Catwalk Fashion » Design Houses

House of Fraser’s Testbed feature for niche women’s fashion brands

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:38:13 +0000

House of Fraser has launched a new area called Testbed on its website to trial five new niche brands dedicated to women’s fashion.

Very by Vero Moda, Paul & Joe Sister, Selected Femme, Almost Famous and Pink Soda are all featured in the new Testbed section of the House of Fraser site. The collection features beautiful tops and dresses to complement the premium denim department. This season’s trends highlight pastel shades, feminine looks and delicate fabrics, all of which are visible through the brands within the Testbed area.

Almost Famous is a British brand established in 2002 and based in the heart of London’s Fitzrovia. Its womenswear collection takes inspiration from style icons of the past, giving the collection a vintage feel. Almost Famous offers unique wearable designs for day to evening and its signature style is eclectic with great attention to detail.

Pink Soda is a sophisticated contemporary brand for the glamorous modern woman. The collection is made up of bead embellished dresses, tops and jersey pieces which are designed to flatter. This brand offers basic essentials that can be worn as stand alone pieces or alongside its denim collection to create a unique look.

If customers are looking for a cosmopolitan contemporary look that oozes confidence and individuality, then Selected Femme is the brand for them as it allows women to create their own personal style. The style is feminine, cool and chic with an edge. The brand cleverly combines the art of classic tailoring with an informal feminine look that can take wearers effortlessly from day to evening.

Very by Vero Moda is a premium and directional diffusion range from the Vero Moda family. The trend-led very by vero moda label uses luxurious fabrics such as soft silks, lambswool and leathers with the focus on directional yet accessible fashion. It offers timeless pieces that embody sophistication combined with a nod to catwalk trends. Ultra-feminine tops are paired with clean, sleek tailoring and skinny pants are worn with cool T-shirts.

Launched in 2006, Paul & Joe’s Sister is the chic younger diffusion line of Paul & Joe. Named after creator Sophie Albou’s two sons, this label embodies her own style; quirky and bubbly with retro characteristics, using strong kitsch prints to depict her own love of travel. The range includes beautiful flamboyantly printed tunics and silk shirt dresses, cute embellished tops and luxurious knitwear.

Alice in Wonderland’s Jemma Powell models the latest fashion from online boutique www.lizprice.co.uk

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:59:11 +0000

Alice in Wonderland actress Jemma Price has been modelling the new collection from
www.lizprice.co.uk. Jemma plays the part of Margaret Kingsleigh (Alice’s older sister) in the recently released Tim Burton’s adaptation of the Lewis Caroll classic.

The new collection has been created using quality fabrics, with stylish attention to detail, and there will be new designs throughout the season. Look out for the silk and cotton mix camisoles with co-ordinating long sleeve T shirts trimmed with lace, for everyday basics, and the new jersey collection consisting of the perfect waterfall cardigan to compliment the classic Stella or Niko tops.

Later in the year, there will be a cashmere collection later this year and still a prominent part of the collection is the Lize Price jewellery range. Made in the UK and designed by Liz, each piece is made with one of the dresses or tops in mind.

Julianne Moore and Zac Efron wearing Calvin Klein at 2010 Oscars

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:52:23 +0000

Julianne Moore and Zac Efron, who each served as a presenter during the the 2010 Oscars, were both wearing Calvin Klein.

Julianne Moore wore a custom antique white beaded strapless gown with crescent pleated detail designed by Francisco Costa, Women’s Creative Director, Calvin Klein Collection.

Zac Effron’s clothes were designed by Italo Zucchelli, Men’s Creative Director of the Calvin Klein Collection.

French Connection Spring 2010 Top Picks

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:18:28 +0000

Spring Summer 2010 is full of colour, shine and all things fine. The French Connection collection sits like a back–to–school pencil case full of Caran d`Ache coloured hues – everything fresh and exciting ready for its first outing. The mix of casual to formal pieces is even, endorsing the freedom of creating an individual style that works for you.

Bold electric blue blazers are worn oversized with contrasting purple lining over neon Hawaiian floral dresses and exposed zips. The double–breast blazer dress with bold gold buttons gives a nod to the 50’s take on an 80s classic. Bold retro prints in deep jewel colours are mixed with fluro brights on high shine batwing dresses.

Trousers are a contrast of silhouettes – sharp cigarette pants are given gold zip detailing on the waist and ankle, wear with oversized shirts or bustier tops – Sandra Dee style. Pleated harem trousers feature throughout the range in muted tones of beige and black in soft to touch fabrics – contrast with striped or draped vests.

Knitwear is playful, with multi coloured liquorice Allsorts stripes in short sleeve jumpers and body con skirts – our hero piece is the knitted dress with batwing sleeve detail.

Here are a selection of some favourite items we have picked out of the French Connection Spring 2010 Collection.

Belle Peg Trouser, £75.00 – More info here.

Promenade Dress, £75.00 – More info here.

Jumping Junior Dress, £120.00 - More info here.

Lily Lace Shirt Dress, £90.00 – More info here.

Paradise Embroidered Dress, £135.00 – More info here.

TOPSHOP’s EDIT showcase for 2010 to hit Oxford Circus store from 7 February

admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:48:12 +0000

TOPSHOP’s Oxford Circus flagship store will once again play host to EDIT, an in-store boutique showcasing a collective of young emerging designers. This will be the third season EDIT has been available in-store following two successful seasons in 2009. SS10 sees the return of our exclusive resident label KTZ, as well as the launch of several new international labels

For many of the designers featured in this carefully-edited selection, TOPSHOP will be their only UK stockist, continuing the store’s dedication to supporting emerging talent. The EDIT brands are truly global, originating from countries as diverse as Germany, Hong Kong, Sweden and the US. However, they are unified by their ground-breaking approach to cut, embellishment and proportion, and their heavy street style influence. New brands for SS10 are Roba, Rabbit on the Run, Boessert/Schorn and EG. KTZ and Makin Jan Ma will be available nationwide via topshop.com.

EDIT will run in two phases this year. Phase 1 runs from 7 Febraury to 14 March, and Phase 2 from 14 March to 11 April. Here is a selection of items being featured this year. Click on any of the items below to take a closer look.

Calvin Klein launch Spring 2010 publicity drive

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:00:45 +0000

Calvin Klein today unveiled the company’s Spring 2010 global advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein Collection, ck Calvin Klein, and Calvin Klein Jeans, which will each be seen in a mix of media around the world later this spring.

The Spring 2010 global print advertising campaign for the men’s Calvin Klein Collection was shot by renowned photographer Steven Klein in New York City and the imagery for the women’s Calvin Klein Collection was shot by photographer David Sims in Big Sur, California. The Calvin Klein Collection campaigns feature two very important new models – David Agbodji and Jac (Monika Jagaciak) – both of whom opened each of the brands’ respective Spring 2010 runway shows. Both advertising campaigns showcase men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, footwear, and eyewear.

The ck Calvin Klein Spring 2010 campaign was shot by photographer Craig McDean at the Sepulveda Dam in Los Angeles, California and features models Liu Wen, Constance, Mirte, Mark Cox, and Will Eustace. The imagery will be featured in global print and outdoor advertising spanning key markets in Europe, Japan, and Asia.

Shot by photographer Steven Klein in New York City, this season’s Calvin Klein Jeans campaign features Eva Mendes and Jamie Dornan together again. The latest Calvin Klein Jeans campaign will be featured in global print and outdoor advertising, and will introduce the much-anticipated new Calvin Klein Jeans Body Whitewashed for men and women. Whitewashed extends the Body concept that was introduced last season, featuring a more contoured, shape enhancing fit which is now offered in clean, translucent washes and enriched surface treatments in pure and coated shades of white.
Continued …

Calvin Klein, Inc. is one of the leading fashion design and marketing studios in the world. It designs and markets women’s and men’s designer collection apparel and a range of other products that are manufactured and marketed through an extensive network of licensing agreements and other arrangements worldwide. Brands/lifestyles include Calvin Klein Collection, ck Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Jeans and Calvin Klein Underwear. Product lines under the various Calvin Klein brands include apparel, accessories, shoes, sleepwear, hosiery, socks, swimwear, belts, eyewear, watches, jewellery, coats, suits, fragrances, and cosmetics, as well as products for the home. For more information, visit www.calvinklein.com.

Morrissey and Stella a match made in vegan heaven

Alan — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:37:48 +0000

Last week music and fashion fans got wind of the news that Stella McCartney the fashion designer and daughter of Sir Paul may be working on a new line of clothing with Leona Lewis.

However, this week McCartney stated that there was never such a collaboration, but there is no need to worry since she is actually in collaboration with another star on a vegan designer clothing line, Morrissey.

McCartney stated that the unlikely pair is hard at work on a line of shoes which are leather free and due to be released sometime next year.

Although some people may be scratching their heads given Morrissey’s unfavourable reputation, it is quite reasonable actually that the animal rights activist McCartney, who has not once used fur or leather in her collections would team up with Morrissey.

His stance as an activist is also quite well known after an album release titled Meat is Murder and a refusal to play the Californian Coachella festival this past year, due to the fact that he could smell too many burgers from the stage.

McCartney is a well known fashion designer who has worked with many different labels and runways from Gap to H&M to Adidas.

Ronnie Wood musician and now fashion designer

Fashionable Jobs

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:11:51 +0000

Before job sites advertised creative jobs in Arts and Media, the fashion industry was a difficult industry to crack without knowing the right people. However, applying for jobs in this area is now at your digital disposal.It is, understandably, an appealing market - the haute-glamour and gloss that glow from Vogue’s editorial spreads are enough to kick-start interest in sartorial success. Few other worlds boast such a colourful and mysterious cast of characters – from Dame Vivienne Westwood and her corseted-punk collections, to Karl Lagerfeld and his suits of solemn black – it’s a world of big personalities and pretty people.

An initial intrigue may be perked by the high-end charm of the industry, but those who want an in would do well to acknowledge the hub of activity buzzing beneath and beside the Big Shots. On a more ordinary scale, you don’t have to be one of the high-profile designers who command the couture catwalks. Neither do you have to be buried in the role of the slave-driven PA, who carries the coffee and takes the flack. Roles like buyers, garment technologists, studio assistants, fashion photographers, pattern cutters and product development advertisers are just some of the professional positions in this industry.

All these outlets make involvement in the industry a real possibility. There are of course a range of routes to go down before you apply. Internships and Assistantships are always a good idea – they introduce you first-hand to the working environment and are easy to investigate.

Many photographers, designers and magazines will often offer a rotational internship system you can research. There are also a number of training schemes offered, which can be investigated online. These should help you sharpen your vocational skills, so that when it does come to throwing your CV on job sites, you know what to look for and where to apply your talents. A helpful turn, offered by sites like The Guardian’s jobs page, is to register your CV to their database so that employers may also contact you.

A host of jobs and positions keep the fashion world alive – jobs that are not merely dished out in-house, but are profiled on sites that cover many creative positions in the fashion arena. Try a search in the jobs section of The Guardian, who offer comprehensive coverage of the creative sector. Their range of London jobs includes a broad selection of fashion-based work in one of the most prolific Fashion capitals, and it is a spread that reflects the diversity of the industry. On offer are various positions – Pattern and Fit Coordinator, Junior Retoucher and Online Style Editor.

Like seasonal trends, when it comes to jobs in fashion, it’s good to stay in the know and stay online.

Supermodels launch D&G Anthology Fragrances

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:14:13 +0000

The World’s most iconic supermodels have reunited to launch the new line of fragrances – D&G Anthology.

Created by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, each fragrance is designed to encapsulate the very essence of the supermodels’ personalities, and include:

Claudia Schiffer’s 18 La Lune
Personality – The Dreamer

Naomi Campbell’s 3 L’Imperantice
Personality – The Star

Eva Herzigova & Fernando Fernandes’s 10 La Roue De La Fortune
Personality – The Players

Naomi Campbell helping to sell Fashion for Relief T-shirts in aid of Haiti at Westfield London

New Calvin Klein Steel Underwear and the launch of pan-European Male Model Search

admin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:20:43 +0000

The latest Calvin Klein Underwear steel product line consists of nine new additions to the iconic range. Each colour-way represents the flag of one of the nine countries participating in the male model competition: England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, and Sweden.

Here’s the German version:

To celebrate the new Calvin Klein Underwear steel product offering, the brand will launch a pan-European model search to find one man from each of the nine countries who embodies the attributes of the new line. From the nine finalists, one winner will be chosen by public vote and will receive a one-year top male modelling contract with Select Model Management, as well a luxury trip for two to South Africa.

To enter the competition, contestants can either apply through an in-store casting at participating stores across Europe, or they can submit photographs of themselves wearing Calvin Klein Underwear to the competition website (www.9countries9men.com).

Since its inception, Calvin Klein Underwear has been recognized around the world for its innovative product style, as well as its groundbreaking and iconic advertising campaigns. These now legendary campaigns have featured globally recognized individuals including footballer Freddie Ljungberg, actor Mark Wahlberg, model/actor Travis Fimmel, and currently, model/actor Jamie Dornan.