09.11.2011- Design-a-Bear

This year's Children in Need appeal is just around the corner, and looks set to be the most glamorous yet. In celebration of the appeal (and to raise as much money as possible!), Pudsey himself has been given a series of couture makeovers by a host of designers including Erdem, Mulberry and Giles Deacon. The collection of specially created teddies, which showcase SS12's upcoming trends, are on display until November 19th at Liberty in London. All are entered into eBay auctions to raise money for the appeal, so if you fancy owning a bespoke bear of your own, then be sure to head over to the BBC Children in Need website to find out more about placing a bid. I'll certainly be keeping my eye on these little lovelies...

 Giles Deacon's design

 Erdem's adorbale floral teddy

PPQ's super stylish monochrome creation

Liberty's kooky patterned intepretation- complete with shopping bag!

This is such a lovely idea, and a great way to raise both money and awareness for this year's Children in Need appeal. To find out more about how to get involved (and get bidding!), head over to the BBC Children in Need site.

Will you be bidding on a designer Pudsey? And are you doing anything special for Children in Need?

(Image credit: BBC Children in Need.)

07.10.2011- Fashion Week Top Five: London SS12

Although it seems that the SS12 presentations of London Fashion Week took place months ago and are probably considered old news by now (such is the fickle nature of the fashion world), the collections presented in London have remained by far my favourites, proving more memorable than anything I've seen since. Thanks in part to label juggernauts such as Mulberry and Burberry bringing their presentations back to home turf, London is now no longer thought of as the grubbier, more eccentric cousin of ultra-polished New York and glamorous Milan, but is now instead rightly recognised as the hub of new design talent and creativity. Of course we still love our eccentricity (the amazing Meadham Kirchhoff show springs to mind), but London is now more than ever holding its own against the more commercial stops on the fashion month tour. Here are my top picks from the capital's SS12 presentations:

Season after season, I'm always amazed by Erdem's creations. Just when I think his work can't possibly get any better, I'm happily proved wrong. This collection was stunning- signature prints were given a fresh, airy twist and romantic lace featured heavily throughout.

The Giles show was my standout from London Fashion Week- the sheer spectacle was breathtaking. I loved the theatricality of this presentation and the ethereal style of the designs. Luxurious floor-length silk dresses, feather details and metallic accents all evoked an other-worldly quality, and the repeated use of the swan motif throughout this magical collection created a thoroughly fairy-tale like flavour.

The shimmering dresses, vibrant floral patterns and sparkling embellishments all caught my eye at Christopher Kane. The cool, minimalist styling kept things simple, and I love how nonchalantly the looks have been put together- never have I seen flip-flops look so chic!

The Mulberry presentation was a real ray of sunshine. Butterscotch yellows and vivid jungle prints provided us with a vibrant, kooky take on the Great British Summertime. The tousled beehive hairstyles nodded to the nostalgia of 1960s beach holidays, as did the oh-so-cool (but surprisingly tricky to pull off in real life) socks and sandals combo which featured throughout. Beautiful bags in a new array of shapes and colours were, of course, obligatory.

Pretty pleats, sunshine colours and cinched in waists were all key components of the Emilia Wickstead collection, which was demure, ladylike and sophisticated. Each look feels really wearable, and the simple yet classic shapes ensured each design was both versatile and elegant. 

What did you think of London Fashion Week? Which shows were your favourites?

(Image credit: style.com, fashiongonerogue and vogue.fr.)

25.02.2011- Fashion Week Top Five: London AW11

London Fashion Week seems to have flown by, and saw some fantastic events take place, most notably the the Mulberry presentation, which saw an A-list front row get lost in an enchanted forest. Here are my top five from London:

1) Giles

Innovative prints, sharp suits and exquisite tailoring made this collection a London high point for me. 

2) Julien Macdonald

A beautifully dramatic collection from Julien Macdonald, as he gave his trademark glamorous gowns a heritage twist. As well as the beaded and ruffled details, I loved the autumn inspired colours.

3) Erdem

I loved Erdem's spring presentation, and his vision of next season didn't disappoint. I loved the exotic prints which were given a slightly darker feel and the rich hues which were on show here.

4) Mulberry

 Mulberry's take on the English countryside proved as charming as you'd expect. Not only did this collection encapsulate Mulberry's quintessential English roots, but it also appeared extremely practical (how warm does that sheepskin gilet look?) Never before has the countryside looked so chic. 

5) Kinder Aggugini

Kinder Aggugini's presentation showcased lady like dresses and sharp tailoring. The monochrome styling and dainty floral prints proved that autumn doesn't have to be dark and dreary.

What did you think of London Fashion Week? Did you go? And which collections were your favourites?

(Image credit: style.com, fashiongonerogue and londonfashionweek.co.uk.)

23.09.2010- London Calling

London Fashion Week has now wrapped up, and along with Erdem, here are my favourites from the collections of the last week:

PPQ

 Vibrant sunshine prints and simple lines.

Topshop Unique

 There was a very dream-like quality to this collection, with the use of sheer, floating fabrics and
ethereal prints.

Holly Fulton

Kooky prints a plenty at Holly Fulton, where the shapes remained sleek and effortlessly sophisticated.

David Koma

Still retaining some of Koma's trademark heavy metal detailing, this collection was both wearable and feminine; I especially love the fuller skirts and the contrasting use of black and white which gave a very contemporary feel to the collection.

Burberry Prorsum

 

The biker jacket was back with a vengeance at Burberry. As well as the tough studded detailing, pretty dresses teamed with structured leathers were big news here, as were metallics. 

Mary Katrantzou

I loved Mary Katrantzou's collection, not only for the completely surreal lampshade skirts and printed dresses, but also for the divine colours that she used- her collection was a real ray of sunshine. 

Giles

 As well as featuring an iconic cast of models, Giles' SS10 collection was extremely fun and feminine, with ruffle detailing, full skirts and a palette of  mouth-watering sweetshop colours. Quintessentially London.

Which of the London collections did you find the most inspiring? And which of the Milan shows are you most looking forward to?

(Image credit: style.com and WWD.)

15.03.2010- Paris, je t'aime.

Final fashion week post until September when the craziness will kick off in style once more, here are my Paris picks:

Alexander McQueen

 A truly luxurious collection, which stands as a tribute to and as the legacy of the unparalleled creativity and ingenuity of McQueen.

Miu Miu

 I really liked the way that this collection featured texture and the juxtaposition of the muted pastels with bright flashes of orange. 

Valentino

 Very understated pieces from the Valentino show, adore the scalloped hems and black on nude lace details. 

Chloé

Simple, clean and minimalist, this collection proved that less really is more. 

Chanel

 When I saw the first shots of the Chanel collection, I was horrified at the yeti style outfits which consisted a considerable proportion of the looks and thought that I would hate the rest of the collection. This then, proves that first impressions can be deceptive, as when I looked at the rest of the pieces, I found some more traditionally 'Chanel' looks later in the show that I just adored. Again, I really like the interesting use of texture in this collection, and the way that the classic monochrome aesthetic has been updated through styling the dresses with white woollen tights. 

Giles

 I adored this collection, with the 60's inspired styling and cute, feminine dresses. How amazing is the bag in the final shot? Want one!

Stella McCartney

Less is more for Stella, the elegance and sophistication of these pieces really shines through thanks to how simply they have been styled on the runway.

Celine

Beautiful lines, yet more minimalist chic.

Balmain

 Very much a continuation of previous Balmain collections, with the shoulder pad detailing and party perfect sequin dresses; the combination of lilac and gold is divine. And, as they say, if it ain't broke...

Balenciaga

 I really love the pastel hues in this collection, and the pieces feel both wearable and youthful. 

Christian Dior

Loved Dior, particularly the hair and make up and Galliano's use of colour, fresh, crisp tones and long lines give this collection a classic feel, nodding to the shapes of the 20's and 30's. 

So that's it! What were your favourites from Paris? And which shows were your favourites of all? 

(Image credit: style.com.)