Alexa Chung: BFC Young Style Ambassador

Last week the British Fashion Council announced that Alexa Chung had been awarded the position of BFC Young Style Ambassador.

Model, style-writer, presenter, designer and muse, Alexa’s new postion will be to promote British fashion design talent to a global market, joining the already appointed Laura Bailey (the Cultural Ambassador) and Poppy Delevigne (the Young Ambassador.)

Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council said, "we’re delighted to announce this role for Alexa. She is hugely influential in both the fashion industry and to the wider public, who have voted her as winner of the British Style Award at the British Fashion Awards for two years running."

Alexa commented, “I adore fashion and am proud that it's now officially my job to champion those London designers both new and established that inspire me so much.'”

I have always adored Alexa Chung's eclectic style (sometimes tom boy, sometimes dolly – always cool) and I can think of no one better suited and booted for this role.

Below are some of the stunning pictures from Alexa’s recent Elle Magazine cover shoot, photographed by Thomas Schenk, and an all-access, behind-the-scenes video from the day, courtesy of Elle TV.

The Dolce and Gabanna baby blue perspex shoes she wore on the cover are to.die.for. Wannem.

Gwyneth Paltrow Flying High at the Oscars

My favourite look from this year’s Oscars was undoubtedly Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford. Despite Angelina’s left leg trying its best to pull focus, Gwyneth was stunningly statuesque in a white column gown with matching cape. With natural make up and a soft, relaxed ponytail (an unusual red-carpet trend at this year’s awards) Gwyneth looked breathtakingly fresh, modern and elegant amongst the annual swarm of frills and fluff.

Gwyneth revealed, “I saw a pic of Jackie O in a white dress with a cape and it's been a while since anyone's worn a cape, frankly, except for Superman." The picture she described (left) was of Jackie O in the cream chiffon gown and sweeping cape she designed herself and wore to the inaugural ball in 1961.

Coming a close second to Gwyneth was Oscar nominated Michelle Williams (below) always a red carpet favourite of mine, wearing a pomegranate-coral coloured peplum gown by Louis Vuitton. I loved her clashing pink clutch bag, bright pink lips and the adorable diamante bow brooch attached to her waist.

A special style mention should go to Natalie Portman (far left) the picture of timeless elegance, who chose to wear a 1954 Christian Dior vintage couture polka dot gown despite having her choice of every new dress off the runway. Also, the Oscar nominated Rooney Mara (left) who wore a unique, backless Givenchy structured dress with origami folds and lace details – the white gown along with her porcelain skin, deep red lips and blunt, raven hair created a startlingly striking look on the red carpet.

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Right: Cameron Diaz, who rarely ever puts a foot (or Choo) wrong on the red carpet in my opinion, shone in both her contrasting dresses on the big night; a beautiful and shimmering, pale pink Gucci dress for the awards, followed by a dazzlingly bright orange dress by Victoria Beckham for the Vanity Fair party.

L'Odyssée de Cartier

Celebrating its 165th Anniversary, Cartier has released a visually spectacular (and super sparkly) commercial, 'L'Odyssée de Cartier,' which follows the epic, international adventure of an emerald-eyed panther – the iconic muse of the House of Cartier.

Directed by Bruno Aveillan, the no expenses spared, 3.5 minute film took over 2 years to complete and was shot on location in Czechoslovakia, Spain, the Dolomites, and France.

Striking supermodel Shalom Harlow (left) is filmed wearing a show stopping, custom-made, Cartier-red dress created by Chinese fashion designer Yiqing Yinwith.

Cartier’s UK’s executive Chairman Arnaud M.Bamberger explained, "this project has been treated like a real movie… we wanted the best special effects, a big director, an incredible model and props to intertwine with our incredible history… We wanted a movie we would be proud to show to Steven Spielberg.” A real gem.

Mary Katrantzou for Topshop

Greek designer Mary Katrantzou’s beautifully bold and vibrant prints, usually seen on Alexa Chung and Keira Knightley, will soon be available to us all in an exclusive capsule collection she has designed for Topshop.

Available online and in shops from 9am this Friday, the designer has said vivid flower brooches and Qing Lond Dynasty floral motif china have inspired the striking collection.

Prices start at just £40 and go up to £350 for the structured bowl-dress (left.)

Valentines Day Lust List

Many cynics would have us believe that Valentine’s Day is just another sugar-coated celebration designed by Hallmark in an annual bid to make sweethearts spend their life savings… Bar-Hearts-Bug! In fact, it is a historical celebration of Saint Valentine’s romantic martyrdom (a 3rd Century Roman priest who, after Emperor Claudius II had outlawed marriage, continued to unite young lovers and was eventually executed for doing so...) Now, around ONE BILLION Valentine’s Day cards are sent worldwide each year.

So if you innocently, by mistake, just so happen, to leave this page open on your boyfriend or husband's laptop, no one will judge... You're merely honouring a Saint.

"Without Valentine's Day, February would be... well, January."

Above: Breakthrough Fiji Bracelet (15% from this piece goes to Breakthrough Breast Cancer) £115.00 from Monica Vinader, Sexy Panties and Naughty Knickers Monroe Soft Bra, £29.17 at Austique, 1 Dozen Long Stemmed Ecuadorian Valentine's Roses, £69.00 at Only Roses, Tainted Love Set (includes their bestselling lip gloss, a multiple colourstick and a popping pink nailpolish) £44 at Nars, Chloe eau de parfum 50ml, £52.00 at Selfridges

"I fell in love with her courage, her sincerity, and her flaming self-respect, and it's these things I'd believe in even if the whole world indulged in wild suspicions that she wasn't all she should be. I love her and that's the beginning of everything."

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Left: Je t’aime Cushion, £69.50 at Jan Constantine and

Red Love Cushion, £66.50 Jan Constantine

Above: Rosa Mundi Limited Edition Scented Candle, £40 at Diptyque, Love Letters Book, £125 at Smythson, Hummingbird Love Cupcakes, £2.50 each at Hummingbird Bakery, Rose Pebble Soap, £16.00 at Daylesford Organic, Rose Duo Gift Set, £38.00 at REN

Left: Personalised Love Biscuits, £39.50 at Biscuiteers. 8 hand made, personalised , iced chocolate biscuits delivered in a Hearts Tin

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." Charles M. Schulz

Above: Engraved Marano Clutch, £350.00 at Anya Hindmarch.

You can have the clasp of this glittery Anya Hindmarch clutch engraved - a truly memorable gift. Each Marano charmingly has a little dance card tucked into its pocket!

Above: Heart-Shaped Chopping Board, £34.99 at notonthehightstreet.com, Love Love Tea, £4.95 at Harvey Nichols, Blush Sarong (10% from this sarong goes to Coral Conservation) £45.00 from Sophia Rogge, Moët & Chandon ‘Your Love’ Rosé Champagne (includes a gold pen to write a Valentine’s message onto its pink bottle) £47.50 at The Champagne Company, Nice Dream Last Night Mug, £15.95 at Emma Bridgewater

Above: Soft Pink Printed Scarf, £195 at Mulberry, Valentine's Day Macaroons,

£14.10 for 6 (pink grapefruit combined with vanilla) at Laduree

"Love is everything it's cracked up to be... It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk everything, you risk even more."
Erica Jong

Left: Cashmere Bed Socks, £32.00 at The White Company
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"If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?"

Above: Scarlet Cashmere Wristwarmers, £19 (in sale) at Brora, Naughty Cow Travel Kit (includes Lippy Cow Lip Balm, Knackered Cow Bath & Shower Gel,
 Wild Cow Body Lotion, Wild, Horny or Lazy Cow Satin Knickers) £26 at Cowshed, Flamingo Kiss Stripe Tee, £28.00 at Urban Outfitters, 'Rien Que Toi, Moi, Nous' Ring ('Nothing But You, Me, Us') £85.00 at Laura Lee Jewellery, Laurie Silk Chiffon Briefs, £25 (in sale) at Agent Provocateur, Vintage Red Lips Clutch, £295.00 at Lulu Guinness

And remember boys... Nothing says LOVE quite like LOUBOUTINS

Above: Some of the SS'12 Christian Louboutin collection - Swooooon!

Madonna's Lucky Star

Madonna chose to wear customised Markus Lupfer’s S/S’12 Intarsia Jumpers for the cover of her new single ‘Give Me All Your Luvin.’ The designer joked, “It's a star for a star!"

Madonna will debut the song, which features Nicki Minaj and MIA, during American idol on the 2nd February.

Left: This super soft and super pouty Markus Lupfer 'Oversized Smacker Lip Tee' is available just in time for Valentines Day....

RRP. £70.83 at Austique.
 

Alice Temperley's Got Talent

Move over Simon Cowell, Alice Temperley is now searching for Britain’s Next Big Thing…

Each season, the celebrated British designer of all things ethereal, will invite an emerging creative (model/musician/artist/actor) to showcase their talent alongside the latest, and more contemporary Temperely range, Alice By Temperley, collection in a short film which will be shown on their website.

Alice explains, "I am always on the lookout for new talent and love being inspired by unique skills and meeting artisans with passion for their craft… It was appropriate to dedicate space and time to promote emerging talent through the platforms and audiences we have available to us, supporting the future icons."

In conjunction with the launch of the label’s pre A/W’12 collection, the project kicks off with unsigned singer/songwriter, Isabel, whom Alice heard at an impromptu gig at the Glastonbury Cider Bus last summer. Isabel performs her song "Kiss Me Madder" in a romantic music video (below) directed by two of the designer’s siblings, Henry and Matilda, shot in East London, the Golborne Road and the Somerset countryside.

Isabel models some of the pre A/W’12 Alice by Temperley collection in the video and unsurprisingly I’ve fallen for many of the clothes - some of my favourites are below…

If you think you know/are the next (*drum role) Temperley Talent, or are an upcoming artist wishing to display your work in an area of the London or Los Angeles Temperley boutiques, submit your work for consideration by emailing talent@temperleylondon.com

Musical Moment - Lana Del Rey ('Born To Die')

The release of Lana Del Rey’s haunting debut single Video Games last October proved a huge hit with the fash pack; Both Christopher Kane and Emilio de la Morena both used the song in their London Fashion Week shows last Autumn, Antonio Berardi, Moschino and Prabal Gurung have all recently dressed her, and she also performed at Mulberry's SS’12 presentation in New York.

It comes as no surprise then that the blonde beauty, with those lips, has now also been signed to Next Model Management – another big year ahead for Miss LDR.

"Come take a walk on the wild side

Let me kiss you hard in the pouring rain

You like your girls insane..."

Lana Del Rey's 'Born To Die' will be released on January 23rd

Gianni's Muses

Ditte Reffstrup, the creative director of Danish label Gianni (founded in 2000 and launched in the UK last year) has revealed that the label is inspired by four style icons in particular; Audrey Hepburn in ‘Funny Face,’ Jean Seberg in ‘A Bout De Souffle,’ Vanessa Paradis in ‘Be My Baby’ and Kristen Dunst in ‘The Virgin Suicides.’ Ok, you have my attention…

"That's a lot of different influences all in one, but it's what makes it fun to work with," says Ditte Reffstrup "It's also what makes it possible to dress in Ganni from top to bottom without looking like you're only wearing one label.”

Ditte Reffstrup explains that the Gianni look aims at mixing “the best of past icons but tweaked for the modern everyday girls of today,” and the result is simple femininity; floral skirts, slouchy jumpers, well cut trenches paired and Parisian stripey tops...

Gianni will launch a standalone shop in London later this year.