My lost top found after 2 years of searching!

Attending the Madonna concert in Madison Square Gardens last year wearing the too small Louise Amstrup Bow Top, Amiee McWilliams leather trousers and a clutch by Ignes


Over 2 years ago I had a press request for the Louise Amstrup bow top. The press sample was already out at Elle Magazine so I reluctantly sent off my personal top. Sadly it vanished. Elle claimed it had been returned, my warehouse claimed they hadn't received it back and my PR didn't have it either. Luckily we did get press from it and very quickly sold out of all tops.

I was so upset. It really was my favorite top. I loved wearing it with white jeans and silver shoes as well as the leather trousers shown above. I even begged Louise Amstrup to make me a new one but she didn't have anymore fabric. But she did send me a size 8. It was OK, but it wasn't really long enough for me to wear comfortably with my skinny jeans. I preferred the drapy feel of the size 12.

We have just moved warehouses in the last couple of weeks and I have been personally overseeing the stocktake and packing of all my beautiful Brittique.com clothes. There was an odd box leftover that seemed to have damaged clothes and just stationary items so I just left it - until today. What a surprise I got when I unpacked it and right at the bottom was my beloved top neatly folded in the magazine's bag. I'm thrilled! But now I'll have to wait a few months post baby to get back into it.

D&G sample saleing

Vest Camilla Staerk, top Mango, scarf Salvatore Ferragamo, bag Chloe, trousers D&G, shoes vintage.

Dress D&G, cardigan Massimo Dutti, scarf Louis Vuitton, shoes vintage.

It's sample sale season. Prada's was a couple of weeks ago, Max Mara was this week as was D&G and Vivienne Westwood starts 10 November. I went along with come colleagues on my consulting job to D&G - WOW! It was cheap. Most items were 90% off. I got this black pencil dress for $127.50 and the tweed distressed trousers for $180. Just fab!

The dress has a patent leather attached belt and a large gold exposed zip up the back - and pockets! I do love a dress with pockets. The trousers have distressed raw seams on the leg and waist. They're uncuffed, a touch short and I think they look great rolled.

While a bit more conservatively dressed than usual, I've been consulting the past couple of weeks. Soon I'll be back to my usual style.

I also bought another denim corset style dress with an attached red patent leather belt and straps. It looked fine while i was fighting to see the mirror in the crowded communal dressing rooms, but i put it on at home and it's SOOO low. The vest nearly extends to my naval and I don't think it's my thing. I'll just write it off as a sample sale mistake. We all have those right?

The new issue of Fashion156.com

Pictures from Fashion156.com

Fashion156.com never fails to make me gasp with amazement everytime a new issue is published - every 156 hours no less! Guy and his team have done an incredible job promoting the best new British designers in the latest issue. Here we can see a sneak preview of the new AW08 collection from Hannah Marshall, Louise Amstrup and Gil Carvalho.

One of my favorite outfits of the season by Louise Amstrup was also featured on the hot list. This 40s inspired blouse really is hot!

Louise Amstrup picture by Mads Perch.

Meet the red sole man

I alway check out shoes of a well dressed woman. To me a shoe completes the outfit and often makes it work. I've been known to create a full outfit around a pair of shoes, and from customer queries, I know you do too. So what do you think when you see the flash of red on the sole of a shoe? Are you immediately envious? Do you think victim? Celebrity follower? Personally, I prefer to let the style be more conspicuous and leave people wondering where I got my fabulous treads.

At the Saks sale in July I tried on a lovely pair of white pumps by Christian Louboutin. They were agony to walk in, even with my well adjusted feet. While I adore fashion, I don't believe that beauty means suffering so I left them on the shelf and will stick with sexy sandals from Gil Carvalho, Jenne O and Camilla Staerk.

But those of you in New York who are fans can meet the man behind the instantly recognisable red sole at Saks on 7 February between 4-7pm on the brand new shoe floor. Personally I couldn't brave the crowds, but if you're into that, it should be quite an event!

LFW - the venue for "second" lines?

Vogue announced that Preen will now show their second line as well as their main line this season. The main line will be shown in New York for the second season while the second line will be shown in Cophenhagen. Preen's designer's Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi said that the view is to bring the showing of the second line to London Fashion Week eventually.

Now I am a huge fan of Preen and love their second line, but I agree with LibertyLondonGirl, why should LFW only be for second lines? LLG pointed out that last season was Marc for Marc Jacobs, before that Stella's line for Adidas and now Vivienne Westwood's. With London arguably the most fashion forward of the fashion capitals and the breeding ground for many of the current top international designers, why should it be diluted with second lines?

Backstage with Peter Jensen

We're just a couple of weeks away from the chaos that is London Fashion Week. This behind the scene look at a Peter Jensen show pretty much summarises the backstage feel at all shows. Stress levels run high and designers are under a huge amount of pressure. Meanwhile the buyers and press are waiting, waiting, waiting...

Peter Jensen's preppy and yet quirky designers are so effortless to wear. For spring/summer I'm especially in love with his scribble denim jeans dress. Preorders are now open so you don't miss out on your favorite pieces.

Join Brittique & Aveda for a night of fashion & beauty

Join Brittique.com and Aveda for an evening of fresh fashion and natural beauty

Wednesday 30 January, 7pm-10pm

Aveda Institute, 174 High Holborn,

London WC1V 7AA, Map

Shop the latest summer collections from top British designers such as Camilla Staerk, Emma Cook, Gil Carvalho, Hannah Marshall and Louise Amstrup.

Receive complimentary makeovers, hair styling, manicures and massages from Aveda's sumptuous beauty range and talented stylists.

Places are limited so please RSVP here.

An interveiw with Shushme.com

Click here for an interview I did with Shushme.com a new online fashion magazine. Thanks to Shushme for featuring me!

Vogue.com features competition

Vogue.com features our competition in it's daily news. I'm really looking forward to finding some new and innovative designers!

As I mentioned, I got the bag I was in love with. Until yesterday I hadn't had a chance to wear my bag (do you wear or use a bag? hmmm). Friday I had an Italian cooking class so it was the first outing with this bright orange bag. I wore it with jeans, black top, orange and black print scarf, black coat and black loafers.

It's the first time I've worn an "It" bag or big name designer bag before and it was an interesting experience. My friends commented on the bag first then a couple of ladies in the class also made comments. The worst part though was catching the subway home. It was peak hour and so many people just looked at the bag. I turned it around so people wouldn't see the "Chloe" symbol but girls just kept looking at it. I felt really conspicuous as if I was walking around with $XXX in my hand asking for it to be stolen.

The seats of the subway are really tightly crammed but I couldn't put it on the floor for fear it would get dirty or damaged and if I held it on my lap (or what I now have left of a lap) it just sat there virtually covering me. I didn't feel comfortable. It was all just too much work. As a result I put it on eBay. I'll stick with my Alessandra Ferreira "London Computer" bag. It's big, it's beautiful and it's not precious.

Yet another reason to avoid High Street disposable fashion

Fashionista discussed an article by Lisa Armstrong where she points out that even thrift shops don't want cheap High Street items. Lisa encourages us to thing about the difficulty of recycling all that nylon - something that I've been going on about for a long time. It really is time that we took at stand against unethical fashion and not just from a manufacturing perspective, and focus on quality clothing with a long lifespan.

How to wear my new winter coat

Earlier this year I bagged a bargain at a Fashion Forward sale*. I got the most amazing AW07 padded, belted, floor length Missoni coat in a lovely light grape with very bright lining. At under £200, it really was a bargain, and current season too. Another shopper thew a proper tantrum after repeatedly trying to steal it off my rail so my friend and I had to take turns looking after it until it was safely paid for. I thought it would be perfect for the bitter NYC winters. Little did I know I was going to fall pregnant!

I thought I was going to have to wait another whole season before I could wear it. Then I saw this advertisement in a magazine. What a great idea! The belt of my coat will easily fit over the top of the bump leaving the rest open. The bump might get a little cold, but I'll just wear a really big scarf underneath that can nicely sit under the belt as well. Winter coat problem solved!

*Fashion Forward is a fabulous concept. It's a sample sale but with current season stock. Most other sample sales are past season stock or leftovers that no one else wanted, but Fashion Forward sell off the samples that showrooms' use to sell the next season's collection. For example, the sales being held now are for the Spring/Summer 08 stock. Fabulous!

Oh where oh where can I wear?

The new Basso & Brooke collection has just come in and I unpacked this little gem. It was love at first sight! The stunning silk optical print in a rainbow of colours, the strapless and yet bust enhancing style and this tulip shape. I want it I want it I want it! It would even work with my 6mth pregnant bump. But unfortunately I have no where to wear such a stunning frock. Maybe if I frequented red carpet events, fancy cocktail parties or even a wedding. Sadly no... But if you do then this is the perfect dress!

PS. Can't you just imagine Carrie Bradshaw strutting down the streets of Manhattan wearing this with silver strappy heels and a killer clutch. Shame no one actually dresses like that in NYC...

The Piracy Paradox

I cringe and quickly flip the page on those "Save vs Spree" or "Credit vs Cash" pages that many glossys feature. It's not that I'm a designer snob, it's just that I appreciate the design talent and quality that goes into an original garment or accessory and feel incensed at the audacity of some retailers to "seek inspiration" from these items.

My new favorite read, the New Yorker, featured a very interesting article about the Piracy Paradox and the underlying benefit that designers receive from cheap High Street rip offs.

The basic argument is that say Kelly could afford a Stella McCartney polar bear sweater dress but her friend Sally bought the H&M ripoff. They meet up for a girls brunch and both are wearing the sweater dress. Kelly is repulsed by the ripoff and vows never to wear hers again. This means that Kelly will then buy the next designer item to replace the one that she can no longer wear and therefore increase the sale of designer clothes. It continues by saying that Sally could not and would not be able to afford the real dress anyway so the designer is not really losing a customer but still creating customer awareness.

I'm not so sure I agree and that it does actually work like this. What do you think? I find myself avoiding designers who are frequently "copied" and too recognisable anyway. It's best to wear something that doesn't scream "I'm wearing a Stella McCartney dress" and stick this things that make people ask "Wow, that's really unique and the quality is fabulous, where's it from?". Let's keep it individual.

Win fashion week tickets plus £250 shopping spree!

Sheerluxe.com and Brittique.com are giving you the chance to win a pair of tickets to London or Manchester Fashion Weekend as well as £250 to spend on Brittique.com. To enter register here.

Increase your chances of winning by forwarding this email on to your friends copying promo@brittique.com. For every friend we’ll give you an extra chance to win. Competition closes on 24 September and the winner will be notified that evening via email.

It's all about the waist - instand wardrobe updates

You can read this full post at my guest blog on Sheerluxe.com:

Autumn is now here after a very average summer in Britain so now what to wear? I chose a terrible season to be pregnant, it’s all about the waist. It’s perfect for those of us who (normally) have a curvy figure. You can easily update your look with one key piece – the corset belt...

Save the date: Facshion 28 July

FaCshion is an independent fashion-shopping event for consumers and buyers on Saturday 28 July 2007 at the well-known Barbican Centre. FaCshion presents a range of independent designers ranging from couture fashion, knitwear, customised fashion and lingerie to accessories such as handbags, hats, jewellery and footwear at this one-day event.

FaCshion is pleased to announce a creative and diverse group of exhibitors including BoBo Blush eclectic and unique bespoke handbags, purses and bracelets, Piglut sterling silver medieval jewellery, Plane Clothing contemporary urban menswear, Bailey contemporary feminine clothing made from sustainable fabrics and Allopop stylish and sleek signature menswear. Others include Peijun, Maame Baryeh London, Hemyca, Mauvette Philips, Funk’d Freedom, Perigo, Monica Couture, Jewel Clothing, Red Rose Fashion and many more.

Mode Future, a European-funded project led by the University College for the Creative Arts is proud to sponsor the following brands at FaCshion. Liliza womenswear inspired by 1900’s London, Rascal Bee handcrafted collection of fine Italian leather fashion accessories and jewellery, LILIéLOU womenswear mixed with simplicity and sensuality, Keep the Ferret fair trade cooperative producing graphically orientated garments for men and women, Odonae gothic inspired elegant and ultra feminine garments and Elisabeth Edlbauer womenswear based on simple cuts and timeless classics with subtle detailing.

FaCshion promises a fun-filled day out synonymous to a typical day at Portobello Road, Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane with each visitor receiving a complimentary FaCshion goody bag upon arrival. Other attractions include a series of Light Box art features, which explore the evolution of culture, utilising fashion as the contemporary vehicle of expression. The images in particular represent the nature of intelligence, combined with style produced on analogue film format by Clive Kofi Allen and reproduced as a 5ft x 6ft-sized Duratran by Colorset reprographics.

Consumer tickets are on sale for £6 via ticketweb.co.uk or by calling 08700 600 100. Trade buyers and press can register via info@FaCshion.co.uk for complimentary tickets. Few stands remain; please contact FaCshion immediately for availability via info@facshion.co.uk or 07946 121 043.

Gil Carvalho party platforms

Gil Carvalho is my number one shoe designer for purely sexy party shoes. The Daily Mail recently featured these Chelsea platforms in their "Dusk till dawn fashion" shoot.

I recently had a discussion with my PR Sophie from Preo about these shoes. We both love them and lust after a pair. But unfortunately our respective partners hate them. they just must be a thing that guys don't get.

Personally I still love them and will have to find an outfit just for them. I think keeping it simple with just a black pencil skirt and white blouse would work beautifully.

Pictures from the Brittique and IGNES event

Kylie and Lindsay step out in Brittique

Kylie and Lindsay have long been fans of Brittique with both often papped wearing clothing by our designers. Look magazine featured both style queens in the infamous Gil Carvalho Ivy boots.

Since Kylie was spotted in these sexy toeless boots they have been so popular that there are now just 3 pairs left in the world! So if you're a UK size 4, 6 or 7 lucky you. I even sold the pair I was reserving for myself.