Eton College Style - British Heritage that has Fashioned the Future

I love this red waist coat with skull and cross bones embellishment worn proudly by this Eton College pupil for Chapel. After choosing the colours and the theme the waist coat was designed by him as reward for winning an inter house competition and made up lovingly for him by his mother...

The Eton Scholar is defined by the black cloak that is worn with the traditional black suit, waistcoat and tails, note the famous Eton collar ....... 

By nature man is tribal, what we wear communicates which tribe we belong to.  Note the stylish tails and long trousers, bought deliberately long, the boys keep them for the duration of their time at the college and their growth is mapped by the eventual length...... 

Eton boys walking to watch 'The Wall Game' in stylish Scottish Tartan quilts. The Tartan was designed by 'Wilson's of Bannockburn' in the 18th Century. 

The house system is reflective of man's motivational need to compete and work as a team.
The house colours are the plumes worn with pride at inter house competitions. These boys are about to compete against a rival Eton College House in the historical Wall Game. 

A haka like display of unity and the boys are off to compete.

This pack mentality is reflected in all Sports many of which if not most were invented by the British....The Wall Game has not been adopted universally - though it probably was the seed that spawned Rugby....

Note the face paint, you go to any Football or Rugby match and the spectators adorn the same proud declaration of clan/tribe /team membership and support.

These stripes have been worn for over 250 years 

The opposition arrive over the Wall in their House colours

The Wall Game, the rival team in orange and purple house colours jump over the wall ready to compete

The house colours mix in as the different teams combine and compete...

Note the spectators stripy socks that reflect their house colours...

Shooting the Competition ! - Eton Rifles but in the form of a Camera ..

Eton College's historical setting...

Practical stylish winter jackets worn here by two sisters of Eton boys...

I really like this blue plaid coat dress worn with black drain pipe jeans and back zip leather boots...

His and her style, classic jeans and practical brown leather knee boots worn with a tweed jacket, hers is unaffected and effortlessly stylish

I didn't spot any Barbour jackets at Eton...this is because no one likes the jacket that has the logo emblazoned on the front, discreet is the order of the day...

His and her style.... I like her tweed jacket and the statement pocket detail at the front

I particularly liked the style of this young lady in the centre, her pleated print skirt worn with a belted cardigan and opaque tights and a black above knee coat looks great...

Love them or hate them the English Public school has had an enormous influence on Mens fashion for Centuries. It is a uniform and genre of fashion that is based on tradition and tribalism. The rest of the world admires and copies....

One may call it a form of elitism but it is in human nature to aspire and it is a need to compete that is the life blood that pumps through every ambitious generations veins.

Testament to this is the fact that the Luxury brand industry headed mainly at the moment by the French in the form of LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) and PPR ( Pinault Printemps Redoute) now the Kering Group is enjoying buoyant sales and share prices.

Our plumes or lack of them reflects our lifestyle, aspirations, status and tribe membership...

Copyright - Schelay McCarter

Words and Photographs Schelay McCarter - Pls credit 

Paul Smith - Glam intrigue Brand Concept 2011

Paul Smith Women's androgynous take on his very successful menswear offering has always intrigued me...There are elements in the collection that draw me in, the styling in always super cool and very seductively makes you want to be a Paul Smith woman. However I have always felt he has missed the fact that women want to look sexy when it comes to his brand campaign photography concepts..... his Catwalk shows convey this expertly...the girls look sexy, sassy and cool...Paul Smith tends to take the photographs on his marketing campaigns - Paul is an iconic figure in fashion moving increasingly into the hallowed stratospheres of Fashion Royalty, his brand is very Rock and Roll....this does not come across in his brand campaigns for women yet in my humble opinion.
For this reason I set my St Martins students a project to tackle this connumdrum. This is what one of them came up with....

To see some of my past Paul Smith catwalk show posts - put Paul Smith in the search box on the bottom right and they will come up.

copy Schelay McCarter

Auraley ( London) - New Luxury children's sleepwear brand for ages 2- 8 yrs

Photographed in August Maisey here is modelling the Isabel nightdress from the new Auraley luxury sleepwear collection on location in fashionable Islington London. The house we used belonged to a TV producer and was on the books of a top location company. As you can see the room has wonderful natural light and a vivid green vine growing up the ornate Victorian balcony railings giving us a perfect backdrop for the shots.

Maisey modelling the Auraley 'Kate' Pyjamas, made from sumptuous soft cotton - £70.00

Poppy waiting patiently for her photo to be taken modelling the next phase of the Auraley collection of rich Autumn colours.

Maisey loved holding this Violin so much it inspired her into to taking lessons....

The Auraley brand shoot takes shape

Maisey practicing her technique for our photographer  

Both Maisey and Freddy previously modelled Burberry S/S 2011/12 children's collection.

The website has a brilliant high res zoom function on all the sleepwear styles so all the high quality and finish detail can been seem before you buy...

Freddy was a real treasure to work with....this is a shot I took to check the styling on the shoot.

The best in children’s Luxury sleepwear.

Launched today Auraley is a beautifully styled, high quality collection of designer childrens' sleepwear using sustainably sourced, wonderfully soft and sumptuous quality fabrics. 

For children age 2- 8, Auraley is the brain child of successful City lawyer, Kate Bennett Rea. Kate had always dreamt of combining her love of creative design with her entrepreneurial spirit.  It occurred to her in 2009, upon the birth of her children, that there was no reason to delay making her dream a reality. The seeds of Kate's vision for a new luxury sleepwear brand for small children started to take shape and germinate over the next three years, culminating in the launch today. 

Like anything worth having it has been a long and at times frustrating journey for Kate in her quest to produce an eco friendly, quality collection for the high end sector of the children's apparel market. 

The label is London based and proud of it. 

High quality manufacturing and styling finish is a fundamental requirement in Kate's vision for the Auraley Childrens' Luxury Sleepwear brand. 

This seasons beautiful Auraley collection is lovingly created by a small, luxury focused manufacturing company based in Europe. Kate is already working with them on a Autumn /Winter 2013 collection to be revealed later in the new year at Bubble London.

I have been involved with the project right from the start working with Kate on the branding vision, Art Direction, project management of the brand and online shop 'buy from' photography and PR.  Website realisation and design by Nik Lodge and Steve Sage. It is wonderful to see Kate realise her dream.....

A full page brand campaign was placed in top children's magazine Angels & Urchins today. 

Auraley will be available for Buyers at the premier Children's clothing fair Bubble London at the Islington Design Centre on the 27th and 28th January next year.

Orders can be taken now from the Auraley website.  

With Christmas and the holiday season around the corner Auraley makes the perfect gift for children to wear on Christmas eve....making the celebration that bit more luxurious and indulgent...

http://www.auraley.com/index.php

Check out The Little style Book where the very best of children's clothing can be found.   

http://www.thelittlestylebook.com/

Prices start at £52.00 

Prague - Dior best Windows in fashionable Parizska street

The key target seller for Christmas these Dior windows make the latest Dior bag seem like an object in an Art Installation not a shop window!

This show cases the bag beautifully 

This is a birds eye view of the original Jewish quarter of Prague City in the Czech Republic. It is also the home of the fashionable Luxury retailers. The equivalent of 5th Ave or Bond Street Parizska street is resident to Prada, Gucci, Dior, Hermes, Louis Vuitton. The best window display by far was Christian Dior's exquisite and simple canvas of retro aero plane set to compliment the colours of this Winters collection and the Dior hand bag in a range of seductive colours.... 

Copy and Photos Schelay - pls credit

Sarah Forsyth's Spring Summer 2013 Accessories Collection...

Sarah Forsyth clutch Bag

Right on trend for S/S 2013 these modern, bright and stylish colour block bags would compliment any Summer suit or dress.

Nearing the far end of Kings Street, Chelsea, sits an intimate retail space. Pristine white walls and perfectly polished finishes make for a sublime backdrop upon which the exquisite fine leathers and exotic skins of independent UK designer Sarah Forsyth's, Spring Summer 2013 handbag collection were showcased to an array of guests, invited to preview the designs on Wednesday the 17th October.

The store which opened last month, proudly hosts a beautiful and striking collection of accessories ranging from both evening and day bags in Lizard, Calves Leather and Lambskin, Vintage inspired purses, patchwork Water Snake clutches, Python skin belts and iPad cases that adorn a carefully restored vintage side table, scattered with candles and issues of Vogue, while studded and fringed mini bags in tones of camel and shade of black, a perfect purchase for the summer festival season lure you toward the back of the shop, whilst the brilliant green and Petrel blue feathered clutch beckons a passer by from the front window. 

The collection is not one for the colour shy, with bolts of electric blue, turquoise, pink and vibrant oranges, juxtaposing metallics and of course, natural skins, but its beautiful play with textiles and textures make it one to buy into, with the idea coming from making the line, previously known as Safor, which launched in 2007, more accessible. The successful attempt at broadening the market demographic is achieved without loss of Sarah's signature direction of simplicity, beauty and versatility.  

It is also worth noting that, every, skin used in Sarah Forsyth's collection of handbags and accoutrements is sourced through CITES, the Convention on International Trade and Endangered Species which ensures they are sustainably curated and ethically sourced. An ideology which today is as important in the eyes of the consumer, as the designer, who's aim is to be 'environmentally aware and sustainable in every aspect of operations from design to delivery'.

The label is available online at www.safor.co.uk, and also promises a Bespoke service. Appointment only. Naturally. 'Where those who demand exclusivity, can have their treasured possession handcrafted' by one of their Italian craftsman and boasts the elusive, white coloured Python bag, priced at  £1200. The bag has been pictured on the arm of Made in Chelsea star, Millie Mackintosh, whom also attended the store's launch, along with fellow cast member and blogger Rosie Fortescue, amongst others.

Thank you to Rachel Anderson one of Fashiontent's guest writers for attending and reviewing this great Sarah Forsyth collection. I love the black clutch bag with the gold buckle....classic styling for the coming Winter Party season...

Photos Rachel Anderson - pls credit

A La Disposition S/S 2013 at LFW ....New Yorkers in London with serious talent...

Daniel Kinne and I talking about the vision for their latest installation of fashion creations....

The invitation to A La Disposition's presentation at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden...

My visit to the Royal Opera House to view A La Disposition's presentation surpassed all my expectations. I like to be surprised. One can form preconceptions about places. To me America has always been a 'play it safe' place, prone to be a slave to the commercial fashion style solution each Season, Donna Karen and Ralph Lauren come to mind. From an Art Direction and Styling point of view American Vogue is blandly dedicated to the conservative fashion option if one compares it with Italian or French Vogue. After taking a walk around the presentation looking at the extraordinary innovative outfits and styles on display I was amazed when I over heard Daniel's American accent...I thought he was English! 
Educated in fashion at the Parsons school in New York city his design partner and wife Lynda whom he met at Parsons have settled in Clapham South London very contentedly with their daughters. He explained that he found New York creatively restrictive and thrives over here in London because there is a freedom of expression and respect for innovation and those who challenge established ways of thinking about pattern cutting....
The collection called Misfit Toys stays true to their iconic trademark of mixing a vintage feel with modern and cutting edge elements. Three dimensional references and highly pixelated prism structures made out of fabric using new pattern cutting techniques in exaggerated silhouettes worked! 
Lynda Kinne is clearly the muse for the collection her blue hair style was replicated on the mannequins in various complimentary dye shades. The 'A La Disposition' woman is Quirky and not afraid to stand out in a crowd. Helena Bonham Carter, Lady Gaga, Florence Welsh, Skin from Skunk Anansie come to mind as perfect clients for this talented duo. Daniel and Lynda have been commissioned  to produce unique outfits for many performance artists they tell me . Their one off pieces are between 700.00 and 3,000 pounds. Frankly if you view them as bespoke art this is not expensive...  
The collection is designed apparently with the intent to refresh classic wardrobe pieces, the repetition of shapes and prism structures which adorn the separate items purpose is to catch the eye. Beautifully made using Linen and Shantung I really liked the voluminous silhouettes that created exaggerated bubble skirts and abstract structural dresses.
The avant Garde works here - the more I looked at the construction and overall effect of this clever collection the more I was struck that those who dare to be different are the winners because they experiment and don't care what other people think...
Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood are part of this 'in crowd' who have found success with their propensity to think outside the box!

sales@aladisposition.com
www.aladisposition.com

Copy Schelay McCarter 

Please credit