Golden Lane. Label.

Created by previous design consultants for Burberry Prorsum, Londoners Chris Lim and Tibor Matyas launched their women's line Golden Lane in Spring 2013, following the success with their Men's Accessories line Chris and Tibor in 2003 which saw the duo collaborate with the likes of Walter Van Beirendonck, Veronique Branquinho, Juun J ad Romain Kremer. 

Inspiration originating from the architecture and social buzz around London's Barbican and the Golden Lane area is visibly apparent, that along with the Fall 2013 'Beneath the Sea' hinting at the vibrant life of an underwater world, which reflects  a sense of calm that only this environment can exude, creates flawlessness in its entirety.

Encompassing versatility, classicism and functionality, the signature 2-split compartment satchel is their most popular piece and now trademark. With S/S14 being their third season the men are opening up a whole new era for satchels.

Website: Golden Lane
Twitter: @GoldenLaneBag
Email: info@goldenlanebag.com

Charly xox

Project 104. Label.

Swimwear barely gets a second thought in the UK, and with sustainability and eco-fashion becoming a much greater requisite within design, a multifunctional piece epitomizes this and we all love a good investment piece!!
And so enter Project 104. Its swimwear is a collaboration of art and fashion forms a contemporary, heavy print aesthetic, each item is itself a specimen of art. This bad-ass British-based brand produces limited edition and individually numbered swimwear, a first in history. Only 104 of each individual print in a particular style are ever produced per project. The current project 'My Body, My Shrine' created for those who believe (ironically) 'my body is a temple but my temple likes getting trashed', and their technicolour costumes encapsulate four distinct shrines; Pill Popper, Cigafeen, Sugar Hooker and Chain coker. Sweet perfection in the form of fabric for us fun-loving free spirits who likes to stand out from the crowd.
 

Charly xox

Project 104: Twitter, Facebook and Blog.

S/S to A/W 2013. Transitional Pieces.

Seeing as we British seem to be forever discussing the weather, I thought a piece on transitional pieces was most definitely appropriate for this time of year. It's humid and windy, rainy, or cold with glorious sunshine. Repeatedly making the choice of which pieces to adorn yourself with can quickly grow tiresome, one minute there's torrential rain and the next you wish you were in a skimpy bikini! So here are some useful tips and ideas to help you get through it!

Oversized Coat: Even in small skirts or shorts you can be as snug as bug in a fluffy rug by wearing one of these bad boys. From Prada's snakeskin to Dior's red riding hood-esque, even Kenzo's eye-printed, the major designers and newcomers alike all debut this textbook investment... the quintessential transitional piece!
Designer: Chanel, Max Mara, Escada, Missoni, DVF, Saint Laurent, Etro, Dolce and Gabanna, Louis Vuitton, Viktor and Rolf, Valentino.
High Street: H&M, Topshop Unique, French Connection, Marks & Spencers, Zara.

Woolen Knits:Designer: Pinko, Dries Van Noten, Carven, DSquared2, AF Vandevorst, Mugler, Peter Pilotto, Sacai, Chanel, Isabel Marant, Saint Laurent.
High Street: Topshop Unique, Urban Outfitters, The Ragged Priest, Free People, Oak, Romwe.

Trousers: Sport paired with a cropped knit or statement tee and sandal, an atypical vibe perfect for the present weather conditions. Boyfriend jeans, hareems, joggers, jodhpurs, or even dungarees are blasting through this season; an excellent way to create the illusion of skyscraper-length pins.
Designer: Espirit, Custommade, Haider Ackermenn, Cos, Paul Smith, Hugo Boss, Day Birger et Mikkelsen, Adam Lippes, Schiaparelli, Raquel Allegra.
High Street: River Island, Zara, Mango, Asos, Free people, French Connection.

A-line Skirt: Whether above the knee or below the A-line skirt is making a welcomed comeback just in time to be worn in this temperamental climate.
Designer: Lanvin, Pinko, Todd Lynn, Prada, Jonathan Saunders, Celine, Christian Dior, Chloe.
High Street: Warehouse, Topshop Unique, Romwe, New Look.

Fabric Accessories: Fingerless gloves, beanies and visible socks to give a quirky twist on an outfit. With scarves; wear as many as you dare, adding protection against spine-chilling gusts of wind, pair dashes of clashing patterns, fabrics and colour.
Designer: Marccain, Celine, Mui Mui, Bottega Veneta, Hermes, Alexander Mcqueen, Burberry, Mulberry, Karl Donoghue, Eugenia Kim, Missoni, Saint Laurent
High Street: Hobbs, Dorothy Perkins, Accessorize, Asos, New Era, Zara, Oasis.

Tips:
Balance out what's on show, allowing you to be cool if it's stuffy and warm if there's a chill in the air. e.g. short skirt, thigh high boots and oversized jacket.
Wear layers, add and remove as needed.
Mix textures and prints to add your own personality to an outfit.
Make base layers patterned so when it does get warmer and layers need to be removed.



Thanks for reading, feel free to let me know what you think, what your fave transitional trends and key peices are, or just to have a natter!


Love Charly xox

Todd Lynn. Designer.

       Known as 'Rock and Roll's best kept secret', and set to become the latest addition to the Debenhams family will join the ranks of Henry Holland, Jonathan Saunders and Preen among others.

In case one hasn't heard of Todd Lynn yet, the fresh faced Canadian designer has already created an enormous following with some of the strongest, most idolized women of today; Beyonce, Shirley Manson, Rihanna and Courtney Love to name a few. 

Lynn's Collection Autumn/Winter 2013 consists of 12 unique pieces, constructed from a combination of blacks, deep dark blues contrasted with nudes throughout the show creating drama. These tough colours are softened his trademark soft organic fabrics of contrasting textures including leather, knitwear and fur. 

An androgynous sartorial styling united with razor sharp lines achieves a mix of tailored and deconstructed form, essential for his ideal client of which quoted to be someone “Fearless with a heart full of rock’n’roll.".

With jackets being recreated into skirts this collection reinstates a necessity that is becoming more highly promoted in our society, the idea that materials and constructions need to be redeveloped. 

Tailoring created the illusion that one was wearing another person's clothes altered to fit them. Show notes explain inspiration came from 'the Gopher Gang, a New York tribe who would jump people for their clothes and then send them to a seamstress for alterations”. Emphasising that reusing clothes, with the correct tailoring can create the most modern, edgy, even futuristic outfits causing the past to become the present, and therefor the future.

His tailoring also kept the woman's form by injecting volume to emphasis where natural curves exist, whilst keeping lines straight. With each extreme a balance is always maintained through textures, colours and even shapes. 

The biker edge, with soft and harsh contrasts is what isolates this designer from others, enabling him to make an impact and a name for himself from his identity. 

In his own words, "The woman who wears my clothes is fearless, and wants to put a piece of clothing on and feel amazing.". A designer that has a place in my own heart it would seem. My advise; keep an eye on him and make some investment purchases!

The show was at Somerset House on 16th February with said investment pieces available from October this year from £45, and will be seen nationwide in stores.

To find out more visit his official website: www.toddlynn.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ToddLynnLondon