As is quite clear from this behind-the-scenes footage of Emma Watson’s cover shoot for Teen Vogue magazine, the young actress is headed for international uber-stardom. She’s totally and uniquely stylish and we love, love, love her very English eccentricity. Next stop US Vogue magazine.
This autumn looks set to kick off in iconic style with shoe designer to the stars Jimmy Choo bringing his much adored talents to high street retailer H&M. Offering both men’s and women’s accessories and clothing, the collection will be available from Saturday 14th November in around 200 H&M stores across the world. According to Tamara Mellon, founder and president of Jimmy Choo, the designer “will bring to H&M a sophisticated, fashion forward, accessible and glamorous collection - the perfect party pieces to buy now and then wear out at night.”
So it seems US Vogue editor Anna Wintour has ignored her own criticism of Sienna Miller as being “too toothy” and made her a cover star for a second time (the first was back in 2007). And jolly good too because the British actress is looking pretty damn stunning in a one-shoulder silk red dress made specially for the occasion by Calvin Klein. Copy her bold look with this chic one-shoulder drape dress. £80, at Oasis.
Victoria Beckham has embraced this summer’s bow and ribbon trend full-on. Seen leaving Claridges Hotel this weekend she was sporting a rather kooky pair of patent ankle ribboned heels, a mini skirt and sheer black jersey top. Will you be hot on VB’s heels with the new look?… These pillar box red ribbon shoes are just the ticket, £35 at New Look.
If it’s good enough for Michelle Obama it’s plenty good enough for us. We love the First Lady’s latest fave jewellery designer St. Erasmus… not least for his gorgeous power statement necklaces. And no doubt Pieter Erasmus is loving the ‘Mobama effect’. “Since Mrs. O wore one of my necklaces I have hardly had time to sleep,” he reveals about his increased popularity. See St-erasmus.com for stockists and prices.
Luxury retailer Hermes has resorted to breeding crocodiles to keep up with demand for its iconic handbags. Recession? Pah… what recession? Customers currently join super-long waiting lists for the designer’s classic Birkin and Kelly bags and Hermes chief executive, Patrick Thomas, has revealed that, despite doing all they can to prevent the label being so reliant on bags, they simply can’t keep up with demand. “We have massive over-demand. We are limited by our ability to train new craftsmen,” Thomas said. The company currently produces 3,000 crocodile bags a year.
This season’s beachwear just got a whole load more glamorous with the news that Giles Deacon is adding LA-inspired bikinis, swimsuits, beach bags, kaftans and flip flops to his already super-cool Gold label line. Available at New Look from next week, Deacon explained in an interview with Vogue that “it was all designed while on a research trip to Los Angeles - by the pool at the Chateau Marmont. For me it’s not so much Eighties-inspired but more a mix of clean lines and graphic boldness with a touch of playfulness.”
Hurrah for Topshop! From Thursday 11th – Sunday 14th June each time you spend over £50 in selected stores nationwide you’ll receive one of these cute floral fancies (it’s actually a potted African Violet plant but we thought floral fancy sounded better). Of course, the perfect purchase to go with your plant is this fun daisy playsuit, £45, and a pair of these neon pink heart-shaped sunglasses, £15, both at Topshop.com. How bloomin’ marvellous.
iPhone users can now use high street retailer Oasis’s brand new shopping application to view new collections, track down sought-after items, find their closest store and get up to speed with all the latest fashion news via the store’s newsletter. Daily updates on new arrivals make snapping up the latest looks a doddle. Available at iTunes or search for ‘Oasis fashion’ from your iPhone.
How have we managed without them?… How on earth… This rather kooky looking pair of boots - the shuella: ‘umbrella for your shoes’ - seems to be causing a bit of a stir both stateside (where they originated) and over here in the UK. Fun and practical they may be but when it next rains will we see thousands of them about town, usefully protecting heels, wedges and pumps? Only time will tell. One thing’s for sure though; we won’t be able to miss the little beauties, especially since they come in shocking pink, and neon yellow and green. $49.95 at Shuella.com.
StyleJunkee is loving Vogue’s July issue with the gorgeous Julianne Moore looking better than ever as cover girl. Interviewed inside she speaks about her self-image, revealing: “I still have freckles; I still don’t like them. It just doesn’t matter as much.”
Having sponsored Graduate Fashion Week for five consecutive years, high street retailer River Island has just announced it will be launching a GFW collection, designed by past Graduate Fashion Week students. With a nod to autumn/winter’s eighties trend, the GFW offering will boast sequin harem pants, oversized blazers and towering heels. Amber le Bon is fronting the collection’s ad campaign. Graduate Fashion Week is from June 7-11. For more info, see www.gfw.org.uk.
Hurrah for Mary Portas Queen of Shops. The fashion shop re-vamper extraordinaire is attempting to take the world of charity shopping into retail mainstream by opening a charity shop in London’s Westfield shopping centre. Called ‘Mary’s Living and Giving Shop’, the outlet will take its cue from markets like Portobello and Camden. “A lot of people think charity shops are a little bit smelly… and a little bit irrelevant, but I want to change all that.” Portas revealed to the Sunday Times. And to kick things off she’s teamed up with Grazia magazine to appeal for clothes.
Click over to Liberty online and you might just find yourself clicking off with a sassy new pair of heels. The luxury department store has launched its online offering with a rather decadent shoe boutique. Chloe, Nicole Farhi, Marc Jacobs and Kurt Geiger are just a few of the hot-to-trot designer names available. We’re coveting these slinky KG Azalea stilettos, £130 at Liberty.co.uk.
So how about some big bank holiday fashion news then? It seems troubled singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse is set to become PPQ’s latest fashion muse. We kid you not. The often underdressed and disheveled star seems a rather unlikely choice but who are we to judge? “The range will be all about high end statement pieces, inspired by Amy’s style. For example maybe an amazing piece of jewellery like a bracelet or a dress,” PPQ’s Amy Molyneaux told Grazia magazine.
The second phase of Kate Moss’s SS09 Topshop collection is going on sale in stores tomorrow and from the sneeky previews we’ve seen so far it looks pretty gorgeous. Encapsulating the perfect holiday wardrobe pieces are rich in texture, heavily embellished and exotic-looking. Three main prints feature throughout - ‘blue leopard’, ‘coral zebra’ and ’swirl’ and designs are more sophisticated and chic than Kate’s usual signature playful ditziness. What’s not to lust-after?
To celebrate its 125-year anniversary tomorrow good old M&S is turning back time by encouraging everyone to spend a penny. Selling two million items for just 1p, the store is offering 20 products so take your pick from cufflinks, jewellery, knickers, tea towels, and ties and socks, and everything will be up for grabs at the tiny weeny penny price. Shoppers will be allowed to bag themselves five items each so get raiding that piggy bank.
Aay up… Natalia Vodianova on Vogue’s June ‘09 cover appears to be posing nude and the whole effect (while very lovely) is mighty similar to that of Beth Ditto on Love magazine’s first issue. Are the powers that be over at Conde Nast running out of cover ideas? Shock horror. It’s either that or someone has realised bare-all actually correlates to sell-all… We’re thinking the latter.
Brace yourselves girls: TK Maxx has just announced it’s soon to be selling big label handbags online… About time, you’re thinking… We have it on very good authority that there are some absolute corkers up for grabs, and because stock will reflect the in-store policy - fast-moving, with low quantities available of each style - unusual and one-off buys will be the name of the game. We can’t wait to check it out - hot designer labels at credit-crunch busting prices. Fabby do. Outnet.com; it’s competition time.
Check out this brand new trippy-tastic TV commercial for Matthew Williamson’s recently launched summer collection for H&M. Watch for Williamson’s starring role at the end. We love it (especially the soundtrack).
