NYFW SS'15: J.Crew

Jenna Lyons is a genius.  The creative director of J.Crew’s SS’15 collection is, once again, filled with oodles of covetable clothes and accessories that had me compiling a wish list as I circulated the presentation.  We previewed a series of ultra cool, effortless, professional yet playful looks, which I cannot believe we have to wait until March next year to get our hands on.  Boyfriend jeans, drop-waist dresses, leather city shorts and pastel parkas were layered baggily over each other, with pastel tinted sunglasses and metallic clutches.  I LIKE.  A LOT.

NYFW SS'15: Badgley Mischka

I was really excited to be invited to Badgley Mischka’s SS’15 show at the Lincoln Centre. Season after season, this duo manage to create fairytale red-carpet dresses that makes the lucky ladies who wear them feel like princesses.  This models had colourful highlights in their hair and wore pale, shimmering gold, blue, rose pink and lilac gowns. My favourite dress from the collection was undoubtedly the etheral, ivory creation below (that may have made Amy Poehler in the FROW weep... or scratch her eye, but for the sake of the story, we shall just say she wept.)   

"Everything is light, airy, even our gowns which is our core business, you know, with huge voluminous hems. The gowns are as light as a feather, we didn't even line them, we are showing little crystal bodysuits underneath them," said Badgley. "Our girls right now are all layered and layered and layered in black clothes for fall, so we like to go the complete opposite way for spring."

I was another level of excited when, admits a beautiful downpour of silver balloons, Naomi Campbell made a surprise appearance alongside Mark Badgley and James Mischka in the finale, celebrating their 25th anniversary.  The supermodel, who walked ahead of a giant birthday cake down the runway, had walked in Badgley Mischka’s first ever NYFW runway show, so it was truly symbolically perfect.  

Now THAT my friends, was a real fashunnn moment! 

NYFW SS'15: Cara Delevingne's Mulberry Party

Always fun, always quirky and always so awfully British, Mulberry parties are always THE parties you want to get invited to during Fashion Month.  

I was thrilled therefore, to be invited see Cara Delevingne unveil her second collection for Mulberry during NYFW, at their gorgeous Spring Street flagship store.  

Fashion’s belle du jour, dressed top-to-toe in Mulberry, mingled (and pulled several of her signature funny faces) amongst hundreds of gold balloons with her sister Poppy Delevingne (above, also in Mulberry), DJ Atlanta de Cadenet Taylor (below) and Georgia May Jagger.

Vodka cocktails were served by exceptionally dreamy waiters in superbly tight ‘CARA’ t’shirts, making refusing their wares increasingly impossible (another one?!  Oh go on then…!!) and the miniature English canapés, including cute ‘ickle mini Sunday Roasts and ‘eeny weeny mini Fish’n’Chips, were delicious. 

The latest collection of handbags, which can be worn as backpacks, also includes a limited edition creation that has gold lion studs, inspired by the famous lion tattoo that Cara has tattooed on her finger.  

Similarily, each bag has a lion rivet and a heart shaped patch based on another of Cara’s tattoos, which she explained “I want there to be hidden gems inside, based on the things that are personal to me, which my tattoos definitely are.”

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Leandra Medine (a.k.a The Man Repeller), InStyle's Amy Bannerman, Glamour Magazine's Natalie Hartley, Marie Claire's Tanya Philipson, TLC with Mulberry's small Willow tote in wheat, DJ's Henrietta Tiefenthaler and Izzy Lawrence, Irina Lazareanu

 

SHOP TLC'S LOOK:

Above:  With Poppy Delevingne (and her perfect Disney Princess hair!)

 

TLC LOVES... THE MULBERRY DELEVINGNE COLLECTION:

NYFW SS'15: Galvan Shopping Evening

I popped in to see the gorgeous Galvan girls (Above L-R: Anna-Christin Haas, TLC, Sola Harrison, Carolyn Hodler and Katherine Holmgren) at their champagne fuelled shopping evening at Bergdorf Goodman during NYFW.  I previously wrote about this brand (HERE), foreseeing great things… and yes, this is a serious case of “I told you so!”

The girl’s AW'14 collection, their second triumphant array of sleek, elegant evening-wear, which was (unsurprisingly) immediately snapped up by eighteen of the best retailers, is simply stunning.  Worn by models on the night (above) and the girls themselves (below), I was particularly taken with the chic white jumpsuit creative director Sola Harrison was wearing (similar to last season’s black version worn by Gwyneth Paltrow.)

Above (Clockwise) L-R:  Anna-Christin Haas, Carolyn Hodler, Sola Harrison and Katherine Holmgren, and with my great friend Dhani Harrison.

TLC LOVES... GALVAN:

NYFW SS'15: Michael Kors

I utterly adored Michael Kors’ SS’15 collection (and having had a quick peek at Pinterest I’m certainly not alone!)

The blooming, beautiful florals and 1950’s inspired embellished skirts, were paired with masculine, tailored shirts, crisp white boyfriend tee's or light weight cashmere sweaters, resulting in an effortless, ladylike chic.  

I mean, this could be the most perfect summer wardrobes of all time...  Michael, I’ll take the lot.  Please?! 

NYFW SS'15: Zoë Jordan

British designer Zoë Jordan presented an edit of nine RTW looks this New York Fashion Week, and I was so glad to be in town so as not to miss it.  I have always been a big fan of Zoë’s urban, tomboy-chic designs and this collection certainly did not disappoint. 

Inspired by cracked granite and atomised metal, this clean collection, with its relaxing blue marble hues and silver strobes, neat dresses and must-have stylish city shorts, was shown at the über cool Milk Studios alongside a fantastic sound mix by DJ Miss G.     

Above Left:  My favourite look from the collection.  I just LOVE these silver leather shorts paired with Zoë's signature Dias Jumper in cream and silver. Already firmly on my wish list. 

Above:  A smooch from model Poppy Delevingne, and The London Chatter with designer Zoë Jordan

Above (Clockwise) L-R: Tank Magazine's executive fashion director Caroline Issa with Beatrice Savoretti, Motilo.com's founder Sofia Barattieri (hover over the below picture to see details of Sofia's amazing look), Poppy Delevingne and Susie Bubble. 

NYFW SS'15: Reward Style Party

I was very excited to be invited to the annual Reward Style Party, one of the most talked about parties each year during New York Fashion Week.  Sponsored by InStyle and Topshop, I joined hundreds of the world’s most popular bloggers on the rooftop of The Empire Hotel (where is Chuck Bass when you need him?!) for many a cocktail in the sunshine.

Below:  I chatted with fellow crazy cat lady, DJ Harley Viera-Newton, during her set.   If you haven’t already, you must check out the videos of her cat showering (yes, really!) on Instagram. 

Obvvvviously the best part of attending a party like this, and being surrounded by so many fashionistas, is the immense style stalking opportunities (but first, let me take a selfie...)

Above:  Roughly translated. "P*** Off!' Love the versatility of this H&M polka-dot skirt.

Above:  These Red/Bronze Nike trainers are amazing! #NEEDWANTMUSTHAVE!

Above:  Model Coco Rocha in Christian Siriano

NYFW SS'15: Harpers Bazaar Icons Party

To celebrate Carine Roitfeld’s ‘Icons’ portfolio, which appears in every international September issue of Harper’s Bazaar, the magazine’s global fashion director held a black tie party in the ballroom of the glamourous Plaza Hotel during New York Fashion Week.

Accompanying Louise Roe as her date, and subsequent body guard, in my navy Global Babe jumpsuit (for similar, see below) I found myself in a room filled with some of the most powerful people in fashion... and bottles… and bottles… and bottles of Champagne and Belvedere vodka. 

Lady Gaga, US Bazaar’s September cover star, took to the stage and performed some sultry jazz for an audience that included Linda Evangelista, Lauren Hutton, Karolina Kurkova and Brooke Shields (oh, and Brooke Shield’s amazing arms, which deserve a special mention!)

The night was, I have to admit, supremely overwhelming, from sharing a lift with Alexa Chung and Karlie Kloss, catching Lady Gaga by the bottom during a paparazzi scrum (I’m not even kidding!) to generally navigating myself around a room full of people more than twice my height... However, in spite of all this fashionable drama, I did manage to secure a good ol’catch up with my pal Lou and one helluva fabulous hangover… Nice to meet you NYFW SS'15! It's gonna be emotional...! 

Above:  Everybody needs good Neiiiiiiighbours... Louise Roe made a new friend in Central Park

SHOP TLC's LOOK:

#TLCSplashMob: Ice Bucket Challenge for the Cove Guardians in Taiji

My friend, photographer/videographer/conservationist/dude, Jimmy Greenwood (Feral Film Productions) recently nominated me for the Ice Bucket Challenge.  Rather than chucking a bucket of water over my head (adding to the already over flowing Facebook walls of my friends), and inspired by Jimmy’s unconventional, and eco friendly, take on the challenge, I decided to rally the troops and make a SPLASH in London’s Serpentine for the love of dolphins, in support of Sea Shepherd’s Cove Guardians.

As you may know from my Instagram, I have attended several protests outside London’s Japanese Embassy in the last year (above), alarmed and disgusted by the brutal annual six month ‘cull’ of dolphins off the coast of the small fishing village of Taiji.

Annually, after a small selection of herded dolphins, porpoises and small whales are chosen for marine parks, thousands of others are brutally slaughtered and sold off for their meat.  Most citizens in Japan are unaware of these horrendous dolphin hunts, or the serious toxicity of dolphin meat, which contains extremely high levels of mercury and PCBs.

Now, more than ever, it is important to add your voice to the growing global outrage and international protest against the drive hunt, as well as the captivity and slaughter these innocent creatures.  The strongest weapon we have is our voice. Please write to your local Japanese Embassy or consulate and use your social media platforms to let it be known you oppose the slaughter in Taiji.

Thank you to my girls for agreeing, without hesitation, to one of my more crazy requests, to the Masketeers and the Artful Badger, to Summer Watson and to Jimmy, a man as passionate about this cause as me, for his excellent camera skills, encouragement and enthusiasm.

Donate to Sea Shepherd's Cove Guardians HERE.

Hello There: Florian London

With visions of my summery straw clutches dissolving in the onslaught of rain fast approaching, my eyes have been on the lookout for a sturdier handbag to accompany me into Autumn. It is however, becoming harder and harder these days to find an affordable, yet elegant, British-made handbag label.  Enter: Florian London, the latest arm-candy I’ve recently discovered. 

Launching in 2011, and by British architecture, the brand recently celebrated international recognition, winning two design prizes at the prestigious Independent Handbag Awards ceremony in New York, and is now set to be stocked in Bloomingdales. 

SO… with handbags to fit both my lifestyle and wardrobe, ranging from roomy doctor’s bags, to brightly coloured totes and sleek clutches, picking just one to swing about town was a toughy!  I was however, particularly drawn to the Florian London City Shopper in sky grey (how apt!)  The structured leather shopper has gold hardware (always my preference), plenty of practical compartments (including one which fits my always on-the-move laptop!) and has THE most ridiculously sweet ‘Alice in Wonderland’ printed cotton interior (below).  The gorrrgeous people at Florian London even monogrammed my new bag for me... And we all know just HOW much I LOVE a monogram!  ​We’re now the best of pals and together, all set for what the heavens have to offer us in the coming months! 
Florian London City Shopper in Sky Grey RRP. £295.00