Mulberry leather | cheriecity.co.uk

Mulberry Autumn Winter 11-12, London Fashion Week

February 24, 2011 by cheriecity

Claridges Ballroom was transformed into a fantastical rural retreat, complete with birdsong, sleeping foxes and giant toadstools, ready for the arrival of Mulberry’s country girl.

The Mulberry show is a cherished highlight of the London Fashion Week schedule, as it is one of the few British brands that celebrates the English Eccentric.

After a few days of skeletal sternness on the catwalk, Mulberry warmed our hearts with woodland creatures, catwalk pooches, blackcurrant fruit juice and adorable toadstool cupcakes with radioactively bright red frosting.

Leading on from last season’s Secret Garden collection, the Mulberry girl gets back to her country roots and reacquaints herself with Roald Dahl’s ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’.

Inspired by Mulberry’s hunting, shooting and fishing heritage, the Autumn/Winter 11-12 collection is full of outerwear for country pursuits, albeit with luxe gold details from the new Tillie bag.

Staying true to the decadently dishevelled look, the Mulberry girl leaves the family pile for a ramble, throwing on a trusty duffle coat over an exquisite gold lamé, knife-pleat evening gown.

An autumnal palette of Mole Grey, Fox Brown, Conker and Red Onion was at play with accents of Bright Cabbage, Hedgehog Bronze, Foxglove Pink and Lavender.

Chunky corduroy duffle coats with matching a-line skirts appeared alongside quilted satin dresses embellished with floral sequins and prim knife-pleat silk collared dresses covered in Mulberry’s peace and love print.

A stand out look was a fuchsia silk drop-waist dresses under a boxy plum tweed blazer – a juxtaposition of matronly and girly.

Those who have invested in shearling jackets will be pleased to know that they’re here to stay, as well as macs, fuzzy gilets, shooting jackets and swing coats.

Mulberry certainly has the flesh under lock and key for Autumn/Winter with buttoned up collars, skirts that sit on the knee or the ground and sumptuous polo neck knits. Even when the old gal does shows a bit of leg, they are encased in scholarly ribbed knee socks that may or may not have been pinched from a teasing, raffish brother.

Seduction came from the smooth, silken, ever so slightly wind-swept locks created by Sam McKnight.

The next season looks were completed with Bayswaters embellished with adorable fox rivets, over-sized Alexas, current favourite the Tillie and the insanely covetable new Taylor bag.

Our furry friends will also be well equipped for the cold/front row with the rather stylish Tillie quilted dog mac or the Fisherman dog coat, complete with all of the same posh hardware.

Warning: such doggy apparel could make your pampered pooch feel so fierce that they try to start a rumble with a Pomeranian by-stander…poor Butters!

Catwalk images by Mulberry and venue photos by Chérie City.

Accessories, Designers, Fashion, London, Shopping, Stores

Mulberry New Bond Street Flagship Store Opening

December 9, 2010 by cheriecity

Mulberry has moved a few doors down into a grand new residence on New Bond Street and I was invited to the launch of its splendid new flagship store.

The bright, luxurious open-plan space is considered down to the most minute detail and offers a modern, efficient shopping experience while referencing the brand’s rural Somerset tradition.

Mulberry’s new collection, statement bags take pride of place at the front of the store and womenswear runs along one side towards the back of the store and conveniently, the super deluxe fitting rooms.

To bring different moods to the store, Mulberry has installed separate rooms, featuring different style aspects of the brand.

The shoes salon occupies the centre of the store and is separated by a cylindrical oak timber folly that gives it a more intimate, private feel.

There is also a room for Mulberry’s classic heritage pieces that make up the core of the brand. Small leather goods are presented in glass cases and even the shelves are lined and stitched with exquisite nude leather.

Mulberry has also taken measures to make the store environmentally aware. For instance, the exposed brick walls (referencing Mulberry’s rural Somerset workshops) help to keep in the heat in winter and provide coolness during the summer.

Similarly, there are light boxes installed in the ceiling to provide natural light and save on energy.

Set into the floor and scattered around the store are individual brass discs by British artist Jonathan Ellery, who was commissioned by Mulberry to create this piece for the flagship store.

Mulberry pays tribute to British artists throughout the store with unique art installations including a huge inflatable gold Bayswater in the window and wave seating in the fitting rooms by renowned artist Rachel Whiteread.

The Mulberry flagship store is the most perfect shopping experience, as with every possible style imaginable on one floor, you can really discover the whole brand before investing in a Mulberry bag or accessory.

Look out for the most incredible sequin and grosgrain ribbon brooches and embellished necklaces…Mulberry jewellery is top of my Christmas wishlist!

Mulberry London flagship store is now open at 50 New Bond Street, London W1S 1BJ.

Beach, Designers, Fashion, Shopping, Stores

Mulberry launches beach collection

December 4, 2010 by cheriecity

With all the snow and blizzards sweeping the UK, it is so tempting to hop on a plane to Morocco or the Caribbean and recharge on the beach.

Being a ski addict, I’ve never actually done winter sun, but for the lucky ones escaping the cold this season, Mulberry has launched a covetable swimwear collection.

Mulberry’s new ‘blingkini’ collection features two styles – a tie-neck triangle bikini with branded metal balls at the end of all ties and a bandeau bikini with a branded love heart clasp and a frill back.

Both bikini styles come in Mulberry’s stunning Trippy Tiger print as well as black for the triangle and watermelon for the bandeau.

Statement, cut-away swimsuits have been the last word in poolside chic for the last few seasons but the bikini seems to be coming back with a luxury touch.

The bikinis are shaped to give a super feminine, curvy silhouette and come in a cute pouch to keep everything organised and neat in your suitcase.

Mulberry bags have also been given a beachy make-over with a beach tote and beach clutch in silky raffia, featuring the pink Trippy Tiger print – perfect for sundowner cocktails.

The beach collection is available now online and at Mulberry stores.