Letter to Karl.

"I am a designer: I hate designers who tell people that they're artists. Chanel never said she was an artist"

Dear Karl Largerfeld,

I am writing to let you know how very much I am in love with you. With your classic style and taste I am happy to see you as the creative director of Chanel. I know this letter will possibly never reach you, but I am writing to you anyway, to confess the love for your art.

As you may have gathered from my previous articles- my all time favourite designer and label is Coco Chanel. Yes- I check www.chanel-news.com EVERY day and yes- I have watched "Coco Before Chanel" at least a million times and yes- I follow EVERY collection EVERY season and yes- I have read her biography and yes- I do have posters of her up in my bedroom. Some could call it an obsession, I call it passion. 

So anyway Karl, I loved your work from when you were without the Chanel connection and most of the unique designs make my heart flutter:

The first image is of the K for Karl campaign in 09, taken by Karl to abbreviate the simplicity of his sharp designs into one attractive shot. The second image shows four different outfits from the Paris Fashion Week 09 and I am sorry, but oh my gosh! The second outfit is my favourite, but I El- Oh-Ve- Ee LOVE the socks and trouser combination from the third, it is just so cute! I admit the second photograph set is taken from Chanel, so not entirely Karl's own label- but even so by comparing his style of design and the original Chanel style, we can definitely see his view shining through.

Along with being an amazing designer and creative director his photography skills are immense:

"I am scared of crowds, and I am tired of being photographed."

And once again the gorgeous Emma Watson pops up- she should really know how much I envy her- she has absolutely everything. She's had a photo shoot with Karl darling Largerfeld! Oh, how the jealousy won't stop.

He is amazingly talented and ofcourse the Chanel side of him is definitely a stunning one...

For example the campaign focussing on the handbags, starring Lily Allen!

When I first saw these photos in adverts I was like woah that looks an awful lot like Lily Allen. I then googled- story of my life- and found that it was! and that she had recently bought a Chanel bag, accessorised it with a couple of outfits shown in the media and VOILA she had been asked to model for them!

I have also been watching- religiously- the Chanel ready- to- wear, haute couture and Fashion Week fashion shows and have noticed the unique ways in which Karl likes to present his work. From the S/S Haute Couture Pavillon Cambon- Capucines in Paris, January this year to the A/W Haute Couture show in the Grande Palais in Paris. Oh the gold lion was an amazing idea for setting and I loved the whole theme of it.

"I don't make an effort. I have a vision. I don't know when, I don't know how, but suddenly it's on the paper."

You honestly cannot beat a Chanel show. If only someone would invite me to one!

So darling Karl Largerfeld, my letter reaches an end and I must conclude that I am passionately in love with your and your work. You are an amazing inspiration.

Love, Emily.

P.S. I would love you even more if you'd invite me to a show... Maybe bring me along to the Paris Fashion Week next February for your S/S collection, cheers.

Alexa Chung wrote "Dear Vogue, I went to the Chanel couture show yesterday and it blew my mind. I would love to meet Karl because he's hilarious and different and interesting. Please, please, please..."

- So the lucky thing was in the July Vogue documenting her Date with Karl. I think I might just write in and try the same thing.

photography freak out.

In love with my dress. Topshop is God. The scarf for a belt- stolen from my mother's collection. Trilby style hat- found at the bottom of my wardrobe from, what, year 4? Worker Boots- Claudia Ghiggani! 

I have the SLR Camera bug so badly. My Uncle will have a lot of work trying to get it back! I'm half way through saving up for one. Can't wait! It almost sleeps with me I love using it so much. 

As much as I enjoy black and white photography- a bedroom wall is full of old 1940s-60s black and white posters- I do love colours. Colour, colour, colour. It can brighten up a  photo, darken it, make it look playful, make it look scary, make it look pretty, make it look ugly. Photography is dependent on colour- even black and whites. Another thing dependent on colour is fashions. It wouldn't be right if my worker boots were bright yellow... I have nothing against the colour yellow, I recently inherited a yellow Lyle and Scott jumper which is gorgeous, but worker boots... no.

If only I could marry fashion. Until death do we part.

i just woke up, allez en route.

"sunday, wake up. give me a cigarette. last night's love affair is looking vunerable in my bed."

The bed hair look after a long night out is not as bad as it sounds and we have been seeing a lot of the rugged look over the last year. I personally have permanent bed hair- hence the fact I'm such a fan. An example is an immense model who I absolutely LOVE, Lara Stone. She has been one of my favourite models for a while now she has gappy teeth like me and she's in no way afraid of showing it. I mean how gorgeous does she look in this November's Vogue?! Thinking about it, I first read about her in the December issue and ever since- it's been love.

And then of course there is the beautiful fashion icons; the Olsen Twins:

SO.

From this, and many other hints such as the "beach waves" looks, I am guessing and praying that the back- combed morning look is a good one seeing as I have to live with it...

Going out in the evening is meant for messing up your hair. If it isn't, I don't know how else you have fun? Dancing slowly so that your hair stays in perfect condition? I don't think so.

Fashions have sourced from this scruffiness. You've now got the amazing worker boots, over sized jumpers, excessive smudgy eye- liner and baggy knee- high socks. If anyone tells you that you look scruffy- they're obviously no fun!

I just woke up. Allez en route!

Oh Hollywood in the 1940s...

"HOLLYWOOD INFECTED YOUR BRAIN,
YOU WANTED KISSING IN THE RAIN."

If only I'd been born half a century earlier. I would have witnessed the growing of the fashion industry and the trends that lifted away from corsets and focused on glamorous evening gowns and the ready- to- wear, modish makeshift outfits. 

The fashion sourced from draping, gathering and folding which started in Paris in the 1930s and I guess it only reached Hollywood by the 1940s where is was a hit! 

A great example of a Hollywood star that wore fashion that inspired others, to be glamorous within their lifestyles, was Jean Harlow. She was an actress and a sex symbol from the 30s through to the 40s. She had a charming face and the short waved hair style that most women fancied.

All the finest materials were used. Velvet was a gorgeous fabric for around the house wear. 

Fur and chiffon were both included in Hollywood fashion because all that really mattered was the expensive quality of the clothing.

I actually l.o.v.e. the make- up style that they used. It may be completely over the top, but whenever I watch old movies I am so jealous that we couldn't just do as they did and not to be stared at for being slightly mad...

Other actresses who were inspirations of Hollywood glamour in the 1940s included Maggy Rouff and Rita Hayworth. 

Even Vogue fell in love with the simplicity of the glamour in the 40s, but were very much a fan of the men's clothing for women glamour which was a stunning venture and has definitely changed our perspective on respectable clothing for women.

Also, last year Fremont at the A/W collection in LA fashion week showed a war- time theme that included the 1940s glamour and portrays it in a way that we could present for a modern garment. 

It must have been wonderful to live in an era and city of such glamour, is all I have to say.