Can us Brits ever hope to master the art of savoir vivre? We get a lesson in Frenchologie

blondekatie — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:00:45 +0000

Why is it that French women are, on the whole, so much more stylish and self-possessed than the rest of the continent? Is it because they invented the word chic? I think it’s largely down to fashion, but according to Tamiko Zablith it’s got a lot to do with attitude. You won’t find Gallic ladies …

I love Made in Chelsea and I’m not afraid to say it.

oliviasleet — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:01:07 +0000

Yes, they’re laughably posh, and yes, you’re never quite sure if they’re actually, genuinely like that – but did they deserve their BAFTA? Of course they did. Many reasonable folk hate Made in Chelsea. And that, sir, is fine. Only it’s actually quite good. I am a regrettable advocate of trash TV; I have been …

Fashion speak

joannaknowles — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:00:10 +0000

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 …

Nailing it part 2: Summer nail designs worth perfecting

Helen Coakley — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:01:32 +0000

Have you ever read the book Outliers? Well, if not, in a nutshell it tells you how no one gets good at anything without practice – around 10,000 hours to be exact. And if you saw my nail art post a few months back you may know that I have a new hobby, and have …

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

oliviasleet — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:01:48 +0000

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 …

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

blondekatie — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:01:46 +0000

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 …

Girls dressed as boys

joannaknowles — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:00:03 +0000

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. …

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

Helen Coakley — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:00:47 +0000

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 …

In Pursuit of Magic – Style & Then Some does New York City

sophiecha — Sun, 12 May 2013 16:24:32 +0000

My first impression of New York was “What are these people thinking, blocking out the sun with their stupid skyscrapers?” That was on my first day in Manhattan, stood on Lexington Avenue facing the Waldorf Astoria hotel and with a nice view of the Art Deco Chrysler Building if I craned my neck and looked …

Still deciding which music festival to go to? Try the festival finder

katyspry — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:01:38 +0000

Right in time for the music festival season, thetrainline.com has introduced their new U.K festival finder website. Attending a music festival is practically a rite of passage for modern day young adults, correct? To have reached your mid-twenties without doing so could be considered a little strange, possibly? Well unfortunately I fall into the latter …