MLPR - Marie Louise Public Relations.

We were delighted here at MLPR when The Times Magazine chose one of Alison van der Lande’s bags to feature when we popped into their offices recently.  They agreed with us on the hottest piece from the Spring collection, which was featured last Saturday … see below for the the powder blue Italian leather bowling bag which has a gorgeous pink lining!   www.alisonvanderlande.co.uk

Wilbur & Gussie’s Charlie clutches are this summer fave’ accessory – check them out at www.wilburandgussie.com

 FA: How did you first start off?

MS: I used to illustrate children’s books, and then I decided to put some of my own illustrations up on Etsy, an online marketplace.  I did that back in 2006, under the name of Milly Molly Mandy, and it was a good time because it was far less saturated than it is now.  Within 10 minutes of setting up the shop I had made a sale!

FA: So how did the Belle and Boo name come about?

MS: Well the two main characters are a little girl called Belle and a rabbit called Boo.  I couldn’t use the Milly Molly Mandy name once I got better known for copyright reasons, and now I can’t imagine the brand being called anything else. 

FA: Where do you get your inspiration from?

MS: I tend to already have an idea in my mind of what I want to draw, but then I’ll flick through vintage illustrations, and think back to my old story books from when I was young, and just create from there.

FA: What do you think is the appeal of your illustrations?

MS: People love nostalgia, and love harking back to the good old days, so I think that helps.  It’s the parents who buy my illustrations, really.  When I was little, I would see a picture in a story book that I loved, but I couldn’t tear it out and put it on my wall.  With my illustrations, children can have their favourite pictures up on their walls and imagine themselves in them too.  It’s all about capturing their imagination.

FA: How has the brand developed since you started?

MS: It has developed a bit back to front really.  I started with the illustrations, and then I got approached by publishers who had seen my work on Etsy and were keen for me to develop them into stories.  I have a self published activity book which is coming out next month, which is really exciting.

FA: What’s been your best moment so far?

MS: Every week something exciting happens, but I’d have to say one of the best moments was when Jules Oliver bought five of my illustrations for her children.  That was lovely.

FA: And finally, sum up the Belle and Boo brand in three words.

MS: Nostalgia, joyful and friendship. 

Belle and Boo is stocked in Yummies in Brighton, Red Door Gallery in Edinburgh, The Beanstork in Wincester and Ten Little Monkeys in Cheshire as well as having a distribution team in Australia.  For more information, visit www.belleandboo.com

Fiona Anderson

It’s been a busy week for our beautiful handbag brand, Cheet, with coverage in Time Out and the blog Fashion Insider’s Style.  For Time Out, Cheet took centre stage with a whopping image in their latest issue, showing off the goregousness of Cheet to the rest of London.

Online, the lovely girls from the blog Fashion Insider’s Style have featured a long list of gorgeous Cheet bags.  To check out their brilliant blog, as well as our stunning bags, have a look here.

Fiona Anderson

FA: You set up the label in 2006, how did it all start?

NB: I was working in an investment bank and after doing that for 7 years, I wanted to move into something more creative and have a complete career change.  I’ve had no formal training, although I do draw, so I took a year off, went travelling, and when I got back, I set up Lucas Jack.   

FA: How does the design process work when developing your jewellery?

NB: It’s very much about trial and error.  I have great manufacturers over in China, so I’ll draw some pieces, send them out, and then head out there a few months later to see the product made.  From there I’ll work with them to tweak aspects of the design, the materials used and the finishing processes.

FA: Has the Lucas Jack aesthetic changed over the years?

NB: Yes absolutely.  In the beginning with did mainly silver pieces as this is what seemed to sell well, but we wanted to move into gold, so now we create lots of brushed and polished gold, as well as more colourful pieces.

FA: What are your best sellers?

NB: The rings do really well, and also our simple, gold cuffs.

FA: How would you describe the Lucas Jack style, and the core values of the brand?

NB: Fashion forward, minimalist and simple, with clean, graphic lines and a quality feel.  We wanted to make pieces that are to be worn, to be bought and, in a sense commercial, so good value is an important element to the brand.  I think our pieces have the right balance of luxe factor and affordability.

Lucas Jack is sold in approximately 250 UK stockists, including Fortnum and Mason, the V&A and Fenwicks, as well as in 30 different countries, both in Europe and worldwide.  For more information visit www.lucasjack.com

Fiona Anderson

Olivia Roat’s hats will not be this season’s best kept secret for long!   Her whimsical designs and sculptural influences have caught the eye of many high profile ladies this summer.  Andrea Catherwood was wearing a beautiful feather and black net hat yesterday at Ascot, and today Olivia’s hats have been featured in the Daily Mail, Vogue.co.uk and worn on ITV’s Loose Women. 

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/favourites-of-vogue/100615-hats-/gallery.aspx

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1287233/Speed-read-How-fascinators-usurped-hats.html

To see the whole collection check out www.oliviaroat.com

Quick, quick – it’s the Stella McCartney and Elle Macpherson lingerie sample to sale … everything is £20.00 and less!

Zillions of stock and sizes

23-24 Warwick Street, London W1

10-7pm

£2.00 entry

It can take months and months to set-up a lead feature in a national paper – and even when all the ducks are in place, it can fall down at the final hurdle and never, ever, appear.  So today you can imagine the delight at the MLPR office and indeed, our client Designer Alteration when Celia Walden writes a fabulous feature in The Daily Telegraph today about designing her own going away outfit, for her up and coming wedding to Piers Morgan.

She had some very pretty vintage inspired Liberty sailor-boat print fabric and with the help of Julia Dee, and the Designer Alterations team, created a bodiced, Roland Mouret-style number.  DA tailor, Minee hand drew out Celia’s ideas and customised the dress to its finest detail. 

If you fancy something similar – check out www.designeralterations.com or call 0207 498 4360  You can read all about it on

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/7830960/The-perfect-going-away-dress-for-your-honeymoon.html

and see below.