Long Tall Sally launches Models of the Moment interactive

Looking back on eight decades of fashion models and icons whose unique beauty and personalities represented the essence of the different decades since the first official fashion week was held in New York in 1943, fashion brand Long Tall Sally has today launched an interactive visual gallery revealing the most iconic female models to walk the runways and grace international magazine covers, celebrating 80 years of international fashion weeks.

‘Models of the Moment’ features 27 women from the 1940s to the present day, from the likes of American pin-up turned movie star, Rita Hayworth, to British-born 60s icon, Twiggy (who's still modelling), and Instagram ‘it-girl’ of today Kendall Jenner. Each model’s essence has been individually captured and illustrated for the gallery by Tel Aviv-based fashion illustrator, Shira Barzilay.

‘Models of the Moment’ takes a nostalgic look at the models who were the faces of their respective decades, and identifying what made them the model of the moment.  The gallery also details the height, shoe size and bust to waist and hip ratio of each model, highlighting how model shapes have changed since 1943.

Amongst the tallest women is German born model, Veruschka, standing tall at 6ft 3 inches and rising to fame in the 60s. One of the earliest modelling icons, and the shortest in the gallery, is Dorian Leigh the icon of the 40s and just 5ft 5 inches.

In terms of body shapes, in the 50s it was all about New York model Dovima and her miniscule 19 inch waist. Today models are more likely to have a 23 inch - 25 inch waist and stand between 5ft 7 inches and 5ft 11 inches.  However, breaking this mould and carving the way for the curvaceous era in 2000 was British model Sophie Dahl, who in her heyday walked the catwalk as a UK size 14, with an extra 5 inches on her hips when compared to Twiggy of the 60s.

Models of the current decade include Instagram phenomenon Kendall Jenner (2015) with 25.5 million Instagram followers and timeless beauty Jourdan Dunn (2014), who strutted her pregnant bump down the runway at Paris Fashion Week in 2010. ‘Queen of Quirkiness’ Cara Delevingne was the icon of 2013, when she became both the most Googled person in fashion in the UK[1] and the most reblogged model on Tumblr[2].

Lara Curry, Creative Director of Long Tall Sally commented: “True beauty comes in many shapes and forms. With Fashion Week approaching, we take a look back at 27 models who defined their era. Women whose beauty goes beyond skin deep. Models of the Moment celebrates their diversity, their strength and their uniqueness.”

‘Models of the Moment’ can be viewed on the LongTall Sally website.

TENCEL® is the functional fibre from nature. A useful video from Lenzing.

TENCEL® the functional eco-fibre from trees produced by Lenzing is found in a wide range of clothing today often blended with other fibres such as in denim fashion and silk designs as well as in bed linen for that special soft touch.

London Fashion Week through the eyes of Abbey Clancy, Lianne La Havas and Grace Victory on BBC iPlayer

This September, London Fashion Week, will be held in a new venue in London’s Soho and for the general public not able to see the shows, BBC iPlayer will air three exclusive programmes to give audiences unprecedented access to the sight and sound of the glamorous world of high-end fashion.

The three programmes will feature model Abbey Clancy, singer Lianne La Havas and fashion vlogger Grace Victory.

Abbey Clancy says: “London is renowned for being one of the best fashion weeks in the world and I love all the hustle and bustle surrounding all the shows - the city is buzzing for the whole week."

Private View is a BBC iPlayer exclusive strand which opens the doors to the public on blockbuster art exhibitions across the UK, to bring these to widest possible audience.

Click here to read the full story, dates and times of the BBC iPlayer London Fashion Week programmes.

New Jeanswear area to entice professional visitors at Première Vision Paris September 15 - 17

Continuously evolving, Première Vision Paris will feature a number of new areas come this September.

For one is the UPPER JEANSWEAR which will demonstrate one of the inter-show synergy initiatives at this September event.  I look forward to be viewing these new developments.  As jeans and denim wear continue to be an important part of today's fashion and lifestyle, this special emphasis will be jeanswear in the context of creative fashion.

According to the organisers, UPPER JEANSWEAR aims to expand the fair's jeanswear offer thanks to a multi-business-activity offer adapted to the needs of fashion brands. Located in the North of Hall 6 at the intersection of Première Vision Fabrics and Première Vision Manufacturing, this new zone provides a cross-section of the know-hows presented at both shows. 

The denim weavers at Première Vision Fabrics that were already present at Wash & Dye are joined by clothing manufacturers and launderers from Première Vision Manufacturing.

Organisers say the new link-up will offer solutions to fashion brands that want to integrate jeans or over-dyed items into their collections. UPPER JEANSWEAR primarily targets ready-to-wear brands, with a mostly «fashion» denim offer.
At the heart of the UPPER JEANSWEAR area, visitors will discover an artistic outlook on functionality and decoration for jeans: a poetic collaboration between the Atelier Jean-Pierre Ollier and Spanish weaver Royo. On this occasion, Royo will present its original and modern denim - the «denim of tomorrow»  - which will be elaborated, finished and poeticised by the Atelier Jean-Pierre Ollier.  On presentation will be hybrids as well, as jeanswear will be shown to combine fluidity and tailoring, femininity and masculinity, craftsmanship and industry, forming new bridges between couture and jeanswear.  Pockets, sleeves, folds, necklines, collars, the outer envelope - these are all elements lifting jeans to a new level and pushing boundaries.

The Sourcing Connection Première Vision - 4, 5 & 6 SEPTEMBER 2015 - PARIS PORTE DE VERSAILLES

Première Vision, the world’s leading organizer of trade shows for the upstream fashion industry,

launches a new event this week called The Sourcing Connection -  to address the sourcing needs of high-volume to mid-range European fashion and accessory brands, on a fully global level.  Targeted mainly at professionals in the sourcing and production sectors, the show features manufacturers, sub-contractors and garment makers and for ready-to-wear apparel and fashion collections.

The first edition of The Sourcing Connection is held 4th to 6th September in Hall 6 of 

the Parc des Expositions de Paris Porte de Versailles.

Meanwhile, the global market is gearing up for the premium show Première Vision Paris scheduled for 15th to 17th September again at the Parc des Expositions Paris, Porte de Versailles.

This ultimate show for all professionals of the fashion, textile and related industries will cover six specialist areas of industry focus, from yarns and fabrics to leather, fabric designs, accessories and manufacturing, all at the respective halls of the exhibition venue.

The show's modern interactive website provides all the information you need to prepare for your trip.

Click here for full information. 

Shauna Richardson among artists for Save Wild Tigers show at the Cafe Royal, London. Auction to take place at the Savoy.

An exclusive tiger-inspired art exhibition will take place at the Cafe Royal in London from 22nd September to 1st October.    Twelve designers were set a challenge by wildlife charity Save Wild Tigers to create works of art that will be sold for the charity at a gala dinner at the Savoy.

Among the featured artists is Shauna Richardson who invented the term Crochetdermy® for her distinctive crochet-sculptures.  She has set her global reputation based on her amazing crocheting techniques in creating realistic life-size animal forms.

Shauna set about crocheting a tiger working solely in white mohair yarn, the stripes and areas between the stripes being created using changes of stitch direction.

Shauna’s tiger inspired piece along with many other prestigious artists works will be on show at the Cafe Royal from 22nd September - 1st October before being auctioned at the Be Inspired Gala Dinner Event held at the Savoy London on the 9th October.

Shown here and above is her latest creation for Save Wild Tigers.

Among Shauna Richardson's latest creations is this stack of animals entitled The Bremen Musicians, which took eleven months to complete.

The Bremen Musicians is based on a German folk tale by the Brothers Grimm, and stands 3 metres tall. The tower, featuring four life-size animals - a donkey, dog, cat and a cockerel, was created using a flat battleship grey Aran wool which reflects the grey area between art and craft in which Richardson’s work inhabits.

She has also previously produced public art commissions including a flagship project for the London 2012 Olympic Games for which she crocheted three 25ft lions that toured the UK in a mobile glass vehicle.

Superdry's new shop in Canary Wharf, London

British brand Superdry has opened a new shop in London's Canary Wharf at the Jubilee Place shopping mall.

The 3,400 sq. ft. shop is well-stocked with its iconic product ranges, including new product categories such as Rugby By Superdry and Sport.

All pictures supplied by Superdry.

The decor reflect the store's flagship on Regent's Street featurog concrete and distressed timber flooring in keeping with the brand's DNA.  Customers enter through a vintage oak doorway, and find products on display below a signature industrial Mason jar chandelier.