La Petite Party Diaries: Louise Gray for Brora Launch Party

What do you get when you cross one of London’s hottest young design talents with Britain’s best loved cashmere brand? Knitted deliciousness and a damn good party to toast it’s arrival, that’s what!

Last Thursday evening I was a very busy girl indeed and after a couple of hours of mincing with Notting Hill’s best dressed at Nanette Lepore’s party it was time to hot foot it over to Chelsea to celebrate the launch of Louise Gray’s collection for Brora. As you can see from these campaign snaps (above) Louise’s collaboration with the knitwear creator extraordinaire are every bit as scrumptious as you’d expect. Think Brora’s trademark luxuriousness with a quirky twist in colourful shades, surely the perfect way to ward off winter blues.

Moi
Louise Gray (right)
Henry Holland (centre) & friends

Louise looked eccentrically chic as ever in her own designs and guests including Henry Holland got stuck into canapes and cocktails (yes more) whilst indulging in a spot of dressing up, courtesy of Brora’s fab AW11 collection. It was so lovely in fact that I couldn’t resist treating myself to a pair of cashmere glovlets (or two). Probably not the wisest way to spend my student loan but when the temperatures are dropping and the champagne flowing, what else is a girl to do?

Love Ella. X

Posted on by Ella Catliff in Parties 6 Comments

Introducing… Evelina, the latest addition to the Mulberry clan

As you know all too well, I have a little bit of a “thing” about Mulberry. Ok, that’s putting it very mildly, I’m obsessed. Having spent the last 2 (or is it 3?) seasons shamelessly lusting after the Alexa, the Tille and just about everything in between I’m now head-over-heels in love with Emma Hill’s latest genius creation, the Evelina.

Mulberry Evelina
Evelina Large Satchel in Fudge Ostritch, £4000
Mulberry
Evelina Hobo in Leopard Haircalf, £2000
Mulberry
Evelina Satchel in Summer Khaki Soft Large Grain Leather, £595

English beaches, Donkey rides, arcades and camping all got a major chic-over this Fashion Week as for SS12, Mulberry is all about seaside shenanigans. And what better embodiement of this carefree aesthetic than a super slouchy handbag? The Evelina comes in three equally covetable encarnations, Satchel, Large Satchel and Hobo, not to mention a seriously luscious selection of skins including glossy buffalo, large grain leather and luxurious Leopard haircalf…. One word: delish.

Love Ella. X

Posted on by Ella Catliff in Fashion 1 Comment

La Petite Party Diaries: Nanette Lepore’s New Season Soiree

The beginning of November is always a magical time. After all, it brings with it the arrival of Starbucks’ red cups, Harvey Nicks’ Christmas window displays and last but certainly not least, party season. The festive period always seems to pass in a haze of high heels and stiff drinks and judging from last weeks jam-packed party schedule, it looks like this years going to be no different. On Thursday evening I donned my gladrags and headed over to Notting Hill where New York design legend, Nanette Lepore was hosting an evening of champagne and shopping at her divine Westbourne Grove boutique.

Moi
Yum
Nanette Lepore, Jewellery Designer Anne Bowes (AKA my mum) & Me

Guests including Zara Martin and Jasmine Guinness were treated to adorable cupcakes and an exclusive preview of Nanette’s SS12 collection. As you may have gathered from my previous post, Nanette’s new season offerings were beyond covetable. Think zesty brights, feminine shapes and super cute accessories galore. The lovely and oh-so-glamorous Nanette had jetted in from the Big Apple to be there and regaled us with tales of how she whipped up her daughter a swan costume frome scratch (lucky thing!) mere minutes before she had to leave for a Halloween party.

Zara Martin & Nanette Lepore
Jasmine Guinness & Nanette Lepore

Having not read my invitation all that thoroughly I only realised an hour or so in that as well as drinking, dancing and generally having a good time, we could also shop Nanette’s AW11 collection at a fraction of it’s usual price. Naturally most of the rest of the evening was spent trying on the entire contents of the store, and I think it’s safe to say that no one went away empty handed.

Love Ella. X

Posted on by Ella Catliff in Parties 1 Comment

New York, New York…

This season I was lucky enough to make my New York Fashion week debut and whilst I feel a tad disloyal to my beloved hometown saying this, I fell absolutely in love with “the city that never sleeps”… not to mention the seemingly endless array of incredible designers that live, work and show there. After two days of non-stop shows, dinners and various press engagements we had an afternoon to kill until our flight back to London. And what did I do with these precious spare hours? You guessed it, I hit the shops. Like the rest of the sartorial community, Style.com serves as something of an online Bible especially during Fashion Week season when excess champagne and chronic lack of sleep can cloud even the most discerning eye. But lovely though it is to check out the latest looks online or on the catwalk, you can’t truly judge a designers work until you’ve seen, touched and, let’s be honest, tried it on in the flesh. Well that my friends is precisely what I did during that blissful day in New York and as a result came home with a whole new array of collections to covet. London may have spawned McQueen, Galliano and Mary Katrantzou but the Yanks certainly aren’t lacking in homegrown fashion talent of their own. Here are a few of the New York natives I’m obsessing over after my trip…

Milly

Milly SS12

Yigal Azrouel

Yigal Azrouel SS12

Nanette Lepore

Nanette Lepore SS12

Love Ella. X

Posted on by Ella Catliff in Fashion Leave a comment

La Petite Weekly Wish List 04/11/2012

So it’s week 2 of my newly launched “Weekly Wish List” and I’ve realised that this post is actually pretty self-indulgent as it just gives me the ultimate excuse to indulge in my favourite past time: shopping. There are few things I enjoy more than browsing the boutiques (online or on the high street, if there are clothes involved I’m happy) but I hope that you enjoy seeing what I’ve scouted and my pre-search makes your Saturday morning spree that little bit simpler.

Star print pumps, Pretty Ballerinas, £120,
available at www.prettyballerinas.co.uk

Star print is back in vogue this season courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana who applied it to everything from maxi dresses, to fur coats and just about everything in between. Don’t feel like working the look head-to-toe? Then you’re in luck because Pretty Ballerinas adorable pumps are the perfect way to tap into the trend without having to wear an entire constellation.

Claudia Dress, Project D, £395

With less than two months to go until Christmas I think it’s safe to say that party season has officially arrived. All that bubbly has been known to impare even the most impeccable sartorial judgement but this subtley sparkling little number is a recipe for effortless evening glamour.

Fair Isle knitted beret, Brora, £85
available at www.brora.com

You have to admit, there’s something ever-so-comforting about knitwear. As the temperature drops few things make me happier than keeping cosy in super soft cashmere and this adorable Brora beret is one of the most delectable Autumn accessories I’ve seen so far. Fair Isle knit AND a pom pom on top? That’s almost more cuteness than I can handle.

Fleur beaded top, Whistles, £195
available at www.whistles.co.uk

I’m sure you’re already well aware of my obsession with blouses, especially ones with Peter Pan collars. Suffice to say, when I spotted this bedazzled black chiffon number I practically started salivating on the spot. Geek chic with an injection of bling, the genius that is Jane Shepardson strikes again!

Velvet Bow Chain Bag, Topshop, £25
available at www.topshop.com

Strapped for cash and need of an instant outfit update? Then look no further than good, old Topshop who are well and truly nailing it on the accessories front this season. I fell absolutely in love with this velvet, bow detail number earlier this week. In fact I was so enamoured that I found myself skipping out on a much-needed library session to go and pick one up the next morning!

Love Ella. X

Posted on by Ella Catliff in Shopping 3 Comments