Genny – S/S 2012 COLLECTION

“Everyone remembers Genny as a discreet and sophisticated luxury brand known for its top craftsmanship and artisanal heritage so this first collection respects the house’s tradition. It is designed for working women with multi-occasion agendas that need functional and elegant clothes,” says Gabriele Colangelo.

New life is breathed into the sartorial suit – a Genny staple –  thanks to new cuts on the jacket, made with plush men’s wear fabrics such as grisaille. They are paired with graphic blouses in cotton organdie, silk crepe de chine and muslins, featuring an ethnic-geometric motif.

Male and female, the two souls of the Genny world, come together with rigor and sensuality.
Innovative and exclusive materials developed by Colangelo include a silk and raffia blend that traces a zebra design and a trompe l’oeil print reminiscent of a Kilim carpet.

A dull gold jersey shell, instead, plays tribute to the silver mesh designed by Gianni Versace during his tenure at Genny from 1974 to the early Nineties.

Last but not least, Colangelo developed an ultra-light and summery version of Astrakhan fur with a zebra effect used for pencil skirts, coats, bags and shoes.

My favourite look is this royal blue tribal effect piece which moves away from the neutral tones of the rest of their pieces. The way the silk falls makes no secret of its luxuriousness and the double front; print and plain gives a nod to the colour blocking and prints that were everywhere at the shows this year.

LLLB

Animal World

The catwalks have been alive with pieces taking inspiration from the animal world.

Choose a statement dress borrowed from the animal world this fall …

Add a reptile Print

Incorporate some leopard spots

Cover up with a hunter jacket

and add feathered accessories…

Now go wild!!

LLLB

Kate Continues Links Affair

Official Announcement: Kate Middleton wears Links of London Effervescence Stiletto Earrings at the ARK Gala Dinner

Kate Middleton chose to team her glamourous Jenny Packham dress with our Effervescence Stiletto earrings at Thursday’s Ark Gala Dinner; the Royal couple’s first official public engagement as newly-weds.

Kate stunned crowds at the charity event in a £3,800 Jenny Packman pink blush gown with  hand sewn Swarovski crystals and has become synonymous with wearing Links jewellery to media events, never letting us down with her choice. Seeing as the sales of her Reiss shift dress crashed the website the other week we can expect Jenny to be pleased her gown was the Princesses choice for the event!

LLLB

Up In The Clouds

New Look are always way ahead of the trends in terms of runway looks, wearable pieces and affordable prices.

You’ve probably seen the hip new advert for their summer festival collection for every starlet, siren and stylish young lady out there. Their summer range shows off this seasons must have shoes and wedges to flatteringly cut jeans and key styles of dresses, all hot off the runway. The women’s range includes all styles from the super-chic to artsy bohemian, to vintage women’s clothing and glam rock chick glitz.

Floral blouses and tape yarn cardigans are part of the “Garden Party” trend with white being the dominant shade of the season. Their pieces show you how to team your white unlined blazer with super bright blouses for the perfect Spring workwear.  Key colours include pillar box red, electric blue, bright purple and sunshine yellow…

LIMITED Leather biker jacket £99.99 , Swing cami top £32.99, Gold hoops £0.99 , Denim tie dye hot pants £25.99 – Perfect for showing off your bronzed pins go for that Kate Moss uber cool look.

I love this black cropped string vest £16.99 and heavily embroidered full skirt £49.99 – They go unusually well together!

This Dip back bandeau dress £22.99, Leopard print clutch £12.99 and Brown lace up wedges £22.99 are so feminine our mothers would be proud!

LLLB

Rhinestones, Clutches and Vintage Touches.

“The patina of age merely adds to the beauty of the piece.”

This weeks boutique feature is on Catwalk Creative who have been featured in several publications including Vintage Inspirations Spring 2010 and Spring 2011 from the Vintage Fashion Guild and BBC Homes & Antiques magazine. The site is a maze of ‘vintage-ness’ with collections left right and centre and you really need to rummage around to find some hidden gems like the ones I found below!

Sapphire Crystal and Rhinestone Earrings c.1940’s/1950’s

£85

They are the Kate Middletons of your ears and would look stunning with her Sapphire engagement ring. Wear with a plain outfit to let them shine such as floaty chiffon tops and wrap dresses. They are certain to add glamour to any outfit with the fourteen baguette, clear rhinestones running off the central multi-faceted sapphire crystal stone.

Vintage Sequin and Faux Pearl Clutch Bag

£75.00

This exquisite vintage 60’s clutch bag is a year round wardrobe staple.  Decorated all over with aurora borealis sequins and faux pearls, the detail  looks like its worth much more than the £75 it is priced at.

Gold-Tone Hoop Earrings by Grosse c.1960’s

£45.00

Clip earrings remind me of something my mother would have put in my dressing up box as a child. They look beautifully crafted with “Grosse© 1967 Germany” inscribed in them. This is the maker’s signature for Henkel & Grosse who made jewellery collections for Christian Dior, bearing Dior’s name. I would wear with ethnic inspired prints this summer and little else in terms of accessories.

1980’s Black Faux Leather Envelope Clutch Bag

£15.00

A cheap vintage find, this 80’s envelope clutch bag with wrist handle has a modern touch to it with its simple design. Consequently an ability to work with the most casual of outfits too. 

A Vintage Touch

How to make an old dress outshine the most expensive of outfits with one simple touch…

Attach this dress clip to the part you want to highlight on a garment and jazz up your wardrobe instantly. Dress clips are usually worn in the same way as a brooch. However, with a little imagination, they can be attached to many other items in your existing wardrobe to add instant ‘sparkle’ and interest. Try it on dresses but also hats, scarves, tops and add to chunky neck jewellery to update and individualise your look.

View all things vintage here…

http://www.catwalkcreativevintage.co.uk

LLLB

All You Need Is Love

” Too much of a good thing is wonderful”

Continuing the Battle of the Boutiques, here is another little gem I found!

Free Love Boutique was created by sisters, Joni and Katie Free, opening its doors in October 2005 on the beautiful island of Guernsey.

Each piece from every collection has been individually selected by the girls, who pride themselves on bringing new and exciting labels to Free Love for their valued and loyal customers to enjoy. So, whether it be that little black dress, gorgeous evening gown, sweet summer’s day frock, must-have clutch bag… or the, ‘can’t bear to walk away from’, dream pair of shoes… Free Love holds that something special just for you.

I’ve selected my favourites below!

 

This gorgeous crochet top and printed skirt are perfect for following the summer trend of pastels and feminine style. Show them off with a plain other half such as white trousers or a colour blocked tee and some ‘of the moment’ summer cork wedges.

Pair with: Tea and crumpets.

Darling Willa Top in Taupe £65, Darling Bridgette skirt in Spring Green £49.95.

As seen above, pair this colour block studded dress with a cropped jacket to add a rougher edge. Try a black biker jacket or brown suede style for a different take on the pretty dress.

Pair with: Vampy, kiss me now lips.

Almost Famous Spray Studded Dress in Orange £116.

With its floaty fabric and dainty ruffles, this LBD is the answer to your summer prayers. Light enough to keep cool and stylish enough to stay hot! Pair with bare legs and dainty heels.

Almost Famous Chiffon Pleated collar Dress in Black £122.

 

This large leopard print shoulder bag with patent trim and handles and gold buckle detail would work well with the above blue ruffle dress to add a hint of colour and pattern to a somewhat plain outfit.

Suzy Smith Iridessa Leopard Print Shoulder Bag £75.

This is my all time favourite item from Free Love due to its simplicity and expensive looking design, you can imagine A-Listers strutting the red carpet in it. The nude maxi encapsulates the feminine trend of summer perfectly with the draped fabric and sweetheart neckline.

Wear with: A single row of pearls or gold drop earings. Nothing more, nothing less.

Jarlo Yolanda Maxi Dress £85.

The nautical trend is still as present as ever and with this Henri Lloyd Elena Cardigan in Navy, £78 , you can follow it on through summer and Autumn too.

Wear with: wide legged jeans and a white ruffle top.

Don’t neglect what you think people wont see! Free Love’s ‘Haylie’ chiffon shoe boots in blush are stunning and will show of a great pedicure and glistening tan wonderfully. The peeptoes with sheer rouched upper, featuring a ruffle down the front, are ideal for updating a simple dress this summer, and are perfect for all the summer weddings people are having!

Chinese Laundry Haylie Chiffon Shoes in Blush £80

 

What The Press Are Saying

“Free Love is a must to visit. They stock fabulous dresses and shoes – in fact, I am wearing some right now!”
Dawn Porter, TV Presenter

“the boutique is awash with pieces to delight customers of all ages, shapes and budgets”
The Guernsey Press

“Joni and Katie travel over from Guernsey together to buy from us and are both very professional as well as being extremely charming. Their choices are always spot on.”
Ben Beeby, managing director of Noli

***

Free Love captures a girls dream wardrobe in a few items, from the sheer seduction of the peep toe boots to the elegantly draped maxi dress. Everyone needs a bit of free love in their life. Each item works so well with the next, I’m excited to see what the future holds for the Guernsey girls!

Visit them at

www.freeloveboutique.com

LLLB

A Work Of Art

Fearne Cotton wears the All Over Bow dress to the Glamour awards

Fearne looks stunning at the Glamour awards wearing the Mulberry All Over Bow dress gorgeously with nude platforms, minimal jewellery and sparkling champagne not that much is needed! It’s so gorgeous and unique I can feel my knees giving way at the sight of it! The bows are handmade in five different sizes, starting at the top of the dress and gradually getting bigger as they head towards the hem – perfect for Fearnes little frame. The dress opens and zips up at the left-hand side, which allows the huge floppy bow on the back to stand out against the skin of the wearer – adorable!
FACT: The dress is made of 22 metres of midnight blue 100% silk crepe. The fabric itself is gossamer-fine, but the sheer volume of fabric and the work means that all together, the dress itself weighs a stone!

LLLB

Want to be in my garden gang?

Break out into the world of the garden and all things natural.

Take inspiration from River Island…

The range includes floaty lace pieces in pretty peach colours, low-cut floral dresses and tops for the less endowed, high neck 70’s inspired daisy dresses reminiscent of the Twiggy days and Missoni inspired tribal tunics.

Add a floppy hats and your look will ooze money. LLLB