J.Crew And Sophia Webster Launch Footwear Collaboration

In a fabulous Brit-Americana fashion mash-up, British shoe designer Sophia Webster has created a capsule collection for American brand J.Crew, which will be launched at J.Crew’s Spring Summer 2014 Fashion Show on 10 September.

Sophia Webster, who is loved by fashionistas for her quirky designs, has reworked her most popular silhouettes to place emphasis on the colour and patterns found in J.Crew’s new women’s collection.
The results are a glorious collaboration of spring florals, vibrant tafettas and neons, with plenty of Sophia’s trademark tassels and embroidery to boot.

Speaking about the collection, Sophia said, "I was delighted when Jenna [Lyons, J.Crew’s President and Executive Creative Director] approached me to design a collection for J.Crew. The brand has a real sense of fun and colour that I love and I think that my designs compliment their clothes well.”
We can look forward to 30 shoes from the runway collection, which will be available at select J.Crew stores and online in 2014. NL

Italian For The Evening

Last night, Vogue Italia‘s Franca Sozzani staged an exhibit at the Italian Trade Commission celebrating—you guessed it—Italian fashion. The free-thinking editor mixed old and new, asking eight up-and-coming directors to present their fashion film spin on some of Italy’s biggest names, from Prada and Giorgio Armani to Missoni and Versace. “We chose the brands, they chose the clothes,” Sozzani said at yesterday’s exhibit-turned-party, wearing a bold print dress by emerging Italian talent Stella Jean.

“Everybody is Italian tonight!” exclaimed Calvin Klein’s Italo Zucchelli. True enough, the party had the likes of Joy Bryant, Amanda Hearst, and Johan Lindeberg showing off their Italian side—if only for the night. DJ Mia Moretti held out her Ferragamo clutch and Fendi shoes like an badge of honor.

Guests clamored inside the space, where digital screens broadcast each of the films. Headphones allowed them to listen in. Ann Dexter-Jones pointed to Carlo Lavagna’s An Italian Adventure, which had its Dolce & Gabbana heroine swimming in the Mediterranean. “I want to be in Sicily in that one,” she said.

British Fashion Council to launch pop-up shop at London Fashion Week

Keen to showcase the capital’s commercial clout, the British Fashion Council today announced that it will be opening a pop-up shop to coincide with London Fashion Week, stocked with capsule collections from the city’s contemporary brands.

The Shop, with a logo designed by artist Sir Peter Blake and interiors by set designer Robert Storey, will include creations by Bella Freud, shoe designer Sophie Webster, Markus Lupfer and jeweler Dominic Jones, and will also provide a space for flash sales, musical performances, readings, interviews and guest appearances.

Set across two rooms in the West Wing of the ground floor of Somerset House, The Shop opens on September Friday 13th and closes on 22nd and will only be open to Fashion Week ticket holders from 19th.

Follow @LondonFashionWk #LFW #TheShop to find out what’s in store.