Best foot forward

New in at Topshop and a total snip at just £70, Tink T just loves these oh-so shiny patent platforms.  A fashion fix par excellence ... wear them with chunky knit tights and a long line tunic top for a truly dashing winter look.


www.topshop.com

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

... how lovely are your branches?  Well these in particular, are pretty damn fabulous actually.  Just as you might expect a Galliano Christmas tree to be!

Claridge's have unveiled their second yuletide collaboration with the designer, presenting an 'Under the Sea' inspired offering, resplendent with giant seahorses, colourful jellyfish, silver leaves and glistening coral.

The Christmas tree is open for the public to view until January 5th 2011 at Claridge's Hotel, 49 Brook Street, London W1 (www.claridges.co.uk)

Baby It's Cold Outside

Warnings of the big chill are rife, Scandinavian snow storms are a-coming and they're set to stay.  So, Yes, it's going to be cold, but on the bright side, think of all those fabulous cosy clothes and accessories we can pile on ... 

Centre, Limited Edition Faux Fur Coat, £85, Miss Selfridge. (www.missselfridge.com) Clockwise from top left: Fair Isle scarf £19.99, River Island (www.riverisland.com)  Knitted beanie £16, Topshop (www.topshop.com) Cashmere leg warmers £95, Rag & Bone at www.net-a-porter.com. Thermal shorts £6.99, Uniqlo (www.uniqlo.com/uk)  'Wonderland' Boots £270, KG by Kurt Geiger (www.kurtgeiger.com) Gloves £43, Moschino at www.my-wardrobe.com. 

Best Dressed - This Week

Easily the best dressed starlet of the week was girl de jour, Emma Watson. Stepping out on to the red carpet for the premiere of Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Watson was show-stoppingly beautiful in a lace and feather mini dress by Rafael Lopez for Atelier-Mayer, accessorised to perfection with Solange Azagury-Partridge jewellery. 

Barbour & Alice Temperley - Pure fashion Gold

Classic British heritage brand, Barbour, is hooking up with one of TinkT's all-time, most absolute favourite designers, Alice Temperley, to create a capsule collection of timeless, glamorous classics for Autumn/Winter 2011.

The collection, entitled Barbour Gold Label by Temperley, will take inspiration from Barbour's classic back catalogue of fabrics and designs, and given a Temperley twist to create an undoubtedly feminine and fabulous collection.

Barbour's Managing Director, Steve Buck, says 'Gold Label is new, directional and fresh and we wanted to work with a British designer would could capture this feeling yet still remain true to Barbour's heritage.'  Alice Temperley adds 'Launching a premium line with Barbour, one of my favourite British brands, is a perfect fit for Temperley.  As we plan to celebrate our tenth anniversary in 2011, this collaboration comes at a significant time for our brand and our customers and offers our customers even more to choose from than ever before.'

Excited?  You betcha!

Lanvin for H&M - The highlights

Not set to hit the high street until 23rd November, the Lanvin for H&M collaboration, for now, remains just outside our reach.  So to whet your fashion whistles, TinkT happily brings you a sneak peek at some of the collections highlights.  

Crammed full of Lanvin's signature flourishes, the 48 piece collection is awash with bows and ruffles, while cinched waists, sumptuous satins and antique-ESE lace provides real show stopping glamour.  Add in all the fabulous accessories ... shoes, clutches, hosiery et al ... and what Alber Elbaz delivers is a a dazzling array of head turning, heart stopping gems.  I'll see you in the queue.


From L-R: Faux fur jacket £79.99. Asymmetric ruffle dress £99.99. Double chain necklace £34.99. Shoes £69.99. Chocolate satin ruffle dress £99.99.


www.hm.com

No way baby?!

Now, you may mock .. but this is potentially a very real trend alert ... although not one I'm suggesting you work outside of your own four walls.  The adult one piece is fast becoming a the most snuggle-tastic way to while away a wintry (or hungover) Sunday afternoon.  Norwegian based OnePiece, are the driving force behind this fabulously kitsch trend, pedalling their acid bright, fleece lined wears from their very recently launched website.  Punters thus far include Sadie Frost, Davina McCall and Pixie Geldof ... and quite frankly, I'm not ashamed to admit ... I want one too ... !!!

Prices start from £80 www.onepiece.co.uk

Cream of the Crop

It's nice to see Emma Watson finally getting her elfin crop working for her on the cover of the fabulous December issue of Vogue.  Out Thursday 

Winter Wünderland

Take your winter look from cosy to cool with the addition of a few super kitsch alpine delights ...

Clockwise from top left: Knitted Gilet £60, Next. Gloves £8, Jane Norman. Faux fur trapper hat £22, Topshop. Knitted dress £205, Paul Paul Smith at My Wardrobe. Boots £120, ASOS.com. Bag £40, Accessorize. Scarf £39, Jack Wills. Leggings £14, F&F at Tesco.

Main Picture: D&G Fall 2010/11 (Marcio Madeira/FirstView.com)

Kate Moss - The Final Collection

The final Kate Moss Topshop collection goes on sale tomorrow (instore and online) bringing to an end a three year partnership between the legendary supermodel and the high streets best loved fashion destination.  The collection, as you might expect, is a celebration of Moss's ubiquitous vintage/boho style.  Decade de jour, the Seventies, is also heavily referenced in everything from floral and paisley prints to beading, fringing and embellishment.  This can also been seen in cutesy Peter Pan collars and maxi skirts and dresses.  Some of the the lines early greatest hits also make a reappearance, namely the Pansy print floral tea dress and the backless sequined evening gown.  

www.topshop.com

Booty-licious

Lea boots £160, H by Hudson

Now has come to time to replace old for new.  It's out with last seasons boots and in with some fine and dandy, new season offerings.  Personally I'm favouring some good old fashioned bovver boots and these are my pair of choice.  The H for Hudson Lea boots are a little slice of vintage heaven.  The beaten up, aged and washed leather gives them a well worn look as well as making them comfy as sin.  Perfect for rocking up a pretty day dress or just worn simply with skinny jeans and an oversized top or tee, these are an everyday boot to die for.  

www.hudsonshoes.com

Hermes Pop Ups in LDN

Joining the Pop Up revolution, Hermes is to set up two temporary London stores in November to celebrate its collaboration with the photographer Matt Irwin.  From November 17th to the 25th Hermes will 'pop up' in Shoreditch then head across town, popping up again on the 25th in West London.  

Dedicated to selling the labels classic scarves the stores will be branded J'aime mon Carré (I Love my Scarf) and be staffed by experts who are on hand to educate customers in the apparent 'art' of scarf wearing.  

 

Behind the Scenes - Lanvin for H&M campaign

The hotly anticipated collaboration between the much lauded luxury brand, Lanvin and H&M is but weeks away. Set to launch in UK stores on the 2nd November, H&M have released a teaser for the ad campaign in the form of behind the scenes footage from the shoot. Featuring the model, Natasha Poly, the clothes are pixilated to keep the doubtless divine creations of Alber Elbaz a closely guarded secret till the actual launch.

As is par for the course with all of H&M's recent designer collaborations, you can expect a bun fight of the highest order when the doors fly open on 02 November, however, this may well be one collection worth sharpening your elbows for.

Chrissie Hynde turns Fashion Designer

Rock n' Roll veteran, Chrissie Hynde is branching out from creating music to produce a line of ethical clothing with her bandmate and on/off boyfriend, JP Jones.  The eco-chic range, called Fairground Luck, is firmly pitched at cigarette slim rocky muso types with skinny jeans, beaten tees and faux leather jackets (no animal skins here ... Hynde is a PETA supporter and spokesperson don'tcha know) the order of the day.  There's even a pair of Emmylou Harris inspired cowboy boots ... yee ha.

Hynde and Jones have thus far consulted with Todd Oldham and John Bartlett on the collection, who they say 'are in to it,' but with no launch date confirmed TinkT can only ask that you watch this space ...

The Gina Experience

Luxe shoe brand Gina have unveiled their new online emporium at www.gina.com.  Featuring super stylish, show stopping images, the site is no longer just a platform for their delicious shoe offerings.  Billed as more of an 'experience' the site is now crammed with detailed information on the heritage of the brand, all the latest Gina news (including sales dates) ... you can even watch their latest cinematic efforts or catch up with their recent press coverage.  

For those with the serious intention to spend here, you will be able to click your way to your next Gina purchase as you navigate the various fabric and colourway options before finally viewing your shoe of choice through an intuitive menu of image angles and hi-res zoom options.  We are definitely not in Kansas anymore.

Alexa turns designer for Madewell

Following on from the announcement back in February that fashionista de jour, Alexa Chung, was to take a star turn as guest designer on an exclusive range of clothing for American fashion brand, Madewell, TinkT can now reveal to you a very sizable handful of highlights from the collection

As you might expect from Chung, the collection is heavily vintage inspired and crammed full of graphic, easy to wear separates.  From oversized wool jackets to cutesy tea dresses, sheer shirts and skinny jeans, each piece serves as a highly wearable, style staple that would be a welcome addition to any closet.

Sadly for you Brits, Madewell is currently only available stateside, and get this ... they don't even ship internationally! If you would like to protest at this foul indignation then you can email them, entitling your message 'International' and they will keep you updated on developments here.  

www.madewell.com

H&M for iPhone

H&M has gone and got all techie on us, launching their very own iPhone App which puts the high street fashion destination at your very finger tips.  The App allows you to browse what's in store now, check out their latest campaigns, get all the hottest news and offers ... you can even find your nearest store, no matter where you are in the world .. now that's some clever shit.  And with the 'My H&M' feature you can start your very own payday wishlist and share the looks you love with all your Facebook chums.  Best of all ... it's free, so there's plenty of dollar left to dress yourself fabulous ... You can download your very lovely H&M App here.

Vintage Heaven

There are many ways to spend a sunny day but I can think of none finer than rifling through stall after stall of long forgotten finery and frippery at a good old fashioned flea market.  Whether it's fashion or furniture, knick knacks or bric-a-brac that floats your boat, a day spent in vintage heaven is a day well spent in my book.

But of late I have been left a little jaded by my visits to Portobello, Spitalfields and the like. Having become such iconic tourist destinations, an afternoon browse or meander has now turned into the sort of affair that requires one to be in possession of a pair of the very sharpest of elbows and the steeliest of wills.

So having been told that a little slice of vintage heaven existed just a stones throw from the M25 (about 40mins from London) it was with a little skip in my step that I set off, with my lovely Mum, to breathe the fresh air of the South Downs and take in the IACF's Ardingly show in West Sussex.

To my delight, what I found was nothing short of a gargantuan antiques fair set across the sprawling fields and lanes that make up the Ardingly showground.  No rumbling Westway overhead, just sky ... and me ... on cloud nine!

I think if I had taken a HGV lorry I could have filled it ten times over with the shabby chic offerings from each and every stall.  Eight foot high stacks of antique trunks and suitcases sat alongside the freakishly fabulous, taxidermied delights in their bell jars.  Nineteenth century dressers sat neatly with mid century modern classics and all manner of 'brocante' had made its way from the across the channel, including the most wonderful selection of books, comics, roadsigns, industrial lights and lamps et al.  Fashion-wise there was the usual glut of questionable furs, a whole host of fabulous Mary Jane's, vintage buttons and bags galore plus many an Abigail's Party style dress.

To say I was truly sold on this particular style of treasure hunting would be an understatement.  Never again will I trudge the streets of W11 or EC1 (well maybe not never!) looking for a slice of the retro fabulous as I have found it here, in the rolling hills of the great British countryside.

And not only have I found it here, a little clever TinkT style research has blown this little world of wonder wide open to me.  There are quite literally hundreds of these fairs taking place across the UK and Europe, and I for one am getting involved.  The first weekend in September will see me and the boy hot it foot it across the channel to partake in the famed La Braderie of Lille.  Billed as the biggest flea market in Europe, it is a festival and flea market rolled into one ... Brocante, biere, moules et frites .. happy days!

La Braderie, Lille takes place on 3rd and 4th September 2010.

You got the LOVE

LOVE magazine gets gorgeous for Issue Four as it gives over the cover to no less than eight of the most heavenly of beauties.  With each said to embody female beauty at it's finest we see celebrities as diverse as Agyness Deyn, Gisele Bundchen, Kelly Brook and Lauren Hutton working the camera in a number of different guises.  Seeing Deyn as the the Rebel, Hutton's as the Heroine and Rosie Huntington-Whitely as the Siren ... and so on.  

While it is rare to consider Kelly Brook, in terms of beauty, in the same thought as, say Bundchen or Miranda Kerr, but it the creative genius of editor Katie Grand that brings them together for this, the Gorgeous Issue, as she says that 'to my mind, each of these women are perfect.'

Issue Four of LOVE magazine is available from 23 August 2010

www.thelovemagazinemagazine.co.uk

Daily News - Tuesday 17 August 2010

Grazia for Him

Weekly life and style bible, Grazia, is rumoured to be launching a sibling men's title this coming Autumn.  Just as Grazia has set itself apart from the more celebrity orientated weeklies, TinkT imagines that any men's version of the magazine will fit much the same format, far removed from other men's weeklies such as Nuts and Zoo.  A refreshing change indeed.

Luella puts pen to paper

Returning to her roots as a fashion writer and journalist, the now successful designer, Luella Bartley has penned her very own style notes, 'Luella's Guide to English Fashion.'  Exploring all  the late, great and oh-so quintessentially English aspects of fashion and style, the book features photos, drawings and recalls key fashion moments from the heritage archives. 

Luella's Guide to English Fashion out 14 October 2010.

Roger La Borde's quarter century celebrations

Innovative design and publishing house, Roger La Borde, celebrates 25 years in the industry with a pop up installation at London's Liberty department store.  The event will feature the work of many of La Bordes talented and unique illustrators and will also serve as a showcase for their new, limited edition homeware collection, 'Jubilee.'

Hot to Crop

It's doubtless the 'do' de jour, it's status cemented by Emma Watson's decision to jump on the bandwagon just last week, but the pixie crop is proving to be way more than just a trend.  Watson admitted to wanting to cut her hair for ages, adding 'it's the most liberating thing ever.'  Or in other words "ta-ta Hermoine."  The same can be said of Michelle Williams, moving onwards and upwards from the aftermath of Heath Ledgers death; proving the cut to be a veritable rite of passage for anyone trying to shake the old 'them.'

Where the cut best suits petite, oval shaped faces, that has not stopped Janet Jackson opting for the elfin crop; a style that has left her looking spookily like her brother.

Clockwise from top left: Emma Watson, Carey Mulligan, Renee Zellweger, Janet Jackson, Michelle Williams and Ginnifer Goodwin.

Daily News - Monday 09 August 2010

Victoria Beckham confirms new handbag collection

Victoria Beckham has confirmed rumours that she is set to launch a collection of luxury handbags.  While VB has well earned her fashion credentials with her much lauded clothing range, it is the news that she has collaborated with accessories genius, Katie Hillier, on this collection, that is most exciting.   Having worked her magic at Marc Jacobs, Loewe and Luella (to name but a few) the Hillier/Beckham collaboration is certainly one to watch.  Expect arm candy of the highest order.

Jimmy Choo up for sale?

Rumours are rife that Jimmy Choo owner, Tamara Mellon is to put the eponymous brand up for sale with an estimated price tag of £500million.  Should a sale go ahead it is doubtless that Mellon will go on to other, equally fabulous projects ... watch this space.

Daily News - Thursday 05 August 2010

Baby news for Lily Allen

Lily Allen has confirmed that she is three months pregnant with her boyfriend, Sam Cooper.  The news comes as little surprise, as the 25 year old has often spoken of her wish to 'retire' from music and settle down.  The news and break from music will allow Lily to focus on her soon-to-launch vintage clothing venture, Lucy in Disguise, an effort which she is collaborating on with her sister, Sarah Owen.

Megan Fox new face of ...

Former Transformers star and sexpot de jour, Megan Fox, has been named as the new face of Giorgio Armani Cosmetics.  The newlywed is firm favourite with the fashion house, not only is she a front row stalwart at their runways shows, Fox also chose to wear a stunning Armani Prive gown for her recent wedding to Brian Austin Green and earlier this she year ousted Victoria Beckham as the face of their lingerie campaign earlier this year.  She steals the Cosmetics crown from model of the moment, Lara Stone.

Primark to open second Oxford Street store

Not content with their gargantuan three story, 70,000sq.ft store at the western (Marble Arch) end of Oxford Street, Primark have announced they are to open a second store at the eastern (Tottenham Court Road) end.  The 2007 opening of their first Oxford Street store attracted crowds of over 3000 people, queuing from 2am and required no less than fifty security staff to police the amassed hoards of bargain hunters.  So we're excited about the new opening then ... ?

John Galliano Exhibition

John Galliano is set to be the subject an exhibition at London's Wapping Project.  The exhibition, a showcase of almost forty images taken by London based photographer, Zanna, were taken over a five year period and show the designer to be the theatrical showman who know and love from his on and off the catwalk shenanigans.  Creatively entitled 'Zanna and John Galliano' (!) the exhibition will run from November 4th to December 12th 2010. www.thewappingproject.com

Daily News - Tuesday 02 August 2010

Holly hearts Smythson

Rising star of the British fashion scene, Holly Fulton, has joined forces with luxe stationery brand, Smythson, to deliver a collection of limited edition diaries and notebooks, adorned with illustrations from Fulton's own fair hand.  If the sell out success of Erdem's 2009 collaboration with iconic heritage brand is anything to go by, you'll need to be quick to bag one of the babies!  Available from October 2010. www.smythson.com

David Beckham turns designer?

While rumours are rife that David Beckham is set to launch his very own menswear collection under the umbrella of wife, VB's, already successful fashion label, Tink T can report that this is not the case.  Sources confirm that DB is actually set to launch his own collection of underwear.  Wit woo. 


Updates to follow ...

Daily News - Friday 09 July 2010

House of Fraser set date for Biba relaunch

Following on from their acquisition of the iconic Biba brand in November last year, House of Fraser have today set the launch date for the first collection as 8 September 2010.  Ten in-store Biba boutiques are planned in addition to a online emporium, mybiba.com.  Awash with sixties nostalgia the collection will feature a selection of limited edition maxi dresses, tunic dresses and one very fabulous leopard print maxi coat.  All this AND Daisy Lowe as the 'face of' ... should make for crowd pleaser of a collection.  

Tesco plans standalone fashion store

Plans are afoot at Tesco to take their F&F fashion brand and launch it into standalone stores, the first of which is planned to open in the heart of London's west end.  The F&F stores would be set to rival the like of Primark and New Look.  Asda had the same idea back in 2004 when they launched their George brand into standalone stores, they closed this arm of the business in 2008.

 Updates to follow ...