Archive for the ‘Gallery’ Category
Affordable Fashions, Fashion Tips, Features, Gallery, Swimwear, Trend Alert
By Lauren Bravo on May 21st, 2013
The temperature’s rising (well, any day now) and so are the waistlines. Here are the best high-waisted bikinis on the high street
High-waisted pants will always be a great divider. Like the spreadable yeast extract of the top drawer (I am sorry for saying ‘yeast’ there), you either appreciate the sultry, structured charms of the high-waisted silhouette… or you just don’t.
“I think it’s creepy when I can’t see your bellybutton,” my boyfriend admits. “It’s like, you might not even have one.” Which is discriminating against the navel-less, for a start, and also futile because I don’t care a fig – I love big pants. I love their comforting hold-you-in-ness, I love the way they never disappear into places and require hoiking out again behind a post box, and I love the way they admiringly trace the whole shape of my hips, rather than cutting them off in the middle.
Once you’ve gone high-waisted, it’s hard to go back. Which is why I’m also thankful that this season, swimwear designers aren’t skimping on the fabric either. There are high-waisted bikinis to be had all over the high street, and they’re not all the same tired retro knock-offs – there are tribal, tropical, neons and animal prints to add to my bobbling collection of polka dot lycra, plus some seriously great structured bikini tops to go with them.
Sorry, bellybutton. Maybe next year.
Tropical bikini, £32 Urban Outfitters
Tags: ASOS, beachwear, bikini, high-waisted bikini, River Island, Swimwear, TopShop, Urban Outfitters
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Accessories, Designer Fashions, Gallery
By Ashley on May 19th, 2013
It’s a decade full of timeless looks, which means it’s never too far from our high streets – but let’s face it, will Twiggy ever look uncool? From monochrome shifts to paisley and patent pumps, the clean-cut chic 60s look is big news this season, with fashion’s continued love for all things retro. And what’s not to like about striking a passing resemblance to anyone off the Mad Men set? (style icons and sex appeal in equal measures).
Here’s our top 10 items channeling the 60s look.
Pencil Skirt in Retro Daisy Print £32
Made from a cotton stretch fabric, high fitted waist skirt featuring retro daisy print. Tailored darts and kick split to hem.
Asos
Tags: 60s style, ASOS, Atom Retro, mad men, mod, Top Shop, Urban Outfitters
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Affordable Fashions, dresses, Fashion Tips, Features, Gallery, Get the look, How to Wear, Trend Alert
By Lauren Bravo on May 10th, 2013
Still waiting for your prints charming? From tribal to tropical and even a touch of tie-dye, we’ve rounded up the loudest, proudest patterns around
Long gone are the days when ‘print’ meant a polite little floral or a prim polka dot. This summer we’re pretty much being commanded to bedeck ourselves out like our Nan’s conservatory sofa, so it would be rude not to go prints all the way (before they become ‘the art formerly known as prints’ and we have to cover ourselves in symbolic squiggles instead).
As a rule of thumb, if it would look good on a plastic cafe tablecloth then it’ll look GREAT on you this season. ‘Aztec’ and ‘tribal’ are still hanging about like an enthusiastic gap year student at a house party, but there are also ‘tropical’ (think Carmen Miranda), tie-dye (if you’re lucky you’ll still have the stuff you made at Brownie camp) neon paisley (think PG Wodehouse at a rave) and photo prints, which are like wearing an entire landmark destination on your arse. Not that your arse isn’t already a landmark destination, of course.
So here are our pick of the loud, the proud and the really rather busy. Extra marks for clashing them. Points deducted if you apologise for being “a bit bright”.
Printed sleeveless bodycon dress, £32 Topshop
Tags: Asda, aztec print, bustier, dress, fashion, high street, Lauren Bravo, Lovarni, party skirt, patterns, Primark, prints, Pyjama trousers, River Island, sequin dress, Simply Be, TopShop, tribal print
Posted in Affordable Fashions, dresses, Fashion Tips, Features, Gallery, Get the look, How to Wear, Trend Alert | No Comments »
dresses, Fashion Crush, Fashion Tips, Features, Gallery, Get the look, Movie fashion, shoes, So you want to look like, Style Icon, Style spotlight, Trend Alert, vintage
By Lauren Bravo on May 3rd, 2013
Pour yourself a mint julep and swing those pearls – thanks to Baz Luhrmann’s new release, the 1920s are roaring straight back into our wardrobes
Are you a flapper? Do you flap? Not the type you do when you’ve got hot food in your mouth, but the fashion type, currently dancing its way across the silver screen again – on Carey Mulligan, Leonardo DiCaprio and Isla Fisher in The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece of jazz age ennui.
Decadent, libertine and eternally gorgeous, flapper style is the smart lady’s fancy dress era of choice because it’s more original than the 80s, less polyester-flammable than the 60s and less restrictive than the 50s, all those roomy waistbands allow for far more fun at the buffet table.
In normal life, though, it’s a trickier one to integrate. Unless you work in the kind of office where kooky feather headbands are tolerated round the coffee machine, the look is a more obvious choice for evening, when you can drape yourself in sequins and hit up a speakeasy* (*Wetherspoons). It’s also not an ideal look if you’re prone to spills – pastels and muted neutrals abound, as does Daisy Buchanan’s signature summer white.
Plus there are two other big obstacles to pulling off the 20s trend, and they’re bobbing about on your chest. As Thoroughly Modern Millie showed us with her beads that wouldn’t hang straight, those drop-waisted dresses are friend to the flat-chested gal, but a couple of cup sizes can take you from the beautiful to the damned. Or at least the ‘damn, that dress be hanging off her like a valance sheet’.
But hey – we ain’t about prohibiting here. Just find an embellished deep-V instead, or flap it up with accessories. Mid-heeled T-bars and Mary Janes have a fashion ‘moment’ so often you may as well stock up now, and there’s no desk-to-dancefloor situation (we have those ALL the TIME, right?) that a sequined cape can’t solve.
We’re also rather taken with Gatsby style as bridal inspiration… but one thing at a time, yeah?
Eden bib collar necklace, £19 Accessorize
I know, I know – you already have twelve ‘statement’ necklaces and you can barely afford the chiropractor. But look how beautiful this one is! Stick it on with a t-shirt and you’ve got downtime Daisy, the look she favoured for schlepping around the morning after all those gin gimlets.
Tags: 1920s styles, Art Deco, Baz Luhrmann, Carey Mulligan, evening dress, evening heels, flapper dress, Lauren Bravo, Leonardo DiCaprio, sequin cape, sequinned dresses, t-bar shoes, The Great Gatsby, vintage
Posted in dresses, Fashion Crush, Fashion Tips, Features, Gallery, Get the look, Movie fashion, shoes, So you want to look like, Style Icon, Style spotlight, Trend Alert, vintage | No Comments »
Designer Fashions, Features, Gallery, outerwear
By Ashley on April 25th, 2013
One swallow does not a summer make or so the saying goes. So before we get all carried vac-packing our coats away into hibernation (-what? just me then!), consider having a lightweight trench to take with you on your day out. Macs are always de rigueur in Spring fashion, and there’s nothing like a bit of military look to give you the edge!
So, collars up and waists belted sufficiently to take your breath away, here’s a collection of some mighty fine trenches for you to try.
Nato Strict Trench Coat by Client £195
Sourced in Europe from an English warehouse and each individually 'remade' by Client, these 1940’s khaki Nato post war trench coats are customised with client buttons, belt and a removable inner quilted lining. Large red heart option on the lining and choice of inner lining colour. The inner sleeve zips in and can be worn on its own.
notonthehighstreet
Tags: ASOS, Boden, Hobbs, Nato, trenchcoats, Vila Millas
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Accessories, Affordable Fashions, Designer Fashions, Features, Gallery, Handbags, Opinion
By Lauren Bravo on April 25th, 2013
I’m currently suffering from something I like to term ‘Fash bag fatigue’.
Barely a day goes buy where I don’t open a magazine or click through a style site to be told, in no uncertain terms, that unless I’m saving up my council tax and muesli money for a tote I can carry a baby around in, I am missing a crucial fashion gene. It’s not that I can’t appreciate the quilty aesthetics of a Chanel 2.55, or a Mulberry tote, or even those satchels off the Google advert, but I’ve never managed to grasp the dreamy possibility behind the massive great throbbing price tag. Some see design and timeless craftsmanship – I just see a holiday or a Ford Focus swinging from the arms of the elite.
The Sunday supplements, bless their affluent hearts, have made it as far as realising that bags upward of a grand probably aren’t at the top of many women’s shopping lists, so they’ve started giving us bags for £500 instead. Which is marvellous if you’re one of those terrifying 23 year old hedge fund managers you occasionally read about in Vogue, or if your landlord has lapsed into a coma conveniently excusing you from paying any rent, but for the rest of us who don’t have a spare monkey in the bank yet still have to carry our stuff around, it’s not especially helpful.
So here, to prove they do still exist, are some seriously nice bags for under £100. Most are under £50. Some are under £30. Which, unless you plan to take inspiration from the late, great Nora Ephron, who announced that her perfect bag was a bright yellow and blue plastic MetroCard shopper from the Transit Museum in New York’s Grand Central Station (I Feel Bad About My Neck – And Other Thoughts About Being A Woman, 2007 – read it, it’s wonderful), is probably about the best we’re going to be able to do. But at least we can still afford muesli.
Note: I have included nothing from Urban Outfitters, because every bag I or my friends have ever bought from Urban Outfitters has always broken dramatically within three months. If you’ve got an UO bag that you’ve been lugging around unscathed for over a year, please do let me know.
Hardback doctor bag, £26.99 A-Shu.co.uk
Doctors can’t claim many professional style victories (word on the wards is they’re still wearing Crocs) but they do have some pretty tasty bag heritage. This cheap and cheerful take on the classic Gladstone from A-Shu.co.uk comes in a range of tasteful colours and will ensure that should you ever go to Gloucester in a shower of rain, you’ll be able to cart your brolly around in something stylish. NB: does not guarantee medical knowledge.
Tags: affordable fashion, affordable handbags, ASOS, chanel, designer bags, Handbags, high street, high street style, it bags, John Lewis, Lauren Bravo, Mulberry, Ollie & Nic, River Island, Studded bag, TopShop
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Designer Fashions, Designers, dresses, Features, Gallery
By Ashley on April 22nd, 2013
Monochrome – the evergreen fashion theme that keeps on giving – is back big time this Spring/Summer. From wide black and white humbug stripes and large bold colour blocking, through to the ditsy polka dot, it is everywhere now. This is fashion at its most democratic! This clean-cut, sharp 60’s influenced monochrome look can work brilliantly for anyone regardless of age, size and budget.
Geo Bow Print Dress with Skinny Belt £22.75
A sleeveless woven dress featuring a geo bow print and skinny belt. Contrast double pointed collar with self-tie neck. Elasticized waist and slip with adjustable spaghetti straps included. Semi-sheer and partially lined.
Forever21
Tags: 60s, dresses, fashion black and white, mod, monochrome, op art style
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Affordable Fashions, dresses, Features, Gallery, New Fashions, Tops
By Ashley on March 15th, 2013
Thinking about white stuff at this time of year can still evoke images of snow (- apparently more likely to fall now than at Christmas). But when signs of Spring pop up, white in fashion terms can mean a fresh new start – the hope of dry warm days ahead, and how a crisp white dress can be the switch from your Winter to the Spring end of your wardrobe.
Choosing white over colour needn’t be seen as lacking in flair – done well it can work brilliantly as a classic look, gleaming heavenly in the Spring sunlight.
We’ve had a look at what white(ish) cool clothes are out there at the moment and have chosen these numbers which we think would freshen up anyone’s Spring wardrobe.
Abigail Lorick Dress in warm ivory £65
From the latest edition to hit our high streets: H&M’s brand new premium high street brand: & Other Stories - Made from crisp starchy cotton poplin, this sleeveless dress has a pleated grosgrain section on the front and a pleated waist with an inverted V pleat on the front. Other details include darts at the back of the neck and waist, a hidden zip down the back and hidden side seam pockets.
& Other Stories
Tags: ASOS, Other Stories, Rayban, white clothes, white style, Zara
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Fashion News, Features, Gallery, vintage
By Ashley on March 4th, 2013
Being a devoted MM fan and in desperate need for series six to come into my life, the news of a Mad Men inspired clothes range hitting our shores courtesy of Banana Republic (-or at least the US for now) presented fantastic promise – almost as good as the real deal. Everyone likes to own a piece of the action of something they truly love and consider a masterpiece in it’s own right. When it involves iconic and razor sharp tailoring and polished silhouettes, I’m definitely in the buying zone. And hearing that the clothing range is actually developed in collaboration with the series costume designer Janie Bryant, well – it doesn’t get much more of a promise than that!
Questions like: Am I going to recognise who this outfit is inspired by? Which characters’ style would be my ultimate dream outfit? (hmm – still torn between whether it’d be delectable Joan or doing-it-for-the girls Peggy), or I wonder will it include lots of beautiful accessories and all important finishes and detailing that really capture the period? spring to mind. So with all this souped up hope and in need of a MM shot of pure pleasure and indulgence I clicked onto Banana Republic’s Mad Men range which frankly left me feeling a touch dissatisfied (not something I’d normally associate with a certain Mr Draper).
This number is definitely the best of the collection – a silk dress with a striking cactus flower repeat print, with buttoned cuffs and tie front belt – a fine addition to anyone’s wardrobe. But minus a couple of other interesting prints and textures this is pretty much it people. After that, there is a melange of not so different wardrobe basics lacking in much detail or depth – sure there’s a distinctive nod to the 60’s, but overall comes across pretty sanitised and lacking in the MM essence any self-respecting fan would love to linger over, and pay the (not-so-cheap) price for. I would actually go further to question how much Janie had to do with this not particularly inspiring collection other than sign off the BR design prototypes.
Do I want to part with the best part of a hundred quid for a white dress with vertical stripe? Nothing is inspiring me to this, which is a shame as I think they have missed a trick here, particularly now with the fashion landscape totally embracing black & white, stripes and 60’s influences. As you might have gathered by now, this collection leaves me slightly cold and wanting to head for the nearest ‘Beyond Retro’ branch to make it all better again *and relax*….
You can see the collection here
Peggy Shift Dress $130
A bold, modern take on the lively graphics and form-flattering silhouettes of 1960s style. Banded neckline and keyhole opening.
Tie waist with crochet belt loops.
100% Rayon.
Tags: "60s fashion", "Janie Bryant", Banana Republic, Don Draper, mad men, retro fashion
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Gallery, News
By Elisabeth Edvardsen on February 5th, 2013
In this day and age you’d think we’d come a long way in women’s rights and abolished silly rules about what women can and can’t wear. But as it turned out, until recently Parisian women were breaking the law each time they donned their best trousers to run daily errands, go to work or meet friends at a café by the river. Yep, hidden in the depths of French law was an archaic by-law from 1799 which stipulated that any woman wishing to wear men’s clothing in the French capital had to seek official permission from the city authorities.
It all ties in with the French revolution, when the working class fashion of wearing long trousers – as opposed to aristocratic knee-length ‘culottes’ became a symbol of the movement.
Anyway this absurd law has now been officially been confirmed null and void and Parisian women can finally legally wear trousers. Hurrah!
Tags: French law, Parisian law, Parisian women wearing trousers
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Designer Fashions, Ethical Fashions, Fashion News, Features, Gallery
By Elisabeth Edvardsen on February 4th, 2013
Most stylish handbag: Vivienne Westwood Derby bag (£500)
Consumers are becoming more aware and concerned about the origins of the products in their wardrobe, and fake fur, cruelty-free fabrics and pleather are fast becoming the go-to materials for those wanting to enjoy the latest fashion with a clean conscience. And everyone from high-street retailers such as Topshop and French Connection to high end designers like Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney are meeting consumer demand for animal-free fashion.
Animal welfare organisation PETA is recognising the best cruelty-free contributions to the fashion world with a new awards – the first ever PETA-approved Vegan Fashion Awards. The 2013 winners, which include French Connection (gadget accessory) and New Look (women’s outerwear) as well as Frost French (best purse) can be found above. Up-and-coming designer Bo Carter took home the accolade for Most Talented New Designer. As PETA notes: “Bo is part of a bright new wave of fashion talent who are shunning animal skins in their work. Bo always puts her principles first, so instead of bowing to industry pressure to use leather and fur, she expresses herself by creatively exploring the qualities of synthetic fabrics. The results are simply stunning: beautiful, original (and completely vegan) clothes.”
The awards mark the launch of PETA’s new logo, which designers and retailers can use to identify vegan clothes and accessories that they sell online or in stores.
This article was first published on Hippyshopper.com.
Tags: Animal Welfare, animal-free fashion, H&M, PETA, PETA Fashion Awards 2013, Stella McCartney, Ted Baker, TopShop, vegan living, Vivienne Westwood
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Fashion News, First Looks, Gallery
By Elisabeth Edvardsen on February 4th, 2013
H&M Spring 2013 Collection
Have you started planning the spring clean of your wardrobe, when you pack away heavy winter coats and make room for clothes for the warmer months? The spring summer collections for 2013 have started to appear and today we can bring you photos of the latest collection from high street favourite H&M. We’re actually quite impressed with what the Swedish retailer is bringing out this coming season, with some pieces looking like they’ve been inspired by Japanese kimonos. Definitely a collection to check out when in stores.
Tags: 2013 fashion collections, H&M spring 2013 collection, H&M spring 2013 images, high street fashion
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Gallery, Opinion peice
By Elisabeth Edvardsen on February 1st, 2013
I must admit that my admiration for David Beckham goes back a long time, ever since he scored that spectacular goal for Man United from the halfway line against Wimbledon in 1996. Told you it was a long time.
Since then David met Spice Girl Victoria, became one half of Brand Beckham and have enjoyed a great life both as a footballer and a man. Boys grow up wanting to ‘kick the ball like Beckham’ while women want to date him. And I don’t blame them. Like good wine, Beckham has only improve with age, and at 37 his charming smile and good looks are definitely better than back in ’96.
So with the Beckhams back on British ground, four kids in tow, and David having signed a 5 month deal to join Paris Saint-Germain, I thought it fitting to look at 5 reasons to love David Beckham. Here they are…
1. He donates to charity
Becks is donating his PSG wages to charity. OK as a multi-millionaire he can afford it, and it is probably all part of the PR campaign (or the fact that anyone in France earning over one million Euros a year will have to pay 75% tax). But it makes us feel all warm and fuzzy.
Photos: Facebook.com/Beckham
Tags: David Beckham, Paris Saint-Germain, Victoria Beckham
Posted in Gallery, Opinion peice | No Comments »
Accessories, Designer collaborations, Gallery
By Elisabeth Edvardsen on January 29th, 2013
Hue and cry trainers, £355
Katie Grand – stylist extraordinaire and friends to the stars – has created a capsule collection for accessories label Hogan. Fittingly called Gang, Grand has enlisted some of her famous friends for the campaign shots, including Cara Delevigne, Edie Campbell and Linda Evangelista.
The collection consists of several brightly coloured wedge trainers, a pair of ballet pumps with hearts and eye-catching bags in pop-art colours. The little heart motifs are a visual reference to Love, the bi-annual style magazine Grand edits.
Speaking about the collection Grand told The Independent: “I was keen to bring a fresh sense of femininity, which is why I’ve used so much of that intense shade of pink – that has always been a favourite of mine: it’s feminine in a way that’s lively and fiery rather than demure.”
What do you think of the pieces? Is £355 too much to pay for a pair of trainers?
Tags: "Katie Grand", Hogan, Hogan Gang accessories collection, Katie Grand for Hogan, sneakers, trainers, wedge trainers
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dresses, Gallery
By Elisabeth Edvardsen on January 24th, 2013
Wearing floral prints these days luckily doesn’t mean that you need to look like you’ve stolen your grandmother’s curtains or being mistaken for a new age flower child – unless you want to of course. Floral prints also make us think of warmer days and longer nights, which would certainly make these cold days more bearable.
From abstract to flirty, check out these five floral dresses for a spring update to your wardrobe.
Tags: floral dresses, spring fashion
Posted in dresses, Gallery | No Comments »
From:Style icon spotlight: Jane Birkin