FASHION FRIDAY| Insider Interview with Personal Stylist in London

Baartmans & Siegel, VFS designer presenting AW12, a favourite of Personal Stylist in London. 

This week's Insider Interview is a double whammy, Suds Singh, the founder of Personal Stylist in London was accompanied by  fashion blogger Hannah Balsdon (Dress to Please Yourself). 

VFS: First of all, thank you for taking the time out to talk to us. Can you tell VFS a little bit about Personal Stylist in London and what you do/who have you styled for?

SS: Personal Stylist in London really started as a labour of love! Until a few years ago I could never quite get the killer look I was after.  It was only until I made an appointment with a stylist 3 years ago that I finally found the image and confidence I was looking for. So I took a personal styling course and sought about introducing a styling service just for men.

Of course we do get excited about working with celebrities and media companies but our target market is the everyday man! Nothing gives me and the team more satisfaction then knowing we have transformed someone’s self-image or the way they feel about themselves! 

VFS: You recently featured a piece on VFS designer Baartmans & Siegel on your site – what interested you about this designer?

HB; I am really interested in designers/labels that combine a respect for tradition with a modern outlook and approach; Baartmans & Siegel present a fresh, innovative and above all modern take on traditional men's tailoring, I find it inspiring. Many brands either just nostalgically rehash past fashions or design clothes that, while innovative, are completely impractical, Baartmans & Siegel create practical clothes, clothes smart enough to wear to the office but are far more interesting and modern than normal attire. 

VFS: Do you often use emerging designers as opposed to established labels whilst styling?

SS: Our sites get a lot of hits from people looking for fashion advice, and the site is on the first page for a lot of keywords. So instead of featuring brands and designers everyone has heard of we like to have a mixture of both old established and new and underexposed! We love discovering exciting British talent and giving them a voice. 

VFS; What other VFS designers (past and present) have you used?

SS: I believe Baartmans & Siegel was our first VFS brand and hopefully first of many! 

VFS: What designer do you think is set to be the next big thing?

HB: I really don't know what designer will be the next big thing, the fashion industry can be very unpredictable. I really hope however than in the next few years there is a flowering of creativity within the industry and that designers come up with exciting modern designs that reflect the way we live today.

VFS: What’s your styling tip for SS12?

SS: Invest in quality pieces! The old adage is true buy right or buy twice!


Interview by Editor Cass Gowing. 
Images from Personal Stylist in London and Alina Negoita

NEWS| VFS Designers Ekaterina Kukhareva and Alice Lee Sample Sale

Have you ever gazed hopefully at the VFS catwalk wishing you could afford one of the ready to wear pieces that are sashaying in front of you?


Now's your chance! Vauxhall Fashion Scout designers Ekaterina Kukhareva and Alice Lee have teamed together (alongside jewellery designer Helene Turbe) to offer a whopping 70% off discount on previous stock. The event takes place on 25th and 26th May from 12 - 7pm (with an opening sale evening tonight - 24th - 6pm til 9pm). All details are in the invitation above, including the RSVP emails, but you can read more on Ekaterina's blog here. 


By Editor, Cass Gowing, 
Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing
Images from Ekaterina Kukhareva

NEWS| Leutton Postle launch newsletter

Former VFS Merit Award Winners, Leutton Postle have had a busy week- what, with guest editing the Browns blog, being featured in Hunger mag, and preparing for Spring/Summer '13 being just a snippet of what they've been up to.

You might ask how we know all this, and as much as we'd like to say it's the result of many hours spent trawling the web, the pair have in fact just launched a Leutton Postle newsletter. You can subscribe to their online updates here, and also follow them on Twitter @LEUTTONPOSTLE to be kept in the loop with all things Sam, and Jenny.

Also be sure to check out their guest-posts on the Browns blog, and let the knitwear design-duo know what you think in the comments!

Sara McAlpine, Sub-editor

DESIGNER EXCLUSIVE| VFS Graduate Showcase Designer Victoria Spruce announced as ITS 2012 finalist

Image courtesy of She Breathes 

 Victoria Spruce's Graduate Showcase at Vauxhall Fashion Scout

Victoria Spruce MA Exhibition

Victoria Spruce Lookbook

Victoria Spruce featured in Vogue Italia

As soon as the VFS blog team heard the news that our graduate showcase designer Victoria Spruce was one of the finalists for International Talent Support (ITS) 2012, we knew we had to talk to her. 

ITS is an international platform which specialises in students who are emerging talents in the world of fashion, accessories and jewellery. ITS, which is in it's eleventh year, will take place in Trieste, Italy on July 13-14th. Footwear designer and RCA graduate Victoria Spruce is one of nine accessories finalists who are competing for two accessory awards. 

The prizes are nothing short of career changing; the winner of 'Accessories Collection of the Year' wins €8,000 towards the creation of a new accessories collection (with an exhibition in September 2012's ModAmount show and an exhibition again in 2013), meanwhile, the winner of the 'YKK Award' will receive €10,000. When the jury for the Accessories finalists includes Vogue Italia's Accessory Editor Elisabetta Barracchia and head of Christian Dior Haute Couture Accessories Isabella Zegrini, you know you're on the path to success.

Editor Cass Gowing caught up with Victoria following the announcement...

Vauxhall Fashion Scout: Congratulations on being a finalist for ITS 2012. When did you find out the good news?

Victoria Spruce: Thank you! I found out a few weeks ago so have since been planning the YKK project that I also need to complete as part of the competition.

VFS: What does this opportunity mean to you?

VS: It means a hell of lot to be selected as a finalist and boosts my belief in my own work - other people like it too! I think it's a great opportunity to gain further exposure on an international level and I feel incredibly lucky to be one of the few finalists. I can't wait to get to Trieste and show my collection to the judges!

VFS: What have you been up to since we saw you at our graduate showcase?

VS: I have been working away at developing the collection for production.I've been finalising how they will be made and what they will be made of - but there's still a little way to go before I can start to sell them. Unfortunately because they are made with plastics in twists and turns everything is taking just that little bit longer to perfect and take forward. I will get there soon though!

VFS: What else is planned for your label 2012?

VS: All my focus is aimed at finding the right factory and getting them into production. My shoes have received so much press attention I now just need to get them on people's feet!

Don't miss Victoria's feature in Vogue Italia. We wish you the best of luck for the competition; we can't wait to hear the results!

Interview by Editor, Cass Gowing. 

Follow her on Twitter: @CassGowing

NEWS| Paloma Faith wears Inbar Spector whilst the designer is interviewed by 1883 magazine

Last night, you may have recognised Paloma Faith's eye-catching dress for her performance on Later with Jools Holland; it was from Inbar Spector SS12's collection. It seems that VFS designers's collections seem to be making a regular occurrence on BBC as of late, with Georgia Hardinge, Myrza de Muynck and Manuela Dack all being spotted. 

Meanwhile, the same gold origami dress was worn by the lead singer of English indie band The Noisettes for their performance at the Royal Albert Hall last week. 

Head over to 1883 magazine to see their recent interview with Inbar Spector. The magazine headed over to her studio-cum-apartment and chatted sequins, Florence Welch and pyjamas. Read the interview here. 

By Editor Cass Gowing

T: @CassGowing
Images - stills from Paloma's BBC performance

NEWS| VFS Designers showing with 'Trust in Fashion'

Fashion Scout designers - past and present - are set to join ranks to showcase their designs in support of fundraising body, Rainbow Trust. The "Trust in Fashion" event will see previous and current VFS designers, Bora Aksu, Leutton Postle, and Krystof Strozyna send one-off looks down the runway, to an audience of industry-insiders and famed fashion-faces. Following the catwalk event, pieces donated by figures of note will be auctioned off in aid of Rainbow Trust, who work to raise money for those caring for the families of seriously, and terminally ill children.

The event, supported by Storm and Chinawhite, takes place on Thursday, 24th May, and tickets can be bought here, whilst you can read more about the fundraiser in Vogue.com's report. 

VFS will be speaking to designers ahead of the event to provide you with a backstage insight into the 'Trust in Fashion' show. Follow us on Twitter @FashionScout for details of the coming-posts.


Images from Trust in Fashion's website

NEWS| Georgia Hardinge's AW12 Inverted Editorial Shoot

Take a first look at the editorial shoot featuring former Merit Award Winner Georgia Hardinge’s AW12 ‘Inverted’ Ready to Wear collection. Don't worry, you can view the whole exquisite shoot on Georgia's Facebook page. Whilst you’re at it, why not look back at our review of her AW12 Inverted show at Freemason’s Hall in February here. 

In other G.H. news, she designed a bespoke blouse for model and all round British fashion icon Erin O’Connor. O’Connor tweeted Georgia her thanks: “"@Erin_O_Connor: @hardingegeogia Thank you so much for the exquisite blouse. It is beyond chic! #bestofbritish#LFW #smartgirls :)"

What with her Lancome limited edition collection, being featured in Italia Grazia and her ever increasing hoard of celebrity fans, Georgia is a very busy bee at the moment! Keep up to date with her jam-packed antics by following her on Twitter @hardingegeorgia.

By Editor, Cass Gowing, 
T: @CassGowing

Photography by Miguel Domingos, Hair Rudy Martins, Make Up Marie Lanne, styled by Georgia Hardinge. 

NEWS| Former Merit Award Winners Leutton Postle guest edits Brown's Blog

Leutton Postle's first post on the Browns blog

 Leutton Postle AW12 at Freemason's Hall, Natalia Ilina

This week, design duo and former VFS Merit Award winners Leutton Postle are guest editing Brown's blog! 

Knitwear brand Leutton Postle is created by Sam Leutton and Jenny Postle, who met at prestigious school Central St Martins in 2010. In fact, Jenny’s graduate collection was bought by Browns! Renowned for their brightly coloured, couture knits, Leutton Postle was chosen by Vauxhall Fashion Scout for the Merit Award and showcased both their SS12 and AW12 designs at Freemason’s Hall. This week, they’re taking over the Brown’s blog, have a peek at Sam and Jenny's first post here. 

Cass Gowing, Editor.

Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing

NEWS| Exclusive Insight - Vauxhall Fashion Scout S/S13 Selection Panel

The Vauxhall Fashion Scout Selection Panel for London Fashion Week S/S13 has come and gone, but the excitement is still with us a week on...

Beach Blanket Babylon in Shoreditch housed over 40 designers, 14 industry experts and hundreds of beautiful garments last Tuesday, which saw the seasonal Vauxhall Fashion Scout Selection Panel hand-pick the designers that will be joining us at the Freemason's Hall for September's London Fashion Week and the Fashion Scout Showroom in Paris.

Amongst the selected designers, the Merit Award Winner & One's To Watch Designers were selected- the awards that highlight the leading emerging talent at Vauxhall Fashion Scout. These highly esteemed awards have gone to truly talented designers in the past, helping them launch their careers into the industry. Previous Merit Award Winners have included:

Georgia Hardinge

Hermione De Paula

David Koma

William Tempest

Applying for catwalk, exhibition and Paris Showroom places, Vauxhall Fashion Scout had nearly 200 applicants for S/S13.

With just the afternoon to select the designers they believe will be the leading new talent for Vauxhall Fashion Scout, our panel of prestigious fashion industry individuals came from all areas within the fashion world- buying, marketing, designing, anything a designer could possibly need when trying to break into the industry.

Our Vauxhall Fashion Scout Panel this season were:

Martyn Roberts- Vauxhall Fashion Scout

Charlotte Gunstone - Vauxhall Fashion Scout

Ruth Runberg - Browns 

Erin Mullaney - Avenue 32

Stefan Siegel - Not Just A Label

Jessica Bumpus - Vogue.com

Tui Lin - POP Magazine

Judith Tolley - CFE 

David Koma - Designer & VFS Alumni

Eudon Choi - Designer & VFS Alumni

Rebekah Roy - Stylist

Laura Margott - Vauxhall Motors

Katie Oyler  - Vauxhall Motors

Karen Harper - Toni&Guy

Now heading into our 14th season, the "home of new talent", Vauxhall Fashion Scout is the leading platform for exciting new fashion designers to showcase their talent to London Fashion Week and the world. 

Make sure you stay tuned to the Vauxhall Fashion Scout blog for all the information for September's London Fashion Week and our new line up of designers, and keep up with up-to-date news with the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Twitter, here. 

NEWS| BFC have announced Women's Collections, including VFS alumni Peter Pilotto

Some of the Women's Collections designers, including Peter Pilotto. Image edited from Women's Collections website. 

Peter Pilotto's SS12 Collection, image from Sky.

This morning, the British Fashion Council has announced that the Women's Collections to take place, following Men's Collections, beginning 18th June. This is a development from their Pre-Collections guide that took place last year. Caroline Rush, CEO BFC commented “The aim of London Collections: Women is to create a resource for buyers, media and stylists to navigate the breadth of designers selling in London during this time.  Many designers showing at London Fashion Week have now introduced pre-collections, some for the very first time this season.  There are great showrooms here in London and we want to encourage as many as orders as possible to be written here.” Featured under the multibrand showroom 'Rainbowwave' is Vauxhall Fashion Scout alumni Peter Pilotto. Congratulations to the duo on their latest achievement! 

Why not view more of Vauxhall Fashion Scout's alumnus as well as our current designers on our website. 

Cass Gowing, Editor

Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing