Designer Profile – Juno Says Hello

A Perfectly Presentable Vintage Brand

Good afternoon PPRs! Time for the second instalment of our fabulous designers that were shown in our Cheltenham Fashion Week ‘For One Night Only’ couture show. Again this brand was chosen by the wonderful Sarah-Hayley Owen and each piece handpicked by her fabulous self. She most definitely did us proud!

Today I will be focusing on Juno Says Hello. Not strictly speaking a designer but a brand specialising in luxury vintage dresses from all over the world. Juno Says Hello focuses on helping customers find that certain something that is extra special and unique. They say of themselves that their ideal client is a woman with a love for vintage, from all walks of life and aged between 20-60.

Their London studio, situated in King’s Cross, houses all of their fabulous finds for you to browse at your pleasure. The brand prides itself on excellent customer service and an eye for detail so if you’re looking for a beautifully vintage outfit for a special occasion I can whole-heartedly say that the ladies at Juno Says Hello know what they’re talking about. In fact, last year they sold a variety of outfits that were adorning guests at the Royal Wedding.

 Prices start from as little as £75 and their website is home to endless possibilities that are neatly split up into a number of categories from 70s Glam to Mad Men-Inspired looks making navigation of this site a dream come true.

 

70s Glam and Mad Men Inspired

If you too have a penchant for Vintage, then this is a brand I would most definitely recommend. We at CFW featured six stunning dresses from a 70s slinky sequined maxi with long, sheer sleeves to a midnight blue taffeta 40s inspired gown with a diamante brooch and pleated neckline.

    

For more inspiration, visit the Juno Says Hello website and click on the ‘dress of the week’ link, the Juno Says Hello Blog or even just peruse through the gallery. I promise you will not regret it.

That's all for today!

x RT @ PP x

Designer Profile - Yan To

A perfectly presentable couture designer that’s worth talking about!

Good Afternoon PPRs! So as I said yesterday I am going to be writing my next few posts on the designers that took part in our Cheltenham Fashion Week For One Night Only couture show, which was brilliant thought-up and put together by the marvellous Sarah-Hayley Owen. Fashion journalist and editorial stylist, Sarah-Hayley joined CFW over a year ago to act as fashion consultant and stylist and she single-handedly researched and approached every designer that exhibited at our couture show. It is thanks to her that it was such a brilliant success.

So without further ado I introduce our first designer Yan To.

Yan To AW12 pieces chosen by  Sarah-Hayley Owen, that were exhibited in our For One Night Only couture show.

Famous for never before seen work with elastics, his body con dresses have become the hottest new dress to be seen in with one well-known fashion expert even letting slip that they believed Yan creates body-con dresses that are better than those by the one and only bandage dresses by Herve Leger. Praise indeed for a guy that after 20 years in the advertising industry decided to follow his heart and pursue a career in design.

Self-taught, Yan understands how to dress a woman. He focuses 100% on how to create beautifully crafted pieces that focus completely upon making his clients look and feel their sexiest. Yan not only uses fine fabrics but also eco-friendly materials, conscientiousness not usually found in a couturier. Something else not usually found in a couturier is the notion to stray from the accepted ideal of beauty; very tall, very thin and very pale, however Yan claims to have designed a technique of creating clothes that actually look better on larger ladies-not only hugging the contours and curves of a their body but actually enhancing them.

Usually dark and delectable, the AW12 collection form Yan is all about black. Sexy and sophisticated black to really accentuate curves and create a timeless piece that will be worn for years. SS13 still features the signature black palate but includes a bright electric blue in the forms of dresses and skirts, Yan also incorporates nude into his designs yet again achieving a sophisticated but oh-so-sexy look.

 

Showing at CFW’s For One Night Only show was something of a homecoming for Yan; born in Hong Kong the designer moved to the UK at a very early age. Growing up in Glasgow Yan moved to Cheltenham for a period before settling in London and whilst here he was none other than General advertising Manager at the Gloucestershire Echo! Personally, I feel very proud that a fellow Cheltonian has achieved so much and exhibits such raw talent and passion.

I can’t wait for the day we see Yan To gracing the cover of Vogue. What about you?

Which are your favourite Yan To designs?

What do you think about the dress that looks better on those curvaceous ladies among us?

I want to hear your comments below!!

x RT @ PP x 

How to Create the Perfect Capsule Wardrobe-Menswear

Hey PPRs!! So sorry I haven't written in so long but we had an absolutely crazy week with CFW last week and this weekend I spent in an extremely deep state of slumber getting my brain back in gear! I can't complain too much though as our (extremely) hard work paid off-Elizabeth Hurley, Shane Warne and Van Morrison amongst many other turned out for our VIP event last Thursday to make it not only a couture show to die for, but a star-studded extravaganza! Keep your eyes peeled for up-coming posts on all of our couture designers that featured in our VIP Show, including Nina Naudstal, Joanna Almagro, Jexica, Hemyca, Juno Says Hello and Yan To.

I now have a million and one things to catch up on this week and so I'm doing a quick menswear post today on How to Create the Perfect Capsule Wardrobe. Ideal for the change from SS12 to AW12 and perfect timing to see what is showing at the big four; New York, London, Milan and Paris fashion weeks! As those style savvy amongst us may be able to make some very economical buys now that will see them all the way through to SS13!

Finding a Casual Wardrobe

Often it can be quite tricky for a man to put together a casual wardrobe, work is fine as you will have a uniform, a suit, guidelines and restrictions to follow; but there is no such luck in the world of casual wear. Having a never-ending choice means that most will impulsively grab the first T-Shirt they think will match a pair of jeans at home. But is this really the best way to shop?! Sure you have that T-Shirt to wear for now, but really think about it-what else will this T-Shirt go with? Is it a passing trend that in six months’ time will be forgotten about and maybe even regretted? And sure it may look OK with that pair of jeans, but don’t you want something that not only looks ridiculously good with those jeans, but also with that pair of chinos in your closet, that cardigan you bought last year, your favourite shorts you wear every summer? Now that is an investment piece. Something you can wear in a variety of ways so that each and every time you do it looks different, creating the illusion of an endless supply of high-quality classic pieces without having the need to buy another wardrobe. This is what you need to think about the next time you go shopping, a little bit of preparation time will pay off drastically, saving you time and effort when you are trying to choose any outfit in the future, no longer will you suffer from the dread of having nothing to wear as everything you own will match everything else. Never again will you throw on any old shirt and trousers, catch a glimpse of your reflection in a shop window and to your horror realise that what you thought was the shabby chic look, in fact is just the shabby look.

Key Pieces for a Capsule Wardrobe.

Firstly start with a good quality pair of jeans. There are so many styles to choose from now that it really is personal preference on what you like; skinny, straight leg classic. Just make sure that you get them in the correct waist size and leg length as a poorly fitting pair of jeans is a big faux pas. You should have at least two pairs of different colours; indigo, grey and worn-black are very popular this season.

Next invest in a really well fitting pair of chinos. The coloured trouser trend we have been seeing for the past few seasons is still as prominent this AW12 so any colour that takes your fancy to brighten up those dreary grey Autumn will no doubt be bang on trend. The main colours that I will be buying into this AW12 will be blues and oranges in particular but any warm shade is certain to keep you way ahead in the style stakes. They are also perfect to match with almost anything you have in your wardrobe already as they sit very nicely with most colours.

Now for the torso, get yourself a set of high-quality T-Shirts-round neck, v-neck, polo neck; it’s up to you but make sure they’re plain tops without a pattern and that they are the correct fit. Definitely invest in a white and black and then any other colours that suit your skin tone. Invest in some good quality shirts too; plaid, striped and plain-again in black and white or colours that suit your skin tone.

As we are now in September, the months are set to get ever colder so of course it would be sensible to also decide upon a couple of chunky knit sweaters and/or cardigans. Keep one in a neutral tone and the other you can experiment with in a bright colour or complex pattern. For a smarter occasion a fine knit sweater may look better over a shirt or polo.

Once you have these key pieces to achieve a real wardrobe for everyday life you can then think about buying more intricate pieces and accessories in funkier styles and patterns. Just remember to keep them in neutral tones and really think about what you already have before buying to ensure that you will always have something to match them.

 

Cheltenham Fashion Week

Hey PPRs! 

So CFW kicked off in style today with our fabulous beginners eBay workshop by the wonderful Johnathan Pollinger which taught those of us who have always wanted to use eBay to buy and sell clothes but never had the time (or effort) to learn! This session went through the eBay basics to get you started. The follow up 'Advanced eBay Workshop is scheduled for Wednesday to top up your skills...tickets available at  CFW online.

The other wonderful event that took place today was Tracy Connop's 'The World That is White and Ivory' talk. Tracy, a fabulous bridalwear designer (voted Brides Magazine ‘Designer of the Year’) invited guests to hear her speak about ‘the world that is white or ivory’. What is it that attracts us to ‘the world of white’? The dream of being a princess all over again? With over 20 years experience within the bridal wear industry, Tracy featured alongside Vera Wang in the book ‘ Shopaholic ties the Knot’ by Sophie Kinsella!

So proud of all of the CFW team for all of their hard work and it's all paying off brilliantly! Our hard work is paying off and if today is anything to go by then I can't wait for the rest of the week! Plus our fabulous CFW tote bags arrived today-I am most definitley not leaving the house without it from now on! Want one...? They'll be on sale at Boutique 24 this Thursday at the gorgeous Cowley Manor!

Just having a glass of vino with the wonderful director Sam Bawden whilst answering emails and keeping all of you wonderful people updated on the week so far!

Night, night everyone...join us tomorrow as we are thrilled to present our Student Catwalk Show, showcasing a myriad of styles, from children as young as 7 up to Graduates from Cheltenham and the surrounding areas.With the support of George Davies, the style visionary who founded Next, George at Asda and Per Una at Marks and Spencer, the Student Show will give you an exclusive glimpse into the future generation of art, creativity and design and offers some mouth-wateringly good prizes including a whopping £1000 for each winning categories school!

Cheltenham Fashion Week

Hey my fabulous PPRs! So sorry for the lack of communication! I am absolutely manic working for Cheltenham Fashion Week: organising, promoting, planning! It's all going incredibly well and will be a week to remember! So if you consider yourself a fashion lover, follower or admirer then this is most definitely the place to be from the 17th-21st September!

Unfortunately whilst working I will not be able to write any more posts until this week is over and my real (and slightly more boring) life continues! Don't worry I'll find other things to fill my time and keep you all entertained! 

I have a few things in the pipeline! 

Love, love,

x RT @ PP x

AW12 Trends-Finding the Perfect Occasion Dresses

Perfectly Presentable Dresses

Good Afternoon PPRs! What a gorgeous day it is here in the Herefordshire countryside! It's so sunny and warm and as such I will be going out for cocktails tonight which has inspired me to write a piece on the best dresses to wear for a night out with the girls, to a wedding or even on a date.

Special occasions range anywhere from a friends birthday party to a day at the races and finding the perfect outfit for each of them can be some mean feat. If you're on a date you want to look sexy but chic, at a wedding you want to look stunning without upstaging the bride and on a night out with the girls you want to know that you won't be upstaged by everyone else! There's a lot to think about and so I have come up with a list of my favourite and what occasion I think they'll work best for.

1. The Amity Fuschia Curved Shift Dress from Reiss. £169. I think this dress is ideal for a night out with the girls. The colour is fabulous and fun, which will definitely fit in with the theme of a girls night out! It's dressy but there's not too much skin show and the shift style gives it that chic structured look.

2. You could take a leaf out of the absolutely stunning Kate Beckinsale's books and go for a show stopping fluorescent yellow number like this Preen Resort 2013 number. If you can't afford this version I've found an incredible alternative from Cos at just 79 Euros the sleeveless A-line dress is made from lightweight chiffon with a metallic mesh skirt overlay. I think this would be super sexy for a first date as it most definitely has the WOW factor that you're looking for, plus the A-line skirt is very flattering.

3. Matthew Williamson Embellished Cut-Out Wool Crepe Dress £925. I know this dress is really expensive but the quality and craftsmanship is second-to-none. Matthew Williamson has for a long time, been one of my favourite designers, I love the bright colours, the complex patterns and the gorgeous womanly silhouettes he produces. This dress is no exception! The turquoise colour  will brighten any mood and the lavish embellishment that Matthew Williamson's is so well known for makes for an instant hit at any wedding you have coming up. Can't afford this dress...I suggest buying a shift dress in a fabulously bright neon colour and adding a statement necklace, like this one from Topshop for £30.

4. The Bella Bodycon Dress by Whistles £135. I love the ruching on this dress and the gorgeous dark green colour. This will suit a variety of skin tones and can be worn with a number of different accessories from gunmetal grey to silver to bright. This dress is fabulously versatile and would be perfect for going to a birthday party or work night out.

5. Mango Lace Panel Maxi Dress With Belt. £114.99. I love the intricate lace side panels on this dress and the black belt to give you a wonderfully curvy silhouette. Style with black pumps and a black fascinator for a really chic outfit for the races.

That's all for today folks!

Have a fab evening!

Love, love,

x RT @ PP x

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Launches Lingerie Line

Perfectly Presentable Panties

Hey PPRs! Having a very hectic week at Cheltenham Fashion Week! It’s getting close and all the organisation and planning is getting pretty manic! It’s all coming together very nicely though! The shows are looking incredible. I’ve also had my first article published as an intern at Suave Lifestyles magazine! Yay! Things are going pretty well now, I’m just so busy all of the time!

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Breaking News!!

I’m just writing a quick post today on one of my favourite models and business woman of the time-Rosie Huntington-Whiteley! Not only is she incredibly gorgeous with a body to die for, she is fabulously home-grown in Devon and most definitely has her head screwed on. The Victoria’s Secret Angel admitted whilst at her underwear launch today at M&S’ Marble Arch flagship store that she always longed to be a designer and that she was sucked into the whirlwind modelling world in order to gain experience in the fashion world. 

Looking gorgeously sexy in a black peplum dress with leather panelling (by none other than M&S’ Autograph line), Rosie debuted her first collection for Autograph, which hit the stores and the ecommerce world today. The range features luxurious silky sets in natural hues and floral prints covering French knickers, thongs and bras as well as a teddy and camisoles, it’s fabulously sensual and I’m guessing not going to last long on the shelves!

Rosie can be seen modelling the range, which is heavily designed with influences from the twenties (think art deco inspired embroidery and the rich uber-luxe silks), in her campaign that’s been plastered all over the media for the past couple of weeks. All I have to say is...if they make me look as good as RHW, then I’ll have one of everything!

 Love, love,

x RT @ PP x

AW12 Beauty Trends

Perfectly Presentable Beauty Tips

Hey there PPRs! How was your bank holiday weekend?! I took a good three days off and have been relaxing at home (and writing my first to articles for Suave Lifestyles Magazine) so I haven't written in a few days, but I'm back with a vengeance and I thought that today I would focus not on fashion, but on some of the key beauty trends around for AW12.

Autumn is almost upon us and as everyone knows, those style savvy ladies amongst us will all be fiercely researching the key trends to spruce up your wardrobes by buying those oh-so now AW12 pieces. But, don’t forget a new season also brings hot, new beauty trends too! There has been an array of gorgeous looks on the catwalks this season from acid brights to dark and delicious to au naturale.

It was big news for SS12 and it’s sticking around for Autumn Winter - flawless, beautiful, natural skin is big news this season. Fresh-faced and soft at Balmain, this look uses pale peach blusher and keeps eye make-up understated or even non-existent, it is pretty and feminine and a perfect accompaniment to the embellishment fashion trend.

One trend that I am thoroughly enjoying this season is the bright eyed and bushy tailed look that is sure to bring a sunny spell to even the dreariest day. Keep colours autumnal by wearing oranges such as those seen at Thakoon, blues as showcased at Phillip Lim 3.1 and deep, rich, wine-tones seen at Gucci and Bottega Veneta. Either go for a pop of colour on the eyes or the lips, but not both.

There is also a heavily gothic feel with lashings of liner at Marc Jacobs and blacker than black eye shadow at Versace; think smoky eyes but with a bit more oomph! If you are feeling a little shy then try a black kohl liner on the top and bottom lid with a shimmering charcoal eye shadow. 

Also big is the Adele-esque feline flick that gave an elegant yet retro way to work the trend without going too dark and dangerous. This is a hard look to master, so take a look online for a variety of tutorials giving advice on how to properly produce this sixties inspired look!

And ladies, don’t forget about those brows. The statement brow has been around for the last couple of seasons and is not making an exit yet. Perfectly groomed and accentuated with pencil, take a trip to get yours threading and why not try HD brows done by all good salons, but this season match the colour to your hair, not a shade darker as seen previously.

As for what’s trending in the world of hair...a few of my favourites include the diagonal side parting, the low pony-tail and poker straight shiny locks. 

This is a brief overview as I'm no make-up artist but I hope this provides some tips and trends to try this season!

Enjoy your evening!

Love, love,

x RT @ PP x

AW12 Womens Fashion Trends

Perfectly Presentable Britain

Good afternoon my gorgeous PPRs! What a manic day I have been having! I must have written about 70 emails and made about 30 phone calls! But I'm taking a well deserved hour to write today's fashion blog post and relax! So, with London Fahion Week rapidly approaching and whilst I am currently working on Cheltenham Fashion Week, in whgich I have been scouring the UK to find retailers to exhibit at one of our extremely stylish and exclusive events Boutique 24 at Cowley Manor, I have been drawn in to the excellent standard at which Britain is at in the fashion industry.

I am also reminded of this fact this AW12 as one of the key trends for womens fashion is the British Heritage Look. Yes, that's right, us Brits are so high in the style stakes that we have our very own trend crafted after us this season! Maybe it has something to do with a certain sporting event staged by London this summer, or the fact that our Monarch was celebrating 60 years on the throne. Whatever it was though, it definitely made an impact! Here are my tips on what to buy, where to buy and how to wear the British Heritage Look for AW12.

     
Burberry AW12, McQ AW12 and Peregrine Clothing AW12

Think plaids, checks, tweeds and wool. Think rural life of the upper classes enjoying country pursuits such as shooting and hunting. Established British brands mastered this trend well, reworking classics from decades ago into quirky modern pieces in natural fabrics. Burberry springs immediately to mind. It was the number one most watched fashion house at LFW in February and I can certainly see why. Owl motifs on t-shirts and fox heads on bags and belts, AW12 really seems to be in tune with the British countryside.

  

Mulberry also have come up with some absolute corkers with their AW12 campaign (the one with the monsters and the beautiful Lindsey Wixson starring) being my the best I've seen in years! Think Where the Wild Things are meets Parisian Chic, making for a remarkable ready-to-wear collection that is full of natural fabrics, woolly scarves and furry, feathered gilets paired with exquisite tailoring and sublimely cut clothes. Sheer perfection. By far my favourite fashion season that Mulberry has ever done. 

And the bags are looking pretty incredible too, with those luxe fabrics and patterns and uber rich colours being present throughout the whole collection. They have definitely done Britain proud!

I've put together a few items that I am absolutely loving this season and how I would wear them. This is a casual look and I'd rock this whilst out shopping, going to lunch or hanging out with friends. 

Scarf-Alexander Mcqueen at Harvey Nichols £245.

Prince of Wales Check Straight Leg Trousers-Paul Smith £385

Hat-Whistles at ASOS £35

GILI Waffle Knit Jumper-Studio Nicholson at youngbritishdesigners.com Was £220, Now £80!

Sharky Chelsea Boots-Kurt Geiger Was £195, Now £99

For a smarter way to wear this, add a pair of heels and swap the kintwear for a silky blouse or top, then throw on a blazer on top. I would personally choose these three items and wear them with the trousers, hat and scarf from above!

Minerva Signature Boy Blazer-Studio Nicholson at youngbritishdesigners.com Was £350, Now £125

Eloise Off White Tie Front Blouse-Reiss £129

Sacred Velvet Bow Court Shoe-Topshop £65

I hope this provides some inspiration! There are many, many other brands and fashion houses rocking the British Heritage look this season so have a look out there for more ideas. Prada is particularly british this AW12 and they have some fabulous men's coats in natural fabrics with incredible fur lined collars. Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren are also championing British Heritage and there are some gorgeously chic looks that I'm definitely buying into! What do you think? Who are your favourites?

That's all for today though PPRs! Have an excellent evening and I will speak soon!

Love, love, 

x RT @ PP x

Leather for AW12

Perfectly Presentable Leather

Good afternoon PPRs! How are we all today? I have had a manic, but albeit wonderful day! I've managed to get 101 things done and I also got an internship at Suave Lifestyle as their fashion and style editorial writer! Yay! How exciting! So look at me go with my fashion blog here and my fashion blog there! Hopefully soon I will be the number one stop for all the information on key trends for AW12 and beyond! Look out Liberty London Girl (here's hoping!)!

In today's post I'm going to focus on leather as a trend for AW12. It has been seen all over the catwalks, womenswear and menswear alike, on jackets, bags, hats; you name it we've seen it! So I thought I would give you tips on how to wear this season's key trend as it features in the Goth Chic, Embellishment and Power Woman trends, and of course is always the uber luxe material of accessories design. YSL (pictured below) does it exquisitely this season and really is the top of the leather-loving, all-woman, super sexy game for AW12.

Who out of all of us owns a leather jacket? Hands up. Who out of all of us has thought about buying a leather jacket, ever? Hands up. Who has a pair of leather trousers? Hands up. And who doesn't own a pair of leather trousers because you're too scared you won't pull them off but you secretly lust after them? Hands up. I expect that the majority of people reading this post will be sitting with their hands up right about now. I know I am! We fell in love with leather seasons and seasons ago, the leather jacket being the primary item to hook us into this luxurious and extravagant fabric. Then in 2010 along came leather in a whole new way, dresses, skirts, trousers (that actually looked incredible on, not like you were about to round up a herd of cattle or go to work on a street corner, if you know what I mean?!) and once again, it's back for AW12.

I'm sure we all wish we could look as gorgeous as Alice Dellal in leather! 

(Jacket by Valentino, Trousers by Burberry; photograph from The Telegraph)

We have all seen that the Neo-Goth trend is taking the fashion world by storm this AW12. Think black, black than black, team it with lace and velvet and above all, leather. It doesn't matter how but just work it in there any way you can. I love this Zara leather peplum jacket, it will instantly give you a super on-trend look and is so easy to throw on over any outfit. If there's one thing I will be buying this AW12 it will be this!

Another prime example of the trend is Stuart Vevers at Loewe. He worked leather in any which way he could to the beaustiful AW12 collection. The entirety of which was black (except one pop of pink in a rather divine oversized gilet) and leather featured heavily. Here's the hat I mentioned earlier! Plus the leather detail on the lapel contrasting with the fur jacket in the second picture is a dream for the senses. This collection was very grown-up with an understated edginess provided by the use of leather, either in whole pieces or inserts to set off another material. Either way I like what I see.

If black is not really your colour, never fear! It's not just the Neo-Goths that can wear leather. It's so big this season that designers are using it in a variety of colours and tones. Haider Ackermann, (one of my favourite designers on the planet!) famous for his love of rich colours, leather and draping has a plethora of designs to take inspiration from. I love this Square Collar Leather Trench Jacket in Chocolate. It oozes sophistication and elegance whilst also providing that layered look that is so big for AW12.

Just remember to keep the tones rich and warm when wearing coloured leather for AW12. Keep it classic and you'll be able to wear it for years!

Now for the fella's. As I mentioned in my menswear special leather is big for guys this season. The big four (London, New York, Paris and Milan) were full to the brim with leather looks, from entire three piece suits at Jil Sander (pictured below) to a flash of leather on a lapel, the stuff really was everywhere. I personally am not a fan of too much leather on a man, but it's amazing to see the craftsmanship that these designers  it to their creations. All I will say is that if you want to rock the head to toe leather look, just make it designer or there will be bulges where you don't want bulges, creases where you don't want creases and I'm guessing a horrible itching and chaffing feeling at some rather inappropriate times!

The leather looks for guys that I am buying into are the leather lapels on suits (see YSL below), which is so, so sexy, and the leather jacket. But choose wisely, Look to the experts at Burberry Prorsum (pictured below) as there's something about an ill fitting leather jacket that no matter how hard you try, you just look like something out of Grease.

So my PPRs! That's it for today! I hope you like the post as much as I'm liking leather this season! And I hope I've provided some good inspiration for you all on how to wear leather for AW12.

Love, love,

x RT @ PP x

Here are a couple of my favourite high street finds to send you off with!

All Saints Leather Biker Pencil Skirt £175

Reiss 'Becky' Leather Jacket £350

BCBG Leather Insert Leggings £138

H&M Leather Peplum Top £39.99

Perfectly Presentable Designer Profile-Eudon Choi

Good afternoon PPRS! I'm really getting into all the hype about AW12 now! With London Fashion Weeks just around the corner I have been enthralled by British Designers, young, old, quirky, cool, I can't get enough of them and with the news that Selfridges will be stocking his AW12 collection from Friday 24th August, (yes THIS Friday!) the man of the hour has to be Eudon Choi. 

This fabulous young designer, born and raised in Korea where his focus was predominantly on menswear, then accepted a place at The Royal College of Art in London on their coveted fashion MA programme, Choi spread his wings and began designing  brilliantly structured and fitted womenswear. Choi's graduate pieces caught the eye of of Sienna Miller, amongst others, landing a job as senior designer at Twenty8Twelve until 2009 when Choi left to create his own label. And boy are we glad he did! His masculine tailoring and clean lines create a an edgy but beautifully sophisticated look that was the talk of London Fashion Week in February, where his SS12 collection debuted. There was a definite air of retro sports-luxe and to this day I do not know how but Choi manages to pull of both beautiful tailoring and relaxed sportiness in one collection, whilst still keeping that exclusive, expensive, luxury look. No diffusion line required.

Choi says of his designs 'I take the practicality and strong silhouette of the menswear element but then rework it for a woman.' I think this works beautifully. Androgny has been big for the last few seasons and it is not going anywhere for AW12, there's something oh so sexy about power and the strong tailoring that Choi offers accentuates this in every way. The added leather detailing that Choi has also become renowned for oozes sex appeal and stimulates the senses.

'Terra Nova' is the name of the AW12 collection and it has been designed with cold, cold winters in mind. A neutral colour scheme is broken up with flashes of tantalising turquoise and elegant embellishment; fur lined parkas and bonnets dominated, teamed with the trademark tailoring from split pencil skirts to tapered trousers with a few peplums thrown in for good measure. The sporty look that was present in SS12 hasn't been lost either, but it is less prominent. 

It was this beautiful collection that caught the eye of Gary Edgley, Selfridges Buying Manager, who had nothing but compliments for the Korean designer's use of 'great shapes' in his pieces, said 'It's great to be able to introduce such a dynamic emerging designer to our offering.'  Choi's use of luxurious fabrics and enviable ability to modernise classics whilst still keeping them classic has attracted a huge following in both the celebrity and fashion world, boasting fans such as Jade Jagger and Lucinda Chambers. Not only does he have the celebrity following but he also has a string of awards under his belt, such as the Vauxhall Fashion Scout's Merit Award at LFW 2010, the Lycra Style Emerging Talent Award at the WGSN Global Fashion Awards 2011 and the BFC Elle Talent Launch Pad, in which his mentor said of him 'I have huge admiration for the way he handles cut and fabric and ultimately makes the wearer feel-very quietly-like the chicest lady in the room.'

Praise indeed for a designer who only started his own line three years ago.

So, that's all for today folks! I hope you've enjoyed this and it's given you a burning desire to check out more of our budding talent in the run up to LFW 2012. I know I cannot wait for it!

Speak tomorrow!

Love, love,

x RT @ PP x