Haute Eco for Miss Sussex

Get Waisted is delighted to announce that we will be working with the beautiful Alyse Louisa Spratt – current Miss Sussex and finalist in the Miss England pageant to be held on June 26.

Toni will be working on the dress with Alyse for the Eco Fashion show. The Eco section  has grown increasingly important since it was launched in 2007 to become a critical round in the competition. It is a chance to highlight the importance and potential of using recycled materials and is part of the fashion show final.

The exact design is a big secret so suffice to say for now that it will combine recycling with something that is synonymous with Alyse’s beloved Sussex coast. Come back to the blog after the event for pictures and news of how she got on. In the meantime here is a picture of last years winner in a dress made from recycled cuttings from the Liverpool Echo. 

Miss Liverpool 2011 & the Liverpool Echo

Alyse at Hove Station Car Wash

Another key tenet of the Miss England franchise  is charitable works. Alyse and the other contestants in Miss England are working with the registered charity ‘Beauty With a Purpose’.

This year they are supporting Brent Knoll School for children with complex learning difficulties by doing a wide variety of sponsored activities – ranging from auctioning off past winning dresses to sky-diving and car-washes (reprising the 1976 movie with Richard Pryor…just in case you are too old to remember).

I'm so excited - I really want to tell you more about the dress. But I can't (mustn't) so we'll all just have to wait. In the meantime just a quick note: it is Brighton Fashion Week from 30th May to 3rd June.
 

I just can't believe how quickly it has come round. This year we kick off with the Brighton Frocks Show tonight (30th May) followed by the Zeitgeist Show on the 31st. I am sure it will continue to drive forward Brighton's ever burgeoning reputation as a centre of excellence for cutting edge fashion - cant wait.

It's in the Cannes

With the weather coming up trumps these past few days, here at Get Waisted HQ we're hoping it'll last through to our Yacht photo shoot next weekend. We've been working round the clock putting the finishing touches to the collection, which includes colourful kaftan's, super glam maxi dresses and a couple of 1950's inspired wedding gowns. Accessories will play a big part too with some wide brimmed hats, chic sunglasses and a bottle of champagne or two for good measure - think 1970's Joan Collins!

And speaking of yachting glamour, we've been watching the red carpet at The Cannes Film Festival over the past week with relish. With so many premieres, dinners and after party's we could easily find enough gorgeous get ups to fill our blog for the next month! But, we're exercising restraint and selecting just a few of our favourites from the past week.

Starting with the going for gold gang, these looks are all about the wow factor, with sequins featuring heavily. Here's Diane Kruger, in Vivienne Westwood, Jessica Chastain, in Gucci, Kim Kardashian, in Balmain and our favourite pocket rocket, Kylie Minogue, in Dolce & Gabbana.

Sandwiched in the middle we've picked some pretty in pinks. Jessica Chastain, once again, this time in fairytale Armani, Kirsten Dunst, in simple but sophisticated Balenciaga, Milla Jovovich, in a beautifully embroidered one shoulder gown and Naomi Watts, in delicate Marchesa.

And finally we've the girls who went for white on the night. 

Cheryl Cole, in stunning Stephane Rolland, Erin Wasson, in Antoni Berardi, a second inclusion for Diane Kruger, in Nina Ricci, and last but not least, going against the grain, we've picked Cameron Diaz, in a Gucci trouser ensemble looking every inch the film star.

With another three days until the grand finale, there'll be more from us on Cannes next week along with details of the final touches to our photo shoot.

Strictly Ballgowns

This week saw the press preview of the forthcoming V&A Ballgowns exhibition. Opening to the public on Saturday, we are planning our visit in a frenzy of excitement and anticipation. Never before has such a extravagant, decadent and extensive collection of dresses been put together and all displayed in the newly renovated Fashion Gallery.

Many of the designs on show were made specifically for debutante balls, Royal engagements and red carpet events including beautiful and daring creations from the likes of Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood and Erdem. 

It's the fantasy of most women to attend that fairytale event in a gown that makes you look your absolute best, whilst also showing your exquisite level of taste. This carries through to Prom's too and the imminent prom season is keeping us busy with a host of bespoke dresses in final stages before their debut outings and here's a couple of our previous creations, from the Get Waisted archive.

Speaking of debuts, the Cannes 2012 festival kicked off yesterday too. With so many premiere's and stars doing their best to outshine each other, we're always treated to plenty of dresses to drool over, with day one being no exception.

Eva Longoria went from day to night in a stunning theatrical Marchesa number, then a sophisticated Alberta Ferretti fish tail dress.

Eva Herzigova in translucent beaded Alexander McQueen, Diane Kruger did old school glamour in mint green and Tilda Swinton leans towards the more unusual in Haider Ackerman.

But the award for the most unusual of all yesterday's gowns has to go to Chinese actress and singer, Fan Bingbing, whose white strapless gown is covered in traditional Chinese patterns and imagery to stunning effect.

And before we sign off, just a reminder that out Yacht photo shoot is happening very soon so for your chance to get on board, just like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter, sign up for our Newsletter and tell all your friends!!

Met Ball: The Agony & The Ecstasy

Oh, how we love a red carpet event and this years Met Ball goes to the top of our list of most talked about, with a feast of beauties and bloopers rocking up in almost equal measure.

Lets start with the positive and name check our top three absolute fave's. In straight at the No.1 is hands down, knock-out, Carrie Mulligan, going for gold in Prada.

Next up at No.2 is America's newest sweetheart, Emma Stone, sparkling in short, sweet Lanvin.

And in 3rd place, Amber Head, in a lilac Zac Posen gown that's all about structure.

Now for the bloopers, in no particular order.....

Someone who firmly divided opinion on the night was Beyonce in Givenchy. As you'll know we are regular fans of this bootylicious babe and her red carpet choices but there's just too much going on here for our liking.

Next up, fashion adventurer Florence Welch, is always going to take risks but this Alexander McQueen number is just so, so wrong making her look like a bit like a Christmas catastroph-tree

Final special mention goes to Mr Marc Jacobs. There really are no words.

So whilst pondering on the successes and failures of the Red Carpet,we're back to thoughts of the Prom season. 

Absolute essential reading for anyone wanting to make the right Prom night impression is this brilliant Prom Dress Inspiration article from Vogue UK, which really says it all. Armed with their knowledge and our expertise, why not get in touch and let Get-Waisted realise that dress of your dreams.

Yacht to Trot

Get Waisted are going nautical, organising a super glam photoshoot on a luxurious 44ft yacht.

Scheduled to take place on the 3rd June at Brighton Marina, with four models lined up and a selection of stunning Get Waisted outfits, we're praying to the God's of fair weather and keeping everything crossed for some perfect sailing conditions. Is it too much to hope it might even turn out to be a little bit like this....??

And if our previous photoshoots are anything to go by, we're expecting fabulous things.....

.....with our gorgeous models sporting stunning summer wares. 

To top it all we're going to select one lucky winner from our fabulous GREAT CORSET GIVE AWAY to join us on this amazing yacht photo shoot. All you need to do to be in with a chance to win is 'like' our Facebook pageand sign up to our newsletter (via the facebook page). We Cant Wait!!!

Belle's & The Ballgown

Here at Get Waisted our excitement levels are reaching fever pitch at the prospect of a visit to the V&A's new Exhibition, Ballgowns: British Glamour since 1950. With sixty gowns on display, in the newly renovated Fashion Galleries, they range from Norman Hartnell's designs for the Queen, from the 1950's, to the dress worn by Beyonce at President Obama's inauguration ceremony and you'll get to drool over these three stunning designs by (from left to right) Worth London, Erdem & Princess Diana's 'Elvis Dress' by Catherine Walker.

Lusting after these ballgown beauties brings the upcoming Prom season firmly into focus, as an ideal opportunity to really stand out with sublime silhouettes, classy contours & exquisite embellishment. These floor length creations have it covered in the sophistication stakes, guaranteeing to transform any wearer into the 'Belle of the Ball'.

But if short and sweet is more your bag, then look no further than these three for some super cute celebrity style inspiration, as seen in Teen Vogue. 

Remember, there's still plenty of time to order the Prom dress of your dreams and next week we'll be putting the spotlight on the boys, focusing on what we can do to smarten them up. Prom King's and Queens, watch this space!