Hemsby Shoot With Pink Poodles

Yes that is an actual dog, and yes it's really pink!
The plan was to shoot at Hemsby as there was going to be loads of great models, The Vanity Box and Paul De Ath there.....then it got even better! Verity heard that a lovely lady would be bringing her dyed pink poodle! The dog had been dyed with dog hair dye so it's not harmful to them, and it had been done as part of a cancer awareness fund-raising event. Perfect.

Apart from the fact I had to pull out of going last minuet. Even though I was absolutely gutted I sent up swimwear samples and I'm really pleased I did. The photo's are beautiful and speak for them selves. Full credit goes to The Vanity Box, Paul De Ath, Bow & Crossbones Jewellery and wonderful models Bettina Scarlett and Sinderella Rockafella. All of the swimwear is due back into stock at the end of this week (29th June 12) and is on pre-order now!

Out Of Season

So I'm not sure what you know of the garment industry....I'd think some of you will know rather a lot, others perhaps a little.

One of the things I always find odd is that you have to work out of sink with the seasons....so the last couple of months I've been working on new designs for Autumn/Winter 12. I'm now having to do all the paper work for costings, and working out how much fabric everything uses. One day I'd love to be in the position to have this wrapped up a year early and in production a season early. Currently designs are done, then samples made for photo shoots, publicity, getting wholesale orders, then production beings. It can take anything from 1 month to 3 - 4 months for things to turn up. During this time lots of sleepless nights occur; what happens if no one likes the design, are too many or too little being made, what if the weathers rubbish an no one buys anything, what if things arrive late and no one wants them, what if they sell out really quickly but more can't be made for a while! Until you become rather Zen about it all as there's little you can do to control the multitude of things and people who influence the speed items arrive at, and spending all that energy being stressed and angry isn't good for anyone and who's going to get stuff done quickly for someone who keeps being angry at them! Fabric supplies, trimmings, manufacturer's, invoices being paid on time, things being in stock, being sent quickly, not coming across random problems.

So, whilst in mid mid-season flap (swimwear coming soon.....! Then back to re-stocks...yes jeans too, I know they've been out of stock for forever!) I'm designing for A/W...and the problem with the being one year in advance idea, is that, anything could happen and things could be come out of fashion in the year wait (becuase even the rockin' scene has ebs and flows of trends). Thankfully being more about a style, particularly a sub-cultural one, a lot of these worries aren't as bad as they could be. Fashions move slower, so the aim is to get really seasonal bits out first....then do re-runs of stock. Sometimes things to go plan, sometimes they don't!

Lady K Loves has only been manufacturing for a year and a half....so there is lots to learn. I hope and think we're getting better and learning each season....This season we've learnt a lot, and next season we'll no doubt learn more too........One of the things I really notice on the rockin' scene is that yes things like winter coats and swimwear are very seasonal...but past that, I can (and have) just as easily see a strapless bustier and peddles on the dance floor in summer as in winter....the same goes for a lot of the lovely Hawaiian print styles and the such like. So, perhaps we're all out of season a little bit?

Coming Soon....American Fashion Show

We are really excited to have been invited back to take part in the Americana Fashion Show again this year. Hosted by Miss Fortune, it'll feature products from the likes of Bow & Crossbones, Bernie Dexter, Boo Boo Kitty Couture and Collecif.
The Americana Show it's self is a fantastic event highlighting the best of American and American influenced music, cars.....pretty much anything from the American Lifestyle over the last 5 decades.
As well as taking part in the show we'll have a small stand during and for a while after the show times on both the Saturday and Sunday.
Americana is on from 5th - 9th July and the fashion show will be shown on the Saturday and the Sunday at 2:30, plus you can meet Bernie Dexter herself after the show. We'd love to see you there!

Andi B Goode

So the weather is lovely in the UK still....which doesn't happen that often! I'm taking full advantage by wearing my Andi B Goode limited edition wrap dress, which is pretty much perfect for this weather.

I am not a massive fan of orange as a colour, I'm more of a red kinda girl, but actually this is really nice to wear, despite being quite bright, it's a really flattering colour. The wrap over is very cool and so far I've not flashed anyone my knickers becuase it's held securely in place at the waist with hidden buttons. So far all of my worries about possible issues and malfunctions have been for needless.

The New Vintage Look

Well we have been a little slack on posting recently....so it's about time we shared with you some photo's from The New Vintage Look charity fashion show.....
This was back just after Easter....so we're only running a month behind!
The great thing about looking through the pictures this long after and doing the blog now, is I'd completely forgotten certain things from the night....so am currently chuckling at my private pictures from the end of the night....the world doesn't need to see what we looked like by then!
Any way....The show was held in London at the very opulent Proud Cabert in the City part of London...it was a little odd to travel out to the City for such a show....you could tell who was going and who worked there pretty easily by how much they looked like a banker!

I'd offered my assistance in what ever way I could be helpful.....having organised and been involved in shows before I know how much work there is to do and even if it's just someone pressing things, picking up after others it makes a huge difference to stress levels. So I arrived, found Betty Flowers and Gemma and Verity from Vanity Box, all already hard at work, and was put to work in what was affectionately called 'The Press Team' i.e. me and Shona from Hayday, pressing all the garments. It's the first time I've met her and she is such a doll! We got on really well and it was fun to talk shop with someone!

So everything pressed there wasn't much we could do apart from get our stuff out of the way....pretty our selves up and then choose a booth and drink a glass of wine or two.....

Our booth had Shona (Hayday), Shona (Adventures In Vintage), Amanda (Lipstick and Curls, who I'd also not met until that night and she was lovely! Gemma & Verity (Vanity Box). May Loh (Walking In May, who was very brave not only coming to the show by her self but also sitting at our table knowing no one!)

I saw the lovely Miss Cherry Onfire and Laura from Miss Fortune at the show too!

The fashion show was fantastic, lots of beautiful designs from wonderfully talented designers and makers. I've never seen a repro only fashion show and it was very inspiring to see so much from wonderful UK and international designers. Getting back from the show I opened the show pack......and it had loads of flyers from all of the wonderful companies involved and a fantastic CD of the tracks used.....

And I'll leave you with some photo's of the girls in the show in Lady K Loves thanks to Luke B

Pomade

A little something quick to read while I'm busy planning fabrics and what to make next at Lady K Loves HQ (yes I know, more jeans right?)
So pomade, mostly used by guys I feel but also for a bit of finishing of a style by girls. I have to say I normally use a combination of heat, back-combing, setting, hair spray and shear force of will to make my hair do what I want. As such my knowledge of pomades isn't very good, so I'd love to get feedback from you all. This also means most of my knowledge comes from if I like the smell of not! But at least I'm honest!

So we'll start off with Mr Ducktail.....
Mr Ducktail is not only a legend in his own life time for cutting and styling men's hair in his London studio, he also now has a range of styling products (and fantastic tee shirts). Now truth be told I don't think I've even smelt this one, let alone had first hand experience of how it works, strength of hold ect. On the site it says it smells like Coca-cola, and I've heard it has a sort of lemony vanilla scent..... The reviews I've read online pretty much all agree it's fantastic, strong, easy to use, clear and blends well into the hair, leaving little to no residue and giving you a fantastic finish and hold, plus even if you or your fella aren't gona use it, it'll look cool in your bathroom.

Sweet Georgia Brown
Brought to my attention by Atomic Tony Tiki a few years back. This is one I've had first hand experience of, the smell is lovely, sort of warm and manly. they do 3 types of hold so there is something for whatever strength you like, from super held in place to pretty styled but room of a few stands to fall lose (I've always loved that look!). One thing I do remember being a problem for the person who used it was a tendency for it to clump a little bit, I think it maybe stuck to the comb then dried then got distributed through the hair the next day when they styled it so if you've really dark hair I might be a little aware of that.

Next up Layrite,
One I've actually used my self and always quite liked. Again a company who not only do great pomade but a few cool tee shirts and even an aftershave! Hawleywoods is originally a barbers which has developed it's own products. Now I used this as it is one of the water soluble options, since I style my hair in various way's I've never wanted to use a pomade which only gives you one option. the smell is lovely so I completely understand why they've also produced an aftershave or two. it's got a thick texture and once worked into the hair gives a good hold, there's also two strengths and they make them in about 3 different size tubs so you can have a big one for home and a small one for your travel bag.. The only problem for guys with a water soluble pomade is that if you get caught in the rain your hair style dies!

Last one I'm going to look at is Murray's, again I've not had a huge amount of contact with it, but I did get the chance to check out the smell the other day.....(yes the image of me sniffing someone's head is entirely a accurate! ) and it smelt good! they have great packaging and all of their products are styled differently which makes it easier to know what you liked last time. (yes I picked this one becuase it's pretty).

So what do you think? I know I've missed out loads...the whole Dax range and White & Blacks, to name but a few. What do you like to use?

Spring Summer 2012 Shoot

Well now, this seems like ages ago that we did our spring summer shoot, it was just beginning to get a little sunny, and feels like a long time ago after this very wet bank holiday weekend!

Having just relocated to Stroud, in Gloucestershire, it seemed the perfect opportunity to do a country/farm themed shoot! We shoot in a wonderful working farm, Stroud Slad Farm, which not only produces some fabulous local pastys (or possibly they can only be called pastry's now?) and also runs Leadership With Horses courses.....a fantastic way to learn new ways to 'take the reins' as it were in you life.

So we had the wonderful Miss Cal O'Rein doing the honers with modelling, and Hannah KS photography, thought these girls have both done photo's for me before, but this was the first time I was working with them in person. They were both super sweet and extremely professional! It was a really quick and easy photoshoot....we got loads of great pictures and had such a lovely time, there were even pretty young calf's sleeping and feeding in the stables behind us.

Some of you may have seen a lot of these already.....but here are some of the great pictures we got on the day! Featuring the Verity set below, inspired by the lovely Verity of The Vanity Box.

 Rodeo Queen Shirt

 Rodeo Queen and Circle Skirt

Above, Hello Sailor Trousers with Grey Leopard Fi Fi La Rou, and Annette in Navy and Red