Press dinner at Selfridges.

Last week I was invited for dinner to announce the arrival of the Watch Gallery’s new store in Selfridges Exchange Square, Manchester.

The immaculate, brand new 1500 sq ft. floor space house's the most exquisite luxury brands, including Audemars Piguet, Chopard and Longines, with three individually dedicated boutiques for Cartier, Breitling and Tag Heur. A total of 12 carefully selected luxury brands will soon be available, making The Watch Gallery the ultimate destination for luxury watch buyers.

 To celebrate the very expensive watches the lovely people over at the Watch Gallery invited myself and 10 others for a dinner at Aubain restaurant in Selfridges to celebrate.
This is what we ate:

We also drank lots of wine and handled £110,000 watches with silk gloves, it was all glamorous for a Monday evening.
 

Feeling very Joan Collins.

- Ends -

Last week I got to road test the a melting honey, hot stone massage at the new Clairns spa in the lower ground floor of Selfridges beauty hall, Exchange Square.












Working in the fashion industry can be extremely stressful (believe it or not), being crouched over your laptop all day, lifting heavy boxes of samples and setting up for events; it all takes its toll. So to keep those niggley back knots at bay, preventing that stress headache and stop your mind being consumed by work thoughts 24/7 I would recommend booking you’re self in for this treatment.

Above image is a model, not me.

Nine marble and slate stones are heated in a ‘caddy’ to a temperature of 40C and are used as an extension of the therapist’s hands to add heat and carry out precise, deep and technical massage movements to specific areas which in turn releases muscular and nervous tension, stimulates the lymphatic system to drain away toxins and restores the body’s energy flow.

This effect is intensified by a melting honey massage gel, rich in deeply relaxing or invigorating aromatic essential oils.

Arh, Bliss!

This massage in particular cost £60 and last for one hour, but the staff on the Clarins counter will offer you alternative packages to suit your budget.

Future Generation Series

University is one of the most life changing experiences any person will ever go through, not just financially but emotionally. During your time at University no one really informs you of the hard facts of what happens after you graduate, or that we’re in a recession and employers in the fashion industry often see work experience as 10 times more important that getting a First.

But, how are you supposed to know this. I certainly didn’t. When I left university the door shut firmly behind me. So I had to throw myself into the big bad world and get a job. Luckily I had done plenty of placements, so as one door shut another one opened, but by no means has it been plain sailing. No one told me that finishing at 6pm doesn’t exist, or that you can actually forget what’s 'in fashion' sometimes when you work in fashion, because you don’t have time to go shopping or read this months issue of Vogue!
So, this spurred me onto create the Future Generation Series, a series of events designed purely for students, graduates and anyone looking to change careers and step into the world of fashion.

Throughout 2012 The Fashion Network will be hosting a calendar of events covering all aspects of the industry, from design, buying, merchandising, e-tail, retail and PR all within seminars. As well as CV workshops, industry guest speakers, recruitment days and career building workshops.

We will be inviting industry experts (who have all been in your position) to come in and talk to you about what it’s really like to work in the fashion industry, dishing out first hand advice on how you can secure that dream job, taking you through the highs and the lows of careers in fashion.

Join me and The Fashion Network team on the Future Generation series as we guide, advise, help and aid you into becoming the fashion industry's Future Generation!"

2011 round up #06: I interviewed designer Holly Fulton:

The British Fashion Council and ELLE Magazine launched the BFC/Elle Talent Launch Pad winner Holly Futon talks to myself and MFNs Jordan McDowell on how Launch Pad is helping further her career.

When: Thursday 7th of April
Where: Hervia Bazzar Elle Talent launch pad..

Hervia Bazzar in Manchester’s Spring Gardens hosted the North West celebration of Elle Magazine’s and The British Fashion Council’s Talent Launch Pad (SEE BLOG POST HERE) 

The event, hosted in the independent boutique, showcased the collections from the two finalists; Holly Fulton and Eudon Choi. Both Fulton and Choi were present at the cocktail party and were in heavy demand from customers and press alike who all wanted their piece of the hottest talent in British fashion.

Jordan and I met with both designers to talk about their collections See our interview with Eudon Choi here, and Holly Fulton below……

J+E: Where did the inspiration for your latest collection come from?

HF: It was inspired by the idea of Joan Collins going on a cruise in the 1960s and so I was thinking about the all encompassing wardrobe that she might need for that.

The thing that I love about Joan Collins is that she has such a total look, so she’ll have the matching earrings, necklace – everything sort of ties in together. It’s a kind of old-school  aesthetic. Almost a 60s couture aesthetic where you would go to Chanel and buy into it at different points:  you would buy the earrings and you would go back for the bag and then you buy the winter coat.

I think having that allegiance to a brand is something that really interests me. So I very much design with a full look in mind.

J+E: Was this something Hervia Bazaar had in mind when hey bought into the collection, considering they’ve also got the accessories in store?

HF: Initially I will design [the accessories] for a set dress, but then the thing about it is when you actually lay them all out you can just pick – everyone picks different things. This kind of works well for me in terms of sales, and also for the stores because then the way they put their looks together is totally different to how it is interpreted in another city.

J+E: Is this the only store you’re available in for the North West region?

HF: I’m in six stores around the country, two are in London and the rest are regional. Cricket in Liverpool is the nearest one to here.

J+E: Will this range be exclusive to Hervia Bazaar or will you be looking towards the bigger department stores like Harvey Nichols, Selfridges?

HF: At the moment it is only in boutiques rather than the Department Store environment, which is quite nice and why events like this are really important because it is nice to meet the staff that are actually selling my clothes. You never know how people are selling your things in a store or how it looks hanging on a rack. That might sound funny, but it is actually quite important.

J+E: Who is your ideal customer, what girl to you envisage when you’re designing?

HF:  I’m always really evasive about this because I don’t really have one. I’ve seen so many people wear it in different ways. Because there are so many options, what with the accessories, you might just see someone wearing tiny earrings or you might see someone giving it the full look. That’s what fascinates me, they way they interpret it with other pieces and with their own style and how they make it work. That’s why I never want to say how I think people should wear it.

J+E: Just going back to the Elle/BFC Talent Launch pad, how has this assisted your brand?

HF: Well obviously they’re throwing events like this, the stores buy us for two seasons. So, you build up a relationship with the stores over that time and you hope it will continue. It has been a valuable process from the start, because we have a link with Elle and they feature us in the magazine. Elle are very very supportive, we get mentoring from them and get insider feedback.

J+E: So they’ve helped you look at your business, less from a design perspective as more as a business?

HF: Yes, once you’ve shown twice you begin to think like that and think that you’re not brand new now and you want to make [designing] into something viable because I’m having a good time doing it and I want it to continue. That’s when you start learning what fits and shapes your customer likes, it isn’t compromising what you’re doing in any way but having an awareness of that is helpful.

Interview conducted by Jordan McDowell and Emma Doyle of www.manchesterfashion.com

Jordan, Holly and Me.

Holly stood with her collection in Hervia

Holly and model

Holly Fulton’s S/S11 collections is available in store at Hervia Bazaar, 40 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 1EN and online at www.herviabazaar.com

2011 round up #05: Elle I interviewed designer Eudon Choi

British Fashion Council and ELLE Magazine Talent Launch Pad winner Eudon Choi talks to myself and MFNs Jordan McDowell on how The Launch Pad is helping further her career.

When: Thursday 7th of April
Where: Hervia Bazzar Elle Talent launch pad..

J + E:  Can just tell us a little bit about the inspiration for the collection?

Eudon Choi: The collection is named Industrial Revolution, funnily enough – being in Manchester! I was a menswear designer before so in my designs there are always menswear elements. Not necessarily androgynous but by using satorial techniques and menswear elements whilst trying to create something quite feminine.

J + E: How has the Elle/BFC Talent launch pad helped you step into the international fashion sphere as a new designer and new business?

EC: It is an amazing platform as a young designer. First of all the BFC offered us the amazing exhibition stand at Somerset House during London Fashion Week. We were also offered the editorial spread in Elle which was really something because as a young designer it is really difficult to score the major publications. It is also really difficult to show the collections to the major buyers, such as Hervia Bazaar. It is incredible to be stocked in such an amazing shop alongside amazing designers.

J + E: What will we see for you in S/S’12?

EC: Well, we just had London Fashion Week and showed A/W’11 and it is a very small business so I control every aspect. So at the moment we’re finalising the order from Paris Fashion Week and then we’ll be busy with the production of A/W’11 so I’m not quite that far ahead yet. Although, as a young designer I think it is important to have consistancy, so it will probably be a continuation of what I am doing now. Masculine elements creating something quite feminine.

I’m actually working quite closely with Natalie Wansbrough-Jones, senior Fashion Editor at Elle Magazine. She has helped be out from day one.

J + E: It must be valuable to work with Natalie as she knows her readers and can mentor your stepping into the industry?

EC: She is also an amazing stylist, I have my own handwriting but she has her own input too.

Interview conducted by Jordan McDowell and Emma Doyle of www.manchesterfashion.com

Me, Eudon and Jordan

Eudon and Model

Eudon Choi’s S/S11 collections is be available in store at Hervia Bazaar, 40 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 1EN and online at www.herviabazaar.com

2011 round up #04: Elle Magazine come to Manchester

Best of 2011 blogs #04: Last year Hervia Bazaar host Elle Talent Launch party and they introduce young British fashion designers Holly Fulton and Eudon Choi to the store and to showcase their latest collections to new customers.

When: 6.30pm Thursday 7th of April
Where: Hervia Bazzar, King Street Manchester
What we ate and drank: Camden Collins and Maple Manhattans

Hervia Bazaar, a luxury independent retailer in Manchester teamed up with the British Fashion Council and Elle Magazine to support up and coming British designers through the BFC/ELLE Talent Launch Pad initiative and to celebrate they held a cocktail party last night in store on Thursday 7th of April.

The New York and London themed party was hosted by Hervia Bazaar to introduce young British fashion designers Holly Fulton and Eudon Choi to the store and to showcase their latest collections to new customers.

The 100 invited guests were treated to cocktails from new stylish Manchester bar The Alchemist whose mixologists devised two fabulous drinks to compliment the theme of the evening, the aptly named Camden Collins and Maple Manhattans went down a storm.

Each designer had a model to showcase their current Spring/Summer 11 collections and their make up was expertly done by Philip at Illamasqua and their hair by the team at Trevor Sorbie in Spring Gardens.

Both Holly Fulton and Eudon Choi’s S/S11 collections available in store at:

Hervia Bazaar, 40 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 1EN OR online at www.herviabazaar.com from

Eudon Choi’s with model

Holly Fulton with model.

Watch a quick video of Elle’s Editor Loraine Candy talk about the Elle launch pad here

Other guest….

Zoe Vaughn Davis, Pr for Hervia (left) and Rosa Safiah Connell Fashion Assistant from Elle.

Brooke Levi Vincent (aka Sophie Wbster) and  Holly Quin-Ankrah (aka Cheryl Gray - Lloyds girlfriend) from Coronation Street.

2011 round up #03: Trade shows

Best of 2011 blogs #03: Trade Show season is always fun and last year Drapers and Stitch threw two parties on the same night, here's what happened... 

February was full on for TFN, not only did we have trade shows to visit we also had an array of parties to attend and as always we take partying just as seriously as working…

So Sunday night was a big night, as the evening was split into the Drapers Indies celebratory party and Stitch party.

First Stop- Drapers Indies Party

When: Sunday 13th February 7-10pm
Where: Kensington Roof Top Gardens
What we drank: Open bar – so pretty much anything you liked. I opted for bottles of Peroni.
What we ate: Mini burgers.

The concept of the evening was to celebrate the Inspiring Independent supplement that Drapers teamed up with Pure to create. Being from a small town I have always been a big advocator of supporting indies, even when I go home now, it’s really a buzz to see Indies standing their own against the highstreet big boys.

So what does make an indie so special? Is this down to location, the buying, the customer service, or the quality control? I’d say probably a combination of all, as no one knits together all the required elements better than an indie and it’s great that Drapers recognised this as they handed the rains over to readers and allowed them to vote for their favourite indie.

On the evening Jessica Brown and Samantha Bleasby (Event Director at Pure) took to the microphone and gave us a count down of the top 10, inspiring Indies- voted for by Drapers readers….

10: Hip – Leeds
9: Oi Polloi – Manchester
8: Start – London EC2
7: The Hambledon – Winchester
6: Present – London E1
5: Sarah Coggles – York
4: Pollyanna – Barnsley
3: Matches – Across London, including Notinghill and Mayfair
2: Dover Street Market – London W1

FIRST: Browns – London W1

Pictures below Jessica Brown and Samantha Bleasley presenting winners Browns with a bouquet of flowers

Some of the guest on the night included….

Zandra Rhodes

Elizabeth Nurse, Sophie Godson, Georgina Nurse from 3;Eleven in Hale, Chesire

Trine Olsen and Zoe Lem, My Sugerland’s.

Alisha Lei of Feathers in Notinghill and Wei Lin of 4th place indie winner Pollyanna

Miss Sixty’s Daniela D’Aveni and Energies Dario Esposito

Adriana Green and Susana Coop from Scarecrow Boutique in Croach End.

Pattrick Jeffries and John Reid of Garment Quarter Bristol with Drapers Ana Santi.

and me and Katrina.

(Pictures from Drapers OTR, for more visit here)

Shortly after 9pm we hailed a cab and headed in the direction of The Den and Centro for Part Two: The Stitch Party

Where:The Den and Centro
When: Sunday 13th February 10pm -3am.
What we drank: Cans of Red stripe (not soley out of choice)
What we ate: Eating’s cheating.

On our way we began to flag, so searching through our Drapers goodie bag we found some energy sweets, which we promptly double dropped for maximum impact.

On arriving at Den and Centro, we were greeted by a some what different vibe than the previous Drapers party, with big hurley bouncers protecting the door, surrounded by smokers puffing away on their Malbrough lights and before we even stepped in the venue we could already feel the vibrations of what was set to be a quality night.

The party was split into two, downstairs Brandon Block was on the decks and upstairs The Hooisers were just coming on stage. So legging it upstairs we managed to pushed our way through to the front to catch the 20 minute set by the Hoosiers.

As the top floor was empted and party goers were hustled down stairs, as New York DJ Arthur Baker took to the decks, the red stripe continued to flow and everyone migrated to the dance floor. Where we danced the night away until 2am when it was time to drag our tired selves back to the hotel and rest up before day two of the trade shows.

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