Peter Pilotto Spring-Summer 2015

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

A firm Frost favourite, we fell head over hells in love with Peter Pilotto’s SS15 collection. We want EVERYTHING.

Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos explore a transcendent wash of light and colour in their SS15 collection as craft is elevated beyond print, through a myriad of treatments. Cyber florals join a constellation of swirling geometry as coils and fans of guipure lace meet technical macrame and custom dandelion jacquards with sparkling tinsel.

Peter Pilotto Spring-Summer 2015 peter and christopher

Peter Pilotto Spring-Summer 2015 catwalk

Peter Pilotto Spring-Summer 2015 catwalkpictures

Applied to iridescent organza, silk leaves and windowpane checks float over the skin, whilst grids of naive florals blossom on black denim. The collection’s spectral palette pulses energetically throughout.

The silhouette moves between a trim bodice, to ultra slim trousers to planed shifts, some with airy volumes explored as a handkerchief hem and the neat folds of an A-line skirt.

Giant paisley and abstract rosettes in Perspex are hinged and fractured amongst a scatter of Swarovski crystal. Studies of classical draping, paired with featherweight knits, melt into asymmetry, finished with a cascade of sequins. Interlocking chain motifs, realised in bright embroideries, vibrate throughout the collection.

Kate Kelly: A Day In The Life of An Author: The Edinburgh International Book Fair

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Margaret Graham

A sunny morning in August and I was heading into Edinburgh on one of the city’s shiny new trams. The reason – I had been invited to appear as an author at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and this was the morning of my event.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival 2014 was held in the beautiful Charlotte Gardens in the centre of the city. As I approached I could see the tents and marquees clustered beneath the trees and neat crocodiles of school children in pristine uniforms being herded by their teachers towards the venue.

The author arrives at Charlotte Gardens.

Inside covered walkways connected the event venues and bookshops which had been set up around the edge. In the middle was an area of lawns and seating where people gathered to drink coffee or eat their lunch

The Edinburgh International Book Festival in Charlotte Gardens

Mine was to be a joint event with Sarah Crossan, author of dystopian duology Breathe and Resist. Our event was called The End is Nigh and formed part of the Baillie Gifford Schools programme of events.

Another view of the venue, Charlotte Gardens.

The authors had a separate area, the Author’s Yurt, where we could chat and relax both before and after our events and this was where I headed to meet up with Sarah, Hannah Love of Faber who was chairing our event and my publisher’s marketing director. Here we were fitted with our microphones and then we were escorted to our venue and 150 eagerly waiting schoolchildren.

Myself, Hannah Love and Sarah Crossan in the Authors Yurt

Sarah and I read extracts and answered questions about our books, both about the writing process and our inspirations as well as the environmental issues our books address and the emerging genre of Cli-Fi (Climate Fiction). It was an hour long event but it felt like minutes.

Answering questions about our books.

Afterwards we were taken into the festival bookshop where we had the opportunity to meet some of the children and sign books for them. A couple of groups had come across from Glasgow and were doing a school project on Climate Fiction of which our books formed part. It was lovely to meet them and see their enthusiasm. Then back to the author’s yurt for lunch.

Lunch laid out in the Author’s Yurt

I was then able to explore the festival site a bit more and most importantly to check out the festival book shops. There was a special stand where that day’s events books were displayed.

Lots of copies of Red Rock for sale.

Of course no visit to Edinburgh during festival time would be complete without visiting out The Fringe and that was how I spent the rest of the day. Some of the street acts we saw were quite superb and the whole city was vibrant and alive.

My day at the Edinburgh International Book Festival was a superb experience and one I shall never forget.

Biography

Kate Kelly is a marine scientist by day but by night she writes SF thrillers for kids. Her debut novel Red Rock, a Cli-Fi thriller for teens, is published by Curious Fox. She lives in Dorset with her husband, two daughters and assorted pets and blogs at http://scribblingseaserpent.blogspot.co.uk/

Curious Fox link: http://www.curious-fox.com/

Amazon UK link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Rock-Kate-Kelly/dp/1782020616/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_pap?ie=UTF8&qid=1409831765&sr=8-1&keywords=red+rock

Chovgan Twilight Polo Gala – Inaugural Dinner

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Corinne Tuddenham-Finn

Last Wednesday saw 400 international guests from the worlds of fashion, art, music and the City, including The PNN Group’s Nasib Piriyev, Natalia Vodianova, Lindsay Lohan, Benny Higgins and Jack Guinness gather together to celebrate the inaugural Chovgan Twilight Polo Gala Dinner. This exclusive event took place at the renowned Ham Polo Club, only eight miles from Hyde Park Corner and the last remaining polo club in Greater London, in aid of War Child and The Naked Heart Foundation.

The event saw well-known players such as Pancho Marin Moreno and Ruki Baillieu play a high-octane game of polo by twilight (which resulted in a 6-4.5 win to Baku Guardians), before guests were seated for a sumptuous three-course gala dinner which consisted of aged parmesan with truffle honey, artichoke hearts and chargrilled peppers, tagliata of beef with a rocket, watercress and parmesan salad and meringue gelato cake with chocolate sauce and raspberries. Guests and VIPs alike enjoyed entertainment from the incredible magician Dynamo (including model and DJ Jack Guinness who was seen eagerly participating in one of Dynamo’s acts), followed by a live performance from electronic pop duo, The Alpines.

On the night, guests raised much needed funds for War Child and The Naked Heart Foundation through both a live and silent charity auction. Luxury, money-can’t-buy prizes and experiences included an original signed Damien Hirst spin painting, a stay at the Lux Belle Mare resort in Mauritius and a Lev Leviev Diamond bracelet. Throughout the evening guests enjoyed Laurenti Champagne and AIX Rosé, with luxury bars provided by the newly opened Café Kaizen, Hanover Square. VIP attendees included Nasib Piriyev, Princess Tamara Czartoryski, Natalia Vodianova, Lindsay Lohan, Dynamo, Jack Guinness, Amber Atherton, The Alpines, Ben Elliot, Tom Law, Anouska De Georgiou, Abby King, DJ Jakki Degg, Sol Campbell, Camilla Rutherford, Sabine Roemer and Benny Higgins.

Natalia Vodianova dazzled in a beautiful cream suit and trouser combination with snake-skin style Christian Louboutin shoes, whilst My Flash Trash jewellery designer Amber Atherton opted for a floor length Florence Bridge dress.

Nasib Piriyev, Co-Founder of The PNN Group said: “It was such a privilege to host the first Twilight Polo event of its kind, and to have so many wonderful guests join us for this special occasion – including representatives from the extremely worthwhile charities War Child and The Naked Heart Foundation. I hope everyone enjoyed the evening’s entertainment and, of course, the first Twilight Polo match of its kind, whilst also generously supporting these important causes.”

The all-important results:

– Winning Team – Baku Guardians

– Runners Up – PNN Group

– The Lalique Most Valuable Player Award, presented by Sol Campbell – Jack Baillieu (7)

– The Whale Gaming Best Playing Pony Award, presented by Princess Tamara Czartoryski – Poroto, owned and played by Charlie Pidgley

Chovgan Twilight Polo Gala is a private company created in 2014 in London, England, with the goal of integrating the sport of polo and luxury brands to raise money for nominated charities. The Chovgan Twilight Polo Gala is hosted by Princess Tamara Czartoryski, an event that has already attracted some of the UK’s leading polo players, all keen to lend their support to the fundraiser and annual gala. Celebrating the history of Polo, ‘Chovgan’ was one of the first forms of modern-day polo, a sport that was very popular in the Middle East centuries ago.

www.chovganpolo.com

PNN Group is a family business founded in 1993 by Nizami Piriyev and his son Nasib Piriyev. Within two decades it has grown into an international corporation, with business interests in 10 countries. Sectors that the Group operates in include Oil & Gas, Food & Retail, Luxury & Lifestyle, Finance & Consulting, and Arts & Media.

www.pnn-group.com

The Baku Guardians is an Azerbaijani polo team set up in 2014 and based in London, UK. The team is patronised by Nasib Piriyev and supported by the PNN Group. The players continue a tradition that began in Azerbaijan with the Chovgan game, the forerunner of modern polo. In May 2014, Baku Guardians took part in its first tournament – the British Royal Charity Polo Cup.

www.bakuguardians.com

Huntsman is Savile Row’s most established tailoring house, its team of cutters and tailors crafting the finest bespoke, made to measure and ready to wear tailoring by hand. Huntsman has a 160 year history of producing the finest suits, sports jackets, country and formal wear from the heart of Savile Row. The company’s team of cutters and tailors are at the top of their field and are amongst the industry’s finest craftsman. Our elegant and distinctive house style combined with the finest cloths from the UK and Italy ensure that the house produces consistently exceptional and beautiful clothing.

www.h-huntsman.com

“War Child believes no child should be the victim of war, and are the only international charity that focuses its work solely on children suffering the brutal effects of conflict. As the shocking news attests on a daily basis, children are too often hit hardest by conflict. War Child’s unique, challenging work saves the lives of the most vulnerable children offering them a lifeline and hope for the future. War Child’s programmes are focused on protecting children, helping them to gain an education and enabling children and their families to create their own opportunities for the years ahead.” Rob Williams, CEO, War Child.

www.warchild.org.uk

The Naked Heart Foundation is an international charity that was founded by supermodel and philanthropist Natalia Vodianova in 2004. Ten years on, the Foundation is one of the most prominent NGOs working in Russia. The organisation’s main goal is to end Russia’s long-standing tradition of placing children with special needs and learning disabilities in care homes and orphanages. The charity develops family support services across the country and builds inclusive play facilities to provide safe play environments for children of all abilities. To date, it has built more than 120 accessible play parks and playgrounds across Russia, it runs a Family Support Centre in Nizhny Novgorod and play libraries in Tula and Tver. The Naked Heart Foundation supports the projects of dozens of other Russian NGOs and runs a large-scale education project in Nizhny Novgorod. The charity also holds an annual International Forum for childcare professionals and carries out extensive advocacy work aimed at changing attitudes to disability in Russia.

www.nakedheart.org

Chovgan Twilight Polo’s Inaugural Gala was kindly sponsored by The PNN Group, Baku Guardians and Huntsman.

Ong-Oaj Pairam SS15 Collection | London Fashion Week

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Frostie

We have been having a ball at London Fashion Week. A highlight was Ong-Oaj Pairam’s show. Ong-Oaj Pairam’s third season showcasing during Fashion Week was another triumph. After being named as ‘one to watch’ by the Times last week, the SS15 collection did not disappoint. By combining pastels, prints and metallics, Ong-Oaj Pairam’s latest collection is inspired by the designers fragmented memories of growing up alongside his families noodle factory in Nakhon Ratichasima, Thailand. We loved it.

What do you think?

Backstage With Ashley Isham at London Fashion Week

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Sarah Bacchus

I got to shoot backstage for Ashley Isham this season. Ashley is one of my all time favourite designers and having worked with him before I knew we where in for an amazing show. Here is what you don’t really see, the real roots of London Fashion Week. The blood sweat and tears…well not the tears as it was incredibly calm and wonderful backstage and the show was mind blowing!

I did manage to get a lovely snap of Ashley and his sister Khaty.

Ashley is delightful, very graceful and highly talented. He started making his own clothes aged 12. A lifetime of devotion, skill and passion has gone into each and every one of his shows, with each one getting better and better. I can truly say this one was something of pure beauty and the ravishing dresses had us holding your hands to our faces and gasping in utter delight.

Backstage was easy going, relaxed and almost spa like. What has happened to the dramatic, rushed hot and bothered fashion week I ounce knew. I Think it has something to do with the organisation from Selina at freelancetheworkspace.com as it was heaven to be part of. Don’t get me wrong there where a few people rushing about here and there trying to find models that where a little late coming from other shows but the cool calmness was apparent and Selina herself is such a wonderful calm person, I believe it has rubbed off!

Nails by Naomi Gonzalez Represented by Freelance The Work Space using The Body Shop

Hair by TONY&GUY session team directed by Daniele Angelis using Label m Professional haircare

Makeup by Nguyen Grealis using The Body Shop

Front row was full of excited and interesting people knowing they wouldn’t be disappointed.

Now for the show itself….are you ready!! It was marvellous and magical!!

A wonderful romantic show thats going to be hard to top!!

London Fashion Week: Jamie Wei Huang

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Sarah Bacchus

The show was the first one of the day for us on Friday. The collection was fun vibrant and had the feel of industrial oversized garments that will be hugely sort after. Strong elements with cool design details and bold silhouettes. Jackets with additions of PVC pockets and fine detailing and edging. Puffball boobtube crop tops and billowing masculine trousers. The entire collection was original and fun. Brilliant use of materials and cutting to represent the modern girl about town. All in all wearable but slightly wacky.

Although one aspect of the show will keep tongues wagging for days…a few of the models where so tiny it created a stir amongst the crowd. Shocked and bewildered faces could be seen no and again. Its such a shame the British fashion council have not regulated this enough. This was the only downside to to show. The collection had many items that can and will fit into the fashion sets wardrobe we are sure.

Oversized bum bags and clutches caught our eyes and are one the wish list for Spring Summer next year.

The Lovely Kimberly Garner sat and watched the show dressed in a cute outfit of a loose black chiffon top, leather shorts and over the knee boots.

The crowd at the show was oh so very stylish and we couldn’t help grab a snap of them as we watched. Apart form these two astonished faces and the concerned looks of most of the people around us….We particularly loved this young ladies hat!

For more from our day featuring our very own fashion and style head over to www.slbstyle.com and check it out.

Jasper Conran Spring Summer 2015

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Frostie

We have completely fallen in love with Jasper Conran’s SS15 collection. We want it all for the perfect capsule wardrobe.

Photos: Jasper Conran.

Leticia Haute Coiffure and “the fastest blowout in London”

Posted on September 13, 2014 by Kesh

Luxury independent hair and beauty salon Leticia Haute Coiffure has been famed on being able to fully cater to their clients needs. The salon provides exclusive hair and beauty services including non bleached highlights and premium Brazilian blow-drys, to waxing, facials and even fashion styling. Perfect for women who are constantly on the go and in need of preening, the salon works on a membership basis with prices starting from £180 a month offering a round the clock service either at the salon, hotel or even in your own home. Another hidden gem within this Marylebone salon is that award winning, Creative Director, Pierre Doumit, has developed a signature 15 minute blowout which is said to work on any hair type and perfect for busy London women.

I was sent to try this service out and when better to try then slap bang in the middle of London Fashion Week. With shows backed up all day, I barely had an hour to spare and wanted to put “the fastest blowout in London” to the test.

myself and Pierre

On arrival the vibe was generally chilled out and Pierre and his amazing team of staff were on hand to grant your each and every demand. I didn’t really have much of an idea of the kind of style I wanted but I was pretty sure that I would be more than safe in Pierres expert hands. The staff were chatty and friendly from the get go and are more than welcoming. I was then left in the safe hands of Pierre and asked if I would like a head massage. Absolutely, I jumped at the chance especially when the craziness of Fashion Week kicked in. The massage was insane, I would have just stayed for it alone. The blowdry itself was a super speedy 15 minutes, if that, with the help of Pierre’s lovely assistant. My hair was revived and volumised and bigger than Bardots. As well as that, Pierre asked me if I would like adjustments and showed me how to create the volume I had asked for which personally is a huge plus when hair stylists show you how to recreate a gorgeous style at home.

As I was leaving, I couldn’t help but swoon over the nails of the girl who works in the salon. Turns out the manicurist based in the salon is a nail art goddess. All in all an amazing experience, speedy, friendly and it helps that they’re all good at their jobs too, if a 15 minute blow dry is what you’re after, I assure you Pierre will stick to his word.

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