Now live, 24:7 Stylemakers features an edited selection of personal style photos reflecting the Jimmy Choo personality, from user-uploaded images to street style shoots snapped by photographer Eddie Newton, of mrnewton.net

Brand ambassadors for the major fashion cities have been chosen to kick start the site, including the ever-so-stylish publisher Caroline Issa, representing London.

Jimmy Choo fans from around the world can upload a photo of themselves onto the Choo 24:7 Stylemaker Gallery and if your look inspires, you could be up there too.

The street style site works as a brand extension of Choo 24:7 – a collection (launched in 2010) of glam essential shoes and bags that can take you from day to night, in any city.

24:7 Stylemakers follows Burberry’s Art of the Trench and the Hermès J’aime mon carré social media campaigns with a view to engage with customers in a more interactive way.

Pre-web, luxury brands relied on a sense of elitism, closely guarding their company image to keep their goods aspirational, however, nowadays customers like to see how the shoes or bags can fit into their own lifestyles.  Trying to sell an unachievable lifestyle in a glossy advert with an airbrushed model just doesn’t cut it any more  - the luxury leaders are evolving past this.

I found the Choo 24:7 Stylemakers website accessible and well-designed, conveying that sense of city cool – perfectly ‘on brand’.  I’m not that keen on the involvement of celebrities, as these images can be found anywhere, most rely on a stylist for their look and it dilutes the organic message of 24:7 Stylemakers.  However, as the website grows, with more photo shoots and more countries represented, hopefully it will focus more on authentic street style.

Post your photo by 6 June to enter to win a Choo 24:7 wardrobe, up to the value of £4000.  You can also share your Choo 24:7 style on Instagram #choo247

For more info, visit: www.choo247.com

The exhibition will take a historical look at the leather house’s 175 years, from a small producer of harnesses and saddles to a world renowned, highly coveted fashion brand.

A highlight of Leather Forever will be the extensive collection of accessories commissioned by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Edward and Wallis Simpson.

In celebration of Leather Forever, Hermès has designed four one-off designs of its Passe-Guide bag – inspired by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – to be auctioned for charity.  Each has its own charm to represent the country and the Scottish bag includes tartan specially made for Hermès by Johnstons of Elgin.

Leather Forever is free admission and is open 8-27 May at 6 Burlington Gardens, London.

We visited the spectacular Hermès flagship store on the rue de Sèvres, just a few steps from the iconic Hotel Lutetia, in the heart of Saint Germain.

Located in the what was once the Hotel Lutetia’s art deco swimming pool, this is the very first Hermès store on the Left Bank.

Designed architecture company RDAI, the three-floor concept store contrasts original 1930s features with Denis Montel’s imposing wooden cocoons and wooden wave furnishings, reflecting the building’s original purpose.

The front of the store is an adorable flower shop with stunning arrangements and bouquets by renowned Parisian florist Baptiste Pitou.

After a fragrant entrance to the store, there is the silk scarf counter, a book store with a specially selected collection of art, fashion and coffee table books and Le Plongeoir tea salon and restaurant.

Downstairs is the recently launched interiors collection featuring re-issued numbered furniture designs by Jean-Michel Frank.  I loved the monogrammed ‘H’ cushions and cashmere throws and the zesty lime green candle holders complete with leather tags.

The wooden cocoons showcase home furnishings, tableware, beachwear and ceramics.

There is also ready to wear for men and women, a tie counter, childrenswear, fragrances, jewellery, accessories and shoes.

The perfume counter features the full range of fragrances from the luxurious Collection Hermessence.  The sales assistant kindly offered me a beautiful Hermes orange paper pouch with two large complimentary samples of my two favourite fragrances.  I chose the light and fresh Rose Ikebana and the sweet, smoky Ambre Narguilé.  Both come in sleek glass bottles with a stitched leather top with the option of adding a leather bottle sleeve.  They also come as mini fragrances in a bespoke gift set.

Le Plongeoir, translated as the ‘diving board’ is the cool, 30-seat in-store tea salon and restaurant.  Minimally designed, Le Plongeoir is all about the small details, showcasing the exquisite Hermès cutlery and crockery that can be found in the store.

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The menu focuses on light bistro dishes, club sandwiches and salads with an extensive collection of rare and exotic teas by Le Palais des Thés.

We started with a few sharing platters of Bellota-Bellota Ibérico dry-cured ham with crisp focaccia slices.  The strong flavours complimented each other perfectly and it’s easy to see why this is regarded as the best cured ham in the world.

For my main dish, I ordered the roast duck with a carrot and citrus purée – a French classic with a twist.  The meat was juicy and expertly cooked and the carrot purée was a something different to the usual potato gratin usually served with duck.  The dish was delicious and comforting, but not too heavy.  

The pâtisserie table was too tempting to resist, so we tried a selection of cakes and macarons to share.  The dense chocolate cake was a highlight and other treats included a sticky almond cake, pistachio and honey brioche, chocolate macaron and a vanilla and mint macaron.

Of course, with cake must come tea.  I ordered a pot of Montagne Bleue – a fragrant black tea blended with honey, lavender, blueberry, strawberry and rhubarb.  It was fruity and lightly perfumed and came served in a heavy Asian-style teapot.

The Hermès Left Bank is the perfect place to see the the extensive Hermes collection in a cool, imaginative environment.  Le Plongeoir is discreet, peaceful and the polar opposite of Saint Germain’s ‘people watching’ terrace cafe hotspots such as Cafe de Flore and Les Deux Magots.  So if you’re on the Left Bank looking for a posh afternoon treat with room for your shopping bags, step inside…

Hermès, 17 Rue de Sèvres  75006 Paris

Chérie City was a guest of Hermès

All photos by Chérie City

Located in Pantin, on the outskirts of Paris, the Hermès atelier is a central hub of artisans, craftsmen and head office staff – the place where ideas are born and developed.  Originally above the Faubourg St Honoré store (back in the early days of 1837), there are now ten ateliers in France, each containing ten workshops.

The exterior of the building is unassuming, yet inside it’s a sparkling, minimalist hive with splashes of Hermès colour, designed by artistic director, Pierre-Alexis Dumas.  I expected more of a cluttered workshop environment, but in fact, the Hermès aesthetic is present throughout the production stages, not just a glossy finish for the customer.

We visited the Atelier Petits Sacs where smaller bags such as the Constance (my personal favourite), Illico, Birkin, Kelly and a few other designs are produced.  The room was filled with the sound of hammering and the intoxicating scent of leather.

Dotted around the spacious workshop were the personal work stations of the craftsmen and artisans, each personalised with their own photos, mementos, books, mascots and little Hermès emblems.

Apprentices train at the Hermès leather school for one year, learning to create the core designs such as the Birkin and Kelly in different leathers.  When they begin to work in the atelier, they build on their skills, making more complex bags with difficult skins such as croc and python.  At present, Hermès uses 30 different skins and 300 colours.  After ten years at Hermès, they have earned the titled of ‘artisan’.

Each craftsman sees their own bag through all stages of production and every bag bears a subtle signature mark inside.  They are each able to make three to four bags per week, depending on the complexity of the specific bag.  For example, a Birkin can take 12-14 hours to make and around 25 hours in an advanced skin such as croc.

We met a number of artisans who allowed us to watch them working on their bag.  They were welcoming and appeared pleased to show off their skills, remaining unfazed while we zoomed and clicked away.  We watched Stefan hand-stitch the brand new Kelly bag design with contrasting broguing.  He listens to music while he works to keep his concentrating.

All bags are hand-stitched to make them stronger and more durable than bags stitched by machine.  The bags are sewn by saddle-stitch using two needles and just one piece of thread, so it’s imperative to get the length right from the start.

Martine showed us how she sands down the edges of the leather with a hot tool to remove the excess glue and to get a smooth edge.  When she’s satisfied that the edges are perfect, she then adds a layer of lacquer to seal them.

There are many other stages in the production of the bags, such as nailing the hardware onto the leather and clipping it down by hand, creating a curve on certain bags and coating the leather in beeswax to make it last longer and bring out the full colour.

In addition to the key pieces, Hermès bags from previous eras are often taken out of the archive and re-edited, creating exciting new challenges for the craftsmen.  A recently revived design is the Sac a Depeche, a handsome briefcase in super smooth leather with a buckle clasp.

There is a tense moment as the hand-stitched bags are turned the right side out.  If the bags are anything less than perfect, they can’t be finished and sold, so hours of work are wasted.  However, there are no horror stories of rejected bags being destroyed, as the bags with tiny imperfections are available for Hermès staff to buy at a discounted price.

Also, Hermès has recently launched Petit H Creative Lab, a project where unfinished bags are transformed into imaginative new pieces by artists.  Located close to the atelier, the Petit H lab is a place for re-imagining the classics, not just for art’s sake, but for future innovations at Hermès.

Visiting Les Ateliers Hermès was not only a rare fashion experience but also a real education.  Coming from a family of craftsmen (my grandmother was a tailor and mother a quilter), I understand the skill and ability involved, but this was entirely another level of perfection.

Now that I’ve seen the care, time and soul that goes into Hermès bags, the pursuit of a Constance bag has become a life-long mission.

Chérie City was a guest of Hermès.

All photos by Chérie City

Spotted at the Handpicked Media Suite at One Aldwych during London Fashion Week, I still have my eye on this Embellished Soft Prom dress, £85, Warehouse

It always feels like summer when Marc Jacobs launches the gorgeous Splash collection.  This year’s light, tropical fragrances are possibly the most delicious yet!  Marc Jacobs Splash eau de toilettes, £28.50 (100ml), The Perfume Shop

Perfect for sundowners, Castañer takes espadrilles to the next level with these St Tropez-worthy Two-Tone Espadrille Platform Wedges, £120, Browns

Follow the tales of the Fafinettes and new character Birtak in graffiti artist Fafi’s first comic book, The Carmine Vault, £12.96, Amazon

A limited number of the divine Del Rey bag were pre-released at three Mulberry flagship stores last week.  Launched worldwide on 14 May, the Del Rey is a future classic, much like Lana herself.  I’m lusting after this one in Black Forest Soft Matte, £795, Mulberry

Luxurious, aromatic and highly effective, Vaishaly Cleansing Balm, £69, Vaishaly is the most decadent treat for your skin.  I use it when my dehydrated skin needs a bit of extra nourishment at night.  Another great discovery from the Handpicked Media LFW Suite!

Following two successful contests, the Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize is becoming known as the ‘one to watch’ for the most promisingly emerging fashion designers.

Anndra Neen, the luxury jewellery line by sisters Phoebe and Annette Stephens, won the 2011 Fashion Prize and have taken their brand to the next level with the support and buzz created by the prestigious competition.

Winner of the inaugural 2010 Fashion Prize, Thomas Tait has since been heralded by US Vogue, collaborated with Asos on its young designer initiative Asos Inc and shown his collections at London Fashion Week as part of BFC NEWGEN.

The Dorchester Collection has always been synonymous with style and helping the hotel find the best of the best is a judging panel made up of fashion luminaries and industry insiders.  Former judges have included Manolo Blahnik, Giles Deacon, Daphne Guinness, Stephen Jones, Francisco Costa, Giovanna Battaglia, Derek Blasberg and Lauren Santo Domingo.

The 2012 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize will offer a €30,000 reward to an exceptional designer of ready-to-wear or premium accessories, selected by a panel of expert judges.

Each year, the Fashion Prize is hosted by a different Dorchester Collection hotel, beginning with The Dorchester in London and followed last year by The Beverly Hills Hotel.  This year’s host, Hôtel Plaza Athénée has an unrivaled fashion heritage, with an enviable address on the Avenue Montaigne and being known as the ‘second home’ of Christian Dior.  But who will be the judges?  Can we expect Carine Roitfeld, Sonia Rykiel or Emmanuelle Alt to make an appearance?

Application details are available for download at www.dorchestercollection.com and registration will be open until 31 May 2012.

Entrants must be based in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg or Switzerland and have operated their brand for a minimum of two years.

The collection features an ox blood leather pinafore dress worn over a chiffon blouse with frilled collar, a navy wool and gold high-waisted full skirt worn with a gold sequin blouse with silk patterned back and sweet day dresses with abstract retro and cat prints.  Not to forget, those high-waisted scarlet shorts paired with a demure silk printed blouse, worn by the best dancer in the room – an elegant, willowy model with legs up to the heavens!

One of the stand out pieces was a full-skirted nude and black panelled prom dress with an over-size black bow at the waist.  Other favourites were a maroon skater-style dress with a black trim and exposed zip and a delicate cream silk dress with a beige butterfly print and gold sequin peter pan collar.

I loved the fresh, innocent styling – side-parted tied-back hair with dewy skin and a strong lip and girly dance shoes with lurex bobby socks.  It was like the girls had stepped out of a shoot in Lula and appropriately editor and founder Leith Clark (who has styled previous Orla Kiely presentations) was present at the tea dance.

Of course, the new collection of Orla Kiely accessories was on show and featured some ladylike clutches in neutral shades and a stunning red patent leather chain handle bag with Orla Kiely’s trademark pattern embroidered on the back.

As the models performed the foxtrot, tango and the Viennese Waltz under the giant disco ball in Orla Kiely’s pop-up 1940s dance hall, we were served champagne in vintage-style glasses and rounds of mini Victoria sandwich cakes and bakewell tarts.

It’s a fair assumption that everyone left the tea dance on a fashion high and wanted to be an Orla Kiely girl!

Thank you Orla Kiely for such a memorable presentation and for sustaining us with lovely cakes and champagne on the first day of London Fashion Week.

For more info, visit: www.orlakiely.com

But now I want more…and lots of it!  The Spring/Summer 2012 ‘Travellers and Magicians’ collection is full of mystical, geometric pieces in gold and silver that I can’t help coveting.

I’m dying to seeing the pieces ‘for reals’ at the London Fashion Week Exhibition in a few days time and predict a new jewellery obsession occuring!

To see the full collection, visit: www.zoeandmorgan.com

The ALDO Rise fashion programme invests in emerging designers, assisting them with producing their shows and creating the perfect shoes for their collections.

Irish designer J.W. Anderson’s collection is a particular favourite, as there’s something a little bit ‘Manolo meets Cote d’Azur’ about these slim, elegant and slightly eccentric heels.

The contrasting textures of leather, cotton and eyelet detailing are inspired by J.W. Anderson’s Spring Summer 2012 collection.  Many of the shoes reflect the designs of the garments very closely, so they’re a great, affordable way to get a piece of the collection.

The colourful, tribal cocktail hour sandals are real future classics and the fringed heel of synthetic swan feathers make them even more covetable.  They are set to be a party staple for the summer, although we might spot them even earlier on some freezing fashionista feet at London Fashion Week next week!

J.W. Anderson for ALDO Rise is available now at Young British Designers and Selfridges, and at ALDO from 8 March.

Vivienne Westwood Cheeky Alice, £31.50-£54.50 The Perfume Shop

Bath Oil for Glowing Radiance, £45.96, ila spa

Baby Bee 22ct Gold Plate Necklace, £132, Alex Monroe

Hélène Zubeldia Ornamental Earrings, £46, SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED

Animals Party Letter Set, £1.99, Artbox

Hermès 1985 Military Print Silk Scarf, £230, Atelier Mayer

Harriet Shoulder in pebbled beige spongy patent, £695, Mulberry

Stella McCartney Pink Days of the Week Knickers, £130, Liberty

J’aime Les Macarons Gift Box, €26.50, Pierre Hermé