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Shop to watch: Manolo Blahnik

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If you adore shoes (and lets face it, what woman doesn’t?) then you’ll probably already be a devoted follower of Manolo Blahnik’s exquisite creations. Flattering, feminine and deliciously covetable footwear is his stock in trade. The Spanish designer has lived in Paris and London. After writing for Vogue Italia and showing his collection to Diana Vreeland, the formidable fashionista declared that Blahnik should pour all of his talent into creating shoes. Ossie Clark asked him to design the shoes for his runway show in 1972 and the rest is history.

Trained as an architect, Blahnik’s designs are dainty and whimsical but also have a proper sex-appeal that gives them show-stopping credentials. Plus Blahnik is known for working with a wide  palette of beautiful colours, as well as incorporating different  textures and skins into his designs. The London boutique is a treasure trove but his footwear is easy to snap up online too. Often referenced in popular culture, from songs featuring Manolos by Lady Gaga and Beyonce, to the famous blue silk buckle pumps that Sarah Jessica Parker wore in the Sex and The City film. His shoes are loved on and off the red carpet.

Featured shoes: Manolo Blahnik blue satin pumps

Shop to watch: Burberry Prorsum

Burberry-Prorsum
This London Fashion week, Burberry Prorsum returned to show at our capital marking a return to British design being taken seriously. Christopher Bailey is the man behind this of course and his delightful body con wrap dresses and iconic trench coats have long been a favourite of the fashion pack. The front row was certainly star studded, as a laid back, cool looking Gwyneth Paltrow and a gold sequinned Emma Watson, nestled alongside an Audrey Hepburn-inpsired Victoria Beckham and statement shoe-clad Liv Tyler.

Christopher Bailey’s cool take on the  line has introduced a contemporary fashion edge to this otherwise classic label. The house’s legendary trenchcoats can be bought in a huge selection of cuts, lengths and wonderful colours. The large flagship store for the brand is on the corner of Conduit Street and New Bond Street and has a great selection from the collection. Online, Matches and Browns have a cool selection, especially in terms of simple shapes with the label’s signature twists and sculpting. Look for neautral colours that will become modern classics, whether in snuggly cashmere or seductive silk.Burberry Prorsum superfine cashmere knit and Burberry Prorsum spaghetti strap silk dress

Shop to watch: Browns shoes

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As a girl who is completely obsessed with Browns‘ beautiful and covetable selection of fashion goodies I am also a bit of a fanatic about their shoe collection. Mrs B’s  latest addition to the family-run firm’s stable of iconic multi-brand boutiques was Browns Shoes, which opened in January 2009. Erin Mullaney is the Buying Director there and her taste is simply impeccable. She launched the 12,000 foot shop and placed it just opposite Claridge’s to attract exactly the right sort of crowd (I once saw Jude Law, Kate Moss and Kristin Scott Thomas in Claridge’s bar, all on the same day, so you can imagine the sort of clientele who might be wandering across the street to take a peak at the shoes!)

There is an amazing selection for shoe fetishists from Balenciaga, Rupert Sanderson, Balmain, Lanvin, Azzedine Alaia and Jil Sander. There are contemporary offerings from Rick Owen and Acne, party shoes from Gina, as well as everything you could ever dream of from Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy and Christian Louboutin. There are men’s shoes from Dries Van Noten, and Dior Homme too that are worth a look if the man in your life loves his shoes (almost!) as much as you. In the shop on South Molton Street in London the shoes are displayed in a huge illuminated shelf on one wall, like an art installation. For easy shopping at home the website is great, so get clicking!

Shoes featured (All at Browns, clockwise from top left): Azzedine Alaia suede high heels £380, Christian Louboutin Bretelle strappy shoes £480, Rupert Sanderson patent peep toe pumps (flats) £400, Alejandro Ingelmo metallic platforms now £150, Christian Louboutin Piaf court shoe £330, and the studded Gina Gilda shoe £675,

Shop to watch: Browns

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In this series of regular posts I am going to run through the ultimate best shops in London that have excellent online boutiques. First up is the ultra iconic Browns, which is adored by the fashion pack and A-list alike. Browns is divided into small manageable rooms, which makes shopping an absolute joy. Based on South Molton Street, just by Bond Street tube, it is the brainchild of Joan Burstein who is fondly regarded to in fashion circles as “Mrs B”. Mrs B is often seen as the fairy godmother of fashion buyers to young designers and can be credited with having discovered Alexander McQueen and John Galliano to name but two. Browns was one of the first to stock hip new designer Christopher Kane’s debut collection too.

There is a whole host of fashion goodies to choose from, from classic labels such as Donna Karen, YSL and Jil Sander to more hard to find brands like Rue du Mail and Jonathan Saunders. In fact it is a veritable sweet shop for fashionistas. These are a few of my favourite things available to buy at Browns’ online store. Who can resist this beautiful, and now half price, jade green ruffle neck silk dress? I am also crazy about this Lanvin perfume bottle, topped with a sophisticated doll. It nails that quirky chic fashion look that is ideal for the boudoir.  And just because you know I’m a Marni addict, I had to include this chic clutch.

All from Browns: Marni clutch, ruffle neck silk dress £310 and Lanvin doll perfume bottle £305

Shop to watch: Agent Provocateur

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Now Valentine’s Day may be over, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to put away the sexy undies. Agent Provocateur is the undisputed queen of sexy and still sophisticated underwear and the vintage edge plus a gorgeously covetable selection of sweet nothings makes it my first port of call for re-stocking the underwear draw.

Started in the early nineties by Serena Rees and Joseph Corre (who is the son of Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren) Agent Provocateur can be credited with bringing downright sexy and erotic lingerie out of the closet (so to speak) and into the high street. The shops are chic in black and pink, whilst the staff wear revealing pink nurses uniform to add a dose of very British, Carry On humour.

Kate Moss, Daisy Lowe and Peaches Geldof have all starred in their advertising campaigns and the range also includes some rather lovely beauty products and perfumes. The underwear has a 1940’s retro pin-up air. It’s best for lacy, sexy, flirty pieces that won’t go out of style.

All at Agent Provocateur clockwise from top left: Kiki Kimono, Diamond Dust fragrance, Love basque £185 and Pom Pom Mule


Shop to watch: Matches

  • posted February 23rd, 2010
  • Fashion

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Kate Moss may be moving to Paris, but so long as she’s in London she’s sure to remain a regular at laidback Notting Hill boutique, Matches. Since it’s conception, Matches has become something of an empire, with their online boutique very easy to navigate. I also love the Marches Spy shop, across the road from the Notting Hill Matches. It’s the perfect place to find young quirky designer pieces. There is lots of Marc by Marc Jacobs there too and plenty of the man’s mainline pieces, such as this cute pink leather shoulder bag with this season’s must-have gold studs. It’s perfect for Spring.

Tom and Ruth Chapman’s store specialises in fashion-forward designer pieces but with a typically Notting Hill, slightly boho appeal. These chic Stella McCartney sandals are typical of the Matches’ girl style. In pale gold lurex raffia, they’re made for jetting off to warmer climes, so start booking your holiday right away!

There is also plenty of Diane von Furstenberg to choose from, whether you love her signature wrap dresses or not. Personally I prefer this graphic print shift, which has a draped asymmetric hem and  opulent colours against a classic black background. So chic.

Our favorite finds at Matches: Marc Jacobs pink leather bag £425, Stella McCartney raffia flats £205, Diane von Furstenberg asymmetric draped shift dress £188