It is not often that I come across a new emerging designer venturing straight into Haute Couture, and by invitation I ventured to the Natalia Kaut London studio in the heart of Mayfair. Continue reading
Inspired by the arctic abyss you can see how this stark landscape was realised in the heavy crystal clusters on the shoulders like blocks of ice; ethereal, powerful, and elegant the Catherine Bell models somehow had a fur coat with no knickers kind of swagger. Continue reading
Time has not been on my side these last couple of weeks with clashing appointments, press days, and sample returns it’s been a hectic juggling act, last week I found myself at the Westminster Harrow campus (I did not just wander in, I was invited) to interview the graduating students ahead of their catwalk show for 24th May. I Continue reading
Ever since I met Georgia Nash at Alternative Fashion Week two years ago I have fallen in love ( yes my husband knows, and his nose was firmly put out of joint, but he understands that fashion comes first) I couldn’t help myself her toy nutcracker inspired collection was head, and shoulders above the rest, later her Continue reading
© 2012 Adorngirl Ada Zanditon
© 2012 Adorngirl Ada Zanditon
© 2012 Adorngirl Ada Zanditon
© 2012 Adorngirl Ada Zanditon
© 2012 Adorngirl Ada Zanditon
© 2012 Adorngirl Ada Zanditon
© 2012 Adorngirl Ada Zanditon
Ada Zanditon will be be presenting her on schedule film screening at Somerset House at London Fashion Week this Friday, after which I can reveal the collection, and review in full
© 2011 Adorngirl Clemency London Studio
I am in blog limbo, too old to be considered a new blog, but definitely not old enough to be considered established, so I am not really surprised when I say to my blog name to whatever PR person, and they pull a blank stare. But trust me there is nothing worse than attending a press day that you were actually invited to ( I have the email to prove it) and they actually say “what is the blog about?” it just goes to show that you weren’t in fact a special one that they loved so much they had to get you in to see the collection, I am definitely going to answer one day ‘train spotting’, or even ‘documenting ‘car crashes’ and see the reaction. It was a lovely change of tact that I was invited to the Clemency London studio for tea, and a chat about their spring summer offering (yep just me, not a horde of press, and round robin email, it was addressed just to Adorngirl, thank you Katie)
© 2011 Adorngirl Clemency London Mood Board S/S 11
Clemency London is ultimately a luxury label, created, and designed by Alison Clemency-Buddenhagen, who graduated from Saint Martins, her fellow students that year included Alexander McQueen, Giles, Antonio Berardi, Matthew Williamson and Hussein Chalayan. The pieces may at first seem classic and the fashion equivalant for a dirty word wearable, but there has been a lot of thought and high quality fabrics executed with detailed construction. From the Black Duchess Silk Bardot dress, to the Oyster washed lamb biker jacket, accented with a selection of metal spiked belts, Alison has managed to actualize an uber sexy rock couture look. The inspiration for the season architectural 3D detail inspired by 1960’s Californian geodesic domes, and interpreted into the finishes such as collars, and sleeves. So many boxes are ticked that will make the brand successful, style, tick, quality tick, stocked at Harvey Nichols, tick, collaboration , and film by renowned photographer Rankin, tick. The short fashion film is a live lookbook of the collection, Featuring his model wife Tuuli, sensual, with an intimate mis-en-scene, and cinematography (I took film studies so I know what I’m talking about) make sure to click the last picture to see the film in full.
© 2011 Adorngirl Clemency London S/S 11
© 2011 Adorngirl Alison Clemency- Buddenhagen
© 2011 Rankin for Clemency London
© 2011 Rankin for Clemency London
© 2010 Adorngirl Beautiful Soul
It is not often that you can associate a fashion label with having beauty on the inside, as fashion is all about the visual, imagine even this post nee fashion blogs with reams of text describing all the different types of garments from the catwalk with no accompanying photographs. Beautiful Soul was founded in 2008 by Designer Nicola Woods, the label sources purely organic, Vintage 1930s- 40′s Japanese Kimono’s, and remakes (upcycles) them in to new pieces. I do mean new pieces, not newer kimonos but an array of softly tailored dresses, capes, and jackets, with the designers ethical brand also expanding in to Menswear. I was honoured to vist her studio as I was able to get a closer look and feel of all the varying patterns, and get soaked up in her enthusiasm for her upcoming ventures. I love how she started out as her bedroom being her studio, and now she is based at the heart of Portobello.
© 2010 Adorngirl Beautiful Soul
© 2010 Adorngirl Beautiful Soul
Another thing that makes Nicola’s creations so original is no zips, her designs are formed to skim, and fasten to your body accordingly to each individual, that will make all women look feminine, and beautiful ( I was actually able to put a piece on without the will it? won’t it? intake of breath, as my eyes did the size up of the”one size fits all” connotation). Being around Nicola she emits a peaceful aura( I notice as mine is busy and harried) she is so calm, and serene and I think this is really reflected in the collection, you get the sense that she is working hard but nothing is done before it is supposed to, remaining exclusive to the V&A, and Beautiful Soul Online. Manufacturing is London based in order to keep a hold on quality control, and remain true with her ethical standpoint (not even extra fabric goes to waste, the ‘leftovers’ are simply made in to new garments). At the end of the post is the newest Beautiful Soul campaign enititled Believe S:S 11, within the fashion film Zarina Liews illustration come to life, and is directed by Oliver Prout, with music dreamily sang by Gabby Young & other animals.
© 2010 Adorngirl Beautiful Soul
© 2010 Adorngirl Beautiful Soul
© 2010 Adorngirl Beautiful Soul
© 2010 Jeffrey Michael Design
Introducing Jeffrey Michael from Jeffrey Michael Design, this first shot is a little sneak peek of a Runway Passport editorial that I shot with him a few weeks ago that will appear alongside the interview by Shukeena Shand in the London Issue. To me Jeffrey is a movement so to speak delving and a success in three design categories Costume, Lighting, and Set. The cheek of it is I met Jeffrey months ago at the Uniqlo press breakfast, took his card, saw his site, and loved it fully planning on profiling him; but got sidetracked and then he went to New York where he went on to work with and design looks for Groove Armada ( a joint collaboration with Ada Zanditon) and Diana Vickers(the dress in a later picture was worn by her on the cover of Random Magazine)
Luckily now he’s back in London, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to se his studio. This will be the first in a line of designers at work, I fully see why the Selby does what he does. Like I have always said I am interested in people, what they think, how they feel and where they are coming from, and In studio will look at the space where these designers create. Sometimes I am actually more interested in their sketchbooks and portfolios rather than the finished design as you can tell so much about a designer through how they use their imagination when sourcing inspiration from different avenues.
© 2010 Jeffrey Michael Design Studio
© 2010 Jeffrey Michael Design Studio
© 2010 Jeffrey Michael Design Studio
© 2010 Jeffrey Michael Design studio
© 2010 Jeffrey Michael Design Studio
© 2010 Jeffrey Michael Design Studio
© 2010 Jeffrey Michael Design Studio