Giles Deacon Menswear Collection at New Look

Giles Deacon's Gold collection for women was a huge success in New Look when it launched. Now he's paving the way for Designer capsule collections for men on the High Street with 'Giles'.

The collection includes the likes of lumberjack shirts, a canvas satchel, polo shirts and baggy jeans. I will need to pop into Glasgow's New Look next time I'm about to get a proper look and see . 

Sad Christmas for the High Street

There's an interesting article on msn at the moment about the effects of the current economic climate on retailers. It mainly discusses the price wars between supermarkets but also mentions the current need for high street shoppers seeking bargains and deals. 

This is so evident in every shop window on every high street or mall nationwide and coming from a retailers perspective also, I know that we are trying everything to meet targets. 

Even the UK's biggest retailer, Marks & Spencer have reacted with one-day special 20% off day events. Executive Chairman of M&S Stuart Rose has said he is taking a "glass half-full" attitude to the struggling M&S sales from recent months. The one-day spectacular was a huge success according to Rose.

During the summer I was lucky to do a work placement within one of the Marks and Spencer Head Office buying teams and was privileged enough to sit in on an employee talk with Stuart Rose where he discussed the up-coming struggle ahead and dismissed the rumours of a take-over. I came away thinking he was one of the most charismatic people I'd ever came across and a very inspiring man to work for so I think if anyone is going to get the brand through a tough, competitive period, he is the man to do it.  

(On a further note, how good is the latest Christmas campaign advert featuring the nations favourites, Take That!?)

Tim Walker 'Pictures'

This quote from The Design Museum's website describes Tim Walkers work so much more eloquently than I ever could. I was given his book 'Pictures' recently as a gift. The images are breathtaking and I have admired his work in British Vogue for the last few years but it wasn't until I flicked through my cousin's (a fabulously talented designer for John Lewis) book that I fell in love with them. Here are a few of his well-loved photographs.

New Diesel campaign

OK so I was never really a fan of the Italian brand Diesel's clothes before but I have to admit that they have a way with advertising. I particularly have loved their 'Fuel for life' perfume and aftershave tv advertisements and bottle designs.

Here is the new provocative Diesel Spring Shoe campaign that seems to suggest a seedy foot fetish. The good thing about it is that it features the gorgeous model Jon Kortajenera who doesn't appear to be able to put a foot wrong at the moment. (No pun intended).

Creative Director William Das has decided to address the hype around the images which have caused a bit of a stir:

"There are no messages, themes or commentary to understand. Our objective is to intrigue and provoke a thought."

Buying gifts for different shapes.

I do not pretend to be an expert in gift buying but recently quite a few people have come to me for help and advice in clothes and jewellery buying. It feels really good to know that people value my opinions and I tend to really consider body shape & colouring as well as of course the person's taste. I better not show any examples as 1. It's not Christmas yet and 2. It might not be fair on those who asked for my help. 

Recently I was looking at the very basic but brilliant Gok Wan 'Body Shape Guide' on the Dorothy Perkins website. It was very clever of DP's to jump on the fact that their target consumers are all of extreme sizes, ages and shapes and they are probably more aware of the need to dress to suit them rather than wear something straight off the catwalk meant for people of model proportions only. 

Have a look at the guide. I'd say I'm a 'Curvy Queen' in that my hips and bust are more or less the same and my waist much smaller. As you can see Gok also has a way of trying to make even 'flaws' sound amazing.

Michelle Obama - spoiled for choice.

The President-elect Obama's Inaugural day is in the not too distant future (January 20th) and it seems that Fashion Designers are clambering over themselves to dress the stylish and chic Michelle Obama (& children) for the day and evening events.

On WWD.com you can see drawing after drawing of proposed dress designs for Mrs Obama and they are all absolutely gorgeous. Here are a few fashion illustrations from just a handful of the most sought-after designers hoping for a chance to be a part of American History.

Oscar de la Renta

Marc Jacobs

Christian Lacroix

Diane von Furstenburg

Chanel

Chanel Pre-Fall '09 - Paris to Moscow

OK so most of us are still trying to get our Winter wardrobes right but if you are a major fashion house, there's no time to wait about. Chanel has just presented its pre-Fall '09 collection inspired by Russia, called 'Paris to Moscow'. As you can see, even the graphics and setting were very Russian.

Karl Lagerfeld also debuted a taster of his his silent movie dedicated to Coco.

Although of course held in Paris, the gorgeous couture collection featured Russian military jackets, fur hats, coats and boots and Russian doll style embossed hand muff. It was particularly exciting to see such an injection of colour to the usually monochrome classic Chanel style. The burnt orange/red colours add to the luxurious feel of the collection which is at the same time, all very wearable. Beautiful.

'The King and I' Costumes

I have recently joined a local Operatic society with 2 of my friends because I love to sing and be involved in productions. We will be professionally performing 'The King and I' in March. I have taken some screenshots from the movie. This is a gorgeous scene where the King of Siam's slaves put on a show for the visiting British.


On Thursday we were all measured up so that we could have our costumes made to fit. I am extremely excited about this. Most of the time we will be dressed in Siamese traditional dress with gorgeous exotic colours and detailing. But there is also a scene where myself and others have to dress in mid 19th century Western dress. I love that the Siamese women in the film initially think that Western women's bodies are shaped the way their crinoline dresses suggested.

I watched the film the other day and I really hope the costumes are similar to these. I can't wait to wear a crinoline dress like this! I'm also hoping there might be some way of me being able to get involved in the costume making process but we shall see. 

Arrival of my Topshop dress

My dress arrived yesterday just in time for a night out in Glasgow with friends! Unfortunately it was not so nice on - it was like a jersey t-shirt dress that clung to all the wrong bits. Needless to say I am not uploading a picture of me wearing it and will be returning it asap. I'm really disappointed. I ended up wearing a pink dress that I've worn loads and it burst most likely due to some wild dancing moves.

All Saints Spitalfields

The cult British fashion brand All Saints has some amazing clothes but the thing that I really love about them is their branding and shopfits. It completely compliments and reinforces the values of the product.

In some of their stores, (such as one of my local Glasgow stores above) hanging cruciforms are lit up acting as a rock'n'roll centerpiece reflecting the edgie, grunge fashion on their scaffolding fixtures. During the Summer I visited the flagship store in Spitalfields - round the corner from Spitalfields market in the now trendy part of East London. I instantly recognised the open-plan converted loft type space; exposed brickwork and aged wood flooring. But the displays were a lot more exciting and inventive than I had seen in Glasgow, with butcher meat hooks and industrial sized hanging items and mannequins from the ceiling as well as distressed 'vintage' style pieces spread out throughout the shop.

Although quite expensive (All Saints say their clothes are High Fashion at an affordable price), traditional artisan techniques are still used to make their unique clothes. At the moment I just admire but when I have a bit more money I shall be a regular shopper.

Another downside is that although their flash website is gorgeously designed to reflect the brand and its customers, it's not the best to navigate through. In doing this, I couldn't find any information about their ethics and history or any pictures of their stores on the site. They possibly need to work on getting this up to the same standard as their fashion and shop interiors.