WE HAVE MOVED!

Please join us at our new blog where we I will be updating further ramblings, as well as our core CT team, Ben, Katie and Lissi... Essentially its all the same but the blog is now integrated into our website - fancy! See you on the other side x

AW14 DESIGN TRIP

With chaos of the new shop and our new offices being underneath, I decided to skip over the channel last week to Brittany to focus on next season.

Its always a time of mixed emotions. You have thrown the last few months into one collection - designing, toiling, adjusting, product development, fabric development, selling it and the photographing it and then BOOM - start again.

It feels a bit mean sometimes - like you have grown close to a person and then suddenly, its time to move on. Its always exciting but at first you are torn. This is why I often find it good to get away. It gives me time away from the distractions of the studio, time to get inspired and time to move on.

Brittany, I feel has been the most successful trip in doing all three of theses things ever.

My initial romance with Brittany began last year when i visited on a mini break with my man. His family have converted an old warehouse in the village of Dournanez, near Brest and the place is frankly magical.

As I got off the plane and we began our car journey towards the village, the superlative began,  alongside constant elaborate declarations of LOVE for northern France, and these feelings have only grown in time.

So the seed was planted and a year later I returned, sketchbook and camera in hand for my new mission - Autumn / Winter 2014 and I must say, the second my foot hit the French soil, I had forgotten Spring / Summer 14 in an instant, my mourning period reduced to zero - maybe I am getting cold hearted in my old age??

Before my trip I had been reading the epic tale that is "The Pillars of The Earth" which is set in medieval Britain and France and narrates around the building of a revolutionary Cathedral. This set me off on religion and also the ancient celtic heritage of Brittany. These are set to be large influencing factors in the new season as well as the port, landscape and people of Dournanez.

I was fortunate enough to arrive on the day of one of the biggest Pardons (religious event) of Brittany, where costumes are donned and ceremonies undertaken. Quite a spectacle.

The ancient cathedrals of Brittany are also breathtaking. Quimper is the most beautiful Cathedral city and I spent many an hour wandering its streets.

So what's in store - well I'm not 100% sure yet, but its a mix of the sea and fishing, celtic heritage and religion... eclectic as always but hopefully you'll be as spirited away as I was by Brittany.

Cxx

OUR NEW HOME

So we are IN - we have been at number 1 Ellis street now for the month of August and I must say it is lovely. With the whole excited chaos of getting the store ready in time for opening, we didn't take any time to contemplate our achievement and the enormity of the step we were taking into retail. It really is what dreams are made of and I still can't quite believe it!

Of course its scary - people ask me this all the time. BUT after the success of the pop up shop in the same area, the continual growth of the label over the past few years and our amazing follows; the fear factor is minimal. We have also been lucky enough to work with Cadogan Estates who have not attached a 10 year ball and chain lease to our merry feet. We have flexibility. Excellent.

Whenever I came to London as a northern outsider I was constantly lost and in awe of the place, if a little nervous. However, my biggest memory was going into all these wonderful stores and designers I had heard about, and feeling frankly, unwelcome. Snotty shop staff are still very much an epidemic in London, but this was never to be the case in my fictional CT shop.

As I dreamt as a youngster of my own store, i imagined having cups of tea with the locals and creating a buzzy store where everyone was welcome, even if they were not interested in buying.

So...guess what - this is what is happening now, and will do into the future.

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce Hannah - our shop manager - who is lovely, helpful and interested in helping YOU.

However - if at any point you do not feel welcome in CT shop - I expect a personal email, detailing why not.

With this in mind we are hoping to host a few fun monthly, weekly, annual events in store. A tea tasting morning (CTea mornings - i know its genius) - which will be my personal favourite (the tea addiction is as prevalent as ever) and then a proper opening / fashion week party....

We will post all details of future fun times on social media so don't worry - or if you're not already (shame on you) signed up to our mailing list then you can do so at the bottom of this post.

I hope to see some of you here and even if you can't make the events, don't worry - the store is still a lovely place to hang out and we have covered lots of cushions and seats in our prints too.

We are also adding in some new product as well over the next few months - smaller bits and bobs for presents etc so watch out for those. Exciting times! Cxx

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

Now - have a look around!

Bye bye pop up -­ Hello full time shop!

May and June 2013 saw some big changes in the CT camp. Our Pop Up on Sloane
square was a monumental step for the team and the reaction was just epic. We
had launch parties, closing parties, shopping parties and illustration
parties and not to mention all the wonderful people who popped in to show
their support. It is safe to say that when we closed the doors in June our
joyous smiles had turned upside down as we headed back to the sunny heights
of our Shepherds Bush studio, desperately missing the daily interaction
which our customers and vivacious buzz of the store. But wait Charlotte,
lets not be blue because we are only going and getting a PERMANENT store
from August 5th!!!!

HOLY MOLY MACARONI ­this is actually true and it is ACTUALLY happening.

What a journey so far and I would just like to thank everyone for your
support to us over the years. Its been an adventure and learning curve and
of course we have had our ups and our downs but I think we have managed to
top the ups with this one.

The shop will give us a creative outlet to display the collection our way
for the first time. We hope to continue to introduce lots of exciting new
products to satisfy your sartorial desires and we promise to have more
parties, more workshops and really lovely staff to welcome you to our home ­-
maybe even a pot of tea.

I will be back with further details on our plans and we will keep you
updated via all of our social platforms over the coming weeks and months so
make sure you are watching.

We can't wait to see you in the CHARLOTTE TAYLOR store in the upcoming
months ­TOOT! 

Cxx

CT POP UP: HOLLY MASLEN'S ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOP

Earlier this week, illustrator Holly Maslen (the painter of our AMAZING Pop Up wall) was kind enough to come down to 54 Sloane Square and conduct the most brilliant illustration workshop so, seeing as the shop isn't big enough to hold everybody who wanted to come, we thought we'd ask Holly to write about it too! So without further ado...

The CT Pop Up Shop, 54 Sloane Square

'On Monday evening I headed over to Charlotte Taylor's pop up shop on Sloane Square to host an interactive illustration workshop.  This event was a follow up based around the wall I painted in the shop a couple of weeks earlier.

I was absolutely delighted when I received an email from Charlotte inviting me to design a mural for the wall using key features taken from her current collection and interpreting them in my own style.  The wall took four days to paint and was ready just in time for the press launch which was held on Tuesday 7th of May.

Holly's wall in the CT Pop Up

I met Charlotte about five years ago through mutual friends on the Isle of Wight and I've followed her progress as she's steadily gained more and more recognition for her work in the fashion industry and, knowing her on a personal level, I was pleased to be given the opportunity to work with her professionally too.

I work exclusively in black and white because I'm interested in focusing on finding a balance between spaces occupied by ink as much as looking at the blank spaces which are created in-between the main design.  I love to draw mountains and scenes which have a Scandinavian feel to them.  

'Mountain Dreams'

I am also interested in learning more about Japanese aesthetics and have incorporated a particular Japanese practise into my latest book, Miyoko.  However, despite the Scandinavian and Japanese influences I seem to spend a lot of time drawing animals having completed a body of work for the Isle of Wight Zoo, and now the wall design for Charlotte which incorporates several of her animal prints.

Holly's amazing invite to the CT Pop Up Shop

On Monday evening Charlotte and I thought that a brief talk about her collection and my work and influences would be a good place to start, followed by some warming up exercises to get the creative juices flowing.  

I suggested that the group (there were 12 of us) should start by each drawing a random squiggle on a sheet of paper and passing it to the person on our right, the squiggle was then added to before being passed again.  

We continued to do this until our original doodle arrived back in front of us, having been added to by 11 others.... it was pretty interesting, and quite funny, to see what came out of this exercise.  

We repeated this exercise once more before moving on to creating our "Inspirational List".  I asked every one present to write down a word which we could then use as a group to illustrate.  Most of us used every word in our illustration, although some were quite abstract and challenging, such as "kaboom", "love" and "Spain" whilst others were just plain difficult, like "hippo".  One only realises that one has no real idea what a hippo looks like until confronted with the prospect of bringing one to life on paper! 

 Once we were all suitably limbered up creatively we set to work on decorating mugs and I loved the fact that every time I looked up there was nothing but total concentration on everyone's faces.  At the end of the session one participant exclaimed that she felt like she'd just finished a yoga class, we all got into the meditative creative zone together which was fantastic!

The finished article!

I really enjoyed my two stints at 54 Sloane Square, it was an absolute joy to work with Charlotte and Ben Taylor because they are creative, professional and great company, which is a rare mix!  I'm rather sad to be back on the Isle of Wight having had such a good time, but I'm busy preparing for my next visit to London when I'll be launching my illustrated book "Escargot Masquerade and Other Stories" which is being published by Freudian Scripts.  

I will be holding an exhibition of drawings relating to the book at Freud, on Shaftesbury Avenue, from the 2nd of July until the 28th....perhaps I'll see some of you there!'

If you want to see more of Holly's work visit her website hollyvmaslen.com

We've got more events coming up in the CT Pop Up shop so keep your eyes on our Twitter and Facebook pages for details.

CHARLOTTE TAYLOR POPS UP

Come and join us at our first ever pop up shop!

Open from 1st May - 7th June, we will be selling our spring/summer 2013 collection, including swimwear, as well as some exclusive pieces that will only be available in the store.

We'll be having multiple events throughout the five weeks, including talks with Charlotte, bloggers and industry insiders, as well as music and cocktail evenings so keep an eye on our Facebook page and Twitter for details. 

54 Sloane Square

London

SW1W 8AX 

Be there or be square

x

A WEEK IN CT #6 with Antonia O'Brien

This week we had A Week in Charlotte Taylor with a difference as we went on the road with fashion writer and presenter Antonia O'Brien, visiting her all over London as she wore her favourite pieces from the SS13 collection.

Job title: 

Fashion writer and TV Presenter 

  

 What's the best bit about your job?

Presenting live from the red carpet at the BAFTAs and Oscars; once you're live that's it, the adrenaline makes is brilliantly scary and exciting. 

  

 Favourite London haunts?

For delicious coffee and brunch, Providores on Marylebone High Street is perfect. For pizza and a killer Bloody Mary, go to Pizza East in Shoreditch, the only place to go on Sunday with a hangover.  

 What's on your iPod right now?

I've got both  Aluna George and Flume on repeat. 

 What's on your wishlist?

Shiny foil and metallic separates from Christopher Kane's A/W '13 - both chic and sci-fi.  

 Summer plans? 

I'm currently developing a TV show which will be going live in summer, so watch this space, and then Sonar festival in Barcelona with my boyfriend and friends. 

 What would you call a pet penguin?

Spiderman 

  

 And finally, what is your favourite piece from the CT SS13 collection?

I love the blue and white marble print mini skirt - such a cool flared cut.