Olivier Laudus – Gorgeous Bridal Accessory Consultation Studio

On 7th July 2011, we hot footed it to award-winning hair salon Jordan Burr just round the corner from Selfridges in Central London for the launch party for online boutique Olivier Laudus’ first consultation studio.  The launch party was attended by wedding industry friends and journalists and we all had a fabulous catch up over a glass of bubbly and also a cute cake with a diamante on top!  The studio is based within award-winning hair salon Jordan Burr and enjoys an enviable central London location, just a few minutes’ walk from Bond Street tube. Brides-to-be are able to book appointments to discuss their accessory requirements and more importantly view and try pieces on from the Olivier Laudus online boutique.

Opening a consultation studio was the brain-child of Sangeeta Laudus, co-founder of Olivier Laudus, after a year of meeting with clients on an informal basis at Jordan Burr to show them pieces. Sangeeta says : “Clients welcomed the opportunity to be able to try different designs, particularly our hair accessories, and it was great being able to call on the expertise of the stylists in the salon to discuss bridal hair styles and which pieces work with different hair types. We also enjoyed having the opportunity to meet our clients and give them personal attention and advice which is very key to our business. Setting up a permanent base in the salon was the next logical step and we are really excited with our new venture and future collaborations with Jordan Burr.”

Olivier & friends, enjoying the launch night

Chic, stylish and in-keeping with the Olivier Laudus brand’s contemporary feel, the studio is decorated with flock wallpaper with a black and cream colour scheme and provides a lovely backdrop for the consultations. So far it has been well received by brides. Consultations are by appointment, with evening and weekend meetings available.

About Olivier Laudus

The Olivier Laudus online boutique was established in 2004 by husband and wife team Olivier and Sangeeta Laudus. Olivier (formerly a stylist and model) designs some of the collection and manages the day to day running of the business. Sangeeta works in the city as a lawyer, and helps with marketing and business development for the brand. Both Sangeeta and Olivier offer personal consultations to clients.

LadyM and Olivier Laudus discuss the collection

The online bridal boutique offers three fabulous collections. The Signature Collection is an exclusive collection of wedding accessories including luxury hand-beaded wedding ring cushions and guestbooks designed by Olivier. These pieces can also be personalised making them lovely keepsakes. In addition, there is a Boutique Collection of handpicked ready-to-wear gorgeous accessories which include stylish bridal bags, pearl and crystal jewellery, princess-style tiaras, vintage-inspired headbands, bejewelled decorative hair combs, dreamy flower clips, sparkly diamante monogram cake toppers and even ivory heart-shaped umbrellas…. and lots more! Finally, Olivier Laudus are proud to work with independent UK based designers and offer the Artisan Collection of unique handmade jewellery and hair accessories.

All items are sold under the Olivier Laudus brand and, to add to the feeling of luxury, most items come wrapped in tissue paper and packaged in stunning white presentation boxes.

For photos and information about the party please visit the blog.  Photos courtesy of Mark Osborne.

Opulent Dubai

If there is one thing Dubai knows how to do, it’s extravagance. The city has no shortage of malls catering for the discerning visitor and offering a cool retreat from the blazing midday heat. A good place to start is the famous Mall of the Emirates. It is home to 520 international brands, a 14-screen multiplex cinema and incredibly, an indoor ski slope. For a truly unique experience, visit Mercato Mall. A full-on east-meets-Renaissance confection, Mercato Mall features a stunning glass ceiling, marble floors, bridges and rustic Italian-style murals. In between browsing the likes of Mango, Topshop and Massimo, it’s a good place to relax with a cool drink and watch the world go by. Or, if you’re looking to give your wallet a real workout, head for Burjuman, where you can window shop in style and pick up the likes of Tiffany, Louis Vuitton and Cartier.

Mall of the Emirates, Dubai

All that glitters

Dubai’s history of shopping goes back to its days as a major international trading port, with ships from the Far East, India and Sri Lanka stopping off to trade their wares. There is no way to evoke this history so well as paying a visit to the traditional souks. For foodies, the Spice Souk is a great spot to stock up on vanilla pods and saffron, but if you’d rather leave space in your luggage for another pair of heels, it’s worth taking a stroll through the market to absorb the fragrance and ambience of traditional Dubai.

If bling’s your thing, you will definitely want to spend an evening exploring the Gold Souk. With gold, diamonds and all that glitters as far as the eye can see, you can pick up everything that’s precious at prices you’d never see at home. Bring cash and a willingness to haggle.

For the ultimate retail experience, plan your trip between 20th January and 20th February. That’s when Dubai celebrates its annual Shopping Festival, with over 2300 outlets selling everything from cars to couture. It’s now a major tourist event and attracts visitors from all over the world who can enjoy the fashion shows and fireworks, or just spend, spend, spend.

Burj al Arab, Dubai

Win with First Group

If you’d like a chance to max out your credit cards in style, The First Group is giving away a very special prize. One lucky winner and a companion will be whisked away on business class flights to Dubai. You’ll be staying at the Burj Al Arab, which is the last word in opulence and style and one of Dubai’s most recognisable landmarks. You’ll have two nights living the rockstar lifestyle: just enough time to soak up some sunshine and push your baggage allowance to the limit with the best designer finds.

Enter here: http://www.facebook.com/thefirstgroup

The competition is running until 29th July, but a special tip for LadyM Presents readers: if you get there your entry in before Monday 25th, you’ll also be entered into a prize draw to win $300 ASOS vouchers.

Good luck!

Bridal Style

Today if I were to have my wedding again, it would most certainly be the dress of choice. Which makes me wonder, does age change the way we visualise our bridal style.

I was 25 when I got married, and my dress was certainly different from the strapless gowns going around at that time. As I designed it myself it obviously had a twist, but it wasn’t miles off the trend. The overall look was understated princess. Yet if I were to do it all again (maybe renewing my vows!!) I would certainly be going for the vintage look.

I LOVE all things from yesteryears and always have. To my husband’s dismay I love wandering around castles, old buildings, churches, graveyards, you name it. So when I designed my 2011 collection of vintage inspired wedding hair accessories and jewellery, I was pleased to hook up with the wonderful Audrey Russell who understood my love for vintage and sentimental things. It seemed that typically the younger bride still goes for the princess style dress, so I wanted to express through the shoot that ANY AGE can rock the vintage trend.

Creating a vintage style

With fresh faced models Brogan and Kati, we headed for the stunning St Andrews in the Square – equipped with props that I had at hand as well as borrowed from industry colleagues. The look was completed with an array of stunning dresses by  Justin Alexander supplied by Wedding Wise and the fantastic hairdresser Catherine Hastie and Make – up Artist Lynn Meenagh who completed the dream look.

When planning a wedding it seems natural to delve into what your mother and grandmother did for their big day. Looking at treasured photo’s and investigating heirloom jewellery really does get most girls caught up in the nostalgia of things bridal.
Cameo brooches, lace veils and pearls in abundance really are the essence of a vintage inspired wedding. Heirloom bouquets are also starting to be a big trend. This concept came about through recycling, cutting costs and raiding the jewellery box to find a handful of treasured brooches.

Converting these brooches into everlasting bouquets that any vintage bride would love to carry, has become a way of remembering a loved one and having them involved in the wedding ceremony. But fear not if you don’t have a stash of old brooches, you can have a new brooch bouquet created that will become tomorrow’s heirlooms.

Guest Blogger Louise Graham is the Director of bespoke accessories company, Wedding and Baby

Photographs copyright of Wedding and Baby.

Nina Bon Bina – understated luxe fashion

We thought we’d give you a sneak peak at the brand and interview Nina the owner ahead of the festival:

Q. When was the Nina Bon Bina brand created and what was the inspiration 
for the type of collections you work upon?

A.  The brand started in summer 2009 and A/W11 is my fourth collection, the collections have evolved since conception and I feel more confident and clear about the ethos of the label. Nina Bon Bina is all about understated luxe, and is filled with perfect pieces that effortlessly combine simple feminine silhouettes with opulent details such as hand embroidery and beautiful fabrics.

Q. What encouraged you to get into this industry and what was your route 
into  it?

A.  I’d always been creative from a young age and had thought I’d end up studying fine art. I had never considered fashion as a career until I did my foundation course at Wimbledon School of Art. We had a two week fashion project and it just seemed to click into place for me. I went on to Manchester Metropolitan Uni to do a degree in Fashion Design and then was lucky enough to gain an internship with Zero + Maria Cornejo in New York. It was a huge learning curve and I enjoyed every minute. She encouraged me to trust my instinct, to see design as a continuous journey and to never force or overwork an idea as it always shows in the collection. After N.Y I returned and started designing for “High Street” giants. I got to see the process on a big commercial scale, from working on initial trends to designing into them through to seeing the sampling and manufacturing process in the factory. After five years I decided it was my now or never moment and Nina Bon Bina was born.

• BIANCA JACKET - Classic silver jacket, made with a handwoven silk with touches of silver lurex.  £165
• PLENTY OF PAISLEYS IVORY - A gorgeous simple metallic skirt. £38

Q. Where do you get your ideas from for your collections and where do you 
source materials from?

A.  Ideas come from all over. I’m a bit of a magpie collecting anything that interests me from info on exhibitions visited, magazine tears, news articles, photos, vintage clothes, scraps of fabrics/wallpaper. I source all my fabrics and sequins from wholesalers in India. My family has a place in Goa and I visit 3 or 4 times a year to get the collections sampled and manufactured there. India has such a high respect for craftsmanship. The embroiderers I work with come from the same part of India and they would be coming from generations of embroiderers with skills being passed on from father to son. I’m glad that I can support the craft through Nina Bon Bina.

Q. How do you decide what will be featured in your collection, how do you 
predict trends?

A.  I edit all the pieces/info I’ve been collecting and I’ll start to see stories and colour palettes emerging. I’ll just let the ideas develop until I have a collection. Nina Bon Bina isn’t a trend led brand but we are all influenced by the world around us and trends filter in organically. A/W 11 has a 60’s feel which nods to the A/W trends without screaming the trend.

• NICOLE BLOUSE BLACK - A luxurious silk blouse with beautiful gold hand embroidery on the cuffs  £95
• RIA DRESS MINT - A classic smock dress with pale gold embellishment around the neckline.  £90

Q.  Who is your target audience and who would you love to see with one of your dresses?

A.  The core target audience for the brand is the 25+ woman that’s found her sense of style, appreciates quality and is effortlessly chic. There’s an array of women I’d love to see in Nina Bon Bina from Michelle Obama, Kate Winslet to the Duchess of Cornwall.

Q. Have you seen the fashion industry or trends change in the last few
 years?

A. The fashion cycle seems to be moving faster and faster. Celebrities are already wearing Resort 2012 now and the high street can get designer copies into store in weeks. I think it’s incredibly negative for the industry it devalues the hard work that goes into each collection. Garments should be in wardrobes for years not weeks. With fabric and labour costs increasing I hope that fast fashion will disappear and that people will place more value on what they buy and the quality of what they buy.

• ANIKA BLOUSE PEACH - A simple floaty smock top, vintage inspired blouse with ruffle lace sleeves. £36
• GYPSY DRESS FUSHIA - Bold and striking shift dress with gold embellishment. £110

Q.  What is next for Nina Bon Bina? What are your goals for 2011/12?

A. I’m finalising S/S 12 at the moment and am hoping in the next twelve months to increase stockists in U.K and to hopefully do some overseas trips to meet some Middle East and Far East buyers. I get some great direct orders through my website to these areas and would like to gain some stockists there.

• MIRROR DRESS AQUA - Stunning aqua dress with gorgeous shimering mirror details at the waist. £105
• TWIST DRESS CHERRY - Classic cherry shift dress with pretty twist details at the sleeve. £120

There is a great sale on at Nina Bon Bina at the moment.  For more information about the Pantiles Fashion Festival please click here or email [email protected]

Very – Fabulous online Fashion

Very is the online store of the moment, with celebrity best friends Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton bringing us fun adverts on TV and some great collections. The online department store brings together a range of collections in womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, sports and leisure, home and garden, entertainment and much much more. A one stop shop for everyone and if you order before 8pm you’ll receive your items the next day (subject to conditions).

French Connection

“Sensational Style” is how the high street power house French Connection describes the core of its brand. The fashion label always have a great capsule wardrobe to take you from the office to cocktail hour and the odd wedding in between. As well as having a solid menswear collection to its name too.

Office Essentials

We love French Connection for their stylish and modern looks. They always have a great collection that you can wear to the office and be bright, bold and beautiful. Here are our picks of the office style.

• French Connection Sashie Stretch Dress £97
• French Connection Winter Quilted Satchel £80
• French Connection Pussybow Blouse £62

Menswear Style

French Connection has been keeping the mens side of the bargain on the high street for some time. Often a failsafe option for the guys when they are picking out a sharp suit or new look for their wardrobe. We love the laid-back look that French Connection is currently offering the modern man. Here are our favourite looks.

• French Connection Mens Donegal Shawl Cardigan £75
• French Connection Mens Placket Sweatshirt £80
• French Connection Mens Sangar Sweat £52

Evening Glamour

French Connection is a staple for building a great selection of evening wear. From the cocktail bar to the wedding reception, you’ll find the perfect look. French Connection at Very has a superb range of dresses to accessorise up or down, and tops that can get casual, teamed with jeans, or become fabulous with skinny pencil skirt.

• French Connection Shelbys Summer Dress £125
• French Connection Bex Bead Blouse £108
• French Connection Sonata Silk Playsuit £77

Fashions Finest Awards

Next Friday, 22nd July will see us at Gibson Hall in London for the Fashions Finest Awards. The awards recognise Make-Up Artists, Stylists, Designers, Fashion Icons, Models, Photographers, and Graduates who have yet received the acclaim and industry recognition they deserve. The awards come from a leading industry magazine, Fashions Finest. A hub and portal for everything ‘fashion’ Fashions Finest Magazine is a ‘one stop shop’ for the fashion conscious and the fashion elite. And now, to add to their increasingly diverse and innovative mix, Fashions Finest are putting the final preparations together for their debut awards ceremony – a ceremony to recognise industry talent that is considered ‘off the radar.’

Nominations

The list of nominations has now been finalised with the winners being revealed on the evening.

Graduate Designer

• Miyoko Kamijo
• Chika Couture
• Marielle Van De Ven

Emerging Designer

• Sophia Brown London
• Alex Seroge Ignatian – Label SEROGE
• Farah Deeba Ismail – Label “BOA-BA”
• Bunmi Koko
• Sally Ellis – Label Sve

Bunmi Koko design

Fashion Photographer

• Joseph Sinclair
• Anomalous Visuals
• Suby & Sinem

Make-Up Artist

• Mink Cosmetics
• Julia Francis
• Candy Yeldham

Stylist

• Elaine Deed
• Origami/Stylists
• Katie Mcdowall

Female Model

• Lucy Clarvis
• Racheal Williams
• Claire Summers
• Kelly Taylor

Model Rachael Williams shot by Alison Cameron

Male Model

• Tommy O’hara
• Prince Nkay
• Ibukun Jegede

Accessory Designer

• Hatastic!
• Anita Quansah
• Gilda’s Tryst
• Elisha Francis Jewellery

Menswear Designer

• A.Hallucination London
• Asger Juel Larsen
• C/Bruerberg
• Lipop London

Lipop London as seen previously at London Fashion Week

Designer of The Year

• Samantha Cole London
• MIA by Mia Nisbet
• Kosibah
• Nico Didonna
• Adebayo Jones
• Jasper Garvida

Fashion Icon of The Year

• Maggie Sikora – Mapis Academy
• Prince Cassius – Socialite
• Ola Shobowale – Infinite Beauty Factory
• Emmanuel Ray – Britain’s First It Boy

Good luck to all the nominees!

Tickets

Fashions Finest is an increasingly growing portal for both the fashion consumer and industry professionals to connect. Whether it’s the latest fashion trends you’re interested in or whether you’re a professional looking to exhibit your work, Fashions Finest is increasingly becoming the first stop for people to get their daily fashion fix.

The awards ceremony provides both Fashions Finest and the talent nominees themselves the opportunity to reach, connect and ‘talk’ to the industry and you can participate in what guarantees to be a night of fun, fizz and fashion!

Purchase your ticket at Fashionsfinest.com VIP Tickets: £60.00 (only 5 tables available) including Admission & Show, Table in the VIP area, Complimentary bottles of wine, Standard Tickets: £40

6PM – 7PM: Red Carpet & VIP Reception

8PM: Awards Ceremony commences

Gibson Hall, 13 Bishopsgate London EC2N 3BA

Laughing Cow – Laughter really is the best cheese

From their extrovert ad campaigns (there are not many places in the world where one sees an animated rapping bull!), to their extensive UK and US websites (which use the slogan “Have YOU laughed today?”), it is safe to say that The Laughing Cow brand want consumers to know that their products are not only perfect for lunch-boxes but that their cheese is “made with laughter”.

The brand is cleverly marketed and a cheese that was once aimed purely as a lunch-box snack, has now perhaps become something of a popular culture icon. Their most recent campaign features stand-up comedian Milton Jones attempting to entertain a field full of cows. Many of the jokes are adult in content and Jones does well to raise a giggle (perhaps not from the cows but certainly from me).

In true icon style the brand have also moved into selling merchandise. The website Truffle Shuffle, who market themselves as “Officially retro. Totally awesome”, do not sell food products but they do currently have three varieties of Laughing Cow tees for sale.

I was fortunate enough to stumble upon a large display of Laughing Cow products in one of my favourite  shops in Honfleur, France on a recent holiday. I was incredibly tempted by the Laughing Cow tray, the alarm clock, the glasses, the pencils…but in the end I settled for a magnet.

My Magnet

On a personal note the brand does not only bring about nostalgia for my childhood, but it is also something that my friends and I use as an endearing term for one another. The joke came about one lunchtime in France when I asked a friend to pass me the Laughing Cow. He mis-interpreted my request and retorted that I was also a “laughing cow”. That was almost two years ago and this particular small group of friends still refer to one another as the “Laughing Cows” (and incidentally have a pub quiz name for life!). So for me not only is the brand still as relevant to popular culture as it was when I was a child, but I also think upon it fondly and, more importantly, with a chuckle.

One of my favourite products – the serving tray

Guest Blog from Becky Tubbs: Performer, Actor & one-liner genius  www.twitter.com/iambeckytubbs

This guest blog is a sponsored post

Sponsored Post

Search for a Style Blogger

As well as the fabulous model contest returning to Sky Living, the team at Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model Live have also launched a competition to find the UK’s newest style blogger in association with handbag.com

BINTM Live, the UK’s leading fashion, style and shopping event in association with handbag.com are giving one new talent the chance to start a career in fashion and beauty writing, by offering the chance to be an official blogger for this year’s Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model Live event, this October.

The ‘search for a style blogger’ UK competition is open to anyone aged 18 and over who can ‘blog with a passion about style, beauty and fashion’, demonstrating a ‘genuine interest in the industry’ and with an ‘insight into the latest fashion and beauty trends on the high street’.

Style Blogger Winner!

The lucky winner will be invited to feature on handbag.com as a guest blogger for three months. During this period they will receive tips and advice from the handbag.com editorial team on how to find their own unique voice as a blogger and build their following. They will also be mentored by top style blogger Emily Seares from Fashionbite.co.uk, voted one of the most influential fashion bloggers in the UK, who will advise on how to make an impact in the blogging industry. As an official BINTM Live blogger, the winner will be given a schedule of assignments ahead of the event including the opportunity to go behind the scenes at pre-event photo shoots and interview the contestants from this year’s Sky Living TV series. They will also go to this year’s BINTM Live to report on the hottest news and trends whilst interviewing more celebrity guests and performers, at this year’s show in October.

If that wasn’t enough, the overall winner will also receive £1000 worth of blogging gadgets including: a state-of-the-art Laptop, a top of the range digital camera as well as Access All Areas passes to this year’s BINTM Live event.

Four lucky runners-up will also receive a pair of VIP tickets to the event.

How to Enter

If you’re looking to forge a successful career in the fashion and beauty journalism industry this is a great place to start. Entrants are required to submit a 200 word piece of editorial on the latest trends and how to wear them, along with a photo of themselves that illustrates their own style.

Entries will be judged by a panel of esteemed experts including: our expert style blogger Emily Seares of Fashionbite.co.uk; Suzy Pallet, Show Manager of BINTM Live; and Rebecca Holman, Editor of handbag.com, who will pick five of the best entries to go into the shortlist in September. The five shortlisted entries will then go head-to-head in a ‘Street Style’ challenge, to find the most stylish fashionistas on their local High Street, the results of which will then be posted on handbag.com for readers to vote on their favourite.

Rebecca Holman, Editor of handbag.com commented: “Social media is an increasingly important platform for our fashion conscious generation and blogging is a fantastic way to express views and opinions as well as interact with audiences around the world.

“We’re looking for entertaining and insightful entries that display a real passion, from people of all ages and from all walks of life… so get writing now!”

Based on the hugely successful reality TV series on Sky Living, hosted by Elle Macpherson, Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model Live (BINTM Live) will bring the top model world to life. Fans of the TV series will get the chance to join the show’s infamous judges, Charley Speed, Grace Woodward and Julien Macdonald, for the ultimate three day live event, that will once again feature stunning catwalk shows, live music, fashion, styling, shopping, beauty, pampering, exciting entertainment and a range of interactive features all under one roof.

For your chance to win tickets to the BINTM Live Event keep your eyes on our website in the coming months!!

Terms & Conditions

• The competition is open to anyone in the UK, aged 18 or over. UK residents only
• Entrants must submit a 200 word piece by 31st August, with an accompanying photo
• The competition opens on 7th July and closes on 31st August 2011.Entries after this deadline will not be accepted
• The shortlisted 5 entrants will be notified of their ‘street style’ challenge in September, to decide who wins the ultimate prize of being a BINTMLive blogger
• The general public will then be able to vote for their favourites
• The winner will be announced and a schedule of BINTMLive assignments confirmed between September & October 2011
• Entry details can be found on  www.BINTMLive.co.uk
• VIP Tickets won are non transferable

Good Luck!

Dimensione Danza

Dimensione Danza, is an Iuxurious talon dance/street wear label, manufactured Sinv, by the makers of See by Chloe, McQ Alexander McQueen and Love Moschino. Their Autumn Winter 2011 Collection reflects expert Italian craftsmanship and uses superior textiles that you would expect to find from an international fashion house. The brand draws it’s inspiration from the dancing world and the atmosphere of the New York street scene. The brand has evolved into having fully fledged luxury fashion collections that you can mix and match together, layer and accessorise to create great, well put together looks.

The Collections

The collections at Dimensione Danza include The City, One Mile from Home, Active and Weekend lines.

• The City is about fashion for around town, a line of garments that are informal yet exude a military chic glamour
• One Mile from Home is all about feeling relaxed without sacrificing style

• Active is all about making your gym, sports or outdoor wardrobe stylish. Using bold colour combinations that are designed for those who like to move but still feel feminine
• The Weekend line is all about getting the capsule wardrobe that can fit in your weekend back. Think floaty dresses, lightweight knits, practical and space saving

Combining sumptuous, earthy colours with easy to wear premium jersey separates this collection doesn’t just look right, it feels great. The Collection is available for purchase online at www.dimensionedanza.it well as selected stores and boutiques nationally and internationally. Plus at the moment there is 30% off their Summer collection.

Dimensione Danza has a womenswear and girlswear range as well as accessories and stationery with their “Just Dance” tagline. With the popularity of street dance in the UK with dance groups such as Diversity and films like Step Up, you too can get the look for streetstyle.