Monday, 23 January 2012

Trend Report - Peek-a-Boo Waistlines

Anyone feeling (just a tad) adventurous?

A surprising trend to hit the runways for spring 2012 is the exposed midriff.  Above the belly-button but below the bust, this is a trend paying homage to the 50's american woman.


D&G Spring/Summer 12


Topshop Flower Print Corset


Make the look casual with cropped tees and shorts.  The exposed midriff seems to be fast becoming the signature look of singer, Eliza Doolittle.


Roland Mouret Spring/Summer 12

Miss Selfridge Crop Top



Make sure you team it with a high-waisted skirt, and remember, it's just a flash of flesh (which fortunately lies at the slimmest part of the waist).  Guess it's time to start those crunches...


Saturday, 21 January 2012

Top 5: Anna Dello Russo

A friend recently asked me, ‘You see these outrageous looks on the catwalk, but can you really tell me that people actually wear them?’  Well, the answer is a resounding yes, and who better to use as an example than Anna Dello Russo. 

Fashion director at Vogue Japan, blogger extraordinaire, and street style icon, ADR is famous for recreating catwalk looks exactly as they appeared, and is certainly not one to shy away from an explosive look.  ‘I always, sometimes, look like a clown’, she admits.  Not one for the casual look, her style is coveted by a growing hoard of young label-lovers, her blog receives thousands of hits a day, and in my opinion, she looks absolutely fabulous.







Tuesday, 10 January 2012

Time to Invest

It's time for the January sales, or in other words, investment time.  It makes economic sense to use these sales, the most extensive and generous of the year, to stock up on your timeless essentials.  I emphasise this because if you are a slave to trends, then now is not the time to max out on a black PVC all-in-one, even if it is 90% off (see the article on this here).

I'm really talking about coats, jackets, boots and handbags, in classic shapes and luxe fabrics.  Although these do evolve with the times too, if it suits you well, and it's not too trend focused, then you can easily pass it off for years to come.  Invest now, and shop around, you should not pay a penny over 50% off at this time of year.

Here are some of my own finds.

Happy shopping!


Trench Coat Jaeger @ Harrods, now £299 was £760, 60% off


Ankle Boots, Bertie, now £59 was £119, 50% off


Clutch, Karen Millen, now £25 was £95, 74% off



Friday, 30 December 2011

Jeans that fit, yes you heard me.

If you're reading this, then you like to shop.  But have you ever considered just how much you take for granted the ease of buying clothes?  You see an item you like, you whisk it off the shelf, head for the dressing room, try it on and quickly deduce whether it suits you or not.  Then depending on your level of self-control, you either toss it if it's not exactly right, or buy it no matter what the fitting room outcome.

However if you're anything like me, there is one item in the wardrobe which is NEVER a pleasure to shop for - jeans.  Jeans shopping has become a once-a-year full day commitment/ordeal for me, during which I will trail every high-street shop, picking out up to 25 pairs to try (I'm one of the few that seem to use those £1 trolleys in TK Maxx...), then I will typically come out of the fitting room an hour later with nothing that even vaguely fitted and so, having little self-control, I leave with a pair I don't want.  I have therefore resorted to always wearing ill-fitting jeans and either pasting them to my hips with a tight belt, or simply wearing long tops to cover up the whole mess.

The problem is that I am of mixed race origin, being one half Caribbean, one half English, and with such a heritage, well let's just say that my behind is a little more prominent than that most of my friends' (or as Levi's tactfully put it, I have a 'full seat').  This has caused me no end of problems when it comes to jeans, as it means that there is always a gaping hole at the back since the jeans are not designed to sit flat on a more curved figure.  However, about a year ago, I discovered a miracle - Levi's Curve ID.  Levi's have measured 65,000 women to make these custom-fit jeans, which are actually designed to fit real women!  And they're not just for the more curvy figure - whether you're full-seated or not, there's a fit just for you.  When I saw the advertisements for the jeans, I thought I'd take a look so I went to my nearest shop, found my size (I take a bold curve fit) and miracle of all miracles, the jeans fitted first time, perfectly.  No gaping holes, no need for belts, no massively over-generous leg length (who decided that 'Regular' would fit someone 6" or over?)  My days of uncomfortable jeans are over.

There is a downside.  Levi's are a bit pricey being £80 - £100 on average, but I wear jeans everyday of my life and so am happy to splash out a little more for good jeans that fit.  Plus, Levi's offer a generous 20% student discount, and Christmas is over so make the most of the sales!

Find your ID now here.


Levi's Bold Curve Skinny - now £64 was £80 - 20% off


Levi's Demi Curve Skinny - now £72 was £90 - 20% off




Levi's Slight Curve Slim - now £64 was £80 - 20% off

Monday, 12 December 2011

Stocking Fillers


1/  Bra, Gossard, now £20, was £29, 30% off
Thong, Gossard, now £9, was £12, 25% off

2/  "Do your good deed for the day with this fairtrade necklace"
Necklace, Manumit, now £9.75, was £15, 35% off

3/  "A simple black clutch is the essential for Christmas party season"
Clutch, French Connection, now £25, was £50, 50% off

4/  Briefs, Anthropologie, now £10, was £26, 60% off

5/  "100% sheepskin to keep your toes toastie around the house"
Slippers, Just Sheepskin, now £35, was £70, 50% off

6/  "Practical, roomy and looks so luxe you wouldn't guess the price tag..."
Handbag, H&M, now £8, was £13, 40% off

7/  "Classic knit, wintery shade, plus you can still text at the same time"
Handwarmers, Topshop, now £10, was £14, 30% off

To buy, just click on any of the above links.



Wednesday, 7 December 2011

My Little Black Dress - Part 2

You really can't go wrong with an LBD.


1.  Black bead drop earrings, Debenhams, was £118 now £88, 25% off
2.  Knit Dress, Karen Millen, was £160 now £80, 50% off
3.  Silk Clutch, Hobbs, was £79 now £39, 50% off
4.  Ankle Boots, Kurt Geiger, was £265 now £185, 30% off

Simply click the links above to buy.

Tuesday, 6 December 2011

My Little Black Dress - Part 1

Party season is upon us, so get clicking and you will go to the ball!



1.  Pear Jewel Drop Earrings, Mimco (no longer available)
2.  LBD, Dorothy Perkins (no longer available)
3. Lauren Bag, Coast, now £19, was £55 (65% off)
4. Animal Print Bracelet, Kenneth Jay Lane, now £46 was £115 (60% off)
5. Spike and Diamente Heels, Sam Edelman, now £135, was £180 (25% off)

Simply click the links above to buy.