French Sole x English National Ballet

French Sole founder and designer, Jane Winkworth, has designed a limited edition, sparkly pink pair of shoe in aid of English National Ballet, an arts charity she and her brand have supported in the last couple of years. The ‘Henrietta’ style, which has a silver leather insole stamped with the English National Ballet’s logo, are a gorgeous addition to any ballet lover’s wardrobe…. And any non-ballet lover for that matter!
 
Female dancers can go through up to THREE PAIRS of pointe shoes in just ONE performance of a full-length ballet (that’s A LORRA LORRA twirls) so it’s easy to see how the girl’s pennies for pointes mount up!  As a result, the English National Ballet, which spends around £145,000 on pointe shoes every year, has set up the Pointe Shoe Appeal.  This appeal is vital to keep English National Ballet’s dancers performing world-class ballet to audiences around the UK and beyond.

French Sole’s beyond pretty pink pumps are available to purchase HERE for £120.00 and 50% of each sale will be donated directly to the English National Ballet’s Pointe Shoe Appeal.

Father's Day Gift Guide 2015

Father's Day is THIS weekend and if you haven’t managed to already find a pressie for the father in your life (or your child’s father) and the kitchen cupboard is already heaving with novelty ‘No.1 Dad’ mugs (best present ever, SURELY?!) then here are just a few ideas… We love you Dads! You rock.

Click on the picture of the items you like for their direct web links...

Below:  Frustrated by the lack of dedicated boxer shorts for men, Liverpool artist David Huglin set about creating something that combined his artistic vision with a commitment to comfort. Burtonwode’s boxers and PJ’s are all made in the UK and are 100% cotton.  I have a pair of lemon PJ bottoms (from £60.00) myself, and if that is not enough affirmation, Eddie Redmayne OBE is said to have been married wearing a pair of Burtonwode boxers (from £17.50) beneath his tails! 

Below:  Unique and colourful, and perfectly suited from beach to bar, Frangipani’s designs (RRP. £75.00 each) are made of 100% power-loom cotton and influenced by travels around the world.  Matthew Williamson loves them and Poppy Delevingne steals them from her husband.

Below:  Ampfly is the brand new iPhone case that makes your music three times louder, all without batteries. Yup. THREE TIMES LOUDER PEOPLE.  A summer fun essential. (RRP. £19.99)

Below:  Collar Club makes the finest quality Egyptian cotton shirts without the unnecessary mark-ups.  Designed in Britain and made in Italy, the ready to wear shirts, available in five fabrics and two styles cost £59.00, and the made to order service allows you to choose from slim and tailored first and a variety of collar and cuff styles for £69.00.  Collar Club's revolutionary concierge service is also worth considering for any London-based Don Draper Daddy's; for the price of a yearly subscription, eleven made-to-measure, Jermyn Street-quality shirts, are made for you, and collected, washed and ironed for you once a week.

This kills me...

#TLCCOMP: Calling All Illustrators!

I have made no secret of how much I adore Jess Collett’s amazing creations.  In fact, a friend commented how she barely recognised me at a dinner recently as I was Jess Collett hat-less, a rarity now that I own not one, but TWO JC trilbys! With Summer coming up (one hopes!) and with it, special opportunities to adorn fantastical headwear designs to varying fancaaaay events, I decided to collaborate with Jess on this creative wee project, allowing us both to shine some light on a new artistic talent in the process.  I have four photographs (below) of me, with makeup by Charlotte Cowen, donning some more than gawwwgeous Matthew Williamson frocks alongside four of Jess’ amazing summer-sunshine-appropriate designs and I am looking for an equally talented illustrator to create the summery scenes (the races, a regatta, a wedding and an Ibizan sojourn) for me to be placed amongst.  The chosen artwork will be represented on both Jess and my websites and our social media platforms, and each artist will receive a stunning, bespoke Jess Collett summer trilby (similar to the one below worth £220.00).  Share this post with your most creative friends! 

Below:  The Wedding Guest:  We are looking for an image representing real excitement and celebration on the dance floor!  (Azure Chiffon Embroidered Asymmetric Gown: Now £1,095.00, my beloved Giselle Suede Strappy Sandals: Now £175.00). 

Below:  Regatta Fun:  We are looking for this image to show me perhaps noticing a gorgeous boater or sailor!  (Hibiscus Flower Silk Ruffle Trim Dress: Now £445.00, Giselle Suede Strappy Sandals: Now £175.00).

Below:  A Day at the Races: Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose... We are looking for this piece to show horses having whizzed by, with clearly my chosen horse lagging behind! #ComeOnDoverMoveYourBloomingArrrse... (Evening Palm Lace Feather Dress in cream: Now £1,495.00).

Below:  Ibizan Sunset:  We'd love this picture to show me walking onto a sailboat, yacht or on a beach on the sunniest of days! (Beach Palm Print Gown: Now £245.00, Sunglasses: Grey Oversized Curved Cat Eye Sunglasses £200.00)

Please send all submissions to hello@thelondonchatter.com by the end of next week - Good Luck! 

HAWT: Natalie Portman in Rodarte

Hawt = A late 1940's and early 1950's acronym for "Having A Wonderful Time."
Now the word is used on the internet as slang for something reeeeally hot.

Natalie Portman made a serious fashuuuun statement whilst promoting her feature directorial debut, ‘A Tale of Love and Darkness,’ in Cannes last week. Wearing a dare-to-bare Rodarte dress from their Fall 2015 to her photo call, no one’s eyes could be diverted. With intricate beading, floral sequins, a feather trimmed bodice and a see-through skirt, this was certainly a cheekier and more risqué look than we are used to seeing the actress wear.  HAWT!!

Cannes 2015

I always look forward to the glamour and sparkle on the endless red carpets at the Cannes Film Festival. Below are some of the most breathtaking looks that caught my eye from the week long film and fashion fest.  Seriously, I just cannes handle how gorgeous some of these dresses were from the varying photocalls, premieres and afterparties… Big Red Carpet High Fives Ladies.

Above:  Emily Blunt wearing Peter Pilotto A/W’15 at the ‘Sicario’ photocall.

Above:  Diane Kruger wearing Prada with Harry Winston jewellery at the ‘Maryland’ premiere.

Above:  Sienna Miller wearing Valentino Couture S/S’15 at ‘The Sea of Trees’ premiere.

Above:  Cate Blanchett wearing Alexander McQueen A/W’15 at the ‘Carol’ photocall.

Above:  Poppy Delevingne wearing Burberry with Chopard jewels at the ‘Carol’ premiere.

L.K. Bennett's SS'15 'Inspiring Women' Campaign

When I previously imagined British high L.K. Bennett, I had images of the Duchess of Cambridge in her tan wedges and various shift dresses, in sorbet hues, worn by women (in my opinion) who look far too young to be in them.  HOWEVER, when I recently appeared in L.K. Bennett’s digital ‘Inspiring Women’ campaign (such an honour, although not necessarily deserved!) styled by L.K. Bennett ambassador, and general cool cat,  Alex Meyers,  I realised just how much more there was to this veritable treasure trove of fabulous, bright and accessible pieces I immediately felt I could incorporate into my often quite quirky wardrobe.  Their collection of feminine ready-to-wear, shoes, handbags and accessories really do have something for everyone; from the demure to the stand out, but all equally elegant. I’m thrilled to have taken part in this campaign and really excited to have some gorgeous new L.K. Bennett pieces to wear this summer.  I recommend you also take a look ladies (especially at the Giselle heels - swoooooon!)

Following on from the success of last year’s collaboration with Caroline Issa, L.K. Bennett has teamed up with the effortlessly and eclectically stylish Laura Bailey.  I went to the launch of the model’s Capri-insired, 11 piece, vibrant collection wearing, and in an attempt to Bring Sexy Flat, I wore the pair of Anna flats I had worn in my photo shoot earlier that week –  I totally love them and they have become a real SS'15 staple of mine! Below are my favourite pieces from the collection…

Hair by Neville Hair and Beauty (5 Pont Street, Belgravia, SW1) 

The Met Ball 2015

This week saw the annual star-studded Met Ball once again mark the grand opening of the Costume Institute’s fashion exhibition at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.  This hugely anticipated, glamourous frock frenzy, seen by many as the fashion industry’s Oscars, saw many of the most famous faces (and bottoms, as the case seemed to be!) appear on the red carpet attempting to bring this year’s exhibition theme to life, ‘China: Through the Looking Glass.’  

Sarah-Jessica Parker (in H&M) and Rihanna (in Guo Pei) attacked the theme with predictable aplomb, both wearing outfits celebrating all things Chinese.  Despite SJP’s stand-out, bejewelled Philip Treacy headpiece being likened to a firey emoji and Rihanna’s sweeping canary yellow train being likened to an omelette, these ladies cannot be faulted for their bold and creative looks. 

Below:  Supermodel Karen Elson’s elaborate Dolce & Gabanna gown was phenomenal and definitely one of my personal ‘WOW’ looks of the night.

Below:  Our gorgeous Brit Chicks were out in force and representing on the red carpet, with Sienna Miller (in Thakoon), Georgia May Jagger (in, albeit more Japanese-inspired, Gucci) and Alexa Chung (in Erdem) all looking low key, comfortable and very, very cool. 

‘Who Runs The World?... Girls…’ Well, naked girls apparently. Beyonce (in custom Givenchy Haute Couture), Jennifer Lopez (in Versace) and Kim Kardashian West (in Peter Dundas for Roberto Cavalli) decided that less was to be more on the night.  Leaving very little to the imagination, these three curvaceous beauties made a strong case for replacing the side-boob with the side-bum, a trend I believe (and desperately hope…) will not catch on. These looks, in my opinion, were not high fashion, not reflective of the Chinese culture, and actually, not particularly classy.  I could really have done without seeing 8000 pictures of Kim’s belly-button and Beyonce’s butt-crack over my breakfast. Too much ladies… Toooo much. 

Below:  Several ladies (perhaps anxious about the controversial implications of the theme?) dressed down to avoid any risk.  And by down, I mean drearily.  Spending £16,500 on a ticket to the gala and then wearing a sensible dress, however elegant, feels just plain wrong.  I want me some drama!  I want me some tulle!  Despite there being plenty of extraordinary Chinese designers who I’m sure would have been more than happy to design stunning creations for these gorgeous 'schlebs, Clare Danes, Reese Witherspoon, Rachel Weiss, Carey Mulligan and Dakota Johnson* were among many who disappointingly seemed to have missed the ‘Go Big or Go Home’ memo.  (*FYI Dakota, wearing heavy winged eye-liner and holding a clutch in the shape of a chubby Chinese woman is a little on-the-nose dude...!)

SHOP THE LOOK...

Who was YOUR best dressed on the night? 

Coach: 'What's Your Swagger?'

Coach’s latest handbag, The Swagger, is clearly going to be a big hitter this Spring, especially as you can accessorise it in so many different ways.  I was trilled to receive one of the spacious, matte black carryalls and given the opportunity to show a little of my personal ‘swagger’ off by customising the bag in my own, individual style.  

After removing the bag’s detachable strap, I made my new bag feel unique and more by wrapping a vibrantly colourful scarf around one of the leather handles, and adding a Masai beaded bracelet with a bronze charm of Africa around the other, instantly transforming the bag ready for me to take out and about.  Strolling around Ladbroke Grove, in between the early April showers, I bought some gorgeous yellow spring tulips from a market stall and headed for a relaxing coffee at Pizza East (with Cara, Suki and Georgia!) feeling like a true Portobello Warrior; totally my swagger!  #WhatsYourSwagger?!

TLC LOVES... THE SWAGGER

Hello There: Bionda Castana

Last week I attended a Bionda Castana trunk show, organised by Alex Meyers, and held at The Arts Club on Dover Street, Mayfair - sipping healthy green juices made a delightful difference to the usual, less healthy, cocktails I usually enjoy at this particular venue in the wee hours!  Bionda Castana, although only established in 2007, has fast become a regular heel spied on the red carpet and I regularly see their beautiful designs featured in magazines.  the founders, Natalia Barbieri and Jennifer Portman, manage to effortlessly blend a London cool aesthetic with beautiful Italian craftsmanship and expertise. I particularly loved the rose gold Lana’s (below), the ultimate femme fatale evening court! 

TLC LOVES... BIONDA CASTANA

Matthew Williamson for Red Nose Day 2015: 'Do My Feathers Look Big In This...?'

Red Nose Day 2015 is TOMORROW!  Once again, the nation is gearing up to adorn their noses and get SILLY, all united in the same mission; to transform the lives of millions of people across the UK and across Africa.  Go HERE to donate to this annual fundraiser, remembering that £30.00 could vaccinate 6 children again deadly diseases like meningitis, tetanus and pneumonia, £50.00 could pay for 20 people with dementia to take part in a group session to enhance their self-confidence and communication skills, and £150.00 could buy a wheelchair for a child with a disability in Zambia so they can get to and from school…

Taking the emblem of the peacock feather, Matthew Williamson has designed a t’shirt, available at TK Maxx, brilliantly asking ‘Do my feathers look big in this?!’  As worn by Daisy Lowe on the front cover of this month’s Elle magazine (below) 100% of the net profits from sales go to Comic Relief, supporting projects to end extreme poverty worldwide.  Show you give a shirt, and buy one HERE (RRP £14.99) now! 

Photographs:  David Nyanzi