Fashion for the masses

Short and Sweet

2008-09-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

Not content with being just another famous face in the front row of fashion shows at New York fashion week, Victoria Beckham had to made sure she stood out from the crowd, and what better way to do that than getting rid of the pob.

The pob which Victoria has been wearing for two years since ditching the hair extensions, became an institution among women everywhere, dying to get their own david. But now the pob has gone and in its place is a short crop, in the style of Halle Berry which she wore in James Bond. Posh turned to New York celebrity hairstylist Garren, who said he wanted to play up her features. 'It was clear that we had to go short and create a new look that embraced her beauty, great personality and body,' he said in a statement.

Victoria hasn't only debuting her new hairstyle this week, she has also unveiled her namesake range of dresses. The range shows styles similar to the Roland Mouret Galaxy dress and our very stylised, tight fitting and sophisticated. Instead of a catwalk show, Victoria has unveiled the collection through exclusive preview meeting with buyers and press in order to test the reaction. They are designed in sizes 6-14 and retail from £400 - £600 with only 400 available.

Real vintage

2008-08-26T06:44:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-19T04:21:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-11T07:13:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-08T07:08:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-07T02:18:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-06T07:08:00.000-07:00

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)

Get if off your chest

2008-07-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

Never one to keep their feelings private, celebs do like to tell us how their feeling, what their doing, what their promoting and more recently who they are backing in the presidential election. With the American economy in the state of disarray it is in, it is no wonder that the thought of a new president is enough to get his face printed on a t-shirt and displayed proudly across a t-shirt.

Halle Berry who has magically sprung back to her pre baby body, was seen wearing a t-shirt with American presidential hopeful - Barack Obama across it. What more could Barack ask for?!a women routinely voted the most beautiful in the world wearing his face across her chest. Well how about another beautiful woman and singing diva; Beyonce. Who was seen out and about with hubby Jay-Z on her arm and Barack across her front. im sure Gordon Brown wouldnt be complaining if either Halle or Beyonce were wearing his face across their t-shirts.

But not only is it women wearing this display of affection for Barack, the actor and ex-husband of Reese Witherspoon; Ryan Phillipe was also seen wearing a t-shirt adorned with his face While out and about in LA. For celebs it isnt just enough to promote a brand, film, record, show or a designer, they now want to promote a presidential hopeful as well. Maybe we should just be grateful that it is Barack Obamas face and not George Bush's.

Fashion Rocks

2007-10-19T04:56:00.000-07:00

Music and fashion were brought together Last night at The Royal Albert Hall in London for the suitably glamorous and fabulous Fashion Rocks. Sponsored by Swarovski and in aid of the Prince's Trust. The event was hosted by the Hollywood pairing of Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson, which featured fashion shows by renound fashion designers whose creations were accompanied by the music of international artists. These included; Alicia Keys for Armani, Timbaland for Dolce and Gabbana, Lily Allen for Chanel, The Gossip for Christopher Kane, Joss Stone for Calvin Klein and various others. Surprise guest of the evening was Whitney Houston, who had been hiding in a London hotel as to not ruin her unexpected appearance. She was there to discuss the charitable work done by the Prince's Trust.

The focus of the night began on who was wearing what on the red carpet. Fashion icon and supermodel Kate Moss, wore a 1920s style flapper dress, encrusted with 20,000 swarovski crystals, estimated to be worth £40,000. The dress was a copy of the one she wore on her first date with Johnny Depp and is to be auctioned off by Topshop on eBay in aid of the Prince's Trust. Other stars looking fabulous included Sienna Miller in a simple but stylish knee length, black silk, capped sleeve dress and Claudia Schiffer in a floor length silver, elbow length, crystal encrusted gown. On the otherhand some celebrities failed to impress in the fashion stakes. Performer for Calvin Klein for the night, Joss Stone, wore a Hot pink, fitted, sleeveless dress with clumpy white shoes and Naomi Campbell wore a black diamante encrusted bra and knickers under a see-through chiffon dress by Dolce and Gabbana.

2007-10-13T09:29:00.001-07:00

left: Kate Moss for Topshop - crepe playsuit, Kate Moss for Topshop - metallic jersey vest

Below: Kate Moss for Topshop - Green chiffon dress

2007-10-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

Usually in the news for her hard partying lifestyle or her relationship with men who look like they are need of a good wash, kate moss has unusually made the headlines today for something about her style. She is sporting a brand new shorter hairstyle and fringe. Her hair was cut by celebrity hairstylist and her longtime friend, James Brown. He himself, has just launched his own haircare range this week which he collaborated on with Miss Moss. No doubt, this hairstyle will be copied more than a few times and continue the influence and effect still created by 33 old Kate, who has been a fashion icon for almost twenty years.
Also helping to put Kate Moss in to the limelight for her fashion and style, is her fashion range for Topshop. She debuted her first collection in May 2007 and despite some mild criticism, there has been mostly positive reviews of her range and its success can be seen with her Autumn/ Winter 2007 collection. There are some well designed and on trend pieces in this collection, which are not only wearable and attractive but also give us the essence of the Kate Moss style for a more affordable price. Kate has been seen wearing some of the pieces from her latest collection, such as the black crepe playsuit with a belt and the charcoal jersey vest. The collection also contains several dresses which will be great for the party season coming up. Maybe Kate Moss is returning to the supermodel and style icon she is renowned for, only time will tell.

2007-10-12T17:41:00.000-07:00

Fashion + Celebrities = fashion for the masses