Fantasy Shopping

On a shopping trip last weekend I got to thinking about shopping and about really how it's all about fantasy and no I'm not talking about the sexy kind more the stylish kind. A bit like when you see those perfectly turned out women in the street, bus or tube whose skirts never wrinkle, their shirts remain that pristine just out of the shop white even at the end of a long day when you are looking like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards. Well I've always wanted to be that woman. For me the ultimate compliment would be to be described as polished, glossy, chic, or well put together. I think because I am the complete opposite of this think haphazard, relaxed and casual. But this is where the shopping bit comes in I realised that that could all change with my next purchase the right skirt could transform me from schlumpy to slender. A figure fixing pair of flares could take me legs from short and stumpy to lean and toned. So the next time I'm tempted to choose the safe black ballet pumps over a pair of heels I'll definitely think twice!

SATC THE MOVIE: STYLE LESSONS LEARNED

So SATC the movie has finally arrived!!! And it did not disappoint. I laughed, cried when Big jilted Carrie and cried some more during the New Year's eve montage. The fashion was fabulous as usual. Noteworthy items were Carrie's Dior shoes, studded Burberry belt which the cast and crew nicknamed Roger v. cute! that made an appearance in almost every scene of the movie and the cream Nina Ricci dress worn by Carrie when she goes back to her and Big's dream apartment to collect her gorgeous blue Manolo's.

The style lessons I'll be taking away from the film for this summer are:

SEXY UGLY: Pretty soft dresses look amazing with hard edgy shoes a la Carrie's green floaral dress toughened up with Dior shoes and a black studded belt. The same thing was done with her cream Nina Ricci dress, which was given attitude with a cream bomber jacket with a leather trim.

BIG IS HOT! BIGGER IS HOTTER: Big clutches are amazing for pulling together a look especially during the day. First of all it's unexpected, and it just makes an outfit that much more subversive preferably in a patent pink or yellow it is all about statement dressing after all!


So...if you only get three things to update your wardrobe this summer invest in a great pair of tough looking high heels that can glam up daywear and are versatile enough to wear in the evening. But avoid anything that says girly like dimante sparkles or bows.

LEATHER: A fitted leather bomber jacket in black or brown again to throw over cutesy floral dresses.

OOh and another cute look not from the film but from some very stylish girls I've seen walking the streets of London recently a looses mini dress or skater skirt with a vest tucked in cinched with a thin belt teamed with footless sheerish tights and a snug oversized cardigan the same length as the skirt or dress. It just looks so snug and cute. So there you have it!

Back to Black

Black is the ultimate style survivor. Other colours come and go but it remains a much loved staple. Worn top to toe it can either signal goth or glam there's no midle ground about it and that's what makes it so alluring. Giorgio Armani's signature look is black trousers worn with a black t-shirt and who are we to argue with one of the most lauded tastemkers of our time. Here are some other ladies who work it well.

Star Style

These ladies are trailblazing in the style stakes. A special mention has got to go to Katie Holmes when did she get so fashion savvy? Casual or glammed up she always looks immaculate - I'm taking notes!

Fast Fashion: Friend or Foe?

Budget shopping has come a long way from the days where the wares on offer were misshapen and faded but you bought them anyway thinking at those throwaway prices it would be a crime not too. In the last couple of years there's been a shift in the thinking of budget chains such as Matalan, Peacocks, Ethel Austin and Primark. Fierce competition from supermarkets and major high street chains has meant that they've had to up their game to stay in the game - think fashion Darwinism. As I browsed through the rails at Primark the other day I could literally not believe my eyes the clothes, shoes, belts, bags and even bedding were so cheap but herein lies the fantastic contridiction also chic - and I'm not talking Moschino cheap and chic more like lunch at McDonalds or a cute little patent clutch with a bow cheap and chic and I know which I'd go for. The turnover at these stores is super fast as they have to stay up to date with current trends in order to keep us traipsing through their doors. And when celebrities started proudly declaring that they shopped in these cut priced emporiums budget shopping went from an embarrasing secret to the nation's faourite pastime - in a look at us we're British and oh so thrifty way. There has been some discussion about the 'dark side' of fast fashion - kids working in sweat shops etc which obviously I don't condone and the retailers mentoned have spoken out saying that they adhere to the strictest working practices domestically and abroad. So I say as long as no one is getting hurt and it means we can all get a little fashion fix without breaking the bank what's the harm?

Shooting from the Lip.

Forget lipcolour a good lip texture is hard to find. I've been a gloss addict for as long as I can remember and know the best brands for me - Stila (Lip Glaze) and Lancome (Juicy Tubes)- in terms of giving good sheer coverage not too light not too gloopy and providing the staying power of a smudge proof liner. But like the intrepid fashionista that I am I've gotten bored bored bored of gloss and want change. Right so I did what I always do when I'm after something new list my options and test them out. Long long ago when I was just a little lady I looked up at my female teachers with lipstick on their teeth and spread messily across their mouths and decided it would never be for me. But for the sake of research I spent an afernoon in Selfridges beauty hall trying on the crem de la crem of lipsticks MAC, NARS, Bobbi Brown, Channel, Dior, Giorgio Armani you name it I smeared it on and you know what my 8 year old self was right. There are probably some women who look great in it but pour moi I've gotta give it nil points. It just made my already generous lips look extra inflated and dried out. Then I read an interview with Rachel Bilson you know one of those if you had 0.3 seconds to get ready what would you apply befoe leaving the house things. And she said mascara and ... lip stain. And I had a Homer 'doh!' moment right there of course lip stain. Not creamy or overpowering and the result a lovely looking natural flush. So I tried the one by Benetint and you knnow what I'm very impressed. It's like my natural lipcolour just more exaggerated but not full on scary looking. La Bilson mentioned Tarte's cheek stain, which she uses on her lips but as beauty democracy dicates I've displayed a few others above.

Say no to skinnies

Staying with the floaty vibe that it seems will be dominating our spring summer wardrobes its clear that the focus is shifting from stomach supporting industrial leather wide belts to flimsy skinnies. Now I have come to love the sturdy feel of a good wide waist cincher and am not ready to give that up for a thin leather strip that will leave anyone who's not a Lily Donaldson type with unsightly bulges. So a good compromise while erring on the side of fashion caution? An in betweeny not thick not thin just right. Topshop do some great vintage and gladiator inspired styles to keep everything looking sleek and svelte.