THE DRG STYLE INDEX: BELLA FREUD, LOUIS VUITTON, THOMAS TAIT, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, PAT MCGRATH

Here’s the latest weekly DRG STYLE INDEX ranking, a round-up of the brands currently buzzing on my radar…

1. PAT MCGRATH LABS – ROUND TWO
pat mcgrath labs releases phantom 002 pigment and brush set
After the fanfare around Pat Mcgrath Labs’ Gold 001 pigment, it’s time for another drop. Tues 15th December sees the release of Phantom 002 – a set of five pigments and a black liner. To accompany, there are two tools – Blender brush 002 and Flat brush 002. They go on sale at noon at Patmcgrath.com and quantities are limited to 1200 sets. (Good luck with that.)


2. SPELL YOUR NAME WITH VUITTON’S PERSONALISED ALPHABET


Soooo into the Louis Vuitton alphabet jewellery collection and it’s accompanying ‘LV and Me’ sci-fi film (soundtracked by Amanda Lear, no less). Even better is making your own version here – just enter your name. (Here’s mine…)


3. THOMAS TAIT BOWS OUT OF LFW…

Thomas Tait bows out of London Fashion Week to show by appointment in Paris
Interesting times for London Fashion Week. After the news of both Hunter and Jonathan Saunders bowing out (Saunders is folding his company), Thomas Tait has announced he will focus on smaller appointments in Paris. I can see why. Shouty shows are better if you have big budgets and press prefer the intimacy (and elitism?) of a private up-close view. It means you can take the time to understand the collection better and talk to the designer.


4. …BUT ALEXANDER MCQUEEN RETURNS TO LONDON

alexander mcqueen ss16
Meanwhile, Alexander McQueen has announced it will show in London for Aw16 – for one season only. What’s brought this one on? “We wanted to look at doing something different for the season,” say McQueen, cryptically…


5. THE BELLA FREUD SHOP HAS OPENED

The Bella Freud store in Chiltern street has opened
Books, vinyl, knitwear and perfume – what’s not to love about Bella Freud’s new Chiltern Street shop? Throw her other fashion creations into the mix (it’s not all about jumpers you know), plus a secret garden, and this is a place you’ll want to linger in for a while.