Lana Del Rey's Campaign for H&M

I mentioned here that Lana Del Rey was to be the new face of H&M’s A/W’12 campaign and I can now reveal the results.

The 10-page lookbook, photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, show the singer modeling H&M’s latest collection looking like a melancholic, dainty doll from a 1960’s film noir, with back-combed hair, dark winged eyeliner, trademark pouty lips.  The collection is made up primarily of pastel colours but they are given a harder edge when mixed with charcoal greys and burgundy staples.  I particularly like the abstract, printed pieces Lana wears, the velvet heels, chandelier earrings and adorable little bows in her hair.

Lana has recorded a cover of ‘Blue Velvet’ for H&M that will be released on September 19.  While we wait on the release I am still loving the remix of Lana’s ‘Blue Jeans.’

Wilderness Festival 2012

Last weekend I went to the idyllic Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire to enjoy the  funshine at Wilderness.  Organised by the team behind the Secret Garden Party and Lovebox, the two-year old festival is distinctly original and unlike any other I have been to.

With an emphasis on ‘feasting, lounging and partying,’ Wilderness attracts a diverse, family-friendly crowd (there were as many beer-hungry ravers as there were milk-hungry babies) as it combines music, food, talks, debates, outdoor pursuits and late-night parties in equal measure.

With a beautiful boating (and for the more brave/buff, skinny dipping) lake, horseriding, fly-fishing, a spa sanctuary with hot tubs, yoga classes, massage tents, screenings by Secret Cinema, theatre, talks, debates, an array of craft stalls and an exceptional array of delicious food, the whole occasion is both creative and relaxing.  Tim Harvey, who organises the festival said, “Wilderness is more than just a feast for the eyes and ears… It’s a place to indulge the senses, relax, and eat well.”  And Indulge I certainly did....

Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Lianne La Havas, Spiritualized, Crystal Fighters, Temper Trap and Wilco were all playing at the festival, but the real headliners were the celebrated chefs Yotam Ottolenghi, Fergus Henderson and Valentine Warner who all staged decadent banquets across the weekend.  There was also a very popular Moro Souk Tent (below) and the Thyme Cookery School were at the festival offering some excellent classes. 

The copious, delicious food stalls spread generously around the park were certainly not offering the usual greasy festival fodder… With Fin and Flounder, Poco Loco, Churros Bros, Annie Mae’s, and my favourite chilli wraps from Arancini Brothers ('World Famous in ALL Posh Towns!') I could have been rolled home on Sunday.

​​Below: Festival Style - I loved these unfussy, simple and chic looks.  

This year Wilderness joined forces with The Vintage Festival (previously held at London’s Southbank.) So, admist the more usual festival attire (flower garlands, hotpants, colourful Hunter wellies) there was fantastic retro and sexy pin-up fashion in abundance (left and below).

Adding to the eccentricity of this festival, there was an immense vintage market (which I had to be dragged kicking and screaming to vacate), a 1950’s beauty parlour, a roller disco, and a stunning swing/jazz club offering dance classes.

Below:  Not a festival trend I EVER wish to see again... Leave the tails to the children!

​Below:  I felt like Joan of Arc in this incredible Prangsta Costumiers Head Candy.

Love. Want. Need. Please. 

Below:  The wonderful Jack Savoretti
Watch my video of Jack singing 'Take Me Home,' one of my favourites, here.

The highlight of my weekend however, was The Old Vic Tunnels Masked Ball. An enormous masked crowd were led by an African percussion troupe in a midnight procession, from the Wilderness Stage into the Wychwood forest, for a magical extravaganza which had three DJs playing throughout the wood into the wee hours.

(Above: With You Magazine's Amy Williams and Old Vic Tunnel Director, Hamish Jenkinson.)  Amidst the corsets and stunning venetian masks I found myself, in a leopard print catsuit and cat mask, dancing alongside an array of heroic Batmen, a Skeletor, various furry faced animals, several morph suited revelers, and some bloke in a mankini…

Below: The Old Vic Tunnel's Masked Ball certainly put the 'Wild' into the Wilderness.

Early Bird tickets are already available for Wilderness 2013 here.
Sign. Me. Up.

Vodafone UK Announces Partnership With Mary Katrantzou

Yesterday morning, over cappuccinos and mini granola berry pots at Soho House, I heard how this Autumn Vodafone UK and acclaimed fashion designer Mary Katrantzou, famous for her graphic print dresses, will enter into an exclusive two-season partnership.  This collaboration will see Vodafone UK supporting Mary’s shows in London Fashion Week and the designer devising a fashionable and innovative way to use Vodafone technology.

Vodafone UK have long championed British fashion, teaming up in the past with other well renowned designers, Christopher Kane and Richard Nicoll (the results of which saw a fleet of London cabs decorated in Kane’s Galaxy print, with mobile phone charging capabilities for it’s passengers, and Nicholl’s unforgettable white leather handbag with in-built phone charger!) 

Danielle Crook, Vodafone’s UK Director of Brand Marketing, also assured me that they will once again at this year’s LFW be providing the life saving mobile phone re-charging units on the front row at the BFC space and pop-up re-charging points at Somerset House – Phew!

(Above L-R: Mary Katrantzou, Danielle Crook and Chairman of the BFC, Caroline Rush)

The lovely Mary Katrantzou, who I had the real pleasure of meeting (left), spoke enthusiastically about the upcoming collaboration, “I am excited to be working with Vodafone, as a brand they have really cemented their credibility and support within the fashion industry over the past few seasons. Their innovation elements really appeal to me and it felt a natural fit to join forces. I'm really looking forward to be able to widen the fashion net to their customers and bring them to the front line of fashion week.”

Danielle Crook, whilst wearing a head turning Mary Katrantzou dress, said, “Mary's bold graphics and iconic designs have attracted a cult following from every part of the fashion world and we are thrilled to be working with her.”  The partnership launches next month and will run across the spring/summer 2013 and autumn/winter 2013-14 shows.  

If you are a Vodafone UK customer you can register for Vodafone VIP online here for the opportunity to meet Mary Katrantzou and watch her catwalk show during LFW.  If you are NOT a Vodafone UK customer... There's never been a better reason to become one!

Super Girl Power at the Closing Ceremony

There was some SERIOUS Girl Power in the Olympic Stadium on Sunday night when we were not only treated to an awesome Spice Girls reunion but also to a strutting swarm of stunning Supermodels. 

Ever since Stella McCartney signed up to design the Team GB outfits (unsurprisingly, the most coveted by all other athletes) fashion was always going to play a part in London 2012.  Soooo… Who wore who?

The Spice Girls

Victoria Beckham looked very ‘Posh' in a stunning, custom-made Giles Deacon dress with black Christian Louboutin stilettos.  Ginger Geri Haliwell paid homage to her infamous Brit Award’s Union Jack dress wearing this Suzanne Neville peplum dress, an Olympic inspired tiara and Isabel Marant gold Dicker boots. ‘Baby’ Emma Bunton wore her signature pink in a dress by Maggie Cook with glittery heels.  Melanie C wore a white jumpsuit from JD Sports with some Sporty silver wedged trainers. Melanie B wore a nude cat suit embellished with amazing gold detailing by Lenanese designer Zuhair Murad – definitely more sexy than Scary!  A-Zig-A-Zig-Aaah.

The Supers

This army of British Beauties were a glittering mirage of gold medal hues in outfits created by iconic British designers.  A totally immaculate vision paying tribute to British fashion and it's  Midas Touch. 

The Supermodels were styled by Lucinda Chambers, Vogue UK's fashion director, who nervously spoke from backstage on the night, "It's incredible that Britain, such a tiny country, has such a broad range of talent in fashion, and that's what we wanted to show. We're known for bonkers fashion, but what I hope came across is that these designers make beautiful clothes… that people would want to wear."

Above:  Kate Moss in a mermaid-like, gold and silver Alexander McQueen dress.

Above (L-R): Karen Elson glamourously glistening in Burberry and Naomi Cambell looking beyond radiant in Alexander McQueen.

Above (L-R):  Stella Tennant glitters in a Christopher Kane tuxedo while Lily Cole is effortlessly ethereal in Erdem.

Above:  Lily Donaldson shimmering in Vivienne Westwood

Above (L-R):  Georgia May Jagger shines in Victoria Beckham, David Eye-Candy Gandy wears a suit by Paul Smith and Jourdan Dunn models a Christopher Kane dress and a feathered headpiece by Stephen Jones.

18 carat Fashion Fabulous.

These images appear in Vogue's September Issue - Out Now.

London 2012 - An Olympic Triumph!

Having spent the last fortnight completely glued to the Olympic Games, cheering on Team GB (who won a staggering 29 Gold Medals), weeping over every heroic triumph, every graceful defeat and every epic BBC montage, I cannot think of a better place to have spent the last 16 days, other than London.  

I believe these games have inspired a generation and there is no doubt that Rio De Janiro has some awfully BIG (fabulous and sparkly) booties to fill.

Well done London!

Here are just a few of my favourite moments and most lasting memories…

Above:  The latest Bond Girl... The Queen!  Having HRH being escorted into Danny Boyle's Opening Ceremony extrvaganza by noneother than Daniel Craig's James Bond was nothing short of genius. What a great sense of humour and great sport!

Above and Below:  I was lucky enough to go to Stratford's Olympic Stadium to watch the athletics.  Amongst other things, I watched Usain 'Lightning' Bolt in his 200m heat... WOW. (And yes... that IS a Team GB headband... and that IS glittery gold nailpolish...!)

Below:  Gold medalists Mo Farah and Usain Bolt swap signature poses on the podium.
Both total LEGENDS.

Below:  After racing against double-amputee Oscar Pistorious in the 400m semi-final, 19 year old Grenadian Kirani James (who went on to win the Olympic Gold) asked to swap name badges with him, "competing against Oscar is a huge honour… He’s an inspiration for all of us. What he does… takes a lot of courage. He’s very special to our sport.”

Below: Team GB poster girl and much loved athelete Jessica Ennis was crowned Olympic heptathlon champion.  Ennis said, "I want to thank everyone who has supported me, they have been amazing… I told myself at the start that I'm only going to have one moment to do this in front of a crowd in London and I just wanted to give them a good show."

Below:  Many religious conservatives fought against her participation in the Olympics but Sarah Attar became the first female track and field Olympian to represent Saudi Arabia.  Despite coming last in the 800m race, Sarah made a great statement with every stride and she completed the race to a standing ovation.  Sarah said, “It is such an honour to be representing my country... Hopefully, this can make a huge difference.”

Below:  Andy Murray’s celebrations as he beat Roger Federer, winning the gold medal after straight-sets was unbelievably emotional.  The jump for joy, the big smooch, the tearful 11 year old child running to hug Andy… It was just all too much for me... Sob!

Below:  Kat Copeland’s shocked and endearing reaction when winning the gold medal in the double sculls alongside her rowing partner Sophie Hosking was golden in itself. Kat said, "I can't believe this is real, that we just won. We just won the Olympics!”

Below:  Celebrity manicurist Sophy Robson and her ‘Nail Porn’ team were 'on hand' with a pop up nail salon in the Olympic Village and swimmer Rebecca Adlington won her bronze medal in the 400m freestyle race whilst proudly sporting patriotic Team GB nail art!

Below:  On the same evening that Victoria Pendleton retired from competitive cycling, a new British cycling star was born; Laura Trott.  Despite being a wee 5ft 4ins (and born with a collapsed lung) Laura won TWO gold medals (and Jason Kenny.)

Below:  Nicola Adams made history by becoming the first ever woman to win an Olympic boxing gold. The ever-beaming, Yorkshire lass said the win had “made my day” and went to celebrate at Nandos, “a chicken in pitta, medium with chips and perinaise.”

Below:  The Real McHoy! Sir Chris Hoy won his 6th Olympic Gold medal making him the most successful British Olympian ever. After winning the keirin event at the velodrome (which like his mother, most of us found almost too unbearable to watch!) the emotional 36 year old said, “‘I’m in shock. You try to compose yourself but it’s surreal.”

Below:  23 year old David Rudisha had been referred to by the press as ‘the greatest runner you’ve never heard of,’ but when the softly spoken Masai tribesman from Kenya went on to SMASH the 800km world record, the whole world knew his name.  It was such a fast race that the man who finished last (Team GB’s Andrew Osagie) ran a time that would have won him a gold in the last three Olympics.  London Games chief Sebastian Coe, himself a former 800m world record holder said, "Instead of just doing enough to win the race, he wanted to do something extraordinary... Rudisha's run will go down in history as one of the greatest Olympic victories."  I was raised in Kenya and feel very proud.

Below:  Adorable! Royal composure out the window, Team GB Ambassadors Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge (Wills’n’Kate) could not resist a celebratory hug after seeing the British men’s pursuit team win gold at the velodrome.  Love them.

Below:  Bo-Jo On A Wire! Oh Boris… When you got stuck on that zip wire and left marooned, dangling in mid-air over Victoria Park holding your two Union Jacks, I could not have loved you more!  Always keen to see the positive, Boris remarked, “after I got stuck on that thing we did have a big increase in the number of visitors.” 
Can someone PLEEEASE make me a little Boris mobile for my car’s rear view mirror?!

Below:  The Spice Girls Spiced Up Our Lives once more at the closing ceremony, entering the stadium on top of black cabs, each lit up to represent their differing Spicy personas. ‘Wannabe’ was belted out, followed by ‘Spice Up Your Life’ which saw Bo-Jo rocking out, thumbs up and hips a'swaying next to a clapping Dave and Sam-Cam.
He can do NO wrong.

Below:  We saw giant billboards parade around the stadium with stunning images (photographed by Nick Knight) of Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Georgia-May Jagger, Jourdan Dunn, Lily Cole, Lily Donaldson, Stella Tennant, Karen Elson and David Gandy eventually torn down to reveal the stunning supermodels themselves.  The British beauties all stormed down the fire-lit runway wearing golden creations by some of Britain’s top designers to the sound of David Bowie’s ‘Fashion.’  Incredible.

Phew... What were YOUR favourite moments?! 

Mila Kunis Returns As Miss Dior

Mila Kunis has returned for her second year as Miss Dior for the French fashion house’s Autumn/Winter’12 handbag campaign.  The beautiful black and white photographs, with their 1960’s film noir feel, were taken by Mario Sorrenti and styled by Carine Roitfeld.

Looking seductive and sophisticated in the campaign, whilst being hounded by paparazzi, Mila recently said that Christian Dior designs are "very classic, very consistent, really elegant, and really beautiful," as these photographs certainly go to show – those handbags are all gorgeous! I’m running off to find a bow for my hair, c’est tres chic!

The Mulberry Bryn

'Four colours, three locks, two sizes, one new style...'

When Mulberry adds a gorgeous new member into its much coveted family, you can count on Alexa Chung (right) and Fearne Cotton (below) to be the first Mulbabes strutting it around town and making us all beyond jealous. 

Celebrities, including Keira Knightley, have gone mad for the latest Mulberry ‘it’ handbag, Bryn, and I can toootally understand why.  With its no-nonsense appearance (the bag was inspired by the Mulberry Brynmore satchel deigned for men) the Bryn is available in four colours and in two sizes... I am LOVING the small 'Flame' red Bryn.

On the Wish List.  Available here from £550.00

I Should Coco

David Beckham Lights Up The White Cliffs Of Dover

How much better is this than a ‘WELCOME’ sign?!

Last night these three images of David Beckham from his H&M bodywear campaign were emblazoned upon the White Cliffs of Dover, welcoming the hoards of tourists flying into Great Britain to watch the Olympics.  An H&M spokesperson said, "we are always looking for new ways to surprise our customers and saw this as a unique and fun opportunity.”

Alas, the stunt was a one-off treat…. A decision I feel the UK Tourist Board may wish to reconsider.

David Beckham for H&M available here.

Kate Moss: The New Face of Rag & Bone

This autumn sees the American label Rag & Bone returning to its British roots...

After opening it’s first European flagship store on London’s Sloane Street last week the brand has revealed they also plan to show their A/W’12 collection at London Fashion Week and are using British supermodel Kate Moss as the face of its first ever print campaign. The British Rag & Bone designer David Neville, who moved to New York with fellow designer Marcus Wainwright to focus on the label, commented, “Although we are essentially a New York brand, our English roots have always influenced our aesthetic, and casting Kate was another nod to our heritage.” 

Photographer Craig McDean shot the campaign on a derelict North London street using minimal make-up, natural light and a hand-held camera.  The pictures scream COOL.