Party Dresses for NYE from ASOS Sale

There is still time to buy yourself the perfect party dress from the ASOS sale - here are a few of our favourites

Boxing Day Sales

It is hoped that the traditional post-Christmas sales provide a boost to High Street retailers, as shoppers look for increasingly competitive discounts.

Many large department stores and chains opened early on Boxing Day, while a number of online sales began on Christmas Eve with a huge n umber of people shopping on line on Christmas Day!

In London's Oxford Street, some had queued outside their favourite retailers since the early hours of the morning in their eagerness to grab the best bargains with some people queueing outside the flagship Topshop branch since 06:00.

Meanwhile Harrods kicked off its winter sale with mugs of hot chocolate and gourmet smoked salmon canapés served by butlers to people in the queue, while they were serenaded by a string quartet and watched a performance by street magician Dynamo.

The crowds certainly turned out in force at Westfield Stratford as this image shows

Jameel Prize 3 at the V & A

Jameel Prize 3 - Winner Announced

Dice Kayek has won the £25,000 Jameel Prize 3 for Istanbul Contrast, a collection of garments that evoke Istanbul’s architectural and artistic heritage. The judges felt that Dice Kayek’s work demonstrates how vibrant and creative Islamic traditions continue to be today. Their translation of architectural ideas into fashion shows how Islamic traditions can still transfer from one art form to another, as they did in the past. Ece and Ayşe Ege were presented with the prize by Martin Roth, Director of the V&A and Fady Jameel, President of Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives (ALJCI) at an awards ceremony at the V&A on Tuesday 10 December

Another look at Felicities Issue

Just before Christmas I popped into the Felicities Showroom as we were looking for inspiration for some new music artists I am styling and I wanted to check out the new Felicities Issue designers ...

As a regular visitor to Felicities I am always thrilled to discover new brands there and I found some fabulous ideas for future shoots and styling jobs. My absolute new favourite is luxe sports focussed D'ALBERT with its crisp white and pink palette

D'ALBERT LONDON

CHARLI COHEN

DANIEL BARDIS

KEUNGZAI

DEMASI 

ALLUMER AND CATHERINE MARCHE

Check out Holiday-Nails-Ho-Ho-Ho

We just found this great Pinterest site that has really inspired us to enter into the Christmas Spirit with specially themed nails - we will be tip-tap-typing away in style with the best nails in town soon

http://www.pinterest.com/bethshapouri/holiday-nails-ho-ho-ho/

British Fashion Awards

Tomorrow will be an exciting day in the fashion calendar when the British Fashion Awards are hosted by Jack Whitehall at the London Coliseum. 

The glamorous evening will see the great and the good of fashion scene strut the red carpet wearing some of the best of British designers. 

Kate Moss will receive a Special Recognition award to acknowledge her contribution to the fashion industry during her 25 year career and there will be a Special Recognition Award for journalist Suzy Menkes. Awards will also be presented for Emerging Talent in Womens, Mens Wear and Accessories, The Red Carpet Award, Model of the Year, Brand of the Year amongst others 

My-Wardrobe to focus on UK as part of administration

As reported on Drapers - My-Wardrobe.com to focus on UK as part of administration deal.

This week Alex Cadwallader and Neil Bennett, directors at insolvency company Leonard Curtis were appointed joint administrators of My.Wardrobe.com, before selling the business to Growth Capital Acquisitions. Drapersonline revealed this week that chief executive David Worby has left My-Wardrobe as part of a restructuring. My-Wardrobe co-founder Andrew Curran will take over responsibilities from Worby with immediate effect. Curran, who rejoined the business six months ago, said it could “now face the future with confidence”. “We are refocusing our efforts on the UK,” he told Drapers. “There is Chasing a deal: Eggleston and Duffy significant growth to be had in the UK and too much focus has been on markets further afield.” The business will also focus on digital marketing and “innovative shopping concepts”. Curran said he would look to address the pricing structure by buying lower-priced products from the etailer’s existing brands rather than switching to new names. “Our product offering has been slightly north of what it should be, as it was too expensive and too fashion forward,” he added. My-Wardrobe is in the process of merging its London and Nottingham offices, resulting in all but the buying team relocating and at least 18 departures

Fashion East Unveils AW14 Mens Line Up

Fashion East unveils AW14 menswear line-up

Up-and-coming menswear talents Liam Hodges, Tom Ryling, Nicomede Talavera, Roxanne Farahmand and Massimo Casagrande have been revealed to take part in Fashion East's autumn/winter 2014 menswear installations at London Collections: Men. 

Fashion East has teamed up with Red Bull Catwalk Studio for the first time, which sees the drinks brand provide the soundtrack for the event. Fashion East menswear installations takes place January 6 in Covent Garden

Felicities Issue launches with 9 new brands

Felicities are well known for the support they give for young brands and have discovered some of the most exciting talent in London over the last few years. So we were not surprised to hear that they have launched a new initiative for creative start-up businesses. The new project Felicities Issue is a unique PR and business support package for start up labels and new lifestyle brands. The brands that join will be part of a collective and they will send out an online magazine promoting their brands and their latest news

The project will only take on a maximum of 10 brands and Felicities have announced the first 9 Felicities Issue designers which include a host of really exciting new labels – Allumer, Catherine Marche, Charli Cohen, D”ALBERT, Daniele Bardis, DeMASI London, Keungzai. Linnie Mclarty and Shanti Sundays

We will be popping in to the Felicities Showroom soon to find out more about these designers and see the collections  

The Glamour of Bellville Sassoon

Another girly day - another glamorous location - this time at the Fashion and Textile Museum to view the beautiful creations of Bellville Sassoon - an exhibition exploring the history of British couture through the work of Bellville Sassoon, from the 1950s to the present day.

From the 1960s onwards, Belinda Bellville and David Sassoon established themselves as the go-to couture house for young, glamorous and exclusive designs. Their fashion-forward approach, combined with luxurious workmanship, offered an exciting alternative to the conservative styles of traditional couturiers.

The beautifully curated display of dresses and rich contextual material, explores how the formality of the post-war years gave way to the Swinging Sixties and a new generation of aristocrats and celebrities wanting clothes to get them noticed. The season’s most lavish coming-out parties, most influential weddings and high-powered balls all fuelled demand for beautiful, bespoke and fashionable clothes.

Bellville Sassoon dressed royal clients including Princess Margaret, Princess Anne, Princess Alexandra and Princess Diana – and pieces from the Royals include Diana’s going away dress.

Designer Dolls for Unicef

Children’s charity Unicef has tapped 42 designers to participate in the eleventh Les Frimousses designer dolls initiative.

Each doll, designed by the likes of Chanel, Dior and Lanvin will be displayed at the Petit Palais in Paris from November 26 to December 1, before being auction to raise month for Unicef’s project to help vaccinate children in Sudan’s Darfur region.

This year, a total of 93 pieces feature in the exclusive auction, and also includes dolls designed by Alexis Mabille and Anne Valérie Hash, as well as seven interior designers and 36 artists including Ali Mahdavi.

Last year, the bidding for each one-of-a-kind designer doll began at 500 euros. The auction will take place at the George V hotel in Paris on December 2.