BACK TO BLACK (AND WHITE)

"Women think of all colours except the absence of colour. I have said that black has it all. White too. Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect harmony." -  Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel

To me there is nothing more elegant than a woman dressed from head to toe in black and white. Monochromatic attire has always been a sign of sophistication- most probably due to the publicity of its number 1 fan, Coco Chanel. Her whole aura sang of accomplishment; just as her collections projected everything that a woman should strive to be.

Take the little black dress: Chanel developed this iconic piece in order to give women an outfit that was ready for anything; successfully achieving glamour, independence and mystery all in that one piece of fabric. Black, white and beige have always been the stamp of Chanel, meaning that anyone to channel these shades would immediately project these sophisticated ways- designer or high street.

Karl Lagerfeld, after truly inhaling the role of creative director, took it upon himself to keep Coco's monochromatic intentions, fully embodying the shades by never stepping into the public eye in anything but black, white or grey. Lagerfeld has become renown, perhaps even more so than Coco, for his iconic monochromatic suits. A deserved tribute to arguably the most well respected fashion designer in history, Chanel.



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AUDREY

Dress- Etsy

Shoes- Ebay

Accessories- Tootsie and Tiger Vintage 

Umbrella- Ebay

Hair- Russell Robin Hair Salon

Prom is a milestone. An evening of glamour and reflection. Whether you see the occasion as a big deal or not, the memory of it will stay with you for the rest of your life. The photos will be around for years afterwards; the opinions valid for a lifetime. To me, as you can probably tell, prom was a big deal. The pinnacle moment of every American teen movie; the event a handful of us had been planning since we were 10. I considered many options- my phone gallery swiftly becoming a spectrum of satin and silk- yet the debate in my mind was solely between a modern, fresh look, or the idea of keeping it completely classic: a timeless look that wouldn't be regretted in later years.

My original idea was a silver dress. High necked, backless, silk; paired with delicate lilac accessories. However, after word got out, I felt there was no surprise factor left in my choice. I wanted to do something different that people weren't expecting. Yet when everyone found out about the silver option people already knew what was coming. In all honestly I probably took it all far too seriously. And, in hindsight, I do wish I hadn't cared quite so much about other people's opinions.

Eventually I concluded that to truly avoid regret the only real option would be to go for a classic look; quickly turning my gaze to the iconically classic Audrey Hepburn for that timeless finesse (who better to base this look on?). Whereas Audrey captured sophistication with the helping hand of Givenchy, I turned to trusty Etsy, purchasing my Breakfast at Tiffany's style for only £12. For my accessories, to go anywhere aside from the local vintage boutiques would've been unthinkable; soon discovering the perfect pair of gloves, pearls, and all important 50's bag.

Mainly I am happy with how things turned out. Yet I can't help feeling like I was trying too hard to embody someone else. If I were to give advise to younger years- and in no way do I mean to come across as patronising- I would simply say to embody yourself. As cliche as it is, prom is a wonderful opportunity to fully project your own personal style. Whether you're into silk or velvet, green or red; choose the shape, material and colour that you first fall in love with. That silver dress was me. It was the first dress I found that I could actually picture myself wearing. If you find that dress, do not change your mind. Stick to it, and no matter if it's on trend or not, I can assure you that you won't regret it.

(Also, take as many photos as humanly possible- I only like about two of mine!)

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