Gwyneth Paltrow Loving The London Look

I am a big fan of Gwyneth Paltrow – of her acting and of her towering high heel collection – and now I hear that Gwyneth Paltrow is a big fan of the London look.

Having lived in London for the last nine years Gwyneth recently revealed in an interview that she has “always felt that London is the capital of the style and street style… You see it filtered down into other cities later on, but I think the girls here dress so well, and there's always a twist or a little quirky thing... I always think I would never put that together, but when you see it on the girl you think wow - that's really clever."

I like her even more now, and after seeing her play the Holly Holiday, the kooky substitute teacher in Glee, I actually didn’t think this was possible...

The Designer Pudsey Collection

The iconic, yellow Pudsey Bear has been given a fashion makeover from 12 of Britain’s designers for Children In Need.

The little furry mascot has been transformed by Giles Deacon, Emma Hill, Jonathan Saunders, Erdem, Henry Holland, PPQ, Liberty, Patrick Grant and Kate Hillier using an array of different fabrics and patterns to create one off bears which will each be auctioned on ebay, helping to raise money for disadvantaged children within the UK.

How cute is this Pudsey on the left?! Designed by Mulberry’s Creative Director, Emma Hill, this bear was hand made in their Somerset factory in the finest Mulberry leather, “He comes in the same Soft Buffalo leather we use for our Alexa bag and his colour is classic Oak with Chocolate paws and mouth - two of the most iconic Mulberry colours!”

The bears are on display at Liberty London and will be there until November 19th.

For more information and links to auction pages click here.

A Very InStyle Miss Piggy

This little piggy went to Jason Wu, this little piggy went to Giles Deacon and this little piggy ran aaaaall the way home... in her Brian Atwood heels.

In the lead up to the release of her new film, ‘The Muppets,’ Miss Piggy has had a fierce, high fashion makeover in American InStyle’s November issue. Wearing custom pieces designed by six hot designers including Jason Wu, Prabal Gurung, Opening Ceremony, Suno, Brian Atwood and Giles & Brother, Miss Piggy looks Hot to Trot...

“Style is about expressing your inner self, capturing your personal ethos, and, most importantly, spending someone else’s money…” said Miss Piggy.

Better start saving up Kerrrrrmieeeeee....

Above: Wearing Prabal Gurung, “I didn’t want to dress Miss Piggy in anything that would take away from her bold personality so I went with a simple, classic dress and neutral colour.”

Above: Wearing Jason Wu, “Her humor, flamboyance and joie de vivre inspired me to design a decadent feathered dress that features her most sensational qualities.”

My Style - Presenter Louise Roe

Louise Roe: Television presenter, fashion journalist, stylist, shoe fanatic...

Having first graced our screens as a glossy cast member on MTV’s The City, Louise Roe fast and fabulously became a regular face on all the most glamourous of red carpets interviewing Hollywood's finest. Covering the recent MTV Movie Awards, VMA’s and EMA’s, co-hosting E!’s live coverage of the Royal Wedding, Louise also presents the MTV reality makeover show ‘Plain Jane,’ where she transforms women, inside and out, with the help of a new wardrobe and confidence-building exercises, in order to surprise their secret crushes.

Alongside her presenting, Louise has designed a range of shoes and jewellery for StylistPick.com, fronted several campaigns over the last few years (stylish and hot – her legs are endless…) and she has somehow managed to find the time to share her fashion wisdom and advice in Elle, Vogue.com, In Style, Glamour, Cosmopolitan… and now with us at The London Chatter!

My Style In 3 Little Words – Bright, 70's, Heels!

This Season Every Gal Needs – Something orange.

My British Fashion Icons (Past & Present) – Princess Diana & Carey Mulligan.

My Favourite Highstreet Store – Jaeger.

My Favourite Boutique – Diptyque.

My Favourite British Designer – Giles Deacon.

At Gunpoint; Bags OR Shoes – Shoes!

My First Fashionista Memory – During my first fashion week while working for Elle, I went backstage at Giles Deacon and interviewed Linda Evangelista.

My Saturday Night Outfit – Leather jeggings from M&S and a burnt orange blazer from Zara.

My Sunday Brunch Outfit – A loose maxi dress and flat sandals.

OMG I Can’t Believe I Wore – A pink puffball skirt, pink fishnets and pixie boots to my sister's birthday… I was in my early teens.

Forget My Last Meal, My Last Outfit Would Be – Leopard print wedges by Giuseppe Zanotti and perhaps a huge, stunning Marchesa gown…Go out in style!

My Style Tip – Wear something because it fits, not because it's cool.

Above: Lou Does Good Shoe


Series 2 of 'Plain Jane' starts on October 19th at 8pm on MTV

Alexa Chung for Madewell

Presenter, DJ and fashion muse Alexa Chung’s first collection for Madewell in 2010 was a sell out hit so her second collaboration as guest designer with the American brand this A/W has everyone very excited – especially me.

I love the way Alexa dresses – part nerdy tomboy, part granny, part 5 year old girl – always modest and understated – always very, very cool.

Alexa’s collection was heavily inspired by girls in bands ‘who live their looks,’ and the seventies and nineties.

Shot in Austin, Texas, with an all American road-trip feel to it, looking dreamily beautiful Alexa models the collection herself.

The collection hits stores in the US (and their website for us guys this side of the pond!) today… Mouses at the ready!!

Matthew Williamson's Macaroons

After seeing his new SS'12 collection this London Fashion Week have you been left lusting after a little Matthew Williamson of your very own? Fear not - This little taster may satisfy your fashionable cravings... For now!

Celebrating London Fashion Week, Parisian macaroon makers Ladurée have undertaken a stylish collaboration with celebrated British designer Matthew Williamson.

The limited edition box – in Matthew’s iconic kaleidoscopic butterfly design – filled with 8 sumptuous, light-as-a-feather, macaroons are available at Ladurée London branches Harrods, Burlington Arcade and Covent Garden until the 26th September.

RRP. £13.40

I got mine from Harrods yesterday...

Mulberry LFW After Show Party

Is it possible to have a pink-lemonade hangover?

9 million people tuned in to watch the return of Downton Abbey on Sunday night… I was not one of them, having received one of Mulberry's inflatable rubber ring invites to their LFW after show party at Claridges.

Following on from their early morning seaside shenanigans, the runway may have been gone but the retro Brighton Pier-esq theme was still out in full force.

There was a mechanical fortune teller (less like BIG’s Zaltar, more like a bodiless, creepy Anna Wintour…) who told me I ‘will be fortunate’ - things had started well! Carousel balloons, pinball and teddy bear grabber machines, slushy margarita’s, mini burgers, fish and chips and ice-cream all had the fabulous fashion crowd in high spirits.

Romola Garai, Fuchsia Sumner and Hayley Atwell were amongst the revelers, as was Twilight’s Kristen Stewart (two times in one day – we must be firm friends by now...?)

Thank you Mulberry!
(And thank you Sky Plus – Downton Abbey tonight!)

Carry On Mulberry - SS'12

What's worth getting up suuuper early for on a Sunday?

An ice cream and pink lemonade breakfast?... Kate Moss?... A diddy liddle dog in a yellow Mulberry raincoat?...

ALL of the above?!

Yup… I JUMPED out of bed yesterday morning...

Considering my friends tease me that I often look sponsored by Mulberry (I own several of their beautiful bags... purses... keyrings... and yes, an oyster card holder...) I was thrilled to receive the quirkly ice-cream wafer invitation (above) to their S/S'12 Show at this London Fashion Week.

Once opened the invitation plays vintage ice-cream van music... LOVE!

After my pink lemonade and early morning brain freeze, I stepped inside Claridge’s on Day 3 of LFW. We were immediately greeted by giant ice-cream cones (above) and hundreds of inflatable wild animal carousel balloons (below) filling the whole entrance to the ballroom.

Creative Director of Mulberry Emma Hill (below centre) said this collection was inspired by memories of the Great British summer of the seventies and a Kiss-Me-Quick chic; ‘Donkey rides on the beach, sticks of rock and the glittering lights of the pier.’

We were soon transported back to this era with a retro, classic British seaside vibe (rain macs and all!) The music (including ‘The Sun Has Got His Hat On’) and the bright neon lights around the stage helped envoke a bygone era of British holidays to Blackpool Pier and Brighton Beach leaving us all feeling very 'Carry On Camping' and 'Ooh... I say!'

The models, with their enormous hair (styled by Sam McKnight and coloured with streaks of green – a hint of chlorine perhaps?!) at first elegantly strutted down the catwalk wearing floaty dresses and pleated skirts in a series of soft sherbet and candy floss shades and bright yellows (so far, so sunny...) but this was soon interspersed with more neutral, sandy and fudgey tones with a spectrum of greens through to midnight navy.

A more relaxed and American sports look soon appeared – hooded baseball jackets and running shorts fused together with a good dose of British practicality; superfine thermals and short rain macs - well, one must always be prepared!

A montage of safari, carousal animals was used on much of the collection - zebras, giraffes and leopards all making up the new, pretty 'Plastic Animal' print.

Eventually, inspired by the neon lit piers, a sparkling succession of gem encrusted, glittering dresses led us to the finale - the magpie inside me could barely contain itself.

Last, but CERTAINLY not least, we had the ever swoonsome Mulberry bags! Alongside the Alexa, Bayswater and Lily having been reworked in bright yellow patent, quilted girly pink, lizard print, and rhinestones, we also met the new girls on the block; the Evelina and the Effie.

Above: Posh Pier Girls - Two of my favourite looks in the collection.
(L) The Long Lace Raglan Dress in Pebbled beige Crepe holding the Cookie Lily
(R) the All Over Gem Dress in Pebbled Beige Double Faced Silk holding the Lily with Patchwork Gems

Snapping the FROW Mulbabes from my seat: (L-R) Kate Moss, Kristen Stewart, Romola Garai, Hayley Atwell, Harley Vera Newton and Laura Bailey.

Some well deserved applause for Emma Hill and her team.