Wardrobe Intimacy: Lauren Briggs shares her key pieces with us!

This week fashion student, Lauren Briggs, shares with us her key wardrobe pieces as part of our new feature ‘Wardrobe Intimacy’.
Enjoy!

My Key Wardrobe Pieces :- By Lauren Briggs

Nude Heels

These are my favourite shoes amongst my vast collection of peeptoes, platforms and patents.

Being a typical student, I turn to the high street for the new outfits I am compelled to buy for the many upcoming events in my social calendar…and as high street fashion is sometimes well, cheap (and not to mention reoccurring…i.e. you walk into a bar and spot a girl working the exact same floral printed dress as you…horror!), I tend to buy a special pair of shoes, and suddenly the bargain LBD I grabbed in a sale, becomes an expensive showstopper.

These nude Kurt Geiger stilettos have just enough detail to make a statement, and they go with almost every outfit in my ever-growing wardrobe!

The LBD

Out of my 24 little black dresses, (shocking, I know) there is one which is my absolute beloved. It’s a black Topshop jersey version of Preen’s most wanted piece from their 2008 A/W collection. Plunging neckline, clinging waist and slouching pockets, this LBD creates gorgeous curves and never fails me.

The T-shirt

For those off-duty days I like to throw on a slouchy tee and city shorts.

This tee is perfect as it’s made of linen, so it’s cool and comfortable. I bought it from Zara, which is one of my favourite shops on the high street. I love their relaxed but edgy style.

The jacket

I love to team a grunge piece with pretty florals or vintage blouses for that effortless rock chic effect. I grabbed this one in the Topshop Sale and its perfect for summer as it’s cropped and lightweight. But what I really love about this jacket is the asymmetric style, I wear it open so it drapes coolly.

Spring boots from Miss Selfridge

This year, I found shoe trends to be the most interesting. We’ve seen everything from clogs to courts and kittens to canvas. My favourite shoe trend this year has been the laced up boot. I found a gorgeous pair at Miss Selfridge on the high street. I’ve worn them all the way through spring and they are still perfect for summer and late autumn. With a pretty vintage feel they take any outfit from day to night!

Harem trousers

Again, I headed to Topshop to look for the past season’s staple trouser; the harem. I went for the casual jersey pair instead of the cool tailored style. They look effortlessly chic and are so comfortable with a drawstring waist for those chocolate-binging days!

DKNY bag

Every girl needs the perfect handbag. Nicknamed “The Bucket Bag” because of its obvious resembling shape, this is, and has been for the past year, my perfect bag. I’m usually a tan leather addict, but when I spotted this patent black DKNY number I fell for it immediately. It’s been true love ever since.

To be featured in our ‘Wardrobe Intimacy’ feature and share your key pieces, please email yolande@lagenevenorth.co.uk

RRI hair products : A First Aid Kit for hair

The amazing new range of RRI hair products is like a first aid kit for hair. With every area covered, these products will keep your hair looking gorgeous no matter what the condition. From hair cleansing to conditioning and styling, there is a products for every hair type and every hair trauma.

We caught up with Luke Walton, International Artistic Director, Rainbow Room International, Glasgow, to get some top hair tips and learn more about this fantastic new range!

1. What tips can you offer, for looking after your hair during the summer months?
• You wouldn’t wash your best silk dress in washing up liquid would you? Well the same rule applies to your hair, which is on show to the world every day! Invest in the best products and services you can afford to keep your hair looking its best.

• If you are out in the sun all day, use a UV protection spray or wear a hat. The sun’s harmful rays can damage your hair by fading the colour and leaving it frazzled.

• Always use a heat protection spray when heat styling, this stops hair from suffering every time you style.

• If you are sunbathing, rinse your hair in fresh water then apply Must conditioner to ends and mid-lengths. Leave in all day for an added moisture boost.

• Rinse hair in cool water rather than hot water, this will help keep your colour bright and shiny.

What makes the RRI hair products unique?
Our products are all holistic in their approach to haircare. Designed for easy and frequent use, they contain no man made silicones or plastics and can truly repair hair. The RRI hair product range is like a first aid kit for hair. With every area covered, these products will keep your hair looking gorgeous no matter what the condition. From hair cleansing to conditioning and styling, there is a product for every hair type and every hair trauma.

Which three products from the range would you consider to be 'must haves' ?
Restore Cleanser
An exceptional and versatile shampoo designed to restore the PH balance of chemically processed hair. This shampoo has a development phase of two minutes, but the longer you leave it the better your hair will look and feel. It moisturises and enhances the hair, leaving it noticeably softer and healthier.

Must
A unique hair and skin conditioner formulated with conditioning agents, soothing emollients and plant extracts.
Must is a multifunctional product and can be used as a moisturiser or aftersun as well as a conditioner for your hair. Can be rinsed as normal and once a week used as a leave in conditioner for an extra moisture boost. Enhances shine and adds body.

Glossette Styling Spray
A light-weight styling spray specially formulated with Vitamin B5 to help improve the condition of damaged hair and conditioners to create incredible shine while improving strength and manageability. The unique formula adds long lasting body and protects hair from heat during styling leaving hair looking and feeling cared for.

END

For more info visit www.rainbowroominternational.com

A Quick interview with Parisian label 'Malam' ...

How would you define your style?

Feminine, timeless, effortlessly cute with a little edge :)

What inspired the name of your brand?

It's a made-up word formed with letters of my name - Incidentally, it means "night" in Indonesian, which I quite like :-)

Tell us a bit about your current collection and the inspirations behind it?

My current collection, called "Poupées Perdues" is mostly inspired by childhood, fairytales, and historical clothing. Sprinkle a little bit of romantic classicism on it, and voilà ! I do not actually work with seasonal collections, I have one permanent collection, within which I add new designs from time to time (which will be on the catwalk at the show ), and delete some of the older ones I have seen too much. Although it is permanent, it is in constant evolution, since I always use different materials to recreate each design.

Which fabrics do you enjoy working with?

I mainly work with natural fabrics (cotton, linen, silk), because they are dyeable. And lace, lots of lace! Part of the fun in making the garment is playing with the fabric first, making it more interesting. Then I use a lot of vintage textiles, as well as upholstery materials. In terms of patterns, I am very partial to plaid and paisley :) When I buy material, I don't usually know what it will end as; if I can picture at least one of my designs in it, then it's good to go. As a result, I have heaps and heaps of textiles of various origins, colors, patterns, composition... and I love being able to choose every time before cutting - It's like having a small fabric shop for myself :).

If you could choose any celebrity to front your campaign who would it be?

I'd probably choose Lily Allen, I love her quirky, independent style and her self-confidence.

What has been your biggest challenge?

So far, it has been to try and reason myself, not to let my imagination run wild when creating new designs, that is, getting them to fit logically inside my line. Ideas just spring up all the time, it can be hard to concentrate :-)

What have been some of the highlights?

I've been lucky to take part in various shows in France, where I've been able to showcase my collection and meet my customers "in real life" which was quite exciting (since I sell my designs mostly through the Internet). I've had numerous mentions in blogs and websites, and have sold my designs in more than 30 countries, reaching as far as North America, Russia, South Korea, Japan, and New Zealand.

What, for you, is exciting in fashion right now?

I don't look at trends, for I don't find interesting to fit in them, and don't want to be influenced. What I love is the fact there are so many "young" designers, who each offer their own outlook on fashion and clothing in general, and it always amazes me to see so much talent sprouting everywhere, obviously, not everything has "already been done" :)

Do you have an ultimate favourite designer, and why?

I absolutely love John Galliano, for his eccentricity, his perfectly "over-the-top" designs!

What would you like to see more of in fashion?

More colors, more eccentricity, more "unwearable" worn :-)

For tickets and further information visit:
W: http://www.lagenevenorthevents.co.uk/
W: http://www.malam.fr/

Welcome to our new newsletter! – July 2010

Welcome to our new newsletter! – July 2010

We have been gearing up for London Fashion Week which is fast approaching with less than two months to go!!

This season we will be having a two day showcase of our flagship LFW ‘A La Mode’ Catwalk due to popular demand.

Above pic: Model in Jonathan Liang

The event will take place at our luxurious venue of choice, The Charing Cross Hotel in Strand, just a few minutes walk from the official Somerset House on September 17-18 September.

Limited public tickets have been released which are available via http://www.lagenevenorthevents.co.uk/events.html . Please note once they are gone no further tickets will be allocated to members of the public.

Some of the International designers and brands we will be showcasing this season include Malam (Paris), Nikolo Bertok (UK), Berit Bert New York, Tom Lipop (London, as seen on Project Catwalk), Amato Couture (Dubai), Jonathan Liang (Malaysia) and Kate Williams (Australia).


The full Catwalk schedule can be viewed at http://www.lagenevenorthevents.co.uk/alamodeschedules2010.html


ALAN XAN KOCA LFW CATWALK SHOW:


This season will see us host a private invitation only Catwalk show for the highly acclaimed Hamburg label Alan Xan Koca! The show is scheduled to take place on Saturday 18th September at 13.00 .




Using techniques such as draping, ruffling, fringing and braiding on a skilfull played palette of colours, Alan Xan Koca makes women feel like Goddess draped in cashmere, silk and leather.


For press/industry passes please email Theresa@lagenevenorth.co.uk / info@lagenevenorth.co.uk


Bon Vivant Concierge

Bon Vivant is the bespoke, highly personalised concierge service that advises on and arranges every travel, lifestyle and leisure need. Members have access to exclusive treatment, complimentary benefits and discounts at top hotels, restaurants, members’ clubs, exclusive nightclubs and a range of lifestyle services as well as access to VIP and sold out events.

Bon Vivant are delighted to offer La Geneve North’s members their special rate of £100 per month with a £100 joining for the monthly membership or £1,200 for the annual membership, or a reduced hourly rate of £35 for non-members.

For affordable luxury with the personal touch for £100 per month, visit http://www.bonvivant.co.uk/ , email info@bonvivant.co.uk or call 0207 278 0642.

Clothes Show Live

We nipped down to the Clothes Show London event recently and spotted some fantastic brand.
Also showcasing was couture designer Zi of Zed Eye (http://www.zedeye.com/ ) whose pieces have been recently see worn by the likes of Kelis and praised by British designer Henry Holland.

To read our ‘Clothes Show’ feature visit: http://lgn-events.blogspot.com/2010/06/untold-at-clothes-show-live-london.html

Young Designer Awards

Our events assistant, Leanne Garret won young designer of the year award for her outstanding graduate collection last weekend. A big congrats to her and her continued success.

Find out more about Leeanne at: http://www.wix.com/leeanneripley/leeanne-ripley

Our Events Schedule

Stay updated with our events schedule by visiting the following link: http://www.lagenevenorthevents.co.uk/events.html

This month’s feature articles:

5 Mins with emerging designer Flik Hall – http://lgn-events.blogspot.com/2010/07/5-mins-with-emerging-label-flik-hall.html

Sarah Curran: Wonder Woman of the e-tail world - http://lgn-events.blogspot.com/2010/07/sarah-curran-wonder-woman-of-fashion.html

Last Season’s ‘A La Mode’ Catwalk video - http://lgn-events.blogspot.com/2010/04/last-seasons-la-mode-catwalk-video.html

5 mins with Nikolo Bertok - http://lgn-events.blogspot.com/2010/07/5-mins-with-emerging-designer-nikolo.html

Be sure to stay posted on our happenings via our blog –
http://www.lgn-events.blogspot.com / and website www.lagenevenorthevents.co.uk

The La Geneve North Events Team x

To unsubscribe email ‘unsubscribe’ to info@lagenevenorth.co.uk

Catching up with designer Kate Williams...

She will be showcasing her wearable yet forward thinking designs during London Fashion Week this coming season and was a finalist at the Australian Fashion Design Awards. A name to watch out for, we quickly caught up with designer Kate Williams to learn more about her label...

Tell us about your design philosophy.

I aim to design clothes with women, their bodies and their lifestyle needs in mind. It is extremely important to me that the clothing I design is eminently wearable and comfortable as well as forward-thinking and stylish. Achieving the balance between style, comfort and lifestyle needs is a challenging one, but one that I feel is crucially important to the modern, active and intelligent woman, and I feel privileged to be able to take up that challenge!

What inspired you to pursue a career in the fashion industry?

I was studying law at university when I realised that I wanted to do something much more creative with my career. I undertook an internship with the amazing girls, Margaret and Michelle, at MXM Couture in Brisbane to see if fashion design could be the right avenue for me. My time with them was so inspiring and motivating. They instilled me with such a passion for design and the craftsmanship of clothing, that I left Law and embarked upon my new direction!

You were a finalist in the Australian Fashion Design Awards in 2006, how did it feel for your talent to be recognised?

The Australian Fashion Design Awards was a great experience and I felt incredibly excited and honoured to have my work shown on a national platform. The most valuable outcome of the Awards was the tremendous feedback I received from the public. It was great to be acknowledged by my peers, but receiving such a widespread, positive response from fashion consumers really gave me the validation that I was on the right track.

The following year you were offered a position in the Golden Key International Honour Society, how did this have an impact on you?

This was the unexpected result of a lot of hard work and I was so pleased to be recognised in this way!

Who would you choose to be your ideal muse?

I find it quite limiting to choose a particular person as a muse. I know from my own experience that women play so many different roles throughout their lives and, indeed, throughout a single day (!) that working from a single muse would not be enough for me to develop a well-rounded collection. Many individual women inspire me every day and I use aspects of all these different women in each collection.

In terms of your design philosophy, do you relate to any other fashion designers?

I suppose I relate largely to the approach that designers such as Donna Karan and Issa take towards design. The woman who wears the clothes must be paramount when developing each new collection. The clothes must both feel comfortable and look fabulous!

Tell us about the inspiration for your current collection.

The inspirations behind my new collection are multifarious. The differences and similarities between individual human bodies was a key influence which was coupled with a further exploration of the concept of 'the other'. The common structural elements of our bodies are explored through cut and print and juxtaposed with slightly off-kilter colour play. This results in a compelling collection within which visual elegance is coupled with a more visceral response.

END

For tickets and further information visit:
W: www.lagenevenorthevents.co.uk
W: http://www.katewilliams.net/

5 mins with emerging label Flik Hall...

What inspired you to enter the fashion world?
My mum was an antique dealer when I was growing up so I became fascinated with fine details really early on. I have always been very aware of fashion and how much it is influenced by our culture. What we choose to dress ourselves in whether it is glamourous or not tells a story and shows how we feel which is where my main interest for fashion stems from. I always saw myself as an Artist and being a Designer was my way to combine Art with the human body.

How was it like working at House of Holland and Giles Deacon?
Both were very different and a great experience. I don’t think any designer is fully aware of what they’re going into until they have worked in the industry.


Tell us a bit about your current collection and the inspirations behind it?
My current collection is inspired by porcelain doll limbs that I found both confronting and intriguing. I wanted to create a visual dialogue about the possibilities and limits of body modification. I tried to portray this using prints of body parts mixed with goat hair making the outcome seem half human, half animal, creating an aesthetic that is beautiful only on the border of disgusting.

Which fabrics do you enjoy working with?
I like to use a high octane mix of materials. For my new Collection I used fabrics such as goat hair, coarse raffia, and pearly leather. I like to use fabrics with contrasting features that contrast with each other.

What has been your biggest challenge?
Money, production, time...

What's your two favourite fashion items for this year?
The Givenchy lace up red lace up boots they did this season, an Iris Van Herpen dress – their amazing.

What makes your designs different yet appealing to your target market/buyers? Who is the 'Flik Hall' customer?
Her style is timeless because it’s all about attitude rather than current trends. She will feel confident and powerful in the clothing. Age doesn’t really concern me; I’m more interested in personality and the way a woman carries herself.

If you can select any celebrity to front your campaign who would it be?
Erin O’Connner

Which other designers do you admire?
Hussein Chalayan, Marios Shwab,



Don’t Miss Flik Hall’s show which will be taking place on Saturday 18th September 2010 during London Fashion Week at the Luxurious Charing Cross Hotel.

Press and buyers interested in attending need to email theresa@lagenevenorth.co.uk

Limited public tickets are available at www.lagenevenorthevents.co.uk/events.html

W: http://flikhall.com/

LFW Is Set To Play Host To The Exquisite New SS11 Collection By Parisian Label Malam

Designer Emmanuelle-Marie, a graduate from ESMOD Paris, who holds a love of fun aesthetics, prints and vintage textiles, will unveil her latest S/S11 collection as part of the off-schedule London Fashion Week show ‘A La Mode.’

Emmanuelle-Marie first created the Malam label in 2007 and since then the label has been going from strength to strength as she navigates her way through the fashion world. Her original premise was to breathe life into the world of mainstream fashion through offering different and unique, but still wearable, designs and prints.

A versatile designer, Emmanuelle-Marie likes to experiment, using all kinds of fabrics to create her designs, but with a preference for vintage finds. She incorporates a range of prints and often plays with fun and flirty shapes, in both ready-to-wear and made to measure garments, some being limited edition, alongside an extensive accessories range. Catering for males and females; dresses, skirts, coats and jackets are all lovingly handmade in her studio in east of Paris, where her ideas are both conceived and created.

Her pieces combine a clear love of high-fashion and interesting, intricate prints with styles that women can really wear in their day-to-day lives, encompassing floaty dresses with details such as bows and oversized sleeves. With a desire to break from the ordinary and give something new, Emmanuelle-Marie often styles her romantic pieces with heavy biker boots, mixing fun prints with heavy make-up and gothic settings, in keeping with the feminine meets androgyny trend of the summer.

The Malam SS11 collection is sure to continue with Emmanuelle-Marie’s desire to mix up the fashion world. Eagerly awaited her show will be part of the ‘A La Mode’ International showcase and will take place on Saturday 18 September from 7.30pm.

Press and buyer’s wishing to attend the show should email Terri at Theresa@lagenevenorth.co.uk

W: www.lagenevenorthevents.co.uk
W: www.malam.fr