Fashion News

Meadham Kirchhoff AW12

You can trust Meadham Kirchhoff to give us a show worth talking about. The design duo of Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchhoff met at Central Saint Martins and launched their label on graduating. The pair describes the Meadham Kirchhoff woman as “Uncompromising, aware and individual.” You certainly have to be all of these things to buy into the full Meadham Kirchhoff look, but the overall theme of the collection of mismatched prints and seventies styling is something that can easily filter through to the high street.

Vogue reported on the show as “a Seventies, funkadelic extravaganza complete with coloured lights under the catwalk and fabulous Underground heels sculpted in bright gold, silver, blue or pink glitter”. The Rocky Horror theme tune was played out and girls threw glitter as they went down the catwalk.

Each outfit was an explosion of colour and texture. Stripes, checks and sequins were layered for autumnal warmth and brightly coloured wigs were placed on the model’s heads. The first look featured a childlike combo of a cute rainbow orange fleece sweater layered over a striped shirt and cherry print ankle swinging jeans. A checked button-down pinafore dress was given a grown-up edge with sequin blue bra and sheer lace blouse underneath.

As the show went on, the disco looks came out and Meadham Kirchhoff did not hold back. A full rainbow sequin trouser suit took the disco diva look to the max. There were sequin bodices and tinsel skirts, foil effect animal print trousers and tinsel earrings. Basically the whole hog of bad taste, but somehow it works.

Kate Thomas

Department store Debenhams is rolling out another of its own label offerings, Kate Thomas, replacing the space in the department store previously occupied by Jane Norman concessions. The women’s wear brand, Kate Thomas, designed and developed in-house by Debenhams, is part of its on-going focus to grow its Designers at Debenhams range and own brand positioning.

Debenhams needs a few own brands to get customers into the store. Why else would you go to Debenhams if all they stocked were other high street labels? Although there is certainly something to be said of having plenty of choice under one roof. Kate Thomas will be stocked in 50 of Debenhams’ 170 stores and online. Stock started to arrive before Christmas, but if you go to one of the store stockists today you will find the whole collection.

The collection is aimed at the 25 to 35 years market and is intended to complement Debenhams’ Red Herring brand. It includes predominantly dresses, which perfectly suits this season of the ’24 hour dress’. Dresses are priced around £30 to £35 and mainly include day dresses and work suitable attire. They are great throw on dresses for spring which can be worn now with a cardigan and tights.

My top pick is the red floral printed jersey wrap dress featuring half-length sleeves with elasticated ruching running through the top, a plunging v-neck, elasticated ruching to the waist and a self-tie waist belt. The navy asymmetric drape dress is a great buy for the office. It has a black patent leather-look skinny belt at the waist, an asymmetric drape detail on its fitted top and a box pleat detail at the top of its skirt, and costs just £35.

Autograph DressMarks and Spencer isn’t well known for being at the forefront of fashion, but they do have their moments. One of those moments comes in the form of Prints of the Future, a collection of garments made exclusively for the M&S Autograph range.

New advances in digital printing means that designers can print unlimited colours and create stunning photographic ‘hyper prints’ with ease and no ridiculous cost incurred. For this kaleidoscope of digital print we have Brit/Brazilian design duo Basso & Brooke to thank. They pioneered digital prints in 2004, making history with a 100% digital printed collection which won them the prestigious Fashion Fringe Award.

M&S are the latest Brit label to indulge in print. Their exclusive Prints of the Future range are the result of a collaboration with textile-mentors Texprint. The designs were created from sketches by emerging designer Toni Lake. Previously trained in classic Fine Arts, Animation and Icon painting (an ancient technique Egg Tempera) Toni graduated in UK in Printed Textile Design with First Class. She has worked with a range of top clients including Armani, Vera Wang, Ted Baker, Free People and of course M&S.

The Autograph collection’s techno prints, pixelated patterns and graphic contrasts would sit beautifully in your SS12 wardrobe. The Swan Print Tunic dress, £49.95, looks like it has just stepped off the Erdem catwalk and would be perfect for summer weddings. With a marble effect digital swan print, knee length skirt and floaty short sleeves, the style would suit most body shapes.

London Fashion Week NEWGEN T-shirts

We are currently in the middle of LFW AW12 season, and yesterday I went up for a one day whistle stop tour. It was my third season at LFW and I was keen to see as much as I could in one day, being unable to take any more time off work.

I didn’t attend any of the shows, although was particularly aggrieved to learn through twitter on the train up that Anna Wintour and Michelle Williams were among many celebs at the Mulberry show, I went last year! To get tickets to the catwalk shows you have to be directly invited (which only happens to very important people) or request to be invited (which is a lot of effort and doesn’t guarantee a ticket). The shows are also very time consuming because they aren’t all at Somerset House (where LFW is based) but scattered around London. Seeing as I can catch up with all of the shows online, many of which are streamed live on LFW TV, not attending the shows in person really isn’t a big deal. In fact, watching from the comfort of your own desk/bed/Costa is in many ways preferable.

I did go round the exhibition, where brands showcase their latest designs, and concentrated my attention on Estethica, the ethical/sustainable fashion showcase. Placed over two floors of Somerset House, new exhibitors this season included New York based Alejandro Ingelmo, Julian Hakes London and Kat Maconie. Other newcomers included NEWGEN designers Huishan Zhang and Lucas Nascimento. The Terrace Space hosted a selection of accessories from the likes of Emma J Shipley and milliner Bernstock Speirs.

Victoria. Victoria BeckhamI wrote about Victoria. Victoria Beckham last week. The new collection represents the free-spirited side of Victoria Beckham and is placed as a completely separate line to the high end Victoria Beckham mainline. Last Friday, 17th February, the brand launched at Harvey Nichols at a red carpet party in London, followed by a suitably upmarket dinner in the Fifth Floor Restaurant.

Alongside Victoria Beckham, fellow attendees included Alexandra Schulman, Alexa Chung (in a leather shearling jacket), Olivia Palermo (in a blue and black mini dress), Roland Moret and Gordon and Tana Ramsey (to review the food?!). Guests were greeted with champagne cocktails and canapés, whilst the room was decorated in an array of dusky pink and grey hues and vintage inspired roses. You can trust VB to have the intricate details planned to a T.

The SS12 collection, inspired by cartoon character Emily the Strange, is housed in an installation on Harvey Nichols First Floor complete with cute ‘kitty cat’ mannequins and a screen playing an exclusive video by Quentin Jones. Victoria. Victoria Beckham is a really lovely collection of dresses featuring girlie shapes and cutesy prints. Colour and colour blocking feature heavily alongside the specially designed conversational prints.

Dresses start at £395, considerably less than Victoria Beckham mainline dresses. Patch-pocket tunics, dropped waists and A-line tunics are all treated with a light touch in both construction and details. Scalloped edging, pleats and prints appear in a series of simple styles created from cotton sateen, crepe de chine, summer wool and crepes. A patch pocket tunic retails at £500, whilst a sleeveless collar shift reaches £800.

Marni for H&MLast autumn it was announced that Marni would be the next fashion label to collaborate with H&M and the wait is now nearly over. Last night in Los Angeles, Drew Barrymore, Winona Ryder and Milla Jovovich were among the guests who attended a party to celebrate the launch of Marni at H&M. The collection will be available in around three weeks’ time.

“It has been an inspiring night, surrounded by a perfect setting and a great crowd. LA encapsulated the dream! It is not long before Marni at H&M is in the stores, and I am happy to share these magic moments with everybody." Consuelo Castiglioni, Founder and Creative Director, Marni.

In a classic Hollywood house in Los Angeles, around 200 guests gathered to celebrate Marni´s collaboration for H&M, a collection full of Marni’s signature print and colour arriving just in time for spring. Guests were given the chance to enjoy an evening in an atmosphere captured by Sofia Coppola’s campaign for the collection, as well as an exclusive performance by Bryan Ferry.

Marni’s collection for H&M is all about freedom and experimentation, Marni prints and colours intended to mix and match together in a playful way. Everything goes with everything, making African prints the perfect companion to Bauhaus modernity, and sporty silhouettes sitting with more feminine shapes. The collection also includes a full range of shoes, bags and charming accessories to create a total Marni look at H&M. Meanwhile for men, Marni offers a fresh take on menswear staples, with a subtle use of print and a softened use of colour.

The lovely Drew Barrymore commented, "I love H&M and I love Marni. I love how H&M are bringing the regal, chic clothes of Marni to everyone."

LFW LogoFollowing on from a successful New York Fashion Week, London kicked off today for six days of fashion at Somerset House and across London. If you haven’t been to London Fashion Week before, I can tell you that it’s quite surreal. From the moment you approach Somerset House, street style bloggers are watching your every move and you have half an eye open for celebrities and famous fashion editors.

This season showcases 59 catwalk shows and 24 presentations. Not to mention the off-schedule shows and events taking place across London also during the six day period, like Ecoluxe which I wrote about yesterday. Alongside the shows, runs the exhibition which this season features 120 UK and international emerging and established, ready to wear and accessories designers. The Exhibition at LFW will play host to 13 Estethica designers, 15 NEWGEN Sponsored by TOPSHOP designers and 4 Multibrand Showrooms.

A special event for this season is the 10th Anniversary of TOPSHOP sponsoring NEWGEN, London’s leading talent identification and showcase initiative. On the catwalk there are 6 NEWGEN designers: David Koma, Holly Fulton, J.JS Lee, J.W. Anderson, Michael van der Ham and Simone Rocha. It is odd thinking about these designers as new, because they have all gained so much press since being a part of NEWGEN, thus showing the success of the initiative – long may it continue.

Louise Gray TopshopThis month Topshop are celebrating ten years of sponsoring the British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN scheme, alongside its other initiatives the Topshop Show Space and sponsorship of Fashion East. NEWGEN was started in 1993 to support up-and-coming British fashion talent and showcase them at London Fashion Week. Topshop became the official sponsor in 2002.

As part of the campaign to mark the anniversary, Topshop has called on NEWGEN recipients from the last ten years to collaborate on a series of fabulous limited edition signature t-shirts, with all proceeds going to Centrepoint, a charity dedicated to helping the young homeless. Designers contributing to the campaign are Christopher Kane, Richard Nicoll, Erdem, Peter Pilotto, Ashish, Meadham Kirchhoff, Jonathan Saunders, Gareth Pugh, Mary Katrantzou, House of Jazz, Roksanda Ilincic, Marios Schwab, Louise Gray, Nasir Mazhar, JW Anderson, Emma Cook, Peter Jensen, Holly Fulton, Craig Lawrence and Michael Van Der Ham.

Mary Katrantzou BlouseMary Katrantzou has been making waves in the fashion scene since landing her first NEWGEN sponsorship for her SS09 collection. This young Greek designer is most famously known for her striking and individual prints which are both fascinating and beautiful. Although her mainline designs are extremely costly, as all high end fashion labels are, the designer has today launched a small capsule collection with high street favourite Topshop!

Originally from Athens, Mary attended Rhode Island School of Design and then completed both her BA and MA at Central Saint Martins. She has previously worked for Sophia Kokosalaki and freelanced for Bill Blass, amongst other designers. London Fashion Week describes her design signatures as ‘A hyperrealist aesthetic, bold graphics and industrial jewellery.’

The Mary Katrantzou capsule collection for Topshop directly references this aesthetic. You will have to be quick though as it is selling out fast. My favourite item available online has already sold out, it is the printed blouse (pictured). The sheer jewel printed blouse with back button detail has a fabulously floral design and could easily be mistaken for one of its mainline cousins. It is made from 100% silk and was priced at £80.

Victoria, Victoria BeckhamWhen Victoria Beckham showed her AW12 mainline collection at New York Fashion Week a few days ago, hubby David was right there in the front row for the first time. Daughter Harper, was also present and the collection shown was softer, and more youthful than previous seasons.

Victoria Beckham’s high end fashion line has been extremely successful since launching. She clearly has style, and experience of plenty of fashion brands. Celebs love the looks, with Michelle Williams, Julianne Moore and War Horse actress Celine Buckens all being spotted wearing pieces from the line within days of each other.

The collection included 22 body hugging dresses. I’m sure Victoria would say you don’t need her figure to pull it off but it would help. Pencil skirted styles in black and red with bondage style panels, make for a classically sexy collection ready for cocktail hour dressing.

Alongside the mainline collection, Victoria, Victoria Beckham only launched last September but is following in the footsteps of its older sister. The clean lines and muted shades of previous collections remained, but print featured as a highlight more heavily than before. Pointed collars and cuffed sleeves gave the collection a St Trinian’s schoolgirl feel though it was not Mrs Beckham's own British upbringing that inspired this theme - it was actually intended to reflect a sense of 'American high school-ness', an influence, perhaps, of her life in LA.

Izzy LaneIf you are a blogger with an interest in ethical fashion, you might be interested in attending the Ecoluxe London Showroom this weekend. Ecoluxe London and the Rainforest Foundation UK  have  announced  collaboration  for  the  February  2012  edition  of  the  Ecoluxe showroom which will be held on 19-20th February this year at the Kingsway Hotel in London.

Held biannually during London Fashion Week, the Ecoluxe London showroom features the work of UK fashion brands and UK based manufacturers who create luxury fashion through sustainable practices. “This season we’re helping turn the fashion world’s eyes to the endangered 1.8 million square kilometre Congo Basin rainforest,” says Stamo, co-founder of Ecoluxe London, and adds “This is the second largest rainforest in the world yet it gets little attention.”

Now in its fourth season the Ecoluxe London showroom is open only to press and buyers. The two-day exhibition will include interactive fashion parades featuring the exhibitors' collections, hair and make-up space, the Sourcing Hall and the Rainforest Foundation UK silent auction, which will include sustainably produced garments and accessories donated by the Ecoluxe London exhibitors. Visitors will be able to post their sealed bids for the pieces on display.

Ecoluxe London is a not-for-profit organisation promoting and supporting sustainable luxury fashion through partnership with charities, organisations, social enterprises, other not-for-profit entities, corporations and the media. Brands featured this season include knitwear brand Izzy Lane (pictured) and Fairtrade jeweller September Rose, as well as a number of brands I haven’t heard of – Maiya, Miss U Boutique and Sew Last Season.

Antwerp Amy HallAmy Hall, Amy Hall London Dressthe East London-based handmade knitwear specialist, has announced Notting Hill boutique Wolf & Badger as the latest place to find her first S/S 2012 collection. Amy Hall’s cutesy knits aren’t just for winter, with the spring collection featuring knitted dresses, tank tops and bikini looks.

Henry Graham, co-founder of Wolf & Badger, said: "I am excited we're the first offline stockist of Amy's wonderful collection. Her work is fashion-forward and wearable and fits with our strategy of stocking the next big thing in fashion and design.”

Amy Hall’s collection is inspired by the 2012 London Olympics, the result is a range of separates in both soft pastels and bright hues, perfect for an original and effortlessly feminine take on S/S 2012’s key colour trends. Named after the big cities, there is a strong bodycon focus to the collection. Prices range from £135 for the Sydney bikini briefs to £300 for the Amsterdam maxi dress. Each item is made from 100% British Merino wool.

Amy Hall said: “Wolf & Badger is the ideal space for my latest collection, which aims to challenge perceptions about hand-made knitwear and I’m very excited to see my work within the unique concept store.”

The collection of light, bright, wearable summer knitwear, is modelled in her look book by Sky Living’s ‘Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model’ finalist, Juste. To create her collection, Amy Hall has combined light-weight British lamb’s wool, with an innovative yarn created from salvaged off-cuts of industrial cotton jersey, which otherwise would have been wasted.

What Size am I? We all know that clothes sizes vary wildly from shop to shop. It can be frustrating having to pick up two or more sizes to try on because you can’t trust their measurements, not to mention the minefield of online shopping. There is no need to despair any longer though, because one woman has come to our rescue! Anna Powell-Smith has launched an online calculator to help us find the right size store by store.

The web developer was moved to act after reading an article in the New York Times, in which a writer blasted shops for the discrepancy in sizing. She then set herself the challenge to solve this age old issue by collecting size and measurement data for a range of high street stores. She has catered her site to both a US and UK audience, with store sizes on both sides of the Atlantic.

Powell-Smith told the Guardian: “As everyone who's ever bought clothes knows, high-street sizing is completely mad. You can easily be a size 8 in one store, and a size 14 in another, and it's impossible to guess your size without lots of zip-wrangling.”

The site is hugely easy to use – just enter your bust, waist and hip measurements onto the online calculator and the programme will calculate the best clothes size for you for each store, for a top, skirt and dress.

Using the system, Powell-Smith was also able to analyse sizing patterns, proving us right that sizes do vary from shop to shop. She discovered as much as a four inch difference from one shop to the next and she found they all varied in body shape. M&S and Karen Millen, for instance, offer clothing for a more pear-shaped customer and Next has the smallest sizes on the High Street.  Last year plus size retailer Evans tried to revolutionise the way women shop by offering ‘Shop by Shape’.

Rohmir DressRohmir is a luxury ready-to-wear label worth knowing about. Started by Olga Roh in 2007, the label comprises sexy separates and elegant dresses. The label captures the elegance of Parisian couture with an injection of European sophistication. Celebrity fans include Liv Tyler, Rosario Dawson and Kelly Rowland, all of whom have been spotted in Rohmir pieces recently.

What I like about Rohmir is that it is stylish but not overly ‘fashion’ focused. Each piece is effortlessly sexy in a way that I think all men would like to see women dress. The woman behind the label herself is a force to be reckoned with. Hailed from Russian nobility, Roh’s background combines a career in the fashion industry with academia. After a career in modelling, she studied at the Instituto Marangoni fashion campus in London and the University of Bern Switzerland. Roh even holds a PhD. She splits her time between London, Hong Kong, Berlin, Zurich, Monte Carlo and Moscow, living up to the jet-set lifestyle.

The Rohmir name derives from the meaning of ‘Roh’s Universe’ in Russian which reflects the brand’s essence.  There is a standalone store in Mayfair, London and other stockists across the world. It might not be a famous brand to many of us, but those who can afford it are certainly in the know. Made in Chelsea star Binky, wore the Charleston dress for her appearance on Come Dine with Me, part of the C4 Mash Up.

The Made in Chelsea girls will love the latest SS12 dresses from Rohmir. For fans of vintage styles and colour blocking, the twenties style Seriema flapper dress is modernised in bright pink with elegant fringing. The black Sander dress nods to the tribal trend by featuring a black horn, and the Ralli dress has a flirtatious frill hem and cute chiffon layering.  

Bruce Oldfield

Not many people are lucky enough to wear a Bruce Oldfield gown on their wedding day. Bruce Oldfield is a British designer, best known for his couture and wedding gowns. He has dressed Catherine Zeta Jones, Kelly Brook, Sienna Miller, Diana Ross, Joan Collins and Diana, Princess of Wales who was a particularly close client of his.

At the beginning of March, Oldfield is holding a sale of some of his bridal gowns in London. In the two-day only sale, he'll be selling 20 of his vintage bridal dresses for as little as £400. Highlights include a floor-length gown with a sweetheart neckline and cut-out back detailing trimmed with intricate beading. The dress has just returned from an exhibition at the Costume Museum in Bath, which houses some of the country's most innovative and beautiful designs, making it a celebrated piece of fashion history.

Bruce Oldfield was educated at Central Saint Martins and opened his first London boutique in 1984, to sell both his ready-to-wear and couture designs. In 1990 Oldfield was awarded an OBE for his services for the British fashion industry and also received an honorary fellowship from the Royal College of Art. In a surprising turn of events he collaborated with McDonald's in 2008 to create a new employee uniform. "One doesn't necessarily think of McDonald's and chic in the same sentence, but my aim was to design a uniform that was exactly that," he said. "It was a big challenge but I am very, very pleased with the result."

Don’t let the McDonalds connection fool you though, the dresses available in the two-day sale are some of the most exquisite you will ever see. The weekend sale will take place at the designer's Beauchamp Place store on Friday March 2 (10am - 7pm), until Saturday March 3 (10am - 7pm).

Peacocks Jeans

Peacocks are in trouble. The value retail fashion chain entered administration half way through January of this year after falling into £240m of debt. I was quite surprised (but not particularly saddened) as Peacocks do seem to offer what the masses want – fast fashion at cheap prices.

My local Peacocks store is hideous, it is very much neglected and the staff don’t have a clue. The one in the city however, is quite new and shiny and well laid out. I thought Peacocks were fairly on the ball with their product offering, but I can see that they might not attract the fashion crowd as much as H&M or Primark.

Sadly, 249 staff at Peacocks head office lost their jobs last month – that’s nearly half of the team. Peacocks stores remained open but wouldn’t except refunds or gift cards (as a friend of mine found out). A petition to save Peacocks, devised by staff and customers has now gathered 27,000 signatures, so clearly there is a lot of love out there for the store.

When Peacocks fell into administration, chief executive Richard Kirk issued a statement thanking staff. He said, "Peacocks is a brand with great heritage, and it is with deep sadness that we have been left with no other option but to place the business into administration. We have worked tirelessly over the past year to agree a new financial structure to take the business forward in the current, tough retail environment, including seeking new investment for the business”.

Geri by NextGeri Halliwell’s Union Jack dress for The Brits in 1997 is one of the most iconic dresses of our time. It sparked a whole host of copy-cat styles, did you have one? I didn’t, but it’s not too late! For Geri and Next have brought the dress back to its former glory, along with a range of other Union Jack designs.

To celebrate 2012 and presumably the Queen’s diamond jubilee, Geri and Next have exclusively created a new collection of Union Jack pieces.  The Union Jack collection is Geri’s latest range with Next and adds to her existing swimwear, lingerie and dress collections. The stand out piece is the strappy all-over sequin mini dress for £199. I’m not quite sure when you would wear this, other than at a fancy dress party and even then it makes for an expensive outfit.

Much more wearable are the jersey pieces – a t-shirt and dress for £22 and maxi dress for £38 which would double up as an excellent flag. There is also a very fun bikini set. Personally I would stay clear of the sequins, but one of the t-shirts teamed with cut-off denims is a perfectly acceptable 2012 summer look.

The original Union Jack dress was a last minute customised effort with Geri stitching on a Union Jack tea towel to her black Gucci mini dress because she wanted to 'celebrate being British'. She wore the dress with red Buffalo boots while performing Who Do You Think You Are at the 1997 Brits and a year later the dress was sold for £41,320 after Geri auctioned it off.

Prices for the Geri by Next Union Jack range start at £18 and the collection is available online and in selected stores from early March.  

Chinti & Parker Sweater Chinti & Parker CardiganEthical fashion brand Chinti & Parker has launched a gorgeous heart print knitwear range for spring. Featuring two sweaters and a cardigan in lush Italian cashmere, each piece is the perfect antidote to the dreary February we currently find ourselves in.

Chinti & Parker is an ethical label founded in 2009 by Anna Singh (daughter of Tom Singh, founder of New Look) and Rachael Wood, instantly appreciated by celebrities and the glossy mags. They describe their business as the opposite of fast fashion, using only organic cotton, aiming to be carbon neutral, and working under fair trade principles. Chinti & Parker provides all of the basics you need to build an everyday wardrobe including organic cotton tees and cashmere knits. Last year I raved about their off-duty sweatshirt as the perfect casual throw-on piece for autumn.

Currently they have a wide range of cashmere available, and are ‘actively searching availability of certified organic cashmere’ with the aim of incorporating it into their collection. Prices for cashmere start at £265 for a boatneck sweater with elbow patches and rises to £350 for a polka dot sweater. You can get cotton sweaters for less than £200.

The Love Heart sweater (£330) is available to pre-order now. In grey with an intarsia heart in moroccan blue it has a round necked loose fitting style. Dress it up with a sleeveless shirt underneath, or simply team with jeans to stay warm out and about. Alternatively, there is the plain navy cashmere sweater with super cute heart shaped elbow patches or the heart pocket shrunken cardigan, both £295.

LOGUE London Emma DressWomenswear label LOGUE London has just launched with the aim of providing easy staple pieces in luxurious British fabrics for city life. The classic capsule collection will see the modern woman through summer with style, offering solutions to the working wardrobe dilemma.

LOGUE London is the brainchild of Emma Logue, former Morgan Stanley banker and luxury brand specialist whose career includes experience at LVMH. Dissatisfied with the clothes available to women in her sector, she wanted to find a fittingly sophisticated alternative to the female executive’s standby, the suit. She wanted to bring simple glamour to her wardrobe. 

Her solution was to design it herself and so in 2010 with upmost courage and determinism, Logue took an evening course at the London College of Fashion to learn the basics and commissioned a local seamstress to make distinctive dresses to her own detailed design.  These were no ordinary dresses and formed the basis for what are now two of the brand’s signature designs, the button-through tailored dress and the unexpected flirty flashes of colour featured on kick pleats and on roll-up, roll down sleeves to add a touch of fun.

LOGUE London’s first collection for spring/summer 2012 is a capsule collection of six chic, button-through, knee length dresses available in fabulous different colours from elegant cream, soft green and black to vibrant blue, red and delphinium. These tailored dresses come lined in silk, fashioned from the finest British silks and cotton shirtings. Stand out features on some designs showcase intricate stitching and detail as well as couture fabric buttons and belts. 

Bag Servant MulberryIf you love handbags then this is the site for you - BagServant.co.uk features more than 5000 bags from leading retailers and designers.  BagServant is the ultimate search and buy shopping destination to find your dream bag - from dreamy designers including  Jimmy Choo, Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu and Mulberry through to ultimately affordable from high street favourites including Dorothy Perkins, John Lewis and Ted Baker – there are bags to buy whatever your budget.

In addition to the product listings, the magazine side of the site also offers a whole host of handbag related info including a photo gallery of who’s been “papped” carrying what, up to date news and advanced info on the latest and greatest design releases and some of Lenka’s musings on the biggest trends in handbags and fashion in general for the season ahead. If you are looking for a designer look without the designer price tag, then check out the ‘Get the look for less posts’.

BagServant is the brainchild of handbag lover and aficionada Lenka Gourdie.   The catalyst for the project was an incident which happened whilst on honeymoon in Hawaii – Lenka (who has no head for heights or helicopters!) negotiated a Fendi handbag from her husband (who looks after the technical side of the website) as an “incentive” to accompany him on a helicopter flight.  It was then that Lenka realised the power of the handbag and just how passionate she was about the subject. Sounds like Lenka got a good deal to me! What would you do for a Fendi?

Age UK HatWere you aware that this Friday is Bobble Day? Age UK’s Bobble Day (Friday 10th February) – the annual fundraising event which urges Brits to dig out their brightest winter woollies and dress them with fluffy Age UK bobbles to raise funds to help keep older people warm and well in winter. You don’t have to be Kirstie Allsopp to add a few bobbles to your tired winter woollies. All you need are some bobbles from Age UK and a needle and thread.

If you want to go a step further you can buy the official hat. Designed by Grannies Inc. and lovingly crafted by grannies in the UK (what else what you expect?), the official Bobble Day hat in vibrant orange, yellow and pink, with an oversized bobble (aka pom pom!) on top, is made from 100% British spun merino wool yarn. Already spotted cosying up to celebrities during the recent cold snap, the Bobble Day hat from Grannies, Inc. has been spotted on model and Dirty Sexy Things actress Charlotte De Carle, model and Made in Chelsea star Funda Onal and model Julian Okines. The limited edition hat is available exclusively from www.granniesinc.co.uk, costing £35, with £8 going directly to Age UK’s ‘Spread the Warmth’ campaign.

Bobble Day aims to highlight the plight of people in later life during the colder months, as over 200 older people die needlessly every day in winter because of the effects of cold weather. Age UK's Bobble Day is part of the Charity's annual ‘Spread the Warmth’ campaign, which aims to make winter warmer for 360,000 older people by providing information, advice and practical services.

Jenny Packham MainlineHigh end designer Jenny Packham is the latest to create a diffusion range for Debenhams. As a department store, Debenhams stocks many brands for a range of price points. Debenhams have teamed up with a number of fashion designers over the years for both long and short term collections. The Jenny Packham collection features 19 dresses, half of which will be launched in April, and the rest in the summer.  

Currently at Designers at Debenhams you can pick up designs by Ben de Lisi, Star by Julian Macdonald and J by Jasper Conran. Debenhams Editions has seen modern rock ‘n’ roll from Preen, playful prints from Jonathan Saunders, accessories by Jonathan Kelsey and last year I wrote about Roksanda Ilincic’s latest offering for the high street chain.

British designer Jenny Packham is renowned for her glamorous evening wear, with the majority of her collections consisting of stunning red carpet gowns in silk satins and sequins. Her dresses can cost thousands and she is also a favoured designer for brides to be. The Debenhams collection offers the same level of glam, with a much smaller price tag.

Packham told Vogue, “I have wanted to design a diffusion collection for some time and believe Debenhams has the experience and energy to create and produce the collection. It is very important to me to have control over my label and Debenhams actively promote this to ensure maximum synergy between designer and creation."

Mulberry Travel BagMulberry is launching a highly covetable new bag this season. Styled on the hugely successful Alexa, the new Mulberry Travel bag comes in three sizes and a variety of colour finishes. Bags don’t get much hotter than those by Mulberry at present, and the Mulberry Travel bag is a welcome addition to the family I have no doubt.

Satchel style, the bag comes in standard day bag, oversized and the Travel camera bag. The Travel bag is available in a range of luxurious leathers but my fave by far is the mixed material-haircalf marshmallow white style for £2000 (pictured). You might have seen it already in the glossy mags, as it fits perfectly with the mood coming from the spring catwalks. The same style comes in nightshade blue. Shiny oak lambskin (£1100) offers the classic look, as does the soft matte black which is the cheapest option (relatively speaking) at £995. The Travel camera bag starts at £795, and the oversized Travel bag in matte black starts at £1150.

“The Travel Day Bag and its gorgeous characteristics are inspired by the golden age of travel and the nostalgic glamour of vintage steamer trunks," Mulberry creative director Emma Hill told Vogue. "We love its metal tipped corners and a smart metal logo plaque. It's a classic satchel, but with a super modern (yet nostalgically-inspired), twist. It's definitely a statement bag that will have all the girls drooling!"

With Blake Lively, Hayley Atwell and Juno Temple all fans of the style already, the bag is set to become as popular as its predecessors, but the brand says the secret to their success lies in its heritage, rather than its celebrity endorsers. Mulberry is based in Somerset, where their factory, The Rockery, produces around 30% of their handbags using traditional craft techniques.

David Beckham David Beckham Bodywear for H&MThis should be of interest to men and women alike. Last night in London, David Beckham celebrated the global launch of David Beckham Bodywear for H&M with an in-store launch, followed by a cocktail party at a pop-up gentleman’s club created especially for the occasion. At the in-store event at H&M on Regent Street, David showed the new television commercial, met with fans and signed the collection. Later, celebrities such as Bianca Jagger, Emma Bunton and Jessica Ennis joined David to toast his bodywear range.

This debut collection is the first in a long-term partnership between David Beckham and H&M, and is available from today in 1,800 H&M stores worldwide, as well as online. Giant H&M shopping bags have been placed around London this week to support the launch.

“I am very proud to launch my Bodywear collection for H&M in London. It was amazing to see the product at the in-store launch after so many months of development and meet with fans. I loved the pop-up gentleman’s club, which felt both traditional and brand new. It’s the same mix I hope men will find in the Bodywear collection. It was an amazing evening to launch my new collection.” David Beckham said.

At the cocktail party, guests were treated to a unique David Beckham for H&M experience, with decor, food and drink designed to reflect not only classic gentlemen’s clubs but also David’s British roots. Live music was provided by the James Pearson Trio, direct from the infamous Ronnie Scotts club, followed by a DJ set by ”Mani” from The Stone Roses and DJ the Queens of Noize.

Shirley Jarlo London Billie Jarlo LondonYoung fashion label Jarlo London have launched their new spring 2012 collection in Topshop concessions. The collection will launch in the Oxford Circus store from 31st January and will bring the Topshop shopper a key selection of super cool styles.

Jarlo London started on a stall in London’s Portobello Market in 2008. Founded by Carly Hallahan, the youthful label offers vintage inspired styles and vibrant prints on cute tea dresses, retro shifts and funky jackets. Perfectly suited to contemporary fashions, Jarlo already has a well-established celebrity following.

Jarlo London’s Spring 2012 collection is inspired by the latest street styles from around the world, channelling a cool, young starlet vibe with a modern twist. The dress will always be an essential wardrobe staple this season and the new collection of frocks from Jarlo London is simply irresistible. The season is a riot of colour from pretty pastels to brilliant whites, true blues to pop brights. Jarlo London has developed a celebrity following with their bold prints and vibrant palettes. Fashionistas who love Jarlo London include Keira Knightly, Dannii Minogue, Anna Friel and Una Healy.

I love the Shirley dress (£60, pictured) for its cutesy vintage style. Wear it with a summer tan, wedges and feather jewellery for a soft, romantic look. Go pure white with the Billie (£60, pictured) dress, but bring out some colour with bright orange accessories. Whatever trend you are looking for this season, florals, lace or pastels, Jarlo London won’t disappoint.

The new collection will sit within its own concession area in Topshop Oxford Circus, prices start from £60 styles are available in sizes 8-14. 

John Lewis JL WeekendI don’t know about you, but I love department stores. With everything under one roof, beautifully laid out so you can drift happily from shoes to wine glasses, there is something very special about a good department store. John Lewis is one of my faves for their haberdashery department, lingerie and a great mix of women’s wear labels. Now, this week, they have launched a new women’s clothing line, so you have every excuse to pop in and check it out.

JL Weekend is perfectly designed for the, well weekend! The range features more than 80 pieces from cotton t-shirts to cashmere cardigans, and leather tote bags, with prices starting from £20. Cottons and denim provides the foundation for the line, with a variety of on trend coloured jeans, pastel cotton shirts and a large selection of marl jersey. Items of note include a broderie anglaise cotton dress in scorched orange and a chain knit cardigan in navy and cream.

Jo Hooper, Head of Womenswear buying at John Lewis says, “This line is all about easy outfit building; mixing and matching quality pieces and on trend colours to create a stylish, pared down summer wardrobe encompassing everything from dresses and separates, to shoes and accessories. The aim was to create stylish, fashion led casuals that the JL woman would feel confident in, and have fun picking out. JL Weekend is about leaving the office behind”.

The collection succeeds in appealing to all ages as classic Parisian looks are combined with on trend fashion essentials. Alongside clothes, the collection features shoes, bags and scarves to create a capsule wardrobe to get you through the weekend. JL Weekend has launched today, on the 1st February 2012, other labels at John Lewis include Oasis, Ted Baker and French Connection. 

Stine Riis H&M WinnerThe winner of the H&M Design Award 2012 was announced today as Stine Riis, a 28 year old graduate from the London College of Fashion. She was revealed as the global winner at a special catwalk show at Stockholm’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, where Stine presented her winning collection. The H&M Design Award has seen graduates from fourteen colleges in six different countries compete first to be the local winner, and then go on to the grand prize jury. The award was set up to recognise new fashion design talent and encourage people into the industry.

Lucky Stine won €50,000 and the chance to have around fifteen pieces from her collection sold in selected H&M stores globally in September! Stine was chosen by a line-up of judges which included fashion designer Christopher Kane, noted fashion journalists Hilary Alexander and Kristopher Arden Houser, fashion blogger Susie Lau, H&M’s creative advisor Margareta van den Bosch and H&M’s head of design, Ann-Sofie Johansson.

“I am still overwhelmed,” said Stine, “Showing at Stockholm’s Mercedes-Benz fashion week has been such a great experience. I can’t believe so many people came to see my collection! This award gives me the confidence and financial back-up I need to pursue my dream of building my own brand. I couldn’t have imagined a better start to my career as a designer.”

“Stine Riis impressed us all with the maturity and modernity of her work. Her collection was so complete, and so well finished. It was such a sophisticated show, and such an exciting occasion. I am proud that Stine is the first winner of the H&M Design Award,” said Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M Head of Design.

Aimee People Tree Aimee People TreeLaunching during Fairtrade Fortnight, the new SS12 People Tree collection celebrates the brand’s commitment to Fairtrade and organic cotton, which has doubled in the last year.  People Tree is one of the best established ethical fashion brands in the UK, having been founded by Safia Minney. The main line range compliments the season’s collaborations with Zakee Shariff (see my previous blog post) and Orla Kiely, as well as the new ‘Aimée’ range.

There are vintage style dresses, flared skirts, handwoven cotton and silk blouses and lightweight knitwear. Conversational prints and polka dots sit alongside vintage florals, and red and navy stripes give a nautical update to People Tree’s best -selling wrap dress. Organic cotton tops provide the perfect spring wardrobe basics, whether in block colour, summer stripes or all over print. Handwoven cotton and silk blouses and shirt dresses are offered in bright checks, florals or baby blue and there are loose, open-knit jumpers and crochet cardigans for layering.

My favourite collection has to be the new youthful line called ‘Aimee’. Aimee, meaning beloved, features a summery colour palette of blue and coral, deckchair inspired stripes and vintage lace. Using organic cotton jersey, 100% Fairtrade certified, Aimee has all of the pieces you will need to build the perfect cutesy summer wardrobe. Dresses are short and sweet, with side pockets and ruffles, whilst separates include button up vests, oversized tees and high waisted skirts.

Organza Shift Dress Plastic Black TrenchTopshop Boutique, the exclusive sub range within Topshop, does not disappoint this SS12 season. With a whole host of fashion forward pieces, you can rely on Topshop Boutique to build your capsule wardrobe. SS12 sees metallic floral silk shifts, Prince of Wales checks, neon knits and chunky fisherman jumpers.

In Boutique Basics you can pick up a cashmere mix vest for just £20. Available in black, white or grey, it is a spring essential that can be worn alone with jeans for an off-duty look or for layering dresses and cardigans. The plain T-panel t-shirt is also the perfect accompaniment to this season’s printed skinny jean. Team it with leopard print skinny denims or colour blocked trousers.

A minimalist look shines through, but there is the cat printed tee (£28) for quirky animal lovers. Pieces to buy immediately include the waffle knit sweaters. The neon yellow waffle crop sweater (£48) is the perfect colour block jumper to start wearing now. Otherwise go for plain black for a grungy look.

The plasticised coat and jacket might not be the best investment buys, but if you buy one thing this spring they can be worn every day to update your look for spring. If you are tall, you could pull off the paw print trench (£160) in black or if you prefer a tougher look, go for the black leather biker jacket with chunky zips (£165).

Jean Paul Gaultier '12 CoutureJean Paul Gaultier made a tribute to the late Amy Winehouse in his latest haute couture collection shown this week in Paris. Garments, in Gaultier’s signature style, were worn by model’s sporting beehive hairstyles, flicked up black eyeliner and doll-like wedges. The spring/summer ’12 show included looks entitled “Brit Award”, “Victoria’s Secret In My Bag” and “Love Is a Losing Game”. Winehouse’s father Mitch, however, has spoken out against the fashion collection, stating that it is in bad taste and that the family were not made aware of the tribute prior to the show.

The clothes included wonderful corsetry and beautiful long trench coats, all in rich colours - pink, gold and chartreuse. Think Gaultier’s signature trashy luxe (but with a couture price tag). Long sequinned jackets were teamed with tiny girdle shorts and even suiting featured corsetry detailing. Another back-to-front polo shirt dress appeared in ivory sequins, another lace evening gown in fluorescent orange was fit for a true diva. Vogue called the show a ‘wonderful and loving tribute’ to Winehouse, but as all the girls appeared for the finale in lace mourning mantilla veils, was it too much?

Mitch Winehouse said, “The family was upset to see those pictures, they were a total shock. We're still grieving for her loss, and we've had a difficult week with the six-month anniversary of Amy's death. To see her image lifted wholesale to sell clothes was a wrench we were not expecting or consulted on. We're proud of her influence on fashion but find black veils on models, smoking cigarettes with a barbershop quartet singing her music in bad taste. It portrays a view of Amy when she was not at her best, and glamorises some of the more upsetting times in her life. That's upsetting for her family”.