Category: British
Taka Naka x
Taka Naka like to play with the eye and revel in experimenting with the unexpected. Basking in rich sources of inspiration subtle it’s not, capturing shifts in every mood..at the same time and layering them up like a rich mouth watering pavlova.
Their signature are impressive in-house prints based on paintings or photography. For AW14 they’ve taken it a step further taking the world of interiors: prints from Carpets, wallpaper, tiles and porcelain as their point of inspiration. As well as – and appropriately given the exhibition going on in London at the moment – the wonderful work of Matisse. 
The aim is an exotic clashing effect, beautifully constructed with print on print.
There’s a true fascination about how it all weaves together..helped by the incredible sets of these photos..
The Designers, identical twins Tamara and Natash Surguladze, say that by working together their designs reflect their contrasts..and yet still reveal the dual nature of the brand. 
That print on the bomber jacket..so evocative..
So Matisse..
The Collection is a new twist on relaxed dressing within luxurious symbols.
Instead of searching for a point of rest, like a Bird of Paradise, the Collection sings it’s shimmering little heart out in perfect harmony..
Laters, Kate x
Isa Arfen..
It always feels odd to be looking at AW when the pinchpoint decisions for Summer seem so much more pressing. On the flip side I still have my Winter clothes still hanging in my closet making it much clearer to see leaps of faiths, gaps, necessities, worn-outs and Objects of Desire..
The category that Isa Arfen falls straight into.
Graciously engaging it’s like cashmere from the street.
Observations both historical (those gold boots!) and contemporary.
Sharp lines with volume yet precision cut.
There will be much smiling this Autumn!
Laters, Kate x
Linking to NY! x
I know..cryptic eh? But New York is five hours behind…. And we have a little adventure to go on before the magic happens!
Laters, (At say..2.00?!) Kate x
Introducing the kids to Anarchy..
On Saturday we headed into Trafalgar Square to witness the Flash Mob International Pillow Fight. Even the street performers were prepared…
It was a rather delicious event..the Police weren’t happy. Boris had done his best to call the whole thing off…but to take action against a pillow fight? It would be like aligning with Putin…
Have I shrunk?
The power is strong with this one..
Charlie telling Darth Vadar he loves him..
We then headed up to Oxford Street and couldn’t help notice the speed of the Jeremy Scott rip-offs…
Our destination?….a Victorian men’s toilet..
Now converted into a supercool cafe called ‘The Attendant’ complete with table-urinals and handwarmers.
At the exit was a writing wall..
So Bella added Graffiti to the days lessons of life…
Laters, Kate x
Penelope Chilvers x
Penelope Chilvers is an independent shoe shop based in Notting Hill offering some seriously lovely kicks to swoon over..
Founded in 2005 from the front room of her house, Penelope Chilvers, the driving force and Designer, passionately supports dying crafts and traditional methods for manufacturing in the twenty first Century. She believes this is the beating heart of the Brand and what keeps it authentic..
Her shoes are always impeccably crafted – she endeavours to source each and every component in a design which is then crafted by hand..the result is the addition of that intrinsic quality that’s impossible to fake: Love.
Each shoe is designed to walk into your life. And stay there.
Quietly rocking inspiration.
Me likey..
Laters, Kate x
Serendipidy..
Sometimes worlds start to collide..like today! Two of the lovely brands I’ve discovered on my Blog travels have taken their visions further: The dynamic Claire from Air & Grace has just launched her website! Yay!
Find out exactly why I think her shoes are so special..
And meet Grace..the urban, kooky, stylish muse of the Brand! You may also recognise a bit of the style of writing on the Website..Claire was here last week to crunch some words together..
And the charismatic children’s label the Fableists? They’ve just launched a Kickstarter Project…
Making it the ideal time to invest in a classic canvas Chore coat..(in my size please!!)
Or the smock dress I’ve been meaning to get..and check out that Blue chambray shirt..divine..
Buy knowing you’ve helped the people who want to get it right…it’s about great clothes for kids that are beautifully made with love, design and sustainability…which ticks every box in my book.
But at the end of the day..it’s not the buying that really matters… we can do much more: We’re all plugged into that cyber-energy that runs like a river between us and the world…send out a post, a tweet, an email – spread the word. If each one of us sent off little paper boats of information out onto the current, the result would be incredible…these are now the little people starting out with new Brands in a dog eat dog world….but with the thought and attention to detail these guys have, they really should be the Companies of the future…and they will be, with that kind of support behind them.
Sometimes it’s the little things that really matter: Let’s do it for the good guys.
Laters, Kate x
Silken Favours x
Victoria Murdoch is the independent, free-thinking spirit and designer behind the label Silken Favours, creating her own silk pieces from traditional pen & ink techniques.
Based in London and originally working everything by hand, she’s managed to combined her nostalgic sense of magic with fast, modern digital printing techniques to produce commercially priced work with that personal touch.
Humour with a delicateness to make you smile and lust.
Clever designs that speak to the heart with a shift in every mood and a requisite fair and lightness.
Sort of cute but still sly making it all so appealing..and endearing.
Silk is her canvas, but this is just the start – there’s more to come like insanely printed silk shirts. Imagine!
I can’t wait.
Laters, Kate x
The Fableists x
(Bella wearing Baseball shirt £20)
The driving force behind The Fableist’s children’s label has nothing to do with fashion, it has nothing to do with faddy designs or even seasonal clothes. The name comes from the amalgamation of two words – ‘fables’ – for the telling of stories and most importantly, where each piece of clothing comes from, and ‘activist’ – what it’s going to take to change this industry around. The simple focus of the brand is the wish to do the best for our children and that this should never involve child labour or harmful chemicals.
(Charlie wearing Recycle tee £16)
But that doesn’t mean the fashion doesn’t exist..
Look through the Collection and you’ll find their Chore coat..utilitarian to a seam – can be worn by either boys or girls..timeless, versatile and a wardrobe staple winter or summer.
(Bella wearing Charlie’s Breton tee! £20)
Or their Smock Dress? A tom-boys delight..a dress that isn’t girly based on a vintage dress found in a Parisienne flea market. How perfect?
(Charlie wearing Brain tee £16)
Every element has been thought of and thought through, from the biodegradable PVC packaging to passports and labels made from re-cycled paper and rhino poo. Certainly had my scamps laughing!
At the heart of so much fashion today is a grotty portrait of a dusty, broken world where profit comes before anything else.
What a joy then to discover a Company that is prepared to buck the trend.
The Fableists are chicken soup for children clothes – rich, deep and soulful. They recognise that our future is the little people..and their future needs a planet.
Cool clothes and a good heart?
It’s a rare combination that deserves our support.
Laters, Kate x
The Girl with the Pearl Clothes…
I will love you, Mother of Pearl AW14, but I will hate you at the same time..because I could never afford your prices…
Your witty take on William Morris, courtesy of the collaboration on the Collection with Richard Saja, brought willingly to the twenty first century with neon embroidery has stolen my breaking heart.
There’s the game changing take on tartan..
And ingenious print..It’s not just about what you want to wear, but who you want to be. If I wore this, I’d be myself – but a bit better: I’d waft. And wonderful phrases with many syllables would flow like liquid gold from my happy lips, making even Sparrows smile….
The little touches, the fabulous shoes..how could nude ankle socks ever look so chic?
And this is actually a dress..a surprise..
(Photos by Style,com and Kristabel Plummer)
One by one they follow the shape of my heart…and walk on by…
Laters, Kate x
Help!
Arrggghhhh – Computers, links..don’t you just love ’em? I know from my stats just how many of you have tried to help – a huge thank you to you all! – it really is appreciated…But I think I’ve worked out the problem..
For those that haven’t seen this post – I’ve mind blowingly entered myself for a competition to win 2-3 weeks working with the photographer Rankin..but I need support! All the info is down below..but there’s been an issue with the link – I think part of the problem is that the competition is set up on Facebook – the link works straight through if you are signed into Facebook, if you’re not it takes you to ‘sign in’ and then the general website. If you end up at the general website, go to photography – trending – and look for the only orange picture(!) called ‘Seven photos of Every Day Sin in Modern Times’ and click on that and you’ll see the full application/film and the ‘support’ button on the right hand side…. I’m going off now to see if I can find another way, by-passing Facebook..wish me luck.. xxxxxx
Little update – tried to get in via Samsung site, but then takes you again to the Facebook App site..oh joy!
I responded to a tweet..it said, if your passion lies in food, music or photography; if you want to take your talent to the next level; if you have a big idea, project, an ambition…Samsungs Launching People is for you..apply now..
So I did..
And what a prize is at stake…working for 2-3 weeks with the world renown portrait and fashion photographer Rankin..using all the technology Samsung has to offer….
Can you imagine? It’s the creative equivalent of a golden ticket to Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory…and all you had to do was come up with an idea and make a 2 minute film..
The downside? I saw the tweet late so I’ve only 24 hours to gain support – the deadline is the 6 March…but I’m OK..despite never using iMovie before I’ve made the film!
The upside? I LOVE my project idea…I want to create 7 pictures based on the modern day equivalent of the seven deadly sins using symbolism and imagery to create a multilayered story. I’ve always been fascinated by paintings such as Arnolfini portrait by Jan Van Eyck with it’s picture within a picture:
The more you look, the more you see..outside the window there’s a tree with cherry blossom so we know it’s summer, but the main charters are wearing furs – not because it’s cold, but as a symbol of wealth. The bed is red for passion. Her dress is green for hope..but there’s more…many scholars believe this is in fact a memorial picture and the wife is in fact dead. On the mirror are painted scenes from the Passion of Christ..on his side they’re all to do with life..on her side, death. Above them is a candelabra..on his side the candle is lit..on her side, the candle is out…
Using the seven deadly sins as a vehicle for developing this concept would be a fascinating brain-fry of creative juices…for example instead of Envy..think the exploration of the accumulation of material things and the pitfalls of debt..think green, think fur coat no knickers, think style over substance and then the emotional architecture starts building…the characters can have meaning – narcissists, prima donnas, queen bees…the clothes they wear..the colours..the way they interact..the situation they’re in..the tattoos..the meaning behind the tattoo..it can all flow into a deeper sense of understanding and recognition but all drawn seamlessly together.
Where I need your help is to support my project – press the ‘support’ button on the main website at the top right hand corner (NB – NEW LINK!) – Please, please give it a ‘support’ – pass it on to others…tweet, shout, mail..round up the postman and his three-legged dog..whatever it takes…this really would be like winning the lottery…
It’s always scary putting yourself up for something, but as I said to a friend the other day, if you believe you can or can’t, it’ll be true..and if you never try, you never, ever know….
Thank you!!
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 