SOPHIE DAHL – A GIRL WITH PRINCIPLES
Jacket, £55, dress, £35, by Principles Weekend by Ben de Lisi
It’s great seeing Sophie Dahl back modelling again. She looks so at ease fronting the new casual collection for British High Street brand Principles.
The last couple of years Sophie has been focusing on her writing. She has been a contributor for Vogue and Men’s Vogue as well penning many a cook book – “Miss Dahl’s Voluptuous Delights” being one of them. Of course writing is in the blood; her grandfather was the fabulous Roald Dahl. As a child, I loved the macabre “Tales of The Unexpected”. The TV theme tune still puts a shiver down my spine. Now a mum I’ve read practically all his books with my daughter – The BFG is our favourite. No prizes for guessing who was the inspiration for main character called Sophie!
Dress, £32, Shoes, Principles Weekend by Ben de Lisi
Principles, headed by talented designer Ben de Lisi is doing so well. Such a relief after it’s nose-dive in 2009 when its parent company Mosaic Fashions was placed into administration. Luckily Debenhams came to the rescue in 2010 and brought back the brand and it really has gone from strength to strength ever since. With the launch of the new “Principles Weekend” casual wear collection what better time to have high profile personality Sophie aboard.
Denim jacket, £40, top, £25, Trousers, £30, Principles Weekend by Ben de Lisi
Sophie, now in her late thirties, married to jazz singer Jamie Cullum and a busy Mum to two little girls said she really was enjoying the new range.
“The collection is all about ease – for the shoot we really mixed and matched it, in a way that felt true to the way I dress.”
Designer Ben de Lisi obviously is thrilled to have Sophie as the face of Principles Weekend,“Sophie Dahl embodies everything that the collection represents – a beautiful, modern, sophisticated working Mum who always looks fantastic.”
Shirt, £30, Jeans, £32, Principles Weekend by Ben de Lisi
Miss Dahl has always looked fab. I can’t believe it’s nearly twenty years since infamous stylist, Isabella Blow ‘discovered’ her. 18-year old Sophie caused quite a stir in the fashion circles as god forbid she was a size 14! I completely related to her Monroe curves. I loved her look with her vintage nighty dresses and marabou feather mules. Such a siren with red lips and that platinum blond hair of which she later said “It wasn’t proper until you had blisters on your scalp from the bleach!”
I was a little concerned when she lost her weight and became a more conventional model size. But she still had that rebellious lovable streak appearing deliciously naked in the very famous YSL Opium perfume campaign.
Parka, £65, jumper, £35, jeans, £32, Principles Weekend by Ben de Lisi
Now looking relaxed and more beautiful than ever she’s still one to watch. I really love her blog, At The Kitchen Table where she covers everything from cooking, fashion, beauty as well as including more weighty social issues and supporting loads of worthwhile charities.
So a girl with Principles – they can only benefit from this Dahling gem!
Blouse, £28, Jeans, £32 by Principles Weekend by Ben de Lisi
THE WELSH RUGBY TEAM – WELL SUITED & BOOTED!
Welsh Team Players – Sam Warburton, Rhys Webb and George North
Happy St David’s Day or if you’re familiar with the lingo –
Dwydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus!
It’s a day to celebrate everything fantastic that is Welsh and what better than our fabulous rugby team. As a fashion stylist, I was keen to see that the squad were well suited and booted and was very impressed with the job that the tailoring company T M Lewin were doing as the official formalwear provider. So when the Welsh team are not getting muddy on the pitch, I think they look rather dapper as a team in their sharp tailoring.
Why am I interested in the Welsh team and their apparel? Well first of all being Welsh, rugby is practically a religion and secondly it is in the blood – my Grandfather was a Welsh international player and a man always dressed to impress.
I did have a quiet little smile to myself when I was choosing the pictures for this blogpost. Generally I use images of beautiful, ethereal looking models wafting around in some glamorous location. But here you see Welsh players, Sam Warburton, Rhys Webb and George North looking rather brutish complete with black eyes, cuts and bruises! I wouldn’t want to bump into them in a darkened alley…….. actually hang on.
Like most women I do like a man in a well-cut whistle and T M Lewin have definitely come up trumps. I imagine it must have been quite a task for the official formalwear supplier as the average T M Lewin customer tends to pack a little less muscle power. The suit that was chosen for the squad was The Eddington. There are 3 different fits for this suit. Most of the players opted for the Lewin Slim Fit with its slim tailored jacket and gently tapered trousers. A couple of the team went for the Regular Fit but surprise surprise there were no takers for The Skinny – although a very contemporary style it’s not quite right for our boys with their rippling rugby thighs! Oh yes.
So what did the players think of their look –
George North said, ” I love the suits, I’m a big fan of the colour. They look cool and modern and fit exceptionally well. When the team are out at a special occasion, it feels good to look smart as a unit.”
Rhys Webb also said,” It’s nice to get out of a smelly rugby kit now and again. Obviously for special occasions I like to scrub up well in a suit and I feel comfortable wearing this one.”
Besides one little hiccup in the beginning of this 2015 Rugby Six Nations (which we won’t mention) things are going great.
Back in the game, I think we can go as far to call The Eddington our ‘lucky suit’. Here’s to the rest of the season. Go Wales!
My Grandfather, Edgar Jones. Prop for Wales team. Middle Row second from right
KIDSWEAR – PRINTS CHARMING
I was thrilled to work with the American brand Little Name. This little girls collection is so innovative and imaginative. Founder and designer Alexis G McVicker had previously worked as a print designer for such companies as Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and OshKosh B’gosh so clearly very talented.
This ‘Rain and Shine’ range is ingenious. Behind the whimsical beauty it boasts all sorts of amazing qualities, such as the sun protecting collars, spill proof “get dirty in” fabrics and practical pouch pockets. But as a stylist, I loved the “grow into” factor – size adjustable, loose silhouettes that allowed me to put the same clothes in children from 3 to 9 year olds. Obviously with Alexis’s background the prints are totally gorgeous with their playful vintage feel. All in all, it is a winning collection.
So why shoot it in the UK? Alexis told me, “I truly enjoy vintage nostalgia and an old authenticity that is found in remote areas of the world … making the English countryside a lovely atmosphere for the collection.”
So what does the future hold for Little Name? Well, Alexis has recently become a new mother and she says this is spurring her on to create more gorgeous kidswear collections. “Our beautiful daughter is called Fable… Maybe a fable-themed inspiration could be in the making.”
That sounds fabulous – I can’t wait.
Photographer – Richard Burns. Fashion Stylist – Becky John. Hair & Make-up – Sally Kvalheim. Location – Wingsfield College, Suffolk.
THE VALENTINE GUIDE
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My Loved-Up guide for your VALENTINE…………..
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PUCKER UP! LIP SHIRT, 39.50, OLIVER BONAS
For those who wish to wear their heart on their sleeve or anywhere else –
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Cut-out Heart dress, £49, Simply Be. Lip Skirt, £59, House of CB. Fringed top, £9.90, People Tree. Heart jumper, £55, White Stuff. Heart print dress, £45, Oliver Bonas
For the homey –
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Cake stand, £10 Sainsburys. Jigsaw, £2 and Lap tray, £5, both Tiger Stores. Heart dish, £49, Le Creuset at Occa Home. Heart pillow, £16, M&Co.
If food be the music of love –
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Box of Chocolates, £39, Hotel Chocloat. Red heart box of chocs, £14, Butlers Chocolates. Individual champagne chocolate truffles,£3.75,Hotel Chocolat. Personalised wine, £19.99, Getting Personal. Louboutin inspired chocolate shoe, £35.95, Azra Chocolates.
For those who LOVE to accessorize –
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Heart cufflinks, £79, Amara. Heart Keyring, £50, Juicy Couture. Sunglasses, £15, Monsoon. Socks, £2, Tiger Stores. Phone charging purse, £79.99, Cuckooland. Stack of rings, £6, Accessorize
And Finally the Lingerie Lover
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Red bra set, £16, Tu at Sainsburys. Floral bra, £28 and high waisted brief, £16, Boux Avenue.
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Floral bra, £25 and knickers, £12.50, Marks & Spencer. Cerise bra, £28 and thong, £12, Boux Avenue.
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NEW FACE OF PHASE EIGHT – SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR
I do like Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Someone who enjoys a dance routine as much as fashion gets a big thumbs up from me.
I first saw singer-songwriter Sophie strutting her stuff in 2002 on her video for Murder on The Dance Floor. A decade later and three children on, she still looked amazing on Strictly Come Dancing in the arms of dance partner Brendan Cole.
Norma Floral Burnout Dress, £140
So I was thrilled to see her unveiled as the face of Phase Eight. The beautiful, floral prom-style dresses really suit her. Sophie who has often been compared to Audrey Hepburn looks wonderful in these Fifties looking pieces. A big move for Phase Eight as they haven’t used a high profile celebrity since Yasmin Le Bon in Spring 2003.
Ninette Dress, £140
Judith Bremner, Brand Director says, “Sophie is the ultimate Phase Eight woman – she is successful, confident, loves fashion and interprets it to work for her own personal style. She relates well to our customers who aspire to wear dresses that are elegant, flattering and versatile.”
Chantay Rose Dress, £120
These gorgeous dresses are definitely versatile. I’d wear them to work events and evenings out. My favourite one is the Kimono style, Chantay Rose dress that embraces two of the major trends this spring – The Orient and ‘Flower Power’. This one looks like a winner to me!
Beautifully shot by photographer Damien Weilers, the soft lighting and floral prop styling compliment the very romantic feel.
Elodine Dress, £140
This 22-piece collection is completed with lovely vintage style jewellery, heels and clutch bags. Sophie explains, “This collection provides perfect outfit solutions for summer weddings and garden parties where you always want to feel special and unique. I love how the collection exudes feminine and stylish dressing.”
Well it certainly looks like Phase Eight is coming up roses with this collaboration. I’m popping in-store this afternoon to bag one myself!
Have a look on-line at the beautiful collection – Sophie Ellis-Bextor at Phase Eight.
Loretta Dress, £169
FASHION – WHITE ON WHITE
It was one of those shoots that looks so serene, but behind the scenes there was no lack of drama. The aim was to produce ethereal looking images with a very theatrical slant. So styling wise I mixed up the look, using vintage clothes, period costume pieces and designer dresses. I love the beautiful and magically eccentric work of the photographer Tim Walker so that was a big influence.
But there was trouble ahead…… first of all there was a fiasco with the syrup. For those who aren’t familiar with Cockney rhyming that of course is the wig! We hunted high and low for the perfect one that gave our model Karmen that surreal doll-like quality. After many rejects the perfect one was made up by a fabulous hairdresser ‘Padge’ in Bristol. Then as our photographer Charlie Troman had recently moved to the West Country we decided to shoot our story in a converted Cotswold barn in Malmesbury. Unfortunately we chose a Winter’s day when the conditions were practically Arctic. I picked up our model at 5am in the glamorous location of Hanger Lane roundabout in West London and literally slid all the way to Wiltshire in the snow. So anyhow here is the very aptly named shoot White on White….
Photography – Charlie Troman. Fashion Stylist – Becky John. Make-up – Kat Louise
KIDSWEAR – ROYAL BLOOD
On a crisp Winter’s day we travelled down to Hever Castle in Kent. We wanted to create a majestic look as might befit such a glorious castle as well as highlighting the theme of the land and nature. So I styled the kids very opulently in rich velvets and silks and added leaf crowns and foliage to mix the two looks. Here are the results..
Photographer – Dan Pangbourne Fashion Stylist – Becky John Hair & Make-up – Claire Portman
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Clothes by I Love Gorgeous
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Dresses by Bonpoint. Crowns by Atticus and Gilda
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Sweater and breeches by Rachel Riley. Sheepskin gilet by New Look
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Girl wears sweater and breeches by Rachel Riley. Boy wears sweater and trousers by Bon Point. Both wear faux fur gilets by Angel & Rocket. Crowns hand made by Stylist
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Dress by Mini Raxevsky. Feather shrug by No1 by Jenny Packham at Debenhams
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Crown print dress by Rachel Riley. Faux fur coat by John Lewis
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Clothes by I love Gorgeous
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Behind the scenes with photographer Dan Pangbourne and Hair & make-up artist Claire Portman
KIDSWEAR – MAGIC & SPARKLE
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
May 2015 be as magical and sparkly as the kids on this shoot……….
CLOTHES BY MINI RAXEVSKY
DRESS BY STAR BY JULIEN MACDONALD AT DEBENHAMS
CLOTHES BY JOHN LEWIS
CLOTHES BY DEBENHAMS
CLOTHES BY JOHN LEWIS
CLOTHES BY I LOVE GORGEOUS
CLOTHES BY RACHEL RILEY
CLOTHES BY JOHN LEWIS
- CLOTHES BY OSCAR & OLIVIA
Photography – Phil Babb Stylist – Becky John Hair & Make-up – Amanda Bell at Artistic Licence.
BEHIND THE SCENES
CHRISTMAS JUMPERS
There’s nothing I like more than a bit of festive fun. Here’s a pick of this Yuletide’s most jolly jumpers for everyone………
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LADIES jumper, £22,NEW LOOK
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LADIES Robin jumper, £14, George at Asda. Elf Jumper. £18, Debenhams. Snowman jumper,£28, M&S. Penguin jumper, £18 Debenhams
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LADIES Snowman jumper, and blue reindeer jumper both £12, Primark. Red reindeers jumper, £35, Simply Be. Pug sweater, £17.99, Internacionale.
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MENS Light-Up Jumper, £39, M&Co
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MENS Blue reindeers jumper, £20, BhS. Gingerbread jumper and sheep jumper both £19.99, Get THe Label. Xmas stocking jumper, £12, Primark.
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MENS Blue light-up jumper, £18, Primark. Candy stick jumper, £25, M&S. Xmas pudding jumper, £20, BhS. Snowman jumper, £19.99, Get The Label
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KIDS Reindeer jumper, from £18, M&Co
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BOYS Bird jumper, £18, M&S. Snowman jumper and Father Xmas jumper, both £17, Littlewoods.com. Reindeer jumper, from £16, M&Co.
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GIRLS cream reindeer jumper,£15 and Penguin jumper, £18, both M&Co. Red reindeer jumper and Snowman jumper, both £18.99, Sophie at Internacionale.
ROBBIE WILLIAMS – NEW MENSWEAR RANGE
Whilst at Primark’s press show last week I couldn’t resist having a little peek at the new Robbie Williams range Farrell. There has been a real hoo ha about the collection. So I wanted to know more.
Originally Robbie founded Farrell in 2011, he employed former Burberry Design Director, Ben Dickens but sadly the company ceased trading last October when it filed for voluntary bankruptcy. Luckily for Williams along came Primark declaring that they would ‘Take That’ (ha ha) and have rescued the brand!
Robbie’s grandfather, Jack “The Giant Killer” Farrell was the inspiration for this 30-piece collection – evidently not a family of timid personalities! Williams speaks proudly of Jack’s strong values, alluring character and timeless style. Jack’s life as a Stoke-on-Trent gentleman is reflected in the clean, tailored lines and British heritage design – the Trench, the Harrington and the Oxford shirt are all accounted for.
Boxing was apparently Jack’s guilty pleasure and he spent a lot of time training his grandson how to pack a punch. This ringside passion is seen in the Farrell range with its heavy weight T-shirts, textured sweatshirts and thickly knitted cable jumpers.
Primark are delighted about their new menswear collection. Ben Smith, Director of Menswear said. “We’ve absolutely loved working with the Farrell brand. The product looks superb, fastidious detail, amazing value and has remained true to its origin.”
Robbie, obviously not a personality to hold back models his own collection for Primark. This 40-year old ex Take That singer has the most amazing energy, fitting in working with his Farrell brand whilst recently becoming a new father to second child with wife Ayda and about to go on tour. What a busy boy!
When asked about his new retail venture Williams said. “I’m delighted that Farrell has been invited into Primark. What a great collaboration – let’s have it!”
Well I thought it looked very stylish and great value too. Prices start from £8 for a T-shirt to £45 for a pea coat. The range is available from 22 stores across the UK and Europe. Might even snap up a few pieces for my hubby this Christmas!
T-SHIRT £8. CHECK SHIRT £12. CHINOS £12. TWEED BLAZER £38