Bobelle brings STYLE to Marks and Spencer`s Autograph range.

Terribly exciting news for all us Bobelle adorers, affordable smart and luxurious clutch, ipad case, iphone case and wallet in  classic palette of Smokey White, Red and Black hits M&S. The range is available exclusively at their London  flagship stores,  of Marble Arch and High Street Kensington. plus on line as well!

People power as Selfridges launches Project Ocean



Alanna Weston Creative director Selfridges wearing Katherine Hamnett





James Knight staff manning the fish stall in the Food Hall



Running from 11 May – 12 June, the first enviromental project  and biggest is both a celebration of the oceans and a forum for conservationists to issue an urgent public wake-up call to address issues of sustainability, overfishing and marine protection. 

Driven by the unthinkable prospect of the world’s major fisheries collapsing by 2050, the London store has given itself over to leading international marine protection campaigners and 22 environmental NGOs, as well high profile activists from the worlds of art, fashion, culinary arts, and entertainment.   

Jonathan Baillie, co-creator of Project Ocean and Director of ZSL said, “Project Ocean signals the biggest-ever retail activism campaign designed to ‘sell’ and engage public mind-sets on overfishing, an issue that needs mass support.  We hope that this innovative partnership with Selfridges makes the public understand the issues around overfishing, and measurably leads to more fish in the sea”.



Being a pescaterian the whole idea of killing our fish supply is abhorrent all be it I won’t be alive by 2050 unless we discover some life sustaining drug. But I take stewardship of our land quite seriously and since the politicians seem to be incapable of doing anything about it, I think Selfridges has just made it a wee bit clearer  about how we can do it ourselves. I mean checking up in the Selfridges Fish guide booklet which is now available free and  dotted around their  food hall I saw a couple of my favourite fish on the danger list.
Gosh! Although it’s tough the idea of no more  `Raie au Beurre Noir`  there are plenty of alternatives and the expert staff at James Knight are happy to find you one. If in doubt or your just can’t find your fave fish fast enough,  you can always check website fishonline.org although be warned as a fish lover find the whole thing totally disheartening!!

Something moorish about this Fashion of Compassion designer bag from Palestyle!

Its not just the price either £90 for this gorgeous purple leather wallet from Palestyle!!( Worn by Cherie Blair) or the commitment from the forever beautiful Ayesha whose site  Fashion for Compassion is a fantastic little treasure trove of exotic finds. I think for me its her whole ethos of sourcing responsibly from brands that contribute to society and empowering women. She also has to be the only woman in the UK with  such an expert knowledge on the middleast fashion scene. Beshtar one of her designers is certainly on my one to watch list and looked stunning on Oliva Firth doing her Green Carpet challenge!  Their little dresses might also  prove a crease less option to stuff into my pannier as I prepare  for my forthcoming `Girl on the back of a bike challenge`!! Uggh......

House of Tammam fan Jason Gardiner raves about my fave sheer sleeve Bridal Gown

The Kate is the name of the dress which is really absolutely heavenly with its sheer sleeves in naturally dyed printed  100% peace silk  organza I first saw it at Lucy Tammam`s catwalk show at St Pancras International sipping on some light organic bubby earlier on this year together with @katehelencarter. It was love at first site although looks like I am not the only one!  Visiting her Studio today in the heart of Bloomsbury I can only be amazed how Lucy preempted this now really popular trend.
Tammam Atelier is in India its IFAT certified ,  and uses a mixture of traditional and western
techiniques making her embellishment totally unique.  House of Tammam also has ready to wear from £450 + mother of the bride +accessories + bridesmaids and even the odd piece for the overseas wedding. There is a rumour that she might be persuaded to do Grooms but I guess that might be a while off as how much more can this dynamic designer and super MUM do!
See Link below for pre RW view and the Kate Dress £1500 stocked at Sophia Couture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbLxZQMZaEQ

Fiona Nunan - discovered ! A very savvy Irish Designer with oodles of Romance.

Fiona Nunan a romantic warrior





Prints and feathers with different textures





Jewellery used for armoury.



One of my favourite summer pieces utilising end of line wedding lace







Having just graduated from Dublin last December , Fiona bagsed herself a place with Giles Deacon in London her internship has left a mark,  his mixing  of superior craftsmanship with whimsical irreverence translates into her own very special duality of mixing female draping with male fortitude.

I caught up with her at Crafty Fox Market a couple of weeks ago and was impressed by her craftsmanship,designs, romantic without being too female and totally wearable. She will be launching her Label FINU at the Laden Showrooms this summer.

Inspired by Katherine Hamnet all her collection is hand made sourcing materials which are end of Line or off cuts.

Definitely one to watch especially while she is affordable.

RMV (Rock My Vintage) set to revolutionize Vintage the way Net a Porter has Fashion



Pucci










































THIS WEEK  founder Beth Mcshane  will  give up LAW; and devote herself entirely to her life and passion Vintage!

The website launching next month sells a mix of vintage and retro inspired dresses and accessories fron designers such as I LOVE LOWIE and  NANCY DEE  both so on my  total I Love list!

But this is not just any old vintage newbe website this is something quite different.............

Offering an opportunity to replicate both classic and current trends either by owning a piece of fashion history or collating from a contemporary range of vintage inspired dresses and accessories.

Now you can get why I am so excited!   So be prepared to shop!

www.rockmyvintage.co.uk  

launches the 14th MAY

My TRUNK on the Ecologist by Julia Nelson

Another expert upcycler is top ethical fashion stylist and founder of Ethical Heaven, Lupe Castro. ‘If a beautiful chair is missing a leg it doesn’t make it less beautifuI,’ she explains. ‘I feel I need to sort of help it along by maybe using a rolling pin covered in material or a varnished brick, a marble bauble or part of an iron balustrade. The trick is to give it a new but beautiful twist.’ The latest pieces she’s been refashioning are some travelling trunks that she found tucked away in her new apartment. She describes them as ‘a little bit worse for wear’ but says they’re evocative of a bygone era where train travel, painted faces and cocktails at six were de rigueur. ‘I took the trunk and stuck an old mirror in the flap and covered the rest with leftover materials that both my mother and grandmother had knocking about, and have used them as dressing table. I love boxes and ribbons and secret nooks and crannies – every time I open the trunk I feel like I’m jumping into another time and it makes me so happy.’When it comes to sourcing furniture, Lupe swears by the Salvation Army shop in Wandsworth, flea markets and small town auction houses, although she admits that some of her best finds have come from skips on the street..... read all the article at
http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/home/855347/upcycling_2011s_greenest_decorating_trend.html