News about Jasper Conran

A gin and tonic is not what you'd imagine a person to be sipping on their deathbed. But then Dame Shirley Conran was never ordinary. In fact, the last time we met, she described herself as a 'maverick'. She was the very definition of the word: unconventional, independent, someone who does not think or behave the same way as other people. As a result, she leaves the world a better place - particularly for women. 'You can put that bit in about the gin and tonic,' she told me, before explaining that she couldn't hold down water and this was the only thing she could stomach - along with crushed ice cubes. 'Normally one gin and tonic would be enough to have me under the table,' she said, with a wry smile. 'But not now. I only wish it would!'

EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: She has led the most extraordinary life, from writing bestsellers Superwoman and Lace to helping create one of our most talented design dynasties. So what better final act for Shirley Conran than to receive a damehood in her hospital bed. 'My mum is on her final journey,' explains her son, the designer Jasper Conran. 'She is looking forward to her party in the sky with all her friends and family. She is very much enjoying listening to messages.' Before the unique investiture ceremony on Tuesday, Jasper explained: 'This afternoon, she will be invested with her damehood in hospital. The Palace have been incredibly kind and agreed to do this.' Dame Shirley, 91, who launched the Daily Mail's Femail section in the 1960s, had been too unwell to travel to Buckingham Palace to collect the insignia of her damehood, which she was awarded in Liz Truss's resignation honours list last December.

Months of planning had resulted in this moment. Months of cajoling designers, models, resp., and style watchers, have all lent their help - and money - to a hitherto unintentional venture: a show that exhibits the best of British fashion under one roof. Or, rather, one square of canvas. I felt a surge of pride and pure excitement as I watched the last touches being applied to the huge tent that would host the first ever London Fashion Week. I knew some of these people had been skeptical, but as I stood at the back of this amazing new space, I hoped that this would be the start of something amazing.

Emma Corrin (left), a 27-year-old actress who appeared in the Netflix biopic's fourth season, wanted a modern interpretation of the late Princess of Wales' classic look. (second left) Meg Bellamy, 21, (second right), who is set to make her acting debut in the Crown's final installment, channelled her character Kate Middleton. The actress wore a knitted cream Valentino gown paired with a variety of sophisticated silver jewelry. The appearance brings to mind a Roland Mouret dress wore by Kate in 2012 at the Thirty Club, whose members include some of the most influential men and women in advertising and media (far right).

On Morocco's north-west coast, Glenys Roberts enters the 'fabulous' new Villa Mabrouka hotel. The property, which British designer Jasper Conran purchased for £4 million, includes 12 suites named after Moroccan cities, as well as a rooftop terrace, two pools, and some 'dramatic natural waterfalls.' "There is no better place to pamper yourself than here,' Glenys writes.

Dame Mary Quant (inset), who died at her Surrey home on April 13 this year, wanted to bring 'a dash of fun and color to people's lives.' At 3 p.m. today, The Chapel Royal Hampton Court Palace in Molesey held a memorial service for the queen of Swing Sixties fashion. Dame Mary's surviving companion, Jasper Conran, 63 (second to left), a friend of Dame Mary who described her as "one of the most influential British designers ever" following her death. Mr Conran, a designer who has worked on womenswear collections, looked stylish as he attended the memorial in white trousers, a dark suit jacket, a stripy top, and red neckerchief.

The once-packed fashion floors and buzzy restaurants of Knightsbridge department store Harvey Nichols are now unused. Lynne Franks, the company's former PR, has devised a ten-point blueprint to get it back to where it belongs.

EMILY PRESCOTT (left) is no stranger to a Royal wedding; after all, he arranged best friend William's stag-do. Now Guy, 41, Prince Louis' godfather, is staging services at the vineyard in Virginia he owns with Holiday Inn heiress wife, Lizzy Wilson (right). 'It took us a long time to get to the point of being aware of the idea,' Pelly, who is shown below on the website with American Lizzy, tells me.' We have a beautiful farm and want to share it with the world. So, although we may not be excited at the prospect of hearing Sweet Caroline every Saturday night from our back porch, we do understand we are hosting the biggest day of two people's lives.' And that feels good!'

Naturally, Stephen Jones OBE, the actor's milliner, was at Royal Ascot last week, spotting his creations of every size, shape, and color on scores of heads. Nonetheless, one's absence was acute. It was the first Royal Ascot without Her Majesty the Queen,' Stephen, 66, says. "But she was in the millinery." The reason why the hat industry is so popular in Britain and around the world is because of the Queen - and the fact that people are still wearing hats in 2023 in honor of her and what she gave to us over the years.

Dinah Van Tulleken (pictured) gives tips on choosing the right jazzy trousers and combining them with the right shirt and accessories. According to the UK style editor, the new thing is to dress down your top and dress up your legs. You'll need an oversized shirt that is both casual in cut and fabric. The trousers must be a serious statement. In a block's brilliant shade, something wide-legged. It's failsafe.

According to a Sainsbury survey, a quarter of Brits eat the bulk of their meals from a bowl. Generation Z is on the verge of abandoning the once-civile dinner plate in favour of the humble bowl. John Lewis reports a 14 per cent like-for-like increase in bowl sales this year (with the new half-plate, half-bowl 'coupe' particularly sought after)

Cosmo Fry's wife, former fashion journalist Lulu Anderson, died of cancer at the age of 60, and tributes have been paid to her. Anderson was Fry's third wife, with whom she lived for 15 years before they finally married in 2012. Jude, the couple's first son, was born in 2001. Author Catherine Fairweather, Anderson's closest friend, broke the news, reminding friends that Anderson's spirit remained unbroken. Anderson squeezed the last drop out of every moment [and] exuded vitality even when she was dying, combating the cancer, and defying all the doctors' predictions, according to Fairweather. Fairweather said she was old-school, with no self-pity; stoic and el in the final, she knew how to live, as well as giving.'

It's been 30 years since Ab Fab, the beloved television series that ran from 1992 to 2004. Lynne Franks (left) of the 1990s, the country's top fashion PR, reveals that she inspired Edina Monsoon's larger-than-life figure. 30 years on, Lynne says that she regrets being so 'sniffy' about the show and wishes that she had been able to join in with the jokes and fun

According to Jo Elvin, the knee-high boot is back and reigning winter fashion. In the triumphant return of the versatile shoes, she praises designers Valentino and Chloe. 'In fact, the greatest joy of the knee-high boot is that it will do everything you want it to do - dresses and skirts of all lengths and shapes, under or over jeans.'