Fashion Business Club

FCBers Felder Felder are hosting a pop up shop for private orders for their pre-collection on Friday 13th at 118 Westbourne Grove! Visit their pre-collection on Vogue.com.

Harold Tilman, FBC member is the owner and chairman of Jaeger.

Stuart Stockdale, Jaeger’s Design Director comments: “We wanted to shoot a campaign for Autumn/Winter 2010 that captures the iconic spirit of Jaeger London, combined with an impressive London backdrop – evoking the glamour of all the great Jaeger campaigns from the past, whilst making a strong modern statement. The shoot was inspired by a beautiful Richard Avedon shot of a woman in a helicopter flying over La Tour Eiffel, Paris. The London Eye lent itself perfectly for capturing the striking London scenescape, and the pod creates a look that is bold and directional.”

FBC members were invited to an afternoon tea and vintage shopping event by FBC member Rachael Sardelich, fashion and beauty director of the Sanderson and St. Martins Lane hotels. Sapphires’ Neely Reyes, Fiona of Morgans Hotels, FBC co-founder Courtney Blackman and Ian Warren of  Sapphires Model Management.

Emma, Rachel & Estella from Mathew Williamson (CEO Joseph Velosa is an FBC member).

Rachael Sardelich with stylist and FBC Blog editor Rebekah Roy enjoying the handbags!

Also in attendance were FBC members Anne Look, fashion stylist and Amishi Dhanuka of Amishi/Blue Lotus.

FBC Blog editor and stylist Rebekah Roy will host a three-hour master class at Kensington Palace on Wednesday, the 11th of August, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm.

As the fashion editor of Fashion.Music.Style magazine, and catwalk stylist, Rebekah is one of the most sought-after stylists for fashion advice in London. Her extensive clientele list includes William Tempest, Alice Palmer, Kate Nash, Bishi, Sarah Brightman and Billy Idol. Rebekah writes for Drapers online and has her own popular blog called Stylist Stuff.

Rebekah’s creative session at the palace will focus on contemporary fashion and she will discuss her work, as well as showcase several styled looks. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

The cost of the class is £20 (£18 for Historic Royal Palaces’ members), which includes refreshments and entry to Kensington Palace.

For details: education.info@hrp.org.uk

An interview with FBC member Jennifer Aston and partner at Aston+Hayes Image Consultancy.

How did you come to run your own Image Consultancy & Image Training Centre?

I have been running Aston+Hayes Image Consultancy with my husband and business partner Glyn Hayes since 1990 and we have had an amazing ten years. Like most independent personal stylists, I started out with individual consultations and shopping trips for private clients, which I still do from time to time. Some years ago I discovered an all-consuming passion for two things: working with groups, and passing on new skills to others, so I’ve morphed into an expert trainer and presenter developing and running sessions on image-related subjects for all kinds of companies.  Aston+Hayes has also been instrumental in helping countless others launch their own businesses as Personal Stylists or Image Consultants with our training courses. This year we launched the new 10-day Fashion, Image and Styling Course for Women which brings together Fashion Styling approaches and Image Consultancy principals, a course that so far is unique in the UK. It is a new phase and it’s very exciting.

What did you do before?

Aston+Hayes was a fashion advertising agency before it changed direction to image consulting. Advertising clients included Next, Bally, Aquascutum, Harrods, Paul Costelloe and many others. My official role was Account Director, but I also managed to manoeuvre myself into a few call sheets as assistant stylist. Before Aston + Hayes I worked for the BBC as marketing manager.

What is a typical day like for you as managing director of an Image Consultancy?

There really isn’t a typical day, which is one of the things I love about my job. If it’s a ‘client day’, I could be consulting and teaching someone how to select the best clothes for their taste, figure, colouring, lifestyle, budget, and on how to express themselves. Alternatively, I could be with a group of executives giving a presentation or running an interactive workshop on personal branding and professional impact. (Whether they are men or women makes a big difference too.) If we’re running a training course for new Personal Stylists I could be teaching or helping everything run smoothly for the training team and students. If I have a day away from clients or students, then I’ll be in my office or business club doing everything and anything – meeting, planning, sourcing, writing, admin, phone calls etc etc and lots of cups of tea with my assistant Jocasta.

How does being part of FBC have a positive affect on your business?

The Personal Styling industry is growing rapidly, and the best Personal Stylists will have both image consultancy training and a great awareness of the business of fashion. Being part of FBC helps me build bridges between the world of image consulting and that of fashion.

Fresh off of the inspirational words of FBC guest interviewee, Edward Enninful at  Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™, FBC members Bunty Stokes, UK sales manager of Vente-Privee, Courtney Blackman, FBC co-founder & co-chairman, Neely Reyes, managing partner of Sapphires Model Managment, Rebekeh Roy, fashion stylist & FBC Blog Editor, Sam Fearn, MD of Fearnhurst PR & founder of Fashion Press Week, Frances Card, merchandise manager, Matches, Mark Bage, creative director of Coggles, Victoria Todd, editor of Fashion Monitor and myself all made our way to One Marlyebone to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Drapers Awards.

FBC members Anne Look, Courtney Blackman, Neely Reyes & Rebekah Roy with Joseph Wan

We were greeted in style by waiters and waitresses wearing pink ties and pink and white fedoras. Swirling pink lights ran up and down the surrounding walls and stained glass windows below high-arched ceilings made it the perfect venue to honour one of Britain’s best-loved fashion industry events.

Where there is business, there is FBC, and we mingled and chatted with industry giants. FBC member Bunty Stokes gave a speech on behalf of Vente-Privee, who sponsored the evening, and Neely Reyes got some helpful business tips from Harvey Nichols CEO, Joseph Wan.

The deadline for entries for the Drapers Awards is August 5th. Details can be found on the Drapers website, and the winners will be announced at a ceremony on November 17th.

FBC member Maria Lau is hosting an exclusive online summer sale with 50% off RRP on Maria Lau Jewellery. The sale will include pieces from Spring/ Summer ‘09 ‘A Skin Less Ordinary’ and ‘Dark Tales’ from Autumn/Winter ‘09-10 as well as one-off limited edition pieces handmade by Maria Lau.

What is your fashion background?
I gained my Masters degree from the Royal College of Art in 2003, in Mixed Media Textiles, and I’ve always been interested in creating unconventional fashion accessories using unusual materials or shapes inspired by the body. I have worked with Hussein Chalayan, Michiko Koshino, DKNY London, as well as creating bespoke jewellery for clientele in Harrods and Selfridges. I love the drama of fashion, and have been able to collaborate with other independent fashion designers, creating one-off pieces for the catwalk.
As my work is cross-boundary between jewellery and fashion, my photoshoots have been a great medium for me to explore the drama within my fantasy worlds and heroines in order to create a universe that upholds jewellery as a fashion statement in its own right. My jewellery label ‘Maria Lau’ sells in select fashion jewellery retailers Kabiri and Johnny Rocket, London which showcase my work to the fashion discerning consumer.

How would you describe your style of Jewellery?
Maria Lau jewellery is elegant, luxurious jewellery with a twist. There are bold statement pieces as well as more simple demure designs in each collection. Hosiery, believe it or not, has been a dominant feature in my work; something so ordinary in everyday life that I manipulate into something so desirable. These  materials are handcrafted and entwined with semi-precious stones and minerals, hair-like fringing – all juxtaposed with a casual-style of wear such as silver-plated keyring enclosures, necklaces which slip over the head and adjustable soft straps so the wearer can adapt the jewellery to suit their look. I love to retain some playfulness and surprise in my collections, so in the ‘Magne’ ranges you can play with magnetic hematine beads to ’stick-and-stack’ necklaces and bracelets. I would say my customer likes to make discoveries and not follow trends!

How does being part of FBC have a positive affect on your business?
Being part of FBC has exposed me to another fashion dimension in London. FBC sees all kinds of professionals working in the fashion industry come together and mingle, whilst providing members with a knowledgeable platform on which they can promote their business. The range of speakers have been fantastic and  for up- and- coming designers like myself being able to listen to and speak with these fashion personalities is a great learning opportunity. I am sure that  the high calibre of speakers helps to create a well-established roster of members ensuring that at FBC one is always surrounded by like minded and inspiring people.

For more information visit www.marialau.co.uk

Never let it be said that FBC isn’t ultra-glam – as FBC members walked into Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ for the Edward Enninful meeting, they were confronted by a large group of paparazzi!  We later learned that they were there to snap a certain supermodel tipped to be in the audience…

Meeting supermodels was certainly not on the agenda.  We were without question in attendance to hear the talented Edward Enninful take his turn in the FBC hot seat.

Michael Herz & Edward Enninful

FBC’s very own Magnús Magnússon for the afternoon was longtime Fashion Business Club member and creative director of womenswear at Bally, Michael Herz, who conducted the interview as the duo talked about Edward’s road to international success.

FBC co-founders Alison Whelan & Courtney Blackman with Edward Enninful & Michael Herz

Starting out from humble beginnings in west London, Edward has gone from a working as a teenage model for Pepe Jeans (!), to one of the world’s most in demand stylists. He’s styled countless commercials and catwalk shows, editorials with Italian, British and American Vogue and not to mention – of course – his role as the longest ever creative director of iconic fashion magazine i-D.

The path wasn’t easy for Edward.  His father had plans for his son to study law, so the news that Edward had decided to become a stylist wasn’t exactly met with open arms.  Luckily for Edward though, fortune came in the form of Terry Jones of i-D fame, who saw the spark of creative brilliance in the young 18-year-old and handed him the title of fashion editor at the magazine.  For the young lad from Ladbroke Grove it was certainly a culture shock; one minute he was styling shoots with his friends for fun and the next minute he found himself on a train bound for Paris to write the new season collection reports!

Success, of course, has its downside and Edward does confess that being away from home so many months a year and living in hotels can get him down, not to mention that being a stylist can be quite a lonely job.  Then again, he balances these downsides with the enviable fact that through his work he can “realise whatever’s on his mind,” something very few people in the world have the creative freedom to do.  For Edward, who has now “made it” in every sense, he is in the enviable position of being able to work exclusively with clients who inspire him, not to mention his soft spot for styling shows. “I always have a lot of fun at shows!”

For all budding stylists out there – and pretty much anyone in the creative industries for that matter -  hoping to one day attain the same success, Edward’s advice is simply, “Don’t give up.  It may take you ten years to make any money…but if you’re only in it to make money then you’re in the wrong career.”  As for developing one’s talents the answer is to, “Keep testing, testing, testing!  The more you style the better you get!”

Surprisingly for a man who has made his living styling pages of magazines, Edward is also a big advocate of the Internet.  “Everybody can be a star now,” he enthused quoting Andy Warhol. “The Internet allows more and more people to express their individuality.”  When quizzed whether or not he was happy about the Internet’s potential to replace magazines, he answered that, “everything that moves fashion on is great.” Wise words indeed!

Edward Enninful with FBC member and founder of Style News, Charlene Campbell

Edward has built a reputation for himself across the world as graceful and softly spoken with the ability to bring an air of elegance to anything he touches.  Listening to him speak it, becomes clear that his reputation is well deserved as he fielded questions from Michael and the audience.  He wasn’t even phased when FBC co-founder Alison Whelan, tongue firmly in cheek, asked him what his day rate was! “Ask my agent,” was his reply!

FBC board member Daisy de Villeneuve with stylist and fashion writer Marian Kihogo

So what of the man who has travelled across continents for photo shoots and worked in all of the world’s fashion capitals?  Isn’t he ever tempted to throw in the towel and leave our fair, albeit overcast, isle for the bright lights of the USA or the rolling sun drenched fields of Italy?  “London will always be home,” he confessed, “the things we learn about fashion in London can’t be learnt anywhere else, fashion is a real form of self-expression here.” Scanning a room full of FBC members, I’m inclined to say I agree!

Photos by: Venetia van Hoorn Alkema

FBC’s guest photographer Venetia van Hoorn Alkema snapped up in her studio

The latest addition to FBC’s long list of creative contributors is photographer Venetia van Hoorn Alkema. Venetia received her first photography tastings when her father gave her a Pentax for her 15th birthday. She honed her style in Paris at the Photographic Institute and went on to pursue a career in fashion photography. A background in Art History means she still loves shooting fine art and had her first solo exhibition in May of this year featuring images from this genre. Venetia also turns her hand to fashion styling, working on everything from music videos to car advertisements.

Venetia will be FBC’s guest photographer for the upcoming FBC event when globally renowned stylist and creative director of i-D Magazine, Edward Enninful will be interviewed by FBC member and creative director of Bally, Michael Herz.

“I am looking forward to shooting my first FBC event. FBC is quite possibly London’s most important fashion business platform. I admire and support FBC’s ethos of togetherness, and as a young fashion photographer, I am honoured that my talent has been both endorsed and recognised by Courtney and Alison, co-founders of FBC.”

There has been much talk amongst my fashion industry clients about last month’s Budget. Although the majority of people I spoke to expected this VAT increase the 20% rise will undoubtedly hinder the high street.  However, retailers are not as panicked because they have inherited a system to deal with this from the previous recession. The government has also offered respite  by delaying its implementation until January 2011.

People are also feeling positive on the 1% increase in employers’ NI being offset by the increase in the threshold (up by £21 per week from April 2011), and on the reduction in corporation tax rates kicking off in April 2011. Further, the Capital Gains Tax increase is not as high as was generally expected (increase to 28% for higher rate payers), whilst gains qualifying for entrepreneurs’ relief continue to be taxed at 10% with the lifetime limit being increased from £2m to £5m.

Although there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel people and businesses remain cautious of the hard times ahead.  These challenging years have repositioned customer services to the forefront. And, fashion has always placed the customer at the heart of any of its business ventures. As a business woman I would suggest we make an example of the recent Armani collection at Couture Fashion Week- it personifies the key ingredients of a successful business ‘fluidity and flexibility’ during these tough times.

Natasha Frangos FBC member  is a partner at chartered accountant at Haysmacintyre.