GFW10

GRADUATE Fashion Week is upon us (6-10 June)...






Launched in 1991, this has been a forum to showcase the very best of BA Graduate fashion design talent in the UK and, THE place for young designers to get noticed by industry headhunters.

The event represents the work of more than 1,000 students, from 35 fashion universities and colleges around the country. Winners of the Best Menswear, Best Womenswear and the River Island £20,000 Gold Award will be announced at the gala show on Wednesday.

One to watch? Bunmi Olaye, 28, who has just completed her BA degree at the University of East London and established her own label last year. Her celebrity client list includes Mel B, Mischa Barton and Alesha Dixon amongst others!



Hilary Alexander explores Graduate Fashion Week 2010 and talks to Bunmi Olaye about her inspiration and designing dresses for the stars: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/fashionvideo/7807555/Graduate-Fashion-Week-2010.html

Tara xoxo

A typical British summer...but not for your skin

AS YOU may of guessed by the lack of posts, I've been away! With baby Sky at my mums, James and I went to Egypt for the week - the original plan was Morocco inspired by Sex and the City 2 but it was all very last minute so we struggled to get flights to, well...anywhere. We stayed in the Sentido Oriental and, while our hotel was beautiful and the sunshine glorious, Egypt didn't quite capture my imagination in the way I had hoped and I wouldn't hurry back.

Now, don't hate me but I'm actually off again in 10 days (the bikini body is far from ready!) but I know for a fact I'm not the only one heading for some sun, sea and sand.

We all know the dangers of UV rays and lobster-coloured skin has never been 'on trend' but still I watch women, old and young, fry their skin while abroad. I've been guilty of this in the past but what really ruffles my feathers is people who don't use sun protection in the UK, like it doesn't count if you're not on holiday?!

Well there are no more excuses because the lovely people at KORRES, known for their natural and certified organic skin, make-up and hair care ranges, have brought out a face and body walnut and coconut suntan oil (SPF10).[RRP: £12.00 150 mL / 5.07 Fl. Oz]


This vegetable-based suntan oil, which offers a deep, uniform, long-lasting tan boosts walnut and sesame oils which provide natural protection from the sun, while carrot oil enhances the natural tanning process and prevents the dreaded premature skin ageing. The gorgeous smell makes this the perfect festival product and, because it is oil-based, it will naturally make limbs look slimmer - a trick that many celebrities use.

WHY WALNUT?

Acorns for mortals, walnuts for the Gods, according to Mythology. Walnut oil is a golden-hued oil, extracted from the kernel of the fruit. It is high in linoleic acid and helps regenerate, tone and moisturise dry or sunburned skin. Moreover, rich in cinnamic acid, walnut oil provides natural protection from the sun.

WHY COCONUT?

Coconut oil is extracted from dried coconuts. Its light, non-greasy texture does not clog skin pores and gets easily absorbed by the skin. Thanks to its emollient properties, it keeps the skin soft and supple.

And for a higher level SPF, which is a must for the face, I would highly recommend the Watermelon Face Cream (SPF30) and (SPF20), tried and tested in Egypt.


Slather it on, even when in the UK!

Tara

xoxo

Available from Boots - see www.korres.com for details

My Portfolio

At last I've got around to creating an online portfolio!

Check it out at: www.wix.com/TaraSephton/Tara-Sephton-Portfolio

I've put a mixture of my published work up as well as some Indy stuff that I either helped out with or put together, like the Dressing Table feature! While interning I mentioned on here that there was the possibility of this being published and it was! I was one happy camper let me tell you!

TaTa for now,

Tara xoxo

début magazine

It was deadline week last week so finally début is complete!! And now I can share some of my hard work with you...

(I can't upload the PDF so some photos will have to suffice! I will publish it on issuu.com eventually)

Let me know what you think!







Tara xoxo

p.s more interning is on the horizon - will fill you in when I know more :)

New kid on the block

ASOS, My Wardrobe, NET-A-PORTER, Browns - household names and leaders in online fashion retail but there's a new kid on the block...







The e-tailer industy has seen huge growth over the past decade and interestingly, most of the key success stories are businesses founded and created by ambitious, fashion forward women. Women, who are now reaping the rewards of their hard work, like Natalie Massenet, who recently caused a fashion media frenzy when she sold NET-A-PORTER.com for a reported £50m after starting the business in 2000.

So it comes as no surprise that other ambitious young women are trying their hand and one-to-watch, entrepreneur Tara Cowland (great name!). The 23-year-old is taking on the industry heavy weights with taralacey.com, an online fashion boutique which launched in March of this year.

Unlike other online fashion retailers Tara Lacey boosts ‘hard to find’ international designer pieces, several of which are exclusive to the site. Names like young Brit, Olivia Rubin and bikini label Aguaclara. It specialises in affordable luxury for women confident enough in their style to recognise quality and cut rather than being swayed by big labels.

“The collections available have been handpicked to appeal to women with a certain lifestyle and attitude. Quality and styling take precedence over household ‘designer names’ says Tara.

The site intends to be a shopping haven for women who have confidence in their own choices and who want to make a style statement at a price they can afford.”

Entrepreneur Tara is a graduate of the London College of Fashion and has worked in fashion retail, PR and on online fashion publications. It was this varied fashion experience that helped her gain an overall insight into online fashion retailing, giving her the guts to develop and establish her own web site and business.

Having employed Red Hot PR she is looking forward to expanding Tara Lacey but is keen to keep the exclusive feel of the web site.

“I still want it to remain as a boutique, this is very important. I do not want my customers to worry about being caught wearing the same outfit as someone else, that’s what is so elite about boutiques.”

www.taralacey.com

Tara xoxo

The shoot for début magazine - 'the interns fashion mag'

Check out my beautiful friend Jess who very kindly modelled for the main fashion story for début magazine...

I'm targeting 'fashion interns' from wannabe journos to stylist to designers, and so we went for 'summer city chic' perfect for 9-5 - it plays on all the key trends, particularly nautical. Everything that we shot was very wearable, mixing high street with high end. Basically just some great summer work wear looks.

Model: Jess Sawyer
Styling&photography: Me!
Location: Twyford train station, Berkshire

Interning: Day 13

It was my last day at the Indy on Friday...really sad :(

Stylist Leo, dept fashion editor Carola and myself were the only people in on the fashion desk but there was plenty to do. The post was out of control because I was out on set on Thursday, prices had to collected for the clothes we shot and some urgent returns needed to be done.

Friday: Final outfit *sob* Navy, peg leg chinos with a brown belt both Zara, white vest and an oatmeal coloured sleeveless long cardigan from Ronit Zilkha. Worn with flats.

While I had a camera I thought I'd post a few behind-the-scene snaps...and show you the lovely bag of freebies from the fashion cupboard that Carola helped me pic out - I didn't want to take too much because they sell a lot of it off for charity...