Stephen Jones Design Competition

Are you a milliner in the making? Or maybe you are a creative type who would like to showcase your talents and expand your knowledge of this exciting and flamboyant art? Well top milliner Stephen Jones is inviting designers to submit a photograph or illustration of their originally designed hat for the chance to be part of Hats: An Anthology, an exhibition hosted by the Bard Graduate Center in New York City. The exhibition is a collaboration between Stephen Jones and the V&A and has already attracted thousands of visitors at its London and Brisbane showcases. The successful participant will not only have their design shown as part of the New York exhibition from September 2011 to April 2012, they will also receive:

-          A two week internship with Stephen Jones in London (accommodation and return travel are the responsibility of the winner)

-          Two tickets to the opening night part of Hats: An Anthology at the Bard Graduate Center in New York City on the 14^th of September 2011 (accommodation and return travel are the responsibility of the winner)

-       Signed copy of Stephen Jones’ book Hats: An Anthology

-       One year membership to the V&A in London

-       Global exposure by having their design featured on stephenjonesmillinery.com and Vogue.com.

This is a real money-can’t-buy-prize and it offers enthusiastic up and coming milliners the chance to really kick-start their careers with the best in the business. Stephen Jones is judging the entries alongside Dolly Jones, Editor of Vogue.com and has given a hint into what he is looking for - “Hats are the exclamation mark of an outfit, let’s hope we get some strong statements!”

Submission Deadline: August 11, 2011

Voting Starts: August 12, 2011

Voting Ends: August 18, 2011

Winner Announcement: August 26, 2011

For more info visit www.talenthouse.com

Orelia Jewellery

Here at Amazing PR we love to make new discoveries and we’re thrilled to have found the affordable, on-trend and eclectic jewellery range from Orelia. The brand has been developed by Louisa and Collette (two very savvy ex-high street jewellery buyers) who together have scoured the world, from Bangkok to St Tropez, mixing and matching semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystal and beautiful charms to create these amazing collectable pieces. * Our top tip *: Log-on now to get an astonishing 75% off their Summer collection here. Although most of the summer sales have now finished (a bit depressing at not quite the end of July...) and the high street is already ushering in their new A/W collections. We suggest that before thinking about purchasing your new midi length skirt or filling your wardrobe with varying shades of red that you check out Orelia's new A/W transitional collection. Jewellery is a much more versatile update as well as being a lot gentler on the purse.  These clever girls have secured their collections into the nationwide flagship stores for Topshop - in fact this very week they are busy putting in their fabulous A/W pieces. We particularly like this Shanade Tusk & Cabochon Charm Bangle (£45.00).

I CAN make shoes

For small feet like mine, finding a pair of adorable shoes that fit can be a long and frustrating process. For flats and trainers I often find myself resorting to the kids department, but how many pairs of killer heels am I going to find shopping there?? (sadly I don’t have Suri Cruise’s budget for customising shoes!). Even more of a pain, when I eventually get a size 2, I find that everyone on the street is usually sporting an identical pair – I am craving a bit of individuality! Well today, I found my fashion solution from I CAN make shoes. I CAN make shoes provides shoe making workshops that teach everything you need to make your own fabulous footwear. You can create your unique shoes for everyday wear as well as for weddings and parties. They also offer an up-cycling workshop for redecorating, re-soling and re-heeling old shoes/boots that you have fallen out of love with to bring them bang up to date. Definitely a fun and economic option that the Amazing PR team loves! From years of successful shoe making experience, Amanda, our shoe making mentor, has developed modern methods to make shoes of high quality without use of heavy machinery. Shoe lovers no longer need to lament their small/big feet since now you can create your own custom made designs with I CAN make shoes. Even more excitingly, special sandal making workshops are now available for Londoners over the summer.

Workshops details and booking are available on their website.

The Artful Bag

What is it that they say: “You can never be too thin or too rich…” However, for me the saying continues with “…and a girl can never have too many handbags." The Artful Bag makes some truly dazzling crystal encrusted clutch bags but all at a fraction of the price of other designer crystal bags.  They start from an affordable £59 and range up to a more pricey £599. These clutches are fun and original allowing you to add a bit of your own personality to whatever your given outfit might be. This newcomer and best kept glamour-bag secret, is the brain child of the talented designer/founder Rinku Banga . She told me “I’ve always had a passion for gorgeous handbags  and I saw a gap in the market for 'affordable' crystal clutches. After all as not everyone has lots of ££ to spend on the likes of a Judith Leiber.”

The Silver Skulls clutch featured above is priced at £199 and is one of our favourite clutches. It is a metal skull cage design with a silver leather insert and a soft satin lining. There is a good weight to this clutch and each skull has been encrusted with crystal so there is no front or back to this bag it’s just skulls all over.  We like to think that it is a bit like us  - edgy but elegant!

Something that I find very charming about The Artful Bag is that they believe in the old adage ‘If gifting a purse or wallet, put a penny in for good luck’ So every customer receives a free gift inside each of their bags (and no I’m not going to tell you what – you’ll just have to wait and see!)

The Artful Bag is offering FREE shipping for any customers who contacts them after placing an order and mentions AMAZING PR. Get your arm candy here.

Villages of Hope Bra Bank Initiative

Here at Amazing PR we love an excuse to go shopping and what better reason than donating all our old bras to a good cause meaning we have a legitimate excuse to go and buy pretty new underwear?! I’m sure all woman have at least a few unwanted or off-white bras hanging around at the back of the chest of drawers that we have either outgrown or got bored of and will never see the light of day again. And let’s face it, as much as we may love the comfort and durability of our 3-year-old no nonsense bras sometimes we need to have a good old spring clean.

Until the 1^st July (so be quick!) charity initiative 'Bra Bank' is encouraging women to donate their old and unwanted bras to send to remote villages in Kenya and Zimbabwe through the charity Villages of Hope to give those in need a little physical support and comfort with the help of a pre-loved bra. The Villages of Hope charity provides food, education and healthcare to needy communities, and the bras will be donated to women there, so they have the physical support they need while working their land and looking after their children. By donating old lingerie you will be able to help communities across the world in a practical way and know that after the vital support the bra has given you, it can go on to help someone else. Any bras not shipped to Africa will be recycled by BCR Textiles who pay £1 per kilo for bras collected and send a cheque directly to the Breast Cancer Campaign (www.breastcancercampaign.org).

Bra Bank are asking for any style of bra (preferably not too sexy or see-through) and any size, especially very large or very small sizes (maternity or nursing bras are fine). Please wash all bras before donating them and check the straps and clasps are in working order and there are no rips or tears. Please note they are only collecting bras, so no knickers/other lingerie.

Go to www.bracollect.co.uk to find your nearest Bra Bank or send your unwanted bras to:

Bra Bank

c/o The Orchid Group

Park Mill

Burydell Lane

Park Street

St Albans

AL2 2HB