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.)

21.09.2010- Garden of Erdem

Erdem Moralioğlu, I love you. Yesterday in London town, the designer showed his gorgeous Spring/Summer 2011 collection, which translated the inspiration he had gathered over the summer as he was co-curating the V&A exhibition on the Ballet Russes to the runway:

I'm so much in love with everything it hurts. The dresses are so beautifully tailored to give an extremely feminine line and, as ever, the signature prints are vibrant and playful. Erdem's use of lace also adds another level of sensual elegance to the dresses, and the ballet influence shines through the entire aesthetic of the collection, from the ballerina plaits in the hair of the models, to the mid-calf ties on the shoes, created by Nicholas Kirkwood. It's extremely rare that I love every single piece from one show, but I could happily fill my wardrobe with everything from this collection. J'adore!

To view a video of the show (which took place outside!) visit vogue.com.

What did you think of Erdem's SS11 collection? Do you love it as much as I do?

(Image credit: style.com and vogue.co.uk.)

29.08.2010- Golden touch...

The Victoria and Albert Museum's major exhibition for the autumn, Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballet Russes, showcases the work and imagination of artistic director Serge Diaghilev and the genesis of the radical Ballet Russes. Diaghilev's work with the company transformed the face of early 20th century culture through collaboration with artists including Coco Chanel, Igor Stravinsky, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, in the development of an aesthetic which married art, music and dance to create a spectacular brand of total theatre. Diaghilev's vision combined with Vaslav Nijinsky's bold choreography of an original ballet repertoire (including Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring) saw the Ballet Russes become one of the most influential theatre companies of the twentieth century, and their legacy still influences a panoply of contemporary culture. The exhibition, which opens at the V&A South Kensington on the 25th September and runs until the 9th January 2011, features over three hundred objects, including original costumes, set designs and props, all of which tell the story of a ballet company and visionary who together transformed the face of modern dance, fashion and art.

In celebration of the launch of the exhibition, the V&A shop have also launched a special range of tie-in merchandise, including this gorgeous scarf designed by Erdem, featuring the original costume designs of Léon Bakst for the Ballet Russes:

At £185, it is rather pricey, but it is certainly a beautiful keepsake of the exhibition. On the other hand, these gorgeous prints are a bit more within my price range, and will look great in hanging up in my room. I can't wait to get down to the V&A when the exhibition opens, it looks as though it's going to be unmissable (and invaluable for my dissertation research!)

To find out more about the exhibition, visit www.vam.ac.uk.

What do you think? Will you be paying a visit? Or perhaps splashing out on the Erdem scarf?

(Image credit: V&A Theatre and Performance Collections and V&A Shop.)

01.07.2010- Lula Loves

In celebration of Lula magazine's 5th birthday, editor Leith Clark and set designer Fiona Leahy have collaborated with Harvey Nichols to create and curate an exclusive pop up shop on the recently refurbished fourth floor of the Knightsbridge store. Described as a 'celebration of all things Lula', the pop up shop features exclusive pieces designed by the likes of Erdem, Rodarte, Sonia Rykiel and Miu Miu. And, as if that wasn't enough, Chanel is offering a very special (if somewhat mysterious) treat to shoppers upon their making a purchase from the collection. If you live outside the U.K or can't make it to London, the items that feature as part of the pop up shop are also available to purchase (or simply lust after) online at harveynichols.com. I love this pop up shop idea, as it transforms shopping into more of an experience and brings it an element of theatricality. The images I've seen of the design of the shop itself so far seem to encapsulate the aesthetic and attitude of the magazine perfectly. Here are my picks from the collection...if only I was filthy rich!

Miu Miu Glitter Jewel Peep Toe Shoes, £420

Rodarte Hand Marbled Dress, £2515

Rodarte Love Hate Sweatshirt, £115

The pop up shop is open for one month from today, I'll definitely be popping along once I get back from my holiday, if only to find out what this mysterious Chanel gift is!

What do you think of the idea of a Lula pop up shop? And do you like the collection? 

(Image credit: Lula Loves at Harvey Nichols and Fiona Leahy.)

21.06.2010- More Resort

Some more favourites from the 2011 Resort shows:

The Row

 Simple maxi dresses, I really love the effect that the pleats in the fabric have on accentuating the line of the garment.

Preen

 I love love love this collection. It's full of really wearable pieces and is perfect for spending summer in the city. I also adore the muted colours.

Erdem

 It's no secret that I adore Erdem, I put it down to the fact that I'm more than a little obsessed with prints, specifically those of the floral variety. The cut of this collection is so elegant, and the longline dresses are just gorgeous. The maxi is notoriously difficult to carry off well, but by keeping the line straight and clean, the simplicity of the garment and beauty of the print shines through. 

(Image credit: style.com.)

24.02.2010- London Fashion Week Favourites.

The best of London Fashion Week!

Mary Katrantzou

Visually captivating and vibrant graphic prints with a cute, feminine feel.

TOPSHOP Unique

 

  

When I first saw this collection, it immediately reminded me of 'Where The Wild Things Are'. Models are styled like woodland nymphs in a clash of function and fashion.

Julien MacDonald

  

I'm not normally a fan of MacDonald's work; I often find his designs overbearing and gaudy, but these dresses are simple and fresh, with beautiful lace details. 

Christopher Kane

 

 A refreshing new take on black with brightly coloured floral embellishments and jewelled details. 

Erdem
 

 

  

  

  

 

 Erdem's Autumn/Winter presentation felt very much like a natural progression of his Spring/Summer Collection; the same basic shapes were featured, but this time around the prints were reminiscent of the kaleidoscopic colours of the autumn landscape. I especially love the bird print dresses and Erdem's juxtaposition of colours here; my favourite from London.

Basso and Brooke

 

Yet more vibrant prints, to me this collection was evocative of Alexander McQueen's wildlife inspired Spring/Summer 2010 presentation.

Burberry Prorsum

 

 

This collection looks so warm! After the freezing winter we've had over here, everyone will be investing in one of Christopher Bailey's gorgeous shearling coats and a pair of sheepskin lined boots, which with their military feel are perfect for fighting your way through blizzards!

Jonathan Saunders

 

 

With cool hues and an ice-princess attitude, this collection was clean and contemporary. I adore the pastel boots. 

Peter Pilotto

 Featuring the graphic prints he has made his name with, the aesthetic of this collection is kept vibrant through incorporation of a flash of tangerine and metallics. 

What have been your favourite collections from London? Any that I've missed?

See you the other side of Milan! 

(Image credit: style.com.)