J.Crew and Tabitha Simmons Collaborate for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Collection

May 24, 2013

This week J.Crew arrived in London. There was a wonderful ‘Cocktails and Cashmere’ event on Wednesday evening, to celebrate their pop-up store in King’s Cross, and yesterday the uber-cool American brand hosted a lunch for UK blogger’s and presented their Autumn/Winter 2013 collection to press. So you might expect me to be all J.Crew-ed out, but I’m not. I could happily talk about J.Crew all day if I was given the chance, and my latest obsession is the Tabitha Simmons CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund collection.

Tabith Simmons for J.Crew

Tabitha Simmons was a runner-up at this year’s CFDA awards, and has created a limited-edition collection for J.Crew. (The Elder Statesmen and Jennifer Meyer have also collaborated with the brand as part of the CFDA collection). I’m a big fan of Tabitha’s footwear designs, so naturally I’ve gone ga-ga for the entire Tabitha Simmons for J.Crew collection.

Tabitha Simmons for J.Crew

The collection is currently available to pre-order online at JCrew.com, so act fast if you want a piece of the action! My favourite designs are the floral Mary Janes [above]. They’re the perfect summer shoe!

Sadly J.Crew’s London pop-up shop is only open today and tomorrow (find the address HERE), but the Regent Street flagship store will be opening its doors in a few months’ time. Obviously I’ll keep you updated on the launch date…

Designing the Perfect Pair of Glittery Heels at Dessine-moi un soulier

April 25, 2013

Dessine-moi un soulier

Have you ever spent an afternoon traipsing around the high street in search of a specific pair shoes you’ve dreamt up in your imagination, only to discover they don’t appear to be a reality? If so I think I’ve found the solution. Parisian website Dessine-moi un soulier (meaning ‘draw me a shoe’) offers a brilliant do-it-yourself design service. Simply log on, select the style of shoe you wish to create – they offer everything from ankle boots to brogues – and get customising. You can adjust everything from heel hight to the colour of the shoe laces, and they have a wide selection of fabrics and finishes.

Just over a month ago Dessine-moi un soulier got in touch to ask whether I’d be interested in designing my own pair of shoes, and unsurprisingly I’d said yes immediately. It took me a week to come up with a style I was happy with, as there were so many options to try out. Eventually I went for classic round-toe pump with a chunky, 4-inch heel. I liked the fact they’d be easy to walk in, and decided to add glittery heels and matching cap-toes so they didn’t look too practical.

Dessine-moi un soulier Coco's Tea Party
My shoe design: round-toe pumps with a chunky, 4-inch heel in navy leather with silver glitter heels and toe-caps

The website is really easy to navigate (once you turn the English translation on) and no detail is ignored. Dessine-moi un soulier even offers half-sizes, which is a bit of a luxury these days. My only quibble would be that the colour chart is a little difficult to follow on a screen; so I played it safe with a navy blue, not knowing how some of the bolder materials would look in reality. But I suppose that’s the only disadvantage to having this technology available online.

Anyway, once I was happy with my design I sent the details off to Dessine-moi un soulier HQ and waited 4 weeks, while my shoes were handmade in France. When the package arrived at my door I was thrilled with the finished result – they’re so comfortable (that’s half sizes for you), and the glitter finish is really beautiful. Take a look…

Dessine-moi un soulier glitter shoes
The Dessine-moi un soulier shoes in all their glittery glory!

I’m now hoping it will be a rain-free weekend, so I can wear my glittery heels to The Vogue Festival! A huge thank you goes out to the Dessine-moi un soulier team for giving the chance to experience your fabulous design service. You can create your own fantasy pair of shoes HERE. Prices range depending on design, but are around the £230 mark. And until June 25th 2013 Coco’s Tea Party readers can get 15% off any Dessine-moi un soulier style using the code “COCO”.

Posted by Filed Under: Accessories, Fashion, Shoes, Shopping

First Look: Charlotte Olympia’s Autumn/Winter 2013 Fairytale Collection

April 11, 2013

Charlotte Olympia Fall 2013 Frog Shoe

Yesterday I was treated to a preview of Charlotte Olympia’s Autumn/Winter 2013 collection, and all I can say is you are going to go crazy for these designs! Charlotte took inspiration from “classic children’s fables”, referencing a number of fairytales, from Sleeping Beauty to Little Red Riding Hood. Highlights include the Rapunzel wedge heels (with braided T-bar straps to represent her golden hair), the “kiss me quick” frog embellished slippers, and the embossed “book spine” platform heels. Here’s a closer look at collection every footwear fanatic will be coveting, come September…

Charlotte Olympia AW13 Wedge
Charlotte Olympia Fall 2013 Book Heels
Charlotte Olympia Autumn 2013 Sleeping Beauty
Charlotte Olympia Fall 2013 Red Riding Hood

Fans of Charlotte Olympia’s adorable Kitty flats will also be excited to learn that the Kitty boot will be hitting stores from Autumn. The flat Chelsea boots feature an embroidered cat face and a trompe l’oeil tail which wraps around the back of the heel. Start saving now so you’re ready to snap them up as soon as they hit stores in a couple of months’ time!

Do you like the look of Charlotte Olympia’s AW13 collection? Shop the current collection at Net-A-Porter and Matches.

All images Coco’s Tea Party

5 of the Best Pointed Toe Flats {Inspired by Marc Jacobs}

March 19, 2013

There’s a relaxed mood in fashion, this season, and it’s most evident below the ankle. The ‘It’ shoe of the season isn’t a strappy, platform heel or a hard-to-balance-in avant-garde wedge. It’s a walkable, wearable flat. Models at Marc Jacobs’ Spring/Summer 2013 show strode down the runway in the pointiest pumps imaginable, and the look didn’t stop there. At 3.1 Phillip Lim buckled, grunge-y sandals were streamlined with sharp points, and on the high street pointed toe flats are popping up in a wide variety of colour-ways. Grab a statement pair now – especially if it’s from the selection below…

pointed toe flats spring 2013
Shop The Edit: 1. See through detail flats from Dune // 2. Lemon yellow ballerinas by Diane von Furstenberg // 3. Strappy buckle flats from Topshop // 4. Metallic Mary Jane heels from ASOS // 5. Striped calf hair flats by Marc Jacobs

The striped Marc Jacobs flats are my absolute favourites, but I fear anyone with feet larger than a UK size 4 would look like they’re wearing skis. That dramatic point definitely adds an extra two or three inches to your toes.

DVF’s yellow pumps are perhaps the most wearable, as the softer point isn’t too toe-pinching, and they’ll look fabulous with baggy boyfriend jeans rolled up at the ankle. I’d also pair the tomboyish Topshop flats with cropped denim – and in the height of summer I’d add a ditsy floral print to the mix. Do you like this look? Which pair of flats is your favourite?

Runway images from style.com

Victoria Beckham Loves Pointed-Toe Pumps. Here Are Three Pairs She Should Add to Her Collection

February 21, 2013

Last week Victoria Beckham was back in London for the International Woolmark Prize Final, which she judged alongside Donatella Versace, Natalie Massenet, Diane von Furstenberg and Franca Sozzani. To mark the occasion Victoria wore a design from her Autumn/Winter 2013 collection and a pair of pointed-toe Manolo Blahnik pumps. It was an incredibly chic look, and I’ve been thinking about the black and purple ankle-strap heels ever since. Victoria loves a classic, pointed-toe pump, and I’ve tracked down three more statement styles which would look great in her collection…

victoria beckham high heels
Victoria Beckham should own the… 1. Pour La Victoire’s strappy salmon pink pumps // 2. Nicholas Kirkwood’s metallic blue suede and leather heels // 3. Isa Tapia’s statement kitten heels

I’ve chosen three eye-catching designs, which would look great paired with Victoria’s favourite black dresses. The Isa Tapia pumps might even be special enough to tempt VB into kitten heels – although I wouldn’t bet on it!

Do you also love a pointed-toe pump? Which of the above styles are your favourites? Let me know…

Image Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Burberry’s Spring/Summer 2013 Accessories {A Closer Look}

February 8, 2013

Burberry Spring Summer 2013 Accessories heels

By now we’re all familiar with the Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2013 collection. You can spot the chic satin bustier trench coats a mile off, and I’m pretty sure the futuristic metallic bomber jackets are visible from space, but are you as well acquainted with Burberry’s SS13 accessories? If you’re not quite sure what a “Blaze” is then the answer is no, and I’m here to help.

Burberry’s SS13 runway accessories followed on from the collection themes, so there’s lots of bold jewel tones, metallic leather and luxurious duchess satin. The shoes are absolutely amazing (especially the ankle-cuff heeled wedges) but the “Blaze” handbag collection is likely to get the most editorial action. The “Blaze” comes in three styles – a perspex clutch finished with a python trim and padlock, a metallic leather bowling bag and a double duchess satin bowling bag…

Burberry Spring Summer 2013 Accessories clutch bag
Burberry Spring Summer 2013 Accessories Blaze handbag
Burberry Spring Summer 2013 Accessories

The Burberry Prorsum Spring 2013 accessories collection is now available to buy in store and online at burberry.com and Net-A-Porter. I wonder if Romeo Beckham plans to get VB one of the metallic python handbags for her 39th birthday, on April 17th. He probably gets an employee’s discount, after all…

Image courtesy of Burberry
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