AW11 - Song of the Rainbird

Spread your, wasted wings
Escape the, gilded cage
We’ve fallen down and out
With the wrong kind of life

Leave a note, in the mist One last look then leave them be
Their ode to our beauty is an ode to their pain
Your romance today is our torment tomorrow

Rainbird, know your place, in the world
We are carved perfection, it’s lonely, it’s lonely

The words were, written for us

We were the last one to know

We’re not so pretty inside

There are cobwebs in our mind

Flamingo, Peacock, Hummingbird, Rainbird

Can you save the last flight for us?

Or abandon yourself and lose everything for them

We’ve suffered quite enough

In a world worthy of few

And when we’re finished dressing up

We might remember who we are

They feel our absence before we’re even out the door

No more melodies from the heart

They fall apart

Introducing SS2011 Origami Dolls



















 

Paris Showroom 29 September - 5 October

As the catwalk shows unveil the latest designers at London Fashion Week I too will present SS11 on the humble blog......See the collection presented in Paris by Snow PR

http://www.snowpr.com/

    

The Like

I think I could have found my muse….or 3 muses to be exact…..  

One’s to Watch

Vauxhall Fashion scout “One’s to Watch” line-up has long been a breeding ground for the newest designers to emerge. As part of this seasons line up two of my favourite new designers took their talents to the stage and showed everyone exactly why their names were on the list.  

Lilee and Charlotte Taylor are both extremely talented, have an incredible eye for detail and have something unique in the copy-cat world of fashion. The similarities however stop there.

Lilees avant garde creations show the romanticism of fashion with intricate tailoring, subtle detailing and whispers of floating chiffon next to Taylor’s fresh approach to bold colours, clean lines and her own personalized prints. 

This was a show to remember for all the right reasons and they can rest assured that their fan base just grew tenfold. 

Amberly Valentine

One of the most startling discoveries I have made since I began my journey as a fashion designer is just how many people are willing to give up their time and help, purely to see something lovely evolve.

Earlier in the year this was very apparent when I went in search of a photographer to shoot my lookbooks for AW10 Your Heart On My Sleeve and SS11 Origami Dolls. Weaving my way through endless websites and magazines I came across a website called Model Mayhem that links creative sorts together to collaborate on various projects. In this creative melting pot I came across some photos that were more charming than anything I had seen before by a photographer named Amberly Valentine.

What struck me about this artist was just how similar her aesthetic was to my way of working. There were also quite a few photos in Amberly’s portfolio that I wished involved my clothes and so it was a very easy decision of who to approach. Luckily for me Amberly was not only talented but also very humble and professional, offering to help me with the shoot. And the rest is history!

Since launching my label with this lookbook, I have secured a sales agent Daniella Alves @ Snow PR who will be selling the collection from her showroom from 8th August 2010 in Great Portland Street, London. I have 2 major stockists in the form of Rous Island Showroom and Catwalk Genius and I have been awarded a grant to exhibit my collection in Paris during fashion week. A feat that couldn’t have been done without Amberly.

The fantasy world of Amberly’s uninhibited imagination along with her technical ability will ensure she goes a long way. The photoshoots she works on lapse between edgy dreaminess to erotic vulnerability and always have a point of difference that makes them truly breathtaking. The photos from our shoot can be seen below in AW2010 Your Heart On My Sleeve however I have also included some of my most loved editorial shots from Amberly’s portfolio. Enjoy!

For more info go to http://www.amberlyvalentine.com/

Hivennn

Early one morning before the sun had reached its brightest point I came across an email from the founder of the blog Hivennn, Jazzy Elizabeth. Her site is predominately fashion based with her love of vintage shining through in the whimsical form of grainy old school photos, beautiful clothes and an eclectic mix of topics.

Jazzy Elizabeth had contacted me in regards to her official blog giveaway which came about after her blog received over 2000 hits. I have donated a t-shirt from my SS11 collection Origami Dolls. The competition ends on the 30th June so quickly skip to the website http://hivennn.blogspot.com and apply to win a wonderful array of gifts

Introducing AW2010 Your Heart on My Sleeve

The AW2010 capsule collection Your Heart On My Sleeve is made up of ten beautifully crafted pieces in lambswool, French lace, velvet and textured silk. These pieces give an introduction to my SS11 collection Origami Dolls available soon.

Stockists include Rous Island Showroom @ 45 Clarges Street Mayfair W1J 7EP & Catwalk Genius @ http://www.catwalkgenius.com/ . To see the full collection, go to http://www.kellylove.com/  

The Magic that is Africa

It would be easy to believe if you travel to Mozambique you would discover a place that is so full of intrigue, beauty and famine that it would take your breath away. You would be right.

Spend a few days in Maputo and you will see a handful of contradictions. From the wide avenues, tropical trees, shiny new cars and fancy seafood restaurants on Costa Del Sol to the to narrow dusty backstreets holding vibrant markets, energetic salesmen with an underlying desperation and the local chapa vans bursting at the seams with locals trying to get home.

Travelling through some of these communities, you will see many a child walking with their smaller siblings wrapped tightly into little bundles on their back made from traditional kanga fabrics. The children have a special companionship with each other, the woman treat you like old friends and the men are proud and hard working.

The way the Mozambique people dress mediates the merging of the counties contradictions, reflects the vastly differing cultures that are injected into the city and depends on the individual's economic status. In the cities, women wear Western-style dresses made from fabric with brightly colored African patterns. Women in rural areas, however, generally have kept their traditional garb of long strips of fabric that are wrapped around the body, under the arms, and over one shoulder. They have also retained the traditional head scarf or turban.

The rise of clothing and accessory collections inspired by the bright kanga fabrics and relaxed dressing of these regions has increased over the past couple of seasons. Brands including Choolips, MADE, SOKO and ASOS.COM are all getting in on the action and with sustainable fashion becoming trendier by the day, it shows no sign of slowing down. With these labels supporting communities in Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzania this is a positive trend that will only continue to grow.

Take the warmth that radiates from the people, the vibrant colours of their traditional dress and the colourful noisy surroundings and you have the very magical place that is Africa.

Stay tuned for more African tales......

SS11 Origami Dolls Lookbook Shoot

A rare day of sunshine in London sets the scene for the shoot of my SS11 collection Origami Dolls. Ideas float around my mind like soft feathers of how to shoot a simple lookbook with an editorial twist.

My stylist Ellie Ward pulls out crochet oatmeal socks, suede sandles and piles of straw hats to squeals of delight (mine), while my talented photographer, Amberly Valentine gets the lighting just so. Down the hallway in the eerily quiet building, Tano fixes the hair into outrageous styles resembling beautifully crafted bird nests while Melodie applies fairytale inspired make-up.

Alex Skilbeck and Daisy Wilkins step into their first outfits and with their sweetly made up faces and broken poses they look like perfect dolls. I take a moment and feel myself exhale at the thought that the first step is coming to an end.

Everything runs smoothly without so much as a shaky start. The shots are darkly romantic showing the clothes beautifully and creating the story that was once just sketches on a page.

The lookbook is complete and the next chapter begins......

Amberly @ http://www.amberlyvalentine.com/
Tano @ http://www.modelmayhem.com/
Melodie Briere @ http://www.modelmayhem.com/
Alex Skilbeck @ http://www.modelmanagementuk.co.uk/
Daisy Wilkins @ http://www.modelmayhem.com/

2010 - A Blank Canvas

And so it is - a blank canvas waiting to be interpreted. The New Year is upon us. Before we can see in the New Year with a kiss from our sweetheart and a thousand broken resolutions we need to find the perfect dress. Whether the setting is a balmy evening or a winter wonderland, it is always a magical time when the slate is wiped clean and we can look forward to the unknown.

Embrace the new opulence that this season is becoming best known for. Exquisitely feminine fabrics, siren heels that compliment boyish cuts, strong quirky detailing and luxe accessories are the essence of this year. If all else fails though there is always the little black dress. These are my faves that I have seen lately. Revel in their loveliness and remember that the countdown is on.

So forget what you could have done this year, embrace the innocence of the young night and step into a smouldering after dark hue that will see you though until the morning light.

NYC - Melting Pot of Street Fashion

New York, I love you – you will never bring me down. Out of all the cities we will visit in a lifetime, some stain the memory indelibly. New York is one of these cities. There is no other place that makes one feel as inspired or alive as the city that never sleeps. In a place where art is the essence of life, fashion is central to this art. From the designer stores and elegant cafes of the Upper West Side to the rambling markets, second hand book stores and vintage boutiques of the Lower East Side, there is something for everyone. If there is a line to be crossed in the stakes of fashion, the line has been well and truly crossed in a land where anything goes.

It is difficult to pinpoint the current trends as everyone looks unique and interprets style in their own way. New York is addictive and I would do anything to be able to bottle the style of the devastatingly cool people who walk the streets. Jumpsuits are worn with crafty accessories, fringed dresses are offset by the highest heels and men’s preppy shirts are worn with little else. The reason that you never see two people wearing the same thing is the fact that there are SO many places to shop. A great little discovery was “The market NYC” which is a young designers market brimming with creative talent that is yet to be discovered.

The back streets of the lower east side are full of stores that seem like you wouldn’t know they were there unless someone in the know showed you. The best thing to do is to simply let yourself get lost. A couple of gems are the “Pixie Markets” which sells designer wares at a discounted price and “Flying A” stocking vintage pieces alongside quirky American labels.

For such a huge city, you can feel as if you are part of a quaint village wandering around aimlessly happy. The people can seem nonchalant however when you have the pleasure of speaking with them, they are passionate and animated. On top of this, they are very well aware that they are lucky enough to live, in my opinion, in the coolest city in the world.

Keeping in Tune with the Trends

Rock concerts have long been a breeding ground for the newest looks to emerge. Whether it be 80’s throw back, preppy or hippie chic – concerts are the perfect opportunity for the darlings of fashion to try out their fashion forward looks. This can be seen from the moment I walk into the grungy run down interior of the Electric ballroom. Packed to the brim with people channeling every look of the season, the air is rife with anticipation for what’s to come. The link between fashion and music can’t be defined as the on trend crowd sway patiently through the support acts, waiting for Paulo Nutini to make his entrance.

When Nutini strolls onto stage and begins to sing in his raw, earthy voice, punctuated by his acoustic guitar, it is truly spellbinding. The crowd erupts in excitement throwing their wildly accessorized hands in the air. With the songs mostly fresh and new, the performance exudes vitality and energy on Nutini’s part which is quickly passed onto the audience.

Nutini and his band in graphic printed shirts and washed out 90’s denim are precisely on trend – I get the impression however that they couldn’t care less. This is until I remember that Nutini is the man who wrote a song about how great it feels to wear a new pair of shoes. It is then that I release he has the coolest look of all – the one that looks as if you haven’t tried even if you have spent hours looking just so.

While the audience stands transfixed through Nutini’s quieter and perfectly composed rockier ballads, I take a moment to people watch. There is a mish mash of on trend styles in the room. High waisted shorts worn with school girl cute socks and sky high heels. Fringed waistcoats worn over tiny corseted tops that hide a multitude of sins and playsuits in every length and colour. Outfits are completed with exuberantly colored scarves, trilby hats and retro shades.

Nutini commands your attention in the way in which he performs. He is completely relaxed on stage to the point where you almost feel as if he is performing just for himself. This too can be seen in someone who is completely at ease with their fashion choices. It’s about throwing together different eras, trends and influences to create something altogether unique.

Whether it be the young fan dancing in the crowd or the musician allowing them to do so, music and fashion creates a collaboration that allows us all to perform on our very own centre stage.

The Wonderland of Winter Fashion

As the night air chills and the morning remains ethereal I am reminded that winter is quietly approaching. For some this means never ending darkness, frost covered windows, jumping up and down at the bus stop to try and stay warm and drizzle that even the prettiest umbrella won’t keep at bay. For me it means winter clothes. Beautiful, woolly and snuggly – UK designers have it sussed when it comes to looking cool yet remaining warm.

This season there is something for everyone. A nod to the 80’s with the shoulder pad theme and embellished knits, hundreds and thousands of sequins and beads, jumpers laced with angora to give that lovely fluffy effect and sumptuous velvet. Look out for new collections from Future Classics, Sonia Rykeil and French Connection. As far as accessories go ethical label NV London Calcutta shows classic bags in the softest leather and silk scarves in prints that will brighten up any winter day.

As far as shoes go, this season will be all about the over the knee boot – a perfect combination of sex appeal with timeless elegance. Spilling over from last season, the shoe boot isn’t going anywhere. Updated to look a little tougher, wear these with your prettiest lace frock for an on trend contrast.

Cast your eyes over my wish list, place your leather encased fingers firmly on the pulse and let me remind you why winter is anything but dull.

Origami Dolls - Peek into the collection

So it begins. A small step heading up the winding staircase of the London fashion industry. If a picture tells a thousand words then a collection tells a precise story – one that will hopefully captivate the listener and intrigue the glittering fashion world.

A selection of inspirational treasures in your mind start the timely and intricate process. Dolls, circles painted perfectly on already rosy cheeks, impossibly long eyelashes, origami, paper planes, whimsical geisha girls, fragments of hand painted silk and velvet, the sound of butterfly wing, perfectly formed bows, foreign films shot in impending darkness, love letters, antique jewels, tea cups.

An inspiration becomes an idea – a sketch on thick textured paper. Crumbled and thrown away, start again, colours bleed into one another, charcoal smudges and the final idea is here. Old fashioned pattern cutting, printing, fabric is draped and folded into itself, pockets form, meticulous hand stitching leaves invisible traces of blood from a million pricked fingers.

A china doll leans against a dirty wall in a derelict Victorian house. Studded kitten heels and leather accessories adorn her and compliment her delicate outfit. The room is silent bar the click of a camera and the rain outside.

AW2010 London will see the arrival of the new Kelly Love collection – Origami Dolls.


Artwork by Jolene Nettleinghame at http://www.brokendoll.org.uk/