American Apparel relaunches Vintage Line

L.A fashion company American Apparel have announced that they are to relaunch their exclusive vintage line California Select after the huge success of the brand since the original launch back in 2007. At present, California Select have sold tens of thousands of vintage pieces both on the marketing website Ebay and in 44 exclusive retailers worldwide. The vintage garments are currently sourced at flea-markets and in out of the way warehouses by the company's buyers to celebrate classical fashion designs and to keep to the company's original trend.

The company will start the relaunch by making a collection of 100 special hand selected items to be available on American Apparel's online store for the first time. The reason behind the launch is California Select's forays in to vintage inspired garments and garments reworked from vintage fabrics and products which is a hybrid of both vintage and new materials and have become important sources in American Apparel's line and as word spreads, more and more people are going crazy for the style.

Speaking about the launch, creative director of American Apparel Iris Alonzo says "We are passionate about and inspired by the unique nature of vintage items here at American Apparel and have amassed a really amazing collection of one-of-a-kind vintage pieces." Alonzo also talks about the difficulties behind the idea: "We decided to switch from the difficult auction platform to our own webstore, not only to showcase our vintage findings to our online shoppers but also to better meet the growing demand for the line." The company's newest vintage styles and one-of-a-kind pieces can now be found at the American Apparel online store.

The New Wedding Dress

At last, the wedding season is upon us and it’s time to sort out that fashion dilemma- your wedding dress! As fashion is moving forward and the trend is to look more ‘individual’ than other people, perhaps you are thinking of having an alternative to the huge, heavy flowing gown which you might have to endure all day in blistering heat! So here is the perfect suggestion for you- the Little White Dress. A little white dress on your wedding day would look just as glamorous as a larger one especially if you choose one with a gorgeous cut, perhaps some added sparkle as is often found on wedding dresses, with maybe a strapless corset-style top with a billowing knee-length skirt.

However, wearing a smaller dress would mean that you would need to use less accessories- perhaps one of each (i.e., necklace, bracelet, ring) and a small tiara rather than a veil to finish it off. If a veil is a must, then choose one that falls just below your shoulders. An excellent reason why the little white dress would be ideal is if you have spent months trimming down and losing weight for your big day- this is a great way to show off your new figure, or if you have a natural hour-glass figure this will really compliment you beautifully.
If you are having just a small wedding with not much fuss, again this really is the way to go. It doesn’t even have to be white- ivory would look just as amazing as it still states ‘wedding’. Fashionable and modern brides are fast becoming more popular than the traditional bride, so it could be little white dresses may be the way forward in to the future- especially as more of us are choosing to marry in hot locations, this would then be the perfect dress you’ll need!

NEWGEN Men- Just Announced!

The British Fashion Council have just announced the top 10 fashion designers who are to show their autumn/winter collections at the London Fashion Week in September. Each designer has also won SS11 sponsorship from British Fashion Council NEWGEN men sponsored by Topshop.

The winners are as follows: On the Catwalk, Christopher Shannon, James Long and JW Anderson. Christopher Shannon is known for his work in menswear with his signature print being re-worked luxe sportswear, overbearing prints and tight coloured palettes, but also designs in a way where he believes "there is something for everyone." James Long has worked for Virginia Bates in New York and London before setting up his own label. James' signature style are leathers, knits, and accessories- mixed and separate, and bold, directional menswear. JW Anderson is known for his more 'unusual' styles, and his design signature includes "things that can be borrowed from a man to a woman and a woman to a man."

The designers doing Presentations are Carolyn Massey, Lou Dalton, and Sibling. Carolyn Massey has always worked in menswear having studied it at the Royal College of Art, and is known for her contemporary clothing which is based on her own roots and being English, with military and detailing playing a big part. Lou Dalton is best known for her shows at London Fashion Week and designs rebellious sportswear that has strong attention to detail. Sibling are more different to the above designers in a way that they focus one thing in particular: knitwear. Sibling launched with a desire to give knitwear for men a kick. Their collections have included Cashmere Twinsets (in sequin leopard) and sparkling Breton, big rat knits, and fox-trimmed, mink-lined parkas. They have played a massive part to the bright and bold designs which men are wearing more of today.

Finally, doing the Installations are Christopher Raeburn, James Small, Katie Eary, and Omar Kashoura. Christopher Raeburn started as a freelance pattern cutter before he set up his own label. He is known for his innovative, functional, and fun designs inspired by the great outdoors. James Small worked with Kim Jones for six years before setting up on his own, with his inspirations for menswear being retired Russian cosmonauts and Victorian Gentlemen. Katie Eary, who has recently launched the first ever fan-funded collection with fashion website Catwalk Genius, worked with Levi's before creating her own label, which includes designs made from bold digital prints and applying them to create glamorous streetwear. Finally, the tenth designer is Omar Kashoura. Omar studied for his BA at London College of Fashion and worked with a couple of design companies before he launched his signature style- directional clothing with intricate details and ways of finishing, definitely masculine with pieces that are fun and beautifully crafted.

So with 10 completely different designers each skilled at totally different aspects of designing, the future of fashion is definitely moving forward.

The Scottish Fashion Awards

The Scottish Fashion Awards have just celebrated their 5th anniversary at one of Scotland's most architecturally renowned buildings, The Glasgow Science Centre. Guests arrived from all over the globe including fashion designers and celebrities from London, New York, Paris, and Milan to celebrate innovation and creativity in Scottish Fashion with leading talents who have proved themselves worthy in the past twelve months.

The most sought-after award was perhaps Scottish Designer of the Year, which was taken home by Jonathan Saunders who is best known for his work with prints and traditional silk-screening techniques, as well as working with Topshop, and Scottish Fashion Award for Young Designer of the Year went to Holly Fulton for the second time. Holly has created her own signature style which includes plenty of geometric patterns on simply cut garments, and the big and bold styles we all love to see. Other awards on the big night included William Chambers getting the Accessory Designer of the Year, Markus Lupfer awarded best International Designer, Scottish Textile Brand of the Year went to went to Angela Cassidy, Scottish Model of the Year was Lisa Omond, Cruise was awarded Retailer of the Year, with Scotland's new face being Terri McGlone. Singer Paolo Nutini became Scotland's new fashion icon.

Founder and Producer of the event Tessa Hartmann said, "Tonight the Scottish Fashion Awards have once more proudly showcased and celebrated the best of the country's fashion talent- talent that can be seen taking over the industry all over the world and in every role- from models to designers, photographers, hair stylists, textile designers and more." She also believes that "Scots are ruling the runways and they're not going anywhere!" After the event, the guests were allowed to indulge in a champagne reception and an awards ceremony at the Imax Theatre, which was then followed by a VIP dinner and an exclusive Swarovski runway show styled by Nathalie Colin, Creative Director of Swarovski in Paris.

Givenchy Couture Quits Runway

French fashion company Givenchy have announced that they will no longer be showing their Couture collections on the catwalk, but instead will be holding private appointments for the press and their clients. The announcement has come just a few months after taking on Riccardo Tisci as their fifth designer in 10 years. Tisci has explained to WWD in an interview with Pierre-Yves Roussel, chief executive officer of LVMH Moet Hennesy Louis Vuitton's fashion division, that the decision to quit the catwalk is not a bid to save money after the recent economic crisis, but to make Couture even more innovative by having their clients experience it first hand. "I want to make Couture even more special than it is, and not just another catwalk show," he explains. "People can then really experience the Couture moment; see it and touch it."

In fact, by showing the collections this way, Tisci believes it would most likely cost about 35 percent more than a runway show. For the designer, this could be ideal since top fashion editor Suzy Menkes described his last "wild rave" of a show "frustrating as just 22 models whizzed by in high speed." With a private showing, Menkes and others will be able to see the designs up close and personal with the models as well.

Tisci has noted who Givenchy's best clients are in preparation for the new format which includes several royals who currently do not attend shows for reasons of privacy and security, but with this it could well change. Riccardo Tisci succeeds a list of designers who have tried their hand at working with Givenchy after the 1995 retirement of founder Hubert de Givenchy, including John Galliano and Alexander McQueen, and with Giles Deacon and Roland Mouret as potential candidates for the job.

Picture: Riccardo Tisci from Givenchy

Ladies Day Hats at Ascot

The Royal Ascot, which is held every year in the summer, plays host to an extra special day during this event- Ladies Day! Traditionally, all the ladies wear their best looking hats in a bid to impress the media for the day. The day is formally known as the 'Gold Cup Meeting', but in recent years has become the focus of fashion instead of racing. It is widely known that Ascot has an extremely strict dress code for the event, with hats being an absolute must as everyone's crown and formal daywear have to be covered up.

Each year we see an array of celebrities turning up in hats that get more outrageous all the time. This year, the strict rules seem to have relaxed slightly as large head pieces or accessories are now passing off as hats. Whilst the Queen looked ever elegant in a traditional-style pink hat with a large purple bow and the outfit to match, the best of them seems to be Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden who looked like she had blue hearts poring out the top of her head while still looking stunning.

It seems that all of the royal family kept it sweet and simple this year, with Princess Beatrice wearing a lacy veiled number and Princess Anne in a sophisticated cream ensemble. A racegoer donned an extremely heavy lego hat with London's top features, ie, Big Ben, whilst another had perhaps the largest heart shaped hat which resembled a box of chocolates and had to be held in place as it was so top-heavy! Such wacky fashions were around every corner you turned, with a large bowl bearing red cheese, a knife and a mouse, a model of a jockey on his horse, a giant cupcake, and even Simon Cowell trying out a giant poppy hat for a laugh! With the trends getting more wilder, who knows what will turn up next year?

Summer Trends to Suit Anyone

This summer the highstreet stores have gone crazy for the latest fashion trends. From tribal florals to garden party, from neon prints to pale pastels, whatever your style, there is plenty to choose from.
Not only have I acquired this knowledge from window shopping but from what the latest fashion magazines are telling me. In this blog i will give you a quick over view on some of my favourite summer trends and how anyone can wear them.

Firstly, this summer everyone has gone crazy for shorts! High-waisted, printed, plain or hotpant denim, legs are the main thing on show

In June's issue of Vogue supermodel Angela Lindvall models an amazing pair of silk Prada palm printed shorts in the Hvana spread (shorts pictured above, far left) but for those of us not earning millions Topshop do a great collection of jersey shorts from palm prints to neon stripes from about £10 upwards. Great to wear with a plain oversized tee and a pair of bright framed sunglasses for the casual summer look.Palm tree prints themselves seem to be a big trend. From the Prada shorts to Peacocks printed vest (£12, as above). But if that's not your kind of look head down the floral department where highstreet stores are bringing out great items from a French Connection smock (£45) to a New Look bodycon dress (£28), both featured in Look magazines June issue. In fact I'm pretty sure most of Miss Selfridges newest summer items all have floral prints which are great for summer parties and evenings out for that extra summery feel.

Now if your more inclined for the tropical feel, look no further then this seasons neon brights. From nail varnish to sunglasses and bathing suits to flip flops, neon colours are a definite must have for any summer occasion.

In June's issue of RED magazine there is a fantastic spread called '100C In The Shade', where the styling (by Tiffany Fraser Steele) screams tropical goddess! Including neon bangles from H&M (£4.99 for a set of 2 in orange and clear) to more expensive items such as a beautiful sequined dress in blues by Emilio Pucci (£2,830, as seen below).

One thing I did see that caught my eye was a pair of plain black Jimmy Choo one strap sandals. Granted black is not the colour of this season but they reminded me of an exact pair I bought not long ago from Primark (£2 as oppose to £95). So comfortable these sandals ranged from black to neon pink, green and orange! Perfect to finish off any outfit maybe with bangles or earrings to match. Or you can never go worng with a bright chunky ring, the bigger and brighter the better! Topshop and H&M are my favourite for these. For the more expensive range or just to get ideas for a new jewellery update, Folli Follie's new K collection brings out the little girl inside me that wants to put on all my mothers costume jewellery and pose for the camera. Perfect for inspirational ideas! (Featured in June's Vogue)

Finally to match all these bold brights and vibrant prints to finish up your summer looks matching make up is a necessity! Whether it's the blue eyeliner to match the blue dress or the pink lips to match the pink shoes, many Hollywood stars have caught onto this trend and I love it! It just seals the deal on your new summer look.

Dannii Minogue shows off her New Range!

X-Factor judge Dannii Minogue has recently launched her new collection called Project D in Selfridges, London. Despite being nearly seven months' pregnant at the time, the star was the main attraction at the launch wearing a glamorous sequined black gown from her new collection, which skimmed nicely over her bump. Project D, which is available to buy now, contains day dresses, cocktail dresses, and evening/red carpet style dresses, with prices starting from £210 to £485.

The collection has been eagerly awaited by many of her fans as it is widely thought that Dannii always comes on top against fellow X-Factor judge Cheryl Cole in the fashion stakes despite not using a stylist herself. The sequined dress which Dannii wore to the launch was clearly not made to be a 'maternity' dress as she has spoken of her amazement that the dress needed no altercation to fit over the bump. "This dress is stretched sequin thankfully so it goes over the bump," she said. "Being pregnant has completely opened my mind to having to really try different shapes and things I haven't worn before." Dannii has worked alongside British designer Tabitha Somerset-Webb, with the result being a huge waiting list for fans to get their hands on the collection. Dannii herself has already worn several of the dresses at different events around and after the launch, so many people already know what to expect and how good it looks on them.

The collection is to be sold exclusively at Selfridges for the first two weeks, and will then start to spread to more stores including Harrods and Harvey Nichols, and online stores ASOS and my-wardrobe.com from then on. Being a new designer doesn't mean that Dannii is to give up her other roles- there have been indications that she will appear in the next series of X-Factor after the July birth, and is currently working on an Autobiography due out in the Autumn.

Debenhams Bans Airbrushing For Ads

Debenhams have revealed to the public that they are against the use of Airbrushing on their models, which would otherwise enhance the models' natural beauty by narrowing the waist, boosting the cleavage, pumping the lips, and creating perfect skin. The reason behind this latest campaign is to help women feel better about themselves as they are, without the need for drastic measures in a bid to look as beautiful as a model.

Debenhams are hoping to show us that we can look good and that we do look good with the right clothing- and to highlight the fact that the girls who we see looking absolutely perfect everyday only look that way because a computer has made them so. The retailer's director of creative and visual Mark Woods commented, "We want to help customers make the most of their beauty without bombarding them with unattainable body images." To help customers become aware of the difference, they have released a 'Before' and 'After' shot of an Airbrushed model to be be displayed side-by-side in the Oxford Street store with the banner, "We've not messed with natural beauty; this image is unairbrushed. What do you think?"

Debenhams aren't the only ones out to show us what's behind the photos- singer Britney Spears has released a 'Before' and 'After' shot of herself to highlight the pressure put on women to look perfect- and so we can now all see that brave Britney has 'wobbly bits' and other imperfections just like the rest of us! In her pictures, her legs were slimmed down considerably, with a smaller waist, thinner thighs, and perfect skin. The back view shows that cellulite was removed, and had a new bum added as well! Many people are in agreement with this campaign- despite the cellulite and uneven skin tone, people believe she looks healthier compared to the airbrushed version, and everyone wants to see more of this- a great way to boost their own self-esteem!

British Fashion Council Names Future Fashion Stars

The British Fashion Council (BFC) have announced who are to be this year's spring/summer fashion stars who they have chosen to present their designs and collections at the London Fashion week which is held in September. This scheme is also known to others as NEWGEN, which was founded in 2003 as a way to spot new talents in fashion designing, and is such a success that they have already helped to launch the careers of Giles Deacon, Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane and Erdem- to name just a few.

Sponsored by Topshop, the NEWGEN award provides funds for the designers to allow them to create and present their designs during London Fashion Week through four different channels: catwalk, presentation, installation, and exhibition.The announced names for the spring/summer 2011 list contain both old NEWGENers such as Holly Fulton, Peter Pilotto, David Koma, and Louise Grey, and several new ones such as Felicity Brown, Chau Har Lee, and Jordan Askill, each skillful in the designing of hand-dyed dresses, sculptural footwear, and conceptual jewellery.

Caroline Rush, Joint Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council, says "NEWGEN is at the heart of the British Fashion Council's talent identification, designer development, and showcasing programme. This season we have a fantastic cross section of exciting, original, and talented emerging designers who we're confident will continue to strengthen London's reputation as a creative capital." The award money that the designers receive is usually between £5,000 and £10,000 and can be awarded to designers for up to four (fashion) seasons providing that they continue to show promise as a top designer such as those already mentioned. They also receive access to sales and marketing support and business advise in partnership with BFC supporters Lloyds TSB, Shoosmiths, and Baker Tilley. The full list of names can be found at www.britishfashioncouncil.com/newgenrecipients.

Picture taken from British Fashion Council.

Galliano Announces Fashion Fringe Finalists

Fashion Fringe's John Galliano has announced the three finalists of the spectacular event held in Covent Gardens, which connects fashion's key constituents and corporate brands using IMG Fashion's global resources, influence and expertise- connecting new designers with the old to help British Fashion remain 'up there' with the other top fashionable countries. The three finalists are Alice Palmer, Corrie Nielson, and Jade Kang for this year's platform at an exclusive party at private members club The Ivy. Amongst the audience on the night of the announcement were fashionistas Kate Moss, Daphne Guinness, Gareth Pugh, Nick Knight, Stephen Jones, and Amanda Harlech, with The Voguettes providing the music.

As Chairperson of the Fashion Fringe, John Galliano's role is to help find and sustain a young, new talent who is great enough to join the list of extreme talents which make London one of the most exciting fashion capitals in the world. Galliano is said to be one of the most original fashion designers of today, making his knowledge and advise the best in the country. However, the event itself was created by Colin McDowell MBE in 2003 in partnership with IMG Fashion. McDowell, fashion historian and Sunday Times Style Contributor, says that he feels the challenge for this year is to reinvent the sense of adventure in London Fashion, and has met with Galliano and other judges to discuss exactly who can bring this about and how.

The three finalists will now spend the next three months working on their collections which are to be showcased at the London Fashion Week in September. They will take part in an intensive mentoring programme with Fashion Fringe providing the funds, the studio space at The London College of Fashion, and the technical assistance they will need to create their designs for their collection.

H! by Henry Holland Reveals New Face For Collection

A new face has been revealed to the public on who is to model designer Henry Holland's brand new swimming collection. Fiona Kennedy was spotted by the designer himself after she entered a competition to have her face included in a one-off print designed by Henry Holland, which is to be used on a scarf and a handbag in the H! autumn range. Henry Holland has said that he was impressed with Fiona's entry, commenting "Fiona caught my eye immediately with her entry for our 'Find A Face' competition. She looks lively, happy and fun so I thought she'd be the perfect girl to represent the new H! range."

The collection includes bikinis and one-piece and cut-out swimsuits which are designed in large floral prints and bright, bold colours, both of which are complemented by sweet dresses and pinafore-style cover up pieces. The H! by Henry Holland high summer swim collection has been specifically designed to appeal to the 17-25-year old generation, and even though Fiona is only 5'4'', Fiona seems the perfect model to advertise the collection. Swimwear buyer Sasha Nagalingham has said that "at 5'4'' Fiona might not meet traditional criteria for a professional model, but she is beautiful; a natural on set and has a great personality- someone the H! customer will really respond to."

Kennedy works as a photographer and a musician, so being in front of the camera rather than behind it started off a bit daunting at first. "On the day I was extremely nervous," says Kennedy, "but after a couple of hours I just let my hair down and got into the swing of things- it ended up being so much fun!" Like all Debenhams' designer collaborations, H! by Henry Holland will be a permanent brand that is House of Holland in the department store, with prices for the new swimwear collection starting from £5-£60.

Jasmine di Milo to Stop Production

Fashion designer Jasmine Al Fyed is closing the doors on her famous fashion label Jasmine di Milo. Jasmine, the daughter of Mohamed Al Fyed, has announced that she wants to quit fashion designing so that she can persue other interests and activities. She launched her fashion career back in 2003 at just 23 years old as part of Harrods' new designers' boutique and has become a huge success with her first catwalk debut in 2006- one year after being noticed at a trade show in 2005. The label Jasmine di Milo already has several celebrity followers, including Anne Hathaway, Sienna Miller, and Thandie Newton, and the label also shows in Paris- the fashion capital of the world. Jasmine is most popular for her twisted corset dresses and Hollywood-style floor length dresses which, despite being last season's trends, is still proving to be extremely stylish today.

A spokesperson for Jasmine di Milo's label is still yet to confirm the news of the closure, but a source close to the label has commented, "The business will be wound down whilst also fulfilling all of its contractual agreements including delivery of the autumn collection." Just last year, Jasmine di Milo launched an ecommerse shop in a bid to become "more accessible, democratic, and global." She quotes also "We wanted to celebrate the women we are designing for by giving her access to the Jasmine di Milo universe and making her a part of the design and direction of the brand." The site offers customers a 'dreambox' where they can save their own wish list for others to see, along with style advise and latest quotes from the designer herself. She also has a childrenswear label but it is not yet known if this will be part of the closure or to stay open for business.

Liberty of London to Launch Menswear Denim Room

One of London's top fashion stores Liberty have announced that they are to launch a denim 'room' in their menswear department. The 'room' will house almost every type of denim that we have seen come and go through the trends- from 1930's Western Style to the designer jeans boom of the 80s; denim has always played a massive part in male dressing for as long as we care to remember. But as times and fashion are changing, with 2010 seeing the Flower Power coming in to London, Liberty have chosen the one key piece that has always remained with us over the decades, denim, to champion the power of love, creativity and rebellion which symbolises our youth.

The new denim 'room' is to open up to the public on August 1st 2010 on the lower ground floor, and will contain eight superior denim brands of our time, each with unique attributes to help the customer to find the perfectly fitted jeans. Some of the famous brands to be included are Acne, Edwin, RRL, Prps and Studio D'Artisan which will be incorporated in to a large bar, and of course the ever popular Levi in Vintage, which will be part of the 'hanging collection' on the shop floor, and will offer a wide variety of denims and chinos. The Flower Power theme is to be incorporated on to the jeans by using the 'grass stain' look, drawing inspiration from greenhouses, garden sheds, and park benches.

Having been around since 1875, Liberty has always been known for their luxury and great fashion designs. Founded by Arthur Liberty, he travelled the world to look for different and individual pieces to inspire and excite his clients. His aim when he started his business was to change the look of both home-wares and fashion to the point where his shop still stands today and is still hugely admired as a top fashion icon today.

Katherine Hamnett Designs Eco-Friendly Swimwear for YOOXYGEN

British designer Katherine Hamnett has designed and launched a new swimwear range for online fashion retailer YOOXYGEN. This is a rather special design- the swimwear is eco-friendly! YOOXYGEN, part of the YOOX group, is popular for being a go green company with many of their clothing and accessories made from either recycled or organic fabrics.

The collection is called 'Save the Sea' and includes bikinis, swimsuits, totebags and beach towels for both Men and Women, and are made entirely from renewable fabrics, organic cotton, and recycled polyester. Some of the pieces are decorated with cute polka dots, whilst others are more plain but bear the 'Save the Sea' logo. There are 14 pieces to the collection altogether, and the prices can be a bit expensive- starting from around £45 but with a percentage of each sale going to charity. The designs of the collection represent an old-fashioned 50's style, whereas Katherine Hamnett's usual style is more 80s. Her style was so fresh and and also successful that many other designers copied Katherine-she was the one responsible for the baggy slogan t-shirts which many of us still wear today as well as leggings, distressed denim, and the crumpled look, and started to make ethical and environmental clothing.

When talking about the swimwear collection, Katherine says, " I have called this collection Save the Sea because the sea that we all love is dying due to the impact of human activities such as oil spills, sewage dumping, industrial pollution, chemical fertilisers and pesticide run-off, lack of fish stock management and over-fishing which can lead to the extinction of different species in the sea." Hopefully, with the help of this new collection, we can all be made aware of the dangers to the sea and start making changes that could help the future!

Forever 21 Breaks into UK Fashion Market

US fashion retailer Forever 21 have just signed a deal to open up its first shop here in the UK, which will mean more serious competition to our own retailers such as River Island and New Look. The store, which is to be the first in Europe, will open up at the Bullring Shopping Centre in Birmingham in July after a deal with the centre's manager, Hammerson. Forever 21 is just as popular in America as our high-street retailers are to us, with a total of 450 stores worldwide, and provides affordable fashion to teens and young adults alike.

It is now understood that Forever 21 decided to choose Birmingham rather than London as its venue as they were attracted to the city's size and young demographics as well as the size of the outlet. The store is said to be immensely popular and will be one of the largest retailer shops in Bullring along with Debenhams and Selfridges, coming in at a whopping 50,000 sq ft. Forever 21 have signed with the Bullring for 15 years in a deal that is worth more than £1million a year, and is also considering the opening of another store in Westfield's new shopping centre in Stratford, London, as well as having their eye on other places including Dublin.

More and more over sea's companies are becoming attracted to the UK as a place for business, as consumers are seen here as 'sophisticated' despite 11.1pc of shops on UK high-streets still remain vacant or available to lease after the recent recession. Forever 21 was founded in Los Angeles back in 1984 by Do Won Chang from South Korea, and its main store now occupies the former Virgin Megastores unit in New York's popular Times Square.

Picture taken from the Forever 21 Website.

A Showcase of Sexy Cars and Pretty Girls!

A spectacular parade of sexy vintage cars carrying eight glamorous girls proceeded through West London last Thursday in grand cars including a Rolls Royce 1927 Phantom 1, and a 1956 Bentley S1 to name a few. The parade was organised by by the French company Lingerie Francais and with the backing of the French Government who have previously staged similar events in Hong Kong and Toronto, with Dubai, Prague, and Ljubjana next on the list. All women absolutely love lingerie fashions- and that was exactly what these girls modelled- designer French Lingerie! The very best of the brands straight from the fashion capital Paris itself- with grand designers Simone Perele, Antinea, Aubade, Chantelle, Passionata and Princess Tam Tam- designer brands all of which offer every woman exactly what she wants when it comes to sexy lingerie!

The parade itself started off at the Hempel Hotel at 9.30am, and stopped at different retail outlets along the way where the models handed out goody bags. They passed the likes of Rigby and Peller, Harrods, and Selfridges before ending up at the Hempel Hotel again for 3.30pm. The event was then nicely rounded off with an exclusive cocktail party at the hotel, purely for the models to have a celebration of the parade and a chat with all of London's top Fashion Editors, Fashionistas and Bloggers who also attended, along with a special guest celebrity Donna Air who also paraded around in lingerie!

The sexy French lingerie that was modelled are available at all the retail department stores at which the parade passed through, so no doubt there was a mad rush after the event for everyone to purchase their favourite piece!

Oasis Launch Paper Dolls Collection

High Street giant Oasis have announced that they have teamed up with two top up-and-coming graduate students to create a new fashion collection in a bid to keep on top of new trends. The collection is called Paper Dolls and is only to be a limited edition range which will mean getting yours in before anyone else! It has been designed with architecture in mind, capturing the different lights, shadows, and tones found distorted on buildings and are made with silk, pleats and embellished detail.

The collection contains different styled dresses such as pleated shoulder silk dresses in a soft palette of dove gray and baby blue, and luxurious peep-toe high-heeled shoes which will truly add a touch of glamour to your wardrobe! Because the range is exclusively limited edition, the pieces can be a bit pricey- starting at £75 for either shoes or a dress, going up to around £130 for the Maxi Dress.

This is not the first Paper Dolls launch- the first came about in November 2009, and was again designed by undergraduate students coming from different universities and colleges across the UK, and was inspired by the catwalk trends of 2009/2010. The two collections differ in the designs- last year's design featured over sized T-shirts and racer back vests with dresses, jackets, and coats drawn on top of the garment literally 'tricking the eye'. The new collection has no drawn garments; only textures and patterns inspired by buildings and architecture. The designers are Jenny Neill from the Edinburgh College of Art, and Claire McInally from Heriot Watt School of Textiles and Design- the pair to keep a look out for!

Bath Spa University Fashion Show

The fashion graduates of 2010 at the Bath Spa University have demonstrated their skills to the public in a catwalk style fashion show. The show took place on May 21st, and they used the stunning backdrop of the restored Octagon Chapel, and featured 15 BA (Hons) fashion designer's collections. There were two catwalk presentations altogether, and it was their final chance to proudly show off this year's final designs to friends, family, and the local press before heading over to the Graduate Fashion Week in London.

The collections were showcased on professional catwalk models from London, and was produced by international show producer John Walford, one of the founders of the Graduate Fashion Week itself and has worked with famous fashion designers such as Vivienne Westwood. Also being showcased is some second year work that has been produced for the new Oxfam boutique in Bath; part of a scheme where one-off designers create garments in second-hand fabric and could not be sold anywhere.

The up-and-coming designers included Jack Duffy with his eclectic pieces that combined random found treasures with recycled fabrics, Naomi Du Toi who combined sophisticated body-conscience shapes with simple patterns and tones taken from nature, Ruth Strugnell who's collection features reworked fabric off-cuts while keeping to clean, tailored lines with a hint of playfulness, and Carly Westcott took on the Menswear challenge by fusing together smart streetwear with extreme outdoor gear worn by hikers and explorers. Course leader Louise Pickles stated that the show was a complete success, "a celebration of the energy, inspiration, dedication, and outstanding achievements of the fashion students and their total commitment over the last three years."

Previous Graduates are now working with top designer brands such as Republic, New Look, Giles, French Connection, and Mulberry.

Giles Deacon Appointed By Ungaro

Paris-based designer label Emanuel Ungaro has announced that British designer Giles Deacon is to become their new creative designer after months of speculation. Deacon is the latest in a series of designers, who have all been hired and fired, to attempt to turn Ungaro around which has been steadily losing money since the 2004 retirement of the company's founder and namesake, and the departure of CEO Mounir Moufarrige, who designed both the men's and women's labels for the company. Since graduating from the Central Saint Martins School of Design, Giles Deacon has earned critical acclaim for his signature label 'GILES' launched in 2004.

Once a favourite of Hollywood, the company has been struggling to attract young customers for some time, and so hired designer Moufarrige in an attempt to rejuvenate the brand. He made his career by turning round suffering labels, and so became president of Ungaro in 2006. However, he struggled to turn this label around with many fruitless attempts at appealing to younger consumers, and so he stepped down last year. General Manager of Ungaro Marie Fournier says about the new designer: "Not only is Giles recognised as a designer with extraordinary talent, he has the gravitas and the sensibility to reinterpret the rich heritage of Ungaro with a contemporary point of view."

Giles Deacon has proved to be a complete success as a designer being known for his playful designs, and his work with high-street retailer New Look. He was employed by fashion houses Bottega Veneta and Gucci. He launched 'GILES' at the 2004 London Fashion Week and subsequently was named 'Best New Designer' at the British Fashion Awards. With so many different awards under his belt, and his work with several different designers on his CV, Giles Deacon could just be the person to turn Ungaro around!

Katie Eary and Catwalk Genius!

Fashion Website Catwalk Genius is getting close to launching the first ever fan-funded collection with designer Katie Eary. The scheme, which is to be funded by the public, gives customers the chance to buy shares in Katie Eary's collection for a share of the profit along with other perks as well!

The designer, who usually specialises in Menswear, has attracted huge critical acclaim since the launch of her first label, and now has many women calling out for her to design Womenswear- female fans include Kate Moss, Lady Gaga, Sienna Miller, and Courtney Love- all of whom have inspired her to create a fan-funded eclectic line of Womenswear for Catwalk Genius. When top fashion magazine Vogue interviewed Katie on the first ever fan-funded collection, she says, "I have been asked by so many many ladies in fashion to hurry up and do a Womenswear collection, and the opportunity crash-landed in my lap!" She also goes on to explain that the Catwalk Genius collection will be taking the main elements from her Autumn/Winter 2010 Menswear collection such as the bold digital prints, and will be applying them to styles more competitively priced than mainline.

Katie Eary studied for her MA at the Royal College of Art in London and only recently graduated in 2008. Already, her designs are causing a storm throughout the fashion industry, being hailed by Selfridges to create head and body pieces for their LFW window display, having celebrities wanting to wear her designs, and is about to present her second show at London Fashion Week when she presents her Spring/Summer 2010 collection in September. Her eccentric bold prints, mixing traditional with streetwear design and eye-catching accessories are described as 'aggressively beautiful'.

Shares are now on sale so if you are interested in financially supporting the collection you can buy them here.