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