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Collectif Autumn Winter 23 Preview
It’s been a joy to get back down to the Big Smoke and see the folks at Collectif again after such a long time. Although we’ve just started Spring/Summer 2023 and we’re being teased with goodies from that collection every week which I can’t wait to get my hands on, I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of some of the new season stock for Autumn/Winter 2023. It will be influenced more by the 1940s instead of the usual 1950s inspiration, but I know a lot of people will be really happy with the increase in 40s items coming to the brand. There will still be some 50s though, so don’t be disheartened if that’s your thing!
So as it’s still pretty chilly here in Old Blighty, let’s have a little sneaky peek at what’s to come later on in the year. I’ll begin with an old favourite which has had a revamp…..the Alexandria!
This 40s inspired shirt dress has had a few reincarnations over the years but is always a firm staple. It’s returning in burgundy with the trademark pin tuck details to the front and shoulders with classic elbow length sleeves, but the skirt is now much less full and hangs beautifully, making it a really versatile piece for every day wear for a modern vintage look. It also has pockets! Pop a little cardi or jacket over the top and you’re good to go.
I also really liked these 1940’s style corduroy trousers with their cute button details on the front and wide, winged, pockets.
They’re wide legged and fasten with a side zip. So comfortable and easy to wear with knitted tops for the weekend or with a blouse for work.
And for those infatuated with 50s vibes and a cute novelty print, I believe the Wild Berry Fields print is coming back in the form of a swing Caterina for AW23!
This woodland design is so sweet and everyone loves a swing Caterina – what’s not to love about a shirt style dress in an autumnal print when the season starts to shift to brown and orange tones.
Also on the mid century scale is the Eloise Acres Check pinafore dress which features a fabulous bib top, full swing skirt and has pockets!
I just love the moss green colour of this check and the buttons go really well with it.
A new design for next season will be the Penelope Wallflower dress.
Delicate peach and cream flowers bud from this pretty green dress and features a shawl collar and sleeves with turned up cuffs. It’s a swing style and has a matching belt which isn’t captured in the photo.
Another new style coming later in the year will be the Diva dress.
Such a great evening piece to attend your autumn/winter events in. The drape is delicious and falls so elegantly. The velvet is different to those previously used and a little lighter for this slinky number which is perfect for this style of dress enabling it to fall effortlessly. There’s a deep v shape to the front and beautiful shoulder details with fixed ties that fall either side and accentuate the freedom of movement that the dress has. I can’t wait to swish about in this one!
I also saw some previews of what’s to come for Spring/Summer 23 and we are in for a treat! I can’t wait for them to launch and for the better weather to be here so we can all prance about in our pretty Collectif prints during Summer before diving into this amazing Autumn/Winter selection! Great things ahead!
I hope you’ve enjoyed having a little look at what’s to come and let me know which are your favourites! x
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[London Edge Feb 2020 Part 7] Bright & Beautiful, Lulu Hun and Collectif Menswear AW20
In our final instalment of the Autumn/Winter 2020 previews, we’re starting with the awesome new collection from Collectif Menswear.
As well as the amazing Jonathan jacket pictured above (seriously, how cool is that?!), there were some great chunky knits, guaranteed to keep your other half warm (or for yourself as I’ve often said before!).
I love a good moss stitch pattern and this bright yellow cardigan has bags of true vintage style with a modern flair, brightening up even the darkest of wintry days.
I will always be a sucker for an atomic print, so this knitted top also caught my eye:
The starbursts are everything! For a more casual look there are plenty of polo tops too:
As with previous seasons, there will also be a range of novelty prints which are going to be very popular (no previews of those though to keep you in suspense!).
Next we have Bright & Beautiful, which takes its inspiration from the 60’s and 70’s. Adding a contemporary twist to their vintage styling, there are often pieces which crossover from the past and look on trend for the modern day. Like this cropped sequin jumper which will look great with some high waisted jeans or slacks:
The rainbow sequin detail is so pretty! Also this cute ladybird dress which is a classic 60’s mini shape in velvet, but sits a little longer than their daring lengths and has a fabulous gold print:
As with every Bright & Beautiful season, I’m always on the look out for the new Astrid, and this tweedy version didn’t disappoint!
Such a staple style to pair with brown boots for Autumn.
There was also this new trench coat style which has the best tartan detailing to the lining:
I love the turned up cuffs to reveal the tartan pattern. With a wide collar and double breast buttons, it oozes 70’s style but you could easily throw this over something more modern too.
Moving on to Lulu Hun and accessories now and the displays were fantastic as always. Here you can see the bags from the current collection:
Current season stock The leopard bag is particularly splendid, and there’s also a matching mirrored brooch which will be coming to the Collectif Accessories range:
The accessories line will also launch new Natalie necklaces (you know how much I love those), one of which is this superbly pumpkin inspired treat (no tricks):
Featured on the shoe display were these Spring/Summer prickly delights from Lulu Hun:
The cactus wedges and pumps are really fun, and I adore a tropical leaf print!
So what can we look forward to for Autumn from Lulu Hun? Firstly, the wonderful Mara is returning in two new shades:
I have these in black and red already from 2018:
They’re the perfect heel to be running around in and look so dainty with their velvet bow detail to the front, impeccably finishing off your vintage outfit. The plum and green versions will be brilliant additions.
The next stand out pair for me were these spectacular heels:
With faux fur all the way round, these platform heels are so cute and are like the shoe version of the Tatiana boot. I had to try them on to see how they looked of course!
Bit of a weird angle as I was doing a balancing act of holding everything in my hands and trying to point down to my feet, without dropping everything! but, you get the picture. They look super cute on and were a really cosy fit.
And now for the cream of the crop…..
There are no words. These cowboy boots are just magnificent (ok, there were some words). I’m hoping they’re faux leather so I can strut around in the blue and red pair, tip my hat at random people and say, ‘howdy partner’ as I pass by.
Finally the Autumn/Winter bags from Lulu Hun. My favourite picks were this black glitter satchel:
So practical but so fancy! And also this incredibly cute pink heart bag:
Isn’t it adorable?! And with all that love, it’s the perfect way to leave our jaunt around London Edge this year having viewed so many gorgeous things. I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing all the previews and do share with me which you liked most by popping a comment below x
Featured brands today can be found here:
Collectif Menswear
Bright & Beautiful
Collectif Accessories
Lulu Hun -
[London Edge Feb 2020 Part 6] Collectif Sneak Peek AW20
We are nearing the finale of our roundabout tour of London Edge this year and in this penultimate edition, we’ll be taking a glimpse at the upcoming Autumn/Winter collection from Collectif. For anyone that missed my highlights of the Summer launch, you can read about them here and check my latest reviews for SS20 lines which are currently out already.
Firstly, there are the beloved Caterinas, which we all love with their classic shirtwaister style. There will be plenty of glorious new updates to this design, but two gorgeous checks at the show were this one with it’s fabulously autumnal yellow and rusty hues:
The colours are so scrummy on this one And this one, which has a lovely red and black check on a cream background and gives me awesome lumberjack chic vibes:
Both with matching belts that have holes in, yay!
I also really liked this cute Mary Grace Swing dress which is an alternative shirt dress style:
This design first appeared as a dress last year (Meow print) and I’m so pleased to see it’s return with this sweet cherry pattern, neck tie and bold red buttons. It’s definitely on my list.
I don’t often go for suits, but this one really struck me. I just love the bold green check and the cut of the jacket:
Adorned with velvet buttons, you could either wear this with the matching items or as a single piece, which is how I think I’ll style it (with black trousers most likely). It’s so incredibly scrummy, I can’t wait for it to launch!
I thought this was the most perfect Autumnal outfit:
Next season’s Babette jumper will appear in a vivid orange and the border print skirt with orange falling leaves is a match made in heaven.
On to the Dolores, which is a super popular design, and this year will be arriving in a gorgeous purple check:
Seriously, how good is that print? 1 of each, please!
Now my ghouly gals, Collectif have you covered whether it’s just for the Halloween period or living spooky every day!
This Elvira style print with its fun Hocus Pocus design will send you batty, I’m sure!And the Peta dress returns in sumptuous velvet with the coolest spooky print in glitter.
There was also a range of Beetlejuice inspired designs at the show which were amazing, including this one:
This Eliana Pencil dress will be a sure hit – it’s insanely good. I need one.
Moving on to coats, we saw the return of the leopard lined Sheena and Hazel cape and coat in a deep wine colour this time:
There will also be a couple of new Pearl coats, one of which was in orange:
Ideal for popping over all those seasonally fabulous outfits!
Lastly, the sought-after Trixie for Autumn Winter period will include this dazzling green version:
It has an array of glittery stars, cascading over luscious velvet. Perfect for all your festive events and celebrations.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this sneaky peek of the exciting things coming to Collectif later in the year. Do you have any favourites so far?
To see what’s ahead for Bright & Beautiful, Lulu Hun and Collectif Menswear, stay tuned for the next (and final) instalment of the AW20 previews x
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[London Edge Feb 2020 Part 5] Voodoo Vixen, Hell Bunny & More!
As we take a little tour of the trade floor, I thought I’d show you some more highlights from the show. There were some great displays from so many brands and fab to see so many independent retailers exhibiting.
The featured photo above shows a stunning display by The Seamstress of Bloomsbury. They always have a wonderfully vintage stand combined with Classic Bags in Bloom, whose bags are hand finished in the UK and look absolutely adorable with their vintage styling.
Hell Bunny always have a great centre spot showcasing their existing and upcoming designs.
There were a few favourites I saw hitting the runway.
Hell Bunny Python Rose Dress Hell Bunny Viva Las Vegas Top and Skirt Hell Bunny Pina Colada Dress and Noa Noa Mid Dress I particularly like the tropical Tiki print of the Noa Noa dress above which is full of exotic birds, palm frongs and hibiscus flowers – the perfect summer print!
Hell Bunny also had a range of shoes on display and I’m a sucker for a polka dot peep toe, especially if it has a bow on it. LOVE.
Moving on to Voodoo Vixen with their exciting collaboration for Summer called Unreal Redheads (so I’m aptly drawn to it!). I really loved the cute designs and pastel shades of these two.
This is the Trixie Gingham dress and features a pastel rainbow gingham with love heart pockets and buttons – adorable!
The Hayley prom dress is a real head turner. I have a similar design which was hand made for me about 8 years ago as it’s such a classic vintage evening style and looks amazing on all shapes and sizes. Mine wasn’t resplendent in rainbow tulle though! I love it when straps sit delicately on the shoulders and the detailed pleating on the bust is fantastic.
Beautiful tulle pleats The Jinkx Floral Tropical Print dress also stood out for me with it’s gloriously leafy and floral design.
The sweetheart neckline combined with heart buttons and elasticated sides for a perfect fit make this a great choice for holiday season.
There were also some fun novelty bags from Voodoo Vixen – and I do love a novelty bag! I especially like the camera bags:
It was also exciting to see Daisy Dapper at London Edge which are based in Sweden. Their stand was filled with elegantly styled, vintage inspired, pieces and some were adorned with daisies!
Lastly for today, my favourite piece from Banned Retro, was this Summer Sail Dress with it’s sweet open collar and border print full of bright sailing boats:
I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour around London Edge, look out for the next instalment which will include Collectif Autumn/Winter 2020 range. Subscribe below to be notified when the post goes live x
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[London Edge Feb 2020 Part 4] Charlie Stone Shoes
In the fourth segment of my tour around this year’s London Edge, I was absolutely delighted to meet Samantha Capello of Charlie Stone Shoes. What a charming, elegant, lady with real passion for what she does – she very much personifies her brand, which offers beautiful vintage styling with the modern practicality of flat/low heel designs.
As someone that travels to events and then runs around them all day, I often wear something flat or low heeled for the journey, then swap to my heels once I’m there. I did this at London Edge as you can see from previous photos; I’m wearing a low heeled boot in one, (which I travelled in), and then my platform peep toes for the rest of the show. I would love to be able to wear just one pair all day but the trouble has always been finding something that’s still in keeping with the rest of my vintage styled outfit and comfortable enough to whizz from one end of the City to another. In warmer weather I usually resort to a modern ballet flat but they’re quite bland, offer little to zero support, and don’t add to the overal aesthetic I’m going for with my dresses.
Samantha has created a range of luxurious, handcrafted, shoes which have taken influences from the 1920’s to the 1950’s – they’re incredibly pretty but comfort is also key with their cushioned insoles and hidden arch support.
I’ve been a fan of the brand for a long time and adored their style but, as I’m vegan, the leather items weren’t an option for me. I was delighted to see a thoughtful selection of vegan products (I particularly love Roma and Firenze from the current collection), have been added to the upcoming season releases, using a high quality, breathable, microfibre PU, which I’m thrilled about.
These stunning rose gold and white, shell shaped, flats are called Moorea, both vegan and will be launching in April. I love the shape of these with their open toes, exuding elegance and so easy to wear with a dress on balmy summer nights or paired with capris and a light jacket for a day of exploring a Parisian city break.
I also noted they have the handy quick release buckles which I believe all collections will have going forward. They’re so much easier than having to do the buckle up each time, you just lift the strap into a hook and you’re done! I have a few shoes with this style already and they’re so much faster to put on and hold firmly in place without fuss.
Also new to the vegan range this year are these low t bar heels:
Modelling the black pair on the day, they looked great on Samantha and were clearly comfortable as she’d been on her feet all day by that point! They went really well with the dress Samantha was wearing and seemed to be a versatile shoe – something you could wear to the office or out for dinner.
The rose gold pair have the design detail of a Manhattan flat to the front, but with the addition of a small heel. They’re super sparkly and guaranteed to make your outfit shine! It felt like a really good quality glitter too, not the type which rubs off or leaves a trail everywhere you go, you can tell they’re exceptionally well made.
As well as the dazzling array of shoes, I spotted these glorious rattan bags which were launched at the start of the year.
Inspired by Grecian Summers, these sweet little bags are named Kythira and come in white (above) and natural (below) with gold fixings.
My favourite is the natural version as it sets off my Tiki inclinations. The dimensions are 20 x 13 x 6.5 cm, small enough to be demure, but big enough to hold a mobile phone, (which many vintage styled bags don’t consider), along with your other essentials. Unfortunately these have already sold out on the website (I’m not surprised as they’re undeniably a must have item) but hopefully stockists will have some incoming.
You can buy the full range directly from Charlie Stone via their website (do remember to factor in customs tax and duties when importing). It’s also important to note that they’ve taken the rather fabulous step of using only 100% compostable, plant based, mail bags for single item orders and use minimal tissue paper for packaging leading to much less waste. In a world of fast fashion, it’s so important for us to be consciously thinking about our own impact and it brings joy to my heart to see a company so proactive and innovative when it concerns our planet – we only have one and need to be kind to it.
You can also purchase Charlie Stone shoes here in the UK and EU from the following stockists:
These shops have a good selection to choose from, and some will be stocking the Summer lines, so I look forward to seeing the new styles grace their websites.
I hope you’ve enjoyed having a look at what’s to come for Charlie Stone, it was a real pleasure to chat to Samantha and learn more about her company and the exciting way it’s evolving.
The next edition of the London Edge highlights will be going live shortly, subscribe below to be notified x
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[London Edge Feb 2020 Part 3] Bow & Crossbones
I’d missed the fabulous Bow & Crossbones last time they exhibited at London Edge as I ran out of time, so I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice! Heading over to their stand, I was greeted with such a friendly welcome from Camilla and Taz. It’s so nice when people you only know via social media turn out to be as lovely in the flesh as they are online.
Bow & Crossbones make fakelite and 50’s inspired bangles, necklaces and earrings, but also sell true vintage, kitschy cool, items. I love Cam’s work and often wear her pieces which you’ll have seen in previous posts – in fact I was actually wearing some Bow & Crossbones when I met her! You know I love a good accessory.
Bangle stacking is easy with B&C! The Kane Wicker collection (which I’m wearing above in Coco and Black) is just unbelievably good, made better only by the fact that part of the new season pieces are two tone wickers! That’s right, you heard correctly, TWO-TONE!
Spot them on the second row up in all their funky glory I have no idea how it’s even possible, but it looks incredible. With earrings to match, these are so ridiculously cool. I think I may have let out an audible yelp when I first saw them. So they’re definitely on the list!
Offering us another sneak peek of what’s to come, these awesome octagonal bangles were showcased too, look at all the gorgeous carving:
I love shaped bangles but they never fit my teeny wrists, so when Cam said the new collections going forward will always be available in all 3 sizes (Princess, Queenie and Goddess), I was thrilled! Such great news, right?! whichever size you need, we’re all catered for.
There were lots of gorgeous earrings to look at too and I’d already spotted the Dot earrings which were released recently. They’re double hoops and super cute.
Dotty about these! Photo credit: Bow & Crossbones To my surprise, when I picked them up, they were so much lighter than I expected! No droopy lobes for us, ladies! I’m going to be bagging a few of those too.
Hope you’ve enjoyed a little preview of all the goodies coming this year from B&C, in the meantime there are so many pretties available on the website and make sure you drop by on Friday evenings for the market nights which are fab! x
Look out for Part 4 of my London Edge round up which will be coming soon. You can subscribe to the blog below which will notify you when it publishes to be a step ahead 🙂
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[London Edge Feb 2020 Part 2] Sheen Clothing
With a range of vintage and modern styles, I was delighted to meet the lovely team at Sheen on my visit to London Edge. I mentioned them on the blog at my last visit (see here) as I really liked the Helena dress which was showcased on the catwalk that day.
Helena Dress With it’s beautiful neckline, long sleeves and full skirt, this was a stand out winter dress for me. More recently, I fell in love with the aptly named Heart dress which is so insanely pretty, it truly captures hearts.
Photo Credit: Sheen Clothing This year, the stand was bursting with colour and unique prints, featuring their Spring/Summer looks.
So many styles! In every colour and print There is something for everyone, from fun and flirty playsuits to casual day dresses, all the way to evening wear. My favourites from the current line are these playsuits which have the sweetest details:
Arlene Playsuit Jana Playsuit The charming Summer prints, daisy buttons and lace detailing at the sweetheart neckline make these a perfect choice for lazy Summer days or exploring on your holidays. The Jana went down the runway and looked gorgeous. Just add a wide brimmed straw hat, sunglasses and some wedges and you’re set!
Jana Playsuit From the new collection, my favourite picks were from the Capsule Collection. These nautical fancies are just spectacular!
Ahoy there! Sailor Trousers Sailor Skirt I adore a novelty print and these cute little crabs on a blue and white stripe really make a statement. The waistbands with their double covered buttons are a really nice feature too. They’ll be available as cropped trousers or a swing skirt, both with pockets (yay!).
Then I spotted this dress and I couldn’t contain my excitement:
With a little nod to the super hero in all of us, this elegantly styled dress has beautiful detailing to the shoulders and neckline. And with a border of cheery crabs scuttling around the hem (I couldn’t fit it all on one photo sorry!), this fun design is bound to be a big hit.
You may also be able to pick these two out of the stand photos which I really liked:
Photo Credit: Sheen A casual shirt dress with a fun print is my ideal sunny shopping day attire. For cooler days I’d throw on a cardigan and tights with brown boots. This style of dress is very versatile so the Morgan Shirt Dress appealed to me.
Bette Dress Photo Credit: Sheen And then there’s Bette, with her fabulously bright toucan print, combining my favourite colours (turquoise and yellow). This halterneck pencil dress ties at the neck and features a sweetheart neckline wth bow tie to the front. It’s the perfect cocktail dress for a tiki bar or summer barbecue party.
There are many more styles coming too, and while the brand is usually only available via stockists, Sheen has exciting things planned. In around a month’s time, a new ecommerce store will be available on the website, meaning we can buy direct! And everything is available in sizes 8 to 22 which provides a good range.
You may also have noticed on the stand that the brand name will be changing – from Sheen to Timeless. There’s a definite shift happening within the company and while most items are available in cotton currently (some polyester), they’re becoming a more environmentally conscious brand. To that end, the textiles they plan to use going forward will be sustainable which is a great step forward for those of us that enjoy fashion but want to think about our footprints on the planet too.
I’m looking forward to exploring the new website when it launches!
Look out for Part 3 of the London Edge previews, or subscribe below to be notified of the next publication x
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[London Edge Feb 2020 Part 1] Oh So Flamingo
Not even Storm Dennis would keep me away from London Edge for their 21st year of this amazing trade show. It always has the best atmosphere, the coolest brands and so much to see my eyes can’t cope with all the awesome in one place! I’m going to write the round up in parts again as there’s just too much to share, and this way I can give each brand the time they deserve.
I still feel that excitement when I walk in and see everything that lies ahead Upon arrival, I headed to the Press Meet where the back drop (main photo) brought the devil out in us all. I liked that my hair matched the theme, even if I was too short for the horns to actually reach my head ha – did you spot that?! I got to meet some absolutely stunning models and influencers and loved that our styles were all so different but everyone was super friendly and welcoming – as is the nature of the show.
After the press call, I headed over to see Rachel from Oh So Flamingo, whom I want to talk about today. I’d met this lovely lady at the last show and she’d kindly gifted me the most gorgeous Starburst Hoop earrings (see previous article here).
Her stand was filled with lots of beautiful new designs and I instantly fell in love with all the flamingo and jungle themed goodies with their bright, leafy, pieces which scream Tiki-tastic and make me want to wear them all!
Mingos + Monstera = LOVE Oh So Flamingo specialise in handmade, laser cut, acrylic, jewellery with fun novelty themes. The ranges include earrings, necklaces and brooches to wear together or as separate pieces, and are very reasonably priced (earrings are around £9.00) for all handcrafted pieces.
New additions coming this year also include some furry friends – and I know many of you are crazy (but obviously fabulous) cat ladies so these will be perfect to add to your collections.
Rachel also kindly made me the most amazing bespoke brooch which features my logo and I can’t tell you how good this is!
My logo has never looked so good! I love all the detail and it’s the perfect size to wear to events. I was ridiculously excited to receive such a special piece and popped it on straight away to flounce around the rest of the show with it – and of course, everyone loved it!
I think you can tell how happy I am. I can’t wait to snap up some of the new items when they launch, but in the meantime, if you’re looking to add instant joy to your outfits, then look no further than the current rainbow-filled Love In Colour pieces, which are available here.
Look out for the next part of my London Edge previews – you can subscribe to the blog below to be the first to see them x
Wearing:
Dress, handbag and earrings: all Collectif Clothing
Boots: Lulu Hun
Bangles: Bow & Crossbones
Brooch: VintagePhoto Credit: Melissa Sacco (featured photo)
For transparency:
The brooch piece featured was gifted, but all views are my own – I just love the brand and wanted to share it with you x -
London Edge September 2019
London Edge is always guaranteed to be an amazing day, filled to the (rather impressive) rafters of the Business Design Centre, with awesome alternative brands, showcasing their new lines and trading to buyers (it’s not open to the public guys!).
London Edge Exhibitors It’s always abuzz with excitement as the doors open, we all start to mingle amidst those we admire and new brands we’re inspired to follow. The vibe is always super friendly and you meet so many like minded people all striving to offer the industry the best alternative products.
Obviously my favourite when I visit is always Collectif. Their space always stands out and looks great – like an alternative and vintage haven! With a constant stream of lovely buyers, it’s always great to see them doing so well. So I made a beeline for them first and caught up with the team and their goals for the forthcoming seasons.
Collectif Clothing Stand Collectif Clothing Autumn Winter 2019 My previous posts about AW19 (and here) and SS20 previews (use the category search at the top of the site for SS20 and you’ll find all of them) will fill you in on what’s to come, but there were a few additions which are absolutely worthy of a mention.
I’m so happy to see some more seasonal bits coming in for this Halloween (along with what’s already been launched), so this is a great opportunity for anyone that loves to be a casual member of the ghoul gang to pick up a few pieces for Halloween, or indeed, any other day!
I really love this bright pink and green check too on the new Rochelle skater dress which is will also be available in a trouser. Tartan is awesome; super bright tartan is even better!
Continuing with the checks, this red and black dolores will be a good staple for most this season.
And this Arwen Woodland Pine Check Swing Dress feels so lovely and soft, it’s definitely been added to my list as I hadn’t realised what a lovely fabric it was and feel it’s been overlooked previously. I’d highly recommend this one as an Autumn staple.
We had the pleasure of viewing some of the new Autumn/Winter 2019 collection strut down the catwalk, courtesy of the beautiful Miss Deadly Red looking as gorgeous and sassy as ever.
Wearing the Mimi Pumpkin Check Dress, Lulu Hun Maria heels and carrying the Carrie bag
Wearing Barbara Pom Pom Jumper, Alexa Rainbow Star Skirt and other model wearing Matilde in Wonderland Skirt
More gorgeous gals modelling the Silva Geek Check Dress (left) and the Clemence Meadow Check Dress (right) As well as the Autumn Winter stock, we also had another glimpse of the Spring Summer 2020 collection. I blogged previously about this but a couple of extra key pieces caught my eye.
These are, the night sky Dolores with super sparkly stars for night’s out. It has those lovely velvet buttons too <3
And the stunning Faye Starlight Swing Dress which has the prettiest navy ribbon trim and sheer top with gorgeous twinkling stars. This is a real headturner and will be so perfect for all of next year’s summer events.
Look at that beautiful ribboned hem! Clear stars on a night’s sky, with sweetheart neckline Additions to the Lulu Hun brand include this fruity and fabulous Alexandria Watermelon bag – I mean, come on! we all need this!
Winner! Also the Rock and Roll heart shaped bag in red which will match perfectly with the Charlene Rock and Roll cardigan – and many more outfits your little rebel heart desires!
I was super happy to find pockets in nearly all the dresses and skirts – something I know which is important to us all. Fingers crossed lining is next and that would be the icing on the cake!
Also hitting the runway was the popular brand Sheen and I particularly liked this vintage styled dress from them.
As well as Hearts & Roses, whose poppy inspired frock was very pretty. I like the higher neckline and matching belt too.
Over at Banned Apparel (Banned Retro) I was surprised to see a print which was inspired (and approved) from a popular Michael Miller fabric I bought a couple of year’s ago. Here I am wearing my custom Candy Cane Cocktails skirt by Violets in May back at Christmas in 2017 (which is, consequently, a great place to buy off the peg or have something custom made).
The Banned version is now available as a range of Christmas/New Year items, called Christmas Cocktails! I’m going to snap up a cardi to go with my skirt.
Banned Cocktails Skirt They also have a very cute range of foxy numbers. This skirt with it’s fox pockets was adorable <3
How cute are those pockets?! And speaking of foxy things, it leads me to my final favourite trader of the event. I have followed Oh So Flamingo for some time now and love the range of handmade, laser cut, acrylic jewellery that this creative gal dreams up. It always seems to fit what I have in my mind as a perfect piece to finish an outfit.
This was Rachel’s first time exhibiting at London Edge and her stand was full of current and brand new pieces which was very exciting to see.
Here are a few I think you’ll love:
When I popped over to say hi, I was very kindly gifted these beautiful black hoop earrings with silver glitter studs and atomic star design. They are immense! I can’t tell you how in love I am with these. Obviously, I had to get home and try them on straight away with something semi glam.
And the adorable heart sweet <3 Aren’t they just the best?! Meeting Rachel in person (and her lovely Mumma) was one of my personal highlights from the show. Please go and have a look at her site and show her some love on Instagram. Her pieces were also worn by the Collectif models as they came down the catwalk (see if you can spot them on one of the catwalk pics above), which was a really special moment to watch Rachel experience. I was so excited for her!
I had the best time as always at London Edge and was very lucky to receive some goodies from the Kat Von D stand (mini lipstick and tattoo liner) along with the guide and bag which I always keep as they’re super useful (all hail reusing your bags!). I’m really looking forward to being at the next one – if you see me, come say hi! I hope you’ve enjoyed my tour around and have found a few ‘oh my gawd, I need that!’ items, because…. ya know, I can’t be the only one throwing all my cash at them this season, we all need to be skint ha x
Making like a Boss at the Business Booth -
Lulu Hun and Bright & Beautiful SS20 Preview
If you missed the previous Spring Summer 2020 previews, you can click for Collectif and Menswear and see what delights next year holds! Today is all about my favourite picks from Lulu Hun and Bright & Beautiful though, and first up, we’ll take a look at Bright & Beautiful.
To be honest, I don’t buy a great deal from this range as the era isn’t something I wear much of (it has a very 70’s vibe), but occasionally there are some beauts which I just can’t be without!
For instance, the Astrid. I’ve spoken about this style of dress previously here. It’s boat neck and flared skirt design easily lends itself to the 50’s and it’s the main dress from the range which I really look forward to seeing from B&B every season. Next year, we have this gorgeous Deckchair version coming!
Bright & Beautiful Astrid Deckchair Dress It’s a showstopper for sure. I love the rainbow stripes and the addition of the red ric rac trim (it’s often lace that features on the edge instead). If you’re not an Astrid fan, then this print appears in a few other styles too so there’s something to suit everyone.
If you are an Astrid fan, then you may be delighted to hear that it’s also coming in a new pencil style!
Bright & Beautiful Astrid Gingham Pencil This looks like it will be a Summer staple for most with it’s classic gingham check and perfect crossover for work wear, lunch date or a mooch around the shops with friends. I really like how the main best sellers are all getting an upgrade next year to incorporate new versions of a very popular design.
The gingham continues with this gorgeous red checked dress called Iris. It has a shirred top and flared skirt – again, perfectly passable for a fifties style. Just add the picnic.
Bright & Beautiful Iris Gingham Dress The knitwear was a massive hit with me. There are so many cute, short sleeved, jumper styles coming, including this yellow check Sydney.
Bright & Beautiful Sydney Check Jumper and the Bella Harlequin jumper in blue
Bright & Beautiful Bella Harlequin Jumper Both of these have the sweetest details at the back with a row of false buttons. You could probably wear it either way around too.
Next up is Lulu Hun. This range just keeps getting better and better – I just love all the novelty items and the accessories which match perfectly with the designs of the dresses.
The sandals are always a big hit and they have some fabulous styles coming, including these orange, strawberry. monstera leaf Lottie sandals and the Phoebe starfish version.
Lulu Hun novelty sandals galore! True vintage fans will also like this 40’s inspired, mock croc, matching bag and shoes.
Lulu Hun 40’s style mock croc I also really like this wedged sandal which has a removable flower!
Lulu Hun Kellie wedges with removable flowers You can just see underneath where it has a brooch and hair clip attachment. So you could pop it in your hair if you don’t want it on your shoes. Clever!
The bags were so fun and fabulous as always. I particularly liked these bright gingham saddle bag styles with co-ordinating fruits and flowers. There’s also a little padlock feature to the front and lots of room for all your essentials.
Lulu Hun Gingham Bags And lastly, a pastel pink perfection bag with something I happen to say rather a lot.
Lulu Hun heart shaped bag This heart shaped bag sums up the collection rather well I think! Will you be broke next year because there’s so much stuff you want?…..HELL YEAH! (sorry, not sorry) x
This Elvira style print with its fun Hocus Pocus design will send you batty, I’m sure!
