Shows to Shops...Christopher Kane to French Connection

Left to right: Christopher Kane SS11 image courtesy of style.com, Coral dress £115 www.frenchconnection.com

There’s no denying the spring summer 11 catwalks were filled with lashings of vibrant colour and the Christopher Kane show was no exception. This collection combined fluro colours, lace and stripes all mixed in with signature Kane-esq prints. There was a lot going on in this collection but it all worked together in perfect fashion harmony.

French Connection have graced us with this gorgeous coral pleated dress which definitely has a Christopher Kane vibe about it. FC have hit the colour block nail on the head with this one making the lairy trend wearable for the high street shopper. Coral is one of the hues that suits most skin and hair colours, the skirt length is just right to flatter rather than swamp and the pleats disguise rather than highlight any imperfections.

French Connection we applaud you for taking the scary out of the brights/pleated catwalk creation and giving us this ray of style sunshine.

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We heart...shared shades

Whether you're totally on board the super current androgynous trend or, ahem, like me have a larger than average size head *lowers said large head*, donning a man's pair of sunglasses has never been more socially acceptable we reckon. I have been favouring an old pair of Linda Farrow wayfarers of late, but due to some serious sitting/dropping damage, it is time to replace. Ciao pay check.

Mr Porter has an AMAZING selection which I love, especially these little beauties below...



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Gucci £180,  YSL £240, Balmain £395 all from http://www.mrporter.com/



We heart... McQueen Clutches

After THE dress it's true to say Alexander McQueen is having a fashion moment. Our  obsession with the McQueen clutches has however lasted more than just a moment. ShowShoppers fell in love with these little beauties long ago and with each new design that catches our fashion eye our obsession grows a little bit more. Feast your eyes on some of our favourites and we're pretty sure you'll be part of the fan club.

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Trendalicious... Clear acetate accessories

Chloe, £465, www.net-a-porter.com , Jil Sander, £90, www.net-a-porter.com   Black Eyewear, £163, No-One

£535, Sphia Grace, www.brownsfashion.com, Marni, £98 www.mytheresa.com, Dolce and Gabbana, £439, Tessabit

Everywhere I look this week I see clear accessories. Once limited to gladiator heels in the windows of Soho's finest adult outfitters,  plastic fantastic is now in the mainstream. Thanks to fashion's finest, plastic has lost its seedy rep and has transformed into a chic way to modernise one's ensemble. My absolute favourite are these Chloe suede trimmed pumps, but here's a few of my favourite to feast your eyes on.

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News Fash: The Oxfam Curiosity Shop at Selfridges

In between catching some welcomed sunshine over the weekend Show Shoppers popped down to the vintage girl's paradise that was The Oxfam Curiosity Shop at Selfridges. The Ultra Lounge had been filled with not just chic, collectable beauties but many key on trend pieces for this season and all at purse friendly prices.

Celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson, Florence Welch, Kate Moss and Laura Bailey had donated their own clothes and accessories to the shop, making riffling through the rails much more exciting than the usual vintage trawl. We found ourselves looking at the tags of everything we touched to see who had worn them. One lucky shopper had snapped up Miss Johansson's Dolce and Gabbana dress to wear at a wedding, talk about upstaging the bride!

We took up the style challenge to style up a volunteer worker in our favourite pieces. We chose a Jaeger blue and black striped (very Prada-esq) pleated skirt, with a pink Paul Smith tee, a gold vintage jacket, some t-bar Charlotte Olympia heels, donated by Whistles CEO Jane Shepherdson and a yellow waist belt donated by Dido. The shop was so impressed they put our look straight on the mannequin. We also couldn't resist trying on some of the pieces ourselves. We found this gorge mad men style bright pink pencil skirt a bargain at £15 and this ah-may-zing Ashish sparkly top donated by singer, V.V. Brown.

Last year the shop raised a glorious £250,000 which went towards Oxfam's women's projects and this year, with the stock they had, we reckon they could top that. Shopping for a good cause, don't mind if we do!


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Trendalicious...The unassuming shopper

I have just finished a rather long job shooting out of London, so upon arrival back into the big smoke I was greeted with not only glorious sunshine, but some AMAZING new Spring trends. Summer is no longer a distant memory and women the country over are already braving their bare, and often a wee bit pasty, flesh. While the days are balmy, there's no denying our chilly evenings, so smart Londoners have ditched their satchels and are keeping evening cardigans in luxury shoppers instead.

Zara £69.99 www.zara.com , Jil Sander £445 www.net-a-porter.com, Celine, p.o.a, Selfridges

I first saw this beautiful Celine sample while shooting main fashion last winter and although it was dreamy, I wasn't sure if the high street would ditch the hardware and patent trimmings to embrace such a simple style. But alas, where Phoebe Philo goes the fashion world will follow, and here are our three favorites. Enjoy!

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We heart...relaunch of Chelsea Girl!

Yesterday news reached us that iconic high street brand of the 1960's to 1980's Chelsea Girl is to relaunch for SS'11. In 1988 Chelsea Girl changed to become high street giant River Island. And for the first time (as Show Shoppers were toddlers first time around)we are going to get to wear it too! River Island have brought in Lucy Moller to design the collection under the watchful eye of Farida Kaikobad, who worked on the original Chelsea Girl designs first time around.

The collection's price-point will be cheaper than mainline River Island, and is aimed at a slightly younger customer. So perhaps we won't be donning their perfectly on trend Seventies style flares and denim skirts after all! We would like to get our greedy little paws on the navy jumpsuit and one of those black felt hats though, age appropriate or not!


The collection launches on March 24th and even Selfridges are jumping on board by hosting a Chelsea Girl pop-up shop to celebrate. We can't wait!


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