Exposing Camouflage

mvthun21, Instagram, @mvthun21, camouflage style, camouflage fashion, shacket, older model, grey hair, classic woman, instagram influencer

Overriding the faux fur and lace effects appliquéd on to most everything right now, I was smacked around my fashion face by Camouflage print clothing as ‘eye spied’ my way around London this week. It’s rough, ready, smart sexy. Get out on manoeuvres and capture your target piece My Instagram friend @mvthun21 illustrates perfectly how to incorporate a piece of Camouflage clothing into your ever evolving if I have my way, style lives. Monumentally stylish Mercedes. Don’t we all want to be in her squad? Camo. It’s gone guerrilla up the high street and should be launching a sustained attack on your wardrobe.

Moschino, Versace, Camouflage print fashion, catwalk, camouflage on the catwalk

Pre Fall A/W 2017  Versace  Moschino  Nili Lotan

I could list a whole slew of stockists and styles for the charge of the Camo brigade. But I won’t as it’ll take me ages and I want to send this with love from me to you asap, but primarily because you should browse either by foot or finger to find out how you intend to get in on the crusade of this season, last season and next season.

TOPSHOP camouflage print Shacket, Camouflage fashion

Stradivarius High Street clothing brand, Mrs V, Vanessa Voegele-Downing, www.themodeledit.com, camouflage clothing fashion, came print shirt, women's cams fashion

 

Topshot Camouflage Shacket £45  Stradivarius Camouflage Shirt £25.99

My idea of a ‘good buy’ is an item of clothing that is working hard for its place in my Wardrobe. Don’t translate that into ‘must be worn at all times’. Whatever the piece of clothing, big or small, ostentatious or ordinary, there must be an intrinsic value to it. In Mrs V’s wardrobe there are many tiny weeny bit part players that underpin much of any big blousy outfits appearing on any of The Model Edit’s social network portals. While I’m on a roll I’ll offload another of my beliefs, an iconic item spanning the spectrum between a Burberry Raincoat to a Rolling Stones ‘sticky out tongue’ graphic T, will always, always validate your ticket. The Camouflage print is a prince among prints. I wish I was re inventing the wheel or even put the ‘wire’ in ‘under’, but what I am doing is having a sort of ranty crusade to draw your attention from what’s under your nose, to what’s coming over the horizon, and to ensure that you invest well in pieces that won’t let you down this time next year. I’m pointing you in the direction of Camouflage clothing. It defies it’s original purpose, i.e. to hide things. Camouflage prints are the foot soldiers of fashion. Their colours answer all tonal combinations. Accessories or entire looks. Get into step with this phenomenon.It’s going everywhere Parkas, Jackets, Shackets, Shirt, Hats, Coats, Gloves, T’s, Scarves and Lingerie. Catwalk and Sidewalk.

Chanel Camouflage Jacket, Came fashion, Women's Camouflage jacket, Chanel

When Chanel sends out a call to action, choose your weapons. Visa, MasterCard, Amex…

My Kimono Crush

Alice Archer, British Designer, Alice Archer Kimono

Channel your inner Geisha but think 2017. My message to y’all is one that Mrs V pounds on a lot about, in words of lots of syllables, always imagine more than one destination that one single item of clothing can take you to. In other words, can this item save you time and money? Can this item validate a place in your wardrobe? Kimonos can and are doing that right here, right now. Welcome to a 24 hour period in my currently trending life. Walk a mile in my Kimono with me and when you’ve fully appreciated the full gamut of my social obligations, including the one where I commune with my toothbrush, and when you’re good and ready, just before I say’ Sayonara’ I’ll be your best Shopping Buddy and reveal my source.

Kimono, Housecoat, Dressing Gown, New Look, New Look S/S 2017, New Look Kimono, floral Kimono
New Look S/S 2017, Kimono
New Look Kimono, Floral Kimono, Kimono, Electric Toothbrush

In the morning, super lovely… I put on my Kimono.

 

New Look, New Look Women's Fashion, Kimono, New Look Floral Kimono, frayed jeans, Levis, Trainers, El Vaquero bag, vintage leather handbag
New Look Floral Kimono, Kimono, Frayed Jeans, Trainers, Levis
New Look Women's Fashion, New Look Floral Kimono, Fraed Jeans, Levis, www.themodeledit.com, Mrs V, Vanessa Voegele-Downing

I grab Esmeralda Violet’s vintage  El Vaquero handbag. She’s really taken her eye off the ball, I’m home free! I have my next reveal stuffed ( rolled actually) in ze handbag and go all trendy to the train.

New Look clothing, New Look Floral Kimono, Kimono, Monki, Monki Trousers, H&M Corset, H&M, Choker, Bandalero, Belt
Kimono, baggy trousers, Monki, gladiator sandals, silver shoes
Kimono, high street Kimono, New Look retailers

Meetings in town. Monki trousers. H&M Pinstriped corset ( I’ve linked a more summery corset belt that I totally approve of as mine was from the A/W range),Uniqlo Henley T-shirt, Mrs V’s 25 year old silver platform, gladiator sandals, cameo performance.

Hopefully you’ve suspended your disbelief as quite clearly I am demonstrating these looks and suggesting how, where and at what time you could wear them, but on this occasion never really leaving the compound.

New Look Floral Kimono, Carine Roitfeld, Carine roitfeld black skirt, Pencil skirt, tailored skirt, Dune shoes, high heeled shoes, scrappy sandals
Kimono, Mrs V, www.themodeledit.com, Vanessa Voegele-Downing, high heels, Dune shoes, yellow shoes
Kimono, Model, Modelling, New Look, CARINE roitfeld

End of frenetic day, but no stratifying style stress because I’ve essentially cut and pasted all day long. I am happily home and up for all that polite Dorset society can throw at me of an evening, that doesn’t involve a Muck Spreader. Reinforcements include Carine Roitfeld squeezy,  tight, divinely tailored, Pencil Skirt and H&M Bralet. Make up remover to manual, rinse my teeth, go to bed and repeat.

Alice Archer A/W 2017, Alice Archer British Designer, Alice Archer Silk Kimono, Alice Archer Womenswear, designer clothing

Alice Archer Silk Kimonos

Here are other suggestions for Kimonos and their happy place in your style scrapbook. They truly can be all things to everyone. Timeless and transcendent. Truly Kimonos are utter magicians, transformers and a transcontinental treat. Thank you China and Japan, and in return please help yourselves to our traditional garb of Crinolines and Farthingales…

I’d like to thank New Look for their £27.99 properly perfect Kimono that took me from toothbrushing to Cocktail quaffing in four easy steps.

You badasses need this!

Fake News

Black Sliders footwear, Topshop Sliders, Jack Russell dog, www.themodeledit.com, Mrs V, Vanessa Voegele-Downing, Jeans, distressed Denim, frayed jeans, red hair, long hair

When you can tear your eyes away from the enormity of my mouth, check out my feet. I know that they’re placed on Arnold ( who by the way, longs for this kind of attention, positively courts it), but look at the fur enveloping my toes. Fact is, my fancies are tickled when I’m wearing this season’s fun footwear. Fake Fur Sliders. Don’t rain on my fur flip flops, just sit yourselves down and work out how they can fit into your approaching summer. Mrs V will be seen at the following venues wearing these little foot gloves; school run, restaurant, London Underground, all high street retailers, beach, poolside, airplane, pub, club, cinema, all over my natural habitat inc bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, garden and near the dustbins, and quite likely I will wear them to your house too, and you will want a pair! Fortunately they’ll be at a high street near you, so no saying ‘it’s alright for you’ I’ve even selected and linked some pretty little possibilities. It’s nearly Easter, dress your feet up as the Easter Bunny. Feast your eyes on the following

New Look faux fur Sliders, grey fake fur Sliders, New Look footwear
Pink faux fur Sliders, Schuh footwear, Schuh Sliders, Schuh pink fur Sliders
Zara Sliders, yellow feather Sliders, Flip Flops

New Look Grey Sliders £19.99   Schuh Pink Sliders £20    Zara Yellow Feather Sliders £29.99

Sliders are so amenable. They are unapologetically fun from their appearance all the way through to their price. They can zazz up an outfit without a huge commitment, emotionally or physically.

Zara pinstriped coat, Wallace Sewell scarf, Topshop fake fur Sliders
Topshop faux fur Sliders, fur footwear, fake fur Flip Flops, Flip Flops, Sliders, Topshop footwear
Faux fur Sliders, Topshop footwear, Fake fur footwear, Sliders, Topshop fake fur Sliders

Topshop ‘Fierce’  With Gucci-esque chrome snaffle £39   Topshop ‘Harissa’  Mink Stole lookalikes £29

  Some of the ways that I slip and slide this trend into my life.

I wouldn’t be your best friend if I didn’t point out that these Flip Flops of delight exist somewhere in the world. Possibly Titania the Fairy Queen is wearing them.

MiuMiu Feathery Sliders, jewelled Sliders, MiuMiu Footwear, orange feather Sliders

Miu Miu Ostrich Feather Slides £755

One small step for womankind…

Airing My Views

 

TOOGOOD A/W2017, unisex clothing, Mrs V, www.themodeledit.com, Vanessa Voegele-Downing, Press Show, designer clothing

Concentrating on being your style muse

SO, so excited to share  (aka to impose, on you)  two of my recent media moments.

Firstly I was contacted by The Radio Gorgeous team and asked if I would like to chat to Josephine Pembroke, founder of Radio Gorgeous? Let me think about that… YES, you’ll have to gag me long before I run out of insightful and fascinating opinions. Radio Gorgeous has been created for bold, intelligent and vibrant women who want talk radio. In order to prep myself fully I listened to some previous podcasts from Radio Gorgeous, which didn’t really help as they have a fabulous portfolio of seriously interesting interviews, provoked by utterly, devastatingly good questions. Panicking Much! Turns out that Josephine is the best interviewer in the world, because she made me feel so relaxed, and asked insightful questions which helped me vocalise views that were probably innate, but sounded solid when spoken. Welcome to Mrs V courtesy of Radio Gorgeous

Just when you thought you’d had enough of my total media domination, I give you  my Bold Moment which is part of  Shine 4 Women  tribute to International Woman’s Day. With many organisations recruiting a 50:50 split at junior levels, yet women still only accounting for around 25% (at best) of senior positions, it’s clear that laws and policies aren’t working on their own.   So Anna and Cal set up Shine to help create the change we all want to see. Here is the answer that I sent in response to Anna’s invitation to participate in this project;’ Having been forced, simply by the utterly cruel and relentless voyage of time that has taken me from contractions pushing, pram pushing, tricycle pushing and Pony pushing and more recently email applications for internships pushing, to realise that unless I got my shit together, I’d become the Empress of The Empty Nest Syndrome. This niggling thought was with me when I attended my Shine course. Epiphany time because when I finished that course and with reactions from other women on the course who saw things in me that I had neglected to celebrate, and against all Information Technology odds, I massaged my mojo and created a new baby to nurture. My blog The Model Edit. I now run with the pack that includes my three lovely daughters who applaud my writing and encourage my boldness, my friends who are supportive and honest, and all the new amazing, gifted, generous, inspiring and frankly bloody glamorous friends that I’ve met along the emotional and physical journey that my blog is taking me on. I’m currently feeling bold enough to inspire others to achieve their style potential.’

Here is the complication of Shine Stars Bold Moments, including mine

I like to keep it current and  when I’m not blogging, I’m doing things related to The Model Edit from me to you, with love.

Thank you and Good Day

In Denim and In De Know.

Mrs V London Fashion Week, London, Prada sunglasses, Zara Jeans, Black Denim

Running around during London Fashion Week so that you don’t have to. ( wearing black denim jeans from Zara btw)

Mrs V, Somerset House London, International Designers Exhibition, LFW
Minki, Zara pinstriped coat, Minki A/W 2017 Presentation

I have been so buzzed and my mojo is so motivated, all due to London Fashion Week. I love the energy that exudes from the pores of the pavement. It’s a very positive time in London, and the streets are lined not with fashion victims, rather people of every single demographic seizing the opportunity to present themselves how they’d like to be perceived. All bets are off and all accessories on. Good old London, it’s the metaphorical and synonymous style wardrobe of the world. Thanks Nike, we were just doing it before you gave us the permission. Watching the Press shows can be a wistful experience for me because in the past I was astride those catwalks. Worse than me pining for my glory days, there is the terrible Tourettes fiend in my head that wants me to jump up, just as the first pulses of music start and shout so loudly with my horrible voice ‘It should have been me’ ( circa I can’t remember, but sung by Yvonne Fair ) Embarrassing much?

 Girlfriends, I have news. You may need to print this out or at least take notes as I couldn’t possibly say this twice, but am not above saying ‘I told you so’ when we’ve all arrived at the Style Station having successfully bought out ticket and you are stranded on the platform. We wave our denim clad arms having boarded the Fashion Express to any destination that we like. Climb aboard mates. Denim has it’s own invitation to the party, not a ‘plus one’ anymore. In fact Denim is the guest of honour.

I see some overriding trends but can’t fling ’em at you all at once. I’ll begin with Denim which, like love, is all around. This utilitarian twill strides stylishly through  every economic strata. It’s a chameleon, a scene stealer or at worst a best supporting actor. The reality is that you can and must get it at any cost. Cancel all engagements until you have wedged denim into most every outfit that your 24/7  demands of you. Sucks to be me as I’m not really inventing the wheel here, but I aim to be that niggling voice that just won’t let you sediment into low style esteem. Yes we’ve all got Jeans, but are we wearing them with style and bravery. The thing here dear Squad, is that there is a Milky Way full of naughty and irreverent ways to push the power that denim has in today’s style scene. Rip it, fray it, pleat it, ruffle it, expose yourself, cover yourself up, peepholes and cold shouldering are legit statements on the Denim does it better, terms and conditions.

Denim is the great leveller and Mrs V sets you free to roam at large, go wild in the aisles and get your credit cards to manual. You can go high, you can go low. Choose your budget and then choose your piece. Marc Jacobs A/W 2017, Denim suit, Marc Jacobs Denim suit with Faux Fur lining

Marc Jacobs A/W 2017

Chanel A/W 2017, Distressed Denim, Chanel A/W 2017 distressed denim coat, belted denim coat, denim coat

Chanel A/W 2017H&M Denim skirt, Jeans Skirt, Ankle boots, t-shirt, Vanessa Voegele-Downing

H&M Jeans Skirt

See what I mean?

marques Almeida A/W 2017, denim, designer denim, Mrs V, Vanessa Voegele-Downing, www.themodeledit.com

Marques Almeida, Denim, Denim coat, Marques Almeida A/W 2017

Marques Almeida A/W 2017

This label is a crush of mine and whilst I can imagine that I’ve scared some of you. Their disregard for style and tailoring safe havens extend to their use of Denim. It becomes a suit, a shredded, sloppy, swishy trench coat, Oxford bags trouser suit. They ape the denim conventions and are actually sewing and styling the way for us to enter in, a denim ticket will get you there. I’d like you to look carefully and see if you can possibly go there, even just a tiny bit.  Take one piece at a time and imagine pairing and accessorising it with something that you already own. Funny how it becomes less scary isn’t it?

Alice Archer A/W 2017

Alice Archer has beautifully sophisticated collections. The refined and rare art of perfect embroidery is Alice’s stock in trade. Her women are feminine, heralding the movement that girlish aesthetics are a powerful rebellion. We are to celebrate our femininity and not be stereotyped by it. Little women we are not. Mrs V is very happy with the Kimono and divinely embroidered Jean symbiosis. Where aren’t we going with this? Alice Archer clothing is available at The Place London where there are luxury and labels to mash up with your Denim delights.

Unknown-5
Ashley Williams, Ashley Williams A/W 2017, Denim, Jeans, floral shirt, press show, London Fashion Week

Ashley Williams A/W 2017

How easy has Ashley Williams made life for you? Nothing untoward here, just the possibility to be ‘with it’ permission granted by one of the grooviest and fan-followed young designers that ever did book a model. Come on, as I said at the top of this blog, schmooze the suggestions that I’ve presented here, then run screaming for your wardrobe, just to make sure that you really did hang on to that perfect partner piece for any of the looks parading across my page.

Asos, Asos distressed Denim jacket, Asos Denim ruffle Jacket, Denim
Levis Jean Jacket, Levis Trucker Jean Jacket
ASOS, Asos Cropped Jean Jacket,

A . Helene Berman Raw Edge Ruffle Jacket £110

B. Levi’s Line 8 Boyfriend Fit Denim Trucker Jacket £35 ( mega bargain)

C. Chorus Daydreamer Cut off Denim Jacket £12 ( I’m tellin’ ya)

Beige Denim, ASOS Denim, denim trousers, denim corset

ASOS Denim in Tobacco

 Remember Denim is not only blue…

ASOS Denim corset, Corset, Denim

ASOS corset

Corsets are us this season, and a Denim corset? Manna from heaven

These little treats are all about the price tag/trend equation and are positively being given away by ASOS at the moment and considering that unless you actually have the grubby habits of a Miner 49er, they will live your life to the full, enjoy brief respite care in your wardrobe from time to time, and then out for another romp…They owe you nothing but a good time.

Go get ’em.

Friday Fashion Throwback

Yves Saint Laurent, French Fashion Designer, French Couturier, Vanessa Voegele-Downing, www.themodeledit.com, women in suits, women in trouser suits, models, Loulou de La Falaise

Yves Saint Laurent, Marita and Me.

Yves Saint Laurent gentle genius, is the reason that I ever took a plane alone to Paris in search of work and wonderment. Yves Saint Laurent was my first casting thirty minutes after I arrived in my agency. Yves Saint Laurent saw something in the very nervous, overawed and underprepared, freckled and frizzy redhead and pressed ‘go’ on my modelling career. The next day I was being photographed on a great big building site that’s now know as ‘Les Halles’ wearing velvet knickerbockers and a hat with a plume and feeling on top of the world. Merci Monsieur.

Give or take the hats and the shape of the heels, the french phrase ‘Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose’ springs to mind.

Highlights and Low Converse

Carine Roitfeld, Carine Roitfeld A/W 2016 Uniqlo collaboration, Carine Roitfeld grey pinstriped women jacket, grey pinstripe double breasted women's jacket, pinstripes, women's tailored jacket, leggings, Urban Outfitters, skinny scarf, Chuck Norris Converse All Stars, White Canvas Converse, glass beads, bead bracelet, red curly hair
A very successful writer friend of mine gave me some advice when I pronounced  two  years ago, that my future would be in the written word. He said that writing is like a muscle and it must be exercised everyday. Well here’s a post Christmas and New Years larks and capers, heads up. I am currently doing writing lunges and downward facing dogs, in an effort to be a prizewinner in the race to bring you style gold this year. Ain’t no big thing…

Just for my own comfort and to make sure that you all really listened to my helpful, possibly bossy recommendations, I am giving you a quick round up of stuff that stayed! These pearls may span over a couple of posts. Yeah.

Converse, Chuck Norris Converse All Stars, Black Leather Converse High Tops, black trainers, sports shoes, athletic wear, athleisure

Black Leather Converse

My precious babies, my go-to style shoes. Some of you have already dipped your toes into a pair of these. Couldn’t love you more. They are a Wardrobe must and you will not need to show your passport when you purchase. They are for everyone who would like a pair. Without deviation or hesitation I could insert my plates into one of my many pairs of these truly iconic style items and even if I was blindfolded and had no idea what I was wearing, my trusty  Converse trainer will define my look and shove me out the door looking the business. They are financially a very low entry item that can party with the rest of your fashion pack. They will elevate or ease any style statement. I was at a Christmas  drinks party down in Dorset and someone there was wearing her bestest, bestest new, one time only, super expensive gown with a pair of well loved white canvas Converse. She looked cracking. Let that be a lesson to you.

Carine Roitfeld, Carine Roitfeld Uniqlo collaboration, Carine Roitfeld Uniqlo collaboration A/W 2017, grey pinstriped trouser suit, Mrs V, Vanessa Voegele-Downing, www.themodeledit.com, androgyny, Androgynous style, black leather Converse high tops, Converse trainers, Converse basketball boots
Kenzo, Kenzo H&M collaboration A/W 2017, leggings, Kenzo leggings, Kettlewell Sacha Cardi
H&M A/W 2017, H&M satin tunic, white Converse trainers, navy blue tailored trousers, pinstriped trousers
Tutu, Topshop Tutu, fishnet tights, white Converse trainers, Christmas tree, pink silk t-shirt

Now to the underpinning of the vestiges of beauty that I insist on hanging on to…

Continue Reading…

Friend Blends

Ille de Cocos, cashmere, designer cashmere, Zara, Zara bomber jacket, Topshop sunglasses, Brandy Melville t shirt, red beads,

 

It’s totally time for the pre-fall pretend it’s still a little bit warm, but actually need a sweater moment. Where to turn for warmth without bulk? That would be a call to action for cashmere/wool or thermal fleece type stuff. My style spotlight alights on the cashmere and/or wool option, a mighty fine pair of fabric friends. Look what I’ve found, a very succinct treat that is the Ille de Cocos collection. The range is not huge but it is focused. All bases and limbs are covered.

 

Ille de Cocos side zip sweater, colour block cashmere, Mrs V, www.themodeledit.com, Vanessa Voegele-Downing
Ille de Cocos cashmere sweater, colour block sweater, cashmere, designer cashmere

This boxy sweater salutes sweatpants, pencil trousers, skirts and skinny jeans. It was quite a trauma to take it off as it was so incredibly comfortable, warm and bloody gorgeous to wear. Also, look at my hat, it’s properly cosy, in control of my hair, and really pretty. Utterly right for this, ‘darling I’m off to get the croissants but I might meet a casting director’ look. Nah, jokes, I’d love to think my down time was spent looking like this. Most of my friends would run a book on how very unlikely I am to wear such an strong colour in such a large block. Well look at me now girls. Side zip sexy and shape changing . I like.

Continue Reading…

Beauty and My Beasts.

Lipstick, Illamasqua, MAC, Topshop, beauty, blusher, Mrs V, www.themodeledit.com, Vanessa Voegele-Downing, Muji, make up bag, cosmetics

Left to right; Illamasqua Growl, Illamasqua Sangers, Topshop Infrared, Illamasqua Liv, Illamasqua Posture, Mac Stone, Mac Brave, Mac Pink Plaid

Lipsticks, hands, fingers, Mac, Illamasqua, Topshop, cosmetics, beauty, Make-up

Fingertips are a more similar skin tone to your lips than any other exposed dermal surface, better the the back of your hand. Which is why I’ve daubed my digits with the appropriate (left to right ) lipsticks in order to give you a realistic idea of their actual hue. Genius idea and I’m so happy with my blog helpfulness and all would be well in my blogosphere if I hadn’t pitched in and helped clean out the Chickens first. It occurs to moi that my hands look like badly made-up Chipolatas. These featured lipsticks are mine and in daily use. They are on little outings all the time e.g. the gym makes me stretch into my make up bag for Mac’s Pink Plaid or Brave. God knows how others cope with the multifaceted mirror environment at the gym. I do a risky lipstick reboot and Mac lipsticks can slide on all sneaky and silky, but stay put through a sweaty work out. London means Illamasqua Growl or Posture (huge favourite) depending on who, where, and what. Got to tell you how much I love the matte but not dry formula, that this brand has perfected.  Topshop’s Infrared is so much fun to wear it counteracts any matchy  matchy thoughts that you may have had. this Rio carnival of a lip colour doesn’t want to match anything which is so powerful. It’s a signal that you’re self confident enough to just put it out there. It should have been called Defiance. I don’t expect you all to wear it but some of you may have an occasion. Mrs V has a beauty secret.

Continue Reading…

Fun Adds Up

Buckham Fair
buckhamfair

Left to right, back to front (lol)

Mrs V, Philippa Clunes, Martin Clunes, Rosemary Young,

Caroline Godwin, Bhavani Hogarty, Caroline Nicholson

Little update on this year’s Buckham Fair.

We have raised, with your support,

£90,000

This will all go to Dorset charity, The Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.

Thank you everyone and please come again next year…and bring a friend.

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