Vanessa G heralds the launch of her Spring Summer 2014 collection at the Arts Club, Dover Street
Noelle Reno wearing a dress from the Vanessa G AW13 collection, with the designer – Vanessa Gounden, Olivia Inge wearing a trench coat from Vanessa G SS14
Jourdan Dunn wears JOUBI jewellery
at W Party during LFW
ADHARA BODY CHAIN: £599
“NAZAR”
Spring/Summer 2014
Celebrating 10 years at London Fashion Week this year has spurred Bora Aksu to look back to his Turkish homeland and its rich, colourful and diverse culture. His spring/summer 2014 collection has been inspired by his childhood memories of there, memories that have had such a big influence on him.
Although Bora’s childhood memories of Turkey are still as magical today as when they were first played out, as Bora spent more and more time in London and travelled the world their uniqueness and richness has become more valuable to him. The long, hot summer days spent on the Aegean coast are the most prominent recollections that Bora draws on for this season’s inspiration. Long stretches of white sand, bobbing fishing boats, sun-faded houses with lush gardens and hidden village markets are the happy times that give his spring/summer collection a less melancholic feel than has been his signature to date.
Bora Aksu explains: “When I realised that this would be my tenth year at London Fashion Week, it struck me how long it has been since I left Turkey to come to study in the UK. It propelled me to reminisce and look back at my roots. I felt that I wanted to re-ignite the passion coming from the rich culture and traditional artistry of Turkey that had inspired me in the first place.”
Bora Aksu says of his new collection: ‘I’m delighted to have worked with the Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism as official sponsor for this London Fashion Week show. After 10 years showing in London it’s been great to go back to my roots and be inspired by the rich culture and traditional artistry of Turkey. I hope the show will inspire people to explore Turkey and discover the amazing gems it has to offer.’
The patterns and textures of the Iznik tiles that adorn the show invite have been re-created using traditional handwoven Turkish textiles incorporated into pencil skirts, dresses, cropped jackets and boleros.
Layering continues to be key, with geometric laces over silk tulles and chiffons or used as sheer panels against quilted cotton for added texture in skirts and dresses. Hand crochets produced in Izmir create accents across the collection.
Classic shapes have been contrasted with summer shorts and knitted tees while plastinated cottons update the traditional feel.
The colour palette for the collection began with the traditional ‘nazar boncuk’ or ‘evil eye bead’. Worn in Turkey to ward off evil, legend says that if one should break it is a sign that you have been saved from a great misfortune. Traditionally made from a disc of blue glass, it is this protective colour of the evil eye that dominates the collection. Off-whites also play a key role keeping the collection light before bold injections of bright yellows and fuchsia are introduced, reminding Bora of the long hot summers that he so enjoyed.
“This collection has been incredibly personal for me” Bora Aksu says “It’s been fantastic to have the support from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and to take this first step in highlighting a land I am so passionate about and connected to. I hope the show will inspire people to explore the rich culture and traditional artistry that Turkey has to offer.”
The one-off bar is running during London fashion week – it is an immersive, multi-sensory experience inspired by the pleasure of chocolate, all brought to you by the brand new Baileys Chocolat Luxe: www.barchocolatlondon.com
Food design trio Blanch and Shock have created an amazing supper club menu offering that was served directly onto tables on Wednesday afternoon (11th of September)
With 24 carat gold on our lips as part of the dessert experience.
Capturing exciting flavour varieties and taste notes that combined are rarely seen, Wednesday’s supper club will comprise a wild pescatarian starter, garnished with flowers, samphire and pea shoots, and a meaty main. To finish the plate-less feast, a selection of cakes that perfectly accompany Baileys Chocolat Luxe will tantalize tastebuds.
The main meal is served directly on the plate. It was amazing.
Finished meal.
Dessert. Yummy. We put 24 carat gold on our lips to start. Then we had a Baileys Chocolat Luxe and helped ourselves.
The Bar Chocolat experience celebrates the beauty of food and culinary delights. It sees creatives including Bompas & Parr, Tabitha Denholm, Amelia Rope, Petra Storrs and Lou Hayter coming together to create a part immersive, part exhibition journey into the multi-sensory experience of chocolate.
We had an amazing three course meal and the exhibition was amazing too. Opening the door to smell chocolate. Tabitha’s film, the chocolate dessert, the food and experience. The starter was served on a platter of ice and the main was served directly onto the table. Dessert involved putting real 24 carat gold onto our lips. . Amazing, just amazing. We had a brilliant time.
Pregnant and stylish, Halle Berry looked great with her daughter Nahla in Los Angeles. She was spotted carrying her new Gerard Dare Mini Simple Bag. The bag retails at £310. The Hollywood star is a huge fan of the brand.
The 47-year-old looked amazing taking her daughter to a play date. Halle can be seen soon in the new X Men film: Days of Future Past.
What do you think? Does she look great?
London Fashion Week is nearly here and we are super excited. Here is a round up of great places to go to eat, drink and have a break from the fast pace.
Josh Wood To Launch Breakfast Pop-up Salon At sketch During London Fashion Week
Sketch on Conduit Street in Mayfair has collaborated with world-renowned salon Josh Wood Atelier to open an exclusive pop-up breakfast blow-dry and nail bar in the Glade at sketch. The salon will offer guests a dry-style blow dry and a file and polish together with an express breakfast for £25.00, ensuring they will look impeccably groomed before a busy day of shows, whether gracing the FROW or simply soaking up the atmosphere at Somerset House. Open from 8.00am until 10.30am, the beauty bar will run throughout London Fashion Week, from 13th-17th September. www.sketch.uk.com
Babbo
To celebrate this autumn’s London Fashion Week, discreet Mayfair restaurant Babbo has devised a special menu packed with superfoods. Known for being favoured by royalty and celebrities alike, it is frequented by A-listers including Stella McCartney, Kate Beckinsale, Princess Beatrice, Colin Firth and Claudia Schiffer. Head chef Carlo Scotto has created dishes such as Salad of handpicked crab meat with avocado and hazelnuts , Tuna carpaccio with wild asparagus and aubergine puree and John Dory with fresh peas, broad beans, dry tomato and beetroot puree. The menu will be available for the duration of London Fashion Week and is priced at £45 for three courses
39 Albemarle Street, W1S 4JQ – www.babborestaurant.co.uk
Fornata
Between 13-17th September, relaxed Italian restaurant Fornata – located on Soho’s bustling Kingly Street – will offer an express three course meal with a glass of wine for just £25. The vibrant and informal restaurant will offer low-carb dishes such as Grilled courgettes with ricotta, mint and pine nuts or Beef Carpaccio with fresh Porcini mushroom salad to start. These will be followed by a choice of either Sicilian style char-grilled swordfish, Char-grilled ginger baby chicken with rocket and parmesan or Grilled lamb cutlet with aubergine puree and pecorino cheese for main. To finish, guests can choose between Panna cotta with mixed berries or Lemon crostata pie. The menu, which is available throughout London Fashion Week, can be best enjoyed al fresco on Fornata’s lively terrace.
15 Kingly Street, W1B 5PS – www.fornata.com
Ping
PING, West London’s renowned ping-pong rooms will be giving pizza’s a fresh twist for London Fashion Week with the introduction of its ‘Skinny Bitches’ pizza menu. Challenging the perception of what it is that makes a great and nutritious pizza, head chef Bruno Elias has created three low calorie pizzas, that are sure to keep you feeling chic throughout fashion week. The ‘Skinny Bitches’ menu at Ping features pizza made from wholewheat crusts, light cheeses, fresh and healthy toppings, which are all under 600 calories. Pizza’s include the ‘Kate’ made up of ricotta, fresh spinach, roasted apple, walnuts, the ‘Naomi’ with fresh mozzarella, sun blushed tomatoes, raisins, anchovies and pine nuts on a rich tomato base, and the ‘Giselle’ with roasted aubergines, peppers, onions, fresh basil on a rich tomato base.
180-184 Kingly Road, SW59GG – www.weloveping.com
STK
To celebrate this September’s London Fashion Weekend, contemporary steakhouse STK will be opening its doors at the earlier time of noon, on both the Saturday and Sunday, to offer the cities fash pack an exclusive STK’OVER lunch menu. Located minutes from Somerset House STK is the perfect pit stop for post or pre show entertaining, and diners with a pass for London Fashion Weekend will also be offered a complimentary signature STK cocktail. Dishes on the STK’OVER menu include scallop ceviche, feather steak and STK salad.
STK, 336-337 Strand, London, WC2R 1HA – www.togrp.com/togrp-stk-
We were front row at the QVC AW13 Fashion Preview. At Vinopolis we ate the most amazing canapes (they were whole yorkshire pudding with sausage inside. I don’t want to disclose how many we ate), drank prosecco and checked out the amazing clothes, jewellery and makeup that was on display.
Check out our fashion video and be sure to subscribe to Frost Magazine TV if you want more of the same.
What did you think?
Check out Daisy Lowe looking Super Sexy at the GQ Awards last night in Annoushka Jewellery
Annoushka Grace, 18ct white gold, diamond and fresh water pearl drop necklace £12,500
Annoushka Celestial, sterling silver, moonstone and white topaz ring £595
Do you think Daisy looks stunning?