MLPR - Marie Louise Public Relations.

The other week saw the MLPR team trek down to the Southbank to visit the lovely ladies at This Morning.  After ending up knee deep in dresses, hats, jewelry and more, we decided it was time for a well earned break, so we snuck off and had a peek inside the This Morning studio!  Making ourselves comfy on the plush red sofas, honing our presenting skills and admiring the gorgeous view out onto the Thames, we reckon we could give Phil and Holly and run for their money, so watch this space!

We are also very happy to report that a few of our gorgeous pieces ended up on the show today, during their Sex and the City fashion segment!  Featuring one poppy-red, Grecian style dress and one sassy white cocktail dress with turquoise stones, both by Chica, plus some seriously luxe looking bangles by Lucas Jack, we thought the outfits looked stunning.

Fiona Anderson

Yeah – Thursday night, and the sun is still shining!  After a great appointment at MTV’s studios it was a quick cab journey to check out a few Notting Hill openings.   First up was the preview evening of the Mary Portas Living and Giving shop on Westbourne Grove for Save the Children.  We’d arranged for our client Designer Alterations to offer a 10% donation to the charity for any alterations needed by customers from when the shop officially opens on Saturday.  It was great to snoop around and see all the fabulous bargains to be had – which ranges from vintage Chanel handbags to new Marc Jacobs pieces and lots of Jaeger!  Am sure they will be mobbed but with rails of stock so be sure to check it out. 

Sadly Mary Portas wasn’t there, but we made do with this life-size cut out  (see above)

Just around the corner on Ledbury Road was the opening of the new Vintage Academe shop which has incredible designer vintage pieces,  ranging from Thierry Mugler, Pucci to original Halston.   Great for one off pieces and the party was rocking – with lots of ladies in vintage frocks serving some delicious sparkling vodka!

Then if was off to Soho catch up with ex-colleagues from my Channel Five days who now work in all kinds of places like Channel 4 and Sky TV.   

Finally a quiet dinner in Soho & a black cab journey home as the light of London flashed by. 

We love London!  Have a great weekend

We have just heard that the clever Emily Cheetham of Cheet bags has been nominated by Instyle USA for an Independent handbag designer award for The Hitchcock handbag (see above)  It was selected from literally hundreds of entries from all over the globe which is a real achievement and goes to show the UK talent remains at the forefront of style.

So if you get a chance please click on this link and vote for The Hitchock bag by Cheet!

http://www.instyle.com/instyle/gridpoll/0,,20386027,00.html

Last Friday we met up with the lovely Amber Jackson, from the This Morning fashion team - see below for some great tips on how to get onto the show

1. What fashion stories do you have on the agenda at the moment, and which ones are you most excited about?

We are working of our Sex in The City ‘Get the style of..’ feature, I love the clothes in the SATC films and shows, so looking forward to doing out take on the girls individual styles. 

2. What advice would you give to PR’s pitching to you?  Should they call or email, and how often?

Emailing us on a Wednesday afternoon is probably the best bet as we have fashion on our show Tuesdays and Fridays and we only really plan a week ahead of ourselves. Emailing is best as we place the emails in a folder to remind us ho to call in

 3. What tips can you give for appointments?  How much product do you like to see, and what can the PR do to make an impression?

The best bits from a collection of items that sum up the brand are the best to see. On appointments its just nice to be able to put a face to a name and phone voice.

4. Is there anything you recommend PR’s avoid doing when pitching/attending appointments?

Probably talking too much about the brand like a script, its better to discuss the items and brands rather than being told what the are like.

5. How many emails do you get a day, and what percentage of those do you manage to open?

 I receive on average 75-100 emails a day, but I do manage to read all of them. Evens if  it just quickly, if its of interest or importance I’ll place it in a folder to follow up on.

6. What is your wish list accessory for this season?

A great bag! I struggle to find a really great bag, this season I’m looking for a great vintage style clutch to go with my summer looks

7.  What’s the best PR freebie gift you’ve ever received?

 Freebie are never expected but always a nice surprise. Vouchers are always great to receive as you can spend them as and when you wish, but once I received a gorgeous charm necklace which I loved.

8. Top press trip you’ve been on?

Dinner at Gaucho was a great night out with press, we ate drank and laughed!

9. What tips can you give PR’s on how to make a story catch your eye?

I’m not sure, for us its really just about weather the items are relevant enough for our story or web blog, as we can’t be seen to be favouring one brand in particular.

Friday night saw the gorgeously girly boutique, Chica, host a fashion, art and music extravaganza in London’s East End.  Based in Spitalfields, the plush, girly and uber luxurious store was transformed into a bohemian, flower-filled festival, all in aid of the charity, Art Against Knives.  Set up by Chica boutique employee, Katy Dawe, the charity was founded after Katy’s friend, and fellow art student, Oliver Helmsley, was stabbed in an unprovoked attack in east London back in 2008.  Leaving the 21 year old paralysed and in need of constant medical support for the rest of his life, the friends are now working together to raise awareness of knife crime through the medium of art. 

Based in and around the Chica store, the bijous shop heaved with flowers, ribbons and pastel hued lanterns, spreading outside to where a stage and retro Routemaster were stationed.  The bus, suitably spruced up with blooms, multicoloured hula hoops and a giant, Art Against Knives banner, housed a carefully curated exhibition, showing some of London’s brightest young artists.  As we negotiated our way around the bus and up the narrow stairs, tunes from the house band rung out across the space, as we sipped on comp cocktails and perused the quirky, controversial, and highly skilled art work on display. 

Rammed with cool Hoxtonites and young professionals alike, the event was jam packed and ran like clockwork, as efficient staff, dressed up in super glamorous Chica dresses, whizzed through the crowd with drinks and nibbles for the partygoers.  Bringing the spirit of the Sixties back to the East End with a bang, it was a brilliantly positive event to come from such a tragic story, and we can’t wait to see what the charity has planned next.

Fiona Anderson