L is for leggings

It's been a long time, but while I have not been blogging I have started a MA Strategic fashion marketing course at London college of fashion which is working out really well. Anyway I am really determined to get into the whole fashion scene again (well when I say again, I mean for the first time). So I'm back to blogging and this week it's all about leggings!!!

Although I was around for the first outing of the leggings back in the eighties I was only young and did not appreciate the true brilliance that is the lycra trouser come tights. I have to say as a good ten years had passed since my last sighting of the leg warmers I was dubious about their return back in 2005/6. But rewind to 2009 and I don't know what I did without them. The garment is a staple in my wardrobe and every other self respecting fashionista.

I'm a strictly black matt cotton legging girl but the beauties have moved on from the 80's and now you can get them in any style, colour or material. What was once a sports wear item is now covered by the top designers like karl lagerfield for Chanel or celebrities like Lindsay Logan who has released a range. The most amazing pair that I have seen are a beautiful of jewelled ones from Topshop.

Although I love my leggings because they suit every shape or size there is an alarming trend which anoys the hell out of me! That is leggings and short tops. It's a big fat no no, if you can't be bothered to put a dress or skirt with you leggings at least have the decency to cover your arse!!! That is my one rule; other than that have fun with it!

Until next, fashionista it up my friends xoxo

K is for kitsh, and Knee high socks

Kitsh is so now, and I really mean that. Everywhere I go in london people are doing the whole kitsh thing. What do I mean by kitsh you ask??? For me kitsh is a mix of Vintage (think Cath Kidston) and highstreet staples, accessorised with brooches and a well worn long cardie. I have to say that I am myself, in my old age (24) leaning towards this trend.

What I love about this vibe is that it is cute and adoreable and will hopefully appeal to those none exsistent/ increasingly hard to capture male species. Nothing says "love me" like a sheer pussy bow shirt and a highwaisted, thigh skimming granny skirt, I hope!

Floral is a big part of this trend and it has to be said that the highstreet is drenched in this fabric whether digital, vintage, classic or contemporary. At the moment there is enough floral going around to cloth every self respecting fashionista at least ten times over. Some cordruoy or woollen item needs to be worn with the flower power attire, otherwise it is too current; for me you can't go wrong with the tried and tested long cardie, but there is always the tank top or knitted waistcoat.

Any way enough detail, the main aim of thekitsh vibe is to get that mix or classic contemporary. Florals are a must for this look even if its just a hairband... incidently get down to Spital fields market for the cutest floral hairbands made using old archived liberty fabric. You have to love them right!!! I digress, anyway play with different materials such as wool, cordrouy, chiffon, silk etc. and keep it feminine.

My one kitsh must have is knee high socks, whether black, cream white or denier nothing screams "kitshie kitsh" like a freshly laundered pair of knee highs, keep it simple mind. None of those ribbon ties or buttons.

I feel like I have rambled on, like a college lecturer at an AGM. So I will just finish by saying Peace out my fashion BFs xoxo.

P.S. Have you check out the new charity fashion shop at Westfields? Make a bee line there ASAP.

Ebay is rubbish

I am deviating from my alphabet of fashion because today I am very fed up. Has anyone been on E-bay lately, its seductive advertising and promises of bargain products drew me in. I had my heart set on a beautiful designer bag. At first it had to be Chanel or Miu Miu, but then I set my sights on a beautiful Vivienne Westwood bag. I bid and won the bag for a bargainous £75. Unfortunately once I received the bag it became obvious that it was a fake. Luckily for me the buyer agreed to let me send it back (I reckon they knew it was a fake). Any once I received my money back I still had the bug, I was constantly bidding on bag until finally I won a Miu Miu S/S 2009 bag for £125. It was beautiful and for about 2 hours I was blissfully happy with my purchase, at last I had my very own roomy designer bag.

After closer scrutiny (and hours spent googling the bag) it soon became clear that this bag was also a fake, a very good fake but nethertheless it was what it was. After that the bag lost all of its glamour and appeal. I didn’t want to wear the bag and set about trying to get my money back. Unfortunately there was nothing I could do the seller had already been suspended and Ebay does not do refunds.

I have now given up and decided to wear the bag as a reminder that if it seems too good to be true than it probably is. What is more unfortunate is that because I kicked up such a fuss about the bag, I am unable to return it. Oh well.

Remember fashionistas its always better to go to the shop and purchase a designer item or to buy it from a reputable retailer like netaporter (my favourite fashion porn site). Well that’s it from me today; love fashion and more importantly love yourself!!! Mwah xoxo.

J is for Juxtaposition

Hello Fashionites,

It's all about juxtapositions, what do I mean by this? Its mixing and matching garments together. Masculine with feminine or Rock chic with priary fairy. Putting harsh materials like leather with chiffon works really well.

Putting conflicting garments together is definately a london thing and can probably be dated back to the the Punk era of the 70's. I think that this is relevant now more than ever as the recession kicks in. None of us have as much disposable income as we used to so mixing and matching is a great way of creating a new look. Back in the 70s money was an issue as well, and it is at times like this that creativity really begins to shine.

London has soo many creative dressers and I put this down to the melting pot of cultures all in one place. People come from far flung countries and bring their traditional/ seasons clothing and mix it with pieces from the highstreet and there you have a juxtaposing mix match of garment, together an outfit. You can also see how different cultural garments have become engrained in the season's trends; can you say Hareem trousers.

I love to wear cute tea dresses but because I don't want to look too feminine or dressed up I always add black legging or tights to toughen up the look. I have black patent brogues which always help de-feminine a pretty dress. Light colours mixed with bright colours is also a great well used look.

If you want some inspiration hit Oxford street or Shoreditch for some great creative dressers who like to mix and match it!!!

Love Y'all xoxo

I is for Ink Blue

This is a random one, but I have seen inky blue clothing and accessories everywhere at the moment. I love this colour because it is fresh and exciting, perfect for both work and play. There is something 1980's about inky bloo, it makes me want to watch "Girl's Just Wanna Have fun" or sess out to the tune by Cindy Lauper.


Inky blue is such a bold colour, it speaks for itself. Neutral are best worn with this colour; a stony beige, khaki green, browns or plain white. The only bright colour that I would recommend wearing with this is turquoise or purple, otherwise you run the risk of looking like an 80's reject. Keep it simple, less is more as far as the colour is concerned.


As you know accessories are key, and this includes inky items. Whether a necklace, a bracelet or a stylish fasinator blue is soo now!!! Personally I have my heart set on a pair of inky blue pumps. You have to love a statement piece.

Anyway have a go, experiment with blue??

I'm off to watch gossip girl, you know the rest XoXo

H is for Headware

Having recently been to the Anthology of Hats exhibition at the Victoria and Albert museum, I have a new found love of Hats. The exhibition is full of a variety of head gear, from conservative pieces to flamboyant head paraphernalia.

I think headwear is a great way to update an outfit; during the day I would go for a snazzy hair band and at night I think a hair piece worn at a jaunty angle is a must. A full on hat is also more of a day wear item unless it is winter in which case whenever and whatever will keep you warm. My hat of choice would be a bowler in a deep purple. I would also love to own Blair Waldorf from GG's head band wardrobe. big chunky bands mixed with antique headpieces.

Anyway, no matter how you wear them or what you wear, hats are always going to be top on my list. I would love to study millnery one day and make my own extravagant pieces. In the mean time the V&A are selling some amazing hat pins, fasinators and hats which are definately worth a look. I have my eye on some sequin bauble pieces.

Look sharp, best wishes,

Fashionista

G is for Gorgeously green

Fashion and being a friend to the environment etc CAN go hand in hand. More and More eco-friendly fashion brands are popping up in the mainstream. Clothes made from organic cotton or hemp no longer resemble potatoe sacks they can be fun and dare I say it stylish. Another misconception about eco-friendly clothing is that it is quite costly, nah huh!!! Selfridges may be home to MADE or EDEN, but you can also find other labels at highstreet retailers like Topshop and Urban Outfitters. Both retailers also do their bit to recycle clothing as they house their fair share of vintage pieces at affordable prices.

Along with being green, fairtrade is also an option. I felt a great glow of being a do gooder after buying a stylish white fairtrade tunic from Topshop. I will team it with a blazer, bold necklace, chunky belt and pumps for a funky yet casual look!

Whether Eco or Fairtrade its definately something to think about!!

all the best Fashionistas xoxo

F is for Forever pieces

Forever pieces are the new must-haves. A forever piece can be anything from a well cut pair of trousers to a timeless item of jewellery. A good quality fashion product that will last for many years to come is always worth spending a bit more money on. I do not have a large monthly clothing budget, but I have begun buying less items and spending a bit more on those classic pieces which I know will see me through to the next season. When I say classic, I don't mean a white t-shirt or other synonymous items of clothing, I mean looking ahead to the following season and seeing what trends will continue/develop further. For example, I will be investing in some tribal/ graphic print tops and dresses because that trend is set to continue. (See image left from Marc by Marc Jacobs AW09/10 show). In the summer I will do the look with bare legs or shorts and come winter it will be all about black tights, and a tailored jacket.

I think investing in jewellery is always a safe bet, because the changes tend to be more subtle, you can get away with the same ring for a couple of seasons. But on the flip side jewellery can aso be very directional and so it is worth spending less and making that black t-shirt on trend with a big chunky tribal necklace.

It can be tricky to know what to buy when it comes to forever pieces but you have to ask yourself, am I going to wear it to death, and will it see me thought the next couple of seasons!!!

Well there's my advice, fashionistas. Keep it glamourous!!!

Love, L x

E is for Economize

With the credit crunch hitting the nation and world at large, economising is something that every fashionista is going to have to deal with. I think it is a great opportunity to put your stylising skills to good use.

Rather than shopping on the highstreet, try shopping in your wardrobe. Mixing it up is really fun, putting things together that you would not normally think about is often a great way to express your self and find out your true style.

At the moment I have been playing with dresses and cardigans/ layering tops. Mixing printed cardies and patterned tea dresses together is fab, and ties in with the tribal/ one world trend that is soooo hot for S/S 2009. Add a hairband from a scrap of material and you are fashion a go go.

Even Celebs are recycling their wardrobes.

If you are going to buy fashion items, I think accessories are the way to go, it is suprising to see how a pair of earrings or a necklace can update a look. Coral and royal blue are so now, so those are the colours to go for.

Economy footwear can only mean two things ballet pumps or plimpsols. Black, white and gray plimpsols are budget and versatile. Ballet pumps should be in animal prints; leopard, tiger,snakeskin from Newlook, Primark and Dotty P's.

Have fun with it, find the real you. Punk is definately having a revival, only this time its more refined.

Once more with feeling... you know you love fashion, right!!!

So what's G'wan!

It's been a while since my last post, mainly because I forgot my password!!! I would like to say that since my last blog I have got my dream job, but alas I have not. With the current economic climate I am lucky to have a job I guess. However this hasn't stopped me coveting the new S/S 2009 trends and bitterly cursing my lack of funds.

I have decided that I am going to do everything in my power to earn some extra money, so i have turned to ebay. I am currently selling a small hot pink Miu Miu clutch purse that I have had for almost a year and never worn. I brought it in New York, as my first designer purchase from Bloomingdales. Although I love the purse I am hoping to upscale to something more sizeable. Fingers crossed, this could be the beginning of a great business.

In the meantime I will continue to lust over the new beautiful Louis Vuitton tassel sandles!!! They are truly beautiful.

I'll be back soon, with the next letter in the alphabet.

You know you love me, right! PS is anyone watching the new series of Gossip Girl (S2) I am hooked. The fashion quota has reached a whole new level, Alexander McQueen, Philip Lim, D&G... the list goes on.