It’s London Fashion Week time again. Frost popped along to Maria Grachvogel, Carlotta Actis Barone and Krystof by Krystof Strozyna. The clothes at Krystof were divine and Carlotta Actis Barone had ballet dancers who looked like they had stepped out of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. Maria Grashvogel was elegant and sophisticated. These three shows were particular highlights of London Fashion Week. 
Tag Archives: Fashion
ISSA SPRING/SUMMER 2013: The Garden of Eden
The Issa woman journeys to the romantic setting of the Garden of Eden for Spring Summer 2013. One of Kate Middleton’s favourite brands, the collection brimming with bright colours, bold natural prints and feminine dresses which offers her dreamy outfits to while away those leisurely balmy evenings in. Prints have been inspired by the all-encompassing tropical leaves and plants, dotted with dazzling, colourful flowers and exotic fruits, thanks to afternoons of endless sunshine. Spot the prowling tigers and birds flying overhead; a whimsical twist to Issa’s classic and flattering shapes.
Echoing the purity of the setting, come a series of long, languid chiffon and satin dresses. Playful knitwear dresses, which are key this season, feature in jacquards of bright neon colours with extravagant floral embroidery, dusted across halter necklines and hems. Vivid brights continue into coquettish eyelet cotton voile dresses and weave front dresses.
Slip into a vibrant, exotic leaf printed pyjama suit for a stroll through paradise, for the epitome of sleek chic. Iconic dresses remain in the collection, transformed this season by asymmetric draping and fold details which disappear into the waist band with the flattering fit the Issa woman has come to expect.
Never one to shy away from a love story, SS13 delivers a collection for the Issa woman to seduce in. The bright orange and pink hued party dresses, are ideal for cocktails at sunset. We see a dramatic turn after sun down, as she slips into a polished black halter or a beautiful embroidered cocktail dress and becomes truly irresistible.
UGG Australia For London Fashion Week
Shoes glorious shoes. Who cares what they look like? Well, everyone actually. UGG Australia the makers of the shoes that are the most comfortable IN THE WORLD have branched out into different styles. I went to see their AW13 collection at Handpicked Media’s One Aldwych Hotel suite.
Alex showed my the collection. I was incredibly impressed. UGGs have not always been thought of as fashionable but even the most discerning fashionista would find something to love in the new collection. I love the knee-high blue boots below. I was also got a pair of gorgeous ankle boots. Check out Callum from Handpicked Media’s photo below. . They are so comfy and stylish. Top marks for UGGS.
The boots are very well made. The materials are gorgeous and the designs are on trend but also timeless. With winter coming in I might even buy myself some new winter boots. I love the lining inside the boots. Guaranteed to keep you warm.
eBay & CFDA’s You Can’t Fake Fashion Debuts at Fashion Week
eBay’s Alan Marks, CFDA’s Steve Kolb; The 2013 Tote; IMG’s Peter Levy, Chris Benz, Jauretsi, Alan Marks, Steven Kolb, and Ruffian’s Brian Wolk and Claude Morais; The Exhibit; Chris Benz; Ruffians Brian Wolk and Claude Morais
eBay and CFDA are collaborating for a third year to advance the YOU CAN’T FAKE FASHION campaign, to continue to raise awareness against counterfeit goods and celebrate original design within the fashion industry. To properly celebrate our third iteration of this important partnership, we’re previewing the new 2013 tote at an exclusive exhibit at Lincoln Center during MBFW as of yesterday. If you are at London Fashion Week find some time between shows to stop by and check it out!
Following two consecutive sold-out collections, the 2013 collection will include a new version of the limited-edition standard tote bearing the signature tagline as well as one-of-a-kind designer totes, customized by nearly 100 of America’s foremost designers like CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg, Chris Benz, Ruffian, Tory Burch, Rachel Zoe, and Oliver Theyskens.
The entire collection will be available exclusively on eBay in March 2013, with all proceeds benefitting the CFDA Foundation. visit ebay.com/
DISPAIR London and Depaul UK unite to create limited edition product with a difference.
Innovative men’s footwear brand DISPAIR London has embarked on an exciting new collaboration
with Depaul UK, the largest national youth homelessness charity in the UK, to offer the opportunity
for one young person to be a guest designer of a limited edition DISPAIR London shoe.
A competition to submit design ideas was opened to the young people helped by Depaul UK with
100% of profits from the winning design going directly to Depaul UK.
With inspiration originating from the laid back streets of Spitalfields, DISPAIR London fully endorses
individualism, and is ideal for those who don’t feel the desire to conform, who are comfortable to lead
their own way in fashion.
Depaul UK helps young people who are homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged, and has helped
over 50,000 people since it was founded in 1989. While Depaul UK offers an immediate solution to
homelessness, Depaul UK protects young people who have become homeless, helps them to
progress beyond homelessness with training and employment schemes, and works with families to
prevent youth homelessness from happening in the first place.
The design competition proved to be hugely popular with well over the expected number of entrants.
The winner was chosen, a former resident of Depaul UK’s Simonside supported Newcastle
accommodation, with the design being put onto DISPAIR London’s most popular style, the
Winston, a loafer shoe with monk strap detailing.
DISPAIR London has since worked closely with Depaul UK and the competition winner on every
step of the process, offering the young person work experience in the fashion footwear industry and
being fully involved in the design process along the way.
The shoe will be part of DISPAIR London’s AW12 collection, available in navy, grey, off-white and
black. Hitting Topman stores in time for Christmas.
Berlin Offers Best Value For Fashionistas On A Budget
Berlin is Best Value
German capital is most affordable whilst New York’s cut-price clothing couldn’t offset its pricey hotels
Berlin was the most affordable shopping destination of the top ten fashion cities in the world, according to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®). The iconic style capital, New York was ranked as the most expensive despite its popularity amongst retail tourists for securing brands on a budget.
The Index, now in itseighth year, chronicles the actual prices paid by travellers in 2011 in more than 142,000 hotels around the world.
As the pound continued to strengthen against the Euro, the German capital provided the best value forboth the cost of its hotels and its fashion. The average cost of a hotel room was only £73, allowing British shoppers to make the most of their budget in the popular Berlin style scene.
Tokyo (£102) and Barcelona (£104) were the second and third lowest priced cities providing spendthrift style alternatives for savvy shopping tourists. The retail tourist’s staple destination, New York, was undeniably the most expensive at an average of £173 per night, despite providing some of the most affordable shopping.
| City | Country |
Average room rate in 2011 |
Average room rate in 2010 |
% Rise or fall |
| New York | United States of America |
£173 |
£166 |
4% |
| Singapore | Singapore |
£136 |
£123 |
11% |
| Paris | France |
£125 |
£122 |
3% |
| Hong Kong | China |
£119 |
£101 |
18% |
| Rome | Italy |
£116 |
£114 |
2% |
| London | United Kingdom |
£115 |
£114 |
1% |
| Los Angeles | United States of America |
£111 |
£104 |
7% |
| Barcelona | Spain & Canary Islands |
£104 |
£96 |
8% |
| Tokyo | Japan |
£102 |
£103 |
-2% |
| Berlin | Germany |
£73 |
£75 |
-3% |
Plump & Shine Lip Gloss | Beauty Review
I am very fussy about lip gloss. I don’t like it to be too sticky. I like it to stay in place. So did Plump & Shine Lip Gloss live up to my exacting standards. Let’s find out….
I tried the nude colour. It is a good colour with a really nice tone. Plump & Shine also plumps your lips up (the clue is in the name) so if you want some more volume on your pout this is the lip gloss to try. It won’t make you look like Jackie Stallone (thank god!) but it gives a nice little boost.
This is before the lip gloss.
After I put it on it stays put. It is long lasting, not too sticky (my bug bear with other lip glosses) and it looks great on. It did seem to plump my lips up too. I felt a tingly sensation.
And this is after:
This is after.
Wearing the lip gloss.
I really like this lip gloss. It is not drying and it makes the most of your lips. A little goes a long way and it stays put for quite a while. It is subtle and makes your lips look gorgeous.
‘Candy’ Plump & Shine is a very light pink similar to the shades seen on the catwalk at Louis Vuitton, whilst ‘Seduce’, a hot pink gloss but not too dark, is similar to the colours we saw at DKNY.
Plump & Shine does not contain alcohol so is non-drying
Cost: £19.95
Shades: Candy (light pink) / Seduce (hot pink)
Damsels In Distress – Get Violet’s Vintage-Inspired Look + Win The DVD
Greta Gerwig stars in Whit Stillman’s charming and witty comedy DAMSELS IN DISTRESS, a quirky film following leader Violet and her group of beautiful, female college students and their mission to cure depressed classmates through good hygiene and musical dance numbers. It follows the girls as they become romantically involved with different types of men, who threaten both their friendships and sanity. Gerwig plays the group’s outspoken leader Violet, epitomising the film’s wonderful individual and nostalgic style.
To celebrate its release on Blu-ray and DVD, we’re showing you Violet’s fashion rules and how to re-create her vintage themed look!
Violet’s style is definitely retro inspired, it’s feminine yet edgy and easy to wear day-to-day.
Hair and Make-Up:
Violet keeps her hair and make-up simple, to let the clothes do the talking!
Natural Waves – whether you have a similar short sassy bob or longer locks, the key to this look is simple and natural waves. Start by blow-drying your hair upside-down to boost volume, brush through and use light tongs or straighteners to curl the ends. Leave the roots straightener and product-free.
Neutral Palette – keep make-up looking natural too, with a light foundation or tinted moisturiser such as Benefit’s You Rebel SPF 15 Tinted Moisturiser. Add a rose blusher to the apples of your cheeks and a dusting of light brown eyeshadow over lids. A coat of volumising black-brown mascara will give a soft and fuller look for lashes, and finish off with pinky-tone lipstick or gloss, oh so pretty!
The Wardrobe:
Violet follows some timeless fashion rules to maximise her outfit potential. It’s all about quirky print dresses, coloured cardigans and vintage-inspired accessories.
Define your waist, sit on the knee – following the classic style of the 1950s/60s, a cinched waist and full skirt make the most of your curves. Wearing skirts that sit on the knee keeps the outfit classy and shows off shapely pins. Topshop do some great retro style dresses such as the Pastel Pinafore Dress, £48, or the Block Colour Dress by Wal G at £35.
Prints and colour – Use bright-coloured cardigans, cool prints or colour pop dresses to lift your mood. Cardigans make chic cover-ups and can be found in no end of designs, just make sure you keep them plain a la Violet if you’re teaming with a print dress. Or try a cute printed shirt and team with this season’s midi skirt.
Vintage Accessories – To complete Violet’s vintage-style look pick up some classic accessories from a vintage store or online. Peekaboo Vintage has an amazing range of silk scarves that will make your outfit, such as this one for £30.
They also stock some gorgeous leather satchels, to hold all of your day-to-day essentials, and fit in perfectly with your outfit! All that’s left is a spritz of your favourite classic scent and you’re officially Violet-worthy, a true Damsel style-icon!
For your chance to win a copy of Damsels In Distress on DVD, just answer the following question….
In the film, one of Violet’s love interests, Charlie a.k.a Fred is played by
1. Adam Brody
2. Channing Tatum
3. Liam Hemsworth
Follow @Frostmag and tweet us your answer, or comment below.
Damsels in Distress is out on DVD from Monday 20th August.