LFW: Charlotte Taylor

What's this? Jumping all the way back to London Fashion Week? If this is hurting your brain I do apologise, but before the Paris shows really get under way and the Oscars take place (I'm oddly not that excited) I wanted to write about Charlotte Taylor's A/W 2010 collection.
It was her first season showing in London, and with a collection inspired by "grannies" and "penguins" it was full of quirky, cute and wearable pieces - I'm very keen on the trousers.




As a new designer Charlotte is also documenting everything (from showing at fashion week to the making of the lookbook) on her blog charlotte-taylor.blogspot.com.
Check it out to view the rest of her collection.

And the lack of posts today is down to a very annoying headache that will not go away - I will be back properly tomorrow.

LFW: Erdem

I keep planning to write about the Erdem collection and then I don't have time. So now I'm very late and I'm sure you've all seen the collection a million times. But one more time won't hurt, because it's truly stunning.
Erdem Moralioglu creates the most beautiful prints, I simply can't get enough of his work. If I had a movie coming out this year I would be banging down the door of the Erdem studios daily in attempt to my hands on one of his dresses. They are perfect red carpet dresses, and I'm dying to see Thandie Newton in the bottom right dress. It has her name all over it.



Are you also under Erdem's spell?
And this is the last London post, as Milan starts today. I'm looking forward to Prada more than anything, what about you?

images from style.com

LFW: Burberry Prorsum

As you know I couldn't attend the Burberry show yesterday, and as I was reading the tweets coming live from the event I was mostly devastated that I missed the front row (Mary-Kate Olsen, Kate Hudson, Rachel Zoe, Anna Wintour, Carey Mulligan...), but when I finally got round to checking the collection out on style.com this morning it was clear that the clothes out-shined the stars yesterday.
I've noticed that this season the pieces I've liked most throughout all of the London collections were shearling jackets. I've slowly become obsessed, and it's obviously the must-have piece for A/W '10 - especially if the UK has a freakishly cold winter again.
These are my favourite jackets from the Burberry collection, the oversized collars are yummy.



Did anyone watch the collection live online? Or in 3D? What did you think?

images from style.com

LFW: Louise Goldin

I have officially renamed the Lousie Goldin A/W collection the Taylor Momsen collection. The pieces tapped into that whole goth-grunge look that Momsen lives in (and millions of other copy), and beyond that the models all looked exactly like Taylor. Even the brunettes.



I think I know what Taylor will be wearing to any upcoming events now...
Can you picture Taylor wearing Louise Goldin designs?

images from style.com

LFW: House of Holland

As well as the Unique show I also went to the House of Holland show yesterday. The HH invite this season was printed on a white bandana with aqua writing, which instantly made me think of N’sync and Jennifer Lopez in the J-Lo days.
The bandana reference was made clear once the first model walked out – purple bandana tied around her high-pony-tail. Overall I wouldn’t wear any of the pieces the way they were styled for the collection, which was just too J-Lo for me. But there were some pieces that I really liked, including the shearling jacket worn with the striped jumpsuit [bottom right] which looked so much better in real life than it does in this picture. And the candy pink printed dress [bottom left] is going to look great in editorials. The highlight of the collection for me though was watching Sessilee Lopez walk – she is beautiful.
Apologies for the use of style.com pictures, but I was sitting behind someone in a rather large hat, which was fine, I could still see perfectly, but my pictures were just coming out as this hat and the occasional models head.




On the front row were Alexa (who had changed clothes since Unique) and Pixie. The front row were given bottles of vitaminwater and Blackberry gift bags. After the show I heard Pixie tell Hilary Alexander that she adored the collection, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s spotted wearing pieces from the collection very soon.

images from style.com

LFW: Topshop Unique

Yesterday lunch time, myself and Stevie from Discotheque Confusion had a quick catch up over a sugar-free muffin (it’s fashion week, after all) and then rushed over to the Topshop Unique show. It was my first time at a Unique show and I wasn’t sure what to expect (apart from Pixie Geldof, of course), but it was actually a really cute collection.



The theme this season was camping (I never have, and never will go camping) and there were some beautiful pieces. Knee-length pencil skirts with super huge pockets were worn with braces that were covered in badges, reminding me of my days in Brownies. Tigers and wolves were screen printed onto a jersey maxi-dress, which was then worn with thick white tights. And there was even a bit of double-denim thrown in for good measure too.



My favourite elements of the collection look rather miss-matched when I write them down. I adored the animal headdresses (designed by Emma Cook), which ranged from foxes to badgers, and blended into the models wildly backcombed hair. And the shearling jackets are definitely going on my A/W 2010 wish-list.



One of the finale pieces was a little grey mini dress, with a fitted bodice and a puffed out skirt. The silhouette reminded me of one of my favourite Miu Miu collections (S/S 2008) so it’s sure to be a sell out piece – I’d say the typical Topshop customer (myself included) dreams of wearing Miu Miu, so it’s inevitable that it will be popular.



And as for the front row: there was no Kate, but I saw Alexa (soooo skinny), Pixie, Olivia Palermo (sooooo beautiful), Nicola from Girls Aloud, and I heard Peaches was there too but I didn’t see her. Though, I was most excited to turn around at one point in the venue and see Suzy Menkes behind me. She’s a real fashion star.

all images my own, if you wish to re-post please credit (although you can pinch must better ones from style.com ya know)

Topshop Blogging Workshop

Friday the 19th of February is a pretty important day. Not only will we finally find out who killed Archie Mitchell in Eastenders (my money is on Peggy) London Fashion Week also kicks off. Those of you who have been into Topshop recently may have picked up their Spring/Summer magazine, and know what's going on over LFW, but if not I'll fill you in on the news.
On Tuesday the 23rd myself, Disney Roller Girl and Oh Elle will all be in the Flagship store on Oxford Street for a blogging workshop. If you're interested in starting a blog and want some tips, already have a blog and would like some advice on how to get a following or just want to come and say hello and have a chat about pretty clothes (and a possible gossip about who killed Archie) pop by. We'll be on the lower ground floor from 12-7pm.



While you're there there's a host of other fabulous things happening in store across LFW. Ella's Bakehouse is setting up a pop-up shop in store for the week - I personally cannot resist a good cupcake. TOMS will be hosting a creative workshop on Sunday the 21st and Monday the 22nd which Erin Wasson fans should check out, as she is expected to be helping with customisation. A selection of A/W shows will also be streamed live in store, WAH nails has opened a pop-up salon and anyone who spends £80 or more will pick up a free gift, which include manicures at WAH and Topshop gift cards.
So if you're in the area on the 23rd come along and say hi, I'd love to meet some readers.

image from Toopshop S/S 10 Lookbook

Three

I apologise in advance if this post is rather gushy and comes out incredibly cheesy. But this month marks the third birthday of Coco's Tea Party, and it is fair to say the third year has been the most amazing yet. I would just like to say a big big big thank you to all of you loyal readers out there who come back time and time again. Without your lovely support there is no way I would have the opportunities I have, so thank you.

So back to last night. First of all the collection was beautiful. I loved the pale greens and the trench coats were to die for. I'd be happy to wear any of the collection, there was not a single piece I didn't like.

I've uploaded a few images from last night, but will get the rest up asap. UPDATED: Full set of images can now be viewed HERE.




And my 'conversation' with Victoria Beckham went as followed:

Me - I like your dress.

VB - Thank you.

Me and Stevie were shocked at how much softer she looks in real life. She didn't appear plastic at all, and was very very pretty. Sadly we didn't spot Mary-Kate once, although we heard she was there.

images are my own, please credit cocosteaparty.com if you wish to repost

Blogging and Drinking - Expect spelling mistakes....

Right now I am sitting in a room with Carine, Julia and Katie Grand and Stevie from Discotheque, just watched the Burberry show which was full of stunning pastel shades. Watched Anna Wintour most of the show though. Also met Mario, who is so so so nice - so nice infact that he remembers Dani from Between Every Line, who he met as Fashions Night Out.

Oh and Victoria Beckham spoke to me....

Feeling very very over excited.

OMG Carine is dancing right behind me.....

Josh Goot S/S 10 - Models in Motion

I apologise for the bad quality of these pictures. I bought a new camera a few weeks ago and am still not properly educated on how to work it, this morning I set it onto a strange function and don't know how to change it back (need to find my manual...) so I had to use my old digi for this show. It doesn't like photographing moving objects as I'm sure you can tell.
Anyway, fab collection, adore the colours.









For more pics from the show go HERE. To check out my backstage antics at Aquascutum this morning (and no, I'm not a model, in reply to some comments) click HERE.

Kate Lanphear from US ELLE was front row, as were Editor and Creative Director of ELLE UK. I'm 99% sure I also saw WAG Alex Curran checking out my studded boots. I in turn was swooning over her leopard Louboutin boots.

All images belong to Coco's Tea Party, if you wish to repost please credit cocosteaparty.com, thank you.

Sponsored Content:

Aquascutum S/S 2010 Backstage













All images belong to Coco's Tea Party, if you wish to repost please credit cocosteaparty.com
More images HERE

Jeremy Scott's Pop Up Store

American fashion designer Jeremy Scott has teamed up with adidas for the ‘Originals By Originals’ (ObyO) project. Over the course of London Fashion Week there will be a Pop Up Store selling the collection in the adidas N06 concept store on Newburgh St.

Jeremy says it's a "dream come true" to show the collection in London, which he describes as "one of the coolest cities in the world."

I'm not normally big on sportswear but this collection looks really good. Take a look at the video:



Jeremy Scott for Originals by Originals Pop Up Store dates: Saturday 19th September to Monday 28th September 2009

The Fashion Week Game

New York Fashion Week officially kicked off yesterday - although the good shows don't start until tomorrow, sooo excited for Preen. If you're currently running between collections and waiting around for the shows to start why not play a little game of What Can I See?
I've compiled a checklist for each city of the key moments to look out for. Give yourself a point each time you spot a pair of Isabel Marant boots in Paris or Christopher Kane Croc tee in London and tally up your scores at the end of the week.




Click the checklists to make them larger

Also, don't forget tonight is Fashion's Night Out... What are you all going to be doing?