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Posts tagged ‘ss11’

Apr 8

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Summer shopping starts now!

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Summer’s really kicked in and after spending more than 40 minutes this morning rummaging through my wardrobe – dusting off a ripped, pale denim jacket and realising that most of summer wardrobe is completely inappropriate for work –I have now scheduled in an afternoon of summer shopping.

This weather has really taken me my surprise, I normally build on my summer wardrobe throughout the spring months but we’re needing full-on high summer clothing at the start of April (I hope this doesn’t mean it’s going to be freezing in August though!)

All Saints has got a sale on at the moment, until April 12th (in association with Grazia mag). And it’s got some great women’s summer wardrobe staples which are perfect for this weather.

I like this cream Kensington short with Kasha trousers for work. Or for an off duty, slouchy weekend look, team this plume boyfriend cardi with a stencil vest, faded turn-up jeans and sandy, alpine bunker boots.

I’ve scheduled in my summer wardrobe blitz for Monday afternoon..I’ll let you know how I go!

FashionBite xx

Apr 4

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Adidas Originals SS11 collection

Adidas Originals SS11Adidas Originals SS11Adidas Originals SS11Adidas Original SS11Adidas Originals SS11

Eccentric sportswear brand Adidas Originals, famous for its retro styles, didn’t disappoint with its women’s SS11 collection, which featured more-colourful-than-ever glossy floral prints, bright and summery light-weight boots and ‘mini-mouse’ inspired trainers.

I’m a fan of this season’s denim ankle-length designs. The brand has also extended its range of wellies, which it introduced last year, ready for all 2011′s quickly-approaching summer festivals.

However, while the women’s range pushed sportswear boundaries, pieces in the men’s collection bordered on bizarre. Designer collections included stark white waistcoats with angel wings, and a ‘big cat’ hoodie complete with ears, claws and tail.

Adidas Originals SS11 collection

GUEST BLOGGER: Freelance Journalist Amy Golding

FashionBite xx

Apr 1

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NEW LAUNCH – British brand Faun debuts for SS11

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Last week, young fashion brand Faun launched onto the market with its ultra-feminine SS11 womenswear collection.

The label, launched by designer George Singleton, is targeting bridge-level retailers and looking to operate in the same market as the likes of Ted Baker and Reiss. Prices start at about £80 for a basic silk T-shirt and go up to £350 for an embellished dress.

A spokesperson for the brand remained unusually tight-lipped about the designer Singleton, only giving away that he has a decade of experience in the fashion industry and takes pride in sourcing high-quality materials for his designs.

The new collection plays safe with mid-length dresses and floaty smocks in floral prints and faded shades, alongside bolder acid yellow pieces. Key designs in the collection include the ‘Butterfly Sleeve’ dress in ash grey and the ‘Ditsy’ zip-front frill top.

For AW11, the brand plans to introduce more sequinned silk dresses and tops. I was also given a sneak-peak of designs for SS12, which included above-the-knee fitted skirts, in colours such as coral, with thick-black waistbands.

Currently the range is only sold online, through Faun-uk.com, although the brand is looking to branch out into boutiques. The brand is aimed at people in their mid-to-late 20′s and 30′s – although the model on Faun’s homepage, who appears to be in her early teens, doesn’t necessarily suggest this!

GUEST BLOGGER: Freelance Journalist Amy Golding

FashionBite’s View

The collection looks lovely, with beautiful feminine silks and a soft of palette of cornflower blues and faded corals. But, we were quite suprised at FashionBite as to the choice of model for Faun’s debut SS11 season. If the brand is pitching at a mid-’20′s/30′s Reiss customer, with enough disposable income to afford a bridge-level brand, why choose an incredibly young, teen-looking model? Apart from the model choice though, the brand gets a thumbs-up from the FB team.

FashionBite xx

Mar 24

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SS11: Matalan’s gorgeous high summer collection

Matalan SS11, FashionBiteMatalan SS11, FashionBiteMatalan SS11, FashionBiteMatalan SS11, FashionBiteI associate Matalan with value fashion, in the same bracket as New Look, Primark and Peacocks, and in terms of price points it is, but I think where the retailer really storms ahead is the quality of fabric. A few years ago, I interviewed the chief executive at the time who talked endlessly about quality and he was right to state its point of difference from other value chains.

Association with the name Matalan can make you think cheap, but it definitely doesn’t mean poor quality. I headed to Matalan’s press day this week to check out its high summer offer and the collections looked fab-a mixture of soft floral pantsuits, bright neon bikini’s and bold print Aladdin pants, combined with statement shoes, sunglasses, beach hats and accessories. Price points range between about £4 and £25, which is great value.

With beachwear, I only tend to wear it for one season- so I don’t see the point in spending hundreds on it. I’ve just found out that there’s a Matalan near me in Greenwich, so I’ll definitely be stocking up before my holiday to Italy this June.

My favourite parts of the high summer collection were the accessories and shoes.

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I bought some UGG Australia sandals last year and admittedly I did hammer them with quite a few holidays, but still- they were well over £100 and completely fell apart. Another pair of beautiful sandals I lost on a beach in the Gili Islands, just off the coast of Bali..so, my resolution to buy cheap this year is clear!

As much as I love ASOS, I think some of their own label stuff can be slightly dubious in terms of quality. I bought a lovely dragonfly necklace and another flamingo one which both broke after a couple of wears. The materials looked great in the pics but ended up looking quite cheap in real life. It’s difficult to tell the quality sometimes without touching the fabric or material and running your fingers through it, but I’ve always been really impressed with Matalan.

Matalan SS11, FashionBite

The shell necklace (above) is made from a real shell, which has been polished and embellished- making each necklace indivdual, and it only costs £6, which is where value over cheapness becomes clear.

If you’re heading off on hols or just stocking up for a warm English summer it’s definitely worth a look!

See Matalan for your nearest store.

FashionBite xx

Mar 4

Fab Spring Accessories – Clara Francis jewellery

Clara Francis jewelleryClara Francis jewelleryClara Francis jewelleryClara Francis jewelleryFor me, Clara Francis’ fairytale-inspired, hand-beaded necklaces are perfect accessories for spring.

The London-born jewellery designer creates statement, yet elegant, pieces. Her unique trademark necklaces feature beautifully crafted three-dimensional butterflies and hummingbirds birds with fluttering wings. 

Francis’ current collection also includes toadstool and hot air balloon pendants, handmade with colourful glass beads on long silver chains.

Another prominent piece is the ‘Fox’ necklace. A delicate fox face, made with rustic brown, burnt-orange and white beads, comes on either a silver or gold chain.  

I first came across Francis in December at the Clothes Show Live, where I purchased a multi-pendant silver necklace. The piece consists of a solid silver wishbone, dove and lotus flower, as well as a beaded pink and cream butterfly, on a silver chain.

She also makes classic silver and gold pendants. Her spring collection includes a leaping hare and flying bee and fox and deer head designs.

Francis, a self-taught designer, was an actress before she switched to jewellery.

To view her full collection visit Clara Francis

FashionBite reporter Amy Golding xx

Feb 6

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NEW LABEL WATCH: ‘Little Glass Clementine’

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Little Glass Clementine, the new jewellery label, is to showcase in Selfridge’s Oxford Street windows as part of its ‘Bright Young Things’ campaign.

Selfridges has scoured the UK to find the most exciting new names from the world of fashion and art and each designer has then been given the chance to currate one of the store’s prestigious windows. Fashionbite wrote about it previously, see the post ‘Selfridges hands over Oxford Street windows to young designers.’

This week, Little Glass Clementine revealed its exclusive collection for Selfridges, which looks fab. I saw the label at Estethica last month, the British Fashion Council’s ethical arm, and really liked it. I took these pics and ended up chatting to the designer’s lovely (and v.proud) Mum.

It’s fantastic to see that Selfridges has recognised the talent of new designer Clementine James. Clementine’s designs intricately weave together precious and discarded objects. Antique jewellery, treasure, wood, bones, junk, old gems, watches, and even bath plugs! The ethos for her designs is to recycle and remake jewellery in the hope of retelling a story.

At Selfridges on Saturday 19th February at 2pm, Clementine will also be running a workshop and Q & A session on the art of making recycled jewellery. People will be encouraged to make their own ‘Little Glass Clementine’ style necklaces.

For more information on the label, visit Littleglassclementine.com.

FashionBite xx

Oct 4

Paris Fashion Week: John Galliano

John_Galliano_Paris_SS11John_Galliano_Paris_SS11John-Galliano-Paris-Spring-2010-CollectionJohn-Galliano-Spring-2010-Paris-Fashion-Show I absolutely LOVE John Galliano and his spring ’11 show at Paris Fashion Week this season did not disappoint!

For me, he epitomises everything fashion should be- bold, bright, exciting, fun and fresh. His spring ’11 collection was rooted in the artistic eccentricity of the 1920’s with a theatrical-inspired runway show.

The works of artists such as Henri Matisse, Jean Cocteau and Fernand Léger influenced his catwalk, alongside the pantomime of 1920’s theatre with exaggerated wigs, veiled bonnets in neon pink or orange chiffon, over-sized hats and hand-painted parasols.

Skirts were layered in contrasting palettes of pink and orange or red and pink – teamed with belted, fitted jackets. The eclectic show climaxed with a series of bejewelled white chiffon dresses topped with veiled hat headresses.

FashionBite xx

Sep 27

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Pucci rocks the ‘beautiful Ibizan hippie’ for ss11 at Milan Fashion Week

Pucci, Milan ss11Pucci, Milan Pucci, Milan ss11Pucci, Milan Supermodel Freja Beha Erichsen opened the Emilio Pucci ss11 show at Milan Fashion Week this season, wearing a long printed chiffon maxi-dress with thigh-high, lace-up tan brown boots.

I love Pucci designs- vibrant, colourful and perfect for those hot, fun, summer days…and Dundas did not disappoint!

Former Emanuel Ungaro designer Peter Dundas joined the Florentine design house about two years ago, following the departure of Matthew Williamson who left to develop his own-label.

The collection had a very bohemian feel to it this season, with long fluid maxi-dresses in a palette of blue, white, camel and terracotta.

Pucci, famous for its geometric prints in a kaleidoscope of colours, drew inspiration from the archives for ss11 with a Wild West twist. This included fringing on leather jackets and trousers, leather waistcoats and ruffled blouses with lace-up fronts.

British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman told Vogue.com: “It was very rock ‘n’ roll, especially with Kylie sitting in the front row in her barely there gold dress [from Pucci's autumn/winter collection]. Peter does what he does really well. It’s the same riff but he has taken it to a slightly different place this time – it’s hard to think of Pucci as anything other than for rich, beautiful Ibizan hippies.”

Dundas said: “A casual and carefree summer is what Pucci girls enjoy. So why give them anything else?”

The clothing is fabulous for dancing the day away at Blue Marlin, Ibiza, or perfect for a relaxed late lunch at Club 55, St Tropez….

It’s going to be a bit of a wait until next summer though..!

FashionBite xx