C C x C P T

In Clarice Price Thomas we have found someone who shares our interest in the marriage of architecture and fashion, which in this case is manifested in the design of a fine jewellery line. Clarice's 'Metropolis' collection is inspired by the stepped silhouettes of cityscapes. Her Instagtram features images of Brutalist architecture including our old favourite, The Barbican Centre. 

We have been invited to take part of Clarice's guest-edited gift guide and have chosen our favourite piece to give away over on our Instagram. Visit us @concretecollar for full details. 

Image 1 + 8 - Gold Antumbra Ring by Clarice Price Thomas
Images 2 - 7 via @cptjewellery

Bedrock Brutalism

Alongside designing collections for his eponymous line, Northern Ireland born, Jonathan Anderson, has been busy reinventing Spanish luxury fashion house, Loewe.

Today the designer presented his inaugural ready-to-wear collection for the brand in Maison L'Unesco, a brutalist concrete structure and headquarters of UNESCO in Paris. Built in 1958, the building, also known as the World Heritage Centre, is the result of the work of three architects - Marcel Breuer, Bernard Zehrfuss and Pier Luigi Nervi.

Opening the show was model Julia Nobis in a sand coloured suede dress made up of roughly-cut patches. This theme of primal elegance continued throughout the show, appearing in drawstring waists and fabrics akin to cheesecloth. The fashion industry's elite were seated on boulder-like stools, while models walked over a surface of haphazard flag stones.

Anderson's choice of this harsh, concrete-dominated space, made for an interesting backdrop to the soft, and sometimes vibrant Loewe leathers which have been synonymous with the brand since its inception in 1846.

Needless to say, JW, you have our undivided attention.

Images via dazeddigital.com, harpersbazaar.co.uk, purple.fr and Loewe

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Rome

I was lucky enough to be treated to a trip to Rome for Christmas... perfect timing for a post-dissertation rest and a last hurrah pre-thesis. There was barely a corner I didn't want to photograph so here's just a small edit of the few hundred snaps I took over the course of the weekend. I'll let them do the talking...

Images 1-7 taken in the Vatican City,  8-10 Baroque churches, 11-16 in and around the Pantheon, 17 roast chestnuts at Trevi Fountain, 18 pumpkin gelato, 19-20 The Spanish Steps, 21-26 the Colosseum, 27-30 Piazza Navona

Wearing (from top to bottom) zara checked coat, boohoo.com pencil skirt, american apparel beanie , river island skort, penneys polo neck, penneys fedora, warehouse denim open-back dress

PS For those of you who didn't hear yet, I got FREE in to the Colosseum because I'm an architecture student. I've never been so smug. 

Special thanks to Colm 

Berkley Belongings

Ahrends Burton Koralek’s Berkeley Library was the backdrop for our latest shoot which showcases pieces from Natalie B Coleman's AW13 collection 'I Belong to me'. NATALIEBCOLEMAN studied fashion at the Limerick School of Art & Design and completed the MA course at Central St. Martins, London, before establishing her own womenswear label in 2010. We fell head over heels for her digital printed suits (as seen in Elle 2013) and her streamlined jumpsuits (with pockets!).

Trinity College Library was the building that kick-started the architectural practice Ahrends Burton Koralek. Richard Burton, Peter Ahrends and Paul Koralek studied together at the Architectural Association and when Koralek won first place in the competition for a new library at Trinity College he contacted the pair to set up a practice together. We love it when a college pact comes to fruition!

The building was completed in 1967, the first to be built at Trinity College since the 1930s and the largest since the 19th century. Now a protected structure, the simple surfaces of the reinforced concrete (made with white cement and light coloured sand) and large bay windows of curved glass in bronze frames have weathered beautifully.

Each season Natalie creates strong narratives inspired by women's stories, secrets and their longing for individuality. She has worked in New York and Iceland and her travels resonate in each collection.   We can vouch for the beautifully sophisticated finishing and attention to detail.

We just love the juxtaposition of the in-situ concrete, the granite and the liquid qualities of the glass against the bold prints and vibrant palette of Natalie's latest collection.

Thank you kindly to Natalie B Coleman for her collection, to Coldlilies for the wonderful jewellery and to Arnotts for supplying the beautiful shoes for this shoot. Special thanks to photographer Jason Branagan,  make-up artist and hair stylist Andie Pierce and Ciara Donnelly, both at LA College of Creative Arts.

All styling is our own.

Ciana wears:

First Look 
Digital print suit by NATALIEBCOLEMAN
Black platforms by Kurt Geiger(worn throughout)
Mary J Earrings by Kirsten Goss (worn throughout)

Second Look
Digital print maxi dress by NATALIEBCOLEMAN
Hex Zigzag Ring in Gold by Anna Byers
Black platforms by Kurt Geiger

Third Look
Black leather dress by NATALIEBCOLEMAN
Black platforms by Kurt Geiger

Becky wears:


First Look
Pink silk shirt by NATALIEBCOLEMAN
Blue leather pants by NATALIEBCOLEMAN
Starlet Aurora Cocktail Ring in Gold by Sonal Talgeri Bhaskaran 
Gold and perspex platforms by Jeffrey Campbell for Buffalo 

Second Look
Red jumpsuit by NATALIEBCOLEMAN
Hammered Oval Ring in Gold by Tawny Phillips 
Isosceles Gilded Bangle by Niamh Spain
Black platforms by Kurt Geiger

Third Look
Black silk shirt by NATALIEBCOLEMAN
Red leather pants by NATALIEBCOLEMAN
Black platforms by Kurt Geiger