A/W

This season we are spoilt for choice when it comes to the different trends we can adopt. From a quick look at the high fashion catwalk shows of Milan, Paris, London and New York, it’s clear that our A/W inspirations are taken from the 40s and 60s. Add to this Jewel Tones, Androgyny and Fetish (but to name a few) and we’re onto a winner. Here’s a run down of this season’s key trends and how to wear them to maximise your style points. Yes, that’s like Brownie points. But better.

The 1940s was a decade of glamour and sophistication on the fashion front. Think pearls, pencil skirts and pussy bow blouses. This season’s designers, such as Gucci and Prada (see pic), have borrowed the look and centred it around the simple pencil skirt. Wear yours with seamed hosiery and high, high heels, for a sexy yet demure look. Warning: you may feel ever so slightly like you’re dressed to be an extra in Miss Marple. But embrace it. Every fashionista worth her cashmere socks is rocking this look during the winter months.

Second wave feminism, a sexual revolution, Twiggy, The Beatles and the bikini – it was all happening in the 1960s. So natch, we're revisiting the look to brighten up our bleak winter months. Knee-high boots, bracelet length sleeves, big buttons and structured coats are staples. This decade also incorporates the androgynous look rather nicely. But ladies, do keep your brassiere on. We live in Britain and it's just too cold for that nonsense.

To go for an androgynous look, it's really all about structure and shape. Wear oversized boyfriend blazers to create a more masculine silhouette. Add to this tapered trousers and a good pair of brogues. Brogues are the new ballet pump, don't y'know. Oh and they really are very warm. If you choose to borrow your male friend's clothing, all the better. Just make sure not to swamp your frame. You'll be left looking two sizes bigger than you are, rather than a chic man-lady. Or lady-man. Your choice.

Fetish wear is not for the shy or timid. Marc Jabobs went big for this trend during his catwalk shows, and so should we. But there's a limit. Don't go wandering down the high street in your best Anne Summers PVC items *shudders at the thought*. Instead opt for black lace, or blocks of leather. Note I said leather. Faux-leather and pleather are not acceptable. You will sweat and the clothes will shrink. Fact. Add chunky and structured jewellery, to complete your madam look.

So for this A/W remember: it's not all about keeping warm. Have a flick through your Vogue, decide what trend is for you, and go for it. Old baggy jumpers and scruffy Ugg boots are banned.

We should be raiding our Gran's wardrobes. Fact.

This A/W season us fashionistas are taking style tips from decades gone by. The 40s and 60s were a huge influence on the catwalks and that has trickled down to the high-street. Pussy bow blouses, high waisted pencil skirts, petite neck scarves, chunky knits, masculine blazers and all-in-one jumpsuits, are on the style cards, but to name a few. This writer know exactly where to go for them - and it's not Topshop. Shock of shocks, I know. The answer? Raid your granny's wardrobe.

Let's take a step back here. I am in no way suggesting that readers should start donning sensible shoes and knee-length tweed skirts. By all means, if you can rock it, go for it. But Anna Wintour won't be giving you a pat on the back any time soon. Gran's and often our Mother's are the best source for some original vintage clothing. Why, you ask? Well for one they come from a generation of hoarders. My own Gran still has her daughter's smelly afghan coat from the 70s - *collective shudder*. Secondly clothes were more expensive and made better, therefore they lasted longer.

So head on down to your relative's attics, basements and cupboards. You're sure to find a veritable treasure chest (or at least tatty cardboard box) of classic attire, fit for any vintage lover. Mix the pieces with newer items, for example an old cable knit jumper with super skinny black jeans, to avoid looking like you've just rolled around in Oxfam, covered in sticky tape. After a bit of foraging you will have just cheaply and cheerfully updated your A/W wardrobe. And you'll gain brownie points for visiting your lovely old Nan. Win, win.

New nail obsession

My new nail obsession is the 30's moon manicure. I would describe it as a reverse French manicure, with the thinner colour stripe over the half moons of the nail rather than the white tips. There's a throw-away line in Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep which refers to a female character having painted her nails red "all the way to the quick". Reading this years ago, I wondered how it would work; not painting your entire nail. Apparently, it was common place back in the day to leave your half moons unpainted (my gran confirms this as actual fact.)
Then, recently, it was a confluence of events where I first read a blog post about these "moon manicures" and then a friend went to a vintage store to get this vintage-style manicure, I kept seeing or reading about the nail style. Events were conspiring to get me to try it out.
For my first go, I started with a clear base coat, then a gold colour polish with a baby pink over the top. Rather than using little stickers or tape, I steeled my nerves and painted freehand. It took a very steady hand to paint the top coat from the natural line of my half moons. Maybe a tad messy, it still looked pretty cool.
For work, I used a natural pink colour normally used for French manicures, with a purple-brown top colour. It looked cool but not too vintage; so I didn't look like a Miss Marple extra.

Lotions, Potions and Creams.

Every lady has a barrage of products which she simply cannot go about daily life without. Mine are vast, but in essence the simplest of products. Here is a run down of my favourite lotions, potions and creams which allow me to look like a normal human being.

Sudocrem has long been my family's go to product for all that ails you. Mosquito bite? Slap some sudocrem on it. Burn? Sudocrem. An unsightly blemish? Ooh er sudocrem. Broken leg? You get the idea. Although the thick, white cream is meant for babies' nappy rash, it can pretty much be used for everything. Quite simply this is my number one product which I will come to time and time again - for every beauty problem.

Moroccan Oil. This is a more recent love of mine, but has quickly become a firm favourite. My mother - scrambling to buy me last minute birthday presents - purchased me this small bottle of amber liquid on a whim. It is in essence the new fizz ease and I love it. You can apply it to damp hair, or after styling and it makes your hair smooth and shiny.

YSL Touche Éclat. "Well hello darling, don't you look radiant this evening!" "Why thank you dearest. I just rolled out of bed - it's entirely natural" Lies. I have slathered my face in expensive YSL products, which make me look like I am bright eyed and very bushy tailed. Excellent.

Rimmel Clear Complexion Powder. If there's one thing that really gets my goat, it's a shiny faced lady. A lovely matt face can only be achieved, for this writer, with regular application of powder foundation. Clear Complexion is rather excellent for de-shining and will leave you looking less like a lady who wears Birkenstocks and ties her hair in a low ponytail...

Philosophy Amazing Grace Fragrance. This is no regular perfume, this is a pure fragrance. One spray of Amazing Grace is enough to leave you feeling like a sophisticated lady, straight from the 1930s, who's dressed for dinner. Yes it's that good. With a faint smell of lilacs this is one of my most favourite smells. The only draw back? People singing at you, when they enquire as to what the scent is.

And last but certainly not least, Chanel Rouge Noir. The undisputed favourite nail colour for decades. I mostly like to wear it then dance around to Chuck Berry, pretending I'm Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction.

Not So Weighty Katy Anymore..

For the past couple of weeks my fashion bibles have been taken over by one topic - HRH Kate. Sorry, it's Catherine now right? Anyway. As much as I have enjoyed envying her extensive designer wardrobe - including but not limited to Erdem, Catherine Walker, Alexander McQueen and Issa - and occassional high street apparel, there is a little voice inside my head. What is this voice saying, I hear you ask? Well I shall tell you - She. Is. So. Horiffically. Thin. I promise you, I am not being swayed into thinking this because I look from behind the eyes of a porker. Quite the contrary.

When HRH first came into the public eye, she was a slender and nicely framed

young lady. If not entirely adapet at fashion, having been caught in a sheer dress (shudders dramatically) and pants. Now, I fear if someone does not force feed her some cake in the next 10 minutes, she may be blown off her feet by a surpise up-draft. What bafles me the most is the fact that, to my knowledge, not a single publication has picked up on this. Bar this excellent blog, might I mention. Looking good on the fashion front my dear, but please do go have a nice big lunch. Or at least a few pound-adding cocktails.

God Bless The Maxi Dress and All Its Disciples

It's hot outside - yes I know. Just imagine for me, if you will. You are looking forward to enjoying the sun. But wait! You've remembered that we do in actual fact live in the UK. A country so renowned for it's unpredictable weather, many a comedian 'wittily' uses this fact as comic fodder. So with the possibility of sun, rain, wind, fog and hail stones and in the one day (trust me, it has been known) what do you wear? To that I cry, the maxi dress!

Always on the trend menu for a summer day to night look, the maxi is my new go to outfit when weather can be an issue. From plain to patterned, spaghetti to strapless, jersey to silk and indeed Edinburgh to Cannes, the maxi will take you from plain summer wear to bang-on-trend. Should the weather take a turn for the worse, simply add another layer (and yet another, most likely) and carry on looking fabulous.

H&M do some lovely maxi dresses for penny pinching prices. I myself have partaken in more than a few. A few being at least six. Uh hem. So next time you are standing in your pants in front of your wardrobe screaming profanities, heed to my words of wisdom.

Dancing Her Way Into Style

My new celebrity style crush is on Nicola Roberts. Gone are the days of bad fake tan and bleached blonde hair - now is the period of a sophisticated, well dressed and preened young lady. This girl knows her fashion. Unlike some of her Girls Aloud band mates -ah hem Chezza - Roberts does not just adorn herself in the latest designer de jour, but really seems to follow the trends and make them work for her.

Last year her cute little bob with an edge transformed her from pop starlet, to fashion icon. After wowing her fellow fashionistas with her retro attire (yes, that's a compliment; I said retro not 80s) and quirky hair colour, she's now back with an excellent new sound as well. Beat Of My Drum is not only my new favourite summer tune, but the styling of the video is superb. Simple, underplayed and rather stylish, in my opinion. Lots of colour pop - and lots o' leg! This writer will be keeping a close eye on this little trend setter. I have but one criticism - get rid of the extensions girl! They be wack.

An Ode To The Up-Do

When the wind is blustering, whipping and slapping at my face, my love for the up-do is never stronger. Perhaps it is because washing my hair every day seems like an insurmountable task or that those extra 15 minutes in bed are impossible to say no to, but dry shampoo and an up-do has become my new go to hair style.

My hair is very long. So on these lazy days I pile my hair atop my head and secure. I feel it looks like a cross between a bride's locks and the almost effortless elegance of Audrey Hepburn. I then add some large, dark sunnies and saunter off down the road.

I have also taken a liking to fish tail pleats - something which are regularly sported by the likes of Blake Lively. But don't let that put you off. A little trickier to nail but patience and practice always reaps rewards.

How To Avoid Festival Faux Pas

Aah summer time. When sunshine, booze and good times are plentiful. One of the key fixtures in our British summer are festivals. Glastonbury, T in the Park, Isle of White, Rockness. Which ever festival takes your fancy, you will need to get your style in check. But which fashion route to tread? Let us survey our options...

Boho Chic? Yes, we must blame Sienna Miller for this trend. Some summers ago now, she flounced around in long flowing skirts, wicker hats and crocheted cloths entrancing the female population of this country to follow suit. None the less the trend has flourished from year to year, high street to high street. Festival wear has somehow adopted this style and women a plenty adorn themselves in this manner. Update the look by adding more colour pop, than whites and nudes, and ensure you stay away from headbands. They are very last season, as nice as they may look.

What of wellies? Do. Not. Go. To. A. Festival. Without. Them. Fact! Yes, sandals or a pair of little white Keds would be excellent for sauntering down the high street, but you won't appreciate them when you are ankle deep in other people's excrement. Aah I do paint a delightful picture, don't I? Never the less, Hunters are your best friend. Not only do they come in a variety of colours, but you can even channel Chanel by purchasing a pair of quilted ones! Tres bien!

Personally for festivals I feel the best style to adopt is simplicity. A pretty summer dress or shorts, wellies, a waterproof and possibly a quirky straw hat or colourful scarf. Sorted? Well yes. At the end of the day there is no bigger faux pas than tramping around a field trying to pretend you are on a catwalk. Especially when you have not showered for at least two days. Embrace the simplicity and you are sure to look fabulous.

All That Glitters

Recently I have found myself displaying similar traits to the magnificently greedy-eyed magpie. Prior to shopping trips, nights out on the razz and rummages in vintage stores, all that occupies my minds-eye are items which shimmer, glisten and sparkle with sequins and beads.

What, if anything, makes you feel as glamorous and sophisticated as an exquisitely and meticulously beaded piece of clothing? This writer would argue that nothing else comes close. When raiding my sister's increasingly expanding vintage collection, I always try to land my hands on the sequinned items. I borrowed such an item only last night. It was a little shift top covered in black sequins and beads, trimmed in gold. Nothing makes me feel smugger than to reply "oh it's vintage" when questioned about my outfit. Aah smugness. The food of fashionistas.

It's not just the clothing which attracts me. I have also taken to adorning my nails in glitter - usually just on the tips of my Rouge Noir, to create a glamour puss French manicure. Oh la la!

Although not quite in line with the usual spring /summer materials and fashions, I find that the heavier cloth of sequinned items is perfect for my Scottish summers, which often require warmth to be considered over style. So do follow in my glittery footsteps. I guarantee you will feel like a million dollars. Or at least effortlessly glam.

Props For Prada

Prada can often be established as the epitome of classic, sophisticated luxury. And the new spring / summer 2011 collection is no exception. Prada has gone big on colour pop, nods to nautical and bold - often cutesy - prints.

Often this writer cannot

suppress sighs of exhaustion and

boredom when it comes to spring / summer collections. Designers have been known to trot out the same nautical strips and Riviera themed creations, year after year, summer after summer - leaving us somewhat stuck in a style rut. This season, we must applaud Prada! Although still wandering down the plank-boarded walkways of nautical style, the fashion house has chosen to go with bold blues, ravishing reds and bright yellows to mix up the fabric and styling.

One of the most chit chatted about pieces this season has been the 'banana print' which Prada has draped over skirts, dresses and tops. Anna Wintour has even been spotted in the whimsical print, so we know it must be a fashion yes-yes. Entirely wearable, even after the season has ended AND ASOS.com have created a lovely little 'knock-off' which doesn't cost the equivalent of a mortgage payment.

Take a look at the video for Prada's collection, to get more ideas for your own summer style. Here's hoping these trends continue to trickle their way down into the more affordable realms of the high street, for us lesser mortals.

Yes, it's hot outside. No that does not mean you can run around shirtless...

As the days grow longer and the opportunities to luncheon outside grow, we start to see the spring / summer fashion trends rear their elegant heads. Whether you favour nautical sailor sartorial or flowing silks of all styles, summer is the season to be noticed.

However, not all toe the fashion line. This writer has one very large and hairy pet peeve, when the sun decides to put it's hat on. Picture the scene: You are walking down a busy high street, taking in the sunshine, spending some undeserved student loan cash, enjoying yourself and then you see it. A fat, pale and tattoo'd male, with his shirt off and (shudder) tucked into the waistband of his jeans.

It's 17 degrees my dears. We are in Scotland, not the Costa del Sol. Inevitably these men are not the bronzed, Brad Pitt adonis types - I would not be complaining so much. I'd peer through my Wayfarers happily. No, they are usually middle aged with a six-pack-of-beer, instead of washboard abs.

This is a plea, to those men who commit this heinous crime - COVER UP! There are many more pleasant styles for men this spring summer, that will keep you cool and stop people like myself, weeping. Many thanks.

There are no words... well there are but just derogatory ones

Seriously, who in their right mind would wear any of these modesty or shirt panels?!

I was browsing through the Betterware catalogue that came through our door, not as good as the Lakeland daydreams I have whilst looking through their catalogue but just as fun to imagine buying random items. Like the above... or not.

I can to a certain degree, imagine in the long dark tea-time of my soul, there may be a couple of poor deluded women that would buy the modesty panels. Maybe they work as a librarian or in the 1940s, where a modesty panel would be needed to ensure the sweater bunnies don't escape and scare the menfolk. No one wants to be all Blake Lively boob-tacular all the time. It may be nice to still have the option to wear your favourite low cut tops in a professional setting for example, without being able to keep pens in your cleavage.

But come on! What sane person thinks, "aha I think a shirt would look great under this jumper but it's too hot. What to do? I'll buy a FAKE shirt collar from a mail order catalogue and it will look ace. I'll be the best dressed woman in the office or in the street. Depending on the street, definitely in the top 3 of the most beautiful girls on the street."

Just reading the blurb beside the photo is suitable miserable, "Achieve the look of layered clothing without the discomfort and bulky effect." I really don't want to live in a world where clothing is solely judged on how comfortable it is, this may be one of my worst nightmares.

Theories I refuse to put into practice

This may sound like whining or an unnecessary attack of contrariness, but I really don't understand the various projects floating around at this time of year. You know the ones, "clear out everything you haven't worn in a year" or "only wear six carefully chosen pieces of clothing". Encouraging everyone to start anew on a clean sheet. Promising clarity of mind and improved fashion sense through editing your wardrobe and throwing out clothes. Or simply ruthlessly editing your everyday wardrobe to a capsule collection (also, words can't express how much I hate hate hate Gok Wan and the 'capsule wardrobe' he foists on poor unsuspecting middle aged women - but that's a whole other subject).

It may be New Year resolution time and the entire world is obsessed with frugalness, make doing and mending like billy-o, but honestly what sane person could survive on six (SIX!) items of clothing? That just belies the tempetuous and varied relationship to enjoy with your image and clothes in general. One day you want to be the sophisticated business woman, clad in a Chanel-like suit, silk shirt and pearls. The next its a rock chick outfit, complete with tons of black eyeliner and skin tight jeans. It's fun to treat your image like a pick and mix counter, milk buttons mixed in with pink prawns.

Despite the fact that my clothes are currently threatening to take over an entire room and edge me out like an unfriendly roommate, I just don't want to throw anything away. Sometimes clothes are meant to be kept, not to wear all the time but simply that the memory of the last time wearing it overrules the room it takes up in the wardrobe. All ready to be taken out and treated like a long-lost friend who you haven't seen for ages but swings into town to give you a good time.

Rx

Style Icon - Louise Brooks

Over the holidays I finally finished a series of essays by Louise Brooks - Lulu in Hollywood. Ms Brooks was most well known for her iconic but reading her musings on her time in Hollywood in the period before talkies was a revelation. She comes across as incredibly intelligent, self-aware and downright cheeky.

Describing her shortcomings in the fashion stakes, she admits that when she first moved to New York she had no clue when it came to style and would "buy anything a persuasive salesgirl thrust upon me." In fact, she was thrown out of the Algonquin Hotel in 1924, creating a scandal due to looking fourteen in a childish short pink dress whilst heading out to party at 2 o'clock in the morning. She ruefully reflects that "I felt disgusted with myself as I packed my trunk. This humiliating eviction could not have taken place if I'd been wearing a fashionable slinky dress and a hat." Thankfully, she resolves to learn how to dress and goes to a store, confessing her ignorance and asking for help.
Concluding with a lovely description of her new wardrobe, evening gowns slashed to the navel with a bare back so "sitting at a restaurant or nightclub table, I was a nearly naked sight to behold", afternoon dresses in pastel shades of satin and silk crepes, and severely tailored suits. Finally, "my beloved New York was able to present a Louise Brooks who was neither Kansas nor Broadway nor Hollywood nor Park Avenue but uniquely herself."

Reading this realistic description, Louise Brooks suffering through the age old process of finding her own style and confidence, and her other essays on her time in film, I realised she was more than just an iconic hair cut. She was defiantly her own person, quitting Hollywood when she felt like it rather than clinging onto fame as her star faded into dusty obscurity.

Still known decades later for smouldering performances in films like Pandora's Box, Louise Brooks will always be an icon to me.