If I was going to Glastonbury...

This post is pretty self-explanatory. If I was lucky enough to be going to Glastonbury this year here's what I'd be wearing; a straw hat, a beaten leather jacket, embellished kaftans, a fringe bag, glitter wellingtons, and camisole dresses paired with bleached-out denim.

There's something about summer, festival or not, that brings out the hippy in me. Out goes the smart tailoring and in comes boho embroidery, Aztec and tribal prints, pyjama pants, maxi dresses, tie dye and fringing. Oh so much fringing. Basically, I think I'm Stevie Nicks. Maybe this isn't the most appropriate festival wear for Glastonbury - cream kaftans would not survive a mud bath - but it's the festival aesthetic I've always loved and I'm obstinately sticking to it.

1. Straw trilby, £16, Miss Selfridge. 2. Tapestry panel denim jacket, £60, River Island. 3. Swing cami dress, £35, River Island. 4. Aztec embroidered kimono, £60, Topshop. 5. Embellished tank top, £35, River Island. 6. Tapestry western boots, £90, Topshop. 7. Embellished cotton sweatshirt, £495, Matthew Williamson. 8. Fringe leather duffle bag, £45, ASOS. 9. Leather biker jacket, £770, Faith Connexion at Net a Porter. 10. Glitter wellingtons, Now £22.49, JuJu at Mr Shoes. 11. Sunglasses, £75, Sherrif & Cherry.

On another note if I was going to Glastonbury here's a the music I'd be listening to. There's the Rolling Stones obviously along with some of my favourite artists right now; Ben Howard, Tom Odell, alt-J, First Aid Kit and Haim, who I've already been to see this month but will never get enough of! 

This Little Girl Loves: By Emily Jewellery

Last week when I blogged about EVJ jewellery I mentioned that I had found the brand at contemporary jewellery show, Treasure, which is held once a year at Somerset House in London. What's fantastic about Treasure is that you can find all kinds of brands under one roof - from costume to fine jewellery and back again - so magpie that I am, obviously I didn't know where to look first! 

One brand I absolutely fell in love with, without any hesitation, was By Emily. The work of designer Emily Sidwell, designs are quaint and fairy tale like with a cast of characters inspired by nature, folklore and fantasy. Animal motifs are therefore abundant, especially in the A Countryside Alliance collection which features cunning foxes, sleepy dormice, and one particularly striking statement necklace formed from galloping gold horses which immediately caught my eye.

The main focus at Treasure though was the upcoming autumn / winter collection, The Snow Goose. Based on Paul Gallico’s novella of the same name the story - which is set during the Second World War - is captured through a series of sterling silver designs, offset with semi-precious stone accents. Boats tossed upon stormy seas are emblematic of Dunkirk, whilst two pendants featuring geese in flight are beautifully detailed and delicate at the same time. 

Bio: Emily Sidwell’s childhood was filled with artistic pursuits and after graduating with a Fine Art degree in 2008 she travelled the world, keeping a sketchbook of ideas from each of the countries she visited. Now based in London, she works mostly with silver and bronze using the wax casting process - sculpting each individual piece by hand in soft moulding wax, before casting it in precious metal. She produces two collections a year and also works to commission. The A/W 13 collection, as well as other By Emily designs are available online from www.notonthehighstreet.com/byemily and the brand’s website www.byemily.bigcartel.com. 

The Best Summer Holiday Swimsuits

In case you hadn't noticed the humble swimsuit is experiencing somewhat of a revival for 2013 and I'm totally on board with this trend! After years of wearing bikini's on holiday, this year I'm craving something much more grown up, not to mention less revealing - long gone are the days I want to wear a skimpy two piece held together by some unreliable string!

With that in mind, and with two holidays looming in September, I decided now was the time to buy a great swimsuit. Here is my edit of the 8 best styles - both designer and high street for every budget - I hope it gives you some inspiration no matter where you vacay this summer.

Designer labels offered up a host of bold tropical and tribal styles - a particular favourite of mine was rising star Charlie by Matthew Zink. But the winner had to be Aussie label We Are Handsome. Pioneer of the printed swimsuit and featured on the blog here before they are my favourite swimwear brand by far.

I also scoured the Great British High Street and found there are some great Aztec, tribal and geometric prints available, especially at Ted Baker, Dorothy Perkins and River Island. However, I was blown away by a particular black art-deco sequin style from Topshop. It's now residing in my wardrobe waiting for its chance to shine. 

1. Rainbow print bandeau, £199, Mara Hoffman at Net a Porter. 

2. Geo Aztec swimsuit, £26, Dorothy Perkins. 

3. Deco sequin swimsuit, £36, Topshop.

4. The Messengers swimsuit, Now £133, We Are Handsome at Net a Porter.

5. Halterneck swimsuit, £220, Charlie by Matthew Zink at Net a Porter. 

6. Snake print swimsuit, Now £40, Ted Baker.

7. Shangri La swimsuit, £165, Gottex at Harrods.

8. Graduate Fashion week feather swimsuit, £12, George at Asda.

On My Radar: EVJ Jewellery

Last weekend I attended contemporary jewellery show Treasure at Somerset House. Whilst there I was on the look out for new brands, especially those from the UK as my quest continues to champion young British design talent. 

EVJ is one such label - a contemporary jewellery brand designed & Made in London which creates delicate pieces with a street style edge.

Tattoos  are  a huge  part  of  what  inspires designer and founder Elizaveta Yurlasova, especially the names of loved ones,  motto's  or  memories. This has translated into a range called "tomorrow is another country" featuring necklaces and bracelets with  inspirational sayings including  ‘Never  give  up’, ‘Live  your dreams’ and ‘Truly blessed’. 

Ear cuffs form the centrepiece on the new Black Star collection, which is probably my favourite. I went through a huge 'ear cuff worn with a top knot phase' last year when my hair was long. Sadly after cutting my hair into a bob the effect was somewhat lost, but as soon as it grows out the hair is going up and the ear cuffs are making a return! They are such a great way to make a statement without having to wear heavy earrings all day! The cuffs come in a range of gold; 9kt white gold, 9kt yellow gold and black rhodium plated 9kt white gold.

Bio: Founder Eliza was born in Russia but has worked in in Tokyo,  Shanghai,  Hong  Kong,  Vienna,  NYC,  Moscow,  Paris  and  Milan, gathering inspiration from every city before coming to the UK. Next stop for Eliza is Brazil and it's this dynamism in all areas of her life that she wants to replicate in her designs. Eliza also writes for GEM-A-PORTER.COM and you can find out more about her travels on instagram @EVJLondon jewellery blog @GemAPorterBlog - You can also buy the collection here at  www.EVJLondon.com 
 

One To Watch: Tamara Tobias Scarves

Let me introduce you to the first collection from luxury scarf brand Tamara Tobias. The creation of Central Saint Martin’s Fashion graduate Tamara Fowler this beautiful range of scarves is inspired by nature and the beauty of everyday life as explored through the eye of a camera lens. 

Consisting of six digitally printed designs - Hats, Bouquet, Florist, Flower Stall, Leaves and Hydrangea - colours range from neutrals and soft palettes to bold, bright statement prints across silks and cashmere.

I think my personal favourite is the ‘Hats’ design which features a print of vintage hats, found displayed along a market stall in Marrakech. I just so happen to be going to Marrakech in September and this lightweight cotton and silk mix style would make a great - and appropriate - addition to my holiday wardrobe. 

Closer to home, the 'Flower Stall' design references by the mix of flowers found in Borough Market whilst the purple and green design 'Leaves' (not shown here) was is inspired by leaves resting on the ground in Hyde Park.

Tamara also creates one-off bespoke scarves for individuals using designs such as wedding bouquets or loosely based around floral prints, making each scarf unique and personalized.

Bio: A Central Saint Martin’s Fashion graduate Tamara Fowler completed a degree in Fashion Design in Womenswear, subsequently taking a year out to work for Betty Jackson and Clements Riberio in London and for Zac Posen in New York. After this, Tamara worked for several years at Coast, both on the shop floor as a Visual Merchandiser and then in head office as part of the International Operations team before setting up her own business. 

Danielle Foster AW 13: My Accessory Crush

Autumn / Winter 13 sees the fourth collection by accessory designer Danielle Foster (who I've featured back in the blog before here) and a partnership with fellow up-and-coming British womenswear designer Charlie May.

 

The collaborative collection celebrates both designers British heritage which is brought to life by new colours and textures across Foster's classic silhouettes and some new shapes too - yippee!

Charlie May's A/W 13 collection is inspired by dark volcanic landscapes - ice, rock and fire - so Foster has worked with this colour palette, introducing a burgundy textured leather as well as a new on-trend translucent PVC material inspired by the ice. 

 

This season also introduces a new clutch silhouette, with the addition of a leather strip acting as a built in handle, whilst the beautiful boxy satchel now has a more formal triangular front-closing flap. meanwhile totes are refreshed with contrasting panels, accompanied by braided leather handles. The typical fastenings of solid brass hardware remain, but the brass studding at the base is all new.

Available from September, stockists include Bengt Fashion, Ursa Loves, Rock and Royal, The Unconventional, Atelier - To - Go and Boticca. For more check out: Danielle Foster.

Friday treat time: 10 essential buys for June

I'm not a huge fan of summer sales. Whilst everyone else is falling over each other in crowded aisles trying to grab a bargain, I'm more interested in seeing all the newness coming in to stores. I especially love looking for pieces I can buy now, wear now, and still be able to wear next season. So in the spirit of buying ahead - as opposed to buying whatever is half price - I've compiled my June shopping wish list. These are the 10 pieces I'll be buying (and some I'll just be dreaming about buying) over the coming month. 

Whether you are going to the sales this weekend, or you're inspired by my wish-list, I wish you fruitful & happy shopping! x  

 

 

1. Though I've booked three holidays this year I'm not actually jetting off anywhere until September. This Wildfox t-shirt will keep me sweet whilst I wait. T-shirt, £65, at Matches.

 

2. For the previously mentioned holidays I will be needing these grey tortoiseshell mirror lens retro sunglasses from River island. Sunnies, £13.

 

3. I can't believe this bag from Monki is only £8. It looks far more expensive! Plus, I'm a sucker for animal print. Bag, £8.

 

4. I love a midi tube skirt and Mother of Pearl's latest collaborator Polly Morgan frequently incorporates birds into her work. Even better. Skirt, £365 at net-a-porter.

 

5. Distressed denim and boy fit jeans are back in fashion. If I hadn't already maxed out the trend getting the perfect pair from Mango and Dungarees from Monki last month I'd be buying these versions from Topshop. Jeans, £45.

 

6. Don't look now but sugary pink is set to be a major trend for the new season. Net A Porter thinks that RED Valentino's crepe coat is the perfect way to work the look and I agree whole-heartedly. Best starts saving now then. Coat, £535 at net-a-porter.

 

7. I'm crushing on Superga’s 2750 Ombre canvas trainers because they will make my boyfriend jeans look that bit cooler. Trainers, £50 at Matches.

 

8. White shoes are still going strong, I'm beginning to wonder if this trend will ever end? I hope not because I have my eye on these bargain priced Zara shoes. Sandals, £29.99 

 

9. If I could afford to replace my old beach bag with this Marc by Marc Jacobs lace and PVC tote I would do it in a heartbeat. Tote, £175 at Matches.

 

10. Holograms are hot right now, especially in cool silver. I'll be wearing these from Topshop until the temperatures start to drop. Sandals, £25.

 

Hedonism To Pop Up At Browns

Five milliners supported by the British Fashion Council’s Headonism scheme will have their work on sale at a pop-up on the first floor of Browns until the 17^th June. The edit selected by Browns will include A/W 13 pieces from Aurora Ozma, Emma Yeo, Moody and Farrell, Piers Atkinson and William Chambers.

If you've never been in Browns before this is your perfect opportunity to check out the talent of tomorrow in an inspirational setting.

Background: Headonism is a British Fashion Council initiative curated by Stephen Jones that celebrates the new wave of emerging London milliners. For more information please visit www.britishfashioncouncil.com/headonism