MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

East London Christmas Design Market

Hi All,

If you’re around this Sunday come check out my stand at the East London Christmas Design Market in Brick Lane. Lots of goodies…

x

EVENT DETAILS

Venue: RICH MIX35 Bethnal Green Road (Near Bick Lane)

This promises to be a great event with Designers aross Fashion, Art and HomewareThe setting is the ground floor Cafe and Mezz floor, which will be home to 25 designers showing and selling their work. All across the board, the styles range from High St to designer work for all ages.

Rich Mix also has a resturant, cinema and gallery space for people who wish to make a day of it.Nearest Tube is Liverpool St, and there is a No. 8 bust stop right outside.

Entrance is free Hope to see you all there to support all the designers involved

I'm Back!!!

Hi guys,
I've been away and am looking forward to sharing my travels with you all so watch this space (lol)
xx

RALPH AND RUSSO...

You may recall from one of my previous blogs in March the brand name "Ralph and Russo". This fashion label left guests and celebrities amazed at their debut at the La Dolce Vita event I directed earlier on this year. I thought i'd catch up with the two beautiful people behind this amazing label and bring you the below exclusive interview on what they're about, been up to and what the future holds...watch this space!!

The Duo behind the label "Ralph and Russo"

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your new collection?
Our new collection is an exotic mix of silk kimono sleeve gowns, backless Ombre silk dresses, intricate swarovski detailing, large beaded waistbands and our trademark animal prints.
I love the play on shapes and always incorporate an exotic mix of Italian printed silks. We have also been incorporating feathers into a lot of our gowns recently.

Who do you envisage wearing your designs?
Cosmopolitan women who love traveling and experiencing different cultures. Women who are strong, motivated and embody and confident sex appeal.
Women who appreciate glamorous exclusive gowns and love to get dressed up in Couture.

What 3 words best describe your collection?
Couture, glamorous, sexy.

Do you come from a fashion background?

Tamara: Yes, my mother was a stylist and a fashion designer and my grandmother was a seamstress for one of Australia’s biggest designers. They passed on their knowledge and skills to me at a very young age. My mother taught me to manipulate patterns and I used to watch her for hours and play with her large collection of vintage Vogue patterns. My grandmother gave me my first Tailors mannequin which enabled me to teach myself draping.
Michael: No I come from a business background.

How do you market your brand?
Word of mouth, we have never activately pursued PR although we do have a great marketing plan for the future and word of mouth has been incredible for the brand for our Couture.
We started off with just one client and now sell to hundreds of women in countries all across the world.

Which other designers do you admire?
Tamara: Donatella Versace, Roberto Cavalli, Valentino.
Michael: Dolce & Gabbana

If you weren't a designer what would you have been doing?
Tamara: Styling / Buying.
Michael: Venture Capitalist

Where can individuals purchase your collection pieces?

We sell most of our gowns privately, we have a large number of private and celebrity clients all around the world from the US, Australia, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, London, Italy and France. We regularly design couture and made to measure garments for them and design everything around the client, their needs, their personality and the event they are attending.
We also sell a luxury ready to wear collection separate to this to several boutiques in Ireland and England which has also seen immense interest. We plan to launch the luxury ready to wear line shortly. Private clients and Buyers are more then welcome to contact us directly.

What resources have you found invaluable to your business?
Tamara: My staff, they understand the company and what we stand for, they are highly articulate and are masters at bringing the designs to realization.
Michael: Business knowledge and the right contacts.
What has been your biggest achievement to date?
For a new label our biggest achievement would be the large growth in sales we have seen, it is very encouraging.

What has been your biggest challenge?
Starting a company in a new country, our support system was very limited at first.

Any thing else you would like to add?
The UK needs a return to glamour, like Christian Dior is to France and Valentino is to Italy.

Contact Details:

enquiries@ralphandrusso.com

Beyond Race...Beyond Expectation: Barack Obama

I have not slept for the past 24hrs and my phone did not stop ringing nor did i stop receiving text messages why? ... Because I wanted to witness Barack Obama become the first Black president of the USA. I have been so excited you'd think i lived there- lol I received all sorts of messages as we eargely awaited to hear the winning results. One cheeky message i received read " 2nite all women are shaving their coochie in support of OBAMA...No more BUSH!" - (lol) Well i won't tell you about the other extremely cheeky messages :)

If you asked me 2 years ago if i knew who OBAMA was and that he would be the 1st Black President I would have firstly not known who Obama was and riduculed the idea completely!! Earlier this year if you asked me the same question, I would have answered yes to knowing who Obama was but would have said "I don't think he'll win but it's a step forward"!! Even up untill the day before I still had my doubts as to whether Obama would really win but as they say in life "Anthing is possible!".

I had my Ovaltine hot choclate to keep me warm as i stayed up pleasantly shocked that Obama won!!!

I wish him all the best and know he'll do a good job with the support of the people as the task that lies ahead is absolutely no JOKE!!!

"YES WE CAN"

xxx

Want Michelle's dress? Designed by American designer Narciso Rodriguez. I thinks it's one of those you either love it or you hate it types.

Caprices Birthday / Halloween/Fashion Party and more…

So yesterday I went Caprices Birthday/Halloween and Fashion party at Jalouse in Hanover Square. This exclusive party was covered by Fashion TV, Desihits, OK magazine and others. Goody bags consisted of goodies from the sponsors who were Aspinals, Chelsea Club, Caroline Herrara, Harley Street Clinic and Brazilian Look.

Above pic: Model in Caprice Lingerie

I was loving my headgear which I bought in Brick Lane a while ago and have been dying to wear- Sad I know (lol)

Below pic: Moi in the headgear

I fell in love with my friend Julie’s gorgeous vintage sparkly butterfly top.

Below pic: My friend Julie rocking the gorgeous vintage top!

Caprice looked fab and I must say I have much respect for her as a businesswoman. Her Lingerie line has done immensly well.

Amongst the celebrities were Mica Paris and X-Factor’s gorgeous choreographer Brian Friedman.

Below pic: Me and Mica Paris

Below pic: me and X-Factor’s Brian Friedman

Overall it was a fab night out and do keep an eye out for Caprice’s new reality show “Come Dine With Me” on channel four.

Xx

Links:

www.soireenights.com

Bellinski & Papillion Bleu Breast Cancer Fashion Show @ Crystal

Last night I went to the Crystal Fashion Charity do in support of Breast Cancer Care and in association with Bellinski & Papillion Bleu.

Not sure of what to wear, as I still have a pile of washing from fashion week which I am trying to get through, I decided to go for the “Gold Ambition”. Well that’s what I decided to call it anyway(lol). Sporting my new hair do consisting of a long fringe – BTW it’s the first time I’ve had such a long fringe, I tucked the rest of my hair in a bun and added a bit of contrast to my ensemble by opting for my rouge vintage shoes.

Moi

Upon arrival you had the paps just eagerly waiting to snap those celebrities – It was not a warm evening I tell you and their job is certainly not one I envy (lol).

Fashion TV were filming the event for the night and happened to also snap up my outfit which was a nice compliment :)
As part of the night there was a fashion show featuring the Bellinski and Papillion Bleu collections. Also taking place was an auction of each of the designer ‘s garments.

Below: Our Presenters for the night:

I spotted these two lovely fashionistas (Below) and fell in love with the juicy lip shaped bag one of them were sporting!

The Juicy Bag!
Clicqisse director, Daryl, was all glammed up for the night wearing this beautiful dress she customised herself.

Overall it was an early night for me as I have not been well the past week but I must say the music was FANTASTIC and made me want to stay!!!

Xxx

Links
www.bellinski.com
www.clicqisse.co.uk
www.lagenevenorth.co.uk
http://www.lovegenevieve.co.uk/