Glitz and Glitter

Sequins is a growing trend in womenswear and by Fall 2009 the trend will explode. Being a lover of sparkly things in general I'm all about this look! Perhaps I have magpie syndrome? But the look definitely ties back nicely to the 80s Excess, Power and Luxury trend. Think glamour and "Dynasty" or in the case of Balmain, Jem and the Holograms might be appropriate.

This time around the thing to note is that sequins are not being used to create allover sparkle as in the past but being used to create patterns or textural effects like stripes or contrast or a scale effect of overlapping sequins.

Look for simple shift dresses, leggings, body-con dresses and trackpants. Richer colors tend to be stronger with red, navy and purple being strong and silver, pewter, black creating graphic combos leading the way.

Borrowed from the Boys

Runway: Boyfriend blazers and cardigans, ties, baggy jeans and other menswear looks crossover to the women's area.

Reality: The boyfriend look is at its best with crisply tailored classics with a feminine twist, like shown here at Ralph Lauren with a bomber jacket in gold metallic. The key to pulling off this look without appearing too androgynous is to balance menswear pieces with something feminine: a tuxedo jacket over an evening gown, slouchy rolled up men's jeans with a soft shirt.

Bohemian Luxury: Winter 2009 Fashion Trend

Some for the past, present and the future..........

Boho chic or hippie look? The urban-hippie look doesn’t end. The colorful prints or animal spots or floral dresses. I heart all this cute flirty dresses and tops! The colours, animal prints, embroidery.Dont forget the hippie headband, I think is the new trend. As seen on... Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan Mischa Barton, and Madonna wearing these hippie amazing headbands.

When Anja Rubik, Natasha Poly, and Lily Donaldson all headed down the catwalk during Milan Fashion Week we realised there was one key look that would influence 2009 fashion trends above all others. Sure to become a staple for fashionisers everywhere it's the Bohemian Luxury fashion trend.


What is it?
It's a luxury take on a bohemian look. Part peasant, part Cossack, part sex-goddess rock chic. And it's here for the colder months of 2008/2009 - largely thanks to an outstanding collection by Frida Giannini for Gucci's Fall (Autumn) / Winter 2008/2009 women's collection and men's collection.


Of course, 2009's Bohemian Luxury fashion trend has been a long time coming. With its most recent origins in the boho trend, it's strong gypsy and folk overtones mean that it might be the perfect personification of the foho trend.

The Key Elements:
Billowy white peasant shirts
Fringed boots
Folk-inspired tooled leather pieces
Embroidery and paisley prints
Charm / coin belts and jewellery
Luxurious fur or fur-trimmed pieces
Fringed long skinny scarves
Bed hair and smudged smoky eye-make


Whos supporting the Bohemian look
Alexa Chung in the Foho / Bohemian Luxe Trend
Mischa Barton bohemian and military trends
Day 3 - Bed hair the Bohemian way
Elle Macpherson wears the Bohemian Luxe Trend

Take Inspiration From:
70s rock icons Anita Pallenberg and Marianne Faithful
Victor Hugo's Esmeralda
Jane Seymour's Solitaire in Live and Let Die
Traditional Hussar and Cossack dress

Ripped off!!

What are your thoughts?

Here are some off the Runway......

And of course the Celebs....

Not to sure about the big gapping holes!?

Gingham

Gingham at Lacoste, Trovata, and Reyes.

Style tip? Gingham doesn’t have to be tiny, as it’s traditionally found. Lacoste and Trovata both expanded the size of the gingham pattern for a bold, graphic effect. Generally, the taller you are, the more oversized of a pattern you can wear - but even the giant gingham print at Trovata can be worn by most.

What do you think? Would you wear gingham? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Purple alert!

Purple is a color rarely found in nature - a fact that instantly draws attention to anyone wearing it and sometimes makes it appear artificial. Purple has traditionally represented luxury, royalty, wealth and sophistication; this color of power also has a feminine and romantic appeal




If you're looking to bring a splash of color to your wardrobe for the fall and winter months, the best shade to invest in this season is purple. Stars like Blake Lively, Eva Longoria and Alicia Keys have all been spotted in the power color in recent months. From deep plums to light lavenders, purple reigns as the season's go-to shade

The Perfect Shade of Purple

From lilac, magenta and violet to lavender, pomegranate and plum, purple is coloring the world of fashion. This regal hue is making a splash everywhere from runways and Hollywood premiers to city streets.

Pulling off wearing this bold punch of color means selecting the right shade for the occasion and time of day. Here are some tips for matching your mood or occassion with the perfect shade of purple:

Let your passions shine through for a night out on the town - go glam by swathing yourself in deep, rich jewel tones paired with metallic details and accessories.
Opt for less pungent shades such as lilac and lavender for a feminine daytime ensemble.
Add just a dash of the purple trend to any outfit with a purple sash, bolero, tights, belt or shoe.
Be bold with a deep purple coat, trousers, blouse, shift dress or evening gown.

Just remember, we aren’t talking lavender here! The hottest shades of purple for you to wear this season are the darkest. Some people can also get away with brights, but I personally think the more muted shades are better for fall.

Common Fashion Mistakes

1. Your clothes don't fit correctly.
Wearing loose clothes will add weight to anyone. Clothes that are too small accentuate bulges and will make you look comical. Never buy anything thinking that it will be "just right" if you lose weight. Buy for the present and in relation to your clothes size today.

2. Fashion trends that don't suit you.
Don't try to follow trends that don't suit you. Don't forget about your age and figure and only wear what looks good on you.There is nothing worse than seeing someone follow fashion for the sake of it. Face reality, if short skirts are in and you haven't got the legs for it then don't do it!There are plenty of fashionable looks out there and all you need to do is to find the ones that are best for you

3. Showing bra & panty lines.
Wear proper fitting underclothes under your clothing. If they do fit you correctly and you can still see lines, then your clothing is too tight. Keep your bra straps properly adjusted so they're not hanging out. If your jeans and trousers are low-rise, your panties should be too. I know some times it cant be helped but showing your thong just looks cheap

4. Wearing skirts that are to short.
Avoid this mistake at any cost! Make sure you can sit, walk and dance without exposing underclothes.

5. Wearing wrinkled clothes.
I know it can be a very dull job but trust me the results are worth it. Creased clothes look cheap and will devalue any outfit - no matter how much it cost!

Silky as Silk

Everyone loves to feel a little girly! Or a lot girly! The easiest and most straight-forward way to wear silk is an elegant blouse paired with mens-style trouser pants.
Another hot look for the season is silk detailing. Contrast the sheen of silk with a textured fabric (lace, tweed, boucle) to acheive a hint of glamour and delicacy. The great thing about silk this year, is that it can be worn pretty much anytime. Wear it to work or out on the town- you won’t find yourself dressed up with no place to go!

I simply addor this Robert Cavalli Silk Floral Maxi dress worn here by Mischa and Lauren Conrad it look so simple yet a classic beauty.
I love the way Lauren Conrad pulled off the dress’s simple beauty by wearing her hair in a loose updo and keeping the accessories and makeup light and understated. I think Mishca wanted a bohemian look, but do not particularly like the hippie headband with this dress.

Tar Tar Tartan

Classic heritage fabrics such as tweed, tartan and checks featured heavily on the catwalk for Autumn/Winter. Leading the way was British designer Henry Holland who created his own tartan pattern and based his entire House of Holland collection on the indigo fabric. The most memorable piece was a tiered tartan dress modeled by Henry's BFF Agyness Deyn. Dolce & Gabbana produced a D&G line inspired by our very own Queen with neatly tied head scarves and midi-length tartan skirts.

If you want to upate your wardrobe make sure it is with Tartin.

Tartan is one of the hottest trends from last year. Showing on the catwalks of Just Cavalli, House Of Holland and Ralph Lauren, the checks are sure to bring a tear to any Scot’s eye. The eye-popping checks were most popular at D&G showing up on coats, dresses, tights and headscarves.

Aggy and Gwen Stefani are ahead of the trend as they have been snapped wearing tartan shirts and coats. Make sure you stay ahead of the fashion pack and snap up some tartan asap!

Tweed

TREND - Try Some Trendy Tweed

To most people, TWEED is the most misunderstood fabric. Often times, Tweed is your grandfather’s armchair, the name of your great-aunt’s lap dog, or a couch imprint shmushed into your face after a fuzzy night on the town.

In my eyes, Tweed has been reborn. The dependable Tweed has slowly creapt up to become a staple in this season’s essential peices. Pair them with a sexy silk blouse and a vintage inspired blazer to take it out on the town. Last weekend I wore my tweed blazer with skinny jeans and my new Mike and Chris ankle boots. Super cozy and super cute!

Work tweed by:

Wear your tweed skirt or trousers with a satin, ruffle or lace blouse. Tuck it in and throw on some long pearls or gold jewellery. Tights are OK too, make it realy modern with coloured tights, or keep things traditional with seamed tights or black opaques.

Party Tweed

A tweed dress can be a work wardrobe staple, or dressed right up for a night out too. Just pop on some skyscraper heels and statement jewellery.I have just bought myself a lovely woolen tweed coat by French Connection. I just love it as it is traditional, but can be worn with a waist belt to bring it right up to date. Not only that, it keeps the rain, cold and wind out.

Fur

After making a minor impact last winter, fur is back on the scene big time this year. Authentic or synthetic fur boots, bags and clothing are going to be huge. The key piece is the gilet, as seen at Marni, Isabel Marant and Paul & Joe. How to wear itSparingly, if you don't want to look like a poacher. Combine fur with plain, dark colours: team a sleeveless gilet with flared jeans or cords. Invest in good quality (real or fake): spend anything less than £40 and you could end up disappointed.

The wonder of Vintage Fashion

Bejeweled accessories, luxurious fabrics, and sultry makeup never go out of fashion. Vintage glamour is not just for the hollywood stars! You can use beautiful vintage peices to accessories your outfits or go all out for an evening on the town. Take a beautiful vintage silk blouse and pair it with this a hot pair of highwaisted jeans, leather belt and peep-toe shoes- you’ve got a outift that sizzles. For a night on the town, don’t be afraid to walk in the shoes of Audrey Hepburn or Ginger Rogers.

Sky high

The debatable high waisted trend...

The high waisted trend arrived in Europe years ago but is still a key trend for this year specially with the 20’s


Do you know what? The funny thing about this trend is that i swore i would never buy into it, it REALLY wouldn't suit me, you had to be tiny tiny tiny to pull it off and basically it was a no goer. I was wrong

I just LOVE this look. I started of with skirts and though OK i can wear this but still keep well clear of the trousers and certainly jeans do you know how many high waisted items i have?

I guess you have to be careful in fact i think that is essential but with a bit of style it is very easy to pull this trend off

Take for example this picture.... do i need to explain who got it right and who got it wrong.

Teamed with heels this look can become incredibly flattering. Big heels are key to helping balance the volume of the trouser. Pair with a chic puff-sleeve blouse or other body-skimming top that tucks in easily to make your waist look teensy. Forgo a necklace in favour of a chic pile of bangles or cuff in an eye-popping color like red or juicy orange with a matching bag, et voila!

On the 2008 fashion runway nearly every designer showed one high waisted outfit. Nicole Mischa and Fergie knew before and showed long time ago how to wear it. Now it is becoming more main stream as your average person realizes you can pull it off!

Pros & Cons of High-Waist
High rise styles look great on most women and give the illusion of height by lengthening the leg, explained Cornelia Wiebe, owner of Calgary's Leo Boutique in a denim spread in the January/February 2008 issue of Wish magazine. Wider leg styles of high-rise denim are most universally flattering and do the best job of creating a long, lean silhouette.

Because high-waisted jeans cinch the narrowest part of your torso, they play up curves. This makes them ideal for naturally curvy women who want to accentuate what they've got, as well as for more boyish figures who want to create the illusion of an hour-glass figure. Take this one step further by looking for high-rise styles that feature thick waistbands or belts.

If you have wide hips, look for high-waist denim with larger rear pockets or flap pockets, and details like sailor-inspired buttons or small pockets in the front – these features will break up a wide expanse of denim that could otherwise make you look even wider through the hips and flatten your bottom.

If you want to minimize the roundness of your bum, choose high-waist denim with minimal details on the rear.

Once you've invested in a basic pair of indigo high-waist jeans, experiment with different washes like shades of gray (the new neutral) or black for dressy outfits, or retro cornflower blue for casual looks.

Accessory of the year - The scarf

Accessories blend into one: the scarf.

The colours and fabrics that they are available in are truly varied and the diverse ways to drape them has a lot of set-apart quotient. You can muffle it up or drape it like a poncho, cover a thin contrast tee with it or accessorize with a dress, scarves are the jack of all.

And more:

1. Drape round your shoulder

2. Wear loose

3. Tie round your neck

4. Use as a head band

5. Wrap round your wrist

6. Tie to your bag

7. Wear round your waist

8. Use as a sarong on your hols

Colorful, printed, or simply jersey, scarves rock the fashion boat for 2008 and beyond.

Katie Holmes all grown up

Katie Holmes has grown up and grown into a style icon, as well. She even plans to launch her own fashion label with Giorgio Armani!
Grab a picture of Katie and use her all-American, classic elegance to create your best Katie Holmes-inspired look!

Roisin Murphy's erratic style

Europe's disco diva Roisin Murphy might not be a huge pop star (in fact I love she is not in the mainstream) but she is an untiringly muse for couturiers and an undoubtedly style icon.
Her fashion sense matches the eclectic music she's known for, a cutting-edge electronic, pop and dance mix, with references going from her idol Grace Jones to David Bowie circa Ziggy Stardust era.

The sweater dress

How to look off-duty chic for fall? Global warming and seasonless dressing seem to be blurring the boundaries for establish cold-weather wear. The trendy sweater dress might be the answer. Runways featured endless interpretations of knits for Fall ‘08—from big knit sweater coats to luxurious cardigans, sweater dresses are the casual option to winter easy luxury.Whether you slip them on over skinny jeans or opaque tights, avoid the bulky styles, opt for soft textured or fine gauge yarns. Restrict your color palette and pick the soft neutrals.If you’d like to create contrast, pair with shiny accessories like a structured tote bag and a great pair of lace up boots or pumps for work. Use a belt for the fine slouchy silhouettes. Ultimately, it’s an expressive piece and completely up to your interpretation.

Seriously, what could be hotter than the Little Black Dress reborn as a trendy SWEATER DRESS?! I was looking for that perfect dress that I could wear to a party, and actually wear again. Useful, no?! And then I found it. . . ! My very own, very favourite, cozy comfy sweater dress! Dress it up for evening wear, add a blazer for a day at the office, or pair it with a cute set of ballet flats for a day of shopping with friends. Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent is one of my favourite designers who made a gorgeous sweater dress in her collection this season.

Agyness Deyn - style icon

Agyness Deyn is the latest popular style icon to be seen in magazines. This icon is someone who can wear any colours and any prints, all mixed up together and it still looks WOW.

Coleen McLoughlin's Style - Whats your thoughts?

Coleen Mcloughin has topped Look magazine's survey to find British women's number one style icon. Beating off stiff competition from some bona fide fashionistas, including Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and Sienna Miller, the Liverpudlian lady came in at number one after 1,200 UK women were asked to name their best-dressed celebrity.

To be honest I really cant see it! Dont get me wrong I'm sure she is a lovely girl and all but I have seen a FEW no no's on her and I have also never been blown away by anything that she has worn. So how has she done it?

The complete top 10 shapes up as follows...

1. Coleen McLoughlin

2. Kate Moss

3. Sienna Miller

4. Victoria Beckham

5. Cheryl Cole

6. Kylie Minogue

7. Gwen Stefani

8. Keira Knighley

9. Lily Allen

10. Angelina Jolie

So here it starts....

To be truly fabulous, you have to start on the inside. Yes that is oh so corny but isn't it true? You have to be confident with who you are - once this is achieved you can move onto the outside, and here girls, is where the fun starts......

By having confidence inside you will have the ability to be daring with fashion and pull off (all most) anything. By having confidence in what you ware you will feel ready to face the world.

Remember fashion isn't always about being trendy, but achieving your own style with your own personality thrown in.

This blog will log my journey (random as it is) to make the most of myself.....and I hope it will inspire someone else to make it fabulous!

I will also add the latest trends, colours, styles, shapes, designs, paterns and more....