It’s the season for plastic! Jelly shoes were around last summer, but this pink, studded Barratts pair is very Balmain-meets-playschool. Meanwhile Bernstock Speirs has just launched two styles of hat created from bubble wrap. And in June, Marni unveils its recycled plastic shopping bags featuring illustrations by French artist Claude Caillol.
£15, barratts.co.uk; £20, bernstockspeirs.com; £127, marni.com Photograph: Photomontage/PR
Joan Burstein, the founder of Browns, one of London’s most influential boutiques, has nailed a tricky category: evening wear that oozes style without making a big song and dance about it. To celebrate the store’s 40th anniversary, Mrs B, as she is fondly known, plumped for a metallic embellished Lanvin shift and flat pumps. Jewellery was kept to a classy minimum and grooming was immaculately spare. Burstein is legendary because she was the first to import Ralph Lauren, Missoni and Comme des Garçons to the UK. She also showcased the graduate collections of John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. Photograph: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images Europe
Next season there will be bags and then there will be rucksacks. Basically, you’ll need one. Luckily there are lots coming this autumn for men – Burton has a great military-style version, while Mulberry’s sleek black number is called Henry. For an instant fix, though, you’ll struggle to find a better one than this canvas khaki style by APC, which is being sold at menswear store Ideology in Sheffield. FYI: its website is really smashing and well worth immediate perusal.
£175, ideologyboutique.co.uk Photograph: PR
This pair of shoes from Next is rather like an exclamation point for your outfit. A zing of yellow suede peeptoe with a slash of metallic green around the inside of the ankle strap makes them well racy. Actually, it has been drawn to the Briefing’s attention that if you’re after a high-street shoe with designery leanings, you’d be hard-pushed to better Next right now. Check out the cobalt blue booties too . . .
£40, next.co.uk Photograph: PR
Sarah Brown left Downing Street in a beautiful teal dress by London-based designer Osman Yousefzada – the one pictured here is available in July, so you have time to save. Known for a combination of precision tailoring and elegant draping, the Osman label first appeared in spring 2006, and has also been worn by Kate Moss and Thandie Newton. On Friday, London’s Victoria & Albert museum will showcase Yousefzada’s work as part of its Fashion in Motion series, at a free fashion show.
To book tickets call 020-7942 2820. Prices start at £250 for tops, £500 for dresses, brownsfashion.com Photograph: PR
