Chanel Jungles

Looks like that pesky Karl Lagerfield has been copying my paper jungle set design ideas for the Chanel Couture 2015 show! Ok - so they went a small step further. Models walked through what fashion journalist Bridget Foley described as an "Eden of Haute, a bucolic paradise filled with wonders of the flou and flora varieties" underneath the dome of the Grand Palais, Paris. 

As the show started the white paper garden revealed itself to be mechanical, with flowers blossoming open to reveal vibrant colours inside. To top it off they had handsome gardener boys wandering through the set. Now why didn't I think of that! 

Chanel Couture 2015

Olwen Bourke - Paradise Lost Collection 2012

The back drop for my Paradise Lost photo shoot was made by the super talented set designer Sharna Stockdale. Using her trusty scalpel knife Sharna meticulously cut intricate flowers, leaves and palms from white card, and created the most beautiful jungle, complete with a giant crane bird.

Chanel Couture 2015

Olwen Bourke - Paradise Lost Collection 2012

V&A Wedding Dresses

Brides-to-be, or anyone at all interested in fashion should definitely check out the Wedding Dress exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. On display are dresses dating from 1775 up to the present day, including celebrity gowns such as Kate Moss and Gwen Stefani's iconic wedding dresses. 

It's on until 15th March. Well worth a visit!

Love this pink satin wedding dress by Catherine Rayner 

Kate Moss's lovely John Galliano gown. It's amazing to see the craftsmanship of this dress close up. All those tiny sequins swirling into peacock feather motifs.

A very, very very long train! Silk satin Norman Hartnell dress dating from 1933

Being the Bridesmaid

I've just come back from an incredible holiday in Kerala, India and am trying to adjust to the cold and drizzle of London. But I was cheered by the news that i have just been featured on Katie Jenner's Being The Bridesmaid blog - Yay! Read the interview HERE

ICHI

My knitted "web" dress has been featured in ICHI magazine, a new online & print publication focusing on ethical fashion & sustainable brands. 

Normally a silver slip is worn underneath but I'm all for the naked look!

Photography: Vivienne Mok 

Art Direction: Carrie from From A Confined Space 

See the rest of the shoot HERE

Christmas is coming..

My Christmas cards have just arrived back from the printers, woohoo! They're not that Christmassy but glam dresses are a very important part of the festive season, right?! 

Pierre Carr

Lovely feature today on the Pierre Carr blog! 

For those of you who don’t know I love BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing, so I was super excited to find that the programmes former designer Olwen Bourke had set up her own fashion label specialising in unique, handcrafted dresses and jackets for women. Inspired by opulent jungle motifs, feathers, Japanese silkscreen prints and oriental art, Paradise Lost, the first collection under Olwen’s own label, launched in spring 2012 and seems a perfect choice if you are looking for a gorgeous little number in time for all your festive celebrations.

Naming all her outfits after suffragettes who fought for women’s rights and stood for female empowerment. Go Olwen! The Sophia dress featured above showcases a wool body, organza and leather flowers and a tulle skirt. Price £1,660.

Read the rest of the blog post HERE

Provenance

Great to be featured on Provenance today - a site that explores the story behind products, where they are made, who made them etc. The questions we should all be asking! We are on the "Stories" page, hand sewing petals to a skirt! 

Emily sewing handmade flower petals all over a tulle skirt

Petals! All prepared and ready for hand sewing.

The Florence wedding dress

Named after the Irish suffragette Florence Moon who was honorary- secretary of the Connaught Women's Franchise League, an active member of the Women's National Health Association and part of a C.W.F.L deputation which obtained support for women teachers. With the outbreak of war, along with many other Galway suffragettes she became involved in efforts concerning war, such as fund raising and provisions. What a woman!