Abyssinia next year!

Am flying out in the blizzards to Ethiopia followed by the sunny sands of Zanzibar - tomorrow!  Crossing fingers the flights are working.  Will try and post blogs from both but, if not ...

Image compliments of David Zane, photographer

Man's Best Friend

If you don't know about Orlebar Brown and have a stylish man in your life, then check out the website and splash out on his behalf.  Fab surf shorts and trunks, much more stylish than Vilebrequin "the ultimate reference in swimwear" whose rich clientele is growing older with the label itself.  The newest Orlebar creation?  A man's best friend printed on the shorts themselves.  Love the label.  Love the site....

Preview Burberry Pre Fall 11

BURBERRY PRORSUM presented its Pre-Fall 2011-12 collection (already??) with each piece   filmed to allow fans to see how the clothes move and look  from all angles.

Whilst  signature trenches are reworked with thick leather belts and  embellishments we still opt for the 'less is more look' and have fallen head over heels for this forrest green tweed trouser suit with classic leather detailing.  Amazingly the collection is available from May 2011 so wealthy women will be bored with their Autumn 11 wardrobes before the Summer is even over!

Image courtesy of Vogue.com

Check out Fashion Champagne

We're delighted to be offering one of our favourite blogs, Fashion Champagne, a gorg party dress to give away over the 12 days of Christmas!  Check it out ...

http://www.fashionchampagne.com/2010/12/fashionbloggers-giveaway.html

Enemies of the People: The Killing Fields: January 18, 2010

The Lexi Cinema is generously offering it's fabulous boutique cinema in Kensal Rise, NW London,  to screen a fund-raising event for the Cambodian Children's Fund.  £4 from every ticket sold will go to CCF-UK which will  impact positively on the lives of 700 children and their families in Phnom Penh many of whom are living on, or close to, the world's most toxic rubbish dump.

The Killing Fields during the Khmer Rouge era under the leadership of Pol Pot, has had an enduring impact on the lives of Cambodians who have still not recovered from the devastion and mass murders wrought at the time.  Enemies of the People is an Award winning documentary which traces the perpetrators of these atrocities.  Director Rob Lemkin will be at the Lexi for a Directors Q&A.  Please make sure to put the 18th in your diaries and contact Trustee@CCF-UK.org for tickets or donations.  Book soon - there are only 70 seats in all.

Wham Bam thank you Sam

When it comes to London's fashion gliterrati there's no better place to view a 'coven' of fashionistas than at the British Fashion Awards (last week held at the Savoy).  With the exception of Erin, who shone like a star as is her wont, Sam Cam outshone all and sundry.  Think class, pared down and immaculately understated.  Osman is a winner whilst Victoria Beckham's spindly leg makes her  anything but Posh (more like a dressing gown) ...  Our vote goes to Sam anytime.

LESS IS MORE?????

Has the man gone mad?  With the fashion mood for luxurious classics and investment pieces, Karl Lagerfeld has introduced his Pre-Fall 2011 collection for Chanel which couldn't carry more embellishment if he tried.  These are not classics with a contemporary twist to update them (although one or two pieces in the collection do fall into this category thank goodness) but out and out OTT pieces.  Witness the image below.  I fear Coco will be turning in her grave ....although of course the fashion mafia may love this collection.  Who can tell!

And, incidentally, isn't Pre-Fall 2011 rather jumping the gun  - notwithstanding the trend for Holiday, Resort, and Mid Season collections riding high.

The Softest Sale of All

I was lucky enough to have a preview of the Oyuna Sale collection and picked up a fabulous shrunken cashmere asymetrically buttoned jacket and a simple Japanese style wool coat - for less than £220 for the two.  I have worn both almost every day since my purchase and have received admiring glances, stroked arms and frustrated compliments from jealous friends who thought they had lost out.  Well, they haven't!  The good news is that Oyuna is having a pre Christmas sale on Saturday 18th.  Be there to bag a great bargain and wear with pride!
Saturday 18th December

10am - 7pm
The Music Rooms,
VAAD Gallery, Basement
26 South Molton Lane
London W1K 5AB

Check out this great H&M Amsterdam Stunt!

Eat Your Heart Out!

Our favourite luxury retreat in South West France has just announced another reason to book a week away at this outstanding 'boutique hotel' and outpost for creatives. Diana and Lisel of The Jewels of New York (first call for all the social events in NYC and Martha Stewart favourites), visit France (cheeky!) for the first time to  guide participants over five days of culinary fun and learning, focussed on the Dordogne's historical produce with a twist of contemporary tweaking.  Expect seasonal recipes and specialty bakes with emphasis on Spring favourites to keep the menus fresh and exciting.  Combine this with luxury accommodation, great wines and good company and anywhere else this would cost the earth!  Check out Les Soeurs Anglaises for full details.






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Kane Gets Manly!

Just announced, Christopher Kane has designed a capsule menswear collection - cashmeres, hoodies, jackets and more - going on sale next week in Dover Street.  I think the Fashion Bloggers were amongst the first to predict the current zeitgeist is menswear ....

Delicious Lascivious!

When it comes to sexy lingerie (much of which can be worn as outerwear to those Christmas events where party goers want to create a stir) then check out Not Just a Label the stylish site representing young designers for anyone seeking fabulous and original pieces.  NJAL has today launched a section entirely devoted to designer lingerie from labels such as Lascivious - loved by Elle and Vogue - YYV:Bloom and Nichole de Carle amongst others.  Check out the site if you want to stand out from the crowd this festive season ....

Goat Busters!

So, you want to look beautiful but want to do good at the same time?  Then splash out on Wholly Goat's fabulous cashmere wraps and shawls.  These gorgeous pieces are produced in Nepal using traditional methods and local craftspeople who are paid fair wages and provided with good working conditions.  To add icing to the cake they are offering a percentage of sales of their 'must have' knitted cashmere shawl, featuring the face of a leopard, to the Snow Leopard Conservancy dedicated to the preservation and breeding of this near extinct  cat. We've only just discovered this label but can guarantee we'll be devotees throughout the winter and will continue to flaunt our purchases as sarongs on sunkissed beaches  in the summer  ...  Invest in one of these beautiful pieces and be assured you are doing more than  simply flaunting  fashion.

The McEnroe of Surfing

Can you believe the waste?  This cool dude, Andy Irons, three times world surfing champion, died earlier this month aged 32, apparently of dengue fever.  He leaves his pregnant wife Lyndie behind.  Life is far too short for some.  Simply too too sad ............

Thank you again Ms Hillson!

The fabulous Ms Bobby Hillson, illustrator and fashion icon extraordinaire has kindly provided us with yet another image to adorn the Fashion Bloggers blog!  Limited edition prints of her illustration of the Biba twins are amongst Vogue.com's Christmas Gift choices and available from William Ling, expert collector of fashion illustrations and author of 100 Years of Illustration.  Buy now before they jump off the shelves!  The wonderful VERY magazine featured a major profile on Bobby in the current issue.  You can lay your hands on copies at art shops and Selfridges or pick up a copy on December 4th at the Fashion Just Got Ethical Fair in Notting Hill.

We Love What He Loves in What He Wears!

We've discovered that the blogger for What He Wears loves the same menswear labels that we do too....  so we've added it to our favourite blogs of course.  Menswear lovers should check it out pronto!  We believe that menswear (and hats!) are the new zeitgeist .....

Seeing the Light

Margaret O'Rorke will never go out of fashion. Currently on show at the Contemporary Applied Arts in the West End her work with light and translucent porcelain is at once both sculptural as well as 'functional' (if such a ghastly word can be applied to her stunning pieces). Margaret's experience with Koie Ryolji in Japan in the '90's is evident in the fine ceramic lighting pieces this 'potter extraordinaire' produces. By chance I met her a couple of weeks ago and as a result made a visit to her show, which is not to be missed. You will see imititations of her work in Heals, Conrans and anywhere that designer lighting is to be found. But Margaret's are works of art and genuine collectors pieces. Catch her show if you can!

Menswear Reigneth ....

Great menswear shoot on Idol   Check out this online mag for some stylish input!  Congrats ...

Fashion Press Week - or Art?

During Fashion Press Week at the Saatchi Gallery I snuck down (and encouraged others!) to visit the Richard Wilson oil installation  in the basement.  This is the MOST fantastic, ridiculous, piece of artwork (who in gods name would buy a roomful of oil?) and totally, fabulously impressive.  The smell alone grinds one to a halt. 
Whilst the guards looked the other way I hopped over the security rope and walked down the metal 'aisle' (now closed to the public due to too many fingers poking the oil) into what seemed like an out of worldly abyss.  This is a most sensational piece of 'art' and, if you have the opportunity, visit the Saatchi, drop in at the basement level, and pay homage to this arwork if for nothing else.  Please.  Fashion pshwaar .....

The Divine Bobby Hillson

When fashion historians look back on the 20th Century to assess the factors that established London as a primary source of inspiration and creativity in the industry known as 'fashion', then the name Bobby Hillson will stand proud amongst the rabble.  Indeed, if asked to put together a time capsule of names that epitomised cutting edge fashion of the 1980's and 1990's, then Bobby Hillson's proteges would ride 'chic to jowel' alongside such luminaries as Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano.  As the instigator of the  fashion MA at St. Martins (now CSM), Ms Hillson  introduced the first-ever commercial sponsorship of British fashion students and persuaded the BFC to allow St. Martins MA fashion students to take to the London Fashion Week catwalk.  Although the catwalk show is now scheduled in June outside of LFW, Central St. Martins remains a cornerstone for creativity and the annual fashion show is on the agenda of every UK fashion journalist and buyer worth their salt.    Bobby can also lay claim to having recognised and nurtured the talents of a young 'master' who did not enjoy the usual credentials for acceptance on the MA programme at CSM, but on whom she intuitively and professionally took a risk.  A young man named Alexander McQueen.  The fashion industry salutes you Bobby Hillson.

Amongst her many talents, Bobby is also a consummate fashion illustrator having started her career as a fashion illustrator at Vogue.  She has generously given The Fashion Bloggers permission to use her illustrations from time to time to adorn the blog.  Thank you!  Please contact us if you would like to see more of her work.

The Human Form ....

These amazing images are all created using the human form.  Look closely  .... Amazing!

It's Gone to our Heads!

We've just come across the fabulous Hat Gallery M/V in Mayfair's Conduit Street, opened a week or so ago.  This is such great news as there are so very few great hat shops in London and trying on hats in a department store (or worse still, a chain store!) is so very "non U".  The shop is a beautiful gallery and is called such as it houses some amazing pieces of furniture and lighting from Europe - perfect items on which to display the hats.  In addition to Philip Treacy and UK milliner Karen Henriksen (well worth keeping an eye on!) there are some amazing concoctions from all over America and Europe and there's a men's section too.  I succombed to the most beautiful woven leather pull on from Patricia Underwood.  It cost an arm and a leg but will be in my wardrobe until I can pass it on (or pass away) to the next generation.  Anyone with an eye for headwear should make a visit .... (We hear the girls at Vogue have their eyes on the beautiful white straw hat pictured aboved)

Fashion In the Swim Again ....

Just a reminder that Emobi, the edgy fashion swimwear label from Australia, is offering our blog followers (with a ranking of 4 or above) a bikini or swimsuit worth at least £60 simply by posting a comment on The Fashion Bloggers and creating a link on their own blog.  This amazing fashion giveaway is to celebrate the launch this coming week of a brand new collection from Emobi in stunning textile prints reminiscent of the '70's and in keeping with the brand ethos of bright, fun and sexy.  We'll be posting an image  when the new photography is available but meanwhile above is a taste of what we are giving away.  And by the way, for those seeking some winter sun, if you want to buy swimwear in October you'll find in nigh on impossible!

Oh No Charles!

Can't resist including this quote - which made me LOL - from Prince Charles who is getting worse than his father, well known for putting his foot in it!  If you're not an anti Royalist already, having read this you may well wish to reconsider:

"They tell me that in some shops they have started selling loaves of bread that are what they call "ready-and-sliced".  I fervently hope this is one trend that doesn't "catch on".  And is there really any need for this new fangled idea of soup in tins?  Broth tastes so much better bubbling away in a great big open pot, stirred by a chef who really knows his stuff and served at one's table in the open air by a marvellous old character somewhere on a wonderful Highland moor.  By denying our children such pleasures, I fear we are in pfound danger of cutting them off from reality"  HRH The Prince of Wales.  Reality?????
Image comissioned by Don't Panic from James Joyce

Ooh La La! Spring 2011

What with Frieze, the London Arts Festival and Design Week we've got rather waylaid and behind with our fashion reviews!  As a result we're simply going to jot down the notes we took at the Paris shows and upload images of our favourites:

(Above from top to bottom:  Chloe, Hermes, Lanvin)

Galliano, a riot of colour South Pacific style; Sarah Burton, new McPrincess at McQueen; meow to Mui Mui where the colours popped; a glam animal fest at Vuitton whose equestrian theme ran through Hermes (JPG's final show for this house) with understated luxury trouser suits and jodhpurs.  Flemenco at YSL; shades of cream screaming wealth, from Hannah McGibbon for Chloe (continuing her 'less is more' look  accessorised with ballet slippers); and ravishing, fluidly wrapped, bodycon dresses in shades of olive from the unerringly wonderful Elbaz for Lanvin.

Weekend Shopping: Dare to Compare…

Calling all shoppers! Now more than ever, it pays to compare. But when it comes to clothes, shoes, AND accessories, it is nearly impossible to find time to sort through all of the fabulous labels out there.  So what’s a shopper to do? Read The Fashion Bloggers of course! We have researched and reviewed the best shopping comparison sites and handpicked the top five just for you – however, we think it’s only worth visiting the best...

#5 – BECOME.CO.UK: Catering to a large number of shopping categories, Become is resourceful site but lacks the fashion focused pages we so desperately need.  While they provide helpful shopping advice and have a respectable page for shoes, we think shoppers would rather head to a site dedicated exclusively to fashion (like our #1 pick).

THE FASHION BLOGGERS RATING: Average

#3 – OSOYOU.COM: O So You seems to have quite a lot going – a little too much for our taste. While you are sure to find something you like, the constant advertisement pop-ups can be rather distracting, leaving you a bit frustrated in the site all together.  

THE FASHION BLOGGERS RATING: Good

#4 – SHOPITTOME.CO.UK: Shop It To Me prides their sites as being the modern day personal shopper, which sounds great at first but can become overwhelming. After signing up and picking your favourite brands, they will start sending email alerts with latest markdowns, etc, which you will then have to look through to find what you like (time consuming, we know). Also with the constant stream of email alerts (we’re talking like every 10 minutes), you might find yourself shouting STOP IT TO ME. 

THE FASHION BLOGGERS RATING: Great

#2 – SHOPSTYLE.CO.UK: Our second place goes to ShopStyle. With great brands and an ample selection, this site clearly makes the cut. However, we have learned it is linked to Conde Nast, so their content can be rather bias.  The homepage is not as easy to navigate through as our favourite site but we did spot some decent bargains.

THE FASHION BLOGGERS RATING: Excellent

#1 - STYLE COMPARE.CO.UK: Hailing at #1, STYLE COMPARE is an absolute must visit and deserves the number one spot on your internet browser’s bookmarks list as well. It is truly a shopper’s dream with loads of features and the hottest merchandise for both men and woman -- over 120,000 products from more than 1,500 labels. Also STYLE COMPARE is actually atheistically pleasing, user-friendly, and has a genuine interest in its customers.  Each week sees fantastic item giveaways and updates via Twitter and Facebook, plus they have a dedicated blog, Style Platform, with all the latest fashion news and insights. STYLE COMPARE makes shopping simple, quick and painless. What more could a shopper want?

THE FASHION BLOGGERS RATING: Brilliant/The Best

GO GO GAU GIN!

Was privileged enough to attend a private view of the sensory blasting Gaugin exhibition at Tate Modern last night.  For anyone interested in art, this is a definite 'must visit'.  Curated in themes, the images are hung in rooms which cover the earliest and latest works including  paintings and works from both Brittany and Polynesia.  The myth that he was a paedophile has recently been dispelled but he certainly had an interest in the voluptuous and sensuous young Polynesian women he painted, who were equally free with their sexual favours as he.  Most interesting are some of his works from Brittany where reds and gold and purples boggle the eye and were in advance of his colourful  island paintings. One can also see the likeness to Van Gogh's work - the two were friends but fell out.  Gaugin is a very modern painter and I can't remember enjoying an exhibition so much for a very long time. Go go Gaugin!

Milan Before We Forget!!!!

Several days into Paris and Milan a blur .... now is the time to draw on the images that remain in the memory for these are the trends that will almost certainly prevail in the Spring of next year.  Most memorable were the bold stripes mixed with patterns at Prada (always different, always so exciting and emulated) and the outstanding styling and use of 'eye-smacking' colour (and stripes again!) by Belgian Raf Simons at Jil Sander who has drawn on his menswear background to produce a, literally, 'brilliant' collection with pared down styling.  
Pictured above from left to right:  Prada, Jil Sander, Jil Sander

Beauty Guidance A La Carte ....

Whilst we take time out for an overview of the Paris shows (too many too soon to be able to judge objectively - gawd knows how the fashion eds manage it! - no wonder they so often send out mixed messaages  ...) we've discovered a website  we could sit and gaze at for hours at a time.  It's Lisa Eldridge  and her guide to applying make up.  There is something here for all ages and gives viewers the opportunity to learn many tricks of the trade as well as buy the products she showcases.  On the QT, we understand Lisa is the wife of one of the UKs great visualisers which goes a long way to explaining why the site is so brilliant and works so well.  Check it out and let us know what you think ....

Bloggers in the Swim!

 As the days get darker earlier and the East wind whips up a chill, clever girls make plans to hit the sun in more tropical climes for a week or so during Northern Europe's wintry weather.  To celebrate its new collection to be launched on October 1st, EMOBI, our favourite Australian swimwear - which offers edgy prints with cute, sexy cuts whilst using environmental printing methods - has given The Fashion Bloggers 50 - YES FIFTY - swimsuits and bikini's to give to our own favourite bloggers!  Simply upload a link to The Fashion Bloggers blog to your site, post a comment on our blog, and we'll send you a swimsuit or bikini to say 'thank you'!  All the swimwear we are giving away is on a first come first served basis and will be chosen at random from a size 10/12 selection.

Fashion Week Snippets

The usual chaos reigned at Somerset House registration where I was told, for the second Fashion Week this year, that I was registered six times!  And yet I still never receive my pass in the post .... hey ho.  The Betty Jackson show  was delightfully commercial and wearable with greiges and lime greens and one tropical print; contrary to general opinion I found the Burberry Prorsum collection far too "Flash Trash" with short short skirts and studded jackets although one tailored trench definitely made the grade and quilted leather trenches will no doubt abound next Spring.  Erdem hit the spot with ladylike lace in prim shapes and shades from white through to brights alongside beautiful floral prints.Fashion's darling, Christopher Kane, missed the mark (for me) with Princess Margaret Argyle check sweaters over sherbert lace print dresses although a dragon kimono print dress stood out.  Newcomer Holly Fulton produced a collection of toned down very wearable graphic prints whilst House of Holland failed to shine with rather dull shirt dresses and purple/green palm prints.
The zeitgeist seems to be with menswear with Men's Day at LFW a sell out success.  James Long's painterly Pollock like prints and layering were not only visually stunning but totally wearable whilst Carolyn Massey's pared down styling (very Japanese) and attention to detail ensure her popularity will grow alongside her reputation for producing winning collections.  In the 'sheds' outside Christopher Raeburn showed his parachute silk poncho's in new combinations and colours and produced a women's trench almost identical to that shown on the catwalk (later!) by Christopher Bailey!  Matthew Miller is an exciting new name to watch for whose collection combined clever tailoring with inset stripes whilst Katie Earie menswear continues to excite.  Watch out women - the boys are definitely making inroads when it comes to design, innovation and style. 

A quick peak at the catwalk shows in Milan show Prada taking Breton to the Brink with massive horizontal stripes in shades from grey to pink worn stripe on stripe or contrsted with bold cut out prints.  Her deceptively simple looking clothing featured clever cuts with grown on sleeves not quite, but almost, raglan giving a contemporary edge to a '50's favourite. 

PURE Exhibition... The Brazilians Have Arrived!

The PURE Exhibition kicked off last Sunday, at Olympia in Kensington and I was lucky enough to find myself inside the vast exhibition halls where it was very busy. All 950 brands at the Trade Show are supposedly hand picked for their quality and representative of the middle to high end fashion market. Amongst the exhibitors were some exciting and colourful Brazilian labels represented by ABIT/Texbrasil.  Brazil is so much in the news today what with the Olympics 2016, the next World Cup and the Sao Paulo Fashion Weeks making the headlines.  And fashion wise there are some amazing designers emerging from this beautiful country including designer labels such as Alessa.

Particularly outstanding amongst the Brazilians was Totem, with bright and brilliant prints, and sexy, glamourous swimwear from Despi. Also of interest was Natural Cotton Color, a label that is both eco and fair trade: the cotton is grown especially so that it does not require dying or bleaching chemicals and much of the detailing is provided by prisoners who earn days off their sentence for their work.

Andre Ungaratto is an unknown label in the UK but it's homage to hippy chic was very popular with buyers from Europe.

Totem stand at Pure

http://www.totemparaia.com.br/

What caught my eye was this vibrant and structured dress by Ursula Felix.

Overall the three days proved an interesting insight into the fashion industry with catwalk shows and experts on stage giving talks such as the 'buy your way through the recession'.  A great opportunity for anyone wanting to work in the fashion industry!
Kudzai

Sick and Tired of the Sales?

Just when you're going off on holiday, everything's on sale or the shops have only got winter stock! Our favourite website, with items hand-picked by Tara, can guarantee some fabulous pieces for your holiday are still available (as well as some great sale offers)! See the examples below, but meanwhile check out TaraLacey.com...

The Swish List...

The Big Swish™ was in full swing this week! 

For those of you not in the know: “Swishing is a growing trend, where a gaggle of fashion-loving women get together, feast on nibbles, guzzle wine and swap their clothes. Eco-fabulous recycling at its best.” BBC News

I was lucky enough to get one of only 25 V.I.P tickets to Tuesday’s Big Swish™ at the Long Acre in Covent Garden. I was given a goody bag, as well as a five minute head start on “swishing” , 2 for 1 cocktails all evening and a year’s membership to the world’s no.1 clothes swapping site, Big Wardrobe (usually worth £12.00). An absolute bargain, I’m sure you’ll agree!

The only condition for attending the Big Swish™ is that you bring along up to 15 items (in good condition) from your own wardrobe to swap for someone else’s former favourites. Just like the clothes on the Big Wardrobe site, there was a good range of high street and designer items up for grabs. It wasn’t all about clothes swapping though, there was also a prize draw and gorgeous makeovers taking place courtesy of the Big Swish™s team of stylists.

After huge success with similar events during 2009, Big Wardrobe, in association with stylist Lupe Castro and eco-mag Daisy Green Magazine, began a roadshow of clothes swapping events – don’t worry if you didn’t make the London events. The Big Swish™ will be making it’s way to Newcastle on 7th October, with more events to follow!

Clothes Show London

The second annual Clothes Show London kicked off on Friday 25th June in Earl's Court. I was able to attend the show, and it was so much fun! The consumer show is aimed at showcasing fashion trends and beauty brands that are on the market today. Many of the companies promoted themselves by giving away freebies, so I walked away with a bag of goodies!


The highlight of the weekend was the show itself, taking on an around the world theme this year. Featured cities included New York, Paris, Rome and, of course, London. Lucky for me, I got a front row seat! Each scene was choreographed very well, with the models and dancers interacting all while wearing fantastic clothes from many different brands. I was able to take photos of a few of my favourite outfits during the show. 

Children Desperately in Need ...

April Fools Day!  From sunny Spring day to snow in the blink of an eye.  And on the eve of Easter.  But what a minor mote in the eye compared to the suffering of so many on the other side of the world....
Spent some time this afternoon forgeting fashion and talking to Katy, a young Trustee of a new UK charity (already established abroad), the Cambodian Children's Fund which has undertaken some amazing and rewarding work in Phnom Penh where many heart rending children - and their families - are living in abject poverty.  Children as young as 4 years are working on the stenching rubbish dump outside the city to earn a living for their families and many actually live on this seething mountain of refuse.  Take a minute to check out the charity which has just gained UK Charity Status and join up as a UK supporter.  I don't think I'll be eating any Easter eggs this weekend as a result ....