3 Brands I Need in My Life

This post is slightly different to my usual “Introducing” features where I highlight one particular lesser known name who’s work I think is worth knowing about, plenty of those to come though, don’t worry. While I was plotting and scheming various posts, going through the bottomless pit that is my inbox and doing a spot of “market research” by browsing a few of my favourite e-tailers I came across a bunch of brands that I didn’t really know about before and need in my life, like yesterday. Some savvy shoppers sensibly invest in good quality wardrobe staples and, if they’re really smart, develop a signature understated aesthetic that lends itself to such purchases. I’m not one of those people, not by a long shot. Once in a while I invest in an item that may not be the most exciting thing every invented but is beautifully made and I know I’ll get a hell of a lot of use out of. Most of the time, however, I follow my gut instinct which inevitably leads me to pieces that make me squeal with glee and scream “look at me!” Case in point, my beloved but not entirely practical Shrimps candyfloss coat. Well, fellow magpie maximalists rejoice because these soon-to-be superstars will fill you with joy and shopping urges…

Au Jour Le Jour

Left: Unicorn sweatshirt, £199, pre order here & Sequin patched denim shorts, £442, pre order here. Right: Embroidered jacket, £795, pre order here & Jellyfish print techno Duchesse dress, £488, pre order here.

Left: Doll print techno Duchesse dress, £508, pre order here. Right: Smoking lips print techno crepe dress, £356, pre order here.

Any label that slathers its wares in Unicorn’s is guaranteed to be a hit with me and I’ve fallen so hard for Au Jour Le Jour‘s irreverent, playfulness so hard that I practically fall asleep dreaming of sequinned jellyfish sweatshirts and glittering, horned equines. Yes, it’s a bit bonkers and definitely not one for anyone who dresses by the mantra “less is more” but just looking at their sushi box clutch bags and ice cream print t-shirts makes me just about the happiest ever. LuisaViaRoma has the new collection available to pre order and I’m currently fighting a losing battle with myself (and my bank account) not to order the lot.

Tu Es Mon Trésor

Left: Striped fur collar, £440, click here to buy. Right: Fur & Leather clutch, £575, click here to buy.

Left: Crystal embellished boyfriend jeans, £608, click here to buy. Right: Pearl embellished boyfriend jeans, £535, click here to buy.

So many French names, eh! Not that I can exactly talk. Tu Es Mon Trésor is the brainchild of two Japanese designers, Miki Aizawa and Aimi Fukumoto, with a knack for denim embellishment. Actually that’s totally doing them a disservice. Aizawa and Fukumoto create exquisite concoctions involving pearls, bows, diamante, crystals, pom poms and much much more that just so happen to have a perfectly cut denim foundation. They’ve also dreamed up some truly delectable fur collars (a particular weakness of mine, as my instagram will attest), pom pom scrunchies and bags in technicolour hues. I’m all over it. Unsurprisingly, renowned incubator’s of the-next-big-thing Avenue 32 and Brown’s have both picked the brand up.

Stella Jean

Left: Pamela printed cotton dress, reduced to £327, click here to buy. Right: Barbara layered printed shirt dress, reduced to £488, click here to buy.

Left: Rosella silk skirt, reduced to £195, click here to buy. Right: Delfina chain print skirt, reduced to £195, click here to buy.

Stella Jean’s multicultural melting pot of a brand has been around since 2011 when the half Haitian, half Italian designer won the prestigiousVogue Italia talent contest, Who Is On Next. She presented her debut collection at Milan Fashion Week the following season and since then her pieces have been cropping up everywhere. Jean’s uncanny knack for merging an eclectic array of influences, prints and techniques with simple feminine silhouettes makes her pieces wearable works of art… That I want to be wearing right about now. You can find plenty of Stella Jean delights online at MATCHESFASHION.COM, FarFetch and My Theresa.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this new fashion feature format, let me know if you’d like to see more of this kind of thing. Also while proof reading this I’ve realised that most of these brands’ products are actually really quite practical. See, it totally pays to invest in what makes your sartorial soul sing after all!

Love Ella. X