Edit - This is a case of me being blind as a bat my friends, Shop Cuffs do indeed ship internationally! So good news all round (apart from eyesight!) 

This one is more for our trans-Atlantic friends ( you lucky people you) as these uber cute dresses are from shopcuffs.com, a site that unfortunatly gives no indication of international shipping (correct me if I'm wrong, oh shoppy cuffs do)

Anyhoo, here's the linkage for those that can...www.shopcuffs.com

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Ok, rather loving, somewhat endearingly, these structred wool coats by Swedish designer Camilla Wellton. A more beautiful cut you'd be hard pressed to find. And more so, it can also be a cut just for you, as if one of the standard sizes doesn't fit your frame you can also request a made-to-measure option.

Also a special mention has to be made to the model in this photoshoot. Grey is now officially the new black, brown and blonde. I walked past a young lady at the airport the other day with strikingly grey hair and I'm almost tempted to abandon the hair dye and let nature take its course. Though somehow me thinks that the odd stray strand doesn't quite have the same impact as full on silver.

For more info visit: www.camillawellton.com

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tags: camilla wellton, coats

Formed by architect Rem D Koolhaas and shoe designer Galahad Clark in 2003, United Nude are the proof in the pudding that great designers, and indeed great design can transcend disciplines. With inspirations coming from anything from Stealth F-117 fighters to the furniture design classic; the Charles and Ray Eames chair, the brand has a distinct architectural voice, that lends itself perfectly to footwear.
Now what I would be really interested to see, is a flip on perspective here – how well would shoe design translate into building design. Maybe the old nursey rhyme “There was an old woman who lived in a shoe” might not sound so silly after all...

United Nude have just opened a flagship store in Amsterdam, located in in the prestigious city center address of Spuistraat 125.

Visit:www.unitednude.com

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tags: shoes

Since Oli's launch, they have scooped 'Best Newcomer' at the coveted Cosmopolitan Online Awards, and also polled 3rd in the Sunday Mirror's High Street Fashion Awards for 'Best Website!'. Now you can have a little taste of that success by entering their competition, which offers a chance to design a capsule range for the Oli Fusion Autumn/Winter 2010 collection.

You'll get to work directly with our design team to put your designs into production - and you'll even get your name in the label of every garment, gaining valuable exposure! You'll join our impressive list of Oli Fusion designers past and present including PPQ, Sinah Stanic and Jasmine Guinness. The winning range should capture the essence of the Oli brand, with an appropriate mix of edgy design and commerciality. Your designs must appeal to Oli's target audience of fashion-savvy twenty somethings. Closing date:18th December 2009.

Via: Oli - Search for a Designer

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tags: competition, design, fashion design, fashion illustration, on-line boutique

Fair trade and ethical jewellers, CRED, have teamed up with James Bond Jeweller Sophie Harley to create a vibrant and opulent collection of intricately designed jewellery. The inspiration for the 15 piece range comes from Harley’s recent trip to the African Savanna and features 18ct fair trade gold and a rainbow mix of rubies, amethyst, fire opals and sapphires.

To get your mitts on one of these dazzling delights, you’re going to need some gold in wallet to get some gold in your wardrobe as prices start from £2500.

Available from www.credjewellery.com and the Chichester Boutique from mid October 2009

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It’s easy to see why London based designer Samantha Cole picked up the accolade of Best Womenswear Designer for her Spring/Summer 2009 collection at 2008’s New York Fashion Week. The collection is a master class in fabric sculpture, featuring striking silhouettes tailored from silk, cotton, organza and silk taffeta.

Reminiscent of Eyola, Samantha Cole’s collection shows influences of the detailing and opulence of the Edwardian and Victorian eras. However what I am particularly drawn to in Cole’s work is the aura of something darker, something more fantastical, like a surrealistic gothic fairytale.

If the shoot  by Annie Leibovitz for American Vogue was all about Alice in Wonderland, Samantha Cole’s Collection could be Alice Through the Look Glass, with its darker storyline and monochromatic themes of chess. In fact, if Tim Burton decides to make the sequel Cole could make a superb costume designer.

Noir fantasy aside, whilst the collection packs an impressive visual punch as a whole, individually there are some beautiful and very wearable pieces. I am particularly enamoured with the wide legged, large chequered trousers and the elaborately pleated jacket is just divine.

To view the whole collection and for more information about Samantha Cole visit www.samanthacolelondon.co.uk

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Now I dont usually consider Kays to be a hotspot destination for cutting edge fashion. I still don’t. However after a recent virtual visit I’ve come to the conclusion that they must have a new buyer on the books as their product range is looking decidedly better than I remember. They currently have a rather good selection of dresses, all of which wont break the bank.

Featured are Love Label Biker Dress £49 (my favourite), Teatro Embellised Kimono Dress £99 and Teatro Pencil Dress £69.

All available from Kays

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OK, so there must be something about Marmalade that is uber cute, first Marmalade Ho and now Marmalade Clothing (I also had a rather charming guinea pig called Marmalade). Maybe I will now keep my eye out for fashion named after spreadable condiments.  Goes well on toast? A fashion must.

Marmalade Clothing is the concept of Polish born, Toronto based designer Magadalena Sokolowska. Her signature style celebrates vintage shape and colour, with her bubble-gum design distinctively 60’s retro flavoured.

You purchase pieces from the collection here

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I discovered Marmalade Ho by complete accident (thanks to a typo and Google), but I’m glad my atrocious spelling led me to perhaps the cutest thing in fashion I have ever seen.

Who could not fall in love with the Helix Cat and Runny Mouse prints? And Bunny Bang Bang, well that’s just genius. Even more bizarre than these adorable prints, is perhaps the story behind how they came about. Click on “What Ever Happened to Marmelade Ho?” and you get the story of a “deceptively cute looking girl living in a place called Clone town. She’s a creative individual in a dull town full of chain shops which are full of the same mass produced rubbish.” The story goes on to explain how she fell into her drawings and met Iik- iik, Mii-ow and Bunny Bang Bang.

It’s all utterly bizarre, adorably imaginative and wonderfully kitsch– well worth checking out.

www.marmalade-ho.co.uk

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tags: marmalade ho

Most fashionistas have seen photos of Susie Bubble (Style Bubble) and her eclectic style, but I wonder how many have seen her immortalised on paper? This brilliant portrait-come-fashion illustration is by Kathryn Elyse Rodgers, an apparel design apprentice from Boston. She's a really talented illustrator and you should check out her website for other great examples of her work - Paper Fashion

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tags: fashion illustration, paper fashion, style bubble, susie bubble

Like most girls, I have a feminine side which I do try to indulge occasionally. However I’m not a personal fan (on myself at least) of anything too girly girl; I prefer my clothes to have a bit of a tougher edge. With that in mind, it’s no suprise that I am a fan of Heimstone’s Spring 2009 collection.

Launched in 2007 by Delphine Delafon and Alix Petit, Heimstone’s signature is a mix of flowing dresses and edgy styling, a complementary contrast formed by Delafon’s love of grunge and Petit’s love of more romantic girly styles. Like Ying and Yang these two should-be conflicting style elements come together perfectly in Heimstone.

To view the rest of the collection visit Heimstone’s website

Via: Fashion Indie

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tags: alix petit, delphine delafon, dress, fashion collection, heimstone

If I were to sum up my personal style with three words it would probably be tailored, tomboy and funky. If I were to sum up my personal style with one label, then London based e.g... would certainly be a contender.

The hot new label is the brainchild of Emma Griffith’s, a lady with an impressive CV, previously working with Alexander McQueen and Boudicca. The debut collection is an arresting mix of structured silhouettes and luxurious fabrics with silk jersey and silk taffeta prominently featured.  I particularly like their trousers with back vents, the shape-shifting black trench, the blue silk taffeta skirt and their jackets (all three of them!)

To view the fill range visit their website www.egfashion.co.uk

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tags: alexander mcqueen, black trench, boudicca, emma griffiths, fashion label, london, silk jersey

These fashion drawings are by Hanna Mϋller, an Illustrator from Sweden. I always found the most challenging part of fashion illustration were faces so I am particularly in awe of the perfectly formed and expressive varieties Hanna has acheived. I love the medium she has used, and the subtle splashes of colour work really well with the delicate monochrome ink work.

Check out other examples of her work here website, Myltan

Via: Cyana Trend Land

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I adore the colour of this Valentino Tote and the rose detailing makes it really striking.

You'll need bags of cash in your current bag to hold this rose though as it carries the not so sweet smelling price tag of £1,265.

Available from Browns

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tags: handbags, valentino

I love these chunky, colourful, cut-out cuffs from GoGo Jewelry. They are handmade in aluminium, then overlaid in sterling silver.

Available from Rare Chic and priced from $198 - $355, depending on the design.

 To check out other design by GoGo Jewelry, check ou their website gogojewelry.com

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I really like these screen printed jersey tops from French brand I.K.K.S, founded by designer Gérard Legoff.

The prints, of detailing or accessories, have the appearance of a photocopy or pencil sketch drawn onto the tops. I particilarly love the styling of the sunglasses T-shirt – that look is very downtime “me”!

Prices range from 65 to 75 Euro and are available from I.K.K.S’s online store.

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This dress from Australian designer Jessie Hill's AW 09 collection is divine, from the silhoutte to the colours in the swirling inky print.

www.jessiehill.net

Via: She Breathes

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tags: dress

Sartoria Vico is a clothing and accessory brand made in Italy, bringing together the worlds of fashion and product design. Each”piece” can be purchased seperately to create your own style of jersey t-shirt and are handmade in a small knitting factory.

I just love the concept behind this – this adds a real new dimension to the humble t-shirt!

www.sartoriavico.it

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This supremely magnificent jacket from Eyola unfortunately belongs in the “something truely beautiful that I can not afford” category. Which goes for the entire Eyola range. The London based exclusive label has not a collection but an “Octette”, as each capsule consists of eight pieces, each inspired by the opulency of the Victorian era with an added contemporay twist.

To check out the other octuplets from their current Octette, Isimey (octuplets is my addition, I dont think they would refer to their designs as this!) then visit their website www.eyola.com

Via: From Betsy With Love

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Hailing themselves as the “the New York girl's go-to design label for perfect party dresses and quirky separates” is easy to see why they deserve this accolade. Their collections predominantly consist of dresses, but boy what fancy frocks they are. I particularly like their Spring 2009 (above) and Fall 2009 (below) collections and especially the navy and white tulip dress.

Launched in 2006 by Beth Blake (ex Chanel and American Vogue) and Melissa Akey (ex Barneys New York and Stila Cosmetics) Thread Social is already available in 40+ boutiques globally, although mainly in North America. For a full list of stockists and further information and images from the collections visit their website http://social.threaddesign.com/index.php

Via: Not Cot

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I first discovered Dutch brand Stills whilst working as a consultant for their parent company The Veldhoven Group. As a brand that refuses to be dictated to by “fast-fashion” trends their pieces are not only timeless but exude a refined gracefulness.
I am fed up of seeing what should be quality (and fairly pricey) labels using cheap fabrics yet still thinking it is acceptable to be charging north of £150 for an acrylic sweater, relying on the brand name to carry the price tag. Stills on the other hand are rather old school in that regard and are totally quality focused; in fact the entire design process is driven by the beautiful and luxurious fabrics they use, and for me this is one of the reasons I hold them in high regard. The styling is always glamorous and the attention to detail in the creativity gives the well tailored pieces their uniqueness.

From their Spring/Summer 09 collections I particularly love the purple/brown printed maxi dress (picture above).

For more pictures from the collection and information on stockists, visit their website www.stills.eu

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tags: dress, dutch fashion, maxi dress, summer dress

There is something really precious about books. When those books are beautifully put together and have pages full of sumptuous visual imagery combining graphics and fashion illustration then they really are gems. Fashion Wonderland is one such book. With a contemporary printed fabric cover and an embroidered spine, this is one case where you really are allowed to judge a book by its cover.
A short preface explains to the curious reader that the contents are a collection of works by world renowned illustrators and explore the intertwined relationship between graphic design and fashion.
There are some stunning examples of creative fashion illustration within these pages and this book is a must for any budding fashion designer/illustrator looking for some inspiration.
Flick through the slideshow to see some examples of the goodies within.

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The current bout of sunny weather has got me feeling all summery and this cute little dress is perfect for the happy weather. Available from Dorothy Perkins, the outlook is brighter still as today through to Friday (22nd - 24th April) there is 20% off the price tag of £45!

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These cute little 80's style dresses/tunics from TFNC are colour-block-tastic and cheap to boot, ranging from £27 - £37. As the brand name suggests it may well be Time For New Clothes.

Pick them up from TFNC's online boutique

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tags: dress

Now if I were a bit thinner and my wallet were a bit fatter, I'd be slipping into this bandage dress by Hérve Léger. I love the wine coloured neckline with the black and grey body.

For those that can swap the words "thinner" and "fatter" in my first sentence, and can tag on to the end "It would be a real shock for me because I'm actually skinny and rich", then you can purchase this beauty as net-a-porter.com for £1,042.34

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tags: dress

Looklet, launching in a few weeks is a self-proclaimed “digital styling studio”. Once logged in, users can dress a model of their choice in a selection of jeans to dresses and accessories taken from a virtual wardrobe of both high street and designer brands to create looks of their choice. Any created looks can be saved or shared with other Looklet users.

As the site is still in Beta you have to register for an invitation code to get access, which I’ve done and have had a little play around. There is a fair selection of brands/designers to choose from to dress your model from Balenciaga to French Connection but the product choices could do with a few additions. I imagine though that as the site establishes itself the range will broaden. My only gripe is you don’t seem to be able to choose the layering order yourself, for example you cannot choose to tuck a top into a skirt.

Any items you choose to dress your model in you can click on for further information such as links to the brands website. I’m not sure what the business model is here but I’m sure this is either a nice little earner in affliates or the featured brands will be paying to have their products listed – either way I wish I had thought of it!

So if you fancy yourself as a bit of a stylist, check it out www.looklet.com
Below are some “looks” I have put together using the site

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Via: www.paranaiv.no

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For a bit of Steampunk style that wouldn't make you look like you'd joined the Cosplay clique, check out Clockwork Couture 

Via: Clockwork Couture

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tags: clothing, jackets, sci-fi, steam punk, steampunk

I’m feeling all check-tastic at the moment. Maybe its my country girl routes surfacing, but whatever the reason I’m rather all-a-taken with tantalising tartan at the mo.
This tartan-tastic piece from All Saints is just the fix my chequered brain is yearning for. Admittedly the bustle back detailing, so signature to the brands love of sculptured silhouette, is not prehaps the most flattering on an arse such as mine, but if I go with “junk in the trunk” philosophy I think it will be just dandy (boyfriend you said it, not me).

For more info visit All Saints

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tags: dress

Catapulted into the vision of beady eyed fashion vultures the world over after one infamous dress on one infamous first lady recently, Jason Wu is now well and truely on the fashion radar.
I am quite taken with Wu’s designs and his ability to actually emphasise the hourglass figure of females in comtemporary yet, classical style, a preference that seems to be often waylaid for the ridiculous in more recent times (Call me a philistine, but I prefer my clothing not to make me look like my legs didn’t reach their full potential or my back sprouted random growths).
I am particularly taken with this fairytale number in a beautiful smokey hue, with my favorite adition to almost anything, the humble polkadot. Whilst I never particularly dreamt of being a fairy princess I would quite happily indulge in that fantasy to swish around in this, though I imagine I would look mentally ill donning such attire in my neck of the woods, though a shorter version would be spot on for summer.

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Here's an outfit I purchased on a recent shopping trip to Antwerp: 

Tunic: 100% cotton, 65Є, ikks.com (A must for fans of All Saints)

Scarf: 30Є, ikks.com

Flared trousers: 95% cotton / 3% lycra, 69Є, beyouk.com

Headband: 25Є, noa-noa.dk

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I have just returned from an exciting shopping trip to Antwerp, Belgium with a fatter wardrobe and a skinnier wallet. Put firmly on the fashion map by the Antwerp Six (Ann Demeulemeester, Dries van Noten et al), Antwerp is a haven of funky urban independents and designer boutiques. One of my many favourites was Belgium originated Sarah Pacini.

I’m having a love affair with grey at the moment (maybe inspired by the weather) and Sarah’s Pacini’s designs have become the new object of my sombre preference. With velvet greys, charcoal , understated mauve and deep inks complementing unique layered silhouettes built from fluid jerseys, chunky knits and beautiful draping, Sara Pacini’s distinct style offers timeless elegance.

Photographs are catwalk and fashion photography from the Autumn/Winter 2008/09 collection and also the current store front in Antwerp.

For more info and stockists visit Sara Pacini

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Now I'm not one for religiously following trends normally (why O why can't anyone see its just a way of big business guaranteeing sales of their mass produced stock!?), but as it happens I quite like this purple tartan checked Mac by DODOGOGO. Apparently it’s very “on trend” this season, but hey fuck it, only wear it if a) you like it and b) its suits your personal style.

Available from yesstyle.com

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tags: coat, tartan

What we definitely lack in the UK is a dam good hat supplier. Even Kangol, born in Cumbria, hung up its hat and left our shores for the good ol’ USA. Maybe its because we are in Britain decidedly unfriendly to the hat. Try wearing a hat on a night out and you are met with a barrage of “no, you can’t wear that in here” or “take that off”. And I’m pretty positive it has nothing to do with old fashioned manners (who knows what fantastical array of weapons or drugs you are smuggle in that beanie eh?). Anyway I digress.

So, for hats people, look not to the UK but the USA, a country that embraces headwear somewhat more than we do with whole brands dedicated to supplying adornments for your head. I particularly like some of the hats from the Goorin Brothers, my favourite being The Clark, a rather beautiful grey wool fedora (above middle).

For hat heaven visit: www.goorin.com

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tags: fashion, hats

I had an email via Facebook today from a friend I was at university with doing Fashion Design to let me know she had just launched her new website.  After checking out her new site I just had to give her a plug on Latemag as "the lass done good"!

The last I heard Jenny had just been made redundant from her job in Sri Lanka. Fast forward about a year and Jenny Hardcastle has launched herself on the international fashion stage as a designer in her own right. Her first collection comprising of beautifully draped and sculpted ladies eveningwear was launched in February 2008. Not long after the collection earned her the accolade of “New Designer” in the Midlands PIN fashion competition netting her £10,000 towards her business. Her success steam rolled on from there and in April she won the Talent De Mode international fashion competition in France. Part of the prize was a year’s free rental of her own boutique in Lyon, France, due to open it’s doors 1st September 2008.

The picture directly below shows Jenny’s new boutique and the bottom picture shows Jenny herself (in the middle with the pink tights) surrounded by models wearing her first and uber-successful collection.

To check out the rest of Jenny’s collection and for more information on UK stockists visit her new website www.jennyhardcastle.com

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I’ve recently discovered upcoming New York based designer Ardistia Dwiasri and have a lot of love for pieces from her Fall/Winter 2007 and Spring/Summer 2007 collections.

Ardistia is “all about self indulgence and treats, summarising the essence of a women’s inner strength, beauty and desire, drawing on confidence from the whimisical secret detail in every piece of clothing”.

I don’t know about all that but I am definitely a fan of her sharp, unique silhouettes, particularly the garbadine jackets with the extensive metal button detailing.

Having a day job (unfortunately) that requires me to dress like I mean business, I would love to have some of her tailored jackets to add a unique yet still professional element to my ‘workwear’ wardrobe.

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Pyuupiru is a 3-D costume maker from Tokyo. His works are derived from delusions and obsessions, created without the use of patterns. Sound strange already? It gets stranger. Once complete, Pyuupiru dons his hand-knitted creations and executes a performance based on the character.
The photographs shown below are Pyuupiru dressed in his ‘Planetaria’ collection. Me, I’m interested to see exactly how one ‘performs’ the character of ‘Mars’ or ‘Jupiter’!
Oddness aside, they really are quite clever aren’t they?!

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I first discovered YesStyle.com through sister site YesAsia.com. Having been a frequent customer of YesAsia.com, an online shopping emporium dedicated to all things in Asian entertainment, I was very excited to see them launch YesStyle.com, an equally impressive emporium to all things in Asian fashion. However my excitement was short lived as I soon discovered that my fat arse (by Asian standards anyway) wouldn’t be catered for in their sizing offering, for when YesStyle launched a couple of years back, the biggest size I could find on offer was a Korean 44/UK 6-8. Now considering the site was all in English and prices in American $, I thought this maximum size of theirs a little bit optimistic considering their target market.
Strangely, they had a link (still there) on the site saying “contact our CEO”. So I thought what the hell, I need to let these people know that my UK 10/12 requirements are not actually that unusual over here and if they wanted to sell to us more generously proportioned westerners then a slightly wider size range might help. Anyhoo roll on to the present day and lo and behold they took some notice (and I am entirely certain it was my email that made all the difference, wink). I happened to be passing the other day, saw about 100 different items I wanted and with a glum face clicked onto the product details only to see that most items now come in sizes 55 and 66 (UK 8-10 and 12-14)! Woohoo!!!
So not only do they have some really funky fashion, they now actually offer it in sizes that I can wear! If that wasn’t enough, there’s also the FREE international shipping to get excited about.

So my only complaint now is they are tempting me into spending far too much money on all the goodies!

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tags: asia, dress, fashion, japan, korea, yesstyle