New York City: Brooklyn

Where: NYC Brooklyn
When: 27.12.13
Why: New Years Adventure

As per tradition, the H and I boarded a plane in Frankfurt and headed off to explore a different country/city for our new year holidays. 2013/2014 New York City!

Day 1 saw us staying at a friends apartment in Brooklyn and we decided to view Manhattan from this side before venturing over Brooklyn Bridge.

Armed with a sparkly new Samsung digital camera we explored the Dumbo area (Down Under the the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and discovered a multitude of super cool boutiques, bars and restaurants.

My recommendations...

• Retail Vintage Cool - Front General Store (143 Front St. Brooklyn) The ideal location to pick up a fantastic retro leather biker jacket or a pair of funky yet hard wearing boots. 
• Modern Anthology - a mix of menswear, homeware and gifts. A somewhat over zealous collection of  varied items but certainly worth exploring. www.modernanthology.com
• For some local Brooklyn talent do pop into Trunk. I particularly liked Radka Osickova's jewellery, a clever manipulation of wire and rather beautiful. www.trunkbrooklyn.com
• A nice spot for a glass of wine? We picked the 68 Jay St. Bar and weren't disappointed. 
• Essential eating, wander through a desolate landscape of warehouses and stumble into eaterie Vinegar Hill House www.vinegarhillhouse.com make sure you try a Fast Rascal possibly the best cocktail I have ever drunk! (Pear Brandy, Sloe Gin, Ginger and lemon) and the Red Wattle County Chop was perfection.

Enjoy!

Bis Gleich,

a

A Summer's Day

What to wear on a summer's day?

Edy & Bridge's fabulous Emi bow top of course!

Seen here worn with Edy & Bridge Tabitha tailored shorts, TopShop leather Belt and Pretty Ballerinas.

See May 14th Blog: Bow Selector for a blog about the Design duo behind the label.

What's your fave summer outfit?

Bis Gleich,
A

Mermaid Dreams of Anami & Janine

Established in 2005 by Anami & Janine, they have been producing two collections a year and since its start has gone from strength to strength. The girls met at Portobello Market where they both worked part time. Janine had just graduated from Cordwainers College where she had been studying accessories and Anami, who is self-taught, has been designing and producing small collections for ten years prior. Their love of vintage clothing was their drawing point, and with their own unique and individual styles, began designing small capsule collections of vintage inspired dresses.

Those who love a sense of quirkiness with a strong feminine touch covet their unique pieces. And that would certainly include me! I met Janine at Spitalfields Market about 8 years ago and have watched the company grow in confidence year upon year. As such it is a real pleasure to add these gorgeous printed dresses to our rails and to be able to offer our customers something so special.

Anami & Janine dresses have appealed to women as diverse as musicians Regina Specktor and Florence Whelch, celebrity Danni Minogue, tv presenters Fearne Cotton and Holly Willoughby, actresses Julia Stiles, Sharon Horgan and Neve Campbell,  royalty Laura Parker Bowles and novelist/journalist Rachel Johnson. Accentuating the feminine shape, Anami & Janine's aim is to design for all shapes and sizes. Their dresses make you feel feminine and sexy, their forte is undoubtedly the wrap dress but with each season brings new shapes and  feminine prints.

Florance Welch wearing an Anami & Janine Design

Whatever your style their ultra-versatile items are the sartorial solution that will suit all types of women and will fit effortlessly into your wardrobe. When you find the perfect style for you, you'll be wearing it from the office to the party and everywhere in between.

Mermaid Scallop Wrap Dress 115€

My favourite for this season: The Mermaid Scallop Wrap Dress embodies all that is feminine. 

An updated take on our classic wrap pleat. The mermaid print arouses visions of a summer’s day with angelic mermaid swimming in a myriad of sea turtles, seahorses, and starfish in a colourful seascape pattern. The cut of this dress ensures that all your best assets will be complimented while your least best camouflaged. The London Assembly love the chic 3/4 length sleeves - and the fact it works equally well with flats or heels. Feminine scalloping around the arm and neck with a concealed tie in the bust allows you to control the depth of opening. A must have staple for any stylish women’s wardrobe. Available in 5 tropical colourways tangerine, black, ice creme, sea green, grey. Machine wash 30 degrees. 100% viscose crepe de chine. 

In our humble opinion Anami and Janine's dresses are an investment and should be on every girl's wish list.

Bis Gleich,

A

Wardrobe staples: The White Shirt

The Shirt Company is the latest addition to the London Assembly's product portfolio. With the aim of providing a collection of garments that can take our customer from the office to a party, these shirts have just enough twist to be note worthy wardrobe essentials. 

Penelope Shirt 95€

The Shirt Company was created with an aesthetic regard to the purity of the white shirt. - Which, in addition to its pivotal role in any closet, symbolises life stripped to its essentials. As designer and The Shirt Company’s Principal, Donna Middleton has dedicated herself to providing a luxurious product that’s innovative, radiates quality and embodies the quest for effortless style and simplicity.

A chameleon, the perfect white shirt comes in many guises, all of which have certain things in common. The perfect shirt fits well. Its sleeves are long and well shaped, its top button thoughtfully positioned. Its colour is a bright, complexion flattering white. The fact that it is made well -  and made to last -  goes without saying.

The devastatingly minimalist Penelope Shirt (above right) is a dress shirt as simple as it is effective. The pin-tucked front panels and stand collar of the Penelope create a very contemporary sort of grandeur. Wear with a tuxedo jacket, glossy stilettos and a hard case clutch.

Amelia Shirt 65€

My other favourite from the collection is the lovely Amelia shirt, which is a wardrobe staple that oozes minimalism and will work with almost anything.  It has an easy fit with a concealed front placket giving off a thoroughly contemporary look.  It can be worn loose or neatly tucked into trousers and skirts. It features a pleat in the back yoke seam which gently flairs out to the hem. 

Think Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday - a crisp, white, collared shirt is iconic, elegant and timeless. The shirts are manufactured entirely from fine Italian shirting fabric in a century old factory in the north of Italy. The panels, collars and cuffs are ingeniously brought together with diagonal and horizontal pin-tucks, frills, ruffles and pleats to create the most simple of classic shirts to the most flamboyant ones.

 

Every season the white shirt features in countless editorials as the essential wardrobe piece, and these lovelies from The Shirt Company have finally filled that gap in my wardrobe. Now if I could just find the perfect black tuxedo suit, I'd be happy ;-)

Bis gleich,
xx
A

Mari & The Sow's Ear

If you really want something unique, ethical and beautifully constructed then you need look no further than Mari Hughes the super talented designer behind the Sow's Ear label. From an icy studio just outside of Brighton, this clever lady's imagination knows no bounds. She sources vintage fabrics from all over the UK in-order to create eco-couture master pieces.

The London Assembly is ecstatic to have stumbled across such talent and is really excited to be the exclusive Germany stockists of a selection of her beautiful one-off pieces.

 This beautiful wedding dress is made from vintage lace, & is bias cut for a super flattering fit.

more images to follow plus an interview with the designer herself,

bis gleich,

xx

A

(Photography by Manel Ortega)

How to be a Stylish Wedding Guest

Stylish Ladies & a Baby Bump at my Wedding!

Wedding Season is truly upon us!

From now till the end of August there is simply no point trying to arrange to see my girlfriends at the weekends because they are going to be at someones wedding!

This year I'm looking forward to two sets of Germany based nuptials, a wedding extravaganza near Estepona, Spain and an Orthodox Belorussian Blessing. But what to wear to these very different events? Since I know I will feature in a few photos there is no way I can get away with wearing the same outfit to each wedding and as they are very different styles of event, I wouldn't want to anyway.

THE LONDON ASSEMBLY has been busy mulling over this problem and we are happy to bring to you some fabulous and versatile wedding guest outfit options!

Nancy Mac is a UK-based boutique womenswear label run by two sisters that offers beautiful garments with a gorgeous vintage twist.

Designed to flatter, Nancy Mac dresses and stand-alone separates are cut with care from luxurious fabrics and unique prints.

Every piece in the range is inspired by the belief that true style stands the test of time. Nancy Mac love making beautiful yet affordable clothes that you will want to wear and keep in your wardrobe forever.

• This gorgeous outfit is the lovely Kristen dress in pink and teal 190€ available in sizes 36-44
• Worn with the Fine-knit Belle shrug 60€ with detachable corsages trimmed with a choice of fabrics available in sizes s-m & m-l
• Fits perfectly with the Kristen & Olivia lace dresses or dressed down with jeans. 

Do you already have a suitable dress but need to add something fresh to it? 

How about this sumptuous thirties style Georgette Silk Shrug? 

Seen here in Poppy Print this Georgette Silk Shrug 120€ is perfect over black or dressed down with simple skirt or jeans and a camisole. This is a perfect accent piece for elegant lounging, parties or travels. 

Also available in Amethyst Fleur pinterest.com/Amethyst and Butterfly Print pinterest.com/pin

My personal favourite is the Olivia Dress 180€ and this certainly proved very popular with the guests at my Fashion, Wine & Gossip Event

Just like the Kristen dress it is currently available in Soft Black, Reef & Teal, Moth & Pink and as seen below in Blue Pearl available in sizes 36-44

 

What are you planning to wear to your next wedding? Comments welcome below.

Contact me via www.facebook.com/TheLondonAssembly for orders or enquiries.

The Inaugural London Assembly Fashion, Wine and Gossip Evening

Next event next week! Wednesday 29th May....

Happy Shoppers!

Where: Sachsenhausen, Frankfurt
What: A Spring/Summer Fashion Preview

When I ran my own fashion label called Oluremi in London, I used to organise fashion, wine and gossip evenings (Name inspired by the popular US tv programme at the time Gossip Girl). These evenings involved  inviting my friends and clients to my home for wine and nibbles and a private view of my clothing and accessories collections. They were hugely successful as well as popular and so I thought I should bring the concept with me to Frankfurt.

Wednesday 30th April brought together a select group of ladies for a special preview of some fabulous British womenswear and accessories. Marvin Browne's African Print 100% cotton dresses were particularly popular Blog: Print Practice as were Gonsalves and Hall's super soft, light wool coats If-its-good-enough-for-Zoey and Edy and Bridge's Emi Bow tops Bow-Selector.

Lots of lovely dresses were tried on and modelled for us by our fabulous guests and THE LONDON ASSEMBLY would like to say a huge thanks for everyone who came out on a rather rainy evening to get involved we sincerely hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did! See you again very soon! More exciting stock is already on it's way for your shopping pleasure!

xx
Amy Silberzahn & The London Assembly

We are already looking forward to the next event on Wednesday 29th May.

Showcasing fantastic new designs from Nancy Mac, Gonsalves & Hall & Enienay.

Have you  got your invite?
 It's not too late, join us at www.facebook.com/TheLondonAssembly and PM for details...

Print Practice

Marvin Browne certainly has an eye for print and this cotton dress is ideal for summer; it's super flattering and really comfortable. I love the colour combination and the bold print. With limited availability don't miss out on yours, exclusively available in Germany from The London Assembly. Welcome Note

Th Contrast Collar Necklace is cute & quirky and made from perspex, wood and leather on a black metal chain by Typical Freaks. A very talented designer with a strong creative mind. Her latest collection has a Navarjo vibe, other designs include the Black Tribal Pyramid Necklace which goes with everything. See my blog: the-first-days-of-spring.for a pic.

• Purple Swirl Print dress by Marvin Browne
• Burgandy Leggings from American Apparel
• Vintage Cowboy Boots from Absolute Vintage (London)

Are you brave enough for a summer of bold print?

comment below...

Bis Gleich,

xx
A

If it's good enough for Zoey...

Alongside the fact that the US sitcom New Girl, in which she stars, is hysterically funny, Zoey Deschanel also has fabulously good taste.

Zoey was spotted wearing this fabulous coat with an asymmetric button placket and patterned buttons by Gonsalves and Hall 

 

And as is the luck, The London Assembly are happy to announce that we are exclusively the Germany based stockists, so don't miss out, order yours now! 

Updated for Spring/Summer 2013 in Maritime Blue and Weak Tea Tan, this coat is available in sizes 10 - 16. (EU 38 - 44).

A lightweight wool coat is also available for those chillier evenings in a similar style with spring floral buttons in Dove Grey, Charcoal, Oatmeal and Maritime Blue.

Come back soon for an exclusive interview with Diana Gonsalves herself.

Bis Gleich,

xx

A

Bow Selector

According to Vogue, fashion has gone loopy for beautifully tied details, and I couldn't agree more with Naomi Smart (British Vogue Spy, May Edition)

My relationship with bows has never been an easy one, as quite frankly I am utterly inept at tying them! Even my shoe laces end up in a huge messy knot that never stay done up! However, the bow is indeed unashamedly feminine and when tied just right do indeed look ravishing.

This summer, bows are having a moment, Meadham Kirchhoff, Christopher Kane and even Lanvin showed enormous soft, floppy bows so why not get into the look with one of these beauties by Edy & Bridge.

Design duo, Jenni & Michael are the creative minds behind Edy & Bridge. From their studio in East London garments are designed, imagined and created.

This sweetly named Emi vest has a classic feel, it has a large floral bow with vintage cream trimmings. Easy to wear, works well teamed with a skinny denim jeans.

• The vest shape is flattering, fitted under the arm and flared over the waist.
• It's made from a soft polyester chiffon and is machine washable.
• This lovely top is available in, Navy, Cream and Seashell pink spot fabric,

I'm really excited about working with this clever duo. It brings me much pleasure to offer such lovely garments to my clients and even more to collaborate with friends. Join our family: https://www.facebook.com/TheLondonAssembly

Bis Gleich,

xx
A