Fashion with a Conscious

Coral Turner Couture Original

By Coral Turner

By this time, you have all heard of the tragedy that took place in Bangladesh where a clothes manufacturing building collapsed, killing 1,129 people. The tragedy sparked worldwide condemnation about the shoddy business practices that ultimately led to the deaths of so many innocent people. But, in the aftermath, this incident has also sparked questions regarding the link between cheap fashion and worker safety.

Coral Turner Couture Original

There are many who love the thrill of bargain shopping. They are the great hunters who find the best deals on pickles, socks and all other things consumable; nothing wrong with that in theory, who doesn’t love a bargain?  But the question now becomes ‘who is really paying the price so you can get an £8.00 hoodie for your teenage son?’

I’m not a huntress. But that goes with the territory of being a couture designer—and working in the fashion houses, I began to realize that a deal is not actually a deal. It really means that someone else is not getting paid or is working in deplorable conditions.

Coral Turner Couture Original

The United Kingdom was once infamous for garments made to a high standard, in terms of workmanship, fabrics and finish. You only had to mention the names of certain key players and they were synonymous with workmanship of pedigree.

Coral Turner Couture Original

I appreciate that it is just not UK retailers that outsource their garment manufacturing to developing countries—the United States, Canada, France and many more do as well, but as a consumer, you do have a say on whether or not you will support substandard working conditions for those who work in developing countries. It is a question for your conscience. It is question for all of us because these people also manufacture our Smartphones, furniture, golf clubs, etc.

Coral Turner Couture Original

My heart goes out to those families who are left to pick up the pieces from a tragedy that was based on profit first, people somewhere down the line - eventually.  It is a shame it took the lives of so many people before it became an issue.

Coral Turner Couture Original

I want to assure you that my clothes are handmade by me, including all the embellishment work. I source my fabrics from ethical manufacturers. My clothes have a price attached to them to reflect the quality of workmanship, the fabric and the couture design. In my time on this planet and in good conscious I  work at being part of the solution to those things I see that ail humanity, equally I have strong beliefs in providing a luxury product that will last forever.

Style Tips For Your Summer Get A Away.

By Coral Turner, Couture Fashion Designer

As we spring into summer, it is the time when most of us, hopefully, will be jetting off to some exotic, romantic, or adventurous land to relax, rejuvenate, and even a learn a thing or two about a different culture. However, packing for our adventures has become more difficult, with tight controls on luggage weight, additional and expensive baggage fees, and increased airport security. That is why my one-of- kind jersey couture designs are ideal for your travel needs.

It is great to look stylish while in transit, but avoid wearing jewelry and heavy accessories. Keeping accessories to a minimum will make going through the airport security checkpoints much easier. Moreover, keep your clothing options limited to fabrics that will breathe and move with your body and that won’t become a wrinkled mess after you sit for a few hours like a jersey fabric (that I happen to use).

When selecting your wardrobe for your trip, you will need to ensure that they are suitable to the type of trip which is obvious. If you are doing an African safari, you are going to want clothes that are light, and airy. If you are doing a museum tour through the South of France, you will want your look to be more sophisticated and tailored. If you are taking a cruise on a cruise line like Silver Seas, you are going to need to need a formal attire. Silver Seas’ dinners are formal and require formal attire for dinner. In the case of Silver Sea where there are no more than 250 people on the ship, you will need a dress for every evening. If you are traveling on a guided tour, you should expect at least one evening of formal dressing for dinner.

Rosetta

This is why I love jersey fabrics. You can create formal dresses like Rosetta or Russian Doll that can be worn to any formal dinner. And what makes them ideal  is they are easy to pack. Further, if you need to wear the garment twice, they can be hand washed in a basin and hung to dry. I am would love to assist you in developing your wardrobe. 

Russian Doll

Then there is the bathing suit—usually torture for most women when it comes to buying one. If this is the case, I strongly recommend that you go to a place that sells bathing suits and understands body shapes. For the rest of you, my quick style tips are as follows:

• If you are curvy, you want to look at bathing suits that have subtle ruching that will accentuate your curves.

• If you are petite, you want to see high-cut bottoms to give your legs length. 

• A bikini is appropriate for a tall girl, to break up the long torso. Don’t forget to get that perfect cover up. 

I personally like sheer, large, rectangular scarves in complementing colours to a bathing suit. They can be tied at the bust line and draped or folded in half and then tied around your hips to cover your buttocks and upper thighs. All you need after that is a great pair of sandals, a marvelous hat, and effective sunscreen to be ready for your beach or poolside vacation.

Whether you spend your holidays at home or traveling abroad, I would love to help you in your wardrobe planning and make you fall in love with the versatility of jersey fabrics and couture design. Don't forget to shop at my online store.

Have a safe and wonderful summer! 

Fashion Mistakes That Make Your Curves Look Hefty: Fashion tips for the full figure woman.

By Coral Turner, Couture Fashion Designer

Naturally, you want to look beautiful. Looking hefty, however, means that you are not meeting your objective. The words, hefty, bulky, sturdy and solid best describe a powerful horse rather than an attractive woman.    As a couture designer, I work with models that are ‘model’ thin but I work with clients who are all shapes and sizes.  And, you don’t need to be ‘model’ thin to look beautiful in my couture fashions or someone’s designs.  I have written an article for tips for plus size women, this article is for the woman who is built like Kim Kardashian i.e. full figured.  

Clothing size 

Wearing clothes that are too large or small will result in you looking heavy and large. Tight clothing clings to every fold and crease of your body and baggy clothing hangs on you as though you are a lampshade. Clothes that fit you, however, make you look curvaceous and attractive.  I know I have talked about fit before but as a couture designer, I cannot tell you how it drives me crazy to see an ill-fitted garment on a woman, because it takes away from her beauty.

Colours 

A mishmash of colours will afford you the appearance of a patchwork quilt, which surely is not the look you are aiming for. Wise women know that wearing the same colour from tip to toe is slimming. Notice, I’m not saying to wear all black.  You can wear colour-bright and bold beautiful colours. To inject an accent colour to contrast the outfit use accessories rather than your main outfit. 

Stripes 

As a rule of thumb, wide horizontal stripes make you look wide, and thin horizontal stripes do not make you look either wide or slim. Vertical stripes can make you look tall and thin. However, use them sparingly, as they can be overwhelming especially if you are a petite woman. 

Skinny jeans and low-rise 

Skinny, low-rise jeans look fabulous on skinny women with short waists. Full figure  women, however, look hefty and chubby in them. If you want to look thin, wear boot-cut, medium-rise jeans, they also make your legs look shapely.

Waistbands 

Elastic waistbands are your enemy. If you want to create a slimmer look, avoid them at all costs. Thick waistbands that sit just above your hips but not around your actual middle are beneficial. 

Footwear 

Ankle boots suit women with delicate, small ankles. In addition, shoes and sandals with ankle straps only suit women with thin ankles. Long boots and peep-toe shoes with heels are comparatively favourable. 

Accessories 

As laughable as it might sound, carrying a small bag will make you appear large. Carrying a large bag will have the opposite effect. Additionally, the same applies with regard to belts and jewelry. Wear a large belt and a big, long necklace in order to look small. It is about ensuring that everything is proportional to your size.

It is actually the one thing that drives me crazy about the Duchess of Cambridge style.  She always carries these dainty little clutches and they are not proportioned to her size. For me, she looks like she is carrying a cell phone case not a purse.  Often, the clutches she carries are a stunning accessory but they are overshadowed by her and her outfit.

You do not have to look hefty when you can make your curves attractive by avoiding the pitfalls described above.  Of course, I am happy to design and create your ideal garment for your special occasion.  And I will even help give you suggestions on what undergarments will suit it best as well as accessories and footwear tips.    

Inspiration for My Designs-What makes this Couture Designer Tick!

By Coral Turner, Couture Designer

I have often been asked what inspires my designs.  I am not sure I have a simple answer for that question, but I will try to answer it.

Besides having a passionate need to express myself, I have a desire to create garments that pioneer a different aesthetic from the norm and are reinterpretations of designs from the past.  I wish to create garments that are comfortable, sexy and gorgeous.  I appreciate the fact that every other couture designer has probably professed similar desires.

I am influenced by both past and present designers.  If you follow my Facebook page, you have seen many of them.  Further, surrealist art and expressionist influences take shape in my work.  In my designs, you will see elements in unexpected juxtaposition and the use of fabrics and colours to add boldness.  You will note that I have incorporated Elizabethan-like collars (long before Alexander McQueen decided to use them in his collection this year) along with kimono-style sleeves.

Culture and history are important to any designer, whether for the design of clothes or buildings.  I am no different, as I have a love for vintage clothing from the early nineteenth century to the present.  In my collection, you will see graphic prints on mini dresses inspired by ’60s fashion and formal suiting with strong, structured shoulders reminiscent of the ’30s and ’40s.  I also love Asian-inspired designs, and strong elements of it are evident throughout my collection.

Nature has taught me to mix textures like in a beautiful wild garden.  My designs are hand embellished with sequins, beads, leather, metallic threads and contrasting linings.

I pursue those moments when ideas flow effortlessly and creativity is a cherished companion.  I believe in and surrender to the creative process as it unfolds.  I let the fabric and colours speak to me as I create something that will have lasting value and a unique point of view for a garment.

I imagine the woman who will wear the garment.  Is she queen-like?  Is she more like a princess?  Is she an entrepreneur?  A scientist?  Will she dance in the garment?  Will she work in the garment?  Will she attend a red carpet event?  Who will see her?  Will it be her beloved?  An old boyfriend who dumped her thirty years ago and whom she is going to see at her high school reunion?

And so the process goes—an endless cycle of imagination, ideas and concepts that manifest as dresses, skirts, tops and pants that I know you will love because they are one-of-a-kind garments and exclusive, just for you.

You may purchase one of my inspired creations through my online store or contact me at 020 7732 7528 for a private consultation.

Plus Size Fashion Tips by Coral Turner, Couture Fashion Designer

By Coral Turner, Couture Fashion Designer

It seems everywhere you look: there are skinny fashion models sporting the latest looks and designs. It can be frustrating to those who do not fit into the ultra-skinny clothes that seem to be the rage. In fact, the majority of us are not 5’10’ and 110lbs.  Recently, I gained a new customer after I posted a picture of my mother who is not the skinny model type wearing one of my designs.  My mother is elegant, regal and curvvy which is like the majority of women.  I was surprised when the customer stated to me she was surprised that I dressed curvvy women.  As a couture fashion designer, I design for women of all shapes and sizes.  Style does not see size or age.

However, I wanted to give you a few fashion tips on dressing if you do have a plus size figure.

• Wear the size that fits your body. If your clothing is too big, it only makes your body look bigger. If it is too small, then it will amplify curves and will make you feel uncomfortable. Being uncomfortable in a garment will show, even if you think you look fantastic. 

• Shoulder pads are in if you are a plus size woman. They look fabulous and give you more confidence in your walk. Do not worry about what the fashion bloggers say about them. Wear them with pride. 

• Get a tailor to fine-tune your clothes. If that blazer does not quite button up at the front, and the next size up looks like it would fit two of you, a tailor will be able to adjust it, so it is just right and looks terrific. 

• Forget the rules the magazines state you must follow. You can wear horizontal stripes, bright colours, and short skirts. Just make sure they fit properly and go with your body style. 

• Black is a colour that goes with everything and looks fabulous. Remember, you are not a funeral director, so add a splash of colour to the black. There is no sense in being mistaken for a high school Goth Queen while you are at work. 

• Chub-Rub is something a plus size woman has to deal with, but you do not have to cure it with a pair of matching spandex shorts. Start carrying a stick of deodorant, or some baby oil, and apply it to your inner thighs whenever the need arises. 

• Your undergarments should flatter what you are wearing. If your bra was white ten years ago but now looks beige, it is time to buy a new one. Let it go and get a bra that fits. A proper fitting bra will make you look better and feel better.

• Your outfit is not finished until you have a pair of shoes that compliment your outfit. A bright colour with a dark dress will make you and your outfit come alive. Just remember, if you cannot walk in heels do not wear them. There is nothing wrong with a good pair of flats to avoid making you walk like a wounded gazelle. 

• Try a different hair do. Do not be afraid to get a little crazy with some colour, or try a shorter look. Remember, you are not following the trends so celebrate a little. 

• Do not keep your sequined outfits hiding in the closet until you go out at night. They will work for you during the daytime as well as at night. Sequins will add a much-needed splash to your wardrobe that people will notice. They take the eyes off your curves and onto the sparkle. 

• Wear a belt to add some shape to your outfit. A belt can take that dress that simply hangs on you to one that looks like it was custom made just for you. 

Make this summer one that changes your life by changing your fashion. Do not follow the rules and trends of starving fashion models. Start your own trend by following these tips and make a statement that people will notice and enjoy. Remember, if wearing it makes you feel good inside, then it will reflect in the way you wear it, giving you more confidence in yourself, and your fashion. 

And I am always available for consultation if you want to design a piece that is one-of-a-kind, perfectly tailored, never to be repeated creation.