I Laugh In The Face Of Fashion!

A strong title, but not entirely true. Today, fashion laughed at me..

I like to say that in the world of fashion the number one rule is, there are no rules. Do what feels right, take risks, play dress up if you will. Most of all I'm apposed to stylists and critics that are closed off to certain ways of dressing, that have created 'step-by-step' manuals on how one should create a look. It may be necessary for some, (by 'some' I mean if you live under a rock and have no access to the Elle mag) but I like to think of fashion as a freedom of expression that should in no way be confined.

Realising what I have just said, I am now going to totally contradict myself and repeat a statement, or three, that I, and others have heard coming from my lips.

"Velvet... Uggh gross!"

"Over my dead body will I ever be caught wearing velvet."

"Who makes this fabric, and who on this earth would ever wear it?!"

 

 

Yes, I made a rule about velvet. Just last week on ordering fabric with my business partner, I remember Carys holding up a swatch of velvet to show me. I quickly let out one of my usual 'oh heeell no's' and walked in the other direction with highly raised eyebrows and a scar on my visual. I can handle it in a men's tailored jacket and even on Santa's suit, but I was clear on what I thought of velvet - never.

Right now I am all about mixing prints. Floral on floral, polka dots and stripes, leopard print and tribal, any of these together or all at once, in the words of Rachel Zoe, 'I die'. So I'm walking through one of my fave fabric shops collecting rolls of checks and polka dots etc. when I come across a group of prints, each so individually fabulous, I literally stop breathing. Low and behold fashionistas.. They're all VELVET! So now I really die. I am now eating my words and will continue to do so all
Winter as you'll catch me out and about in the most glorious velvets you've ever seen!

                  

This is my fave! 

I found these pants at my vintage shop and charity of choice Hospice. There should be a rule against orange mock-suede pants too.. But hey why stop at velvet?

 Got a feeling I'll be wearing these tomorrow, stay tuned for that pic!

Will be turning these fab new fabric finds into 80's style jumpers for Winter, complete with shoulder pads. Which I must just add are another item I said would never come back or should ever be worn.. Laugh it up 'fashion' you really showed me!

So next time I feel a strong and potentially influential statement coming on about some or other rule or trend or fashion faux pas, I'll hesitate and let fashion have the last word. It's out of my hands, 'she' is the only one always one step ahead.

Stay fabulous fashionistas!

xoxo

Melissa Jane

The Billboard And Beyond..

I recently got a call from my BFF to say she saw Poppy from 5fm on a billboard on William Nicol, wearing a SomersetJane playsuit. "What?!" was the obvious response. Super excited, I asked her to take a pic and here it is. If you follow the SomersetJane page on facebook this is probably old news, it's been posted and done the rounds, but the story continues..

Since then I've been in contact with Poppy and am so glad to say that she has agreed to a private fitting with the SomersetJane Winter 2012 collection and if all goes well will be our first celeb client!

Watch this space..

xoxo

Melissa Jane

I Heart Horses

I'm the first to fault any girl with unkept hair in a pony tail wafting below her hip line and sporting an 'actual' pair of riding boots, 'horsey girls' we termed them in high school. Call me out, but any sport involving a smelly field, large scary animals and bundles of hay is not quite my cup of tea. The equestrian influence on fashion, however, is definately something I'm open to and quite the fan of. Designer Ermanno Scervino, Gucci and others featured equestrian inspired pieces in their Fall/Winter 2012 collections, and many labels are using more literal prints keeping the trend easy but bold and most of all fun!

Ermanno Scervino Fall/Winter 2012 - Love the leather twist on riding pants

Gucci Fall/Winter 2012

Jayma Mays (Glee) in Rachel Zoe and ASOS

In love with this shirt dress!

My label SomersetJane's take on the trend

Now available at Mememe in Parkhurst



I'm Back!

Hello fashionistas! Been out of the game a while, not due to lack of inspiration, purely due to lack of time. Business this year with my label SomersetJane has had more ups and downs than two months should see, but we're almost at a point of smooth sailing so I'm writing! Forcing myself, as I rely on it as the one thing that keeps me sane..

Each day I experience little fashion moments that I'm just bursting to share, yet I usually find that in everyone elses day my 'fickle' fancy with fashion that forms my day-to-day, are too quickly pushed aside by other selfish interests and mundane daily life. Other than my business partner that has an invested interest, what's a girl to do? So back to blogging it is!

I'm just back from making a delivery to Mememe, a store we supply in Parkhurst. The boring act of dragging a large crate of garments to a store, unpacking and ticking off lists, is usually one tainted with the thought - 'When will the day come where my job is just to design, just to be glamourous, not to be 'delivery girl' and never to curse my platform heels?!' Probably never, but I'm holding thumbs. The thought gets shoved aside though, when as I unpack the latest of what SomersetJane has to offer and have the shop assistants, managers and stylists appear from the woodwork to covet and ogle at my designs. I say a little 'yay!' inside, as garments get whipped up, draped around shoulders and held up to the mirror, all the while keeping my professional fashionista face. I've got it right, the collection is a hit, and I feel firworks inside. This feeling of affirmation never gets old and makes me realise that no matter how far along this road I venture these early days are what will stand out, what I'll cherish the most.


One day I'll look down at my rested feet in my un-scuffed Jimmy Choos from behind my desk and remember the long days out and about. I'll surely miss seeing first hand the effect of my clothing and miss taking pride in my blisters from sticking it out in heels all day.. Or will I?

Stay fabulous fashionistas!

Melissa Jane xoxo