Friday Fashion Round Up

Warning: This week's Friday Fashion round up contains Kate Hudson's ass cheek!

This week's round up features the celebrities who have so far attended the 69th annual Venice film festival.

First up lets take a look at Kate Hudson who rocked up at 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' premiere wearing an Atelier Versace nude crochet gown which appeared to be held together by hope and a prayer. This 'spiderweb' crochet is a personal pet hate of mine, though she teamed it well with a box clutch, understated jewellery and a simple up do. 

Verdict: I know you have been working out Kate, and well played to you, but I can see your ass cheek for crying out loud. Put it away!

Next up is Naomi Watts, who attended the same premiere in a champagne Marchesa gown teamed with her signature red lipstick. Whilst not as daring as Hudson, kudos to Watts for sticking to a tried and tested formula which she knows suits her and looks classy to boot.

Verdict: Could have tried harder but overall a well chosen look.

See more looks after the jump

Gwen Stefani covers Elle October

I am literally rejoicing to see the oh so stylish Gwen Stefani back to gracing the covers of major fashion titles again.

First it was Harper's Bazaar September and now Elle UK have snapped the singer up for their October edition.

Stefani looks effortlessly cool on the cover, teaming a Peter Pilotto top with a black floral tutu skirt from the McQ A/W 12 collection.

Hopefully her imminent 6th album release with band No Doubt will mean plenty more covers to come in the following months.

I can't wait to get my subscribers copy in the post to see what is in store for me there!

What do you think of the cover?

Party Time: Buy My Wardrobe Online Launch

Last night I attended the BuyMyWardrobe.com launch party at Vanilla, London, just off Oxford Street.

The great atmosphere was created by a packed crowd and servings of champagne, Passion Fruit Collins and Mojito's.

We ate caviar and goat's cheese on bruschetta, duck and hoisin sauce spring rolls, followed by chocolate brownies and strawberries dripped in chocolate.

An after party took place at private members club Whisky Mist, with Jodie Harsh on the decks.

See more pictures from the launch party after the jump..

Triumph announces London Fashion Week sponsorship

Leading lingerie and shapewear brand Triumph, has announced it will be a sponsor of London Fashion Week this September.

In affiliation with the British Fashion Council, Triumph will be the ‘Official Catwalk Lingerie Supplier’ – the first ever lingerie brand to do so in the history of the BFC.

Triumph will be providing shows, stylists and designers with all their lingerie needs from fittings and castings, to lingerie for the catwalk.

The sponsorship will last for one season with the option to extend the project to future seasons.

Triumph will also continue its sponsorship at London Fashion Weekend which takes place from Thursday 20th September 2012 to Sunday 23rd September 2012.

In addition the S/S 13 Essence luxury collection, fronted by, and designed in collaboration with, supermodel Helena Christensen, will be launched the day before LFW begins (on September 13th) at The Brompton Club. 

For more on the brand check out www.triumph.com/uk 

Emma Stone covers Interview September

Just the other night I was trying to explain the plot behind Blade Runner, one of my favourite movies, to my two Italian housemates. Unfortunately they didn't really get how cool it was..or just how hot Harrison Ford was back in the day!

One person who definitely gets Blade Runner though is Interview magazine. The September issue features a cover and shoot entitled 'Cyber Noir', featuring actress Emma Stone.

Stone is hot Hollywood property nowadays and after an endless procession of covers this year, this is by far her most edgy and directional. No doubt about it - there is a touch of Rachel the replicant going on here with the hair, the make up and all the smoke and neon!

Shot by Mikael Jansson, the 'futuristic noir' styling is provided by Karl Templer with hair and make-up by Paul Hanlon and Mark Carrasquillo.

Outfits come courtesy of Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière, Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Christopher Kane, Haider Ackermann and Versace.

If you can't wait until the September issue comes out you can see the shoot in full here.

Under your Umbrella..ella..ella

Need a pick me up this rainy bank holiday Monday?

Well then check out these umbrella's, part of an on-going collaboration between British artist and print designer Simeon Farrar and Fulton. 

Following their partnership at London Fashion Week in September 2011, Fulton and Farrar have joined forces once again on four limited edition designs - including clouds, raindrops and ghosties!

The Simeon Farrar for Fulton collection is available now across the high street, including John Lewis, Liberty and online at www.fultonumbrellas.com.

Accessory Alert: Danielle Foster

Since launching her first collection ‘Captivity’ British designer Danielle Foster has generated a wide range of interest and demand, with her second collection looking just as promising.

Drawing inspiration from 40’s erotic bondage and torture (oooh eerrr) Foster’s second collection is carried by the theme of being released from captivation, leading to the use of soft leathers representing movement and flexibility.

The collection features metallic gold leather, rich burgundy pony hair, woven luxe leather, and Danielle’s signature marble print alongside an array of equestrian hardware elements of layered looped metal, buckles and studding.

This season introduces several new clutch silhouettes alongside satchels, shoppers and totes ranging in price from £110 – £460.

I've included some of my favourites below, including a tote I just MUST own in time for LFW, all of which are available to buy here.

Add caption

Wondaland launches new e-commerce website

Boutique label Wondaland has re-launched its website with a new e-commerce section.

Billed as a more stylish and easy to navigate site, customers can now buy the full collection online (hurrah) or scour a list of stockists from across the globe.

Currently featuring a summer sale, the A/W 12 collection will officially be launched on the site on August 31^st

I've managed to get hold of a sneak peek below and as you can see the brand has gone for a swinging 60's Carnaby vibe in some amazing tones from Yves Klein blue to cherry red. A kaleidoscope print also works wonders on collarless dress coats, flirty, cut-away dresses and Beatnik trouser suits.

Wondaland is the designer label by Central Saint Martins graduate, Alice Keswick. Now about to enter its fourth season with the A/W 12 collection, the brand has already caught the eye of fashionistas Poppy Delevigne and Sienna Miller.

You can check out the new website here.

Happy Shopping! x

Pay Day Treat: Age of Reason

Its Pay Day and if, like me, you are in need of a treat look no further than these amazing scarves from Age Of Reason.

From designer Ali Mapletoft comes a new wave of luxury, yet totally wearable, silk scarves full of character and humour.The brand has been on my radar for months now but these playful punk owl scarves are definitely going to the top of my most wanted list.

Both designs are available to buy now here and retail from £98- 195 depending on the size. They are pure silk, and entirely Made in England.

Happy Shopping! x

 

 

 

 

A day with Fashion Fringe

Last week I attended a mentoring session for the three Fashion Fringe 2012 finalists at Shoreditch House. 

The mentoring sessions (just one part of a rigorous process to get the three ready for their final catwalk appearance at London Fashion Week) are designed to give them industry knowledge, a grounding in the basics and invaluable insider knowledge.

The session I attended was about, outside of a good fashion creation, it takes a lot more to promote your brand!

 

Speakers included:

• Tamara Sender, Senior Fashion Analyst at Mintel who discussed the business of online fashion, shopping online in general and consumer attitudes for shopping online. She also talked about how m-commerce shopping was rocketing in 2012 – get your tablets at the ready folks.

• Julian Whitehead and Debra Hepburn, founders of Young British Designers, spoke about setting what to expect when you take a business online, their customer profile and what it takes to catch their eye when they are making those all important buying decisions.

• Finally Sarah Bush, Senior Director of Europe for Shopstyle, discussed what constitutes good online marketing, best practise for engaging with customers online, and what is appropriate content for blogs and social media like Twitter and Facebook. Very useful for me!

As well as coming away with some great tips I also met the Fashion Fringe finalists, Vita Gottlieb, Haizhen Wang and Teija Eilola, and you can follow their progress here as well as checking back on ShopStyle.com to see how its partnership with Fashion Fringe is progressing.

In the meantime I hope you will join me in wishing the three finalists, seen below with Lucie Bartlett, Project Manager for Fashion Fringe / IMG Europe, the very best of luck in the run up to London Fashion Week this September.

 

New shoppping site MeeMee.com launches

New womenswear online retailer MeeMee.com has launched and is set to be a shopping sensation with those who adopt a fun, fearless approach to product and styling.

Designed to feel 'distinctly different' from other young fashion shopping sites, it is intended MeeMee.com’s offer will not be dictated by fashion trends, but a hand-picked product for an audience that has an experimental style.

Rock chick looks, vintage and pretty staples as well as preppy looks for different occasions will all be showcased.

Brands available on the site include Mink Pink, Evil Twin, Finders Keepers, Jovonnista and Motel, as well as own-brand label MeeMee.com, with price points ranging from £20 for basics, to £120 for evening dresses.

I've pulled together some of my favourite looks currently on the site below, including maxi skirts and midi dresses perfect for A/W 12's upcoming gothic trend. 

 

To see the full range, and to sign up for the newsletter, go here.

Fannie Schiavoni e-commerce launch

London Fashion Week designer Fannie Schiavoni is set to launch a dedicated e-commerce website this September.

Synonymous for her iconic jewellery designs, the online offer will encompass signature chain link items, all made by hand in London, across stylish necklaces to statement harnesses.

The new site will also showcase archive classics alongside new and limited edition colourways produced exclusively for the site.

In addition, a bespoke service will allow customers to work directly with Schiavoni to create one off and limited pieces.
 
Launching 1st September, www.fannieschivonishop.com will aim to engage visitors with unique content and provide an insight into the design process behind the scenes at the premium brand.

Image credit: All images from the Fannie Schiavoni Autumn/Winter 12 - 13 look book.

Trend Spotting: Army Luxe

Last week I blogged about the trends I'd seen emerging for S/S 13 from Copenhagen Fashion Week and I spoke about the trend for army inspired pieces from camouflage prints to grungy khaki.

What is great news is that you can buy into this trend right now - no waiting!

Topshop, in particular is having a moment - this leather panelled jacket for example is a carbon copy of one I bought from Zara earlier this year. Meanwhile, tough boots will help you fall in line with the trend.

Because of all this military precision you can afford to be a bit playful with accessories. I'd wear my fatigues with a playful sequined clutch like the one below from ASOS.

Happy Shopping x

1. Boots, £88, Topshop

2. Skirt, £700, Jason Wu

3. Dress, £50, Oasis

4. Jumper, £1,490 Marc Jacobs

5. Belt, £17.99, Zara

6. Jacket, £65, Topshop

7. Boots,£1,325, Versace

8. Skirt, £680, Missoni

9. Peplum top, £95, Reiss

10. Clutch, £35, ASOS

WGSN Global Fashion Awards: LCYRA Award

LYCRA® brand -owner INVISTA is bringing its global competition to discover the next big fashion design talent to the WGSN Global Fashion Awards.

The Future Designers Award will be presented to the most promising fashion design student from hundreds of international entries.

The winner will receive a prize of LYCRA® fiber product to use in a forthcoming collection and consultancy with INVISTA global production and marketing experts.

In 2011 the brand sponsored the Emerging Talent Award, which was won by designer Eudon Choi. Choi received materials which will be used in his forthcoming S/S 13 collection to be shown at LFW in September.

Last year's winner Eudon Choi

The competition will be offered to all students already registered to enter the awards and to any student wishing to enter by the deadline of 24th August. Entry is free of charge and the entry process can be completed online here.

As previously reported the awards will take place in London for the first time ever this year on the 5th November at The Savoy, with an esteemed panel of international judges.

Catwalk Report: Copenhagen Fashion Week

This season's Copenhagen Fashion Week saw more catwalks take place than ever before, at venues across the city and at the trade fairs themselves: CIFF, Gallery and Vision.

Among the new catwalk shows in the city were those by French Connection, Peter Jensen, Odeur and Stylein. The Citroën DS5 2012 design winner, Tabernacle Twins by Vibe Lundemark, also sent designs down the runway.

Meanwhile, under the patronage of HRH Crown Princess Mary, the Designer's Nest catwalk once again showcased the work of a select group of promising design students.

Below are my favourite catwalks from CPH Fashion Week, though this is just the tip of the iceberg! For the full list of designers check out the website here.



Stine Goya




Peter Jensen



Tabernacle Twins

See more from the Copenhagen catwalks after the jump

Trend Report: Copenhagen Fashion Week

I posted on Sunday about my visit to Denmark for Copenhagen Fashion Week and promised more was on the way.

From the hundreds of images I must have taken I have whittled it down to the hottest trends and key pieces from all the S/S 13 collections on offer at the show.

These are the looks I'll be taking away from the show, working them into my wardrobe now and long into next summer.

• Military Ranks: the army influence comes back round again from camouflage prints to tough khaki pieces mixed with leather.

left to right: Saint Tropez, Second Female, Vibe Johansson

• Sporting Goods: track pants get an upgrade in luxe metallics and prints with go faster stripes. College T-shirts and matching jackets are optional extras. Team with wedge high tops, naturally.

left to right: Designers Remix, Ganni, Wackerhaus

• Pyjama Party: printed PJ pants are still in for next Summer! I'm sending up a thanks to the fashion gods because that's pretty much all I have been wearing this summer! They are the comfiest things ever!  

left to right: Dansk, Stine Goya, Minus

• Summer leather: leather is re-worked once again this season in soft shades of lime green, buttercup and beige, mainly across biker jackets.

left to right: Velour, Twist & Tango, J. Lindeberg

• Check Please: Geometric square and rectangle prints and repeat checks, once the preserve of winter collections, suddenly look cool for summer in a palette of ocean blue and zingy orange.

left to right: Whiite, Twist & tango, Peter Jensen

Watch out for my catwalk report, coming up next!

Copenhagen Fashion Week Highlights

This weekend I was away from the London heatwave attending Copenhagen Fashion Week's S/S 13 edition.

CPH Fashion Week is always one of the highlights of show season, with its vibrant fashion scene, amazing street style, friendly atmosphere and beautiful cityscape's its impossible to return home feeling un-inspired.

So before I bring you my lowdown of the trends I spotted at the show for next Spring / Summer I wanted to quickly share with you some of my highlights from this edition, which you can see below in pictures...



At my favourite trade show for directional designers - Gallery



At the Stine Goya catwalk  - love the bubble gum pink hair!



The 'living wall' in the lobby at my hotel, the amazing Bella Sky



Tivoli world - one of the oldest amusement parks in Europe



Makeover Anyone? The MAC studio at VISION



The CIFF catwalk was a brilliant way to end my 2 day trip

That is all for now but keep checking back over the next week for my pick of the top emerging trends and hottest designers from CPH Fashion Week.

Accessory Alert: Barbara Boner

Barbara Boner’s A/W 12 collection entitled ‘God Loves you all’ is a range of luxury bags with fringe detailing.

Oversize totes, slouch clutches, bohemian cross body designs, metal chain evening bags and iPad covers all feature in the collection – each with the brands’ signature long fringes, giving each bag unique movement and that wow factor!

The colour palette for the season covers muted greys and natural tones of soil, ginger, ash, cocoa, ginger, graphite and a warm rose grey whilst a host of luxury materials utilized include soft Nappa leather, python, pony and specially printed leather.



Prints come by way of leopard pony skins on the ‘Medusa’ clutch, and embroidered silk on the ‘Jungle’ clutch bag, which features a Jungle scene.


Produced in Italy Barbara Boner is stocked in over 50 locations around the world.

Brand focus: Moka London

After a successful first season luxury label Moka London is looking to expand with a chic, avant-garde offering for S/S 13.

Founded last year by Dania Sakka and Mona Mourad, the label’s primary mission is to educate young design graduates, giving them the industry knowledge and the guidance needed to take their creative vision to the next step.

Though new designers are taken on each few seasons they are restricted to certain parameters. High quality fabrics, heavy embellishments and a signature print each season are the threads that run throughout, giving the label consistency and commercial appeal.

Rocio Villena is this season’s designer, and for S/S 13 Villena was inspired by armor, utilizing graphic structured shapes with a mixture of textures and prints across an array of designs including bodies, cat suits, structured tops with subtle peplums, dresses, full length skirts and tailored trousers.

Find out more after the jump

Alice and Olivia boutique launched in Harvey Nichols

It's been announced that Harvey Nichols London will launch the largest boutique in the UK for contemporary womenswear brand Alice & Olivia.

Based on the stores popular 3rd Floor, the boutique area will display the brand's A/W 12 collection of sophisticated seperates alongside the newly launched 'Gown Collection'.

Designed as a fresh twist on party dressing the collection’s key pieces include multi length dresses in rich boucle fabric, jacquard embroidery, brocades and edgy leather.

For the first time this season, Harvey Nichols will also be stocking Alice & Olivia shoes, including my personal favourite, the Dorris dotty ankle boot as seen below.

Alice and Olivia was founded by Stacey Bendet in 2002. Celebrity fans of the brand include Cheryl Cole, Blake Lively and jessica Alba. You can find out more about the label here. 



WGSN Global fashion Awards: Judging Line Up

It was July when I first blogged about the WGSN Global Fashion Awards coming to London in November.

Now the judging panel for its 2012 edition has been announced, and in includes a plethora of talent from the fashion industry from across the globe.

Topshop managing director Mary Homer, ASOS product and trading director Robert Bready, Judy Coomber general manager at Australian department store Myer, accessories designer Lara Bohinc and Michael Herz, creative director at Swiss luxury brand Bally are just some of the leaders within their fields featured on the panel.

Further big names represented include Next, Jigsaw, Selfridges, Basso & Brooke and Bora Aksu, who will judge the awards alongside esteemed writers, stylists and fashion commentators.

From top left: Lara Bohinc, Mary Homer, Judy Coomber and Basso & Brooke

For a Full list of judges look no futher than here.

Entries are still open for the WGSN Global Fashion Awards with categories ranging from best designer for women’s and menswear, best design teams in womenswear, menswear, footwear & accessories, kidswear and denim, as well as best store and e-store. For a full list of categories see here.

The event will take place at The Savoy in London on Monday 5^th November 2012. Keep checking back for more updates over the coming months until then...

Le Geek C'set Chic

Earlier in the month I blogged about my August Inspiration and how I planned to channel some Geek Chic into my life and my wardrobe.

Well after a long cruise of the A/W 12 opening collections from both designers and the high street I think I may have cracked the code!

First take a pencil skirt (or any midi length skirt style this season for that matter) then layer up with chunky knitted sweaters and cardigans - preferably those which show off your test scores like this beauty below from Aubin & Wills.

Then, add a classic mac or duffle coat over the top and accessorise with a satchel and oversize frames. Lastly for footwear you can't go wrong with a loafer or brogue - flat shoes really are the height of fashion this season!

Non essential (but oh so stylish) extras include hairbands and embellished collars. Blair Waldorf anyone?

See below for my selection of geek essentials that are in store and online right now.

1. Glasses, AJ Morgan at ASOS, £15

2. Satchel, Cambridge Satchel Company at ASOS, £120

3. Mac, Burberry Brit, £665

4. Loafters,Christian Bouboutin

5. Jumper, Aubin & Wills, £55

6. Pencil Skirt, Erdem, £590

7. Collar,Marni, £240

8. Hairband, Miu Miu, £135

9. Brogues, Red Valention, £290

10. Cape, Oasis, £55