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B&T talks to Antonia O’Brien

ANTONIA O’BRIEN: TV PRESENTER & FASHION STYLIST

Bees & Taylor asks Antonia to give the low-down on all things London Fashion Weekend and her upcoming gig in the ‘Vodafone Lounge’:

How has September come around so quickly?

With the new spring summer collections walking the catwalks in the coming weeks, it is a very busy month in the fashion calender. One date you have to pencil into your diary is London Fashion Weekend – aka Britain’s biggest and most exciting shopping, fashion and style experience. Kicking off in the tents at Somerset House on Thursday 18th September once London Fashion Week has drawn to a close, there are designer catwalks, pop-up boutiques and exclusive industry talks; this is where I come in.

This will be my third season hosting the Vodafone Lounge where I speak to fashion industry insiders including stylists, designers and bloggers with past guests including journalist Hilary Alexander, designer Maria Grachvogel and stylist Grace Woodward. Whether you pop in for a front row catwalk experience or to browse the shops I look forward to seeing you there!

http://www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk/

Desert Teaser

08.08.14 by beesandtaylor

It’s the steamy new L’Agent by Agent Provocateur AW14 campaign from Penélope Cruz. So just how many lingerie models can you fit in a red cadillac?

With envy inducing lingerie clad models, some serious gyrating, the obligatory bum shaking and Penelope looking sexy in a red leopard bra you could say this is one for the boys. But here at Bees & Taylor we found the 3 minute video surprisingly useful for two key reasons:

1. we are motivated to kickstart that bikini diet (again) – whatever it takes
2. we have a new ‘google’ project in the form of the lovely Jon Kortajarena

It’s Friday – have a watch…

The Business Of Summer

02.08.14 by beesandtaylor

Heat + work = office conundrum.

How to dress for the unpredictable British summer – in recent years the shortest season, yet no less complicated when it comes to wardrobe issues.

Cheap and cheerful, breezy neon brights and bold prints work when it comes to your off-duty wear, but not when it comes to smart dressing for the office. Whether you’re dressing to a strict office dress code or just avoiding the sweat your summer wardrobe must work hard.

On the one hand we’re told no sheer panels, tribal prints, sliders or exposing too much flesh in front of the boss. On the other, we want clothes that don’t cling to a hot thigh, turn transparent in the sunshine, or chafe in the heat. So much to think about, but how to get it right? The boardroom demands an outfit able to hold its shape, flatter and keep cool in the hot weather. Most importantly we want to be best dressed at all times – but not at the cost of comfort.

Linen, short-sleeves and the old faithful roll of a trouser leg are quick fixes but none suitable solutions. Instead we recommend trying cotton breathable fabrics, an open toed sandal or wedge, a pop of colour, loose shapes, and for the boys an on trend suede loafer as a lighter alternative to the leather brogue.

As with all seasons there are some trends that stick around year on year; the spring stripe, the autumnal knit and the summer gladiator. Some things are not meant to be changed. Here are some of our seasonal favourites to get you through a summer in the city.

THE SKIRT – pleated, midi and full

THE TROUSER – cropped or culotte

THE SPRING COAT – the duster coat

THE BLOCK HEEL – the midi

B&T on London Collections: MEN

18.06.14 by beesandtaylor

Now in its fifth season for spring/summer 2015, London Collections: MEN has become THE hub for mens fashion, from the catwalk to the front row with Burberry Prorsum, Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane, DKNY & Topman all showcasing their Spring/Summer 2015 collections (plus supermodel David Gandy supporting from the front row.)

From neon tailoring to pinstripes and mod-styling sportswear – the future for menswear catwalks is bright and exciting and of course, only in London.

Burberry Prorsum: Christopher Bailey delivered a cool collection of layered overcoats, tied trenches, denim jackets and velvet tailoring; the neon trainers say that street style is here to stay.

Alexander McQueen: Prince of Wales check, strong Matisse-esque cut-outs and PVC panels make this a collection where British heritage meets bondage; classic McQueen.

Casely-Hayford: The second catwalk from Brit father and son duo – the neutral collection featured oversized outerwear, cool pinstripes and pieces that were a hybrid of tailoring and tracksuits.

Christopher Kane: Like with his womenswear, Kane experiments with prints and brilliantly bright colours; we loved the neon outerwear and abstract eighties prints.

Richard Nicoll: Bright sunny patterns and print blocking, layered with baseball jackets and two-toned outerwear; these are clothes the boys will wear and the girls will steal.

Jonathan Saunders: Saunders showed sunshine tones with colours amping up from pale to bright alongside Jackson Pollock-esque painterly flecks and smooth metallic satins. Note: sportswear styling is here to stay for spring summer 2015!

DKNY: Classic DKNY with clean lines and uptown-meets-downtown styling; we love a man in layered tailoring and navy on white is timeless.

Topman Design: Who would have predicted that nineties Brit pop and Woodstock styling would be a Topman trend for S/S 2015? Will the boys really be wearing flares?

E Tautz: Both skinny and wide stripes from Patrick Grant prove pinstripes are a key trend for S/S ’15; we adore the mix of sharp tailoring with mod styling and sportswear.

YMC: With pastel pink suiting, light tweeds and sporty outerwear, this is one of our favourites for effortlessly cool apparel.

To watch London Collections: MEN videos, click HERE for the British Fashion TV YouTube site.

B&T Talk David Gandy

16.06.14 by beesandtaylor

This Billericay boy has done good; really good.

Marks & Spencer has just announced that supermodel David Gandy will be designing a capsule collection, entitled David Gandy for Autograph (M&S’s premium department,) ranging from boxers and briefs to sleepwear. The Essex pin up has been involved throughout the process, “I’ve genuinely enjoyed every part of the process and feel proud of the results,” he said. “I wanted to combine quality of fabrics, good design and fit, and an element of style with each piece to form the basic essentials for the range.” We can only hope/dream that the boys look as good in those pants as he does!

In celebration of third most successful model in the world and for a lunchtime swoon, we thought we would look back through the career of Brit’s finest Adonis.

June 2006: Dolce & Gabbana spring/summer 2007 menswear catwalk where Gandy shone bronze, bare and basically naked

September 2010: Demonstrating dapper styling, Gandy arrives at the GQ Men of the Year Awards

The supermodel and the pop star; Gandy with then girlfriend Mollie King from the Saturdays

Since 2006 he has continued to sizzle as the face and muse of Dolce & Gabbana

May 2013: Bianca Balti in Capri for Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue fragrance campaign

December 2013: Gandy stars as the Mad Hatter in Marks & Spencers Christmas campaign

Fronting the S/S 2014 M&S Collection Menswear label

15th June 2014: Well tailored at the London Collections Men: One For The Boys charity ball in London

All That Glitters at the Annual CFDA Fashion Awards

03.06.14 by beesandtaylor

Last night fashion’s finest packed out the Lincoln Center in Manhattan, as the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) staged its annual awards ceremony; with the super-supermodels out in force, Rihanna wearing not a lot more than 216,000 Swarovski crystals and Tom Ford being honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award – it was a full-on fashion affair.