Posts tagged ‘Dresses’
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 LITTLE BLACK DRESS
The Diana Dress
There’s only one thing I like more than a LBD and that is a bit of red carpet glamour. So imagine my total fashion frenzy at the launch of the brand The Little Black Dress ‘inspired by icons’ collection.
The dresses, all 20 of them, play tribute to fabulous women from the silver screen era right up to modern day. I flicked through the rails in the glamorous Café Royal – a venue befitting any film star. The Marilyn, The Jackie O, The Carrie and The Kristen LBDs were soon sending me into a stylist’s spin!
The Audrey Dress
Each dress plays a part in the LBD’s history. From The Coco, named after Chanel, the original creator of the Little Black Dress, to The Audrey, obviously called after Miss Hepburn, the ultimate LBD muse in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
The Kate Dress
Being a complete drama queen, my favourite dresses are the ones that caused the most fuss and scandal over the years. I have heart palpitations just thinking of The Kate dress. Ms Moss clad in LBD in the arms of the gorgeous Johnny Depp in Cannes back in the nineties.
The Rita Dress
But the dress that gets me all of a quiver is The Diana. That infamous dress that the late princess wore out on the town the night a documentary about her husband’s infidelities was being aired on TV. This figure hugging LBD caused a real stir in the media being on the front page of every tabloid the next morning.
I tried and tested this Diana dress out partying with my best girls. I didn’t make the papers but I believe it went down really well – so to speak!
Cafe Royal Launch
Anyhow, I think the Little Black Dress Collection is a brilliant idea – I only wish I thought of it myself. With research showing that a quarter of British women buy a new LBD every year I think they’re onto a winner!
MYLEENE’S MOST GLAMOROUS COLLECTION
Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to musician and presenter Myleene Klass’s AW14/15 fashion launch in the Sanderson Hotel. By the time I pitched up, hoards of paps were waiting outside the venue all vying for the best position to photograph Ms Klass. No one was disappointed when this mother of two eventually arrived looking stunning and SO shapely in a tightly fitted orange maxi dress and smattering of gold jewellery.
I left the electrical storm of flash bulbs and made my way to the Penthouse where the party was in full swing. Since 2012 when Klass joined force with Littlewoods.com her collection has gone from strength to strength. The Myleene range now includes fashion, lingerie and make-up too.
STRAPLESS SEQUIN LEOPARD PRINT EVENING DRESS £219
It wasn’t long before Myleene breezed into the press show looking radiant. She had changed from her show stopping number into a more ‘girly girl’ 50’s floral dress. Myleene happily mixed with all the journalists, stylists and bloggers. She’s very bubbly and her infectious laugh shows off her great sense of fun.
Myleene was keen to show off the rails of clothes at the launch. I studied the new Littlewoods.com range carefully. There is a great mix of clothes – tight shift dresses to relaxed sweaters, marshmallow pink faux fur coats to sexy red leather shifts.
Marlene explains she wants everyone to be included. “I always try and design for all shapes, all ages, all sizes.”
BLACK LEATHER FISHTAIL BALLGOWN £219
The lingerie range was really impressive. There’s a good array of colours and styles and I was very pleased that the range goes from 32B to 40E. These larger sizes are much appreciated by us more voluptuous ladies.
The make-up range looked beautiful too. Sporting Myleene’s signature leopard print on the packaging, it would look great on anyone’s dressing table. Like me this lady loves a bit of animal print.
MYLEENE’S SIGNATURE PRINT – LEOPARD
But what I really LOVED was the eveningwear collection. Anyone who thought that Littlewoods.com was just for the older lady or great for dressing the kids has to think again when they see this collection. It is Klassy with a capital K !
The strapless, sequin studded leopard print evening dress, £249 and the black leather, fishtail ball gown, £219 are take your breath away stylish and look so current. They really are designer looks at amazing prices. As Myleene so proudly says,
“My collection is designed to provide affordable luxury for every woman – you deserve it”
I’m not surprised these pieces are selling like hot cakes. In the fashion world this is ground breaking stuff, shaking off any old fuddy-duddy catalogue image. People will see the brand in a new light. It has to be praised.
Well I’ve been swayed. I’ve put my order in for the leather dress and really hoping to raise a few eyebrows at the Christmas party – just need to lose a couple of pounds now…..