Monthly Archives: March 2010

Mar31

Stella McCartney raises awareness for her environmental campaign ‘Meat Free Monday’.

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Stella McCartney raises awareness for her environmental campaign ‘Meat Free Monday’.

Prestigious fashion designer, Stella McCartney has recently released the second installment of her exclusive GapKids range.  The new line features two one-off tees that will only be availaible to purchase from a few chosen London stores, the new garments have been created in order to raise awareness for the designers environmental campaign, ‘Meat Free Monday’.  The campaign aims to make the public aware of the effects of meat consumption and production regarding the climate-change and how the meat industry is in fact harming the planet’s resources.

The T-shirt creations consist of both a girl and a boy design complete with a superhero illustration and the designers famous Intarsia leopard.  Created using only organic cotton and animal friendly fabrics, Stella McCartney sticks to her strict vegetarian rules.

The First set of kids designs created for the Gap brand were extremely popular and an instant sell-out, we’re sure the second set of younger suited garments  will be as equally in demand.  The designer has said she really enjoys creating collaborations for the label and regards it as a great way for parents to participate in the Stella McCartney clothing brand, as each of the pieces are extremely resonably priced.  The kids range, like the designers entire line, has only ethical concepts in mind.  Being a strict vegetarian the designer refuses to create any of her line using leather, fur or any fabric that causes harm to animals.  These are clothes that have been designed to be worn and not shown off.

Mar31

An ethical take on fashion from highstreet giants H&M.

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An ethical take on fashion from highstreet giants H&M.

With spring just around the corner it’s time to start thinking about investing in this season’s key pieces, despite the weather throwing snow, sun and showers at us.  This season’s spring/summer shows revealed an array of pretty linens, cutesy shorts, the much-loved gladiator sandals and a collection of subtle floral print pieces.

H&M the high street giant have decided to go against the weather and launch a fresh new summer inspired line, even if the sun isn’t out the assortment of garments featured in the line are guaranteed to brighten up even the dullest of days.

The Garden Collection is now available and even more tempting when each piece is extremely purse friendly.  Pretty styles bandeau dresses adorned with ruffle details are a steal at just £29.99 whilst summer shorts and fabulously flowing frocks can be picked up for under £20.  These pieces are both perfect for the spring and summer months as well as ideal staples for any summer holidays planned.

As well as offering perfect spring and summer staples the line also portrays a concept of worthy ethics.  As well as offering an extremely stylish range, each item has been created with environmental credentials in mind.  All of the fabrics and materials used to create the capsule collection are in fact animal friendly in that they are either created in organic or recycled fabrics such as linen, renewable tencel, cotton, textile waste or even recycled polyester derived from PET-containers.

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Mar26

An ethical scent from DKNY.

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An ethical scent from DKNY.

Pure DKNY

Designer fashion house DKNY has launched a sweet new scent that not only smells divine but also has been created in aid of a fantastic cause  If you are looking for an untainted perfume then DKNY is certainly a fragrance you should try, the ingredients that make up the up this scent are in fact sourced all the way from Africa. 

The new fragrance combines hints of African vanilla with a definite note of goodwill.  This good will comes in the shape of a few small steps that will in turn make a difference by supporting a range of local communities.

The fresh new fragrance for women is based around a ‘drop of vanilla in water’ accord and this particular element is taken from a woman’s agriculture project based in Uganda.  The majority of these farmers are women and these farmers are currently being backed by the humanitarian organisation CARE.  DKNY have decided to collaborate with this worthy cause in order to create Village Savings and Loan Associations that will enable these working women to take out loans in order to fund and back a variety of schemes including health care, business ventures and education.

Other sweet smelling ingredients that make up the floral fragrance include notes of lotus, rose, freesia, orchid, white amber, sandalwood, dew-drop petal accord and transparent jasmine.  The acidic floral notes prevent the hints of vanilla from appearing too overpowering and the white amber and sandalwood elements give it a more mature musky edge

The concept behind the labels new fragrance is a simple no-fuss one and appears more grown-up than the brands previous scents.  

The fragrance is available in a tear shaped bottle and can be purchased from all stockists of Donna Karen New York and can be obtained in three different sizes, these include 30ml at £32, 50ml at £44 and 100ml priced at £60.

Mar24

Fashions new fixation.

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Fashions new fixation.

First there was the fascination with fake fur in the shape of over the top over and whelming jackets in all styles and colours, then there was the need for a sun kissed glow in the form of fake tan and now, this season we seem to be obsessed with fake hair.

Big wigs certainly have the effect of adding an edge to any outfit in an over the top dramatic way and there appears to be three general types of this ‘new’ hair.  Firstly there is the blunt sharply cut fringes aptly named ‘winges’, then there are the rainbow weaves, which range in colour from shocking pink to aqua turquoise.  The final style appears in the shape of the low-slung plait; this can usually be achieved by attaching a ready made plaited extension to the base of your hair.

The fresh and innovative hairpieces offered at 2010’s catwalk shows are certainly different from anything seen before.  Instead of opting for extensions that match your true colour perfectly and in turn give the illusion of natural flowing locks, the new extensions can be as far from your real hair shade as possible.  Think vibrant pink combined with platinum blonde or deep turquoise on brunette shades.

Louis Vuitton showcased some real show stopping Afro wigs almost resembling the style of poodle’s hair whilst miu miu went for low-slung plaits fastened at the nape of the neck.  A real talking point was the structured wigs created by the stylists at Alexander McQueen; hair has certainly become a fashion statement.  

The amount of work that goes into this season’s hair pieces can take months of labour, the afro wigs created by Guido for Louis Vuitton took four weeks to sew together.  Hair is certainly the accessories of the moment and should be worn as a statement lipstick or embellished cuff would be worn.

Mar24

Stylist Melanie Ward reveals her chic new debut Line.

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Stylist Melanie Ward reveals her chic new debut Line.

The new range entitled Blouson Noir was in fact a term employed by the Suburban Bordeaux rebels in the sixties who were known for their chic black jackets. 

The designer is British born but now works from the Big Apple and began her career twenty years ago purely by chance.  A photographer who admired her quirky style approached her at a party; she was wearing one of her own creations…a man’s dressing gown altered in order to appear as a dress.   She has since worked on a variety of challenging photoshoots, working with the likes of prestigious names including supermodel Kate Moss, designers Helmet Lang, Calvin Klein and Jil sander.  Other names include David Sims and Corinne Day.

Melanie Ward has managed to recreate the grunge look into a trend that resembles a both sophisticated and edgy fashion in the form of distressed tees, worn denim and this season’s must-have statement parka jacket

The key collaborator for the new line is Graham Taylor, a knitwear expert that the designer met whilst conferring with high-fashion house, Chanel.

Her spring/summer collection for 2010 offers an array of quirky pieces including checked shorts, fringed sarong skirts and camisoles, all feature eyelets and lace as well as buckle and zip detailing.  Her creations are both expressive and urban in form and offer a real sense of comparison.

The once stylist has certainly entered the field of design and stores currently showcasing the new collection include prestigious stockists such as Lane Crawford, Barneys and Browns.

Mar24

The new pretty, it’s certainly not for the girly girl.

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The new pretty, it’s certainly not for the girly girl.

Lily Allen

You may think the new ‘pretty’ trend would be perfectly suited to the more polished and cutesy individual, but this trend has a certain edge and a difficult one in that to pull off.  Yes this season is certainly embracing all things pastille and pink combined with girly bows and over the top frill embellishments. 

The new pretty suits the likes of controversial stars such as Lily Allen and Florence Welsh.  These girls have a definite edge and a lot of attitude and when you think of girly attire, they are not the first to come to mind.  They are however the ones who have reinvented the prom dress by simply adding her own style to it and taking that goody two shoes element away from the ensemble, either through the addition of one of this season’s dramatic wigs or a pair of old school sneakers.  This is the new pretty, a look thats girly yet still screams don’t mess with me. 

This trend shouldn’t look like hours have been spent tweaking it, forget the glossy lashes and polished skin and think something more edgy.  Team a backpack with a lace number; add a cute floral cardigan to a rock tee or throw a pair of killer chunky clogs into the mix and you’ll have this trend down to a tee.

This look is all about adding a little individuality and a little fierceness to the mix, don’t be scared to rip the hem off that girly prom dress and most importantly let your character shine through

Mar24

Interior decoration becomes a work of art.

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Interior decoration becomes a work of art.

Artists including David Shrigley, Kiki Smith, Lucas and David Hirst are amongst the few names that will be showcasing their pieces this month in Manchester’s Whitworth Art Gallery.  The Gallery is set to reveal its first British wallpaper exhibition and will reveal a series of wallpaper designs created by various artists.

Each of the creations differs from normal wallpaper designs in that they tell a story, portray a certain message or offer political views. 

Wallpaper in fact says a lot about a home and the person who chose the particular design on display; it is often something that is taken for granted  and this particular exhibition is taking place in order to celebrate this fact and in turn embrace the various styles available.  The exhibition will reveal that wallpaper is in fact a visual tool that brings an environment to life as well as going far beyond just initial decoration purposes.

Kiki Smith’s work resembles a fourteenth century German woodcut style and congers up images of fantasy in the shape of nocturnal creatures and starry skies as well as spiritual imagery.  It portrays a link between both nature and the humans retiring journey through life.

Abigail Lane’s designs on the other hand show a series of repetition in the shape of a deep and baleful message.

Both the pretty hand screened creations from Kiki smith to the dark and sinister designs by Abigail Lane feature in the exhibition aptly titled ‘Walls are Talking: Wallpaper, Art and Culture’.  Each piece allows the audience to enter a world rather than simply peering through a window.

Mar18

Perfect timing from those with impeccable taste.

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Perfect timing from those with impeccable taste.

Mondaine Timepiece

There’s certainly nothing mundane about the mondaine wall clock and it’s still going strong despite it first making an appearance way back in 1944.

This prestigious Mondaine timepiece was custom-built by the Swiss Railway Company in 1944 and is still standing strong as an iconic chronometer today.  The name behind the original design is Hans Hilfiker and his design has since become a long-term representation of the country’s impeccable timekeeping as well the creation echoing a contemporary yet classic style.

The Mondain Wall Clock has recently been re-invented and re-issued by the brand in a sleek aluminium styled casing but still houses the same original ‘red signal’ second hand.  The second hand originally took this nickname because it resembled the stationmasters red disc.  This red disc signified when the next train would be leaving the platform and it’s designed to be easily readable from a distance.

The clock can be powered by two AA batteries and it offers both a quartz movement with a diameter of 40cm.  All of the Mondaine collection offer superior design as well as exclusive charisma and each have the legendary face which has become part of the Swiss image.

The attractive items can be placed anywhere, either the home or the office and the legendary timepiece won’t go down in value once it has left the store.

This is certainly a kitsch 1940’s piece that will look both stylish and symbolic on any wall, it’s available to purchase from Mondaine at SCP for a price of £125 and is sure to make those with a hectic lifestyle run like clockwork!

Mar17

Stylish stationary.

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Stylish stationary.

Despite living in a society that is heavily dominated by a virtual world, the status of stationary is in fact on the rise.  We’re not going to suddenly drop our keyboards and pick up our pens by no means but the stationary vehicle does appear to be on the move.

Esteemed brands such as Rymans and Smythson offer the most stylish stationary to date and women all over are jumping over bridges to get their hands on these divine creations. 
It’s almost as if we have all gone back to school and we are preparing to embark on the New Year, meaning new pencil case, pencils and notepad need to be purchased.

Smythson’s sales have actually increased this year despite our obsession with email and the array of social networking sites available.  Their steadfast list of clientele is still the main reason for the stationary brands popularity but new A-list fans may have something to do with the rise in these newly revealed figures.  Actresses, supermodels and singers including the likes of Kate Moss, Lily Allen and Emma Watson are all fans of the label.

The reason behind this rise is said to be what these products actually represent and that they have become a refined status symbol in comparison to the world of iPhones, Blackberrys and laptops.  Items such as cutesy envelopes in pretty pastilles, stylish pens with real nibs and leather bind note books are no longer an everyday thing but a complete luxury.  They are now fashionable and highly sought after, we no longer use a pen and pad everyday so when we do it becomes a treat.

Fashion houses such as the likes of Giles Deacon has even collaborated with the prestigious stationary brand and the post notes he created were and instant sell-out.

We are certainly not going to forget about our life online but it’s a nice bonus indulgence to receive a personalised thank you note or a hand written letter now and again.

Products featured in the Smythson range and those in other brands providing similar collections all feature intricate details such as interesting typography, stylish illustrations or lavishly grained paper, adding something a little personal to the ensemble.

Mar17

Falling for that all-American charm.

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Falling for that all-American charm.

You can guarantee that most wardrobes house at least one piece of denim if not several pieces and if this season’s double up trend is to continue taking the fashion front by storm, there are surely only more purchases to be made.

Jeans have been a staple style for longer than most people care to remember and they echo a look that is uncomplicated, seductive and powerful.

The magical thing about denim is it can be dressed up or down; it can be worn with heels and an evening top or simply teamed with trainers and a tee.   Denim is certainly the most practical and versatile of fabrics and is readily available in an array of styles, from faded and distressed to cleanly cut and deep indigo.

This trend represents your childhood years but at the same time congers up a seductive and rebellious image and of course it’s extremely American.

Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Chloe, Ashish, Marc Jacobs, Jean Paul Gaultier, Balmain, Stella McCartney and Balmain are all work the denim look to the max with models sashaying down the runways in array of doubled up denim ensembles.

Both Dolce & Gabbana and Herve Leger showcased the denim jacket with the denim jeans thing whilst Stella McCartney went for a simple cut classic style.  Louis Vuitton worked a fun and playful look with statement hair and pom pom style accessories

Denim has always been and seems set to stay firmly at the forefront of fashion, the only features altering being the shade and styles.  Skinny white drainpipes may be in one minute and the next, over the top statement high-waisted flares.