It's Snowing Silk & Sawdust

 

As the season begins to change and winter clothes start coming out of the attic, my mind always begins to turn over the changes in my personal fashion over the past year. My clothes from the previous year never seem to suit my new sense of style or look disgusting and I end up giving away many of my old clothes. This year I have been determined to buy smart pieces that won’t go out of style and won’t look bad after eight months in storage.  Now this goal seems to be easier said than done, until I stumbled upon the timeless pieces from Silk & Sawdust.

Silk & Sawdust is a vintage-inspired fashion label that bases their designs on the idea of timeless fashion that lasts for seasons to come. Their third Autumn/Winter collection accomplishes just that. They have taken regular styles from this season and tweaked them to create unique pieces that incorporate timeless fashion that can be worn forever. All of the designs are hand-tailored to create the most flattering designs for every person. The fabrics are carefully selected to drape every body type and make each woman feel glamorous.

Owner and designer Claudia Orrell explains: “My favourite wardrobe staples are invariably vintage pieces that are special because they’ve been made with old-fashioned tailoring skills. I felt that the attention to detail was missing in so many modern clothes.”

The Lori skirt has now jumped to my number one item on my Christmas Wish list! It may even have to be my early Christmas to myself because I can’t wait to wear this luscious silk-chiffon skirt in aqua lined with a silver grey satin. It will look fabulous walking down the street at night in the snow! You can order the Lori skirt and more of the fabulous Silk & Sawdust A/W2011 line on their website.

A Worthwhile Investment

This is the month that I think about finding that ‘little black dress’ which will cross over from work to party-time.  Horror of all horrors that I bump into another with the same outfit, which let’s be honest is more than likely if it’s from the high street.  That’s why I’m always on the lookout for new designers and their latest offerings. So say hello to Jasper Garvida.

For the uninitiated, Jasper Garvida is a bit of ‘a best kept secret.’ Yes his clothes are investment pieces but not wholly unaffordable – I always like to think of ‘cost per wear’. I stumbled upon Jasper and his collections via an ex-assistant whose best friend was an intern at this fashion house. I have been keeping a close eye on his collections and was thrilled to see that the little black ‘Sword Dress’ on my wish list is now available online or from select stockists.

Jasper Garvida is a luxury womenswear fashion designer who launched his first collection in 2008.  His current A/W 2011 Ready-to-Wear Collection  takes you on a mesmerising journey with ‘Le baiser’ which is inspired by the novel Soie by Alessandro Baricco. This is a romantic tale of a European man who becomes enchanted by the east - the collection focuses on contrasts, and the beauty that can be formed when two different worlds intertwine. With elements of 19th century design combined with an oriental silhouette, the collection incorporates strong streamlined tailoring and soft draping with demure skirt lengths that have been given a sexy edge in the form of daring slits and peek-a-boo cut-outs to reveal flashes of sensuality.

What I particularly love is the slick tailoring, armour-like-hand-embellishment and textured pieces are combined with beautiful, softly draped silk jersey and, lace pieces that depict the journey of two opposite worlds meeting, to create balance, harmony, grace and elegance – all of which serves to add an intriguing romantic undertone to the collection.  It combines the highest quality finishing’s with a sophisticated flattering silhouette resulting in a collection that personifies the exotic beauty and mystery of far-flung eastern lands.  In short, this is a fabulous and timeless collection. While the economy is in turmoil with stocks and shares taking a downwards dive – why not invest in one of tomorrows fashion icons Jasper Garvida and his beautiful clothing which can only go up and up. Remember, you saw it here first.

Total Wardrobe Care

If, like me, your wardrobe is more church hall jumble sale than couture boutique and you long for a fairy godmother to come and miraculously transform your mess into an organised clothes haven then help is at hand thanks to Total Wardrobe Care.

The concept for Total Wardrobe Care was born out of ex-tailor and wardrobe expert Julia Dee’s frustration at not being able to find suitable products and solutions for her clients wardrobes. Julia was determined to find the best products for hanging, storing and protecting her client's clothes and after years of research and developing her products Total Wardrobe Care was born. The range of luxury wardrobe care products and clothing storage is designed to maximise space and keep clothes fresh, fragrant and moth free. From embroidered cotton garment bags to the perfect hanger, the collection is a pretty, practical and effective range of wardrobe care products.

Thanks to a shoe fetish bordering on addiction and sadly no Mr Big to surprise me with a Carrie Bradshaw-esque walk in wardrobe, I was immediately drawn to the shoe care and storage solutions on offer. The stackable and breathable shoe boxes are the ideal shoe storage solution as they have a clear front panel to allow you to find your chosen pair with ease and they are also collapsible so they can be easily stored when not in use. We have also been protecting our clothes with the natural, organic moth deterrant products that not only keep those pesky moths from devouring your favourite cashmere sweaters but leave your clothes lightly fragranced thanks to a blend of essential oils.

Total Wardrobe Care products are available to buy from the website here.

A very worthy cause

While Breast Cancer Awareness Month is swiftly drawing to an end, we wanted to feature a fabulous pendant whose net proceeds during October are going to this very worthy charity.

Following in the footsteps of her Father, a renowned craftsman, Claudia Sylvester has been working on launching her own bespoke jewellery for a number of years and as Vice Chairman of Breast Cancer Care’s Organising Committee she wanted to ensure that when it was ready to showcase, there was a cause behind the jewellery.

As the pioneering charity for breast cancer, Breast Cancer Care is the first point of contact after a diagnosis and provides valuable help and support to a huge amount of sufferers. Such is Claudia’s involvement with the charity that during October the net proceeds from her Pink Sapphire Pendant will go directly to the charity, and maintaining her passion for Breast Cancer Care, she will continue to donate 10%, and plans on bringing out more pieces to add to the Charity Collection.

In addition to supporting a commendable cause, Claudia’s Bespoke Hand Crafted Jewellery concentrates on private commissions and she is already in high demand. The jewellery is perfect for anyone wanting to give a personalised gift or leave a legacy by handing down a one-off piece to a loved one. Made using the highest quality platinum, gold, diamond and precious gemstones, all pieces are hand crafted in London, thus you can be assured of its excellence.

So, if like the girls at Amazing PR, you love nothing more than being able to justify a beautiful purchase with a worthy cause, invest in Claudia’s Pink Sapphire Pendant, and rest assured in the knowledge that you’re helping someone in need.

Available to buy from Claudia's website.

Vintage Fair at Tooting's Tram

With a very long seven days left until pay-day and bank funds depleting at an alarming rate, updating my wardrobe was certainly not on my to-do list this weekend. As soon as I step a tentative toe into the Selfridges Beauty Hall, or High Street Kensington’s Zara, I can guarantee that neither my overdraft nor my bank manager will thank me for it. And with the nights getting darker and October swiftly approaching, my wardrobe is in desperate need of some new additions. So imagine my delight when a friend told me about the South West Jumble, taking over the Tooting Tram and Social this Sunday. Located just a minute or so’s walk from Tooting Broadway Tube Station, The Tooting Tram Social is a converted tram shed with high ceilings and sumptuous décor. And while most people associate these kind of sales with an old church hall and a smattering of blue rinses selling fairy cakes, this one is anything but. Taking place twice a month, this is a vintage and craft jumble sale, packed full of fantastic stalls certainly worth a good rummage. With a huge array of stands on offer, from handmade crafts, to fantastic vintage finds, and just about everything in-between, it’s like a bona-fide marriage of eBay and Etsy ironically located in a Tram Shed in Tooting.

At the last one my friend picked up some fantastic bargains - smug in the knowledge that she’d found a true one-off, which certainly can’t be said for trusty high-street shopping.  The event also has yummy food on offer, fantastic live music and a fully licensed bar and even better - it's free to get in – perfect if you want to drag the other half along!  So go along, drink and be merry, and hopefully leave with a few bargains thrown in – sounds like the perfect Sunday to me!

Doors open at 12 - see you there!

Tram Shed Tooting Tram & Social 46-48 Mitcham Road SW17 9NA London