Style from Start to finish

 Start Boutique displays it's selection Best Of Britsh style.

London is the place to be right now - Official. Ok, so ignore the dull and dreary weather that we are witnessing in the middle of June, but quite honestly who cares? Just grab yourself a rain mac and get out!. There is so much in our city to be excited about at the moment. The country is still feeling jubilant after last weekend's long celebrations to mark the Queen's 60 year reign. Upcoming are the 2012 Olympics, and London is indeed very buzzy and busy with residents, visitors and tourists alike.

So this week Style Eye fans, I have a identified my top shop spot ,whether you live in London or are just in town for a short stay, Start Boutique is a must-look on your city visit list.



Erdem for Cutler and Gross Black Lace sunglasses

 The trio of Start shops are situated in the heart of Shoreditch, where London's coolest clans work, hang-out and socialise. A perfect zone to get the real feel of a city. Across the three boutiques, all of which are spread neatly across Rivington Street, one can find the cream of British and international designers for both men and women. It's stocks a clever and stylish edit of fashion trends, investment pieces, accessories and fragrances. Even if you only have 24 hours in London, then at least spend a couple of them browsing and buying some of this season's rare and hard-to-find fashion & must have items.

Flying the Union Jack Flag for Great British design is a selection of Vivienne Westwood, Cutler & Gross, Preen and Pantherella collections. You can even pick up a parka rain coat in stunning shade of yellow by Emma Cook, should the rain persist!

For more details go to http://www.start-london.com/

Loverly Jubilee

The excitement in London has been setting in for weeks, and finally its here - The Queen's Diamond Jubilee! wee hee!

A party 60 Years in the making apparently - so you'd better be looking good, people.

Now may I be so bold to suggest that perhaps donning any old thing of a generic red, white and blue may be a tad obvious. Lets take a different tack....

Her majesty is oft described as being a British style icon, so lets get inspired by her classic regal looks, turn them up a notch with a subversive slant and see how we go -

We've had a lovely run of weather lately, inspiring confidence to purchase a flimsy frock and summer footwear to wear to our cordial invites for tea on the lawn and street parties, then just as the weekend approaches so does a forecast of downpours and ferocious winds - great!



Miu Miu's modern take on the Queen's favourite - A duster coat.

 Make like Her Maj and top off your outtfit with a duster coat - you'll need it if Michael Fish is correct, (although he has been known to make a mistake or two). There are A-line coats ahoy this season that could easily warrant a royal approval.  Check out the desirable offerings from Miu Miu and Dolce Gabbana, and while you are there also take note of the Miu Miu chandelier earrings that could pass muster for a royal occasion. Personally, I think you could do no wrong with in anything by the Queen of British Fashion. Dame Vivienne Westwood's collections always fly the flag for these very english affairs and are so timeless that you'll be wearing them long after bank holiday on June 5th. And for the post-punk generation with a sense of wit, why not try tee that is a pastiche on the Jamie Reid /Sex Pistols album cover artwork?
Have a Happy Jubilee... And don't forget the brolly!


Tee with the Queen?



'Trashion - we are the Goon squad and we're coming to town'



As seen in last Sunday's Style Magazine.

 Ha, yes! I said to myself when I saw listed in The Sunday Times, Style Magazine 'Going Up - Going Down' column - 'Trashion - it ain't cheap, but it's a cheap look' Especially since it was illustrated so perfectly with a pair of horrid hooker platform pumps. I was thinking the very same thing whilst walking past The Bank of England the other evening . I spied a city chick wearing a similar pair of atrociously ugly footwear and thought - 'why here in the financial centre of London, a place where billions of pounds sterling are traded daily, should somebody right in the middle of all this money, look so cheap? It's not a new thing though. Who could forget the British ex-soap star dressed head to toe in Burberry check with matching child and pushchair? Her look must have totalled to a tidy sum - but, god damn, she looked a cheap mess! So why do people with plenty of disposable income repeat these fashion crimes? I think, put plainly, it's an addiction. Addicted to wanting and needing more until its exhausted, ruined and looks quite frankly comical.  Paying through the nose (see ex-soap star here) only to end up looking cheap and trashy is not clever or cool. It shows up a million insecurities of the wearer, and not that you might have a million in the bank.


Trashion Icon 


So in this era of double dip recession and austerity measures, let us remember, people to look more stylish, modern and expensive.... LESS IS most definitely MORE 2012.

Totes Amaze

This week on The Style Eye we are very excited to introduce a new, luxury accessories label who have recently launched in London.
Liliyang is the brainchild and brand of Chinese born, Lily Yang Li and Goldsmiths graduate Lucy Dyer.




The Sianna Tote in the luxurious shade of Crystal Blue



Between them, they have a created a line of high-end, beautifully made handbags where east meets west. This new, asian-fusion label is a mix of smart British design combined with ornate oriental styling. The range comprises of gorgeous totes, clutches and purses in stunning shades and fabulous finishes. Certainly one of the most Style Eye-catching is the Dragon Clutch bag from the brand's Special Edition series. To celebrate the Chinese year of the Dragon, the duo have created this masterpiece from croc print red calf leather and handpainted gold hardware. 

Expect to see Liliyang in prestigious worldwide department stores and chic boutiques very soon, although for now the entire collection can be viewed and purchased exclusively on the official Liliyang website.



Thats so 2012. The Dragon Clutch from the Special Edition range.



The Future's Bright....

..But it certainly is not Orange!
Not with the amount of skin brightening products available on the beauty market this year.
Brightening lotions are the buzz word of 2012.

Paul and Joe Brightening Lotion

 Last year it was all about the BB cream, that is, basically a 5-in-1 beauty balm that aims to protect, prime, moisturise and add a little base colour - all in one tube. I was sold.  Especially for an inward facing day (ie scruffy day working from home sans make-up). And when the school run hour looms BB cream plus sunglasses and a slick of lipstick definately does the trick!  

Brightening creams, serums and lotions are for a different purpose though. Their aim is to clarify the skin and (hopefully) eventually diminish the dark pigementations and blemish scars over time, leaving you clear and fair of face.

But when to fit it all in? 

Already my morning consists of moisturing with a sun factor 50 and the recently launched wonder product, Hourglass no.28 Primer Serum then followed by make-up (for an outward facing day - you get the gist - hair done, heels on, uptown top rankin')

And then I discovered Paul and Joe Brightening Lotion . This acts in place of a toner with added benefits. Those being the brightening aspect plus it can also be used on a cloth as a face mask.

A perfect solution for a perfect complexion.
Visit the Paul and Joe counter in Fenwicks, Bond Street for a skin consulation on the full range of Brightening products.

Here We Go Loubi Lou....

The shoe circus has come to town, courtesy of The Design Museum and Christian Louboutin!

A 20 year retrospective of this modern Shoe-Meister's work is now on display in London until July 9th.
Before becoming one of the world's most respected footwear labels, Louboutin, spent time working behind the scenes at Les Folies Bergere in Paris. This is where Christian found his love for theatrical design, which is still predominant in his collections today. Famous for being the shoes with the red soles, Louboutin isn't just an expert in this chosen field. Louboutin took gardening leave to become a,.. err..gardener, in fact, in the nineties.
A show well worth a visit. A black curtained section of the exhibition space is parted to reveal the Fetish aspects of his work. Open to all, is a space dedicated to Louboutin's sketchbooks, swatches and inspirations. And a must see at the exhibition are the film installations and the Burlesque show on a big screen. Sit back on the plush red seating and watch Dita do her thing, and finally metamorphasise into a giant sparkly shoe! Que Spectacle!



Lets take a moment to return to the classics. Of all the shoes on display these simple Helmut shoes from 2004 in calfskin specchio were my favourites.



Return Of The Mac

There is still a little uncertainty to what actually brought the 160 year old, British brand, Acquascutum into recent administration. Although if one looks at the situation logically and note how dry the previous winters have been then, fundamentally one could say perhaps the demand for raincoats has diminished somewhat. Seeing as rain wear was what made the brand famous, Acquascutum, translated from the latin for water shield, was named this after the company developed the first waterproof wool. 


Acquascutum spring 2012. Get it while you can!

 And how ironic that this spring, as parts of the U.K. find itself in severe drought should we be having one of the rainiest weeks in a very long time.
This calls for a 'Return of the Mac' - excuses for quoting such a banal song, but it did seem rather fitting yesterday morning while searching in my coat wardrobe for the appropriate outerwear .

The result was a rather old Topshop raincoat, which seemed a little tired and dated, therefore inspiring a quick look online to see which styles better suited the Spring of 2012.

Firstly, a quick skim at this spring's Acquascutum collection. Such a shame the brand will be no more as personally, I found the whole collection to be very pleasing and would love to own one of their mid-length black vinyl raincoats. Then on to browse another British outerwear heritage brand, Daks, to see what they had on offer. A cute, smart and practical navy duffle coat caught my eye and possibly a great investment seeing as the weather forecasters predict more rain for at least another month. On the high street, Topshop has some fun styles. Coloured plastics macs, some see-through to reveal the outfit underneath and a couple with crochet linings - a little nod to the cut-outs and lace trends seen on the Louis Vuitton catwalk for spring.



Daks Hepworth navy duffle



Topshop clear plastic rain mac



Such a shame the rains didn't come sooner. Aquascutum and it's lovely collection of watershields may have survived this current economic climate.