Self-confessed ‘bag lady’ Anya Hindmarch has won the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year Award 2012, beating off stiff competition with her revolutionary “I’m not a plastic bag” campaign. The award, which was created in 1972 as a tribute … Continue reading
We are so happy to announce that we have a new member of the Bernard family! Our buyer Nikki gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl last night and we’re all over the moon.
Congratulations!
We have been featured in Vogue’s top 100 shops outside London! At number 59, Vogue recommends us for our strong seasonal edits and unparalleled experience in the retail business for nearly over four decades.
Check out the feature here!
It’s all been kicking off across the pond – from French editors slapping PR girls to new designers making a bang with their debut collections to the fashion elite getting a first look at Google’s augmented reality glasses – and there’s still two more days to go!
Turns out that designers are more than keen to jump at any technologically driven initiative to come their way. We’ve seen the likes of Mary Katrantzou and Christopher Kane pair up with Vodafone to bring a more interactive Fashion Week experience to the public and now Diane von Furstenberg (who’s actually no stranger to a tech tie-in) partners up with Google to bring us the most cutting edge piece of wearable technology at her show a couple of days ago. ’Glass’ is the internet giant’s latest venture – an augmented reality head-mounted display. It’s all very futuristic, like something out of Minority Report. The glasses are small and tidy and they consist of a built in camera that allows whoever is wearing them to film what they see while simultaneously interacting with the web, much like you would do on a smart phone.
The whole DvF team, including von Frustenberg herself, has been wearing Glass for the past week to create an insightful documentary of the creative process behind the SS13 collection, which will aptly be named ‘DvF Trough Glass’ and will be showcased on Thursday on the label’s Google+ page and on Google’s YouTube channel. The Telegraph quoted her saying, ”I am so excited to introduce Glass to the fashion world and use this revolutionary technology to give everyone a unique perspective into fashion.” Fascinating stuff, isn’t it? We’re very much looking forward to seeing the final product. And we wonder how long it’ll be till we’re all sporting this nifty eyewear…Oh yes, there’s about a two-year waiting list.
In the meantime, here’s some AW12 DvF pieces that we love.
Back in February, McQ put on one of the best shows during London Fashion week for AW12. A theatrical performance was delivered with a grand finale set in a winter woodland. It was the brand’s first ever show and the result was a magical encounter between the label’s rich past and exciting future. An experience that broke barriers and succeeded expectations. On the one hand, it was the kind of show that is usually more akin to one found in Paris Fashion Week; and on the other, a diffusion line isn’t really supposed to be given such importance.
It was evident that Alexander McQueen Creative Director Sarah Burton has grandiose plans for the line. It was launched as a denim license in 2006 but had difficulty becoming progressive. Now, however, the direction that McQ seems to be embarking on is one headed towards stardom, away from the shadows to be a standalone brand, a strong link on the Alexander McQueen chain. Burton has taken the line under her reign and is now being produced in-house. The ideas behind this reinvigoration are fairly simple – just because a diffusion line is a lower price point, it doesn’t mean that the clothes will be any less beautiful; accessibility does not mean that the brand should forgo the underlying McQueen aesthetic and should be just as strong as mainline.
Since the first McQ drop instore, it’s obvious that the brands renaissance makes for a striking result. Beautiful intarsia knit and overblown A line dresses, tartan and rich wool detailing, well tailored leather skirts, trousers and jackets, alongside a range of military inspired pieces and natured inspired prints – all this makes for a memorable collection which you’re able to differentiate from mainline but still keeps so close to the quintessential McQueen design. It’s a huge success and we love it. It’s fun, young and wearable.
A couple of weeks ago, the girls from McQ came down to Esher to enlighten us with new information about the brand and they told us all about their favourite pieces, advice on how to style the key pieces in the collection and all sorts of fun McQ-related things. And just FYI, the first flagship store is due to open soon offering four floors of women and men’s wear in a gorgeous Edwardian house. Watch this space for news on this! We’re looking forward to it!
Valentino has always had fashion in his heart and in his mind. The Roman designer’s approach to fashion is incomparable to anyone else’s. It is soft and sensuous, loaded with feminine detail. The Valentino woman is fresh and virginal. He is able to create this magic that most designers just can’t turn out. His determination to keep couture at the forefront makes him a one of a kind visionary in a world of fashion where ready-to-wear is the driving force behind any given collection’s aesthetic. So it comes as no surprise that Somerset House will be setting up an exhibition to celebrate the life and work of Valentino, showcasing 130 haute couture pieces worn by the likes of Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Grace Kelly.
The exhibition is set to give visitors an unprecedented intimate look into the master’s life with exciting installations divided into three sections. The first will give you an insight into his world through a collection of photographs from his personal archive, which then unfolds into a fashion show in which the visitors walk the catwalk amidst the hundreds of couture designs. The last section shows the process of making haute couture – the craft and skill and painstaking hours behind such creations as the wedding dress of Princess Marie Chantal of Greece. This will certainly be a journey you won’t forget.
There will also be a series of talks, special screenings and talks to complement the exhibition, while a special Virtual Museum . This is definitely one not to miss! It runs from 29 November, 2012 to 3 March, 2013. Tickets are £12.50/£9 concessions.
German chancelor Angela Merkel holds the top spot in Forbes Magazine’s World’s 100 Most Powerful Women this year, while stylish first lady Michelle Obama, philanthropist Melinda Gates, and executive editor of the New York Times Jill Abramson (who is the first woman to hold the position) made it to the top 10. The list is donned with the likes of Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Shakira. Oprah came in at number 11 whilst Queen Elizabeth sits at number 26 as the oldest entry.
It’s so wonderful to see these women getting the recognition they deserve. Whether they’re entertainers, politicians, high-flyers in the media or corporate worlds, they’re talented, strong, hard-working and have vision. They are role models who are shaping the future for women everywhere.
Inspired by these women, committed to change the world in their own way, overcoming any limitation and adversity to come their way we compiled an edit of empowering pieces that mean business.
Shop > Acne Best Pinstripe trousers, DvF Tonda clutch, Givenchy shoes, Stella McCartney coat, McQ Alexander McQueen belt, Carven blouse, Stella McCartney dress
Olympic celebrations have officially kicked off as today marks the first day of the games. The opening ceremony will be held tonight and the city of London is already buzzing with anticipation, as are we here at Bernard HQ’s. Not only are we a few miles from all the action, but we are also getting it right at our doorstep thanks to the cycling event this weekend and the race on Wednesday 1st August.
So, to show our Olympic spirit we bring you these absolutely fabulous limited edition Stella McCartney t-shirts. They’re the most stylish of memorabilia for the most epic of events designed by la crème de la crème of British designers, the one and only Ms. McCartney. What more could you ask for really?
The elegant gold stamp in either white or grey gives you a lot of classy spirit, leaving you looking glam as ever! Where’s your sporty spirit? Get it here.
Clockwise from top left: Acne ‘Penny’ Long Blouse Was £250 Now £150 – Alexander McQueen Intarsia Knit Dress Was £650 Now £390 – Jean Pierre Braganza Printed Dress Was £319 Now £191.40 – Vivienne Westwood Red Label Corset Dress Was £540 Now £324 – Alexander McQueen Leather Pump Was 355 Now £213
Clockwise from top right – Pauric Sweeny Box Bag Was £849 Now 509.40 - Acne ‘Joy’ Linen Top Was £199 Now £1119.40- Carven Aztec Print Jacket Was £562 Now £337.20 - Current Elliott ‘The Beatnick’ Jean Was £198 Now £118.80 - McQ by Alexander McQueen Wedge Sandal Was £355 Now £213
Clockwise from top left – Bex Rox Neon Cuff Was £229 Now £137.40- Rick Owens DRKSHDW Asymmetric Top Was £299 Now £179.40 – Stella McCartney Falabella Bag Was £780 Now £546- Penelope Chilvers ‘Safari’ Boot Was £235 Now £141 – Helmut Lang Drape Dress Was £305 Now £183
