Out with a Bang

Did anyone else watch the closing ceremony for the Olympics?? Like I admitted before, I got very into the Olympics this year.  Probably more so than I have in years.  So with all the hype as to who would be performing, I could not wait to see the closing ceremony, which in many ways was a giant concert to celebrate some great British music.  I will say that at times I did not see how one thing transitioned into another, feeling that things were a little disjointed.  And while there are some performances I could have lived without (Pet Shop Boys, really? Especially being wheeled around in those strange outfits) there were some that I thought were great!

One part that I enjoyed but didn't necessarily understand was the fashion segment.  I think it largely got lost in translation due to some bad commentary during that point of the broadcast.  I could faintly hear the Olympic announces saying names of British designers as large billboards of famous British fashion models were entering the stadium.  But I hated that the NBC announcers were unprepared to tell us the significance of this segment.  Oh, and the only names they knew were Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.  Which is understandable, they are newscasters, that's probably all they know about fashion, but that's all the rest of America knows as well and it would have been nice to educate.  Especially when one of the model is Britain's legendary rock and roll band member, The Rolling Stones's Mick Jagger's daughter - Georgia May Jagger.  But alas, some further research on my part shows that all the models were indeed British and they were all clad in different British designers, therefore the segment was a glittery homage to London's current vibrant fashion scene.

Here are some images of the models by photographer Nick Night and a few of my favorite closing ceremony moments!  Enjoy!

Naomi Campbell in Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

Kate Moss in Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

Karen Elson in Burberry

Georgia May Jagger in Victoria Beckham

Stella Tennant in Christopher Kane

Lily Cole in Erdem

Lily Donaldson in Vivienne Westwood

David Gandy in Paul Smith and Jourdan Dunn in Jonathan Saunders and Stephen Jones headdress

(above images via British Vogue)

Russel Brand performing "I am the walrus" which was perfection!

The Spice Girls!!!!!

Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and Taio Cruz

One Direction

(above images via Daily Mail UK)

Going for Gold

Is anybody else getting completely sucked into the Olympics?  Because I am.  It's been a long time since I've been really excited about the Olympic Games, and usually I'm more of a winter sports kind of girl (I used to live for the figure skating finals!), but I have to admit, I'm completely entranced.  While I of course enjoy watching women's gymnastics and see the excitement of the swimming finals, I've also been watching some beach volleyball, diving and men's gymnastics.  Most shockingly to me, I'm completely obsessed with the men's gymnastics team.  They're so strong, so tiny, and so inspiring.  It was sad that they didn't medal in the team competition, but I can't wait for the individual competition tonight.

To stay in the Olympic frame of mind, here's a chic mix of fashion and athleticism from July's issue of Vogue featuring model Karlie Kloss.

Gymnast Johnathan Horton

Decathelete Ashton Eaton

Swimmer Ryan Lochte

Tennis duo The Bryan Brothers

Basketball player Dwayne Wade

(images via Vogue)

London Calling

The Olympics opening ceremonies are tomorrow!! Get excited.  I haven't been to London in a very long time.  In fact, the only time I've been was when I was ten.  I'd love to go back, especially since from ten to now I've become a huge history buff, so there are many more historical monuments I'd like to see.  But I'd also love to get dressed up and have some fun in London.  But since I am not there for the Olympics I came up with some Stella McCartney outfits that I'd love to wear while there.  Stella is one of the quintessential British designers (she did design the British Olympic team's uniforms this year after all) and while her styling is completely sophisticated, it also mixes in some downtown cool.  Here are some staples I would definitely bring to London!

Dress: Stella McCartney Fall 2012

Blazer and pants: Stella McCartney

Clutch: Alexander McQueen

Shoes: Charlotte Olympia

In The Trenches

The London Olympics are just around the corner. Well, not even around the corner, they're essentially here!  With the opening ceremonies taking place Friday evening, London, and pretty much anything British, is definitely on the brain.  When I try to think of something iconically British, I immediately think of Burberry.  While the British fashion scene has been extremely up and coming in the past few years (Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Erdem... and um, Phoebe Philo is the one who convinced Bernard Arnault to move Cèline's atelier to London) Burberry is still the strongest standing.  Under the strong reins of Creative Director Christopher Bailey, the 156 year old house is hotter than ever - and the clear leader for luxury brands delving into social media and communicating with its consumers.

But aside from the brand's strength and the innovative designs Bailey presents each season, the house is still iconic.  Namely for the greatest piece of clothing ever invented - the trench coat.  It doesn't get more classic than the trench (which was actually invented as part of military uniforms to keep warm during the trench warfare of World War I).  It's the ultimate piece of clothing that every woman (and man for that matter) should have in their closet, even if it doesn't include the tell-tale Burberry check inside the lining.  To get into a British state of mind, here is Burberry's most current ad campaign for Fall/Winter 2012.  The black and white shots were taken on the streets of London by Mario Testino.  Notice, the photos are not lacking in the trench department.

Enjoy!

Fitted trench with a tweed peplum.  Do you every need anything else?? No. 

(images via Burberry's Facebook page)