Kristjana S Williams for Triumph

Icelandic illustrator Kristjana S Williams has collaborated with international lingerie brand Triumph for their new campaign. The brand take on a different style in their new ads, their usual clean and clear aesthetic is replaced with busy,intricate illustrations that surround the black and white image of the model. As a fan of illustration, I really like the new campaign, particularly as it focuses on the brands heritage. In a scroll at the bottom it reads' Triumph the makers of lingerie', this corresponds with the graphic illustrations of scissors, measuring tape,needles and thread, its touches on the history of the brand, which has been running since 1886, and is a very visual way to show the craftsmanship that goes into the lingerie.

Vivienne Westwood x heritage

Vivienne Westwood has collaborated with five British heritage brands, for a capsule collection called Vivienne Westwood(heart). The collection is a celebration of British quality and craftmanship. There has been a lot of focus on British brands, and I think it's a great idea to purchase quality items made in Britain, especially as we are still in recession, I definitely agree with Westwood's quality over quantity values.

The five chosen brands are luggage label Globe Trotter,Outerwear specialist Gloverall, cashmere and knitwear label Johnstons of Elgin, hat designers Lock&Co, and luxury sock brand Pantherella.  The brands are all between 75 and 346 years old and fit into her quality over quantity ethos. Vivienne Westwood also recently teamed up with British brand The Cambridge Satchel Company to create a collection of limited edition satchels which look amazing, so I can't wait to see the outcome of the British heritage collaboration!

The items will be available from the Conduit Street and King's Road stores in London and at viviennewestwood.com

Rise of the fourth conglomerate

Li & Fung is a trading empire founded in Hong Kong run by William Fung and brother Victor Fung. The brothers are buying into British heritage, slowly buying brands, particularly on Savile Row.
They already own Gieves and Hawkes,Hardy Aimes and recently Kilgour, the Savile Row tailors who have dressed celebrities including Jude Law,Hugh Grant and Daniel Craig.

Apparently Fung's plan is to add keep adding more upmarket menswear brands to the group, creating synergies to build the brands up in Asia and the US. I wonder who will be next on their list?

Beckham for Belstaff!

When British heritage brand Belstaff opened their new shop on Bond Street recently, none other than David Beckham was stood outside wearing the brands iconic four-pocket leather jackets, and posing with an orange BMW bike. Not only is Beckham set to be the face of the Belstaff Spring/Summer 14 campaign but has been chosen as ambassador for the brand. They had decided he was perfect for ambassador as he is a keen motorcyclist,with a hefty collection of 12 motorbikes at home. I've discussed before how men buy clothing not fashion, so was this choice a clever promotional pick for Belstaff? I think it is, David Beckham will encourage men to seek out the brand and find out what its all about,which in turn should provide the brand with more customers. I also think he is a really good choice, as they haven't just randomly picked him because he's a good looking man, but he is interested in motorcycling which ties him in with the brands heritage and image more. Another good marketing trick, is that Belfast launched their new London store during LFW, which is going to boost the brand and  promote it even more!

Can you beat a fashion blogger!?

 Over the last few years bloggers have really stepped up their game, with coveted wardrobes, thousands of followers and tickets to fashion week.. how would you like a day in the life of a fashion blogger!?  Well now you can be in with a chance thanks to style.co.uk. They have rounded up 5 fashion bloggers who have each given us a trend they will be wearing to London Fashion Week this September. All you need to do is sent in a photo of your individual take on the chosen trend, photos will be put into a gallery on style.co.uk, and the public will vote who wore the trend best. Anyone who wins the trend category will instantly win a pair of tickets to Vodafone London Fashion Weekend(22-25Sept) The winner of each trend category will then go head to head with the blogger who chose the trend and another vote will take place. Everyone who beats the fashion blogger will win a share of £1,000 to spend at Oxygen Boutique. So can you out style a fashion blogger!?…

These are the bloggers and their chosen trends..

1.kelly Morris from 'what-shesaid.com' -Forties

2.Kristin Knox from 'theclotheswhisperer.co.uk' -Heritage

3.Laetitia Wajnapel from 'mademoisellerobot.com' -Sixties

4.Ella Gregory from 'cocosteaparty.com' -Winter Florals

To enter, send a snap of your take on any of those trends to beatthefashionblogger@stylist.co.uk stating which trend you've chosen in the subject line. or tweet your snap to @StylistMagazine using the hashtag #beatthefashionbloggers.. You can enter as many categories as you wish and send any number of photos in..Good Luck!!

100 years of Chanel

As well as the opening of two new London stores (one in Covent Garden and another in New Bond St.), To celebrate 100 years of the brand Karl Lagerfeld has created a short film set in 1913 Deauville where a young Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel has recently opened her new hat shop and is eagerly awaiting customers.The film stars Keira Knightley as Chanel, alongside a range of models, and muses of Lagerfelds. 

I think the film gives an insight into the beginnings of Chanel, I like the way it's  shot in black and white and i feel its a nod to the brand and to adds to the fact its set in 1913. However I feel it would of emphasised the brands heritage more if the film was more French, perhaps french with english subtitles or even if the characters such as Chanel spoke english with a French accent, as i think Keira Knightley, among others, speaking in her regular voice took away from the French feel of the film.

         Karl Lagerfeld has said he designed the set, the costumes,the dialogue and the characters.  He also shot without a script, calling out lines just before the shot and encouraged the actors to improvise lines to give it a more natural feel. Unsurprisingly what really stood out were the costumes! I particularly loved Jamie Bochart as Marquise Luisa Casati, dressed head to toe in black with three greyhounds, Lindsay Wixson in beautiful high necked white lace dress, with an open back and huge black feather hat as Miss Wonderbilt and Ashleigh Good as Jacquelines Forzane, dressed in a black and white skirt suit, straw boater, pearls and a cane ( to name a few!)

The film beautifully shot  and I feel the brand still exudes the same elegance and classic as it always has.I think the youth of today still understand Chanel as an influential,sophisticated and chic brand, however I feel the film will give them an insight into the history and heritage of the brand that they may not be aware of.