Spring Into Summer...

... With Cabot Circus Fashion Weekender this weekend (2nd - 3rd April).Taking place in the centre of Cabot Circus under the glass roof, I hope it isn't raining but if it is you should all stay dry, the catwalk will showcase the hottest trends from the new season collections. Bringing together the best of high street and designer brands.

Vintage has been a key theme over the past few years and spring/summer will see 70’s glamour making fashion waves. Cabot Circus will show you how to create unstructured gypsy-like silhouettes and work shimmering fabrics, chunky heels, wide-leg trousers and figure-hugging waistbands, whatever your style or budget.

The Fashion Weekender will also celebrate the return of good old-fashioned glamour, nudes and muted tones and the rock-and-roll inspired ‘cool rider’ look.

Each show will be created by stylist JP, who has worked with a host of celebrities and recording artists and currently runs his own London-based fashion consultancy. Visitors will also be able to seek out the latest hair and beauty trends with experts from Sanctuary Spa, Seanhanna and other beauty brands giving free demonstrations and taster sessions. So it will be the perfect time to discover a new look.

Discounts of up to 20 per cent will also be on offer at many of Cabot Circus’ iconic fashion stores and restaurants over the course of the Fashion Weekender and all those attending will be invited to enter a competition to win £1,000 worth of fashion!!!!! - Yes Please!!

The fashion show will run a few times over the weekender - Show Times - Saturday 2nd April - 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm and 4.30pm - Sunday 3rd April - 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm and it is a completely free event!!

Unfortunately I am unable to attend because I am visiting my family for Mother's Day but if you do get the chance to pop to Cabot Circus over the weekend it is going to be a fantastic event. The catwalk is on level 1 outside House of Fraser (I have been walking past it on my way home from work!)

Enjoy and have a lovely weekend
Best Wishes
Fashion Fantasist xx

Flutterby Butterfly

Hello Lovelies,

Sorry it has been so long!!!! As some of you may be aware I have managed to land myself an office job and am only just getting used to the Nine - Five (Thirty!) mentality. But I do have some blog posts planned to make up for my lack of posting (A whole two weeks!!!!)

I have realised that I haven't shared with you my latest wardrobe additions. They are from a few separate shopping trips but all the items slot quite nicely in to my new office work wear wardrobe.

Peach Slouchy Trouser from Miss SelfridgeButterfly Shirt from MangoJumper from Miss Selfridge SalePleat Trim Collar Top from Miss Selfridge - Love this detail!H by Henry Holland Zebra Top from DebenhamsLace Jumper - Topshop Sale

I hope you are all well and enjoying Spring. I promise to have some more blog posts soon!

Best Wishes,
Fashion Fantasist xx

Spined

I am gutted that I am not in Paris as I am missing the launch party for Georgia Hardinge's online shop - I can wait to have a browse as I have fallen once more for her latest collection.Her Autumn Winter 11 collection titled 'Spined' combines architectural style with empowerment and sculptured contours. The prints and fabric manipulation struck me as very animalistic like an insect or fish. But the inspiration comes from the unorthodox and macabre photography of Joel Peter Witkin, combining the morbid concepts of death - destruction, mutation and disfiguration with those of the anatomy. Which I find truly fascinating and from such a disturbing inspiration she has produced some really beautiful pieces.The collection starts off with blacks but then whites and greys are introduced through the strange vein like print. This then changes into whites and nudes with the garments that structured with triangle shaped pleats and slashes. I love those trousers with the fabric manipulation that goes all the way up the legs.I like how the print has been used to create curvaceous shapes along side structured tailored folds, these flatter and accentuate the female form. The strong tailored shapes are teamed with softer and more wearable everyday pieces - I would love a printed maxi dress, dress or top!!!! Materials add to the variation with classic wools, leathers and jersey are brought together with exciting new-technology Neoprene fabrics.All in all I really enjoy this collection and see something new every time I look at the prints - which is something I like very much! I look forward to browsing her online shop which should be fully up and running tomorrow (Sunday 6th March) Please check it out Here!


Enjoy
Fashion Fantasist xx

What's that Brown Owl?

It's Kirsty Ward! Back again on this blog with another wonderful collection. An exciting mix of crystals, metals, sheer voils, sportswear fabrics and mohair. It is a really beautiful collection and it is not hard to believe that she is celebrated as on of the up and coming iconic British designers.Kirsty Ward has continued her exploration of materials and structure by experimenting with texture and layers. Jewellery blends with the garments and creates Kirsty's signature statement looks. The British tradition of Brownies was one of the main inspirations for this collections with their yellow and brown uniforms (which lend to their name) with their badge encrusted sashes. (If you haven't heard of Brownies they are similar to girl guides.... I think? I was never a Brownie. The badges would signify certain skills they had learnt.)
The garments are all about the little special details. On closer inspection will reveal jewellery trapped between layers of fabric, mini hinges act as embellishment and boning inserted at various points adds structure to the most unexpected fabrics. I think this is what makes them so interesting and beautiful.I am so happy to see how well Kirsty is doing!!! She has been hailed by Vogue.com as One of the Designers to Watch 2011. This season she was selected as a One-to-Watch designer at Vauxhall Fashion Scout catwalk show and I am gutted I didn't get the chance to see the show but it is so lovely to have these photographs from the show. Selfridges’ have also invited Kirsty Ward to take part in the Bright Young Things exhibition and they currently stock exclusive pieces from her collection in the store and online.Kirsty Ward is also stocked in Kabiri London and with youngbritishdesigners.comFastening support by YKK. Crystals sponsored by SWAROVSKI ELEMENTSBest Wishes
Fashion Fantasist xx

Switch over to Channel 4 at 8pm!

To watch Gok's Clothes Roadshow which will be in.... Yes you guessed it - Bristol Cabot Circus!!!

As part of the new series, Gok is on a mission to help Britain’s style-starved women and in Bristol he met three lovely - but time poor - ladies, all mental health workers in the city.

Keen cyclers Becky Lambert (32), Tors Johnson (33) and Sarah Fairham (37) had ditched fashion in favour of bike helmets and high-visibility jackets until they received a glamorous makeover from Gok - which culminated in the ladies strutting their stuff on the Cabot Circus catwalk in front of 10,000 people that had gathered to watch the catwalk finale. They look amazing!Gok took on fellow style expert Brix Smith-Start in one of the show’s most popular segments, the high street versus designer face-off. Models were sent down the runway to show off different outfits chosen by Gok - revealing his customisations to high street pieces - and Brix with her exclusive designer collection.Tune into Gok’s Roadshow on Channel 4 tonight 1st March at 8:00pm, to see Cabot Circus in the limelight and find out who comes out on top, Gok or Brix?

Enjoy!! Fashion Fantasist xxx