Bright Light PR AW12 Press Day

The swish and glamorous Soho Hotel set the perfect scene for Bright Light PR’s showcasing of their brand portfolio’s AW12 collections. An amalgamation of hip young labels, Bright Light’s stable is made up of young, directional brands covering the gamut from lingerie and hosiery to fabulously funky footwear.

It was the footwear brands on display that were the real standouts here; knock-out shoes that certainly live up to the adage “killer heels”. Aase Hopstock AW12 collection is called A Love Surreal and is inspired by surrealist artists Miro and Magritte. The seductive collection is a riot of luxe fabrics such as suede, velvet and lace, striking animal prints in metallic and a heavy dose of black and brown. Whilst eye-catching in style and design, Aase Hopstock do not over hit the mark; there is a thin line between classy and trashy and Hopstock is most definitely the former. The line’s sexy, quirky shoes, which range in price from £200-£400, are complemented by a capsule collection of matching clutch bags! The perfect example is the low wedge gold sequined loafer that is the perfect partner for Hopstock’s gold clutch.

Parmar’s shoe collection retails at a much lower price point (£30-£50), but are no less noteworthy. Parmars offer a huge and diverse range of amazing styles so well-made, that they look much more expensive than they actually are; Parmars is the shoeaholic’s best friend! These shoes are well-suited for the girls about town who are kicking up their heels on the dance floor most weekends and want a new pair of shoes for each occasion. The Lorna (£45) is a dainty shoe that has insanely pretty flower detailing. A style tip that would no doubt make Jessie J proud: Parmars has amazing platform booties that come in Union Jack and Stars & Stripes variations at £40 a pair. Buy both and mix and match the two iconic flag designs to truly stand out from the crowd!

On the clothing front, two names every metro girl needs to know are Beself and Olsen.

Beself offer “work to party” wear. More refined than most high street offerings and at a slightly higher, but still reasonable price point, Beself allows you to go from day to night with effortless ease. The line is chic with an understated edge and is affordable luxury aimed at young professional women who want to look stylish and empowered.

Olsen is a line of casual wear that includes funky chunky knitwear, a dash of fur trimming, both real and faux and on-trend outerwear that includes a belted poncho and a fitted faux fur jacket that will fool all but the most well-trained eye. Studded clutch bags complement the collection, bringing a tougher element to the heritage-inspired clothing. A standout from Olsen is the Givenchy style knit sweater which features a tiger head motif.

If you are in need of swimwear all year round, be sure to visit swimwear365 here. Fronted by TOWIE’s Sam Faiers, this company has a diverse range of pieces to suit all tastes.  At a very reasonable price point, starting at £15, items available include one-pieces, bikinis and maxi dresses in a variety of styles, prints and colours. The retro styles of swimsuits are stunning, perfect for channelling your inner Marilyn Monroe or Betty Paige. These include a polka dot 50s style swimsuit and stripey two-pieces.

Also worth a note and represented by Bright Light are French bag makers Nat & Nin. On a recent trip to Paris one could not fail to spot these slouchy cool bags in stores and on the shoulders of chic Parisians. The range encompasses both men’s and women’s styles and bags are low key and refined in soft leathers. The men’s bags are so well-designed and most definitely masculine in shape and style that no man would feel awkward about stepping out with one.

Ian Michael Turner

Photos: Ian Michael Turner