BEST OF THE WEEK

Eye eye sailor

Hello (again) sailor! Nautical is back. The only difference is that traditional navy and chic black and white are mixed up with bright colours this season. Red, green and yellow stripes, always toned down with white, can be worn with skinny or baggy fits.

Nautical is nothing new, but there is something new in nautical. Every spring and summer blue and cream horizontal stripes crop up everywhere from the runway to the L.L. Bean Catalog. Women have enjoyed dressing like sailors since boating became recreational.

Above are a few of the more streamlined, chic interpretations of the trend. These boating looks are definitely designed more for yahts than sailboats and would fit in better on Skorpios than in the Hamptons.

Jean-Charles de Castelbjac added some lighthearted elements to his look, with a large anchor graphic masquerading as a stripe down the front of a skirt and a gold anchor patch on a shrunken blazer. Chanel had one of the most polished interpretations, and also one of the most American - not that we have the monopoly on stars. But when you combine them with stripes... And that brings us to all-American Tommy Hilfiger, who brought us one of the most attractive sailor pants.

The nautical trend: crisp, clean lines. Navy. Stripes. Anchor necklaces. It's a trend that comes back every few years, and never really seems to go away completely. We love it - at least in moderation. A striped tee or bag can look great but it's important to remember that sailor suits are for little kids and fancy dress parties, so it's lucky that many of the nautical pieces available right now will let you give a nod to the trend without looking like Popeye.

Sailor shirts, tees, mini dresses, striped trousers and blue and white marine jackets are invading collections, with bows and rope details on accessories. Team nautical items in cotton and jersey with smart pieces to balance out the 'sporty' side of sailor style

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LOOKS OF THE WEEK

Cheap and Chic

Mode Devoted is about being different, offering benefits by the way the garments have been constructed, their multi – occasion wear and unique design.

Mode Devoted Chic

All standard dresses are £15, all standard tops are £9.99 and all standard skirts £9.99. Then we have are Premiere collection where garments have been constructed with more time, detail and cost and thus more expensive, these are all individually price. Check it out.

Why:
As young designers and fashion followers we are devoted to individual, exclusiveness and unique fashion (Mode.) In The collection you will find distinctive, one-of-a kind designs that you won't see anywhere else! We design all our clothes from pre-used garments giving unwanted clothes a new lease of life. Thus helping the environment.
Every item we find has unfortunately lost its spark and shine so we devote our time to giving back it's lost life by re-sewing, stitching, hemming, tailoring and adding pearls, buttons, fringes, tassels - the lot!

So not only will you be buying into something unique but you can feel good about doing so! Do you ever think about the ethical side of fashion when you shop? Why not start now!
Buying from Mode Devoted will ensure style and individuality in a way you can't find on the High Street now. Don’t get me wrong the High Street is fabulous for grabbing a bargain and the latest fashion trend in Topshop or Primark but do you really want to wear a dress that has been sampled on a manikin, seen and worn by millions of other

Runway:

Saving money is suddenly chic.

Reality:

This spring sees Alexander McQueen's collection for Target and Matthew Williamson's H&M line: two more designers that bring affordable wares to the masses. But it's not just designers' affordable lines that are making news: in-your-face consumption (designer labels) and gone-in-a-flash fads (harem pants) are no longer covetable, but offensive during economic hard times.

What works?

Eco-anything, reusing wisely (vintage), building classic wardrobes that keep you looking great without being obnoxious about it.

Normal Size

Young Designer Uses 'Normal-Sized' Models at London Fashion Week - Casting Director and Stylist Walk Out

Young designer Mark Fast uses fuller models on the runway at London Fashion Week. Photo: Ian Gavan, Getty ImagesEmerging designer Mark Fast may be getting buzz for his body-conscious knitwear, but that doesn't mean he's a snob when it comes to embracing women's bodies. For his London Fashion Week Spring 2010 show, the Canadian designer decided to use three "normal-sized" models: UK sizes 12 and 14 (that's a US 8 and 10), reports BBC News. But rather than applaud Fast's stand against the ultra-skinny runway norm, his stylist and casting director walked out just two days before the show, according to the site.

Bold graphic prints are making their way down the runway - not only on shirts, but also on dramatic full-length dresses. Keep your silhouettes clean to let the graphics shine.

Graphic Prints at Miss Sixty, Jonathan Saunders, and Y-3.

Style tip? Graphic prints are beautiful but they are hard to wear - depending on your height and the size of the print. If the print is bold, I try to find it in neutral colors. Generally simple floral prints I think are easier to wear.

Would you wear graphic prints? Share your thoughts in the comments!