Sneak Peek at Debenhams SS15 Collection

Debenhams SS15 press day was an wealth of clothes and accessories. Check out some of the highlights.
Designers at Debenhams SS15 included:

Pearce II Fionda

Bodice  heavily embellished with flower appliques and sequins whilst the chiffon skirt has a scattering of flowers and sequins. Price £165

Direct link to Pearce II Fionda at Debenhams

No 1 Jenny Packham

With a nod to the 30s glamour this sequined gown has a touch of the Silver Screen . Art Deco design on the shoulders. Price £199

Direct link to No 1 Jenny Packham at Debenhams

Rocha John Rocha

Monochrome and dropped waist -this dress can transition from day to night. Price £89

http://www.debenhams.com/designers/john-rocha

Principles By Ben de Lisi

Kimono style white Jacket £35 with on trend black culottes £38

Direct link to Principles by Ben de Lisi at Debenhams

Betty Jackson Black

Also with Japanese influence, floral dress with wide Obi belt £49. Teamed with loose black jacket £80.

Edition Range: Preen

Again the Japanese influence with Preen's kimono style vintage floral prints. Price £75

http://www.debenhams.com/designers/betty-jackson

Butterfly by Matthew Williamson

Keeping up the heat is this tropical print maxi in orange and lemon £90

http://www.debenhams.com/designers/matthew-williamson

Debenhams own brands included:

Mantaray

Mantaray is a brand of cool cottons and relaxed style so it does the Bohemian 70s so well. White dress £69 with denim jacket £38

http://www.debenhams.com/mantaray

Red Herring

Debenhams young brand also goes for the on trend 70s look with embroidered blouse £26, military marching band style jacket £45 and jeans £28

http://www.debenhams.com/red-herring

www.debenhams.com

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON SWAPS CATWALK FOR COMMUNITY

Dulux launches Let’s Colour in the UK with a little help from British fashion favourite

After dressing the world's most fashionable people and interiors for the past 15 years, British designer Matthew Williamson has turned his hand to exteriors for the first time to help launch a UK-wide community regeneration project, Let’s Colour.

The celebrated designer donated a striking rainbow design, originally developed for his Summer collection in 2005, to the first of over 200 projects set to happen over the next year as part of the Let’s Colour movement.

The Dulux initiative, which aims to turn grey areas into colourful communities, has already transformed run down communities all over the world, from Rio De Janeiro to Paris, and the Ravensbourne Community Centre in South East London became the first UK project to be transformed from grey to great with the Matthew Williamson design.

As a designer renowned for his use of colour and pattern, Williamson was the ideal choice to help launch Let’s Colour in the UK, and was invited to work to a brief of improving people's lives through colour. He comments: “I’m continually inspired by nature and the rainbow is one of nature’s greatest optical phenomenons. The sighting of a rainbow never fails to bring a smile to people’s faces. They signify optimism and positivity: with them comes the sunshine after the rain.”

Williamson is excited to see his print on a building for the first time: “I’ve only ever used this print as a small-scale repeat on diaphanous silk dresses so I’m very excited to see it translated on to such a large building. I like the juxtaposition of the urban brick building against the brightly coloured rainbows.”

Dulux is donating £1m in funding to positively colour one million lives by 2020 through the Let’s Colour project. It has already brought colour to the streets of India and France and the favelas of Brazil, inspiring people to reclaim their surroundings and regenerate them with a splash of colour. Working hand in hand with community regeneration charity, Groundwork, over 200 projects will be completed around the UK this year, using 60,000 litres of paint and positively impacting the lives of over 350,000 people.

The public can nominate projects, from housing estates to school frontages, to be transformed with colour by visiting www.letscolour.co.uk. Projects nationwide will be selected based on the level of positive emotional and physical change it will bring to people’s lives.

Let's Colour welcomes project nominations from community groups, charities and individuals who have the desire and determination to make a real difference. To find out more or get involved go to www.letscolour.co.uk.

About Let’s Colour

In 2012, the Let's Colour Project is coming to the UK. Supported by the Let's Colour Fund, Dulux will be contributing a percentage of coloured emulsion sales towards this project.  By purchasing colourful Dulux paints, the public can help to transform communities with colour nationwide. The Let's Colour Fund has been established by Dulux with the ambition of positively colouring 1 million lives by 2020. Through believing in the power of colour, the Let's Colour Fund will help in colourfully transforming local communities through various initiatives. For more information visit www.letscolour.co.uk

About Groundwork

Groundwork is the community charity with a green heart.  We want places to look better, streets to be safer and outside areas to be green and beautiful.  We want people of all ages to actively get involved  and  come together to make the best of where they live.  We want to improve job prospects by offering training and employment opportunities.  We want to show people how they can make their homes and workplaces better for the environment and cheaper to run. Above all we want  communities to play a part in changing their local area for the better and enjoy the benefits from their hard work for many years to come.

www.groundwork.org.uk

Fragrance 4711 Collaborated with Matthew Williamson AW12 at London Fashion Week

To celebrate its 220^th anniversary, the iconic fragrance 4711 sponsored the Matthew Williamson  AW12 show at the Royal Opera House, London.

It is a very modern take for a designer to have a fragrance as a lead sponsor and this is why 4711 was the perfect partner for the show, taking the best from the past whilst looking to the future.

Matthew Williamson with 4711

Dreamy floaty silhouettes were central to the collection in signature golds, blues and shades of orange. His infamous prints were the perfect marriage between old and new. 

The show was full of opulence and grandeur and resonated in the 4711 ‘bremer blue’ iconic design and fragrance. Blue lights washed over the runway at the Royal Opera House and reflected the stunning mirrored orangery.

4711 is available from Boots/ Fortnum and mason/ www.urbanretreat.com and www.escentual.com

Images provided by Kipatrick PR 

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON’S FIRST BRIDAL COLLECTION

The air was charged with excitement as we queued to view the catwalk show of Matthew Williamson’s first bridal wear collection at the White Gallery event in Battersea Park.

Taking inspiration from the iconic styles of his past ready to wear collections, there was not a meringue in sight – here it was more about the flowing carefree luxury bohemian look.

Some of the gowns you could imagine being worn for a sun kissed paradise beach wedding with the ivory feathers or waterfall ruffles embellished on the skirts dancing lightly in the cool sea breeze.

The column shaped skirt of a floor length ivory gown is embellished with hand sewn ostrich feathers and its structured strapless corset top is softened with diaphanous silk tulle across one shoulder and ruched around the waist.

Williamson has also created a shorter cocktail dress in the same style for maybe the bridesmaids or a perhaps a bride preferring a romantic stroll close to the water’s edge.

Another great beach style is the long ivory silk georgette gown with its soft waterfall ruffle skirt and plunging v neckline embellished on one side with a line of ruffles. Despite the plunging neckline, this gown has an ethereal air of innocence until you see the back which has a sexy cut out in the shape of a tear drop. The cut out is framed with hand stitched beading at the base and on one shoulder. This gown will give the guests something to focus on during the ceremony.

For the on trend 70s look, there is the silk chiffon floor length kaftan with plunging neckline, fluted sleeves and embellished with Swarovski crystals and pearls at the waist. This style has a timeless and simple elegance to the front, but I’m not sure I’m liking the back with its tie belt.

For the 60’s feel, Williamson has created the knee length silk chiffon shift dress with tiered edged ¾ length fluted sleeves. The whole garment is embroidered by hand with a floral design either in a delicate blush shade or the same ivory hue.

Rather than going for the ‘princess’ look, Williamson has gone for the Grecian Goddess style.

Here a   seemingly simple silk parachute draped gown is adorned with a thin Swarovski crystal belt at the front whilst the back reveals a racer style strap of Swarovski crystals and a billowing diaphanous parachute style cape attached to the shoulders and the hem of the gown.  You can believe the goddess who wears this has just floated down from Mount Olympia.

Another goddess style is the softly draped chiffon gown with crossover ruched pleated bodice and two wide Swarovski asymmetric straps to add sparkle.

Empire lines always create a slim column silhouette and Williamson’s designs are no exception.

The styles vary from the ornate gold geometric beading on the high necked empire gown with a softly draped skirt......

.......to the bandeau style top empire gown with fine spaghetti straps and more subtle embellishments on the bodice and long peacock feathers decorating the skirt. 

My favourite?

Well it has to be the strapless devore gown with its cross over bodice. The hand painted abstract winter wonderland design of the buttermilk silk satin fabric with the crystal and pearl bodice trim bring a rich opulence to the gown. 

And for the bridesmaids, Williamson creates the Grecian handmaiden look with a softly draped asymmetric cocktail dress in the same fabric and embellished with a jewelled crystal corsage.