Outfit of the week 07/04/09

Isn't London wonderful when the sun is out. After a couple of days of sunshine (finally!), people actaully smile at you on the street, the chat to you on buses and you in turn gurn at screaming toddlers and can actually bear to be around a few hormonally challenged young 'uns. It's like it's a different city.

And when the sun is shining I like to look at summer dresses and make up pretty summer out fits like this one:The shirt dress is perfect for summer a nice little girlie, checked number. I like that it's red, because - in case you haven't heard - I have a thing for red anything but also red is a great summer colour. I could have gone vaguely Americana and teamed with a denim waistcoat and cowboy boots but where's the fun in that? Instead I've decided I want the full on summer treatment with accessories in an even brighter colour - yellow.

I'm calling this "lazing on a sunny afternoon" after The Kinks. Video below for reference kiddies.


Outfit details:
Dress, Warehouse
Corsage, Evans
Belt, Dorothy Perkins
Bag, Aldo
Hightops, Reebok @ Schuh

I want it now! See by Chloe knit dress, £100 (sale) @Browns

It's true what they say: "age ain't nothin' but a number." What "they" don't necessarily tell you is that the flipside to looking young and beautiful for longer (like me) is that it kinda turns you into a big kid.

Which should be okay, but it's not because you are not a big kid. You are a grown up with reponsibilities and duties, and you just need to grow up already and start taking life a bit more seriously before you die!

Or so I've heard.

One of these supposed functions of being a grown up is to buy grown up clothes, which means not throwing away the housing deposit on one trip to Primark but instead saving for a wear forever "investment piece" (AKA blow the entire month's rent on a dress you'll wear once and then toss to the back of your wardrobe as long as it's designer). Which is why I have resolved to buy one grown up, investment piece before I die.

There's never been a better the time to do it, while stunned retailers everywhere declare silly season on their merchandise in order to shift as much as possible before the financially crippled masses stop buying altogether. Basically, designer clothing is going for dirt cheap these days, so why not "invest" now?

However, being the big kid I am, I still can't help gravitating towards the primary coloured, fun-looking, one-season-wonder fare. Like this dress:

It's gorgeous and totally unsuitable as an investment piece. In other words, it's perfect, I'll take it.

Finding style in Solace

Last night, I finally saw Quantum of Solace, the new James Bond film. As usual, it was rollicking good fun, although sometimes I thought the action was just a bit too fast and adrenaline-action-ey. But you know that an action film is good - at least this is my take on it - when the baddie is dispatched in the most satisfactory manner. I won't give the ending away by telling you how, but it was definitely satisfactory.

"But," I hear you cry, "this a fashion blog. Why are we talking about James Bond?" Well it's because of the image below, a still from the movie, where 007 and his sidekick have just come out of the other side of a bit of roller-coaster ride (again, trying not to give anything away).
I was tranfixed by this particular scene because it says so much about women and style and fashion without saying a word:

1. A good little black dress will work for you anywhere, even if you're trudging barefoot through the desert after being chased down by bad guys
2. High heeled shoes may look pretty, and make you look taller and your legs look longer, but when it comes to the crunch you'll always be the most comfortable in bare feet
3. In the right black dress, your heels really won't matter at all (of course, it helps if you also have a killer body)
4. Sometimes, it looks pretty badass when you're walking barefoot and holding your spikey heels in your hand like a loaded weapon
5. Spikey heels are a loaded weapon

So, what do you think? Am I right or just making it up as I go along?

I want it now! ASOS Petite floral dress, £38

Oh, to be petite! Now those are words I never thought would pass my lips. That is, until I saw this beautiful floral, tulip skirted dress available from the ASOS Petite range.

I know we should all be floral-ed out by now but if ever a dress could be made to count on the "winter florals" list, this would be it. This makes a welcome change from the LBD and the shiny and sequinned stuff that will - sure as eggs is eggs - be creeping it's way onto High Street shop floors like a tinselly rash.

This dress has cocktail chic and, worn with either a sheer tee or black polo-neck and opaques (and platform heels), will be something different for your winter party wardrobe. Added bonus, you'll be able to wear it next summer too.

Suddenly I rue the day I got so tall and am currently envious of all pint-sized people.

Fugly Update- Warehouse silk print dress

A while back I wrote a So Fugly on this Warehouse silk print dress. The comments came in - mostly agreeing with me that the designers, while starting out with good intentions, might have been a little bit *ahem* high.

Make Do kindly offered to check out the offending item in the flesh and agreed that indeed the addition of the pelmet was an addition too far. And yes, I know that pelmets and peplums are the new fashion twist du jour but really, there is so much else going on with this dress that it is sinking under the weight of it's own fashion-y knicker knackers (I do believe that is the technical term...).

While doing my monthly scan of spam emails - which mostly consist of exhortations for me to enlarge my penis and buy fake designer jewellery - I came across an email from an avid reader who also happens to work for Warehouse, which goes:

I received your news letter today and it's such a shame you don't like the dress as it featured in Grazia this week, but you must feel quite strongly about it!? I hope you don't feel this strongly about the whole collection.

So let me just set the record straight on this:

1. I dearly wanted to like this dress but I got too distressed by it's full on OTT-ness. If the dress could speak, it would be plaintively wailing: "No mas. No mas!" while weeping softly and cursing mankind.
2. I can usually find something to like in any given Warehouse collection and when I do, I am effusive in my praise. Take this skirt, for instance.
3. Contrary to popular contemporary opinion, Grazia is not God. And that dress? Still Fugly.
   
4. Also, dear Warehouse person-who-will-not-be-named, send me some bumf about your entire Autumn collection and I will happily review the items I like.
   

The latest news is that the dress has been featured in the Sunday Times Style mag as a "Star Buy" - to which I say: there's just no accounting for taste, is there?

See more fugly

So Fugly! Warehouse silk print dress, £65

Okay, so at first sight you look at this dress and you think: "ooh... pretty!" Unfortunately, the closer you look, the more you see and it ain't good. It's. Just. Too. Much. At some point, someone just sort of lost the plot with this and turned it from Oh yeah to Oh dear.I can just imagine what must've gone on in the design room the day this dress was created. It goes something like this:

Designer 1: Let's create the ultimate high street dress. Something classy and expensive looking with lots of fabric and a rich looking colour... maybe a hint of pattern.

Designer 2: Yeah, yeah! Something subtle but sexy, structured but daring... A nice long bell shaped sleeve. Full skirt. A slashed bodice to take the prim out of it.

D1: Ooh yeah, I like that! But I feel it's missing something here... Ruffles! A touch of pretty ruffle detail around the neckline, in the bodice, creating shape...

D2: Gasp! You are sooo right. Ruffles are sooo in right now. I have to say this: you, my friend, are on fire today!

D1: but there's still something... What could it possibly be? It's already just so perfect...

D2: I know what you mean... Hmmm... Hold that thought I'm just gonna go and powder my nose. *Snorting noises, followed by sneezing and toilet flushes*

D2: I've got it! It's brilliant!! You are gonna love it!!!

D1: What? *clap, clap. Sniff, sniff. Barely concealed excitement* What is it?

D2: It needs... A pelmet!

D1: Dude! That is so the missing it-ness of this dress. Now. Now it is perfection! Right, I'll just send this to the tailors and we are done.

D2: Like, stick a fork in us like a sausage, cos we are not only sizzling but also... done.

Yep. That's what I think happened.

I want it now! Eucalyptus spot dress, £65 at Oli

Fashion doomsayers are predicting that the end is nigh for pretty dresses. I say, stuff that and take a look at this beauty. Black and white polkadots and bright red sash give this variation on the prom dress extra staying power.

Add to that an adjustable hem that can be tied up for extra pouff or let down for a more demure look and the versatility box is ticked. It' s strapless so you can team it with pristine white tee for a casual touch or wear with a statement choker for added glamour.

Perfect and just in time for the wedding season.

Outfit of the week 07/05/08

So, you remember how I was going on about those El Dantes wedge sandals and how they would look so good with a summery maxi dress? Well, I've found just the dress.

It's from Monsoon Fusion and that bejewelled halterneck alone is well worth the £180 price tag. But that's not enough, I plan to pile on the chunky bangles with gay abandon, add some hoop earrings and an oversized blingring. Plus a cute straw bag. Roll on summer.

71 per cent of you rated this outfit a Do
28 per cent of you hate maxi dresses and said Don't

Dress, £180, Monsoon Fusion
Wood and silver bangles, £10, Oasis
Colour block bangle, £6; wood earrings, £6; and chunky ring, £8
Shoes, El Dantes at Faith

Designalike special: Everybody loves Luella

It's been a while since I've done a Designalike, so I thought I'd give you a treat and do a special designalike on the special summer appeal of Luella. Also, sorry guys but Outfit of the Week is on hold till Monday.

Luella must have really hit on something for their SS08 collection. Some ancient bit of our collective female consciousness must've gone: "I really, really want to dress like a geeky girl and wear ditsy florals, a cape and bat-shaped glasses", because nothing else can explain why the High Street's wife and it's mother are doing the Designalike shuffle all over this look for summer. And we are lapping up the frilly dresses, ditsy prints and kookie looks like babes to the teat.

Yes, Luella does it much better, her material is of the finest quality and designs exquisite and exclusive. But what to do if you are not a millionaire heir-head? Head for the high street.

Look 1 - Ditsy skirt + superhero tee = Superditz

Skirt, New Look; t-shirt, Uniqlo

Look 2 - Ditsy blouse + plus prim skirt= Cheeky Geeky

Ditsy blouse, Matalan; paperbag skirt, Warehouse

Look 3 - Girlie prom dress + chunky boots= Pretty Grrrl

Dress, Boohoo; boots, Schuh

Look 4 - yellow ruffles + high street thrift= Cheap Chick

Dress, Red Herring at Debenhams

See more comic book looks

Try pin-up for size

I want it now! Coast tiered, print dress, £135

Now that it looks like the sun is finally coming out my eye has been caught by this beautiful summery dress from Coast.

I can already see myself wafting around the green surroundings of some stately mansion, delicately sipping champagne and nibbling canapes while step lightly through the daffodils. In fact that is what this dress reminds me of: daffodils and sunshine and all things pretty and delicate.

I must have it.

Outfit of the week 26/03/08

I'm feeling in a colourful mood this week, anything to stave off the gloom filled horror that spring is turning out to be so far. Still where there's colour, there's hope and the moment I laid eyes on this red shirt dress from French Connection the future seemed a whole lot brighter.

I've gone for a slouchy, daytime/weekend look with the dress layered over a long-sleeve tee and red socks layered over yellow tights (I know! Colour, remember?). It's finished off with funky sneakers and an even funkier canvass bag.

Time to go out and cause some traffic mayhem with your multi-coloured self.

71 per cent of you rated this outfit a technicolour-tastic, Do
28 per cent of you just don't do multi-colour and rated it a Don't

Click on image to enlarge

Dress, £65, French Connection

Blue, long-sleeved tee, £6, Dorothy Perkins

Sneakers, £29.99, Rocket Dog at Schuh

Canvass bag, £10, New Look

Yellow tights, £4.95, Pamela Mann at My Tights

Ribbed knee high socks, £9.95, Tabio

See more outfits

I'm back!

Alas, my lovely, sunny holiday with the folks is now officially over. I know y'all missed me cause you sent me messages, so... Awww, shucks, thanks. Missed y'all too.

Still it's good to be back with the blog and catching up with all the style goss. I guess the big thing recently has been the Oscars. Though, from what I've seen of the red carpet frocks so far, it doesn't look like anyone was trying to set the world alight with anything approaching an original spark. This is what happens when everyone gets the same stylist. The world becomes a much more boring place. Come back Bjork - and bring that swan outfit with you - all is forgiven!

Anyhoo, so yeah, been on holiday. In Lagos. Land of my forefathers... yada, yada and had a major league enjoyable time. It's not really a place of cutting edge fashion, so nothing to report on there but what was interesting was the burgeoning hip-hop scene. I was blown away by the talent and energy. The video below is called Lagimo, by a group called Rooftop MCs. They're billed as gospel rap but don't let that put you off because they are bloomin' marvellous none the less. This is what I brought back with me from my travels.

And also some amazing ankara print material that I will be working up into some very cool stuff in the very near future. So, enjoy the vid and I'll be back soon.

Five of the best... deeply ditsy

Let's not kid ourselves here. The floral trend is not new. It's never really been away. Every spring/summer season, as sure as eggs is eggs, you know it's coming. Flowers. On everything. And so it is that flower power is back.

You can wear them any which way, large and blousy or "abstract" but what you mostly won't be able to miss on a high street near you right now, are those teeny-tiny florals known as the ditsy print. And you will end up owning at least one ditsy print item of clothing before the season's through.

Here are five of the best I've seen so far. And may I just say, much as I haaate tunics, I totally adore that blue pussy-bow number from M&S. I'll just buy it a size smaller and cinch it in at the waist with a wide belt, et voila, tunic begone!

Clockwise from top: monochrome print blouse, £23 and Rocha John Rocha red and white print dress, £45, both at Debenhams; River Island tie-neck dress, £34.99; M&S pussy-bow tunic, £35; J by Jasper Conran print blouse with black background, £25, also from Debenhams

Outfit of the week 25/01/08

Finally, I've had more than a minute free to put together an Outfit of the Week. As you know, between packing and moving and moving in and unpacking it's been a very stressful month and - of course - we still don't have internet access, so I'm basically cyber squatting (with permission!) at the moment.

Anyhoo, to the outfit... Seeing as spring/summer trends are tending towards a surfeit of prints and pansies and splashes of colour, I thought it would be fun to have an outfit that clashed them all together and still came out looking good.

Celeste Stien's beautifully patterned floral tights and the uber-cute dress patchwork-ish dress from Miss Selfridge provide the clash and a dash of my favourite red via the red long-sleeve tee (for added warmth) and shiny patent lace-ups provide a shot of colour and pull the clashing prints together. If you're out and about pull on your favourite black leather biker jacket and a big denim bag. Cute and kitsch.

64 per cent of you thought that this was clash to die for and rated this outfit a Do
35 per cent of you are seeking treatment for possible permanent eye damage and say it's a Don't


Click on image to enlarge

Miss Selfridge dress, £28
Celeste Stein floral tights at MyTights.com, £9.95
Kurt Geiger red lace-ups, £39
American Apparel long-sleeve tee, £15

Sales surfing - How now Browns!

Oh my. I think I may be in love. With a dress. And this is no passing fancy. No common fling. I fear, this time it is the real thing. It was, of course, love at first sight. The fabulous curves, the colourful silk. I can't help myself. But the dress is just way out of my league. Even though it's half the price it used to be. There is only one flaw - that gawdawful bow! Rokshanda Ilinic dress, £225 at Browns.

I also love this dress by Marios Schwab, £375 (are you seeing a pattern here?) The only trouble is those turquoise beads, which I would have to pick off one by one in order to wear it.

Outfit of the week 17/12/07

Okay, this is something of a fantasy outfit because I can't afford this dress. I maybe could afford it if I saved up for it for say six months or so but by then, the dress would be gone and I would be bereft.

Seeing as I'm bereft anyway just in the knowledge that this dress exists and that it will never be mine, let's call this last "outfit of the week" before christmas, the fantasy outfit.

This outfit is all about the dress. This dress is it's own statement. A dress like this needs no dressing up. It's just on your body doing it's thing, making you look good. Eschew gaudy baubles and give it some class with simply shiny black platforms (I can't resist this pair from Carvela) a matching clutch and opaque tights.

Dress, £750, D&G
Shoes, £95, Carvela
Clutch, £31.50, Dune
Opaque tights, £5, Accessorize

70 per cent of you rated this outfit a "sweet, sweet fantasy" Do, while 30 per cent of you nearly choked at the price. I agree with all of you!

Outfit of the week 10/12/07

The office party outfit. There are just so many ways to get it wrong. I personally try to stay away from anything too intricate and shiny (which is really hard because I really like intricate and shiny!). On the other had, you don't want to be boring. It may be the office party but it's still a party and you might as well make some effort.

With it's off the shoulder cowl neck and just below the knee length, this soft grey knit dress from Coast seems to have just the right amount of office decorum and party sophistication. The temptation with grey is to try and brighten it up with bright colours like pink or yellow. I think it looks perfect with subtle purple accessories and tights.

A whopping 88% of you voted this a do. 11% wanted shimmer and shine but, like the man said: "you can't always get whatchu wa-ant..."



Dress, £95, Coast
Mock crock belt, £10, Dorothy Perkins
Clutch, £22.50, Principles
Ruched strap Mary Janes, £59.99, Schuh
Opaque tights, £5, Accessorize

Fantasy shopping - Just Cavalli Show dress, £439 at Harrods

Anyone got a spare £500 to devote to a good cause?This gorgeous, pouffy, navy party dress needs one careful owner and I am she. Don't be shy; all donations tax deductible... I think...

Five of of the best... bodycon dresses

A funny thing has happened to me. Ever since I wore the strictly come dancing dress for the bloke's party, I've started to see my body in a new light. I may not be the skinny minny of my youth but it looks like I've managed to widen out in all the right places.

I think I may now be in possession of some rather dangerous curves, even the (let's face it, much hated) poochie tummy, doesn't look that poochie anymore. I may have turned a corner here. I'm ready to embrace the body I've got, that's not half bad. I'm ready to show off my curves. I'm ready for... Bodycon!

The thing about a good bodycon dress of course, is not only does it fit like a second skin and hug every curve, it is also cleverly constructed to hold you in all the right places. So, unless you're model perfect buy something well tailored, in a heavy fabric and get some good underwear. then minx it up with some killer heels and red lippy.

Clockwise from top: Monsoon ruffled, £95; Oasis colour-block, £50; Coast red, £95; Star by Julien MacDonald strapless, £60 at Debenhams; Coast corset, £160

See more of the best

River Island, why so tacky?

At first glance, I was impressed by the cut of the new party dresses on the River Island website. They looked well-tailored and solid, a little bit special, perfect for party season. Especially these:

strapless body-con, £44.99; lemon one-strap, £39.99; pink, cut-out halterneck, £39.99

So, why did you have to spoil them with pointless, tacky details like these:

So not ready for my close up- The devil's in the detail guys and your dresses are clearly possessed.

The black body-con dress already has enough wow factor. It's strapless, form-fitting and has moulded, front zipping boobage. So, why the extra, go-faster strip of lace down the sides? Congratulations! You managed to take it from stun to slut.

The yellow and pink dresses are bright, pretty, eye-catching. Adding the tacky strip of black fabric around the waist renders them unwearable. If we wanted to add a belt, we have our own accessories to see to that and we wouldn't necessarily want to use black. Now the choice has been made for us. Thanks guys, you just put the lousy in fabulous.

Oh and one other thing, stop with the equally pointless and irritating tag signs such as "love this", "Look loves", and recent addition "in the press". Again, just tacky. If we're already on your site, we don't need to be notified about what you or anybody else thinks of your wares. If you had any pride in your product at all, you wouldn't need to slap us round the face with the wet fish of it. Like we give a shit. Basically, what I'm saying is: shut up and sell nice clothes!

Trust me, if you make them, we will buy. Here is an example of what works:

Velvet jacket, £44.99. All items from River Island.

This velvet jacket is an instant classic. Okay, you could probably loose the rhinestones without the risk of revolution but it's still perfect for wearing over pretty, party dresses. Shame you just can't seem to make any.