ice cream shades

New season Mulberry campaigns are always a fashion treat to look forward to, as they are always beautifully-shot, imaginative and so whimsical that they just brighten my day.

For Spring/Summer 2012, Mulberry took a trip to Brighton Beach and brought Mulberry girls Lindsay Wixson and Frida Gustavsson along for some ice cream, sticks of Brighton rock and fresh seaside air.

Cue plenty of preening on the pier, catching some sun reclined on oversized ice cream cones and getting sticky among melting ice lollies.

The English seaside concept was inspired by creative director Emma Hill’s own fond memories of childhood trips to the beach and it perfectly reflects Mulberry’s eccentric British heritage and quirky sense of humour.

Behind the stunning pictures are the Mulberry Dream Team – photographer Tim Walker (shooting his third season with Mulberry) and stylist Edward Enninful, with hair and make-up by Malcolm Edwards and Val Garland.

The nostalgic, coquettish campaign is so very Mulberry and is a fitting story for the Spring Summer 2012 trend of pastel sportswear and layered nude.

I wonder if Mulberry treated Frida, Lindsay and the crew to a fish ‘n’ chips supper and a few goes on the amusement rides…

To see the Mulberry Spring Summer 2012 collection, visit: www.mulberry.com

Surely there cannot possibly be anything more dreamy than a gang of perfectly-coiffed, candyfloss coloured Persian cats just chilling under a clematis…

This heart-warming picture is one of photographer Tim Walker’s most talked-about images, with the initial response being that it must have been Photoshopped. On the contrary, these felines were treated to a long brushing session followed by a cheeky tint to get them ready for their close-up.

Tim Walker said in an interview with Guardian: “We actually took pigment powder, mixed it with talc to get the right ice-cream pastel colours, and brushed it into the cats.”

Apparently some of the cats were furious when their pampering ended, hence the evil death stares from the bubblegum pink cat on the right (just imagine the scratches the poor assistant had to endure during the shoot).

In Tim Walker’s stunning hardback book Pictures, Vogue’s Grace Coddington reveals her love for this image and that she has her own print. If you love fluffy high fashion and incredible sets with roaming cats and bunnies (like Katie Grand-era POP), then Tim Walker’s Pictures is a must for your bookshelf.

Image: (c) Tim Walker

First Look: Mulberry Spring Summer 2012 Campaign

Show Some Love For: Pastel Cats