Michael Kors is an American power house. Not only is he a lux designer of great note, he has a starring role in TV’s Project Runway and is the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America (that’s the fashion Oscars to you and me!) Where does a man who is juggling some serious balls have time to breathe, let alone embark on new projects? His latest is a fabulous new make-up line in collaboration with Estee Lauder, aptly named ‘Very Hollywood’.
Michael Kors counts some of Hollywood’s leading ladies among his loyal fans. Packing a punch at the Oscar parties this year was Jennifer Hudson in a midnight blue Michael Kors gown and comedian of the moment, Tina Fey, in a dazzling one-shouldered Kors number. These ladies made the headlines and created quite a buzz for the Michael Kors brand…
Michael describes the type of women he creates clothes and watches for as “… a woman of any age, any nationality and who is fashion conscious without being a fashion victim”. Sounds like anyone of us, if only we could afford some of his beautiful designer lux clothing! Thankfully his watches, sunglasses and accessories are a little more affordable.
Michael Kors watches are very elegant and stylish, in keeping with the beautiful clothes he produces. We especially love all the tortoiseshell watches in his collection. Tortoiseshell continues to have a strong fashion presence this year and Kors ensures there’s plenty of the wonderful print to go around. There’s no shortage of vintage gold and white Michael Kors watches either, which all makes for a classically decadent collection.
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Friday, 27 November 2009
A New Adventure
From miserable, grey, wet Heathrow to a hazy sun in the morning sky over Abu Dhabi. After a 7 hour flight spent watching '500 Days of Summer' and the brilliant 'Up'and attempting to get a little shut eye I've arrived to a gleaming Middle Eastern airport. Having had minimal sleep and aware that it should be the middle of the UK night, it feels very odd suddenly landing in bright sunlight at what should be 3.30am. As we cruised in to land the landscape is truly original and fascinating. Hugging the shoreline are large shimmering buildings, entirely dwarfing tiny houses and creating an amazing sense of scale. I thought I could see huge schools of fish in the clear water, however that may have been coral, but the water was bright blue and then perfect sand on the shore and then miles more sand and greeny blue waterways and canals. It's a beautiful sight and really remarkable. It's absolutely man-made, as the symmetry is so precise, but I can't really see how and why those canals would be used. There are random individual houses on their own sandy islands surrounded by these waterways and no apparent way, bar a boat to get anywhere! People have said to me that Abu Dhabi is like a huge building site and certainly once I'd got past the beauty of the initial coastline and the surrounding area and nearing the airport it does open up into a massive construction site. There are some fascinating buildings - a huge globe, again, just on it's own gleaming in the morning sun and from where I'm sitting overlooking the runway there's a beautiful curved control tower - like a large sail. I'd like the opportunity to go into Abu Dhabi itself but I guess that will wait for another time, as it is I'm on my way to Sydney - a city in a country that I've yet to visit and I'm about to embark on 3 months of living and working in a totally new and exciting environment. Bye Bye Britain, so long cold weather, farewell Christmas around the fire - Aussie here I come!
Friday, 12 June 2009
Join the 'Fash Pack' with Oddity Candy Watches from Adidas
Colour is big news this summer and Shade Station is spoiling you with our on-trend colour palette and amazing selection of designer watches and sunglasses. For your fashionable summer wristwear look no further than Adidas and their new Oddity Candy range. The equivalent to Lancôme’s Juicy Tube Lipgloss for lips these brightly coloured watches will arm you with perfect digital timing and the necessary pop of colour on your wrist to embrace this season's trend.
"But I don't 'do' sport!"
Yes, that may be the case but we bet you still wear Adidas shell toes to the pub and have worn an adidas tracksuit or hooded top to the supermarket at some point. Adidas is of course the premier sports label, however it is also a lifestyle label. Stella McCartney and Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto both know this, as does glossy magazine, Instyle, which featured the Adidas wrist-candy in last months issue. The point is; Adidas Oddity Candy watches are both functional and superbly fashionable.
With a rainbow selection of hues, the Oddity Candy range has colours to suit all tastes, from turquoise and dusky red to green and baby pink. For those with more traditional tastes, white and black are available and those who embrace colour will love the Adidas Oddity Candy watch in ‘vibrant orange’, which is exclusive to Shade Station.
For all your pursuits this summer, colour is a must and the easiest way to wear it, is a burst of Oddity Candy on your wrist!
"But I don't 'do' sport!"
Yes, that may be the case but we bet you still wear Adidas shell toes to the pub and have worn an adidas tracksuit or hooded top to the supermarket at some point. Adidas is of course the premier sports label, however it is also a lifestyle label. Stella McCartney and Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto both know this, as does glossy magazine, Instyle, which featured the Adidas wrist-candy in last months issue. The point is; Adidas Oddity Candy watches are both functional and superbly fashionable.
With a rainbow selection of hues, the Oddity Candy range has colours to suit all tastes, from turquoise and dusky red to green and baby pink. For those with more traditional tastes, white and black are available and those who embrace colour will love the Adidas Oddity Candy watch in ‘vibrant orange’, which is exclusive to Shade Station.
For all your pursuits this summer, colour is a must and the easiest way to wear it, is a burst of Oddity Candy on your wrist!
Friday, 5 June 2009
Tom Ford
Tom Ford seems to effortlessly transcend the gap between being an established designer and that of a relative newcomer. You could categorise him with the old guard like, Armani, Valentino, Cavalli and Lagerfeld simply because he is such an established name and has had success within groups and independently. However you can also bunch him together with the likes of Stella McCartney, Luella, Giles Deacon, Marc Jacobs and DSquared, because in reality, he’s not that old and hasn’t been in the business for decades either.
Tom Ford sits in a rare place within the design industry for just this reason. He demands respect because of his success, his designs are timeless and classic and yet he’s as quick to push the boundaries as any other young aspiring designer trying to make a name for themselves.
For proof of his success you can look to the time he was Creative Director at Gucci in the Nineties. At the time Gucci was a big name, however it was virtually bankrupt and didn’t have the youth vote at all. Enter Ford. He injected a fresh optimism and pizzazz into the Italian design house and as a result made a name for himself and seduced an entire generation to Gucci’s charms. Remember the velvet slim line hipsters and the skinny satin shirts loved by Gwyneth Paltrow and her contemporaries? Tom Ford helped Gucci become the A-Lister’s label of choice.
In 2004 Ford left Gucci and started his own label. His previous success enabled him to hit the ground running and within very little time ‘Tom Ford’ became an established, sought after label. From his accessories range to his menswear and sunglasses collection, every piece screams style and panache. The most recent offering from Tom Ford is a ‘Made to Measure’ service for men’s dress shoes. Dress shoes are traditionally conservative and there is little choice between styles. Again, step forward Mr Ford. This inspired collection will offer no less than 18 different styles and will be made to the exact foot size specification. Once again Tom Ford stamps his mark in the world of fashion and shows both the dinosaurs and the young pretenders just who’s really boss.
Many celebrities are fans of Tom Ford’s designs, including Brad Pitt. This spring saw the actor dressed head to toe in Tom Ford, from his sunglasses to his shoes at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Pictured wearing a pale pink ‘Spencer’ suit with an open neck white shirt, Brad Pitt looked dashing and modern, accessorising with a pair of the very latest Tom Ford aviator sunglasses and a grey cashmere scarf. Brad Pitt rarely pus a foot wrong when it comes to fashion and by wearing Tom Ford when he’s under the glare of the camera lense, Pitt ensures he remains fashion’s darling and every women’s fantasy.
You may not have the status or cash to rival Brad but you can certainly give him a run for his money in the sunglasses stakes. Tom Ford sunglasses are incredibly stylish and also the choice of eyewear for another ladies man, James Bond! Ford’s sophisticated range of shades is ultra modern whilst also remaining slightly retro and classic. The aviator is a must in every man’s summer wardrobe and Tom Ford delivers, with varying styles of aviator shades within his men’s collection.
Tom Ford sits in a rare place within the design industry for just this reason. He demands respect because of his success, his designs are timeless and classic and yet he’s as quick to push the boundaries as any other young aspiring designer trying to make a name for themselves.
For proof of his success you can look to the time he was Creative Director at Gucci in the Nineties. At the time Gucci was a big name, however it was virtually bankrupt and didn’t have the youth vote at all. Enter Ford. He injected a fresh optimism and pizzazz into the Italian design house and as a result made a name for himself and seduced an entire generation to Gucci’s charms. Remember the velvet slim line hipsters and the skinny satin shirts loved by Gwyneth Paltrow and her contemporaries? Tom Ford helped Gucci become the A-Lister’s label of choice.
In 2004 Ford left Gucci and started his own label. His previous success enabled him to hit the ground running and within very little time ‘Tom Ford’ became an established, sought after label. From his accessories range to his menswear and sunglasses collection, every piece screams style and panache. The most recent offering from Tom Ford is a ‘Made to Measure’ service for men’s dress shoes. Dress shoes are traditionally conservative and there is little choice between styles. Again, step forward Mr Ford. This inspired collection will offer no less than 18 different styles and will be made to the exact foot size specification. Once again Tom Ford stamps his mark in the world of fashion and shows both the dinosaurs and the young pretenders just who’s really boss.
Many celebrities are fans of Tom Ford’s designs, including Brad Pitt. This spring saw the actor dressed head to toe in Tom Ford, from his sunglasses to his shoes at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Pictured wearing a pale pink ‘Spencer’ suit with an open neck white shirt, Brad Pitt looked dashing and modern, accessorising with a pair of the very latest Tom Ford aviator sunglasses and a grey cashmere scarf. Brad Pitt rarely pus a foot wrong when it comes to fashion and by wearing Tom Ford when he’s under the glare of the camera lense, Pitt ensures he remains fashion’s darling and every women’s fantasy.
You may not have the status or cash to rival Brad but you can certainly give him a run for his money in the sunglasses stakes. Tom Ford sunglasses are incredibly stylish and also the choice of eyewear for another ladies man, James Bond! Ford’s sophisticated range of shades is ultra modern whilst also remaining slightly retro and classic. The aviator is a must in every man’s summer wardrobe and Tom Ford delivers, with varying styles of aviator shades within his men’s collection.
Thursday, 4 June 2009
CocoMania!
This summer sees the release of 2 films about the life of Coco Chanel. Surprisingly neither looks specifically at her life as the world’s foremost fashion designer; rather they concentrate on darker, lesser-known periods of her life.
The first starring Audrey Tautou, famous for her starring role in Amelie, is entitled “Coco Avant Chanel” (Coco before Chanel) and explores Chanel’s life as she grew up in an orphanage in rural France and scraped her way to Paris, via odd jobs and wealthy men. The film bears witness to her transformation from effectively little more than a peasant girl to a woman who became known for her style and the embodiment of chic. Audrey Tautou was born to play Chanel. Like Coco, she has similar androgynous body measurements and an astonishing facial likeness with high cheekbones, dark hair and porcelain skin. Her wonderful turn as the headstrong designer, has elicited rave reviews from French cinema goers and critics alike.
The second film in a season of Chanel biopics stars Lagerfield muse Anna Mouglalis as Mademoiselle Chanel and is called “Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky”. Merging fact and fiction, the film follows the love affair between a young Chanel and the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky during the early 1920s. The film closed the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and was met with praise for its direction and set design in particular.
Both films are sumptuous tales depicting periods of Coco Chanel’s life, however it is entirely coincidental that they have seen the light of day at the exact same time. As it is, both pictures have begun this summer’s trend of ‘CocoMania’.
Although never far from the limelight, Chanel is currently having a HUGE fashion moment. In addition to both movies, the French design house is currently producing all the outfits for Penelope Cruz in her latest film with the Spanish director Pedro Almodovar “Broken Embraces”. Almodovar has praised Chanel as “One of the best inventions of the Twentieth Century”. The English National Ballet has also announced that all their dancers will be performing at Sadler’s Wells in June wearing Chanel Haute Couture, to celebrate the centenary of Ballets Russes – an early Twentieth Century Russian Ballet Company.
The fashion people are also hot on the Coco trend, at this years Paris Fashion Week, Jefferson Hack, co-founder of ‘Dazed & Confused’ magazine and father to Kate Moss’s daughter, held a party in Chanel’s private apartments in the Rue Cambon, to which, a host of French society, models and celebrities were invited.
Chanel has been a driving force in the fashion industry and has given society some of its most influential and iconic produce to date. No scent in history has had as much success as Chanel No 5, the black quilted chain bag has become a symbol of style and affluence, the little box Chanel jacket has been copied the world over…. And there’s more… Coco made pearls fashionable, stripes and the signature little black dress.
As summer 2009 implodes with CocoMania it is essential that budding fashionista’s are armed with Chanel fodder. Most designer pieces are far too expensive to enjoy, however sunglasses, as well as being a summer necessity, are an affordable must-have item, and they don’t come much better than Chanel. Shade Station will be stocking Chanel sunglasses for the summer, so you can indulge in your Chanel moment and keep abreast of the hottest trend this year.
The first starring Audrey Tautou, famous for her starring role in Amelie, is entitled “Coco Avant Chanel” (Coco before Chanel) and explores Chanel’s life as she grew up in an orphanage in rural France and scraped her way to Paris, via odd jobs and wealthy men. The film bears witness to her transformation from effectively little more than a peasant girl to a woman who became known for her style and the embodiment of chic. Audrey Tautou was born to play Chanel. Like Coco, she has similar androgynous body measurements and an astonishing facial likeness with high cheekbones, dark hair and porcelain skin. Her wonderful turn as the headstrong designer, has elicited rave reviews from French cinema goers and critics alike.
The second film in a season of Chanel biopics stars Lagerfield muse Anna Mouglalis as Mademoiselle Chanel and is called “Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky”. Merging fact and fiction, the film follows the love affair between a young Chanel and the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky during the early 1920s. The film closed the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and was met with praise for its direction and set design in particular.
Both films are sumptuous tales depicting periods of Coco Chanel’s life, however it is entirely coincidental that they have seen the light of day at the exact same time. As it is, both pictures have begun this summer’s trend of ‘CocoMania’.
Although never far from the limelight, Chanel is currently having a HUGE fashion moment. In addition to both movies, the French design house is currently producing all the outfits for Penelope Cruz in her latest film with the Spanish director Pedro Almodovar “Broken Embraces”. Almodovar has praised Chanel as “One of the best inventions of the Twentieth Century”. The English National Ballet has also announced that all their dancers will be performing at Sadler’s Wells in June wearing Chanel Haute Couture, to celebrate the centenary of Ballets Russes – an early Twentieth Century Russian Ballet Company.
The fashion people are also hot on the Coco trend, at this years Paris Fashion Week, Jefferson Hack, co-founder of ‘Dazed & Confused’ magazine and father to Kate Moss’s daughter, held a party in Chanel’s private apartments in the Rue Cambon, to which, a host of French society, models and celebrities were invited.
Chanel has been a driving force in the fashion industry and has given society some of its most influential and iconic produce to date. No scent in history has had as much success as Chanel No 5, the black quilted chain bag has become a symbol of style and affluence, the little box Chanel jacket has been copied the world over…. And there’s more… Coco made pearls fashionable, stripes and the signature little black dress.
As summer 2009 implodes with CocoMania it is essential that budding fashionista’s are armed with Chanel fodder. Most designer pieces are far too expensive to enjoy, however sunglasses, as well as being a summer necessity, are an affordable must-have item, and they don’t come much better than Chanel. Shade Station will be stocking Chanel sunglasses for the summer, so you can indulge in your Chanel moment and keep abreast of the hottest trend this year.
Celebs, Sunglasses, Cannes!
If you’re celebrity savvy like me you will have been watching all the action at the recent 2009 Cannes Film Festival with interest. The stars, the dresses, the parties and the gossip kept me entertained for at least, oh, a week!
Angelina and Brad put on a show of togetherness in answer to reports of an imminent split. Penelope Cruz braved the festival whilst suffering with flu. Twilight’s Robert Pattinson’s non-stop partying was widely reported. Surprise at the pairing of Hero’s Hayden Panettiere and T4’s Steve Jones, seen canoodling onboard David Furnish’s yacht for the duration of the festival. Paris Hilton and her beau Doug Reinhart courting the paps as usual and Mariah Carey promoting her new film ‘Precious’. As well as 2 films depicting the life of Mademoiselle Chanel and an appearance from Chanel ‘s Creative Director, the unflappable Karl Lagerfeld, made for an exciting week.
The French Riviera was awash with Hollywood Glitterati and the sun shone brightly, so unsurprisingly we were treated to a role call of the latest, most fashionable sunglasses as modelled by the A-Listers.
Police sunglasses were a popular choice amongst the men, with director Quentin Tarantino, rapper Neyo and the newly reformed Spandau Ballet all sporting various cool looking styles. Brad Pitt took to the Red Carpet for his movie ‘Inglourious Basterds’ wearing top to toe Tom Ford including a sharp looking pair of Tom Ford style aviators. Both Robert Pattinson and Orlando Bloom flew the flag for Ray Ban, with the Twilight star rocking some Ray Ban Clubmasters and Bloom wearing nothing but swimming shorts and a pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers.
German born Diane Kruger is rarely seen without her Ray Ban Wayfarers and Cannes was no exception this year. Eva Longoria turned up the heat with a sizzling pair of large red Gina sunglasses by Louis Vuitton accompanied by her husband, basketball player Tony Parker. Red head Julianne Moore was pictured wearing a stunning pair of oversized black Gucci shades and singer Mariah Carey chose a fabulous pair of Roberto Cavalli sunglasses for her photo call. Closing this year’s festival was Chanel muse and actress Anna Mouglalis with her film ‘Coco Chanel & Igor Strvinsky’ wearing.... Chanel sunglasses of course!
Angelina and Brad put on a show of togetherness in answer to reports of an imminent split. Penelope Cruz braved the festival whilst suffering with flu. Twilight’s Robert Pattinson’s non-stop partying was widely reported. Surprise at the pairing of Hero’s Hayden Panettiere and T4’s Steve Jones, seen canoodling onboard David Furnish’s yacht for the duration of the festival. Paris Hilton and her beau Doug Reinhart courting the paps as usual and Mariah Carey promoting her new film ‘Precious’. As well as 2 films depicting the life of Mademoiselle Chanel and an appearance from Chanel ‘s Creative Director, the unflappable Karl Lagerfeld, made for an exciting week.
The French Riviera was awash with Hollywood Glitterati and the sun shone brightly, so unsurprisingly we were treated to a role call of the latest, most fashionable sunglasses as modelled by the A-Listers.
Police sunglasses were a popular choice amongst the men, with director Quentin Tarantino, rapper Neyo and the newly reformed Spandau Ballet all sporting various cool looking styles. Brad Pitt took to the Red Carpet for his movie ‘Inglourious Basterds’ wearing top to toe Tom Ford including a sharp looking pair of Tom Ford style aviators. Both Robert Pattinson and Orlando Bloom flew the flag for Ray Ban, with the Twilight star rocking some Ray Ban Clubmasters and Bloom wearing nothing but swimming shorts and a pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers.
German born Diane Kruger is rarely seen without her Ray Ban Wayfarers and Cannes was no exception this year. Eva Longoria turned up the heat with a sizzling pair of large red Gina sunglasses by Louis Vuitton accompanied by her husband, basketball player Tony Parker. Red head Julianne Moore was pictured wearing a stunning pair of oversized black Gucci shades and singer Mariah Carey chose a fabulous pair of Roberto Cavalli sunglasses for her photo call. Closing this year’s festival was Chanel muse and actress Anna Mouglalis with her film ‘Coco Chanel & Igor Strvinsky’ wearing.... Chanel sunglasses of course!
Friday, 27 March 2009
Frame Acadamy
The Wahanda team rose early this morning and donned leg warmers, to check out Frame, the new dance, fitness and holistic studio in Shoreditch. Housed under the railway arches between Curtain Rd and Shoreditch High St, Frame is the coolest, cosiest dance studio we’ve ever had the pleasure of setting eyes on. Combining exposed brickwork and plenty of wood and glass, the building is a light, modern, happy place to be. One large dance studio dominates the space, with several further smaller studios designed for mat work and spin classes, and another for reformer pilates.
There are well designed changing rooms for both men and women, with showers, plenty of mirror space, hair straighteners and products. Tucked away up some stairs is a little nook with squashy sofas and a viewing gallery, designed as a communal area for members to kick back, relax, check their emails and/or have their hair and make up seen to.
The team behind Frame are two bright, sparky twenty something girls, Joan Murphy and Pip Black. Having both come from business and marketing backgrounds, they had a dream to create a hallowed place combining fitness, fun and convenience. It was as if they had climbed into Wahanda’s head and stolen all our ideas for a fabulous workout venue. In addition to a body popping, totally rocking array of classes, Frame serves up a ‘help yourself’ style breakfast bar every morning to set you up for the day ahead and then on Thursday and Friday evening’s there’s a team of hair stylists and make up artists on hand to beautify you before you hit the tiles… we couldn’t have organised it better ourselves!
Those annoying, stoic membership schemes are thrown out the window too as Frame have introduced a pay as you go swipe card that you can top up as and when you wish – so it’s goodbye to lengthy contracts and hello to fitness freedom.
Exercise has never been so fun and Wahanda can verify this having learnt a few Lindy hop moves this morning. Tone up with aerobic classes like the Jane Fonda Tribute and the Buff Workout, embrace your inner showgirl by learning burlesque, the lindy hop or the charleston and find your inner balance with acrobatic yoga and pilates. These are just a handful of classes for you to try and from £8 a class, prices are light enough to enjoy all that Frame has to offer.
There are well designed changing rooms for both men and women, with showers, plenty of mirror space, hair straighteners and products. Tucked away up some stairs is a little nook with squashy sofas and a viewing gallery, designed as a communal area for members to kick back, relax, check their emails and/or have their hair and make up seen to.
The team behind Frame are two bright, sparky twenty something girls, Joan Murphy and Pip Black. Having both come from business and marketing backgrounds, they had a dream to create a hallowed place combining fitness, fun and convenience. It was as if they had climbed into Wahanda’s head and stolen all our ideas for a fabulous workout venue. In addition to a body popping, totally rocking array of classes, Frame serves up a ‘help yourself’ style breakfast bar every morning to set you up for the day ahead and then on Thursday and Friday evening’s there’s a team of hair stylists and make up artists on hand to beautify you before you hit the tiles… we couldn’t have organised it better ourselves!
Those annoying, stoic membership schemes are thrown out the window too as Frame have introduced a pay as you go swipe card that you can top up as and when you wish – so it’s goodbye to lengthy contracts and hello to fitness freedom.
Exercise has never been so fun and Wahanda can verify this having learnt a few Lindy hop moves this morning. Tone up with aerobic classes like the Jane Fonda Tribute and the Buff Workout, embrace your inner showgirl by learning burlesque, the lindy hop or the charleston and find your inner balance with acrobatic yoga and pilates. These are just a handful of classes for you to try and from £8 a class, prices are light enough to enjoy all that Frame has to offer.
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