Donatella does Highstreet

Originally, my intention was to go to Oxford Street and hunt down the best designs by Versace that hit H&M stores last Thursday but unfortunately, I managed to wander up to Angel on Friday afternoon to find as little Versace as I would've had I gone into Sainsburys instead.

I can't say I looked very hard because as soon as I walked through the doors, the gorgeous party dresses for the new season were all around me with different materials ranging from net skirts to velvet in classy black and other jewel tones.

Keep a look out for the beige satin tulip dress, brocade shorts or go classic and chose from one of the many different LBDs on offer.

I decided on a pair of black ankle boots with a wide, wooden finish heel and two little gold buttons to finish them off. With them being both comfortable and the kind of style that will go with almost anything, they'll keep my wardrobe up to date for many seasons to follow.

Although you can't actually see the boots, I wore them here to watch Lee Evans back home in Wales.

Jacket, River Island £120
Handbag, River Island
Shorts, H&M £29.99
T-shirt, GAP £9.99 (sale)
Scarf, Zara £19.99 (not sure)


The scarf looks a bit pink but I left the cream one I was going to wear back home and it was too cold to go without !

The Right Flight

Jennie Walker is the sophisticated New Yorker bringing life and love to her sultry debut album, Night Flight to London. Born in the Southern states of America, Jennie has lived her life through different music from the earliest moments of writing songs with her mother classically trained in opera.

In this album with songs such as, Night Flight to London (the title song), the soulful singer combines a confidence gained over years of experience with an up tempo rhythm and clever lyrics. Produced and co-written with the highly acclaimed Tommy Faragher, the sound and overall atmosphere of the album is polished and comes across with an air of careful consideration in every note and word, like an artist expert at their trade.

Provocative in some ways with the tracks, Your Father Your Mother and Black Hat, Jennie explores life and romance with a natural retrospective as well as the sense of celebration of where she is now.

And Jennie Walker is definitely someone to be celebrating as the winner of the British Airways Face of Opportunity Contest 2011, the company overwhelmed by her music as well as her business mind set to make a success of her album. This lady comes across with a wealth of experience and as someone who has lived an incredible life. Her album, Night Flight to London, celebrates all of her achievements, both personally and professionally to present herself now at the perfect time in her life.

To be listened to in the car as an uplifting start to the morning or a pick me up on the way back from work, Jennie Walker's debut would definitely keep you listening on a night flight to London.

For more details about Jennie's music, go to: http://www.jenniewalker.com/

The Ten Commandments of The Fashion Bible

The Second Commandment..

Thou Shall Not Neglect our Fashion Heritage

PART #2

The Tee

One of the newest additions to a wardrobe staple is the simple tee, paired with a pair of skinny jeans on the young and stylish, creates the perfect laid-back out-of-hours looks. I suppose the only barrier is whether a t-shirt actually suits you or not? This, however can be overcome as the key is in the design.

1. Remember, this is understated elegance, you're being casual on your day off so avoid wacking Gucci in diamantés across your chest?

2. Always be careful of logos, bands and motifs as some are classically stylish and then others, are more an embarrassing classic rock collection. No one else needs to share with you that random gig in the 80s. (Gigs in the 80s? You're far too old for band t-shirts anyway!)

3. I guess the most important thing when looking effortless is being comfortable so try something a little looser and with room to breathe.

Some of the best:

Top right - The Rodnik Band at Asos.com

Bottom right - Henry Holland online

The Shoes

And finally we come to woman's most praised discovery, shoes, or more specifically, heels. There is no point in any woman's life where she has a reason to give up on heels, maybe at some age, they may take on a different style but there is no end to the celebration this craft. Some basic guidelines to ensure a long and happy life together begin with finding your level of comfort. Once you feel that you have an appropriate balance, add at least an inch, 6 inches being the general maximum and 5 being the average evening height. The next step is find your style so if, unlike me, you have been blessed with an ankle, take advantage, strap it up and show it off. If you have narrow feet, enjoy getting away with more delicate, strappy shoes. However, if like me, your parents graced the base of your leg with a golf club, I would recommend a court or pump with a more substantial coverage.

**Start with a black and nude/beige coloured heels as a basis as these go with everything (as well as nude shoes lengthening legs) **

From that point, feel free to move into various styles, shapes, heights, colour and heel design!

One of the greats:

Christian Louboutin, taken from the website

Monki Say, Monki Do

Now an inhabitant of London, I have been exploring my new territory for fashion interest and the new shops available to me. While browsing around Selfriges yesterday, I came across the fashion label, Monki. I'm guessing originally Japanese or along that theme perhaps as I noticed the anime style about the place and the style of some of the clothes were really unique so here are some of the items on my wish list !

I love these leggings because not only does the material look comfortable and soft, the pattern on the calf is so unique but the effect is relaxed by the pastel tones, making them wearable for the daytime as well. Perfect to wear with a knitted jumper or old sweatshirt.


I put the rings up next because they follow the colour scheme and I thought they were really cute. On the description, they can be worn together to complete "a circle" or separately.













I liked this poncho because it looks so versatile, with a hood and draw string to look casual in the day time but then the colour and drama in the length means it could be worn in the evening and there's even buttons under the arms to create sleeves ! Personally ? Its genius !

The stacked bracelet is the kind of accessory that would make a little dress in the evening stand out and I love the way dulled silver colour looks against black. So contemporary and expensive.








The final piece is this kind of knitted cocoon. Available in grey and different colours as well, my favourite was red just because I thought that it made the jumper look so much more than a simple knitted top that is sold in nearly every high street store come this time of year. The colour was called "little red rocking girl" which I thought was quite sweet and fitting! When I saw it, I imagined it burning through cold winter days wrapped up with a scarf and hat, makes the scene seem so more enjoyable !

Check out Monki.com ! Now available to shop online so access to all :)

Ten Commandments of The Fashion Bible

The First Commandment.. 

Thou Shall Shop the Sales with Ease and Experience

Perhaps a little late for the Summer sales but as we all know, there will be far more to come and here are a few rules to go by to ensure a sensational sale shop !

1) Isn't there something with January sales and Next opening at 5 in the morning Boxing Day for the seriously dedicated bargain hunter ?! Going by the saying that the early bird catches the worm would be an understatement in this situation, however, this is not always the case. I suppose really, its classed as laziness but I find that going through racks and racks of clothes is made so much easier and less stressful at quieter periods in the day. I found a pair of River Island hot pants half price on the rack outside the changing rooms by chance about three o'clock one afternoon, perfect for my holiday and a lot less fuss !

 2) Don't go into sales with the mind set of finding little tops for holidays or the summer dress left-overs. With the British weather, it is always likely that shops will still stock jeans. This way, it is a real saving that is appreciated because staples of that type are the most expensive to buy full price. Department stores for more expensive jeans are sometimes best because they are better quality at really reasonable prices. Jewellery is also something to keep an eye out for in sales as something quirky that you would have overlooked before could be a lot more appealing at a smaller price.

3) Sales are often organised by size in order to make things easier for the shopper and categorize the clothes but remember, there are very few people that are, for example, a size 10 across the high street spectrum. Don't be afraid to look for the size smaller or bigger because how many times do things look better when they're a bit baggier or tighter or we walk into Topshop and struggle with 12 jeans then slide into Dorothy Perkins' 10s with ease ?! I found a size 6 top in the River Island sale (it was in the wrong place, I wasn't that hopeful) and due to the cut and shape, it fit me fine.

4) Always have a little peak outside of what you consider to be your comfort zone or things you would normally wear. When better to try something a little different and new than when its at its cheapest ?! If it doesn't work out, then at least you didn't spend stupid money on something that you don't see yourself ever wearing. At the same time, have some sense.. If you know deep down it is something you will NEVER wear, don;t buy it just because its a tenner off !

5)Don't go into a sale thinking that everything will be bargain bin prices at less than a fiver. If you imagine original prices in places like Zara and Topshop are up to £40 for an evening top, then £20 is actually great value. I have an awful habit of suddenly becoming shocked by price tags above £10 when I enter sale mode and I have to stop and remind myself that it is worth the money as half the time I would pay full price.

At the risk of adding a cheesy ending, the final rule is to just get shopping.. And take the right person ! You need someone prepared to walk around all day with limited breaks and a lot of patience if you're like me who needs to pick up everything before buying a single t-shirt.

Spring into Summer with Ease

The weather's getting a little warmer and a seasonal change into summer is upon us for sure but if you're not ready to make the leap into bohemian beauty or cigarette pant brights, take note because its far from the epic transition you may initially fear!


Take the skirts from Autumn/Winter collections last year; they seemed to come in every shape and length from Louis Vuitton's 50's inspired Midi to the relaxed, whimsical Maxi at Micheal Kors and Charlotte Ronson. Originally seen on the runways paired with chunky knits and wintry accessories, now could be worn with a plain tee or crop top:

Also take note: Dior's campaign for Autumn 2010.. Remove the HUGE leather boots and Matrix-style leather jackets and on taking apart the outfit, you'll find light, chiffon, playsuit and summer dresses with a very neutral palette not dis-similar to the Dolce & Gabbana campaign for this spring/summer collection, 2011.

The scooping low necklines and varying lengths all echo the Dior collection although they are not without their differences and I would never suggest such similarities without the hugest respect for the differences in materials and an overall theme of the collections. I suppose, if you do follow fashion and want to stay on trend, there's no harm in recycling an old trend in a new way ;)




The trouser has been coming upon us for quite some time now in all shapes and sizes and this season would appear to have settled on the super skinny cigarette pants, best seen at Stella Mccartney in super sweet pastells or pure white, perfect when paired with the crisp white shirts of Autumn/Winter collections or the floral blouses of the seasons just passed;

Dear Mr. Easter Bunny..

Here are just a couple of items that I'm hoping to somehow acquire in the coming weeks :)

This top is from H&M and I've also seen one in Topshop that's quite similar. I love the tassels and lacy material.. Just reminds me of festivals and relaxing in the sun. I only hope to get it while the sun is still shining !

These little espadrilles just look so comfortable and since I have no flat shoes at the moment apart from my huge boots, I've decided this is a necessity.. Just about. And I'm going with the idea that they'll pretty much go with everything summery, probably..

Basically my perfect top at the moment for a few reasons:

Its from Zara, and I love everything in there this season

Its going with the Bretton stripe, navy theme which I can't stay away from

And, its a lovely shape that would go perfectly with some skinny jeans for summer evening trips to the pub.

 

Which brings me to item number four, some skinny jeans to go with my stripey Zara top and the H&M top.

And finally, (I think) I've recently bought some black and white polka dot shorts, that are very similar in style to the white ones in the picture and I'm currently in search of the perfect top to complete the outfit.

What a Wild Fox !

My not so secret and rather expensive obsession would appear to be the t-shirt designer under the name, Wildfox Couture. I first discovered the relaxed, casual, somewhat oversized tee's in London, I think.. In Selfriges. The rack was fun and playful and the designs instantly stood out to me. Generally costing around £60 each, I could almost imagine a character in each of the different designs and I found them quite interesting :

This is the first I bought and after at least two or three years, I still get the same use out of the comfortable top.

My newest addition was purchased through ASOS and is quite a bit larger and " baggyer " than the former but still has the comfort and I love the faded eagle pattern on the front. This one was again, £60.

I suppose I have to accept that this is a rather poor show for an obsession as I only have two pieces, although I think they are pieces that will last an age and will definitely grow when money allows. I thought I would just give my fellow Bloggers a cheeky look as they are among the more accepting of such obsessions ;)

Fashion to Film

A lapse in my social life (the result of recently low funds), tragic as i may be, has indeed allowed me to refine my focus and interest in film and literature and as much as I'm sure everyone would love to read about Henry James' "Turn of the Screw", I thought a look into some famous fashion film moments may make a more light-hearted read...

I've decided to start with the film that I suppose people immediately think of when we talk of the iconic fashion moments in the industry. From the impeccable style of class of Audry Hepburn herself, only enhanced by the classic aesthetic of Givenchy is a match made somewhere beyond heaven. The opening scene as Hepburn stands in the window of Tiffany's, alone on the street at dawn, wearing a black dress and a set of pearls eating breakfast is basically perfection.

Something I have discovered through researching this post has to be that the most interesting and successful costume collections come from period films and I suppose that is only to be expected. They offer something different that excites the watcher and the creator. My favourite costumes come from Jean Paul Gaultier's incredible designs for Fifth Element. Based somewhere in the future, around the time that cars will hover and Chinese gets delivered to your window.. With the morning post is the angry, my mum would argue, sexy, Bruce Willis and the confused, yet gorgeous Milla Jovovich. The fact that the woman is clothed simply in a few white bands and yet remains covered has to be an achievement in itself. But the outrageous, ingenious costume designs for some of the characters, specifically, Chris Rock is pure brilliance.

When we heard that Tom Ford was taking his hand to directing, it was a given that his strict eye, clean lines and stylistic approach would transfer to screen as an interesting work of art. A grainy 80's approach to the filming almost acts opposite to the chic suits worn by the typically English Colin Firth. 

It seemed, however, that the real challenge was Catherine Letterier's; designer of costumes for the French film, Coco Before Chanel. Nominated for both a Bafta and an Oscar and winner of the French award, The Cesar, it would appear that Letterier definitely hit the mark. Talking to PaperMag.com, she explained how the difficult part was making what Chanel wore seem revolutionary to a contemporary audience without appearing boring. So, using stark contrast between Chanel and her contemporaries, creating parallels with her and the men around her, made the vision interesting and very obvious of how extraordinary Coco was.

Ah.. Perfection.

Super Sexy Silky Shirts

The day has come when officially we are all back to school and work and the thought of suiting up in my old depressing, dark uniform for another term of school full of exams and homework is something I found somewhat difficult to face this morning.

So, by way of ignoring the Tuesday blues, my thoughts turned to a more glamorous uniform and there is nothing more comfortable than the gorgeous silk shirts in this season's new lines. They are so comfy and effortless to wear yet they look sophisticated and so classy with some killer trousers and sharp heels. Here are a couple of my favourites:


This first one to the right is from L'Agence, found on net-a-porter and is loose enough to cosy up and relax in throughout the day, remaining comfortable and with a low cut set of buttons, sexy too!

Topshop's ladylike take on the new trend has a scalloped edge and looks so very delicate. Perhaps a silky black bra underneath would add another level to the number?? ;)











This Equipment shirt is another loose shirt but in a different colour and I think this rich, ocean blue is a stylish and classy alternative. Yes please!

Brush away the Winter blues with one of these stunning shirts and tell me its all bad!