The range is the latest addition to the ASOS Green Room, dedicated to the clothing and items with a ‘story to tell’. Anything eco-friendly, charity related or ethically made falls into this category so get stuck in, it’s the coolest frikkin one of them all.
The number one favourite this end – it’s got to be the jumpsuit. Balmy summer evenings, cocktail in hand, schmoozing in this gem – heaven.
We’ve seen great collaboration between catwalk heroes and knicker-draw staples of late – check out some of the spot-on tight designs that transcend the fashion shows to everyday wear.
Emilio Cavallini Suspender Leggings £18.90 www.mytights.com
Topshop Vintage Lace Tights in Dusty Pink www.topshop.com
Jonathan Aston Leopard Tulle Tights £10.00 www.mytights.com
Henry Holland Alphabet Tights for Pretty Polly £10.00 www.tightsplease.co.uk
Pamela Mann Feather 2010 Tights £8.95 www.uktights.com
The bottle-top ‘Sole’ pump has been designed exclusively for SS10 for ASOS and comes in one colour – poker hot red. The pumps will be available from the ASOS website from mid-March for £65 and are sure to get snapped up fast.
The design for ASOS is the latest collection to the Beyond Skin ‘Sole’ range of pumps for SS10. The new design looks the same as the rest of the range; however these pumps are made from recycled bottle tops whereas the rest are made from a natural latex rubber. Because the latex is breathable and is covered with organic cotton, the pumps will keep your feet cool and comfortable whether you’re wearing them with tights or on their own in the warmer months.
Beyond Skin was launched in 2001, creating stylish and trendy shoes made in an ethical and environmentally sound way. Leather is never used in their designs; instead they use a fake variety or eco-friendly materials as an alternative. The factory in
The group exhibition at The Trafalgar Hotel, curated by jottaContemporary, showcases a selection of artists working with fashion textiles and illustration, moving image and painting.
Featuring Kathryn Ferguson’s fashion films and Cherry Hurren's lifesize dolls (featured in Vogue and Harvey Nicholls) dressed in designs from Central Saint Martins and London College of Fashion students. Visitors can also see Rita Parniczky’s sculpted textiles and magical paper-cut accessories which create the entrance to the temporary fashion-meets-art wonderland.
Other artists include:
Eunsuk Hur, whose work has recently been showcased in the world-touring exhibition, Warp Factor 09, Japanese Vogue and Elle Magazine…
Rita Parniczky, a textile designer who originally trained as a porcelain painter and illustrates the idea of 'x-raying' fabrics in her recent collection…
…And Lina Ekstrand who creates fashion-inspired illustrations featuring quirky and sometimes familiar characters. In her work for Future Form, Lina has taken influence from Central Saint Martins fashion BA student, Hampus Berggren.
Exhibition Open 19th Feb 2010 – 23rd May 2010.
The Trafalgar Hotel, 2
Firstly it’s got to be the band, The Antlers. Their 2009 album Hospice is truly great. Much like a stag, it’s powerful yet fragile and utterly beautiful at the same time. With a sombre message, the album reflects what antlers symbolise.
As sad as it’s true, antlers belong to a beautiful creature which often hunted for its meat, skin and bone. In ancient times this was a part of everyday life and during the excavation of Star Carr in North Yorkshire, twenty-one adult
These worked antlers are thought to be head-dresses made from the by-products of the food the people had killed and eaten. The holes would have been used to tie them to the head with a leather thong and may have been worn by hunters as a disguise, but it is more likely that they were part of a costume worn on special occasions, perhaps during religious ceremonies. The Red deer antler head-dresses can now be seen at The British Museum and we can’t help but wonder if stylist Katie Grand got the idea for the Topshop designs here…
Antlers also evoke images of old country lodges where the heads have been mounted as trophies on the walls on the hunters. Associated with taxidermy and creepy films, it seems unlikely that they would have sparked an interiors trend in the modern day. But there’s just no escaping the beauty of the stag and lets face it, if it’s not a real head on the wall, it’s not upsetting for anyone.
Deer Rack Coat Hook £25 www.abodeliving.co.uk
Antlers Clothes Hangers designed by Alexander Taylor for Leigh Harmer £48 www.leighharmer.co.uk
Antler mirror (not real) £165 www.ivorypearlinteriors.com
The band The Antlers are playing at the O2 Academy in
Only open for another five days,
Launched in 2008 Trousers London has quickly become renowned for the exclusive design and sole use of organic denim in their collections. All jeans are made from raw organic denim and each pair is given a unique ID number to make you feel very special and important, like they’ve been made especially with you in mind.
We love the cool detailing on the pockets and the slouchiness of these boy-jeans. OK we admit it; the idea of a gorgeous man in these threads is making us a little hot under the collar. Ahem.
Opening times are 10 – 7pm, Monday to Saturday and 12 – 6pm, Sundays. Check out www.trouserslondon.co.uk for information on the brand and to find out more about what’s on offer at Seven Dials visit www.sevendials.co.uk.
From 22nd February to 7th March the Fairtrade Foundation is adopting the theme of ‘The Big Swap’ and is trying to persuade a million and one people to swap their usual product for a Fairtrade-marked equivalent.
This might seem like a big feat but now more than 1000 products available in the
Now that fairly traded items are becoming more mainstream, shoppers are realising that Fairtrade doesn’t mean compromised quality. Leading Fairtrade brands have done really well to overcome the misconception as many consumers tended to associate fair trade with ‘hippy rubbish’.
Proving that Fairtrade can be stylish, fantastic quality and desirable, here are a few of our favourite items:
Boots Extracts Honey Body Butter £7.50 (will be available in-store from Wednesday) www.boots.com
Striped resin bangle £6 www.traidcraftshop.co.uk
Rookwood Lion Tank by Emma Watson for People Tree £65 www.peopletree.co.uk
Damask Jacquard Duvet Cover £65-£95 www.johnlewis.com
Birdies t-shirt THTC £22 www.thtc.co.uk
Power Berry Facial Wash £14.50 www.nealsyardremedies.com
Fairly Dotty Knickers £12 www.lifesnotfairbutmyknickersare.com
Hotpants £25 www.topshop.com
Fruit of Love cushion cover £25 www.onevillage.org
Fairtrade Roses £37.99 www.clareflorist.co.uk
To celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight, Aura Que are also giving customers 10 per cent off all products in their Online Boutique until 7th March – this includes all sale items and the new Spring/Summer 2010 stock that will be available from 1st March 2010. They also provide free postage and packing www.auraque.com.
We’ve just found out about an exciting new way to apply foundation that promises results we’re only used to seeing on the models in magazines.
The range is called Airbase and does what it says on the tin - it uses the familiar airbrushing concept to apply make up to the skin. It’s a wonder no one thought of it before, genius!
One of the women behind the brand is Judy Naake who brought St.Tropez to our shores 15 years ago. Judy teamed up with the Oscar nominated make-up artist Anni Buchanan to create a brand which looks set to be a huge success.
Already many celebrities are fans or Airbase as it has been used by make-up artists for nearly two years.
Now it doesn’t come cheap but I’m told it’s well worth it. There are five foundations, two blushers and one bronzer all of which are £29.95 and can last for up to six months (very reasonable). However you’ll also need to buy the applicator Airbrush and mini-compressor pack with costs £134.95. The way we look at it, you’ll only need to buy the Airbrush once, so like hair-straighteners – it’s probably worth the investment.
The added benefits of the make-up itself is that it’s long lasting, heat resistant and waterproof and it contains Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Vitamin A improves elasticity and helps to reduce fine lines and Vitamin E is an anti-oxidant that helps in fighting free radicals.
The foundation has a silicone base which allows the skin to breathe, apparently without clogging pores. Combined with the airbrush that disperses the foundation in tiny particles we should have the recipe for flawless skin.
Similarly to straightening your hair however, I have heard that everyday use isn’t recommended. Using an air brush can apparently push make up deep into the skin if it’s used regularly. Something to bear in mind if you’re as excited as we are about this new gadget – nights out and special occasions only girls! Plus we can’t be beautiful all the time… can we?
Watch the video demonstration to see Airbase in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgtJhKuKyyY
Plaited hair is big this season. On the catwalk we’ve seen Alexander Wang, DSquared and Mui Mui coveting the style but all in very different ways. Tight and sleek or loose and messy – you choose.Commenting on the trend, celebrity Lee Stafford says:
“Plaits and braids are set to be a key feature of this seasons hair trends. Keep them sleek and silky smooth or rough them up and add a bit of sexy ‘I just got out of bed’ matt texture. This is a trend that everyone can recreate in seconds and can really glam up ‘end of the day’ hair without hours of re-styling.”
At the Brit Awards, Fearne Cotton sported what has got to be the trickiest plait to achieve – the Herringbone. Here Lee Stafford shares his tips on how to recreate the look.
How to get Fearne’s herringbone red carpet look in 10 simple steps…
1. It’s really important to get as much volume and texture as possible in your hair before braiding it to stop hair from slipping, so using about a tennis ball sized amount of root lifting mousse, rough up hair from root to tip.
2. Create a side parting by drawing a fine tooth comb from crown to hairline, and arrange hair into place.
3. For more length and thickness like Fearne’s you can also add some clip in hair extensions at the nape of the neck.
4. Then pull hair over to one side, over the shoulder as if you were going to create a side pony tail.
5. Separate all of the hair that is on the side into two halves.
6. Take a very small section – a 'pinch' of hair, not a handful – from the left section of hair, and cross it over so it joins the section on the right.
7. Take another small section of hair from the right section of hair, and cross it over so it joins the section on 
the left.
8. Keep taking small sections and crossing them over to the opposite section. At first you may not see the herringbone effect, as you continue you will notice the herringbone pattern beginning to form. Continue until running out of hair and then tie an elastic band or wrap a bit of leather thong around the ends of the braid leaving a good two inches of loose hair at the ends to hold it.
9. This season’s braid is loose and soft so don’t worry if you have flyaway or wispy strands- in fact the messier the better!
10. Give hair a light mist of hairspray. You can also use kirby grips to secure loose strands of hair- this might be especially necessary if you have shorter layers cut into hair. Remember to use grips that are the same colour as your hair so that they are camouflaged.
Brazilian footwear label Melissa, best known for its collaboration with Vivienne Westwood, has this morning unveiled its latest collaboration with Jean Paul Gaultier. The designer has collaborated for the second time with Melissa, creating a recyclable 10cm plastic stiletto which launches in June priced £160."I've worked very closely with Melissa on the development of this style - it's very sexy," Jean Paul Gaultier told Vogue.com this morning. "I'd love to see it worn with fishnet tights, so you can really max out on the transparent aspect of the plastic!"
The style - called JEAN PAUL GAULTIER X MELISSA - will be available in black, caramel, beige, lime and tangerine.
Jean Paul Gaultier first teamed up with Melissa in 1982.
The Melissa brand has been long established with approximately 50 million pairs of shoes made over the last 25 years. The rubber used to make their designs is sustainably sourced and can be recycled after use. Because most of the designs use only one material (rubber) they are much easier to recycle and there is almost zero waste from the manufacturing process.
The most unusual thing about the Melissa shoes is the smell. The rubber is injected with scents of bubblegum and sweet shops which makes for an unusual sensory sensation, not often associated with footwear. No more smelly feet!
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Melissa has put on an exhibit in Santa Tereza in
Camels, nudes and pale greys are all over the catwalk and look set to be the key colours in the hottest spring wardrobes. This jumpsuit hits the nail on the head. And not only is the colour spot on, the mixture of body-con and boyfriend has got us lusting after this essential item.To really get pulses racing we’d team it with candy pink lips, matching nails and a sorbet colour-of-choice clutch and heels.
We want it now! £70 www.topshop.com
Oh dear, last night was the opening evening of Agyness tripped on stage during the Fashion For Relief Haiti NYC 2010 collection show, organised by Naomi Campbell who famously fell during a Vivienne Westwood show in 1993.
The old saying ‘No pain, no gain’ springs to mind: yes there is a lot to be gained from wearing high heels – they make you look longer, slimmer, sleeker, sexier – but often they can really hurt!
Posh, Kelly Osbourne, Sarah Jessica Parker – even Oprah Winfrey suffer for fashion with their common complaint of bunions. A painful problem none of us want ever to have to deal with.
So where is the happy medium? We’re not born with the natural ability to walk well in heels; it’s a skill which needs practise in order to build up the necessary ankle muscles. Whilst some of us can’t be bothered, others take it too far. Give yourself and your feet a break. Don’t live in your heels but take the time to perfect that sexy strut.
Check out this ‘how to’ guide for some failsafe tips www.wikihow.com/Walk-in-High-Heels (Ignore the bit where it says the shoes in the picture would be good, they wouldn’t, they’re hideous. Just look for the heel height as a guide).
Teenage cancer charity Trekstock has launched its first fashion range named 'Trekstock Loves' which will be sold exclusively through Browns Focus and online from 15th February.The seven designers who’ve partnered in the project include House of Holland, Ksubi, James Long, LPBG, Maria Francesca Pepe, PPQ and Richard Nicoll.
All proceeds from the SS10 collection go to Trekstock's chosen charity the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Trekstock appeared in the summer of 2006 and since then, has raised thousands of pounds and masses of awareness for teenagers with cancer through collaborations in music and fashion.
The idea originated when the charity’s founder Sophie signed up for a charity trek to
Since then, the Trekstock brand has gained invaluable celebrity support from artists and celebrities such as the lovely Beth Ditto, Katy Perry, Mischa Barton, Kings of Leon, Agyness Deyn, The Klaxons, Band of Horses, The Mighty Boosh, The Horrors, Kimberly Stewart and Sadie Frost to name a few, phew!
We’ve had a wee sneak peak at the range and we’re loving what we’ve seen so far. Uber-cool denim pieces as well as an absolutely fabulous short-sleeved nipple tassles T – it’s part of the men’s range but we want it! Check out the images below to get your fix.
To find out more visit www.trekstock.com.
Today the fashion world is in shock at hearing the news the great British fashion icon, Lee Alexander McQueen has died. McQueen sadly took his own life at his It is said he was troubled over the recent loss of his mum who died last week; subsequent posts on Twitter revealed he was finding the tragedy hard to deal with. The news comes nearly three years after McQueen’s close friend and person who discovered him, Isabella Blow, committed suicide.
London Fashion Week is about to start and the designer was to unveil his new collection at
McQueen's family has asked for privacy in order to come to terms with the news and countless high profile celebrities have already paid tribute to the designer.
Supermodel Tyra Banks, who hosts fashion show
A statement released on behalf of supermodel Kate Moss said she was "shocked and devastated" at the death of her "dear friend".
Born in London in 1969 as the youngest of six children, McQueen left school at the age of 16 and was offered an apprenticeship at the traditional Savile Row tailors Anderson and Shephard, then at neighbouring Gieves and Hawkes.
At 20 he was employed by the designer Koji Tatsuno. A year later McQueen travelled to
In October 1996 McQueen was appointed chief designer at the French label Givenchy where he worked until March 2001.
In December 2000, 51 per cent of Alexander McQueen was acquired by luxury brand Gucci, where he became creative director. Expansion followed and included the opening of flagship stores in
McQueen was a four-time winner of the British designer of the year award as well as the international designer of the year award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. He was awarded the CBE in 2003.
The news comes at a time when it seems many talented, young people in the public eye have recently died prematurely.
The range is fun and unusual and enables you to invest in art, but with far more interaction. The designs were taken from Hundertwasser’s ‘Pavilions and Bungalows for native foreigners’ painting, which depicts colourful swirls and trees (see above).
Each piece of jewellery takes two years to be brought to life from planning to precise manufacture. With such dedication and meticulous design, the quality must be second to none.
Prints were all over the catwalk and look set to be big during the summer, but if you aren’t brave enough to sport a kaleidoscopic jumpsuit, accessories are the answer.
This range has covered all bases and when worn, would undoubtedly catch a few eyes and inspire conversations.
For more information visit www.frey-wille.com.
We’ve all heard the old saying ‘blondes have more fun’ but now the fairer haired are in with a chance to win an amazing holiday courtesy of John Frieda.The hair care expert is giving one lucky winner the chance to soak up the sun in
Everyone loves that post-holiday look we show off when returning from the sun, but those of us who can’t wait for the summer holidays can replicate the look at home. To help, John Frieda are also giving away haircuts and sets of The John Frieda® go blonder shampoos and conditioners.
So what are you waiting for?!
Head to http://www.facebook.com/JohnFriedaUK and click on the Go Blonder & WIN tab to enter now.
While you are there, also check out Kerry Warn’s fan 'how to' videos for great hair tips, such as this one on how to achieve salon straight perfect hair:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=288189765994&ref=mf
The competition is open to
