Behind's Lewis Carroll's Lens

With the new Alice in Wonderland film set to be released in cutting edge 3D it has got me thinking about the humble beginnings of the topsy-turvy tale. Lewis Carroll himself did wonders with a camera; his beautiful photographs of the real Alice (Liddell) are hidden treasures that give a glimpse into childhood unrivalled by the most modern of methods.

Carroll's incredible imagination has made him a muse across the arts since the stories conception, with 'wonderland' coming to encompass the most awe-inspiring glimpses into the imaginations of innumerable creatives. Yet his tales haven't always been viewed through such an innocent lens, and Tim Burton has likewise chosen to take a more sinister look through the Alice lens. Many readings would have it that the folly the book plays with proportion is an expression of a nightmare of frustarted adolesence. A psychological reading would would suggest that childish innocence is lost down the rabbit hole as Alice fails to control the changing proportions of her body and looses her sense of self. There are then the rumours surrounding Carroll himself and his Jacko-esque fascination with pre-adolescents. Yet, the tale holds an ubiquitous grasp on childhood memories, and the magnificent imgination of Lewis Carroll makes the story an unrivalled classic. The beauty of his photographs and the escapist nature of the Alice stories is undeniable and so I think I will give Burton's film a miss and indulge in a re-reading of the classic and the beautiful simplicity of the illustrations.

Paris Fashion Faux Pas

I have been a busy bee of late creating lots of lovely Paris Fashion Week feeds for marieclaire.co.uk, and while I should be figuring out what trends are set to be hot-to-trot next season, I couldn't help but notice this model and her witness protection hair styling! Has she got a massive spot/coldsore or what? WEIRD!! Dries Van Noten please explain?!

Where the wild things are at at LFW

Tweezers are out next season as far as Topshop is concerned

While winter is barely over, London Fashion Week is already showcasing the looks we will all be lusting after come next season and if the looks on the Topshop Unique and House of Holland catwalks are anything to go by we’ll all be unleashing our wild-sides for winter. While Burberry Prorsum and Matthew Williamson showcased classic pieces with a new season twist, House of Holland and Topshop Unique didn’t fail to shock with models layered to the nines in their respective quirky looks.

There was something a little otherworldly about the Topshop Unique runway, which showcased a feral fantasy of Narnia-esque woodland-creatures-come-models on a wood-chip laden walkway, backed with a twisted willow arch.

The animalistic affair was led by badgers and deer, among all creatures great and small, who were transformed by what the designers dubbed ‘Bambi Bands’, as well as some wild, back-combed locks. However, before you ask whether audiences were in fear of the big bad wolves, stylist Katie Grand ensured the wayward creatures were tamed in cosey-combos that protected them from the virtual elements a treat. Earthy colours were united in abundant layers of faux sheep skin, cable knit and supersized scarves.


Henry Holland - whose quirky-cool tights are currently a sell-out on ASOS - livened things up by sending ladies resembling an off-stage cast of Fame down the runway. A return to the 80s was the order of the day, as the models chaneled sky-high ponies and worked funky sports looks with lashings of paisley in tow.

Burberry showcased their latest must-have trenches as well as leading the vogue for furs, showing off an abundance of luxe winter warmers and matching snug, sheepskin-lined booties.


This preppy pair showed us that military will still be big, and the lady's ensemble kept things texture rich with delicate lace in an androgonous shape, which was accessorised with a mulberry coloured snake skin tote.

Williamson maximised classic shapes with draped detail and supercharged a one-shoulder dress with an attention grabbing digital print.


Not everyone saw fit to shroud their models in innumerable layers; not even this model’s crazy headgear was enough to detract from the minimalist look going on below the neckline… Even with the thoughtfully placed fur strips, I don’t think I’ll be working anything akin to this new-age harlot look any time soon thanks Pam Hogg.

Walking in Walker's Wonderland (in very fashionable shoes)

The man and his sheep

There's something a little 'Through the Looking Glass' about Tim Walker's photos, and I for one cannot get enough of his fantastical scenes. Here are a few of my favourites.

This one makes me want a candy coloured cat, I think they will be all the rage come spring, what with this vogue for macaroon hues...

And this is my ideal hideaway for a rainy day...

Walker is renound for his whimsical fashion shots and has photographed for the likes of Vogue, shooting an ever-ethereal Lily Cole in a wonderland of somberly lit fairytale scenes, showcasing magnificent follies of proportion.

Lately though, Walker has lent his lens to shoe giants LK Bennett, immortalising their new collection in an uncharacteristically proportionate scene. The only twist is the model showcasing her stylish footwear and matching arm-candy at dizzying heights. Only Walker could take such an urbane setting and make it fly.

She may not be able to get down but at least she has found a comfortable perch in those sky-scraper heels!

Alexa leads the prep parade at NYFW

More for the androgynous looks we have all been donning during the cold snap, I am a little ambivalent about embracing the forthcoming trend for flouncy florals and candy palettes set to be big this Spring / Summer. The return to hyper-feminine trends and the idea of being draped head-to-toe in tulle has me feeling a little frosty in all honesty, so it is with relief that I see preppy yet edgy looks dominating the New York catwalks for Fashion Week.

The likes of Mark Jacobs and DKNY were bringing a little school-girl chic to the fashion parade with longline blazers, pleated skirts and preppy knee-highs. But leading the pack was new kid on the block Alexa Chung, who debuted her line for Madewell. Her models looked old-school cool in Alexa-esque towering clogs, college scarves and flashed a little leg in oversized boyfriend tees emblazoned with batman inspired prints (a little Ghost World perhaps?)



















Draped among a set of travel trunks and bicycles, Alexa's models definately projected more of a playtime than good-girl vibe. And the suitably fresh-faced models rocked their garms with an effortless style akin to Alexa herself.

The irreverent coolster describes her collection as brimming with ‘timeless, classic pieces’ and a sixties influence is clearly ascertainable among the velvet shorts and demure dresses. Laid-back chic is clearly the order of the day for the new breed of prep-princesses led by Miss Chung.



















The collection launches later this year in the US, but sadly us Brits will have to wait: dang!

L'amour Miss Dior

These Miss Dior shots make me wish I could haul myself up on some multi-coloured balloons and fly away to gay Paris.

Ohh lala!

Baring it all for Love

Let's face it: we all love a sneek peek at what lies beneath - and this goes especially for those who are hot enough to be paid for rocking thousands worth of designer garms - so Love magazine are sure to lure in the punters with their indulgent selection of eight stunning, model cover-stars all stripped bare and looking stunning. And I'm sure they stopped a fair bit of traffic when they were projected in mass proportions outside Westfields shopping centre.

The biannual magazine spoils us with a choice of cover-stars from Kate Moss to Lara Stone, Daria Werbowy and Naomi Campell all akimbo and in a matching provocative pose.
The high-profile models, known for their flawless figures, are revealed in all their glory with just a few sensitevely placed shadows to preserve their modesty.

Not one for understatement, it is no surprise that Love have pulled this voyuer's dream of a cover shoot out of the bag, following their choice of larger-than-life Beth Ditto in the buff for their previous issue's cover. However, more than merely being gluttons for a bare beauty, Love editor Katie Brand insists the decision to shoot such an array of cover stars for one issue was to highlight the differences between the bodies 'widely considered the most perfect in the world'. The idiosyncracies of these elusive and coveted stars are revealed with a quintessentially modern strength radiating from their stance.

Undeniably, it is David Walliams' Laydee-love Lara Stone who effaces the others, looking much the fifties beauty with her sleek, side-wept locks and stoic figure. And despite being the subject of much recent press for her links to her Little Britain star fiancé, she has been a very busy lady in her own right of late, thanks to the body she is showing off on the Love cover. Not only does she look good naked, but Lara has been working her magic suited and booted in the new Jaeger collection (left) and recently replaced Madge as the face of Louis Vuitton - it would seem Walliams isn’t the only one who prefers a younger model!