Style of the Week

Maxis are all the rage this summer from floor lengths to calf lengths. We spotted this lady shopping in Topshop. We like the way she is wearing the leopard print maxi with brown loafers and brown bag. You too can get her look the Maxi Dress is from  Urban Outfitters and Jacket is from Uniqlo.

Smell Sweet this Summer with DKNY Delicious Candy Apples Exclusively at The Perfume Shop

Feel juicy and sweet with DKNY Delicious and try one of its scents from the new Candy Apple collection, available EXCLUSIVELY at The Perfume Shop from Thursday 21st July.

The DKNY Delicious Candy Apples collection is a delectable combination of a hard, sweet and vibrant candy coating with freshest scent inside. The crunch from the candy, mixed with the fresh crisp juicy apple centre creates a sweet surprise that is irresistible and immediately desired.

This scrumptious trio includes Sweet Strawberry in red which combines strawberry mousse and sparkling bergamot notes, Juicy Berry in purple which mixes apple blossom with blackberries and Fresh Orange in orange which contains mouth-watering mandarin and fizzy orange sorbet.

DNKY Delicious Candy Apples will be available exclusively from The Perfume Shop from Thursday 21^st July, and will be available in an EDP Spray 50ml, all priced at £29.50 each. To learn more about fragrance from the perfume experts or to purchase your favourite scents please visit www.theperfumeshop.com.

Introducing..... Anniss

We caught up with Polish fashion designer Anna to find out more about her fashion label Anniss and what to expect from her during London Fashion Week this September.

What made you want to take the leap from being an artist to become a fashion designer?

These two disciplines are very close. Being fashion designer also means to be an artist and being artist means that you have to design everything, everyday, everywhere. All your life is a kind of project – art project. A real high fashion is an art. Being a fashion designer does not prevent being an artist. I still do performance art.

I was always interested in fashion. As a young girl I was watching a lot fashion magazines, TV programmes etc. I liked to invent different stylizations and I had always problem with shopping. I never couldn’t find satisfied clothes in the shops, but I was dealing with that somehow. I always needed creations in my life because I was boring very quickly and I still do. Than I was studying a sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow and I discover good sense in 3dimentional. Than came performance art – which is also 3D J But the moment I started to be a fashion designer was my 31st Birthday – my mother bought me a Sewing Machine – that was the starting point. Finally I discover my real passion and complement in my creativity.

You have been involved in a lot of performance arts, how has this influenced your designs?

I can say that it still has very big influence on my fashion design. As I mentioned I still do a lot of performances. My whole life revolves around performance art – my husband Arti Grabowski is a recognized performance artist. We are travelling a lot on many performance art festivals around the world. For example next day after the show on LFW we are going directly to Vancouver on LIVE Festival and right after to New York to Grace Exhibition Space to perform.

Returning to the influence of performance art on my fashion design I can say that almost every action I see inspire me a lot. Open attitude, determination, body language, gestures, poses, everything gives me a lot of ideas, impulses and projects images in my head which I transform into my fashion design. I don’t design nice, funny or polite things. I want that every outfit I design has these attitude, determination, strong gesture.

You studied in Poland and England, having had insight into both cultures, which has influenced your collection most?

I had insight and I still have into a lot of cultures because of our international life J. It is hard to say which culture influenced me the most. In my blood is Slavic culture which is the base for everything. All the cultures based on this give a special mix which still build my temperament.

You say you deconstruct and reconstruct classical styles, is this because of your fondness of classical designs or an attempt to try and  reinvent the overdone ‘classical’ look?

I say about this because of both reasons. I’ve always loved classical styles because it gives many possibilities for creations, for new directions, for reinvent. And I’m still looking for the possibilities of deconstructions. Yes, and I think that the term overdone ‘classical’ look is the best characteristic of my works. There is many possibilities, many ways and I’m going through my path deconstruct and reconstruct in my own way for continuous reinventions the overdone classical look.

Looking at your designs it is obvious that you studied in the sculpture department, was portraying this in your designs conscious decision?

It had just happened. I passed the way from sculpture to fashion design which became this what I really wanted to do in my life. Now I feel that it comes from my blood, my heart – it is really my passion.

How do you want a woman to feel in your designs?

Not only woman J In GREATEST HITS  f/w 2011/12 collection I start to design also for men. It is very important that people feel comfortable in my designs – this is the physical side.  But also very important for me is this mental side - mood, self-confidence, determination etc. My designs are for confident, resolute, brave people and I wish that wearing my designs they can strengthen this self-confidence.

You work with the colour black a lot, is this because it is so timeless?

I always loved blacks. Off course black is so timeless and has many beautiful possibilities of combinations but also important for me is the meaning of this colour. The person identifies with the black colour is disciplined, independent, endowed with strong will and their own convictions – these is most important in my ideology of design. This is Anniss J

What item of clothing and accessory do you think each woman should have?

I think that every woman should have: sunglasses (the best are big black aviators J – but it depends from the type of face), high heels classic shoes and classic jacket – these are the starting point for many stylizations and gives really many possibilities not only in classical way J.

I also think that very important are shoes – even I can say that are most important because are closing point and the culmination of a whole design. That‘s way I also start to design the shoes for my collections. Till now I made a few individual models of shoes for GREATEST HITS collection. Lately I start to co-operate with Cockney Company from Krakow. They specialize in hand made shoes. This will be shown at LFW in September.

 What fashion icon do you want to see wearing your designs?

I don’t have any favourite. I wish that people appreciate my designs. It's nice to be aware that you are doing something that others enjoy, appreciate it and feel good with this. This encourages to further creative work.

What should we expect from your future collections?

More determination, unconventional but comfortable fit – for women and men. Many creations, many deconstructions, like you mentioned really overdone classical look – J  It is process still under construction. I know what I will show at LWF and I can say it will be strong and powerful. Later… it’s surprise.

How does it feel to be showcasing at London Fashion Week in September?

Great! I can’t wait J I hope you’ll enjoy it.

For more information please visit www.anniss.eu

Style of the Week

We spotted this gorgeous lady shopping on Oxford Street. We love the pop of colour in her outfit its so on trend.

Top: Zara

Shorts :Topshop
Jacket:Topshop

Shoes: River Island

MandMDirect.com team up with legendary artists to support Teenage Cancer Trust

MandMDirect.com have teamed up with Chrissie, Madness and Paul Weller to design three exclusive t-shirts in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust.

The t-shirts were inspired by the distressed look of 60s and 70s band tee’ and include vintage prints of the legendary artists, who have all performed at Teenage Cancer Trust's annual concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. There are only 1,500 of each design and only available at MandMDirect.com. Each t-shirt is £19.99 with 100% of the profits (at least £10.00 from each sale) being donated to Teenage Cancer Trust. Perfect for the festival season, the tee’s are selling fast.

MandMDirect.com, the UK’s leading online designer outlet have been supporting Teenage Cancer Trust for over six years. Through staff fundraising, donations from sales and bespoke products they have raised over £740,000 for the charity. Steve Robinson, MandMDirect’s CEO, said: “We are delighted to continue our support for Teenage Cancer Trust and these T-shirts are just another fantastic way of doing so”.

Siobhan Dunn, Director of Fundraising at Teenage Cancer Trust adds: “It is fantastic that MandM Direct are donating the proceeds from these t-shirts to Teenage Cancer Trust. We are grateful for all the fundraising they have done over the last six years and for what they will continue to do.”

Every day in the UK, six young people are told they have cancer. Usually placed on a children’s ward or with elderly patients, young people often feel extremely isolated when facing a cancer diagnosis. Teenage Cancer Trust builds units in NHS hospitals that offer young people specialist care, bringing them together so they can support each other in an environment suited to them. The units’ home-from-home feel creates a sense of normality, containing social areas with pool tables, comfy sofas, music, laptops, wifi, Skype and TVs. They are bright and vibrant and designed to give young people the very best chance of a positive outcome.

There are now currently 17 Teenage Cancer Trust units across the country. The charity plans to build a further 16 so that all young people needing hospital treatment for cancer across the UK have access to the dedicated, specialist support they provide.

As well as specialist units, Teenage Cancer Trust also funds a number of services all with the same goal – to help young people fight cancer. These include clinical and research staff, an education programme for schools, family support networks and an annual conference for young cancer patients.

Buy your t-shirt now by visiting http://www.mandmdirect.com/

Emerging Polish based designer Anniss to make London Fashion Week Debut

Finalist of the Griffin Fashion Show Pret-a-Porter category, Anna Grabowska, former student of the University of Krakow in Poland and University of Wolverhampton in England, launched her label Anniss in June 2010. Her first womenswear collection entitled 'ENTREE' received a phenomenal response which led to her being a Semi-Finalist at the OFF Fashion Show in her hometown.

Anniss’ influence of arts is instantly identifiable in the avant-garde approach designer, Anna, carries out throughout the collection as she ‘reinvents classical designs.’

Attracting fashion press and buyers alike, Anna Grabowska will be presenting her reconstructed classic design pieces from her Anniss label at the “A La Mode” Catwalk show hosted by LGN Events on Friday 16th September 2011.

For more information on Anniss visit http://www.anniss.eu/

Press and Buyers wishing to attend should contact

joy@lagenevenorth.co.uk

W: www.lgn-events.co.uk

Festival Fashion Fix

 The ultimate festival fashionista of course will know to rock denim. Denim has become more reachable than ever! High street stores are filled with amazing denim jackets, shirts, shorts and skirts and of course jeans. Be sure not to overdo the denim; complement it with a  ditsy floral top or loud colored, printed t-shirts, keep the look effortless. Festival fashion speaks play suits and maxi dress galore! Though remember to keep it comfortable and convenient. 

Floral Dungarees from Boohoo.com

With the Glastonbury festival just finished we thought we should have the best festival trends covered! The all important festival look regards much attention as it is sure to set the trends of Summer 2011. So what are the hottest and most anticipated trends that hit the muddy crowds of Glastonbury and other festivals to follow? 

Faded Denim Short from www.hoyboutique.uk

Finally give your outfit some texture and keep it fun! Fringes shout out festive fever, find them on bags, boots, vests and jackets. Never forget the festival must haves, shades, wellies and a cute trilby hat! 

Fringed T-Shirt www.rokit.co.uk

Finally, to flatter the hottest trends add a bit of your own style and flare. The most credible thing about the fashion you see at festivals is the versatility amongst the crowds and who knows the fashion must haves for next summer may just have originated from your very own festival look!

Pink Hunter Wellington Boots www.spoiledbrat.co.uk