lebonchic

The Sales Edit

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Natalie_lebonchic

It’s that time of the year again when you spend hours in all your favourite shops, hunting down the best bargains and trying not to get into a fight because a fellow shopper spotted the same pair of shoes as you. I’m talking about summer sales of course. Thanks to the wonders of online shopping however, you can avoid the fighting and the running around and just shop all the sartorial goodness from the comfort of your couch. Here’s what I’d buy:

Prints have established themselves as the latest wardrobe staple and pieces like this skirt from Peter Pilotto or a dress by the Queen of print Mary Katrantzou are guaranteed to become collectibles in a few years, so definitely worth the investment. I’ve already discussed mine and every other woman’s obsession at length in my previous post, so no need to explain why buying the perfect summer wedges by Charlotte Olympia or a pair of the Fendi geometric heels would be a good idea. In fact buying any accessory on sale is an excellent idea, Stella McCartney’s Fallabela in leopard print or that gorgeous Pierre Hardy clutch, seem particularly irresistible. Irresistible would also be the word to describe the allure of Parisian style and thanks to everyone’s favourite French designers we have access to it, how could anyone say no to Isabel Marant and her bohemian prints, to Carven’s playful, flirty shift dresses or to a Kenzo coloured leopard print bikini? As for the minimalists amongst us who would not be caught dead in a print, I strongly suggest that you take a look at Helmut Lang’s sheer-panelled white shirt and Alexander Wang’s leather cut-out skirt.

Happy Sales!

Natalie xoxo

Posted in TRENDS | Tagged Alexander Wang, Carven, Helmut Lang, Isabel Marant, Kenzo, london shopping, Mary Katrantzou, Matches Fashion, Peter Pilotto, Pierre Hardy, sales, sales edit, shopping, Stella McCartney, wishlist | Leave a comment

Fashion Fairytales Come True in Paris

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Natalie_lebonchic

As the chapter called undergraduate studies has just ended in my life and I’m about to finally take the very hazardous path of fashion journalism, I find my freedom slightly disorientating. This feeling of insecurity, naturally led me to look back at things I’ve achieved or at people I met, who influensed me and during such flashbacks what comes first into mind, are those two weeks in Paris, where I got to meet and briefly work for Mary Katrantzou and her team.

I’m sure everyone has heard of plenty of good old Parisian tales, of the girl moving to the city of lights to live the ultimate dream, which usually involves finding the perfect French boyfriend, eating lots of macarons and exploring the wonders of the world of fashion. My story was a little different; first of all French men are most certainly not my cup of tea and I was perfectly happy buying macarons in the London version of La Duree, where my friends and the life I had just made for myself also happened to be. When it came to the fashion however, I was a little luckier and Paris managed to work its magic for me, despite my pessimism. Luck, in fact, came in the form of a tweet from my design heroine, Mary Katrantzou: “Anyone in Paris who wants to help in our showroom?”. Of course, I replied in a matter of seconds and went to an interview, where I told Mary’s sales manager that ever since I saw those infamous lampshade skirts, I fell in love with the brand and went on to keep up with every interview, every catwalk look and every image that they produced. So just like that, I found myself escaping my flat and the work my not-so-friendly Sorbonne professor had assigned and entering the fabulous world of Mary Katrantzou and Paris Fashion Week.

The first task of my internship was as straight forward as it could get: sit at the reception and usher the buyers and press to the showroom. What was not quite so straight forward was that by buyers, they meant the ladies behind fashion powerhouses Moda Operandi and Joseph, who all cheerfully chatted to me and left me drooling over their straight-off-the-catwalk ensembles. Now when it came to press, my boss forgot to mention that Anna Wintour was part of the list of expected visitors. Nevertheless as she came in, I somehow found the courage to ask her if she’d like me to show her to the showroom to which I got no reply but a cold look, which terrified me so much I actually had a nightmare about it that night.

One day later, Sarah Mower hosts a cocktail to help promote all of the London designers’ work to her peers (which includes anyone who is anyone in the industry) and while we are frantically dressing the models to present to the press, we are also having a blast drinking the champagne that was plentiful that day, taking pictures, spotting familiar faces and helping Anna Dello Russo pick a dress for a Vogue dinner she had to attend. After hopes of her showing up and singing her infamous song ‘You Need a Fashion Shower’ with fellow interns, Miss Dello Russo came and she also happend to be in the mood to chat. We talked about our favourite shows (Carven and Balenciaga were her choises), how difficult it is for her to get dressed in these complicated, couture pieces and how much blue suits her. ‘Thank you so much” she told us multiple times in her adorable Italian accent.

But as incredible and unreal as it might have been, getting to meet some of the most successful and admired members of the fashion industry, what made my internship the treasured experience that it is, was the chance to see Mary Katrantzou herself and her team in action.

When I first found out that I got this internship, my exact words to my mum were ‘I really hope Mary Katrantzou comes to the showroom, at least once, I just want to see her once’. I was so wrong, because she was there every day from early in the morning until very late at night, speaking to the buyers, negotiating sales, laughing out loud with everyone and supporting her team. It was incredible to discover that such a young and talented creative can also take on the role of business woman and team leader with so much ease. What was even more inspiring, was that despite the success both her vision and business savvy gave her, Mary was as grounded and humble as one could be, speaking to her interns with the same polite and respectful way she would speak to the ladies from Vogue and Net-a-Porter, who came to view her collection.

As for the rest of the team, what surprised me was that there was not one person who was not likeable or talented. Everyone was kind enough to share their stories with me about how they got their jobs (needless to say every single one of them had impressive CVs), always encouraged me to leave when it was getting late, said thank you multiple times for my help and even let me try the clothes on. And the cherry on the top? We ended Paris Fashion Week with a toast on the beautiful terrace of the flat Mary and team were renting and lots of mousse au chocolat in the Marais.

So whoever tries to convince you that fashion interns are treated badly, they are just wrong. Take my word for it.

Natalie xoxo

Posted in INSPIRATION | Tagged Anna Dello Russo, Anna Wintour, fashion intern, fashion internship, intern experiences, internship, living in Paris, London Showrooms, Mary Katrantzou, Paris, Paris Fashion Week | 2 Comments

A Look at Resort 2014

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Natalie_lebonchic

Ok so let’s get things straight: according to the fashion calendar we are supposed to be shopping for bikinis from the sales going on and for pre-fall that just hit the stores, planning our winter wardrobes ahead of time, while also looking at Resort collections for Spring 2014. Yes, these fashion people are a little bit crazy, but when Alex Wang re-invents the Balenciaga bag, Roksanda Illincic gives a new definition to oversized and Marc Jacobs decides to match sequins and birkenstocks, we have no other choice but to take note. So here’s your first look at some of the best Resort 2014 collections:

The shoes were flat, the parkas were wide and the trousers even wider at Acne. In other words, they are playing their usual game with the androgynous silhouette a lot harder, something that man repellers will probably love and boys will hate. Other eye-catching elements of the collection would have to be the bustier-over-jacket look and the new way of transforming a maxi skirt into a mini, which is as simple as tying the front in a knot. Something tells me the Parisians will love this messy-chic look…

The androgynous silhouette also happened to be in Raf Simons’ mind, when designing the Christian Dior Resort Collection, but the addition of embellishment, lace and some pretty revealing cropped tops ensure that he stayed true to the DNA of the house. A semi-transparent dress was matched to an oversized blazer, an even more oversized pair of trousers was paired with a midriff-exposing top, while the Simons’ new version of the suit involved a lot of cobalt blue, a deep-V, a cinched waist and a lace crop top underneath.

After a few seasons of seeing the designer’s work for the legendary house his message is starting to become clear: the new Dior Woman is both modern and classic, she is sensual and feminine, but she is also means business…

The palette was mostly restricted to black and white for Alexander Wang’s first Resort Collection for Balenciaga, which allowed him to showcase all the ways he can master the volume and structure of a garment: there were peplums added on bermuda shorts, exaggerated puffy sleeves on his signature bralettes and perfectly tailored jackets. More importantly the Papier leather tote was given an update with the addition of metallic-chains on the handles. Will fans be swooning over this new minimalist approach or long for the good old Ghesquiere days?

The Marc Jacobs collection seemed to be a culmination of many of the trends that have been on the menu the past few seasons, including stripes, pyjama-dressing, midriff-bearing cropped tops and Birkenstocks. So suddenly it seems like a perfectly good idea to wear a bra with your pencil skirt, a luxurious, sequined cardigan with what looks like a night gown or a pair of birkenstocks with your impossibly glamorous, outlandish striped dress. Because apparently what Marc says is nothing less than a rule in the fashion world.

Roksanda Illincic has made a name for herself for her feminine, romantic dresses, that the Duchess of Cambridge and many other classy ladies made sure to add to their closets. But this seasons she is pushing the boundaries a lot further, by adding voluminous sleeves to lady-like pencil dresses, expanding her repertoire to short suits (and she does them in some pretty bold metallics too) and by following the likes of Rochas and Comme des Garcons with very oversized coats and pants. In fact oversized and androgynous seem to be key words for next season and Roksanda is making sure she stays up to date.

The skirts might be getting longer, the shoes flatter and the pants wider, but as long as we have Peter Dundas and his collections for Emilio Pucci, sexy will always remain an option. In fact, what Mr. Dundas seems to by suggesting with his latest collection is that it might not be the best idea to drop 700 pounds on what looks like a pair of orthopedic shoes or on trousers that are 10 sizes bigger, we should instead stick to the basics, like denim cutoffs, bright-coloured blazers, flirty, mini dresses and lace kaftans, over our Pucci bikinis. It’s quite refreshing to also see a straight man’s perspective on fashion once in a while, don’t you agree?

Natalie xoxo

Posted in RUNWAY REVIEWS | Tagged 3.1 phillip lim, Acne, Alexander Wang, Balenciaga, catwalk, Christian Dior, Emilio Pucci, fashion trends, Marc Jacobs, new collections, new season, Peter Dundas, Raf Simmons, Resort 2014, runways report, Wang for Balenciaga | Leave a comment

When Girl Meets Shoe…

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Natalie_lebonchic

I’m perfectly aware of the fact that the subject I chose to discuss with you today, might not exactly be considered original. In fact, a woman’s uncontrollable desire for high heels, extremely uncomfortable high heels to be exact, has almost established itself as one very big cliché, thanks to ladies like Cinderella or Carrie Bradshaw who chose to seal their happiness with a pair of stilettos (glass pump in the first case, Manolo Blahniks in the second, but that’s not so relevant). Then again if we all love shoes so much, it also means this is a subject we will never be tired of talking about. So even though Cinderella and Miss Bradshaw came first, I thought I’d take the initiative to share one of my recent ‘crazy-shoe-lady’ experiences.

So yes I am one of those who love shoes and I always tend to choose to buy heels over clothes or bags, even though it would be more logical to invest in some basic t-shirts (still inexistant in my closet) rather than 18cm Louboutins that make my toes bleed. Nevertheless, I thought that this tiny soft spot I have for impossible-to-walk-in high heels was pretty much controlled; I would always buy a pair or two every year, whenever my finances or rather my very generous mother, allowed me to. Of course as in most matters that require self-control, I was proven wrong. To be exact, last Wednesday, having finished my exams and finding myself in some sort of existentialist crisis, wondering how my life will turn out post-uni, I decided to amuse myself by going to the Nicholas Kirkwood sample sale ‘just to have a look’. I walk in to a relatively calm room, I do have a look and even though there are many beautiful shoes on display, I remind myself that I don’t need more, I have many other expenses and I’m almost proud of my discipline.

That was of course until I saw that one pair that stole my heart: blue suede, double platform and a beautiful wave of tulle decorating the heel. I try them on just to see what they look like and to my dismay the look divine. But believe it or not I decide to leave empty handed, reminding myself all the reasons why i don’t need more heels. That’s not where the story ends though, because unable to make my way home, I found myself going up and down the street as if hypnotized and after about 30 messages to my friends desperately asking for advice and an exhausting run back to the shop, I bought the shoes! Needless to say that following my purchase I was in a ridiculously good mood for the next few days, feeling very lucky that I own this piece of wearable art and at a massively reduced price too.

The question that follows of course would have to be: why on earth does a single pair of shoes make me and so many other women so happy? Are we that superficial?

One way of explaining it would be as simple as the fact that shoes look pretty and ultimately, pretty things distract us from more problematic issues, like life after the bubble of undergraduate studies has burst, in my case. In ‘God Save My Shoes‘, a documentary entirely dedicated to answering this question, a psychologist argues that women are attracted to high heels because they make them feel sexy; the position your feet take when wearing heels being the same as the one when you are having an orgasm. They also happen to be very popular with the boys; ‘I look at the lips, the curves and the shoes’ said a male friend of mine, explaining that a girl’s shoes can tell a thing or two about her personality and the higher the shoe the better.

So here’s a few reasons why the Coveteur has made a name out of picturing women’s extravagant shoe collections (among other things), why there will never be a day in social media without one of us quoting things like ‘high heels, high hopes’ or ‘keep your head high and your heels higher’ and even why women take pleasure in speaking to the shoes (I joke not!), saying things like ‘baby you are so beautiful’ in the Selfridges shoe halls. I will always wonder though, how much is too much?

Natalie xoxo

Posted in TRENDS | Tagged Carrie Bradshaw, Christian Louboutin, Cinderella, fashion article, God Save My Shoes, high heels, Nicholas Kirkwood, pumps, shoe diaries, shoe obsession, shoes, The Coveteur | Leave a comment

Spotlight on: Noor Fares

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Natalie_lebonchic

We’ve all heard of the incredible talent of Central Saint Martins design students, who go on to build outstanding careers just a few seconds after they graduate from the renown college. If this does not sound familiar, the names John Galliano, Alexander McQueen or Mary Katrantzou might ring a bell.

Launching your line and starting your extremely promising career while still studying however, is not something you hear very often, even when it comes to CSM’s brilliant creatives. That is why Noor Fares has proved to be a real pioneer in doing just that; while completing her MA at Central Saint Martins, she has also launched her eponymous jewellery line, which also happens to have been featured in the Harper’s Bazaar shopping edits, worn by some very stylish ladies like Miroslava Duma and recently sold in one of Moda Operandi’s trunk shows.

Noor’s latest venture? A pop-up shop in Zaha Hadid’s newly opened gallery, where against a minimalist, black and white background, you were able to discover all the different gems and treasures from the Noor Fares collection. Her signature ‘Wing’ earrings, an interesting mix of diamonds and mammoth, in different vibrant colours immediately caught our attention, as did the statement gold earrings (picture above), that seem to be inspired by the designer’s Lebanese heritage. As for the smaller, more discreet pieces, from the collection Noor named ‘Geometry 101′, inspired both by the mathematical precision and the spiritual meanings behind geometry, they feel like a very precious sort of lucky charms, the kind that a woman would put on and would never take off, until the day she decides to pass them on to her daughter.

Intrigued? You can meet and shop Noor Fares at Mamma Browns pop-up store from Wednesday June 12th to 18th.

Natalie xoxo

Posted in NEWS | Tagged central saint martins, design, diamonds, earrings, jewellery, noor fares, wing earrings, zaha hadid | Leave a comment

Happy Mother’s Day

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Natalie_lebonchic

Ever since I can remember, Saturday morning shopping trips with my mother have been the highlight of my childhood and my teenage years and it’s safe to say that I own (almost) everything I know about style to her. My first designer bag, my first pair of high heels and my liking for leopard print and fur are all thanks to this very stylish woman, which is why I asked her to give us a tip or two about fashion, in celebration of Mother’s Day.

Starting with wardrobe essentials, my mum believes that every girl should have a pair of leather pants, a white shirt, a pencil skirt and a lot of great coats in her wardrobe.

When it comes to jewellery she has a ‘the more the merrier’ attitude, absolutely loves gold, bold colours and big earrings and believes in wearing a lot of it together. As for shoes and bags however, she believes in going the traditional way. A bag is not worth its money unless it’s from Chanel or Dior (in fact she laughed and quickly dismissed my request for a Phillip Lim Pashli a few months ago!) and heels should be as classic as possible: she’ll approve of elegant, feminine pointy pumps but wants nothing to do with my chunky, double-platformed heels (it took a very long time to convince her that Isabel Marant sneakers were a good idea).

Anything with skulls on it will never get my mother’s approval, even if it has McQueen’s signature on it; the exact words were “skulls are for cemeteries and psychologically disturbed people,” so you can see that she feels quite strongly about it. What she does approve of however, would be anything that is glamorous and feminine, large black fedoras, anything with leopard print, harem pants and Herve Leger dresses. Yes, my mother was the one who encouraged me to buy an Herve Leger dress (without realising what the price tag was, but that’s another story) as she is a firm believer in short, tight dresses and in looking sexy when you go out, within certain boundaries of course!

So I guess that’s the point when I need to say a big thank you to my mum for introducing me to the wonderful world of fashion, teaching me how to look elegant, stopping me from commiting millions of fashion crimes over the years and putting up with my unhealthy fashion addictions, that would have driven anyone else insane.

And next time you need fashion advice, I suggest you turn to your mother rather than to Vogue

Happy Mother’s Day

Natalie xoxo

Posted in NEWS | Tagged accessories, Chanel bag, dior bag, donna karan dress, fashion advice, fashion tips, Herve Leger, jil sander bag, kennet jay lane earrings, moschino dress, mother's day, style advice | 2 Comments

It’s a Chanel World, We Just Live in It

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Natalie_lebonchic

One hundred years ago, Coco Chanel opened her first boutique outside of Paris, in Deauville. Today, her successor, Karl Lagerfeld, is celebrating the 300 worldwide Chanel stores and the globalisation of the brand that has become so incredibly covetable, everywhere all around the world, from the Middle East to Asia. In fact, Karl says we should be eternally grateful to the French luxury industry, for delivering these desirable products to the rest of the world, which help keepWestern Europe still relevant and interesting.

Grateful, was indeed the word, that can describe the reaction of women around the world (especially the fortunate ones who happened to be at the Grand Palais in Paris, for the show) when they saw the Fall 2013/14 collection. Skirts got shorter, the colour palette was a sombre mix of blacks, whites and grays with an addition or two of pinks (because ‘it’s not easy walking all day in pink’ according to Karl), there were many asymmetries on display and even more leather leggings, the materials were so exquisitely crafted, that you immediately felt a need to touch them and more importantly, the shoes were flat!

To put it simply, it was the kind of collection that mixes those quintessentially Coco Chanel elements, with a more contemporary feel that relates to today’s women. A mere look at the short tweed suits, matched to some pretty daring white leather leggings and boots, will probably prove the point.

Never did comfort and luxury appear to make such a great match, as when the knitwear started making its way down the runway. Flared skirts in pastel pinks, oversized sweaters in what has got to be the world’s most luxurious cashmere and eye-catching bright embroideries; I can already imagine all the Chanel fans wearing them on their St. Moritz ski holidays.

As for the more formal, closing looks, we were struck by the beauty of their simplicity: flowing transparencies, soft peplums, clean lines and figure-hugging little black dresses, all matched to patent leather leggings of course! Because nothing is too straight-forward when Karl is involved…

Natalie xoxo

Posted in RUNWAY REVIEWS | Tagged Chanel, Chanel show, Fall 2013, fall trends, flat shoes, Grand Palais. Paris, karl lagerfeld, leather leggings, little black dress, Paris Fashion Week, Runway Report, short suits, tweed | Leave a comment

The London Fashion Week Experience

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Natalie_lebonchic

Fashion Week: high heels, high glamour and very high expectations. Anyone who is even mildly interested in fashion, will tell you that attending Fashion Week is the ultimate dream. We have this illusion that once we get to Fashion Week we’ve made it, life is finally complete! But have you ever wondered what it’s really like to attend the shows?

Let me tell you about my experience! I started this blog two years ago and managed to receive press accreditation by the British Fashion Council from the very first season, which automatically meant that I also got to attend all the shows on the schedule… or so I thought! It was a heartbreaking realisation that my treasured press pass only gave me access to the exhibition and press lounge at Sommerset House, while to get into the shows you had to contact each designer’s PR individually! And so I did, but they ignored me, again and again and again! It was only this season, that I started receiving numerous responces to my ticket requests or at least enough, to make me so excited that I had to jump around my flat for a few minutes (who wouldn’t if they had 7 shows to attend in one day?!).

Following the initial reaction of jumping around and calling my mum and best friends, I proceeded to choose my outfits, as I had to make sure, that now that the dream was finally so close to coming true, everything had to be perfect! For day 1, I went for white on white, given how popular the trend has become, with a tassel Alice&Olivia skirt, a chunky white knit and my brand new Valentino rockstuds (what’s fashion week without some statement accessories after all?).

The day had finally arrived, London Fashion Week was starting, as my alarm was going off at 8.30am. I get up immediately (which is not a usual phenomenon for me) and get dressed. It all seems very exciting, yet at the same time there’s something odd about putting bright pink lipstick and heels on, first thing in the morning and the looks of my doorman and cab driver confirmed that! I start to question my outfit choice (skirt too short? not stylish enough? do I just look weird?) but thankfully I don’t have much time to analyze my insecuirites as I have to rush off to the first show on the schedule: Zoe Jordan!

The collection was modern, wearable and it looked exactly like what any young woman would want to have in her ideal winter wardrobe. Classic tweed jackets were given a playful touch with splashes of bright pink and orange, there was plenty of leather matched to minimalist tops that would translate perfectly into our stylish yet busy city lives and maxi printed dresses and skirts that were made more casual for the day. London Fashion Week could not have been off to a better start!

Half an hour of wandering around Sommerset House and staring at all the extravagantly dressed attendees (there were neon beanies, face paintings and men in heels), it was time for my second show of the day, Bora Aksu. To be completely honest, I went inside the tent without particular expectations, as this is not a brand I’ve been following very much, but by the end of the show I got chills from how incredibly good it was and kept reminding myself about how lucky I was to be there, to see from up close, the intricately knit dresses, the dramatic head pieces and those beautiful flowing silks.

The day was going as smoothly as I had hoped for and it was about to get better, as I was now making my way to the Savoy Hotel for Fyodor Golan (the only minor problem being that as a fashion week newbie, I am only given standing tickets, which means waiting in overwhelmingly long queues and torturing my feet). Once I was in however, the majestic atmosphere of the Savoy and the dramatic, high-fashion clothes that made their way down the runway made it all worth while.

Back to Sommerset House: I finally find time for a coffee break and then it’s off to Felder Felder, where I made sure to arrive 40 minutes early, knowing that this show is a popular one! An hour goes by, of waiting outside the tents and trembling from the cold, only to be informed that the venue has hit capacity and all of us with standing tickets will not be let in. Angry, disappointed, upset are not even close to describing my state at the time.

I sit down for yet another coffee, and as I’m gazing out the window at all the crazy outfits I actually start to wonder: what is all the fuss about? At this point I’m not sure if the one-hour queues are worth the wait and I’m even less sure about how I feel about the circus going on outside, of photographers and people waiting around to be snapped (the weirder the better!). So it’s not with the same excitement that I head to Eudon Choi, however when I see the up-and-coming Japanese designer’s collection, I remember why I love fashion so much! He is known for minimalism, yet he completely re-invented himself with a Russian-inspired collection: there were fur pom-poms on shoes, flower headbands, opulent brocade, along with his signature clean-cut leather trousers. As another attendee put it when we were leaving ‘simply divine.’

I then had my final show of the day, PPQ, yet after one hour’s worth of wait (same situation of trembling in the cold and heels torturing me) we were once again told that the venue hit capacity and some of us would not be let in! The fact that the show was a bad re-interpretation of the 60s did not make it any better!

Verdict? Fashion Week is glamorous and fun and you get the extremely unique opportunity to see the works of incredible designers from up close, but as a newcomer to the fashion circle, you also get to stand in queues, feel slightly out of place amongst the cliques of already established bloggers, editors and buyers and even, get looked down upon when you say that you’re yet another young blogger trying to make it into the industry. But I came to realise that once you focus on the clothes, the atmosphere of the show, the creativity and talent of the designer that you are lucky enough to experience first hand, there is nothing quite like it! And the row you are sitting in or the streetstyle snaps your outfit got, are of little to no importance.

So if your dream is to get into those Fashion Week tents, keep sending the ticket requests and keep pushing in those queues and you will get there. Just remeber dreams come true, but not exactly as you had planned them!

Natalie xoxo

Posted in NEWS, RUNWAY REVIEWS | Tagged blogger at fashion week, Bora Aksu, eudon choi, fashion bloggers, Fashion Week experience, Felder Felder, Fyodor Golan, LFW, London Fashion Week, PPQ, Streetstyle, Zoe Jordan | Leave a comment

Winser London Has Launched

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Natalie_lebonchic

I believe that the term ‘inspirational’ is used extremely loosely these days, but when it comes to Kim Winser, saying she is inspirational, would not quite do her justice. I’m talking about the woman legend, who has been behind the helm of iconic brands such as Marks&Spencers, Aquascutum, Pringle of Scotland and Agent Provocateur. Under Kim’s vision and business savvy, all of the aforementioned companies saw immense success and an increase in millions, of their annual turn overs, in just a couple of years.

I first met Kim, at a talk she gave for the female networking society, Eyedea, where all of the ambitious, young women present were eager, to say the least, to listen to her success story and get some much-needed advice. She was approachable, giving and very entertaining (we all still laugh at her story of flying to Milan, to convinve Giorgio Armani to rent his store space for the first Pringle of Scotland shop!). Needless to say, when she also hinted at a new, top secret project she is working on, we were intrigued.

Well, news is finally out: Winser London, a new clothing line of luxurious loungewear has just launched, modelled by the one and only Yasmin Le Bon. In response to the digital revolution, the project will be exclusively sold on winserlondon.com, where you will also find personal style advisors, to help with questions of fit, styling or anything else you could possibly need. When I attended the Winser London press day a few weeks ago, the way that I was treated by Miss Winser’s staff, who walked me through the collection and talked about every piece in detail (you are normally greeted and left alone to silently look at the clothes and take pictures) was clearly a sign, that this is a company that wants to offer a unique, tailored, shopping experience.

As for the collection itself, it’s probably what we have been waiting for, for a long time now and no one could identify the gap in the market, better than Kim Winser. You will probably agree, that you are constantly in the search for basic tees, great knitwear, a classic trench and trousers that fit well. However when it comes to these basics, you are likely to either find poor quality high-street pieces that won’t last long enough, or their designer equivalents, whose prices tend to be a little extravagant (does the 100 pound t-shirt ring a bell?). Well problem solved, because Winser London offers the finest silks, hand combed cashmere and super soft viscose, but you will not find one item, that is above 350 pounds.

What is even more impressive is the versatily of the clothes, as they can be styled in both a classic and an edgier way. Take the wide-leg pants for example, if you match them to a crisp white shirt, you are ready for the office, take the shirt off and add a lace blouse and pair of high heels though and you are ready to go for dinner and drinks.

I also got the chance to speak to Kim herself, about her favourite pieces, the women her line is destined to and her previous businesses, so I’ll let her do the rest of the talking:

Who is the ‘Winser London’ girl?

She loves good quality clothes and is fashion savvy, she wants to add into her wardrobe some garments that will become her favourites.

We know how every single piece must be precious to you, but if you had to pick three which would be your favourite?

Yes, you are right this is a very difficult one to answer. If I had to pick three, it would have to be: the Winser Trench, the Audrey cashmere jumper and one of the silk shirts.

Why did you decide to launch exclusively online?

I wanted to build a new brand that is in tune with the digital revolution, to allow busy ladies to shop whenever and wherever they want.

How did your previous experience at M&S, Aquascutum and Pringle of Scotland influence you?

I have always been passionate about the product and the customer and my experience in leading quality brand houses has helped me build the best of all for Winser London.

What is it like to work on something that is entirely your own project, that has your name on the label, in comparison to your previous positions?

I have actually loved each of my roles, but yet this one is special as it’s my own brand, built with a special team, to focus on offering a beautfiul collection to this lady customer.

I guess the only thing left for me to do, is to give you the link to this newly launched, much-awaited website: http://www.winserlondon.com/. Happy Shopping!

Natalie xoxo

Posted in NEWS | Leave a comment

Oscar De La Renta AW13 Given the Galliano Touch

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Natalie_lebonchic

Yesterday, something very remarkable took place in the fashion world, namely the Oscar de la Renta Fall 2013/14 show, which was produced under the artistic consultancy of John Galliano. In other words, one of the most talented designers of our time has finally made his return to the world of fashion and he was given this much-deserved second chance, by one of the maestros of American fashion, Oscar de la Renta. The result? Pure heaven!

There were of course no dramatic changes, the glamorous and impossibly elegant style that we have come to associate with the Oscar de la Renta brand was still there. What Galliano seems to have done, was push the designer to add a dose of eccentricity, to his standard recipe. This meant that the classic pencil skirts were done in leather, the volumes of the dresses became slightly more exaggerated, the sleeves of rather proper, tailored jackets were unexpectedly rolled up and dramatic hats, that were hiding the models’ eyes, accessorized the outfits (we all know John G. loves his headwear).

The glamorous, Upper East Side girl whose presence is always imminent in an Oscar de la Renta collection, became a little more mysterious this season, with the addition of dramatic hooded capes, opulent gold brocade and fur collars.

As for the gowns that concluded, what was already a breath-taking show, no words could ever be sufficient enough, to describe their grandeur. Oscar de la Renta has been one of the most worn designers, by some very well-dressed ladies on the red-carpets of Hollywood, so you can only imagine what happened when that extra, Galliano dramatic touch, was added to this equation: regal purple gowns, gold embroidery, head to toe feathers and even a rather unexpected skirt with a thigh-high slit, matched to an extremely sexy, cleavage-revealing blazer.

Bravo Oscar de la Renta! Welcome back Mr. Galliano, you had been missed!

Natalie xoxo

Posted in RUNWAY REVIEWS | Tagged Autumn/Winter 2013/14, Catwalk Report, Fall 2013, Fashion News, Galliano return, John Galliano, John Galliano for Oscar de la Renta, New York Fashion Week, NYC, NYFW, ODLR, Oscar de la Renta, Oscar gowns, Oscar PR Girl | Leave a comment

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