Category Archives: 2009 fashion

This Summer, everyone is going to want to know what the latest fashion is.  Now is the time to find fashion at your fingertips with the best online fashion sites you have to check out.

This season, florals are back in a big way, as are the vintage, chic designs reminiscent of the 50s and 60s. Pretty hems and lacy trims will make an outfit look bang on trend without even trying very hard. Visit these websites for great clothing ideas:

www.Devoted2Vintage.co.uk

www.upstagedleeds.co.uk

Whatever your style, this is the latest fashion to be seen in.

No-one is the same. That’s what makes us all so unique…so, if you need fashion tips for different body types, then i have some essential advice below for you:

For those who are short and slim: For the petite amongst us, fashion can often be a tricky find. For a start, we don’t want to look like we are wearing something 3 sizes too big for us, and we also want to be wearing clothes that flatter our figures, adding curves in all the right places. I think it is important to love your body shape whatever size you are, and it is a known fact that some of those people who are slim wish they were just a little bit bigger. Naturally, the same applies vice versa. We live in a society of never being grateful for what we have, but i think people are starting to realise that beauty is on the inside, which is good.

However, if you are short and slim, opt for tunic dresses and chunky belts to accentuate the hips and add some definition to your curves. Avoid clothes that look too tight as this will only make you look thinner and size zero might look good on the catwalk, but on the high street it really doesn’t.

For those who are short and curvaceous: If you have natural curves but perhaps try and hide your stomach area, opt for skirts and dresses with a bias cut to define your figure and draw attention to your neckline or fabulous legs.

If you are tall and slim, get kitted out with some stunning skinny jeans and some flat shoes. Being naturally tall, you don’t need to add any extra height with heels, so always opt for flat shoes to make you look in proporation and still on-trend.

If you are tall and curvaceous, you will be able to carry the extra weight well and you can wear floaty dresses that will make you look and feel smaller than you are. Avoid skinny jeans though – look for flares (which are totally back in fashion) and team with a tunic top to show off that stunning figure.

This just goes to show that it doesn’t matter what body size you are, as we all need fashion tips and everyone can benefit from dressing to suit their shape. Be happy with the way you look and buy clothes to complement who you are and the body type you have.

lady-in-dress

We all need some credit crunch busting fashion tips in the current climate, so lets take a look at what you can do to keep the spending down and make those precious pennies go further.

Its always nice to buy new things, and believe me, this isn’t something i have stopped doing, but i have been looking into re-working what i already have, such as skirts and tops. Take, for example, a plain denim mini skirt (denim is still hot this season) then head down to your local haberdashery and pick up some quirky large buttons and lace trims. If you’re a decent seamstress, you can add the lace to the bottom of your denim skirt yourself, or ask a very kind friend to have a go if you’re not sure. Then sew a couple of rainbow coloured, funky buttons on the front of the skirt to give it some edge. The retro look is back in a big way, and you can get that look instantly with re-working your current wardrobe. Think “vintage chic” meets “unique”. Its all about being original, and even during the credit crunch, you don’t have to spend a fortune getting a super on-trend look for every season.

Your local haberdashery will have loads of funky bits that you can experiment with and add on to your clothes, so give it a go and see what there is!

After looking at the Oscars Red Carpet Fashion pictures, i think that Heidi Klum looked fab in her bright red Roland Mouret dress, or as what some are describing as a “napkin dress” (see the Guardian article below!)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/feb/23/oscars-fashion-red-carpet-pictures?picture=343625109

As for Miley Cyrus – she looked older beyond her years and whoever suggested wearing that dress needs firing! It wasn’t young, feminine and classy – it was very dull and even my Grandma wouldn’t have been seen in it…

Sophia Loren looked stunning as usual and showed us all how red carpet Oscar fashion should be done…

So, it seems that the credit crunch is even being felt in the one area that you wouldn’t expect to see it. New York Fashion Week has long been synonymous with expense, luxury and designer glamour. However, this year, it has been just that little bit less costly…

Designers showcasing their new season fashions on the catwalk have cut down on the number of models used and the fashions seem to have been toned down a little bit. Naturally, there is still the big, bold items that attract attention, but look closely and compare it to previous New York Fashion Week’s and you will see that it is clear the credit crunch has finally hit the luxury market. The fashion designers themselves are struggling to shift the stock they have in the upmarket stores, and cheques to the designers are being returned after having bounced.

So, this might not affect the luxury market drastically, but it will cause a bit of a stir…

A few years ago i came across the fashion name E.VIL and i have been wearing their clothes ever since. With this brand you get stunning attention to detail, but admittedly at a designer price.

E.VIL stems from the designer fashion house Queen of E.VIL and features t-shirts and jackets with multi-coloured diamantes on. These designs are strictly limited and certainly aren’t items you will find on every high street. E.VIL is stocked in the high class stores and upscale boutiques.

This brand has an avid fan in the form of glamour model Jordan – she is frequently seen sporting an E.VIL t-shirt

You can see below some of my favourite pieces from the E.VIL range:

E.VIL hoodie

E.VIL hoodie

You can buy this from http://www.spoiledbrat.co.uk/

E.VIL t-shirt

E.VIL t-shirt

You can buy this shirt here: http://www.spoiltfashion.com/index.asp

It has just been announced that teen starlet Hilary Duff is to launch her own fashion line with DKNY, the hot US designer name that many celebrities love.

Hilary Duff will team up with DKNY to launch a range of denim jeans and other apparel with a “rocky” edge to match her new rock chick personality.

The “Wake Up” singer is clearly trying to elaborate on her already impressive CV credentials. As well as designing her own fashion line, Hilary Duff is also trying to concentrate on TV work.

So, will you be buying the Hilary Duff DKNY fashion line? For me, it is not just about the celebrity name behind a fashion garment; it has to be a good quality and stylish product that is worth the money.

Hilary Duff

Hilary Duff

Image source: webfoorfun.blogspot.com

Are you looking for designer clothes stores? If you live in the UK, London is a high fashion and designer clothing mecca – you just need the cash to be able to indulge. Of course, prices in London are naturally more expensive so if you’re looking for great designer clothes from little boutiques, then head North to get some better deals.

In America, big department stores like Macy’s and Bloomingdales are a designer clothes paradise. Alternatively, seek out the smaller designer clothes stored that might not have as large a selection, but they will have a much more select choice of fashions.

The best designer clothes stores are not always right in front of your face – take the time to look around and see what your town or city has to offer.

There are many different types of fashion that come and go throughout the seasons, but the denim mini skirt is one item of clothing that seems to have stood the test of time.

So how do you wear your denim mini skirt?

Team it with sexy high heels and colourful tights for an edgy, on-trend lo0k. In Winter, you can still get away with wearing your denim mini skirt – just throw on a casual jumper and a waist belt, plus thicker tights and winter boots for a really striking look.

So, i love this site below, please check it out. You can buy a denim mini skirt here – copy and paste the URL below into your web browser:

http://www.asos.com/search/pgeSearch.aspx?q=denim+skirt

Derek Lam Purple Dress

Derek Lam Purple Dress

Image source: www.net-a-porter.com

So, i mentioned earlier on in my blog about how purple was going to be hot in 2008 and i think it is safe to say that this will continue well into 2009. It is a colour that has arrived and isnt going away anytime soon.

To prove this, all you need to do is look at some of the top fashion sites to see for yourself. All the designers have still got a focus on purple fashion and Net-A-Porter hve some great items in at the moment for the new season. I simply adore the Derek Lam  purple halter dresss pictured above…this is going to be hot this season…get it while you can! It costs £1032.55

You can buy it HERE

If you’re looking for the best designer handbags, then be sure to look at the top designers that really make you splash the cash.

For me, Chanel is a the top designer when it comes to handbags; they epitomise all that is elegant and French chic looks stunning on any lady of any age.

A close second is Gucci. Gucci bags have long been the envy of many women simply because you can tell from a mile away what brand it is and know instantly that they have spent a lot of money. We all want the best  designer handbags, so be sure to give Gucci a try.

Ive always loved the Dior Gaucho bag that came around a few seasons ago, and every celebrity worth their weight in gold had one flung on their arm. A timeless style that never dates, Dior knows how to create designs that will make any designer bag lover go weak at the knees!

Well, i have just heard that famous online store E-Luxury is going to be closing soon…actually within the next 6 months. Most likely due to falling sales during the credit crunch, i can’t say i am taking the news lightly. This is such a great online retailer. You can buy Dior, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci and a whole host of other great designer brands. To see it go will be bad news for the luxury goods market, which looks set to suffer somewhat during this recession. However, its not all bad news because they will be focusing on a fashion magazine instead. Watch this space…

If you want to take a look at what E-Luxury has to offer, check it out now – before its too late! Designer bags galore!

http://www.eluxury.com/estore/index.jsp

The luxury goods market may not be doing as well as we thought. It has been announced that haute couture’s finest Chanel has ditched 200 staff recently, due to falling sales.

Now, this has come has a real surprise to me. The rich and super-rich should be able to keep on buying what they love despite the credit crunch, but it would seem that that may not be the case anymore. Maybe everyone is tightening their belts.

Chanel is a brand associated with the elite; a designer name that epitomises the true essence of French chic. I can’t say that i imagine the company will fold during this recession, but i think this is a sign of the times and one that we should all wake up and notice off. Lets bear in mind that Chanel does not have a shop on every high street, and stand-alone shops are hard to find. Therefore, sacking 200 people all at once might be considered to be a large number in comparison to the number and locality of the stores.

Please stay afloat Chanel!

Well, this is exciting news. On January 15th, Louis Vuitton are going to unveil their new Stephen Sprouse collection, including bags that are going to make you totally drool!

So far, we’ve all been aware of the leopard print Stephen Sprouse scarfs that Louis Vuitton sold out of early in 2008, and so it is really great to know that Louis Vuitton are doing it all again, yet this time they are taking it a bit further.

The classic Vuitton bag styles including the Keepall, the Speedy and the Neverfull holdall are all getting the Stephen Sprouse revamp for a one-off collection. Looks like we will all have to start saving up for these ladies!

The two Sprouse design concepts are graffiti and the rose – something which will be featured in this latest Sprouse / Vuitton  collection.

I can’t tell you how excited i am about this! To check out more info, click HERE to be directed to the Vogue website, where you can find all the hottest fashion news.

So, the word on the street is that Gucci is going to be the name on everyone’s lips this year. I have my trusted sources telling me that the Gucci range this year is going to be streets ahead of other names, and it is definitely the designer brand to be buying.

From the clothes to the bags, Gucci is going to be everywhere in 2009. The celebrities will be dripping in the finest couture and making us mere mortals positively drool at the sight of the Gucci branding. My suggestion is to start saving now; maybe treat yourself to one of those gorgeous bags or a purse to replace the one that is looking just that little bit tired – the choice is yours, but the designer name is a given.

The best thing about Gucci is that it is perfect for so many different age groups – from the discerning lady to the young gent, Gucci is classic elegance that reflects timeless designs and quirky styling.

If you’ve always fancied indulging in a piece of couture, then why wait? Check out the new Spring / Summer 09 collection online at Gucci now.