It's happened to the best of us. We've walked into a store in the middle of the summer to get ourselves kited out with a new bikini for our summer holiday, only to find we're too late and the shelves are already stacked with cosy looking jackets for the winter.

They may look lovely, but let's face it, that parka is not going to be any use to us on a beach, unless of course you have very poor circulation.

And guess what, we're not the only ones that get frustrated about it.

Designer Donna Karan is fighting to get the system changed. "I hate to say it, somebody's got to take the leap of faith and deal with the June, July market," she told WWD. "Pre-fall shouldn't exist, I'm sorry. Wrong. Let's start there. We've got to bring clothes into season." Donna has said she wants clothes, especially winterwear, to hit shelves when, well, it's actually cold.

We can see Donna's point, and completely agree that it's a bit of a nightmare finding fashions to suit seasons when the shops are one step ahead. We're sure were not the only ones who struggled to get excited about the pretty floral short sleeved tops when it was snowing back in early Februar, but will doing this change the whole fashion ethos and catwalk shows as we know them?

Let us know what you think by leaving your comments below.

It was the collection we were all waiting for; the late Alexander McQueen's final range during Paris Fashion Week. Unfortunately we couldn't be there, but we've heard and read that it was an emotional, yet beautiful display.

The sixteen outfits shown were 80% finished by the time of McQueen's death last month and the final touches were administered by Sarah Burton, who worked alongside McQueen for sixteen years.

They were themed around a medieval idea with angels and demons as well as images and influences from Renaissance and Byzantine art.

There were brocades, billowing capes, ornate gold leaves. We've found a slide show of some of the designs, which we hope will give his last collection the justice it deserves.

Plastic bottles aren't exactly what we would call fashionable, but add an iconic designer into the mix and you'll get something pretty special.

Dame Vivienne Westwood has paired up with SIGG, the makers of the original Swiss reusable aluminium bottle, to build awareness around the unnecessary waste and harm that is caused to the environment by purchasing and throwing away plastic.

And the strange, but kooky relationship between the two has created a limited series of design bottles.

The three Limited Edition Vivienne Westwood bottles will be launched later on in 2010 and will coincide with the main fashion shows in June and September.

These limited editions will be exclusively available to invited guests and backstage at the shows, as well as a few available in selected stores.

Get drinking ladies. It's good for fashion and the environment.

In Victor Meldrews words "I don't believe it." So what's got us moaning like an old man from One Foot in the Grave? News that Diane von Furstenberg has just released an album to raise money for charity.

We've heard of models and actresses turning to the microphone but this one has got to be a first. However, before you get too excited at hearing the designers singing talents (if they're as good as her designs we're in for a treat) we have to point out that she actually sung. The album is a compilation of songs by her favourite female artists, including Estelle and Annie Lennox, to mark next week's International Women's Day.

'Proud To Be Woman' is available to buy from itunes and money raised will be donated to Vital Voices, a charity that champions women's rights across the globe. We think this is a unique idea and we're all up for helping charity but we think it may have been better for the designer to do what she does best. We'd definitely buy a charity t-shirt, dress or jumper if she designed one.

Tell us what you think by leaving your comments in the box below.

[Images:Daniel Deme / WENN.com]

It's had a range of designers from Christopher Kane right through to Kate Moss, and it doesn't seem Topshop will be slowing down anytime soon.

The highstreet store has just announced it will be teaming up with London Fashion Week designer Danielle Scutt who will produce a capsule collection of dresses, tops and accessories.

Danielle says: "I want the wearer to feel confident and inspired by wearing my clothes as I believe this collection will comfortably enable the Topshop customer to be elegantly and comfortably dressed from daybreak to nightfall."

This isn't the first time the two have collaborated, Danielle also designed a range for the store back in 2008, which as you can imagine was highly successful.

We say get yourselves down to Topshop as soon as the collection hits shelves on 7th March 2010.

Although a few weeks have passed we're still very much saddened by Alexander McQueen's death, and we know we're not alone, with a huge majority of the fashion world still in mourning.

According to WWD, the funeral service for the designer will be taking place today. However it's "for family only".

And although a spokesperson said a memorial service for friends and fans will take place later this year, no details have been confirmed.

"We are focusing right now on the Paris show, which takes place on March 9th," she said.

Until then, we want to make a small tribute to the great designer here at ShinyStyle, so we ask all our readers to join us in a minutes silence at 3pm today.

And of course, our thoughts will be with Mr McQueen's family.

Armani has revealed that its created several of Lady Gaga's looks for her Monster Ball tour that kicked off in the UK last week.

The designer who first dressed Lady Gaga for the Grammys last month said the looks included a floor-length black patent trench, sparkly structured body suit with enhanced curved shoulders, another body suit with a lobster effect on one sleeve, and a geometric mini-dress with a dramatic mirror effect.

Armani also said each look was finished off with matching shoes and sunglasses. .

Georgio Armani said: "We hear Lady Gaga's music everywhere we go, it is like a soundtrack of our times.

"In addition to her formidable songwriting skills, she is a modern fashion phenomenon."

We couldn't have said it better ourselves.

[via Vogue.com]

Following on from the announcement that PPR will be keeping the Alexander McQueen label, On|Off and Catwalking.com, have announced they will be hosting a tribute to the designer who died last week.

Starting tomorrow at London Fashion Week (we'll be there reporting on the shows) the tribute by LFW's leading independent showcase, will consist of a display wall embedded with forty iPod touches, each holding fifty images from McQueen's collections.

These will include McQueen's entire catwalk archive, holding a total of two thousand pictures from the designer's career, including his time at Givenchy.

Lee Lapthorne, Director of On|Off, said: 'I just wanted to do something - something to show that we respect him and his inspiration to so many many of our designers...and the wall will give people an opportunity to reflect and remember.'

Following the sad news about Alexander McQueen last week, PPR, the parent company of Gucci Group, has confirmed it will continue to trade the Alexander McQueen label, .

In the past hour the company released a statement from PPR chairman and chief executive Francois Henri-Pinault, who said: "You understand, the Alexander McQueen trademark will live on".

However people hoping to watch Alexander's AW10 show at Paris Fashion week will have to wait to see if it will proceed as the collection wasn't finished before the designer's death.

Marc Jacob's show has been one of the most talked about in the lead up to New York Fashion Week, especially following his decision not to invite A-listers to the event this year.

However, being one of our favourite designers, it was also his collection we were excited about and he didn't disappoint.

The show began in typical Marc Jacob's style, presenting the audience with a giant box, with a smaller box positioned in front of it. To start the show Marc along with Robert Duffy came into the room and ripped away the brown paper sides to reveal a range of models wearing the AW2010 trends.

The collection included a range of fitted tailored workwear with slight 80s undertones alongside femine fitted evening wear, which consisted of empire line long dresses in metallic fabric and 80s sequined numbers.

Hems stayed no shorter than knee length and paved the way for some stunning dresses and skirts, which although kept the tailored look, were transformed into something that little bit girly through the beige colours and accessories including cute ankle socks and t-bar shoes.

However it's bad news for PETA because it seems fur is definitely walking into the new season if Marc's designs have anything to do with it.

Purses at the ready ladies, especially those of you who like a designer bargain.

Today Narciso Rodriguez has launched an exclusive collection on eBay for those of us mourning the loss of designer creations in our wardrobe due to the credit crunch.

The collection priced from £40 - £225 includes fitted dresses, simple, sleek tailoring and contemporary classics, which will fill the designer wardrobe gap for a good few months.

Rodriguez said, "I am extremely excited by the possibilities that this new online sales channel brings to my business long term.

"For me it's always been about dressing many women of all ages, all types, all sizes, and this special collection on eBay is a unique opportunity to reach a broad global audience."

The range is available in sizes 4 to 18, but you better get those fingers on your keyboards now as we don't think this collection will stay around for long.

It seems Lady Gaga will have something to smile about this Valentine's Day if rumours that she's back with her ex, designer Matthew Williamson are to believed.

According to InStyle magazine the the kooky singer and her style collaborator and "best friend" have grown increasingly close in the last few months and rekindled their relationship.

The pair previously dated for over a year, but called it off when mixing business and pleasure became too tricky. After they went their separate ways, GaGa dated an entrepreneur named Speedy whilst Matthew became a father in a new relationship. However, neither romance lasted and the pair are now said to be 'reminiscing' during GaGa's Monster Ball tour.

A source told the magazine: "They spend all their time together, and travel everywhere, so it was bound to happen. Speedy dumped her, and Matthew left his girlfriend for Gaga."

And it's not just love, it also seems Matthew has been a huge style inspiration to Miss G, coming up with her infamous 'hair bow' hair style.

Perhaps Lady G has finally found her style mate.

Nothing can take away from the sad news that's broken over the past 24 hours but we know we have to soldier on, and what better way to start than with Christian Louboutin's new Barbie.

The designer has created a second limited edition doll, which has been inspired by spring summer '10's military trends.

Barbie showcases her fashion flair in a khaki tunic dress and the lucky girl even has her own miniature version of Mr Louboutin's much coveted knee-high fringed boots, plus three additional miniature pairs of signature red-soled shoes.

Dolly Forever Barbie will be available from Net-A-Porter from 3 March.

It's been an afternoon of shock and sorrow as the news that Alexander McQueen has been found dead filters through the grapevine.

The British fashion designer, known for his outrageous and extraordinary designs including his high high shoes, and who won the British Designer of the Year four times between 1996 and 2003 was just 40 years old.

His family said in a statement: 'On behalf of Lee McQueen's family, Alexander McQueen today announces the tragic news that Lee McQueen, the founder and designer of the Alexander McQueen brand has been found dead at his home. At this stage it is inappropriate to comment on this tragic news beyond saying that we are devastated and are sharing a sense of shock and grief with Lee's family.'

Our sympathy goes out to his family.

Are some designers getting sick of celebrities taking up the attention in fashion week catwalk seats? If rumours that Marc Jacobs is not hosting a star studded row of seats at his New York show this week are to believed, then the answer could be yes.

The designer, who always manages to wow us more with his creations, than celebrity bums on seats, told NYMag: 'I'm not into the celebrity thing . . . like we used to. That's boring'.

In the past Marc has invited a range of celebs including Posh and Madonna and last year he even turned his attention to Lady Gaga, who was invited because she was performing at the after-party. However, it seems she was the final nail on the celebrity invite coffin as she famously missed his show because she arrived late.

After all the news about how much celebrities are paid to attend these shows, if this trend carries on to other designers there could be hole in their paychecks.