Catwalk Fashion

Pyrenex Premium to debut in London with pop-up store

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:28:21 +0000

French luxury brand Pyrenex Premium are set to make their UK debut this September with a fifteen day pop-up store opening from the first day of London Fashion Week. The scene will be in Dover Street’s Air Gallery which will be transformed into a ‘boutique éphémère’ for France’s number one feather manufacturers to showcase their exquisite collection of down-filled jackets.

Conjured up by couturier Alexis Mabille, who was given creative carte blanche to fuse the impeccable quality and traditional techniques of Pyrenex with his unique, imaginative brand of haute couture, the Pyrenex Premium collection marries an urban sensibility with an altogether more frivolous, whimsical brand of luxury.

Described as “a breath of fresh air in the realm of puffy-styles often associated with off-mountain lounging”, Pyrenex Premium is the perfect fusion of performance and luxury.

Fashion photographer Corinne Day has died aged 45

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:23:08 +0000

The former model – who is credited with discovering Croydon-born supermodel Kate Moss when she was a teenager – died on Friday, August 27 following a battle with brain cancer.

British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman has led tributes to Corinne, noting her famed abilities as a photographer and her “integrity”.
She said: “Corinne was a photographer of huge talent and integrity. Her work for British Vogue was entirely original and will always be remembered. She could capture raw beauty like few others.”

Corinne was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in the late 1990s and was given the all-clear, but the disease returned in 2008.

As well as her work in fashion – where she shot photographs for Japanese and Italian Vogue – she also worked in music, creating the cover for Moby’s album ‘Play’ in 1999.

In 2001, she shot a book entitled ‘Diary’, chronicling her experiences in hospital dealing with her brain tumour.

She is survived by her long-term boyfriend Mark Szaszy.

Brits head for sundrenched fashion disasters

Alan — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:59:41 +0000

As most Brits headed to sunny locations for their summer holidays, research has revealed the top fashion faux pas mistakes that people made while away on holiday. According to survey results, the most common and the most heinous fashion crime that people were guilty of committing were socks worn with sandals and beer bellies that were openly exposed on the beaches.

The survey also revealed that the worst holiday fashion mistakes were most commonly made by people from the Midlands.

The poll took into account the opinions of 600 people who stated what they thought of the fashions sported on beaches by British holidaymakers. Among the mistakes were tight swimming trunks, sunburn, clothing with too many logos, and women’s thongs.

A third of those polled stated that women should not wear football shirts while on holiday and another 20% felt that men should not either.

While holidaymakers from Manchester, Newcastle, Scotland, the North East, and Essex all made the bottom of the list in terms of fashion choices, those from the Midlands and Birmingham were considered the worst dressed. On the other hand, the East England and Yorkshire holidaymakers were considered the best dressed.

The poll also took a look at international tourists, with USA tourists ranked the worst dressed on holiday followed by the Greeks, Germans, and British. The best dressed tourists by country were found to be the Spanish and Italians.

In addition, men were more likely to found committing fashion faux pas even though they were also voted the most likely to purchase new clothing on holiday over women.

Fox and Rose Luxury Lingerie – Members Club

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:25:12 +0000

Setting a new standard in online luxury lingerie retail, the soon-to-be-launched designer underwear store Fox & Rose today opened the doors to its members’ club, Fox & Rose 7th Floor. Members will have exclusive access to secret sales, events and offers, as well as a 10% discount on all products including pieces by Fleur of England, Ell and Cee and Fifi Chachnil when the site launches in September. Customers are invited to sign up now at www.foxandrose.com.

Championing British-led design and offering exquisite collections by some of the most sought-after lingerie designers, Fox & Rose will offer a totally new online shopping experience for designer underwear. Garments by established brands and cult designers will be shown in full video, offering the customer insight into how pieces sit on the body and how they might affect their chosen outerwear. What’s more, shoppers can read advice on how to choose the right kind of underwear to enhance their style, whether they’re looking to channel the forthcoming season’s minimalist theme or wanting a more voluptuous look.

Subscription to Fox and Rose 7th Floor will be available until the site officially launches in early September.

Selfridges new shoe galleries – Opening 16 September

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:43:15 +0000

The Shoe Galleries at Selfridges is due to be the single biggest shoe destination in the world, with 55,000 pairs of shoes in stock at any one time and 4,000 pairs on display.

Selfridges’ Director of Accessories Sebastian Manes describes what The Shoe Galleries will look like when complete. “Imagine you are in a gallery. From the entrance you see a succession of doorways, and at the end a huge window flooding the space with daylight. Your journey begins at the front, with shoes from the best of the high street. Slowly you begin to travel through different galleries until you reach the end – the couture designer gallery, flanked by Chanel and Louboutin, and a vision of Eden – the new suspended garden at Selfridges. Shoe heaven!”

Part of the inspiration for The Shoe Galleries shoot by legendary photographer Bruce Weber was the idea that everyone has a shoe story, whether it stems from your favourite pair, a hidden gem or your first expensive pair that cost a month’s rent. Tell yours to Selfridges and not only will you get to shout about your favourite shoes to the whole world, but you could be in with a chance of winning a gorgeous new pair (one winner every week!). Plus one lucky winner will scoop a year’s supply of shoes from Selfridges!

Olivia Palermo, Anya Hindmarch and Daphne Guinness have already submitted theirs, and now it’s your turn to share.

To enter, please visit: www.selfridges.com/en/StaticPage/SG-Stories/

Even wealthy fashion followers turn to eBay in tough times

Alan — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:43:59 +0000

For those that are conscious of all of the latest fashion trends, the recession should not impair their constant attempts to look like a model straight off the catwalk.

Even the rich that have found their pockets a little lighter over the last few years have found a way to keep buying from their favourite high end stores by utilizing a popular internet auction site.

A new study showed that many homeowners in affluent regions are managing to keep up appearances by using eBay. EBay Research shows that a large number of shoppers from rich areas are using the auction site to get top items at a low price.

In fact, the demand for black dresses, handbags, shoes, and coats has only increased over the past few years by almost 300%.

Many high end retailers such as Ted Baker, Karen Millen, and Dune make use of the eBay Fashion Outlet in order to sell their stock off at low prices without comprising the image of their actual store locations.

A spokesman for eBay said that many people would have been willing to pay full price for clothing in the past, but now that they have found their budgets a little tighter there has been a shift in wealthy shoppers. The spokesman explained that they now are wearing the labels, but dodging discussion of what they actually paid.

Some of the affluent areas that have seen an increase in eBay use include Wandsworth, Belfast, Leeds, Fulham, Putney, and Clapham.

Pure Collection: The Ethics Involved With Purchasing Cashmere Jumpers

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:34:25 +0000

These days far more of us have a greatly increased awareness of exactly where our products come from. We try to buy more of our food from local sources and ethics are now a much more important part of the production process. Most of us have a concern for the welfare of animals and the environment, whilst fair trade products are now a popular feature in many stores. Thankfully, the twenty-first century looks set to be the age of ‘conscientious buying’. Many people have already been doing their best to shop responsibly for a good long time, but this is now becoming a far more common practice.

Ideally, certain products should only be bought from companies who trade in an ethical manner. One such item to consider is Cashmere. This is truly beautiful wool which has been cherished for many years. Clothing that is made from Cashmere is warm, strong and incredibly soft. But without a certain type of Mongolian goat, we would not have any Cashmere at all. So, when we are shopping for our nice new Cashmere jumpers it is important to buy them from a responsible supplier like Pure Collection.

Unfortunately, many manufacturers will not provide their customers with the greatest amount of information. This means that we cannot always be sure that our clothing originates from a properly sustainable source. Ironically, if this is the case, then we may even be unconsciously jeopardizing the future of certain animals by purchasing their products! The biggest problem is that some manufacturers will see profits as being more important than ethics…

However, the good news is that Pure Collection is built upon strong principles and beliefs. They make a point of assuring that their cashmere is from a completely sustainable source. But this does not mean having to pay through the nose either; there are plenty of ‘responsible’ Cashmere products with very reasonable price tags attached!

If you’d like to know more about Pure Collection’s ethics and environmental responsibility visit Pure Collection at www.purecollectioncashmere.com.

Guide to Shopping for Vintage Clothing Online

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:58:29 +0000

Leading Vintage Clothing Retailer provides a helpful guide to buying vintage clothing online.

There has always been a strong vintage market in the major cities across Europe and America where customers can browse the many specialist shops and markets on offer. However, these retail outlets are just not accessible to the majority of buyers. So if you are looking for a vintage dress, vintage shirt or a vintage handbag where should your search begin?

The continued growth of online retail provides the discerning buyer access to a huge selection of vintage clothing. But with such an overwhelming selection what should you consider before making that online purchase? Devoted 2 Vintage outlines some key considerations to help make your online experience a happy one.

One of the main concerns with buying online is that you can’t try them on before you buy. It is therefore essential that the online retailer provides a detailed description, accurate measurements and high quality images so that the buyer knows exactly what they are buying. However, the purchase must then be backed up with a comprehensive returns policy.

So having found the perfect vintage dress how can you be sure that it is accurately described? This can be a very grey area as many online items described as vintage are in fact modern “vintage style” garments. This problem can be avoided by buying from an experienced reputable retailer like Devoted 2 Vintage rather than an individual seller.

Once you have chosen an item you need to be sure that the online transaction is secure. Before entering any personal date ensure that the web page address starts with “https” rather than “http” and that there is a “lock” icon in the browser window.

Most reputable online retailers will satisfy all of these requirements but Devoted 2 Vintage believe that one of the most important of all considerations is customer service. Once an order is placed, it is carefully packaged and posted within hours. They also provide a helpline where you can speak to a member of staff between 9am and 9pm seven days a week.

So next time you are thinking about buying vintage online why not join the growing Devoted 2 Vintage community?

Lily Cole at London Gatwick Fashion Week

admin — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 09:16:17 +0000

Last week’s London Gatwick Fashion Week was launched by international supermodel Lily Cole and world renowned celebrity stylist Kirsty Drury.

We’ve got our hands on some behind the scenes video footage and images from the Gatwick Fashion Week, which includes an interview with Lily Cole and also some fashion style tips from Kirsty Drury.

WedgeWelly – Fashionable Wellies secure Dragons’ Den Funding

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:58:39 +0000

Fashion footwear entrepreneurs from Hull – the WedgeWelly Family – received a whopping £65,000 investment from the formidable retail guru, Theo Paphitis, in exchange for a 25 per cent share of the business, as witnessed on this week’s Dragons’ Den.

WedgeWelly Ltd is the world leader in practical yet fashionable wellies for women, they are stylish, colourful and include a patented wedge heel. Every WedgeWelly is made with fashion and comfort in mind and the idea was the brainchild of company directors Mike and Sarah Longthorn and Laura Booth. All visited the V Festival together two years ago and decided that a 2½ inch heel provided the precise comfort and elevation needed to enjoy a field-based event.

The company obtained a Design Registration for Europe and UK Trademark, which means that they have design rights to the wedge feature in welly-style boots.

Each design of boot has been rigorously road tested and has received critical acclaim from fashion conscious festival goers nationwide who want colourful style combined with comfort. The WedgeWelly boot is the company’s flagship product and comes in two styles – WedgeWelly Unique (the standard fit boot) and WedgeWelly Curve (offering a wider fitting).

The WedgeWelly Family impressed all five Dragons but it was Theo’s deal that won.

Sarah Longthorn, WedgeWelly’s Managing Director (a.k.a. The WISE One) said, “We were overwhelmed with the response we received from the Dragons and we are delighted to receive Theo’s offer. He was always our first choice of investor due to his comprehensive expertise in the retail arena and we consider it an honour to have him on board.”

Website: www.wedgewelly.co.uk