The Fashion Closet Archives - Page 26 of 29

London Fashion Week FW17: VIN + OMI Present Submerge

VIN + OMI are known for their elaborate show sets during London fashion Week and as a brand famed for its couture, it draws in a pretty impressive crowd. For FW17 the brand has partnered with the iconic Michelle Violy Harper to produce its first ever ready to wear collection. Exciting stuff right?

With Violy as their muse, VIN + OMI have created a fresh aesthetic with new silhouettes and shapes to flatter form. Bold new patterns and colours reflect a fantasy waterworld, using fabrics made from recycled plastic collected from the ocean alongside the highest quality silks, sustainable latex and wool. The duo are always exploring new methods of fabric manipulation and fabrication and with Submerge for FW17, they’ve produced their most relatable and wearable collection yet.

“The collection is for that international, creative, art loving woman, with a sprinkling of menswear in there too. The collection has a balance of light pieces and heavier winter outerwear, pastel shades and bold colours. Global temperatures are changing and people are jumping on planes more often. Seasonal collections need to reflect this.” VIN + OMI

In a fully immersive London Fashion Week show staged at The Sanderson Hotel packed with the fashion elite, celebrities, and me, models walked the boards of the Perrier-Jouet enchanted garden before taking to the sidewalk to showcase the collection. A co-ed show saw both men’s and womenswear together on the runway, topped off with VIN + OMI’s signature quirky accessories including oversized silk mittens and zip tie jewellery in uber bright colours as well as hand drawn shoes. Oversized proportions and elongated shoulders and sleeves have been a favourite with many designers in the FW17 Showcases and these extreme shapes managed to remain flattering to the female form at VIN + OMI.

“My obsession with creating clothes that are avant garde, and steeped in the fantasy of the awe inspiring underwater world inspired me to work closely with VIN + OMI to create a collection that both challenges and delights. I was drawn to their work because they push boundaries and are able to explore and translate not only concepts, but also feelings.” Michelle Violy Harper

Radio 1 DJ Jo Whitley took to the runway for the finale alongside her two sons and daughter Coco, who led the finale, saying “well they got me out of Doc Martens!” As she closed the show.

Every Fashionista worth her Himalayan Pink Salt knows that London Fashion Week is where we look to find fresh new shapes, silhouettes and colours, it’s where most emerging trends come from and the VIN + OMI show provided a hotbed of inspiration for the high street. Come September, expect to see chiffon and mesh daubed with watercolours and frills (already huge news for SS17) on a high street near you.

Pixie xo

Professional images taken by Christopher Daw, all other images taken by me.

Categories: The Archives, The Fashion Closet

Spotlight on: Jessie Western, Modern Day Cowgirl Dressing

Jessie Western is the smart girls choice when it comes to Western style. With it’s ethical sourcing and manufacturing Jessie Western has garnered applause from its celebrity fans including Kate Moss, Kendall Jenner, Cameron Diaz and Kate Hudson. In the heart of Notting Hill, this tiny, quirky store has a tapestry rich backstory behind its custom cowboy boots, leather jackets and Navajo jewellery…..

Sisters Jessie and Vicky are the driving force behind Jessie Western, for over 25 years they’ve visited the Arizona reservations, supporting Native American artists by cutting out the middle man and working with them directly. The brand has built up a reputation for sourcing and setting rare and unusual stones in their Navajo jewellery and their passion lies in creating beautiful one off pieces like nothing else available in the UK.

JESSIE & vicky in Arizona for JESSIE western

Every piece of jewellery that Jessie Western puts its name to is hand-crafted in sterling silver and real Native American turquoise, not the reconstituted stuff you often find in many high street jewellery retailers. The brand celebrates the real craftsmanship of the Native American artists they actively support and if you visit the store, Vicky is often there telling the backstory of the brand; she can tell you where every single piece in the store has come from and the story behind it.

“The Zuni people hand carve the spirit animals, “Fetishes”. The Eagle, for example is to seek a higher perspective, widen their vision… We feel very blessed to have watched so many Ceremonial Dances over the years: it’s a rich culture, and one we love. We want to share that passion, their vision and art.”

The boutique in Notting Hill has to be seen to be believed, it’s a teeny, tiny treasure trove but don’t let it’s diminutive size fool you. Jessie Western is packed to the rafters with awesome, real Western pieces including bespoke handmade, embroidered cowboy boots, cowboy hats, jackets, blanket coats, suede skirts, ponchos and handmade moccasins. Located in the centre of Portobello Market, it’s a must see if you’re in the capital and trust me Voyeurs, you can lose hours exploring this store.

Through my visits to Jessie Western, I’ve built up a friendship with Jessie and Vicky and I always make time to visit when I’m in town. I love hearing their stories about visits to the reservation and the passion for their collaborations comes across in conversation as they unpack boxes to show me new pieces and tell me about the artists responsible for them.

Much of the sisters’ youth was spent on a Seminole reservation, they’ve lived and travelled extensively in the American Southwest. Jessie studied at St Martins College before being signed as a singer/songwriter to Chrysalis in LA, whilst she’s enjoyed fame and success in the public arena, Jessie has always had an active interest in jewellery design and the Western way of dressing. Her fine jewellery collection is influenced by her love for rare stones and animals, every piece she designs is meticulously hand drawn and set with diamonds, tsavorites, sapphires or uncut aquamarines – hence the hefty pricetag.

Vicky on the other hand, is an established geometric landscape artist and studied at the prestigious Chelsea Art College.

“We’ve been going to the reservations in Arizona for over 28 years now and support over 4000 Native American Artists directly, it’s exciting to see the work of the artists, it’s always changing and evolving. The Native American Artists we work with believe wearing Turquoise protects them on their journey in life. The silver is often punched with animal details and symbols, they all have special meanings many which have been passed down from generation to generation.”

Vicky tells me that Jessie Western clients are loyal, they enjoy coming to the store to find that ‘special piece’. It’s easy to see why their customers keep coming back, with new pieces arriving all the time, the store looks different every time I visit and the sisters relish in showing off their latest arrivals and how to dress them. Last time I visited I bought a leather and silver bolo tie and a pair of boot harnesses for my cowboy boots after a personal recommendation from Jessie and every time I wear them I get loads of compliments.

If you’re looking for a way to emulate true Western style, not just as a passing trend but with real, long lasting, quality pieces, then Jessie Western should be on your radar.

Pixie xo

Categories: The Archives, The Beauty Cupboard, The Fashion Closet

Restora UK Launch Party

Last week I hotfooted it to Manchester for the UK launch of Restora – a brand new, super advanced hair treatment that promises to reverse damage and restore your tresses to silky perfection.

If you’re into hair care, you’ll know that the buzz at the moment is all about bonds, whether it’s Olaplex, Fibreplex, Smartbond or any other high tech hair treatments, the focus is on rebuilding and strengthening the bonds deep within the hair.

Manchester born brand Restora aims to grab a slice of the action with their latest haircare range which launched in the UK last week. I headed to celeb hotspot Nicky Oliver Hairdressing in the heart of Manchester to find out whether it lives up to its claims.

We were treated to champagne on arrival and a demonstration of the product on a model with severely over processed, bleached hair. We were invited to feel the quality of the model’s hair before and after the treatment to get a real idea of the product’s efficacy. After shampooing with Restora shampoo, the model’s hair was coated with the Restora Protein Treatment Shot – a single use canister packed with amino acids that get to work deep within the hair shaft straight away – then covered over with a plastic cap (which comes with the product) in order to retain heat from the scalp.

Whilst the treatment was left to work, we headed upstairs to the salon floor for an exclusive DJ set by Nakia Oliver and endless canapés. Yum. I took advantage of the braid bar with a hidden undercut braid and actually won some pretty cute prizes for being completely awesome. Not even jokes.

After around 40 minutes the treatment is ready to be rinsed off, the Restora conditioner is used which, as well as the shampoo, contains a diluted dosage of the protein treatment to lock in and maintain the benefits of the protein shot. Nicky talks us through the three year research and development process that took place with a team of chemists in order to create Restora and bring it to market. As he talks, the model’s hair is blow dried and already it’s clear to see that the tones in her hair are brighter and shinier.

“Based on Cystine science, an essential amino acid, Restora™ Protein Treatment transforms the internal structure of hair providing stronger, healthier looking locks. The products promise to instantly turn back the clock on damaged hair, effectively tackling frizz and repairing your split ends.”

Once finished and styled, everyone in the room agrees that the hair definitely looks healthier. It’s softer to the touch and looks brighter, but the real proof is in the feel of the hair and it’s insanely soft and smooth.

The idea is that Restora is a home use treatment with salon results which last for up to six weeks when the maintenance products are used. Sounds pretty good right? It’s available exclusively through the Restora website so there’s no salon upselling and it’s delivered direct to your door. It’s pretty reasonably priced too; at £3.95 for the Protein Shampoo, £4.95 for the Protein Conditioner, and £29.95 for the Protein Treatment, it’s a small price to pay for long lasting, visible damage repair, IF you have extensive damage from bleach or overprocessing.

“I just felt these (in-salon) treatments were not taking people’s lifestyles into account, which I know is valuable to them.” Seena Seka, Haircare Speciallst for Linco Care Ltd.

Everyone on the guest list was gifted a single protein shot along with Restora shampoo and conditioner and some other awesome goodies. Keep it here Voyeurs as I’ll be reporting back on my own experiences with Restora pretty soon – my hair is recovering but will take any help it can get!

Pixie xo

Categories: The Archives, The Fashion Closet, The Glorious North East

Menswear Fit for a Duke

When it comes to menswear things can get a little tricky, sure it looks simple enough for a fashionista looking in but when it comes to dressing men, silhouette is key as everything is loosely based on one main aesthetic – a trouser paired with a top.

With the emergence of more and more menswear design talent through LC:M and NYFW Mens, the options for male dressing are widening however these groundbreaking shows are more about pushing boundaries than setting seasonal trends. As much as Men’s Fashion Month is an major event in the fashion calendar, it mostly gives me inspo for my own wardrobe.

We all know that Fashionista’s move in tribes. The key difference is that men often aren’t aware of the theory of fashion tribes, or of which tribe they fall into; whether they’re a Classic Aesthetic (jeans and tee), Sports Luxe (relaxed fit jeans / sweatpants, sports tee & sneakers), Wide Boy (skinny sweats & vest) or Urban Gentleman (tailoring with all the trimmings), it’s not usually a conscious decision. Whether aware of it are not, men are unwittingly influenced by fashion.

You’ve seen The Devil Wears Prada, you know the theory behind the cerulean blue sweater – in a nutshell, every purchase you make on the highstreet, every throwaway notion or bargain bin selection, is directly influenced by the elite runway shows at the top of the chain. Fashion is everywhere and influences most of your day to day decisions around clothing, makeup, accessories and shoes, right through to the way you style your home.

If you’re a guy who naturally favours suiting and consider a pocket square to be the ultimate accessory, then congratulations! You fall into the Urban Gentleman tribe, (and there are definitely a few of you out there who follow me), it’s likely that you already know that tailoring is your best friend. The high street can work with tailoring to a certain extent but the clue is in the name people, tailoring only achieves its MO if it’s made to fit. Yes, I get that budget is a huge factor and can recommend some off the rack retailers for tailoring but trust me, going made to measure will change your life.

Step forward Duke Ata Bespoke. Duke’s self titled label focuses on luxury, made to fit, with all the trappings of a modern, urban gentleman. Everything Duke produces has flair, from the signature wide lapels and polka dots to the wide shouldered cut of his jackets, a Duke Ata Bespoke piece is recognisable by its artistry.

With a background in Blogging, Duke’s knowledge of menswear in particular led him on an eerily similar journey to mine. Styling wedding guests and curating wardrobe overhauls for years gave him a clear idea of pieces that would work for clients. It wasn’t long before Duke turned his hand to design himself, and ultimately, tailoring. Inspired by classic elegance, the gentleman’s silhouette and the craftsmanship of Savile Row, Duke has developed a peculiar and recognisable style which has been forged into the Duke Ata brand.

His first collection – Vol.1 – sees classic tailoring married with an urban twist. Duke has a penchant for unusual fabrics and is super particular about the quality, threadcount and finish – I can say that, we’re friends – basically, if it’s not perfect, it’s not Duke Ata.

The fitting service offered by Duke Ata Bespoke is a step above tailoring. A tailor will take an existing suit model and make it fit the client (think Tim Gunn in How I Met Your Mother), with a bespoke service fabric selection, shape, cut and fit are all handcrafted to the needs and expectations of the client. It’s a different ball game. The cost is high, but then that’s not news. For anyone considering something bespoke there’s a price to pay, but business is booming.

Duke’s clients tell me that there’s nothing like the feeling of putting on a Duke Ata Bespoke suit, it’s like The Emporer’s New Clothes, they fit so well that you feel like you’re wearing nothing, but you just know you look awesome.

You’ll recognise his aesthetic too, Duke recently dressed footballer Jamie O’Hara for his Celebrity Big Brother 2017 entrance, and Body Fixers Dr Esho only wears Duke Ata Bespoke. Natty credentials indeed. Duke doesn’t shout from the rooftops about his brand, he’s quietly confident. Charismatic and charming, it’s no wonder his clients are fiercely loyal.

With a series of low key, invite only events around his home town of Newcastle, he let’s the pieces he creates do the talking and is quietly building momentum in both the North and in London where he takes regular fitting appointments. When we discuss the theory of fashion tribes he agrees with me saying “I know my tribe, I stay in my lane. I don’t try to force tailoring on to people it won’t work for, I’m particular about my clients.” With bespoke tailoring on the rise and Tom Ford recently stating “My suit is my uniform, I feel weak in trainers”, it’s an aesthetic that more and more men (and women) are aspiring to. Well Voyeurs, it just got a little more accessible to the Urban Gentlemen of the North East – you know who you are.

Pixie xo

For appointments email appointments@dukeata.com

Categories: The Archives, The Fashion Closet, The Glorious North East

Dress Me Luxe Launch Night

If you’re a fan of fast fashion then online boutique Dress Me Zara is a must for your Instagram feed. Currently undergoing a relaunch as Dress Me Zee, with its fast paced style turnover and an inhouse designer ready to replicate the latest high end pieces at high street prices, this is one secret you need to know about.

The brainchild of Jessica Broomfield, a girl from the North East who started designing dresses in her bedroom long before the brand became the business it is today. Dress Me Zee is the fresh, funky signaturen line, whilst new addition Dress Me Luxe adds high octane glamour and serious sparkle for high end, red carpet dressing. Heavily influenced by Balmain and the Kardashian/Jenner sisters, it’s full of sparkle, tassels and body con, perfect for occasion dressing.

I went along to the pre-launch runway show at Aveika last night to see the brand new Dress Me Luxe collection, along with the best festive pieces from signature line, Dress Me Zee, proving there’s something for every budget across both collections. The night was hosted by the gorgeous Sophie Gradon who also walked the runway, and the best bit? A pop up shop offering showgoers the chance to snap up a piece of the action before anyone else. (Apologies for the quality of the pictures, Aveika is notoriously difficult to photograph).

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Amongst the many standout pieces were Yonce worthy double split fronted gowns in black and rose gold, and cool mini dresses with high necks and long sleeves. Oh yes, and a super cute little harlequin playsuit with just the right amount of sparkle.

When Jessica put the event together, she told me she was keen to support charity Cancer Research UK and made the admirable decision to donate £5 from every clothing purchase made on the night, to the charity. She made sure she came armed with enough stock in different sizes to cater for everyone and where stock wasn’t available, Jessica beams her gorgeous smile at me and says “No sweat, we’ll post it out the next day”.

I think I made six visits to the restrooms to try on dresses before settling on the first thing I tried on – typical. A floor length black gown, aptly named ‘Midnight in Paris’. With a double fronted thigh split and the kind of embellishment you could stare at for days. It’s safe to say that I’ll be leaving a trail of glitter as black as my heart in my wake when I wear this beauty. It was a tricky decision, this same dress is also available in gold and is also pretty amazing, at £59.99 I’d say it’s an absolute steal and it comes with the colour matched panties too!

The Dress Me Luxe range will be added to the Dress Me Zee website this week to complement the current collection and with next day delivery, there’s still time to pick up something unique and dramatic in time for your Christmas party to ensure all eyes are on you. The only problem? Narrowing it down to just one….

Pixie xo