Introducing: Yolke

More often than not the brands featured in my “Introducing” posts might be new to me but aren’t exactly under-the-radar. Much as I’d love to be so in the sartorial know that I could constantly bring you the freshest new talents, in many ways I’m learning as I go. On this occasion however, I think or at least hope that I might be able to actually introduce you to a label you haven’t already heard of. Launched barely a month ago by BFF’s Ella and Anna, YOLKE is currently under-the-radar but I have a sneaking suspicion that won’t be the case for long.

Just to give you a bit of background, Ella studied textile design at Central Saint Martins before landing a job at one of my favourite brands, Temperley London. Anna, a former PR at uber agency Purple made the transition into interiors working with Alidad and Hugh Leslie. Together they form something of a creative/business dream team so it was only a matter of time before the girls joined forces. The result? A fabulous fusion of fashion and homeware to create a lifestyle label that I’m sure you’ll agree is very elegant indeed. I adore a fresh-off-the-catwalk trend as much as the next girl but what’s great about YOLKE is the fact that they don’t go in for any of that. The debut capsule collection may be modern, covetable and include a fair bit of neon but ultimately their silk shirts, straight leg trousers and pulled-together pyjama sets are pretty much as timeless as it gets. For a garment to be truly timeless (i.e last more than 1 or 2 seasons) quality is key which is evidently something that Ella and Anna kept in mind when planning their business. All YOLKE designs are manufactured right here in England, supporting UK industries and enabling the girls to keep an eagle eye on everything from blanket weaving to button dyeing and textiles.

It may not exactly be conceptual or challenging but YOLKE’s tightly edited, beautifully made debut capsule collection is quite simply lovely. Ella and Anna have struck a perfect balance between contemporary cool and good quality classics. Anyone else suddenly overcome by the desire to match your shirt to your cushion covers?

Love Ella. X

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Ella Catliff in Fashion 1 Comment

Victoria, Victoria Beckham AW13

Anyone who follows me on twitter, Instagram or Urturn (new social media platform, it’s a goodie) will no doubt have realised by now that the AW13 press days are in full swing. Either that, or they’ll be very confused by the vast number of bags, shoes and other previously unseen sartorial goodies popping up on my social feeds. Like fashion month, press day season is a time that elicits a heady combination of excitement and dread among the fashion and beauty community. Don’t get me wrong, mincing around town looking at lovely things and catching up with your favourite industry faces is always an enjoyable was to spend an afternoon. However with up to 34 (yes really) collection previews held in various locations around London on any given day the whole thing can get slightly stressful, not to mention absolutely exhausting. As with fashion week, it’s impossible to go to everything. But one press day I’d be damned if I missed was that of Victoria Beckham.

I’ve said it more than once before so I apologise for repeating myself yet again, Victoria Beckham is fantastic. Like the rest of the fashion world, I’ve long since forgotten any initial reservations I had about her’s being another “meh” celeb fashion line but it wasn’t until seeing them up close that I realised the true excellence of Mrs Beckham’s designs. Impressed though I’ve always been by Victoria Beckham’s work, some of the price tags made my mind boggle. After spending the best part of an hour pouring over every immaculate cut, luxurious fabric and exquisite detail in her AW13 offerings those five figure frocks suddenly seem like a bargain. I was lucky enough to see Victoria’s presentation of her latest Victoria, Victoria Beckham collection during New York Fashion Week this season (click here to a reminder) and the perfect fusion of girlish insouciance and effortless androgyny took my breath away. In the flesh, or rather the finest quality felt, the super chic shift dresses and separates I ogled on the VVB catwalk were even more captivating. Meticulous in their simplicity with subtle pocket detailing and razor sharp hems in a palette of subtle greys, monochrome shades and rich autumnal hues, each garment was a feat of both sartorial and technical brilliance. Modern shapes and heritage fabrics can go one way or the other but in Victoria’s capable hands, they were a recipe for unbridled covetable-ness (word?). One luscious plum number pretty much had to be prized from my grasp and I could barely contain my excitement over those crisp collars!

As for the accessories, well, how can I describe them other than “perfection”? Elegant and fuss free in simple shapes and both understated and colour-popping hues, they are the epitome of modern classics. The denim and resort collections were also big hits with me (no doubt due to my obsession collars and prints) so I was very happy indeed to hear they would have a more accessible price point. Quite how “accessible” those prices will be remains to be seen but I suspect I’d better get saving.

Love Ella. X

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Ella Catliff in Fashion 2 Comments

3 Ways To Wear It: J Brand 811 Skinny Jeans

I was absolutely thrilled by the positive response I got to the return of “3 Ways To Wear It” the other week. As a blogger, the posts you enjoy writing and those your readers enjoy reading are not always the same so it was great to hear that you lovely lot are happy to indulge my passion for dressing up. This time around I got my style on with a perennial wardrobe staple, classic blue skinny jeans. It is a fact universally acknowledged that one can never, ever own too many pairs of jeans. I used to be something of a denim-o-phobe gradually I began to embrace this most versatile of garments and now, I’m obsessed. Much as I adore a bit of directional denim, when it comes to effortless chic you can’t beat a simple pair of true blue skinnies. And skinny jeans don’t get much chicer than J Brand 811′s.

J Brand 811 Skinny Jeans in Starless, £189 at The Dressing Room, click here to buy

Casual

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there are few things more stylish than a simple Breton striped tee. Add classic blue jeans and ballet pumps into the mix and you’ve got yourself a recipe for easy elegance. On this occasion I opted for a Whistles t-shirt (obv), French Sole flats and my beloved Mulberry Tillie tote. The beauty of this kind of look is that it works every season and can be spiced up with different coloured pumps and variations of stripe, cost-per-wear magic.

Preppy

As my dealings with McQ’s badass leather skirt taught me (click here for a reminder), with the right accessories you can make just about anything preppy. That said, I found it rather easier to give the J Brand 811 skinny jeans a Blair Waldorf twist. I’d say that the key components of preppy style are loafers, collars and matching things. I decided to push the prep-factor to the max by incorporating all three… And then adding a hairband.

After Dark

When the sun goes down I reach for a skirt or dress rather than jeans. I don’t really know why this is because whenever I do decide to don my skinnies for a night on the town it makes me feel instantly more sophisticated. There’s something rather empowering about wearing trousers for cocktail hour, don’t you think? Anyway, given my J Brand’s understated shade and the fact that it’s technically Spring I decided to make things a bit more playful by pairing them with a peppermint peplum top, killer Kurt Geiger stilettos and pretty pastel accessories.

Personally I adore all three of these ensembles and will definitely be wearing them on a regular basis over the next few months! Which one is your fave?

Love Ella. X

Ps) Until the end of April, there are various fabulous goings on at The Dressing Room in celebration of Denim Dedication Month. Click here to find out more.

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Ella Catliff in Fashion 7 Comments

Win a Parisian Holiday with Worldwide Wardrobe

Yep, this post title is no word of a lie. Travel Supermarket have decided to treat one lucky blogger to a fabulous trip to the French fashion capital in their first ever Worldwide Wardrobe competition. But that, my lovely readers, is not all. They will also be giving away holidays to Thailand, New York, London and Ibiza plus an outfit to wear when you get there. Unlike many competitions, this is not a question-and-answer-winner-picked-at-random situation. It’s a styling challenge people! In order to enter you need to choose a clubbing outfit for Ibiza, chic sightseeing ensemble for Paris, Carrie-worthy cocktail attire for New York, laid back shopping look for London, beach party picks for Thailand or, to be in with a chance of winning the lot, all of the above. Simple non? However there is a catch. Each outfit has to cost a total of £200 or less so hitting the Net-a-Porter holiday shop isn’t going to fly this time. This, my fashion loving friends, is an exercise in stylenomics. As this is a competition for bloggers, the folk at Travel Supermarket decided that it should also be judged by bloggers and asked me to choose which stylish so-and-so wins le petite vacance à Paris. Unfortunately (for me) this means I can’t enter but if I could, these are the outfits I’d pick…

Clubbing in Ibiza

1) Topshop Acid Leaf Cut Out Sundress, £42, click here to buy
2) Miss Selfridge Bug Stone Studs, £6.50, click here to buy
3) ASOS Piccolo Perspex Wedges, £40, click here to buy
4) ASOS Parshall Box Clutch, £35, click here to buy
5) Topshop Bright Stone Bracelet, £18.50, click here to buy

If there’s any occasion on which you can go mad with flouro hues it’s clubbing in Ibiza. Admittedly there is a LOT of very bright colour going on here and I probably wouldn’t wear this ensemble back home in London but when cutting loose on the notorious party island, I feel it’s ~~allowed~~ mandatory to try something a little wilder.

Sightseeing in Paris

1) Topshop MOTO Blue Denim Pini Dress, £38, click here to buy
2) Petit Bateau Breton Stripe T-Shirt, £45, click here to buy
3) ASOS Pointed Ballet Flats, £18, click here to buy
4) Topshop Pushlock Cross Body Bag, £35, click here to buy
5) ASOS Cat Eye Sunglasses, £10, click here to buy

You can always recognize les petites anglaises in Paris for the simple reason that they will be the only people wearing Breton striped shirts. Much as I love the idea that Parisiennes spend their days mincing around in Audrey Hepburn esque Capri cropped jeans and striped tees, experience has taught me that in fact most of the young, hip residents of les Marais favour Isabel Marant trainers over French Sole ballet pumps. But does that stop me bringing out the Bretons whenever I visit? Does it hell! This outfit would pretty much obliterate any chance you had at being mistaken for a native but it’s so adorable I find it hard to care.

Cocktails in New York

1) Topshop Necklace Beaded Shift Dress, £45, click here to buy
2) ASOS Metallic Pointed High Heels, £45, click here to buy
3) ASOS Summer Doorknocker Earrings, £15, click here to buy
4) Miss Selfridge Multi Stone Ring, £8.50, click here to buy
5) ASOS Floral Beaded Clutch Bag, £40, click here to buy

As you’ve probably gathered, I’ve recently found myself strangely attracted to neon. My view on all things fluoro is that it’s best to steer clear of anything unstructured unless of course, you want to look like The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. This sweet shift dress might be a similar shade to those tabards cyclists wear at night but the embellished neckline, clean cut and OTM holographic accessories keep it strictly fashion focused.

Shopping in London

1) Miss Selfridge Embroidered Denim Shirt, £32, click here to buy
2) Topshop Pink Jacquard Mini Skirt, £34, click here to buy
3) ASOS Monogram Leather Loafers, £45, click here to buy
4) ASOS Gem Drop Earrings, £8, click here to buy
5) ASOS Black Round Sunglasses, £10, click here to buy
6) ASOS Scotty Dog Bowler Bag, £35, click here to buy

When choosing a “casual shopping look” for London my first thought was boyfriend jeans and Converse. I then decided that was just too dull for words and opted for a fluoro floral mini, denim shirt and tassled loafers instead. Comfortable can still be colourful, non?

Beach Party in Thailand

1) Topshop Lilac Crystal Tie-Die Bikini, £30, click here to buy
2) ASOS Round Glitter Sunglasses, £12, click here to buy
3) Miss Selfridge Snow Wash High Waist Shorts, £30, click here to buy
4) ASOS Fete Flat Sandals, £28, click here to buy
5) Whistles Rivington Pouch, £75, click here to buy

I’m never made the gap yah pilgrimage to Phuket so wasn’t entirely sure of the dress code at beach parties in Thailand. Having consulted friends who did go, the general response was “not much” but no one could remember much more than that. With this in mind I picked a particularly fabulous bikini and the kind of denim shorts that can be left crumpled on a hostel floor for ten days and not show it.

Feeling inspired to give it a go yourself? Here’s how to enter…

Step One – Publish a Worldwide Wardrobe post on your blog including an outfit and accessories for the five different destinations, explaining why you chose each look. You can enter just one of the categories to be in with a chance of winning a holiday to that destination or enter an outfit for all five categories to be in the running to win all five holidays.

Step Two – Make sure you mention our competition page within your post so your fellow bloggers will know how to enter – www.travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/worldwide-wardrobe/

Step Three – Nominate 5 fellow bloggers that you think will be up for the challenge and let them know via Facebook or Twitter (#worldwidewardrobe)

Step Four – Let Travel Supermarket know you’ve entered by:

Emailing worldwidewardrobe@travelsupermarket.com with a link to your post

Tweeting @travelsupermkt with the hashtag #worldwidewardrobe and a link to your post.

Or, tagging the TravelSupermarket.com Facebook page in a post linking to the blog post that you are entering.

Entries close on June 5th… Good luck!

Love Ella. X

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Ella Catliff in Fashion 14 Comments

Introducing: Golden Lane Bags

I’m not ashamed to admit that I feel genuinely passionate about handbags. I don’t know how something that is essentially a means of carrying your essentials (but so isn’t) can be quite so intoxicating but even looking at a 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli leaves me weak at the knees. Given the level of my handbag obsession, it should come as no surprise that finding out about new purveyors of leather lovelies gets me extremely excited. Especially when the designs in question look like Golden Lane bags.

When a label’s first collection gets snapped up by Luisa Via Roma, Shopbop and Barneys, you expect it to be pretty covetable. When their designs look like a cross between Jerome Dreyfuss and Alexander Wang, a new sartorial love affair is born. Actually I’m not sure that analogy even does them justice. The haute holdalls offered up by Brit brand, Golden Lane have a fresh, modern femininity which is entirely their own. Directional yet gratifyingly practical (two qualities that don’t always go hand in hand), these are the kind of bags that will illicit gasps of jealousy from your friends and enable you to lug around the various bits and bobs none of us strictly need to carry but do anyway. I’m exceedingly partial to a bright bag so Golden Lane’s turquoise and lemon yellow lovelies are my faves. For those not so keen on colour pop accessories, metallic and understated neutral styles complete with subtle gold detailing should be right up your street. Best of all, with prices ranging from £350 to £450 Golden Lane bags aren’t stupidly expensive… Get in there quick, I predict a stampede.

Shop the collection here.

Love Ella. X

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Ella Catliff in Fashion 3 Comments

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