The Convenience Store

read moreAfter I set up The Convenience Store, some of my friends asked why I'd chosen its name, after all, having a tailored outfit made from scratch isn't very convenient, especially when you compare it to popping down to the high street and picking something ready made off the shelf. Believe me, the irony isn't lost on me! However, I firmly believe that I am actually offering the most convenient option. Any woman who has ever had to trail around from shop to shop trying on outfit after outfit for an important occasion, being disappointed every time will tell you that there's nothing convenient about that.

read moreAll too often, we find the perfect dress for a special occasion but discover that the sleeves are too long, the neckline is too low, or the shoulders are too wide - a common problem when buying off the peg. Although we have to thank the ready to wear industry for bringing affordable clothing to the public, we all know that one size doesn't fit everyone. One woman who wears a size 10 will not have the same body shape as another woman who takes the same size, and that's why more people are starting to return to customised tailoring.

read moreAs a practising fashion designer it's important that I stay up to date with current trends and what the biggest fashion houses in the world are doing. Keeping up with upcoming styles is key to staying on the ball when it comes to designing beautiful clothing, and knowing how to adapt the catwalk looks for a mainstream audience is essential. Many people make the mistake of thinking that the clothes we see on the catwalk at the biggest fashion shows of the year have been designed for everyday wear, and quite often, customers say to me "who on Earth would wear that dress!"

read moreRecently, I've had a number of clients who have asked me to design dresses for them based on a world clothing theme. Over the last few months, for example, one client came to request a kimono-style dress for a Japanese themed anniversary party, while another came for an Indian themed outfit that would be appropriate for attending a Hindu wedding. While I relished these opportunities, which allowed me to try my hand at something completely different and to exercise my creativity, I was concerned that my designs should not be offensive to the communities and cultures from which I was borrowing my ideas.

read moreSo, here is my guide to formal event invitations, and what you should and shouldn't wear to each type of occasion. You can also find my suggestions for how to avoid an embarrassing fashion faux pas. When you receive an invitation to a "black tie" event, this means that you will be attending an evening occasion at which the men will be wearing tuxedos and women should be wearing an appropriately formal gown. A black tie event is one of the most formal dress codes, and is common at society weddings, balls and galas.

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read moreAlthough we haven't yet come to the end of 2017, the fashion world is always 10 paces ahead of the rest of society. Already, well known designers have been releasing their concepts for the Spring/Summer 2018 season, and, believe it or not, I've already had customers asking me what I advise for formal wear for next year's black tie events. While it's difficult to judge precisely what is going to be in style in over 6 months' time, I've been looking through the releases from the top fashion houses and I'm going to hazard my guesses at the hot formal looks for 2018.