Search Results for “ashley isham

London Fashion Week SS12: Ashley Isham

This is a guest post by Maria Pierides, one of our fabulous competition winners. She’s been hitting the tents at Somerset House as a guest fashion reporter for My Fashion Life to cover as many of London’s spring shows as she can make – find out how she got on when we armed her with a bag full of tickets and sent her packing… Who: Ashley Isham What: The Hollywood edition – if a celeb needs an Oscar dress, this would be a perfect place to start. A vibrant and varied colour palette on delicate materials – mostly romantic silks and playful leathers. Influences from British furniture man Thomas Chippendale were weaved into the collection, as were Rococo-inspired embellishments. Highlights: We loved the theatrical headgear and make-up, but more so the fact that not a single one of the pieces was upstaged by the extra gimmicks. The deep purple and royal blue dresses were some of our stand-out pieces, as was the fuchsia one shouldered mullet dress. Lowlights: The small parade of white, patterned mini dresses happened too quickly at the end of the show – it would have been nice to study them individually in more detail. Overall: Ashley Isham likes his headgear, doesn’t he? It was a prominent theme in his last collection and it plays just as big a part in this one too. However, where last season he varied the head pieces, Isham stuck to a few favourites this time, although he extended the head accessorising to his models’ foreheads as well. This collection essentially captures the spirit of summer both in terms of the colour palette and the Mediterranean and Asian influences. Cheryl Cole, Christina Aguilera and Lady Gaga are famous fans of his razor sharp tailoring and intricate attention to detail, and in this […]

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London Fashion Week AW11: Ashley Isham

Who: Ashley Isham What: dramatic glamour, soft draping, vivid colours and, of course, dresses. Thoughts: World renowned Singaporean designer Ashley Isham is enthusiastic about opulence, and is apparently a great admirer of Galliano’s sense of the theatrical. His autumn/winter collection definitely encompasses the ostentatious and the dramatic, presenting a show that was both contemporary and glamorous. Queues down the street and around the corner proved he has a wealth of admirers and having to stand to see the show didn’t put a damper on it. New Wave drum and base with an airy female vocalist ran at parallel to the collection’s strong tailoring and signature soft draping. First we were treated to summer garden florals in fishtail gowns, the short and the fitting, and cut-out numbers all in a surprising yet lovable fabric – flannel. The palette was eclectic but the use of silks and metallic embellishment created an overall glossy finish. Emerald green and royal blue off-the shoulder evening dresses were attributed floaty sashes or finished with vivacious beaded bordering. Asian inspired head pieces made of chopsticks, flowers and mesh were decidedly playful and extravagant and worked to tie the collection together under a theme of elegant Asian fusion, whereby both head-wear and enveloping draping were comparable to the elongated and delicate crane. Isham thrives on creating “works of desire that women can actually wear,” and this collection was no exception.

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London Fashion Week SS10: Ashley Isham

So lucky me managed to grab a front row seat at the Ashley Isham show today. The dress designer, who has showed at London Fashion Week nine times, put on a lively show with music from Kasabian and Florence and the Machine. It was clearly a show of two halves , for me, at least; the first was rather vivid, full of bold exotic prints, bright colours and jewels galore, whilst the second half took a gentle turn, and embraced a palette of soft nudes, creams and pale golds , toughened up with hints of black. The dresses may have varied, but the accessories remained the same throughout. Gold sky scraper platforms accompanied each piece, jewellery adorned the hair of almost every model, and gems were a statement fixture on many of his pieces.

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London Fashion Week: Ashley Isham AW09

There was much to love about Ashley Isham’s collection. Models with quiff’s that Prince would be proud of strutted their way down the catwalk in a selection of gowns influenced by 40s and 80s glamour. Goddess gowns , Isham’s signature style , reigned supreme, with Grecian style frocks in wispy white. This was clearly a man having fun with texture, as gown after gown of embellished jacquard, satins, jersey and organza appeared.

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London Fashion Week AW08: Ashley Isham

Presenting his AW08 collection at the Royal Opera House, Ashley Isham upped the glam factor and urged us ladies to channel our inner sex kitten next season. The collections palette ranged from cobalt blue, and bright orange to purple and caramel. Snakeskin waistcoats complimented long evening dresses with plunging necklines. Edgier looks came in the form of patent leather biker jackets paired with body con dresses. Jewel brooches embellished various pieces and added a lovely final touch to some of the fitted jackets.

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London Fashion Week SS14 Day 2 highlights

Less rain and even more excitement for Day 2 of London Fashion Week! Here are a few of our highlights from the spring/summer 2014 collections showcased: Zoe Jordan was worth getting out of bed and braving the rain for, as the designer presented a clean, chic, predominantly pastel collection with attitude. Sporty yet chic and feminine; the skater styles were a particular favourite, which just goes to show that you can do grunge the feminine and effortless way, too. Who needs catwalk shows when you have a cute, private little show space to do whatever you want with? Orla Kiely has once again exceeded all expectations with her spring/summer 2014 offering, showing an instantly loveable and wearable 70s safari themed collection. From the Moonrise Kingdom references to the soundtrack to the giraffe prints on the dresses – there was no mistaking the theme or inspiration of this collection. It was all about the “p”s over at Ashley Isham – Perspex, precision and PVC. Block colours are back, but with the added bonus of sparkle; and trust us – sparkle is always a bonus! Hair and make-up at Holly Fulton was inspired by the seventies – there’s something very Saved by the Bell about it – while the clothes themselves were reminiscent of an era of the past with a futuristic twist. Akin to some of the other collections this season, pleats were prominent, as were geometric prints and denim. The slight bondage theme was also apparent at Mark Fast, although it was bondage meets bandage meets grungy goth cyber chick all under one stylishly monochrome and neon umbrella. If you wanted fierce black hair and make-up, Mark Fast was the place to be! Julien Macdonald Strictly Come Dancing‘s newest recruit Julien Macdonald presented yet another lust-worthy collection comprised of fierce and ultra-glamorous […]

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Rate or Slate Michelle Keegan, Jameela Jamil and Sophie Okonedo’s dress choices?

We’ve looked to two major glitzy events for this week’s Rate or Slate; the BAFTA Awards and Glamour Woman of the Year Awards. Naturally, both events demanded super-duper styling, and a whole host of drool-worthy dresses! The ladies on the line this week are Corrie’s Michelle Keegan in a metallic Ashley Isham gown at the BAFTA Awards; T4 darling Jameela Jamil in an eye-popping printed number, complete with a Lulu Guinness ‘Lips’ clutch at the 2012 Glamour Woman of the Year Awards, and, actress Sophie Okonedo, also at the BAFTA Awards, in a Mother of Pearl bird printed dress. It’s over to our Style Jury for the ultimate fash approval… Fashion News Ed says: Michelle Keegan: ‘Michelle Keegan looked gorgeous at the TV BAFTAs; this is metallic done right! I know you can get away with wearing shorter, flirtier dresses to the event, but I loved how she went for all-out glam! I would have maybe ditched the black clutch and gone for a brighter colour to mix it up though.’ Jameela Jamil: ‘I pretty much predicted what Jameela would be wearing – it’s very her but I’m not especially blown away. I’m glad she burst onto the red carpet with this very colourful look but it’s a forgettable look.’ Sophie Okonedo: ‘Sophie’s dress is a yay for me, but the shoes are 100% a nay. She ruined the elegance of the dress with those clompy things!’ You say: ‘Loving Sophie Okonedo’s Mother of Pearl dress!’ – Jenny Houghton via Facebook ‘They look way too casual as for red carpet!! I would only consider wearing the silver dress…’ – Avon London via Facebook Verdict: RATE to the power of two! Michelle and Sophie are this week’s fabulous fashion victors, but, there always has to be one that lets you down! […]

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Grab the tissues. Its the last day of LFW

We’ve lost all sense of feeling in our feet, our concealer is nearly finished from trying to hide the persistent bags under our eyes and we think we’ll have a fit if we see yet another ruffle. But yet we’re SO sad guys…. If you’ve missed some of our LFW coverage, worry not. The beauty of the internet is that’s its always here for you to catch up on. See below for links to some of our favourite shows… London Fashion Week: PPQ London Fashion Week: Basso and Brooke London Fashion Week: Eley Kishimoto London Fashion Week: Charles Anastase

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My Favourite Dress

Top British Fashion Designers Step Out In Their Favourite Dress To Help British Youngsters Date: 23rd June 2005 Venue: Hurlingham Club, SW6 Time: 7.00pm This midsummer’s eve fashion icon Zandra Rhodes, the Fashion and Textile Museum and Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity will team up with the crème de la crème of British fashion – from Sir Paul Smith to Clements Ribeiro to Lucinda Chambers to Jade Parfitt – to host a glittering charity event, the My Favourite Dress Charity Ball. The event, being hosted at the exclusive Hurlingham Club in Fulham, is being held in association with leading British Fashion Retailer Warehouse, who have stepped on board as principal sponsor. A theatrical extravaganza of fashion and fundraising, the ball will raise money for Fashion and Textile Museum’s Education Programme, which provides disadvantaged young people with training and opportunities in fashion and Rainbow Trust, who helps children with life threatening or terminal illness and their families Platinum selling artist Lucie Silvas will be headlining the entertainment, which includes New York dance act Rachel Cohen and Company who are flying in specially for the ball. “How often do we get to really dress up? I want to give women the chance to feel fabulous for the day by dressing up in their favourite dress – be it their wedding dress, prom dress, favourite sari or just their best summer frock. All the money raised from My Favourite Dress initiatives will help to bring vital support and care to young people throughout Britain. We have found the perfect charity partner in Rainbow Trust – they have really captured our hearts and imaginations and make a true and lasting difference to the families they work with. We can’t thank Warehouse enough for helping us make, what started as an exciting dream, a reality.” Zandra […]

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