3 New Wardrobe Updates

1. Invest in a denim western shirt (it's the new plaid shirt!). Wear it loose and buttoned up high, tucked into khaki peg trousers (rolled-up of course) and cone heeled ankle boots. Switch the boots for high-heeled gladiators and socks come spring.

2. Downplay a girly strapless dress with a grey marl vest Luella-style. Add a rebellious twist with scuffed-up Keds or the new floral Dr Martens.

3. The new way to wear animal-print? Casually with heaps of attitude. PS: how bananas (in a good way) is the scarf?!






[Pics:
Wrangler
Luella/Style.com
TV]

Stud-u-like

Just in at Netaporter.com, the Balmain studded leather blazer. We feel a DIY moment coming on...

Dr Martens for the next generation

It must be hard when you're an iconic brand like Dr Martens to reinvent yourselves for the next generation. We weren't convinced by their dubious high heeled offerings but we're pleased to see the new ss09 collection is taking things to the next level. See for yourself....

Donna & Navaz's top 10 fashion micro-trends for Spring-Summer 2009

Enough of the sales already! It feels like they've been on for a month. Oh. They have? Here's what we're looking forward to for Spring...

1. Bra tops
These were all over the runway (Prada's), ergo will be all over the high street in the coming weeks and the clubs in the weeks thereafter. Are you thinking what we're thinking? Then consider layering your skimpy bra top over a (darker) contrast-coloured top for tummy-disguising purposes!

2. Platform wedges (again)
Oh, how we love a second-time-around trend. Wedges were the go-to shoe for all those high-waist flared jeans a few seasons ago and now they're back just in time to complement frilly frocks and baggy shorts. How pretty are Bottega Veneta's floral fancies? Just add ankle socks.

3. Pen and paper
Iphone, schmiphone, we're going back to proper correspondence. Fish out that old Hello Kitty notepaper set (you know, the one you got all excited about but never used) and send a pal a letter - just because you can!

4. Hats
Let's all get hat-happy in preparation for Stephen Jones' Hats: An Anthology exhibition at the V&A in February. Bagsy this Sonia Rykiel beret!

5. Love Magazine
The new fashion bible being launched in February by Conde Nast UK and headed up by Katie Grand. If anyone can save the mighty fall of the magazine industry, this one can. (Er, Like, no pressure or anything.)

6. Pyjama dressing
What could be more decadent than wearing some fabulous silk pyjamas out clubbing before flopping straight into bed, no change necessary. Oh Stefano and Domenico, you're really spoiling us...

7. ASOS Denim
Woo hoo, how excited are we? Champing at the bit because you can't afford the Acne/Lanvin denim collab? Neither can we. But ASOS.com's new denim range launches in February, and we quote, "ASOS Denim boasts fashion styles such as utililty washed jumpsuits, ripped skinnies, raw-edged waistcoats and floral drainpipes." Diaries out everyone...

8. Natty knitwear
We're liking the colourful stripage from Central St Martins graduates, Cooperative Designs as well as Graduate Fashion Week's winner of the Pringle Visionary Knitwear Award, Ria Thomas. Now can we see some innovative (but affordable) knits on the high street please?

9. Obi belts
Ooh a nice, easy DIY trend we can all try courtesy of Marc Jacobs. Step 1: Find long rectangle scarf. Step 2: wind tightly round waist. Step 3: Secure with vintage brooch, hat pin or badge.

10. Fun-glasses
Boring Wayfarers begone - we've had enough of you! We're far more excited about the wacky confections from the likes of Nathan Jenden. For 2009, face furniture should be fun!

Perfect Skin

How did we miss this early December post from (super)model Sessilee Lopez's blog? We know a lot of non-white girls find it hard to get good make-up colours for their skin. Sessilee recommends Armani and Bobbi Brown and we adore this home-made face mask tip of hers:

Sessilee says: "One of my best winter secrets is a homemade avocado, honey and apricot face mask that I use in the winter to exfoliate my face. I take a half of a ripe avocado and mash it with one apricot (you can use canned apricots if out of season but rinse off the syrup) and then add a tablespoon of honey and mix it all together to make a mask. I then leave it on for about 30 minutes. I do this about once a week and it gives me a great glow."

If you have a more Indian or olive complexion, try the new Myface range created by catwalk make-up guru Charlotte Tilbury. We had the chance to meet her and try out the range which is separated into different skintones so you only use the shades that will work for you. Clever, no? We especially liked that it's affordable. You can get it at Boots.com.

Pic: http://sessileelopez.blogspot.com/

Superette Closing Down Sale - Everything Must Go!

Our favourite East End shop, Superette is closing down. Boo! But they're having a fantastic closing down sale. Yay! Their last sale in October was a phenomenal success (you can read about it here) and this one is set to be even better. The shop is closing to enable Leona and the girls to expand the showroom (these are the kind of goodies they sell) so they have no choice but to have a mega clear-out.

The details:
Address: Superette, 66a Sclater Street, London E1 6HR
Hours: Saturday 10th January - 11am to 5pm
MAP

See you there!

Kind and Cute

We admit it, so far our commitment to ethical fashion only stretches as far as loading up on jersey tanks at American Apparel. But here's something to get us more involved in the cause. Neon Collective is a new online boutique specialising in animal-friendly, non-sweatshop fashion. And it's afforable! We're especially keen on the footwear - we hear Debbie Harry wants these... We do too!

The Reel Thing

Blogger, accessory designer and creator of all things rainbow-hued, Fred Butler brought designer Brian Lichtenberg to our attention last week. We can totally see what drew her to the kalaidoscopic pictures of his studio on The Selby, especially this charming arrangement of colourful cotton reels (top). Could they have also inspired jeweller Elizabeth Yarborough's latest collection of necklaces?


Pics:
Theselby.com
Yarboroughjewelry.com

Model Behaviour

Whatever possessed us to venture to Oxford Street on the first day of the sale?! Lesson learnt, we headed straight home (emptyhanded) to take refuge in the safety of the blogosphere. Our fave new must-click? Coco Rocha's what-it's-really-like-to-be-a-model blog, Oh So Coco. Loving your work Coco!

Rainbow Wheels R Us

When we saw Angelina Jolie in Changeling rollerskating around the 1930s telephone exchange we felt a rush of nostalgia. Fred Flare have picked up our vibes with their latest quad rollerskates. The best part? The rainbow coloured wheels. We need them...

Chic Sneaks

Remember when Victoria Beckham wore those high-heeled sneakers on the baseball pitch and was almost laughed out of LA? Well, brace yourselves, they're back good and proper for next season. Sergio Rossi has colaborated with Puma on a range of what he has called 'Chic Sneaks' (above). Cute, no? And DKNY has also jumped on the bandwagon with a number of high heeled high-tops. What do you think - great or gross?

Future face: Tolula Adeyemi

We loved Daisy Lowe on Class of 2008 but we have to admit, that girl is everywhere! So now that she's graduated to Agent Provocateur, there's a vacancy at sport-luxe label Hari. Ah scratch that, the vacancy's just been filled... by model/actress/girl-about-town Tolula Adeyemi. We think seventeen-year-old Tolula is a future face to watch and a new addition to London's junior style set (well, she is a regular on Viv Westwood's catwalk). Keep your eyes peeled for her...

Jewellery for handbags?

Finish a chi-chi handbag with a boring old leather strap? Pfft, not if you're Roberto Cavalli. Cavalli's SS09 bags are festooned with all manner of golden chains, plastic hardware, fancy flowers and hang on, is that a bit of a broken vase? Jewellery for your handbag...how very chic!

(Double click to enlarge pics.)

LASH COURSE

Hair and nail extensions were always way too WAG for us, but we're all over the hot new extension obsession...for eyelashes!!! On a recent trip to Edinburgh, one of our favourite fashion PR friends sent us to be "lashed" at the city's gorgeous new beauty apothecary, Dollyleo. The gorge owner Sadie, (one of the country's top lash extension experts) spent a painstaking 2 HOURS gluing them to our lashes. But OMG! was it worth it...our Twiggy-esque eyes made us feel like we'd just been de-wrapped from the dressing up box (in an unBarbie way of course)! And nearly 10 days later, they are ALL still there! The process can drain one's purse, (Sadie charges £160 for the first application, and then from £30 for inbetween add ons), but just think of all that money you'll save on mascara!?! Er...

The Little Black Bag

We were surprised yet not unhappy to see our dear Queen featured in ES magazine's Top 40 Best Dressed Londoners feature. On her recent trip to Slovakia she rocked up in a fur-trimmed coat, glossy black riding boots and a Little Black Bag. The Queen has been sporting these Launer handbags for decades and it just goes to prove that if you stick to something long enough, fashion eventually catches up. Imagine how ridiculous she would look toting a Dior Saddle or Balenciaga Lariat, yet her lovely Little Black Bag looks utterly of-the-moment.


If we had £635 to spend on a bag, we wouldn't hesitate for a second to splash out on this Launer Bellini bag (above). We would give the flat boots and fur coat a miss though and wear it with a vintage dress, aviators and boyfriend cardi.

Pics-top to bottom:
Daily Mail

Launer

The Sartorialist

The Biker Boot Meets The Roll-Up Jean

It's our favourite second-time-around trend. Gap has re-released last year's best-selling biker boots so how will you wear yours this time around? If last year you rocked them with mini dresses, Falke tights and boyfriend cardigans can we suggest an alternative? We're championing a slouchy boy-cut jean with hems rolled up an inch or two, perfect for showing off the buckles on your bikers.

We're in VOGUE!

Ooh check us out in the December Vogue Secret Address Book Supplement rubbing shoulderpads with A Shaded View and Fashionista!

Jeff Koons for Target?

We're not always crazy about celeb-fashion hookups but we hear that Target is collaborating with contemporary artists for a new spin on the idea. Jeff Koons and Ed Ruscha beach towels? How random, but how cool!

Pic: Works On Whatever