Fashion speak

Certain industries are full of abbreviations, business-lingo or other insider-language.  Navy vessels and A&E departments are (I imagine) full of terminology which civilians and the non-medically trained know nothing about.  Albeit lying on a slightly more superficial plane, magazine shoots and fashion HQs adopt similar insider-speak.

This morning a stylist shouted some outfitting instruction across the studio along the lines of: ‘…team it with the pony-hair Wangs, DVF tote and Theory Skort.’ To the untrained ear this might sound like code.  Designer names are often abbreviated, some are mis-pronounced as we fail to possess the French twang needed to correctly say Givenchy and Agent Provocateur.   Like any language, you absorb it as you go and before you know it, you’re talking in fashion slang to your boyfriend or parents without realising it.

We’ve  moved on from the much clichéd ‘fashionista’ terminology of the noghties, phewf – however  here’s a quick rundown of some current expressions which you may hear thrown around in fashion-land (and beyond):

Mandals – man-sandals

FROW – short for catwalk front row seats

Skort – skirt/short hybrid

Boyfriend-cut – used to describe anything slightly over-sized

Game-changer – the new it piece (usually an accessory)

Have you heard any noteworthy fashion speak?

Is it time you stopped being a slave to fashion trends?

Is it better to be a Vivienne Westwood or a Ralph Lauren? A trendsetter or a trend follower? Is it actually possible to always be on trend – or should we all embrace the things we like to wear and give trends the sartorial middle finger?

These are the questions that have plagued my mind (and therefore bank account) this week. I’m now at that stage of economic peril where purchasing blow-outs send me on a major guilt trip as I try desperately to justify my buys to anyone who’ll listen (‘Please Officer, I’m just developing a perfect, good quality CAPSULE wardrobe to last forever’). But I think I might have found at least one cause of the problem.

Did you know H&M are giving away £5 vouchers in exchange for your old clothes?

I thought H&M’s new garment collecting scheme was very well known, but a quick poll of my pals (generally a very fashion conscious lot, as you’d imagine) revealed it’s not. So here I am, spreading the word about what I think is a great idea.

Here’s how it works:

You take in one bag of old clothing to an H&M store in the UK, and they will give you in return a voucher for £5 off the next time you spend £30 or more.

Clothes can be in any condition and from any brand or shop, not just H&M, and you can take a maximum of two bags a day.

Why does the Swedish retailer want your old clothes? It’s part of their recently revamped corporate social responsibility programme – they want to reduce the amount of clothing that goes to landfill every year, currently estimated at 500,000 tonnes a year.

With this new initiative, H&M take your garments and one of four things happens:  Clothes in good condition are sold on the second hand market; if they can’t be sold the materials are recut into other products like cleaning cloths; if they can’t be reused the textiles are recycled; any other textiles are used to produce energy.

So nothing goes to landfill, and any money that H&M makes is put back into the scheme or donated to charities.

I don’t know about you, but this is all music to my ears, mainly because H&M is far and away my favourite high street shop. I’d say my wardrobe is composed of at least 40 per cent H&M. Just the other week, I went in intending to buy only a little black and white spotty dress I’d seen previously and ended up, one hour and £75 later, with two pairs of denim shorts, a dress, two tops and a three-pack of socks. I can’t get enough of that sweet Swedish goodness, and a £5 voucher would have taken the edge off the bout of shopper’s remorse I felt that day.

I think the only slight qualm I have with the new scheme is that it might mean shoppers are less likely to donate their old clothes to charity shops, for whom second hand goods are, of course, vital. But, on the other hand, I recently threw away a bunch of clothes simply because their aren’t any charity shops near me that I could take them to, so I guess H&M are helping to discourage that too.

So why not grab those various bits and bobs lurking in your wardrobe that you’re clearly never going to wear again and trade them in for some H&M dinero?

Read more about the H&M garment collection scheme and find your nearest store at www.hm.com/longlivefashion.

Oh, and here are some of the pieces I picked up during my last visit. Basically this whole outfit, black denim shorts (£14.99) and a black fringed top (£14.99) with glow in the dark embellishment, a look which I christened ‘Coachella meets the Roaring Twenties.’

And this is the original polka dot dress (£12.99) that led to my accidental shopping spree.

Girls dressed as boys

Having side-stepped the severe androgynous look of last year, I’ve happily thrown myself at the more relaxed, boyfriend-dressing which takes on a more casual intrepretation of the trend.  It’s become a bit of a daytime staple as it incorporates comfort and style in the right proportion and feels more wearable than stricter masculine shapes which don’t always flatter a girl-shaped body.

There’s the versatility to off-set the ‘boyfriend-cut’ with heels, pretty jewllery and girly hair so you’re not mistaken for your brother.

See below street-style and celebrity versions of the trend

Boyfriend jeans with oversized bag and coat finished with flats = effortless outfitting:

  

Olivia Palermo sporting a rare pared-down look:

An Olsen (same thing aren’t they?) with the well-versed oversized man-shirt & skinny jean ensemble:

January Jones in casual-but-chic airport attire:

Get the look with some relaxed, slightly-oversized pieces

Burton Men’s Tokyo Laundry Jumper £25:

Uniqlo MEN Fine Poplin Long Sleeve Shirt £19.90:

Uniform Wares Watch £390:

Reiss Cassidy Derby Shoe £54 (sale item):

 

 

 

 

Jenny Packham headlines the V&A’s ‘Members Week’, but you can still go!

Hey Guys! Guess what? Members Week at the V&A isn’t just for ‘members’ yo. Anyone can attend and tickets for three of the most exciting talks taking place between (17th-24th May) and include speeches by legendary designer Jenny Packham (celebrating her eponymous label’s 25 year anniversary), the magnificent Stephen Jones and visionary illustrator Jason Brooks. Following the phenomenal success of the current ‘David Bowie is’ retrospective at England’s leading arts museum, the V&A is currently gearing up for its fourth annual Members Week which promises to be the best to date.

Monday 20th May sees Stephen Jones: Model Millinery take place at 18:30 with the world-respected milliner in conversation with V&A curator Oriole Cullen. Having designed hats for some of the world’s most influential fashion houses, including Jean-Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler, Jones is considered one of the 21st century’s most reveled milliners. If you prefer your art more 2D, Wednesday’s talk entitled Fashion Illustration: Portraits of Paris with internationally famous illustrator Jason Brooks might be more up your creative street.

Having worked with major brands ranging from Vogue to Coca-Cola, and being responsible for creating the visual identity for the Hed Kandi brand as well as illustrating just about everyone from Couture week, Jason will be in discussion with Tony Glenville (Creative Director for the School of Media & Communication at the London College of Fashion). Friday 24th May sees the end of Members Week with Jenny Packham: Luxury Design celebrating Packham’s 25 years at the helm of her world-renowned luxury label. Having dressed the likes of Kate Middleton and Kate Winslet through to Kate Hudson (she must like the name) Jenny Packham will be discussing her sumptuous designs and how her label has become one of the UK’s most successful independent fashion labels.

All tickets, priced £15 for non-members, include a wine reception and can be booked by calling 020 7942 2277.

Gemma Goldstone launches on Asos, Makes Romy & michelle proud

Lucky for me, this week I get the chance to discuss three of my favourite current things: Asos.com, the nineties and new emerging talent. Love it or loathe it (and it’s clearly the former over here at Style & Then Some HQ) the current craze for all things nineties has not been limited to fashion alone, but has influenced the emergence of new sub-cultures such as ‘Sea Punk’ and kicked off the technological trend for premillennial GIFs which are currently flooding the world-wide web for our entertainment (whoever gifted the internet with this gem needs knighting).

Having been over-exposed to the eighties influences for almost a decade, it looks like the nineties trend may too be here to stay.  Having said that, a number of designers, from Dries Van Noten to 3.1 Phillip Lim, are already influencing the catwalk trends, incorporating nineties grunge which is no doubt a strong avenue which we’ll be seeing next season.

But with such a rich melting pot of inspiration the decade contains, new emerging designers are starting to crack the tough fashion world, and one fantastic way to do this is through Asos Marketplace. While the competition to have your own boutique on the ever-expanding site is ridiculously tough, one new designer has launched this month with her fist, nineties-inspired collection, ‘Pic n’ Mix’.

Gemma Goldstone, an Essex based, Leeds trained designer has landed with a collection fit for a Shoreditch Princess. The brand is not only edgy and vibrant, but designed for a fearless type of lady who no doubt had her own dressing up box growing up.  Plus, what is Asos if not a grown-up’s version of a sweet shop? While fabric choices include metallic PVC (so Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion!) blue fur, fishnet and perforated sports poly, it’s the metal chokers, oversized zips and chains which really polish off the collection and cement Gemma Goldstone as the new nineties kid on the block.

So why not go check out ‘Pic n’ Mix’ and indulge your inner Nineties child?

You can also contact Gemma directly: gemma@gemmagoldstone.com and follow her on lovely twitter: @Gemma_Goldstone.

White: Do you dare to wear?

When the sun’s out, we’re all naturally drawn to white, no? A staple of the summer wardrobe, white evokes images of sun-drenched Greek islands, blue skies and golden skin. This season, the fashion world has gone head over heels for this palest of trends, so why are we still so wary of white?

Just this week, I made my monthly trip to Zara, that delicious middle of the road brand via which we can all look like we’re dressed in Celine for a mere fraction of the price. I was there to buy white; presumably that flash of sun we had last week sent me into some kind of over-exposed frenzy. I selected these beauties for upcoming weddings/days I want to be Carrie Bradshaw – and I would have been satisfied had my accompanying friend not said:

‘It’s funny, how things that would’ve seemed horrible a few years ago are okay now. Like white shoes.’

I still bought the shoes. But the thought remained; is white always right?

Well, no, it isn’t. It’s a veritable minefield, but this is not news to anyone. So to assist us all in the hazardous embracing of white this season as the gods at Vogue and Elle decree, here are a few danger zones to beware.

1. Stain street. The first one is obvious. Christ, who hasn’t this happened to? Just one errant swirl from your pasta salad and that dress is a goner (this happened to me featuring a forkful of lasagne, a white trench coat and subsequently an embarrassing visit to a bemused Hermes store in Paris). A misjudged seat on a bus or garden chair and sniggers will ensue for the rest of the evening. Even the gentle tugging of your head through a white blouse and suddenly half your foundation is on the collar. White, you cruel mistress.

2. To tan or not to tan? Secondly, the irrational need for a tan that white seems to inspire. It may have escaped your notice, but we don’t get much in the way of sunshine here, so options are limited. Fake the sunkissed glow, and run the gauntlet of tan transfer – see above. Or, go natural and work the slight browning you’ve achieved thus far. I face this dichotomy in a few months’ time – I anticipate I’ll fake it, lest I resemble a haddock fillet in a shift dress.

3. The price is white. Lastly, is the fact that you’ll probably need to flash a bit of cash to pull off white, or else embrace visible underwear and cheap material forever. Depressingly, I can’t afford Christian Dior; Zara is pushing it, realistically. White on a budget is a risky affair – I have yet to succeed, although I’ve found H&M and Topshop to be regular safe havens.

So, if you’ve got especially delicate eating habits (or a stick of Vanish, just in case) go white. Hey, if it’s good enough for Anna Wintour…

Miss Vogue launches on Monday | How will it do?

Back in January British Vogue announced it was launching its first ever magazine aimed at the teen market, calling it Miss Vogue, and the first issue officially hits the shops this coming Monday. It got me wondering whether other ladies like myself – now ever so slightly older than Miss Vogue’s target demographic – would have loved something like this when we were younger?

Who else remembers ELLE Girl? British ELLE magazine launched a similar attempt to appeal to a younger audience back in 2001, only for it to fold five years later with reports suggesting that the increase in online e-magazines and blogs was one of the main reasons for the publication’s untimely demise. While not identical in their content, considering the aforementioned reason for Elle Girl‘s closure and the fact that reading material available online has continued to expand dramatically since 2006, it’s uncertain exactly how well Miss Vogue will fare in the already struggling magazine market if Condé Nast decides to continue printing it. Just last week More! magazine became the industry’s latest casualty announcing its publication had been suspended after several previous efforts to reinvent the glossy.

However, in the last few years there has been what can only be described as a tween/teen explosion with the young population’s adoration for the likes of One Direction, the Twilight movie franchise and the emulation of stars’ style including Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian’s little sister Kendal Jenner (who, incidentally, has modelled for Australian Miss Vogue) taking on a life of its own. Team this with Vogue’s stellar reputation and it looks as though there are enough components in place to make Miss Vogue a guaranteed success.

Thanks to a recently renewed Vogue subscription I got to flick through the magazine before its official launch next week as it comes free with the June issue. My first impression was that I would have probably loved it when I was younger and taken lots of style inspiration from their numerous uber-colourful fashion editorials. On the other hand, I’m not entirely sure how many British tweens and teenage girls can afford the Louis Vuitton leather duffel bag advertised for a whopping £780, or the Tiffany platinum and diamond pendant with an equally eye-watering price tag of £9,675 also featured? At the same time, this magazine has been produced by the Vogue family, a publication famed for championing the finer (fashion-y) things in life.

Who else is keen to see what kind of reception Miss Vogue gets from the public next week? We are rooting for it here at Style and Then Some!

Is your lingerie drawer in need of a springtime overhaul?

Spring is the perfect time for a little wardrobe reshuffle but don’t neglect your underwear drawer.  If the elastic has gone a bit stringy in your waistbands or some of the colours could be described as a ‘washed out grey’ you need to do some binning.

The best outfits feel a little let-down (sometimes literally) by mediocre underwear so take Gok’s well-worn advice and get some proper outfit foundations to fit and flatter.

H&M have come up with a surprisingly good collection encompassing sporty-non wired bras (see Helen’s post for more on this low-maintenance option), sexy push-ups and ever-popular shapewear at a snip of  the price of brand-leaders SPANX. With recent research by French scientists suggesting we could be better off wearing no bra and going freestyle (um, no ta…) I feel more compelled than ever to invest in some new bras and knicks.

You can see the full H&M collection here, however I’ve collated a few of my favourites below:

Push-up bra £14.99:

Prolong the life of delicates and/or avoid the arduous job of handwashing by using wash bags, £3.99:

Adopt the sporty trend with this block-coloured, non-wired bra, £9.99:

Optimise and smooth your silhouette with a some sleek underpinnings, £19.99:

Offering minimal support but perfect for holidays and wearing underneath sheer garments, £6.99 for two:

And why not brighten up boring T-shirt bras with colourful options, such as this tangerine tango delight at £12.99:

Can’t afford a Rolex? Here are 10 chunky gold watches that are way more affordable

If you’re hankering after a gleaming, satisfyingly heavy, gold (or maybe rose gold?), possibly diamond-encrusted bracelet watch from the brand favoured by everyone from James Bond to Jay-Z – well, join the club.

If you’re also unable  to ‘drop’ about five ‘stacks’ on a ‘Rolly’* – yeah, us too. Hey, a girl can dream right? But, while you’re waiting for your bank balance to catch up with your accessories fantasies, there are some super sweet watches on the high street and online, priced from £20 to £260, that will do the trick. Here, we round up ten women’s watches in a variety of yellow, white and rose gold tones (but none of them real gold, of course) that should help satisfy your chronographical craving.

*Urban Dictionary translation: pay £5000 for a Rolex

5 of the Best: These Jazz Age shoes will have you Charlestoning in no time

Ankle strap? Check. Peep toe? Oh yes. Stiletto heel? And how.

Right now, the high street has got some high heels on offer that are so retro style-y that they wouldn’t look totally out of place on a dance floor in the 1920′s. Maybe it’s the Great Gatsby effect – Baz Luhrman’s remake is out in less than a month now – or maybe it’s an offshoot of the nineties ankle strap heels trend, but whatever the reason, I sure do like them. The open-toe style and manageable heel height make them a decent investment for wedding season, because let’s face it, a strappy sandal goes with almost anything, plus you just know you’re going to end up doing the Macarena with your Nan/little cousin/unidentified drunk relative at midnight so you may as well get your dancing shoes on. Here are five of my top picks.

How DO they do it? Once again the Coachella celeb set puts Brit festival fashion to shame

Ahhh Coachella. You have a lot to answer for. Every year there I am, sitting in my office with the radiators still on frantically googling ‘Coachella Festival fashion’ and waiting for the blog posts to start pouring in. It’s probably bordering on addiction now, and I blame the horrendous weather we have had so far this year for my obsession really heating up (no pun intended).

The thing is though, this year I have started to question exactly how the masses of mere mortals (you know, the ones without the VIP wristbands, private chefs and Vogue following them around to instagram their hair bindis) actually survive. After reading an article on the Vice website last week, it dawned on me that I can barely stand two days at V Festival without looking completely rancid, let alone a couple of days in actual desert heat. It never even occurred to me that there’s the almighty danger of sandstorms as well as the very real possibility I may bump in to Vanessa Hudgens (get over it, I love her) and cry. Or at least try to, as I guarantee I will be so dehydrated my tears will come out like toothpaste.

So this year, I’m just enjoying the relentless stream of images of the young, rich and famous scampering around without a patch of sunburn, decked out in their boho-chic finest and being thankful, I haven’t passed out in the fairground and had Kate Bosworth sidestep past me.

So get ready to drool over the best (most definitely VIP) outfits I have collected so far…

MY FANTASY COACHELLA FESTIVAL OUTFIT:

Whilst daydreaming about hanging with Hudgens, I devised my own perfect Coachella outfit, while pretending I can actually wear sandals and get away without a hoodie for the night freeze. And that all that gold jewellery wouldn’t make my neck and wrists sweat.

Temperley, Timothy and Superdry, Oh My! Top picks for your Next Season’s Closet

If you are a fellow blogger, PR darling, or well placed and well-heeled within the world of fashion media, you too may have been bouncing from one AW13-14 press day to another last week to take in the next season’s key pieces. Although the faintest of promises of our long-delayed Spring are beginning to emerge, the stores are already gearing up for the next big chill, however depressing that may be. Alas, I still got to see some pretty amazing things, attend the incredible Superdry + Timothy Everest launch (see below) and even made acquaintances with a fantastic new blogger (check out Acid Brights here)…

Flying High Superdry!

Okay I will admit it.  I have never even set foot in the Superdry flagship store on Regent Street before, but when Style & then Some were invited to the private launch of the new AW13 Superdry + Timothy Everest collection I couldn’t say no.  What would take place at the launch itself was kept under wraps.  Personally I was expecting a mainstream mini catwalk show and was pleasantly surprised when the music blared out and a secret curtain was drawn back to reveal four megababes lounging around a beautifully decorated set.  With each model sporting a different look from the collection and all getting up in turn to give a little shimmy, the ten minute presentation was executed perfectly.  The other great surprise?  Check out the Magic Mirror now located in the store for everyone to use.  Just try something on, then the mirror will photograph you and upload it to either your twitter or Facebook and you can get your audience to help you decide to buy or not to buy.  Although this has already been trialed out in various other stores, this is the first one I have used (hence the scared Bambi look).

 

 

 Somerset by Alice Temperley

Alice Temperley has always been one of those designers that make me want to cry.  Her brand is just so beautiful yet so unattainable for the masses.  Probably hence the relatively new ‘Somerset by Alice Temperley’ diffusion line available at John Lewis.  The AW13 collection on offer at the John Lewis Press day last week was designed to make you feel like a Princess.  The dresses, the delicate blouses with matching cigarette trousers, the sequins, the beads! It’s a wonder I didn’t faint at the sight of this floor length sequined gown.  Obviously, being a winter collection and all, the stand out coat had to be this quilted leather offering.  Just lush.

 

So there you have it people.  Get writing to Santa already!

Australia Fashion Week S/S’13 | Who stood out?

When it comes to Fashion Week something I am guilty of is only really concerning myself with the New York, Paris, London and Milan shows, despite the fact that there are now well over 100 Fashion Weeks around the world. Australia Fashion Week, held in Sydney, concludes today and considering that Oz has brought us an array of great designers over the years such as, Sass and Bide, Josh Goot and Collette Dinnigan, I thought it was about time I checked it out. Here are the two collections which really stood out to me:

First up is the label AJE which is made up of two designers Adrian Norris and Edwina Robinson. The design duo’s attention to detail is clear to see from the intricate sequin patterns featured on several of the looks in their show. Many very wearable, beautiful and extremely feminine pieces have been slightly frayed in places to give the range some edge, a look AJE prides itself on. To see the full collection click here.

Then came Alice McCall’s show on Wednesday. McCall’s eponymous label has been on the go for almost ten years and she credits Kate Moss and Diane Kruger as fans. Her SS’13 collection consists of flattering cut-out shapes and sandy beach like patterns against the organic style silhouettes resulting in a rather elegant outcome on the catwalk. To see the full collection click here.

Are you impressed with these S/S’13 Australian Fashion Week offerings? If you are eager to see more click here.

The 1990s Sartorial Graveyard: Three Things I Wish I’d Never Worn

Cast your minds back to the 1990s.

No, not the cool Philip Lim, Rihanna-esque grunge nineties you think happened – the real nineties, whereby everyone looked…weird. Granted, I was in that hideous stage of pre-pubescence, all tracksuit bottoms and ill-advised fringes, so I wasn’t even fashion-bad in the sense of Julia Stiles circa 10 Things I Hate About You. But like any impressionable young tween, Tammy Girl said jump, I said how high.

Now in light of this here nineties revival that has trickled down into the wares of high street stores, I am forced to revisit the wincingly bad trends of the last few decades, if for no other reason than to make me put back the confusingly erect beanie hat in Topshop, and accept that only Cara Delevingne looks good in a Bart Simpson crop top. Let us all learn hard won lessons from the past, because there are some things that should forever be consigned to the bin. My lime green zip-up fleece for one, Mum.

1. Skirt Trousers.

I saw evidence of ’skousers’ (see what they did there?) reappearing on, of all places, the catwalks in February. That’s right: skirts worn over trousers. Now, I see the practicality, Marc Jacobs and Chanel, I do. Tops are permanently that bit too short and skirts are regrettably draughty come an April morning, I can tell you. But the idea veers far too close to a white Lycra pair of skousers my sister owned. They were flared, and ever so slightly see-through, like some kind of stripper Bee Gee. Never again.

Skirt Trousers at Chanel AW 12-13

2. Denim

Fear not, I don’t mean all denim; we all enjoy a good pair of jeans (although, I haven’t bought a new pair since year 10 – they still fit, rejoice!). I’m talking indigo blue denim jackets, shapeless and gawdy, and strange drainpipes in the same shade of blue, stretchy with elastic waist. Christ, denim trainers! All worn together! Sing it with me, ‘say you’ll do what I don’t, say you’re true, say to me…c’est la vie!’

B*witched…as if you could forget

3. Leggings.

Yes, I know they’re comfy. How is it possible to object to innocuous black leggings I here you ask. For many reasons, actually: leggings that are not black, for a start, shudder. Leggings that have stirrups – liberate your pointlessly constrained ankles, children of the nineties! Leggings on anyone with legs bigger than breadsticks. Leggings with perpetual holes, in the knee or bum. The fact that leggings are never as thick as trousers, and thus reveal your polka dot pants. The pairing of leggings with crop tops for anyone other than the cast of Fame – as was outlawed by my old head of sixth form. Justifiably, it turns out.

Inexplicable stirrup leggings

There’s a fine line here folks, be daring and shun the sartorial laziness of leggings, and end up in skirt-trousers. The current decade is not immune to the horror; I’ve already thrown away my flatforms in bemusement.

Do you regret the fashion choices of yesteryear? Or are you a proud trend-follower? Good luck one and all, it’s a fashion minefield out there.

Can I interest you in a onesie that makes it look like you’re being groped by an invisible pair of hands?

Ah, the onesie. The all-in-one loungewear garment that really shouldn’t – in my opinion – be seen outside of a lounge.

Beloved of hen party-goers, The Only Way is Essex-ers, One Direction and other social groups of questionable taste the world over, the rise of the so-called adult romper has been chronicled in the papers at length over the last couple of years. Research in January this year claimed one in eight people own a onesie, but a poll out this week conducted by Johnson’s Cleaners named the onesie, or more precisely the ‘man-gro,’ as the number one style faux-pas for men. But whether you’re a onesie lover or hater, you’ve got to admit they look pretty darn comfy.

Personally, I don’t own one and I certainly wouldn’t wear one outdoors (apart from maybe if it was animal fancy dress, because who doesn’t love pretending they’re a panda?) but they do look like the ideal Sunday slob-out uniform. The comfort of a onesie isn’t in question if you ask me, but, in this instance, the design sure is: can anyone explain to me why this onesie has two hand prints right over the area usually inhabited by ones mammaries?

The women’s Aura Hand Print Onesie, which is available in five colours from Missguided, is fleece-lined and described on the site as ‘seriously cool’ with a ‘cheeky hand print design.’ But that doesn’t explain why the hand prints are there does it? Is it meant to be a whimsical tromp l’eouil effect? Are they meant to be conducive to breast fondling? Or are they a subtle but poignant commentary on the commodification of women’s bodies in the media?

I jest, obviously, but something about this garment makes me uneasy. Maybe I should just let this joke onesie slide. But if loungewear is meant to be the antithesis to the kind of revealing clothing that can be found all over the rest of the Missguided website, couldn’t they just leave sex out of it when it comes to onesies? Who knows, but this version is currently on offer, which suggests sales might not have been through the roof, and that the great buying public agrees with me.

What do you think? Is this handsy onesie a step too far, or is it a bit of harmless fun? Leave a comment and let me know.

My Best Charity-Shop Buys

I used to shop in charity shops a lot when I was a student, admittedly more out of necessity than a bohemian dress-sense.  I (unfortunately) wasn’t mixing second-hand chic amidst my designer pieces and H&M and Primark also featured pretty highly.  Upon graduating my retailer of choice also graduated to the dizzier heights of Topshop and Zara and hovered in that region before maxing out at Whistles and Cos in the latter half of my twenties.

I’ve recently found myself popping into the odd charity shop again and remembered the joy of stumbling across a vintagy leather bag or the thrill finding an amazing dress miraculously in my size.  Fate.

The usual advice is still best when hunting down hidden treasures; go for affluent neighbourhoods for higher-end designer brands or student areas for budget high-street threads. Although not charity-orientated  pre-loved and e-Bay are also easy ways to locate second-hand, well…..anything.

Charity buys forego the ‘spending guilt’ and if you need further justification, its recycling too.

Here, I’ve listed some of my favourite second-hand purchases.  On reflection many have out-lasted my high-street purchases and remain firm wardrobe favourites.

L.K. Bennett Leather Patent Block Heel Court Shoes £25 – better condition than most of my current shoes.

Octavia Foundation

3 Bute St, London, Greater London SW7 3EY

Tweed Crombie Coat $20 AUD – this hasn’t got any labels whatsoever so I took some guesses at garment care and sizing.

‘Vinnies’ in Paddington, Sydney (short for a charity called St Vincent’s)

Oxford Street 292, 2021 Sydney, NSW

Faux Leather Burgundy Clutch £6.00

Oxfam

93 High Street Wimbledon, London

                   

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Great One Piece Swimsuits On The High Street

If like myself, you too weren’t lucky enough to escape to sunnier climes this Easter it does not mean we can’t get excited about all the great high street swimwear in the shops at the moment. After all, summer is just around the corner apparently.

Due to the distinct lack of any proper spring weather (you may have noticed), I have actually taken to frequently googling sunny luxury destinations such as Hawaii and the Seychelles and then looking at plane ticket and hotel prices pretending I can afford them. Sad isn’t it? However, I recently rediscovered a far more proactive and cost effective way to indulge in some brief escapism that is much closer to home.

After a five year hiatus I took the plunge, quite literally, and headed to my local swimming pool for a nice leisurely dip (none of this fast lane at the gym nonsense) and sauna session in a bid to kid myself I was on holiday for an hour or two. Once again, how sad, but effective as my spirits were instantly lifted. Not the most bikini friendly environment – what with several small children splashing about at the other end of the pool – it got me thinking about stylish yet comfortable and relatively discreet one piece alternatives available on the high street that also wouldn’t look out of place on holiday.

After an extensive internet search I realised there is a fantastic and flattering swimming costume selection out there to choose from for us ladies whose figure leans towards the more curvier end of the spectrum and who would like options other than black. Here are my top 5 finds:

 

Seafolly shimmer bandeau swimsuit £91

ASOS spot tie front swimsuit £25 (ties around the neck too)

Very.co.uk Resort halter £25 (comes in black too)

Debenhams Beach Collection, Blue figure flattering seagull print £22

Florence and Fred Tesco Moulded cup swimsuit £14

5 of the best: Spring Jackets

I love parkas and the versatility of throwing them over any outfit, however in an attempt to wrench myself from my out-sized outerwear I’ve taken a look at spring’s more structured offerings.  Bomber jackets, blazers and (yes, still) leather are all prevalent from high-end to high-street:

Maje Bomber Jacket £280:

Finders Keepers Jacket £195

& Other Stories Twill Jacket £125

Mango Ikat Stripe Trophy Jacket £54.99:

Whistles Dakota Leather Jacket £295:

The Perfect Prehistoric Love: How to Rock The Dino Trend

Maybe it’s an underlying psychological need of mine to regress back to a time where my dinosaur shaped crayons were the most important thing in my life, but for this reason or another I seem to be drawn to anything and everything shaped like T-Rex and friends in the fashion world right now.

With Land Before Time inspired tees in abundance thanks to Tee & Cake via Topshop (this brand have supplied me with some of my favorite t-shirts ever over the years) I have pulled out a couple which I think are particularly key to the ‘dino-craze’ and relatively affordable for all…

RAAAAAR! Tyrannosaurus Rex Tee £20

Science College Tee £22

I also came across this little gem courtesy of Babbletees.  Anyone else think Droma looks a tad camp?

If you would rather give wearing your Dinosaur literally on your sleeve a miss though, and would prefer to declare your love of the prehistoric a little more demurely, how about check out this bargain of a ring I picked up at H&M for £2.99:

Yes his eyes sparkle with Diamantes!

Next week…SHARKS!