Real vintage

Today more than ever, wearing vintage clothes, recycling and retro themes are all the rage. Old is in, new is out. Not only is this shown in the clothes and styles we are wearing but also in the models who are being chosen to wear and promote them. In the past few years there has been an influx of stick thin, European, doll looking models upon the catwalks of the world. But now this look seems to be getting old and instead designers are choosing to bring back the celebrities of the fashion world, the real supermodels.

For Autumn/ Winter 08/09 Various top designers have chose the famous faces of the original supermodels of the 80s and 90s to front their fashion campaigns. Throughout the September issue of vogue, fashion adverts include: Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer, all showing that age is just a number and timeless beauty. Christy Turlington at 39 has been chosen to front Escada and Chanel eye wear, while Claudia Schiffer at 38 and wearing a brown wig can be seen decked out in Chanel and is also modelling for Salvatore Ferragamo. At the age of 43 Linda Evangelista has ousted a model half her age to take over fronting the Prada campaign. Not to be outdone Naomi Campbell has been picked for the covers of both Italian and Brazilian Vogue for September and she is also modelling for Yves Saint Laurent this season.

Discussing the supermodels, Stefano Pilati, creative director for Yves Saint Laurent said "They were 12 of the most amazing girls. Today there are beautiful girls more or less but they don't have that attitude." And with Kate Moss still modelling for various fashion designers it shows the popularity not just for a beautiful face, but also for a look and a personality which fashion has been lacking of recent.

(pictures courtesy of daily mail)

Fashiorexia

Sometimes we know that we really shouldn't buy that pair of shoes or we really shouldn't have that last piece of chocolate cake. But would we really rather spend money on fashion and starve?? According to the latest results, 32% women would starve for fashion and over half of women are spending more of their hard earned cash on clothes and accessories than on food each month, with some 18% of women spending more than half their wages all in the pursuit of fashion.

This want for clothes over food has been termed 'fashioexia', with some women claiming it is necessary for them to fit into the items which they are buying. A study from http://www.mycelebrityfashion.co.uk/ of 4,315 women, shows that 34 per cent, spend between £100-150 on food per month whereas almost three quarters, 71 per cent, of 18-25 year old females spend more than £150 each month on clothing and accessories, of which 16 per cent spend more than half their wages on looking good. The biggest surprise is in the 31-40 year old category, where 21 per cent of women claimed to spend more than half of their wages on fashion, and 56 per cent admit to spending more on fashion than eating. Lets just say that's food for thought, or maybe not. (info courtesy of daily mail, image courtesy of http://files.blog-city.com/files/F06/156208/p/f/js4.jpg )

Height which matters

We are used to seeing women wearing heels all the time. Women love heels, with some having more pairs than they count and others spending more on them than they should. Gweneth Paltrow likes wearing a different pair of designer heels everytime she goes out; a pair of choos, manolos, Louboutins, and the rest. Many women wear heels because they like the glamour, the way a pair can make you feel and they way they can make or break an outfit. But a new trend with celebrity men seems to be arising; men wearing heels. Now im not referring to transvestites or just men who have a liking to throwing on a pair of their wives heels when they are not around. But a trend for men of particular height to be wearing stacked heels.

The latest male seen wearing this particular style, was none other than rock legend and philanthropist: Bono. He was seen holidaying in the French Riveria with his family wearing a pair stacked heels. Looking as if he was trying to match the height of his wife, the 5 ft 6 1/2 inches star was certainly standing tall.

Men who lack in the height department seem to like using this trend to stand up to their better halves. Other well-known figures who have used them include 5ft 10in Mick Jagger, whose girlfriend L’Wren Scott is 6ft 4in; French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is 5ft 5in and whose wife Carla Bruni is 5ft 9in; and Tom Cruise, who is 2in shorter than his 5ft 9in wife Katie Holmes.

Even James Bond himself has been known to wear a pair of stacked heels to make him appear taller and more masculine in the film franchise. (pictures courtesy of dailymail.com)

Cross Dressing

No im not talking about men dressing as women or women dressing as men, but more about the recent trend of celebrities wearing boyfriend jeans. Us girls cant seem to get enough of the hundreds of pairs of different style, cut, shape, colour jeans available for women out there, weve taken to wearing our boyfriends jeans too.

The latest celeb stealing this style is none other than Mrs Cruise - Katie Holmes. She has been spotted out and about in New York recently, where she is rehearsing for her play 'All My Sons' wearing what her stylist - Jeanne Yang has confirmed are Tom Cruises' Jeans. These jeans are called the ''Barracuda'' style and are $360 from design company Prps. Katie has taken to wearing these jeans rolled up in a peg style as reportedly they are too short for the 5'9 star whose husband stands at a relatively short 5'7. However Katie is not the only celeb seen wearing this trend. Victoria Beckham was seen only last month wearing husband Davids Prps jeans on a trip to Disneyworld with the family.

With celebs like Katie and Victoria wearing Mens jeans it wont be long before we see this style replicated on the high street. Prps already has plans for its aptly names 'Boyfriend' jean to be released next season specifically for women's fit but with the same comfy and baggy male look. (picture courtesy of LA times.com)

Having it all

Being a celebrity and having your own fashion line seems to go hand in hand these days. Whether your an actor, a rapper, a musician, a tv personality, or all three, there seems to be a need to a put the title of fashion designer under your belt as well. Even reality tv stars, who have become celebrities in their own right are now designing for people like you and me.

One Hollywood reality tv show, has spawned not one but two 'fashion designers'. The Hills, a reality show focused around the lives of the young, well-off Californians, who work hard, play hard and seem to have more drama than Shakespeare, has two of its stars ; Heidi Montag and Lauren Conrad who have released their first fashion lines this year. Heid Montag has called hers 'Heidiwood' and released it in connection with Anchor Blue. Her designs have a definite lower end, mass market appeal, with fitted printed t-shirts, skinny jeans, tight tops and halter dresses. On the other scale is Lauren Conrads personal namesake collection which features higher priced, casual and fitted, Californian style dresses. Although top LA stores such as Fred Segal and Planet Blue stock her collection, fashionistas and celeb fav - Kitson, have actually dropped Laurens line, despite stocking her rival Heidi's.

Nonetheless, Lauren still has a foot within the fashion door. She has just been asked to design a couture gown for the girls who hand out the trophies at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards. Speaking to Reuteurs.com, Lauren said: “When the show approached me, I was so excited. I love designing dresses and I can’t wait to see my own designs on the Primetime Emmy Awards. The dress will be elegant yet simple with a Lauren Conrad Collection vibe.” But when asked what the design will look like, Lauren was keeping her

lips sealed. The dress will be revealed at the Awards show which takes place in LA on September 21st.

Keeping it Sweet and Sticky

Music sensation, style icon and arguably the most famous woman in the world. Yes, who else could i be talking about but, Madonna. Although she may be going through some scrutiny and difficult times in her personal life at the moment, no-one can deny her talent and what a great live performer she is. Creating live concerts which are spectacles which have to be seen to be believed. Im sure this will be true of her upcoming tour: Sticky and Sweet, to support her best selling Hard Candy album. The set list for the tour, shows a great pick and mix of old favourite Madonna tunes, and tunes from Hard Candy, such as: give it to me and 4 minutes to save the world. But what we fashionistas, care more about than the hits Madonna will be pumping out night after night , is what she will be wearing.

Famous for wearing a Jean Paul Gaultier conical bra, Madonna never disappoints in the style stakes, and this tour looks to be no exception. Arianne Phillips is Madonnas long time costume designer and she has been providing some insights over what to expect from the wardrobe of the Music Maestro. Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci contributed two outfits, while Tom Ford provided the suits for the band. Miu Miu and Stella McCartney have made the shoes, Moschino the sunglasses, and various other pieces are from designers; Yves Saint Laurent, Roberto Cavalli and Jeremy Scott. This melting pot of designers have created themes including; gangster, art deco, 80s, gypsy and futuristic Japanese rave. Keeping with Madonnas penchant for designers and keeping things original, her Sticky and Sweet tour look sure not to disappoint and sure to be tasty. (Photos courtesy of WWD.com)