by Sarah-Hayley Owen

Sunday, May 29, 2011

BaByliss celebrate the launch of the Wave Envy Styler with a pool party!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Proud Chelsea presents the Audrey Collection by Bob Willoughby

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

REISS AND THE ROYAL SEAL OF APPROVAL

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Create Your Own Shoes at Upper Street Shoe

Have you ever dreamed of becoming your own shoe designer, or perhaps you long for a pair shoes to team with that extra special outfit? Upperstreet.com is the hugely successful website that allows you to design your own pair of exclusive shoes, which will even be delivered to your door within weeks.

Whether you are looking for the perfect shoes to complement your wedding dress or a treat for a friend, Upperstreet’s unique experience offers women hundreds of different style combinations in an extensive range of beautiful and luxurious materials, colours and embellishments from sizes 2-10, there is undoubtedly a pair of heels to suit every woman’s passion for shoes, just sit back and watch your shoes come to life in 3D in front of your eyes.

To begin with you simply select your shoe base from the seven different styles, including pointed courts and elegant sandals to on-trend gladiator heels and round toe platforms. Then it’s time to get creative as you customise the front, back and straps to suit your style.

Once you have chosen your desired shape let your imagination run wild and add a stamp of individuality to the design with the choice of fabrics, from soft suede’s, silky satins to chic patent leather. Finally add your finishing touches applying anything from studs to Swarovski gems, the options are endless.

For many of us our ideal pair of shoes is located within our minds and we shop relinquishing various features that we have dreamed about, with Upperstreet.com these features become a reality and you will own that ‘wow’ shoe you never thought could exist.

If you want to send the Upperstreet.com unique shopping experience to your friends and family, you can even purchase gift cards as the perfect present for the entire shoe obsessed. What are you waiting for, get designing and be sure to tweet me pictures of your creations.

Be sure to visit the Upperstreet.com Facebook page for more shoe images in the Upperstreet.com gallery.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Jeremy Scott for Swatch

Monday, May 16, 2011

Fantasy Footwear - London College of Fashion MA Class design for New Look

It is always a proud and exciting moment to see students from your old college taking on the British High Street in style. This is exactly what four MA students from Cordwainers at the renowned London College of Fashion (LCF) have mastered.

LCF in collaboration with high street retailer New Look is proud to announce the launch of the London College of Fashion Master’s collection for New Look which launches in store Mid May. The collection comprises of six styles designed by four MA students studying MA Fashion Footwear. Overall winner Chang Seok (Ralf) Ko designed and created three of the winning designs (a flat sandal, a high open toe mule and a mid heel strappy sandal) with runners up Ruth Jones, Adriana Lurascu and Kim Kwang producing one design each.

In March 2010, New Look set LCF students on the internationally respected Cordwainers at London College of Fashion MA Fashion Footwear course the task of designing a range of shoes with a view of one or more of the styles being selected as part of the exclusive six style SS11 collection.

Heading up the judging panel was New Look’s Group Design Director, Barbara Horspool, along with Malcolm Collins, Director for Footwear and Accessories, Fiona McGuire, a Senior Footwear Designer and Helen Bleazard Head of Buying for Footwear and Accessories.

The panel were also joined by LCF’s Professor Roy Peach, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, famed British footwear designer Jonathan Kelsey, who provided a critical designer eye and inspirational British womenswear designer Giles Deacon who has been working with New Look on a collaborative basis for the past three years designing Gold by Giles.

The overall winner Chang (Ralf) Seok Ko produced three styles using a bleached denim technique with hand frayed raw edges which will play an integral role in the craftsmanship and production process of his shoes gained the opportunity to travel overseas and see his designs made up by one of New Look’s suppliers.

The entire collection has something for everything, from Ralf’s understated bleached denim glamour, to the vibrant colours of Ruth Jones’ modern wedge heels, or the romanticism of Adriana Lurascu lingerie inspired designs and not forgetting Kim Kwang’s killer heels with seductive cut out bars.

Be sure you to refer to the New Look website for when they are in stock.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Sarah-Hayley attended - One night in Chelsea: Nina Naustdal Couture Dazzles at Launch Party

Last week I was privileged to attend the launch party to celebrate couture designer Nina Naustdal’s first collection showcased at the Nina Naustdal Couture boutique on London’s Walton Street.

"The Jewellery Dress" draws inspiration from precious stones - dazzling yet entirely unique in their beauty – Nina Naustdal Couture’s first collection features show-stopping cocktail dresses and gowns in fluid, jewel-toned Italian silks.

Glittering with hundreds of individually hand-applied Swarovski crystals, Nina Naustdal’s dresses evoke the splendour of fine jewellery with dramatic yet feminine silhouettes in a rich colour palette of caramel, gold, ruby red, amethyst, sapphire blue and emerald green.

“As a setting is to a perfectly-cut diamond, my pieces incorporate cleverly-disguised corseting and boning to present a woman as a beautiful gift to behold...” says Nina Naustdal of her collection.

Norwegian-born designer Nina Naustdal’s passion for design stemmed from childhood: from a very young age, Nina had a highly specific vision for womenswear, sketching out designs on her kitchen table, which her grandmother – a seamstress by profession – would then make up for her.

In order to make steps towards making her dream of becoming a fashion designer a reality, Nina Naustdal pursued a career in catwalk modelling. However this failed to satisfy her hunger for creativity and she soon left modelling behind. Hesitant to enter into the world of fashion without formal training, Nina Naustdal enrolled at the prestigious London Esthetique in Norway, then going on to launch Nina Naustdal Beauty.

Finally, unable to ignore her calling for design any longer, Nina enrolled at the Esmod Oslo School of Fashion and Design in Oslo; where she honed her intrinsic talents before going on to establish her label Nina Naustdal Couture.

The launch event saw many celebrities showing their support for Nina and her latest venture. Guests such as Sinitta, Hofit Golan, Nick Knowles, Jessica Moor, Claire Guerlin, and Emma Rigby sipped champagne in the sunshine at the Walton Street Boutique, all in awe of the talented designer and her exquisite wearable jewellery.

Allow yourself an intimate visual of the event and an opportunity to witness the beauty of Nina Naustdal Couture by taking a look at the film below by James Miller and Paul Noble.

Monday, May 09, 2011

The Sparkle Factor by Magpie Vintage

Saturday, May 07, 2011

PRIMARK PRESENT A SIZZLING HOT HIGH-SUMMER COLLECTION

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Handbag Crush - The Balenciaga Riva Tote

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Alexander McQueen at The Met Museum - Savage Beauty - Preview

The exhibition at The Met Museum organised by The Costume Institute, will celebrate the late Lee McQueen’s extraordinary contributions to fashion. Documenting from his Central Saint Martins postgraduate collection of 1992 to his final runway presentation, which took place after his death in February 2010.

McQueen challenged and diversified the understanding of fashion beyond utility and the wearable to create conceptual pieces of culture, politics, and identity. His iconic designs constitute the work of an artist whose medium was fashion. The exhibition will feature approximately one hundred ensembles and seventy accessories from McQueen’s prolific nineteen-year career. The exhibits are taken primarily from the Alexander McQueen Archive in London. Some pieces will be from the Givenchy Archive in Paris, as well as private collections, such as signature designs including the “bumster” trouser, the kimono jacket, and the three-point “origami” frock coat.

McQueen was influenced by the exaggerated silhouettes of the 1860s, 1880s and 1950s and his technical ingenuity always imbued his designs with an innovative sensibility that kept him at the vanguard.

“When we put the antlers on the model and then draped over it the lace embroidery that we had made, we had to poke them through a £2,000 piece of work. But then it worked because it looks like she’s rammed the piece of lace with her antlers. There’s always spontaneity. You've got to allow for that in my shows.”

Lee Alexander McQueen

The exhibition is organised by Andrew Bolton, curator, with the support of Harold Koda, curator in charge, both of The Costume Institute. Sam Gainsbury and Joseph Bennett, the production designers for Alexander McQueen’s fashion shows, will serve as the exhibition’s creative director and production designer, respectively.

For more information take a look at the Met Museum’s website here and for iPad users download a special Vogue's special app.

Click here to watch iconic McQueen moments.

Tuesday, May 03, 2011