Lee Lapthorne has been nominated as the Living Icon on the London Fashion Awards – and we need your votes!

Lee is one of London’s hottest creative talents and has worked endlessly to grow and support the London Fashion Scene for 10 seasons.

Please follow the link below and hit the vote button – it will take you to a survey – you can fill it all in or choose the sections you want and then add Lee’s name to the Living Icon section at the end

http://www.londonfashionawards.com/

It starting to feel like if you’ve want to make it as a fashion designer in London someone is going to steal your collection. We all know counterfeiting is wrong, shoplifting is pathetic and breaking and entering is oh so wrong! Stealing a new young designers’ collection - that everyone loves and who is on the verge of greatness and poverty (a fine line for most artists) is just mean. It takes so much for a designer to create a collection…
Over Christmas quite a few shops were broken into:

• Sadie Frost’s new FrostFrench boutique in Islington had the windows smashed the about £10,000 of good were stolen.
• The shop Larizia in St John’s Wood High Street had about £50,000 of designer handbags Marc Jacobs stolen.
• Luella Bartley’s new store in Mayfair had £10,000 in handbag bags stolen.

Last season 23 pieces of Christopher Kane’s collection were stolen from his studio a week before his show.

James Long debuted at London Fashion Week’s “Man” (a Topman and Fashion East event). James is a menswear designer and does amazing work. His graduate collection has appeared in Dazed & Confused, i-D Magazine, Another Man, Numero and he had done special commissions for Italian Vogue. He uses sheepskin, suede, leather chunky knits and combines them with buckles and zips, to create a modern warrior look. I really love this collection and I’m partial to the hats. Anyway shortly after his James’ show his whole collection including the shoes were stolen from his studio!

Images Vogue.com

Last season I saw Felder Felder (German twin sisters, Annette and Daniela Felder) at Vauxhall Fashion Scout and I loved their show. I thought their pieces would be great for some fashion shoots and I used several of them. I didn’t know much about the label but the audience was cheering away and you could tell that everyone just wanted them to do well. They’re Central Saint Martin graduates and their début collection was spotted by New York’s prestigious Gen Art who invited them to show in New York. This season they were awarded a New Generation sponsorship.

Annette and Daniela showed at Vauxhall Fashion Scout and the anticipation was even greater. I was really impressed with this collection, of course I’m partial to all things a little bit rock and roll and dolls gone bad. This collection felt grown up and in one season you could see the progress - I had the impression that they were really doing their own thing and on their terms. On some level it’s easy to do a strong first show, but to do a second season and exceed expectations takes a special talent and lots of hard work! I can’t wait to see what they do next!

Stockists:
UK
Selfridges–London
Joseph – London, Westbourne Grove
Iracema– London

RUSSIA
Podium – Moscow

GERMANY
A Substitude For Love – Duesseldorf
Fourstore- Berlin

I really like attending On|Off - there are so many new designers there - I say new but many of them have been designing for years. The venue is set up in a very welcoming way: you feel free to look at a collection and chat with the designer and of course it’s a beautiful venue.

There’s a bus right near the V&A that drops you off right in front of the Royal Academy of Arts, so it’s very easy to get there after seeing a show at the BFC tent.

Lee Lapthorne at the final day of On|Off -this was the first break he’s had in weeks! He’s the creative director and producer of On Off.

Deborah Henning: I really liked Deborah’s first collection, so it great to see her at On Off! All of her garments are manufactured in the UK, they’re well made, feminine and slightly edgy!

Kerry Nixon is the sweetest and most lovable girl that you’ll ever meet. She also has a super cute accent and is wearing one of Rizvis’ headpieces! She’s one half of Vidler and Nixon - Stefan Vidler is the other half. Cinched waistlines and full skirts - dramatic silhouettes - are their trademark with key pieces including their full-skirted ‘Marie’ coat - which I have been wearing in my dreams. I think I actually dress better in my dreams. And yes, I do dream about fashion…

Richard Sorger creates luxury beaded and embroidered garments. They are quite stunning and I just used one of his dresses in Luxure Magazine. Richard’s celebrity clients include Courtney Love, Cindy Crawford, Bjork, Kirsten Dunst and Jennifer Lopez - quite the list!! And now he’s off to exhibit in Paris!

Yasmin Rizvi makes great hats so of course we couldn’t resist and had to try them all on!

Courtney Blackman & I are going to have a private hat party!!

This is Nina from Nina and Lola - Nina looks great in hats but Lola (not here today doesn’t really wear hats…) Nina is one of my favourite people - you might think I have a lot of favourite people and it’s true I do - but really the list isn’t that long - beside why would I want to know people that I don’t love and adore -life is short right? Anyway Nina is very cool and fun to hang out with - she’s sussing out clothes for her on-line shop Nina and Lola.

Karen Brost showed at London Fashion Week at an exclusive members club! I really like Karen’s work. It’s very grown up, very sophisticated and has a slight edge. Depending how you style it, you can make it quite edgy & chic or you can go elegant and sophisticated - but her work is all about quality, great cuts and luxury fabrics. Doing your first show is an enormous amount of pressure and responsibility for any new designer - the show was a success and the party was quite fun too! I got to wear one of Louis Mariette’s hats so I was quite excited!

Karen Brost!

Three girls all with hair accessories!

I had a fantastic time styling Inbar Spector’s show! There is so much of this collection that I want and would wear all the time, I really love all the clothes and the construction is genius! When you have clothes this special you’ve got to have a fantastic team! First and for most we had Inbar and a very very dedicated team of seamstresses including her Mum! Then great hair and make up people (I’m a hair obsessed stylist…) Anyway sometimes you work with people because it’s a job and then just sometimes you just love the people you work with! Today was one of those days :) I’m so lucky!

For more information about makeup artist Lan Nguyen check out Bella Sugar!

Our lovely models, Yan from Toni & Guy, Inbar Spector, Lan our make up artist and me!

Update: Inbar on the BBC and Vogue.com

One of the things that I love most about Fashion Week is seeing loads of fashionable people. This is London fashion at it’s best - there are so many amazing women all with their own unique style. Of course I love going to the shows, the music, the energy, the models - the shows are great but so is the audience! The other day someone interviewed me and asked me about inspiration - well there is so much of it at LFW!

Sophie Ellis Bextor & her sister in the VIP lounge at the PPQ show. Sophie is as genuine as she is beautiful - a rare talent!

Jaime Cooke, director of Muks at the PPQ after show party. Love her hat!

The super cute Echo Morgan, merchandiser & visual artist.

Nana Aganovich at her stand at London Fashion Week Exhibition, I can’t wait to see their show!

The truly lovely Diane Pernet, I’m really a fan of Diane’s site, A Shaded View on Fashion, but it’s not just her site I love, it’s Diane’s style - it’s truly her own, it works, it’s her and I love her attention to detail!

Michele Obi from My Fashion Life at Modernist

Catherine McColl, the fashion editor of Amelia’s Magazine at Anne-Sofie Back.

Maria Milano, the on line Editor of InStyle at the Jaeger after party! I loved the Jaeger show! It was great to see a British iconic brand showing at LFW - I think they’re going to give Burberry a run for their money!

I went to the Biba Show at Claridge’s. I loved the hats and the fabrics!

I love Inbar Spector’s work. She’s showing for the first time in London at Vauxhall Fashion Scout. Inbar is so tiny and sweet and she has such a strong directional vision; she has a love it or leave me attitude - which you can’t help but respect. She’s a true designer, she loves what she does, she’s sincere and determined, focus and unpretentious. And she has a cat – I like it when designers have a pet in their studio.

Inbar is presenting 20 key pieces for women including several amazing jackets (which I love & want), dresses, skirts and coats. Her signature look combines complex constructions and corsets with rich fabrics: delicate lace against PVC with zip and buckles – texture and volume – but just the right amount – you feel fierce and feminine when you wear her garments.

Inbar graduated in 2004 from Israel’s Shenkr College with four Excellence of Achievements awards. She has won acclaim in Japan and France, where she presented a collection of women walking on ice at the Les Chiffons de Diamant International Competition. She’s definitely one of the ones to watch!

Photo from fashion156.com

I like the pale English look: those who have porcelain skin like Kate Winslet and Sophie Ellis Bextor and then the British bands who are more pale then porcelain - but it’s a very British rock and roll look that I love, like Liela Moss’ look from The Duke Spirits. Then, of course there is the other extreme: the dyed blond hair, the fake orangey tan and implants - the glamorous and tarty footballers’ wife look - this I find somewhat distressing and amusing.

And of course there is something in between, I find it odd but true that tanning and fashion week just seem to go together. It’s more about that healthy glow, so that by the end of the week (or weeks) you don’t look as tired or jet lagged as you really feel and you’re non fashion friends will think that your life really is that glamorous… I like the idea of a spray on tan even thought I never even wear foundation or tinted moisturizers - it just seems better then lying under heat lamps and roasting your self. Of course nothing is better then lying out in a park or on the beach and absorbing a bit of vitamin D - I’m all for that!
Anyway if you feel a spray tan will perk up your week St. Tropez has opened a Tanning Boutique for Fashion & Beauty VIPs at the Berkeley Hotel, exclusively throughout London Fashion Week. The complimentary services will begin on Thursday, 7th February (three days before the official start of LFW) and run through Friday, 15th February.

VIP services include, the Classic Ultimate Tanning treatment, which is hand-applied for a long-lasting, moisturised tan. Services will run from 8.00am to 8.00pm To book your “Fashionable Tan” appointment at the St Tropez VIP Suite, contact Josie Fontana-Reval on +44(0)20-7331-1479 or josief@modusdowalwalker.com

All day I was looking forward to the fashion debate at the Design Museum, it’s part of the “Matthew Williamson 10 Years In Fashion” exhibition. The panel featured Alexandra Shulman, editor of British Vogue and Joseph Velosa, CEO of Matthew Williamson, and there was an additional guest Anna Garner, head of fashion at Selfridges.

This wasn’t really a fashion debate but more of a question-and-answer forum. Two fashion students had the opportunity to ask the questions. This was a good lecture for design students, as much of the focus was the business of fashion: the importance of a business plan, understanding your buyers and your relationship with the media.

The lecture was worth it just to listen to Alexandra Shulman speak about Vogue, advertising, designers and London Fashion Week. Years ago I did work experience at Vogue and I told Lucinda Chambers that I was amazed how friendly and helpful everyone was (I think I was expecting a Devil Wears Prada type of atmosphere), Lucinda said it was all because of Alexandra, that she sets the tone.

This is what I love about London: for £10 I can go and listen to one of the most influential women in British fashion and see the work of one of London’s top designers!

The exhibition is on until January 31st.

It’s cold and grey outside so I’ve been forcing myself to look ahead and think of spring dresses! So of course Nicola de Main comes to mind. OK, so I do wear lots of black but I can imagine myself on a hot sunny day sitting at an outdoor cafe with an ice latte wearing a colourful girly dress.

Here is an excerpt from an interview that I did with Nicola De Main:

Tell us about your catwalk debut!

NdM: This season Spring/Summer 08 has been my London catwalk debut as part of London Fashion Week which has been amazing, the show was incredibly well received and we have been working extremely hard ever since just to keep up with demand. Prior to that I was invited to show in Budapest by the British Council representing London as a rising design talent, which was great experience being involved in such an incredibly high profile event which definitely contributed to our London show being such a big success …a little experience helped a lot.

Have you dressed anyone famous?

NdM:Yes I have worked with a few exciting names, I used to be a stylist before I started my own label and in this time I worked with a lot of high-profile bands, my personal highlight probably being Razorlight. The great thing about all of that was that I am still in touch with most of these people and their friends/girlfriends etc, so I am beginning to become a popular name in the music circles, which I’m really happy with because that is where I like to hang out too as a music lover.

Tell us about your fabrics.

NdM: I am keen that everything about the garment is exceptional and I feel that that starts with the fabric, you have to use high quality materials to get a luxury product, this really sets the label aside from others as you can tell the quality just by touching it. Wherever possible I like to use natural fabrics such as silk/cotton/linen and have recently been using bamboo; I feel it is the least I can do to be a responsible clothing manufacturer, bamboo in particular is a highly sustainable resource and does not require high levels of pesticides to grow which is a great thing to know that you are contributing to helping the environment…even in a small way.

Nicola de Main can be found in the UK, Italy, Sweden and Panama!

I was recently interviewed by Harriet Reuter Hapgood about trends for 2008 for today’s Independent on Sunday! Whenever I’m asked about trends I always end up thinking not just about recent trends, but trends over the past few years, what they mean, their influences, their impact, and really everything that gives them a context: news, political events, etc. They all have a huge influence on fashion, and vice versa!

Several people were also interviewed for the article, including Sarah Leon of Select Model Management, Alison Loehnis of Net-a-Porter and Bev Malik of Browns fashion and Jaana Jatyri of the trendstop.com, Paula Karaiskos of Storm model agency- it’s cool to be in such good company!

*****
UPDATE: You can now see the full story online Who will be the hot names in fashion in 2008?

Today (Dec 21) is the final day for the Chris Moore exhibition at the London College of Fashion. I went yesterday, and it’s worth seeing, if only because there is no other catwalk photographer as famous, or as worthy of his own exhibition!

We don’t start a fashion show if the photographers haven’t arrived. There’d be no point. Yes, a picture really is worth a thousand words, and sometimes the photographers are all but forgotten - we never really think that the show is for them, it’s all about the front row, the editors, the celebrities (and the buyers!) but there they are, all squished together at the end of the catwalk, jockeying for the best position while holding heavy equipment. It doesn’t matter if the lighting isn’t optimal or the model forgets to pose at the end of the runway - it’s the photographers’ goal to capture every look. If you don’t have a good photographer shooting your show it’s almost not worth doing.

Amazingly, Chris Moore has been shooting catwalk shows for over 35 years. He shoots everything from Paris couture shows to new designers at Vauxhall Fashion Scout. If you haven’t seen this exhibition, the next time you look at a catwalk image check the credits - it’s probably one of Chris Moore’s!

I never go to a show without taking a picture of the photographers, it’s actually one of my favourite parts of the show!

It’s just been announced that Hannah Marshall will receive a New Generation Sponsorship to show her autumn/winter 2008-9 collection at the London Fashion Week Exhibition!

I love Hannah’s work; in it’s simplicity it’s true luxury. You always feel great when you wear her dresses. Above is a picture of the silk chiffon trapeze dress from her lookbook, which was shot by Carlos Lumiere and styled by me. Hannah’s the type of person that you can’t help but adore. She’s not a jaded fashionista; she’s sweet, extremely hard working and
very funny.

I asked Hannah for a quote, and here it is!

I have been in business less than a year, so to receive recognition and support from the British Fashion Council is so exciting, and I am really looking forward to exhibiting as part of New Generation sponsored by TOPSHOP this February.