The Queen honours fashion and beauty luminaries in Honours List

Several high-profile figures from the fashion and beauty industries have been recognised in the Queen’s New Year honours list. These include legendary British Fashion Designer Katharine Hamnett (pictured), whose collections have sold in over 40 countries worldwide in over 700 stores, who has been awarded a CBE. Ghost Founder Tanya Sarne, co-founders of Lush Cosmetics Margaret Joan Constantine and Mark Constantine, and Professor Wendy Dagworthy, head of the School of Fashion and Textiles, who have all been awarded OBEs for their service to the fashion and beauty industries, while MBEs have been awarded to designer Alice Temperley, shoe designer Beatrix Ong and also Barry Laden (founder of The Laden Showroom).

Winners announced for the 2010 British Fashion Awards

The 2010 British Fashion Awards took place last night at The Savoy Hotel And Theatre, London. Phoebe Philo, Creative Director of Celine, was named as the winner of the prestigious British Designer of the Year Award. Eleven other leading fashion figures were also honoured at the ceremony that was hosted by presenter Claudia Winkleman. The Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator went to Nicola Formichetti, whose style and insight has had an impact on the fashion industry internationally. He holds significant roles at high-street and high-end fashion brands, editorial roles at UK and International Titles; V Magazine, Dazed and Confused, Another and Vogue Hommes Japan, and is stylist to Lady Gaga. Nicola is currently Creative Director at Thierry Mugler in addition to consulting for a number of leading global brands including Alexander McQueen, Prada, D&G and Missoni. The British Style Award, decided entirely by public vote, was awarded to Alexa Chung. Guests at the event included Naomi Campbell, Victoria Beckham, Thandie Newton, Claudia Schiffer, Yasmin Le Bon and Alexa Chung.

Full List of this Year’s Winners:
Emerging Talent Award – Accessories: Husam El Odeh
Emerging Talent Award – Ready To Wear: Meadham Kirchhoff
Designer Brand: Mulberry
Model: Lara Stone
Accessory Designer: Nicholas Kirkwood
Menswear Designer: Patrick Grant For E. Tautz
Bfc Outstanding Achievement In Fashion Design: Lee Alexander McQueen
British Style: Alexa Chung
Isabella Blow Award For Fashion Creator: Nicola Formichetti
Designer Of The Year: Phoebe Philo For Celine
Special Recognition Award: Naomi Campbell
Digital Innovation Award: Burberry

Rag and Magpie introduces new bag collection

This week Rag and Magpie are launching a line of handbags from UK brand Cloth Magpie. The Cloth Magpie Vintage line includes an army canteen inspired bag and a day case and all bags are made from vintage textiles. The line is available from www.ragandmagpie.co.uk from this month. Pictured here are the Floral Canteeni Bag, the Green Tweed Day Case and the Blue Checked Bobble Kiss Lock Bag which are priced individually at £96.00, £126.00 and £91.00.

New British cashmere label launches

A new cashmere collection from the home of British knitwear, Hawick in Scotland, is to be launched for Autumn/Winter 2010. Clan Douglas Cashmere Studio (CDCS), a division of Hawick Knitwear combines nearly 140 years of knitwear tradition and heritage with modern textures and fashionable designs. The 30 piece collection includes intricately designed cardigans, knitted dresses with contemporary silhouettes, twin sets with a modern twist, oversized cowl-neck jumpers and signature Studio Stripe accessories; all hand-finished by craftsmen and craftswomen. The collection’s creator is designer Alex Feechan, an award-winning designer with a 1st class honours degree and an MA from the prestigious Royal College of Art, London. Furthermore, every piece in the collection has been given the name of a Scottish poem to reflect its authentic origins. Recommended retail prices start at £144.00 to £599.00. CDCS is available at selected boutiques including; Austique on the King’s Road, Bridget Salmassian in Wimbledon Village, Flints in East Sussex, Maggie Blyth in Inverness, Swans in Kent, Dorothea in Leamington Spa and 12 at Melrose in Melrose. It will also be available on www.cashmerestudio.com when the site goes live next week.

New online boutique celebrating new fashion designers launches

Young British Designers is a brand new online boutique launched to celebrate the best in the uniqueness of emerging British fashion talent. Developed by a group of four marketers with extensive experience in the worlds of fashion, design, business and sustainability, Young British Designers has a very clear focus, “We see this as a huge opportunity to help British design talent grow and prosper as well as being a great business concept” said Julian Whitehead, one of the four directors. “Young British Designers is the first retail fashion boutique with a real story to tell, it’s a great place to go for a perfectly edited collection of the best that British fashion has to offer”. While in development, the business has been monitored on-line and has also been the subject of numerous favourable blogs and tweets. Rees Bradley Hepburn has been responsible for developing the retail website and orchestrating the pre-launch publicity and launch campaign.

New British brand Cocoa Cashmere launches debut collection

The launch collection from new British brand Cocoa Cashmere offers luxurious quality complemented with contemporary design. The Autumn/Winter 2010 collection features uniquely designed and highly wearable key pieces including sweaters, cardigans, coats, loungewear and luxury travel accessories - all featuring a subtle design detail, accent or embellishment. Price points start at £35.00 for accessories, rising to £525.00 for a full-length cashmere coat. Every item will be individually wrapped, presented as a gift with a specially designed cashmere comb for the knitted items, in order to prolong longevity. Cocoa Cashmere also offers free postage, packaging and returns. The Autumn/Winter 2010 collection is available to buy online from September 2010 at www.cocoacashmere.com and from key stockists.

Jermyn Street presents The Art of Being British

On Saturday 4 September from 12noon until 5pm The Art of Being British will be presented on Jermyn Street, London SW1. The Crown Estate and the Jermyn Street Association will host a garden party celebrating English eccentricity whilst showcasing many of the specialist retailers and restaurants located in St James’s. Four men’s and women’s catwalk fashion shows will be produced accompanied by displays and demonstrations from many of the retailers in St James’s. Exhibitors will include Fosters & Son, Church’s, TM Lewin, Hawes & Curtis, Hilditch & Key and Favourbrook as well as the Dukes Hotel, Fortnum & Mason, Paxton and Whitfield and The Ritz all of whom will showcase their craftsmanship and signature services. In keeping with the Jermyn Street environment visitors will see the Rolls Royce Phantom on loan from The Ritz while musicians from the Royal Academy of Music will perform a selection of British classical, jazz and theatre tunes live on the street. There will be a picnic area, church market, puppet show, hog roast and an area dedicated to the art of storytelling. Saturday shoppers will be tempted further in store with a selection of added value incentives only available on the day by the retailers of St James’s.