When I Met @YBDfashion #Fashion Designer @ByYanTo at his studio & played dress-up | Looking back over #SS12 and his gorgeous creations!

When I got offered the chance to go and meet one of Young British Designers fashion designer darlings, Yan To, I jumped at the chance! Described as ‘an innovative womenswear label’ I was intrigued to see him in action. I trundled over to meet Yan To at his studio and had a fabulous time photographing him as he worked on his SS13 collection and also got chance to try on a few of his SS12 pieces!

Yan To explained that he is all about creating pieces that make the women who wear them feel fantastic.

 “Design for me is a love affair. My philosophy is that the foundation of love is the understanding of how a woman wants to feel when she is wearing a dress.” — Yan To

Here’s a few more of my FAVOURITE SS12 Yan To dresses.

This navy wool dress with multicolour ruffle detail collar is the perfect length dress for my 5ft 6” height - long torso and not so long legs. The colours are awesome too!

Another stunning and rather experimental Yan To piece. The dress features glass, aluminium and Swarovski crystal detailing! I wore this to a friends wedding and it got some fabulous compliments. Figure hugging, and still rather modest. Sexy monochrome at it’s very best.

The Yan To Black Halterneck Dress with Ruffle Trim. Hello LBD! I love the concertina effect of the ruffle detail on this dress. All lovingly stitched into place.

The Yan To Elastic Sunshine Yellow/ Gold Dress has the scoop-de-la-scoop of necklines, and gracefully grazes your shoulders only to plunge down at the back as the elasticated design holds you in around the stomach and also emphasises your curves and (ahem) tiny waist. The peek-a-boo black and electric blue ruffle detail around the bottom half of the garment adds textural interest.

The Yan To Grey Dress with Multicolour Elastic Insert, another of my FAVOURITE pieces from the SS12 collection. I love the clash of red and electric blue against the pale grey body-con dress. 

The Yan To Grass Maxi Dress. This dress reminded me of something that you might see the gorgeous Paloma Faith wearing, and with its cute peplum-esq matching tailored green grass-effect jacket, it was actually rather fun to try on! The low-slit back detail was very sexy too I thought! 

Who doesn’t love frolicking around and playing dress-up in a designer’s studio? I certainly do!

Interested in seeing what Designer Yan To has got in store for us this AW12 &  SS13?

Have a look…

http://yan-to.com/

Follow them on Twitter:

Yan To @ByYanTo

Young British Designers @YBDFashion

Photography © Lucie Kerley / Yan To.

Notting Hill, London // C.A.R.N.I.V.A.L 2012 Style with my besties!

As is now tradition amongst our uni friends, we meet up each year at Notting Hill Carnival for a bit of Street Party fun in the form of a bit of bump & grind Garage action, Reggae classics, Salsa beats and Urban Hip-Hop. This year was no exception! We were in fine form! The music and the atmosphere was pulsing and the dance moves on display from our group of friends was something that couldn’t be missed! It is truly a let your hair down kind of event. I wondered what mood the British weather was going to be in and so decided to wear my Topshop Leopard Print Flippy Skater Dress, my YBDfashion Lama Peach  Paige Summer Cowboy Ankle Boots, a chunky Forever 21 Gold Chainmail-esq necklace and my TightsPlease Charnos Black Sheer Striped Tights, with my Topshop Casual Military Shirt worn over the top for when  and if we stopped partying away the weather turned cooler.

The gorgeous Rosalind Brabner aka @RozBeautique of http://www.urbanretreat.co.uk/and me.

Joe Mitchelmore aka @MadeByOthers http://www.madebyothers.com/  and me.

The lovely Sarah Plant aka @PlantSarah of http://fermentzine.com/ in her cute little summer dress!

The gang getting down to a bit of Craig David Garage action. Sophie O’Leary-Smith @solearysmith Marcos Eleftheriou @Marcosdot and Melly Talbot.

A little ‘Outfit of the Day’ sneak peak. I love my khaki green suede fringed bag, a gift from JMG’s Aunty. Lucky me!

@BillyFinnegan and Joe Mitchelmore

JERK CHICKEN TIME!!!!!

Melly, Sarah, Laura Rayner @LetsTryHard and me.

Joe and Melly.

Laura and Marcos Eleftheriou of BFC. Check out the British Fashion Council’s BFC/ Vogue Designer Fashion Fund - deadline for applications is 12th November 2012!

BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund 

The Fund provides one British based designer with £200,000 and access to high level mentoring support - additional awards of mentoring and business support may be allocated to finalists at the judging panel’s discretion.

The aim of The Fund is to assist talented British designers with the potential for commercial growth to start making the transition from a developing creative business to a global fashion brand.

In order to be eligible for this scheme, designers must have an established business based within the UK. They must have UK and international stockists and support from key media. The winner must demonstrate a clear vision for their business and how The Fund will contribute to their growth with a focus on creating a global brand.”

Melly and Sarah.

Julie and Emily.

Emily O’Brien.

Billy

Ste Curley @stevejkcurley and the beautiful Typographer Sophie O’Leary-Smith @solearysmith

My girlies!

Billy & Nat.

Marcos

Salsa dancers in the street.

End of the day… tired tired feet from all the dancing. I resorted to swapping my heeled boots for my ever-so-comfy Schuh Leopard Print CABE Flatforms. BLISS!!

Photography © Lucie Kerley