The old adage goes, a stitch in time saves nine. And a stitch in the right place might just save you a lot of money and shopping hassle. With celebrities from Eva Longoria and Rachel Bilson to Tilda Swinton and Nicole Kidman all admitting they like to kick back with some sewing, now might be the time to rediscover your inner 50s housewife, and learn how to customise your clothes.

Now, when we say 'customising', we're not harking back to DT lessons at school, when you would turn a pair of jeans into a 'funky' denim skirt with the addition of some pink sequinned mesh and a flower corsage made out of zips. No. The proper, grown-up art of being able to alter garments - I'm tempted to call it seamstressery - is a skill well worth learning.

Think of all the times you've bought a gorgeous dress, probably for too much money, then relegated it to the back of the wardrobe after a couple of wears because it just doesn't fit quite right. Then think of all the stuff you've nearly bought, but had to put back at the last minute because it was that bit too long, or big, or had a neckline that made you look like your Great Aunt Hilda. Wouldn't your wardrobe be in better shape if you could only take to it with a whizzy needle and a bit of know-how?

So here are our top-tips for becoming a customising queen:

Get back to school: If there isn't a dressmaking relative or friend handy to teach you the basics, sign up to learn it from a pro. Where better than London College of Fashion, which offers a 9-week basic sewing skills workshop for £380. Sign up here, or search for classes in your area. We also love DIY fashion blog Threadbanger, for on-trend sewing tips and tutorials.

Wind the bobbin up: There's a lot you can do by hand, but for speed, accuracy and the sheer joy of having a new toy to tinker with, get yourself a sewing machine. At upwards of £100, buying them new can be quite a hefty investment so check out eBay for some second-hand bargains. Alternatively, Cooper Sewing Machines have some great discount deals.

Stock up: A sewing kit like this one provides a great stash of needles, pins, buttons and thread in every colour you're likely to need. As a rule, try to use cotton thread on natural fabrics and polyester thread on man-made. Think of it like not mixing grape and grain, if that helps you.

Don't get scissor happy: Remember, you can always take more off, but once it's off it's pretty tricky to reattach again. Unless, y'know, you're going for the Raggedy Ann look.

Beware of the shrink: My particular failing is taking dresses up when I've only just bought them, then putting them in the wash to find they shrink to indecent proportions. After a few years of attempting to stretch out doll-sized clothes with an iron, I've learned: wash first, sew after.

Don't get precious: If you go the whole hog and get an overlocker, good for you. But otherwise, don't stress out over finishing your inside seams. Nobody's going to see them (or nobody who's looking at the craftsmanship, anyway...).

Pin, pin, pin: It's easy to get impatient and jump straight in with the machine. But relying on guesswork is a recipe for disaster - if you have time, it pays to pin, try it on, tack (loose hand stitches), try it on again and then sew. I have ruined more dresses than I'd care to admit by being slapdash (let's not mention the one I tried to sew while I was wearing it).

Viva la vintage: A lot of people shy away from vintage shopping because, appealing though the garments are on the hanger, they just don't quite fit right (lots of people shy away because of the smell. I can't help with that.). But learning your way around a needle and thread can open up a whole new realm of shopping - love the fabric but hate the shape? Want to wear that maxi as a mini? Start small with things that only need a little tweaking, then progress to full-scale overhauls. The best bit: when someone asks where you got it, you have the most irritating answer in the book... "Oh this old thing? It's vintage, but I altered it myself." Translation: "You can't buy one. Nur nur."

Show shoulder pads some love: One of the easiest ways to revamp a lacklustre garment is by adding or removing these babies. In vintage dresses and jackets they're usually fairly easy to cut out, bringing the garment forward several decades in a few seconds - just find the three stitch points and carefully snip loose. Then save them to sew into tops that need a little oomph (or put them down your bra for a low budget chicken fillet effect).

It doesn't have to mean forever: As Sinatra once sang, a lady is allowed to change her mind. And so is a seamstress. If you forgo the machine and stick to loose hand-stitching and big hems, you can change up your clothes to suit your mood and your outfit. Take up skirts to wear mini with tights in winter, then take them down again in summer when your legs see the light. I have a jacket that gets longer or shorter week on week, according to what I'm wearing underneath it. It's like a fabric-based outlet for your pre-menstrual mood swings. Just stay away from the scissors.

Let's face it, there is nothing normal about Lady Gaga.

She's got the quirkiest style going and an amazing voice to top it off. And it seems everyone is just as in awe as we are with her.

Far from shying away from the singer's funky fashion sense, designers such as Armani, Viktor & Rolf and of course, the late Alexander McQueen, have lined up to create outfits for this style icon. And they've also dressed her to perfection in terms of her style.

We've decided to put together a gallery of Ms G's most outrageous outfits to show how wacky she is. Let us know your favourite one by leaving your comments below.

So, the calendar's four main fashion weeks are wrapped up for another season.

Autumn Winter 2010 has been an exciting run of collections, and while we've been watching intently to spot our favourite upcoming trends, we've got to admit our attention hasn't always been on the designers. At times we've had half an eye on the catwalk, and half an eye on that all-important hot seat of style, the front row.

Yes, sometimes the outfits in the audience can be just as compelling as the clothes on the runway (and a darn sight more wearable too). The star quality of their front row has become an unofficial measure of a designer's up-and-comingness, with magazines playing Spot the Celeb and numerous show late to start because one key attendee is yet to arrive - Grace Coddington reportedly walked in so late at Valentino that she was greeted by a chorus of boos from waiting photographers. Tsk tsk.

There's also plenty of gossip potential to be had in the seating arrangements, as movie stars and aristocrats bump knees with artists, editors, politicians and trustfund tweenies. We see the pictures and like to imagine the conversations - do Samantha Cameron and Pixie Geldof swap recipes over their Vitamin Waters? When did Beth Ditto and Bella Freud become mates? Just what were Jennifer Saunders and Melanie Blatt discussing at Betty Jackson? An All Saints/Ab Fab team-up? Oh, the intrigue. Oh, the possibilities.

And oh, oh, the clothes. Front rowers are an endless source of outfit inspiration, particularly useful when they act as translation guides for some of the looks coming down the catwalk. We'd still be lost as to how to work double denim if it wasn't for Alexa Chung's tireless tuition (mix stonewash with indigo, and voluminous shirts with skintight jeggings to avoid looking too much like a Van Halen tribute band on a dress down Friday). Meanwhile, Christopher Kane's floral leather dresses just make so much more sense when you can scan from the models to the benches and picture the whole look on Emma Watson.

Crucially, those front row photos are also important for demonstrating the cultural variations in the season's dressing. Or, to speak in snappy alliteration: Who Wore What, Where? Because while the same faces might pop up in every capital (that means you, Ms Chung), each city has its own defining look.

Here's our ShinyStyle lesson in fashion geography - pay attention, you may be tested on this next season:

London - "Anarchy in the UK"

The look: We're known for our scruffy breed of dressed-down glam, and this year the Brit pack didn't disappoint. Think visible roots in tousled hair, hulking statement shoes, lots of black, metallics, and a typically eclectic mix of leather, denim, lycra and lace.

The key outfit: Biker jacket, minidress, lame leggings and platforms, accessorised with a scarlet scowl.

The front-row faces: Alexa Chung, Pixie Geldof, Daisy Lowe, Mischa Barton, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

The secret weapon: Baptiste dry shampoo, for hair that says, "I haven't been home" (buy it here).

Paris - "Chirpy shirty chic chic"

The look: Gorgeous Gaelic nonchalance as only the French can do it (though the rest of us can try). Lots of crisp white tailoring and utility styles, with statement coats and long, glossy manes.

The key outfit: Cropped, slim-fit cargo pants, the perfect white t-shirt, fitted boyfriend blazer and classic stilettos, with a little furry something to keep out le chill.

The front-row faces: Vanessa Paradis, Lou Doillon Leigh Lezark, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld.

The secret weapon: Vanish stain remover, to keep those shirts whiter-than-white (spillages are très Anglaise).

Milan - "La Dolce Vita, baby"

The look: Va-va-voom Italian insouciance, with animal prints, metallics, shots of vibrant colour and big, big hair. Belissima.

The key outfit: A cocktail dress in a sumptuous colour, leopard print coat, spindly heels, killer clutch and sunglasses.

The front row faces: Margherita Missoni, Lindsay Lohan, Zoe Saldana, Rachel Zoe.

The secret weapon: Lipstick. The bolder the better, preferably in a coral hue as a nod to the summer's beachy palette - check out these.

New York - "XOXO, Front Row..."

The look: Gossip Girl grows up. Impossibly glossy and impeccably groomed, with all emphasis on mixing textures and fabrics, with understated shapes and statement accessories.

The key outfit: Tulip skirt in a scrunch fabric, teamed with suede ankle boots, a silk blouse, a cropped jacket and a blowdry.

The front row faces: Olivia Palermo, Taylor Momsen, Whitney Port, the Olsen twins.

The secret weapon: Nail varnish in a fudgey colour, for on-trend Upper East Side talons. Find your perfect shade here.

Which fashion capital do YOU think had the style edge? Leave us your comments below.

Here's a question for you to ponder over your latte: what is the greatest fashion faux-pas of all time?

By 'greatest' I naturally mean 'worst', rather in the same vein as 'the Great War' or VH1's 'Greatest Power Ballads of the 80s'. There's double denim, that tragic affliction of late 80s country rockers and science teachers on non-uniform days. There's cycling shorts, the sweaty-crotched, cellulite-hugging, wear of a Rosemary Conley-shaped devil. Then there's the ultimate, the uniform of elderly men on beaches, with knotted hankies on their heads and a fluttering copy of the Telegraph on their faces. Socks and sandals. And guess what folks? This year, they're all back! Go on, at least fake some excitement.

With April Fool's Day only a fortnight away, I can feel your scepticism. While there aren't many styles that are safe from a sudden catwalk revival when designers run out of all other ideas, I think we all assumed that socks and sandals were immune. Too strong is their association with Sunday school teachers, hairy-legged eco-campaigners and people with fungal foot infections. But no longer! They've leaped off the crown green bowls lawn and onto the catwalk - and here are the pictures to prove it.

Burberry pulled off the look with aplomb, teaming scrunched-down knee socks with clunky platform wedges in a sort of safari-meets-70s-yachting-holiday fusion. Dior played it cutesy, again with wedges but this time in little white ankle socks, of the sort we used to wear in lower primary with our gingham summer dresses. Less convincing, though, was Marni's effort, with kitten heels and beige socks straight off the orthopedic ward.

Meanwhile on the high street, Jonathan Aston is evangelising for the cause. That's Jonathan Aston, purveyor of jazzy hosiery to well-dressed legs throughout the land, not BHS or Country Casuals. And the brand's take on the trend, with slouchy knee-highs in khaki and sorbet shades, is so wearable you'll wonder why you didn't take style tips from your Grandad earlier (the armpit-waisters with a little shirt poking through the fly, though, might be one step too far even for these innovative times).

So are we doing it? Are we really? I'd like some sort of fashion pact here, where we all hold up our right hands and solemnly swear to embrace socks and sandals as a bonafide trend, for better or worse, for Burberry or Bon Marché. That way nobody can turn up wearing them at a party to be greeted by mocking squeals and cries of "You didn't ACTUALLY believe that one, did you?"

A few guidelines might help too, to keep us out of drippy-hippy territory. So here are my top 3 tips for doing socks and sandals with style:

1) Keep it well-heeled. I know, I know, we've been cheerleading for the midi-heel and heralding the demise of the debilitating super-stilt. But when you're wearing socks, you need to keep them high to fight the frump... even Chloe Sevigny can't quite work it with flats, I think you'll agree.

2) Keep it chunky. That's not to say you can't work it with stilettos, but on the catwalk the S'n'S looks that worked the best were those in super stompy wedges. A little clunk makes it modern.

3) Keep it pretty. The greying socks you wear to the gym will not cut it. Go with pastel colours or sheer lacy styles for a look that says "I did this on purpose" rather than "I have toenail issues."

Good luck, ladies. I bid you, go forth and makes socks sexy. And look at it this way - even if we spend a summer looking like a Derby and Joan day trip, at least it'll save us from blisters.

When it comes to double denim, however, I'm afraid you're on your own.

The days are getting longer and brighter with many of us seeing a few days of sunshine. And of course, that can only mean one thing. Spring is on it's way.

We can't wait for the warmer days and brighter nights but most importantly the opportunity to wear the latest spring trends.

One trend that's going to be huge this season is florals, which were shown off by designers such as Christian Dior and Chanel at their SS2010 catwalk shows way back in September last year.

These prints have also been spotted on the likes of boho babe Sienna Miller as well as Chanel fanatic Alexa Chung and Sarah Jessica Parker.

So how do you wear, what could be busy, items of clothing? Well the trick here is not too go too overboard. Unlike the double denim trend that's hitting our wardrobes at the moment, florals should be teamed up with something plain. If you decide on a flowery top, then opt for jeans or a pastel skirt underneath.

And if you go for a skirt or on-trend culottes then pick a plain white or pastel coloured tee.

View our gallery below for our favourite floral picks.

Mothers Day is fast approaching and many of us will be looking for that perfect gift to surprise and wow our mums with on Sunday.

However with so many things around it's sometimes hard to know what to get. Do you go for something she can keep? Something she can wear? Or perhaps something you can both do together?

We've therefore put together a gallery to help you find the prefect pressie for your mum with our pick of the best gifts, that we think will really show her how much she means to you.

While Elton and his celebrity clan were living it up at his after party event, other celebrities partied the night away at the Vanity Fair event.

Amanda Seyfried, who thankfully changed out of her bridal red carpet dress, Katy Perry, Cameron Diaz, Amy Adams (who was notedly absent at the actual Oscars ceremony) all made an appearance.

And some, including Victoria Beckham (who wore the same dress) also mixed and matched their evenings attending both.

We've put together a gallery of the best dressed.

We've been so excited about some actresses dresses this year and have been guessing for a while what each one will be wearing. One such celeb that kept our curiosity buzzing was brit beauty Kate Winslet, who always pulls off great looks at events.

And she didn't disappoint with her silverpanelled bodice and matching satin skirt. But it wasn't just the outfit. The actress also shone (quite literally) with her blonde locks, which she left down.

Other A-listers to grace the carpet were Twighlight star Kristen Stewart, who actually made a huge effort in a black fishtail frock. However, even this wasn't enough to put a smile on the sulky starlet's face.

However, Diane Kruger, who wowed in Chanel Couture and Cameron Diaz were there with smiles.

View the gallery below to see more red carpet style.

[Images:Adriana M. Barraza / WENN]

It was a micro-trend at last year's awards, and this year even more stars are saying 'I do' to dresses in white, ivory and sugared-almond shades. Whether it's a nod to this winter's unseasonably snowy weather, or a series of not-so-subtle hints to noncommittal boyfriends, bridal looks were all over tonight's red carpet.

Best actress nominee Sandra Bullock pulled it off like a true leading lady, with exquisite beaded vintage fabric and sweet pink lips, while Up in the Air star Anna Kendrick was a vision in palest pink.

A little less successful, however, was Amanda Seyfried's meringue - we can only assume the actress seems to have took reference from her starring role in musical wedding romp Mamma Mia when choosing this Armani Prive gown. The quilted satin fabric saves it from true Princess Barbie territory, but alongside so many chic column gowns and flirty ruffles it still comes off a little like the lady your Granny puts on top of her loo roll.

It's always hard to predict what stars will be wearing to any event, let alone the Oscars. However we're a curious bunch over here at ShinyStyle so we've been having a little think about what some celebrities may decide to wear on the night based on some of their styles from previous events this year. First up on our list is Twighlight star Kristen Stewart.

To be honest we were surprised that she chose to wear a white beaded Chanel dress to the Baftas, after all she's well known for her grungy dark looks. However, previous events have seen her stick to her style. Just a day after the Baftas the star attended the Elle Style awards in a strapless boned black and white dress, which we think suited her style much more.

And earlier in February she attended the LA premier of the Yellow Handkerchief in a fitted black dress, with beading down the sides, again showing her natural style.

So what will she wear on the night of the Oscars? Judging by all her dresses we can be sure she'll opt for short. We also think she'll stick to something she feels comfortable in, so our prediction is a LBD by a well known designer such as Chanel or Burberry, after all she was in the front row of the designer's LFW show.

We're we right? Click back on Monday where we'll be bringing you all the Oscar 2010 celebrity fashion.

Click on the picture below to have a look at some of Kristen's red carpet styles.

Lauren Bravo writes: Spring is here! For once in our worryingly incongruous meteorological climate, the weather has got it right. March started and BAM, the sun is out, chill has gone and we can all venture out in our second-warmest jackets with all-over thermal insulation, just as fashion intended.

But despite all the gaiety and the promise of daffodils, baby chicks, crème-egg-and-hot-cross-bun sandwiches etc, there's also that nagging feeling at the back of my mind. Because spring means, inevitably, summer. And summer means, inevitably, shoe dilemmas. Or sweaty tube rides, blisters, and shoe dilemmas.

As a lifelong adversary of the flipflop, warm weather footwear has always caused me issues. Instead of the beautiful colours and pleasing, clunky form of proper shoes, in summer we're suddenly expected to do little more than strap a sole to our feet with a bit of flimsy metallic lacing and try to keep them on as we negotiate miniature golf courses. Summer footwear doesn't contribute to an outfit; it is demanding, with its rubbing and its chafing and its necessitating a pedicure. Gone is the powerful stomp of the Alpha female, and in comes the pathetic flap-flap of the summer trudger.

Thankfully, this time round it looks like we'll have other opinions. Spring/summer 2010 is presenting us with two intriguing shoe options: the Midi Heel Mum Shoe and the Clog. Both offer more substance and coverage than the average summer shoe trend, thus should be greeted with happy gratitude by shopper bored with sloppy Havaianas, and, even better, we don't have to wait till the temperature hikes to start wearing them. But which will you be sporting?

First up is the midi heel, which one suspects will be the more enduring trend, a) because they are less ridiculous and b) because you can wear them, and, like, still walk and everything. They are a gift to women with feet everywhere. After years of heels growing more and more vertiginous, until our current point where shops seem to have lost sight of what shoes were originally intended for and lapsed into some form of masochistic battle weaponry, fashion folk are finally lowering the stakes again.

I have had a midi heel fixation for a little while now, hunting out those elusive 2-3 inch styles in a sea of six inch beasts. Midi heels confirm the theory that women really can have it all - we can have feeling in our toes AND a sexy clip-clop when we walk, AND look presentable all at the same time. Life really is better in the middle, it's just like that Clover ad says.

As a wider trend, midi heels will be around for a good few seasons, but this summer they'll be used more specifically as support for the 1970s-style Mum shoe; a beachy, sturdy, hippieish affair normally spotted on middle-aged eco campaigners and librarians. With espadrille soles, ankle ties, low wedges and wide, comfortable straps all key features, it's a daunting trend for those of us who've spent winter glued into our biker boots. But you can always toughen up the look with a leather jacket and a slash of vibrant lipstick. Hemp kaftan optional.

Then there's the other contender, a far less user-friendly prospect. As far as street-worthy trends go it's in its infancy, but best make your peace with them now because it won't be long before they're 'it shoe' du jour. So far, this is what we know about clogs: Dutch people are supposed to wear them; Dutch people don't really wear them, but they do sell them in souvenir shops; Alexa Chung wore them on the cover of March Vogue; actually, Alexa Chung's been wearing them everywhere; Alexa Chung looks good in them; we may, or may not, also look good in them (sources are yet to confirm whether this is in direct proportion to one's resemblance to Alexa Chung).

But before we dismiss them as crazy shoes for crazy women, we should consider the advantages of clogs. They are chunky, thus far easier to wear than spring's other heel trend, 'the spindle'. They are wooden, thus far less likely to come apart in the middle of Oxford Street and require you to hop home. They are actually pretty flattering, if worn with a teeny skirt and black opaques or, when it gets warmer, bare legs with some sort of sundress and denim jacket. They are a subtle nod to the prairie trend that's set to hit, far preferable to a broderie anglaise smock and a stetson. And if anyone mocks you, you can kick them where it hurts and do some serious damage.

So there we have it, forget the summer trudgers and embrace the new spring stompers. And by the time you've mastered your clog dance, it'll be winter again without anybody noticing.

With Mother's Day fast approaching we're all racking our brains to think of something special to buy or do for our mums and in the lead up to the day we'll be bringing you some ideas of what to get.

Today we thought we'd kick off the Mother's Day mahem with a gallery of celebrity mums who we think do an amazing job with their children.

However, we know you don't have to be a celebrity to be a good mum, there are amazing mothers out there who do a great job looking after their children, mine included, so we want to hear from you about what makes your mum so special. Leave your comments in the box below and let us know.

Click on the picture below to begin the gallery.

[Images via Wenn]

Lauren Bravo Writes:
Thank God for Mark Fast. By putting plus-sized models on the mainstream catwalk for the second season running, the much-acclaimed knitwear designer has set some ripples stirring on the sea of planet fashion. He's proved that a) it wasn't just a gimmick the first time round, and b) that women with a bit of meat on them can still rock high fashion looks. We can have our cake, eat our cake, and still wear a sweater dress without Anna Wintour jumping out of nowhere and locking us in a cupboard.

Hurrah! Oh, joyful day! Fashion has a new form, and it's Crystal Renn-shaped! I could spend the rest of the article waxing lyrical on the plus-sized supermodel; the size of her thighs, the power of her curves, the voluptuous va-va-voom that her presence brings to a runwazy or magazine cover. But that would be boring, and a lapse into hypocrisy - after all, where magazines have failed women so enormously in the last 100 years (though they've tried to compensate with a million free canvas shopping bags) is with their tireless focus on perfection.

Instead we should discuss how silly it is that we use the term 'plus-sized' for models no bigger than a 12. Or how 'curvy' is a compliment when discussing Beyonce, but becomes a velvet-cloaked insult when used about Natalie Cassidy. The battle is far from over. Like fashion itself, it seems that plus-sized acceptance must follow the traditional path of catwalk-to-glossy-magazine-to-boutique-to-less-glossy-magazine-to-high-street-to-us. So while Mark Fast's contribution should be applauded and appreciated, it is only the first domino in a long line to be toppled.

It seems high-end magazines still won't use normal-sized models unless they are: 1) Famous. Designers, editors, musicians, business tycoons and the wives of world leaders are all, from time to time, allowed to grace the hallowed pages with a little extra flesh on their bones. Largely because it makes the magazine look highbrow. Or 2) A gimmick. "Look at us! We're using fat birds! Aren't we liberal and accepting?" the cover will scream, just to leave us in no doubt that this model is a Special Exception. But other than that, the world of the glossies remains a parallel universe, one in which Lara Stone is considered rather a hefter.

Meanwhile in the land of real women, dressing shapelier bodies is still a confusing business. I mean, we have to pay Gok Wan his dues. He's given us all a lovely self-esteem boost, shown us how to love our wobbly bits and introduced the word 'breasticles' into the vernacular of a nation. But do we really want to spend the rest of our lives poured into pencil skirts and elastic waist-cincher belts, like a secretary from a 50s B-movie? Of course we don't. We'd never be able to run up stairs. We'd be the Daleks of the style world (who are, now I come to think of it, rather pear-shaped themselves).

So we need to release Gok's iron grip on our Spanx and reclaim our natural waistlines. And while we're at it, a stern word needs to be had with the designers of high street plus-sized ranges. It seems grossly unfair that, while so much effort has been put into trendy maternity ranges in recent times, plus-sized wear remains on the whole a hateful mess of wafty kaftans and misshapen denim - being as women are only pregnant for nine months at a time, while some will be a size 18 their whole lives.

Plus-sized ranges, as far as I can deduce, centre around one key, and terribly misjudged, item. The t-shirt. I can only imagine that the conversations in the ivory towers must go something like this: "What do fuller figured women want to wear?" "Well, they probably want to look a bit sporty... like they might do some exercise and stop being so fuller figured." "Yes" "And obviously they don't want anything with any shape..." "Obviously" "So I think what they really want to wear, probably, is a great big t-shirt." "Yes! That must be it! But hang on, isn't that a bit boring? Plus-sized women are meant to be jolly, aren't they?" "Hmm... ok, we'll put some diamantés and a big jolly slogan down the front." "Perfect."

Other main fails in the sphere of plus-sized design include: lack of proper sleeves. This extends beyond fuller figure ranges to the vast majority of womankind, who for whatever reasons (bingo wings, chicken skin, those little pockets of flab that squeeze out under your armpits) don't want to expose our upper arms, forcing us into little cardies that make us feel like Lorraine Kelly. Then there's lack of shape. Wearing enormous, crushed velvet marquees does NOT make one look smaller by comparison. The only people it works on are Jenni Murray, Dawn French and Dame Judi Dench (see: 'famous people', above). And finally, there's compensating for lack of shape with diamantes and mimsy floral motifs. This isn't a primary school craft project. Give the girls a waist, for pete's sake.

And all that hasn't even given me time to start on the high street's failure to accommodate us Average Amys in the 12-16 range (other than to quickly say: we have BREASTS, deal with it! Giving us acres of extra hip fabric is not going to change that; we can't move them down there). So yes, while Mark Fast has taken a small step for woman, we still need a giant leap for womankind. But hey, at least we can eat while we're waiting for it to happen. Cake, anybody?

Spring is only a month away and SS2010 trends have already been hitting highstreet and online shelves with a vengence.

There's a few essentials you'll be needing this season to update your wardrobe, but one must have is a mac.

The mac is perfect for those inbetween Winter-Summer days, where rain will be at a premium but the warmer weather means we need something a little bit lighter. These macs were also a big hit on SS2010 catwalks last year.

They've also made an appearance in a range of brand's SS2010 campaigns, including Burberry (who can forget that gorgeous mac Emma Watson modelled for the brand).

We've therefore put together a gallery of the hottest macs this spring to ensure you brave the wet spring in style.

Click on the picture below to begin.

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland will be hitting cinemas on 5 March and it's already caused a huge stir in the fashion world with a range of designers including Stella McCartney and Tim Binns, Swarovski creating jewellery inspired by the film.

In fact it's become so popular amongst us fashionistas that Selfridges has also announced a pop-up shop dedicated to the blonde haired character. So we've decided to start off a mini-series bringing you everything Alice. Within this we'll be including trends you might expect to see as a result of the film as will as clothing ideas to help you get into the Wonderland mood.

However to start off the series we've decided to put together a gallery of Alice in Wonderland inspired jewellery, which we predict will be huge over the next few months. We've already been grinning like Cheshire cats just looking at them.

Click on the picture below to begin the gallery.