Lingerie & Fashion in the French Riviera!

It's been an exciting few weeks on the French Riviera recently, with more than the usual amount of glamour surrounding us. First we had the 64th Cannes Film Festival which lasted for 2 weeks and brought us Brangelina, Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz amongst others. Followed closely by the Monaco Grand Prix where, amongst all the Formula One drivers etc etc (we're not that interested are we? We just want to know about the fashion) we saw bride-to-be Charlene Wittstock (aka Mrs Prince Albert II of Monaco-to-be) and Nicole Scherzinger (lady of Lewis Hamilton), both with suitably amazing wardrobes.

There were, of course, a fair amount of fashion and music events taking place during this time and a few of the designers showcasing their products that I was interested in, were Nichole de Carle, Ashley Paige and Lizzie Cundy as they were all promoting lingerie and swimwear.


Designer Spotlight 1!

Images courtesy of Nichole de Carle

Nichole de Carle is another De Montfort University contour fashion graduate (see my previous blog about Made by Niki - there are a few of us around!) and worked for  Alexander McQueen, Donna Karan and Pleasure State before starting her own lingerie brand. She presented her new collection near La Croisette, Cannes on a yacht overlooking the Bay of Cannes on Saturday 14th May with Fashion TV filming the entire event, backstage included!

Images courtesy of Nichole de Carle

She then held her second event  at the Amber Lounge in Monaco amidst the Grand  Prix on the 27th May surrounded by more yachts and glamour! Guests sipped cocktails while Taio Cruz performed live and the models graced the catwalk around him in Nichole's designs. Matthew Williamson also presented his latest collection at the same event which was hosted under the high Patronage of H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco in benefit for the Special Olympics.

Image courtesy of Ashley Paige

Designer Spotlight 2! 

Ashley Paige is a swimwear designer with the kind of principles I love. She left her hometown in Florida to move to L.A to start  her own swimwear design company, which she did and very successfully too. She created handknitted bikinis that were so popular that she won the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine in her first year of business and counts Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, Liv Tyler,Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton as clients. What I love is the way she uses her publicity and press spotlight to highlight the work she does for animal rescue having started a non-profit organisation called RuffHouZen Rescue which has rescued thousands of animals so far, she has also featured dogs  in her catwalk shows wearing t-shirts reading 'save a stray' and hosts weekly pet adoptions at her boutique/studio in Hollywood. I'd buy a bikini from her just for her principles and love of animals!

Images courtesy of Ashley Paige

Ashley showcased her latest collection at the Hotel Palais Stephanie in Cannes on  the 17th May on the rooftop terrace of the hotel in front of high profile guests, celebrities and VIPs.

Images courtsey of Sandstorm Boutique

Designer spotlight 3!

Images courtesy of Sandstorm Boutique

And finally Lizzy Cundy who is an ex-footballers wife and has designed a swimwear collection for Uk online swimwear boutique Sandstorm Boutique, which was launched in Cannes during the film festival.

She modelled the range herself which is available soon on the Sandstorm website and includes bikinis as well as one pieces.

I am also now writing for a local French Riviera magazine called The Riviera Woman.....check out my first article here!

A bientôt,

Ruby Lou x