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Not since Christian Louboutin took over the world with an avalanche of red soles has such excitement surrounded a shoe designer. Charlotte Olympia is the hottest new name in footwear worn by just about every A-list celeb with serious fashion credentials from Emma Watson to Olivia Palermo, Sarah Jessica Parker to Keira Knightley any many many more.
Charlotte Olympia is the brand born of Charlotte Olympia Dellal, yes her family are the super sophisticated Dellal’s (model Andrea is mum, socialite Alice is sister). A graduate of London College of Fashion and Cordwainers, Charlotte launched her label in 2006. Charlotte’s shoes are characterised by the distinctive old Hollywood feel to them, super sophisticated and always with a killer heel.
You can buy them online right now at net-a-porter.com. My favourites are the Minerva laser-cut suede pumps as sported by Olivia Palermo at London Fashion Week, £820.
It’s been six years since Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig launched their label, and in that time no designer has dressed so many stars, has so many gowns walk the red carpet and made as many best dressed lists as Marchesa has.
What’s their underlying aesthetic? Think the dress of your dreams; a little mix of fairytale and high octane glamour and your pretty much there. Feathered, ruched, beaded, draped and embellished you name it and Marchesa has done it in the most exquisite form.
It’s no surprise then when a meteoric rise to fame came about for a small collective of ultra cool actresses that Marchesa would be on the speed dial. For the young Twilight starlets whose moves are watched by an obsessive but adoring fanbase only the very best in fashion would suffice. 
Kristen Stewart wowed in a stunning black ruffled design from the fall collection for a red carpet appearance in Italy.
For Dakota Fanning at the CFDA awards in New York a pretty little nude number. Whilst both Nikki Reed and Anna Kendrick both wore Marchesa at the Eclipse LA premiere, Nikki in an oyster blue feather dress and Anna a little gold layered gown from the resort collection.
Everyone loves a fashion discovery and this one is fabulous. A style secret from down under, designer Kit Willow launched Willow in 2003. With each passing season Willow has evolved and now boasts a sound aesthetic. So what’s it all about? Think soft, romantic clothing in the most elegant and luxurious of forms.
Celebrity fans include Ugly Betty’s Becki Newton, Gossip Girl’s Jessica Szohr and Mischa Barton (all pictured above wearing Willow). This season Willow is your go-to label for chic dresses and statement skirts. The Eclipse wool-blend dress £550, the shadow bodysuit £495 and the laser-cut crepe skirt £495 are our picks for the season.
Check them out right now at www.net-a-porter.com
Elie Saab is the much coveted luxury gown designer, most girls would do anything to get their hands on one of his creations. The ladies of The Twilight Saga are the most popular females on this planet. Put these two together and you have a fail free recipe for fashion paradise.
As can only be expected the girls of the saga would not dream of showing up on a red carpet in anything less than the very best. So that is why Dakota Fanning who is a particular fan of Mr Saab has chosen his designs twice; for the Eclipse LA premiere and the premiere of the Runaways.
For leading lady Kristen Stewart (a regular on best dressed lists) the eyes of the world waited for her entrance on the red carpet for the LA premiere of the latest instalment of the franchise. Kristen stepped out in a white asymmetric mini dress from Elie Saab’s Haute Couture collection. A massive coup for the designer and further cementing Kristen’s status as a style icon.
Ever since London Fashion week, new kid on the block Hakaan has got us all in a fashion fluster. The Turkish born designer made his debut at LFW in February to an audience that included Kate Moss and Carine Roitfeld (quite a coup for a new designer).
And now we know why; a collection made of innovative architectural shapes whilst retaining a sense of innately feminine sex appeal. His status as a designer with real potential was cemented when he beat off stiff competition to win the highly coveted ANDAM award.
His autumn collection is available exclusively at Harvey Nichols. Particular mention must be made of the mini dresses, sexy and fun yet inherently chic, prices start at £660.
Alexander Wang is the young designer who made his name with a very new form of fashion. Off-duty chic, laid back luxe, sporting glam whatever you want to call it Wang is the name that put this new type of dressing on the map. Following the successful launch of the Alexander Wang label in 2007 the California raised designer has gone from strength to strength winning not only coveted awards for his designs but praise from the very peak of the fashion world.
Now Wang has introduced a new label, T by Alexander Wang. T goes to the very heart of what Wang’s designs are about, relaxed dressing in a way that is not only comfortable but effortlessly stylish. There cant be many people out there who don’t despair at the inability to find those perfect wardrobe essential, that longline vest, a fitted tshirt. Now T brings a whole range of basic items including t-shirts, vests, sweat pants, shorts, maxi dresses and long length skirts all at affordable prices. Already the label is favoured by celebrities including Katy Perry and Audrina Patridge who are pictured above in T designs.
Net-a-porter.com stocks a good selection of items, here are some of our favourites:
This jersey t-shirt mini dress £77 is a great wardrobe essential, pair with leggings or brave bare legs. Try out this olive and black striped goddess jersey skirt for laid back daytime look or with a pair of heels for night £83. Go for an 80s look or layer over vests with this cropped jersey sweater £70.
[Photo Credit via Picapp.com]
Sarah Jessica Parker and her alter ego Carrie Bradshaw have given a love of shoes new meaning. Who can look at a pair of Manolo Blahniks without thinking of Carrie’s immense collection? Well for the Queen of shoes there appears to be a new favourite in town.
Nicholas Kirkwood is the British designer known for his show stopping shoe creations. With collaborations with the likes of Rodarte, Jonathan Saunders, Erdem and 3.1 Phillip Lim he is already a big name in the fashion world but with the backing of SJP he is about to go global.
Sarah has been seen on numerous occasions wearing Kirkwood’s heels but most notably they are clearly her shoe of choice for the Sex and the City 2 promotional tour. In Central Park whilst being interviewed for E!news. Then we saw her at the New York premiere after party teaming her Elie Saab dress with the heels. Then again not even 24 hours later for her appearance on David Letterman.
Where can you get yourself a pair? Browns have a fab selection, also available at Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Dover Street Market.
[Photo Credit Prphotos.com and Picapp.com]
Louise Goldin is the sassy young English designer who made her name by redefining knitwear. With an impressive background that includes 7 years at Central St Martins and a 2 year stint as head designer at Tereza Santos it is no surprise her collections have taken off.
Louise’s signature pieces are fabulous knitwear in a range of innovative fabrics using unusual weaves. Louise’s client is fashion forward and unapologetically sexy. She has already built up a celebrity fan base that includes Leighton Meester who chose a Louise Goldin design for the Jingle Bell Ball. The recipient of the BFC fashion forward award and a collaboration with Topshop is evidence that Goldin is an English star on the rise.
MARIOS SCHWAB
Another in a long line of stellar graduates from London’s Central St Martins. Schwab won the coveted best new designer award in 2006 the same year he debuted at London Fashion Week. Schwab can count some of the worlds biggest stars as his fans including Anna Paquin, Jessica Alba and Bryce Dallas Howard all sporting his designs.
His talent for making the classic (he is all about the little black dress) seem that little bit special landed him the highly publicised top job over at Halston. Schwab was tasked with the job of recovering the waning brand and his modernist first collection has won over the critics.
ROKSANDA ILINCIC
Roksanda Ilincic is the Serbian born designer with the talent and inspiration garnered from the Parisian greats of decades gone by. She learnt her trade at Central St Martins before shortly creating her first collection. Ilincic’s talent has led to a collaboration with Whistles creating a line of critically acclaimed and subsequently sold out dresses. 
What is Ilincic’s look? It’s about fluid silhouettes with a penchant for the use of charmeuse. Think seventies chic a la Yves Saint Laurent but highly dramatised. Her collection has garnered support from celebrities including Thandie Newton. Jaime Winstone chose an Ilincic design for the Elle Style Awards this year.
EMILIO DE LA MORENA
Emilio de la Morena is a Spanish born designer, graduate of Central St Martins and ex-employee of fellow London Fashion Weeker Jonathan Saunders. Following his first collection launched only a few years ago in 2006 the designer started attracted an impressive following. Leighton Meester is a big fan choosing Morena designs on a number of occasions and Alexandra Burke went for a blue dress for this years Brit Awards.
With time spent studying sculptures it is no wonder that his collections can be summed up by that one word. For Morena it is all about the silhouette, with what started as characteristically strong and harsh silhouettes has turned into a masterful juxtaposition between the strong and the fluid of material movement.
[Photo Credit Prphotos and Picapp.com]
There aren’t many too many individuals who command the power to bring the streets of St Tropez to a close but Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel is one of them. This week the south of France became a flurry of activity with all the glamour of the film festival in Cannes and the excitement of Formula One in Monaco. Added to this was the catwalk show for Chanel’s cruise collection making its way through the streets of St Tropez.
The look is very much seventies chic with a nod to the glamour of years past. Models sashayed down the streets of St Tropez in babydoll dresses, high waisted trousers, hippy chic maxi dresses all in a retro feeling tan palette. This is relaxed dressing but with the elegance we love about Chanel and the glamour one expects from St Tropez.
The finale spectacular (which is always present in Lagerfeld’s shows) saw Georgia May Jagger in the style of Brigitte Bardot roll in on a Harley in thigh high boots and a tiny dress a look that encapsulated the collection.
The A-list found their way to the coast with Vanessa Paradis present, in addition to girl of the moment Leigh Lezark and long time Chanel lover Diane Kruger with partner Joshua Jackson.
