Interest in Pinterest

It is safe to say we've become a little bit obsessed with online pinboard Pinterest at Odabash HQ this week. There is nothing more exciting than having a look through someone's sketchbooks or moodboards (just us?!) so for us to have unlimited access to hundreds of thousands of personal collages is pretty great! Check out ours - Melissa will be uploading images that inspire her collections, locations she's been to or is planning to go to, favourite photographers & photographs that encapsulate her London life. Check it out!

Melissa Models Odabash & Macdonald for Hello!

Check out Melissa getting back to her modelling roots here in Hello! magazine this month - she & good friend and collaborator Julien Macdonald gave an exclusive interview about their friendship, how they work together & of course, a few juicy bits of gossip you won't hear anywhere else! Melissa was then photographed in a succession of pieces from the O&M collection. All set in the luxurious surroundings of The Sanctuary, Covent Garden's glamorous day-spa...though there was unfortunately no time for a quick treatment as it was all work work work!

Also seen wearing Odabash&Macdonald in this week's Grazia magazine was none other than the lovely Whitney Port - putting her fashion experience gained at Diane von Furstenburg, Peoples Revolution & Teen Vogue to good use by becoming a new judge on Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model alongside Julien - lending a touch of old-school glamour to the 'Coleen' luxe kaftan.

Say hello to Melissa Odabash: High Summer 2012

Here's another exclusive post for you MO fans (drumroll please...) - this time, a sneak peek at the Melissa Odabash 2012 'High Summer' collection. Featuring key pieces & best-sellers from the main line, updated in new, fresh prints & bold colours for the new season. The collection launches next week, head to our website to check it out - but until then, here are a few of our favourite pieces...

'Geneva' updated with chic, neutral crocodile print - classic shape given an edge with sexy cut-out sides.

'Maine' super-popular & very skimpy, glamorous Maine has been updated into a bold new blue - looks incredible with a little bit of a tan.

A real favourite - 'Diana' in super soft draping fabric in chic truffle colour is perfect for home or away - looks great on its own or teamed with jean-shorts & flat sandals.

Our 'France' cut-out swimsuit given a sexy new twist with bold but delicate beading & embroidery. A real statement piece, perfect to stand out on the beach.

One of our bestsellers, the 'Evita' updated into a hot new pink for the summer.

A real stand-out piece from the main line, the Savannah is perfect for day or night to exude laid-back beachy glamour. Team with metallic flat sandals & our statement lotus cuff from the new MO jewellery collection - also available at our website.

Odabash&Macdonald - The Big Reveal!

We're super excited to be sharing this post with you today, of a very special collaboration between Melissa & long-time friend & fellow designer Julien Macdonald.

The collection took inspiration from a road trip taken by David Bailey in 1973, in which Anjelica Huston & a very debonair Manolo Blahnik posed in a succession of glamorous eveningwear harking back to the dramatic styles of the 1930's...

The collection consists of twenty-three high fashion pieces of swimwear, beachwear and four exclusive, made to order couture knitwear, all of which represent the desire both designers have to make women feel sexy and confident.  Form fitting slip dresses complement silhouettes emphasized with fringed thigh high splits and dangerously low backs. Floor length diaphanous silk chiffon flows fluidly and give a luxurious finish to the beachwear with select pieces hand-embellished with bejewelled sea serpents. Available at our two London Boutiques, see here for contact details.

Semi-precious crystals & lotus flowers are a girls best friend...

Last week saw the 3rd annual 'Rodial Beautiful' awards ceremony at the plush Sanderson Hotel in Central London, with a whole host of celebrities donning their party frocks & dancing shoes to attend. Melissa herself was chosen as part of the panel of judges, choosing worthy-winners for awards including 'Fresh Face' & 'Classic Glamour' (which went to good friend & well-worthy winner Elle Macpherson). Having launched her new jewellery collection last week, featuring delicate chains, spiritual influenced charms & semi-precious crystals, who should be seen sporting the exclusive new pieces but supermodel Elle & designer Whitney Port...the new collection is available at both of our London Boutiques & online at HERE as well as in selected John Lewis stores. And (in case you've forgotten, which we're sure you hadn't!) with Mother's Day this Sunday, what better way to treat your mum then with a piece of MO by Melissa Odabash jewellery. See below for Rodial Awards images & some of our favourite pieces from the collection.

(Oh, & keep your eyes on this blog tomorrow for a super-exclusive behind-the-scenes post featuring a VERY special collaboration. You heard it here first!)

l-r Elle Macpherson, Melissa, Whitney Port, Kelly Hoppen

Yasmin le Bon & Elle 'duelling' with their awards

Whitney (in Julien Macdonald) & Melissa

Elle, Melissa & Whitney



Gold lotus & crystal friendship band, as seen on Whitney Port



Large lotus pendant, in triple-dipped gold, rose gold or silver - perfect to dress up a simple vest.

Silver & crystal Evil Eye friendship band, as seen on Elle Macpherson

Show-stopping statement lotus cuff, which has barely left Melissa's arm since it arrived! Also available in triple-dipped gold with opal crystal studding.

Rose gold long fine chain with lotus detailing, looks great worn loose or layered up & perfect with a simple shift dress for post-beach cocktails - roll on Summer!



Marooned in Style

Oh HELLO great editorial in Austrian fashion magazine Flair! We are loving this editorial piece featuring 'Bianca' - one of the showstopping kaftans from Melissa's recent collaboration with Julien Macdonald 'Odabash&Macdonald' - and needless to say, in the (highly unlikely) circumstances we were to find ourselves trapped on a desert island, we'd hope we were wearing something as glamorous as this too.

Odabash&Macdonald is available from our Notting Hill & Chelsea boutiques (see www.melissaodabash.com for contact details)

The Rock Ball 2012

Last week saw the third annual Rock Ball held at The uber-exclusive Hurlingham Club in Chelsea. Hosted by Rick Parfitt Jnr, & in aid of The RPJ Crohns Foundation, the Rock Ball brings together rock royalty & superstar fashion to raise awareness & funds for the Crohns & Colitis UK charity.

And who better to curate the super-glamorous catwalk looks than Melissa Odabash? Showcasing her favourite pieces from the 2012 collection, as well as a selection of the exclusive Odabash&Macdonald cruise line, the fashion show was, as per every year, a massive hit - and with performances from The Feeling & Radio 1's Comedy Dave the night was a huge success, raising a staggering amount for the RPJ Foundation.

Here are some exclusive shots of 'behind the scenes'...

Ibiza Cool

Check out these images of our 2011 collection in new glossy fashion magazine The Hub. Shot in Ibiza last year in August (how we wish we were there now), these sadly aren't available any longer (though keep your ear to the ground for our 2012 sample sale announcement as some might make an appearance there!) but there are plenty of alternative pieces from the 2012 collection that more than fit the glamorous White-Isle vibe.



'Marbella' in black snake - for similar click here



'Martinique' in pale gold - click here (we recommend the cheetah version, super chic)

'Marbella' in brown sugar - click here (you are going to LOVE this one!)

My Melissa Odabash Bikini & Me Competition

Here at Odabash HQ (or as it is mostly referred to by all of us here ‘Odabash Towers’) we’ve been inspired by a recent competition to find the best bikini shot – for those of you who follow Melissa on Twitter & Facebook, you’ll probably be familiar with this. Our gorgeous winner Jinksy had a body to die for, but it was our runner up, Camilla, whose quirky (and brave!) picture of her frolicking in a very snowy garden got us thinking about our next competition...

Just chilling in the back of a cab? (As you do!)

Riding a bike at dusk?

Playing in the snow with friends (chilly!)

Rollerskating 70's style

Group shot!

Relaxing on a deserted beach, pulling a few yoga poses - wish we were there!

Hardcore working out!

Have you guessed what we want you to do yet? What we want is for you to send us your most creative bikini shots – it could be of you doing anything, you just have to be doing it in your favourite swimwear (and if that happens to be a Melissa Odabash number, all the better!). Think outside of the box – you could be pulling your best downward-facing dog pose on the beach or caught mid-air leaping off the side of a boat, on the top of a volcano in Peru or maybe, for the sake of the competition, wearing a bikini at the top of the Eiffel Tower! Knee deep in mud at a music festival or playing a guitar round a campfire in a swimsuit – rollerskating on Miami beach, jet-skiing in St. Barts, running into the (freezing-cold-even-in-summer) Great British sea, a group shot of as many people wearing bikini’s as you can find, or even a picture of you wearing your bikini in the bath, if you’re that way inclined – the possibilities are endless so use your imagination!



We’ll be giving out exclusive prizes for the best ones at the end of the competition, so get submitting your best photographs.


Here’s how…


Become a fan of our Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Melissa-Odabash/46948923542 and post your picture on our wall.


Have Twitter? Tweet your pictures to Melissa (@melissaodabash) & use #myMOandme


Or, send them to EmmaD@Odabash.com


We can’t wait to see what you guys come up with!

Roses are red, Violets are blue, buying me an MO bikini is the least you can do!

Whether happily coupled-up or single & ready to mingle, there is no getting away from it – Valentine’s Day is upon us once more! If your partner has left it until now (which he inevitably has!) to book that fancy restaurant you’ve been hinting at, chances are you’re going to be disappointed as all the best tables have unsurprisingly been booked – but fear not, there are plenty other exciting things to be done – all is not lost! Here are Melissa’s top five Valentine’s ideas…

Not quite a Melissa Odabash swimsuit, but we think Barbara looks great!

1. Watch a romantic movie – it might sound a bit predictable, but there are more and more unusual cinema venues & experiences popping up in cities across the world – in London they’re showing the iconic ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ in an old chapel, while The Secret Cinema Group (worldwide) offer ‘surprise’ tickets – meaning you won’t find out where you are going/what you are seeing until the actual night, but involve classic films, live acts & music and DJ’s – all for around £20.00 a ticket. Definitely a Valentine’s treat that you’ll remember. If all that fails, light some candles, open a bottle of wine & watch Melissa’s favourite romantic movie, The Way We Were.

2. We’re not quite sure what it is about being on the deck of a boat in the city at night that is so romantic (especially in London, as it is freezing 90% of the time!) but romantic it is! Wrap up warm & head to the river & pray you don’t get seasick – vomiting on your date is SO not a good look - or keep your feet firmly on dry land and head to one of the cosy riverside pubs or even the London eye for incredible views of the city.

3. If your budget is a bit bigger, Melissa suggests heading off to Rome and staying in the incredible Hotel Eden, situated close to the famous Spanish Steps & right in the heart of the city – super romantic. Any guy who does this would get serious brownie-points (we advise ‘accidentally’ sending him the link to this page)! Oh, & don’t forget your Melissa Odabash bikini to make use of the gorgeous pool & hot tub.

4. For a quirky date, book the famous chocolate afternoon tea at the top of the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane – situated on the 28th floor and with three-hundred-and-sixty degree views of London, followed by a romantic walk through Hyde Park, just opposite Park Lane and a good way to counteract all that chocolate you'll have eaten!

And if all else fails, & he forgets completely (or you're single and just fancy a treat), we think you definitely deserve a Melissa Odabash bikini - head to www.melissaodabash.com (or click the 'SHOP' tab at the top of the page) and take advantage of our exclusive Valentine's Day offer.