'The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk' Exhibition Comes to London

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk exhibition finally hits the UK on 9th April at London's Barbican centre. I saw this fabulous show when it was on at the Brooklyn Museum in December and heartily recommend it to anyone who loves fashion, the art of couture construction and/or Madonna fans.

Tour the New Karl Lagerfeld London Store

As anyone who reads my Huffington Post blog will know, I recently had the pleasure of a tour of the brand spanking new European flagship store for Karl Lagerfeld on London's Regent Street, and I'm pleased to report that it didn't disappoint.

Underground Fashion from Roundel

Love or loathe the tube, there's no denying the fact that London Underground has a truly iconic aesthetic. The world's first city subway is awash with classic design, from Harry Beck's topological Tube Map to the station signage and typography.

Harding-Lane Needlepoint Caps for Opening Ceremony

For some reason the hair dye I need seems to be sold out all over London so I shelled out for a cap instead. How awesome is this??

My ace new dead smiley face needlepoint cap is by Harding-Lane for Opening Ceremony (£30) and available from the OC London pop up store on King Street, Covent Garden or from www.openingceremony.us

Beautiful Ballgowns: V&A's British Glamour Since 1950 Exhibition Is Not To Be Missed

By now I'm sure you've all heard about the incredible Ballgowns exhibition which opens at the V&A this Saturday and seen all the twitpics of exquisite frocks from the likes of Giles Deacon, Ossie Clark, Marchesa and Gareth Pugh.  I'm not sure I've seen anyone post images of my favourite from the exhibition though which is this phenomenal silk satin Cindy Beadman number pictured here with matching jacket from the late 1970s. I appreciate the way she's combined evening chic with a snuggly, quilted style that doesn't look out of place today.  In fact, I wish I had this outfit so badly so I could wear it with these shoes.

With over sixty showstopping looks designed for the likes of balls, society and red carpet events, I can't recommend this stunning exhibition highly enough; the wonderful collection catalogues the rise of glamorous formal wear and charts its social influences - do stop and watch the old films showing early society girl catwalks which are projected onto the white walls of the exhibit's inner circle. It's more than worth a tenner of anyone's money.  

Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950 at the Victoria and Albert Museum, 19th May 2012 - 6th January 2013 - for more information and to book tickets visit: www.vam.ac.uk 

Koralie Arlequine Dunny - Move Fast To Catch The Cuteness!

Adorable. This 3 inch Harlequin style 'Arlequine' vinyl Dunny by French artist Koralie - one of a limited edition run of just 1,500 specially designed figures, is going fast. They only came out yesterday but already they're down to the last few at Kid Robot's London store. Get down to Kid Robot, 19 Earlham Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9LL or click here to find your nearest store outside the UK.

Vans Launch New Camden Store

Where would indie boys and girls be without their trusty Vans Authentic plimsolls?  Opening a dedicated Vans store on the old Footlocker site opposite Camden Town tube station on the High Street side is a genius move by the American skate brand. The US-style shop fit - the first of its UK stores to have this edgy, raw wood and wire, artisan warehouse style interior - gives it a more urban feel well suited to the North London muso vibe.

Although the official launch was last night, the store - which sells both men's and women's apparel, skateboards, longboards, accessories, luggage, some great snapbacks and, of course, shoes - has been open for two weeks now and the super helpful staff tell me they've been run off their feet every single day with a mixture of tourists and Londoners.

Possibly the best news from last night's launch was that the super hot, long awaited Vans' Waffle Sole iPhone Covers which started off as a promo item then went cult, selling for crazy$£ on eBay, will finally be getting a general release this August.

This new Camden store has a similar feel, interior-wise, to the Vans x DQM General Store in New York (although it's far less mainstream on the product front), so I'm hoping it's a step towards bringing this kind of upmarket, skate inspired street fashion boutique to the UK.

Vans Store, 191-209 Camden High Street, London NW1 7BT. www.vans.co.uk

BOY London 2012 Collection Selling Fast At Selfridges

Rihanna image courtesy of the Daily Mail website.

OK so after Rihanna worked a straight up original 80s BOY look on the Jonathan Ross Show the other week, everyone knows that BOY London is back.  The underground fashion label which was founded in 1977 became famous for its iconic logo print designs worn by every top popstar in the early 1980s, has been enjoying a resurgence with those early-adopting East London hipster kids for over a year now thanks to vintage eBay finds and capsule collections via the likes of Urban Outfitters.  Now though, the whole SS 2012 retro BOY London collection is available in the UK exclusively at Selfridges, both in store and online at www.selfridges.co.uk.  Here are some of my favourite bits but check the site for the whole collection - or at least what's left as it seems to be going FAST!

JACK SPADE OPENS LONDON STORE!

From SoHo to Soho, Kate Spade's brilliant brother brand, urban menswear maestro Jack Spade is coming to London! The first UK store from the American label which oozes the kind of media cool that makes Soho such a great location for the shop, will open in London at 83 Berwick Street W1 on 30th March. The messenger bags are worth a look for the ladies too - I've had mine, which I use as a laptop bag, for almost five years now and it's still pretty much good as new and has a slick, city style that doesn't date. I highly recommend. www.jackspade.com

IT'S CREEPY AND IT'S KOOKY... KID ROBOT'S TALES FROM THE SNEAKY CRYPT

Looking for something spooky this Halloween weekend?  UK artist and Dunny designer, Sneaky Raccoon presents Tales from the Sneaky Crypt, a fundraising group show opening today through Monday 31st, in aid of the MacMillan Cancer Support charity at Kid Robot London's Covent Garden store.

Tonight's launch event is on from 6-10pm and there'll be live screen printing and drawing, homemade sweets, a raffle and loads of special art and custom pieces for sale.  Featured artists include TADO, Jamfactory, A Little Stranger, Cavey, Lunartik, Emily Bee, Felt Mistress, Waste, Map Map, Loulou & Tummie, Lunabee, Cris Rose, Triclops Studio, Jon Paul Kaiser, MEGAMUNDEN, Phil Corbett, Okkle, Anabelle Nielsen, Mimic, Tesselate, Steve Fable, Poked Studio, Clark Rotharmel, Podgy Panda (great name!), Creature Kebab, Rhys Brown, Jenn & Tony Bot, Dolly Oblong, Planet Domu and Fadeworks.

Kid Robot London, 19 Earlham Street, London WC2H 9LL.  Nearest tube: Covent Garden

SALE ALERT! PAUL SMITH WAREHOUSE SALE

Wednesday 26th - Friday 28th October
8am-7pm
37 Kingsway, London WC2.

Nearest tube: Covent Garden / Holborn / Temple - click here for a map

DIARY DATE: LOUBOUTIN'S FIRST UK RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION

Litigious WAG fav Christian Louboutin has kindly announced that he will be launching his first ever UK retrospective next March to celebrate my birthday.  OK so that's not strictly true, it's to mark his 20 year anniversary in the luxury footwear industry, but the date couldn't be closer, taking place at London's Design Museum from 28th March to 1st July 2012.

According to the press release the exhibition which will be created by the team behind the interior of Shoreditch House and the Christian Louboutin pop-up at Selfridges, will include "an in-depth insight into the design process, detailing how the shoe is made from beginning to end with a special focus on the origins of the trademark red sole. Visitors also get to find out how the brand approaches sales, store design and marketing, as Louboutin famously does not advertise."  Intriguing stuff, though personally I'm more interested in whether there will be any Mad Mary Janes (above) in a size 41 going spare/left unguarded. 

For more details keep an eye on the Design Museum or Christian Louboutin websites.

FASHION WEEK FOODIE TREAT: MATTHEW WILLIAMSON X LADUREE

It's the gift that keeps on giving - Matthew Williamson has created a special Fashion Week gift for Ladurée featuring one of his signature colourful print designs and, if you're a hoarder like me, this perfect trinket box will long outlast the mouth watering macaroons inside (NOM though).

Ladurée's Matthew Williamson Macaroon Gift Box contains eight of the now international French tea salon's most famous creations.  It will be available from its London stores in Covent Garden, the Burlington Arcade and Harrods from this Friday (16th September - the first day of London Fashion Week), then follows the fash pack to Paris where it'll be on sale from September 27 for €15,60.