Katie Rodgers (aka Paper Fashion) started out small: in a country town in America, with a set of watercolors she received from her aunt. She started blogging in 2009, and she’s quickly become everyone’s favorite fashion illustrator. She’s worked with all the major brands: Valentino, Cartier, Kate Spade, Coach, Stuart Weitzman, as well as with important publications such as Elle and Glamour. But enough about her resume – have you seen these illustrations?
Her watercolors are princess-worthy, depicting some of the most beautiful gowns and shoes that ever existed. She often mixes up media to spectacular results, with bobby pins, sequins and rhinestones being no strangers to her sketchbook. Her Instagram account is a dream, a fairy tale filled with dancer-shaped pancakes (!), illustrations in the making and unexpected canvases. We have to say, we wouldn’t mind her painting some Mo-Saique shoes!
Whilst I am absolutely obsessed with heels, Converse latest ad campaign has got me totally hooked and makes me want to get myself another pair!
Converse began in 1908 and have since become ( I believe) the most iconic and loved shoes across the globe…
Below are my favourite ad campaigns, if you happen to be at Old Street Tube Station you can get a real life view…..hope you enjoy them as much as I do x
Meet our favourite designers and artists who are creating the buzz around Merchants in London at The Shop at Bluebird…All images are courtesy of “African fashion luxury concept store Merchants on Long pops up at The Shop at Bluebird”
Have you heard of Limpop before? Well up until the launch of Merchants me neither. It is an eclectic sound influenced by disco, electro beats, funk, reggae and african music…and its fab! The musical talent behind Gazelle, are Xander Ferreira and Nick Matthews who are taking their infamously eclectic sound on global journey and turning the African music scene on its head. Listen to the sound here
I love anything that is pink, so this Springbok cuff was the first thing that stood out. It’s unique, exotic and bold, just like the brand itself. And the most amazing part about the creative directors behind this brand is that they share their knowledge and provide training to aspiring South African artists. Don’t you just love that?
Each perfume is translated into a chapter inspired by travel and experiences.
My favourite is chapter seven inspired by India in summer – A rose accord. Warm sweet honeyed French rose and dark green tuberose throughout. Amazing, you must try it!
‘If I were a boy’ these sneakers would be on my wish list. Apart from being stocked at Merchants, these shoes have also been picked up by Comme de Garcon and Dover Street Market. Take a read at the “About us” page on the Sawa website, just fab!
“The Missoni of Africa” Hanneli said when she described this unique knitwear brand over dinner and I can only agree with her! The inspiration behind the designs is the Xhosa tradition and recollections of coming to manhood. Apparently, there are two styles which are unisex..I definitely need to get my hands on them!
Like Gene Kelly famously sung “I’m Singin’ in the Rain”, these beauties will brighten up your gloomy and rainy days in London..and we all know there are plenty of!
Be sure to pop in and get some of these goodies…open until 16th June, but don’t leave it too late you might regret it.
2nd May 2012: All roads lead to the launch of Merchants in London at the Shop at Bluebird on Kings Road.
We, along with a seriously gorgeous London crowd, including Princess Beatrice and Chelsy Davy attended the launch of Africa’s first pop-up luxury boutique . And what a wonderful event and pop up shop. The boutique showcases the best in old world luxury, innovative designs and re-worked traditional crafts made and sourced from various countries in Africa.
Hanneli Rupert, the brainchild behind Merchants on Long told us that “Merchants on Long aims to bring together the best African brands in London. Africans in Africa run the majority of them and most of them have never been sold outside of the continent before. The pop-up will give Londoners a unique opportunity to see what is happening at the forefront of fashion and design in Africa at the moment. “ We can only second that statement..
Merchants in London will be at The Shop at Bluebird, 350 King’s Road, London SW3 5UU, from 3rd of May to 16th June 2012. Be sure to pop in!
Stay tuned for more on the designers at Merchants in London…until then have peek at the fashionable crowd who came to support Hanneli at her launch event x
All images courtesy of “African fashion luxury concept store Merchants on Long pops up at The Shop at Bluebird”
Happy Families – Turquan & RupertChelsy DavyHanneli Rupert & Princess BeatriceTilly Macalister-Smith and Verity ParkerAngie Rutherford and Mike RutherfordHelen JenningsSerge BetsenEva Sonaike, Simone Bresi-Andoh, Afua DabankaSeriously beautiful guestsBest ever coconut cocktailsTrend watch..oval glassesHanneli Rupert with her new line of Okapi bagWe love the yellow dressKatrina Judd, Tammy Tinker, Ola Wright and Charlotte Hastings
Image courtesy of Getty Images – Vidal Sassoon and Anna Wintour at Selfridges department store – September 2008
Vidal Sassoon, the pioneer of the “the bob” died today in his Los Angeles home aged 84.
The London-born hair stylist started his career as an apprentice in a local barber and from there created the most iconic geometric hair cuts in the 1960’s – the bob and the even shorter five-point cut. Over the years he also developed a range of shampoos, styling products and chain’s of salons.
This is your last chance to see MARCO GLAVIANO: SUPERMODELS which closes this Saturday 24 March at 4pm. This is Glaviano’s first UK exhibition and it’s at one of my favourite galleries: The Little Black Gallery, 13A Park Walk, London SW10 0AJ. This wonderful gallery in the heart of Chelsea has been voted the No 1. emerging art gallery in London by independent sources and definitely worth a visit if you haven’t yet been.
Marco Glaviano is one of the most famous names in the fashion industry, sought after by all the supermodels from Cindy Crawford to Eva Herzigova. He has photographed more than 500 magazine covers for American Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Elle and other leading titles. He has shot campaigns for L’Oreal, Valentino, Revlon, Roberto Cavalli, Giorgio Armani, and Calvin Klein. He has published ten books, and had nine solo exhibitions around the world.
He has been the leading pioneer of digital photography becoming the first to publish a digital photograph in American Vogue in 1982. His photographs are highly collectable and hung in some of the world’s leading museums and private collections. He also designed and founded Pier 59 in New York, still recognised as the most important and well-known photo studio in the world.
One of London’s hidden gems, The Little Black Gallery is a boutique photography gallery which was set up by Tamara Beckwith, Lindsey Carlos Clarke and Ghislain Pascal in November 2008. It is also home to the Bob Carlos Clarke Foundation and has a permanent room of work by the legendary photographer.
Tamara Beckwith is a celebrity who appears regularly on TV and in the press. She is involved with several businesses including Gift Library. She is a collector of photography.
Lindsey Carlos Clarke was a model and married to the legendary photographer Bob Carlos Clarke.
Ghislain Pascal was a celebrity agent and publicist before becoming the agent to the photographer Bob Carlos Clarke. Following the death of Bob Carlos Clarke he now manages The Estate of Bob Carlos Clarke.
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