Outfit of the week 04/01/08

Oli have officially become my new favourite place to shop online. Not only do they have a decent collection of items but they also have "a secret weapon": the Look Book application, which has allowed me to easily put together, this weeks outfit in a matter of minutes.

Now that the xmas revellries are over, it's time to put away the puffball dresses, the sequins and the glitter. It's back to school nights and tv dinners, slobbing around and falling asleep in front of the latest incarnation of Big Brother. But when you absolutely have to get out and do something, this is the time of the year when only the comfort of slouchy jeans, layers and thick socks will do.

Don't sacrifice comfort for style, a little glamour can be added with some metallic trainers and shiny bag. Let's call it cosy chic.

Click on image to enlarge

Replay boyfriend jeans, £72
Duck & Cover polo top, £29
Ann-Sofie back long sleeve tee, £20
Panel bag, £21
Adidas metallic trainers, £23

Outfit of the week 26/11/07

I find myself slightly obsessed with the whole big pants with see through skirt scenario now. So much so, that I have spent many hours online looking for just the right skirt. This one from Phaze clothing is just about right (it comes in all black but no pics available) although I would have preferred something longer and without the tiers. Here, it's teamed with a leotard, sky high silver wedges, opaque tights and those lovely big silver pants. Cinch it all in with a big belt.
Click on image to enlarge
71 per cent of you thought that big knickers should never be seen and rated this a Don't. For the record, 29 per cent thought is was a do and I agree with them!



Tiered net petticoat, phaze clothing, £30
Leotard, American Apparel, £25
Silver satin obi belt, £10, ASOS
Silver platforms, Minx at Schuh, £44.99
Big metallic pants, Topshop, £8
Tights, Accessorize

Shiny, shiny

Blame it on the time of the year but my mind is now firmly on everything shiny, especially accessories. So, I've been scouring the net, looking for shiny stuff to put together in a virtual scrapbook.

Sequins
Because of the glut of sequinaphernalia that has currently taken over the high street (culminating in horrors like this) I'm sort of over sequins, but I could be persuaded to get one of these. Coloured sequin clutch, £45, Oasis

Statements
I love the large, shiny, shouty jewellery so imagine my unmitigated joy when I came across Bea Valdes' site. And who could resist this crystal heart clutch.
Statement jewellery, Bea Valdes; crystal clutch, £45, Accessorize

Edgy
I'm loving the edgy trend, all those studs, buckles, zips, and high-shine leather are making me come over all tough chick. Pass me a wifebeater, steel capped boots and a grenade. URGH!
Metal panel clutch, Topshop, £35; bag with chain handle, French Connection, £45; pearl studded bangle, Topshop, £8; leather and metal cuff, ASOS, £10; double buckle belt, Topshop, £28

Metallics
Winter's hardy perennial, you can't really party without a bit of glam metallic shine now, can you?
Beaded clutch, ASOS Luxe, £45; silver and gold panel clutch, Accessorize, £20, elastic panel belt, Topshop, £18

Novelty
This trend has got me going a little schizo. One part of me is screaming: NO! This is sooo wrong. The other part is going: Hey it's Christmas, live a little, have a laugh, have a beer. Whichever part of me you agree with, these will cause you pleasure or pain, but tis the season. The wreath? It lights up. Gah!
Novelty earrings (selection), Accessorize; penguin pendant necklace, Boudoir by Disaya.

Next week, I'm doing party shoes.

Craze or Crazy? Sequin pants

I know it's been silly season on sequins lately, with everything from hats to shoes getting a bit of that old flattened bling disc magic but surely anyone with any sort of sense would draw the line at these sequin shorts (or is that pants)?

I love the Urban O but surely this is madness. Am I alone in thinking this? Would you wear them? I've been wracking my brain trying to think of one occassion where I would look in my wardrobe, past piles of lovely dresses, tops, skirts, jeans, shorts even, and go: I think I'll wear these gnarly sequin pants.

What's the look here? Going to a 7os disco and thought it would be a good idea to make my arse the mirrorball? Wanted to dress like Liberace but all I could afford were these stinking pants?

Anyhoo, they're £20. Go get yourself a bargain blingin' booty.

Image courtesy Urban Outfitters

Five of the best... sequinned dresses

Don't tell me you haven't noticed. Sequins. At every turn. Shimmering prettily from berets and belts and tops and especially dresses. Mostly these dresses have been of the shift variety which I do not get along with. Note to V-shaped ladies: broad shoulders + shift= disaster - and don't even get me started on the necklines...

Anyhoo, the hunt was on for for some wearable "sequinnage" for all and not just you lovely gamine ladies with petite frames and Hepburnesque cheekbones. How yummy is the gunmetal grey v-neck from ASOS? These are the best of the rest.

Click on image to enlarge
From top left: French Connection square sequinned shift, £135; Warehouse bandeau maxi, £65; See by Chloe strappy, £342; Oasis horizontal stripe, £65; ASOS v-neck, £55

What are they trying to do to me?

Oh. My! Gorgeous long pewter leather gloves, £27, from Wallis. To borrow a quote from the Godfather, Tony Corleone: "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." I feel my resolve slipping... Must... Be... Strong...



Oh pewter gloves, why do you have to be so fine? So shiny? So long? You would bring me so much closer to my Fembot fantasies. How can I resist?

See:
In search of the silver bomber
More metallics
I wanna be a fembot

I want it now! Topshop wide-legged trousers, £75

Is it insane that I find these wide-legged trousers from Topshop Unique totally lust worthy? Because I do. I really do. I've been lamenting about a lack of wide-legs - especially in anything other than grey or black - so these are like a dream come true.

They are just so disco-tastic. Especially the lamé ones, which I can already see myself wearing with a fitted, bell-sleeved, satin shirt with enormous lapels. Or a one shouldered top and a sequined beret and enormous platforms. In fact, I've got just the shoes. So retro. So Biba.

Call me crazy but I must have them.

Pointy shoes 1 - orange metallic t-bars

Here is a prime example of why I do not buy pointy shoes. I bought these from Walk on Oxford Street a zillion years ago. I have never worn them out. I keep threatening to throw them away.

Why? Because feet over size 40 should never wear pointy shoes and they should definitely NEVER wear extreme pointy shoes, which is what these are. They make my feet look like long pointy canoes. That is just not cute.

Nevertheless the are orange metallic t-bars, which means that they could be a fashion contender if I could bring myself to wear them. One day I will find the perfect outfit for them... Maybe when I'm 80.

Wear with... Giles Deacon Gold metallic tee, £18 at New Look

It's another day, another designer collab with Giles Deacon's second collection for New Look. Thankfully, there are no mad scuffles or media frenzies - maybe some people have learned their lessons.

Anyhoo... At first look, it's basic rock chick- stick on a pair of spiky heels and some skinnies and there you have it. But think again. With it's basic black background and the bold metallic print this tee can prove more versatile than you first expect.

Cool chick
Stand out from the rocker crowd, do rock chic with twist. Add a funky metallic mini, two-toned platform heels, opaque tights and top it of with hat. Way cool.

Josh Goot sparkle skirt, £120; Office two-tone platforms, £65; French Connection hat, £30;
Miss Selfridge opaque tights, £5

Grown up
Be grown up and still funky. Tuck the tee into a zip-front pencil skirt, add round-toe platforms, patterned tights and a long length cardigan. Elegant and sexy.

Dorothy Perkins zip-front pencil skirt, £20; Jaeger cardigan, £175, Gil Carvalho platform slingbacks, £115 at Faith; Miss Selfridge heart fishnets, £8

A/W 2007 key looks - love it or loathe it

I've just been looking at Vogue's key looks for Autumn/Winter 2007. As usual, I have a take it or leave it attitude to most of it but some looks I could definitely get into.

Love it

The Silhouette

Cinched waists, feminine skirts and forties glamour. This my favourite look. Could this mean the end for tunics and smocks? Hurrah!

Giambattista Valli A/W, Oasis skirt, Matalan belt

Why? This is a look for real women. Emphasise those dangerous curves and show off that figure
The essentials: wide, waist cinching belts, pencil skirts, heels

The event dress

Floor length, show-stoppers. Glamorous, red carpet dresses. Think Dame Shirley Bassey. You'll probably only get to wear it once a year but it'll still be totally worth it.

Valentino A/W, Debenhams Debut dress, Monsoon clutch

Why? Who doesn't want to look like a million dollars?
The essentials: minimal accessories, heels, red lipstick

The skirt suit

It's a bit of jumble here. On the one hand, there are fitted jackets and pencil skirts to the knee, on the other, double- breasted jackets and drindle skirts (gah!)

1. Chanel skirt suit, 2. Next skirt suit, 3. Dorothy Perkins top,
4. Warehouse blouse, 5. Accessorize scarf

Why? Pick what works for you and pan the rest
The essentials: chiffon blouses, scarves, slimline tops

Loose knits

Big jumpers, baggy cardies, chunky knits and Dr Who scarves. Comfy and warm, yes but fashionable?

1. Betty Jackson A/W, 2. Topshop cardigan, 3. Morgan belt, 4. H&M tights,

5. Dorothy Perkins leggings, 6. Morgan cardigan, 7. Dorothy Perkins skinnies

Why? It's a tricky one and it'll be hard not to get swamped but it can be pulled off if worn cleverly. A big long jumper worn off the shoulder over a tank top with tights and boots looks good
The essentials: belts, tights, skinnies, leggings

Metallics

More metal magic is coming our way. The look is high gloss and sheen. Choose between gold, silver and bronze and look out for metallic colours.

Marni A/W, River Island top, ASOS mini-dress

Why? We love the shiny goodness and we're not done yet
The essentials: break it up with black, white or chocolate

Lavish luxe

Sequins and crystals and glitz... Oh my! Don't wear them all at once.

Alberta Ferretti A/W, Dorothy Perkins beret, River Island top and sweater

Why? It's the glitter ball effect. We all just wanna sparkle and have fun
The essentials: sequinned berets and scarves

Primary colours

Bright block colours, head to toe mono-colour in different shades.

Sonia Rykiel A/W, Aldo clutch, Wallis green bangle, Urban Outfitters beret, Topshop blue cuff,

Miss Selfridge floral pendant, River Island tights

Why? I love juicy, zingy, brights and a colour clash gives a stand out edge. I'm loving the idea of wearing one colour head to toe in different shades... so cute.
The essentials:bags, tights and berets. Plastic fantastic necklaces and bangles.

Leather

Leather goes soft and easy. This year you will be mostly wearing... leather dresses and skirts.

Christopher Kane A/W, COS leather dress, Hannah Marshal dress, Fendi skirt

Why? Because the new leather is ultra soft, ultra shapely and full of colour
The essentails: talcum powder (only joking!)

Purple

Back by popular demand from last Autumn, or so it seems.

Emilio Pucci A/W, River Island bag and t-bar shoes, Primark patent shoes

Why? Purple seems to be the filler colour for that phase from summer to autumn. Don't let that put you off though, it's still a nice colour.
The essentials: purple patent accessories

Shoes

Platforms, wedges, stilletoes, lace-ups, anything goes as long as it's high, high, high.

Stella McCartney A/W, Shoe Studio patent, metallic and coloured shoes

Why? I love heels, they make you look taller, put a wiggle in your walk, and make your legs look fantastic. I am ruing the day when I get too old to wear them. Winch me up, Scotty!
The essentials: get patents, metallics and colours


Loathe it

The new length

The midi. Below the knee, on the calf. Some say it's a flattering alternative to the mini, I beg to disagree.

Topshop Unique A/W

Why? If you have short legs: this look is dreadful as it cuts across the fattest part of your calf - not a good look. If you have long legs: you don't want to hide them. Conclusion: this is essentially a look for people with no legs.

Black on black

Head to toe black, mix it up with different textures.

Karl Lagerfeld A/W

Why? It may flatter the figure but black is boring enough without having to wear it head to toe. Think I'll leave this one for the fashionistas.

Military

It's back - brass buttons, epaulettes and Seargent Pepper.

Aquascutum A/W

Why? It's just so boring and ugly and war-like. I just bloody hate it, alright?

Coats

Classic trenches, cocoons, capes... stop me if you've heard it all before.

Stella McCartney A/W

Why? Chances are you already own far too many of these coats. Why buy more?

Tight fit

Body con, short, tight fitting, tube dresses. Think Robert Palmer's 80s-model-drones in the 'addicted to love' video.

Allesandro Dell'Acqua A/W

Why? I can see that it has it's charms but it's not exactly an easy look to pull off, even with a double layer of spanx.

Quilted/padded jackets

These are sort of the direct polar opposite of the body con look. Let's call them fat suits.

Emanuel Ungaro A/W

Why? Ridiculously fat jackets that look like you got eaten by your duvet? While sky diving? No thanks.

Five of the best... waist cinchers

Here's the thing: there no such thing as too many belts. They have got to be the most versatile and essential of all accessories. They tie together a look and make it something special.

For those of us with tiny waists, any belt will do but for gals with a more boyish/athletic figure wide belts and corset belts are a godsend.

There's a strong emphasis on the waist for Autumn/Winter and luckily, corset belts and wide sashes are all over the high street right now, so grab them while you can. These waist cinchers will pull you right in and give you a waist where you never thought you had one.

Clockwise from bottom: Warehouse oval buckle, £20; Matalan elasticated, £4; Topshop patent, £25; Miss Selfridges sash, £18; Dorothy Perkins twist waist, £15

Some tips:

• if your going for the cinch, avoid wide belts made of hard leather they don't have enough give to pull you in properly

• wide elasticated belts are the best for giving you a waist because they act the same way as those big pants do (you know what I'm talking about!) but they look nicer

For girls who know what they love

On a recent night out with the girlies, the chat came to clothes: what we wear, what we don't, etc. And, apparently, there are women out there who buy a favourite item and wear it lovingly till it falls off. Who'd a thunk it?!

Having the attention span of a gnat with ADD, I couldn't fathom ever having a favourite item beyond a week. My style is more chameleon than faithful turtle but I do admire a girl who can pull on the same outfit again and again and still look stunning and individual.

One of the girlies that I met was the talented Maiko Dawson and - for those of us who'll pay a little extra for a whole lot more wear and comfort - she makes exceedingly good shoes and bags. We spent quite some marvelling at the handmade leather slippers with stone detail she was wearing.

Check out her wares at maikodawson.com. My favourites are the M bag, £185 and the pretty metallic Molly shoes, £320. They're not cheap but they're gorgeous, individual and I guarantee you will wear them to death.

Five of the best... shiny shoes

I have to tell you, I am really loving this trend for coloured metallics and high shine patents. Wear with neutral outfits or jeans and a tee and watch you outfit transform from meh to marvellous.

Clockwise from top: Topshop metallic blue, £50; Matalan patent wedge, £16; Bertie metallic pink at Shoe studio, £33; Solea pewter brogues at Kurt Geiger, £120; Faith patent mule, £30

I'm looking forward to Autumn

Blame it on the crappy weather but I am so over (OVAH!) this summer. The Autumn/Winter season approaches - and not too soon, in my opinion. From August the high street will be filled with the gentle ruffling of ladylike dresses in shimmery fabrics and bright colours, sequined and metallic everything and gorgeous patent accessories. Here's a preview of what I'll be trying to get hold of. Get your fix here first and start counting down the days!

Sequins/Embellishment
Make like a disco ball and glitter from every angle. Yes, you are so retro.

Clockwise from top: Dorothy Perkins Sequin beret, £12; Accessorize Galactica bag, £40;

Topshop gold sequin vest

Metallics

Metallics will be everywhere but the smart money's on mirror-shine silver as the must have metallic of the season.

Clockwise from top: ASOS Paris Silver Metallic Jacket, £40; Accessorize Lurex crochet cloche hat, £15; Debenhams Debut silver prom dress, £90; Wallis silver moc croc shoulder bag, £35

Brights

Brights are still going strong from next season get your Autumn/Winter warmers in as soon as you can and glow through those grey days.

Clockwise from top: Rocha. John Rocha limited edition dress,£55 from Debenhams;New Look shoes, £35; Billy Bag purple bag,£255

Dresses

Sod tunics. Get a dress to flatter your figure with a nipped-in waist, feminine frills or a sweet neckline

From left: Topshop Blue metallic bandeau dress, £35; Dorothy Perkins lurex dress with beaded neckline, £28; Oasis purple prom dress

Patent/PVC

Be slick in patent accessories, try a daring red PVC mac or a fabulous body con dress

Topshop Red patent mac, £80; Debenhams J Jeans by Jasper Conran patent round toes, £40; Oasis patent dress

Going for gold

Items clockwise from top: Warehouse gold one-shoulder top, £25; studded hoop earrings, £6; ASOS knot bracelet, £12; Dorothy Perkins crop skinnies with belt, £25; Zappos.com gold shboots, $188.95; Topshop coin embellished bag, £28.

Now, you all know I love my silver but with the number of drool-worthy gold accessories out there lately, I'm ready for a little bit of bling. Gold goes great with black or brown, so keep it to the accents for a classy look. Those American Apparel leggings, for example? Only team them with a gold top and shoes if C3PO is the look you were after.

CP3-Oh no! - head to toe gold is not a good look

So fugly - Oasis volume metallic print dress, £65

Help! I can't decide whether this dress is cute or whether it is the most hideous thing I'd ever seen. It's voluminous, it's metallic, it's empire-waisted, I should like it but I just can't. It's just. Too. Much.

Maybe it's the buttons or the curve of the neckline. Maybe it's because I can all too easily imagine my boobs squashed into that top bit and my stomach sticking out at the bottom like I was nine months gone. Something about the cut is just wrong.

Whatever. The love of a shopaholic is a fickle thing and I am so over this dress. Next!

Late night shopping picks of the week - 12 May

Well now that I've got it... Images clockwise from top: daisy skirt, the offending playsuit, cork wedges, wood heel pumps

Another weekend, another round of late night shopping. And it's a good 'un because this week I returned to Primark, Oxford Street.

The last time I wrote about it, I believe I made myself very clear about how much I loath the place. But something was calling to me, so finding myself with free time, I went.

Not much has changed, it's still too big and still full of cheap clothes. Less crowds this time though and I could actually make it to the shoes and accessories without having to carve a small tunnel through a three foot deep wall of bargain hunters, so... yay!

I found a very cute pair of black patent pumps with wooden heels for £12 and a khaki canvass shopper for £4 and an Orla Keily-esque printed shopper, also £4. In a bow to my latest futuristic trend fetish I also snaffled a pale gold, silk bomber jacket, £12. My tally so far: £32. Anywhere else and you're talking one dress and maybe a pair of cheap earrings. You have to hand it to Primark, it's a great place to go when you need retail therapy without a huge debt problem.

All this cheapness was starting to get to me though. I felt the black fug of shopmania descend and I started filling my basket with all sorts and somehow while all this was happening, I managed to end up buying... A playsuit!

I know! I know I ranted at length about the impracticality, the baby-ish-ness, the pee issue... but guys, I just couldn't help myself. There it was looking all cute with the blue and white candy stripes. So I bought it.

I think £5 is a cheap enough price to pay for getting that particular piece of shopping madness out of my system. So, yeah. I'll wear it on holiday with the supercute blue cork wedgies I got from New Look, £20. Then that'll be the end of it.

Ooh, I could also wear it with the Once Upon A Time daisy skirt I've just ordered from topshop. Then that'll be the end of it.

Barbarella belle. The high street's gone metal

Speaking of New Look, if you haven't been in there lately maybe you should. They have got some really gorgeous new shoes in at the moment, so check it out.

All things metallic have hit the high street in a big way. I say hotfoot it down to Miss Sellies for some metallic converse-alike sneakers, £20.

At Karen Millen, I was caught in the glare of the beautifully cut metallic dresses. Very Barberella but at £140 each, I thought I'd maybe come back when I got that money from donating my body to science. Until then, I have the photos to drool over.

In search of the silver bomber

Of course you know me well enough to know that when I get a buying obsession on, I don't let go until all avenues are exhausted. Which is how I find myself searching for the perfect silver bomber jacket to go with the rest of my ass kicking fembot outfit.

I found two. The first one is a MCQ number at net-a-porter, which had me considering skipping rent and living off baked beans for the month. Gorgeous though and only a mind-boggling £885.
The other is this cropped bomber, currently available on ebay at a fraction of the cost of the one above: £34.99. It's the only one of it's kind and for £5 extra you can "buy it now". I hate ebay most of the time because of the greedy little beggars who usually inhabit it but sometimes ebay is my friend. Cropped silver bomber on ebay.

I wanna be a fembot

Toy Gun courtesy toyraygun.com

Today I'm suddenly struck by the urge to cover myself in silver lamé and go find a very big gun. Preferably one that shoots death rays... the kind that daleks have.

So I've spent a criminal amount of time surfing the net looking for stuff that, should I choose to ever wear it, would make me look like a badass female alien life form.

I couldn't find a single silver PVC bomber jacket out there. Did I miss the memo that said the futuristic trend is over?




How cool are these boots? I mean, if I were an alien from another planet, I would absolutely insist on boots like these. I'm sorry, these boots are so beyond cool, they could give liquid nitrogen a run for the money.













I bet that these metallic leggings by American Apparel are going to be best sellers. Ideally, you'd need flawless pins to pull off the look but who cares? I just like them cause they're shiny.











If only I had the body to make like an amazonian alien warrior, then I'd be wearing this one-shoulder, liquid foil top from Warehouse. Only, mine would be slashed to the thigh, natch.












In the absence of a decent PVC silver/metallic bomber jacket, this metallic belted blouse from Mango should do nicely. Hope I land somewhere near the sun.

Images from top: Fox adult trucker boots, $139.95 from Amazon.com; American Apparel silver lamé leggings, £28; Warehouse one-shoulder top, £30; Mango puff sleeve top, £45