New website The Design Emporium launches

New website The Design Emporium is set to launch next month (July) offering discounts on high-end British interior design items. This is a new concept in interior design - a membership website that gives users the chance to own interior décor and lifestyle items at significantly discounted prices. Suppliers will include: Lombok, Trowbridge Gallery, JVB, Villiers Brothers, Allegra Hicks and Julian Chichester. The new site was founded by Tamaryn White, an interior designer with an background in high-end design, who aims to provide exclusive industry access and insider secrets to lifestyle design.

Sign up on the website before the launch in July to receive an extra 10% discount on the first order, on items already discounted up to 70%.

www.thedesignemporium.co.uk

New fashion site The Style Director launches this week

The Style Director is a new website, set to go live this week, aimed at helping professional women to secure wardrobe essentials with the minimum of effort. It dilutes a vast array of choices to one hero piece and four alternatives for each of eleven essential categories; T-Shirt, Shirt, Breton Top, Summer Sweater, Shift Dress, Slim Skirt, Slim Trouser, Tailored Jacket, Trench Coat, Loafer and Court Shoe.

Ines de la Fressange, Lisa Armstrong and Sarah Curran of My-wardrobe are among the ‘style icons’ who have picked wardrobe essentials for the site: from the Acne blazer to the Burberry trench. The Shop on the site has been limited to ten or 11 essential categories, to be regularly updated to suit the season. Colours are restricted to core neutrals of black, grey, navy, white, cream, nudes and pops of red.

Adding to the editorial tone, 'The Magazine' section covers regular fashion topics, while 'Great Alternatives' on each page guide readers on how to style classic pieces with contemporary items. The Style Director’s tumblr blog (below) is updated with images of modern classics with accompanying tips. To mark The Style Director’s launch at the end of June, the first 25 shoppers to spend over £50.00 will receive a copy of Ines De La Fressange’s Parisian Style.

www.thestyledirector.com
www.thestyledirector.tumblr.com

NOT JUST A LABEL celebrate three years with website relaunch

NOT JUST A LABEL, the designer platform for showcasing contemporary fashion has celebrated its three year anniversary with a redesign of its website. For press and media, the new site will offer a new designer directory, which allows access to new talents, tailored to the industry’s demands. A section showcasing new collections aims to provide a real-time avenue for finding new talent, and an improved editorial section will bring more focus to fashion journalism; concentrating on topics not covered by mainstream media. For designers, the new site will offer more exposure opportunities and an improved retail function to finance progression independently. It also provides a platform to promote and publicise independent design with increased functionality. Finally, the retail side of the site will include exclusive collaborations with London-based designers including Katie Eary, The Rodnik Band and Fannie Schiavoni.

www.notjustalabel.com

New fashion site QRATED.com to launch next month

New fashion site QRATED.com, is set to launch on 15 June aiming to become a daily destination for trend setters and fashion fans. This new site showcases exclusive fashion and accessory finds sourced from around the world. The site is the first of its kind and will showcase a ‘fashion find’ each day which will be available to purchase for 24 hours or until it is sold out.

The site will showcase both emerging talent and well-known names in fashion, and aims to develop members fashion tastes by introducing them to a new designer each day. Several designers have created bespoke pieces that will be exclusively available to QRATED members.
Director and Founder, Jash Kandhari, said, ‘There are so many incredible designers that have limited distribution in the fashion marketplace and as a result are unable to get their beautiful collections in front of consumers. QRATED provides a platform to recognise this pool of talent whilst offering members with uniquely precious pieces that are not readily available on the high street.’

The QRATED blog will offer fashion finds – past, present and future, style inspirations, fashion news and exclusive behind-the-scenes designer scoops. It will feature contributions from fashion bloggers and provide up-to-the-minute fashion updates. Free registration is possible now via the website, and anyone registering between 9 May and 6 June will receive the chance to win an iPad.

www.QRATED.com
www.facebook.com/Qrated
www.twitter.com/Qrated

Louis Vuitton Young Arts Project to launch new website next month

The Louis Vuitton Young Arts Project, a partnership between the fashion label and five of London's art institutions: Hayward Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts, South London Gallery, Tate Britain and Whitechapel Gallery, is set to launch its new website next month (June).

The Arts Project sees five panels of young people, all from different areas of London, interacting as part of a peer-led youth forum for the enjoyment and further understanding of art. The panels collectively visit exhibitions at the five partner institutions, where they are given exclusive tours and access to to the inner workings of the art world. The panels is also invited to creative sessions and site visits, led by high profile art world insiders including artists, collectors and museum directors. The new project website will be an evolving record of the project, providing an online community for debate, for showcasing work, for blogs and for reviews.

www.louisvuittonyoungartsproject.com

POSHGLAM UK set to launch this spring

Fashion website POSHGLAM has announced the upcoming launch of POSHGLAM UK this Spring. Founded by model and designer Kimberley Stone in 2005, POSHGLAM is a website dedicated to emerging luxury brands and new designers that also covers events, trends, fashion happenings around the world and local information pertaining to the different fashion markets.

The site will follow the same format as its US counterpart, while bringing readers news direct from the London fashion scene. The new launch will complement the upcoming appearances of POSHGLAM France and POSHGLAM Italy.

New publication DIRTYloves launches this month

Tomo Kembery has announced the launch of DIRTYloves, a new publication focusing on fashion, music and art providing fashion features, news, gossip and interviews. The new magazine will be presented in both online and print formats with the online version going live on the 23 March. There is set to be a launch party taking place at The Queen of Hoxton later this month (see DIARYdates).

Tomo has also announced that he will be adding an e-commerce shop linked directly to the online and print magazine, to offer readers the ability to buy featured products direct from the magazine. The shop is due to go live on 11 April, with an industry party and fashion show to follow (Date t.b.c).

my-wardrobe.com reveals redesigned website

my-wardrobe.com, an online retailer of clothing, shoes and accessories, has unveiled a new redesign for SS11. To celebrate the re-launch this month, the site will be opening its doors to a ‘Designer Room’, which will feature the SS11 collections from leading designers. The site also sees brands such as Preen Line, Mulberry RTW, Moschino Cheap & Chic, Camilla Skovgaard and Bionda Castana join collections from existing brands including, D&G, Anya Hindmarch and Tibi.

The new my-wardrobe.com will provide daily style news, magazine-style features, click-to-buy fashion films from MY-TV and street style photography with the Daily Buzz editorial bar. Experts from the fashion world and my-wardrobe.com will provide ways to shop the collections through features such as Five Ways to Wear It, 3D TV and designer interviews. Shoppers will now be able to shop from the three new rooms – the Designer Room, Shoe Lounge and Bag Boutique. Click here to visit the new website.

NET-A-PORTER`s new men`s site MR PORTER to launch tomorrow

The NET-A-PORTER group has announced that MR PORTER, its new online retail style destination for men, will launch tomorrow (22 February). The new destination will provide men with editorial content, international menswear designers such as Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Gucci, Lanvin and Bottega Veneta and specialist brands such as John Lobb, E Tautz and Valextra.

The new site will operate with three sections:

The Journal is a weekly magazine with comprehensive features: ‘My Space’ looks at the working environs of men across the globe; ‘The Knack’ provides tips for the modern gentleman; ‘Five ways to wear’ focuses on different ways to work wardrobe essentials; and ‘Style Portfolio’ will feature real men showcasing MR PORTER labels.

The Style Directory section includes: ‘Stylepedia’, which provides an A-Z on everything from Alpaca to Shearling, sock lengths to inseam; ‘Video Manuals’ features short films of key names such as Richard James and Paul Smith talking about how to achieve certain looks; ‘Style Advice’ provides answers to fashion related questions; and ‘Style Council’ provides tips from stylish, connected men.

Wardrobe Manager includes: ‘The Essentials’, an edited list of pieces to last all season; and ‘Inventory’ which reviews previous orders and allows customers reorder wardrobe staples instantly.

Visit the website here: www.mrporter.com

NET-A-PORTER is currently advertising nine positions on the DIARY Job Lot page. Click here for details.

New website Couture Society launches next week offering exclusive fashion items

The Couture Society is a new website set to go live on 28 February. This new business, based in Berlin, enables buyers to purchase exclusive items directly from top international designers.

Only those items that sell in large quantities make it into shops, while at the same time, numerous other designs are dropped. The Couture Society website offers these 'selected' designer items on an exclusive and limited basis. At www.couture-society.com users will have direct access to designers' collections and can order favourite items. If a piece attracts enough orders all over the world, then the ordering parties provide a payment and the designer starts to manufacture the items - exclusively for the Couture Society customers.

"A wide range of designers are set to be present in the starting phase, who among others, are represented at the fashion weeks in Berlin, Paris, Copenhagen, Stockholm and New York. For designers, Couture Society represents a long-desired possibility of manufacturing brand-boosting pieces that are not considered by the more conservative retailers" explains co-founder Martin Genzler. By the end of the year, the eight-strong team wants to present approximately 50 designers and labels on the website.

Cosmopolitan.co.uk unveils design overhaul and new features

Cosmopolitan.co.uk is to unveil an updated design this week. The new site, which goes live on 18 February, offers clearer navigation, new content and greater interaction. Highlights of the new look include: a new weekly ‘Fashion under £50’ franchise while Cosmopolitan’s ‘Personal Stylists’ (Clare Smith and Natasha Guiotto) will be blogging regularly about key trends and helping readers to shop for their shape; Behind the scenes videos will bring Shelly Vella’s and Sairey Stemp’s (Cosmopolitan’s Fashion Director and Fashion Editor) fashion shoots to life as well as informing readers where to buy the clothes featured; a new beauty makeover tool whereby readers can try new hairstyles and colours and share them with their friends.

Additional highlights of the new site include: a further extension of the magazine online by the introduction of key blogs by Cosmopolitan’s editorial staff. These will range from news-driven commentary on dating, sex and relationships in spin-off blogs from Cosmopolitan’s ‘Sex and the Single Girl/Not So Single Girl’ columnists, to advice on key trends and the best buys from the fashion and beauty teams. The website features fresher fonts, a brighter colour palette and imagery.

New Wedding Boutique to launch on AccessoriesDirect.com

AccessoriesDirect.com is launching a 'Wedding Boutique' for February 2011. The new section will offer both traditional and alternative designs in jewellery and accessories from Swarovski elements, vintage and retro designed items for the bride as well as LA designer head pieces and bags for the guests. A team of buyers and designers have sourced items for the new site including jewellery, handbags, belts, gloves, hats, scarves and gift ideas. Key designs featured include a vintage inspired floral jewel encrusted hair brooch, 1960’s style cream beaded drop earrings, a 1920’s style Oyster bow satin bag and an LA Spider head piece. The Wedding Boutique will be launched online on 16 February with many items will be exclusive to www.accessoriesdirect.com

Sarah Walter to launch new fashion and beauty sitestyle-passport.com

style-passport.com, launching next month, is a new online fashion and beauty boutique where visitors can buy holiday clothes and beauty products for every sort of holiday including beach, skiing, city break, safari, festivals and spa.

The new site was founded by Sarah Walter, who has previously held positions at Vogue, Bazaar and Marie Claire. In 2002 Sarah took over as Communications Director of New Look, where she created and ran campaigns with Luella, Giles Deacon with Drew Barrymore, Kelly Brook and Lily Allen. Other contacts for the site are fashion director, Sam Jones and beauty director, Emma Bannister.

style-passport.com is set to go live on 8 March, with a launch event at the end of that month. Please contact Press & Marketing Assistant, Kate O'Brien with queries.

New website for lingerie label Myriam Girard

French luxury lingerie designer Myriam Girard has recently launched her new website: www.myriamgirard.com. Myriam works exclusively in silk and French chantilly lace and creates her own silk colour pallette for her collections - this season in tones of pink, ruby, mauve and black. Key designs on offer include negligees in silk satin and crêpe de chine, glimpse bodies, teddies and jumpsuits with chantilly lace details. Myriam Girard is available in Europe, USA and Australia.

A new boutique for men - thestyleking.com - launches

thestyleking.com has recently launched. This is a new boutique concept for men in which the team presents the best looks available in one place so that users have no need to trawl through different stores, brands and websites. The website includes an 'editor's choice' and a high-end magazine feel in this one-stop destination for style and fashion needs. thestyleking.com is a collaboration between Gary Kingsnorth, who founded the site and was Fashion Director of men's style magazine FHM for twelve years, and Nick O'Donnell - previously menswear buyer at London directional store Matches and Harrods. The website also features experienced collaborators who contribute up-to-date style and news stories. Each week more grooming information and product reviews are added to ensure the readership is kept up-to-date with the latest products.

St Barths Couture launches in the UK

Jewellery brand St Barths Couture has launched in the UK with a new e-commerce site www.stbarthscouture.com. The collection includes bangles that can be worn in pairs on each arm, leather cuffs, long drop silver and gold plated necklaces. St Barths Couture also produces hand crafted necklaces made out of custom rolled leather, adorned with fresh water pearls. These pearls are sourced in all sizes, and the necklaces are designed to be wrapped around the neck with a long drop. These pieces are custom made for each client, and start at £500.00. Prices start from £25.00 and the collection is available to buy online at www.stbarthscouture.com.

Cocosa launches menswear site today

Cocosa, the exclusive online fashion retailer, launches a new menswear site today (8 November). The site will feature time-limited menswear sales, including accessories and lifestyle products, with discounts of up to 80% off the original retail price. Cocosa will also offer editorial content geared specifically towards men and will be launching with brands such as Vivienne Westwood, John Smedley and Nicole Farhi, Calvin Klein, Boss Shoes, Citizen Watches, Joes' Jeans, Peter Jensen and N Peal.

Brandalley introduces revamped website and new strategy

This month sees BrandAlley UK launch a revamped website, brand identity and the announcement of new strategy, code-named ‘The Lab’. An evolution of the ‘Little Black Dress’ project which saw BrandAlley produce 10 limited edition dresses from up and coming designers, ‘The Lab’ will include editorial and creative content, product and social networking, creating a space for open dialogue between key opinion formers, established and emerging designers and lovers of fashion.

‘The Lab’, an international initiative between BrandAlley France and BrandAlley UK, will give members the opportunity to voice their opinion on brands, new product categories and vote for up and coming designer products that will lead to the creation of further BrandAlley Bespoke collections.

BrandAlley UK launched in February 2008 and is an online brand emporium offering its members up to 80% off designer fashion, beauty and homeware through 4-5 day flash sales on www.brandalley.co.uk.

Style Trek, a new website supporting new designers, launches

Style Trek has launched its first round of domestic and international designers to the global consumer. The website offers a unique way for up and coming brands to reach a worldwide audience. Style Trek forecasts designer revenue will increase tenfold through Style Trek’s eCommerce platform which will provide regular income for the designers who will receive revenues on a monthly and not pro rata basis. As the audience is global, when someone in New York visits the homepage, they may see winter coats, while someone in Brazil will be shown bikinis. Global fashionistas and consumers will have the opportunity to read and respond to designers’ updates and fan reviews, watch collection videos and order direct from designers’ pages.

Designers elected by StyleTrekkers and selected by StyleTrek.com:

A Peace Treaty (US)
Bruce (US)
Citrine by the Stones (US)
Cornelia Webb (Sweden)
Duffy (US)
Elena Canter (Spain)
Finsk (Finland)
Grace Sun (US)
H Williams (US)
Karla Spetic (Australia)
Kat Maconie (UK)
Lelya (Indonesia)
Lie Sang Bong (Korea)
Marnie Skillings (Australia)
Nanushka (Hungary)
Of Handmade (Italy)
Stolen Girlfriends Club (New Zealand)
Teamo (Mexico)
Trosman (Argentina)
Twentysevennames (New Zealand)
Vanessa Montiel (Indonesia)
Wackerhaus (Denmark)
Yrusha (France)

AOL UK launches new style website MyDaily

AOL UK has today launched MyDaily, (www.mydaily.co.uk), its destination for successful, stylish women. The new website joins a growing portfolio of scalable content networks being created by AOL as part of its strategy to become the world’s largest content creator by offering engaging experiences for consumers and advertisers. MyDaily has a strong focus on debate and opinion, while delivering the forward-thinking woman’s ‘five-a-day’ in one place: fashion, beauty, décor, mind & body and travel. Launched to coincide with London Fashion Week, MyDaily debuts with exclusive content from Christopher Kane and Mark Fast, plus behind-the-scenes vodcasts with both designers. Other launch highlights include interviews with Manolo Blahnik and Yasmin Le Bon. “MyDaily is the definitive destination for super-stylish, quick-thinking women in the UK,” said Carla Bevan, the site’s editor-in-chief. “Every day, we’ll be delivering inspiring, entertaining and informative features for women who care as much about today’s headlines as today’s hemlines.”