I want it now! H&M printed mac, £19.99

Okay, what can I say about this coat other than it's a yummy, shiny, red and blue and loud as loud can be. That is why I want it.

When the storm clouds come a knockin' not only do I want to be caught in the rain in something that will provide half decent water-proofing, but I also want something suitable for skipping in the wet and dancing in puddles. Or something that at least makes me feel like doing it.

Basically this is a coat that would take all the misery out of the weather and imbue the wearer with instant gaiety. All that for less than £20? What's not to like?

Five of the best... winter coats

I should probably have posted about this earlier, I'm not quite sure how I managed overlook it. Must've been the unusually clement weather. Well, now the winter is truly starting to bite it's time to look for a nice, big, snuggly coat to get you through the winter chill.

I've leaned towards a sort of all weather, all occasion, functionality with these. The object is to be able to sling these over anything and go and be warm and still look good. It's a tall order but, by jove, I think I've got it! I'm especially loving that frock coat from Mango, I do so lurve the fit and flare.

Click on image to enlarge
Clockwise from top: Principles quilted, £120; Vivienne Westwood Anglomania tartan, £465; Mango frock, £70; Coat empire-waist, £200; Monsoon tweed, £140

I want it now! - French Connection felt jacket, £140

Holy high necks and big bows Batman! What do we have here? It's a fab new coat from French Connection and I love that high neck and floppy bow combo, I do! I think I'm a bit over yellow now but I could be persuaded to add this last item because it is so dandilicious I just can't stand it.

I'm thinking it would look cute over a cami and some wide-legged trousers, it could also add some forties glamour to a pencil skirt and simple top. But I think it would go super, super well with a navy blue shift dress and - dare I say - matching yellow shoes (could they also have bows and a kitten heel? Pleeeaaase?!)

I want it now - Dorothy Perkins PVC coat, £50

By now, y'all know my favourite colour is red, right? But if I ever had to choose the form in which my favourite colour could come in it would be shiny PVC or patent. So I could not believe my beady, red-lovin' eyes when I saw this beauty from Dorothy Perkins.

I know everyone's going on about the resurrection of leather for this season but I'm pretty sure that PVC is going to be the clear winner in what people will end up buying. This is simply gorgeous. Also, as an added bonus, it'll keep out the constant rain from this washout of a summer. I've already placed my order online. It's also available in blue - should you not share my colour obsession.

Phantom New Look brogues now in shops

Remember these? Then you may also remember what a fuss I made over not being able to find them. Well, they have finally, finally, hit the stores - at least the blue and white ones have. We still wait with bated breath for the orange and grey ones. Any day now... Aaany. Daaay.


While we're on the subject, did you manage to pick up one of those Primark metallic coats that everone was drooling over for what seemed to be forever? Or had you, like me, already got over that particular jones? If not, they too are within you sweaty grasp. If there are any left, that is. Run like the wind down to cheapmark and hope that you're not too late.

I want it now! - Phaze Lolita frill embroidered coat, £75

I've been getting bored lately with the same ol', lame ol' trends on the high street. I've been trying to look for stuff that's a bit more unique. So, when I got a hankering for a new coat, I eschewed the whole "wear a trenchcoat or die!" ethos and went looking online pastures new. Which is where I found this baby from a shop called Phaze.

Phaze caters to the more dramatic dresser - think alternative, goth, fantasy or Japanese lolita - and I have not only fallen in love with the site but also with this frock coat, because it's fabulous. To check out Phaze, go to "Go Shop" in the sidebar.

late night shopping picks of the week - April 13

What fools these mortals be - queuing to shop at Primark

Welcome to another late night shopping round up, your handy dandy guide to what’s in store this weekend. But first, let me interrupt your regular update with a late breaking rant about the Primark flagship store on Oxford Street because I have had enough of it.

I went to check it out today, only to find that they had put guard rails around the entrances and were having people queue (yes, queue) to get in, like some two bit, overblown members club.

Needless to say, I was outraged. Who ever heard about anyone queuing for a regular late night shop? No really, what the hell is Primark up to? What really made my jaw drop was that people were, actually queuing. To get in. To Primark. People! Have you no shame?

I, of course, was having none of that. This is Oxford Street for God’s sake. Places to shop abound. So I popped across the road to Evans to check out the new Georgina Goodman collection.

Maybe after being put in a hot fug by bloody Primark (bloody, bloody, bloody Primark. Haaate!) I was feeling a tad irritable, but the collection doesn’t look as good in the flesh as it did online.

Maybe it’s because, and rightly so, the shoes are made with a larger woman in mind (though I have to question this whole, larger shoes for larger ladies business, because… honestly, do bigger women have fatter feet? No, I’m serious. Answers to me by email please). Anyway, big shoes, not so pretty close up.

Also checked out New Look. I have to say that the Giles Gold collection that people were almost maiming themselves to get to? Tonnes of it. Everywhere. Looking forlorn. So, hee!

I did find a pair of high-waisted skinny jeans, £25, which looked particularly good on. Otherwise it’s just tunic/smock city and you all know I am not feeling that at the moment.

Next up was River Island, which still has its mid-season sale on. I spent a pleasant few minutes rummaging for bargains and came away with a lovely leather bomber reduced to £40. It’s still well worth checking it out for that overlooked bargain. Their leather thong slippers, £19.50, also caught my eye. Simple but pretty. I’d snap up the silver ones.

The high point of my evening’s shop was in no other than trusty old M&S. Now, I always have a problem with clothes from the Per Una line – too flouncy, too boring, too old - but I was surprised to find a rather natty looking black and white frock jacket that could go either way on my must-have list. I loved the cut. Not sure about the trimmings though. Take a look for yourself (above).

M&S also had some great shirts. I particularly liked the classic white bib fronted one, and the striped one shown here. I also liked the stripy knit top, in earthy colours and metallic thread, £25. Very cute.

A trip to H&M wasn’t wasted, as I came across some quite nice accessories, such as a crystal pendant on long silver chain, £2.99, some silver hair grips, £1.99 and a lovely extra-long jet bead necklace, £1.99.

Finally, I made it back to Primark when the scrum outside had abated. First of all, let me just say the place is enormous and was absolutely heaving with bargain hunters. There were cheap clothes everywhere. Very few of which I would actually consider buying.

It may be my earlier annoyance talking but I hated it. It's more like a theme park than a store. It's definitely being marketed as a tourist "experience", what with queuing and stuff.

Still, I gamely made a beeline for the shoes and accessories. Oh dear. Hiroshima, after the bomb, anyone? I did manage to find a passable pair of red lace up pumps – worth buying since they were only £4. Oh, and I got some socks. Because, why not?

And that pretty much sums up Primark, Oxford Street for me: good for cheap socks. Bloody, bloody, bloody Primark. Haaate!

Five of the best... metallics

What, it's not christmas and we're supposed to be wearing shiny clothes? Well, I'll be... Still, with items like these it shouldn't be that much of a stretch to bling in spring.


Make like a space-age babe in this silver metallic coat from Primark, £20. You can run around acting like a replicant from Blade Runner. Let's hope it'll help you pick up a young Harrison Ford-alike.




So over diamonds since Blood Diamond came out? Why not sling on some bling with this baby? Cracked gold drawstring bag, ASOS, £25.




These Callista metallic gold wedges from Faith, £60, will make you taller and make your feet shine. I really like the cork detail.






This gorgeous gold frame bag from Oasis, £18, is bound to make you come over all ladylike. Why not team with a pussy bow blouse and high-waisted, voluminous skirt.



I love this skirt so much that it's already been featured on the front page in the Love This section and here it is again for good measure. Voluminous, metallic and high-waisted this ticks virtually all the trend boxes. Woven metallic high-waist skirt, Warehouse, £45.

The one that got away

While I’ve been working away at culling my wardrobe down to a reasonable size, I have also, like any self-respecting shopaholic been shopping for new season finds. So far, I’ve managed to find some beautiful and affordable pieces, mainly from H&M, who have managed to put together a stupendous collection which just keeps getting better and better every week.

My best buys so far are a beautiful ladylike black cocoon-dress with a white pixie- collar and ties just under the breast that give it lovely ruched effect and a gorgeous, fully lined, pouffy, black, high-waisted mini-skirt. Warehouse have also managed to dazzle me with some great finds, like their cool racer-back top in lemon yellow.

But I still haven't found that perfect summer coat that will work with the new wardrobe. I searched high and low, looked at and rejected quite a few contenders including a lovely pale yellow cocoon coat with pretty three-quarter length sleeves, which I rejected because I hate pastel shades.

Then, browsing through Grazia magazine, what did I spy but the perfect coat. So perfect was this coat in fact, that I was instantly transfixed. A camel brown swing coat, with pouffy, three-quarter length sleeves, a bib front and princess collar. It was exactly what I needed. It was love at first sight. I wanted that coat there and then. My only obstacle was that the shops were closed.

Which brings me to another thing: H&M, why oh why does your website suck so much and when are you are you finally going to sell your wares online? Must I wait in vain? Why do you punish me so? Why?!

Anyway, bright and early the next morning I jump on the tube, Grazia clutched tightly in my hand ready to do battle for my prize. I looked in every H&M I could find, there were hundreds of coats, in every colour shape and size, my beloved was not among them. I asked shop assistants, some of whom were very helpful but actually knew very little. I found out a lot of useful things, like the fact that H&M have a delivery everyday and that they had some very pretty seventies inspired jewellery but no one could tell me how to get this coat.

So I did what - admittedly - I should have done in the very first instance, I called up the press office, where the delightful Clare (hello Clare! You’re lovely) let me know that the coat in question was already sold out! Nooo! I screamed, falling to my knees, pummelling the air with my mobile phone while cursing the shopping gods. How could this be? My dream summer coat, lost to me forever. Ah cru-el, cru-el, fate. Okay, none of that really happened but it should have, such was my utter sorrow.

I have done a sweep of ebay in the hope that those cold-hearted fashion vultures who buy cheap to sell high and, really, have no beauty in their souls, will be trying to get rid of one but no luck so far.

So here I am back on the search for the perfect coat, any and all suggestions are thankfully received.