VIP Maude at London Fashion Week

Designer and illustrator David Longshaw St Martins graduate, is collaborating with Matchesfashion.com during LFW with Maude, his fictional fabric fashion mouse.  All potential Maudettes should read Maude's welcome letter which will bring a smile to the faces of even the most cynical of fashion critics.

The New Situation at Sothebys

We've made a red date in the diary - 4th to 11th September - to visit Sotheby's which is set to stage ‘The New Situation: Art in London in the Sixties’, an exhibition that will hopefully address the question as to why many British post-war period artists receive as much recognition as European and American artists.  Read the full story at http://www.ultravie.co.uk/blog/2013/08/21/the-new-situation-art-in-london-in-the-60s/

Meet the Designer during LFW

One of our favourite charities, Women for Women International which empowers disadvantaged women, joins forces with womenswear designer Daniel Blake at an intimate fashion presentation on the penultimate night of London Fashion Week (September 16th).  Tickets (via the Daniel Blake site) are £50 each and include a champagne and canape reception  and one to ones with the designer after the presentation.

The location is the contemporary Andaz Hotel at Liverpool Street station so expect to bump into female City movers and shakers!  One lucky ticket holder will win a Harris Tweed tailored jacket fitted by Daniel.  All proceeds  plus a percentage of any sales to be donated to Women for Women and their important work.

Jourdan Dunn Bares All for GQ

Jourdan’s Tweet after her removal from the autumn/winter 2013 Christian Dior Couture show - "I'm normally told I'm cancelled because I'm 'coloured' so being cancelled because of my boobs is a minor" and her remark that her favourite part of the job is straightforward: "Getting paid" make us love this supermodel.  Check out her ‘naked’ interview in American GQ.

Nike FuelBand and Jawbone Up - Monitor Your Life!

Nike’s FuelBand monitors your activity when linked to your iPhone/Android.  We like the idea and the look but not the cost of almost £130!  Purchase one here in black or (we prefer) white: http://store.nike.com/gb/en_gb/pd/fuelband/pid-693280/pgid-683903

Or if you are more interested in monitoring what you eat, sleep and movement, try Jawbone UP which costs less than £100. www.jawbone.com/up

 

Barbie Goes High Fashion at Selfridges

Barbie has called on fashionable friends to dress her for the opening of her new space at Selfridges. Her new home will feature three dolls whose brightly coloured ensembles have been created by three of London's star emerging labels, Fred Butler, Nasir Mazhar  and Sister by (one of our favourites) Sibling (see image below) 
The dedicated Barbie department is situated on the fourth floor of Selfridges within its new Toy Shop, which opens later this week. Fans will also be able to buy collector's dolls launched throughout Barbie history.

Richard Rogers at the Royal Academy

What to see Planned to coincide with his 80th birthday, a retospective exhibition at the Royal Academy entitled Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out opened yesterday. The show in the Burlington Gardens part of the Academy looks to examine the social, political and cultural influences and their connection to Rogers' work. As one of the world's most renowned architects, much is known about his work. But this show delves deeper; the man, his life, his Italian family, the impact of post-war Britain, his education at the Architectural Association and Yale - and then to his high profile projects including Lloyd's of London, the Bordeaux Law Courts and of course, Le Centre Pompidou in Paris. And cleverly, to aid parents with school holiday/restless children, there are plenty of associated events including careers talks from members of Rogers' practice on what it takes to become an architect, family activities that include designing and building models, and Rogers himself in conversation with BBC journalist Razia Iqbal on the architect's enduring belief in the possibilities of architecture and cities to surprise and inspire. www.royalacademy.org.uk

Johansson & McConaughey for Dolce & Gabbana Directed by Scorsese

 Since his recent spate of films playing down and dirty Southerners (rather than slick Southern lawyers) McConaughey has gone up in our estimation.  We think he and Scarlett make a cute pair for D&G!  Check out the story below taken from Vogue online:

SCARLETT JOHANSSON and Matthew McConaughey have teamed up to star in a new Dolce & Gabbana campaign for the brand's fragrance The One, directed by Martin Scorsese. The trio were seen filming in New York over the weekend.
The shoot marks the first time that the Hollywood pair have worked together on a campaign for the fragrance - despite having been the male and female faces of the scent for many years. McConaughey was first signed up in 2008, whilst Johansson has fronted several The One campaigns as well as being one of the faces of the brand's cosmetics range.
Though many at first assumed that the trio were working on a (very stylish) film project together - thanks to Scorsese's involvement - Stefano Gabbana confirmed that the shoot was in fact a "movie commercial" for the fragrance, sharing some behind-the-scenes images on his Instagram account.

Style Surgery on The Style Director

We're averse to cross promotions as we feel this reflects on our credibility.  However, we stumbled across the website below and fell in love with it ...
Seeking the perfect white T Shirt/white shirt/slim pants etc. but time poor and genuinely uninterested in trawling through a mass of websites with an eternity of so called 'perfect' wardrobe item?  Then The Style Director is for you, with only five pieces for each category, carefully curated by fashion and style experts offering their pick of wardrobe investment pieces.
We've just got the heads up on a simple giveaway this stylish website is running via Facebook.  From the 16th July The Style Director is offering £50 to spend on the site for the best style query submitted. A great way to add a style classic to your wardrobe and find the answer to your conundrum at the same time ....

New Collection from Belinda Earl for M&S: Great!

Belinda Earl's first collection (AW 13)  for M&S is pared down stunning.  Can't wait for it to reach the stores and only hope the pix are not for publicity purposes only and the items don't actually exist!  When does it arrive instore??

Frido Kahlo at the Royal Academy

We love Mexican Art - and in particular Frido Kahlo - and are delighted that London's Royal Academy is hosting  A Mexican Celebration ... The latest offering from the Royal Academy, Mexico: A Revolution in Art will provide a fascinating look at a key thirty year period in Mexican history during which time the country experienced extraordinary political and cultural changes. Boasting over 120 works, the exhibition illustrates the diversity and creativity that blossomed throughout Mexico during this much documented cultural renaissance. East London's latest hotspot & Casa Negra, will be hosting a week-long fiesta to celebrate the birth (and death) day of Frida Kahlo (5-13 July).

Kidman for Choo

 

We love the styling for Jimmy Choo's latest campaign using Kidman, who seems to have carved a new image for herself since playing the lead in The Paperboy with Zac Efron as you've never seen him before

Winning Boys at Wimbledon

Vogue.com has compiled a portfolio of great looking tennis hunks but its difficult to defeat  Nadal in the looks department.  We think that all the guys look highly desireable in their whites and that Vogue has overlooked some of the best but discovered some  unexpected stunners! http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2013/06/27/male-tennis-players-wimbledon-nadal-federer-murray

Paris' Hidden Street Art at Les Bains Nightclub

Inviting the world’s top street art talent to create one-time works and installations that will never be on public display, and are soon to be lost forever, may sound a little extravagant; but when you’re the decaying shell of a nightclub that once hosted the likes of Keith Haring, Kate Moss, Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger and Prince, it’s a little easier to understand said extravagance. Space Invader, Futura, STEN LEX, Mr Brainwash… the roll call of art talent is fittingly grand for the benchmark set by the Parisian club’s former clientele; each recently the subject of a daily profile on Les Bains‘ website.
The ephemeral virtual exhibition now a thing of the past, it’s the fleeting works’ future fate that most intrigues – closed in 2010 due to structural complications, Les Bains will now begin its transformation back into what will surely be Paris’ most exclusive nightspot. And what of the artworks? Gone, forever. Probably. And in that lies this project’s beauty, for street art – at its very core – is just that; fleeting, transient, unpredictable. In an age where the world’s galleries are brimming with millionaire ‘street artists’, Les Bains’ artist residencies have provided a welcome reminder of the scene’s primal essence. Bravo, encore. Or not.  Story appeared on We Heart #62

Galliano as You've Never Seen Him Before

A visibly fragile and unusally well groomed/styled Galliano was interviewed on American TV last Thursday following an in depth interview in Vanity Fair.  Although individuals in the fashion industry would welcome back the recognised genius of Galliano, the consumer may be harder to persuade and luxury brands will be concerned about damaging their reputations.  We say:  go it alone John!  Even if not able to finance his own label, there are enough  'secret angels' who would be willing to support the John Galliano label.  Or, work in the film industry:  Galliano's designs were frequently more  theatrical than commercial ...

Exclusive Erdem Collection

IF you never managed to get your hands on # Erdem's early prints, matchesfashion.com is giving shoppers the opportunity to rifle through the designer's archives with an exclusive collection that incorporate his most beautiful patterns - past and present. The six-piece range launches on June 14.  We love this piece below ...
Check it out the full story on Vogue.co.uk 

Chanel Opens Superstore in New Bond Street Today!

Opening in New Bond Street today, Chanel's new superstore featuring a series of  'rooms' housing the collections with areas for 'relaxing'.  Ann Boyd started the trend when she converted the Ralph Lauren stores into 'club' style rooms in the 80's.  Plus ca change.  Chanel goes one step further ....

Cats Eyes from Zac Posen for Illesteva

Great Shades from Zac Posen as featured on Luxury Culture, one of our favourite sites.  Available from Moda.Operandi.com

War Photographer at Venice Biennale

Richard Mosse, Safe From Harm, South Kivu, Eastern Congo, 2012 Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York 
The palette of war photography has long been established as green, brown, black, red. Camouflage, dirt, guns, blood. Richard Mosse, in his installation for the Irish Pavilion at the 2013 Venice Biennale, chose to shine a new light on the coverage of conflict, literally. Using an infrared film developed by Kodak and the military for the detection of camouflage, Mosse’s moving image work The Enclave explored the war zone and humanitarian disaster currently taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, rendering its scenes of horror, despair, bravado and destruction in vibrant magenta, scarlet, puce and purple.  
Read the full story on www.anothermagazine.com

Patrick Caulfield at Tate Britain

Opening today, the Patrick Caulfield exhibition at Tate Britain, London.  One of our favourite artists at one of our favourite galleries.  Catch it while you can.  On show until 1st September.