Issa - Brazilian talent in London

Issa was to be the last womenswear show on the BFC catwalk this London fashion Week. What a wonderful and colourful collection to finale.

The colourful bejewelled turbans were the creative glue that held this collection together. The day dresses made from a variety of exquisite fabrics such as soft silk, jersey, subtle chiffon, handmade lace, embroidered cotton voile and italian matt jersey to protect against the sun were very wearable. I loved the bright Diwali like colour palette of primary red, yellow, blue and bright green pared down with earthy tones reflecting the dusty and faded palaces of India.

I am sure that this collection will be very attractive to Indian buyers as well as the

European market and others.

Issa says of her SS 2011 collection...

" this collection allows the modern woman to have fun clashing colours whilst looking chic and refined in easy to wear dresses for a complete wardrobe to elegantly enhance and flatter her figure."

I hope to write more about Brazilian influence on fashion in London in my LFW diary I am writing for revista b magazine to be published in the next issue.

Photographs Schelay McCarter copyright

Jasper Conran - LFW Sunday 19th Sept

My invitation. A version of this bespoke illustration was recreated as a pattern on one of the 1950 silhouette dresses in his show.

What a lovely man! his group sat near me in the outside coffee area and I plucked up courage to ask if he would mind me taking a photo.

Thank you Jasper for my invite.......

I really enjoyed seeing your wonderful show.

The catwalk auditorium was very full and there was a real buzz in the air. His collection fell into three zones, blacks and white graphic patterns on sheer fabrics such as tulle, textured whites in sexy silhouettes in crisp cotton lace and beautiful embellishments, and then lastly citric brights combined with graphic patterns and whites. The silhouette was 1950s and early 60s inspired, as a result lady like and demure in every way.

I loved it all, but if I had to choose it would have to be some of those gorgeous white dresses, perfect for hot summer days and great for reflecting the heat!

Photographs Schelay McCarter copyright

Basso & Brooke - yesterday morning

Here are talented British Brazilian duo Basso and Brooke, what an inspirational collection. I loved it all. The clean classic lines clearly influenced by the 1960s and early 70s give way to floating, fluid softness.

Though predominantly short length I liked to see some skirt length variation, so an across the board appeal for all occasions can be achieved. The earthy tones and soft dusty pastel palette are shot through with electric details, the bold patterns were cleverly placed so to flatter the contours of the body giving shape and structure. Particularly liked the jump suit shape, very wearable, works well in the riotous Basso and Brooke print.

Basso and Brooke fashion pioneers of digital print have cleverly explored remixing past influences taking us back to the distant analogue past. Using hand written notes from Da Vinci, Tolstoy, Balzac, Saint - Exupery reveal an interest and respect for methods of recording the creative mind pre digital age.

'The overall effect is one of ghostly traces of secret messages, romantic florals and future retro'

A fabulous collection, what more can I say?

Emily a French Journalist I met queuing clutching her Basso and Brooke invitation, we had great seats on the front row opposite Steven Jones.

Alexandra Shulman waiting for her coffee fix. I saw her whilst queuing for the Jasper Conran show.

Photographs Schelay McCarter copyright

Caroline Charles - London fashion Week Friday 17th Sept 2010

Thank you Caroline Charles for inviting me to another of your wonderful shows. A perfect collection for Spring Summer 2011, commercial and very wearable as always, for a woman who wants to be effortlessly stylish and chic. http://www.carolinecharles.co.uk/

Photographs Nik Lodge & Schelay McCarter copyright

Ivana Basilotta web site

Here is the fashion web site for the talented Ivana Basilotta an eco sustainable designer with a wonderful collection for SS2011 which will be on the site in the next few weeks.

I have been working on the design of the site with Nik Lodge of Komotif.

The new design was launched just in time for London Fashion Week.

http://www.ivanabasilotta.co.uk/

Photographer Paul Weaver.

New face - Rebecca Hall

Rebecca Hall has arrived as a potential fashion icon! She is bright and British and daughter of Sir Peter Hall. She has not made the cover of Vogue yet but my prediction is that she will before too long if these photos are any thing to go by. Rebecca has been in two of my two favorite films 'Starter for Ten' with James McAvoy and Vicki Christina Barcelona. Her beauty is not an obvious one however her intelligence really shines through and there is a hint of the girl next door quality.

If I was creative director of Burberry or any of the high profile brands I would be clamoring to get her to represent the brand. Rebecca in these two wonderful photographs taken for British Vogue this Month by Daniel Jackson has a unique quality that stopped me in my tracks - having leafed through the whole magazine in intense detail looking at all the recent brand campaigns and editorial shoots this one small article really jumped out. There is a 1970s Talitha Getty feel about the shots that I really like. I wonder if it was shot on film or digital?

I realize that there will always be demand for the beautiful Bardot like models like Lara Stone but some are so young that they don't know how to connect and communicate through the lens.
I notice that Alice Dellal's edgy but beautiful look is much in demand at the moment 
(09/02/2012)  and since I wrote this post the Hepburn like Arizona Muse has risen in profile.
It is not a surprise Rebecca Hall is so photogenic, she is a superb actress however surprisingly until now hadn't projected quite this same quality onto photographic stills. 
It may be that she is not interested in going the same way of other actresses who promote fashion. Kate Winslet her current Amore Sam Mende's ex wife has been high profile in this area which may explain why?