Archive for March, 2016
SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR STARS IN NEW SHOPPABLE POP VIDEO
Wow! This is pretty futuristic – pop star and Strictly Come Dancing finalist, Sophie Ellis-Bextor has released a new ‘shoppable’ pop video to launch the new C. Wonder fashion collection.
This vibrant video sees Sophie strutting her stuff and snapping her fingers as she transforms into eight different looks from this fab collection, exclusive to QVC. Shoppers can simply click on each outfit and be taken to the QVC website to purchase any of this new stylish range.
The film features a specially composed song “Wonder” featuring vocals from new talent Biba and is a great backing track for our wonder woman Sophie’s magical wardrobe change dances!
The C. Wonder range was curated by E! Fashion Show Police panellist Brad Goreski, whose celebrity clients include Jessica Alba and Demi Moore.
Brad told us, “I’m so excited to bring something wonderful to QVC UK as the Creative Director of C. Wonder! This line is all about global travel and exploration and I hope that the C. Wonder woman will love our preppy, bohemian look.” He went on to say, “Wearing C. Wonder means being confident, comfortable and chic – that’s what I love about fashion and style.”
It seems Sophie is impressed too! This energetic mother-of four explained, “I really like the stylish and accessible nature of the C. Wonder collection at QVC. I have a passion for all things 60’s and 70’s inspired so it’s a perfect addition to my wardrobe.”
Take a look at this global inspired collection yourself. At prices ranging from £23 to £65 I could definitely afford to unleash my inner bohemian goddess too!
EASTER EGGS, FASHION BUNNIES & CRAZY CHICKS
Box of chocolate biscuits, £35, Biscuiteers Baking Company. Milk chocolate egg, £27 and White chocolate egg, £15 both Hotel Chocolat.
MY EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA – HERE’S TO A HAPPY & PEACEFUL BANK HOLIDAY…………
Easter egg biscuit, £35, Biscuitjes Baking Company.
HOPPING MAD
Cotton knit bunny romper, £69.34 by Blamo Toys at Etsy.
Supersoft bunny, £8, Sainsbury’s Home. Fluffy bunny ears, Poundland. Bunny costume and hat, The Little Distinctions.
CRACKING EASTER
Green bunny Top, £3.50, M&Co. Easter egg glasses, £4, Paperchase. Bunny Easter egg basket, £3.99, Hoi Polloi Gifts. Chick head boppers, Poundland.
CRAZY CHICKS
Pack of 18 fluffy chicks, Poundland.
SUPER STYLISH SKI WEAR
If I wasn’t snowed under with work, I’d love to jet off to some fabulous ski resort, perhaps Aspen, Courchevel, St. Moritz even Klosters. There are so many fashion opportunities slope side!
One brand that has really caught my eye is Superdry. They’re fairly new to the ski world but you have to admit this second snow collection dazzles, encapsulating glacier-cool style for downhill daredevils and chilled out skiers!
The range has covered all bases. For the hardcore skiers and boarders there’s the Full Tech collection featuring the Ultimate Snow Pants and co-ordinating Wind Bombers. This max-performance and thrill seekers collection comes in stylish denim blue, grey and black along with vibrant injections of fluro pink and orange. I love the Ultimate Snow Service Jackets and Ski Pants in Superdry’s iconic camo print as well as the girls zingy Ski Command Utility Hooded Jacket. There’s such attention to detail in this icy attire with fully taped seams, detachable skirts and cuffs plus the durable waterproof fabrics that give serious protection against the elements.
For chilled out skiers and free riders, the Semi-Tech Elements range is perfect. It boasts high visibility branding, detachable layers, inner skirts and snap tabs. Superdry’s best selling Arctic Windcheater and Mountain Marker Jacket are key in this collection both ideal for when the sun goes down and temperatures drop.
All in all, this super stylish snow wear is a winner, ensuring boarders, skiers and powder hounds get noticed even in a whiteout! Available in selected stores and online Superdry
Have a look at the amazing video below. To support the 2nd snow range, Superdry teamed with radical BASE jumper and extreme skier Matthias Giraud. As their official snow ambassador Giraud puts the collection through its paces in the snow covered mountains of Chile. Wow what an adrenalin rush!
BEHIND THE SCENES OF A BABY FASHION SHOOT
Chelsea wears lace tunic, £49, Soeur at Smallable. Harlen wears cotton bodysuit £10.50 (pack of 2) Petit Bateau.
Hear the word ‘model’ and you’re most likely to think of a tall, willowy figure in striking clothes and Manolos. Well, they’re not always like this on every photo shoot I work on. This month I styled a gorgeous fashion spread for glossy magazine Baby London and our supermodels were newborn Harlen (photographed above with beautiful Mum Chelsea) and 4 month year old Lily and Hunter.
Lily wears cotton knit hat, £6.95 and dress, £29.95 both Gap.
So what exactly happens at a baby shoot you might ask. Well in my case so much happens beforehand. All the clothes and props have to be sourced and as magazines work 3 months in advance I always seem to be working in a different season from the one we’re in. For me it’s swimwear in Winter and faux fur coats in the middle of Summer. It can get very confusing! Anyhow I trundle off to Fashion PR’s who hold all the next season’s samples. Most days, come rain or shine, I’m staggering around the West End weighed down with clothes like a glorified bag lady.
Hunter wears cotton playsuit £91 and Lily wears embroidered cotton dress with matching bloomers, £112 both Bonpoint. Sheepskin rug, £75, The White Company.
After the clothes are sorted I start work on the ‘softs” as they are called in the trade. That’s all the throws, cushions, duvet covers and sheepskin rugs used to make a snug little room set for the baby. This is so important to bolster up babies that can’t sit up by themselves and also gives a soft landing if they’re a bit wobbly!
Hunter wears cotton romper £39.50, Petit Bateau. Sheepskin rug, £75, The White Company.
Then comes the shoot day. The crew – photographer, digi assistant, make-up artist and myself arrive at the studio at least an hour before the tiny talent arrive. Babies get bored and tired very quickly so we try and get them in and out of the studio as quickly as possible. Preparation is key. The photographer perfects his lighting, the make-up artist lays out brushes and I hang up all the clothes and get to work on my room set. The heating is also blasted up so the babies are kept nice and cosy.
Once parents and babies arrive it’s all action! We tend to run around making tea for the parents and making sure they’re happy and relaxed as little ones feed off the vibe of their Mums and Dads and we want everyone to have a really fun time. We get cracking pretty swiftly, the babies are dressed, go through hair and make-up and before they can even gurgle they’re on set ready to go!
Harlen wears cotton bodysuit, £10.50 (pack of 2) Petit Bateau and organic cotton and merino wool booties, £24.99, Aravore.
To get those fabulous baby smiles all the crew have to have a turn entertaining the talent. I have a kit bag bursting with tickling sticks, blowers, cuddly toys and bubbles that even Mary Poppins would be proud of. The photographer takes the lead and then we all have a go, parents included, singing songs, reciting nursery rhymes, pretending to sneeze, in fact we’ll do anything to get a chuckle. The make-up artist and I, tissues in hand, share ‘Dribble Patrol” – drool is quite a liability in baby photography. Yes, I really look a picture of sophistication on kids shoots, armed with Kleenex and long tickle feathers, running around like a mad woman in Sahara Desert temperatures. We do stop for loads of breaks though as babies get really tired and hungry quickly – milk breaks always figure high up on the agenda.
And before you know it, it’s all over. The babies generally snoozing happily in their car seats are ushered out of the studio and the crew, shell-shocked and exhausted, start the grand clear up. It’s a mad way to earn a living but as you can see by the pics really rewarding too!
Chelsea wears silk chiffon top, £60, A Day In A Life. Harlen wears cotton smocked playsuit, £63, Annafie at Childrensalon
PHOTOGRAPHY – JONATHAN MALPASS. HAIR & MAKE-UP – ROSE ANGUS. FASHION STYLIST – BECKY JOHN. MODELS – GRACE & GALOR AGENCY
GHOST’S NEW INTERIORS COLLECTION
I’ve always adored Ghost clothes. In fact, I was wearing one of their beautiful black maxi dresses the day I met my husband at a barbie in South London. Needless to say their designs worked for me. So I was thrilled to find out that they are launching their first interiors collection. I can now feather our nest in their fabulous vintage style cushions, luxurious duvet sets and opulent throws!
The range is designed by iconic interior designer Sera Hersham-Loftus. As you can see in the stunning photographs by legendary Clive Arrowsmith that Sera’s designs draw close parallel to the SS16 Ghost clothing line. I love the dreamy tones of sand, dusty green, powder blue and silver in the collection which really work on these gorgeous satin and lace trim boudoir feel pieces. The images were actually shot in Sera’s house where her fabulous and unique sense of style is apparent.
Hersham-Loftus, founder of Sera of London has so much experience in the world of interiors. Seeking inspiration from all corners of the world and past decades, Sera works closely with 80’s punk style and 90’s boho fabrics. Her work is wildly romantic with a spirit of artistic reverie which I think is perfect for Ghost.
Sera explained, “My work as Sera of London has spanned over 22 years where my interior style runs parallel to Ghost designs. I have vintage fabrics from the 80’s and 90’s which I use in all my designs and I want to emulate this vintage feel throughout the Ghost homeware collection.”
Take a look at this heavenly collection yourself. It’s available in-store and online at www.ghost.co.uk with prices starting at £70-£350.