DVF Gets Crafty

Diane Von Furstenburg SS10

Style.com

I couldn't help noticing the brightly coloured cuffs used to accessorize every outfit at Diane von Furstenburg's SS10 show at New York Fashion Week on Sunday. Models wore them piled high in a variety of vibrant clashing colours.

They remind me of the cuffs from Artisan Life, which are hand-crafted in Colombia from natural fibre. (See my August post - Statement Handbags with a Conscience).

Visit Artisan Life for yours and be one step ahead of the fashion pack for SS10. Remember to pile 'em high. Be on trend with a conscience.

Iraka Palm Cuffs

Image copyright Artisan Life

Where The Heart Is

Vintagehart

Rewind to Friday 11th. I found myself in Crystal Palace, south east London with a thumping cocktail induced head-ache, buried within four floors of antiques, treasure and, some might say, junk. Quite a contrast to the previous evening. Oh! But so much more interesting.

It was Crystal Palace Antiques - a ramshackle emporium selling furniture, mirrors, lighting, art, anything really - that lured me to this corner of London. I was here to find a mirror. I am in desperate need of a full length mirror. I know! Can you believe I don't have one? How on earth do I cope? Well I don't. It's a nightmare having to style my outfits each day without being able to see the complete head-to-toe effect. Like I said, I'm in desperate need of a full length mirror. After a good old rummage I left mirror-less but not disheartened. New stock arrives daily so I can always go back.

As I was in Crystal Palace, I decided to check out the 'Vintage Triangle'. A triangle of streets dotted with vintage clothes and interiors shops. It was The White Hart pub that caught my eye. Alcohol was the last thing I wanted to be near so why was I venturing into a pub you might well ask. Vintagehart is the reason.

Vintagehart is a tiny boutique located in the windows along one side of The White Hart pub. Owners Annette and Dawn have styled the shop to create a quirky space with a relaxed feel. The clothes and accessories range from 1950's to the current trend for 1980's. Everything is in excellent condition and the prices are very reasonable. I couldn't resist a 1980's dolman sleeved crepe-de-chine dress for £30 - the silhouette reminds me of Dries van Noten's AW09 collection - it needs a few minor styling adjustments but will look fabulous once finished. If only I had a full length mirror to see the results.

Dries Van Noten AW09

www.driesvannoten.be

Cozy Cocktails Courtesy of DKNY

This post is late. I'd like to think of it as 'Fashionably' late. Rewind to Thursday 10th. New York Fashion Week kicked off. And, so did Fashion's Big Night Out. An event organised by Vogue to get everyone spending crazily on fashion again. I found myself, courtesy of my other half, at the DKNY event on Bond Street. As we entered the store, there was a real buzz as excitable fashionistas sipped on their complimentary DKNY Champagne. It was at this point that I realised my outfit - an oversized chambray shirt worn as a dress with a vintage biker jacket - could be perceived as not making an effort for this occasion. And this turned out to be quite an occasion.

Vogue's Emma Elwick demonstrated the many ways to wear a DKNY cozy - an item of clothing that can be twisted, wrapped, tied in a multitude of ways to create different looks. Beautiful DKNY sales consultants sashayed through the store modelling said cozy to great effect. The model Alice Delall hung out by the DJ decks looking far too cool. DJ Tolulu cranked up the volume, the store lights were dimmed and signature Bungalow 8 cocktails flowed all too easily. As Whitney belted out why she wanted to dance with somebody, I knocked back my fourth- or was it fifth- cocktail, almost forgetting I was in a clothes store.

So yes. The clothes? I don't think the entire new collection was instore. As soon as it is I'll pop back in and let you know what I think.

East End Flora

It's September. There's a definite nip in the air to remind us it's late summer here in Britain. How lovely it was to wander along Columbia Road on Sunday to see the glorious colours and florals around at this time of year.

Amazing colours!

Rows of vibrant Cyclamen

"... 3 tubs for a fiver, darlin'..."

Pretty floral print looking stylish and modern

Wow! Are these real?

Can you believe those colours?

Towering palms in a printed retro shopper. Love it!

Wonderful display.

Even the boxes are a great colour!

I couldn't resist this!

(All images by Re-Design for Life)

Clothes Rails and Beer Gardens.

At a loss for something to do this bank holiday weekend? What about spending Saturday afternoon re-newing your wardrobe? What about spending Saturday afternoon in a lovely beer garden? Why not do both? Mrs. Bear is hosting her regular last Saturday of the month swap shops at The Britannia Pub in London's East End.

Simply gather together your unwanted clothes, shoes and accessories - good condition - take them along to The Britannia to exchange with someone else. Everything is graded so the better the quality of your things the better you swap. It's a great alternative to throw-away fashion.

Afterwards, you can sit back in the beer garden for a pint with the locals. Not many shops offer that level of service.

A Fine Collection

Image by permission of FIN. All images copyright of FIN.

New York. London. Paris. Milan. Copenhagen. If Denmark isn't on your fashion radar then it's time it was. Copenhagen Fashion Week was earlier this month showing collections from established Danish labels Marlene Birger, Rutzco and Bruns Bazaar, as well as those from new designers. This was the first time FIN, a Norwegian label, showed in Copenhagen.

FIN (Norwegian for Fine) create elegant, stylish clothes with a modern edge. Their collection for SS10 includes the key looks for the season: soft silhouettes, relaxed tailoring, draping and muted colours. The essential items are there: a feminine jumpsuit, loose oversized cardi, cotton parka, draped skirts and dresses. A desirable collection of wearable pieces.

Image by permission of FIN. All images copyright of FIN.

FIN is where design and awareness are combined into fashion.

FIN design with a wonderful eye for detail and interpretation of trends.

FIN create with luxurious sustainable textiles such as organic cotton, organic bamboo, hand spun wild silk, organic alpaca and milk fabric. Milk fabric? Yes, that's what I thought. It's the new sustainable FIN fabric for SS10. Produced from surplus milk proteins to create a fabric with a super soft, luxurious texture.

FIN produce with a fair trade principle ensuring that all who work with them are concerned about wages, working hours and human rights.

FIN is about fashion. They want customers to appreciate the clothes for the design then to discover the ethics as an added value.

It's an inspiring value. One that I hope all fashion labels will work towards.

If like me you can't wait until Spring 2010 for FIN's new collection then check out the AW09 collection:

Image by permission of FIN. All images copyright of FIN.

Statement Handbags with a Conscience

I came across this stylish handbag and just had to share it with you. Hand-crafted in Colombia using a combination of natural fibres, including sisal and iraka palm combined with cowhide leather, to create a unique and modern accessory. I love the mix of textures and unexpected use of colours - adds a quirky fashion touch.

Copyright Artisan LIfe Limited

Check out the colourful cuffs too. Produced from iraka palm fibre, naturally dyed to create vivid colour combinations. Pile them high to make a fashion statement with a conscience.

To view a full range of products take a look at Artisan Life's website.

Copyright Artisan LIfe Limited

Artisan Life Limited was established to promote, develop and support Colombian artisans and their crafts. Colombia has a history of handmade crafts and cultural traditions. This cultural heritage continues to provide an important source of income to a female dominated workforce who have limited options for productive employment. Artisan Life focus upon improving the artisans' quality of life, using natural and sustainable materials and preserving the cultural heritage of Colombian crafts.

Admirable values. Fabulous, unique products. Who can resist?