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Alexander McQueen: A Valentine Tribute

February 12th, 2010 by Stacey

I was going to pen a Valentine’s Day post and wax lyrical about love, romance and all that jazz, yet I have been sitting here most of the day and night glued to SKY News and Twitter watching the facts unfold about the untimely death of one of Britain’s most loved, most respected and without a doubt, most talented fashion designers.  If the truth be told I am pretty devastated at the death of Lee McQueen, better know as the creator of the fashion label Alexander McQueen, as are my colleagues and peers; most of which at some point or another in our careers were honoured to work with him and many inspired and influenced by his work. On a personal note we were fashion design students around the same time and I worked with him on the very first line he created for PUMA in 2006. I still relish and frequently admire this first collection of sporty and slightly strange looking trainers that sit within my shoe collection, untouched, never worn (white and silver, would you want to ruin them?)  but much loved. In latter days I had the pleasure of working with his team for the McQueen boutique at Bicester Village. It opened just over a year ago and has been ram raided on a daily basis by myself and the rest of the office ever since.       

Lee Alexander McQueen was a man who was loved for numerous reasons and respected by a myriad of people – personally and professionally.

In true form, we must be able to feel love to feel loss, and love in its true sense I believe to be a recipe of adoration and respect. Listening to the tributes pouring in, Lee Alexander McQueen was a man who was loved for numerous reasons and respected by a myriad of people – personally and professionally. The fashion world has lost a great artist whose talent went beyond the realms of legendary. He admired and appreciated renowned designers that went before him and he passed his wisdom and learnings onto others. As he said of Yves Saint Laurent: “To me, fashion should predict the time we live in. He did this in the 1960s and 1970s. Pure genius, and a man that I always revered and tried to emulate.”  Is it any wonder that McQueen went on to become a great designer? McQueen’s raw energy and intriguing perspective made him one of the greatest talents of our time.      

Alexandra Shulman, editor of British Vogue sums it up for me. “Lee McQueen influenced a whole generation of designers. His brilliant imagination knew no bounds as he conjured up collection after collection of extraordinary designs. At one level he was a master of the fantastic, creating astounding fashion shows that mixed design, technology and performance and on another he was a modern-day genius whose gothic aesthetic was adopted by women the world over. His death is the hugest loss to anyone who knew him and for very many who didn’t.”      

What I loved about McQueen was his ability to delight, excite and create ingenious and unique designs. In under a decade he achieved enormous success becoming one of the most highly respected fashion designers in the world. From being a trainee Saville Row tailor, to a position at Gieves & Hawkes, to Chief Designer at Givenchy and Creative Director at Gucci, and the inception of his own label, he was awarded the title of British Designer of the Year four times, and received an acclaimed CBE. But it is the collections from his Alexander McQueen and McQ labels that he is most famous for and which have influenced a generation of aspiring designers.      

His Spring/Summer 2010 collection was a breathtaking spectacle of perfection, serving up rare and sparkling creations of pure genius

McQueen SS10 picture courtesy of style.com

His Spring/Summer 2010 collection was a breathtaking spectacle of perfection, serving up rare and sparkling creations of pure genius. Who else would dare (aside from Ms Westwood) put a pair of 12 inch alien style platforms down the runway?  I’m uncertain if I have seen anyone other than Daphne Guinness wear these, and she managed it so effortlessly and looked so chic, a feat that is not at all easy but very daring. And daring is what McQueen was all about.      

In his most recent SS2010 show he shocked us; he made us gasp with delight with a sneak peek of what he believed the future of fashion could look like. He was if nothing but optimistic, and his carefully crafted designs and intricate lifelike fabrics sent shockwaves through the industry. Is it befitting that even in death he has shocked us?  As sad and as devastating that this is, his demise has, like his creations and his talents, made us gasp. The loss of Lee Alexander McQueen will leave a huge gaping hole in the fashion industry and we will remember him for his wonderful take on fashion. I hope that in some form, the House of McQueen will live on.      

As his fellow designer and peer Matthew Williamson said today.” Like many others, I always cited him as a hugely inspirational leader of world fashion – he was a genius and his talent was second to none”. How could anyone not agree.    

It is with sadness though that I try not to think “why”? Phillip Treacy explains that “Creativity is a very fragile thing, and Lee was very fragile. He was a fragile person with a front of whatever you want to call it. It’s not easy being Mr. McQueen”.     

I dedicate this Valentine’s Day post to the legendary Alexander McQueen. A man whose talent we loved, whose designs we treasured and who became a British fashion icon that we will always cherish. He will be missed.

Thank You Santa for Sending Me A Gift List Angel

December 7th, 2009 by Stacey
Whether you're buying for an Adventurous Spirit, a Fanatical Foodie, a Domestic Goddess, a Yummy Mummy or a Dedicated Fashionista, we'll help you plan your shopping

Whether you're buying for an Adventurous Spirit, a Fanatical Foodie, a Domestic Goddess, a Yummy Mummy or a Dedicated Fashionista, we'll help you plan your shopping

I am knee deep in seasonal list hell.  I have Christmas gift lists, lists for festive food shopping, Christmas card lists, holiday packing lists and of course daily task lists. All are ever growing and pretty much endless. I am now memorising them while I drive for fear of forgetting someone. Oh to be list free!

Too Many Gifts, Too Little Time

I have decided to share with you my somewhat haphazard lists and efforts at organisation. Obviously being based at Bicester Village I have daily access to hundreds of boutiques selling everything from panettone to diamonds. Believe it or not this can be a hindrance because knowing the Village inside and out I am totally spoilt for choice. There are too many amazing gifts to choose from and too many boutiques offering earth shattering discounts to visit in one hour. Lunchtime shopping missions need military precision and I’m not the marathon running type, especially in a pair of Vivienne Westwood platforms.

Doesn't yet come with brain-to-notebook adaptor, unfortunately

Doesn't yet come with brain-to-notebook adaptor, unfortunately

Can Santa Please Send Me An Elf?

What I really need is a List Angel, someone to magically create a direct link from brain and PC to Smythson notebook while I sleep. So imagine my glee when the Digital team, renamed in our office as Santa’s Little Helpers (I am now in total awe of them and indebted for life) created an interactive Christmas Gift Guide. I’d like to think they made it just for me, but really it is for all of you dedicated Bicester Village fans who want to pre plan your gift shopping before you arrive leaving more time to sit in Villandry sipping mulled wine and champagne cocktails while I’m at my desk making festive winter warmers in the office kitchen. It seems only right that we do save some of Starbucks Gingerbread Latte supplies for our customers.

I’m In Pre-Planning Paradise

In a nutshell, the interactive Christmas Gift Guide is an online personalised gift list which has helped me find the perfect presents for all the special people in my life; and it gave me a printable list for each person and a map of the village so I can find the suggested boutiques in a flash. With so many new boutiques opening and relocating I’m getting confused to what is where, so this is a handy tool. In the last two weeks we’ve opened Hearts On Fire, Aubin and Wills, Superdry and G-Star, and relocated Burberry to a bigger and brighter boutique! And you wonder why I can’t keep up?

Gourmet hamper from Villandry, £35

Gourmet hamper from Villandry, £35

What I love about this online Gift Guide is that it made me howl with laughter. There are 24 personalities in the form of clever personas, with great comical sketches and witty descriptions that match many of the people I am showering with loving gifts this year. I actually wish that some of these personas I could bring to life and meet, they’re so good!

Jam Loving Jack

First to make my list is my best friend Jack. He is a total Fanatical Foodie who collects state-of-the-art kitchen gadgets that he never uses. The Gift Guide suggested items from Le Creusset and Villeroy & Boch among others. I hope he’s not reading this as personally I think he has a one track mind that never veers far from his stomach, so am thinking a gourmet hamper from Villandry or Carluccio’s would be irresistible for such a picky foodie.

"Shoe fund" purse from Anya Hindmarch (was £135, now £81)

"Shoe fund" purse from Anya Hindmarch (was £135, now £81)

Top Pal & Trendy Mum Tanya

My best friend Tanya on the other hand isn’t as picky with food but she is with fashion. She’s a typical Yummy Mummy and mistress of three kids under the age of 5, and despute hiding the bags under eyes with dark sunglasses all the time (!!) she still manages to dress like Olivia Palermo, always dressing fabulously chic especially for her hot dates with her husband. She says this is the secret to a successful marriage! I know she will love anything decadent and luxurious from Anya Hindmarch, DvF or Joseph to impress him with.

Newly Engaged Joelle

Joelle has just got engaged as is training to be the ultimate Domesticated Goddess. The Gift Guide illustration made me laugh so much I sent it to her, showing a mirror image caricature of her, with a feather duster in one hand and plate of cupcakes in the other. I know she is lusting over Cath Kidston and The White Company goodies for the home so I will probably kit her bathroom out with Molton Brown products to make up for the fact I have to give her something totally uninspiring from her wedding list when she gets married! I mean what is so great about vouchers for large white good appliances? She’s better off with a Bicester Village Gift Card!

Label Loving Sister Lola

The incomparable McQueen Novak

The incomparable McQueen Novak

My 26 year old sister Lola is a truly Dedicated Fashionista and for me is the most exciting one to buy for but also the one where I am most likely to end up keeping her present for myself. I know that anything I get her from Marni, Dior, Alexander McQueen or Gucci, or in facts any of the designer fashion labels here, will delight her and render her speechless (god bless the silence) but if I am canny I will get some shoes from Jimmy Choo. Christmas is all about sharing.

The Men in My Family

The list is endless. My brother is a typical Metrosexual Male. He spends more time in front of the mirror than I do and loves his expensive shoes almost as much as I do. I keep telling him there is only room for one true shoe-aholic in the family but he is obsessed, clearly this is a genetic illness. Any shoes from Bally or Church’s will do, even on trend boxers from Calvin Klein or a shirt from Diesel would go down well. My Father is not so much a Trendsetting Dad but more of a Mr. Impossible and as a good daughter I want to get him something he will cherish like a last-a-lifetime pen, monogrammed leather travel bag or some Links of London precious-stone cufflinks, not that I am trying to bribe him for his air miles of course.

The gorgeous Mulberry raspberry agenda

The gorgeous Mulberry raspberry agenda

For My Gaggle of Girlfriends

That’s already 6 presents and I haven’t even included Mia my friend who is a true Adventurous Spirit, most happiest skiing, sky-diving or driving through Europe in a super duper car rally; she’s climbing Kilimanjaro next year, because if Cheryl Cole can, then she can too. Hmmmm. It’ll be Helly Hansen, Jack Wills, Musto (I love this behind the scenes video of Zara Phillips) and Timberland for her. Clara is an Indulgent Princess who likes luxurious at-home pampering sessions and would adore a silk eye mask from Agent Provocateur and Nessa my Time Poor Workaholic / High Flyer friend who could do with relaxing with  scented candles from Kenneth Turner would probably find a Smythson notebook, Mulberry organiser or Tumi or Furla laptop case for on-the-job luxury more useful. I am beginning to lose count but think so far, and that is without the postman, doctor and dentist (alcohol or smellies always good here) I am now up to nine.

The Young & The Old Are So Easy!

And so to my three little god-ducklings. My Little Lady-In-Training Sophia will like anything that glitters or is pink. This means Bonpoint and Marie Chantal for clothes and Accesorize for sparkly hair ornaments.  George is a true Little Boy Warrior and a denim fiend, so Fat Face is the place to go and Louise is still a Bonny Baby and happy with anything but her Mum loves Petit Bateau. My Grandparents in Paris can have a Bicester Village Gift Card each, easy to buy online and they can use them at all the Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages in Europe. I may have to visit La Vallee Village with them in January, only because it would be rude not to.

Halleluyah!

Phew! See how my Gift Angel has helped me plan in advance? I totally have the Christmas spirit now! I have my map and gift lift itemized so I can shop for all 12 over the next week during my much sacred lunch hours. Just three gifts to buy a day and a treat for me is what I think Santa has instructed? Isn’t it? I’m thinking Anya Hindmarch pocket organizers for my reward. I also sent the Gift Guide to my friend Brendan, he is truly hopeless at buying gifts, especially for all the women in his life, and with me being one of them I sent him suggestions for me too!

Some Pointers & Prizes

I have some inside tips for you. The map is your ticket to win some fabulous prizes such as a £500 or £250 Bicester Village Gift Card or lunch for four (if only I wasn’t an employee – sigh).  Just take your map to the Visitor Centre after you’re all shopped out!  While you’re there, don’t forget to get your gifts wrapped in our exclusively designed paper by Paul Smith, with donations to Make-A Wish Foundation. Also check the website daily for special offers and come later in the day, we’re now open for late night shopping. Did I mention there is complimentary mulled wine and mince pies after 5pm? I’ll save some for you.

Happy Christmas Shopping!

Why One is Never Enough

November 6th, 2009 by Stacey

Tis the season to be jolly fa la la la etc etc etc. Indeed, tis actually the prelude to the season when life becomes a carousel of parties and from experience one’s very own personal catwalk show and a chance to channel your inner red-carpet goddess. For heaven forbid a lady is seen in the same dress twice! Social suicide does not bode well prior to New Years Eve.

Investment, Investment, Investment  

So what is a girl to do?

Beyonce-2009-MTV-Europe-Music-Awards-Berlin

Beyonce in Atelier Versace

Well as with Crème de la Mer, diamonds and credit cards, a girl can never have too many party dresses. Yes, it can be pricey, but the trick is to buy timeless pieces from prominent designers. The quality of the fabric, the cut, the swish of a good hem and the dazzle of hand-stitched sequins, embroidery and embellishments all make for a good investment. Just look at Beyonce in Atelier Versace at this week’s MTV Europe Music Awards. Although she, and you, may not wear such a dress twice in one season I can guarantee that such a dress will announce itself from the back of your wardrobe sometime in the next 12 months and repeatedly for years to come. Such dresses need parading, they need to be loved and adored by you and your admirers and worn with pride. After all, tis the season to make a fashion statement, the noughties are almost over so we must dress up and party like its 2009! 

 

Divine Dresses to Buy Now & Love Forever

Cheryl Cole in Matthew Williamson

Cheryl Cole in Matthew Williamson

Just for you, well me actually, as I simply can’t resist a bargain when it comes to evening wear (did I mention the Vera Wang I bought a year ago from Joseph and still not worn? An inspired collectible that will attend one of many parties this year) I have hunted, yes trawled the beautifully cornish stone pavements of the Village to reveal the very best party-wear investments that are in our boutiques right now.

Here they are in alphabetical order.  I really couldn’t put them in any other order as I love them all equally and they are all very different in style. Not to mention I want every single item on this list but it being the season of goodwill I have decided to be unselfish and leave some available for you to buy too. 

2008 MTV Video Music Awards Arrivals

McQueen Dress £885 (was £1,770)

Drapery & Grecian Chic 

Alexander McQueen’s black silk floor length dress is a swishy column of drapery and utterly divine. It was £1,770 and is now £885. Whatever shape you are, even pregnant, it is so totally wearable and is a dress that you will never get rid of.  VB & JLo in strapless bodycon

Strapless Body Con 

All Saints has a body con dress at £73 (from £110). It will hug you and squeeze you in all the right places, add to that on-trend zip detail and towering heels and voila you too can look like J-Lo and Mrs Beckham.  

Amanda Wakeley is undoubtedly the Queen of the strapless dress. Her amethyst strapless short satin dress is now £357 (was £595), perfect to show off your toned and sexy upper body just don’t overdo with chunky accessories. Aim for less is more to be graceful and sophisticated and don’t forget the strapless bra! For a less pricey alternative, Monsoon’s strapless black sequin cocktail dress is now £40 (was £135) and is stunning! 

Sequins, Feathers & Beads 

DvF in her own Black Flapper Dress

DvF Black Flapper Dress £2,448 (was £4,889)

One can never go wrong with a DVF number. Her iconic black feather & beaded flapper dress is now £2,448, yes expensive but it was £4,889. I can say no more. This dress is so fabulous it doesn’t need words.

Sequins are big news this year and almost every celeb has sported a silver version. Gerard Darel has a fabulous silver sequined shift dress at £120 (was £180).

LM & JA 

Let’s not forget Luella, adored by the likes of Zooey Deschanel, Alexa Cheung and Peaches Geldof. Her black satin mini dress with bow and zip details is now £230 (was £325).

 

Matthew Williamson Sequin Dress was £1850, now £740

Matthew Williamson Sequin Dress was £1850, now £740

My favourite for sequins, feathers & beads is Matthew Williamson, for his textiles are tantalising and his colours are a celebration of the rainbow. His black and purple fox fur shrug is available for an amazing £720 (was £3,805) and his Technicolor sequin dress is £740  (was £1,850). These prices won’t last; they are currently on a further 20% promotion until 16 November, so hurry!

 

Classic Goddess

Jennifer Garner in Temperley Dress £890 (was £2,220)

Jennifer Garner in Temperley Dress £890 (was £2,220)

If you haven’t discovered Temperley London then you must; and if you already own a Temperley dress then you’ll understand why I think this is possibly one of my favourite labels in the fashion universe.  It’s not just the fact that they design amazing dresses in a myriad of fabrics, whether long, short, halterneck or strapless, every dress in any Temperley collection is too easy to fall in love with.

My favourite in the Temperley boutique right now is the midnight blue silk evening gown with jet beading as worn by Jennifer Garner at the UK Premiere of The Kingdom. A total investment at £890 (was £2,220). 

Finally, there is a little black silk Gianni Versace number with ruffle detail; a creation of sophistication. Sadly I wasn’t able to get a photo but this is Versace and needs no explanation especially as it is now £1,022 (was £3,405).

Mission Accomplished 

That was the extent of my in-depth mission, (I do have a day job you know) but I did see some lovely party-wear in the windows of Celine, Coast, D&G, Dior, French Connection, Hobbs, Joseph, Karen Millen, Reiss, Ted Baker and Valentino and many of them have offers. As for shoes (do not get me started), I am banned from Jimmy Choo as my enthusiasm puts off the other customers but peeping through the glass I saw some stunning black suede bow tie ankle boots with gold/black/white zig-zag heels. They told me on the phone they were £778 but are now £521. Hmmmmm. FYI there is Prada and Louboutin in Joseph and almost every designer boutique here stocks a selection of glorious, sexy footwear.

Golden Rules Not to Be Broken

102709-zooey-deschanel-200 luella

Zooey Deschanel in Luella

Lastly no matter what you wear there are two golden rules. Underwear & accessories. Without these you may as well not bother. One can wear a bin-bag but invest in some good underwear to smooth out any lumps and bumps and no-one will know. Wolford has the magic “forming dress” in nude or black at £50 (was £75) and for accessories visit Marni, Pascal, Bulgari and Vivienne Westwood, her jewellery starts at £30. Lastly don’t forget to leave the house without a pouch for your credit card, business cards and lipgloss. I bought Alexander McQueen’s in black patent with gold zip for £70, it was £140 and therefore I feel no pain only pleasure.

Finally, happy shopping and please do post your Christmas fashion pictures on our Facebook fanpage. This season comes round but once a year so for a memorable party remember you must never drink & drive, that’s what chauffeurs are for and if you take a taxi make sure it is a licensed black taxi cab! Chic ladies in designer dresses do not bode well on public transport and Choos were not made for walking. You may want to leave the Oyster card at home.

p.s There is only 7 weeks left till Christmas and only 4 Gift Inspiration days for VIP Bicester Village Members. Don’t forget to sign up to get an invite.

Why Cinderella’s Sisters Had Their Priorities Right

October 21st, 2009 by Stacey

“Cinderella’s stepsisters were not desperate for Prince Charming, they were desperate for her glass slipper”

Glass slipperLike any hot-blooded and stylish femme fatale, I am addicted to shoes. This addiction is an affliction that I just can’t get over, no matter how hard I try. I swoon when I hear the word “stiletto” and if I see a pair of bejeweled heels in a shiny shop window I am compelled to run into the shop (yes, run, in heels, absolutely!) and stroke the artistic beauties before I swiftly try them on and buy them. This process can take as few as 5 minutes. But my biggest addiction is boots. At last count I had 43 pairs of high heeled boots, 19 of which are black. So how many pairs of footwear does a girl need? This being a rhetorical question that needs no answer – shoes are the ultimate desirable acquirable, and always will be my biggest love affair!

It is a limitless love that has no boundaries.

Shoes give life meaning and make me happy and I live by the unquestionable fact that a woman can never be too glamorous or have too many heels, and nothing on this planet can bring instant gratification than becoming the proud owner of a new pair of delicately carved heels. Some of us may go through life un-captivated by such frivolities, but even tomboys will eventually get bitten. For myself, I can’t quite remember when that happened, although I do think my Mother’s fixation for dressing me only in red shoes as a child may have had some impact, but as soon as I was out of my Startrites, I was sashaying, and at times wobbling, teetering and falling in stilettos, kitten heels, platforms, wedges – the lot.

Feeding my addiction the smart way.

alexandermcqueen_flagbootsYet this unspoken addiction has rules, and usually the higher the heel and the more expensive the price tag, the greater the buzz. I have been known to camp outside Jimmy Choo, Alexander McQueen and Salvatore Ferragamo in the village waiting for them to unpack their latest delivery, hungry for more – and stalk the manageress in Joseph to see if any Prada or Louboutins have come in. Those that know me understand that working in Bicester Village just means feeding my addiction is a little less expensive. With no need to wait for department store annual sales and virtually every luxe designer boutique offering footwear, there are shoes waiting to be bought at silly prices everyday. I have found that Dior has an amazing selection, as do Valentino but my best bargain to date? Jonathan Kelsey for Mulberry pointed toe courts; I bought them in 3 colours and love wearing them.

Feeling the Foot Candy

Why do we ensure pain over comfort? A simple equation offers a simple answer;

equation

This is so true! The higher the heel, the tighter the calf, and the thinner the heel the greater the optical illusion of longer legs and a tighter butt! Skyscraper heels may be instruments of self-torture for some, (forget whether I can walk in them, as long as I can stand in them, they’re mine. Thank you Dr Scholl for Party Feet gels, you saved my red sparkly Vivienne Westwood’s from the back of the cupboard desert) – but for most of us these sometime uncomfortable objects of desire are the only accessories required for instant sexiness and inner confidence and is cheaper than psychotherapy, unless you have a Blahnik fetish, in which case a small bank loan and 6 sessions of Martin’s Money Management classes is required.

I wonder if our love of shoes, especially high heels, is somehow another way of flirting with oneself and not just a way of attracting the attention of Prince Charming?

It is hard for the average male to understand this love affair we have that does not include them. While most of them are shoe-oblivious, trudging through life with the obligatory pairs of black and brown loafers and trainers, we are suffering from Shoe Obsession Disorder, seeking coveted designer shoe bargains, sneaking bags into houses, hiding boxes in the back of cupboards and demanding house extensions as a storage solution to our every growing shoe collection. Of course, we all know that curing our shoe addiction will save money and perhaps our relationships, but being the ultimate desirable acquirables, I wonder if our love of shoes, especially high heels, is somehow another way of flirting with oneself and not just a way of attracting the attention of Prince Charming?

Love Me, Love my Shoes

So what is it with women and shoes?” According to a good friend of mine who just so happens to run my favourite shoe shop:

“Shoes are fun. They are little personalities just waiting to be taken out and shown a good time”

Indeed. Shoes do give instant glamour and a buzz like no other. Unlike shopping for jeans (which is about as much fun as going to the dentist), shopping for shoes is an exhilarating experience. Feet don’t have hips, feet don’t have thighs. Feet are our friends.

With the right shoes, we can slip on a whole new image. Shoes give men a reason to notice our ankles and legs and when a man compliments our shoes, we know he understands us and has taken a look into the window of our soul. Men, take note. Tell us we have great shoes and watch our face light up, it’s the best possible chat up line you can use. Just remember that contrary to popular belief, Cinderella’s stepsisters were not desperate for Prince Charming, they were desperate for her glass slipper.

jimmy_choo_007Skyscraper Highs:

  • We get taller!
  • Legs look longer & feet seem smaller.
  • We get J-Lo defined glutes
  • We have instant gratification.
  • They always make us feel sexy, even on a bad day.
  • When they are broken, we can get them fixed!

Skyscraper Lows:

  • We get foot pain but so what? We now have Party Feet gel pads.
  • We can fall over, but then alcohol and uneven pavement has the same effect.
  • We can get into a situation where one more step is unbearable, which is why we have taxis!