Harnessing with Amelia Stephenson

For my second designer that I chose to collaborate with, I wanted to work with designs that were a little unconventional but yet no less eye-catching and exciting. Cue the work of Amelia Stephenson. 

A contour design student from London, Amelia Stephenson is fast-tracking herself towards a 'lingerie-meets-fashion' forte, and showing that harness' are not just for the dark and dangerous. Using silver chains, elastic, metallic features and leather, the harness' are perfect for when you feel you want to add a bit of a twist to a look - from cotton dresses to jersey basics (have I said already how I love my jersey?), the body accessories that Stephenson creates are the 21st century girl's way to accessorize, and are the girl's best friend when it comes to moving from a day to night style. 

From a design background of Agent Provocateur, Fleur of England, Nichole de Carle and freelance work with start-up brands, it's no surprise that Stephenson herself is working on her own design brand Amelie Louise London, that has an edge of sexiness against delicacy and femininity - a speckle of BDSM to a white shirt, a smidge of leather strapping with a pair of suit trousers, Stephenson brings allure back to styling with attention to detail and an amplified design aesthetic. 

So you've got that hot date coming up and feel like you just can't wear the same old GAP white shirt again? You're looking for something to add to the LBD you've chosen (again) to wear to Cirque? Now is the time to think outside the box and Amelia Louise London is your ticket to beating the norm. 

instagram - @amelielouise.london

email - amelia.stephenson@allingerie.co.uk

London Fashion Week with Tessa Spielhofer

This week, I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity by Jungle Magazine (https://jungle-magazine.co.uk) to contribute to their online journal as London Fashion Week writer - through this opportunity, I also chose to work with two new designers to create a few looks for the week. One designer I was given the opportunity to work with was accessories designer Tessa Spielhofer, and her incredible Davos bag and Nyon bag.

 The first bag I chose to work with was the beautiful Davos bag - this accessory definitely stood out to me as I felt it matched my own personal style - minimal yet with a slight twist, casual but with elements of sophistication.

The bag itself is of an envelope structure, allowing the user to fold the opening to a magnetic secure point, which holds the opening in place until the user intends to open the bag. At the sides, the bag can be used with a removable chain strap, which I found was great for when I had a lot to carry (fashion week note - prepare yourself with the multiple levels of magazines, leaflets, press releases, popcorn and water bottles you'll end up with at the end of the day). It has an incredible sophisticated leather handle across the lower end of the bag which is great to use whilst in clutch form, with golden lion studs - a symbol chosen by creator Tessa as a symbol of strength, a small embodiment of what Tessa sees her ideal customer to be - strong, independent, fiery and brave. My favourite feature inside the bag was a little piece of material that can be used to clip your house keys on - many a time I've turned my bag upside down outside my house door at 9pm trying to find those little pieces of freedom and have just been asking for an easy way to not lose my keys... and this is it.

Now, the combinations of material make this bag, and make it as luxurious as it appears. A combination of leather and python, it screams luxury and indeed, positions itself against other shoulder bags on the market, by being the "cool-girls" go to for a night out at Sketch, to brunch at the Dalloway Terrace. I felt incredibly stylish using this bag for the shows and interview I had lined up for that day and felt that, in a basic outfit of a black T shirt and white jeans, this was the perfect bag to really dress up the look.

For day two, I chose to work with the Nyon bag - I wanted to work with a small bag to take the weight of carrying heavy bags on my shoulder, and this was the best decision I made when it came to choosing an accessory.

For when you're running to get coffee and you only need your keys, cardholder and phone, this is the perfect bag - and it has one secret that not many bags on the market have. A reversible closing flap. With two material pallets of metallic leather and python, and beautiful braiding around the outside of this little treasure, this bag gives a twist to the traditional saddle bag shape - a little something to brighten up a minimal outfit (and I'm a pro of those!). What made this bag for me was the attention to detail in the flap, the idea that the modern woman doesn't want to just own one bag, and does have multiple outfits to work with, and multiple occasions to attend.

It's a bag that gives an opportunity of option to an outfit.

Now, the reason I like to work with new designers is the excitement of discovering new, clever pieces that not everyone has, and discovering how much they can add to my wardrobe or a look that is made up of items that aren't necessarily designer or up-to-date ; it's the opportunity to mix up pieces of old and new and to create an exciting outfit.

For me, discovering Tessa Spielhofer has been a bonus to London Fashion Week and her beautiful accessories definitely deserve attention - for their craftmanship, for the attention to detail, and for the ability of working well with the modern day woman's wardrobe.

tessa spielhofer contact:
instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tspielhofer/
website - https://tessaspielhofer.com/

Pick your Poision.

okay, it's not what you think - I'm not about to write about an 80's movie with american gangsters trying to work out how they're going to kill their boss, well not yet at least. It's 8.23am in London and I've had a particular post on my mind for about a week, something that I feel relates to the majority of women out there. 

Perfume. That little bottle of toxic poison that all women (and men) carry in their day bags to work, their clutch bags to the bar, their oversized travel bags to their family house. The little bottle that defines who you are, what kind of character you are and is one way we send out our mating scent to those around us - well, not in a natural way. It is one of the hugest markets in the world, used by many fashion and cosmetic companies as a way to develop their brand as well as create an identity, all through particular flavours that have certain connotations when different levels of ingredients are combined together. a concoction of tastes, of styles, of aromas that glisten flirtaciously in those little glass bottles on our window sills, waiting to be picked up at the start of the morning as we rush from the shower in our towels, thinking of how we want to look that day. An intelligent play on materialistic want and self representation that no one seems coming until they're out of their front door on their way to work. 

It's incredibly interesting to pull on the factor of what a consumer wishes to portray themselves as when they choose a perfume, and it's a strong mechanism to almost create a lifestyle through a particular scent so that those that feel they can closely relate to the overall image that a perfume creates, will buy into one particular brand and their created aroma. 

Case study 1 - me. 
The best way I can describe this interesting observation is indeed looking at myself. My first ever perfume when I was 16 was Miss Dior Cherie - a small pink glass bottle with a metallic bow around the nozel, that smelt like flowers and strawberries. It was my first ever perfume bought for me from my parents and was, at the point, a good start to what characteristical path I would set myself upon - I was young, naive, finding myself and becoming a young woman.

When I was 18 I bought Dior Poison. Now this transition in scent says it all - the bottle was dark red and black, and the scent was dark and deep, reminding me of cherries and liqourice, and was as strong as poision. It was my way of drawing attention from others around me when I wore it, a scent that stung the noise and made you want to find out more - at this time of my life, I was finding my own identity, and my own style, was discovering what a social life was and indeed, my own independence. 

Now, at 22, I wear Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium. Lighter than Dior Poison with a slightly more floral scent, it is a perfume that combines what I feel, two levels of my character - femininity and softness against a confidence and independence. A mature scent that still is youthful and girly at the same time. 

So when you next pick up that little glass bottle of the shelf in Selfridges, or spray a little something something onto a tester card when you pass the beauty counter on your way home, think to yourself. Why is this little glass bottle of poison attracting me so much? What is it about me that relates to this significant aroma that one brand is trying to sell to me right this minute?