Today the headlines signalled a sad day for the fashion world - the iconic Oscar de la Renta has passed away at the age of 82.  

Oscar de la Renta and Anna Wintour earlier this month.  

Supermodel Karlie Kloss mourns.

De la Renta most recently designed and made the wedding dress of Amal Alamuddin for her wedding to actor George Clooney in Venice less than a month ago.  Alamuddin told Vogue that she ‘wanted a wedding that was romantic and elegant, and I can’t imagine anyone more able than Oscar to capture this mood in a dress’.

Hailing from the Dominican Republic, the son of the Mayor traveled to Spain to study art before discovering his love for fashion and beginning to work alongside Cristobal Balenciaga.  He made his name in the 1960s designing for the first lady Jacqueline Kennedy before establishing his own company in 1965.  His work is famously recognisable as feminine, elegant and coloured in soft tones and floral patterns.  

He said of his close friend Hilary Clinton earlier this year, 'She might not like me to say this, but I think she's going to be our next president' - He has famously dressed not only Clinton but Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Nancy Reagan.  

De la Renta and the mesmerising Audrey Hepburn at the 1988 CDFA awards.  

Fern Mallis, Executive Director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CDFA) called him 'The Sultan of Suave'

De la Renta was diagnosed with cancer in 2006, no cause of death has been confirmed.  He was surrounded by family, friends and ‘more than a few dogs’.  He is survived by his adoring adopted son Moises and wife Annette Engelhard.  

What exactly is fashion etc with ellie?  It is honestly a question I ask myself a lot.  Sometimes when I struggle to think of what to write I think 'Well, what would I want to read?' and that is how I try to see my blog.  A real teenager writing for real teenagers.

Not a real crisis.  This is still me.  

As much as I love bloggers who review the latest YSL Lipstick, or admire Chanel's last ready-to-wear line it is a reality that although teenagers arguably have a lot of disposable income (we don't pay rent etc) how many of us will go and buy a Chanel shirt for next season?  Not many, that is how many.  Now I am not saying I don't sometimes wish I could. Merely that right now, why would I write about things I am not wearing when I could much more easily do an OOTD with the chance of inspiring someone else's outfit, by the same token I don't think I'm outrageously fashionable but I know the first thing I do when I don't know what to wear is check the blogs I follow.

But now, I am not even sure if fashion is where I want to be.  In future do I really see myself writing about fashion for a living?  Not really.  Fashion will always have a fond place in my heart but I would much rather write about current affairs and things that are on the forefront of the world's news.  It's strange, for as long as I can remember I thought I knew where I wanted to be so I stuck at it.

I'm not sure what this post was trying to achieve, but it's been a while since I wrote on here.  And that's why.

Anyone heading to Westminster Open Day this Saturday?  I'll see you there!

If anyone is on Instagram be sure to follow me on ellielikesrice

Thank you!
Ellie x

What does everyone think of the "humbug" trend? I've got quite a bit to say about this one.

Hi!
So, time for a hot topic.  Creepers.  Love them or hate them, they're everywhere.

OLYMPIC FEVER HAS LANDED, and it's spreading like wildfire.  So, what is more fitting than to look at the team GB kit? Nothing, that's what.

A quick and easy way to re use old clothes that no longer fit is to make cushions out of them.

Today it was announced that Rihanna is going to collaborate with River Island for a capsule collection due to hit the shelves next March.

My friend Sophie has just started her own YouTube channel, she's really talented so check her out! More to come soon - here's her doing Drops of Jupiter by Train.

Thank you!
Ellie x

Today I received my brochure for short courses at London College of Fashion.

Today Taylor Swift was announced as Forbes top earner in their 30 under 30, beating off the likes of Adele, R-Patz, Rihanna and Justin Beiber. As a celebration of this prestigious title I thought it appropriate to pay homage to her style!

I watched "The September Issue" earlier, the documentary about the prestigious Vogue issue released every September. In the fashion industry, September marks the beginning of a new year, it is then that we can identify the trends, colours, textures that we will see in the following seasons.

This week Sarah Burton (The designer behind Kate Middleton's aMAZing wedding dress) has released her latest collection for Alexander McQueen.

So, who shops online? I do, and I can't understand people who avoid it.

Happy Monday!
So, today I bought my second ever playsuit.

Last week saw Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week hit the Carrousel du Lourve with a bang as designers from Karl Lagerfeld to fashion house Valentino gracing the stage with their autumn/winter 2012 lines.