Love Me Again | The Smartest Fashion Label In Town!

UK independent Love Me Again, is set to change how we think about fashion, based in Manchester with an online shop, for just £30.00 you can buy one of their bright jigsaw puzzle designs, custom made to your exact measurements for as little as £30.00 ! These talented fashion magpies take unwanted sweatshirts and woollens and upcycle them into their own contemporary  designs, so each is unique and who every buys one of the pieces from their collection, can be sure they are also buying a into a greener planet! I love these Sonia Rykiel inspired pieces  and the sporty attitude created from using sweat shirts in their designs. You can even recycle old treasured clothing items, by having them incorporated into a design of your choice, fashion does not get more bespoke than this! Watch this space when I will be back to flaunt my own personal mash up of colour and print courtesy of this Manchester fashion label! Vist http://www.lovemeagain.co.uk/  to check out more of their designs.

The Power Of Print In The Right Hands!

If your not yet aquainted with Barbara Hulanicki she is a revolutionary designer from the 60s who believed in bringing high fashion and glamour to everyone from the  women in the typing pool to the socialites of the time, she drew inspiration from Hollywood and the sophisticated  art Deco period. Her style ethic was reflected  in her a communal changing rooms at Biba, which reflected her free approach to fashion and her bohemian attitude.

Ok so I admit women may no longer wish to share their wobbly post Christmas thighs with a stranger, but neither do we want to get changed in the equivalent of a rabbit hutch with harsh lights and only a solitary shower curtain for company! We all need a little luxury in our life. Re enter Barbara Hulanicki who not content with reinstating Biba after a long absence in her recent collaboration with House Of Fraser, (as modelled by Daisy Lowe) has also chosen to share her famous prints and flattering lines with supermarket giant Asda! I'm drawn to the colbalt blue, what about you?

Sign up to my My Passport To Style by email now, top right of my blog and win a red Satchel full of Royal attitude and 3 pairs of lush Redfoot pumps, good luck toes crossed too!x 

Anyone For Making A Meal Of Being On Wheels?

Long Architect Wheely Boot

Hi there! I might have just found a new mode of transport for you, that is a whole lot more elegant than the traditional roller scate and lives up to the rebel name Renegade Marmalade the store you can buy it from online or in Manchester! If your more inclined towards a short boot version see below! The designer Kei Kagami is Japanese and moved to London in the late 80s to work with fashion designer John Galliano.

Short Architect Wheely Boot

Meet Jaggy Nettle | Not A Rock Star Much Better!

Dear Gals,

Hope you have been enjoying some Fashionable Frolicking and all in all having a lovely time whatever your doing right now. 


Recently something pretty splendid happened to me now I know this word might seem a little OTT on a style blog, but really there is no other way to describe it.


I don't know if you have ever had one of those defining moments in life where it suddenly seems like the world has paused for a brief moment and you have caught a rare glimpse of something or someone that you discovered that is completely in sync with what your about! Well this happened to me when I came across independent UK clothing label Jaggy Nettle. After what seems like a lifetime of teasing from friends regarding my passion for natural fibres and their production, in particular my obsession for Harris Tweed. I finally have been introduced to the beautiful trilogy of woven fabric's that make up Jaggy Nettles designer collection, cashmere sweaters, Harris tweed high tops and blazers and denim that is pure genius as its designs are unisex, what a wonderful idea, we have unisex perfume so why not jeans?


Here are a few images and a copy of the statement from the about area on their website jaggynettle.com that I first fell in love with. All hail Jaggy Nettle for supporting the production of Harris Tweed and for elevating natural fabric production again, fighting against the tide of mass production and nylon, through their collaboration with masters in fabric production and then coming up with designs that lovingly showcase the weave of their golden trio to perfection. Don't know about you gals, but tweed high tops, beautiful contempory cashmere and unisex jeans made by an artisan family in Japan are my idea of fashion nirvana.

                                         About Jaggy Nettle                                     

                                                                         

It’s about designing and refining a silhouette to perfection.

It’s not about seasonality or trends.


It’s about making the best jeans in the world.


It’s about Scottish Cashmere.


And Tweed.


And print.


It’s not about half V’s or tapered trousers.


Or beards.


Its about bespoke, hand made, heritage, 100%, tradition, ltd edition, Made in UK, Made in Japan, pure, hand stitched, hand signed, hand numbered.


Not about 40,000 of this and 70,000 of that at 80p a unit.


£28.99 retail on the High Street the following Wednesday.


Not about that. Super clones.


Not about morphing into a country gent over night.


It’s about perspective.


About keeping your head up.


Its not about what it’s about.


It’s about what it is.

                                                 

Meet The Talented Dress Designer Who Shares Her Fabric Supplier With Chanel

Some of you lovely readers may already know that my great grandmother was a member of the Royal academy of sewing and was one of a team of women who helped make the queen mothers wedding gown, my own mother had a real talent for pattern cutting, so I'm thrilled to be interviewing Ele Horsley a dress designer from the Lake District near to my home town in Lancashire in the UK with a passion for designing elegant vintage tea dresses.

Q- Sharon- Hi Ele, what first inspired you to start designing your own dresses?


Ele  – Well, in a similar way to you, I have been inspired by my own grandmothers and the dresses that they used to wear. I used to love playing dress-up in the attic where my mother stored some of the special silk tea dresses that my grandmothers owned. And to be completely honest, that desire to dress up never really wore off! And as I grew older and wanted to buy dresses of a similar elegance and style I realised that there was not a ready supply, and I decided that there was only one way to remedy that situation. So here I am!

Q -Sharon- Ele you create bespoke dresses as well as your own range , what was it like training to be a pattern cutter?

Ele – Pattern cutting is not a skill that everyone enjoys learning at fashion school as it's really quite technical and mathematical, but I was lucky enough to really enjoy it! Having decided that I wanted to run my own business at the beginning of my degree I realised that the skill of pattern cutting is a vital one, and after leaving uni I went on to do a postgraduate pattern cutting course at St Martins in London. Now, as a professional pattern cutter, I am in a very good position, able to see an idea through from concept to finished product without having to compromise on the cut of my garments.

Q-Sharon- I adore the beauty of natural fabrics and would love to see a return to the use of natural fibres by clothing labels in the UK, You use silk in many of your dress designs, is it difficult to work with and what is the attraction of using it in your work?

Ele – Yes, silk is really difficult to work with. Especially when it is cut on the bias as many of my styles are! I often question my sanity, choosing to work with a fabric as slippery and impossible as silk, but when the dress is finished and floats and falls so beautifully I forgive myself! There is something about natural fibres that you just can't replicate with a synthetic fibre - the fall, the subtle sheen, the coolness/warmness.

Q- Sharon- You produce elegant short tweed capes, I'm aware the production of tweed is dying out, so it's great to see small companies such as yourself using the fabric in your work and keeping the industry going, where do you source your tweed from?

Ele – As a student I discovered a cumbrian tweed manufacturer called Linton Tweeds, who are based up in Carlisle and produce the most fabulous range of fancy tweeds. In fact, they are the tweed supplier to Chanel, so I'm in good company! They have a fantastic mill shop – I'm always like a kid in a sweet shop when I visit. I just love using local tweed to make my jackets and capes – there's a real sense of satisfaction to be gained from creating products from such local sources.

Q-Sharon-Would you say you are influenced much by fashion trends for each season?


Ele – Really honestly, I wouldn't say that my work is based too much on trends. I keep abreast of fashion and what's going on on the catwalks, but my work has a more timeless feel to it, influenced more by the past than the present. I always look to the 1930s ad 40s for inspiration as well as choosing another thread to follow, such as butterflies, nepalese sherpas, and most recently, deckchairs! Having said that though, I have had some funny moments when things that I have recently designed turned up on the catwalks completely independently!


Q-Sharon- What do you like most about being a independent clothing label?




Ele – The thing I appreciate most about being independent is that I can work on garments that I really believe in and actually like. I spent years as pattern cutter working on other people's designs, trying to channel their ideas, which was interesting and exciting at times but I always longed to be cutting patterns for something more pretty and feminine. As you an imagine, working alone has it's own drawbacks and can be really tough, especially in the current climate, but the benefits for me outweigh all of that (most of the time!)


Q-Sharon- You also produce a range of handbags, what do you hope that your accessories say about you as a designer and your brand?

Ele – Yes, I have recently expanded my range to incorporate accessories – clutch bags, shoulder bags and silk scarves. I wanted to be able to offer my customers the whole 'look'. I research vintage handbags and add my own twist to keep things current. I am particularly fond of the tweed bags which add a little touch of colour or brightness to any outfit. I am in the process of introducing a selection of leather bags too.


Q-Sharon-Ooh great to hear that your expanding your range of bags to include leather! Since starting your own company, what has been your most exciting moment?


Ele – Ooh, that's a difficult one! I have had some really proud moments, such as making an evening dress out of Buffs (sport/outdoor neckwear) for the Keswick Mountain Festival that went down so well that the head office of Buff bought it to display in their spanish HQ! And the excitement and pride of watching a wedding dress that you have made being worn down the aisle never fails to bring a tear!


But actually the best thing is something that has happened very recently; I have been chosen to sell on notonthehighstreet.com, an opportunity that I think will take my business to the next level – something that I am really really excited about!






Q- Sharon-Good luck Ele, with your collaboration with notonthehighstreet.com, It has been a real highlight of my week, to discover more about you and what goes into your label, I hope Ele Horsley continues to go from strength to strength.  One word to sum up your sense of style?


Ele – Timeless!


                               

                                          

                                     

I Have Saved The Best Till Last, Merry Christmas Lovely Bloggers!

Hi there, saving the best till last, I was delighted when American  company spoolno72.com 
 contacted me, asking if I would be interested in showcasing some of their collection here.They are a relatively new company with a dynamic heritage collection of womens clothing and acccessories in exciting colours and contempory styles.I have picked out my favourite pieces, for you to enjoy or even to add as late additions to your Christmas list?! What I love about the collection is it offers a great selection of clothing for women who enjoy a casual  look at Christmas, but still want to look stunning, these pieces can easily take you from day through to evening.Stunning colours and classic patterns create a homespun cutsie feel when worn with wool trousers, tunic style and clogs. Sophisticated with treggings and heels or dramatic when worn as stand alone pieces with sheer tights.    

Day time contempory styling,beautiful. Mention passport when ordering and receive free p&p on orders over $75.00! x 

Black Cuff and gold earrings create a stunning evening look against this lapis blue dress/tunic. Mention passport and recive free p&p on orders over $75.00!x

Not For Shrinking Violets, Colour To Dazzle The Most Jaded Fashinistas!

Flattering Colours For All Skin Tones

They do elegant and pretty too!! I want the beautiful beaded Ivory blouse, top left of this set! Don't forget when you mention passport recive your  free p&p on orders over $75.00! Happy shopping! Sx