NEWS| Manuela Dack in Vogue Italia

Manuela Dack is a designer already accustomed to having her name and work appearing in the press since her graduation from Middlesex University. This time, it's the June issue of Vogue Italia that's included her work. After visiting the VFS Paris showroom last season, Dack's beaded swimsuit caught the eye of illustrator Lele Acquarone and she has featured the piece in her Vogue Italia scrapbook pages accompanied by a beautiful illustration. With Acquarone encouraging Dack “to produce something equally as whimsical (and unwearable) for this season.” we look forward to what the future holds.

By VFS Contributor Josh Walker

Images from Vogue Italia

NEWS| Nova Chiu featured in Papercut Magazine

What better way to feature Vauxhall Fashion Scout designer Nova Chiu than in an editorial that focuses on electric prints and textiles. The designs, which are integrally inspired by ancient Chinese cultures, are a focus point of the above editorial in online digital magazine Papercut.

Nova Chiu, a LCF graduate, who wowed audiences as part of our One's To Watch AW12 showcase can be guaranteed to steal the limelight with her colourful, multicoloured and textured designs. Executed with modern lines and silhouettes means that every Nova Chiu collection screams bold, high fashion looks.

Her designs in the editorial include the polychromatic print skirt (top right) and texturised dress (worn underneath, bottom right). Nova Chiu's pieces are shown alongside designers Jayne Pierson, Malene Oddershede Bach and Eudon Choi.

View the whole editorial here.

Cass Gowing, VFS Blog Editor

Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing

Images from Papercut Magazine

Photography by Shuhei Shine, Makeup by Yae Seno, Hair by Atsushi Takita, Styling by Alexandra Saushkina, Modelling by Aiste.

NEWS| Myrza de Muynck in Because Magazine

Myrza de Muynck, the recent Central Saint Martin’s graduate and VFS 'One To Watch' continues to turn heads with her reimagining of eighties staple; the shell suit. Previously featured in TANK, and now Because magazine, the young designer’s knack for transforming ubiquitous 80s and 90s "looks" is being recognised for being at the forefront of the shell suit's reinvention.

The guys over at Because visited Myrza at her studio to take a closer look at the inspirations and ideas behind the designs.

Speaking of her unique juxtaposition between luxe 1920s embroidery, and the 90s “trashy” sportswear aesthetic, Because highlights Myrza’s talent for effortlessly marrying the two opposed images to produce a feminine, streetwise "cool".

Her designs call upon many influences from her upbringing in Holland; her grandmother’s style; and relationships with friends. The video takes you into the studio and gives you a more personal perspective of the work of this exciting young designer.

For the video, and more images click here.
Text by Vanessa Omoregie (@wewearblack)

COLLECTIONS| Joseph Turvey SS13

“One-to-Watch” Joseph Turvey is fresh out of uni- having shown his MA just back in February- but four months on, and the LCF grad is already presenting a follow-up collection, premiering his Spring/ Summer '13 at this weekend’s London Collections: Men.

Inspired by “amidst-the-action” Attenborough, Turvey’s SS'13 is heavy on the foliage: jungle vines, and florals from the ankle-up, with magenta-blossom motif suits, and drip-tip-leaf print “dad shirts”- though markedly cooler than your “Dad”'s weekend get-up.

Turvey’s tropic-tree influence is more deep-rooted in his Spring/Summer than the conspicuous prints, though- with the jungle’s silk-greenery reflected in fern-green silk-printed shirts; the face of his-signature illustrated-boy staring back at you from the centre.
It’s also in the interjecting darker lace-knit co-ords that you come to understand there’s more to this young designer than currently understood. Turvey's less reliant on vivid colour than you might initially assume, and conceptually, explores more than is-obvious- with the jungle-green weft-knit two-piece bringing to mind a sense of entrapment; a darker facet to the theme; an insight into how he might grow as a designer.

Ultimately, Joe- in manner of design, and person- is vibrant, and whimsical, and- on the whole- a lot of fun, so “colourful”, and “sat-sitting-in-a-garland befriending chimps” is the predominant image you might leave smiling to yourself with- it’s just not the only one. Especially when you’re reminded that the tech-smart knits, and heat-reacting hibiscus is the work of a new-graduate, just two collections in…
See the collection in full here.

Images and text, Sara McAlpine (sara_mcalpine)

NEWS| LONDON show ROOMS MEN featuring Baartmans & Siegel and E.Tautz

Image from Baartman & Siegel's AW12 showcase at VFS Freemason's Hall, by Alina Negoita

Two of Vauxhall Fashion Scout's designers will be showcasing their designs at BFC's London Show Rooms Men in Paris. The four day showcase, which takes place Saturday 30th June – Tuesday 3rd July at Le Loft, Paris, is designed to present London's leading menswear design talents and their SS13 collection. The BFC aim for this event to 'increase their [the designers's] media presence and develop their businesses internationally". 

Baartmans & Siegel and E.Tautz have been selected to showcase their designs alongside the following designers Agi & Sam, Bernstock Speirs, Caseley Hayford, Christopher Raeburn, Christopher Shannon, James Long, Junky Styling, KTZ, Lee Roach, Lou Dalton, Martine Rose, Matthew Miller, Mr. Start, Omar Kashoura, Shaun Samson, Sibling and William Richard Green.

For more information visit www.britishfashioncouncil.com/londonshowroomsmen

By Editor Cass Gowing

Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing

NEWS| Florence Welch in Autumn/Winter Georgia Hardinge

Florence Welch opted for another Vauxhall Fashion Scout designer to wear at the pre-London Collections Mr. Porter party last weekend- this time seen sporting former Merit Award winner, Georgia Hardinge's Autumn/Winter for the "dress in your best" event.

Having also been seen in VFS's Inbar Spector's latest work, Miss Welch- along with stylist Aldene Johnson- are proving pioneers of emerging design talent, and we look forward to seeing who she wears next.

To see the official video for Florence and the Machine's 'Spectrum' featuring Spector's work click here. Let us know what you think via Twitter, @FashionScout.

COLLECTIONS| Baartmans and Siegel SS13

“Refined menswear, incorporating classic cuts… designed for today’s modern gent” was the official spin on “Ones to Watch”, Baartmans and Siegel’s Spring/Summer collection; though that's selling it a bit short. There's more depth to the “Baartmans man” than that, be it through the textured tiers of “broken shell” paillettes, against smooth pistachio silks; or on a more literal plane, by way of the Cuban shore-side influence referenced by the Dutch-English duo.

It’s the easy, “summer cool” of Cuban island life that you see translated in the pair’s refined, lightweight tailoring, and crisp-Swiss cottons; the grill-rift bottoms, and open-stitch knits adding to the airy nonchalance of the Baartmans boy- the sort of boy you’d watch breezing by poolside cabanas, between sips of your Rum Collins (where Wouter and Amber had us at look six).

Relaxed, and “comfortably cool”, subtlety breezes through the collection; neon-marl jersey bottoms, and pearlescent sheen shorts, daring in the detail, but downplayed for daily wear.
However, enter Baartmans and Siegel’s established design persona- infusing classicism by form; modernity by finish- and you have the bolder pieces that both make the collection, and allow for the Baartmans "boy" to become man. 

Deconstructed nappa leathers, and opalescent, embossed-croc suits finished their Spring/Summer, showing that Baartmans and Siegel permit, and provide leverage to either elevate, or reign-in classicism, and modernity respectively; correspondent to how brave you're willing to be. 


We don't expect you to head out, and grab a coffee in head-to-toe mock-croc, but a little broidery anglaise 'n' sparkle isn't going to scare the barista off...

NEWS| E.Tautz's Patrick Grant interviewed by GQ

Ahead of showcasing the Spring/Summer "E.Tautz man" at this weekend's London Collections, Saville Row-trained head designer, Patrick Grant got talking to GQ online about what has him cackling over next season, London's curry one-upmanship, and a seventies style-tip for the "modern" man. 

It appears Mr. Grant is as diverting as he is dapper; click here to have your evening laugh covered, and give us your answers to GQ's questions over on Twitter (@FashionScout).

COLLECTION| E.Tautz showcases SS13 designs at London Collections

Images from Now Fashion 

Vauxhall Fashion Scout menswear designer E.Tautz showcased their SS13 collection on Saturday morning as part of London Collections: Men. The catwalk took place at the Wapping Wall location as part of the first Men's Fashion Week, hosted by BFC. The Spring/Summer 2013 line, which was inspired by British explorer and all-round gent Wilfred Thesiger, saw a more relaxed ready to wear collection come from Patrick Grant, the designer behind E.Tautz. 

A plethora of bright block colours were portrayed in a mixture of pleated shorts, tailored trousers, loose kaftans, crisp shirts and double breasted suits. Whilst the Thesiger print homage (customised with bright sunglasses) showed a more playful side to E.Tautz. 

Read Vogue UK’s report of the show here.

Cass Gowing, Editor

Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing