Havaianas Celebrate Fifty Flipping Brilliant Years On June 15th !

 

Did you know that June 15th is National Flip- Flop Day? Me neither till just recently! This slightly off the wall calendar date made me smile, how many shoes are named after the sound they make?!! Flip- flop royalty Havaianas is launching a limited edition pair of flip-flop on the 15th of June to celebrate its 50th aniversary, 100% of net sales will be going to the charity UNICEF in Brazil, the birth place of the rubber soled beauty.

Limited Edition Havaianas to celebrate their 50th Birthday

 It's hard to believe that such a simply designed shoe has been seen at New York fashion week and is wearing one of its most exciting designs to date, a Missoni print, from  Missonis mini collection made from colourful rubber remnants.  I would love to get my feet on a pair pronto! The next best thing is watching the clip at the bottom of this post, featuring a fun mash up of colour Havaiana style!  I'm loving the Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band vibe. Check out some of the striking advertising campaigns from their archives.

  

The Editeur Fashion Show Tips It Hat To Couture

White Peplum Shift- The Editeur

I recently received an exciting invitation from The Editeur to a pre-races fashion show at Restaurant 1539 at Chester Racecourse showcasing Laura Apsit Livens hat designs alongside some of The Editeur’s new season’s pieces. Laura has worked for Philip Treacy and has designed pieces for what is deemed the rock royalty of the fashion world from Givenchy to Valentino and McQueen . Adam, the co-owner of The Editeur (with partner Annabel) informs me that their popular boutique has it’s roots in the underwear business, which was so successful they started their clothing label; with my stylist hat on I switch into thinking that the boutiques knowledge of the ins and outs of what makes for great underwear and having it fitted properly is the perfect foundation for a high end independent fashion boutique and their clients. At the forefront of innovation and receiving awards from Drapers as well having been spotted by Vogue and GQ magazine The Editeur have recently partnered with Laura Apsit Livens to be able to offer their fans a bespoke hat service to give them the opportunity to dress head to toe from The Editeur.

Laura Apsit Livens left

  Adam invited myself and another fashion blogger the lovely Jade of The Style Rawr to meet Laura and take a look at her hats before the fashion show kicked off. Peeping down between the rungs of the shiny spiral staircase at Restaurant 1539 I could see little pockets of excitement bubbling over; Editeur clients stylishly clad in fitted dresses and razor sharp heels looking in their element as they posed for photos.

Nice Suit!

 Within seconds of being in Laura's company I can see how charming she is and her skill as a hat designer is evident, I catch myself staring at her flawless olive complexion and her perfect teeth, before my curiosity gets the better of me and I ask her what attracted her to hat design, she reflects briefly before commenting that in the world of fashion, hat design allows the designer the rare privilege of seeing the design process from conception right through to the finished product. I can understand the appeal I say, nodding and itching to pick up one of her edgy designs.  I resist, asking her instead how she felt about the negative press surrounding the hat Philip Treacy designed for Princess Beatrice to wear to Kate and Will’s wedding day, adding that I actually loved it and felt it was a bold statement. She very tactfully says it was made under a great deal of pressure and was a very large hat to be worn by someone of Beatrice's height. She tells me that she can turn a hat around in twenty four hours (which takes my breath away) but usually they take considerably longer to create, and then happily nods when I ask if I can take a few pictures of her hat designs, asking the model if she will kindly pose for me.

Laura Apsit Livens - Blue Button Hat for the Editeur

Laura Apsit Livens - Peak hat with Swarovski crystal veil for the Editeur 

Sportsmax Potus dress -The Editeur

 Laura's quiet passion and charm are really refreshing from a designer who has worked with one of the great hat designers of the decade, she puts me completely at my ease and I can imagine she would be a joy to visit for a hat fitting at The Editeur in Chester. After a tasty supper, the fashion show swings into action, the Hydrangea hat looks stunning worn with a simple white fitted peplum dress at a jaunty angle, with its rich rose hue elegant and very feminine. Laura's take on a common English garden flower hat is striking, with a Parisian feel.  My other hot favourite is a waterfall of Swarovski crystals on a black band with a playful plume of black feather, although very design led I could imagine this being a versatile look to wear and wouldn't be at all surprised if divas such as Dita Von Teese and Kylie Minogue commission Laura to recreate something of this ilk for them! Like some of the other fashion bloggers seated at my table I swooned over the geometric pastel prints by Tibi, that had a casual confidence that I love, the Sportmax shift dress in acid yellow and buttery bronze tones had to be my highlight of the night and I anticipate will be a big seller.Laura Livens hat's will be available online at The Editeur as of next month and are currently available for viewing at the Grosvenor Hotel in Chester.  

Beautiful People

       

MicroTrend Alert

Asos -flag jacket- love!

Recently I  have come across quite as few fashion labels both on the high street and online whose designers have incorporated  triangles into their ranges for spring/summer 2012. It got me wondering what had sparked a micro trend which uses such an awkward shape. I think I may have come up with the answer, the Queens Diamond Jubilee, ok not the event specifically but my guess is that fashion and accessory designers everywhere became bunting obsessed as Britain geared up for some serious flag waving. Personally I'm loving both the spiky cool and sense of whimsy that flag shaped designs lend to everything from earrings to jackets.    

Topshop

Why I'm All A Flutter



Grazia magazine fashion editorial, model wearing D&G sandals

This ad from Grazia has to be my favourite fashion image of the month, where glamorous silk scarf clad woman seemingly hovers above the pavement as her flamboyant scarves catch the breeze. I'm loving that scarves are having more than a 'moment' and are being worn in so many interesting ways right now, there is something chic yet so relaxed about throwing a silk print scarf on and my favourite looks are one I styled on a recent scarf post here featuring British designer Age of Reason and of course the scarf sandal featured in this ad by D&G which is sublime as well as pure genius. As I imagine myself striding into a lift with the silk tails of my exotic scarf sandals blazing a comet like trail behind me, an annoying little mean spirited voice says "but what if the silk ties from my shoes get trapped as I'm entering or leaving the lift?", but then I think "bugger it, live dangerously take the stairs and make a real entrance!"

Trend Alert | Cartoon Casual

      If It's Good Enough For Jessica Rabbit .......

It seems the new best way to beat the recession retail blues right now is to buy into the whimsy and fantasy that is cartoon world, where your dishwasher never breaks down, the heel never snaps on your shoe on the way to work, your home is always tidy even if you have been watching back to back episodes of Mad Men, food magically appears on the table and your clothing never creases. These are the fantasy benefits of this fun new trend but in reality there are plenty that are real too, like the youthful optimism and carefree quirk that this seasons trend for cartoon embellishment lends to a gals wardrobe. I confess to being a fan of tough cookie cartoon character and super hero fashion wear designer Edna Mode, of the film The Incredibles!

Have Fun Wearing An Investment Piece Now!

 If your worried about getting your pound or dollar per wear quota out of these pieces don't, pick wisely and you will have some potential wearable collector's items that you can use to fund your next shoe obsession when the time comes, that's if you can bare to be parted!  The only rule? Allow yourself to have fun, if you want to buy into quality design and the cartoon trend then shoe brand Cleo Barbour is featuring her quirky range at a fairy tale shoe event at Bolesworth Castle her old Cheshire home on the 27th & 28th of April from 10am to 5pm! My favourite pieces for wearing this trend? Tatty Devines fishbone necklace and matching eye rings, Cleo Bs flat purple metalic Boom sandals and these fun gold cassette heels from her S/S12 collection (featured below, which would have Jessie J whooping in glee) as well as these adorable bags from Jump From Paper named Cheese below and Bonjour above! Work the toon look with the latest ice cream colours like these pink jeans Marks and Spencers  do a great pair (worn with your favourite take on a POW t-shirt) or this pretty drop waist dress.  

Shiny Happy People!

For those of you Marni fans who were in raptures that they were soon to be guest designers at H and M, but then failed to get your hands on pieces of the collection (or were unwilling to camp in a sleeping bag OVERNIGHT outside the doors of your local H&M!! ) that you wanted after they sold out in a record 24hrs! You might be pleased to know that I recently stumbled across some great Marni Esq  pieces whilst browsing in Topshop, Marnis collection for H&M was all about contrasting shiny fabrics, unusual prints and simple sporty lines all tied up with a chic Italian bow that is their signature.

                           Just A Magpie At Heart


 I confess to having magpie tendencies, put me within a eighty mile radius of anything remotely shiny and I will soon be lining my nest (wardrobe) with the latest pretty bauble to hit the high street! As a curvy gal I need to proceed with caution as to what shiny pieces I can actually wear, these latest sporty pieces from Topshop are goof proof for those shy of shine.

Top Style Tip - Think Out Of The Box When Trying A New Trend

 I particularly like the idea of wearing this shiny graphite coat not as a raincoat but open with a patterned baby blue t-shirt and these shrimp pink trousers and a bold but simple necklace. These metallic sandals are a nod to the look and have the sporty simplicity that made me first fall for Marni, wear them with baby blue rolled up jeans or some silk draw string trousers in the same colour, if you're thinking of  buying into this seasons luxe look.    

I Love Being Minted!

As soon as I saw this little mint topped biscuit with it's delicate scalloped edges studded with pure white pearls I felt myself yearning to play dress up and came over all frilly. These darling shoes and earrings are the result! Will you be working pastel shades this spring 2012 ?

Sign up to My Passport To Style fashion posts by top right of this blog, for more on this S/S  fashion trends and how to wear them.

  

photo credits -style bubble, the cake decorating company and anthropologie

Stella McCartney S/S 2012 | More Than PJS And Paisley

When I think of Stella McCartney I think of pyjamas and paisley, two interconnected S/S 2012 trends that the Brit designer has been quick to translate with her usual elegant ease. The paisley trend has also been picked up by my hero of quirk Marc Jacobs for winter 2012, more on his A/W 2012 debut soon.  Stellas new S/S season is made of so much more these two heavy weight trends though. She's a designer who knows how to take one simple detail and work it to the max, I think it comes from her time working in tailoring and a real respect for showcasing the materials she uses in her designs. Here's an example that I was excited about sharing with you from her new handbag collection, she's taken zipper teeth chain and used it to create so many different moods/styles of handbag, these are my favourites from her Falabella collection . 

  credits paisley image - Nancy Davies

    

The Floral Factor

I'm taking a little breather from A/W 2012 fashion week posts and bringing things back to this spring 2012 and the coming season.  I long for spring after a pasty winter spent locked away with only my cat, a mug of cocoa and my pc for company, it always feels so alive with new possibilities. Right now it seems like  flowers of all kinds  are peeping out from every carry bag being toted down the high street, I've glimpsed hot peonies, cheery sunflowers and charming blue forget-me-nots,  ok I admit I am extremely nosey when it comes to other peoples clothes and clothing purchases but I bet I'm not alone!

Anyway here's my top money saving style tip, if you have a spring/summer wedding on the way buy into floral trends now whether you're a guest or the bride to be. Opt for sporty or casual floral pieces that you can dress down now and then primp to within an inch of their life and that will easily slip under the wedding  dress code radar. I like the idea of going slightly alternative for a spring wedding and wearing these cottage garden esque, high heel lace up pumps from New Look worn with a smattering of neon and a floaty dress.

Wedding dresses are often the focal point for designing the cake and choosing invitations so if you're on the lookout for wedding invitations to feature alongside your blossoming wardrobe for the special day, then look to vintage designs such as Vintage Wedding Invitations from www.brideandgroomdirect.co.uk , my favourite floral prints are the 'Bella Day' invites that remind me of charming blue French toile fabric , the very pink 'Rose Day' invites and the 'Jasper' invites in a delicate wash of sage green not dissimilar to this Warehouse 70's inspired dress, but you can choose your colour to fit with your own personal style. Thanks to my lovely sponsors at Vintage Wedding Invitations for sponsoring this fashion post.   





 Bag - Topshop, shirt, dress, - Warehouse, shoes- New Look, vintage wedding invitations - Bride & Groom Direct

Me And Gran Report On Spring 2012 Trends

Hi Gals, todays trend report is a joint effort between me and Granny who was keen to discuss her opinions on next springs latest trends from the sweltering heat of her polka dot sun lounger coated in olive oil, which she swears is the best way to tan! I tried to convince her that she needed to use sun block, but she just chuckled and said what's good enough for the Romans is good enough for me.

So here's our joint trend report courtesy of both Granny and myself featuring the best and worst of spring 2012 latest trends. 

Trend - Peplum skirt - designer Jason Wu
Granny says - She loves the shade of pink, but that when she was a young woman, curves were real not faked, perhaps if young woman today drank full fat milk instead of semi skimmed she mutters down the phone in between sips of her expresso. 

Me - I love this skirt by Jason Wu, that looks like a giant flower, kept imagining this peplum skirt in a bright yellow though with spring just around the corner.

Trend Orange-designer Jill Stewart
Granny Says - The girls hair is all wrong, it's overpowering the look what has happened to wearing a classic chignon. I like the rich colour combination though.

Me - I'm really excited by this dress, which to me is a modern take on the flapper dress, I love the simple t-line of the upper body, the flirty skirt and the split palm tree in orange that frames the neckline, the use of bright colour blocking is very flattering.

Granny Says- This girls make up is so blah her features look flat and lifeless and since when has wearing a sheet with sleeves flattered any woman?!

Me- I agree with Granny I hate this trend for an white oversized shroud, small breasted women beware!

In contrast we both fell in love with this combination of two classics trends brought together, the grecian dress and polka dots done in a fresh way, the fabric choice and painted irregular spots keep this look the right side of modern.  

Trend- Floral blocking on bodycon dresses -designer- Altuzarra

Granny Says- I know this is too short for me, but when can I get my hands on it! How clever is this designer (coos granny down the phone) to be able to combine cool sophistication with such a dazzling hot print!

Me- Loving the way the tropical centre panel creates a boarder cool ivory that emphasises the shoulder line and punctuates the waist and her hair is fierce!

Trend -Neon brights-designer Rag & Bone

Granny Says-  Advert your eyes from the screen, this is pretty vile, the shape should be about as flattering as it gets, but this poor girls looks bottom heavy and like she has been dip dyed in a vat of guacamole.

Me- The shiny green leather ruched top looks cheap, the right make up and hair could have rescued this, but this is a tough look for anyone to pull off.

Trend - Aztec -designer Lacoste

Granny Says-This tunic is so chic, I would wear with wide leg ivory trousers, that being said it could do with taking a little of the hardness out of the look, by introducing a petal pink lip.

Me- I like this look, but agree with granny it looks a little bit too pared back, even with the powerful print, the addition of a slimline back pack worn on her shoulder would relax the look a little and it is a cliche, but perhaps powder blue tennis shoes would appeal to the designs Mexican roots.