS12 they showed at The Old Sorting Office – a large warehouse venue which upon entering was barely lit and barely dressed – the perfect empty shell waiting to be filled by an explosion of bright.

From the first look to the last, every piece was both captivating and interesting. The clashing colours perfectly contrasted eachother and the range of prints which included birds, florals, spots and swirls were matched together like pieces of a jigsaw, the designers cleverly slotting the combinations together in exactly the right way.

The colour palette was of course trademark brights, particularly vibrant shades of deep purple, aqua, lime green, brilliant orange and yellow alongside monochrome and neutral blocks. The ready to wear collection took in everything from summer suits to silk day dresses to full length glamourous flowing gowns. The models were styled to suit a hot summer’s day with loose messy buns, natural make up, bold Aztec jewellery and large sunnies supplied by unique eyewear brand Kirk Originals which all added to the illusion of high summer glamour. It was easy to forget we were in a cold empty block in the middle of Oxford Street.

Key pieces included a sheer trouser and shirt combo with a colour block panelling design and fantastic cut, a cream dotted short suit with yellow and black palm print and a punchy orange silk batwing sleeve dress – the print exploding outwards from the chest.

The Talented duo say that they want their collections to resemble ‘a journey through clothes’ and their show definitely defined this – the colours and prints being introduced in small patches and gradually growing on every look before fading back out to give way to the next.

A summer haven… shame the lights had to come back up and remind us we were in rainy London and fast approaching Winter…

With his amazing choice of model, we can’t help delving into the pictures and breathing in the cold woodland air. Etherial at its best.

… it’s gone to our head! There isn’t much we wouldn’t give for this Lock and Co. hat to be honest..!

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On set for the Telegraph, our lovely Deb has chance to send us these stunning sunnies…

Cutler and Gross, how 50s summer please? Taking a bit of this glamour on our girly holiday… oh, haven’t we mentioned?! haha.

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Lovelies, look what we have found. This wonderful site Scarlett Hearts. A brand new hand – made jewellery and textiles line which we know is going to capture your ♥’s too!

Pet My Ballad! Awww – The wonderful Miss Scarlett Hearts hand makes everything; inspired by fashion trends and close friends, and for such reasonable prices… We love being friends & fans on Facey B, we get to see what’s new on each day! I suggest you join us…

We are adoring the chair, the bear and the baroque, not going to lie… her pieces are right up Ballad Ladies street! And G-G-G Guuuys, guess what. We have a 10% off code, just for you for the whole month of March. Just quote BALLADOF when you place your order. Aren’t we good to you?!

Happy Shopping! And a massive thanks to Scarlett Hearts

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