Vivienne Westwood's Red Carpet Capsule Collection

Vivienne Westwood’s Red Carpet Capsule Collection is fit for a queen especially as Westwood has taking inspiration from the gowns our own Queen wore to prestigious events in her younger days.  

The Union Jack print takes on a vintage distressed look in silk chiffon for this classicly draped corseted gown. 

Fabrics used include silk satins, tafetta, organza crepe du chine and double georgette.

Colour palette ranges from soft grey, aqua, powder pink, nude and coral to the deeper petrol

There is a more carefree approach to red carpet glamour with the addition of elegant easy to wear gowns and draped Grecian insired cocktail dresses.

The Red Carpet Collection is a capsule of ten dresses and four pairs of earrings. Prices start at £650 and regally rise up to £3000.

Available from the Vivienne Westwood store at 6 Davies Street W1 Tel: 02076293757

What Cocktail dress to Wear whilst drinking a Golden Margarita

Cocktail dresses like the drinks come in an array of colours so here’s a guide on how to mix your cocktail dress.

Golden Margarita – 1 ½ oz Gold tequila, ½ oz orange liqueur, ½ oz fresh lime juice, 3oz sour mix, dash of orange juice, lime wedge and salt

Pour ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Salt the rim of a chilled margarita glass. Strain the ingredients into the glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.  For a long drink pour ingredients in to a tall glass with lots of ice.

Go for gold with this rich orange dress by Nina Naustdal which is embellished with around 4500 individually hand-stitched Swarovski crystals in clear and lime green.  Price £19,000

Couture designer Nina Naustdal will mix your cocktail dress to your taste. You’ll be given a one-on-one consultation with Nina at her boutique store at 176, Walton Street London SW3. Each dress is bespoke so you can use a design as a base only. The Swarovski crystals are all hand stitched on rich Italian silk. Website www.nina-naustdal.com

Add more ice with a clear Swarovski crystal clutch and Gianmarco Lorenzi’s Swarovski encrusted sandwich platform slingbacks .

 Kiosque evening bag is of a clear crystal mesh with a long rhodium plated snake chain and a magnetic closure. Price £465 www.swarovski.com

The Black Label slingbacks are available from Gianmarco Lorenzi shoe boutique, 40 South Molton Street, London at a price of £1,500 Tel 0207 493 2906

Cocktail ring:  Another dash of lime. Snow globe effect Stardust Peridot Sapphire Dome ring by www.jiandesigns.com   The Peridot are free floating in a liquid filled sapphire dome. Rhodium plated. Stamped .925 Sterling Silver or 750 for 18kt gold. Price starts at £450

Couture Bridal Gown by Nina Naustdal

2012 sees the launch of Norwegian born Couture designer Nina Naustdal 's first ever bridal line:
Nina Naustdal White.
Feast your couture hungry eyes on her key bridal gown costing around £60,000. Images and more details will follow later.

For a closer inspection, step in to a magical couture world at her London boutique: 176, Walton Street, London SW3
www.nina-naustdal.com

Omar Mansoor's Royal Ascot Couture Collection 2011

It's hard to believe that Royal Ascot has been going for 300 years and from the start it has been the place to be seen in all of your finery.
What to wear? Look no further than London based couturier Omar Mansoor who created his first Royal Ascot collection last year, taking his signature long evening gowns and evolving them in to floaty long day dresses.
For the Grandstand:

Graduating chocolate chiffon dress with embellished belt along  Omar’s Signature criss-cross  woven bodice , perfectly designed for the Grand Stand. Add vanilla or strawberry accessories and you'll be good enough to eat!

Adding zest is this lime dress with its umbrella shape skirt- bold, elegant and subtle at the same time with a ruched bust and knitted-pattern belt for texture.

The dark Chantilly lace around the neck and shoulders give this delicate pale blue silk dress drama.

For those who prefer prints but still like the floaty feminine look, this bold black and white silk dress is ideal.

For the Royal Enclosure
To grace the Royal Enclosure you have to follow a strict dress code. One rule concerns the dress straps: must not be off the shoulder, halter neck or spaghetti straps. The straps must be a width of one inch or more - otherwise entry may be refused.

The above creation with its wide silk shoulder straps is an excellent choice..

Visit Omar's website for more of his creations:  www.omarmansoor.com
The Arc-en-ciel gown with its candy pastel hues of pink, peaches, limes and pale blue is my favourite. Although not one of the Royal Ascot collection pieces, it's high neckline will also make it a winner in the Royal Enclosure.