Jenny Schwarz

I went to the Felicities Showroom a couple of weeks ago to visit them for their Christmas Open Day.

Not only was it a great chance to speak to all the Flix Chix and eat Candy Canes, but I also got to take another look at their amazing designers.

One new brand that I hadn't come across before was Jenny Schwarz.

I particularly fell in love with the Mohair jumper in the image below.

I loved her modern take on traditional tailoring and was interested to learn that her tailoring runs in her family, right back to her Great Grandfather who was a successful menswear tailor.

The collection is very wearable, with beautiful fabrics and gorgeous detailing.

Jenny Schwarz is deffinetley a menswear designer that I will be keeping a look out for.

Boxpark Shoreditch

For those of you that don't know Boxpark is a pop up mall constructed entirely of shipping containers, based right next to Shoreditch High Street Station. After reading that they want to 'provide a challenging and exciting alternative to the stagnant 'High Street' concept' I was keen to check it out.

After taking a look around I felt let down that Boxpark hadn't achieved the 'creative village' feel that they originally sold the idea on.

Lots of the stores that were originally advertised as going to be in Boxpark didn't appear to be there and I was disappointed to discover that there were predominantly menswear street brands. I also found the aesthetic to be very industrial, uninspiring and unwelcoming.

I was happy to discover two stores, Cyber Candy and OnePiece, both of which I will be visiting again.

Although the original concept was fantastic, I don’t feel as though they have delivered and I think it needs a more creative input.

A Night Out at 123 Bethnal Green Road

Disappearing Dining Club’s latest private dining adventure is Too Much is Never Enough, a five-week residency at 123 Bethnal Green Road. Dinner is a four course exploration of a beautiful, Grade II listed, Victorian corner terrace, its rich and colourful history, and the beautiful gift and fashion concept store, championing young British designers, artists and makers of very nice things, now housed within this extensively restored, landmark East London building.

Each floor delivers a course of your dinner. First up it’s a Grey Goose Le Fizz, then it’s up to the 2nd floor for Menswear, a darkly lit East London boys club, with walls filled with photos and memorabilia of Moderne Buckles, Leading Makers of Air Rifles, Replicas, Buckles, Leather Goods & Accessories, the previous occupiers of 123 Bethnal Green Road and a front for the largest network of illegal gun suppliers ever uncovered by the Metropolitan Police. First course canapés will include miniature Hot Winter Vegetable Soups, Potted Meats on St John’s Sourdough, and Montgomery Cheese Pasties. To drink there’ll be gin & rum punches served in giant cut glass bowls and bone china cups.

The main course is served on the first floor. Simply and delicately dressed, Ladieswear is part dressing room and part boudoir, with linen curtains, antique nudes, vintage erotica, candlelight and the scent of powder and perfume. Dinner is big, warm and wintery with slow cooked classics like Coq au Vin with Braised Orpington Chicken, Red Wine, Smoked Pork Belly and Button Mushrooms, hearty vegetable stews like Roast Pumpkin, Puy Lentil & Chestnuts, all served in giant, cast iron, hot pots, and help-yourself winter salads.

Dessert is in the Bunker Café with Hot Doughnuts with Chocolate & Toffee Sauce, ice-cold shots of Spiced Rum & Warm Mince Pies, Rum Truffles and British Cheeses. After dinner everyone can stay until 12am for late night drinks and cocktails, with music and dancing from Ollie Russian (My Band’s Better Than Your Band), Dirty Omar (Latitude) and Dinner Dance resident, Chris Coco (Melodica).

Shopping is optional and can take place at any time during your visit and there are lots of amazing things to buy. Alongside the dining a London Feshion PR company Felicities is running a designer sample sale with bargains from cool London based labels such as Ada Zanditon, Alice Palmer and Dr Noki. New labels such as BasharatyanV, XO fashion Studio, Danny Tang and Funlayo Deri can also be found on the rails. All diners get 10% off all purchases on the night and a 10% discount card valid from December until the end of February. Staff are on hand throughout to serve, advise, assist and ensure pleasure is had by all and also offer a free gift wrapping service for any Christmas purchases. 123 Bethnal Green Road’s fantastic collections can be viewed at 123bethnalgreenroad.tumblr.com.

Forever 21 press evening

I love Forever 21, so I was really excited to go to their press evening on Kingly Street. It was a great opportunity to see the new pieces and I loved the layout.

They had designed four different booths with four different themes. The four themes were Japanese Garden, Retro Riviera, Pop & Block and 60's doll.

My favorite was Japanese Garden.

When leaving the event I was given a £30 Forever 21 gift card - I can't wait to go shopping!

Thinking about getting this lovely wool jumper...

SS12 press Drinks at Felicities

The London Fashion Intelligence team were lucky to be invited down to the Press Drinks Reception at Felicities in their stunning new showroom.

We arrived to find a packed venue which wasn't surprising when we saw how many stunning labels the agency represented. Are you ready for this - as they say "Felicities represents some of the hottest emerging designers in London" and they are right. The showroom had the SS12 collections on display from Ada Zanditon, Alexandra de Curtis, Alice Palmer, BasharatyanV, Beautiful Soul, CC Kuo, Danny Tang, Eki Orleans, Evmorfia, Francesca Marotta, Funalyo Deri, Heidi Mottram, Imogen Belfield, Jade Kang, Jenny Schwarz, Lako Bukia, Little Mistress, Mark Thomas Taylor, Orschel Read, Phannatiq, Rainbow Winters, Ryder and Rowe, Tramp in Disguise and XO fashion Studio - phew!!! I hope I didnt miss anyone!!

The labels all had the most stunning colour palettes for SS12 and the showroom was vibrant with colour and print. Felicities have a knack of discovering some wonderful brands and the strength of the design skills means all these labels should be a huge success in the future

We spent a delightfull couple of hours browsing the rails, chatting to the designers and drinking strawberry vodka.

The venue was a little too packed for us to take lots of pictures but the lovely felicities team gave us permission to use these images taken by Jay McClaughlin - who we spotted snapping away during the evening.

SuperDoll Collectables press launch

The lovely Forward PR invited us to a Press Event that really intrigued us called Social Monstrosities and we were very excited to attend to view a collection of fashion dolls that are the new collectable.

We were already in the East End so missed the opportunity to travel to the venue in the Route Master bus but luckily got there earlier so could get right up close to the most amazing collectable dolls we have ever seen.

The Sybarites are 17" tall, all resin, ball jointed fashion dolls bearing 19 points of articulation. They are inspired by modern day controversy that is human cloning and are all clones of the same genetics. We are not sure what this press statement really meant - but what we saw were the most divine dolls displayed on a raised table as though they were seated around a dining table. There faces were compelling and beautiful and they were dressed in the most exquisite couture clothing.

The creators of the collection are Desmond Lingard and Charles H Fegen.

Felicities Presents SS12

The team from London Fashion Intelligence were thrilled to be asked along to the Felicities Presents event during London Fashion Week where we discovered five super hot new designers whilst enjoying the yummiest brownies ever from teapod!

Keep an eye on these names as they all look like designers who will be going places in the next few seasons

Beautiful Soul

Beautiful Soul is a British, luxury womenswear label based in London’s Notting Hill. The label’s signature is a blend of timeless evolving style with true global consideration. Quintessentially English with a wholly international appeal, it is a fresh and innovative label that emits sophistication. Focused on two distinct collections which beautifully complement each other, Beautiful Soul offers both a Ready-to-Wear collection ‘Beautiful Soul London’ and a bespoke ‘Kimono Collection,’ this is available to buy all year round.

http://www.beautiful-soul.co.uk/

CC Kuo

CC Kuo, an edgy womenswear brand based in London, was established in 2009. The label is known for its bold use of colour and signature digital prints, which are used to create sumptuous and covetable collections. CC Kuo is the brand for strong, sexy women who appreciate luxury, sophistication and stylish design. Each season the collections include a range of quirky, strikingly modern dresses and on-trend separates which compliment the signature prints and are all produced in the most luxurious fabrics.

http://www.cckuo.com/

Funlayo Deri

The Funlayo Déri label signature is the celebration of the female form, emphasizing a woman’s curves while utilising the most lavish fabrics and the finest cuts and detailing. The label is for savvy fashionistas who value quality and craftsmanship and are seeking timeless investment pieces that will see them through several occasions and seasons.Funmilayo’s design aesthetic is influenced by her mixed cultural experiences and exposure and is a manifestation of her eclectic background.  She believes that clothes should be glamorous and elegant but not overly serious, so her designs exude glamour and elegance, but are yet modern and stylish in an unconventional, striking way.  She also believes that clothes should always be created with exquisite fabrics, fine craftsmanship and great attention to detail.

http://www.funlayoderi.com

Phannatiq

Designer Anna Skodbo’s unmistakable textiles are inspired by her love affair with forgotten London, urban industrial decay and street art and textures. The collections feature figure hugging shapes alongside sassy anti-fit cutting, rubbing delicate printed silks and chiffons shoulder to shoulder with jerseys, wools and leather. For Phannatiq details are pivotal to the excitement of the garments employing press studs, rivets and leather piping, leather and printed silk trims and unexpected reverse detailing. A modern sense of feminine beauty is discovered through the use of distressed fabrics and hoods, making the collections both challenging and edgy yet fully wearable.

http://www.phannatiq.com

Tramp in Disguise

Tramp in Disguise, is an emerging womenswear brand known for its colourful prints and contemporary knitwear pieces. The label offers dazzling collections that are fun, youthful, modern and edgy. Tramp in Disguise has presented collections in London and Paris during Fashion Weeks since launching its first collection at Vauxhall Fashion Scout. Collections feature unique dresses and separates in striking digital prints, digital knits and hand knits, in stunning colour palettes and luxurious fabrics. 

http://www.trampindisguise.com

Image courtesy of Jay Mclaughlin