Antoinette Jewellery & Accessories

I’ve written about Antoinette before as I’m a big admirer of their jewellery. I was lucky enough to have won their facebook competition this month and received this absolutely beautiful necklace and earring set.

I’m so happy with it! The jewellery is really well made and would make a fantastic gift. You can order your own Antoinette pieces from the website: http://antoinette.bigcartel.com

They will also be selling at the March Hare Craft & Vintage Market event in Aberdeen, Scotland on 30th November at Boys Brigade HQ, Crimon Place.

Amsterdam

Walking up and down the tightly knit streets of Amsterdam in autumn has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.

Louise Carnegie Giuseppina Magazine Photoshoot

So excited to share this photo shoot! The pieces are of my graduate collection, shot by Louise Carnegie, a photographer whose work I’ve been admiring for a long time. I love how she has used colour to create mood, and I love the styling and hair.

Check it out on Giuseppina Magazines tumblr page here:
http://giuseppina-magazine.tumblr.com/post/53046879234/giuseppina-magazine-webitorial-photography-by

Photography by: Louise Carnegie (http://www.louisecarnegie.co.uk/)
Makeup Artistry by: Chloe Watt
Hair Styling by: Peter Mellon
Model: Amy Chong
Shoes by: New Look.

‘Everything’// Aberdeen event.

It isn’t often I get the chance to work not only with fellow fashion designers, but also textiles, sculptors, illustrators, printers, film makers, animators and musicians. The brainchild of Aymee Charlton, ‘Everything’ is an event taking part in Aberdeen this summer on July 5th at Cowdray Hall, a unique super-collective showcase of talented creatives from the North East.

I’m helping to organise this event with Aymee and Tracey Bruce, both fellow fashion designers. We have had a fantastic response from exhibitors who are keen to come together and show their work to the public.

Buy tickets to the show here:
http://www.everythingevent.bigcartel.com/

You can also like us on facebook to stay informed about the event, as well as finding out about new, undiscovered talent in Scotland:
https://www.facebook.com/everythingaberdeen

Aymee and Tracey also both have their own websites that you can view here:
http://www.aymeecharlton.co.uk/
http://www.traceybruce.co.uk/

Instagram.

I have finally begun to use instagram! My account is still on private for the time being, but feel free to add me.

http://instagram.com/njpie#

Young Fathers + Chvrches, Aberdeen Garage.

Chvrches have perfect synth-pop melodies and vocals and are just a great band generally to have a wee boogie too when I’m getting ready for work. I first heard of them on the radio and since then they have become regular listening in my morning routine. They came to Aberdeen last night to kick off their UK tour and they were so good live, so if they are coming to your city I would definitely recommend you go and see them.

I wasn’t sure I’d like the support Young Fathers, I’m a little sceptical of a ‘rap group’ from Scotland, but actually I was proven wrong. They really hyped up the crowd and had so much passion when they played. It was really good to find a band that had such a different sound and so much energy.

http://www.young-fathers.com/

(photo credit: mike windle)

Olor.

These are some pages from a new sketchbook I’m currently keeping, inspired by the fairy tale ‘The Wild Swans’ by Hans Christian Andersen. I’m hoping to create some fashion pieces for an arts event I’m helping my friend to run in …

Winter Gardens.

This weekend, I went to the Winter Gardens in Duthie Park, Aberdeen. I visited with my boyfriend, my sister Lou and our nephew Brodie. A particular highlight was the cactus garden. Cacti are so far removed from what I am used to seeing every day. They were huge and they came in such a weird (and often humorous!) variety of shapes. Visiting such an unusual place really makes you think outside the box. I felt very inspired!

London// Scottish Designer Showroom.

Some of my readers will remember this post where I discussed three Scottish labels having their first showroom during London Fashion Week.

Well, since we were in London anyway, Aymee and I decided to see if we could find it and have a look up close of some real design talent!

The showroom was lovely and cosy and one of the designers, Iona Crawford, had a chat with us as we admired the collections.

IONA CRAWFORD

Iona Crawford had gorgeous prints, they were very geometric and contemporary. Obviously check patterns are a huge trend at the moment, but she’s made the trend her own by disjointing the check pattern and marbling it. I think this makes the print a lot more flattering and wearable, as well as making something new and unique to her label. Kaleidoscope patterns also featured, as well as this too darn gorgeous scarf which was my favourite piece – it’s my favourite owl and it looks so grumpy and cute! You guys must know by now how much I love owls. Paired with quality finishing and a really flattering cut, the collection as a whole was really desirable.

 

BEBAROQUE

 

Sparkles! Who doesn’t love Bebaroque? There were a lot of floral and baroque styles, which really complimented the materials. The collection was really girly and exciting. My friend Aymee, who is the biggest fan of Bebaroque (and gorgeous tights generally) I know, was so happy to see these designs, we both love what these girls are making.

BELINDA ROBERTSON CASHMERE

Super soft, totally luxurious, the materials in this collection are of the highest quality and you can tell this is of the utmost importance to the designer. Beautiful black jersey pieces were perfect wardrobe staples. There were some lovely geometric shapes and quirky techniques there too to keep things interesting, but the real selling point was just how gorgeous everything felt!

The showroom is open until the 25th February. Special thanks to Iona Crawford for showing us around and letting us take photos.

London// Mary Katrantzou Showcase.

My fab friend Aymee won passes to London Fashion Week to see Mary Katrantzou and she asked me to come along (love her). So we spent our Valentines day away from our lovely boyfriends back home in Scotland, while we explored London – very romantic it was too!

We were very lucky to be quite early to the showcase, as by the time we got into the venue, there was quite a queue! We were given a complimentary glass of champagne while we waited, and Aymee looked fabulous:

Our keen-bean sensibilities paid of and we ended up being in the front row. The showcase included a catwalk viewing of two previous collections and a video of Mary Katrantzou discussing her latest collection, as well as a backstage video explaining the models looks and how they were achieved. It was really exciting and very much worth the visit. I loved seeing Katrantzous designs up close, with their vivid colours and movement. We got cute goodie bags with beauty products to take home too.

Obviously smug on the front row!