Rachel Simpson - we just discovered each other and its LURVE

Ethical, stylish & totally fabulous! 30 Nov 2009

We are very fortunate to know and work with some amazing people in the fashion industry and Lupe Castro, an ethical fashion stylist who found us via our friends at Fur Coat No Knickers is no exception. We lent her some shoes recently for a photoshoot and the results are amazing, have a look at some of the shots here on our blog. Because we love to be involved with companies and individuals with passions like ours, we caught up with Lupe for a quick chat...

Tell us a bit about your company, who you are, where you started out .

I am an experienced and passionate independent ethical fashion stylist, working with individuals, celebrities, the media and fashion industry to ensure stunning, individual looks coupled with the very cutting edge of ethical, traceable, sustainable fashion and style. I also do sourcing and styling for magazine and advertising shoots, catwalks and shows.

Whats your best seller.

Hmmm I guess what I love doing best and what gives me the biggest buzz is making the clothes that women wear, reflects the real personality they are.

What should the 21st century Fashionista be looking out for next season?

Lots of Gold and Coral Red, medium sized prints..

Which designer from your industry inspires you and why?

Crumb! hard question - I love so many. I am in awe of the way some just cut clothing to reveal the figures so beautifully.

Celebrity shoppers, anyone we know?

Recently for shoots I have styled Deborah Meadon and Miranda Richardson, I love and admire both so it was mind blowing!!!

What are you looking forward to for the rest of the year?

Styling Summer Rayne Oaks and seeing Rachels new collection!

Describe your personal style

Glamour to get you noticed

What is your biggest fashion faux pas?

Aha that would be telling - involves a fancy dress party that wasnt and a 1950s swim suit!

check out more of this luvvy piece at Rachel Simpson shoes

Julia Smith, hits the WEST END

Earlier on this week Julia Smith opened her fab shop

in Connaught Village together with the shoe designer Joanne Stoker. I didn't manage to get to the vernissage but I did pop in the next day which was even better, as I didn't have to fight through the hoards and got to try on mostly everything. Also managed to talk to Julia who is difficult to pin down as she is back and forth from Ghana quite a bit.

The Shop Julia explained is the result of winning a competition - run by the Church Commissioners in conjunction with London College of Fashion- to kick start their own retail fashion business with a rent and rates -free retail unit for six months in Connaught Village.

Not only is the shop filled with both girls lovely creations but there is also a studio in the offing for made to measure.. and a lovely selection of cosy knitwear knitted in the UK just for them.

Prices are amazing starting at £135 for the gorgeous organic jersey throw on for all occasions dress below... + its so so easy to get to just 5 minutes from Marble arch.

Julia Smith & Joanne Stoker - 4 Porchester Place W22AZ

Glam show last weekend at Earls Court

As it was Too near to miss thought I would pop into the Glam Show and see kat at EJF do her first live catwalk show ever.

The models boys and gals were amazing and wearing all of the designs as well as those gorgeous monkee jeans. teamed with some Hot Terra Plana, Beyond skin and B boheme shoes. Kat had organised a shortish video on the dreaded endosulfan(I think any longer and it would have been just to stomach churning I hate that pesticide), but just go shows what one Kat plus host of volunteers can do that she has just managed to get up in front of the Geneva Delegates at the fifth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee that have agreed that its sufficiently dangerous to humans and the environment that global action is warranted. About time ???Who says we can't change the world!!

Anyhow while I was milling around who should I bump into but just my fave rave Reem having , so I spent just a good 30 minutes trying everything on what an opportunity and I had thought she was in Japan well I ordered myself a great pair of sequin trousers!! Made note in diary she is at clothes show in December .... Yes!!!

Waiting for images will get them up soon!!!

Fashion week and all that Jazz+ethetica

Reporting from the centre of London and the new venue, yes not in fact Somerset House

but 180 the strand past Kings College and onto a block that is going to be demolished terribly

shortly... Although very modern airy and on several floors vast improvent on the nightmare

of the Natural History museum fashion week was split and it showed. Not everybody managed to get around to the two venues traditionally people come for 1 or 2 days..

The fact that the sign posts were not really correct + on two sites, one of which was cobbled and painful seemed like a recipe for disaster . Standing in front of the Somerset main entrance on the first day in the sun looking at a map of different colour blocks was certainly a challenge!

But Somerset House main was gorgeous there was loads of light spilling through windows and there was even a bar serving mojitos overlooking the river heaven it made people watching and buyer spying seriously Fun!

Potassium my favourite shop for men

Snuggily wedged between Oxford street and Edgware road Potassium has got be the easiest to shop menswear destination around. Not only that but the owner who is pretty chilled out and cool Karim is seriously helpful with sizes and styles... He has the best range of Kuyichi jeans for men in London and has his own great tees in the most luxury ethical cotton for £12 pounds a pop

fab fit even for those with even the littlest hint of pecs!!

My Only One

You know those really annoying friends that are really into sport logos addidas this and nike that and they spend a fortune on the latest or limited collection piece! Take a look at this for Class!!! Or like me you enjoy getting into your guys comfy super large sports to lounge.

Well guess whats made its way on to my radar….a new label to make it all superbly green and make friends drool with envy and selling now at our own very grand Top shop on oxford circus prices range from £22 - £55. SPORT NOUVEAU STYLE redefines the world of casual sports wear says Pamela Daniels, Creative Director and co-founder of My Only One and director of Ethical Fashion Forum. Oversized men’s sports t-shirts from the 70’s and 80’s are transformed and remade into playful pieces such as our Circus Dress and Tennis Skirt. Vintage dresses from the 50’s and 80’s inspired feature items such as our Echo Playsuit, a unique twist on a timeless all in one jumpsuit.
The look is casual, comfortable and highly functional with a flirty tomboy twist. The My Only One collection offers items perfect to step out for a day of Frisbee in the park with the right amount of individuality to translate into a fun night on the dancefloor. You’ll find our My Only One designers bicycling around east London lapping up inspiration and re-imagining new designs for our bespoke collection.

Swimwear my favourite pieces

Having spent loads of time analysing the ‘I hate swimwear’ phenomenon, I have come to the conclusion that even the most confident woman will, if pushed, have something horrid to say about some part of her body and that she would prefer to keep covered up.
Unfortunately, my pleas to clients about how gorgeous women’s bodies are and how marvellous it is that we are all unique works of art, falls on stony ground when the time comes to bear all.
So, my answer is loads of fake organic tan applied expertly in my favourite salon Glams in Soho, high heels and a few clever camouflage tips check them out on http://www.daisygreenmagazine.co.uk/fashion/trends-fashion/swimwear-to-suit-your-shape/

Check out this serious gorgeous Lina Rennell swimwear piece.. not availble in the uk at the moment!!