I Heart Cheryl

X-Factor is back on our screens and along with it brings the return of Cheryl mania, which I am proud to report that I’m supporting whole heartedly! Bring on the short hemlines, the Brazilian-esque volumed hair, pearly whites and platform heels; ladies and gentleman Cheryl is a fashion force to be reckoned with.

New favourite read...

Savannah Miller’s blog for Vogue. Savannah blogs photos, inspirations and developments on the Twenty8Twelve brand, designed with sister Sienna, I’m already addicted.

Sealed with Love

I have fallen in love with the ‘The Love Story. Paris 1946’ collection by the jeweller Jessica de Lotz. It is a fantastic collection which looks like the contents of your grandmother’s jewellery box consisting of classic designs with a bohemian feel. This made to order collection is inspired by Victorian wax seals and features a necklace, bangle and cufflinks which can be personalised with an initial or objects, my favourite being the Eiffel Tower and a crown which I just love!

Sea, Sand, and Rain...

Devon: home of the delicious Devonshire cream tea, quaint boutiques and charming seaside villages. I had a fantastic time swimming in hidden coves, sampling freshly caught fish and not to mention shopping to my hearts content. Unfortunately for us (as you can see from the photos) we didn’t have the sun like the rest of the country, I came home to a house full of bronzed faces – I’m extremely envious!

Boys, boys, boys

Check out the boys punding the streets at Dior Homme, Paris. They are sporting the S/S 10 collection designed by Kris van Assche, and are looking tres chic!

All images are courtesy of Dazed Digital.

The Thigh’s the Limit

The thigh-high boot is set to be everywhere this season after being all over the catwalks from Paul & Joe to Peter Pilotto; it is listed in fashion pages as being one of the must-have trends of the coming A/W 09 season.

Thigh-high boots, last seen on the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Elizabeth Hurley, are notoriously difficult to wear, looking slightly too much for day-wear and a little, how should I put this…like a hooker at night. Those that seem to pull this off are few and far between leaving the rest of us left looking like WAGs or eurotrash socialites. I fear that this trend has little longevity and is a slighty over-the-top…

We're All Going on a Summer Holiday

This weekend I am heading to Devon for a long-weekend of sun (perhaps), sea and cream teas. I know that the prospect of a British mini-break fills some people with dread but I simply can’t wait for it; I love everything from the unpredictable weather to the pebble beaches, calorific fish and chips to the smell of seaweed. At the moment I am planning the perfect mini-break wardrobe, it’s a slow start but I think I’ll channel festival-chic, i.e. Converse All Stars, vests, jeans, gladiators, wellies etc, minus the Pixie Geldof-esque headband!

Urban Outfitters: Hot or Not?

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that Urban Outfitters is entirely overrated!? After work my friend and I took a stroll to Oxford Circus for a spot of retail therapy and visited Urban Outfitters. Now, I must admit that the visual merchandising and shop design is great, they have been very successful at creating a lifestyle shop with an edgy loft-style interior which is the reason why I think it has such a following. However I do not think that the stock (poor quality and too trend driven) match this nor does the lack of staff or inflated prices, particularly on the vintage goods which are probably picked up from Brick Lane for a fiver and sold for ten-fold.

I frequently hear friends and fashion pages raving about it but I always leave disappointed and empty-handed. I have really tried to like it and have given it several chances but unfortunately I think our relationship is now well and truly over.

What are your thoughts on Urban Outfitters?

The Sunglasses Are Off

I, like most fashion lovers, am awaiting the hotly anticipated release of ‘The September Issue’ which documents the production of last year’s September issue of American Vogue. The film, released in the UK on 11 September, will provide me with a much-anticipated insight on the British editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, and the world’s largest fashion magazine. ‘The September Issue’ follows Wintour around the fashion shows, showing her dominance in the fashion world – she famously once got Milan fashion week rescheduled as it didn’t work with her diary.

Every September a record number of people can’t wait to get their hands on the September issue of Vogue. The 2007 edition with covergirl Sienna Miller was the biggest seller to date and personally I can’t wait to see the behind the scenes making of this issue, including the production process, the staff on the verge of breakdowns, and the hotly-discussed tempestuous relationship between Wintour and her number two, Grace Coddington. The film will be scrutinised by all those watching, including me, to see if she really is like the nickname ‘Nuclear Wintour’ or her depicted character (albeit in more exaggerated Hollywood sense), Miranda Priestly in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. I just can’t believe I have to wait a whole month to watch it!

Priced Out: Charity Shopping

Now is it just me or have charity shops become savvy to the increase in their popularity due to the current interest with all things vintage, recyclable and thrifty? I have noticed recently that this is happening in particularly well-heeled areas of London where the stock tends to be significantly better and so are popular with in-the-know shoppers.

The Kings Road, Chelsea, is home to a treasure trove of charity shops filled with beautiful stock donated by it wealthy residents. This has always been top of my list for second-hand shopping and I vacate them regularly. However recently I have become aware of the over-ambitious pricing strategy which has been put in place, for instance I saw a jacket in there, which I had in my own wardrobe, which was priced for more than it retailed at - ridiculous.

Now I understand that charity shops are helping good causes however my fear is that if this ambitious pricing strategy continues it will mean that the current trend for charity shopping will become a short-lived thing. People will no longer choose to shop there as they have been priced out meaning less customers, less donations from the public, who are disillusioned with charity shops, and will choose an alternative to dispose with their unwanted goods (ebay, swap shop, bin), and therefore a decline in trade and in the long run.

Shorty

My shopping trip ended well, I purchased a pair of cut-off denim shorts which I just couldn’t resist from Topshop. However the torrential downpour last night did make me wonder if these were a practical purchase in an English summer!? I shall try and team them with some transitional items such as my much loved cardigans and boots to get some wear out of them this summer.

Cultural and Consumer Delights

Tonight has in store for me some cultural delights as I am going to see the much anticipated ‘Waiting for Godot’, with Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan, at the Haymarket theatre.

However even this does not deter me from shopping for some acquisitions for my wardrobe; I am going to take the opportunity to run over to Oxford Street to satisfy my cravings. On my hit list at the moment is something sequined, I’m channelling Brandon Flowers in his gold tux jacket, a leather jacket and a mini dress or skirt of some description. I have recently cleared out half of my wardrobe and have taken some items to my local charity shop and the rest are to be ebay-ed, so I feel justified in my urges.

A/W Trends Galore

My week away on the continent was very relaxing and Italy was beautiful as ever. Returning to the rain was an instant reminder of the British summer season, however I have to admit it was quite welcome after many a sleepless night in the intense heat, however the novelty has now worn off.

My return seems to coincide with a complete change of fashion focus to Autumn/Winter 09. Everywhere I look I see references to the forthcoming seasons eclectic trends including studs, shoulders, purple, thigh-high boots, mock croc, sci-fi, eighties, metallic, leather and cropped trousers. I am so excited at the prospect of my new A/W wardrobe that I can barely contain myself. Check out below the leather and studded mini-dress from Topshop which features not one but two must-have trends, the most influential shouldered jacket of the season by Balmain and finally the 80s inspired Miss Selfridge Hed Kandi range which I LOVE!

The Pierre Hardy boots for Gap (below) seem to be plastered over every fashion page and look set to be bigger than last season’s biker boots that Hardy created for Gap (and I wore to death)!