Temperley London is 15 years old

Alice Temperley MBE, a British fashion designer, launched her fashion label Temperley London  in 2000.

It offers two lines; Temperley London and Temperley Bridal. The label is synonymous with easy elegance, unique detailing including intricate hand worked embellishments, use of colour and artisan techniques.

I just came back from checking out it`s sample sale in London`s Music Rooms in Mayfair, where we were greeted with cacophony of colourful dresses, pastel leather jackets, chic skirts as well as accessories and eveningwear – the photos featured in this post are from the sample sale.

There are three Temperley London standalone stores in the UK, including an outlet at Bicester Village. Additionally, you will find it in Dubai and Doha. In 2013 this luxury brand re-launched its ecommerce site.

If you are after relaxed sophistication and artisan flair with a flippant attitude to match, you won`t be disappointed with this truly iconic British brand.

A new Chanel fragrance - Misia

A new Chanel fragrance called Misia smells of violets and powdery notes that bring back memories of sitting at your mother`s or even grandmother`s dressing table. Fear not, this is not an old fashioned scent. The use of a feminine blend of May Rose and its more powerful cousin, Turkish Rose, ensure this is a well-balanced concoction.

 

Misia is part of an array of a well-known collection of perfumes called Les Exclusifs. It is, in fact, their 15^th edition. Developed by a `composer of fragrances` - Olivier Polge- Misia has enough sophistication and uniqueness to become yet another bestseller.

 

So why is it called Misia? Well, Misia Sert, was one of Gabrielle Chanel`s closest friends. Worldly and self-assured, she introduced Chanel to many artists, to chic travel destinations like Venice, and helped Coco mend her broken heart after the untimely death of Boy Capel.  Misia was a great influencer and a catalyst in Coco`s life so no wonder, the house of Chanel reached for that name in order to bring us a stylish eau de toilette that is lively, modern, and fun to wear.

 

 

 

Westfield London Shopping Mall

Designed by Jason Forbes and opened on 30 October 2008, Westfield London is more than just a super-size shopping destination.

 

Apart from hosting over 300 shops, it offers over 60 places to eat and drink.

From Adidas to Juicy Couture…..

…….and from Louis Vuitton to Versace, you will definitely be spoilt for choice here.

It`s retail floor area is a massive 150,000 m² (1.615m ft²), the equivalent of about 30 football pitches.

The Village is where you will find high-end designer boutiques with more than 40 exclusive brands……

….plus a big champagne bar and services associated with any world-class designer shopping destination.

You can easily spend the whole day here, being entertained, amused, and served by a high-quality cinema, salsa and tango lessons, hairdressers, its own concierge service, styling events, fashion launches, electronic innovations, and flowers for every occasion.

It also acts as a perfect meeting place for secret lovers as they can snug on many plush sofas and armchairs.

The development was built by Westfield Construction, over five years. The roof – its most recognisable feature was designed by Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering (Stuttgart, Germany).

Families come with children to eat and play. But above all, the Westfield London caters for the most discerning fashionistas by offering a premier shopping destination and an opportunity to purchase the most stylish and glamorous goods, from high street to high end in one architecturally spectacular space.

Rachel Elbaz Couture Boutique Relocates to Chic Marylebone

Last Friday, Rachel Elbaz, a French couture designer, relocated from her original base in London`s Knightsbridge, where she traded from for the last couple of decades, to chic environ of London`s Marylebone. Her new boutique sits on the doorstep of Mayfair, conveniently close to Selfridges and a salon of renowned colourist Daniel Galvin.

Beautifully balanced collection of glamorous evening gowns, and sophisticated day separates are made up in the Atelier at the premises.

Casablanca-born and Paris-raised designer – pictured here – started her fashion career in the prestigious Balmain couture house.

 

Today, Rachel's designs range from casual to formal evening wear. She uses luxurious fabrics from France and Italy.

Faultlessly tailored dresses and suits for all occasions don`t just have hanger-appeal. They complement busy lifestyles by offering modern silhouettes crafted with precision and attention to detail.

Rachel`s favourites are embellished evening dresses. From romantic to sublimely sculptural, they are a vision of perfection.

My favourite is this sinuous silk top edged with lace.

The designer complements the collection with her own perfume – Dream de Rachel Elbaz – a delicate blend of jasmine, patchouli and amber, made in France`s Grasse region.

She also stocks a range of accessories, made of opulent skins and infused with artisan touches.

5 Shopping Habits of Well-Dressed Women

1) If the item is fabulous, they buy without knowing where to wear it – unique accessories or exquisitely made clothes are worth the investment. If you love something but have no occasion to wear it to, buy it anyway. When the occasion arises, you would thank your lucky stars you have something amazing in your wardrobe.

2) Don`t shy away from `dry clean only` labels – it is a good idea to find/ befriend a good dry cleaner- they save you time and know how to take care of various fabrics and embellishments. And can save a ruined top after it` drank` too much wine or coffee.

3) Get the basics right – the wrong bra can ruin any outfit.  Here, I am wearing the correct underwear - it is not showing under this tight Versace top. Same goes for visible panty lines (!) And let`s not forget that white, fitted t-shirts can complement multitude of skirts, trousers, and shorts.  

 

4) Well dressed women buy in bulk if they find something super-suitable. If something fits so well and makes you look great, buy in every colour it is available in, or even grab a `back up` in the same colour, to have a new version when the original is worn to death.

 

5) Research, research, research – read fashion magazines, look at clothes even if you don`t intend to buy them, try new trends – you never know what you may discover. The antithesis of this attitude is always going for well-known, safe options. As we go through life, our lifestyle changes, our needs and tastes evolve, so why restrict yourself to `same-old, same-old`?

London Fashion Weekend Shopping Extravaganza

London Fashion Weekend, hosted in the magnificent Somerset House, follows in the footsteps of the London Fashion Week. It allows savvy fashionistas the opportunity to grab most coveted designer samples, and merchandise brought in especially for this biggest biannual consumer fashion showcase we have in the UK.

Designer, and some lesser-known brands` shopping is complemented by catwalk shows, skin and makeup advice, and lectures from fashion editors, stylists and trend experts. It is great to see some attendees dressed up exquisitely for the occasion.

It can get hectic here as it is a well-known pop-up shopping spectacular, but the atmosphere is jolly and upbeat.

After all, we are all surrounded by beautiful clothes and accessories and – fired by the perfect visions created during the London Fashion Week –we are ready to flex our cards in return for a dream dress.

This year - as on previous occasions – I happily added to my collection of top designer purchases. The event runs today, and on Sunday, 1 March.

Typical Freaks - London`s Brand to Watch

Typical Freaks is a contemporary fashion brand that I discovered through Fashion Scout during their London Fashion Week`s showcase.

The love of dogs and other animals was behind their Autumn/Winter 2015 collection and influenced the choice of animal-printed tops, made in simple shapes that accentuate the colour and the pattern.

The whole A/W15 collection is colourful, cute and contemporary.

The clothes that shout `happy` and `look at me` have been hand painted by the designers in London.

This brand is definitely the one to watch!