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.

  

Sometimes You Just Have To Express Your Love ...

I don't think I have felt so gooey about a bag for a long time, I love the lady like / posh biker feel of Lacostes limited edition Cathy bag in this rich lapis blue and navy.The perfectly postioned gold seams and zips on the soft suede are so feminine and fuss free and there is just the right amount of sensuality in the design for my liking. Chunky hardwear and handles, whisper quality in a reassuring way. The bags design is actually based and named after Catherine Lacostes own golf bag who went onto win the US open in 1967.This is a bag that should I ever own one I  would cherish it, not banish it to the back of my closet in favour of more razzy bags that pop up from time to time. This is a noble bag, like a noble steed to accompany me on my adventures around the world and to turn to in times of need or outfit crisis!It comes in stone with orange base and blue trim also.Visit Lacoste for more details, but please don't tell me if you manage to get one, I might just be a little jealous.

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Scarf Wars

Yesterday I learnt that 'we' meaning the gals where I live have lost all faith in the possibility of summer. How do I know this? On a trip into my city centre yesterday to locate some Jojoba oil, I spotted gals everywhere grabbing  woollen scarves and chunky neutral knits and flinging them with a look of weary defeat at brightly clad shop assistants. All the proof I needed, but it also led me in my fashion detective mode to deduce that the art of layering has perhaps not caught on in my part of the UK. The simple answer as to why? Layering requires maximum mental agility and creativity.To balance a pair of lime green skinny jeans with a leather tasselled jacket and a shiny peach top, not easy! How's  summer treating you? Love or loath layering, I'm curious do tell? x

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Diamonds Are Forever But Flags Are So Now!

Hi Gals, hope your enjoying fun and frolicks as our Queen basks in the glory of her empire and her reign on the throne which will soon overtake the length of time that Queen Victoria was on the throne! Apart from all the pomp on the river, you may or may not have waved a flag vigorously at a street or garden party, consumed sticky buns and tea or danced the night away to Kylie  or like me you may have have been showered with so many union jack inspired products via the web that you now feel the need to dedicate a whole pin board to them on pin interest. Here are my top flag inspired pieces. My personal lust haves are this regal Queenie ice cream scoop from urban outfitters, these red yellow and blue shoes from Dolce and Gabbana and these pair of glossy black crown wellingtons from Amazon that remind me of a black wax royal seal.

Kate Moss Lends A Hand In Crowning The Winner Of The MANGO Fashion Awards

Hi Gals, encase your wondering what Kate Moss has been up to of late, she has been putting her extensive modelling experience to good use by taking part in the judging panal for the Mango Fashion awards in Barcelona. The judges crowned Thai designer Wisharawish Akarasantisook the winner, having lost his father last year, Wisharawish line was heavily influenced by aspects of reincarnation, it featured repeated three dimensional patterns in the form of pleating and stunning leather work that looked like armour to represent the cycle of birth and death as well as lions, snakes and eagles. This stunning modern day armour complimented Wisharawish clean boxy forties lines introduced in his tops and jackets. I was enthralled by the broody quality of this designers line and the way he has elevated the textures of his fabric and the animals showcased to share his message of spirtunalty and reincarnation with us. I think comparisons maybe drawn between Alexandra Mcqueens work and Wisharawish Akarasantisook. If there are any fashion geeks out there like me or Mossy fans you might enjoy her recent interview at the event in Barcelona here.       

Woolmark Challenges Wool Lovers To Design The Worlds Longest Virtual Scarf

I just found out that Woolmark are launching a fun campaign to encourage cyberspace users to design the world's longest virtual scarf and thought you gals might want to know. Woolmark is challenging as many participants as possible to upload their own unique section of the scarf along with their photo. Being a non knitter and a lover of wool this is the perfect design challenge for me! I can't wait to get my virtual knitting needles clicking and see what I can come up with. I'm hankering after a knitted bikini for my road trip in July to Europe! You can try out your design skills here and there are eight prizes of Net-A-Porter vouches and Merino wool scarves to be won. I'm off to see the other designs, how about you?  

    

credits Sonia Rykiel

My Passport To Style - Fashion Post

I enjoyed dreaming up a stylish look that a virtual Mrs Karl Largerfeld might wear, pretty much an urban cowgirl look me thinks, black leather trim was a must for this outfit and a playful but not overly fussy look was the end result.What do you think, would Karl approve? 

Park Lane ankle boots with native print, Cloud cashmere dress- Coggles, Blush leather trim shirt by Tibi, French Connection Lake Satchel and Destroyed woven sun hat

Spend A Penny And Transform Your Image!

How do you you like to take your calls, classic or with a twist? I'm still deciding, popular designers Giles Deacon and Nina Campbell, have put their vision for a more fashionable way of dialing from a classic phone box out on the streets of London!Which little number will you be wearing the next time your in London?

Giles Deacon design

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Source -  Vogue

Letter Writing Is In Vogue Again

  

With tweeting, texting and Facebook main sources of communication the days of writing letters are numbered say some, but secretly despite the convenience of texts I'm hoping the days of using quill and ink are not yet over, to me receiving a hand written letter is a thrill and has now become the ultimate in showing someone that you care. You can't tie a load of texts together with a satin ribbon in a bundle and then pull them out of your favourite hiding place when you're ready to re- read them and remember the person that shared their thoughts with just you, not your mobile and not a computer just you alone, until the next time.

  As a fan of British fashion designers and the written word I'm in awe of the genius of Royal mail, they are celebrating the best of British fashion in the last 60 years through the launch of a stunning new stamp collection and showcasing the work of  top British fashion designers, my favourites from the collection illustrate the talent of pieces by Mcqueen, Zandra Rhodes and Vivienne Westwood. The collection comes with a book on the history of fashion. So forget clicking and start licking!! With stamps as hot as these you will be thinking up any excuse to send your friend a letter. So what if you feel a burning desire to tell her about your new puppy and how many times he pooped in one day.     

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Source - Lauren Milligan - Vogue UK   

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