Christian Louboutin to open London men's store

Red-soled shoe brand Christian Louboutin will open its first UK shop to stock only men's footwear and accessories in London this November.

Christian Louboutin will open its first London men's boutique this November, the company has confirmed.

The store will be situated on Mayfair's Dover Street, a short distance from the brand's women's boutique on Mount Street, W1. It will stock the largest selection of Louboutin men's shoes and bags in the U.K.

The space will be designed by New York-based architects 212Box, the same company behind Louboutin's New York men's store, which is set to open in the city's Meatpacking District in August.

Louboutin opened their first men's boutique in Paris last September.

His men's designs are favoured by the likes of Kanye West and Tinie Tempah, both of whom have been seen wearing the spiked 'Rollerball' loafers.

Rihanna to design a collection for River Island

Pop star Rihanna has confirmed that she is designing a capsule collection for high street favourite River Island.

Rihanna in London wearing Stella McCartney in March this year. Photo: Rex

After much speculation, River Island has finally confirmed that Rihanna will be designing a collection for them, but we'll have to wait until spring 2013 to see the sartorial fruits of the pop star's labour.

"I've been wanting to design my own collection for some time. River Island is the perfect partner for me to collaborate with and working with a British, family run business also really appealed to me. I find London really inspiring and River Island loves to have fun with clothes. I'm looking forward to working with them and creating something really special," says Rihanna.

Rihanna wearing her River Island T-shirt. Photo: Rihanna/Instagram

The high street store is evidently delighted with its latest coup too: "We are thrilled to be collaborating with Rihanna and to be the first fashion brand to work with her in this way," said Ben Lewis, River Island's chief executive.

"Rihanna is a style icon; from street to chic she enjoys her fashion. As soon as we started to work together we knew this was a perfect fit. Rihanna will be designing the collection and we will be sharing our fashion experience with her to develop a range her fans will love."

Tom Ford to open first UK stand-alone Store

Former Gucci designer Tom Ford will open his first stand-alone British store in London's Knightsbridge.

Tom Ford at the 2012 Met Gala Photo: EPA

Tom Ford's first British boutique on London's affluent Sloane Street will take up 8,000 sq ft store and will stock his eponymous label, which is currently available at Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges, report The Sunday Times.

Ford made his return to womenswear design in September 2010, following a six-year break in which he focused on his Oscar-nominated directorial debut, A Single Man . Prior to that he helmed Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, both of which he is credited with turning into the must-have brands they are today.

He has eschewed press coverage - particularly of the online variety - at the catwalk shows for his brand, telling WWD in 2010: "I don't get the need for this immediacy. In fact, I think it's bad. The way the system works now, you see the clothes, within an hour or so they're online, the world sees them. They don't get to a store for six months. The next week, young celebrity girls are wearing them on red carpets. They're in every magazine. The customer is bored with those clothes by the time they get to the store. They're overexposed, you're tired of them, they've lost their freshness."

Do you agree with Tom Ford our dear readers??