Mary Katrantzou x Topshop

I hate being so predictable by missing shopping at Topshop, but I really bloody do. 

Especially when they have excellent collaborations like the newest one, with printmaker of the moment; Mary Katrantzou.

Katrantzou - who shies away from the patterns she creates, choosing to wear only a palette of black - is releasing her Topshop SS12 collection on February 17th.  It features prints that, "are intricate and dazzle in paradisical shades" and is inspired by her AW11 mainline range.

I keep trying to be over florals but I always come back to them.  I particularly like this busy sort of style, enhanced by the unexpected clashing of different colours.

Guess I'll have to bust out the gladiola patterns as soon as Spring arrives. 

Images: Topshop

Fashion Week Streaming

Topshop will be streaming fashion week again.  I'm going to have to stay up past my bedtime here in Korea to catch a few of the shows - not that anything will keep me from indulging myself in the hazy delight of a Meadham Kirchhoff show.

Speaking of the designer duo, did anyone else spot the spelling error in the above poster??

Image: Topshop

Habits

Although most girls would give up food before giving up their Topshop addiction, I was kind of pleased that I'd be finally kicking the latter habit by moving out of Britain.  I find that the price of Topshop clothing has dramatically increased in the last few years, while the quality has decreased.  I don't think one item I bought in the months before I went away lasted more than a couple of weeks without quickly eroding, seemingly gaining scars in the form of bobbles, holes and skags in the battles of day-to-day wear.

No one does fast fashion quite like Topshop though.  I find myself browsing the site right now since I went to an electro festival on Friday night and bore witness to thousands of Korean girls imitating the Western festival uniform of floral dress, wellies and a straw hat.  It made me feel nostalgic for summer at home and for the ubiquitous sunshine season's look that Topshop does so well, year after year.

Surprisingly, many items seem more affordable than usual and, oh dear, I see they've started delivering to South Korea.  The catch?  You have to spend over an-easy-to-reach target of £75.
This outfit has found its way into my virtual shopping bag.

The perfect summer designs, just like the ones I bought last year.  And the year before that and the year before that....
I guess some habits die hard, for both high-street clothing giants and materialistic 22 year old girls.