The pop-up boutique is an exclusive collaboration between Bicester Village, one of the nine Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages by Value Retail, and the British Fashion Council.

The crème de la crème of coveted British fashion names are on offer, alongside exciting new talent: B Store, Chucs Dive & Mountain Shop, Emmett, Patrick Grant’s E. Tautz, Folk, Gentlemen’s Tonic, Grenson, Heritage Research, James Long, Jane Carr, Jonathan Saunders, Lily and Lionel, Lou Dalton, Margaret Howell, Mr Natty, Oliver Spencer, Richard James, Sunspel, YMC and Tim Little.

British stylist, Charlie Porter hosted the event, with guests enjoying a fabulous bespoke menu by London restaurant Bistrotheque, while listening to music from DJ Jack Guinness.

The boutique was designed  and inspired by ‘The Great Hall’; a space where guests can explore and discover layers of classic heritage juxtaposed with the irreverent wit and style of contemporary British fashion.

So come and see for yourself the mix of up-and-coming designers alongside established labels! And the best thing about the boutique? There’s all the usual Bicester Village reductions of up to 60% on the recommended retail price!

The interior of the Men's British Designers' Collective

Host Charlie Porter at the event

Actor Nathan Stewart-Jarrett from The Misfits being interviewed by ChicTV

Left: Simon Ward from the British Fashion Council

David Waddington from Bistrotheque treated guests to bespoke picnic hampers on the train!

Fashion bloggers (from left) Simon, from The Very Simon G, Navaz, from Disney Roller Girl and Michael from Anastasia and Duck

Designer Lou Dalton (middle), and friends were at the party

Blogger and TV presenter Prince Cassius with blogger Leroy Dawkins

Fashion writer and socialite Henry Conway looking very dapper

Jack Guinness DJed for the crowd and can be seen here with Patrick Grant E.Tautz

It’s all very exciting for menswear in 2012. In just over a month, the London men’s shows get their own schedule, separate from womenswear, and joining the run of men’s shows in Milan and Paris. London menswear suddenly gets an international audience, and gets to be considered on the same level as the big-name brands.

It’s amazing that the catwalk shows are becoming so serious in London. Five years ago, there weren’t any men’s shows at all. But just as important as the catwalk is retail. It’s not only about a show, it’s about selling a collection, and making men want to wear the clothes.

I want more London men’s designers on more rails in more stores. I want it to be natural to see the work of London men’s designers on the shop floor, rather than it being a surprise and an anomaly. Which is why I’m very happy to help the British Fashion Council and Bicester Village to launch their  pop-up British Designers’ Collective for men, which opens next week.

For the past couple of months, there’s been a women’s pop-up shop at Bicester, and now it’s the men’s turn. It’s going to be really jolly. London men’s show’s catwalk names taking part are: Jonathan Saunders. James Long. Lou Dalton. E. Tautz.

Then there’s more established names, who are also taking their place on the London Collections: Men schedule: Margaret Howell. Richard James. Oliver Spencer.

There’ll also be super jolly British brands like: b store. YMC. Folk. Sunspel.

And then also shoes from Tim Little. And his Grenson too.

And then more. And more.

The store opens on 16 May, and on that day there’ll be much jolliness indeed, much of it involving Bistrotheque. And disc jockeys. And allotments. It’s going to be a really fun day.

The pop-up store then stays open for a limited time.

Here’s some of the pieces from some of the designers which will be available at the pop-up store.

A Jonathan Saunders T-shirt.

It was £196, will now be £129.

A lovely Lou Dalton T-shirt.

Was £100, will now be £61.

Also from Lou, a cute red-and-white stripe jumper.

Down from £255 to £153.

More Lou Dalton: this lovely zip-up.

From £510 to £305.

And another bit of Lou, this time a lovely satchel.

From £385 to £231.

I totally love this E. Tautz storm breaker jacket (which I’d call a bomber).

From £620 to £372.

Then there’s this lovely E. Tautz shirt…

Down from £195 to £117.

And this chic E. Tautz trench, very blue.

From £895 to £537.

There’s this James Long t-shirt:

From £159 to £79.50.

I totally love this b store shirt, what with its circles, squares and triangles.

It’s from £130 to £65.

Then there’s this lovely b store sweatshirt:

From £89 to £45.

And a super lovely b store jacket:

It’s from £345 to £173.

And then these Tim Little shoes:

From £375 to £188.

And then. And then. And then. It goes on. You get the gist, all round British menswear jolliness, in a pop-up shop, at Bicester, from Wednesday.

Mansour Hajjar, Terry Daly, Sylvie Freund Pickavance, Hassan Al Hashemi, Piers Schmidt

Held in the gorgeous settings of the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa Dubai, the event was held during Arabian Travel Market; it was the perfect setting for Chic Outlet Shopping® to host a discussion with an esteemed panel debating how travel, hospitality and retail operators are innovating in their endeavours to delight today’s international luxury traveller.

Piers Schmidt (Chairman of Luxury Branding) led a panel of four industry experts from the sectors of luxury retail, aviation, and hospitality: Hassan Al Hashemi (External Relations Director, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Terry Daly (Divisional SVP Service Delivery, Emirates Airlines) Mansour Hajjar (Managing Director Allied Enterprises), and Sylvie Freund Pickavance (Business Director, Value Retail Management).

From left: Amal Abu Kuwaik, Mona Kattan, Khadeja Al Mousa, Hind Al Janahi

From left: Aysha Ramadan and Mona Al Tayer

From left: Mariam Bakr and Maryam Al Ali

From left: Terry Daly, Sylvie Pickavance and Guest

Explaining why he thought high-end business and retailers are attracted to Dubai, Hassan Al Hashemi credited reasons including, “ …the lifestyle of Dubai. The accessibility to markets. The tourism industry and how it has boomed. The new innovative ideas.”

Terry Daly (Divisional SVP Service Delivery, Emirates Airlines) commented: “New opportunities are happening [through innovation]. All of a sudden people are finding that they can connect in a way they have never been able to before – you put that alongside with what’s happening in the world, with connectivity in terms of technology and people’s aspirations and the ability to travel, which perhaps wasn’t there before. We believe that now is the time that we can proudly proclaim that we are an enabler of experience.”

Comparing shopping habits of local consumers with tourists, Mansour Hajjar acknowledged that in the Middle East, “Shopping here is not a necessity; it’s a social event. It’s a pastime. This is part of the local tradition. Four or five years ago we used to see lots of Russian tourism in the region and we reacted by catering to this type of luxury shopping tourism. Today the majority is from China and this means not only adapting the product offer, but [adding] different languages within stores and recruiting Chinese speaking staff.”

Sylvie Freund Pickavance (Business Director Value Retail Management) agreed that serving the international luxury shopper exceeds more than shopping alone: “The experience of the Chic Outlet Shopping^® Villages is based on the offer within each Village, which is not only about shopping. It’s exactly as when you travel; it is not only about flying, it’s about going somewhere and finding ways to really pepper the shopping experience with unexpected things: the quality of the food, art exhibitions and new brands.”

Charlie Porter will host the launch of the men’s British Designers’ Collective boutique!

The noted fashion writer has posted his esteemed thoughts on men’s style, fashion and grooming across GQ, The Guardian and, more recently, i-D and Fantastic Man. Now Charlie Porter will also be the host for the opening of the British Designers’ Collective menswear boutique, opening on 16 May, where you can shop Jonathan Saunders,  James Long, Lou Dalton, E. Tautz and more! See Charlie’s blog post about the event here.

‘Leather Forever’

For any fan of the French luxury leather brand Hermès, this exhibition celebrating 175 years of the brand, opening in the heart of London soon, is a must-see. The exhibition will be held from 8–27 May at The Royal Academy Galleries, 6 Burlington Gardens, London W1.

Love Olivia Palermo’s style? See our exclusive interview with her for the Chic Guide to Europe 2012

Having worked in fashion for the past six years, the 26-year-old has become known around the world for her impeccable style and natural beauty. Now the face of several fashion labels, and editor of her own fashion and lifestyle website, she knows exactly what luxury shopping should feel like. Olivia shares with us what she loves the most about the Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages across Europe.

MET Gala 2012 Best Dressed

See who we thought were the best dressed guests at the Met Ball, including Anna Wintour, Claire Danes, and Solange Knowles.  In exciting news, Italian fashion label Schiaparelli, the focus of the Metropolitan Museum’s latest exhibition, has announced that it’s to be relaunched by owner Diego Della Valle, who is the president and CEO of the Italian leather goods company.

Christian Louboutin beauty

On an exciting note, designer Christian Louboutin has announced he will be launching a beauty collection! Due to be released in stores in 2013, perhaps there will be a signature Louboutin red lipstick?

ChicRace&Shopping: the most exclusive experience in Barcelona 

Circuit de Catalunya and La Roca Village have come together to give you a very special experience. From 11–13 May you can enjoy the action-packed atmosphere of a Formula One event, combined with shopping for luxury brands at La Roca Village. What’s not to love? Find more details here.

Living in Luxury

You can now visit the Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages in luxury with a chauffeur-driven service 

Carey’s Met dress

Actress Carey Mulligan is selling her custom-made Prada Met Ball dress for charity. It’s posted on eBay and currently priced at £636 – you can have the gold, sequinned number for your very own.

Fashionable offers

Sleep in luxury silk sheets from Estella from just €139 at Wertheim Village; step into stylish denim this spring/summer with a further 30% reduction from Fidenza Village; experience this season’s most beautiful fragrances with offers at Molton Brown at Kildare Village.

Roger Vivier Celebrates Fashion's Night Out with Leighton Meester

The event now transcends the fashion capitals of New York, London, Paris and Milan; celebrating on 6 September alongside the UK will be the US, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Russia, Mexico, Australia and Korea. The rest of the world follows, with China, India, Germany and Russia on 7 September; Taiwan and Japan on 8 September; Brazil on 10 and 12 September; Portugal, Italy, Turkey, the Netherlands and Mexico on 13 September; Italy on 18 September, and Greece on 20 and 25 September.

This is the fourth year Fashion’s Night Out has been running and it is certainly growing as more retailers get involved and more celebrities become ambassadors for the event. Last year many fashion designers threw fabulous parties to mark the occasion, such as the 70s-themed roller disco Rupert Sanderson set up in his store, hand painting with Charlotte Dellal and the manicures available in Smythson. These sort of fun events make shopping a celebration in which everyone can share.

Make sure you get your outfit ready by visiting one of the Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages with brands such as Mulberry, Vivienne Westwood, Yves Saint Laurent and more.

Start counting down the days now!

Organised annually by Anna Wintour, who this year hosted the event alongside Miuccia Prada and Carey Mulligan, the Gala brings together designers and their muses, resulting in some chic ensembles. This year was a celebration of Prada and Elsa Schiaparelli, for the Costume Institute’s new exhibition, ‘Impossible Conversations’.

People from around the world were able to tune in on the internet for the first time, as the Gala was broadcasted on both Amazon and Vogue online. It certainly made the event even more appealing to the public,  who could feel they were there.

There were some incredible looks; in a collection of Pucci, Prada, Tom Ford and McQueen, these were some of our favourites:

Anna Wintour in Prada

A queen of fashion looked amazing in a white Prada update of Elsa Schiaparelli’s famous lobster-embellished dress. This beautiful dress was complemented by a white, fur stole. This was first time in six years that the Vogue Editor chose not to wear Chanel to the Met Gala.

Ashley Greene in Donna Karan Atelier 

The Twilight actress, who has made an impression on the fashion world, looked very ethereal in a white Donna Karan dress. The Grecian look was accentuated with gorgeous pleating and completed by Ashley’s tumbling locks.

Solange Knowles in Rachel Roy

We love this bright yellow Rachel Roy dress on singer and DJ Solange Knowles. The dress very much took centre stage as Solange wore minimum jewellery and makeup. She completed the look with Sergio Rossi shoes, Lady Grey jewels, and a silver and gold ‘Flavia’ clutch by Edie Parker.

Karolína Kurková in Rachel Zoe

Czech model Karolína Kurková glittered her way into the Gala in this beautiful Rachel Zoe creation. The floor-length gown was a dazzling rose gold and featured a high neckline and open back. Note daring turban as an accessory, reminiscent of Kate Moss’ Marc Jacobs outfit at the 2009 Met Gala.

Claire Danes in J. Mendel

Claire Danes really is the actress of the moment, and she looked incredible in a white beaded wrap dress by J. Mendel. She paired this with a blue envelope clutch and satin peep-toe pumps. We love the simplicity of this dress – proof that it’s how you wear a dress that counts.

There’s something exhilarating about wild swimming that makes the skin tingle, blows away the cobwebs and cleanses right to the very core. This is the time to feel truly alive, washing away the grit and grime of a tough working week. So be inspired, don the swimmers and take a look at our pick of the best places to swim wild in Europe.

Glendalough, Wicklow, Ireland
This is one swim that is sure to wake you up. Moody skies give way to mountains, glacial valleys and crumbling monastic ruins in Glendalough, Wicklow. The waters are beautifully crisp, clear and cold so it’s best to dive right in there – enjoy. Cost: free. Best time to go: September

Lake Constance, Germany
With water good enough to drink, Lake Constance in Germany had to make it onto our list. Swimming in fresh waters is a uniquely freeing experience and non better than in this beautiful lake. Don’t just stop at swimming though. The lake is really popular for sailing, canoeing and windsurfing. Cost: free. Best time to go: July/August

St Nectan’s Kieve, Cornwall, U.K.
A magical spot. Dive down into the natural plunge pool and let the refreshing waterfall wash away the world at this hidden Cornish gorge. Cost: £3. Best time to go: June/July

The Blue Grotto, Italy
Created by a little underwater gap inside the cave, this incredible little cavern in Capri has an extraordinary cobalt-blue light, which bubbles up from below the surface of the sea. A wild swim here is definitely an experience to remember but make it quick: there’s always a queue to get in and you may have to tip the boatmen to wait for you. Cost: approx. €11. Best time to go: July/August but check tides; it’s not always accessible.

Fuentes del Algar, Spain
Dive into Fuentes del Algar and wash away a hot summer’s day in the beautiful, ice-cold river gorge, waterfalls and crystal clear water pools. There’s not a shower in the world quite like it and it makes for great alternative seaside swimming. Cost: free. Best time to go: June/July.

Find out more about Black Tomato at their award-winning website.

The Chic Guide to Europe launches with Matthew Williamson

In this year’s Chic Guide to Europe some of the most celebrated names in fashion share with you what they love most about the Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages.  Here, iconic fashion designer Matthew Williamson reveals what makes the Collection of nine Villages so special to him.

Our global ambassadors include shoe designer Beatrix Ong, model and editor Olivia Palermo, international supermodels Helena Christensen and Karolina Kurkova and from stage and screen Brazilian actress Debora Bloch alongside her daughter Julia. Watch out in the next few weeks for our posts.

Shoes, glorious shoes:

Read all about the exciting Christian Louboutin exhibition at the Design Museum.

The ChicBuzz® magazine launches!

To launch the ChicBuzz® magazine, we held a global fashion Q&A with some of the world’s most influential fashion bloggers. This is a new monthly digital magazine from Chic Outlet Shopping^®, the Collection of nine luxury outlet shopping Villages near the most fashionable cities in Europe. It will feature high fashion editorials, exciting travel stories, foodie profiles with delicious recipes and menu ideas, and spotlights on the Villages: ChicBuzz^® Magazine brings it all to you. See the blog post next week for all the details on the blogger event.

Special deals:

Women’s blouses and men’s shirts (samples) can be snapped up from just €29.90* at Wertheim Village; there are selected Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Roberto Cavalli, Jimmy Choo sunglasses at just €129 at Kildare Village; discover up to 65% off menswear this spring with a great collection of fashionable men’s clothing at Las Rozas Village.

The Face: Naomi Campbell launches new reality show

Reports have reached us that iconic supermodel Naomi Campbell will be launching her own reality show. The aim of the new television show, set to hit your screens in 2013, is to “discover the next beautiful face of the modelling world”. We wonder if it will be as addictive as America’s Next Top Model?

Two chances of winning £1000 in gift cards

To join in our celebration of accessories, watch The Art of the Detail video and then enter our competitions to win one of two £1000 Gift Cards, plus more fabulous prizes!

Return of couture

Former couture house Mainbocher and footwear brand Herbert Levine are soon to be revived, thanks to French entrepreneur Arnaud de Lummen. De Lummen has acquired the trademark rights and intellectual property of both labels and plans to relaunch them soon…

Style seeker:

Munich earns its stripes! We spotted this stylish gentlemen modelling this season’s on-trend pieces at Ingolstadt Village. Read the full blog here.

Designer high-street collaborations

One of the Kate and Pippa’s favourite designers, Temperley London are set to collaborate with British department store John Lewis in creating a 60-piece collection that will be launched online later this year. Plus, Anna Dello Russo is the latest fashion powerhouse to team up with H&M, and, interestingly, H&M are working with a fashion director and not a designer this time. The collection will focus on ‘over-the-top’ accessories and will hit 140 H&M stores around the world on 4 October.

The Art of The Detail  Style Studio with Angela Scanlon

To celebrate the Art of the Detail Accessories campaign, savvy shoppers are invited to visit Kildare Village on Saturday 5^th May from 1pm – 3pm  to  experience a personal accessories master-class with style guru, Angela Scanlon. Angela Scanlon, is a style guru and contributing editor to Grazia Daily and Tatler magazine and will be showing discerning shoppers how a single accessory can instantly update your wardrobe this season.  Those who take part will leave with a luxurious goody bag filled with gorgeous accessories and their updated look will be posted to Kildare Village’s Facebook and Twitter pages so get tagging!

This exciting event starts at 2 pm (GMT) and 3 pm (CET) to celebrate the launch of the ChicBuzz^® Magazine! This is a new monthly magazine from Chic Outlet Shopping^®, the Collection of nine luxury outlet shopping Villages near the most fashionable cities in Europe. It will feature high fashion editorials, exciting travel stories, foodie profiles with delicious recipes and menu ideas, and spotlights on the Villages: ChicBuzz^® Magazine brings it all to you.

And if you want to read it on the go, the ChicBuzz^® Magazine app for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android enables you to explore, search and navigate the monthly magazine, and can be downloaded free from the App Store and Google Play.

We’ve invited some of the most influential bloggers to be the stars of this launch event; you can offer your most burning fashion questions to:

Isabelle O’ Carroll tweeting from @IsabelleOC

Angela Scanlon tweeting from @AngelaScanlon

Lucia Del Pasqua tweeting from @LuciaDelPasqua

Rebeca Labara tweeting from @ATrendyLife

Emilie Daudin tweeting from @EmilieBrunette

Katja Ivanova tweeting from @katjusha_dawai

Tiany Kiriloff tweeting from @BelmodoTiany

Emily Johnstone tweeting from @fashionfoiegras

Irina Shifrina tweeting from @TrendSpace_ru

Renata Araújo tweeting from @YouMustGoBlog

Post all questions to us @TheChicBuzz using the the hashtag #ChicBuzzMag, and the bloggers will then respond using their own Twitter handles, in their own language! If you miss any answers, don’t worry – we’re going to summarise and translate everything into a blog post on here very soon.

Fans of the iconic shoe brand will be pleased to hear about the Christian Louboutin exhibition on at the Design Museum, London, with hundreds of his shoes on display. This exhibition celebrates Louboutin’s career showcasing twenty years of designs and inspiration.

Watch the beautiful trailer here:

A close friend and muse of Louboutin, Dita Von Teese was at the opening event, wearing a gorgeous floor-length black Jean Paul Gaultier gown. Von Teese was also one of the main attractions; she features in a hologram in the middle of the exhibition, in which her silhouette morphs from a Louboutin shoe, then dances on stage before transforming back into a stiletto.

Christian Louboutin and Dita Von Teese

Shoes were displayed in very creative ways, including this illuminated merry-go-round

An artistic take on ballet shoes

The exhibition shows different parts of the designer’s career, ranging from what influenced him as a teenager, to his Folies Bergère internship, drawing shoes for the dancers in his breaks and his made-to-measure work. What is very clear is that this is a very talented and clever designer who has managed to stay relevant over a period of 20 years, which is no easy accomplishment in fashion.

One of our favourite parts of the exhibition is the secret area housing Louboutin’s famous 2007 ‘Fetish’ collection, kept under bell jars, with David Lynch photography displayed alongside. The ’20s-style black and white film of Louboutin dancing on a theatre stage is also worth noting.

If you want to know about the life (and sole!) of this talented designer, then you can visit the Christian Louboutin exhibition at the Design Museum, London, until Monday 9 July.

Last September, when I jumped on the train to Bicester Village, I had an unshakeable hunch that I’d find my wedding dress here.

A challenge, you may think, given that Bicester isn’t actually home to a specialist wedding dress brand. But in my experience, magical things are more likely to emerge in unlikely places.

Now I’m far from being a twenty-something with fairytale princess illusions. And that’s why a frothy “meringue” was not the focus. Scanning the list of Bicester’s brand names I figured that a clutch of them, namely Karen Millen, Amanda Wakeley, Matthew Williamson, Vivienne Westwood and, if I was really lucky, Temperley London, might turn up something that wasn’t just suitable, but spot on.

Actually, I was asking for a lot. I wanted something that hovered just below the knee that was feminine, pretty, youthful, and age appropriate, all at the same time. I also wanted it to nod to a vintage aesthetic and feature tulle, lace, beading and embroidery.

You see my first stop had been Annie’s in Islington’s Camden Passage. True to the blurb on its website – www.anniesvintageclothing.co.uk – Annie’s really does “knock spots off most of the vintage clothing stores in London.” For more than 30 years it’s been an insider’s destination for flapper dresses, tea dresses that are cut on the bias and one-of-a kind lace wedding dresses that are mostly Edwardian. Sadly though, all of the dresses that I like and I tried just didn’t quite fit.

As it happens, I found exactly what I was looking for shortly after I arrived at Bicester, at Temperley London. At first, there wasn’t anything that jumped out from the rail. However, I told the helpful shop assistant what I had in mind. To my surprise she said, “Hang on a minute, I’m sure we have something upstairs.” She emerged a couple of minutes later with a sample from a couple of years ago, a dress that was so perfect that I couldn’t quite believe it. Cut on the bias and fashioned in white, it featured embroidered tulle and beading, little sleeves and train-like panelling, priced at an astonishing £100.

Temperley London

Even though there were a couple of alterations that my friend Patrick would need to perform, I was blown away by the price so I didn’t give these changes a second thought.

Following my ‘find’ at Bicester, every other detail of my wedding ensemble seemed to fall into place without a hitch. There were gorgeous glitter and snake wedges, gifted to me by the fabulous British shoe designer Tabitha Simmons, worn with bare legs that turned a not-too-dark shade of brown thanks to St Tropez. Then there was the gorgeous 1920s swan down jacket lent to me by a friend, plus a diamond pendant, given to me by my mother.

The perfect wedding shoes? Tabitha Simmons sparkly numbers

Interestingly, it wasn’t the wedding trousseau that caused me consternation. In fact, I was flabbergasted by how simple it had been to find the perfect dress. No, there was something else that could have potentially blighted my perfect wedding day. You see, Health and Safety regulations dictated that fireworks, sparklers even, on 5 November in a central London listed building, were totally out of the question. Now try telling that to a group of bridesmaids and pageboys all under the age of ten!

This is the essence of simple cross-season style – Breton-influenced knitwear, with narrow jeans creating a nostalgic Beat look – but the effect is very much a key look for rightnow, with the crisp boat shoes, folded trench and, of course, those lovely ‘mankles’!

We would happily give Munich a ‘Style Seeker Destination Award’ anytime, and here Stefan certainly proves us right!

Product information:

A: Boat shoes – Timberland, was €129,90 now €79,99

B:  Stonewashed jeans – 7 For All Mankind, was €290,90 now €160

C:  Trench coat – René Lezard, was €299,90 now €199,90

D:  Sportive cardigan – Peak Performance, was €140 now €98

E:  Striped t-shirt – Peak Performance, was €65 now €45

F:  Leather bag – Marc Picard, was €209,95 now €139,95

G:  Calf leather belt – Baldessarini, was €49,90 now €29

H: Sunglasses – Ray-Ban, was €209,95 now €139,95

Blue sky luxury

We’re going to be at the Arabian Travel Market on 1 May, hosting the third of our shopping tourism conferences! Focusing on ‘Blue Sky Luxury’, we have great speakers including Mansour Hajjar – Managing Director of Allied Enterprises; Hassan Al Hashemi – External Relations Director of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Terry Daly – Divisional SVP Service Delivery of Emirates Airline; Sylvie Freund Pickavance – Business Director of Value Retail Management and Piers Schmidt – CEO of Luxury Branding. We’ll be talking about how travel, hospitality and retail operators are reaching for the stars.

So join us on Tuesday 1 May from 16:00 Dubai time (13:00 GMT), on Twitter with the hashtag #shoppingconference2012

A royal anniversary

Can you believe it’s been a whole year since Kate and William’s wedding? One year since we saw that dress. One year since we saw Pippa’s dress! See our blog post on the event itself, to remember all of the day in detail.

Champagne and shoes

Have a look at our must-read interview with the amazing design talent that is Charlotte Olympia Dellal at her fab boutique party at Bicester Village. http://bit.ly/IzDlme

Getaway Carr

Alistair Carr is leaving Pringle, after just a year. The decision is described as being a mutual one, with the news that the label will show its future ready-to-wear collection as a presentation rather than on the catwalk. Alistair Carr remain to direct Pringle’s autumn/winter 2012–13 campaign.

Check your inbox!

Guess what? Our newsletter has just gone out! Check your inboxes for how to win £1000 in shopping vouchers. Are you signed up for the next one?

A fashion fairytale

Christian Louboutin re-creates Cinderella’s famous glass slipper in celebration of Walt Disney’s re-release of Cinderella on DVD and Blu-ray this autumn.

“I have been so lucky to have crossed paths with Cinderella, an icon who is so emblematic to the shoe world as well as the dream world,” Louboutin told WWD. That’s one shoe we would like to try on!

Fashionable offers:

Prepare your favourite recipes in style with Le Creuset and La Roca Village, where you get a free recipe book worth €15, free with the purchase of four mini pro cocottes, now only €47.60 per item. Kildare Village has a fab offer on Louise Kennedy, where you can buy the beautiful ‘Clara’ jacket for €495 (RRP €1195, with an original outlet price of €595). Buy a jacket from the Trussardi Jeans men’s or women’s collections and receive an extra reduction of 20% on the outlet price at Fidenza Village.

Historic Singapore railway station becomes fashion catwalk

Singapore’s historic Tanjong Pagar Railway Station is no longer used as a train station, and instead recently became home to a fashion show. Valentino created a makeshift catwalk to showcase its latest clothing – making use of the beautiful art deco building.

The talented designer is sister to model Alice Dellal and graduated from London’s Cordwainers College in 2004, after which she worked at Ungaro and Giambattista Valli before launching her eponymous London-based shoe brand Charlotte Olympia in 2007. Fans of her designs include Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Bosworth and Victoria Beckham. Alexa Chung is known for her ‘Kitty’ flats. Her shoes have become iconic: fashion bloggers, celebrities and style seekers would all like a pair by Charlotte Olympia.

Charlotte has also recently launched a pop-up boutique at Bicester Village, to which many flocked for a fashionable gathering this afternoon. Charlotte herself was on hand, looking fabulous, signing boxes, and talking to shoppers.

The Charlotte Olympia pop-up boutique

Charlotte wears her own creations

Charlotte Olympia pop cakes

Shoes, glorious shoes

Another interested customer

How can you resist?

Charlotte talks to guests and bloggers

Fashion blogger Reem Kanj from Five Five Fabulous, with a new purchase

ChicBuzz took five minutes with Charlotte Olympia Dellal to find more about her world, her shoes and her inspiration.

What has been your fashion highlight, since starting your label?

“There have been quite a few but I’d say for me the most important was opening my own shop – that was always my dream. I opened in 2010 and that really was my lifetime dream.”

Who inspired you?

“Salvatore Ferragamo, the designer, not the brand, was always someone who really inspired me. I love the way he worked with innovative materials, and he had to be innovative because he was working in a wartime period, when these things were scarce. He had this way of designing really glamorous products and this is something I tried to incorporate into my designs – the feeling of old Hollywood glamour. My shoes are handcrafted in Italy, and this gives that sort of beautiful feel to it, which adds to the glamour.”

What’s been your biggest challenge so far?

“I’d say that it was trying to build a brand and a business – and then trying to grow the brand. It’s the most important part! And finding a factory at the beginning that would work with the quantities we wanted to produce. These were all challenges.”

Will you always focus on shoes or will you move onto clothes eventually?

“I think it’s important to be focused on shoes and accessories, which is what we’re known for, and to do that really well, before trying to branch out into something else. I have always created new pieces to complement the collection I’m working on at the time. For instance, we’ve created gloves and hats, even hosiery, because it suited the shoes. It’s all about complementing the shoes.”

What advice would you give to fashion/accessory designers who are starting out?

“I’d say you have to really establish a brand aesthetic. That’s really important. It’s about knowing what you want to do and sticking with it – that’s how your customer will be able to relate to you.”

And there you have it – an insight into the world of Charlotte, and we certainly enjoyed being caught in her wonderful web, if only for a short while.

Showing off the collection in Beijing and live-streaming the show in 3D; this is going to be an unmissable event. Here’s a sneak preview:

Presented by Patrice Bouedibela and Wang Yi-zhi online on May 18, 2012 at 2:45PM Berlin/Europe Time and 8:45PM Beijing/Manila Time.

And guess what? If you live in the USA, UK, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and France, you can  join the Facebook competition where you could be at the show yourself, and fly to Beijing!

You can shop Hugo Boss at Bicester Village, Kildare Village, Wertheim Village, Maasmechelen Village, La Roca Village and Las Rozas Village.

Are you ready to experience fashion in a new dimension?

Charm, adaptability and rigorous planning may not always be enough to get you that prized airplane upgrade, but it certainly does help.

One friend swears that “humble, humble, humble,” is the way to go. He found himself double booked on a seat in Premium Economy, while the other person just wouldn’t budge. Not one to cause a fuss, he said, “I don’t mind. Just put me anywhere.” Grateful for his compliance, the purser stuck him on the top deck, up in First Class.

To be propelled upwards, another trick is to appear First Class even if you haven’t paid for First Class. According to an industry insider airlines do use the term SFU – ‘Suitable For an Upgrade’. So put inverted snobberies aside, don’t be shy and flaunt your title when you’re booking your ticket – whether it’s Rt. Hon, Sir, Dr or Rev. His other tip was to check in at the premium rather the economy lines because senior staff with authority usually work those desks. Make sure your companion looks classy, too, or even better ditch the entourage and go it alone. If you’re with children, forget it. They’re apparently not upgrade material at all!

You might say the upgrade game seems cold hearted and callous. But airline personnel are for the most part human, a sort of a caring profession, after all. So talk passionately about sickness, births, deaths, and most of all marriage. You never know it might build a rapport to help win that special seat.

It certainly worked for an old photographer boyfriend of mine. He was so chuffed about flying back to the UK from the U.S to photograph the Prime Minister that he let the purpose of his trip be known while dropping off his cameras and baggage. Suitably impressed, the ground staff swiftly upgraded him, saying that the airline had a “special policy” for situations like his.

In the case of upgrades the old adage, ‘don’t ask don’t get,’ happens to be true. A couple of friends, albeit two pretty blondes, were upgraded en route to Boston. “We weren’t frequent flyers. We had bog standard tickets. We just thought we’d give it a go and we couldn’t believe our luck when they said yes.”

There’s no harm in asking: “Is there any chance of being upgraded?” You can always smile and walk away if the answer’s no. Also, airlines are more likely to look after their own, so join frequent flyer programmes – it’ll make you a better candidate for a good seat. If you’re a British Airways Executive Club member, for example, book flights with other One World partners like Cathay Pacific, American, Quantas and Iberia, and accumulate additional BA miles on these alliance flights. However, with rising fees for fuel charges and taxes, free flights with just air miles are a thing of the past. So save miles for something special like upgrades rather than spending them on flights.

If you’re super flexible when airlines are busy you could be rewarded – something that I found out on a trip to New York. It was the day after Thanksgiving and Virgin had overbooked so was looking for people to delay travelling to the next morning. Tempted by the offer of a free economy round-trip/upgrade anywhere the airline flew, I quickly volunteered and enjoyed dinner, a night and a hearty breakfast in a five-star Heathrow hotel. The next morning I couldn’t believe my luck when the same scenario happened all over again. A mere five hours later than planned, there I was Manhattan bound, clutching free voucher number two.

So there you have it. As you can see, there’s always an element of randomness to being upgraded, but there are also plenty of things you can do to make yourself SFU!

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And in honour of this, Kildare Village is celebrating, what we like to call, ‘The Art of the Detail’. As part of this celebration we will be giving away 12 luxury accessories. Among the covetable delights up for grabs is the ‘Candy’ bag from Italian design giant Furla and a €750 shopping spree at Coach, purveyors of some of the world’s most beautiful arm candy.

Never to be underestimated, accessories singlehandedly define a woman’s personal sense of style, encouraging experimentation and self-expression. They have the ability to turn a plain outfit into a show-stopper. Take Kildare Village’s recent visitor, Olivia Palermo, who, by using clever accessorising techniques, transformed a pair of skinny trousers and a simple blazer into an editorial-worthy look.

But it’s not just your outfit that accessories can transform, because as any fashion stylist will tell you, accessories can disguise body flaws, highlight assets and create an altogether more proportioned silhouette.

An oversized handbag, like this stunning soft leather beauty from Furla – was €395 now €256 – draped over your shoulder will succeed in making your arm look thinner. While these chunky bracelets from Desigual – were €54 now €36 – will make your wrist look decidedly daintier. Equally, a pair of oversized sunglasses, such as these colourful creations from Marc Jacobs – were €313 now €208 – available from Sunglass Time in Kildare Village, will give the illusion of a smaller face.  A wide belt worn on your waist will draw attention to what is invariably the most flattering part of a woman’s body. The correct footwear can elongate a woman’s legs. With accessories the possibilities are endless and exciting.

Marc Jacobs sunglasses RRP €313 Outlet €208

Furla bag, was €395 now €256,

At Kildare Village we pride ourselves on our selection of luxury accessories, the kind of timeless pieces that will transcend trends and be passed down from generation to generation.

In terms of weddings and race meetings, accessories are of the utmost importance in putting your best foot forward. This orange and pink headpiece, was €115 now €77, from Hobbs in Kildare Village would be sure to make the judges sit up and take notice at a Best Dressed Lady competition. Also, these silk ties from Brooks Brothers, were €80 now €48 each, and this DKNY watch, was €205 now €135, will ensure your plus-one is a match in the style stakes.

Hobbs headpiece: was €115 now €77

Silk ties from Brooks Brothers, were €80 now €48 each

If you need some further accessories inspiration, why not check out our stunning The Art of the Detail video, which was inspired by multi-Oscar-winning movie The Artist.

As you’ll see from the video, accessories are a great way to have some fun with fashion without committing to an overly daring or eclectic look.

And so, to reinvent Marilyn Monroe’s famous song: Accessories are a girl’s best friend!

Andrea Byrne

Mulberry’s BBQ and pool party at Coachella Festival

What better way to spend a hot day at Coachella than with Mulberry by the pool? Lots of stars thought the same, including actress Emma Watson, who took a break from filming The Bling Ring with Sofia Coppola, and partied with Lily Collins, Kate Bosworth and Mulberry’s Emma Hill.

Fashion blogger tips:

We’re celebrating accessories with our ‘The Art of the Detail’ campaign and to celebrate, we talk to three ever-so-stylish fashion bloggers at London’s incredible hotel, The Goring, about everything accessories, from their favourite designers bags, to luxury jewellery and everything inbetween.  Meet Simon Glazin from The Very Simon G, Alexandra Vanthournout from Alex Loves and Isabelle O’Carroll from Isabelle OC.

A celebration of accessories

This month, we’re celebrating accessories! And the beauty of finding the perfect shoe, boot, or bag to accessorise your every outfit. To celebrate with us, watch The Art of the Detail video, enter our competitions (to win one of two £1000 gift cards and more fabulous prizes)! Jerry Hall launched ‘The Art of the Detail’ campaign at Las Rozas Village and looked naturally fabulous as she hosted the accessories fashion show to launch the campaign. See more here.

A fashionable Jubilee

Vivienne Westwood has created a series of frocks to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. In a series of subtle greys, aquas, powder pinks and corals. The best bit? They’re all inspired by actual dresses that the Queen has worn herself! See the full range here.

Milano Design Week

Going to Salone del Mobile/Milano Design Week and fancy a spot of shopping? Well hop on board the free luxury coach service, the Shopping Express™ to Fidenza Village every afternoon at 14:00! And while you’re at Milano Design Week, Fidenza Village, in partnership with Wired magazine, will be offering a free Wi-Fi connection to everyone in the Tortona area during the Fair!

Cannes Film Festival even more stylish?

Rumours are that the French designer Jean Paul Gaultier is to be a member of the jury. He has a wealth of experience in the film arena, after designing costumes for many films, including The Fifth Element.

Stylish offers:

Bag Halle Berry’s style at Kildare Village! The ‘Sac Seau Frange’ bag is now available at Gerard Darel in the Village: was €410 now €290. Special offers on selected items every last Thursday of the month at Fidenza Village. Get your hands on a selection of BCBG Max Azria items which are up to 50% off the outlet price at Maasmechelen Village

We rendezvoused at London’s incredible hotel, The Goring, and chatted about everything accessories, from their favourite designer bags, to luxury jewellery and everything in-between.  Meet Simon Glazin from The Very Simon G, Alexandra Vanthournout from Alex Loves and Isabelle O’Carroll from Isabelle OC.

What do you think of the blogger’s accessories? What are your favourite accessory brands?

P.S To celebrate with us, watch the The Art of the Detail video, enter our competitions (to win one of two £1000 gift cards and more fabulous prizes)!

Ms Hall, dressed in a Versace Atelier gown and Bally sandals, purchased at Las Rozas Village, commented on how much she enjoyed her visit to the Village and how the Village suited her since she likes to have her own style … and enjoys making a saving!

The event, attended by the international press and bloggers from Russia, Brazil, the Netherlands, France and Italy, among other VIP guests, began with a catwalk show inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood.

On the left of Jerry: Olivia Molina (actress) and Norma Ruiz (also actress), on the right of Jerry, Elena Foguet (Las Rozas Village and La Roca Village business director) and Marta Robles (the famous journalist)

As the event kicked off, the attendees – international press and bloggers from Russia, Brazil, The Netherlands, France and Italy, plus spanish actresses and socialites – had the opportunity to watch a fashion show, inspired by the 20′s, with looks from famous scenes from the paintings, art, fashion and movies of the time.

From the left: Monica de Tomas (journalist), Monica Molina (Spanish actress and singer), Norma Ruiz (actress)

From the top left: Alvarno (designer), Josie, Andrea Gara (actress), and Jordi Rosello (musician) and NIKA

On the left: Marta Robles (journalist) and Vega Royo-Villanova (blogger)

The fashions on the catwalk were handpicked and styled by Inma Barandica from Vogue España, impressing Jerry Hall who commented, “This is the best fashion show I’ve been to in a long time!” The fashion on display was accompanied by dancers, with music from the ‘20s and ‘30s.