Sunday, November 29, 2009

Henry Hunt launch

SO this blog is a little bit of a favour for my lovely friend Phoebe but mostly because I want to share with the world these truly beautiful clothes....



This week saw the online launch of Henry Hunt; a brand new clothing company whose debut collection embodies classic English country dressing for men and women with a diverse and modern twist.

Henry Hunt was the inspiration of Phoebe Garlick, a fashion student who has spent the last year developing the collection with the help of her mother, Jane Garlick, and sister Hannah Garlick. The family run business prides itself on the essence of Somerset country living that is so wonderfully obvious in every item.

The idea originated after Phoebe noticed a gap in the market for fashionable, modern and quintessentially English clothing for young people. The gap that Jack Wills and Joules once dominated has now reopened to allow for a clothing line that goes back to the traditional English attire and country pursuits. The clothes provide today’s generation comfortable, wearable clothing that is totally original.



With over 70% of their stock being made locally in the south west of England and 50% being made individually by the family at their home in Somerset the collection has a real traditional craftsman (or woman) feel to it. All of the tweed is woven in Wellington, Somerset with 100% wool and then every single garment is hand finished by the family.

Similarly, because all of the stock is produced on a limited basis there is a definite ‘once it’s gone, it’s gone’ feeling that only adds to the exclusivity and gives the incentive that people should buy it when they see it.



Finally regular one off couture items will also be released as the collection continues. Referred to as ‘Henry Hunt Heirlooms’, these exclusive one off garments will have unique and stylised design features and with only one of each style available, they guarantee complete individuality.

Henry Hunt will be holding an invite only party in December at Gerbestone Manor in Somerset to celebrate the launch of their debut collection; giving guests the opportunity to watch a catwalk show of the clothes and the chance to purchase items afterwards.

The collection has already proven to be a massive success with all of the items selling out fast (me and my mum have already bought 3 items between us!) so log on to www.henryhunt.co.uk and find out for yourself.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Coco Avant Chanel



FASHION fans may or may not be delighted to hear the biopic ‘Coco Avant Chanel’ will be released on DVD next week (23rd November.) For you non bi-lingual types ‘avant’ simply translates to ‘before.’ Thus the film depicts Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel’s life before she became Frances’ most legendary designer.

Gorgeous Audrey Tautou stars as Coco a wilful, manipulative, increasingly confident woman, who uses her bisexuality to further her independence.

Usually now when discussing a DVD release the writer (me) would go on to describe the film, point out its merits and its weaknesses; well I’m not going to do that. If anyone out there read the reviews of this film during its release you’ll know then that the critics didn’t take too kindly to it. Instead I’m going to explain from a fashion lover’s point of view; just why this film was so visually beautiful in terms of watching Chanel grow and flourish but why I still left feeling disappointed because we never got to see any of the clothes she strived her whole life to achieve.

Nonetheless the subtly shot influences on her career were apparent everywhere in the film.
For example the black and white nuns outfits at the orphanage where she and her sister were left by their father, depicted as the motivation behind the monochrome themes synonymous with the House of Chanel. The now iconic, stripy Breton shirts inspired by a trip to the seaside with her lover Arthur ‘Boy’ Capel (Alessandro Nivola) and the riding jackets and pants she stole from her live in companion Étienne Balsan (Benoît Poelvoorde) her part time lover and full time custodian who had picked her up from a bar only to have her turn up on his doorstep a few months later. She lived with him in his chateau learnt rich society games of horse riding, fancy dinners, and hat making, whilst suffering the indignities of having to eat with the servants as she was too poor to liaise with high society.



That said Coco was revolutionary and an anarchist. She wanted women to be free from the restraints of corsets, stripped bare from the typical abundance of frills and feathers. Dressed "comme le garcon" she was an unusual sight. In the film she is portrayed as both sweet and innocent and moody and sullen (spending a great deal of time hiding in corners at society parties chain smoking and making scathing comments about the other women’s’ big hats and frou-frou dresses,) implying she was a mix of contradictions. For example she lived from her lovers' fortunes, one of them also financed her and her business, but on the other hand she hated being a kept woman and all she wanted to do was to work - which was revolutionary and strange thinking in those days.

However, the film fails to reveal anything fundamental about the importance of Chanel or her times. For one thing, the movie almost totally ignores World War I, which had to have affected everyone involved. For another, director Anne Fontaine decided to focus on Chanel’s love life which, while somewhat entertaining, isn’t that interesting for a film depicting fashion. Ultimately the reason I left disappointed.

Heidi wows in Victoria's Secret show

Its official...Heidi Klum is some kind of reeeally hot superwoman!

She took to the stage in New York last night for Victoria’s Secret show just four (!) weeks after giving birth to her fourth child, Lou Samuel.

For those of you who are still confused as to why America is soooo obsessively captivated by the lingerie brand Victorias’s Secret, don’t panic that will all change when we get our first UK store in 2010. (I’m already hooked having fallen head over heels in love whilst in America over the summer.)



Klum made her catwalk appearance on the V shaped stage alongside fellow ‘Angels’ (the term given to all VS models) Miranda Kerr, Chanel Iman, Alessandra Ambrosia, Doutzen Kroes, and surprise model Anja Rubik. She was persuaded to do it by friends and said “I usually never do underwear shows, but this is so much fun, so relaxed, so cool.”

The special guest performance of the night came courtesy of the Black Eyed Peas, and not to be outdone in the fash stakes, leading lady Fergie showed off a couple of show-stopping outfits herself.




However my gold star has to go to 22-year-old Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who made her Victoria's Secret debut on the catwalk.



The beauty was waving the flag for the UK as the first ever British Angel, and more than held her own amongst the catwalk regulars.

The spectaular show contained all the drama and couture-feel costuming associated with VS. The runway was awash with the ultimate in luxe lingerie - featuring everything from saucy stockings and suspenders, to trailing tulle skirts, fab feathered boleros and of course, the mandatory pairs of pretty amazing Angel wings.




Still need convincing?? Legendary designers Alexander Wang, Zac Posen and Carine Roitfeld were all front row – and if it’s good enough for them, it’s certainly good enough for me!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Harrods to showcase young fashion talent



STARTING this week, you can now log on to Harrods.com and find amazing, unique pieces from up and coming designers that no one else will be wearing!

On Monday, Harrods launched a new initiative ‘Harrods Launches’ a platform for new designers to showcase their work with each season.

"We are constantly seeking out innovative yet commercial collections. Each London Fashion Week we're always impressed by the ingenuity and ideas displayed and I'm thrilled that this new initiative will help launch the careers of young designers," says Marigay McKee, Harrods' fashion and beauty director.

The talent to note for spring/summer 2010 is Winchester School of Arts and London College of Fashion graduate Manjit Deu and ARTEZ Academy of Arts in Arnhem student Iris van Herpen.

"More than ever our customers want unique pieces from under-the-radar labels that they will not see everyone else wearing," adds McKee.

Deu - who won Collection of The Year for his MA range at London College of Fashion - has become known for his combination of casual classics with a sequin twist and glamorous eveningwear (see picture!), while Van Herpen - who has shown at both Amsterdam and Tokyo Fashion Week - is known for her sculptural and conceptual creations.

Each season, Harrods will add to the line-up. View the collections at www.harrods.com or call 020 7225 5634 for further information.

Friday, November 6, 2009

I heart Jimmy Choo

IT'LL be every woman for herself next weekend – and I predict a riot.

The luxury shoe – brand Jimmy Choo has collaborated with high street store H & M and it hits our shops Saturday 14th November.

Shoppers the world over will be able to get their hands on bargain-priced versions of the spike heels and ankle boots normally only seen on the red carpet.

The collection which is expected to cause a stampede in stores will start from as little as £30 for a pair of ballet pumps, with the most expensive shoe going for £170.

There will also be an accessories range of bags and clutches, complemented by a one-off capsule collection of Jimmy Choo women’s wear, as well as a men’s range of shoes, bags and accessories.

The collaboration is another achievement for H&M, which has in the past produced collections with designers Karl Lagerfeld, Roberto Cavalli and Stella McCartney and stars Madonna and Kylie Minogue.

This latest venture comes hot on the heels of H&M’s sell-out collections by Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons, and Britain’s ‘Boho King’, Matthew Williamson.

Hollywood stars already love their JC for H&M.

Demi Moore was the first to step out in a piece from the collaboration, rocking up to a red carpet event in the gorgeous suede asymmetric dress.



Followed by Hayden Panettiere in the fab sequined cardigan and skinny leather trousers combo finished off with the studded zebra-print clutch.



Paris Hilton was also in attendance, showcasing an awesome belted jumpsuit and the hot pink box clutch. (I WANT!)




Finally stunning Olivia Wilde, donned a sparkling rhinestone-covered LBD, teamed with studded cage heels and a mock-croc clutch.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

McCartney designs for GapKids



STELLA McCartney’s one off collection for GapKids launched this week with a Halloween themed party at the Little Red School House in New York City's Greenwich Village packed with children sporting her new designs.

The mother of three’s move into childrenswear sees her combining stylish run-way trends with the concerns of busy working mothers like herself.

"I think this collection has a mix of the playful and practical," McCartney told Vogue. "It's a reflection of my brand, there are pieces that are classic and very sort of timeless and hopefully very chic, and then there are pieces that are the kind you chuck in the washing machine and they get better with time and, you know, they are funny and hopefully a little bit cool."

McCartney's three children - Miller, four, Bailey, two, and Beckett, one - are beginning to have an opinion on what they wear - and all happily offered feedback on the collection, which ranges in size from newborn to age 12.

McCartney started out creating the capsule collection by making things she liked, but that quickly changed.

"Halfway through the process, my eldest son, who is four and a half, started having a mind of his own in what he wanted to wear. All of the sudden, I thought, my God, I have to take this to a different area where I'm trying to dress kids," she revealed.

"Part of it was quite weird -- I realized I would have to figure out what teenagers will like, so we tried to cover the options."

The collection is available in GapKids and babyGap stores in the UK, the United States and Canada, France, Ireland, and Japan, as well as online in the US from November 3.