LateRooms.com presents Destination Inspiration while the Hyatt Regency Hotel launches Making Waves - a Contemporary Art exhibition

LateRooms.com呈現時裝目的地的啟示。同時間倫敦的凱悅酒店推出興風作浪 - 當代藝術展。

Oil on Canvas Painting (1998) by Scottish artist Lucy McKenzie (depicting in slow motion the 17-year-old Olga Korbut's gold medalist on the parallel bar).  It  hangs as a unique backdrop behind a standing-banner put up by LateRooms.com at the Hyatt Regency Hotel - The Churchill.  2012 marks the 40th anniversaryt of Olga Korbut's gold medal performances in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.  Photo by Lucia Carpio (seen below at the event). 

At a cocktail reception I was attending yesterday, courtesy of LateRooms.com (which had organised for the evening a presentation of fashion destinations and shopping insights by fashion commentator and broadcast journalist Caryn Franklin), I found it intriquing that myself and other guests were surrounded by a display of exceptional art while we were served delicious canapes and drinks. 

Untitled, 2005, Oil on Canvas painting by Jin Meyerson of South Korea.  He takes as his subject American Football showing his fascination with speed and movement.  Photo by Lucia Carpio

Horse, 2010, Oil on Canvas by British artist Kate Groobey.  Her figures are often pictures as if dancing or exercising.  Photo by Lucia Carpio.

The event was held at the Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill (in London's West End near Marylebone), which is launching an exhibition "Making Waves: International Contemporary Art from the Saatchi Gallery" - officially opening on 1st June just before the Diamond Jubilee weekend celebrations and also as its way of paying homage to the forthcoming 2012 Olympic Games. 
The exhibition presents the woworld work of artists from around the world who are rising stars within the UK and internationally.    The artists are from the UK, as well as the US, Germany, Poland, Tunisia, DR of Congo, India and South Korea.

Poster, 2004, Oil and Flashe on canvas, by Joanne Greenbaum of the USA, a graphic composition unfolding bold shapes and colours.
Photo by Lucia Carpio.

German sculptor Martin Honert's Giants (Riesen) 2007 (inspired by memories of his childhood), are life-like human figures that dominate the area that links The Churchill's lobby with the hotel restaurant.

From now until October, the artists works are displayed throughtout the hotel's lobby and restaurant areas.  As I examined many of the works closely, I found that the over-riding theme is sport, obviously with the forthcoming 2012 Olympic Games in mind. 

Guests reaching the Reception of The Hyatt Regency - The Churchill are greeted by a Pigment Print portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by British artist Chris Levine.  The Queen is wearing the Diamond Diadem created for George IV and worn by Her Majesty for the procession to her Coronation in 1953.
Photo by Lucia Carpio.

The exhibition also pays homage to The Queen as her protrait by British artist Chris Levine in the lobby behind the main reception welcomes guests as they check in the hotel.  This work was created while The Queen was resting during an extended sitting for a holographic portrait which Levine was commissioned to make in commermoration of the Island of Jersey's 800 years of allegiance to the crown.

In the Regency Executive Suite - FAVN Sofa by Spanish designer Jaime Hayon, Carla Busuttil's oil, Steve Bishop Jean - PaulGaultier-Classique(ArticFox).

Jill Mason's Head and Mind Bending Landscapes in the bedroom of the Regency Executive Suite.

Meanwhile, guests can also experience art by checking in to the Limited Edition Saatchi Gallery Suite, from now until 31 December.  On entering this exclusive Regency Executive Suite, they can sleep amongst a collection of works.  Highlights include Steve Bishop's Jean-Paul Gaultier - Classique (Artic Fox), a sculpture combining a taxidermied fox, concrete and paint inspired by the Gaultier perfume bottle, and iconic furniture designs by Danish design brand Republic of Fritz Hansen (TM), and furniture by Spanish designer Haime Hayon, and a collection of lamps from the Kaiser idell(TM) collection by Christian Dell.

Value of the British Monarchy as a Brand revealed in new study by Brand Finance Plc

英女王伊麗莎白二世即將慶祝鑽禧。
新報告揭示，英國君主作為一個品牌的的價值。

As we approach Queen Elizabeth the Second’s Diamond Jubilee this coming holiday weekend, what is the real value of the British Monarchy, which is regarded by many as one of the most valuable British brands?
According to a new report from Brand Finance, it's £44 billion or US$70 billion, from an economic perspective and from assessing the emotional, political and constitutional arguments for The Royal Family.

This figure is a combination of the intangible asset value of the Monarchy at £26 billion and a tangible asset value of £18 billion, according to the new study by Brand Finance.  The study also revealed that The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations will give an estimated £924 million uplift to the Leisure, Tourism and Accommodation industry of the UK.   However, the extra Bank Holiday will cost the UK Economy around £1.2 billion, while it estimates the revenue uplift to the UK economy will be £2.4 billion.   UK businesses also benefit from Royal Warrants and the Brand Finance research has valued the scheme at £4 billion and there is also a significant reputational benefit to individual UK businesses from the Monarchy once they have been granted a Coat of Arms which Brand Finance valued at £400 million.

 David Haigh, CEO of Brand Finance, commenting on the latest findings stated: “The Monarchy is one of the most valuable of all British brands. Whatever one thinks about the constitutional principle, there seems little doubt that the institution of Monarchy adds significant annual earnings and long term economic value to the UK. For most of her reign, The Queen has managed the Monarchy expertly and she is currently doing a great job on an international stage. The Monarchy is a powerful endorsement for individual and company brands and for the nation brand and we believe that it is making a significant contribution to the task of driving Britain out of the recession.’

For the full Brand Finance Journal Special Jubilee Issue visit, the Brand Finance website by clicking here. 

New bridal designers opt for simple elegance and comfort with a touch of freedom and romance.

三名新婚紗設計師在倫敦White Gallery 交易會上展古樸典雅，舒適和浪漫,充滿了的自由感的設計。

Sadoni Couture bridal gown.

Did you know that brides in Norway or the Nordic region prefer less princess-like designs when it comes to selecting their bridal gowns?  Also they tend to be more mature when they finally decide to tie the knot and opt for more simpler yet elegant styles for their Big Day.

At White Gallery in Battersea Park, London, designer Trude Sadoni describing her Nordic-inspirations for Sadoni Couture she started with husband Hamid Sadoni.  Photo by Lucia Carpio.

The interesting information was revealed to me in a recent conversation I had with Norwegian designers Trude (in picture above) and Hamid Sadoni who founded the Sadoni Couture in Norway in 2003.  They were among the New Talents who were exhibiting at the White Gallery bridal wear trade show held at Battersea Park in London a week ago.  They provided interesting insights as to what makes their brand successful.  And it's all down to their understanding of the women's needs in their market.  Now with three stockist in the UK and others in various eight Northern European countries, the design duo also attribute to their ability to work closely with customers and suppliers to come up with the winning designs.

Simple elegance for the Nordic bride, by the Sadoni Couture label.

The SADONI signature bridal gowns certainly capture a distinctive Nordic look that is at once modern, pure and natural with a romantic flair. The cuts are slim mostly, and  simple, created in pure silk, chiffon, taffeta, satin with  a light, fluid construction to allow the bride to feel comfortable and functional as well, along with French lace and hand-crafted embroidery and beading.  A light lace bolero or top  can be added to provide more options for flexibility.  The new collection is called NORDIC FUSION, inspired by Nordic nature and oriental ornaments.

Another new talent on show was Naomi Neoh from London showing in her first ever trade show at White Gallery.  Her range is romantic and glamorous, with the grace of the 1930s. 

Design by Naomi Neoh of London.  Photo by Lucia Carpio.

While Naomi opts for a vintage-inspired palette, one of her characteristics is a hint of pink in her gowns designed for the blushing bride, as shown in picture above.  This is achieved by the adding of a blush pink layer in between silk and shimmering organza.  I have slightly enhanced the picture above to show off the pink, but in real life the pink is more subtle which makes the dress to appear to be blushing along with the bride.  The pretty rose corsage finishes it very nicely.

Designer Katya Katy Shehurina showing off her designs at White Gallery.  Photo by Lucia Carpio.

Another London-based designer is Latvian Katya Katya Shehurina who is also going for comfort, as well as delicate lace elements and hand-embroidery by using floating silk.  The designer has also come up a selection of slips in different colours so the bride can extend the wear of her bridal dress by a change of slip.  The designer is modelling a gown with a slip in a pink colour in the picture above, while showing off also one of her romantic lace wedding gowns that was on show at White Gallery.   

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

Another design of her shows contrasting black embroidered applique on a white lace gown, shown above.  Since opening her boutique in London last year, Shehurina has been winning attention in Russia, other parts of Europe as well as the US and the Middle East.

Historic town celebrates Cool Britannia in the Surrey Hills of UK, venue of Olympics Cycling Route

英國Dorking 這個歷史悠久的小鎮，慶祝英女王伊麗莎白二世寶座60週年。 今年的奧運會自行車比賽路線將於附近的Box Hill舉行。

Die-hard fans of Queen Elizabeth II and patriotic supporters of all things related to the Royal family of the United Kingdom are having a field day in the lead up to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and celebrations are already underway across the nation ahead of the jubilee weekend.  For a nostalgic trip down memory lane to trace the Queen's 60 years on the throne and all things related to her reign as monarch, you can do no wrong than to head to Dorking, the historical market town in the Surrey hills.  Though I expect a similar scene in historical towns up and down the country.

The streets of Dorking, home of a handful of established antique shops and quinessential British stores, have been decorated with bunting, the union jacks and celebratory colours.  Against the beautiful setting of the Denbies vineyard and Box Hill (venue of the cycling competition of this year's summer olympics), it is a delightful place to be, especially with the glorious weather we've been having these few days.

The shop windows of many of the Dorking establishments have put on a good show of Cool Britannia, including the Dorking Pet Centre, the Antique Centre, as seen above. 

And among the most attractive have been the ones of Arkell Antiques, a specialist of fine period furniture. The pictures below are testiment to the comprehensive display of royal memorabilia put on by Arkell's Margaret Monk and her team, very tastefully done indeed.

Well done Dorking.
For the Olympic 2012 Cycling Route, click here. 
For news of London 2012 summer olympics, click here.

Cork is a sustainable material for bags, fashion accessories and furniture

軟木(cork) 通常用作為瓶塞或地磚和牆磚。因為它是可持續發展的材料，它再度流行, 也適用於手袋，時裝配飾及家具。

Usually when I think of cork, it's when we open a bottle of wine, as cork are often used as stoppers.  Cork was once popular also as wall and floor tiles (though they are still in use), they had gone out of favour.  But because cork is a sustainable and renewable material and impermeable, it is now popular again and used for a variety of products, from bags, gift wares to furniture.  

About 50% of cork harvested annually worldwide comes from Portugal which is why Portuguese company Pelcor® uses cork skin for their debut own-brand collection of ladies’ bags, lugguage, fashion accessories, ipad sleeves, iphone holders, umbrellas and a range of office and gift items.

Guests at the Portuguese Embassy in London examined the Pelcor debut collection of bags for Autumn/winter 2012.

Lucia Carpio below tries out one of the latest Pelcor cross-shoulder bags.

The Pelcor range was premiered recently at the Portuguese embassy in London, the first stop for their launch.  The Autumn/Winter 2012 collection features different textures and a range of  colours, from a warm orange to deep berry, and a dark, winter blue, their key colours for the season, complemented by  These will be natural cork shade, chocolate, charcoal and pearl.   The designs are basically functionally and easy on the eye.   Pelcor’s eco-friendly range of products are made with cork skin which can be sometimes combined with conventional leather, suede and textile materials. 

According to Pelcor (based in São Brás de Alportel  and established 9 years ago), cork is extracted from the cork oak tree  that is found mainly in the Mediterranean region., endemic to southwest Europe and northwest Africa.  It is a vegetable tissue comprising a cluster of cells filled with a gas mixture similar to air and coated by alternating layers of cellulose and suberin.  The cork oak has a lifetime of 250 to 350 years and it’s the only tree whose bark regenerates itself after each extraction. It takes 20 to 25 years before the first cork can be extracted from a cork oak. After this extraction the tree regenerates, allowing cork to be drawn every nine years. An adult cork oak produces several hundred kilograms of cork at each harvesting and will live for many generations.  This operation allows the tree to survive and prosper in a worldwide unique ecosystem in the cork oak meadow.

Last week cork tables by deadwood(TM)  Studio were launched during London's highly popular Clerkenwell Design Week (as seen above, with one stacked and overturned on top of another).

The studio utilises laminated cork, a material that is chosen for being both scratch resistant and insulating.

The tables are made from CNC cut Cork and Birch Plywood and are connected together using a distinct cross brace feature. The styling and shape of the legs creates a highly efficient product, whilst the selection of material offers a distinct practicality. The tables are available in either Coffee Table or Side Table versions. Coffee Table dimensions 450mm x ø775mm, and for Side Table - 450 mm x ø500mm . These will be available at deadgood Studio which is a creative studio set up by the two  Directors - Dan Ziglam & Elliot Brook. "The products we create and the brand we develop must both possess a sustained conviction to qualities such as fun, excellence, precision, craftsmanship, taste and innovation and it is through the execution and articulation of these core brand values that we will reach the most discerning audiences," said Brook.   

More about Clerkenwell Design Week coming soon.

Student designer from De Montfort University is UK winner of the international Triumph Inspiration Awards 2012.

德蒙福特大學的時裝設計學生將代表英國參加黛安芬觸動創意獎國際賽。總決賽將於10月份在上海舉行。
If you had voted for the Triumph Inspiration Awards UK competition  which was open for voting on-line about 10 days ago, now you would be pleased to learn that the winner is student designer Sian Whitefoot from De Montfort University in Leicester for her design ‘Ecliptic Renewal’, which was inspired by the "Cycle of Metamorphosis", described as an egg that becomes a butterfly. Translucent sheer fabrics are layered over the hip in tiered panels embellished with beading, and finished with  a flash of colour in the waist band.  At right is a reminder of her winning design.  For her great effort, Sian has won a prize fund of Euros 15,000. 
The UK finals was held at Circus, in London, two nights ago and was attended by UK fashion industry insiders including Poppy Delevingne and Jade Parfitt (who was host of the event), and the judges included German design duo Felder Felder and the British Fashion Council’s Caroline Rush.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Triumph Inspiration Award contest saw 16 fashion student finalists, eight from the London College of Fashion and eight from De Monfort University in Leicester.  The design theme was “Dragons and Butterflies” with an underlying “East meets West” concept.

Sian Whitefoot's winning design will be among the finalists from 31 countries to compete in the TIA grand final tht will take place in Shanghai on 19th October.

Three Finalists for the 2012 Fashion Fringe award have been named!

恭喜Fashion Fringe 2012年總決賽的三位入圍設計師。

From left to right: Colin McDowell, Fashion Fringe Founder and Creative Director, the 2012 finalist designers:- Vita Gottlieb, Haizhen Wang and Teija Eilola , with Burberry Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey at the Burberry headquarters, Horseferry House, London, last night.   Photo credit: (c) Nick Harvey / Fashion Fringe

Congratulations to designers Vita Gottlieb, Haizhen Wang,  and Tieja Eilola.   They are testiment to the amount of talent attracted to the UK.   High hopes and great opportunities are to come their way.
The three designers have been selected as Finalists for this year’s Fashion Fringe award at an intimate reception, held at Burberry global headquarters Horseferry House in London last night.   On choosing the three finalists, Christopher Bailey, the 2012 Chairman and sole judge commented:"  It goes without saying that every application we received was strong, and this, in combination with the level of technical skill demonstrated and the amount of effort and attention to detail, was just so impressive.  Going through the portfolios in staging one of this process was incredible, but meeting the Finalists in person today was truly inspirational.  Everyday I am amazed at the sheer amont of creativity that Britain is generating.  So it is really an honour, in partnership with Fashion Fringe, to be able to give these Finalists the opportunity to spend the summer doing what they love and honing their craft.  I cannot wait to see the fruits of their hard work in September - this really is just the beginning of their journey."

The trio will now embark on the Fashion Fringe programme, which begins with mentoring from influential names within the industry. As well as sessions provided by Fashion Fringe Partners, for the first time this year the Finalists will receive an exclusive opportunity to learn from the world-leading teams at Burberry.
The fashion industry is waiting to see who will Christopher Bailey select at the catwalk show in September, when the overall winner, receiving a two-year development package to help set up and sustain their business; which includes financial support and business planning advice, further mentoring and a fully equipped studio at Somerset House.

Here are the three designers' reaction, along with a sampling of their designs:-

Haizhen Wang – “I can’t believe it. I’m really excited and so thrilled this has happened to me. I feel so encouraged to keep working hard to achieve my dreams. This is it – this is the opportunity to take my work to a bigger stage.”

Vita Gottlieb – “I’m feeling so elated. This is an extraordinary opportunity. I’m very much looking forward to the next stage; developing my collection, learning from the mentors and working with Christopher.”

Teija Eilola – “I’m incredibly excited with the wonderful news. I’m really looking forward to working with Christopher – his recognition means so much. I’m looking forward to an exciting time ahead.”

London swimwear brand Paolita launches new T-shirts at Harvey Nichols

倫敦泳衣品牌Paolita推出新的T卹, 在著名頂級時裝百貨公司Harvey Nichols銷售。

It's great to see sunny warm weather has returned to London and much of the UK.  After tolerating two months of non-stop rain and low temperatures, we certainly deserve this good fortune.  It's wonderful to be able to wear Tee-shirts and not needing a coat or a jacket.  Talking about Tee-shirts, London swimwear and beachwear designer Anna Paola of the Paolita  brand has just launched her Tee shirts at Harvey Nichols.  I'm glad to see Anna has infused the vitality of her Mexican heritage as well as seaside elements in her print designs, along with her signature birds that are characteristic of her beachwear.  See for yourself below.  With designs like these, you want to show them off with summer jeans or shorts around the city, or team them with Anna's swimwear.

To mark the occasion, Anna Paola was invited along with the 20 participating designers and artists to paint a mural installation on the walls where the collection will be displayed. If you look carefully you can spot Paolita’s name in the mural, part of which is shown in the image at the top of this post. The Tees are made from 100% ethically sourced cotton that is soft and lightweight.

Also new for Anna is she has recently moved her Paolita boutique to New Quebec Street in Marylebone, London, a stone's throw from Oxford Street.

Chelsea Flower Show opens today. You can dress up in floral prints, also support a charitable cause and visit Harvey Nichol's British Designer Secret Gardens

在倫敦的世界著名花展Chelsea Flower Show今天開幕。

Here shown above is a selection of floral printed summer options from Peter Hahn perfect for garden parties, al fresco functions, or going to the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show which opens in London today. And for the first time actresses, actors, comedians, fashion designers, sports personalities, pop stars and TV presenters have decorated plant pots to be displayed at the world-famous Show, organised by the Royal Horticultural Society. The pots will also be auctioned online to raise money to help more school children garden.   Actresses Dame Judi Dench, Joanna Lumley, Joan Collins, along with Rob Brydon, Sir Paul Smith, Lawrence Dallaglio, Pixie Lott and Fearne Cotton are a few of the famous names who have created Pot Art to raise money for the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, which helps more than half of all schools in Britain to get pupils growing. People will be able to view images of the pots and bid for them via www.rhs.org.uk/potart all this week until 12 midday on Sunday 27 May.  You can also go to the ebay site where you can bid for these celebrity-designed pots.  Click here.

Meanwhile, in addition to the main event there are many side events around the Capital to help the Royal Horticulture Society celebrate one of Britain’s largest flower shows.
For one, Harvey Nichols in London has launched a world of sensory delight and intrigue in a unique collaboration with a selection of Britain’s brightest fashion stars. Built on the Fifth Floor Terrace at the Knightsbridge flagship store until 1st June, the British Designers Secret Garden installation showcases an array of design talents within a unique, interactive garden space.

The entrance to James Long's Bamboo Palace which was inspired by Brian Eno and Las Pozas – the surrealist garden of English eccentric Edward James, complete with golden pineapples and seating for six; his decadent installation fuses glam rock with kitsch bohemia.

The Lulu & Co collective have redesigned the tabletops with a tropical Bird of Paradise vinyl motif drawn from Maarten van der Horst’s Lulu & Co. collection, complete with flower box centre-pieces for the Terrace tables, brimming with vibrant exotic plants.

You can slip inside the Marios Schwab's hortus conclusus confessional for an intimate tipple, admire Peter Pilotto’s wooden and Perspex sculpture, which draws upon the exotic flora and fauna from their Indonesian travels, or settle in to James Long’s decadent ‘Bamboo Palace’ snug, created in homage to English eccentric Edward James’ surrealist garden, Las Pozas.

Also featured are the work of designers that include MBE Lulu Kennedy of Lulu & Co., Mary Katrantzou and Peter Pilotto.  Known for her strong sense of colour and tonal shades, Roksanda Ilincic applies her unmistakable modern cool to a living flowered wall, whilst James Long takes inspiration from Brian Eno and Las Pozas (the surrealist garden of English eccentric, Edward James) to create a Bamboo Palace. Complete with golden pineapples and seating for six; his installation fuses glam rock with kitsch bohemia.

While visiting the Secret Garden designer terrace, you can also sip six bespoke Beefeater Gin cocktails accompany the work of the six designers.  To complement the designs Executive Chef of the Fifth Floor Restaurant, Jonas Karlsson has also created a seasonal salad menu.

Triumph Inspiration Awards - Have your say by voting for your favourite designs

On May 11th, I posted about the Triumph Inspiration Awards 2012 – the international lingerie design competition which allows young student designers from world-renowned fashion colleges to prove their creativity. 
The design motto for this year is "Dragons & Butterflies" with an underlying "East meets West"  theme.

Now the UK final of this competition which kicks off on 23^rd May race has begun. 
If YOU wish to get involved even though you're not competing, you can vote for your favourite design via www.triumphinspirationawarduk.com.

Olympic Flame has sparked the countdown to London 2012

2012年倫敦奧運聖火火炬接力已經開始。

The passing of the Olympic flame from one Torch-bearer to the next is called "The Kiss".
Each torch-bearer wears a uniform that is primarily white but it also features gold shards, that organisers say are "accenting the energy of the Olympic flame" at the shoulder and neckline.

Several gold shards are used at the elbow to draw attention to the arm while a final shard continues down the cuff and the hand holding the torch.
The triangular-shaped torches are made of gold-coloured aluminium and perforated with 8,000 holes.

The countdown to London 2012 has now definitely started since the Olympic flame torch relay began this morning from Land's End, in Cornwall, the western most tip of United Kingdom.   Picture above shows the moment when the first torch-bearer, the three-time Olympic sailing champion Ben Ainslie, 35, passed the flame to the second torch-bearer 18 year-old Anastassia Swallow at Land's End where thousands of people has showed up to give support along the route.  Apparently when two torches touch in the exchange, it is called the Kiss.  
While Ainsle also has the honour of being the first athlete to be formally selected for Team GB (Great Britain), he is aiming to win his fourth successive gold medal in the forthcoming contest.
On the other hand, Anastasia, from St Ives, has represented Britain four times as member of the junior British surf team and dream of becoming the first women to represent surfing and snowboarding for her country.
They are the first of 8,000 torch-bearers who will carry the Olympic Flame 8,000 miles over the next 70 days to where it will light the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Games.
Last night, David Beckham was the first to proudly hold the Olympic torch aloft and set light to a giant cauldron at the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall to spark off the 2012 London Games. The Olympic flame had been carried onto British soil by Princess Anne after she arrived with it on a plane from Athens, Greece, along with an entourage that included Lord Sebastian Coe, the Chief of London 2012, Beckham and Boris Johnson, the just re-elected London Mayor.
According to the news agency Reuters, one of the first participants in the London Olympic relay looked set to make a quick profit after a torch and uniform went up for sale on auction website eBay within hours of the starting of the torch relay.
To keep track of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route, click here.

British accessories and shoe designers to take part in London's The White Gallery bridal trade fair for the first time.

英國新娘配飾和鞋類設計師在倫敦The White Gallery展出。為期三天的交易會，將於本星期日開幕。

British designer Jenny Packham, a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, will showcase for the first time her new Bridal Accessories at The White Gallery trade fair for the bridal industry which opens at London's Battersea Park this Sunday.

Packham is the red carpet designer of choice for many of the world’s most glamourous and discerning women, from Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Rhianna and Beyonce, to Keira Knightley, Reece Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston.

The new accessories collection was inspired by the golden age of cinema and the vintage style of 1930’s Paris, The collection comprises ethereal headbands, bracelets, collars and belts in a spectrum of delicate tones.  Glamourous and opulent headpieces in tarnished antique hues are encrusted with intricate shimmering crystals, encased by the finest silver silk thread, undulating strands of fine silver and twinkling crystals. Rondelle bars clustered amongst oversized crystals provide a modern luxe take on an art deco classic, opal pear and oval crystals emulate decadence whilst shimmering pearls add Old Hollywood style to a contemporary look.  From dramatic, bohemian champagne beaded feathers, to ethereal flowers and sequins in platinum and ivory crystal, this graceful and feminine collection mirrors the vintage inspired beading in the collection.
Also showing for the first time at The White Gallery will be luxe footwear designer Aruna Seth, who's also a favourite among red carpet luminaries.  A few examples of her glamorous designs are shown below.

Among her latest designs are lacey numbers, as well as ivory satin wedges, covered with 3,000 Swarovski crystals, carefully placed by the hands of skillful Italian craftsmen.
For more information on The White Gallery, please visit The White Gallery website. 

Talking about glamorous footwear, it's great to see the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton making a stronger statement with her fashion choice when she recently stepped out with sparkles on her feet.  The Duchess was attending the "Thirty Club" dinner at Claridges in London with hubby Prince William. 
The Thirty Club is made up of some of the most powerful men and women in advertising and the media.    Kate Middleton’s dress designed by Roland Mouret, had a demure high neckline and was teamed with crystal-studded Jimmy Choo Vamp sandals that revealed crimson-painted toenails. Kate’s uncharacteristic choice of heels even meant she had to forgo her signature shiny nude tights.
This was indeed a great leap forward for the Duchess who's often seen as too safe with her fashion choice.

Aruna Seth's own version is studded with sparkly crystals.  Wonderful to see Kate is taking the lead by way of this twinkling trend.