Archive By Alexa Chung

The klaxons for London’s SS’16 Fashion Week were sounded by Alexa Chung, kicking off proceedings at a party hosted by the British Fashion Council to celebrate her latest design collaboration with Marks & Spencer.  The 31-piece collection, inspired by the brand’s past designs from the 1940’s through to the 1980’s, features wide-leg trousers, mini dresses, a trench coat and THAT ruffle-necked shirt (seen in the promo shot above) that will more than likely cause in-store customer casualties upon it’s Spring release. 

With full access granted to the high street store’s vast 70,000 items deep archive, Alexa has reimagined previously popular classic designs with new colourways and modern fabrications. With a distinctive and internationally recognised style, Alexa, “pulled from stored garments, in-house magazines and TV adverts from various points in the history of Marks & Spencer to create the collection that I believe looks every bit as relevant today as it did then."

The range, launching in April, will cost between £19.50 - £89.00, with the most expensive item being the trench coat which Alexa herself wore to the event, and which I have my eye firmly on!

Below:  Featured in the Evening Standard, accessorising my off the shoulder Marks and Spencer shirt, with stacking rings from Gemporia and a yellow gold Boundary Necklace from Georgina Boyce Fine Jewellery.  My fish tail plait was created by the fabulous Tatiana Karelina (33 Holland Street, London, W8).

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Dolce and Gabbana's Christmas Tree at Claridge's

London’s Christmas party season kicked off this year at Claridge's, where for the second year running, Dolce and Gabbana designed the hotel’s magical Christmas Tree, and I was invited to celebrate it’s grand unveiling – all eight sparkling metres of it!  Covered in 300 hand-painted baubles, gold ribbons, and a multitude of flags, the tree was inspired by childhood memories and was surrounded by an enchanted forest.

Wearing my new Ingenue London Megan Long Sleeve Jumpsuit in navy blue velvet (RRP. £103.00) it dawned upon me that I clearly had NOT got the D&G memo… The festivally decorated lobby seemed filled with equally festively decorated ladies, all in little red lace dresses.  Move over the LBD, it’s Christmas!

Above:  Best pressie ever?  I found this teeny-weeny-eenie Woodland Fairy (a.k.a my buddy, Anna Kendrick) wrapped up in Dolce & Gabbana underneath the tree. 

Above (L-R):  Martha Ward, Christy Osbourne, Emily Johnston, TLC, Amy Williams

Above:  "Well colour me happy, there's a sofa in here for twoooo!"

Above:  Heels off, robes on and Room Service... Anna and my after-party won! 

Above:  Featuring in Grazia magazine alongside Anna Kendrick

LFW SS'15: Amanda Wakeley RTW

Straight off the red eye (thank tha'Looord for sunglasses!) and wearing the chicest Amanda Wakeley long wool gilet, I headed to the designer's Albermarle Street store for her RTW SS’15 presentation.    

With a glass of champagne, a cupcake and goody bag in hand (a tremendous start to the proceedings!) I took my seat on the FROW.  The entirely crisp white collection was fierce, strong and sexy.  With a slight nod to the current trend in sports luxe (there was frequent use of mesh detailing) the dresses, cut-out tops and loose fitting trousers were all powerfully striking, and modernly elegant. 

Below:  With Hedvig Opshaug (a.k.a 'The Northern Light') and stylist Martha Ward

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Astley Clarke's Summer Party at the Serpentine

Bec Astley Clarke recently hosted a very sleek, ‘Thomas Crown Affair’ inspired summer party in the newly built Serpentine Sackler Gallery’s Magazine Restaurant.  Whilst sipping on Marmalade Martinis and (very) Tipsy Tea Cocktails, six suited and booted men in bowler hats stole (albeit only momentarily) the cases of Astley Clarke’s fine jewellery we had all previously been oogling.

I wore the Janson Dress by Zoë Jordan (now on sale! RRP. £595.00 £298.00) for the evening’s festivities. I was thrilled to be one of ‘Zoë’s Girls’ for the evening, alongside some of my most beautiful friends; actresses Sienna Miller and Jemma Powell and Fashion PR * Beatrice Savoretti. After the ‘heist,’ and several more drinks, guest DJ *Laura Whitmore took to the decks and we all begun, candy-floss covered chocolate ice-cream sticks in hand, to enthusiastically dance the rest of the night away. Thank you Bec xx

Above L-R (Clockwise):  Sienna Miller and Savannah Miller with their mother Jo,  Martha Ward with India Langdon, designer Matthew Williamson with our host Bec Astley Clarke,Kelly Eastwood also with Bec.  Below L-R:  With Sienna Miller Jemma PowellKelly EastwoodZoë Jordan and Beatrice Savoretti

The below video shows off the really fun evening perfectly... I think I woke up in that hat! 

Below:  The London Chatter appearing on Harpers Bazaar and Tatler online...


Ralph Lauren's Ricky World Tour

Designed in 2005 and named after his wife, the Ralph Lauren ‘Soft Ricky’ handbag is one of the label’s most iconic and popular pieces.  To celebrate its success, Ralph Lauren’s giant ‘Ricky’ bag, that took a month to create and measures 1.8m high and 1.5m wide (so maybe juuuust big enough to fit all my stuff in!) begun its world tour last September, travelling to New York, Tokyo, Paris and now… LONDON.  Yes, that’s right, the ‘Ricky’ has landed at the Ralph Lauren New Bond Street store and I paid homage to the XXL accessory last week while it held court at Ralph Lauren and Vogue’s fun, cocktail-fueled shopping event in support of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

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Above:  Accessorising my Zara top, shoes and statement necklace, and my new H&M embellished scuba skirt (available in store, RRP. £39.99) with my grandmother's aquamarine cocktail ring and my Lulu Guinness lips clutch (available HERERRP. £325.00) which I momentarily swapped for a gorgeous, coral-orange 'Soft Ricky.' 

Above:  Bag smoochin' with super stylist Martha Ward.  Below:  My great buddy DJ Izzy Lawrence and the delicious, rainbow-coloured Ricky bag biscuits to take home.

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Below:  The multi-coloured Ralph Lauren 'Soft Ricky' bags available HERE (RRP. £1750.00)
#OneInEveryColourPleaseRalph!

 

 

J Crew London Launch

You would have had to of been living under a rock to have not heard the preppy clad tremors of the J Crew brigade landing in London last week and I was thrilled to be invited (by balloon, no less) to their glitzy pre-opening party.  With 227 stores across the United States, J Crew’s gargantuan 17,000 sq ft of flagship store fun at 165 Regent Street was buzzing with excitement; finally the Brits can have easy access to the label’s rainbow of cashmere, bejeweled accessories and clashing jacquard prints without having to fork out for the plane ticket alongside them! 

The shop is divided into three interlinking sections, for men, women and children and is a visual feast.  The evening's (J) crew comprised some of the biggest names in British fashion celebrating the launch by enjoying great music, a flip book booth, an enormous table of retro sweets (obviously I spent much of my evening hanging out here) and, of course, exploring the extensive preview of colourful designs which were immaculately displayed. 

Below:  I was lucky enough to have a chat with the unbelievably charming and awesomeJenna Lyons, creative director of J Crew and all round style icon (not to mention also the owner of the most perfectly long ‘selfie’ arms, as put to the test below!)

Below (Clockwise) L-R:  William Woodhams and Annabel SimpsonJulia Neel and Kelly EastwoodDavid GrievsonAmy WilliamsLauren Scott and Kelly Eastwood

Below (L-R):  With fellow bloggers Ella CatliffLaura Fantacci and stylist Martha Ward

Below:  Wearing a polka dot Topshop playsuit with black lace back (available HERE - RRP. £48.00), a Zara perspex statement necklace, a Wilbur & Gussie Coco Clutch (similar available HERE - RRP. £265.00) and a massive bag of J Crew retro sweeties.

After a couple of glasses of champagne I left clutching an embarrassingly large bag of sweeties, a London-friendly J Crew Umbrella and one seriously extensive shopping list!
Below are some of the current items in stock that I now have my eye on…

Above:  Colourblock Funnelneck Coat - £RRP. £398.00,  Etta Sequin Pumps - RRP. £350.00

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Chevron Fingerless Gloves in Citron Grey RRP. £35.00,  Statement Flower Necklace – RRP. £198.00,  Double-Zip Sweater in Colourblock – RRP.£89.50Hughes Satchel in Pale Graphite – RRP. £298.00Jewelled Cuff £125.00Jewelled Donegal Sweater in Slate – RRP. £98.00

Above: (Top)  Collection Café Capri in Tie Silk – RRP. £198.00(Below)  Toothpick Jean in Velvet Pack Green – RRP. £110.00