The British Designers Collective at Bicester Village

Some days, because of what I do for a living I can easily forget that I’m working… and Wednesday was one of those days. I was at Bicester Village for the press launch of their 2^nd pop-up boutique called the British Designers Collective, in association with the British Fashion Council (the doors opened to the general public yesterday)… I was there to chat to the designers, magazine editors, fashion bloggers… et al and it was fabulous! The store was officially opened by British actress Thandie Newton, who is a key supporter of UK designers and a known ambassador of British fashion – she looked so fab in her Marios Schwab dress and was incredibly down to earth and lovely.

So what is the British Designers Collective (BDC)? Well, it’s a unique collaboration between Value Retail (who own Bicester Village) and the British Fashion Council (www.britishfashioncouncil.com) – the idea is to showcase emerging designers all under one roof, introducing them to a wider audience in a fabulous environment, with fantastic reductions (up to 60% off!). What more could you want??

This year the BDC is boasting some of the most exciting names in British fashion, including Jonathan Saunders, Holly Fulton, Felder Felder, Preen and Marios Schwab. There is something for everyone… from everyday knitwear by Goat to show-stopping dresses from Felicity Brown. For a full list of brands see below… or have a look at Bicester Village’s website www.bicestervillage.com.

Now this is the important bit… in order to see this wonderful store for yourselves you need to get down to the village quickly, as the British Designers Collective only runs for six weeks until mid-May. Clothing aside, you’re in for a visual spectacular as the store has been specifically designed for the occasion and this year, colour is key! There’s a neon-pink telephone box outside and the interior decor has to be seen to be believed… it just adds to the whole shopping experience – with neon of course being hugely on trend for S/S 11!

Here are some of my favourite items in-store and photos from the event… maybe some of these hugely sought-after names/pieces will end up in your own wardrobe??

Thandie Newton outside the neon telephone box and BDC

Identical twin sisters Annette and Daniela Felder

Holly Fulton outside the BDC

Everyone listening to Thandie Newton speak at the launch

Inside the store

Amazing dress from Preen, was £715 now £429

Killer heels from Lara Bohinc

Can I have all 4?? Holly Fulton clutch bags from £225. I love them!

Holly Fulton printed dress was £595 now £397 (Holly is clearly a new fave of mine...)

The piece that stole the show - every blogger and editor tried it on or photographed it - A bright orange sheep-skin by Osman, was £1900 now £1095

 

The brand list: Georgina Goodman, Preen Line by Thornton Bregazzi, Goat, Felder Felder, Emma Cook, Felicity Brown, Holly Fulton, Fiona Paxton, Marios Schwab, Lara Bohinc, Mawi, Osman, Jean-Pierre Braganza, Lilly and Lionel, Jane Carr, Jonathan Saunders, Markus Lupfer, From Somewhere, Todd Lynn, Richard Nicholl and Elvis & Kresse!

Visit www.bicestervillage.com for more info on all the designers.

Going for the chop!

OMG! I’ve had my hair cut… And it’s quite short… For those of you who know me you’ll know it’s quite a big deal because I’ve had long hair for about a gazillion years. And apart from having a fringe cut several years ago, in reaction to splitting up with my ex, I have had the same swinging locks for nearly two decades.

It almost happened 3 months ago when I last went to the hairdressers and I mentioned that I’d been thinking about going for the “chop”. I told him that I didn’t want it “lurking around no-mans-land” looking like I was growing out a bob or something – and basically I chickened out. I had my usual “take off as little as possible trim” and didn’t give it another thought. Until last Tuesday…

As usual my copy of Grazia was on the doormat and there on the front cover was the head-line “Jen’s crisis make-over… Sleepless night before that crop”!!! Slightly dramatic you might think but apparently not. Seemingly, Jen’s hair is not only a barometer to how she feels, but also it affects us too! We’ve been obsessing with her barnet ever since she became famous for the “Rachel” hair-do in Friends, back in 1994. Since, then apart from going up and down a couple of inches and various shades of blonde high-lights, it’s remained the same. Which has been rather comforting and familiar; she looks approachable and friendly with her “wash-and-go” glam but girl-next-door locks. This is probably why we all like her so much and can’t stand her “husband thief”, Angelina Jolie.

© Turkbug | Dreamstime.com

Now I don’t know why Jen decided to go for the plunge – to be honest I’m not even sure why I did. But after having a flick through Grazia and spotting not only Jen, but Olivia Palermo and Scarlet Johansson sporting substantially shorter locks – and after Ian my hairdresser and I having the same boring “Should I, shouldn’t I?”, conversation as 3 months ago… I simply said, “Just do it“.

So he did it. But he didn’t do it whole-heartedly at first, initially it was definitely lurking in “no-mans land” (my feared length) – so I told him to keep going as it was all or nothing and had to be done properly. Bless him he kept saying “I’m waiting for you to burst into tears!” But actually, it felt quite liberating – it was only when washing my hair for the first time the next day that I felt bizarre – there was just nothing there… And tying hair back? Well, I’ve never seen such a poor attempt at a pony tail in my life… And don’t believe anyone who says short hair is easy – it’s a lie. I spent longer straightening my hair this morning than yesterday when I had over double the amount. And now you have to have a good hair day every day as there’s sure as heck no option to simply “tie it back”!! OMG – what have I done?? 

On a plus point however, people keep telling me how much they like it (even though what else are they going to say!!) and how young I look… Which is quite worrying as how old did I look before?? But seriously, I do like it. I’m sure I’ll end up growing it again before long – but for now I’m happy with my “hairline bob“… Jen had better not turn up on this week’s cover sporting a full-head of hair extensions!!

Take a look at Jen for yourself….

http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/beauty/archive/2011/02/22/breaking-hair-news-jennifer-aniston-gets-a-bob.htm

P.S. My hairdresser Ian is based at Willie Smarts in Clapham Common – www.williesmarts.co.uk

Killer heels

My “stand-off” with high-heel shoe shopping finally came to an end the other day. For the past couple of seasons, if you’re 5″7 or over and you venture into any shoe store such as Kurt Geiger, Topshop or Aldo, there are only about 3 pairs of high heeled shoes to choose from that don’t make you look like a “man-in-drag” – as practically every pair of  dressy-ish shoes or ankle boots have a built in platform and 10 inch heels with the only other choice being some lame-o pair of kitten heels that make you look like Kate Middleton, pre-engagement announcement!

Why is it that there are no in-between height shoes that you actually want to wear i.e. that don’t make you look like a bridesmaid? It’s not that I don’t like high-heels it’s just that I want a choice… Firstly these giant shoes make me really, really tall and secondly, I have very narrow feet, so I often struggle to keep these skyscrapers on. I have to spread my toes out in the vain attempt to stop them slipping off or I have to wear heel grips which make them a size smaller and therefore very uncomfortable. All in all I’ve seriously been struggling to buy shoes for ages now. I feel rather bad saying that as I’m a personal shopper but I’ve had exactly the same issues with my customers too – of the trendier styles, it’s drag-queen/lady of the night or nothing!

Anyway, last week I was going to a “black-tie do” and I had to buy some new shoes… so Monday PM therefore found me heading to Selfridges shoe heaven, sorry, I mean shoe galleries, to begin my search (www.selfridges.com). I tried on several styles but there were very few I could actually keep on, as they were all crazily high and they were pretty “blah” looking to be honest. I then came across a pair of STUNNING Corso Como Kurt Geiger Fashionistas that I’d seen in all the magazines for the last couple of months and here they were in my size, half price in the sale (www.kurtgeiger.com)!

When I put the right shoe on it fitted like a glove – unbelievably high but it looked amazing. I asked the shop assistant to get me the other shoe… and of course I loved them! I felt so tall and fabulous – and of course like a “fashionista”. I knew instantly that I had to have them. I asked the guy helping me to stand next to me to see how tall they made me. We worked out I was about 6”1 – I was clearly never going to find a man in these heels!! But what the hell, who needs a boyfriend when you’ve got shoes to die for!! Carrie Bradshaw eat your heart out…

I was SO excited with my purchase, I skipped home and couldn’t wait to wear them the following evening… The night of the event I decided not to put them on until I was just about to step out of the taxi – I slipped them on and looked down – oooh, the excitement… First step, second step… “Stone the crows” I thought to myself, “these bad boys are pretty tough to actually WALK IN”, of course I’d only tip-toed about 3 steps in them on the carpet when I’d tried them on. I had to concentrate so hard to walk it was ridiculous. They threw me forward so much I felt like I was being launched off running blocks with every step! It was a nightmare… I started to panic. I realized with horror… the shoes were wearing me!! My mind was so fixated on my feet I could barely think of anything else. As soon as we sat down to eat I took them off under the table – the relief! But when I had to put them back on I felt like one of the ugly step sisters, I could barely get my feet into them – and when I stood up I was in agony. I spent the rest of the evening walking and dancing like an imbecile. My toes were so cramped, it felt as though they were constantly trying to escape from the torture/hell I was putting them through and my every step was agony…

When I got home in the small hours I kicked the shoes off and swore I’d only ever wear flat shoes again for the rest of my life. The next day my tendons had stretched so much that I could barely even walk down the stairs and as I walked past my beautiful “Fashionistas” lying abandoned in the hall I pulled a face at them. “What’s wrong with bridesmaid shoes anyway,” I thought angrily? They literally were “killer” heels…

EBAY anyone??

P.S. I annoyingly saw a picture of Olivia Palermo sporting the exact same pair in yellow a couple of weeks ago in Grazia and she was wearing them as though they were ballet flats! Grrr… belated New Years Resolution – must learn to walk in skyscraper heels!!!

P.P.S. The yellow ones are even more fabulous than the black ones I bought, have a peek:

http://www.look.co.uk/fashion/celebs-love-kurt-geiger%E2%80%99s-fashionistas-court-shoes

Minimalist dressing…

So I’ve been reading a lot recently about the new minimalist “grown up” way of dressing that people are embracing at the moment and have to say I’m kind of relieved! On my last few shopping expeditions I’ve definitely been heading down a path that I’m not familiar with… shock horror… a simpler look. In the past I’ve been attracted to anything crazy, spotted, printed and covered in bows… But on recent trips to some of my favourite usually “easy buy” stores, such as Topshop and Urban Outfitters (places where you don’t have to think about purchases too much because the prices aren’t outrageous and stuff generally just fits), I haven’t really seen very much that I’ve “had to have”. It started at the beginning of the year when I was in Topshop and I took a crate-load of items into the fitting-room, emblazoned with Eiffel towers, bows and wild patterns and I have to say I wasn’t terribly keen on any of them (ok, ok – I admit I did buy a pale pink and white striped sweater with “Paris” written across the front but it was much more refined than the jewel-emblazoned one I thought I’d love!). 

© Tea | Dreamstime.com

However, I also think this is down to the weather, as summer clothes just aren’t getting a look-in at the moment because even when the sun does shine at lunchtime if you’re sporting a really summery ensemble you look like an oddity by 6pm when you turn blue with cold – so, pretty floral dresses with their backs cut out etc have been a no no! However, I really have noticed that I’m more than happy to buy things that in the past I may have thought were somewhat “boring”(!)… as usually I’ve been drawn to clothes with more “personality” rather than just a simple top or dress… Yet, I’m definitely beginning to see the benefits of having such simple pieces – you can certainly get more wear out of them! Some items in my wardrobe I’ve barely worn more than once because they’re too memorable to bring out again and again… and due to Facebook and our obsession with recording almost every moment of our lives on our cameras and i-phones if you’re photographed in your new favourite frock – after looking at the photos a couple of times you feel as though you’ve worn said favourite frock 10 times – even though it’s actually only had one outing! However, a simple denim shirt dress with a tan belt and mac or an over-sized t-shirt dress with leggings and a cropped leather jacket can be worn again and again. I’m thinking cut and fabric as opposed to crazy statement…

I was beginning to think it’s because I’m “maturing” fashion-wise…. Surely not – I’m only 31!! Maybe when my clients ask me can they still wear leggings aged 27, it’s beginning to rub off? No… I doubt it – Carrie Bradshaw and Gwen Stefani are still my fashion barometers – if they can wear “stuff” as fabulous 40-somethings, then so can I! Anyway, I know it’s not that – perhaps it’s due to the recession (sorry to mention the “R” word) I feel we’re definitely thinking more about price per wear. People are still buying, they just can’t justify a new top to wear every Friday night like they used to. Maybe you could say that we’re becoming a bit more “moral” with our spending – so we want to get something that’s more useful which often means it’s slightly more “understated” and “classic” in its styling… 

I think it’s very important to point something out here – when I say “understated” and “classic”, I’m not talking a black cotton v-neck and chinos… I’m thinking… maybe a silk cami with a ¾ sleeved-blazer, skinny motorcycle jeans, McQueen handbag and studded ankle boots – simple, but still with an edge … just to clarify! 

Looking back I should have known when I bought Chanel’s “Particuliere” nail-varnish at the beginning of the year, which is beigy/browny and très chic, that this season’s dressing would be more minimalist (I so wish I’d bought 100 bottles of this because everyone loves it – and now it’s as hard to come by as Manolo Blahnik Mary-Janes prior to their re-launch last year! You know, the the ones that Carrie thought were an “urban shoe myth” in SATC!)… But where should you head for this more simplistic look? Well, Cos has some fantastic pieces which are simple but definitely with a twist and that’s why fashion editors love the brand – they’re easy to layer and put your own stamp on with statement jewellery and accessories (visit www.cosstores.com). Also, of course Zara is where you should go to buy trench coats, peg-leg trousers and silk dresses (www.zara.com). Banana Republic is also doing this look brilliantly – check out www.bananarepublic.gap.eu/. Don’t forget, to add interest, mix fabrics: silks, cottons and linens – and work neutral colours with summer brights and vice versa. Actually thinking about it, this way of dressing doesn’t have to be dull in the slightest – oh goodness, maybe I actually am growing up after all!

Roll on the sunshine…

I’ve read several articles recently about how difficult people are finding it to know what to wear at the moment…. And I’m feeling their pain! Now I know it’s only March and that it’s often cool around this time of year – but it’s getting ridiculous. I’m sure the potential for snow has never lingered for so long…. Not in my life-time anyway! And just in case you haven’t heard, more flakes are forecast for next week!! The worst thing for me as a regular tube user is that I have to dress for all seasons in one outfit because it’s always freezing on the walk to and from the station AM and PM. However, of course the underground itself is like being in the Bahamas! I always look like a donkey when on the tube as I’m carrying all the layers that I’ve peeled off as I descend to what feels at times, like the centre of the earth. What with the tube, the weather outside and the heating inside, my skin is looking like a nightmare at the moment… Thankfully I’ve just moved in with a friend who’s a facialist!! How lucky I am to have someone on hand for all skin emergencies!!

Anyway, I’d planned to write about how I too was lacking inspiration when getting dressed in the morning due to the cold weather, as all I’m doing is piling on another layer of black… and from no-where up popped the sun (this was Monday) so I thought – no, not relevant anymore (I had my fingers crossed)! But then a day later, low and behold – the weather turns “Siberian” again….

At the beginning of the year I was so excited to get out there and hit the shops but as the February temperatures plummeted so did my enthusiasm for my prospective S/S wardrobe!! I don’t usually need to put aside time to “go shopping” of course as I’m always in the shops and spot things (far too frequently) which I just pick up after I’ve put my clients in a cab or dropped them at their chosen tube stop when our time together is done – however, recently instead of hanging around the shops I’ve wanted to whip down the stairs to the tube with them… to get home ASAP, eat and watch 2 episodes of Gossip Girl which I’ve become totally obsessed with (ok – I know I’m behind on this one, but I’d taken an instant dislike to the show after Grazia had described it back in 2007 as the “new” SATC – which was so not true!! You cannot compare Blair and Serena to Carrie et al! However I thought I’d give it a go…. and actually I’m really rather enjoying it!). So in a nut-shell, I’ve turned into a bit of a hermit – and I blame the weather (don’t panic I am still venturing out… I went to Bungalow 8 on Saturday night. It was quite fab and less posey than I’d expected, which was good – the only celeb sighting was Darius… does he count??)!

So in conclusion shopping-wise, the problem is I know it’s all out there waiting for me – but I’m finding it much easier to walk away than usual because unless I can wear my new purchase with the same black cardigan/blazer I’ve been wearing for the last 4 months I’m thinking, “Well, I can pick it up in a couple of weeks!” However one thing that I do have to keep reminding myself of is that I often prefer the collections in store at this point of the season, as in a couple of months the fabrics will get even lighter, for the high summer season. So in theory, if you miss out now, all that’ll be left will be shorts, t-shirts and kaftans! No – I’m being dramatic… But if you can drag yourself away from your latest box-set then you’ll certainly have choice at the moment…. But how do you wear your new purchases when it’s so chilly outside? Well all of the nudes, khakis and beiges that are so “hot” for this season happen to look great with black (the relief!) and pretty good with grey too. And the key word? Layering – the only way to dress at the moment. Add some of the new season’s colour palette in with your basics and you’ll begin to feel a bit more current again. So I’ll finish as I started… Roll on the sunshine!!

© Chachas | Dreamstime.com

Alexander was the greatest!

I was completely stunned when I heard the news about Alexander McQueen last week. For a short time I got the same feeling in the pit in my stomach that I’d felt after hearing that Michael Jackson had died – when you know that someone with enormous talent, has gone forever. It’s very difficult to comprehend that someone who seemingly “has it all” decides to take their own life – we all dream of having talent or success like he had – it’s hard to imagine that deep unhappiness could ever go hand-in-hand with such achievements. But apparently after the death of his mother the week before his own, for McQueen there seemed very little left to live for. His McQ show had been scheduled for the afternoon of his death in New York, his Paris show was in a couple of weeks – but seemingly none of it was important anymore. It makes you truly realise if you’re not happy then absolutely nothing matters.

I’d never met McQueen or been to one of his shows, but I felt as if I might as well have done – when in the vicinity of his creations and surrounded by his clothes, you felt for a minute that you’d just gained an insight into his brilliant mind – even if only briefly. He was a true genius and one of, if not the most influential designers of his time.

Tributes flooded in from all over the world after the news broke – British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman said simply, “It is an incredible loss not only for British fashion but for fashion the world over.”

McQueen left school with one O-level in art and began his career at the age of 16 as an apprentice at Savile Row tailor Anderson & Sheppard. Clearly talented from a very young age, one of his earliest memories that he often recalled was drawing a picture of a dress on the wall of his family’s council house in London’s East End aged 3. He worked at Gieves and Hawkes, the theatre costumier Angels & Bermans and then as a pattern cutter at Romeo Gigli, in Milan. After this time he returned to London aged 21 where he was offered a place on the MA course at Central Saint Martins.

It was around then time that he met someone who would change his life (and interestingly also his name, as she encouraged him to use his middle name Alexander instead of his first name Lee). This was the late fashion editor Isabella Blow, who bought his entire collection upon his graduation from St. Martins and theirs became one of the designer’s most important relationships. She became his friend and mentor – and her own tragic end clearly had a huge effect on McQueen – as she took her own life in 2007. Apparently this was something he never got over.

McQueen worked as the head designer at Givenchy (replacing John Galliano) in 1996 but they parted ways in 2001 as the position was “constraining his creativity”. It was after this time that the Gucci group bought a 51% stake in McQueen’s business which catapulted him to the world-wide stage and he opened stores in London, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Milan. He also launched his diffusion line McQ in 2005. He was hailed as the “enfant terrible” and his Paris catwalk shows, the highlight of Paris Fashion Week since 2000, were dramatic spectacles show-casing his creations like no-one had done before. He pushed things to the limit – forcing models to walk in 12 inch “alien” looking platforms… some so terrified to walk down the run-way in them, that they actually refused.

Liberty's window on Great Marlborough Street this week, "For McQueen and Country"

 Personally, I’ve always been drawn to McQueen’s collections. Some of them were a bit scary looking but every spectacular piece had to be appreciated for what it was – a work of art. I only really started to come into closer contact with his clothes after they opened their store at Bicester Village (I’m their Style Consultant) – it’s probably my favourite store there. I love spending time in there as I really feel as though I’m in the presence of something very exciting – real fashion. When I’d be doing research for clients or choosing “Hot picks” for the village, I’d undoubtedly end up in the store. The dresses are often ethereal, the sharp tailoring is second to none and the accessories and shoes are simply stunning

I remember once being in Liberty with a client and buying a pair of McQueen black patent leather kitten heeled ballet pumps. Initially I thought there were silver rose buds dangling off the little ties on the front of the bow – on closer inspection, they weren’t rose buds at all… of course they were skulls! I should have known (as the skull is his most iconic trademarks)!

I also remember after waiting to see Sarah Jessica Parker at the London Premier of the Sex and the City movie, when she emerged from her blacked out car in one of his creations. I couldn’t believe how amazing she looked. Of course she wore McQueen – the film’s world premier was in London – so she had to wear the capital’s most talented designer…

I could go on and on – but if you want to see many of the iconic images from his collections click on this link from the Daily Mail which I think just about covers everything:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1250252/Alexander-McQueen-A-life-fashion.html

 I was pleased to read this morning that PPR, the parent company who own the Gucci Group has announced that his brand will definitely go on… But without his genius, there are some very big shoes left to fill.