Alternative Fashion Week

On Thursday, I was in London for a business meeting so decided to pop in to Alternative Fashion Week at Spitalfields Market. I didn't manage to get a great view of the fashion shows. As you can see from the photos, I was stood behind lots of tall people and it all seemed a bit distant.

Unfortunately time was quite short as I had to catch a train but I did manage to have a quick whizz around the fashion market and take a few photos. There was so much there that I just didn't have time to get more information on including some great designs from recycled materials.

I couldn't walk by without noticing these amazing retro style accessories by Creme Noveau featuring some of my favourite biscuits - yummy. Very clever and fun!

I loved this knitwear by Elisabeth Hamlyn. The intertwined outer layer of knotwear is made from one continuous piece of knit. Elisabeth has sold her designs to Yves St Laurent and Calvin Klein and visit to her website revealed an amazing collection for SS10 which includes some great holiday pieces including shorts, halter neck tops and mini dresses inspired by origami. There are both figure hugging and draped styles in a fresh and bright colour scheme with some flashes of neon for a sporty feel.

LFW Estethica - Henrietta Ludgate

Another of the designers that caught my eye at Estethica at London Fashion Week was Henrietta Ludgate. I love the sculpted shapes created by the fabrics made from English woven cashmere with mink, pure Scottish wool and super fine Yorkshire wool jersey. I couldn't make up my mind whether I liked the neutral greys and camels or the shocking pink the best. But I think the grey dress with a super low scooped back was definitely my favourite piece in terms of shape. The collection was inspired by enchanted forests and legendary tales including the Grimm's Fairy tales. These clothes look so cosy but in an elegant and sophisticated way. It is almost as if they have been moulded into a cocoon shape.

Based in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, Henrietta Ludgate uses fabrics produced by UK mills and produces her collections locally. I can't think of any better way to support the UK farming, textiles and fashion industry. She only uses natural and organic fibres in her clothing. She was recently awarded the Ethical Fashion Forum's 'Fashion Innovation Award' for LFW Spring Summer 2010.

Zoe Jeffery Knitwear

One of my many new years resolutions was to cover more local fashion news and stop fretting about the fact that all the fashion stuff in London was too far away for me to join in. As if by luck, I stumbled across Zoe Jeffery, a designer of some very tempting knitwear, who is a fashion graduate of the University of the West of England. Of course I only realised this after I had been completely bedazzled by her stunning collection of jumpers, skirts and dresses.

Her graduation collection entitled "Winter Dreams" was shown at London Graduate Fashion week in July 2008 and was inspired by the warm and cosy atmosphere of the great British pub where people go to make merry and many great tales were told in times gone by. The collection that she is now selling on her website seems to be a development of this.

The bright but warm colour scheme of her collection really does make me feel warm and cosy but I also love the fact that all of her knitwear pieces are a real feature rather than just an after though that you throw on just to keep warm. My favourites are the lion applique knitted dress, applique horse skirt and pink stag jumper dress - all pictured above and all under £50!

Embellished Knitwear at Topshop

The latest email shot from Topshop, one of hundreds that arrive in my in box each day, high lighted some very gorgeous embellished knitwear. Noteably this knitted draped beaded top. I was quite shocked to read that it is machine washable and can't see how that can be. But if they say so, I am happy to go with it. This is one of those purley whimsical buys that has no practical benefit whatsever but looks great so who cares!

They also have a range of other knitwear pieces embellished with beads, sequins, bows and the like.

Rudolph and Reindeer Fashion

Reindeer jumpers or for that matter, any jumpers with large pictures of animals on the front have always been a bit of a joke. Something about them being knitted by your granny for Christmas. Do you remember the Reindeer jumper worn by Colin Firth in Bridget Jones's Diary?(which incidently fetched £1900 at a charity auction, so quite an expensive joke!). But lately all of that has been turned on it's head. Reindeers have been popping up in all sorts of unexpected places and actually, I am quite liking them. They are really quite stylish in a cosy Nordic sort of way (and they remind that it's not long until Christmas and Santa will be here soon).

Rhodium and Diamond Reindeer Pendant

Gold and Diamond Reindeer Cuff - Astley Clarke

Reindeer Print T shirt - Blue Inc

Knitted Reindeer Dress - Cute Japanese Fashion

Pamela Mann Reindeer Tights - UK Tights

Long Sleeved Reindeer Cardigan - Matalan

Chunky Knits and Knaked Knitting!

Pictures from www.woolfisher.co.uk

I recently spotted some really amazing knitwear on I Want You to Know It and just had to find out where it came from. These amazing chunky hats and dresses not only look very cozy and warm but also very stylish in a super size sort of way. Unfortunately for me, nothing in life is this simple and when I contacted Woolfish, creators of these lovely pieces, I was told I could buy the extra chunky yarn to make them myself. Woolfish is a small yarn and textiles shop on the edge of the picturesque village of St Abbs in Scotland. Hmm, I am not much of a knitter, in fact I am not a knitter at all and I strongly suspected that embarking on such a project, would end up in yet another half finished creation.

I have however fallen in love with the very beautiful colours and chunkiness of the dress and hat. When I found out that they were made using knaked knitting (no knitting needles required), I was even more tempted. I am currently considering a slightly simpler project using the very chunky yarn, a snood - something that is quite near the top of my wish list for this winter. Now I just need to decide on a colour.