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The lustrous jewellery of Natasha Dahlberg is worn by the rich and famous and coveted by women around the world

Natasha Dahlberg has certainly travelled the world. Her parents were almost nomadic in their pursuits throughout her childhood and as a consequence her influences and experiences create a multi-faceted view of life that is equally reflected in her work.

I met her at her home to look at the current collection and to talk to her about her ways of working, her clients and busy life.

Married to Jason Hughes (Warren in This Life) Natasha and family are now firmly based at the very eastern extreme of Kemp Town. It is here that she creates the fabulous jewellery that has received such a strong international following with celebrities around the world choosing her designs to wear, not only from parties and premieres but every day.

The look is glamorous and sparkling but never ostentatious. She works in 18 carat gold and precious stones, but often they are rough, un-cut gems that have a different fire in them, a natural glowing warmth. There are black diamonds, champagne diamonds and grey diamonds, freshwater pearls and Taihitian pearls and a sparkling array of other precious stones too long to list here. There are also cut stones and recently her work has included vintage charms.

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Lindsay Fergusson explores vintage style

Vintage-inspired shapes appeared on the autumn/winter 2007 catwalk with an amalgam of forms, colours and eras. The clocks may be going back, but fashion is certainly going forward, as I discovered on my mission to locate vintage pieces.

The bold, bright colours, flared trousers and flute-sleeved tops paid homage to the sleek 1970s. On the opposite end of the fashion spectrum, designers stood strong with collections based on my favourite era, the glamorous and structured 1940s and 1950s.

Combined with luxe fabrics and this season’s top shades of gunmetal grey, lilacs and mauves, it was exciting to know the tailored and feminine look was shining bright in this dramatic, daring and divinely different array of vintage meets modern day fashion. I wanted to investigate how closely entwined vintage and modern garments have become, and what better place to start than my home town.

Brighton residents, you are blessed, in our ultra-stylish city the choice is immense and for this reason narrowing my choice of boutiques down to four was a difficult task.

My first point of call was Hope and Harlequin. Here the team carefully source beautiful vintage pieces that fit to perfection. This is one super-sassy place and luckily for me, the vast array of post-war fashions allowed me to find two stunning dresses in this season’s key colours.

One of the city’s better known boutiques is Frocks Away. Here you will find elegant dresses and stylishly feminine hats and bags. Monochrome tends to be associated with the swinging 60s. However, as I found, designers such as Gaultier and Sonia Rykiel are merging this concept into retro designs. The black and white 1950s prom dress summed up how taking a step back in time can sometimes provide us with garments more fashionable than the high street.

My favourite little jewel is the treasure trove I found in Kemp Town. Margaret who runs a little self-named boutique gave me an insight into the major difference between the 1940s and 1950s.

Finally, to add a twist to my take on vintage meets modern day, I headed to Get Cutie. This is not an authentic vintage boutique but a contemporary take on vintage fashions. Get Cutie uses vintageinspired fabrics and designs to create exceptional garments.

Stepping back in time with vintage pieces or accessories can give you that exclusive, glamorous feel and showing off your curves in post-war classics is set to be this season’s biggest story.

Photographer: Tim Richardson
Styling: Lindsay Fergusson and Zena McCarthy
Hair: Andrina
Special thanks: The Town House Hotel
01273 6074560

Lindsay Fergusson discovers ethical clothing can be stylish and eco-friendly at Brighton boutique Lulie B

Shapeless, green and sackcloth, these are the words that I have always associated with the concept of ethical clothing. Yet when I stepped into Brighton’s latest and chicest boutique, Lulie B, I could not have been further from the truth with this stereotype. This stylish, relaxed and ultra-tranquil gem is tucked away in Sydney Street – with eco-friendly paint on the walls and a fridge full of vino I felt I was finally ready to embrace eco-fashion.

This fashion-led ladies’ boutique is already shifting people’s views after having only been trading for six weeks and has already gained clients such as Heather Mills. This ethically conscious shop is set to be a hit. Lucy Bower, the proprietor of Lulie B, is forging ahead with meeting the increasing demand for eco-friendly, ethical clothing, and while many people have wanted to support this concept, the unflattering, unappealing and downright earthy clothes were more eco-warrior than eco-fashion. But this is where Lucy is different and it is these barriers she is set to break as she provides a platform for ethical clothing and fashion to merge.

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The Hair and Nail Lounge’s interpretation of this season’s must-have looks

There is a definite throwback this season to the 1980s and pop – think Chaka Khan and shoulder pads.

Neons and black are big for hair colouring and blondes are either ice clean and can have violet and pink slices through to create that pop look, or true, with peach and apricot defined in fringes and panels. These trends can also be muted to achieve a soft and yet still-trendy look with versatility being the key.

The Hair and Nail Lounge boasts the most highly qualified staff with members winning many awards in innovative colouring and cutting. Also at the salon is Jo, one of the most talented nail technicians around with many years’ experience and who is on hand for all the lastest in nail care.

Inspiration is taken from street dance and Japanese manga and anime to reflect current trends, and the latest colouring techniques are used to achieve three-dimensional colour.

Warren (colour specialist) coloured the models, while Andrina (style director) styled them, all with help of the highly trained Hair and Nail Lounge art team.

Hair and Nail Lounge, 30 East Street, Shoreham
Tel: 01273 464649

Clothing: Rock Lobster, Shoreham
Photography: Dean Stockings, Kris Wilding
Make-up: Janice Hanson