Hot off the press: British Fashion Council announces NEW Establishment Award!

As you all are no doubt already well aware, tonight is a very special night on the British Fashion calendar. No, it’s not Kate Moss’s birthday, although let’s be honest, that probably plays host to some pretty fabulous frocks too. Tonight is the annual celebration of our nation’s hottest sartorial talent, it’s the British Fashion Awards. I was sitting down in a half-hearted attempt to write yet another bloody essay when an email popped into my inbox announcing the breaking news of the British Fashion Council‘s latest prize, the New Establishment Award. Well, no self-respecting fashionista could ignore something like that and I felt duty-bound to share the news of this exciting award and more importantly, it’s nominees with the world.

Over the past four seasons London has cemented its status as a capital for innovation, with a group of new designers commanding front row audiences only previously seen at the shows of long-established luxury fashion brands. This peer group is London’s New Establishment, bringing innovation to a luxury market. Sophisticated and exciting, they have surpassed being emerging designers and are growing into dynamic businesses, compelling even the most seasoned fashion retailers and journalists to sit up and take note. And who better fulfils this prestigious criteria than the awards’ inaugural three nominees, Erdem, Jonathan Saunders and Christopher Kane.

Erdem SS12

Jonathan Saunders SS12

Christopher Kane SS12

These talented London designers have catapulted to the forefront of the fashion industry over the past few years with A list FROWS, legions of fashionable fans and, let’s not forget, collections so covetable they basically bring tears to my eyes. As a die-hard devotee of all three designers, I can’t quite bring myself to pick a favourite. Who do YOU think will pick up the New Establishment Award tonight?

Love Ella. X

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Ella Catliff in Fashion 1 Comment

All that glitters…

When it comes to Christmas, people largely fall into two catagories. The first book up the ice rink at Somerset House months in advance, count down the days until Starbucks red cups hit stores (guilty) and spend their days at the office dreaming of mulled wine and open fires. The second avoid Oxford Circus until well after New Year, shudder at the merest hint of a carol and spend their days at the office dreaming about fleeing to a remote tropical island, where no one’s ever heard of a mince pie. But whichever camp you fall into, you just can’t deny that nothing perks up those darkening December afternoons like a large dose of festive sparkle. This is a sentiment shared by high end designers and high street stores alike who have pulled out all the stops this season to bring us collections more bedazzled that the entire cast of TOWIE put together. From Miu Miu’s cult glitter boots to Stella McCartney’s sporty metallic dresses, head-to-toe bling has never looked so chic. It’s high time to try high shine and whatever your budget, body type or level of bravery, I guarantee there’s a glittery something out there for you.

Glitter on the catwalk…

From left: Dolce & Gabbana, Oscar de la Renta, Stella McCartney, Balmain

Glitter in the shops…

1) Accessorize heart hardcase, £35, available at www.accessorize.com
2) J.Crew sequinned dress, £450, available at www.net-a-porter.com
3) Whistles Ava flower bead sweater, £165, available at www.whistles.co.uk
4) French Connection Lucinda sequinned shorts, £82, available at www.frenchconnection.com
5) Miu Miu glitter ankle boots, availble at www.net-a-porter.com
6) Alice & Olivia Ritchie sequinned dress, £510, available at www.net-a-porter.com
7) Markus Lupfer sequinned lips jumper, £265, available at www.matchesfashion.com
8) Reiss Farrah high-waisted gold jeans, £120, available at www.reissonline.com

Love Ella. X

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Ella Catliff in Fashion 2 Comments

La Petite Party Diaries: My Daily Presents Mary Katrantzou

The fashion industry tends to pounce on any excuse for a party so come festive season it’s not unlikely to find four or more taking place on one evening. The quadruple event conundrum can go one of two ways. Either you try to attend them all, a foolish idea that usually results in a high-heel related injury. Or you pick the best couple and actually enjoy them. Well Tuesday evening was another packed night on the fashion calendar but given that My Daily were hosting an evening with Mary Katrantzou, it was a bit of a no brainer for me.

Mary Katrantzou et Moi

The My Daily team

After a long day of gallery visits and lectures (this college lark is exhausting!) I donned my gladrags and headed into the heart of Soho. After several unsuccessful attempts I managed to find my way to the top floor of ultra chic champagner bar, Kettners. The intimate venue was already packed with bloggers, journalists and other fashion folk, who’d gathered to meet and mingle with designer-of-the-moment, Mary Katrantzou. Mary is one of my absolute favourite designers and having spent a wild weekend together in Doha back in March I was both excited to see her and ever-so-slightly nervous she might have forgotton who I was. Luckily Mary remembered our Middle Eastern trip and we reminisced over champagne and canapes whilst waiting for the main event to start. After a significant amount of bubbly had been consumed we took to our seats and My Daily Editor, Libby Banks set about grilling Mary on just about every aspect of her life and work.

Mary Katrantzou & Susie Lau of Style Bubble

Me & Tala Samman of MyFashDiary

I’m not going to paraphrase the whole thing as that would just be too boring for words, instead you can watch the best bits here.

Mary Katrantzou, nicest woman in fashion? After hearing her inspiring and endearing interview with Libby, I think we all wanted to be Mary’s best friend. Especially if she might lend us one of her fabulous frocks…

Love Ella. X

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Ella Catliff in Parties 3 Comments

Mary Katrantzou

Look Du Jour: Sweethearts

Tonight I was off to a rather special event hosted by online fash mag, My Daily. The soiree was held at super swanky Soho champagne bar, Kettners so I decided to go for cocktail chic in this ultra-girly ensemble. I will be bringing you all the goss from the fabulous evening very soon but for now you’ll have to make do with what I wore, namely my fave sweetheart print skirt from Whistles.

Top & Skirt: Whistles, Bag: Zara, Shoes: Topshop
Necklace: Anne Bowes Jewellery

Love Ella. X

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Ella Catliff in Look Du Jour 2 Comments

Whistles

Ode to Iris, a true style icon

As I’m sure you already know, this season it’s all about 90′s. But I’m not just talking about ghetto fabulous gold jewellery, acid bright leggings and Versace for H&M. No, thanks to a certain nonogenarian fashion legend, the 90′s are back on our radar as more than just a style decade. The phrase “fashion icon” is one which is bandied about somewhat willy nilly these days. In the case of Kate Moss (duh), Carine Roitfeld and Alexa Chung I think it’s just about justified but when I see, say, a member of The Saturdays dubbed an “inspiration” it does make me think, what the HELL? Being truly iconic is more than just rocking the latest trends and looking pretty whilst doing it. It’s something innate and impossible to manufacture; a simultaneous appreciation and at the same time, rejection of current and past fashion… and a wardrobe bursting with vintage Haute Couture certainly helps. Well with four museum exhibits and a book devoted to her inimitable style, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of blog posts and magazine articles written about her each week, I think it’s safe to say that if ever there were a person deserving of this most revered of titles, it’s Iris Apfel.

Iris Apfel

Back in the day (and I mean way back) Iris was best known for founding a textile business with her husband, Carl, that became so successful that is went on to serve nine administrations of The White House. But this was long before the days of blogging, tweeting and even mobile phones so I’ll leave the history lesson at that. Fast forward to 2011 and Iris is still at the top of her game, gracing the hottest FROWS in town and stealing precious column inches from starlets less than a third of her age. Indeed Iris’s eclectic personal style and priceless witticisms such as my personal favourite, “it seems that the fatter and uglier people are, the fewer clothes they wear”, have turned her into something of a household name. Well, in fashionable households at least. But aside from living the life of an icon, she has also turned her considerable talents to designing and recently launched her first fabulous line of costume jewellery for Yoox.com, check it out…