Focus Fashion Notes

Are you a 'hat person'...I am and I have so many I've lost count. As I spend a lot of time out walking and taking photos on the coast and in the countryside I've highlighted practical all-weather headwear suitable for rain, high winds and cold snaps. Recent summer trends included traditional Panama and ultra wide-brimmed straw hats and boaters. Big Japanese style Sun visors have been popular but Bucket hats seem to have taken over from traditional Baseball caps for Summer daze and festival season. Mad hatters continue to go 'over the top' on Spring and Summer race days and lets not forget the posh classic country style (think Cotswold, Exmoor, Dartmoor) felt Fedora seen around estates, dog walkers, on farming folk and at local Agricultural Shows. The Fedora is normally in earthy colours with a leather band, topped off with a feather. Lets not forget the flat cap which has become a massive fashion trend after being worn by Cillian Murphy's character Tommy Sh...

There are some fashion styles that have remained ever popular. The original Hippie/Bohemian style has danced its way through the decades starting in the late 60s and had a re-boot in the 9Os as Boho. Flowing maxi dresses and tiered skirts, Indian style tunics and camisole tops.  Originally made with cotton or linen in a range of designs including embroidery, breathable Broderie Anglaise as seen below. Cool, free is the essence of the style in plain white or ecru. Rich colour tie-dye hipster bell-bottoms and t-shirts were an alternative but as today white is an absolute favourite for summer, easy cool for the beach, holidays, race days, watching the World Cup, Wimbledon, Summer nights and daytime festivals. Free spirit and flower power, emphasised by long flowing natural hair adorned with    Indian silk scarves, or ornate floral or beaded headbands, most popular was making your own daisy-chain band or sticking single flowers in your hair. To complete the Bohemian look ...

Autumn highlights and nothing can sparkle more than the glitterati dressed in designer garb at Fashion Week . Wow the juggernaut that is Fashion Week is still driving around the world from New York across the Atlantic Ocean to London , Milan and Paris. TV, music and movie celebrities strutted their stuff on arrival, down the runway and on the front row. Stand-out moments included those iconic much-loved Ad Fab darlings Patsy and Edina at the Burberry front row in London and the 'face to face' meeting of the fictitious Runway editor-in-chief, Miranda Priestly in Devil Wears Prada and a real life American Vogue stalwart.   I've been following online and on social media and amazingly the stand-out moment for me was a reel featuring a well-known English actor at the Burberry show sporting what was once known as a ' Donkey Jacket '. Since its creation, the Donkey Jacket has continued to be synonymous with the British working man and subsequently appropriated by a...