Rest in Peace Steve Jobs

Dear All

I just heard the sad news of the death of Steve Jobs. What an absolute visionary he was, his philosophy to dream big changed the way nearly every one of us communicates. 

I remember being convinced to cross over from my old phone (which will remain dignified and unnamed) to an iPhone. To me at the time all I needed was a phone that worked and enabled me to get online...how wrong I was. I spend more time on my iPhone playing around, creating and learning that I have on any phone I have ever owned. The iPhone has changed the way I communicate in the fashion industry. As a creative person I love using technology which is extremely visual and tactile, which is exciting and engaging. And yes, the iPhone offers all of that to me.... not to mention the apps!  I keep high resolution images of my upcoming collection on my phone which I can flick through when I meet a person of interest, we can bump phones and share contacts, I have never found sharing, saving and editing software so easy and so portable. 

I am able to sort my contacts by events, use apps which remind me what I wore where and because of my busy schedule find the ease with which I can save important dates in my diary with the relevant multimedia attachments perfect. Every fashionista I know has an iPhone except for a small number, you kind of feel part of the in-crowd by phone carrying alone ;-) I have also got into the habit of saving pictures with each contact so that I do not lose sight of who does what! 

In the fashion industry you meet so many people at one event, it's hard to rely on making notes on the business cards...here is my entry for stylist Anne Look!

Steve - we all have so much to thank you for and what a legacy you have left behind.

'If you don't dream big, there's no use of dreaming. If you don't have faith, there's nothing worth believing.'

R.I.P

Samata

David Downton's blog

Dear Friends,


I am super excited to see that artist David Downton, Fashion Artist in Residence at Claridge's has illustrated the highlights of London Fashion Week for VOGUE UK. The man is a genius! Take a look at his interpretation of one of my favourite fashion week shows - Matthew Williamson.

I have Downton's book 'Masters of Illustration', he is a case study in my forthcoming book and I am a huge fan having him met a few times in London and loving his work. Carmen Dell'Orefice recently said of David 'Every artist is suggesting part of themselves – it's not just about me – and I could show you some of the worst drawings of me by great artists. David could draw me as a crochety 80-year-old, because I'm sure she lives in here too, but he's a romantic, looking to find the best in everything.'

With the man himself, Matthew Williamson

He is one of my favourite fashion illustrators. There is a great resource if you are interested in learning more about fashion illustration and some of the talented ones in the group here.

If you love Downton and live in London then you will love the fact that the London College of Fashion will celebrate Dell'Orefice's contribution to the fashion industry with an exhibition curated by Downton in November. Downton is currently fashion artist in residence at Claridge's.

Samata x x 

London Fashion Week Vs New York Fashion Week

Dear All,

I just completed a mammoth run of New York Fashion Week Vs London Fashion Week and having had some great chats with friends both sides of the pond I wanted to comment on the NYFW Vs LFW commentary!


I found New York to be consistently surprising - the style I saw there was polished and head to toe details - bare minimum was polished hair, pedi and mani and ridiculously fantastic shoe game - then came the clothes consideration - polished and perfect well thought out and with a key branded accesory (shoe, bag or belt), to the point where conversations with friends stopped (ahem Bev) as our heads turned to take in what we were seeing. I saw feminine and floating, chic and sophisticated and statement bold - both on the runway and on the seats.

New York Fashion Week Style

The runway shows I managed to see included Jenny Packham (I know she doesn't count as she is a British girl), Carolina Herrera and Narcisco Rodriguez. My friend Isabel, a native New Yorker born and bred, explained that New York is where the big money is spent, hence a label detail of some sort is a prerequisite for completing an otherwise lesser known branded look - do you agree? From NY I took away transitional fashion - which can cross over from a day to evening look with ease.


Whereas New York appeared more wearable in London I was blown away by the fashion forward statements particularly at the London Fashion Week shows, such as at Mark Fast, Vivienne Westwood and Holly Futon. Here you are more likely to see big fashion risks - both on the runway - as demonstrated by Mark Fast's gold  tasselled jumpsuit - across to out and about around the venue where the bright blue hair, red eye lashes coupled with a gold jumpsuit against the backdrop of a cheery Somerset House will just work. As will the skinny black jeans, pumps and layered top look (as mastered by Sienna Miller effortlessly).

Sienne Miller - key LFW fashionista

Only in London ?

Vivienne Westwood

In my opinion this is perfect as it means both fashion weeks fill a very disctinct and unique space which makes the developing rift between the fashion weeks a little worrying. I love Carole White's comments on the developing situation - in many ways London Fashion Week is being bullied by the larger more 'commercial' fashion weeks  and could end up squeezed out - what do you think? I would love your thoughts? Where do you stand on the New York Fashion Week Vs London Fashion Week experience?

Samata x