Be Annabell*: September 2011

Monday

H&M's Autumn 2011 Conscious collection

After the success of their first Conscious Collection last spring H&M have unveiled their Autumn 2011 offering of eco-friendly fashion.

Romantic Swedish Folklore is the influence for H&M's Conscious Collection this season proving that sustainability and style can go hand in hand. Each piece of the collection is made from eco-friendly materials including organic cotton and linen, recycled wool and hemp, showing that it's possible to create gorgeous style lead pieces using sustainable fabrics.

This ladylike collection includes lace detailing, vintage floral prints, folk-like embroidery and embellishment. Structured smock dresses and wool coats are teamed with pretty lace blouses and fitted cardigans.

My favourite pieces are the floral shoes and bag, they're the perfect accessories to compliment a 40's inspired outfit this Autumn and I love the floral dress, it has a 1960's 'Mad Men' feel to it. I always expect organic or eco friendly collections to be quite plain and boring but H&M have proven that sustainable fashion can be on trend and stylish, I'll definitely be heading down to my local store to try on a few bits!

The Conscious Collection hits H&M stores and online on Thursday 6th October.

H&M A/W 2011 Conscious Collection

What do you think of the collection? Is eco friendly fashion important to you?

Sunday

Boux Avenue Opens 7th Store

Gorgeous lingerie brand Boux Avenue is making it's mark on the North East with the opening of the brand's 7th store at the Metrocentre, Newcastle.

Setting foot in the store its quite obvious that Boux Avenue stands out amongst it's competition, walking in through grand doors (that would fit nicely onto a stately home) you get the first sense of opulence and luxury that the stores offer. With chic black and white decor, mother of pearl light fittings and immaculate visual merchandising the store evokes a Parisian apartment feel with the gorgeous scent of white chiffon and pink taffeta adding to the sumptuous experience. Although the stores have a high end feel to them the price tags certainly don't! Bras start from £12 with the most expensive bra in store being a silk number for £28.

Boux Avenue - Metrocentre Newcastle

Shopping for your size is made easy with each cup size being displayed in a separate drawer, which means the amount of product out on display is kept to a minimum making the store feel really tidy and easy to navigate.

Boux Avenue - Metrocentre Newcastle

Promotions and images are digitally displayed on large and small screens around the store and I love how your purchases are shown on a small screen in front of you at the till, every element of customer service has been thoroughly thought about. One of my favourite features in the store are the changing rooms, which have three different light switches to emulate day, dusk and night and a concierge service so you can call for help from one of the lovely Boux girls if needed.

Boux Avenue - Metrocentre Newcastle

I made a couple of impulse purchases in store including the gorgeous Marlena bra and high waist briefs - until the end of October, when you buy any bra or babydoll you get the matching briefs for free!!

Boux Avenue - Marlena Bra £22 and High Waist Briefs £12

Boux Avenue - Chloe Longline Bra £24

Other Boux Avenue stores are located at:

Trafford Centre - Manchester

St David's Centre - Cardiff

Bluewater - Kent

Lakeside - Essex

Buchanan Galleries - Glasgow

Meadowhall - Sheffield

and online at www.bouxavenue.com

B x

Monday

Win 2 Tickets to London Fashion Weekend!! - WINNER

It's been really hard to choose a winner for the 2 tickets to London Fashion Weekend but I've finally come to a decision.

And the winner is.....

*drum roll please...*

Boo and Me

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Saturday

Basso & Brooke SS12

Basso & Brooke showed off their new SS12 collection yesterday at the Old Sorting Office on New Oxford Street. Their latest collection bears many of the design duo's trademark features - sharp technique, rich colour, elegant tailoring and bold prints all roll into one to create a classic, wearable collection. A brand defined by print, Basso & Brook's SS12 collection features tropical graphics mixed with hot house florals and hard-edge foliage in every colour imaginable. Inspiration for the prints came from Basso's expedition, by car from London to Beijing, driving for weeks across various landscapes. Although the prints are busy they're far from garish or over the top and are made elegant by the use of soft fabrics and clever design. I love how the prints evolve from one garment to the next!

Basso & Brooke SS12 Collection

Amazing lighting at the Basso & Brooke SS12 Collection

B x

PPQ Team With Bebaroque For A 90's Inspired SS12 Collection

Celebrating their 10th anniversary at London Fashion Week PPQ looked to the brand's 90's roots for inspiration for their SS12 collection which is a fusion of chic pastels, tight denim and bold prints which feature monograms of the brand's initials.

For Spring 2012 PPQ design duo Amy Molyneaux and Percy Parker have collaborated with hosiery brand Bebaroque to created a capsule collection of hosiery and body suits to sit alongside the collection. Knee high socks, ankle socks, bodies and tights showcase Bebaroques signature embellishment and prints.

PPQ SS12 Collection

For the PPQ capsule collection Bebaroque cites influences from vintage imagery, PPQ branded lettering and signature Bebaroque prints. All of which have been carefully blended to create a unique range which combines directional colour ways with subtle hints of animal prints and embellishment.

Bebaroque, who recently won Scottish Accessory Designer of the Year at the Scottish Fashion Awards, is definitely a brand to keep an eye on!

What do you think of the PPQ/Bebaroque collaboration??

B x

Jason Wu Spring 2012 Collection

Fashion Week has officially kicked off in NY and one of the first designers to unveil their new collection was Jason Wu.

I've already fallen in love with Wu's S/S12 collection. A range of Red-Carpet worthy styles in a mixture of soft printed chiffons and embellished satins shimmied down the catwalk in ballerina pink, electric blue and lime green, perfect colours for the summer season. His designs seem to have followed on from a lot of the popular trends we're seeing for A/W, with stunning jewelled peter pan collars, Peplum skirts and pussy bow necklines this collection is sure to be a favourite of the Red-Carpet elite. I love the thigh skimming shorts and drop back skirts and dresses!

Jason Wu S/S12 Ready To wear Collection

What do you think of Jason Wu's new collection?

B x

Images from Style.com