30.6.11

HUF - STORES CLOSE BUT THE BRAND GOES ON


Sad news about the US store closures of pro-skateboarder Keith Hufnagel's San Francisco-based HUF label. However, the laid back, urban brand lives on to celebrate it's 10th anniversary just through clicks, not bricks, as collections remain available online and through HUF stockists, including Size? in the UK. 


Check out this great cotton parka (above) - it may be menswear but with the weather the way it is, I think this is a great casual girlie option for the festival season too. £179.99 exclusively online from Size?

29.6.11

WEAR TO START: SHOPPING THE LONG SLEEVED 60'S SHIFT LOOK



Reader Query:  
"I have £250 to spend on a dress, and I want quite a 60’s looking one, maybe a mini dress but with long sleeves, could you suggest anyone/anywhere?"
Amy, London.



Sarah Says...
So Florence (& the Machine)! Love it!  The mod trend is still emerging with A-line shifts, Peter Pan collars and pailettes all firmly featured in major Autumn/Winter 2011/12 collections from the likes of fashion titans Versace, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Alberta Ferretti. (pictured below).







If you can hang on a few more weeks then you'll have a lot more choice as these catwalk designs filter down to a more affordable level. However, although Spring/Summer 11 generally has more of a 70's vibe, if you want to get in early and snap up something now, there are a few first wave 60's style, long sleeved mini dresses and tunics that are currently in the sales you can make your budget go even further. Here's a round up of a few of my favs for up to £260...

Tibi Twiggy dress, £260 from £372 at My-Wardrobe.com

DKNY shift, £221 from £442 at My-Wardrobe.com
Coast, Rapunzal shift, £115

Day, Birger et Mikkelsen, £129 from £229 at Matches

Moschino Cheap & Chic, £240 from £400 at Net-A-Porter


Diane by Diane Von Furstenberg, Vintage Collection silk shift, £132 from £265  Matches  

Pleated shift, available in cream, grey and coral for £18, or black for £40 from ASOS

Lastly, a slightly more 70's version but still super cute and can be styled more 60's - Winter Kate silk shift £195 from ASOS

Catwalk images courtesy of Style.com

READER REQUESTS - SEND ME YOUR STYLE & SHOPPING DILEMMAS


Today I'll be posting the first of my reader requests in a new regular section called WEAR TO START. 

These are all questions I've been asked by readers about what to wear, where to get it, gift suggestions, how to create a particular look etc and I thought it might be nice to share my answers like a virtual personal shopper and general retail and style advisor in case anyone else is in a similar pickle.

I love hearing from anyone who is kind enough to read my ramblings so feel free to send your queries over too;  you can post them on my Facebook page here or tweet me @FightForYrWrite.

27.6.11

MAKE IT WORK !


Project Runway is (almost) BACK BACK BACK!

Season 9 - which premieres on July 29th on Lifetime in the States - will feature a staggering 20 designers all competing for the chance to show at New York Fashion Week - not to mention the established dream team: judges Nina Garcia and Michael Kors (who'll be joined by special guest judges including Kim Kardashian and Cristina Ricci), host Heidi Klum and my hero, Mr. Tim Gunn.

... but when will we get it here in the UK??  And, were the rumours true?  Is our very own Project Catwalk every going to make a comeback?  So many questions... can anyone answer them?

QUEEN BEY RUNS GLASTONBERRY


Glastonbury 2011 was OWNED.


The hair. The sequins. The thighs. The first woman to headline the main Pyramid Stage in the festival's history. And then there were the songs.


I LOVE YOU BEYONCE.


Watch Beyonce's full set on BBC iPlayer

24.6.11

TOTALLY GRATUITOUS PULP AT GLASTONBURY POST


So, all you muddy revellers reading this from the post apocalyptic Glastonbury fields (or sensible, warm, dry, armchair fans), it turns out Pulp are the surprise act playing on the Park Stage tomorrow. 


This seems as good a reason as any to post some classic clips from their incredible 1995 Glastonbury appearance ahead of their hot ticket headline slot at Wireless next week which I am literally DYING to see (then T in the Park, then Reading..).  They truly are the best band EVER, no returns. 


They're also re-releasing their first three albums - It (1983), Freaks (1987 - where Russell gets to sing...) and Separations (1992) - with a few added bonus tracks, which I suggest you snap up sharpish too.  


Clearly this isn't my most eloquent of posts but Jarvis, Steve, Candida, Nick, Mark and Russell leave me tongue tied in a proper fan girl kinda way. What can I say?  PULP RULE.


Check www.pulppeople.com for forthcoming tour dates.  

INTOXICATING INTERIORS - AGENT PROVOCATEUR LAUNCHES LUXURY HOME RANGE


Not that I need any encouragement to spend more time in bed (mmmmmm sleeeeep) but my fancy pants label of choice, Agent Provocateur, is launching a boudoir-inspired range of homewares this autumn.

Hot on the heels of its new sunglasses and luggage collections, the luxe lingerie brand's introduction of a home line means that soon your whole bedtime ritual can be as sexy as your seductive AP nightwear.  

Bed linen, throws, cushions and towels will be available in a range of sumptuous colours and fabrics, featuring silk trims and suede fringing.  Aside from the decadent, silky cocoon in the teaser pic above, I can't wait to see what they come up with.

In the meantime, here are a few of my picks from their current nightwear range available in store or online.

Barbetta Kimono, £1,295

Birthday Suit babydoll, £125

Classic long, black silk robe, £275

Matinee kimono, £450

Classic silk PJs in AP's signature baby pink satin with black contrast piping  colour way, £325




23.6.11

NOM NOM NOM DUNKS - COOKIE MONSTER NIKES!



Apologies in advance for all the exclamation marks but seriously, HOW COOL ARE THESE?!!  Not only do these Nike x Diversitile kicks have Cookie Monster's googly eyes on the tongue and look like they are actually made from cookies but THEY SMELL OF COOKIES too!!!  Amaze!  The blue fur is a nice touch but I would have liked to have seen some kind of Cookie Monster branding on the back or a little cookie cartoon illustration or something - seems a bit plain and, for $500, I'm pretty fussy.




The quirky Hummel x Haribo range is a more affordable scented option if you're into sweet smelling feet - choose from two different liquorice shoes or a pair whose soles smell of Gold (gummy) Bears - although not quite as attractive.

BAN THE BOUNCE - SWEET NEW SPORTS BRAS


I saw these awesome, bang on-trend Champion sports bras on the fabulous Rachel Zoe's site earlier and was delighted to find that they're available in the UK for a snippy £24 each from Amazon.co.uk. Adopting a dip dye design and available in four different colour ways, these medium sport supports are suitable for mid impact, every day sports and fitness activities like walking, cycling, yoga, pilates and spinning. How cute?!



21.6.11

POM POM PREOCCUPATION


It's one of my fav looks and, as the reminiscence trend for all things childhood continues, despite the fact that they've been hanging around for years now, pom poms just will not go away.


The pom pom jumper in this pic, taken from The Fashion Spot, of Tavi is just awesome and so cosy and fun, and reminds me of Ashish's AW 2009 collection, pictured below.


Whilst pom poms prevail, they have filtered down more to more of an accessories level now with the Sonia Rykiel catwalk headpieces available for mass market as super cute giant hair bobbles from the likes of Topshop and ASOS.


Pom Poms are also still conspicuous in detailing from the Louis Vuitton playsuit Emily Wasson is pictured wearing at the top of this post to Oscar de la Renta's 2012 Resort collection featuring a plethora of pom pom fringing.


Personally, this Manoush dress which features pom pom trim is more my thing - and on sale via The Outnet.


Whatever your pom pom preference, you're bound to find something to suit... and if not, go DIY.  I *heart* my customised American Apparel pom pom hoody :)



All catwalk pics courtesy of Style.com

VERSACE X H&M

The rumours were true!  Versace - Lady Gaga's label obsession du jour - will be the next big name to collaborate with H&M on a range of clothing and also homewares to be released this autumn.  


Donatella has put together a colourful, print-heavy collection inspired by the Versace archives, bringing the the house's signature motifs to the High Street.

The Autumn 2011 collection for men, women and home will be available worldwide from 17th November with a pre-Spring 2012 collection to follow online from 19th January but I'd start queueing now if the last Lanvin collab is anything to go by...

Pic via the fantastic Red Carpet Fashion Awards blog - read more about Lady Gaga's Vintage Versace addiction here.

20.6.11

POP A CAP

I am totally feeling caps for girls right now in a jaunty, 90's, cover-of-Smash Hits type way.  Here are some of my current favs...



Supreme terry






Alexandre Herchovitch for New Era (pic courtesy of HighSnobiety)


Supreme denim with metal plate