This season the biker jacket has gone super-luxe with designers from Christopher Kane to Helmut Lang giving the style staple a feminine twist making the most of tailored cuts in ultra soft leather. Following previous trends for distressed and studded power-leather it’s a refreshing change to see the fabric in a new softer light. The re-worked classic is a top trend for spring that will give your wardrobe that new season feel. Especially covetable is this amazing copy of the jacket from online retailer AWear for just £100. Not only does it fit right on trend but it’s a wardrobe staple that will continue to look fabulous beyond this season. Go for laid back luxe and pair with high-waisted chinos, stacked wedges and a printed scarf for a stylish edge. Fashionable admirers will never tell the difference!
Read MoreSearch Results for “Christopher Kane”
Chuck or Treasure: Preparing your Spring Wardrobe
It might still be snowing outside but that doesn’t mean we can’t daydream about a time where we don’t have to leave the house wearing five layers! We’ve been considering our spring purchases ever since Fashion Week back in September, contemplating new trends and clapping gleefully at the re-emergence of older ones. Why? Because styles with staying power make our bank accounts very happy indeed.
Read MoreStella McCartney in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland is fast approaching, and it’s not just film fanatics who are anticipating its release , fashion fans are getting pretty darn excited, too: some the industry’s finest designers are lending their talents to design Alice-inspired pieces, and the latest just announced is Stella McCartney.
Read MoreBFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund shortlist
Which lucky young designer-du-jour will receive £200,000 from this year’s BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund? The shortlist of finalists is in.
Read MoreNext season’s NEWGEN designers revealed
As our beloved designers gear up for February’s shows, the British Fashion Council has announced the names that will receive next season’s NEWGEN sponsorship.
Read MoreBritish Fashion Awards 2009
With the nominees short-listed, all we could do was wait. Finally, on Wednesday evening as the fashion elite gathered at the Royal Courts of Justice in London’s Strand for the British Fashion Awards 2009, we got our answers.
Read MoreDesigners enter Alice’s Wonderland
Clearly we’re not the only ones who are super-excited about next year’s release of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland: Parisian store Printemps will be bringing together some of fashion’s hottest names to help create a dreamy Alice-themed window display.
Read MoreLondon 25 award: top five style icons
With the British Fashion Awards just around the corner, you may remember us telling you about a new award , London 25 , a one-off prize introduced by the British Fashion Council to celebrate 25 years of the Awards. Well, the frontrunners are in.
Read MoreAnd the British Fashion Awards Nominees are…
It’s one of the most stylish nights in British fashion, and this year, on December 9th as the British Fashion Awards bring London Fashion Week’s 25th birthday celebrations to a close, the fashion elite will be out in full force. Here, the news we’ve been waiting for, the nominations are in.
Read MoreTopshop’s Dress Me Up
How many of you have shared in our dream of being able to borrow that dress from Kate Moss, have a nosey around Naomi Campbell’s clothes, or call up an uber-cool designer to pinch a piece for the night? Oh, you have? Pretty exciting, then, that Topshop are set to make those Christmas wishes come true.
Read MoreDeath of Daul Kim , suicide?
As fashion mourns the passing of one of its finest young models, speculation turns to whether the young beauty’s death was a sad suicide.
Read MoretheOutnet brings Corso Como
Be still our beating hearts. theOutnet.com, the world’s most fashionable fashion outlet, is teaming up with Corso Como , the go-to shopping destination in Milan.
Read MoreWeekly Round-up
See the first pictures of Geogia Jagger for Rimmel, find out which hot male model’s had us in hysterics, and which family feud has rocked fashion’s boat?… Just in: the first shots of Georgia Jagger for Rimmel have been released , step aside Angelina, it’s Georgia’s pout we want. – Elle UK This has had us laughing all week. Not only is he hot, James Franco’s a funny man, too. – Funnyordie Mulberry delivers another delish bag, this time it’s a suede Bayswater , tres chic, non? – purseblog Ooh, we’ve just discovered backstage footage of Christopher Kane’s S/S10 show. – VogueTV It’s not all sleek sophistication beneath the Jimmy Choo empire, Tamara Mellon is suing her mother for $9.5million. – NY mag
Read MoreWeekly round-up
Find out how Christopher Kane’s first Versus collection went down at Milan Fashion Week, which fashion editor has designed an unlikely collection inspired by a certain kitchen accessory, and watch behind the scenes footage of the Jimmy Choo for H&M shoot… Christopher Kane unveiled his first Versus collection at Milan Fashion Week for the younger Versace line. Apparently the British designer was Donatella Versace’s first choice when she decided to relaunch the label; hardly surprising given that Kane is one of the coolest young designers around. Oh, and no points for guessing the collection went down an absolute storm. – Elle UK Harper’s Bazaar fashion editor Melanie Ward is designing her own collection, Blouson Noir, with knitwear consultant Graham Tabor. Apparently, “the whole line was inspired by tea towels. Er, right. We’re just wondering whether it’ll be dishcloths or frying pans next. – WWD We’re still getting all fidgety over the Jimmy Choo for H&M collection, but this behind the scenes video of the shoot has given us our five-minute fashion fix (and some nifty make-up tips, too). – H&M Rachel Zoe is picking five winners to receive a $250 gift card if they design one of her favourite A/W09 trend led looks on Piperlime. We want to enter. We have entered. We want to enter again. – Twitter, Piperlime Prada’s vinyl grey-tinted clear bags are just as unappealing as they sound. We know we carry a lot of rubbish around in our bags, but, er, we don’t want everyone else knowing that. – Purseblog [Images]
Read MoreMark Fast to join Topshop?
Mark Fast is rumoured to create a collection for high street giant Topshop.
Read MoreBrowns continues to support new designers
It helped John Galliano, Hussein Chalayan and Christopher Kane become household names, and now it’s set to continue lending a helping hand. One of London’s most iconic boutiques, Browns, renowned for helping to kick-start the careers of fresh young designers, will help two of its latest ‘babies’ to build their up-coming labels. Browns is supporting illustrator Beatrice Boyle and fine jeweller Natasha Collis by wholesaling their collections this autumn. Oh, did we mention that Collis just so happens to be the granddaughter of Browns’ founder Joan Burstein? Handy. In collaboration with Browns Focus, Boyle’s label, Beatrice Boyle for Browns Focus, consists of staple basics , T shirts, vests, leggings and hoodies , all printed with her graphic edgy illustrations of women with mascara-smudged eyes, whilst Collis’ collection features delicate gold jewellery finished with precious stones in diamonds and sapphires, which she designed in her studio in Ibiza. According to WWD, the two designers will show their collections at Tranoi in Paris from 2nd – 5th October. It’s rather refreshing to see such an iconic store support young talent, isn’t it? [Images]
Read MoreWeekly round-up
Christopher Kane’s collection for Topshop has finally arrived, YSL’s calf hair bag has got our tongues wagging, and there’s a new fashion book rumoured to launch…
Read MoreArt Against Knives hosts FASH OFF!
Art Against Knives – a charity dedicated to fighting knife crime – are hosting FASH OFF!, an event set up to celebrate the charity’s official launch and raise awareness.
Read MoreFashion’s Night Out – London
While the Fashion’s Night Out event organised by Vogue in New York may have attracted most of the media attention, here in London the event was equally fun and a unique opportunity to meet some of our favourite designers and fashion icons. With so many designers about, this was not an occasion to dress down for, but the champagne and cocktails being served in almost every shop taking part certainly helped ease the pain of walking around Mayfair for three hours in stupidly high heels. For me the highlight of the night was talking to three of my favourite men in fashion – Christopher Kane, Osman Yousefzada and Rupert Sanderson. Sanderson, who is also celebrating three years of residency in Bruton Place, cleared away all of his beautiful shoes to turn his shop into a painting studio. Guests were invited to paint a white square of card and all the squares will be laid out on the nearby Berkley Square to create the largest high heel ever which Sanderson will photograph from a helicopter, sending signed prints to all the participants. Dressed in pilot-style khaki overalls, Sanderson seemed to be having a good time and was completely lovely. Why was his event not focused on selling shoes? He wanted to do something fun and this was the first thing that popped into his head, a celebration of shoes and “our manor” (the London equivalent of “his hood”). Then it was on the Bruton Street to Juicy Couture, Diane von Furstenburg, Matthew Williamson, Stella McCartney and Kenzo. With so many lovely clothes and people to look at and champagne on offer in all of the stores, it was hard not to feel like spending money. And that was pretty much the point of the evening. Poor Matthew Williamson was unable to […]
Read MoreNarciso Rodriguez to do Ebay collection
H&M landed Jimmy Choo, which will hit stores this November; Topshop are set to release another Christopher Kane collection a week today; and on Sunday Target will unveil its next designer collection from Anna Sui. It really does seem that in these times of recession, designers are lining up to create their next style offerings for us high-street bargain hunters.
Read MoreAW09 Trends: Velvet
Admittedly, the return of fusty velvet may well fill with you with dread but, this season, it’s time for a rethink. Velvet has thrown of its dowdy image for Autumn to become a catwalk star as it takes on a luxurious feel with generous swathes of fabric in deep jewel colours of grape, berry, teal and saphire.
Read MoreInterview with Fashion Blogger Ji from Luxirare
Luxirare is the latest blog to make the fashion flock swoon. Mixing mouth-watering fine cuisine with killer clothes (displaying her amazingly creative sewing skills), this is a blog that stands out from the crowd! This morning, you woke up: And tried to remember my dream about aquariums because it was one of the best dreams I’ve ever had. I grabbed my computer and researched aquarium dream through google, and found out the meaning wasn’t as satiating as I thought it would be, more like reading a vague horoscope. I shook off my mild disappointment and made two cups of iced coffee. How would you describe your style? Inferior compared to Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, Jennifer Herrema, and Anna Piaggi. What other fashion blogs would you recommend? Cathy Horyn for NYT, stylebubble.co.uk, seaofshoes.com, atlantishome.typepad.com, THEFOXYMAN.blogspot.com, Karlascloset.blogspot.com, childhoodflames.blogspot.com, and am-lul.blogspot.com. There are definitely more but if I listed them all we would never get to the other questions. Fashion tip for the season? Pay your bills on time before you shop. A good credit score is far more advantageous than having the latest Christopher Kane for Topshop piece. Try not to buy fast fashion clothing from retail chains such as Forever 21 or H&M. Try to think, will I eventually want to pass this on to my kids, someone that is special in my life or will I just get tired of it? I recently sold all this merchandise on e-bay that I thought I’d die without owning and eventually (within a month) I got so sick of seeing it everywhere and hardly wore it out. I’m sure everyone knows this already but good vintage is always a score and worth investing in. Clothes are only clothes though, the best fashion tip for the season would be to be content with who you […]
Read MoreSummer 09 Trend: Body Con
As we are all by now well aware, the eighties made a colossal comeback on the catwalks for spring/summer 09. But it is one microtrend in particular that captured the hearts of the fashion flock and A-listers alike. Yes, you guessed it: Body con. Short for “body conscious, this refers to clothing that does exactly what it says on the tin: anything from skintight mini-dresses and mini-skirts, to tight high-waisted leggings and trousers and basically any other garment that makes you, as the name suggests, very conscious of your body – conscious in the sense that you may have missed those body pump gym classes and well now can’t quite eat lunch without busting a seam.
Read MoreScottish Fashion Awards: The nominations
The nominees for the Scottish Fashion Awards have been announced. There are a few surprises this year. Up for the big award; Designer of the Year 2009 sponsored by Vogue.com, are Christopher Kane, Jonathan Saunders, Graeme Black and Laura Lees. Whilst Christopher Kane, Saunders and Black are known on an international scale, Laura Lees is still a relatively small designer.
Read MoreLulu Guinness SS09 collection
Oh I do like to be beside the seaside! That’s the sentiment behind the new collection from Lulu Guinness, which combines practicality with playful – a theme typically associated with the Lulu Guinness brand. We can’t take our eyes off the snakeskin, Silver Padded Shell clutch (£225), a stand-out piece that will add a touch of cutesy summer glamour to your evening wear.
Read MoreAn interview with Funmi Odulate, editor of Brownsfashion.com
For vintage shopping look no further than Brownsfashion.com, Funmi Odulate. Her book which is packed with amazing shopping tips is a must have for vintage lovers everywhere. Funmi has also contributed to fashion bibles Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Stella Magazine and Russian Vogue as well as major newspapers such as The Guardian, Sunday Times Style and The Daily Telegraph. Despite her hectic schedule we managed to catch up with Funmi to discuss fashion, movies, music and of course we had to talk a little vintage… What does a normal working day for you consist of? It varies. I tend to check my emails first thing and then make a list of a million and one things to do. On Mondays I tend to get my team together to discuss the fashion stories going forward. This sets the tone for the rest of the week where I tend to write, organise interviews and features with designers, meet with the buyers to discuss what is on the hot list this week, go down to the Browns stores to see which new designers have come in, meeting with stylists to discuss shoots, meetings with prs, working on our blog and redesign … As I said it really varies. No two days are ever the same.
Read MoreVictoria Beckham coming to an online store near you
Victoria’s latest collection caused quite a stir once again at New York Fashion Week. Still journalists are shocked that she can actually design, that she is actually good at it, and that she knows what she’s talking about. Her last line sold out in only a matter of moments, and I am sure this collection will be no different. Net-a-Porter have just announced that they will be stocking the latest collection. All six dresses will launch next week and you can sign up to make sure you get your update for one of her lustworthy creations. Her dresses are stunning and really give Roland Mouret a run for his money. It is of course very Victoria but they are dresses to make women feel sexy. They are all about the sensual hourglass silhouette and the printed ‘Minerve’ is my personal favourite. But it isn’t just Victoria who will be causing a stir. Recent addition to on schedule at LFW, Eun Jeong is also going to be stocked on the wondrous site. Eun won the Fashion Fringe at Convent Garden award in 2008, and judging by the fashion lovelies’ gasps of excitement and nods of approval at her show on Friday, she is going to be a success. It’s her unusual cuts and mix of fabrics that makes her stand out from the fashion crowd. Taking harsh lines or difficult to wear styles and using soft fabrics to create these lovely, wearable items. Make sure you check out both Victoria and Eun; if you’re looking to buy then definitely act fast. Christopher Kane’s Spring/Summer 09 collection recently went on sale and it was sold out in less than 24 hours of going live. Although the great thing about online shopping, is that you don’t have any pushing, but there is of […]
Read MoreLondon Fashion Week: It can’t be…it is, it’s Kanye!
This London Fashion Week has been a strange one, nothing happening quite as you expect. Usually mundane designers are creating kooky collections, whilst the ‘ones to watch’ are falling flat on their faces. Then there was the whole Lily Cole supermodel army at an off schedule show (Qasimi), it has been very strange indeed. But none weirder than my experience at Peter Jensen, there I sat staring at a man opposite me, thinking “I’m sure I know him. And of course I did, but I wasn’t certain and so omitted my celebrity spotting from my post on
Read MoreLondon Fashion Week: Central St. Martins AW09
This is one of the shows that fashion lovelies flock to see. This show is almost a game, as each member of the audience sits backs and attempts to spot the ‘next big thing.’ But of course, everything comes down to personal preference. And whilst the person next to you may be looking for another Christopher Kane, you may be looking for something completely new.
Read MoreShow your alliance to spring: Wear brights
I know it’s grey, I know it’s freezing, I know you’re still battling the post Xmas bulge and all you want to do is stay in bed. But I urge you to mend your ways, I am telling you to stop feeling sorry for yourself in your washed out greys. It is time to look to the future, to be optimistic; soon spring will be upon us and why not embrace it a little bit early.
Read MoreClothes Show Live: Celebrating 20 years in the fashion biz!
On Friday, for the first time, I ventured to Birmingham’s NEC to attend Clothes Show Live , “the world’s largest fashion and beauty event. I loved the Clothes Show growing up, and considering how much I idolised former presenter Caryn Franklin, I’m quite surprised that I’d never made it down to the annual event before.
Read MoreFashion Forward winners announced!
The British Fashion Council has put its money where its mouth is by backing Christopher Kane, Marios Schwab and Erdem with its Fashion Forward sponsorship scheme for the second season in a row.
Read MoreThe Cult of Herve Leger
Herve Leger’s body-con ‘bandage dress’ first hit the scene in the 1980s. In an era known for volume – shoulder pads, MC Hammer pants, big hair, puff ball prom dresses – Leger’s sculpted sheaths that shaped and smoothed the feminine silhouette in all the right places were a breath of fresh air.
Read MoreModel.Live Episode 7: “The Big Smoke Casts Shrouds of Doubt on London Fashion Week
If you’ve been glued in to Model.Live since its premier episode, we’re sure there’s been a subtle growth of attachment towards Austria, Madeline, and Cato. As you all know, I happened to have caught a case of Madelinophilia around the second episode and I’ve been enamored ever since. In my eyes, she’s a “true blue, dinky di Aussie so the philia is bona fide!
Read MoreScottish Fashion Council. Should London Be worried?
It isn’t exactly a secret that Scotland and the rest of the UK, namely England, aren’t best buddies. I’ve never quite understood it myself but it is apparently a given that those north of the border are somewhat disparaging of their southern counterparts. In fact, when I just asked my Scottish born friend for a typical Scottish view of Englishmen, his retort was unprintable. So, it may come as little surprise that plans for a Scottish Fashion council, which will operate independently of the British Fashion Council, have recently been unveiled.
Read MoreInspiration: Make Like A Mermaid
Perhaps it was my recent holiday that involved copious amounts of sea-swimming, mermaid style, but I think I may have found my late summer/early autumn style inspiration. Not wanting to abandon the look of sunlit days entirely, but looking forward to the darkly romantic fashion of winter I’m stealing looks from folklore mermaids. Scantily clad in summer style but with a hint of siren-esque danger, I would envisage myself sea-swept through currents of sequins and silks in the manner of Carmen Kass in Numero’s June 08 issue.
Read MoreSmall Town Style
I have always wanted to take a road trip through middle America. Due to a disappointing lack of funds, I will have to settle for a make believe fashion trip and a highway of inspiration instead. A recent re-watching of “Thelma and Louise” and and trip to see “Shotgun Stories” have merely fueled this current obsession with my (probably highly inaccurate) sartorial vison of small town America. In my head there is a low sun and heat haze shining through metallics in ice cream colours.
Read MoreH&M: A Tribute to Marimekko
I’m sure you’ve seen the African prints on the runways for SS’08, you only have to look to Christopher Kane and Donna Karen to see where the look of the season is going, and now H&M have launched a new ethnic-inspired collection to make it just a little easier for us.
Read MoreMost Wanted: My new skirt
There is no greater joy than the discovery of one item of clothing which combines everything you have been lusting after into one beautiful little package. What makes my thrifty little magpie eyes even wider is when said item is found like a needle in a haystack, somewhere you wouldn’t usually look and, icing on the fashion cake, for only £25.
Read MoreWin Tickets to the Fashion Event of the Year!
‘Style in the City’ is about to hit Birmingham and we have 100 pairs of VIP tickets up for grabs! Don’t miss as the hottest names in international fashion take over the city for a weekend of glamour, entertainment and pure indulgence, from 3rd to 6th April.
Read MoreTrend Alert: Dream in denim
Denim seems to be having a bit of a moment. More than usual, that is. Pale and, more alarmingly, stonewash denim is invading our nation’s streets and magazines at a swift pace. The current incarnation of “it” denim seems to be a hybrid between a kind of 90’s shredded tomboy (see Christopher Kane S/S 08) and hippy pilgrimage to 70’s Marrakech (see pale wide legged flares, well, everywhere). This eclectic denim lovechild is getting me excited about a fabric that I have never been particularly keen on ( I’m not really a jeans and t-shirt type of girl).
Read MoreFighting Talk: Let the battle begin!
Fashion is a fickle creature; her moods are fleeting and her tastes volatile. Not too difficult to predict, then, that there would be an autumnal backlash against spring’s romance and florals. The fragile flower who floated through spring and summer has been challenged, attacked and all but trampled upon by winter’s army of warrior women. From the armoured tailoring of Yves Saint Laurent to the sheer sequinned chain mail at Christopher Kane, the
Read MoreAlexander McQueen’s studio struck by thieves.
In terms of 2008 predictions we didn’t suspect that the thefts that plagued London designers last year would be rampant this year, especially as we thought the thieves were caught…..but it appears we might be wrong. Just days into the new year and
Read MoreBritish Fashion Awards:The After Party!
So the place to go last night was Maya on Dean Street, London for
Read MoreBritish Fashion Awards: The winners are…
We usually have something to say about the awards dished out at The British Fashion Awards , we generally tend to disagree , but this year all we have to say is “predictable. Before we get going can we start by declaring that this year Agyness Deyn and Lily Allen looked gorgeous in Giles? We love the feathers!
Read MoreFashion Rocks 2007: Music meets Fashion
Fashion rocked its Prada socks off last night at the Royal Albert Hall as music met fashion for one of the most anticipated dates this year. Samuel L Jackson along with Uma Thurman played hosts as top artists from the musical arena collaborated with top runway designers. Line ups included The Gossip for Christopher Kane, Dame Shirley Bassey for Marchesa, Rosin Murphy for Gucci and Lily Allen for Chanel. Highlights of the evening: Whitney Houston making a comeback to remember and Uma Thurman leaving hardly anything to the imagination in a see-through Valentino gown embellished with Swarovski crystals More pictures after the jump.
Read MoreLondon Fashion Week Links
Christopher Kane tells The Times why he won’t be giving Posh Spice one of his dresses [Times] London Fashion Week: In the front row [Telegraph] Fashion world mourns Isabella Blow [The Press Association] The Big Question: What is the point of London Fashion Week, and does it matter? [The Independent] Bartley’s back [Guardian] London Sock it to me [On the runway] Paul Smith is looking that man/woman thing [IHT] Gareth Pugh wows second day of London Fashion Week [AFP] [Image: Unconditional SS08]
Read MoreComing out in the Nude….
Soft nude shades seem to be a permanent fixture in the stores at the moment and have a very delicate almost romantic look about them when combined with silky fabrics, frills and lace as illustrated by this baby doll dress from Christopher Kane at Topshop. Lose the accessories and dress up with heels for a night out or for a more casual approach pair with skinny jeans, pumps and an effortless hair do.
Read MoreWinter Sun Beach Chic
In preparation for my own escape to the sun this winter I have been searching London high and low in pursuit of the perfect holiday wardrobe – no mean feat whilst still in the depths of winter. Ever the fashionista I am, taking inspiration from the Spring/Summer 07 catwalks, coveting neon brights teamed with creamy caramels a-la-Christopher Kane, whilst shimmery pale gold and light-as-air chiffons will come into their own with a golden tan. Braving the changing room after a Christmas season of serious indulgence is never a pleasant task, so the shopping destinations need to be all the more special to ease the struggle. For pure ambiance and experience, I head to Notting Hill, where my favourites are top-end boutiques Heidi Klein and Pistol Panties. Pistol Panties bikinis never fail to make you feel and look like a fifties starlet , concealing and revealing in all the right places. The appropriately named ‘Kate’ style is top of my wishlist – the sparkly gold is very Princess Leia, especially when teamed with a Melissa Odabash kaftan from Heidi Klein. This one-stop holiday shop’s style is more pared-down beach chic, but the experience is no less spoiling. As well as a magnificent selection of bikinis by the likes of Missoni, the in-house beauty salon will buff manicure and tan you so that you’re well and truly ready for the sun. If you can’t make it to Notting Hill my best advice is to shop online where websites like www.figleaves.com have an infinite selection and www.Cocobay.co.uk has a free returns policy and stocks hip Aussie brands Seafolly and Moontide. For those on the other side of the Atlantic, www.shopbop.com is the only way to go – snap up a hot pink Diane Von Furstenburg Beach or printed Marc Jacobs bikini whilst they’re […]
Read MoreNeu Years Rave-olution
With neu rave or nu rave -as it’s also spelt – fever at a high, the trend is set to be one of the biggest of the year. Emerging from the music scene are glow-stick-waving bands like the Klaxons and Shitdisco, who are pioneering the trend while Christopher Kane, who graduated from Central Saint Martins early last year showed his official collection at London Fashion Week last September using all the bright acid colours that are associated with neu rave in his S/S 07 collection. Up and coming label Cassette Playa by designer Carrie Mundane is the biggest hit on the rave scene and its eye popping designs look as though they have stepped out of a world filled with retired video game stars such as Pac Man, Sonic the Hedgehog and Donkey Kong.
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