Forever Fashion: Estethica at London Fashion Week

An exciting London Fashion Week came to a close last night. This year's front row was packed with A-List celebs including Sarah Jessica Parker, Anna Wintour, Elle McPherson, Agyness Deyn and Alexa Chung, to name a few!

The La Luminata team were lucky enough to visit the exclusive exhibition at Somerset House. Our highlight was Estethica, a programme founded by the British Fashion Council showcasing 37 emmerging designers committed to working sustainably. One of La Luminata's fave designers Goodone were amongst this year's hotly picked talent.

Esthetica is growing by the year, proving that ethcial design can be cutting edge and up there alongside established international designers.

Forever Fashion: DEBENHAMS TARGETS ‘FORGOTTEN WOMEN’ WITH GROUND BREAKING CAMPAIGN

Debenhams today (23rd September 2010) broke yet another fashion industry taboo and became the first retailer to launch a campaign featuring models in their 40s, 50s and 60s to target ‘forgotten women’.

High fashion and high street imagery is dominated by models under 25 who appear in advertising, in magazines and at point of sale.  As a result this group of older women, ironically the ones with the fuller purses, are neglected in terms of fashion advice and styling tips.

The campaign, which the retailer is calling ‘The Style List’ is an industry first and sees Debenhams joining forces with fashion commentator and diversity campaigner Caryn Franklin.

The Style List will give ongoing solutions, advice and guidance on how women 40+ can achieve any desired look, whether it be evening, day or weekend wear. This will be delivered in stores, online and through photography used by Debenhams (images attached).

“The days are long gone when hitting 50 meant you where relegated to dowdy cardigans and baggy knits.  This group of women aren’t communicated to by the fashion press and retailers with models of their own age.  We wanted to be the first to put this right’’ said Michael Sharp, Debenhams deputy chief executive.

Debenhams will shortly begin a nationwide search for a fourth face to join The Style List model line-up later this autumn.

Through its use of photography both online, in windows and in advertising, it is the UK’s only retailer to commit to reflecting its diverse customer base through representative imagery.

Photography by Karena Perronet-Miller

Chuck

Forever Fashion: Goodone’s New Collection

Now I'll make no secret of the fact that Goodone are my favourite eco label out there. From discovering the brand two years ago, I have watched them go from strength to strength. Their next collection is desirable, chic and more grown up with a taste of their usual body-con, sports inspired shape. Watch here to see Nin explain how their recycled clothing is made.

Chuck

Forever Fashion: Viv Does Vegan

Vivienne Westwood has designed a range of gorgeous Anglomania Melissa shoes entitled 'Lady Dragon'.

Totally sexy, hot and vegan, these little numbers won't make your feet hot and sticky...quite the opposite. Made from MELFLEX plastic, a patented, hypo-allergenic, recyclable, and flexible PVC, these little babies will keep you comfortable and slip-free. They even smell faintly of sweets!

In an assortment of shades, there's a colour for everyone, we buy ours here!

Forever Fashion: Comfortable, Cool and fragrant free, when working out in Bamboo!

Many moons ago on a whim, I bought some bamboo socks from my local health food store. Everyone in the shop was raving about them, I thought they must have dull lives or were on commission or something, but I bought them anyway to use for working out. It may sound daft, but it took a really long time for me to realise how good they are. When my feet are comfortable, I don’t notice them. One day I went to the gym and had forgotten my bamboo socks, when I came out my feet felt awful, puffy, sticky, saw and I had blisters. Then I realised.

With new found respect for my bamboo socks I checked out where they came from. A great little, planet supporting, carbon positive company called Bam and to my delight I discovered they do Bamboo sports clothing as well. As my old kit was starting to look like pyjamas I purchased a couple of tops and some shorts. They arrived the next day, informing me that they have planted trees in my name as a result of my purchase.

I put my new bamboo outfit to the test. One outfit, one week, 5 sessions, 1.5 hours per session, high intensity (lots of sweating). The results are impressive. To sum it up, comfortable, cool and fragrant free! Bamboo is 3-4 times more absorbent than cotton, so if those kitchen rolls have the power of 1 elephant in a sheet then my bamboo outfit definitely ropes in its family and mates as well. All the moisture is absorbed away from the skin, keeping it comfortable, the absorbed moisture in the material seems to work in a cooling effect so by the end of my work out I am not left feeling hot and sticky. Finally, at the end of the week my gear was surprisingly whiff free, there was a slight odour under one of the under arm areas! This is due to the anti bacterial properties of the bamboo which does not support the growth of bacteria, so no smell!

Check out Bam's full range of clothing here. Reading through their website alone gave me a giggle!

Lydia Vine

Forever Fashion: LFLECT – SAFE CYCLING IN STYLE

It's important to be visible when you are on a bike, but sometimes it's a challenge to be stylish, fashion forward, and be safe at the same time. Although I value my life highly, I also care about how I look (i.e. I'm pretty vain), and sometimes your options feel pretty limited in the world of bike apparel. But this is changing. Companies like Cyclechic, Velorution and Amsterdammers have great bikes and interesting accessories, and are serving the community of people for whom cycling is pretty much their main form of transport and they want to do it in style. We want to be safe, but we also want to look good!

Always on the look out for stuff to wear whilst cycling that won't make me look like a nineties raver, I was very happy to come across LFLEC from Lost Values. A great range of knitted accessories, and, excitingly, some haberdashery bits and bobs you can use to customise your own clothes, all made with reflective wool that shines brightly at night when illuminated, making you ultra visible when out cycling in the dark. Highly practical, everything in this range is also very beautiful. All the knitted stuff is handmade in the UK using wool from the Scottish Highlands.

It's very hard to choose any one item as I really like all these things, but one thing that particularly caught my was the reflective lace, decorated with tiny cycling figures, in a range of colours and style, for you to add to your clothes as an elegant trim that will make you shine and shimmer like an angel on two wheels.

Be seen, be safe, be stylish!

Don't forget: Bike Week 2010 is almost upon us! Check out the website and find out what's happening near you.

Sophy Colbert

Forever Fashion: 21 Things I Love at Untold

This fabulous website, Untold, acts as a springboard for up and coming designers, artists and photographers who may otherwise have found it hard to get into the industry. They showcase beautiful textiles, clothing and accessories as well as the offer of creative advice.

One partnership which particularly caught my eye was 21 Things I Love. The two creators , Adrea Carr and Kin Fleary both bought together 21 things that they loved, to draw inspiration for their collections and their passion clearly shows. This charming company uses surplus fabrics and organic materials to form versatile pieces. Each collection is made to order and uses short run production methods to help cut down on waste. Their Collection No 1. Butterfly Effect '09 - Small Things Make a Difference has been inspired by butterflies and the idea of order & chaos. Adorned with ribbons, their designs can be altered by pulling hems and necklines into different shapes, forming unique and contemporary looks.

Each collection has an accompanying t-shirt range which donates 10% of their profits to The Bee Project. This project endeavours to help reverse the demise of the honey bee which has occurred as a result of climate and environmental change.

‘21 Things I Love is an eco-conscious label built on a commitment to quality, sustainable environmental practices, fair exchange and outstanding design. Playful and versatile, 21 Things I Love brings glamour to eco-fashion.’

Exactly what we like to hear!

Poppy Sakulku

Photographs by Julia Mills & styled by Lupe Castro.