Pistol Panties Pops Up at Selfridges

Sexy swimwear brand, Pistol Panties, who manage to combine a hip London edge with Californian cool, last night launched a pop up shop in Selfridges 3rd floor lingerie area, highlighting their 'Western Heroine Meets Psychedelic '70s collection' for S/S'12.

The highlight parts of the collection featured '50s type daisy prints with enhanced cleavage swimsuits, floral print bikinis with frill pants, Aztec print sexy strapless swimsuits with large brass ring detailing and lots of floaty chiffon long and short kaftans with plunge neck sequin detailing - the ultimate in Bohemian cool for St Tropez, Portofino or Zuma beach.

Daphne Guinness' niece, model Mary Charteris rocked a cutaway Pistol Panties all-in-one under cut off denim shorts showing that these pieces have adaptability for street wear, so long as you have the body and the chutzpah to wear it. Mary Dj'ed a high Summer set featuring a mix of '60s sounds with modern day pop while owner of Pistol Panties, Deborah Fleming, charmed everyone.

The mood was infectiously high as people drunk prosseco, ate popsicles and Jo Seph's gourmet popcorn and even tried out quick St Tropez tans so they could get more in the mood for high Summer jinks. The unseasonal heatwave helped, of course. Clever Pistol Panties timed it just right.

Bulgari launch Omnia Coral with a special Digital FB event

Once I got my head around the double link bottle and stopped trying to pick apart the plastic in a futile attempt to access the juice (I'm of the plain and simple maketh life easy brigade), my first thoughts on this new release from superior jewellers, Bulgari, was velvety fruity fresh with a distinct coral red tinged aura - which is appropriate, after all, as it's named Bulgari Omnia Coral.

This may bear the name of exclusivity but the scent is approachable in the extreme. I'd go so far as to say that it's a lot younger and fruitier than I'd imagine from the brand who have added this flanker to the existing Omnia Crystalline, Green Jade and Amethyste - we are getting the gist here aren't we that they are named after precious jewels? Good.

Coral may not be as prized as the rest of the jewels in the crown but this is bound to be a popular little ditty as its flirty enough for a youth market but has enough strength of character for older brand aficionados. It's timed for the Summer season, naturally, with its heady hit of fresh goji berries quickly ensconced by the soft hibiscus heart. The latter adds a softness, a temperance and an anchor with a velvet rope to the carry the fragrance and its hearty doze of femininity. Drying down, there's a powdery soft layer of scented fresh air, like strolling through a scented mist of garden spray on a hot day.

By comparison, it's sister Omnia Crystalline is sharper and more exotic than its Mediterranean muse. It's pale aqua tones and hints of fresh pear and faint sweet almonds are targeted at an Asian audience but work suitably in Occidental areas, probably due to the lightness of touch.  Omnia Coral is more effusive than Crystalline and catches you higher in the nose. She dances while Crystalline drifts and she's set at a higher olfactory level - a more direct golden shot of Summer.

Perfumer, Alberto Morillas is a canny soul. He's managed to target both Europe with Omnia Coral's floral heart and cater to South America's love of fruit and zest with a splurge of freshness. It's a perfume with a broad appeal and, while it may not have the perfumistas baying for a spray, it holds its own in a global market.


Ombia Coral's digital launch will be live streamed on the official Bulgari FaceBook page today (29th March) at 2pm London time with perfumer Alberto Morillas and various bloggers including myself. Join the launch by clicking on the FB link.

Lifestyle store RE opens permanent shop exclusively in Liberty

It was a pleasant surprise last week at Liberty, when invited to the launch of RE, the much-loved lifestyle store from Northumberland, to find that it's co-owned and directed by the husband of one of my ex PR colleagues from back in the day. 

RE is a fabulously eclectic Re-found brand that was launched by Simon Young and Jenny Vaughan in a converted garage in 2003 in the wilds of Northumberland and sells anything that corresponds with their idea of what is beautiful, “not precious or prescriptive, differentiating ourselves by offering the unexpected in unusual combinations making us unique,” says Jenny. Simon adds “We love utility, both old and new, small runs and mass production alike. We also sell cared-for second hand pieces like garden tools, lighting, textiles and furniture, because they are functional and still work. We also have recycled and fair trade products and our own exclusive range designed in house under the REgd. brand.” 

RE  first came to Liberty's attention when the buyer was sourcing crockery for their exclusive dept store and stumbled upon designs (by a designer and supplier of Simon & Jenny). The buyer followed the trail back to RE and, from this, a pop up shop came about in the store last Summer that was a huge success, so much so, that when Liberty accrued some additional space in their 4th floor area, they offered part of this to RE as it fits so well with the brand, the ethos and the high taste level of the Liberty store. The 700 sq foot space offers raRE, REmarkable, REcycled, REscued and REstored homewares and accessories.

Simon & Jenny say that “Today’s home owners are more ‘nomads’, they create home out of whatever they want, whenever they want, wherever they want, and out of the new, the old, the second hand, the mass produced and the hand crafted. It’s been our RE philosophy since day one.”

The Liberty space, just off the East Atrium will be divided into key product categories with an ever-changing calendar of seasonal displays focusing on key events and past times such as; the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the British summer time, harvest festival and folklore, Halloween and of course a REcycled Christmas.

The ‘eat’ area will house candy-hued American milk glass cake stands, printed plates, coloured glass and a new range of skull shot-glasses and tea light holders. The ‘cook’ section will focus on tea towels, vintage storage jars, scales and biscuit cutters. ‘Shrine’ is dedicated to Simon and Jenny’s love of ‘Day of the Dead’ motifs and Mexican trinkets, and a new ‘Last Supper’ print range of tea towels and plates. ‘Outdoor’ will feature rusty metal signs, restored garden furniture, vintage pots and tools. ‘Utility’ will cater for the cleaning obsessed and those with a love of hardware. Vintage wool blankets and a new range of school blazer stripe cushions make up ‘living’. Old maps and vintage framed pin boards make ‘office’ the perfect place to pick up items to make working a little more bearable.

Take a look at RE in Liberty or online HERE. You may be not be REsponsible for how much you want to buy.

New 'Stars in Dior' by Rizzoli and What Makes a Style Icon.

Lately, I've been thinking about what makes a style icon. I suppose it's been in  reaction to the ubiquitous Alexa Chung and her new title as British Fashion Council's Young Style Ambassador and of types such as Olivia Palermo, model, rich girl socialite and ex-reality TV show member of 'The City' or even Katy Perry who terming both 'style' and 'icon' is laughable in the extreme despite her recent front row Chanel appearance.

It used to be that women named style icons were lauded for their talent be it acting, voice, writing ability or other and their natural (self) style which became a moniker and a signpost of their image. Pre-stylists foisting image and designers throwing free clothes upon them, stars such as Grace Kelly, Gina Lollobrigida, Marlene Deitrich, Marilyn Monroe and Katharine Hepburn chose their image and carefully kept to its confines, using it to reinforce their stardom and their kudos. Style was an adjunct to their abilities and how they conducted themselves, not the sole reason for their existence or their many column inches.

Today, it seems that many self modelled style icons seek validation and reify themselves by being no more than clothing puppets, raising their stakes in global fashion media, neither aligning themselves to one design house or other, chopping and changing their loyalties to whomever will dress them willingly and often freely. No sooner has someone glimpsed fame than the hungry media from gossip mags to glossies and the marketing needs of designer brands to high street, leap on the chance of a new find with whom to bind themselves. We can see this in the case of the gorgeous Lana Del Rey who had barely released her first album and already featured in multitudes of fashion editorials and even had a Mulberry bag named after her. It may not be Hermes, but still...

Style by association is now revered instead of reviled. Many who have little style (Diana Vickers anyone?) and who may be little more than vacuous clothes horses are paid to feature front row at catwalk shows further denigrating the notion of self style, elegance and class and also of loyalty to a design House. Which is why the strongest brands today are niche brands such as Balenciaga, Celine and Haider Ackerman who, strong in their own personality, choose carefully and who don't need the same front row footloose brand harlots to parade their wares, unyielding to those celebrities who see themselves as commodities and sell themselves to the highest or most frequent bidders.

Similarly, labels such as Dior still have weight when it comes to who wears their wares. Over the years, Dior have groomed only the best and have a long history of the most beautiful and sought after women in the world wearing the label. Marlene Dietrich, Sophia Loren, Kim Novak, Grace Kelly, Ava Gardner and Elizabeth Taylor have all starred in the greatest films shot by the finest directors and were dressed to match their role, by Dior Haute Couture.

To celebrate this fact Dior's latest release (published by Rizzoli, New York), 'Stars in Dior' features such screen goddesses at the height of their fame as well as modern stars such as Charlize Theron, Natalie Portman, Kirsten Dunst, Penelope Cruz and Monica Bellucci. Times may have changed but Dior honours its past by choosing wisely.

Christian Dior started out as a costume designer even before his couture house was founded in 1946 so it's no surprise that Dior's filmography is impressive featuring in more than 90 films.

Check out some true style icons in 'Stars in Dior', released in Europe in May 2012 and in the USA in September 2012. Imagery featured taken from this book and supplied by Dior.

Let me know what you think about today's termed 'style icons' compared to the film starlets of the past.

TopMan launches The Denim Jacket Project

The Denim Jacket has long been accorded the status of an iconic piece of clothing - from James Dean to Marilyn Monroe, those indelible in the memory black & white images are part of film culture.

TopMan are resurrecting the denim jacket for 2012 as a major 'must-have' with the launch of their Denim Jacket project. Available online and in store from 5th April, TopMan have invited some of the most talented new designers from the UK and USA to refresh and update this classic item, adding their own twist. The designer line up is made up of the cream of British menswear talent who have each previously shown collections at MAN, one of TopMan and Fashion East's initiatives.

Designers from the UK include Lou Dalton, Katie Eary and Shaun Sampson while Mark McNairy is the New York representative. McNairy was recently named as one of GQ's best new menswear designers in America.

UK TopMan stockists include TopMan at Oxford Circus, Shoreditch, Seven Dials, Harrods, Selfridges and Manchester's Arndale Centre as well as www.topman.com 

Chutzpah's Weekly Barometer

A light hearted look back over the past week’s good, bad and indifferent including the “don’t even go there’s”.


LOVING

Blue Mascara - Ever since Ms Stella Mc used it in her recent A/W'12 show to highlight her vivid indigo pallette, we've been mad about it. Problem is, trying to track down the perfect blue is like trying to track down the Holy Grail. At just £2.99 each, try the Collection 2000 set of coloured mascaras in blue, teal and purple to test the coloured lash look. Pair with their fabulous Glam Crystals eyeliner for 'the look'.  And while we're on the subject of Ms McCartney....

The Team GB kit – Unveiled this week, Stella has done us proud with her blue focused, Union flag-panelled British team uniforms. At last, we manage to get something connected to the Olympics right.


Cate Blanchett – On the cover of ‘Intelligent Life’ sans makeup, PhotoShop, and still fabulous. We can’t even pop down to Waitrose without our lashes on.

Carolyn Massey joins Lyle & Scott – Royal College of Art alumni and former NEWGEN MEN award recipient Massey looks to be an interesting appointment by the heritage knitwear brand, which could finally shake off its Ronnie-Corbett-down-the-19^th-hole image.

The French and Saunders chatshow – Rumoured, but anyone who has caught their hilarious Radio 2 shows will tell you that Graham Norton and Jonathan Woss need to watch their backs. 

Balenciaga high-tops – Trainer obsessive Team Chutzpah will tell you that his fellow sneaker pimps consider designer trainers to be “absolute gash”, preferring retro or re-issued styles; however Balenciaga’s hi-tops are a winning combination of colour and texture that even won him over. And while we're at it, we're also loving these retro feel Frye Kira High Tops. They  look suitably grunge and come in a number of colours. £110 from www.thefryecompany.com 

Nova Chiu – Following a stand-out collection from this season’s Vauxhall Fashion Scout Ones to Watch (think Mary Katrantzou maximalism meets Bernard Willhelm quirk), the London College of Fashion graduate gets a PR and the next step up the ladder to greatness. See below:-

Discover&Deliver – An occasional table at The Connaught caught your eye? E-commerce site Discover&Deliver promises to bring a piece of the world’s luxury hotels and top-end restaurants to your home.


Swivel Chairs - A la BBC1's The Voice. The judges bitch fighting doesn't do it for us but we're up for one of those ginormous swivel chairs.


Tom Ford and Madonna – Gay rights champions. Whilst 'Our Husband' Tom tackles homophobic bullying in American schools, a fearless Madonna promises to tear the Russian government a new one over the proposed ban on “homosexual propaganda”.

Revive Intensite Creme Lustre (SPF 30) - Trialed this in a recent Harrods Glossybox special and I'm hooked. Potent antioxidants and SPF 30 help protect against the free radicals and UVA/UVB rays that can lead to visible signs of aging. A whopping (good skin costs) £235 at both Space NK and Harrods. 

HATING
Mantyhose – Unfortunately, now receiving the Madonna seal of approval, via her latest video. Okay, so they’re on male supermodel Sean O’Pry but they’re still faintly ridiculous. Would you fancy a man in them? Just. Say. No.

Steel Toecaps – Filtering down from Vuitton to Kurt Geiger, the bunion pandemic starts here – and we wouldn’t like to be on the business end of one any time soon.

Mother/daughter clothes sharing – The thin end of the wedge, how long before Mommie Dearest moves from dipping into your wardrobe to your dating pool?

Asma Al-Assad – Dictator’s First Lady and Louboutin addict. Those red soles don't work with dictatorships.

‘The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook’ – Of all the associated tat launched off the back of the tween phenomenon and film franchise, this is the one we’re least likely to be reaching for. Fried squirrel anyone?

Hockey – Ultra-violent, ankle bruising, schoolyard sport allegedly experiencing a resurgence thanks to Princess Kate, according to another non-story in the Daily Fail.

‘Authentic Icon’ – Just weeks after Tommy Hilfiger joined the ‘American Idol’ team as “Image Consultant” (Yes. We Know.) this tie-in range of clothing hits the stores in America. With Cowell notoriously wringing every last cent out of each revenue stream we can only wonder why it took this long.

The Health and Social Care Bill – And so, the dismantling of our National Health Service, led by a smug David Cameron, begins. It’s enough to make anyone riot, to be frank. And let’s not forget further plans to privatise our police force and roads.

DON’T CARE
Katy Perry and Baptiste Giabiconi – We're putting this down to a particularly silly day in some PR’s office as we can’t imagine Perry, who always looks spectacularly tacky no matter what she wears, stepping out with Kaiser Karl’s boy toy.

Sir Philip Green’s birthday party – Was anyone really shocked by the astounding vulgarity of Arcadia magnate and known tax evader Green’s beachside birthday bash? Even reports of a spat between a foul-mouthed Kate Moss and Gwyneth Paltrow can’t raise our interest levels, although we do wonder how green goddess and all-round superwoman Paltrow reconciles her ethical standpoint with partying hard with a man who refuses to pay a decent London Living Wage.


Barometer compiled by Lee Clatoworthy (@TeamChutzpah) and Katie Chutzpah. Let us know what you think of this week's selection by leaving a comment.

Harrods Launch New Technology Department with Celebrity Party

When Harrods launch a whole new ramped up area in store, you know it's going to be special. So, when the invitation to attend Harrods new 22,000 square foot Technology Dept launch popped into my email box, there was a definite buzz of anticipation.

On arrival, there was the blinding array of technology by world famous brands who tempted us with their hi-tech, sleek smooth lines and had us all 'needing' new Sony VAIOs (my favourite) Loewe sound systems, FujiFilm cameras, Blackberry, Apple ('oh, I'll have one of everything, thanks'), Porsche, Toshiba and even Swarovski (with not a hint of bling in sight).

The monied 'suits' merged with the significantly less but undeniably better dressed fashion crowd to drink champagne, cuban spiced martinis and Auld Alliance whisky, watch the official unveiling as well as take in an upbeat fashion show where models rocked headphones, carried laptops and generally strutted their stuff. 

Up and coming singer, Misty Miller, sang accompanied by her ukelele (ok, the ukelele part may have been just a tad too twee for Chutzpah's taste) while the DJ pumped out dance hit after dance hit. At this point, the realisation that copious drinks and exceedingly expensive new technology may not be the best coupling became apparent as I visibly flinched when party invitees put unsteady champagne glasses next to expensive PCs and sound equipment (hey, you can take the girl out of PR...), but the crowd was incredibly well-behaved for such a lively event which is just as well.

I particularly appreciated the fact that hipper than hip brand, Monster (huge in Japan, naturally), launched four new models of headphones and earphones at the event - Gratitude, Inspiration, Diamond Tears and Diesel VEKTR headphones. The Gratitudes are specially created high-performance in-ear headphones while the Inspiration line is Monster’s first over-ear, noise cancelling headphones - ideal for frequent business travellers, home, commuting or office use. It was the Diamond Tears - Edge headphones with its bold, jewellery like appearance with a multi-faceted design that had all the fashion types drooling, 'I want those!', though Monster were incredibly generous gifting us with a pair of Gratitude in-ear headphones. And, they are terrific.

Harrods being Harrods, there were an array of ultra expensive, exclusive products to the store including an 11ft AeroDream speaker from Jarre at £330,000, a 152" Panasonic TV for £600,000, new products from Toshiba including the new glasses free 3D TV, a one-of-a-kind Ferrari Hassleblad camera and the new HP Spectre netbook.

Celebrities attending the techfest enjoying the mix of glam media and fashion included Erin O'Connor, Jasmine Guinness, Nick Grimshaw, Matthew Horne, Chris O'Dowd & Dawn Porter, Tali Lennox and Tamara Ecclestone

Spanish brand, Pedro Garcia's S/S'12 collection

Pedro Garcia's a classy little Spanish shoe brand that appears in all the right websites (NetaPorter.com, FarFetch.com) and consistently turns out beautifully designed, Euro twist shoes that serve a Spring/Summer climate splendidly. And, their S/S'12 collection is no different.

This third generation of shoe-makers business that's still run and owned by the Garcia family, have employed the creative direction and vision of photographer and painter, Daniel Riera, to translate their vision of Spanish craftmanship and style.

Photographed on Lanzarote, Riera took the natural lava and black sands as inspiration, similar to painter, architect and sculptor, César Manrique, who blended the artificial with the natural rugged landscape.

The collection is 1980s inspired with Apache chic leanings and comes in mostly neutral shades but with the brilliant electric blue to raise its game and provide a bolt of much needed colour and energy. The sculptured high backs and rounded toes echo the natural shapes of the island.

The collection was photographed at four of the Lanzarote's emblematic enclaves: Jameos del Agua, Mirador del Río, Jardín de Cactus and Casa Museo del Campesino. 

See for yourself how it all worked out.