Guest of Honor, Jonathan Tinkle reviewing his lookbook with Nada Kirdar. If my fashion eye is correct she is in the red Valentino leather and lace dress, a fave of mine, I recognize from the fashion mags.
While Houston was all a buzz with Fashion Houston going on here, one of our town’s newest emerging design entrepreneurs was across the pond making fashion news for himself in London. Jonathan Tinkle of Jonathan Blake was invited by friends, including Victoria Christian of Clive Christian Perfumes, who has also become a regular customer of his collection and Princess Katherine of Serbia to visit London. There he co-hosted with long time supporters, Houstonians, Dr. Meherwan Boyce & Zarine Boyce, a Salon Prive/Trunk Show of his designs for many of their London friends and media at The Grosvenor House Apartments by Jumeirah Living on Park Lane. He showcased 15 styles from his Fall/Winter 2013 and Spring/Summer 2014 collections, which were so well-received and orders placed that a second visit is being planned at the prestigious Claridge House for late May.
This was a first time visit for Jonathan to England and of course, a trunk show for many of the upper-crust Britains, that included a sampling of Royalty was a chance for him to live a dream. “It was fun, enlightening and very interesting time for me, culturally. I experienced first hand, many of the formalities of dealing with royalty. The formal approach to dressing, dining, I found very different for me and the people that I met, very engaging and warm,” says Jonathan. After chatting about all of the wonderful experiences he encountered, it sounds as though he had quite a trip and definitely made the best of it.
Jonathan Blake showed select pieces that the British loved, as many commented that the garments felt like their own, at his Salon Prive at the prestigious, Grosvenor House Penthouse on Park Lane in London 
Models wearing Jonathan Blake original styles at his Salon Prive at Grosvenor House Suite in London 
Informal Modeling showcasing special pieces, The Grey Coat, so British and his mainstay Lindsay Dress in red silk, that Jonathan brought along to London, resulting in special orders, new customers and an invite back for next Spring 
Donatella Flick & Mrs.Oberoi, also Victorian Christian of Clive Christian with Zarine Boyce 
His Royal Highness Prince Alexander of Serbia, Houston’s Zarine Boyce & Her Royal Highness Princess Katherine of Serbia
photos courtesy of Richard Boll Photography