COLLECTIONS| VFS at Phoebe English Press Day

Wednesday afternoon we headed down to VFS AW12/13 Merit Award winner Phoebe English's Press day, held at our venue partner Beach Blanket Babylon.

The collection we saw previously at their catwalk, hung, awaiting visitors- both buyers, and press. Adding to their accessories line- a Rubber Weave Clutch, that became a signature of Phoebe's AW12 line, and is already a success among the buyers and stylists. 

It wasn't just accessories that had been added; a series of simpler shapes using their signature rubber we added too. Crew-neck collars, long-sleeved cropped tees, and full length rubber sheath dresses all worked to produce a streamlined silhouette.

Follow Phoebe English on Twitter @Phoebe67162010

NEWS| Elisa Palomino featured in Harpers Bazaar US

Easther may have just flown past but relive the holiday with Harpers Bazaar pick of Easter 'bonnets', featuring Vauxhall Fashion Scout designer Elisa Palomino. 

Harpers Bazaar US chose five high fashion head-wear pieces, all from high profile designers, including Burberry, Lanvin and Dolce & Gabbana. Elisa Palomino's Golden Bird Headpiece from her SS12 collection nestles in perfectly amongst said established fashion heavyweights. View the report on Harpers Bazaar site here.

By Cass Gowing, Editor of VFS Blog, 

T: @CassGowing

Images of Elisa Palomino's SS12 catwalk show at Freemason's Hall from Wonderland Magazine. Images of the headpiece from Farfetch

COLLECTIONS| VFS Press Day Picks at POP PR

Nova Chiu

Pam Hogg

Bernard Chandran

Prose

Ekaterina Kukhareva

POP PR look after many VFS designers, so we'll keep the praise-heavy comments to a minimum and let the pieces say it all. This press day illustrated our designers' diversity and the different ways innovative, design talent can manifest itself. The polychromatic quirks of Nova Chiu's collection, and the structured, leather black from Bernard Chandran mean that every colour of the spectrum is covered; and in terms of texture, Prose's tiered-woven tufts, and Ekaterina's macramé have got that covered too... 

Look upon the images, and make what you will of our international talents. Let us know what you think below,or on the @FashionScout Twitter and Facebook.

Images and text by Sara McAlpine

Follow her @sara_mcalpine

LONDON| Vauxhall Fashion Scout Designers featured on Not Just A Label

Eleanor Amoroso Exhibition at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, London Fashion Week A/W12 

Claudia Ligari Exhibition at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, London Fashion Week A/W12

Lulu Liu Exhibition at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, London Fashion Week A/W12

Vauxhall Fashion Scout Designers Lulu Liu, Claudia Ligari and Eleanor Amoroso have all appeared as new arrivals on Not Just A Label. 

All three designers were with Vauxhall Fashion Scout this February presenting their new A/W12 collections and pieces from their Spring/Summer '12 collections are now available to buy on the prestigious online shop - Not Just A Label.com.

They are joined by Lako Bukia, who has had phenomenal success since her catwalk show at Vauxhall Fashion Scout this February, as featured on Vogue Italia. 

To have a look at the selection for yourself, head over to Not Just A Label by clicking here, or read more about Lako Bukia and Vogue Italia, here.

All images by Rowan Papier - www.rowanpapier.com

NEWS| Hermione de Paula blogs about the British Design Collective for Liberty London

First, Vauxhall Fashion Scout alumni Hermione de Paula gave us an insight to her time at the British Design Collective on this blog (here), now she has guest blogged about it for Liberty London.

Former Merit Award Winner Hermione de Paula has become renowned for her feminine, hand-painted prints and embroideries since her label launched in 2008. The designer has been stocked in Liberty London for three seasons and remains a firm favourite of the store. 

Read her blog post on the Liberty London blog here where she gives them the gossip of her day-to-day activities at the British Design Collective. 

By Cass Gowing, Editor of VFS Blog. 

T: @CassGowing

Image of Hermione de Paula from Grazia. 

COLLECTIONS| VFS Press-Day Picks at Modus PR

Two collections struck us as we entered the Modus PR showroom; the first being that of Central Saint Martin's grad, J. JS Lee. Lee's Autumn/Winter looks are sharp in their simplicity, with a modernity derived from the minimal, "cloud-cast-shadow" inspired palette. It's this modernity, with the shadow of embossed, traditional details that's already seen her featured in various international editions of VOGUE, and ELLE.

Unsurprisingly, the second collection we found ourselves drawn to was that of SS10 Merit Award winner, David Koma. The Georgian-born designer has amassed an international following since then, and we're exceptionally proud to express our continued support. Our Autumn/Winter Koma favourites are these Quilici-collaborated, greyhound heels inspired by "the fastest and most elegant dogs in the world". The metal-sculpted heels share the hound motif of the collection's intarsia knits, and belted waists' buckled details, and we expect these accessories to make "most coveted" lists come Autumn/Winter 2012.

Tell us what you think of our showroom picks on Facebook, or Twitter @FashionScout, and @sara_mcalpine.

NEWS| Lako Bukia featured on Vogue Italia

Vogue Italia has featured Vauxhall Fashion Scout designer Lako Bukia following the Kiev Fashion Days. The Ukrainian Fashion Week took place between March 22nd - 25th and Vogue Italia has praised the "deceptive effect created with different, deliberately contrasting fabrics and a colour palette limited to black and silver".

The LCF graduate wowed crowds when she showed her AW12 line at VFS's Freemason's Hall in February with her geometric and futuristic inspired collection. Judging by the Vogue Italia article, her appeal is transatlantic. Read the review of the collection on Vogue Italia's website here. 

Lako Bukia was also interviewed for Kiev Fashion Week's site and was described as 'one of the most promising designers in London'. In the interview, she discusses the pride of showcasing her latest collection at Vauxhall Fashion Scout and the influences of living in London. Read this interview here. 

By Cass Gowing, VFS Blog Editor. 

T: @CassGowing

Photography from AW12 at VFS by Natalia Ilina

COLLECTIONS| VFS Press-Day Picks at A.I PR

Next on the list for the VFS press-room tour was the A.I PR showroom, where designers J.W Anderson and Ann-Sofie Back caught our eye.

Anderson's unapologetically "Awkward Modernity" was presented by way of dense, leather uppers that sit aloft the body, and textured knits that contrasted the patent stoicism of the oxblood, and white rigid suits.

The clinicism of the head-to-toe patent white looks from Anderson's Autumn/Winter collection was something we also saw in Back's sheer nylon overlays, atop raw-finished burgundy wool; a finish referencing how "we all come undone." If by 'undone', Back means 'lose composure', then there's certainly truth in that, as the collection's we spied in the A.I showroom had us keenly hunching over the designers' pieces, excitedly quizzing about fabrics used in each piece.

Images and text by Sara McAlpine

Follow her @sara_mcalpine

COLLECTIONS| VFS Press Day Picks at Goodley PR

Leautton Postle AW12

Louise Gray AW12

Krystoff Strozyna AW12

Long-time friends, and design-partners Sam Leutton and Jenny Postle's second collection sat between fellow VFS designers, Krystof Stroznya and Louise Gray in the Goodley PR showroom; and we couldn't walk away without capturing the pieces' details to fully showcase the duo's craft-led knitwear. Leutton Postle's multiplicitous, reverse applique knits hung at home in the showroom's sun-lit space; light hitting every facet of the overlaid metallic patchwork, adding character to the pieces' offbeat, peeping faces. 

A half-turn to the right and Louise Gray's equally textured, bright pieces hung; this time letting embellishments and patterned glitter brocade do the talking. Blocked duo-chrome "Quick Response" prints with raw-finished edges called out the punk beneath the opulent-guise, but kept the collection feminine through form.

"Feminine" would be the choice-word for Strozyna's collection- as well as "strong" with the collection's figure enhancing silhouette, in darker hues contrasting to the Leutton Postle and Grey designs either side. Fabrics were less dense, but no less bold, considering the collection's clean-lines, and strong shoulders. 

Working with lighter fabrics, Strozyna's pieces showcased a controlled fluidity that moved only to trace the curvature of the woman within it proving Goodley's showcase of works to be full of impact; however that impact manifests...

This is only our first look to the coming season at the Autumn/Winter press days, have we got you looking forward to the rest...?

Images and text by Sara McAlpine

Follow her @sara_mcalpine

NEWS| 'Because' Meets Phoebe English

Phoebe English is the latest designer to be featured by 'Because' Magazine as part of their "Because meets..." series. The Autumn/Winter '12 Merit Award winner spoke to the digital 'zine about her recent foray into colour, where she hurriedly draws inspiration as it hits, and where she'd be- had design not entered the equation.

To see the young designer animatedly discuss collections- past, and present- follow the link to the video interview below.

'Because meets... Phoebe English' by Naomi Bikis.

MAKE-UP TRENDS| How to create the perfect make-up for SS12 with Body Shop

Summer seems to have arrived early in Britain; meaning it's the perfect time to look back to last season at Vauxhall Fashion Scout to remind ourselves of the SS12 trends. VFS Blog Editor, Cass Gowing has interviewed Body Shop's head make-up artist Lan Nguyen to discuss the make-up looks that her team created for SS12. 

Vauxhall Fashion Scout: What are the key make-up trends for SS12?

Lan Nguyen: The key make up trends are strong bold and the beautiful, 'The Make-Up Look' Colour and graphic accents also appeared on the catwalk.

VFS: What VFS designers showed this trend?

LN: Examples of the creative strong make-up look at VFS were Elisa Palomino, Inbar Spector, Lako Bukia, A la Dispostion and FAD.

VFS: What's the easiest way for people to wear this trend day-to-day?

LN: The easiest way to wear the trends is to add a strong bold colour in just one area of the face, either just the eye, lip or cheek. Keeping it strong but simple is the key for a wearable look from day to day.

VFS: What's your top tip for making sure that your make-up lasts during warmer climes?

LN: My top tip is to use a face primer.

VFS: What are your favourite Body Shop products to create this look?

LN: My Favourite Body Shop products to create versatile looks are the Shimmer Cubes which are high in pigment and easy to blend, The Lip and Cheek Tint adds a great stain to cheeks and lips which can be layered to add intensity. The lip pencil in Rouge Rose give a beautiful matte deep red colour for lips and can be used as a lipstick or base. Finally the Liquid Eyeliner is a soft pen eyeliner that can be used as a eye base and mixed with the Shimmer Cubes and eyeshadows for intense eye colour. 


Interview by Editor Cass Gowing,T: @CassGowing
Images top to bottom: Elisa Palomino, A La Disposition, Inbar Spector

APPLICATIONS OPEN| Vauxhall Fashion Scout Opens SS13 Applications

Are you ready for SS13? We are! 

Vauxhall Fashion Scout, the home of new talent, officially opens its applications for London Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week S/S 2013, as the search for the leading new talent in fashion design begins.

Applications Open:
2nd April - 30th April

 
The leading international platform for new designers and hailed a “talent goldmine” by Vogue.com, Vauxhall Fashion Scout is renowned for launching some of the most innovative names in the industry including:

Peter Pilotto / David Koma / Felder Felder / William Tempest / Iris Van Herpen /
Hermione De Paula / Leutton Postle / David Longshaw / Eudon Choi / Phoebe English.
 
 
From Monday 2nd April, designers can apply for Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s coveted awards:
 
Merit Award
Ones To Watch
 
Applicants can also apply for:

Catwalk
Presentation
Salon shows
The London Exhibition
Paris Showroom
 
There will be no Menswear day at Vauxhall Fashion Scout for September 2012.
 
Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s acclaimed Merit Award is worth £25,000 over three seasons, including a fully sponsored catwalk show and a £1000 bursary in the first season. Previous winners include William Tempest, David Koma, Hermione de Paula, Eudon Choi, Georgia Hardinge, Leutton Postle and last season’s winner Phoebe English.
 
The internationally recognised ‘Ones To Watch’ showcase is a back-to-back catwalk presentation, specifically designed to introduce some of the freshest new talents to the market.

Applications for the Paris Showroom are also open, providing the unique opportunity for both UK and international designers to present collections to international buyers and media during Paris Fashion Week. In the heart of Le Marais, Vauxhall Fashion Scout is now in its sixth season in its newly launched showroom space.
 
To be eligible to show at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, you must have:
reached the creative and business level required for an event of this stature.

Successful designers will then be hand-selected by a Panel of industry experts who will judge the designers on their creativity, quality of work and business potential.
 
Selected applicants will also be invited to benefit from the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Mentoring programme.
 

For further information please visit www.vauxhallfashionscout.com
To request an application form please contact show@vauxhallfashionscout.com