Trendalicious...the winter warmer parka

For me this winter couldn't have been more about camel coats, capes and fur gilets. Although we're still only in November, I am completely sick of all three of mine, and have found the greatest micro-trend to counter my mid-winter coat fatigue. The parka, formerly a perfect spring or autumn alternative to a jacket or cardi, has been reinvented and reinforced with some serious shearling and fur trims to bring it through to winter. The winter parka also offers a more casual outerwear alternative to the uber "fashion" capes and masculine camel numbers which we all (rather bravely) embraced with open arms in recent months. The warm trims also really dress up what is essentially a very basic and not-so-glam coat, making it PERFECT for day and night. See below our pick of the best from high street to high-end.


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Details: Sophie Gittins boots

Boots, £799, Sophie Gittins

These 'Romanza' Nappa leather boots with silk organza ruffles are pure luxury. They are sure to be a noticeable detail to your outfit but stil ooze understated glamour. Starting her own label at just 25 years old Sophie Gittins is definitely a designer to keep a fashionista eye on. Her gorgeous designs are both feminine and tough and Show Shoppers have already got a few pairs on our wishlists, these little beauties definitely being one of them. Wear them with jeans and a tee to glam up your outfit, or pair with a cute dress to give your look some edge. Either way they're guaranteed to give your wardrobe extra fashion brownie points.

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Details: Michael the watch maestro Kors

Since the summer we've been OBSESSED with Michael Kors watches. I happen to know a certain *M* has bought MULTIPLE ones this winter in a variety of gangster chic colourways. And seeing as Show Shoppers are off to the US of A this week to shop, shop and shop, I thought I'd get some research in now, before I hit up Macy's with their wonderfully beneficial currency coversion rate.

Top of my list is the snazzy rose gold men's number. Big, bold and to be fair, a bargain! The Show Shoppers collection is soon to be....four? We've lost count!

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We heart...LBBs

Although this one is a definite no-no for a cape wearer (I'm afraid you'll have to keep balancing your bag on your forearms, ouch!), I am obsessed with Little Brown Bags at the moment. I got a couple for winter and adore them...they have all the slimline neat look of carrying a clutch while leaving both hands free to Tweet and picture snap on my phone. I wouldn't recommend a chain handle, for the shoulder cut is so not worth it. Although the BoBelle one below has a leather strip to protect shoulders from the impending agony of brassy links on collar bones.
Here's our pick of the top three LBBs!

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News Fash: Lanvin Lunacy hits H&M

The queue at the flagship Regent street store was 200 strong before opening. Fashion hungry shoppers had camped out from 8.30 the night before, and there was even a colour coded wristband entry system. Lanvin lunacy officially hit H&M today. Shoppers were told they strictly had 15 minutes to get their goodies and get out and were counted down before rushing in to get what they wanted. There was no time for browsing and if you weren't familiar with the collection and didn't know what u were targeting then the shopping gods would not have been on your side! All shoppers were spending big and it was hard to find anyone able to control their urge to splurge. The assistant on our till told us that she hadn't served anyone who had spent less than £200 and the girl on the counter near us had racked up a bill of £3000! We all knew this dream collaboration was going to be big but it seems no one was able to resist the hysteria bursting from H&M today. It is safe to say  from exhausted shoppers all around, monsieur Alber Elbaz, Je t'aime.


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Star pupil: A lesson in leisure luxe- Gloria Baume

Everywhere I look at the moment friends and colleagues are choosing really luxe sportswear for day-to-day wear. The most perfect example of how to pull the look off is by Teen Vogue's Gloria Baume, who wore this casual but supremely elegant ensemble on the front row for Burberry's Spring '11 show recently.

I love skater skirts anyway, but Gloria has the perfect legs for them; athletic, tanned and long. Sigh! And the lace up boots are great too- so many people are going for a fur or shearling lined ankle boot this winter but pairing them with luxurious socks like Ms Baume has done is a more timeless and elegant way to face this rather cold Monday morning.

Lesson in leisure homework: The key to this look is the simplicity and great fit of Gloria's hoodie. A disastrous alternative would be anything with a logo, pattern, or even worse an old university sweatshirt you have lying around. The look is low key, not low maintenance!

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Show to Shops: Alexander Wang A/W10

Left: Alexander Wang A/W10, Right: £94.99 River Island

Picture on left courtesy of Style.com

Whilst spending time in my usual habitat, the shopping centre, I came across a really cool but really familiar pair of boots. The chunky rectangular heel and unusual shaped toe make them a futuristic cut above the rest of black ankle boots on the high street. I had to do a double take because I had a very similar pair of Alexander Wang boots with me when I was assisting on some main fashion shoots in New York. These Wang beauties caught my eye then, but the River Island version are definitely cool enough for me!

*M*

We heart...Dion Lee now in the UK

From a selection of Dion Lee at www.net-a-porter.com

During the summer while shooting a A/W main fashion story in Sydney, I fell madly in love with hot new label Dion Lee. We reckon it's a little bit Alexander Wang, a little Cristopher Kane and a whole lot of great ink-blot print work. And now at last our favourite Aussie label is being stocked in our one and only Net-a-Porter. SO EXCITING! Financially it's a little steeper this side of the world, with prices starting from £300, but so worth it. Also due to seasonal differences it is a totally different collection to what's in stores in Sydney right now. Check out our fave four pieces from the collection above.

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Today's Special...

I am obsessed with these beauties from Next. I have been waiting for the right pair of faux leather trousers (I don't want to splash out on real leather) and I think these are the ones. And at £32 they're a steal and selling fast! Race you there…

Best  served with a vintage rocker tee or a chunky knit and ankle boots.


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Black faux leather trousers, £32, Next, www.next.co.uk 

Star pupil- Kate Middleton

She is EVERYWHERE at the moment and all we can think about is her past, present and future wardrobe! And our future Queeny looked incredible in oh so royal blue while announcing their engagement yesterday. Middleton wore a super flattering Issa day dress and we've trawled the shops to find one for you (because duh, the Issa one is already sold out!).

This blue beauty is by Ingenue, the in-house brand from Chica Boutique in Spitalfields, and a steal at £84!

www.chicaboutiqueonline.com

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We heart... Christmas covers

Every month I get excited to go and get all the UK glossies, however I always get extra excited to get the December issues and especially to see the covers. I'm not particularly bothered who is featured on the cover but more by the overall "look." I love to see what colour theme has been used, the layout, the lighting, the mood, the pose (I particularly love head shot , up close cover shots) and of course what the cover star is wearing.  This month the running theme seems to be gold. Most of the mags have used gold for their title colour which is only right since it is the festive month. However Company, Red and Elle have all dressed their covergirls in gold which I actually prefer as it's not as christmassy and also focuses on the clothes. My favourites are Elle and Harpers Bazaar although this may be because they both feature Balmain dresses! 

The Harpers Bazaar cover is beautiful, but then I always love Harpers' covers. Natalia Vodianova is one of my all time favourite models, and she looks as youthful as ever here. The whole feel of the cover has a kind of a sepia tone.  Everything from the dress, the text colour, lighting and even her hair colour radiates warmth. 

The Elle cover has a completely different feel and mood. It's strong, dramatic and very powerful. I adore this style of lighting, it makes the picture look expensive and classy and has an old painting feel to it. Her pose screams confidence and I love the way she looks down into the camera. Her pale skin makes her look like a sculpture adding to the vintage feel of the shot. I think the dress is the main focus of the picture it's like there's a spotlight on it, which I also love. 

Although it's not a UK monthly I have to give a special mention to W magazine's December issue which features a gorgeous picture of Katherine  Heigl and her adopted daughter Naleigh. It's such a beautiful picture, I cannot wait to go and buy it. It's like an ancient oil painting and I adore what they are both wearing. So extra hearts goes to this beautiful, beautiful cover shot.

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Fash-News-Flash

There was only one event which was able to tear me away from my warm sofa yesterday, and that was the Selfridges Really Really Great Garage Sale. The concept was fantastic- essentially a rake of celebrities auctioning off their designer threads in the car park of Selfridges in aid of Mothers4Children. The reality was even better- although ShowShoppers didn't manage to bag any treasures (we had our heart set on
Tamara Mellon’s brand new Jimmy Choo shoulder bag which someone else snapped up for £420).

Other lucky ladies managed to get their greedy little hands on Claudia Schiffer’s brand new D&G bag for £200. BARGAIN. Jemima Khan’s Alexander McQueen dress went for £300, Mini Driver’s Armani floor-length gown for £260, Yasmin Le Bon’s Alaia Dress sold for £350 and Rob Lowe’s Prada suit for £100. Amazing day, amazing bargains, amazing cause. Selfridges can you make this an annual event please?!

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Show to Shops: Red

Pictures courtesy of Style.com and ala.pa-legion.com

Top row left to right: Givenchy, Isabel Marant, Dolce and Gabbana.

Second row left to right: Dolce and Gabbana, Stella McCartney, Giorgio Armani, 

Third row: Prada, Valentino (all AW10.)

Aside from camel, red is definitely the colour of the season. Dolce and Gabbana, Stella McCartney, Givenchy, Prada, Isabel Marant, Giorgio Armani and of course Valentino all featured the colour in their A/W10 collections. Unlike camel, which has been sadly played out on the high street, red is still very much desired and exciting this season. In my opinion it deserves it's moment in the lime light as for many seasons I feel it's been cheapened down and over-vamped on the high street, but I think this season the high street has finally got it right. I really want a red cape, which C thinks is very brave of me, but also top of my list is a pair of super skinny red jeans or cropped trousers. I'm not quite brave enough to go for red leather a la Marant but Zara and River Island have some great non leather alternatives. There have also been a few red leather/PVC cropped biker jackets about, go for a more tailored long coat instead and channel Givenchy rather than Thriller. The trick to looking more chic than shabby is to go for simple tailored cuts. Keep frills, detail and pattern to a minimum, red lace is another tricky one to get right. Accessorising can also be difficult. I always find it hard to get my shoes and bag right when wearing red. Right now your best option is to team with this season's leopard, either shoes or bag and nude or black of the other. I already am but make sure the high street has you seeing red this season. 

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Clockwise from top: skirt £115 by Malene Birger at Net-a-porter.com, jeans £39.99 River Island, coat £100 Oasis, shoes £180 LK Bennett, top £55 Coast, dress £50 Topshop. 

Picture in centre: Coat £129, all Zara. 

Details: Patrick Mavros jewellery designer

Patrick Mavros, ZoZo Elephant family rings
£105 for three, available from 104 - 106 Fulham Road
London, SW3 6HS

Patrick Mavros' silver jewellery has really caught my eye this week. Based in a wildlife sanctuary in Zimbabwe, Mavros creates fantastic chunky silver jewellery inspired by the native wildlife of the Harare hills. His story is a great one too... Patrick began his career as a jewellery designer when he carved his newly-married wife a pair of ivory earrings in the shape of her favourite flowers- roses. Word soon spread of his talent and the rest is history. My pic from the current collection is this set of three elephant rings, that can be bought seperately or stacked, and are available from his Fulham Road store.


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Show to Shops: YSL AW2010

From left to right- £875, Approx £550, £600 all YSL

While strictly speaking this look is from the Yves Saint Laurent commercial collection, it is most definitely still worthy for the Show to Shops slot this week. Warm wool, leopard print and simple black finishing touches....everything I want to be wearing this winter. The key is definitely to keep this look clean and simple, the poncho is enough excitement for any woman to sport at one time, so unless it's a simple gold bangle or hoop earrings, I would keep the jewellery box firmly shut for this one. I reckon Cacha's ludicrously soft cashmere version has given Stefano Pilati quite a run for his money.

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From left to right- Oasis £40, Cacha £150, Freda at Matches £78 



Trendalicious: LBLD (Little Black Lace Dress)

Left to right: Top row: Emma Watson, Kylie Minogue. Bottom row: Kelly Osborne, Dolce and Gabbana AW10, Prada AW08

Pictures courtesy of  www.zimbio.com, www.stylebistro.com, www.nt2099.com, style.com

Emma Watson wowed the fash pack when she stepped out onto the red carpet yesterday in her little lace black dress, and it seems she's bang on trend. Since lace had a big revival in Prada's Fall 2008 collection it's proving hard to escape each A/W season. Each year the lace look seems to be getting racier and more sheer. Dolce and Gabbana featured peek-a-boo black lace dresses with big knickers underneath in their A/W 10 collection and as always the high  street has followed suit. However this is not a look for the shy and modest (not everyone feels comfortable flashing their undies.) Try layering the look with a long sleeved body under a lace top or go for a LBLD that has an opaque lining. Here is our pick of the loveliest LBLDs. Wear with or without tights (depending on how brave you are) and keep jewellery to a minimum.

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Left to right: Top row: £680 Notte by Marchesa at my-wardrobe.com, £299 Joie at Harrods, £70 Bitching and Junkfood, £115. Bottom row: Winter Kate at Asos.com, £40 Miss Selfridge 

A-muse-ments: Pocahontas

It's no secret I am a huge Disney fan. I once themed a fashion shoot on Disney styling each model as a different character. Pocahontas  is one of my faves, a touching love story without the usual happily ever after. But what stands out to me is the colour. Every frame is filled with a rainbow of colours, even the main musical theme is a homage to this . The warm autumnal shades throughout the film are very fitting right now especially with the camel, red and cream hues very present this season. Watching this natural free spirit made me want to strip my style back to basics and wear head to toe nude with bright tribal jewels. Even though ethnic and boho are trends almost always strong in the spring summer season they are both trends that can easily be brought through to autumn. Instead of teaming with sandals wear your floral maxi wear with boots and a gilet. Or go for boho accessories such as a fringed bag or booties. 

So even though now is our favourite time of year to go head to toe in black don't forget to add some 'colours of the wind' to your wardrobe.

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Clockwise from top left: Cardigan £535 M Missoni at Net-a-porter.com, belt £29.99 River Island, necklace £240 Pebble, Boots £65 Minnetonka at Asos.com, bag £495 Michael Michael Kors at Net-a-porter.com.

We heart...

I’ve always had a real penchant for navy lingerie…so rare and always really tastefully done. Stella McCartney did it well a couple of season’s ago, and now amid a sea of prematurely festive red and gold undies, this diamond in the rough from Mimi Holliday came forth and stole my heart.

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ÉTOILÉ DE NUIT Bra £49 and Knicker £40

Mimi Holliday

www.damaris.co.uk

Trendalicious: Faux Fur

Image courtesy of Style.com

The moment Chanel's yeti look came down the runway we knew faux fur was going to be big news. From full on fur jackets to more subtle accessories this is a trend for everyone. So as the temperature drops, up the style stakes and stay cosy at the same time.

Here are our favourites, but unless you walked for Mr. Lagerfeld please don't wear them all at once!

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From top left: fur jacket £100 Monsoon Fusion, earmuffs £16 Monsoon, jumper £40 Topshop, waistcoat £48 Topshop, bag £435 Marc by Marc Jacobs at Net-a-porter, Gilet £335 Rebecca Taylor at Net-a-porter, shoes £64.99 River Island, mittens £16 Asos.com, shearling trimmed jacket £1558 Acne at Matches.

Show to Shops: Louis Vuitton AW2010

Image courtesy of Style.com

This 1950's ultra feminine look has been one of our favourites of the season to emulate. Having both used the Vuitton full leather skirt on fashion shoots earlier in the season, we've both felt the agony that is its weight (we have no idea how Barbara Palvin made it down the runway in it - what a hero). For a lighter more wearable option we've shopped this wool Zara one, and to made the look a little more evening appropriate (we were never going to wear it to do the supermarket shop) with a strapless bustier and satin shoes instead of the original leather Vuitton beauts.


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Clockwise from left: Shoes £295 LK Bennett, Bustier £50 Topshop Boutique, Bag £39.90 Mango, Camel skirt £39.99 Zara, Cashmere and leather gloves £39 Lauren by Ralph Lauren

Today's Special...

This fierce skirt had us purring with desire. Leopard, mid-length, skater style; it ticks all the trend boxes this season. 

Best served with…

This season's camel coat, a plain white tee and black ankle boot heels. Garnish with a sprinkling of chunky gold jewellery and a mannish watch. 

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£30, River Island, www.riverisland.com

Details: Lucy Hutchings jewellery designer

Brit designer Hutchings is designing exactly the delicious details we want to wear this week; really luxurious costume jewellery, that captures old school glamour without going down the (not so flapper-fabulous) diamante path.

We're particularly lusting after this chunky autumnal necklace; statement-y without getting into full on bib territory, and naturally (her A/W collection is inspired by the super-elegant Art Deco era) the materials are sublime; beads plated in copper, brass and gunmetal locked within a delicate but sturdy gold casing. Et voila, we are accessorised. Merci Lucy,

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Metallic bead necklace, £310.50, www.youngbritishdesigners.com