Thomas Sabo does charming Lindt Gold Bunny for Easter

The filigree 3D Lindt Chocolate Gold Bunny is a popular Easter staple and has now been carefully crafted as a piece of jewellery in collaboration with designer brand, Thomas Sabo.  

The lovely charm is partnered with the much adored, delicious 500g milk chocolate Lindt Gold Bunny (a popular Easter treat in my household), and encased in a sumptuous, chocolate brown gift box. 

Intricately crafted with great attention to detail, the 18 karat yellow gold-plated Sterling Silver charm captures the joie de vivre of the iconic Lindt Gold Bunny to a tee and has a delicate clasp to attach to a charm bracelet or necklace.  

The charm is the perfect gift for jewellery lovers.

This charmingly cute Limited Edition LINDT GOLD BUNNY is available now in time for Easter exclusively at Selfridges Oxford Street in London. Sold at £100 each, there are just 40 of these bespoke charm on sale.

All things Nautical and Chic. Thames & Hudson collaborates with Beyond Retro.

There is something uniquely appealing about wearing blue and white, sometimes added with a dash of colour, a unique combination inspired by hardworking sailors or fishermen and by life on harbour front, by the coast or on a ship.  Think sailor-collar blouses, brocade-trimmed naval jackets, anchor motif embroidery and the eternally-popular Breton stripe.

The je-ne-sais-quoi appeal of nautical-inspired fashion have for two centuries captured the imagination of designers - from the modernist elegance of Coco Chanel to Malcolm McLaren and  Vivienne Westwood’s punk-fuelled pirates.

Now a new book called Nautical Chic will look at the history of high fashion on the high seas.  Author Amber Jane Butchart, a fashion historian and vintage aficionado, traces the relationship between maritime dress and the fashionable wardrobe, uncovering stories, tracking the trends, and tracing the evolution of the style back to its roots in our seafaring past.   Illustrated with archive imagery as well as contemporary fashion photography, Nautical Chic charts the history of coastal couture.

Nautical Chic, published by Thames & Hudson will be out on March 30^th.

Coinciding with the book, the publisher Thames & Hudson is also partnering with Beyond Retro, the UK’s largest vintage retailer which is launching a Nautical Chic Collection. 

Author Amber Jane Butchart has taken inspiration from the stories of maritime naval officers, sailor-style and designers from John Galliano through to Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood, to create an extensive edit of authentic trend-led vintage pieces from Beyond Retro for the Nautical Chic Collection which will be available in Beyond Retro’s four UK stores in Brighton, Soho, Dalston and Brick Lane in London from March 30th, and online.   Prices range from £12 - £58.

If you want to dive deep into the history of nautical fashion, Amber Butchart will be giving an illustrated talk on the subject at Beyond Retro’s store in Dalston on the evening of Wednesday April 22nd.  Guests will be able to shop the Nautical Chic Collection in store and will also receive a complimentary Sailor Jerry’s rum cocktail on arrival. Signed copies of the book will also be available for purchase at an exclusive discounted price. The event is free and begins at 7pm.

Amber Butchart began her career with the vintage brand in 2002, starting on the shop-floor and quickly progressing to becoming the company’s first buyer before setting up Beyond Retro’s archive. She cites Beyond Retro as the catalyst for her foray into fashion history and the Beyond Retro Design Archive also provided a source of inspiration whilst researching Nautical Chic.

Nautical Chic images courtesy of Thames & Hudson.

Dreaming of a Place in the Sun? Exotic tableware from Creative Tops

Although spring is upon us, the weather has not exactly turned warm in the UK and we may be dreaming of a holiday to a place where the sun is shining and the culture is rich.

A stunning new tableware collection from Creative Tops will help us escape to the shores of the eastern Mediterranean.
This fine china collection of plates, mugs and bowls features exotic patterns adapted from Iznik plates, held in the Victoria & Albert Museum collection.  
Iznik pottery became highly sought after in the 16th and 17th century and the town of Iznik became an established centre for the production of simple earthenware pottery with an underglaze decoration.

The meticulous designs combine traditional Ottoman arabesque patterns, with Chinese elements.
The exotic patterns are reminiscent of the beautiful eclectic ceramic tiles one would find in the eastern Mediterranean region.

Creative Tops hold a tableware licence with the V&A and their ranges incorporate designs from the V&A’s archive of textiles, wallpapers and prints.  Over the past three years, a strong relationship has been forged and beautiful commercial tableware collections for the retail industry have been created.

Another great result of this dynamic relationship is the Toile range above.
The Toile range is designed so individual pieces can be mixed and matched. The tea cups and saucers are elegantly shaped and the plates have scalloped edging.
Each fine china piece feature illustrations adapted from a 19th century printed textile book, and the designs have been sympathetically placed and shown off beautifully on each piece.
The Toile range is perfect for a quintessential English tea party indoors or in the garden when the weather finally settles.

Images courtesy of Creative Tops.

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty opens at the V&A London, co-presented by Swarovski

The much-hyped retrospective exhibition Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty has finally come home to London, the "epicentre" of McQueen's creative life, opening at the Victoria & Albert Museum today.

At the Opening Gala, the crème de la crème of the world of fashion, film, royalty and glamour descended onto the V&A for a black-tie do, decked in black, lace and sculptural shapes for a dramatic edge, in the spirit of McQueen.  

Highlights of the gala event and details of the exhibition which is open until 2 August can be viewed on the V&A website.  

Click Here.

THE POWER OF BELIEF (Glamour) is one of Swarovski's
main themes for Spring/Summer 2016. Sacred iconography is re-imagined for a modern era.

As co-presenter of the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition, Swarovski - the global house of cut crystal and fashion jewellery - has been associated with McQueen since the 1990s when Isabella Blow introduced the young designer to Nadja Swarovski.  This led to numerous collaborations starting with supporting McQueen’s 1999 collection as well as the creation, alongside Tord Boontje, of the V&A’s Grand Entrance crystal Christmas tree in 2003; and the dramatic Swarovski Gemstone-encrusted Bird’s Nest Headdress for his Autumn/Winter 2006 collection. Swarovski has worked with designers since Daniel Swarovski’s precision-cut crystals became much-valued ingredients in the dressmaking ateliers of Paris, beginning the tradition of close collaboration between Swarovski and haute couture that remains to this day.

Looking at the innovations of Swarovski’s new collection for Spring/Summer 2016, Swarovski focuses the direction of its design innovations on the human quest for happiness, strength,  hope and fulfilment, and the importance of visual representation as a way of expressing these desires. 

Four sub-themes for Spring/Summer 2016 have been identified, with their corresponding crystal innovations: The Blossoming of Happiness (Classic); The Nature of Strength (Progressive); The Mythology of Hope (Romantic); The Power of Belief (Glamour).

Swarovski has attributed the season’s inspiration to simply “Between Heaven and Earth”, featuring a collection of loose crystal assortment of cuts, colours, effects and line extensions, 

  THE MYTHOLOGY OF HOPE (Romantic) is another of Swarovski's theme for Spring/summer 2016.

Modern yet mythological, romantic design takes its influence from ancient Greek goddesses, folkloric winged creatures, and the soft dappled light of dawn and dusk. 

The two photos above are among the inspirational images provided by Swarovski from their new Spring Summer 2016 collection.  I have included them here because to me they seem to embody the spirit of McQueen, who is regarded by many not only as a maverick designer, but also an artist.  The Savage Beauty exhibition at the V&A is a celebration of McQueen's life's work, his talent, skills and creativity that elevated him above the rest of his generation.

From Toe to Wall - interior and fashion print designs from ELEY KISHIMOTO for AW 2015

If you love your wallpaper design, why not wear it too.  

And with ELEY KISHIMOTO’s new offerings, you can see how the London-based brand for patterns and prints is expertly extending the ever-growing cross references between interior and fashion design.

The new ELEY KISHIMOTO’s hand-printed, bold graphic prints render visual strength that embodies the aura of human warmth, all to be taken for personal pleasure, according to its designer.

Above, left to right: Look 21 (Fishbone Borders), Look 9 (Galaxy Bouquet), Look 17 (Vanity Cats). 

Photo by Kumi Saito, courtesy of ELEY KISHIMOTO.

EK has just unveiled its AW15 fashion collection entitled A Wallflower’s House Party, featuring 12 unique patterns taken from the brand’s first hand-printed wallpaper collection launched in 2014.  

Like its wallpaper collection, the fashion range displays the quality of craftsmanship, teamed with simple and relaxed shapes in natural bases.

Accordingly the wallpaper collection was originally inspired by the studio’s fashion archives of some 22 years.  all fabrics printed by EK’s London-based in-house team.

Above: Look 23 (Camo Chevron), Look 11 (Venice), Look 17 (Monster Skin) Photo by Kumi Saito, courtesy of ELEY KISHIMOTO.

Reinforced by its long-standing expertise in pioneering printmaking, the ELEY KISHIMOTO sees no distinction between garment and wall surface, both can be adorned with the same pattern under the motto “Print the World”. 

 “Why be a wallflower at someone else’s party when you can be the belle of the ball at your own?” says designer Wakako Kishimoto, 

thus explains the title of the collection - A Wallflower’s House Party.  

The new ELEY KISHIMOTO’s hand-printed, bold graphic prints render visual strength that embodies the aura of human warmth, all to be taken for personal pleasure.

As part of the new collection, EK has also collaborated with two Scottish knitwear companies, Roam and ERIBÉ on an exclusive selection of UK-manufactured lambswool blankets and hand-knitted garments respectively.

Collaboration with ERIBÉ

Photo by Kumi Saito, Courtesy of ELEY KISHIMOTO.

The colourful knitwear experts collaborate on a joint-label capsule hand-knit range for AW15. Subtly echoing two of ELEY KISHIMOTO’s most iconic wallpaper designs - Vanity Cats and Light On Lattice - are the two gorgeous hand-knitted sweaters shown above. 

Collaboration with Roam

Photo by Kumi Saito, Courtesy of ELEY KISHIMOTO.

British manufacturer Roam is nestled among the rolling hills of the Scottish Borders. ELEY KISHIMOTO has teamed up its bold wallpaper patterns with Roam's traditional techniques to create a range of six blanket designs to drape over sofas or even shoulders.

A Wallflower’s House Party from ELEY KISHIMOTO is available to buy as of May 2015.

Fashion Scout Paris in full swing.

It is the penultimate day of Fashion Scout Paris to view talented designers’ latest collections.

Buyers who have already been include some of the biggest names in the industry … London’s Dover Street Market, Opening Ceremony, LVMH, Vogue, D-Mop, Comme Des Garçons, 10 Corso Como, H Lorenzo, Sauce, Ships and more...

Designers featured include

Carla Pontes • Cats Brothers • Daniela Barros • Dioralop

Gyo Yuni Kimchoe • Gbemi • Injury • J Moon • James Kelly

Joao Melo Costa • Keiko NIshiyama • Lucilla Gray • Min Wu

Minju Kim • Napsvgar • Petra Ptackova • Quoi Alexander

Simon Ekrelius • Typical Freaks • Xiao Li • Youjia Jin • ZDDZ

Address:- 22 Rue Du Roi De Sicile, 75004 PARIS, France

Open until 10th March

Harrods and Disney celebrate the Cinderella movie with magical window displays

London's iconic department store Harrods and Disney have unveiled a series of magical window displays, which bring to life iconic scenes from the new Disney live-action Cinderella film, inspired by the classic fairy tale.  

The Wedding Scene

During the month-long celebration of Cinderella, Harrods is offering the opportunity to view the sparkling glass slipper created by Swarovski and stunning original costumes designed by Academy Award® winner Sandy Powell for the new film.  

Swarovski in collaboration with Sandy Powell have provided more than 1.7 million crystals for the costumes and create a unique slipper fit for a princess.  The glass slipper worn by Cinderella, played by Lily James will also be displayed in a Harrods window.

If the shoe fits.

Six scenes from the film have been recreated in the Harrods windows, bringing to life Cinderella’s magical journey of courage and kindness.

Additionally, luxury designer shoes and collections inspired by the iconic Disney Princess can be viewed along the Harrods' Brompton Road façade, providing a window into the magical Cinderella product offering and experiences in store.   

Jimmy Choo

World-renowned shoe designers Paul Andrew, Alexandre Birman, Rene Caovilla, Jimmy Choo, Salvatore Ferragamo, Nicholas Kirkwood, Charlotte Olympia, Jerome Rousseau and Stuart Weitzman have created nine styles inspired by a reimagining of the iconic glass slipper that Cinderella leaves behind at the ball. 

Stuart Weitzman

The shoes will feature in the Harrods Brompton Road windows and will also be available to exclusively purchase from Harrods Shoe Heaven on the Fifth Floor.

New Wave Chinese Designers on World Stage and "Fashion China" Book launch

Fashion design talent of China are projecting their creativity on the world stage and a new book is published this month to coincide with an international fashion trade fair in Shanghai - the capital of forward fashion of China.

After a successful bout in London exhibiting as part of Fashion Scout at the Freemasons' Hall, a group of new wave Chinese fashion designers have decamped to Paris for two weeks in March, meeting buyers and press at different showcases, including at the Tranoi de la Bourse, Tranoi Carrousel du Louvre, Fashion Scout Paris and the Museum of Friendship at Touba L'annexe.

To kick start, the designers will be staging a "China New Wave" Showroom presentation from 3 - 5 March at the White Project Gallery at 24 rue St Claude in Paris.  They are Da Zhang, Xiao Li, Haizhen Wang, Angel Chen, Yirantian Guo, Tianmo Wang and Renli Su.

Design by Angel Chen featured as one of the ONES TO WATCH at Fashion Scout in February 2015.
Photo by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

Coinciding with the showcase will be the launch of a new book called Fashion China authored by Gemma A Williams, on 4 March, also at the White Project Gallery.

Published by Thames & Hudson, Fashion China is reportedly the first highly-illustrated introduction to the contemporary Chinese fashion scene.

A showcase for a hotbed of design talent, featuring 41 brands and designers selected by the author together with a panel of industry insiders and experts.  Fashion China features over 350 illustrations that demonstrate why and how Chinese fashion is unique and cutting-edge - from opulent couture to avant-garde minimalism, and from bold patterning to street chic.

The book is also out in time to coincide with Chic 2015 International China fashion fair due to take place in Shanghai this month.

In her foreword, Chinese media powerhouse Hung Huang (television host, author, actress, the publisher of fashion magazine iLook and one of the most widely-read bloggers in China) champions the ambitions of Chinese fashion.  Author Gemma Williams features each designer's background in an interview format, revealing their training, inspirations, aspirations, outlook to design and life, as well as how they view their work in the context of the global fashion industry.

Long of great importance to the international luxury market, and renowned as a manufacturing base for western clothing brands,   Fashion China reflects China’s place on the world stage today and, in particular, it’s growing cultural and artistic confidence, and the coming of age of their design tour de force.

Many of the designers featured in the book trained at world-renowned fashion colleges (including Huishan Zhang, Uma Wang and Qiu Hao, who all trained at Central St Martins in London) and are at the vanguard of an increasingly globalised contemporary fashion industry, whilst also opening up Chinese culture to new audiences.

As supermodel Liu Wen puts it in the book, ‘fashion has always been about sharing art and culture and this book will be a great reflection of what China has to offer.’ Original, authoritative and ahead of the curve, Fashion China is an essential new must-read for design students, buyers, retailers and fashionistas everywhere.

Author

Gemma A. Williams is an Irish-born fashion curator and writer currently living in London. Her practice creates and promotes fashion narratives, with a particular emphasis on emerging fashion designers and markets. She has worked for Alexander McQueen, Modemuseum in Antwerp, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, London College of Fashion and the British Council.

Inspiring London venues for showcasing fashion design talent

Viewing new designer collections in inspiring London venues adds to the excitement and allure of the whole experience. 

Komodo

J.C Middlebrook

Belt by Black and Brown London

The Catwalk Edit event which took place at the start of this season’s London Fashion Week which finished last Thursday was once again staged at the historical Chelsea Old Town Hall on the celebrated King’s Road.  

Price Eco Design

It boasts of atmospheric event halls with original oil paintings, marble columns, chandeliers and marbled floors that form the perfect setting for the organisers to present some 60 brands and to stage eight catwalk shows during the one-day event.  

Against the grand setting, the atmosphere was kept casual and relaxed, with designer garment racks and display tables set up around a catwalk allowing visitors meet designers and view their new ranges in a unique atmosphere.

Founder of The Catwalk Edit, Joseph Bachman, comments “We are again pleased with the positive response from brands, retailers and press.  Our aim is to source great brands from around the world to kick-off LFW in style and for these talented designers’ to have an opportunity to showcase their collections in our fashion capital.”

Quoi Alexander

Fashion Scout presented a host of award-winning Ones to Watch and emerging designers at their habitual venue at the Freemasons’ Hallset on Great Queen Street between Covent Garden and Holborn.  In classic art deco style, Freemasons is the HQ of United Grand Lodge of England featuring imposing bronze doors weighing over one tonnes, and mosaic work on ceiling cove.  

Minju Kim - One To Watch

Angel Chen - One To Watch

James Kelly - Merit Award Winner

Robert Wun

Clio Pepplatt

Left and above, Minju Kim

This season, among the designers on show at Fashion Scout was Holly Jayne Smith presented by the British Council as seen below, showcasing her latest collection, a result of a one-month long stint last November in Casablanca hosted by the Moroccan Casa Moda Association  of Fashion Design.  Holly, a graduate of Birmingham City University, was winner of the Graduate Fashion Week International Residency Award in June 2014.

 

Inspired by the colours of Morocco, Holly Jayne Smith's new collection features Moroccan hand-made metal ornaments and rich brocade fabrics.

London-trained (Central St. Martin) Chinese designer Shao Yen had opted for the 260-year-old RSA House at John Adam Street as shown below.    RSA stands for the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Art Manufactures and Commerce. 

 The Great Room of the RSA shown above provided Georgian splendour to showcase Shao Yen’s team of models who stood on low pillars to allow visitors to preview the ensembles in close proximity.  Natural light filtered down from the domed glass ceiling illuminate the huge celebrated paintings including The Progress of Human Knowledge by James Barry, creating also an intimate setting.

Meanwhile the ME London Hotel on The Strand in the heart of the West End and two minutes from Somerset House was the venue chosen by a number of young designers and brands.

Above and below, Vielma's Dark Tales at the ME London Hotel 

Here at the main elegant semi-circular entrance of the contemporary cutting-edge hotel designed by Fosters and Partners was Vielma London’s Dark Tales AW15/16 collection.

All photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.