Thought of the Week - Focus and Fashion

Much as one wishes not to be a doom monger - it is going to be tough times ahead in the UK. Even the US is seeing more than a recovery with a 3.8% growth rate compared to our ...well zero ish one. We have a bit of a deficit, but I'm not worried about it in the way many are comparing us to Greece, but more the measures that will be taken to tackle it. What does this have to do with fashion you ask?
When it comes personal purchases more thoughtful and strategic decisions will need to be made if your disposable income is hit by greater taxation, higher bills. I will complete a series of posts on Project 100; which will be designed for those of you who want to have a flexible but fab wardrobe but have to take care with your finances. This won't be relevant to all but for those of you who have your focus on other matters I hope it will help you to use your money wisely and make some great purchases.

The main impact will be on the focus of the fashion houses - they will be looking ever Eastward as the rate of growth and disposable incomes increase in China and India. The European and American cash flow is beginning to bite. Think back a few years to Samantha and the Hermes Birkin bag episode 'Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda' in series 4 - well there is no wait list now!

What sells well by the big players will define the catwalks over the coming seasons. My only sure bet is, it won't be the Grecian look. What do you think? Hard fashion times ahead?

3 little pots of joy

Why Chanel nail varnish completes me is an answer I will never fathom. Believe me I've tried to love the others. I can recommend Essie, Opi and a few others. I was supplied with a lovely selection of Essie by their nice PR company when I was using clothes from one of their other clients for a shoot. Essie applies and stays on well and I can't fault it. But Chanel nail varnish is my weakness. I love the box, the pot and the colours. I was bereft when they stopped Paparazzi and wish they would bring it back.

I buy all my toiletries and useful things in Boots to get the points on their reward card which helps my nail varnish fix. At £16.50 Chanel's little pots of colour aren't cheap but they dress up a look in an easy way. Oh and I love the names, well nearly all of them.

This week saw the introduction of three new summer colours, Mistral, Riviera and Nouvelle Vague. I would have bought all three if I hadn't got Orange Fizz earlier in the week, plus I have my eye on Dragon and Intermezzo - is there a Chanel nail varnish self help group?

High Street Pick of the Week

I'm going to annoy you this week when I do that thing I begrudge The Guardian Weekend and The Sunday Times Style magazine doing - a men's special!

I'm in love with men's boots or more specifically the super soft leather that looks like mesh due to the punched hole detail.

Paul Smith Oakwood Kasmin Boot £250

Or for a more affordable pair try these from Dune

Dune Hunter boots £95

Modern day swapshop

If I wasn't being a busy bee next week I'd be popping to Spitalfields to finally make a swishing event. I was particularly motivated by Tor of Fabfrocks after she did well at a recent event (Tor I couldn't find your post so please put a link in comment box if you read this!) And equally motivated by the idea of 'free' or 'swapsies'. I used to love collecting stickers as a child and swapping them.



For those of you looking to inject something new then take along something old in the morning of the 12th of May to get your stamp for every item. It is all part of a fashion week at Spitalfields so pop along to see what is going on.

Me time

It seems that everyone wants your time and actually today everyone wants your vote! But election fever aside next Wednesday 12 May at One Marylebone, London the countrywide tour of Find Your Me Spot kicks off.

Angela Griffiths is fronting the campaign to get women to think about setting aside some time away from the kids and household chores to add some va va vroom back into their lives. Angela is somewhat the flavour of the month with Angela & Friends and stylists Helen Boyle and Brix Start Smith dispensing fashion advice. Now you can add me to the mix plus the lovely Isobel Kershaw NHJ's head stylist

We will be part of team on hand to give you hot style tips, make up advice, confidence sessions ('flirting') and contraceptive advice - yes no unnecessary stress needed. All the events are free and I will be in Sheffield, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Manchester if you'd like to pop along.
All details are at www.findyourmespot.com and bring your friends to relax and have some me time.

All is forgiven

A couple of weeks ago I put a client in a Halston Heritage dress which she promptly bought to attend a friends birthday. It was a bit of a risk as I've not really researched or used the brand before despite the hype due to the imminent release of SATC2 - The Movie.

Well I have to say it was a winner. Not only did the one I select look good on the hanger it looked great on the person and she nearly cried at the glamour of it all. The dress in Selfridges was a purple/blue colour with silver or gold flex running through it (I've forgotten which metallic is was but you can see in picture below - looks gold yes?)

Halston Heritage pleated disco dress £415 Selfridges

A similar pleated silk double layer dress £420 from Net-A-Porter

I did have reservations about an actress having a big involvement with a design brand but perhaps as the person who played Carrie, Sarah Jessica Parker is a safe pair of hands. I'm just not a fan of celebrity/model based playing shop so to speak. But maybe I can let this one be on the allowed list! And all I have to do is kick myself for being on a no fritter for three months and not buying the white strechy v neck dress

Sarah Jessica Parker wearing the maxi version at the Met Ball

Back to Black

If you are in any doubt about the usefulness of black in your wardrobe then banish those doubts and embrace the black. At the my-wardrobe A/W10/11 press event there was an abundance of black. I had to hunt for the colour and actually I sort of liked the familiarity of the ...well black.

See by Chloe and Love Moschino bags

Keep your furry things!

Twenty8Twelve Black Leather Jacket

White looks so good near or next to black

I loved these boots by Sam Edelman

Headpiece modelled by Claire of Wacey Style

DVF gold jacket (but the lining is black!)

Close up of gold material

By Marlene Birger black leggings with sparkly detail

The detail on the leggings

A gorgeous pale pink tunic top or dress from By Marlene Birger - I made the effort to hunt this number down for Faux Fuchsia. The rest of the dresses and tops By Marlene Birger were ...black

Beautiful ruffle detail on Paul Smith Black - you've guessed it black dress!

Halston Heritage Faux fur caplet

Halston Heritage Dress

Manoush Black Dress

Microtrend?

Espadrilles seem to be offering men an alternative shoe of the summer despite the main trend being the deck shoes. They were worn by both men and women decades ago but of late mainly women have carried them on well outside of Catalan. I say Catalan because I always associate them with Barcelona and my favourite shop La Manual Alpargatera.

This image is from the inside of La Manual Alpargatera

I've nearly run out of my many pairs with these two pairs being left, a traditional flat pair and a lovely small wedge with a ribbon tie up.

Will you be wearing espadrilles this summer or do you know a guy who will be?

ASOS Men's suede espadrilles £25

Dance of the Sevillanas

I had a defining moment at the age of ten with a trip to the opera to see Bizet's Carmen.
From that moment on I was sold on all things Spanish, flamenco and tragic gypsy.

When The Small Fabric of My Life was going on trip to Seville I was filled with longing. When the volcanic ash threatened to jeopardise her trip I was feeling her pain. But hurrah it was a goer. It is also my ambition to go to Seville. And when Jane got back and paraded a wonderful shawl to win I was sold. If I don't win the shawl I'll be looking to get myself to Seville to get my own.

I had to abandon my Spanish fans when I realised Karl Lagerfeld had one as an accessory. I didn't want to be thought of as an imitator in my youth. But it meant that my favourite designer has always been Jean Paul Gaultier. Two things I associate with him, Breton tops and a Spanish vibe, not least due to his film costuming for Pedro Almodovar.
My favourite collection is his Couture S/S 09. Here are a few highlights ...of his brilliance

High Street Pick of the Week

Reasonable priced wedges went through my mind and of course ones that will work with every outfit from DD (double denim) to maxi dress, shorts and all the other potential S/S 'looks' combo's.
These from Dune are a fab choice at £60 for everyday wear, but of course one pair will never do everything!