Inside-Out – The Official Topshop Blog

Oh how we want to be Miss Vogue! Not only is she the little sister of the ultimate fashion bible that is British Vogue but she also gets to wear custom made Topshop. Out of all the cool girls on the British scene, Cara Delevingne is the model everyone wants to be so it was no surprise to see her crowned the Queen of teens, starring on Miss Vogue’s first ever cover.

Ever since we heard about the magazine’s launch, us Topshop girls have been ridiculously excited! While we love reading British Vogue cover-to-cover, the truth is that we can only ever dream about getting our mitts on a handful of the clothes so a magazine created by the same amazing team but aimed at younger girls sounded right up our street.

So can you imagine how thrilled we were when Miss Vogue asked us to custom make an outfit inspired by our Topshop Unique AW13 collection for the only and only Cara Delevingne to wear! Not only did she open our London Fashion Week show held at the Tate Modern but she also starred in our very own Harlem Shake Youtube video that went well and truly viral back in February with over a million views in a week.

Backstage at Topshop Unique AW13

Cara’s super cute pastel pink sequin bralet was made by the amazing pattern cutting team here at Topshop HQ just for Cara and yes, before you ask, that cropped polo top saying Miss Vogue is a one-off Topshop creation too! You can buy it here however and set about customising it yourself and if you love the pink sequin prom skirt worn by Cara on Miss Vogue’s cover (seen in the snap above), it will be available to buy in September  when Unique AW13 is set to land.

Make sure you don’t miss out and get your hands on June’s edition of British Vogue which is out on Monday 6th and which Miss Vogue comes with! Happy reading…

We have a serious crush on Simone Rocha’s clothes! Ever since we first laid eyes on her laser cut skirts and see-through heeled brogues, we’ve been head over heels for her awkwardly girly aesthetic so when her perfectly cut Pepto-Bismol neoprene coat opened the show, it was love at first sight for AW13.

Walk This Way

Twin Magazine’s fashion editor – and Topshop style icon – Celestine Cooney was backstage to make sure the girls were preened and styled in Simone Rocha’s off-kilter way. Wearing a key-hole cut-out dress from Simone’s last collection and some rad Balenciaga boots, Celestine was was incredibly hands on talking through not just how the clothes should sit but how the models should be working them. “She’s not a lady! This girl is cool and confident,” said Celestine as she spoke to one of the models about their walk, “more angry!” It’s clear Celestine has a clear idea of the Simone-wearing-girl and she’s not a wallflower despite the bows she may wear in her hair.

Messy Hair Don’t Care

The hair look at Simone Rocha was a breath of fresh air. This season it’s been all about the slicked back, gel-heavy pony tails and we were happy to see something a little different in the form of a fizzy couldn’t-care-less bouffant. Stylist James Pecis backcombed the front of the hair into a scruffy quiff and folded the back locks into a bun-cum-ponytail that sprouted loose pieces of hair so it all looked like the remains of a “posh” salon hair-do the night before. It was in the same idea of hair that had already been partied in that the girls’ beauty was set: little face make-up, a dash of mascara and a touch of pinky balm on the lips.

On The Catwalk 

Sat front row… It was a family affair with Simone’s very proud parents (her dad’s the designer John Rocha) sat front row with Louise Wilson who taught Simone on her Fashion MA at Central Saint Martins.

The collection in 5 words… Furry, shiny, granny, prim, pink!

Playlist… Girly vocals to upbeat tracks like ‘Walking Disaster’, all curated by her little bro Max Rocha. As you’ll see from her collection, the girls were anything but!

What we loved… The fabrications begged to be touched: the Pepto-Bismol pink dresses and co-ords at the start were made of neoprene and a cool wafer mesh, and there were sparkly tweeds, hand crochets and patent leather (the fabric of London Fashion Week for sure). There was a stiffness to the fabrics that was perfect for the ladylike silhouettes Simone sent down the cawtwalk.

Hero piece… A clear plastic tortoiseshell skirt in an A-line shape, giving a cheeky glimpse of legs underneath and her heeled velvet slippers!

Inspired by… Simone’s grannies. The collection was called ‘Respect Your Elders’ and the neat co-ordinated dresses and jackets, smart coats and granny bags paid tribute to the stylish ladies that influenced Simone growing up.

End notes… This was a collection that we were really looking forward to seeing. At a mere 26 years of age, Simone is a young talent that London can really be proud of. It may have been more ladylike than we’ve seen before but her crochet glasses, use of leopard faux fur and bowed veils were a reminder that Simone’s girl is still brimming with the off-kilter charm she’s making her own.

Re-watch the Simone Rocha AW13 show on Topshop.com, check out our live coverage of London Fashion Week over on our Twitter and keep coming back to Inside-Out for more news from Unique as well as all the NEWGEN talent showing at the Topshop Showspace!

Who… Dazed’s fashion team came out in force to support the designer and the magazine’s Fashion Editor Karen Langley who was behind the sleek and chic styling.

The collection in five words…  Minimal goes to the future.

The girls on the catwalk… Modern young women all pale-faced and serene.

Hair & Beauty… Hair was tied in low scruffy buns in a side parting and topped off with a backwards hair band. Beauty stuck close to the current trend for natural beautiful skin and very little eye make-up. These girls were all about threads.

What we loved… The layers! Turtle necks underneath tank tops atop of midi skirts that fell in stark shapes and geometric lines. Blue and yellow also turned out to be very happy bedfellows.

Hero piece… A mustard yellow woollen overcoat. Who cares what’s underneath when your jacket is this gorgeous?

End notes… Separates to die for. Nascimento is proving himself to be a the go-to young designer for swoon-worthy everyday classics.

J.W. Anderson is a man who does minimalism with a difference. He’s the hottest designer in London right now (if you haven’t already, make sure you check out his latest Topshop collaboration) and all the most important people from Carine Roitfeld to Cathy Horyn were sat front row with high expectations.

We hung out backstage to find the designer back to his old tricks once again, playing with his signature boy-meets-girl aesthetic that the fashion industry have come to praise him for.

Stylists, Models, Movers and Shakers

Stylist and Anderson’s right hand man, Benjamin Bruno, was very calm amongst the backstage madness exclaiming, “I’m just excited to see it all!” Us too, Bruno, us too!

No Make-up is Good Make-up

Legendary Val Garland from Streeters was behind the make-up for Jonathan’s show. Unlike Garland’s previous day’s work at the Vivienne Westwood show, that was all circus inspired and crazy shades of blue, she kept things to a complete minimal. Garland gave all the models a creamy dewy base, a strong boyish brow and simply left the rest looking natural.

Hair Stiff as a Board

Paul Hanlon had no qualms about transforming the models smooth locks into solid planks of hair that seemed to hover above the shoulders in straight lines. Our favourite moment was seeing the stylists holding the girls hair up in front of a piece of card and dousing it with endless cans of hair spray.

On the Catwalk 

Front row… Alexa Chung rocking a JW x Topshop patent leather skirt, Tallulah Harlech in head-to-toe J.W.Anderson, Angela Scanlon, Daisy Lowe and the majority of the cool London massive!

The collection in 5 words… leather, slouch, boy, asymmetry, austere.

The girls on the catwalk… Topshop Unique girls Ashleigh and Julianna were back in the building!

Playlist… Bass heavy techno that wouldn’t have been a miss at a Berlin super club.

What we loved… Bold bands of bright colour strapped across white polo necks, the uptight, abstract shapes and the comic bright patterns.

Hero piece… The amazing slouchy leather tees with drawstring sleeves – too cool with a drainpipe jean!

Inspired by… “An examination of cacophonic chemistry.” Yeah, we didn’t know what that meant either but on explanation decided it was based around the idea of making dullness a little special by using shape and texture in an innovative way.

End notes… As we’ve come to expect from Jonathan, this was a  conceptual collection, almost clinical in its approach to shape and cut (and the hospital gown dresses and nurse’s shoes emphasised the point!). When broken down it was chock full of amazing pieces we want to work into our own wardrobes.

Re-watch the J.W. Anderson AW13 show on Topshop.com, check out our live coverage of London Fashion Week over on our Twitter and keep coming back to Inside-Out for more news from Unique as well as all the NEWGEN talent showing at the Topshop Showspace!

At the end of a very busy second day at fashion week Richard Nicoll‘s AW13 show was running fashionably late. As all the models ran in from their earlier shows there was a mad dash to wipe clean any of the day’s previous caked on make-up and laquered hair for a look that was all together very modern. Nicoll‘s colour palette this season embraced dove greys, cornflower blues and french navy with a final smattering of zingy tangerine and the inspiration came from the one and only Debbie Harry, with these in mind the brilliant hair and beauty.

Beauty Goes Blondie

Sharon Dowsett was inspired by a sporty take on London songstress Blondie for a look that was buddle gum pop-fresh just like the icon, this was a vision all about the daytime. The make-up was easy-breezy beautiful with just a little punk spirit in the way of a charcoal and graphite liner around the eyes. “Richard always gives good direction,” said Dowsett of the collaborative effort on making the look work for the face, “I’ve also worked with the stylist Sophia Neophitou for years!” Dowsett used Maybeline for a dramatic smokey lid and dark coal to line the very edges of the inner lids. “I also didn’t want to use any mascara,” said Dowsett, “it makes it feel much fresher.”

Sexy Sleek Hair

Shon at Julian Watson also vibed off Richard Nicoll’s heroine of the season , Blondie, but instead of creating a mirror image of the ’60s starlet turned the icon into a very 21st century woman with slicked back hair. Using plenty of straightening irons and a heavy helping of wax, the girls’ hair was combed back to dramatic space-age style precision and make a sharp cut alongside the collection’s wider silhouettes and brighter colours.

Model Talk

Jourdan Dunn was back in the Topshop showspace for the second time today, making us incredibly jealous of her Chanel high tops and skin that still seems to radiate even after back-to-back shows and endless make-up remover. Another friendly face appeared in the form of Google Plus fan Ashleigh Good who worked the severe slicked back hair look with aplomb.

On The Catwalk

Front row… A dazzling Arizona Muse, Josephine de la Baume and a fleet of glossy editors.

The collection in 5 words… hard working, confident, cool, orange.

The girls on the catwalk… A poised Jourdan Dunn!

Playlist… Everything from creepy Twin Peaks to blessed-out Blondie.

What we loved… The orange! A surefire way to brighten up cold wintry days, this burning orange came in evening dresses, maxis, knitwear and gowns. We love.

Hero piece… A boxy cashmere coat in a dusty colour: wide lapels, contrast hem, mannish cut = sold.

Inspired by… Instinct. Nicoll relied on his basic instinct to work his everyday luxe into a covetable new code of masculine glamour.

End notes… A cool, calm and collected show in chalky hues and ultra-luxe fabrics, for a working woman who knows how to work a strong look.

Re-watch the Topshop Unique AW13 show from Topshop.com, check out our live coverage of London Fashion Week over on our Twitter and keep coming back to Inside-Out for more news from Unique as well as all the NEWGEN talent showing at the Topshop Showspace!