Its Back...The Slogan Tee

They’re back, the Slogan Tees. These were spotted on the runways of Marc Jacobs, Acne and the House of Holland. The great thing about them is they can be easily styled with leather jackets, jeans, skirts, heels, flats and even dungarees with no fuss. So do you have a favourite from the High Street?

Add these Necklines into your wardrobe...

I think that most women forget that necklines are an important part of any piece of clothing. It can help complement the shape of your face, the neck and your decolletage  The neckline can simply influence the style of the garment that you are wearing. There are various designs that can look good on all dresses and tops.

Sometimes it can enhance a garment whilst other times it is the main feature of a garment. Next time you pick out a garment and see if you can identify the neckline. You will see many fashion designers who will opt out in trying out different necklines to help give their designs that extra something. 

Here are some suggestions to necklines that you can identify and hopefully add into your wardrobe:

• A V-neck is the simplest and the most classic neckline. This shape can be seen on any type of garment and on any type of fabric.

• The Boat neckline has a broad opening as it sweeps from one side of the neck to the other. This type of neckline reveals  a little of the shoulder area.

• A Scoop neckline resembles a U –Shape that is curved. This type of shape cuts across the neckline and dips low at the front.

• The One shoulder neckline proves to be popular on dresses. This is an asymmetrical neckline. It usually starts at one shoulder and cuts across diagonally. Usually starts, from one shoulder and across under the other arm.

• The Halter neck is popular in the summer. It has two straps from the bodice that meet at the back of the neck and creates a plunge at the front. This type of design is popular on tops and dresses.

• Another simple neckline is the Square neckline. This is where three straight lines join together to create a square. This type of neckline works well on a variety of garments and fabrics.

• The Sweetheart neckline resembles the top half of a heart. It normally concaves and meets in the middle. This neck designs also accentuates the decolletage.

There are also many other varieties of necklines that would look good on everyone. Try to spot a funnel neck, drape neck, horseshoe, envelope and a keyhole neckline next time when you’re out shopping.

Why not add some variety into your wardrobe!

Find The Perfect Pair of Jeans!

One of the biggest problems that all women have is finding the right pair of jeans. Sometimes they're too tight, uncomfortable or don’t complement your body shape. The best thing to do is find your body shape (apple, pear, hourglass, athletic and petite) as this can help you find the perfect pair of jeans that fit well.

Here are some tips for different types of body shapes:

Curvy Curves:  For you the best fit would be the classic or relaxed fit, which should be worn on the hips. It’s best to avoid a tight fit because it will make you feel uncomfortable.

Heavier Thighs:  For you the best pair of jeans is the boot-cut. This helps to balance out your legs as well help you to look good. It’s best to avoid high wasted jeans as they won’t do justice to your shape.

Short Waist: Try out the hipster, and simply avoid high waists.

Petite: Try out a straight pair of jeans with a long leg and it should be worn just above the hips. You should try to avoid wide legs or low cut jeans as they can make you look shorter.

Curvy but a Small Waist: Try out a pair of jeans that is straight but has a stretch. Make sure the pair of jeans is tight. Once again its best to avoid a high waisted pair, as it can make you look out of proportion.

Boyish Figure: Try out a low rise straight leg or a high waisted pair. Avoid jeans that don’t add curves to your body.

The key is to shop for your body shape and these are just small tips that can help you in choosing the right fit.

So good luck in finding the right pair of jeans, when out shopping!

Love Fashion Sales!

Do you love Designer Clothes from your favourite brands? Then look no further as LOVE FASHION SALES is the perfect site for you. This is an on-line site that carries all the designer labels that you can think of, ranging from Topshop, Roberto Cavalli, Kurt Geiger to Michael Kors.

It's very simple to register the site for free. When you log onto the site you will have to fill in a registration form. The next step will provide you with a list of designer brands and a list of high street labels. You will then have to choose all your favourites, and will have the  option to choose from over 7,000 + Brands. Lastly you have the chance to choose the category of clothing that you would like e.g- Dresses.  

The last section is about you for example, your dress size, shoe size and lingerie size. Finally you get to choose a budget and the frequency of emails you would like on the deals. I think that this is a great idea especially if you have a budget. You will then receive deals from your favorite designers in your sizes. Then all you will have to do is choose and pay!

The Design Company

I’m really fond of intricate things for the home. So recently I visited the Design Company which sells beautiful home ware and furniture. This is a small boutique, which carry a large amount of furniture including, coffee tables, bedside tables, room dividers, decorative stools and chairs. And on top of that that they sell the smaller intricate things that make a house a home. I really loved the mirrors, frames, lanterns and the wooden quote signs.

This is a great place to order gifts from, like cuddly flora door stops or frosted filigree tea lights at reasonable prices. To have a look at the selection of furniture, gifts and home ware ideas then click here.

These are some of the collections that they carry:

     Marrakesh Blackened Silver Collection

       Funky Retro Inspired Collection (Love this Collection)
  Animal Print Collection 

Take a look at what I've discovered!

 

    

Interview: Lauren Eva

I recently had the chance to interview London based Stylist- Lauren Eva. I found out everything about her journey as a Stylist. So here it goes....hope you enjoy the interview. 

1. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

My name is Lauren Eva, I am a fashion stylist and art director. I was brought up on 50's Hollywood glamour and 80s indie electro. I love to create beautiful and creative fashion imagery.

2. Why did you want to become a fashion Stylist?

It was something that just happened naturally. It was always about clothing and costume for me from a very young age. I remember when I was little asking my Mum to help me make a mermaid costume and sitting stitching endless sequins on in the shape of scales after school - I only ever ended up wearing it in the bath! 

I always had to have the best outfit for costume parties, I always found some kind of excuse to dress up not only myself but all my friends, I would try and style anything and everything, I always spent ages choosing my outfits and I always wore heels to work. My Mother thought I was ridiculous but I used to tell her, "Life's a photo-shoot!"

3. Did you have any experience in fashion before becoming a stylist?

All of that creating outfits and getting dressed up led me to doing a degree in costume design for film and theatre at London College of Fashion. It gave me a great understanding of how to make clothes and all of the effort that goes into each piece. Designing costumes also nurtured the idea that each outfit should tell a story about the character wearing them. I carried on after graduating working on films and for theatre productions but at the same time I was always organising my own shoots. I would create garments and scenarios for each shot and I loved having the creative control to construct an image.

I went on to work in a lingerie boutique, and then went on to be a corset maker, I did a stint working at ASOS and eventually I became a visual merchandiser for Beyond Retro dressing the store and all the mannequins. This gave me a wealth of experience in styling outfits to many varied briefs. 

All the while I was organising my own shoots and eventually started getting work published. It didn't take long until I realised that styling and art direction was what I wanted to do and over a few months I dropped my hours at Beyond Retro and became a full time freelancer. 

4. Can you describe what type of stylist you are and the work that you do e.g. Editorial?

Editorial work is where I feel I can be most creative with both styling and art direction. It exercises my imagination the most and is therefore my favourite genre however, I do really enjoy doing nice clean commercial work as well, such as look-books or marketing shots. I enjoy being able to have a break from over thinking a big scale editorial and just concentrate on a simple but well done fashion image - just a backdrop, an amazing model, incredible clothes and fantastic production values. 

5. What have been the most valuable lessons or challenges that you have learnt in this industry?

I'm lucky in the fact that I haven't had to deal with to many difficult people or 'Divas' so far but on the odd occasion that things have been hard I've learned that clear, fair communication and maturity without seeming patronising are really things you need to help a project run smoothly. When these things aren't present, life is often a lot more difficult. There are still so many things for me to learn and each project seems to throw something at me that I haven't encountered before. 

6. What's your favourite place to shop?

I spend so much time shopping for other people that I do often forget to shop for myself! After many years I am still a fan of vintage and every time I walk into Urban Outfitters there are at least ten things I want.

7. What have been your favourite trends for AW12?

I never really got completely over my teenage Goth years so the fact that it has come back around for this A/W has definitely made me happy! I also love the trend for heavy embellishment with Baroque themes. It's an excuse to wear lots of jewellery.

8. What tips would you give anyone who is starting out in fashion?
Say yes to everything you like the idea of and don't stop working as you risk losing momentum. Smile lots and don't take yourself to seriously :-)

To have a look at Lauren's Portfolio then click here. 

Thanks Lauren for your time X

The Classy Wardrobe Challenge

A Style Challenge was set up The Classy Wardrobe which involved in creating three looks with a chosen dress from their website. After browsing around I chose a Rosie Dress by Vivel which costs £109.00. This is a grey pencil dress with a belt detail at the waist creating a more feminine silhouette. The  sleeveless dress is finished with a V-Neck . Here’s how I chose to style the dress…..

Out to Breakfast: I paired the dress with a simple short black cardigan which can help to create an illusion of a pencil skirt to which I added some ballet flats. Then to accessorize the outfit I chose some pearl jewellery pieces which are elegant and I also added a large black tote. It’s important to keep things minimal for this look and not to over accessorize.

In the Boardroom: For this look I paired the dress with a short blazer and some black courts. To accessorize this outfit I chose to pair it with a classy watch and a ring once again the jewellery was kept to a minimal. I also added a large satchel with is appropriate to carry work etc..in. In the boardroom you would want to dress classy and professional yet stylish.

After work Drinks: For this look I paired the dress with a quilted leather black jacket with some shiny high courts. Then I chose a pair of chandelier earrings and a statement ring to accessorize the outfit, which is needed to make the look more glamours and chic. The final touch is the small clutch with is appropriate for going out. With this look you can pull off wearing more over the top jewellery pieces.

 

Pantone Colours for AW12

Now it’s time of the year where we’re all excited to see the new trends, designs and not to mention the colour palette for Autumn/Winter. Pantone has made this job very easy for us by compiling the colour hues that would be very popular this season. As you can see this winter this we’ll be dressed in very sophisticated yet feminine hues. I would say that the dominant colours are the pink and blue shades.These are perfect colours for your favourite garments whether its coat, skirt, blouse or a dress. The colours complement and work well together…so it’s a good batch. I would have to say that Rhapsody or Rose Smoke would be two of my favourite colours as I like the pink undertones, and it works well for clothes. I feel that these two colours can easily work well together and with the colours from the palette. So its much easier to mix and match. Now you have an idea what the main colour palette is and hopefully, you'll be adding these colours into your wardrobe very soon.

Website Review: The Classy Wardrobe

Majority of us will attend an interview in our lifetimes, hopefully many of us will go on many interviews. Normally at an interview you want to wear something that is classy, sophisticated yet fashionable yet sometimes it hard to find the right outfit ….. maybe because you live in a small town or your high street retailer isn't selling what you’re looking for. Then this is the right time to order an outfit on-line. If you’re in an interview or meeting a client you want to look your best, as most of us do.  The Classy Wardrobe is a site that is dedicated and caters to business clothing specifically for women running their own businesses or if you're attending an interview/meeting. The Classy Wardrobe have made sure that the options that they have created are for a niche and it also won’t break the bank. Its great to see a whole website dedicated to women's business clothing. You should  invest in separates like a pencil skirt, trousers or a shirt then you can choose to mix and match whist still remaining stylish. What do you think of the A/W12 Collection above?

Personally, I like the colour palette that is available currently on the website. This is full of feminine colours, like plum, purple and maroon. I also like the tailoring of the clothes which is kept simplistic and clean yet the garment is stylish. Before you place an order you can check the size guide to make sure that it that the garment you have ordered is the right size for you. For the size guide, click here.

So if you’re looking for a nice blouse, a stylish blazer or a sophisticated dress then visit: www.theclassywardrobe.com for your perfect outfit. Look your best......whilst at work!

H&M Autumn/Winter Look-Book 2012

Here’s a look at the new H&M Look-Book for Autumn/Winter.  H&M customers will definitely see some of their favourite trends from the runway. This includes Shimmery Skirts, Oversize Coats and Cardigans, Metallic Separates, Colourful Bags, Prints and some perfect chunky Accessories. I like the chosen colour palette including Black, Navy, Greys, Burgundy and Shimmery Metallics with simple minimal styling. Overall, I think it's a well put together collection and would leave fans satisfied. What do you think of the collection?

 

  

Topshop's Little Treasures

Topshop would have to be one of my favourite retailers on the High Street. One of the main reasons is that they sell a large amount of jewellery pieces. The designers are creative enough to design pieces that you would want to wear and which will complement the clothing collections they sell in-store. Topshop also carries jewellery from other labels like Freedom who also offer unique pieces. Overall, Topshop is always on the point every season and some beautiful jewellery pieces for us to enjoy. Whether you're interested in spikes, skulls, metallic or chunky pieces you can visit in-store or order on-line here.

Coco Chanel Quotes

This a famous quote by Coco Chanel which is still so important today. Fashion is fleeting and tends to change season by season . Trends that are important or fashionable now will be constantly changing and evolving. As trends come and go.Fashion eventually does fade away while style is something that is with you forever. Style is something that represents who you are and what you believe in and how you project yourself to others. Style tends to stay with you until you age and is an expression of who you are. It helps to make you different and unique and distinguishes you from others. So this quote still remains relevant in fashion today and is what some designers live by, for example Karl Lagerfeld. Who dresses in the way that really represents his style and its easily identifiable. So always remember...

Stylist and Shortlist Magazine

If you want your small dose of Style tips, Fashion news and Interviews then you should definitely pick up your copy of the Stylist Magazine (for women) or Shortlist Magazine (for men). The brilliant thing is you can pick up your weekly copy for FREE! It’s available every Wednesday from London, Brighton, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham. You will enjoy your small dosage of the latest fashion, the beauty must have’s and general lifestyle tips and this is the same for men.You can also read your weekly copy on-line at: http://www.stylist.co.uk/. It free, so Enjoy!

What is Looklet.com?

I have just stumbled across this website called Looklet.com. You have the chance to create your own outfits by selecting a variety of clothes and accessories. You can also change the background and  work with real models to create looks. So if you’re in Fashion, Design and Style then this is perfect for you to be creative in your own digital studio. You can also save your images to share with others and create more followers, who love your styling . So you can add a mix and match of both designer and vintage pieces to your outfits. It can allow you to be creative and extreme as you want. The site also has a magazine which is packed with interviews, contests, style tips and some fashionable inspiration for all fashion lovers. There is also a chance that you may become addicted to Looklet.com! So click here if you want to give it a go.

Vintage Market

If you’re a fan of vintage then you will need to visit The Vintage Market in London. It takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 11am-6pm and 10am-5pm on a Sunday. If you love vintage Gatsby clothing, unique head pieces or dramatic glamorous accessories then you should visit this market. The great thing about this market is that it sells dozens of clothes and accessories to meet all different genres of fashion. You can simply update your wardrobe with a little touch of vintage and it will definitely bring a unique element to your outfit. The beauty of this market is that prices are very reasonable for clothes that are in good condition. The entry to this market is free and there a tons of beautiful things to choose from. Now all you need to do is go and explore the Vintage Market! If you would like more information on the Vintage Market then click here.

The Vault: Carrie Bradshaw

As we know that sex and the city was originally a book by Candace Bushnell. This then turned into a successful TV Show. The show is based around Carrie Bradshaw who is a columnist and writes about all her experiences in the city, from her relationships and trying to find out the meaning of her life. Whilst watching a programme week by week, there was one aspect that people couldn't get enough of. That was “What was Carrie Bradshaw wearing.” We all knew that her favourite shoe was the Monolo Blahniks but we were also infatuated with the gowns, shoes, handbags and the extravagance and not to mention the colours.  The woman behind all this was ...Patricia Field the stylist. Who bought the characters to life and gave them substance through their clothes. She mixed and matched designer and vintage and the end result was genius. Even now, if you watch episodes of sex and the city you can’t help but admire the clothes. Although the seasons have come and gone but vintage Carrie still remains!

      Who did vintage Carrie wear?

Alexander McQueen, Anna Molinari, Balenciaga, Betsy Johnson, Chanel, Chloe, Christian Dior, Christian Louboutin, Diane Von Furstenberg, Fendi, Givenchy, Gucci, Heatherette, Helmut Lang, Hermes, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jeremy Scott, Louis Vuitton, Monolo Blahnik, Marc Jacobs, Marni, Missoni, Miu Miu, Moschino, Prada, Oscar de la Renta, Roberto Cavalli, Shiatzy Chen, Sonia Rykiel, Tom Ford, Vera Wang, Versace and Vivienne Westwood ....just to name a few.

From Runway to Retail

Now so many females want to get into the Fashion Industry. Do you dream of working for Vogue, styling the stars or becoming a commercial model? Well you’re probably thinking where do I start, what do I do. Worry not, as there is an answer to your fashion problems! Every female should read “In Fashion-From Runway to Retail” by Annemarie Iverson and Foreword by Diane Von Furstenberg. This is definitely a must read and can help you to break into the fierce world of Fashion and get you foot in the door. This is definitely a must read!

Some of you may already know the creative path that you want to take whilst others may be clueless. Either way this book is can help you decide your career path or it can open new doors for you. It will help you by giving you step by step guidance on where to start.

Maybe a small amount of you are confused,so the best thing would be is to take the Fashionista Aptitude Survey. This survey is at the beginning of the book and is in a form of multiple choice questions. The questions are on a variety of subjects like your creative skills, personality, biggest influences and your fantasy way to shop. After adding up your scores you will end up with a total which will indicate whether you are CREATOR, VISUALIZER,  CRITIC or a SELLER. The book is then divided into these 4 sections. This will guide you in the fashion careers that are best suited for you.You can read the whole book or the section that is suited for you.

What’s great about this book is firstly, it’s an easy read! Secondly it’s packed with advice, CV tips, the best jobs to go after, traits, key alliances and perks, so it's packed with useful information with advice from people in the industry!This will give you a rough guide on how to pursue your career and open your eyes to whether you will actually like to work day to day in this particular job. There is so much that you can learn from someone else’s experience,who have dealt with high and low's in their career.So whether you want to be a Designer, Photographer, MUA, Hair Stylist, Graphic Designer, Art Director, Writer, Editor, PR, Retail or Visual Merchandising then this is the book for YOU.!!!

I think this book is ace even if you don’t enjoy reading this would be an easy breezy read. It provides a lot of feedback and is helpful especially if you’re confused and just starting out. Its only under £20 and hopefully will make your journey much easier and more enjoyable. Good Luck!

Twin Duo

Check out the latest edition of Elle Magazine. The twin duo Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen who grace separate covers for the UK April edition. The interview is all about their transition from child actresses to owners of Fashion Houses which include The Row and StyleMint. They also discuss their relationship and how successful and respected they have become in the Fashion Industry. The girls have come a long way from their TV sitcom Two of a kind to smart businesswomen in Fashion. All I can say is they have done a brilliant job in creating Fashion Houses that really represent their own style . I also think we will see more of them in creative projects in the future.Hope you enjoy the interview!

Sunglasses, Sunglasses, Sunglasses

Summer is just around the corner. You’ll probably go on holiday or enjoy the sun in the UK (okay maybe enjoy the sun in the UK, ........if there is any). However, everyone wants to look good in the summer with one key accessory.......sunglasses. Majority of us are wearing the wrong type of sunglasses for our face shape. Well, there are certain tips that can help you narrow it down for the right choice for you.

For women who have an Oval shape you are the luckiest because you can pull of any type of sunglasses that you choose. It’s important to pick a style that is in proportion to your face. You can go ahead and choose as many different styles that you like.

If a woman has a Square face then you would look good in shades that have curves. Make sure that the top of the sunglasses is high enough so it balances the jaw line. Try out Aviator or wrap style sunglasses.

A woman with a Roundish face would look good in frames that are angular or straight. Remember to choose colours that are deeper and darker shades. Try out the square framed sunglasses for a good fit for your face shape.

If you have a more of a Triangular face then you would be suited for thinner rims and vertical lines will look good on you. Have a go at wearing sleeker oval frames with coloured lenses.

If you think that you have an Oblong face shape then use the same description as a square face woman. But there needs to be small adjustments. Just avoid larger frames, heavy nose bridges, bold colours and squarer frames. As these are a big NO, NO!

When choosing your sunglasses make sure that they suit your face shape. As sunglasses is an accessory and can help enhance your appearance. But there needs to be some rules! If you have a larger nose then be careful and avoid smaller frames and you should opt out for larger oversize frames. If you have a shorter nose, then choose a pair of sunglasses with a higher bridge. If you have a longer nose, then choose a double bridge with high sidebars. When you choose your sunglasses make sure that you follow these rules and choose a great pair whether it be Designer or High Street.

Brit Awards

I saw some clips of the Brit Awards, so here’s my take on who wore what, and what looked good. I think there were some celebrities who nailed their dress at the Brit awards. The first contender would be Nicole Scherzinger. She’s dressed in Versace S/S 2012 Gown, and she looks great. The lemon colour strapless gown really fits her silhouette .I liked the fact that she kept her jewellery to a minimum, that way her dress is her main show-piece. I personally haven’t seen this colour on Nicole Scherzinger before, and I think that pastel lemon suits her well!

                                              

Ironically the third contender is Kylie Minogue......in a strapless dress. She looked stunning in a bold blue gown by the classic YSL. The colour of the dress is what makes this dress. Kylie looks beautiful and quite elegant. I'm glad that she wore earrings and kept her neck bare. The earrings are enough to accessorize the dress. Rihanna’s dress by Givenchy would have been a top contender but, personally I think that the long gloves with the dress was not a good look.This is the short-list of the Best Dressed at Brits!

Another Strapless contender is Lana Del Rey. She was dressed in a Vivienne Westwood gown. I love that fact that the dress is floor length and that it’s in red. The hair and make-up were kept simple, so once again the dress stood by itself. Maybe, a little jewellery would of been nice.