I have an addiction, Sir! Sampling The Finest Designer Sales Courtesy of Cocosa

Recently, I have developed somewhat of a new-found addiction. An addiction that if I don’t take immediate steps to control, could potentially become a major problem. However, until that time comes and I’m found crying in to a cut price Lulu Guinness tote, I am rather enjoying my new love of scouting out sample sales in and around London.
So when Style & Then Some received an exclusive press invite to the first ever pop-up store by the online e-tailer Cocosa, of course I headed over there to dig for buried treasure. In case you are unaware of Cocosa, the online store, which has been live and flourishing since 2008 and its initial launch as a private members only shopping site (oh la la!) prides itself as a luxury online sales site. It is also incidentally as of last year, owned by former Mr.Harrods, Mohamed Al Fayed.

In the words of Ciara, ‘My goodies’.

Now, I am learning fast that you have to be smart about sample sale shopping, and wisely sacrificed an extra half hour in bed to be one of the first through the doors at the temporary bricks and mortar Cocosa. And lucky for me, I struck gold (albeit gold-plated). Now, if you are a regular reader of S&TS you might have noticed my obsession with the American jewellery brand Dannijo, and basically all semi-precious, over the top costume jewellery I can get my hands on. So when I eagle-eye spied an original Dannijo necklace on the Sample sale table, it didn’t leave my tight grip until I was fully paid up and out the door. Not only this, but I also snatched up this gorgeous Kara Ross bangle that I believe is doing to me what that damned ring did to Gollum. I just can’t stop staring at my precious…

A tad much? Nah! It’s Dannijo!

Hello my precious!

The Cocosa pop-up store is still open until Friday, so if your lucky there might be some bargains left to be had. Not only did they have an array of designer clothing for men and women such as Givenchy, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Vivienne Westwood and Muubaa, but also bags, shoes and jewellery at actual affordable prices. So if you are feeling lucky, head down to the Oui rooms t 40 Eastcastle Street, London from 8AM-8PM. Good luck!

Top Ten Spring 2012 Catwalk Trends

Now that the autumn/winter 2012 shows are almost over, we can get back to the task at hand: our spring wardrobes – or at least daydreaming about them like me, when you have nigh on zero budget for clothes shopping. Here’s a refresher course in spring 2012: the trends, plus some shopping ideas (click on the photos to shop).

1. The decade: 1920′s. Blame Baz Luhrmann and his forthcoming The Great Gatsby remake. Ralph Lauren, Alberta Ferretti and Gucci all went flapper happy on the catwalks, as did Spijker and Spijkers at London Fashion Week. This trend is a dead cert to hit the high street too – you won’t be able to escape dropped waist dresses on the shop floor soon.

2. The life aquatic. Karl created an underwater dreamscape at Chanel and Donatella picked the starfish as a recurring motif at Versace. Who are we to argue with the Kaiser and Queen of Fashion?

3. Seaside summer. We’re all going on a summer holiday declared Daks and Mulberry. It’s a traditional British jaunt, so pack fifties skirts, ice cream colours and a cagoule (because, obviously, it’s going to rain).

4. Out of season. Heavy outerwear at Burberry and leather at Chloe could be forgiven (those are their specialities, after all) but fur? Really, Kanye West? And that was just one of Yeezy’s many errors.

5. Bare bellies. This spring the most unforgiving, flesh-exposing trend is decreed by fashion dowager Miuccia Prada. Both her eponymous and Miu Miu shows featured cropped tops, as did Viktor and Rolf’s. Check out my Pinterest crop tops board for more inspiration.

6. Print setup. Easily the most ubiquitous trend, even pattern-averse New Yorker Alexander Wang had a go at florals. In London, it was business as usual for print pros like Mary Katrantzou and Erdem.

7. Safari so good. NYFW stalwarts Oscar de la Renta and Michael Kors both came straight outta Africa with their khaki safari pieces, soft tribal prints and a healthy dose of zebra, of course.

8. The colour: tangerine tango.  In their trend report, palette experts Pantone point to this scorching shade as taking over from mustard as accent colour of choice next Spring, taking cues from Victoria Beckham, amongst others. Helen told ya so.

9. Ruffles up. Not tiny delicate ones, we’re talking stiff waves of fabric, seen on practically every look at Givenchy. The wavy peplums at Alexander McQueen were cute too. I think the Man Repeller will approve of this vaguely vaginistic trend (no, I don’t think that’s a word either).

10. What a mesh. Almost entirely New York-based, led by Derek Lam and Alexander Wang, this trend took a sports kit fabric from the playing field to the catwalk.