With summer comes patterns and flowery summer dresses. Which is why these clothes which are new in at Glamourous caught my eye. They are perfect for a little summer glamour. Guaranteed to make you stand out from the crowd. What do you think? What is your favourite piece?
Top to bottom: Tailored Trousers, £39, Dipped Hem Dress £30, Galaxy Shorts £70, Contrast Shift Dress £24, Bodysuit £15.
Ada Zanditon has just returned from successfully showing her collection in Berlin, where she wowed press and buyers with her colourful, signature prints and dramatic silhouettes.
The SS14 collection ‘Aqualibrium’ is inspired by Zanditon’s visit to two Sea Turtle conservation projects in Sri Lanka. The turtles fascinated Zanditon for their long nomadic lives and oceanic journeys, continuously adapting their existence on earth for over 100 million years, since the time of the dinosaurs. Now due to human activity, all remaining seven species of turtles are either endangered or critically endangered. The shapes, textures and colours of the prints and surface inspirations come from Zanditon’s photographs and videos, from which she created drawings and watercolour paintings of the Sea Turtles and their habitats, both as newly hatchlings and as juvenile adults.
There are two palettes in the collection, the monochrome palette which focuses more on contrasting textures of black and the colour palette which takes inspiration from the Sea Turtles habitats from birth to maturity, bright citrus colours, white and cream sand, lavender, lilac and marine colours from sea grass beds to coral reefs.
Rather than change silhouette each season, Zanditon chooses to evolve signature shapes and silhouettes with classic items such as the Galaxia Trench making a welcome return. Other key items including the structural outerwear have evolved into sculptural biker jackets and summer weight capes. Inspiration in the collection also comes from forms of tribaldress from various island nations – Samoa, Tonga & Tuvalu.
Materials and collaborations
The collection is made from luxurious textiles including: organic cotton handwoven denim from India; Fairtrade organic cotton corduroy from India; Swiss woven organic cotton sateen; Newlife Ottoman weave recycled PET from Italy; silks chiffon & satin from Italy& India; veg tan leather from Italy; organic cotton digital print from India; silk digital print from India; upcycled Burberry raincoating from England; wool jersey woven in England; bamboo jersey woven in Belgium; upcycled linen. All dyeing processes are either natural, closed loop and/or azo free.
Collaborations for SS14
The swimwear collaboration Ada Zanditon x Auria London. The swimwear is made from recycled PET woven in Italy which is sourced by Auria London. Zanditon created the prints for the range whilst Auria London designed the silhouette and detailing.
The screen printed jeans collaboration with Monkee Genes, whose jeans are created using soil association & Gots certified organic cotton and their policy is ‘no blood, no sweat, no tears, no slave labour, no child labour.’ Monkee Genes also have a range of jeans that are made in England.
‘A Case Of’ upcycled accessories by Ada Zanditon & phannatiq – any usable waste fabric from Ada Zanditon and phannatiq’s studios is saved and used to create a collaborative range of unique and beautiful accessories – their signature item being a clutch bag that also functions as an ipad/tablet device case.
Shoes by Julian Hakes
Jewellery by Modular Minds
Sunglasses by Cutler & Gross
The Prada campaign stars supermodels Christy Turlington and Freja Beh as well as new face Malaika Firth, who is the first black model to appear in a Prada advert since the 1994 campaign which featured Naomi Campbell.
A different look for Nicole Kidman in this Jimmy Choo campaign.
Engaged new parents Sienna Miller and Tom Sturridge for Burberry.
Kate for Versace
Cara for Mulberry
Girl of the moment Cara has bagged (sorry, couldn’t resist) yet another campaign, this time for Mulberry. Take a look and tell us what you think.
Online shopping is great, in fact the only bad thing about it- apart from the destruction to your bank account- is the absurd rise in postage costs. So when we came across the news that American Express are offering card holders free postage from the US we got quite excited. Sorry bank account, it is too good to resist.
Throughout June, American Express Cardmembers in the U.K. can enjoy free shipping and a hassle-free experience when shopping online at top U.S. stores and brands with a simple promotional code.
American Express has partnered with Borderfree to launch the U.S. Summer Sales campaign, which runs until 30 June, and is valid when using any American Express Card on orders of more than £70. British Cardmembers can take advantage of the offer by entering the promotional code AMEXBF when paying with their American Express Card.
The campaign includes a wide range of top U.S. brands, such as Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Aeropostale. A full list of merchants can be found at the campaign website www.port51.com/amex .
In addition to free shipping, Cardmembers can browse online in local currencies, and see all taxes and duties up front at checkout. Shoppers will receive their merchandise within 10 business days and incur no additional fees upon receipt.
The promotion is valid when shopping online with an American Express Card, and when shipping to international destinations outside of the U.S.
Summer is finally here and we can wear our summer wardrobe at last. The big sunglasses trend is a must this season. The gold trim at the top of the frame is a big favourite this season with celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Coleen Rooney, Lauren Conrad and Millie Mackintosh all sporting the look. What do you think?
Get the look with these GUESS Sunglasses which are exclusively available from House Of Fraser for just £85.00. Available in brown and black.
Royal Ascot is just around the corner, and for many, the unique dress code, that is so synonymous with the five day festival, can be a sartorial mine field. Fortunately we have a ten step guide to looking your best and avoiding any awkward faux pas.
1) In general: Sartorial Sage and Former Editor of Vogue, Diane Vreeland once said, “Elegance is refusal” and the same goes for Royal Ascot – understated elegance is always a winner.
2) Ladies’ hats: An essential accessory at Royal Ascot and from top hats to berets, flying saucers to feathered fancies, hats of all shapes and sizes will no doubt be on display. Show pieces are all very well and it’s fine to be bold but make sure you don’t scare small children, animals, or for that matter, horses. Avoid the much-maligned fascinator.
3) Morning Dress: Formal gentlemen’s dress from the 19th century and obligatory if you’re in the Royal Enclosure. Make sure it’s well fitting and neither too tight nor too big. In the words of tailor Matthew Cartwright of Noden & Winsor, “If you don’t know your chest size, find out before it’s too late.”
4) Top Hat: The fit’s key. Not so big it falls down over your ears and not worn at a jaunty angle.
5) Dresses: You may well end up in a club after racing but the dress code stipulates that daytime dresses and skirts should be ‘of modest length, defined as falling just above the knee or longer. Straps on dresses should be at least one inch wide. It means anything strapless, or that’s too short or tight should be consigned to your wardrobe.
6) Pants: For men and women are essential, but should never be on show. Ever.
7) Shoes: Opt for comfort as you’ll be on your feet all day (hopefully). Chaps, shiny shiny, pointy shoes are not a good idea – patent is out and is not due to make a resurgence any time soon. As for stilettos, girls be aware you will sink on turf. Low-heeled courts are ideal and will avoid you having to purchase a cheeky pair of plastic flip flops at the end of the day, because your brand new heels have made your toes bleed.
8) Umbrella: It’s Britain. In June. It shouldn’t rain but it might so make sure you’re prepared.
9) Accessories: Diamonds are acceptable, you’ll be pleased to know. But leave the big shiny watches at home. If it’s large enough and shiny enough to blind a small child (or jockey – they’re around the same height) avoid.
10) Enjoy: Royal Ascot is one of the most glamorous and exciting weeks of the year. Dress up, enjoy the people watching and cheer on the horses in each of the 30 races taking place over the week.
Royal Ascot runs from Tuesday 18th June to Saturday 22nd June. Featuring 30 top class races, including seven QIPCO British Champions Series contests, it will be broadcast live on Channel 4 for the first time this year from 1.45pm until 6pm each day.
QVC has celebrated their 20 year anniversary. So congratulations to them. To celebrate I have picked out a few of my favourite pieces from their new range. Far from being just another shopping channel, QVC is a fav of Frost for being a forward thinker who collaborates with all of the hottest designers and experts in their field. Take a look and let me know what you think.
Lulu Guinness bags. Butler and Wilson necklace. 
Necklace, Libertine by Giles Deacon. 
All below was made exclusively for QVC 20th anniversary. 
