WGSN Global Fashion Awards Entries Open

It's been announced that the fourth annual WGSN Global Fashion Awards is to be held at the Victoria and Albert Museum on Wednesday 30 October 2013.  

After live tweeting backstage from the hugely successful 2012 event hosted by Cat Deeley, I'm so excited the awards ceremony will once again take place in London this year!

The WGSN Global Fashion Awards honour fashion’s most inspirational and innovative businesses and individuals who are pushing the boundaries, with last year’s diverse list of winners including Victoria Beckham and Rankin.

Award entries are now open for 2013 and can be made via www.globalfashionawards.com

Forever Unique Launches Selected Collection

Fashion brand Forever Unique launched its ‘Selected’ collection yesterday - a carefully edited range of new, stunning evening and party dresses, handpicked to represent the brand’s fashion forward direction.

Having worked closely with InStyle's Fashion Director, Amanda Bellan, Forever Unique has taken a step into high fashion territory with the 'Selected' collection, steering away from previous misconceptions of the brand, and cleverly combining on-trend looks with timeless glamour.

The collection features pieces to be flaunted on the dance floor such as the Bessie dress with its structured jacquard skirt and Peter Pan collar, to show-stopping red carpet gowns like the fully beaded Azure or the dramatic one shouldered Felicity gown.

What I think is particularly great is the a range of silhouettes which is used throughout, from full prom dresses with puffed out layers of organza to floor length and empire lines gowns for that 'grecian godess' look - perfect for a number of different body shapes. However, for those supermodels amongst you there are the usual sheer panels, plunging necklines and mini-lengths so never fear!

Beautifully layered embellishments and beading are also prominent features throughout, including floral applique on a particular favourite of mine - the Halo dress - leading to almost couture-like creations which will stand out from the crowd. Delicate lace, pleats and sweet bows sit alongside exotic floral prints and neon hues on the final few dresses, which I haven't been able to chow you here but i encourage you to check out immediately!

Though Forever Unique is available to buy from various stockists across the globe the 'Selected' collection is exclusive to the brand's own website with prices ranging from £165 to £800.

Wear the trend: monochrome made easy

In case you hadn't noticed monochrome is everywhere at the moment. It's one of the hottest trends of the season, having filtered down from the catwalks (Marc Jacobs did it best) eventually finding its way onto the high street (the options are endless but Zara, New Look and Warehouse are all doing it well). And its not just stripes that are causing a stir, as checks, diamonds and florals get in on the action too. My top ten picks are below, in particular I'm lusting after the Each x Other biker jacket - tres chic!

For best results, wear equal parts black to white, and, if you must introduce another colour make it tan for a high end feel. Finally, keep adornments and jewellery to a minimum and let sharply tailored looks speak for themselves. High Five - you've nailed the monochrome trend!

 

1. Dress, £475, Tibi. 2. Top, £32, Next. 3. Bag, £25, ASOS. 4. Necklace, £20, Topshop. 5. Blouse, £45, Warehouse. 6. Leather jacket, £935, Each x Other. 7. Jean, £265, Sass & Bide. 8. Skirt, £170, Diane Von Furstenberg. 9. Shoes, £638, Toga. 10. Dress, £225, By Malene Birger.

 

Hot Right Now: Jessica Simpson for Kurt Geiger

Regular readers may have noticed I have become a bit shoe obsessed recently, and every other post seems to involve me drooling over new collections and new footwear brands! Well I promise this is the last one for awhile, I just couldn't resist the chance to share my latest obsession with you - Jessica Simpson for Kurt Geiger.

Jessica's collection is a new label for Kurt Geiger for spring/summer 2013 and shoe-aholics like me will surely be found lusting after the colourful wedge high tops, 70's inspired wood block heels and towering strappy platform sandals.  

I've narrowed it down to my six favourite styles below, such as the Parie snakeskin platforms - great with both cropped trousers and on a night out - and the Lexia high tops in taupe and aqua, which I'm making space in my closet for right this second!

Priced from £75 to £95, you can shop the full Jessica Simpson collection online here.
 

Converse #MyCanvasJourney

Last Thursday saw the launch of the Converse #MYCANVASJOURNEY Exhibition at The Hoxton Gallery which was attended by yours truly (pictured gawping moronically below) alongside a packed crowd of over 450 guests. As we partied into the evening we were entertained with DJ sets from Celebrity Stylist Alexis Knox, MTV Presenter Becca Dudley and on line publication Breaks Mag whilst drinking far, far too much Patron Tequila than was good for us.

Over the last 4 weeks, Converse Accessories gathered together a select group of Instagrammers who represent the creative aspects of the brand – from television presenters, actors and designers to photographers, stylists and sound engineers – who then took part in a photo campaign taking the iconic Converse Canyon Duffel Bag on their life journey.

                                                                                                                                    

On their journeys the bags have travelled to New York, Paris, Milan, and Los Angeles. They’ve been to four A/W 13 fashion weeks, been on tour with bands and signed by rock stars, been changed into a myriad of colours and travelled a total distance of the equivalent of two journeys around the world - impressive stuff.

 

Particular highlights for me were the table decorations (you can see these on my instaram feed) and the photobooth! Many thanks to Coffin On Cake PR for the invite and these images.

 

 

All the images from the campaign can be viewed on line at any time by visiting mycanvasjourney.tumblr.com and through Instagram @mycanvasjourney and #mycanvasjourney.

Wood Wood's first footwear collection

Wood Wood have released their first footwear collection as part of the Spring Summer 2013 collection in selected stores worldwide.

After numerous collaborations with the major players including Nike, New Balance and Adidas, Wood Wood is ready to stand alone and take their footwear dedication to the next level. Featuring styles for both men and women, the range combines the brand's well know sporty and playful attitude with both classic and unique silhouettes.

One of many highlights is the sporty yet dressy combination of an ankle boot and a sandal, the 'Viola' shoe. Overall, pieces are available in a floral all-over print which is also used in the clothing collection, a deep puce, off-white and a classic leopard print.



Clockwise from top left: The Viola, Daxia, Thelma and Isobell

The Wood Wood footwear collection will launch in all W.W. stores and selected retailers worldwide this March.

 

Friday Treat Time: H & M Floral Trousers

In honor of the grand opening of H & M's newly refurbished store on Oxford Street yesterday, today's Friday treat comes direct from the High Street brand's new Spring collection.  

Though some of you may still be entrenched in snow (I wish it would bore off already) it really is time to start thinking about Spring and what better way to prepare than with these in-your-face floral trousers. The tapered ankle length cotton trousers are a snip at £14.99 and will bring a much needed burst of happiness in all this depressing weather. In fact I'd go so far as to say they should be made available on the NHS. Click here to place your prescription, ahem I mean order. Happy Shopping x 

Disney to host first catwalk show

Is it sad that out of all the collaborations happening in 2013, this is the one I am most excited about? 

On 23rd March Disneyland Paris will hold its first fashion show as an extended celebratiion of the park’s 20th Anniversary. Designers from nine countries including SISTER by SIBLING, Phillip Treacy, Custo Barcelona and Alber Elbaz of Lanvin, will present outfits inspired by the park’s Disney Dreams! show. 

SISTER by SIBLING will be showing for the UK with an outfit inspired by Cinderella’s three mice friends; Jack, Gus and Mary, with each mouse representing one of the three designer's behind the label - Sid Bryan, Joe Bates and Cozette McCreery. The final design is a knitted mini dress featuring hand-embroidery, worn with customized sparkly Katie Grand for Hogan high tops. Alber Elbaz meanwhile, will design a dress for mini mouse.

Image Credit: Fashion Insight

Kind of makes me want to kidnap a child so I have an excise to go to Disneyland again at the age of 25! 

The ‘Designers of Dreams’ fashion show will take place in Disneyland Paris on Saturday 23rd March to mark the launch of Disneyland Paris 20th Anniversary Extended celebration.

Related posts: Minnie Mouse Mania at London Fashion Week

Friday Treat Time: Zara Sandals

My Friday treat time this week comes courtesy of Zara which has brought out a stellar collection of new season footwear just in time for Spring. Take these as a case in point -the multicoloured lace-up sandals have it all, conquering hot trends for S/S 13 (cobalt blue and graphic print in one!) whilst looking FAR more expensive than its down to earth £69.99 price tag. Get them quickly before they go here. But hands off the size three's - they're mine!

 

Mothers Day Guift Guide

Mother's day is this Sunday (10th March) and if you are still struggling for inspiration check out my handy gift guide below. With everything under £100, I've picked out the best of what the British High Street has to offer - all you have to do now is wrap it. My top tips; for mum's you want to pamper look no further than Jo Malone's bath oils or Aerin's gorgeous Spring make up palettes, whilst the Marc by Marc Jacob's heart shaped headphones are the perfect gift for the mum who has it all.

 

 

1. Heart bracelet, £18,Oliver Bonas. 2. Scarf, £10, Next. 3. Candle, £17.99, Zara Home. 4. Bath Oil, £15, Jo Malone. 5. Earrings, £95, Kenneth Jay Lane. 6. Mummy Deer Mug, £7.50, Oliver Bonas. 7. Positivley Pink Cheek Palette, £10, Stila 8. Spring Style Palette, £45, Aerin. 9. Headphones, £35, Marc By Marc Jacobs. 10. Cupcake Queen Paint Pot, £9, Ciate. 11. Purse, £99, Ted Baker. 12. Cake Tin, £7, Joy The Store.

Don't Miss: Selfridges Shoe Carnival

As part of Selfridges Shoe Carnival, (running from 1 March) the store celebrates Disney’s new film, Oz The Great and Powerful with an exclusive footwear collection by Nicholas Kirkwood and an exhibition of original costumes and props from the movie in its Oxford Street windows. 

The shoes: British shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood has worked with Disney to create a four-piece capsule collection of shoes, three of which are inspired by the lead 'witches' from the film, and Kirkwood’s first-ever men’s shoe to market – inspired by James Franco’s character, the Wizard of Oz. Selfridges will be the worldwide exclusive stockist of the limited-edition collection, which is housed within the Shoe Galleries department on the second floor. 

The windows: The two windows either side of the store’s main canopy entrance feature some of the best-known elements of the story: the Emerald City, and the Yellow Brick Road. Original outfits worn by the stars of the film will be exhibited alongside props, including the actual yellow bricks used in the film.

Prices for the Nicholas Kirkwood collection:

• Men’s brogue inspired by Oscar Diggs, the Wizard of Oz (played by James Franco) - price on application.

• Green python cutout sandal, inspired by Evanora (played by Rachel Weisz) - £1,095

• Ruffle pump with crystal toe, inspired by Glina (played by Michelle Williams) - £965

• Red velvet jewel-encrusted boots, inspired by Theodora (played by Mila Kunis) - £895
Images courtesy of Selfridges. 

This Little Girl Loves: Alexis Barrell

Alexis Barrell’s S/S 13 collection pays homage to Barrell’s travels in the African Karoo, whilst also picking up on references to blue and white Delft Dutch porcelain, her uncle’s vast and priceless range of historic Victorian botanical hand drawings, and the photography of Francesca Woodman. Whatever the inspiration, I'm a little bit in love.

 

 

The brand’s often-used muse of “a girl on a voyage” is executed in original silk prints, sunny yellows and punched leather pieces with denim accents. Silhouettes, meanwhile, are free and loose, with key pieces including skirts with graduated hems, wide-leg silk pyjama-style trousers and bias-cut, mid-length and maxi dresses. Leather pieces such as dungaree shorts, split skirts and intricately detailed bomber jackets keep the collection fresh and youthful - and right on trend for S/S 13.

 

 

Even better, a new stockist for S/S 13 is style destination MyWardrobe.com, adding to the brands existing portfolio of high-end indies across the globe.

Chloe anniversary collection comes to Selfridges

From today (1st March) to 30th March 2013, the Concept Store at Selfridges, Oxford Street will be transformed into an ode to Chloé, as the brand celebrates its 60th anniversary.

To mark the 60th year celebrations, Chloé is re-editing 16 of the archive’s most iconic pieces, all of which will be sold within the Selfridges concept. The collection includes items such as Karl Lagerfeld’s Violin Dress from S/S 1983, Stella McCartney’s pineapple T-shirt of S/S 2001, the much loved Paddington Bag introduced by Phoebe Philo in S/S 2005 and the cape and leather shorts by Hannah MacGibbon everyone was wearing back in Autumn/Winter 2009.

I've narrowed it down to my four key looks from the collection including the 1960's Embrun dress from founder Gaby Aghion which still looks fresh today, but with so many pieces available I'll definitely be going down to the store to check them all out!

Curated and designed by renowned exhibition-maker Judith Clark, the space (located in the ground floor Wonder Rooms) will showcase vintage pieces from the house’s archives as well as video footage of Chloé’s most memorable fashion shows from bygone seasons. The project also includes a Chloé takeover of the run of store windows along Orchard Street.