Hudson Women's A/W 12/13

Fabulous British footwear brand Hudson, well known to be a favourite of mine, have wowed yet again with their women's Autumn/Winter 2012/13 collection. I know that while the sun is out many of us are reluctant to think about when it will all be over but it is never too early to start planning your Fall/Winter wardrobe!!

Why not invest in Hudson's rugged yet chic Cicero boots, coming in both black and tan?

Hudson's Cicero boots in tan.

Or, for something a little more dainty, I suggest the Bolero range. Rosa style modelled below:

A/W 12/13 will be available in stores and online from around May so head over to www.hudsonshoes.com and check out the rest of the range!

Hudson Shoes meets Dashing Tweeds

Combining the best of British fabric innovation with contemporary shoe design and East End nouse, Shoreditch based footwear brand, Hudson, has collaborated with Stoke Newington situated Dashing Tweeds to produce a limited edition range of classic brogues and chukka boots. The fabric, manufactured by renowned Scottish mill, Harris Tweed, is an original design which re-interprets a timeless material for the 21st century. With complementary brand philosophies, both Hudson and Dashing Tweeds revive traditional British patterns by adding a contemporary twist and unique detailing creating modern heritage products.

I'm very excited about this collaboration as, to me, it really is the best of British.

Prices for the mens range, as pictured above, start at £160 while those for women (below) begin at £130.

Visit Hudson's website at http://www.hudsonshoes.com/ to see these and many more fabulous items of footwear.

Elle Oct '11 Covered By Agyness Deyn

After the annual fashion frenzy that is The September Issue, October's magazines can be a bit of a let down but I'm glad to see Elle fiercely resisting, with fabulous model Agyness Deyn covering this year's October issue which is also a special edition with guest editing by Frida Giannini (currently Creative Director at Gucci).

So, fashionistas, you better run out to buy this one now as it's predicted to sell quickly.

Crombie's Made-to-Measure Suit Service Returns!

Great news today! The luxurious heritage brand Crombie has recently brought back its traditional Made-to-Measure suit service.

This luxury service is available at all of Crombie's standalone stores in London, Edinburgh and Manchester  and, with hundreds of the best British and Italian fabrics and linings to choose from, one can create a truly unique outfit to suit their personal style. I think this is great as I truly believe that style is an individual thing and you mustn't simply follow the trend if it is not one that suits you!

To take advantage of this service, please call your local Crombie store directly or visit the website to book an appointment at www.crombie.co.uk/made-to-measure/

Once your design is complete, it shall be sent to Crombie's European workshop and 4-5 weeks later it shall be ready for the final fitting and delivery.

Crombie's London store is situated at 48 Conduit Street, W1S 2YR and their phone number is 0207 434 2886

So, will you be using this service?!

You can also have a look at Crombie's Spring/Summer 2011 range here http://alifeof-fashion.blogspot.com/2011/03/today-im-liking-crombie-ss-11.html

British Designers Collective at Bicester Village

A collaboration between the British Fashion Council and Value Retail, 2011's British Designers Collective (hosted by British actress Thandie Newton) is a great opportunity to check out the hottest new British designers and purchase from their ranges at a greatly discounted price.

Along with Bicester Village's permanent luxury boutiques, you'll find the new designers featured including award-winning Jonathan Saunders with his signature graphic prints, Felicity Brown, Holly Fulton, Markus Lupfer with his sequined knitwear, Todd Lynn, Preen, Emma Cook, Felder Felder, Goat, Jean-Pierre Braganza, Marios Schwab and Osman.

And let us not forget about the accessories! Georgina Goodman has been called the 'future of footwear' by Manolo Blahnik for her artistic shoes, while Lara Bohinc and Fiona Paxton bring their jewellery ranges. Jane Carr shall also be there with her hand-finshed scarves.

Bicester Village is about 1 hour from London, with a daily coach service available, and offers over 130 luxury fashion brands with discounts of up to 60% off. Notable brands include Gucci, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, DKNY and Paul Smith, among others.

With a Starbucks, Pret A Manger, French cuisine at Villandry, Thai at Busaba Eathai, or the authentic Italian eatery Carluccio's.

The British Designers Collective event runs from March 31st to May 8th.

Check out Bicester Village's website for more information at http://www.bicestervillage.com/ or take a look at the British Fashion Council's site http://www.britishfashioncouncil.co.uk/

Images courtesy of British Fashion Council

Today I'm Liking... Crombie S/S '11

Today I've been looking at the Crombie Spring/Summer 2011 collection and I have to say that I really like it. To me this range epitomises British Style, as a true heritage brand.

I love this one, I think it truly is the look for this summer.

Try their Grey Wool and Mohair Classic Fit Suit to portray a more formal image.

 

The navy and cream striped blazer from the 'Riviera' look (fifth image) is bold and a good way to stand out in the crowd this season. My favourite is probably the Navy Herringbone Linen & Cotton Summer Jacket with the Yellow Cotton Soft Formal Trousers (both featured in the second look).

Head over to www.crombie.co.uk to check out the full range and make a few necessary additions to your summer wardrobe.