Trends Feature: Giuseppe Zanotti Corona boots

Ladies! Stomp the streets in these dark and sexy vamped up Giuseppe Zanotti Corona boots.

Fit for the edgy princess, you can't take a step wrong. So do your feet a favour and leg it up!

Available at Selfridges.com: £670.00

Trends Feature: Topshop Croc Trim Lady bag

You're always going to need a bag so why not make a necessity a fashion statement! Get your hands wrapped around the handles of this chic Croc Trim Lady bag from Topshop, at £40, your bits and pieces will thank you. A great piece for the autumn look.

Charity:The Misconceptions

Having a genuine love for charity shops and their bargains, I’ve been asked the same questions over like “where are all the good charity shops?”, “can I really get good stuff from there?”, “aren’t charity shops dirty and dingy?” and “aren’t charity shops and vintage shops the same thing?”, so let’s clear up the misconceptions.

Charity shops are places full of hidden treasures; the mistaken belief is that they are whiffy and grubby places full of ‘used unclean stuff’, when in fact they have increasingly become boutique styled shops with vintage and sometimes brand new items seeking new homes.

Initially, charity shops were most visited by the elderly and the less financially privileged for their cheap bits and bobs, but these days, they are frequented by stylists, fashionistas and all ages alike in order to find those quirky accessories, vintage and one-off pieces.
The great thing about charity shops is that because pieces can be donated by anyone and everyone, you never know what great finds you’re going to stumble across.

Some of the finest pieces we’ve come across on our fashion travels include £40 Emerald Green Manolo Blahniks from the Ikosi Store in Brixton, £20 purple silk Ralph Lauren pants from The British Heart Foundation in Swiss Cottage, a £75 Harley Davidson Leather Biker Jacket, a £3 Vintage bag from Traid and astonishingly, a white Gold, Diamond and Jade ring for £1 in Camden (we’re guessing the shop owner didn’t know the value!).

For the few people still apprehensive of charity shops, few like Barnados, even receive donations from particular retailers like Mecca, of their unsold previous seasons stock and some customer donations include never before worn pieces too, oh the luxuries!

When you come across pieces in charity shops that have had their fair share of wear and tear, they can usually be put into one of two sorting piles. Either it’s a vintage piece and its ‘tired’ look adds to its “authenticity” or its just plain old! For those who don’t know or just use the word loosely, vintage is mostly items produced between the 1920s and mid-1980s.

A great point to note is that a vintage shop is not a charity shop as they are mostly profit seeking organisations but can accept specified donations, whereas a charity shop can possess vintage items but also sell a variety of goods to raise funds for various causes.

Nowadays, charity shops also focus on their aesthetic appeal as well as their causes as a lot of them, like the Fara Charity shop in Lavender Hill and Shelter in Swiss Cottage, London, have plush boutique like appearances. Bear in mind, some charity shops depending on their locations cater to specific customers. Like Age Concern in Albert Road, Portsmouth which hosts shelves of bric-a-brac most attractive to the elderly or Oxfam in West London hosting rails of designer gear aimed at the fashion savvy.

No matter whom a charity shops desired consumer is, their definitive desire is to raise funds for their specified cause. So as well as livening up your wardrobe and adopting key pieces, always remember you are setting your charitable conscience free.

The ultimate rule for charity shopping is ‘If you don’t look, you won’t find!’, so the next time you walk past a charity shop, think ‘what could I be missing out on?’




Acknowledgements

I would like to extend my gratitude to the staff at The British Heart Foundation, Shelter and Octavia Foundation stores in Swiss Cottage for giving me free rein in their shops.


Photos: Twynkle Loves, All rights reserved.

Vivienne's Exhibition!

So Wednesday (22/09) was the last day of access to the wonderful world of Westwood, Vivienne Westwood that is! Hosting a beautiful collection of the legendary designers shoe creations from 1973- 2010, Department store, Selfridges in London, gave the public and fashionistas alike the opportunity to witness the a footwear timeline of the Westwood Fashion House.

From a audiences point of view, the showcase could be said to stimulate the senses in more ways than one! With very sexual references made in the collection names as well as their designs, Vivienne comes across as one kinky designer!
From the Steamy referenced flame shoe to the adequately named 'Jordans Sex Shop Assistant Mules and from the numerous tie, chain and bondage referenced shoes to the 'OMG She didn't!' 'Penis Shoe' from the Erotic Zone 1995 Collection (and yes, that's the name!), unsurprising from the lady who once renamed her Kings Road Shop 'Sex'.

Sexuality aside, fashion has definitely benefited from V.Westwoods  contribution, having spanned 37 years, the woman's still got it, with her lovingly adorable new 'Ultra girl' shoes collection.
The exhibition definitely gives you a sense of 'being in with the it crowd', whilst taking the fashion babies back in time, if ever there's an opportunity to view fashion history while it was in the making, this was definitely it.

An Exhibition Well Deserved.

Vivienne Westwood Shoes, An Exhibition 1973 – 2010 

http://www.viviennewestwood.com/

Trend Spotter: Jessica

Today's style salute goes to Jessica, 21, an Illustrations student from London, who knows how to work the neutrals, which has been a fashion favourite for many seasons.

As well as her gorgeous vintage inspired envelope necklace, Jessica's choice of accessories makes sure her outfit is an all round winner, even breaking up a potential beige overload with black tights.

Cardigan: Reiss

Tunic Dress: H&M

Shoes: Marks & Spencer

Bag: Bershka

Jessica, We salute you!

Trends Feature: Matches Blue Inspiratons

I'm so loving Pierre Garroudi's New S/S 2011 all blue theatrical couture collection, that I took inspiration for todays trend picks.

For more on Pierre Garroudi's S/S 2011 Haute Couture Collection, Click here.

So today I'm featuring these brilliant blue accessories for the men and ladies out there.

Both Blue Items available at www.matchesfashion.com

Pierre Garroudi's 'Hair raising' SS11 Haute Couture Collection

Saturday 18th September 2010 marked the launch of Pierre Garroudi's new SS11 Haute Couture Collection at Arch 6 on Crucifix Lane.

The fashion show, theatrical and intriguing in it's nature, showcased the beautiful blue turquoise themed creations, reminiscent but just as individual of Hair stylist Angela Plummers Hair clothing creations.


Angela Plummer Hair Creations
http://www.angelaplummer.com/

 Just as Pierre has done with his previous 10 Collections, the designer didn't fail to bring to life his futuristic interpretations. Glamorous and silhouette hugging isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of textured spacing fabrics, but Pierre managed this intricately with his craftsmanship and creations of capes, Tu-Tu skirts and various dresses.

But no great show would be a performance without great hair, makeup and accessories, and this show definitely took the award for best contributions. With electric and experimental makeup and hair created by Zed Nevada, Michael Barnes and Luke Reynolds, the fashion show could have easily been a hair show and the audience would have been none the wiser. The awesome hair creations were in a league of their own with nautical themed sculptures including ships, a hammerhead shark, a coin tower, steam ships and a mini Ferris wheel.

Pierre Garroudi definitely delivered on this collection, showing that the evolution of the Garroudi Fashion House is still in motion, but will he be able to outdo himself on his next collection?

We can't wait to see!

Designer: Pierre Garroudi
http://www.pierregarroudi.com/

Photography courtesy of: Rob Sheppard for Catwalk Capture and Jacek Baranowski.

Celebrity Fashion Intruders: Copycat or Catwalk innovator

In light of the prospective lawsuit between Singer/ "designer" Beyonce and Icelandic Fashion Brand E-Label over a pair of leggings, we were inspired to spotlight the issues of celebrity powers.

Last Wednesday, 15/09 at Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week, Gwen Stefani showcased her new L.A.M.B. Spring 2011 Ready- to-wear Collection. The collection was an infusion of mainly African prints, tie dye and plaid.

To view the rest of the L.A.M.B Spring 2011 ready-to-wear Collection, Click here!

The collection as individual pieces, were "nice" but as a whole, at points, was in-cohesive, there was no particular style but the atmosphere was that of a festival,  with Caribbean infused music.

Although the pieces were cute and wearable, you don't have to have been locked away in Vogues fashion closet for years to know that African print fabric and its fashion interpretations is no new thing.

African magazines, like Arise, Ovation, Dynamix and Events International have been displaying African Designer and street fashions as well as how to play with Ankara/ Kente (African Wax material) for years. Tailors worldwide have also been creating innovative pieces from these materials for all types of events for decades.

There are also fashion design houses such as Adebayo Jones, Sika Designs, Nkwo, Jewel By Lisa and Hallero, who have been creating beautiful designs from these fabrics for years. Then along comes L.A.M.B.s S2011 Collection and all of a sudden, it's "Fresh", as described by Singer Debbie Harrison. (Well that says alot!)



Jewel By Lisa - A/W 2010/2011



Jewel By Lisa- A/W 2010/2011 



NKWO



NKWO



Olori by Adeleke Sijuwade



Olori by Adeleke Sijuwade



Hallero



Hallero

Deola Sagoe- Fall 2010

Deola Sagoe- Fall 2010

We're all for the success and freedom of expression of others, but when there have been designers and tailors doing this particular trend for years and a celebrity with a platform, does the same and takes the credit, a review needs to be done.

Most small fashion houses and independent designers don't initially have the connections or funds to immediately jump and showcase on a world stage but they do have the trend setting innovation and creativity.

Most of the tailoring crafts like beading, fabric printing and tie dye, seen today as eccentric and bold have been a way of life for Africans and many others for centuries.

Celebrities with their connections need to realise that most undiscovered designers are already in the future, waiting for them to catch up!

Trends Feature: Harley Davidson biker jacket

Today, I've got a great find for the fellas (and maybe some ladies!). I found this unbelievable buy in the 'British Heart Foundation' store in Swiss Cottage and I was just as shocked as you will be. This authentic 'Harley Davidson' biker jacket for £75.00!




This was just one of the great designer finds in the store, so go check it out for yourself and see what you'll find @ The British Heart Foundation

Be a Glamour Kitten!

With Fashion week underway and beautiful collections displayed everywhere, we've decided to feature a designer that will also be featured in one of the London Fashion Week shows and creates the ultimate accessories that every girl can relate to.

GlamourKitten.com was created to provide women worldwide with first hand access to gorgeous vintage jewellery. The pieces are sourced from all over the world and include items and gems that are over 150 years old! The vintage jewellery at Glamour Kitten are so rare and unusual that sometimes only one of each piece may be available, which is also a great thing as you'll be the only one wearing it.

Glamour Kitten was created by jewellery designer Lucy Wills, who also has her own jewellery line, Seraglia, that consists of one-of-a-kind and limited edition art jewellery using exquisite and interesting materials.

We've had the privilege to visit the Glamour Kitten head office and were totally smitten by the eccentric pieces available. Lucy is just as bold as the jewellery she creates and is a machine filled with laughter and so much energy. The attention to detail and perfectionism is undeniable and each piece justifies its price.

With a never ending stream of newly created pieces, make Glamour Kitten your first stop for that show stopping piece.

http://www.glamourkitten.com/
http://www.seraglia.com/


P.s. Enter discount code 'shhh' at http://www.glamourkitten.com/ to get 15% off your order of vintage jewellery and accessories.