Men, Einstein or Sweats?

Everyday we endeavour to get that effortless look, to appear to have just thrown something on but still look fabulous. But its hard, when we are bound to dress codes and clothing rules; sadly and ironically, it can take much time and struggle. There is the classic no red with pink and the double denim rule is tricky to perfect. Then there are those harem type items that have their own how to wear rule book. Its exhausting!

But the main problem is facing far too much choice. Being offered cheap and accessible mass produced clothing has resulted in our wardrobes becoming full and incomprehensible. Its no wonder we fall back on our favorite reliable pieces, wearing them again and again. But what about the rest? I have many beautiful clothes that deserve to be worn yet are overshadowed by ease. Can we ever take the effort out of effortless?

Taking lead from the men in our life could be the way in. Possibly not by substituting for a thoughtless jean and t-shirt/check shirt ensemble but instead adopting the psychology behind their clothing decisions. There will be no umming and arring, just a simple 'pick up the first thing you see' and put it on. However, I found it too hard to become so easily negligent after years of thought, and after all I find it hard to agree that this version of 'effortlessness' is a good thing when men only strive to step out in Hollister and Abercrombie.
Alternatively, after reading a piece in Vogue not all is lost with men. Could Einstein have the answer to not only modern physics but fashion as well? He wore the same thing everyday without thought and with ease. We should make it like cartoon characters and have one signature outfit. One dress or a pair of trousers that look so good you would never want to wear anything else but. If only it could be this simple in our celebrity filled world where clothes are disposable and it is deplorable to be seen in any item more than once. As a person I find this unnecessary, as a student, it is impossible. Ah! So now I know what to blame for my piled Primark filled wardrobe in an attempt to always look fresh. But hold on there, we could be on the right track. Quality seems surely better than quantity, so buy less clothes but spend more on them. They will look so much better than Primark mush and you end up with less clothing in the wardrobe to search through.

What if we do overcome this preliminary wardrobe quandary; still, how do we overcome the working look of effortless? Body cons may make my legs look great but when walking up a steep hill, fidgeting my hands towards the ground to pull the fabric down every few steps hardly screams graceful woman. But if we did give in to comfort and ease rather than perceived fashion, we would all be happily walking around in sweats and baggy jumpers. Although an unrealistic fantasy, it holds some truth as my confidence is often stemmed from the simple comfort of jeans and a jumper.

So lets take a look at the queen of effortless. The Moss knows how to dress well and always does it simply, never looks too forced. She uses denim well - we should all have the perfect pair of skinnies and hot pants for the easy, thrown on look. You don't always have to brush your hair to make it look good and her love of clashing looks is so desirable. Though designers love to dress her, she doesn't always look on trend - "clothes go in and out of fashion, but that's not style. Style has to be classic," says the Moss herself. I say choose clothes that you love and make you look great. From this point onwards, I will never think when looking in the mirror, is this now? Only does this look nice?

Kate Moss with opposing tough Christopher Kane leathers with a delicate floaty blouse

Yet it is hard to stay away from trend when it does look good. Perhaps the new season minimalist feel holds the answer to our clothing qualms in the morning. A reduced palette of colours with simple shapes - where can you go wrong? My first purchase into ladylike elegance is the highly coveted Topshop camel cape, my compensatory purchase as I grudgingly welcome the colder months. Yes it may be the last thing you think about putting on, in that so it doesn't solve the first layer problem but it will elegantly slip over my chunky winter knits and jumpers. So ample it will smooth over any lumps or bumps while the light timeless camel hue works with anything. So effortlessly chic, I can fling it over my shoulders, leaving the sleeves loose, running out the door without a last glance in the mirror to face the freeze.

Topshop camel cape

After all this is the epitome of effortless. Knowing that you look good without needing that check in the mirror, or that trip to powder your nose. Only a slight pinch of energy is needed to choose clothes that you know suit and fit you well. And of course have fun with your clothes, even if designers want us to grow up so fast!

Old is the new, new

Last Sunday I attended my first fashion show. The whole event was based around the idea of sustainability in fashion, making something out of old, or finding more resourceful methods for production. We saw an abundance of beautiful clothes some designed using scrap and waste material, recycled and fashioned into something fabulous or others like designer Elena Garcia who utilises Eco-friendly textiles in her work.

But one design caught my eye by Michelle Low-Holder. For her a/w 10 collection she created an all accessory assembly from the off cuts of previous seasons using historical recreated ribbon art. These sculptural art forms demonstrate how what some would toss as rubbish can be transformed into something as beautiful as the clothes they are cut from.

Michelle Low-Holder a/w

This idea got me thinking about our love of vintage clothes and recycling and how the two are not two different. Re-cycling is everywhere, its on my tellybox right now in a car that uses re-cycled fuel and in my garage in the large blue and white bags. With vintage we buy old clothes instead of new ones. They both make us feel good, yet in different ways.

But why is vintage so desirable? Taking time to separate our paper and plastic gives us a do good warm feeling but we get the bargain buzz from vintage. It is usually cheaper to buy than to purchase new clothes and it is reasuring to know that no one will possess the same. In a world where Primark rules what is cheap and fashionable on the high street it is refreshing to whitness more diverse fashions amongst the mass produced. Think the blank paintent chavtastic bags and simple trainer pumps that still swamp our streets.

I search for my vintage finds in charity shops and more recently at The Real McCoy vintage clothing store in Exeter. I could spend hours in there swamping myself in rich fabrics, old jackets and coats. This time coveted for a very on trend camel duffle coat going back forth in front of the mirror, undoing and doing it up again. But there is one problem. Vintage is rarely the right size and I reluctantly agreed with friends that the coat was too ridiculously big. This is where the high street conquers with its quick and accessible sizing, as I can rapidly loose patients when I can't find what I desire in vintage.

However, I have found a new Narnia-esq section in my wardrobe but this magical place is actually my mother's wardrobe. After a disastrous few attempts to prise together an outfit from my clothes I went and found a couple of gems from mums. A zingy tribal inspired black and orange casual jacket and a simple pair of black high waisted jeans. No, they may not be old enough to be labelled 'vintage' but to me they a way to inject a bit of unusual into my generic, common Topshop garb.

Aside from our love of vintage the idea of recycling can also be applied to our existing clothes. I love recovering an item that was once forgotten and left redundant to find that either the fashions have changed or my idea of what is fashionable has altered. For a more drastic approach to a tired wardrobe I have cut a jacket sleeveless and cropped a full length tee to produce new garments from old that have become less desirable over time. This idea was channeled through the fashion shows workshop but instead painting old items black (the ultimate in fashion chic.)


Perhaps this isn't the most practical answer to recycle our closets but it unleashed a creative way of thinking among the guests, whether they smothered the items in sexy black or opted for reduced vibrant pattens.

But as we recycle fashion, fashion takes its own initiative. Vintage has now evolved instead into vintage inspired clothing. You could argue that hypocritically fashion regards itself as maintaining new and innovative visions even when it continues to look behind. This season designers stepped back into the 50's to create the womanly shape, reigning in the waist while loosening the voluptuous skirts to bring back curves.

Louis Vuitton - And god created women!

My latest vintage vibe comes in the form of my new charity shop find. This season's bags have matured into simple boxy shapes in soft leathery hues. The best place to find these classics is the charity shops rather than the vintage inspired new bags from Topshop. Old is definitely the more elite in this case.


The new bag has the boxy shape in a rich dark leather finished with a simple gold clasp and its long handles allow it to fit comfortably under my arm. All I require now is the gloves and cape to match to make me a proper lady. At a meer £3 I rest my case for vintage.

Go Wild

Now an Autumn/winter trend keeps popping up in my fashion round ups and emails that I either click or flick past. But now I have decided to face it.

Dear leopard print, are you friend or foe?

I have never been an adoring fan of this bold print and my wardrobe does not cage any major items that adorn it. After years of reincarnations by the high street where the leopard has been spread and patched over anything possible, it looses its appeal by becoming the indicator of cheap not chic. However the catwalk has returned from the wild determined to prove that a leopard can change its spots, but can it change our perception?

Roberto Cavalli went all out and did it head to toe. With an abundance of layers finishing off with floaty harem pants he has created a modern specimen reminiscent of a warrior woman, but with heels. I love this modern take on leopard print, blurred and washed out - you don't even realise its all over.




Then there is this coat by Gucci...


A-line... chic... and very grown up - need I say more?

Dolce and Gabbana's take on this trend is a little more generic parading large high street friendly prints. Channeled through the continuation of last seasons corsets, this season's blouse and grown up bag trends. But the twist? Teaming with other printed midi skirts takes the emphasis off the audacious leopard and more towards a bold eclectic ensemble.


With all these gorgeous options I feel I may convert to walk on the wild side, but it all depends on what I can hunt down on the high street. How to let it into our wardrobe without it attacking our style? This is not camouflage piece - it will hardly slip in unnoticed. But it seems the high street is very much embracing the leopard.

River Island fur coat £79.99

This faux fur leopard print coat from River Island is the high street answer to the Gucci coat above but it does not appeal to me. I am put off by the large black buttons and the long dangling pompoms. It just doesn't have the same grown up chic effect.

Topshop blouse £35

I tried this Topshop blouse on while on a recent browse through the shop to see if I could be tempted. To my surprise I thought the blouse looked good, but I could not bring myself to buy this piece, nor any other items. I just cannot invest largely in such a mini trend.

Although, there are a couple of small leopard print pieces already in my wardrobe. A subtle, well worn pair of flat pumps and a not so loved floaty mini skirt. The kind of piece that you always wonder 'why did I buy that?' Maybe this is a sign that accessories are the way to go...

My well loved leopard babies from Asos

Dolce and Gabbana's lovely furry grown up bag

Topshop's furry panel cross body bag £30

Large leopard print fold over clutch, River Island £29.99

The obvious accessory buy into this trend is the bag. I predict there will be many bags licked by leopard and these are the ones that have filtered through so far. Always lusting after the bags in River Island makes me lean towards the clutch with a modern contrast between the metal clasp and print. But it is too fussy when all you need from a bag this season is ladylike simplicity .The Topshop does not quite cut it as an alternative to the fuzzy Dolce & Gabbana. It imitates the boxy structure but the fake looking leather ruins the lush cosy fur panel.

If fluffy but not leopard is what you are looking for then invest in this baby from ASOS...


... as fur is always fashionable

Robert Cavalli

Asos leopard print tights £8

Or I could get a touch of Roberto Cavalli by covering my legs in spots and clashing with other daring prints and create a truly opulent look. This seems to be this season's update on leopard print - flamboyance to accompany it. Or, rather is leopard print this season's update? When we are all stripping back and going minimal chic, the risky leopard seems like the remedy to the reduction. But is this daring big cat really suitable off the catwalk?

Now lets look at the more desirable little touches.

I glanced at a black blouse in Topshop with a collar embellished with leopard print. Subtle and simple and looked very chic. The perfect way to inject a little wild into the wardrobe if you, like me are scared of going full on.

I couldn't find a picture of the blouse but this is a similar styled one.

Now to the linings...

A lining in a piece can make it better. Think the luxury of a soft silk lined coat or the cosy quality of the inner shearling jacket. But not only can they feel good, they can look good. At Fendi, the ostentatious print decorated the inside of bags, left falling open to reveal.

Leopard linings at Fendi

Not sure if I would freely walk around with my bag open, but I am fond of the lining. A flash of of the plucky print every time you reach for you purse. The purrrrrfect understated answer to leopard print.

Even though I fear the print in large quantities, you have to admire its versatility. Take a look in any shop and you will find it packaged on leggings, linings and bags. But until I find a piece that I fall in love with the good old pumps will continue to be my paw into the trend.

Man up

Over the recent seasons I have observed and been involved in a clothing role reversal.
Are we possibly on the brink of a revolution?

Males out there - I will trade one of my dresses for one of your jeans and tee combo!

Maybe this is a bit of a ridiculas notion. And yet, at the same time it is not so absurd. While us girls slip comfortably into baggy jeans and shirts, men's t-shirts seem to be getting tighter and tighter. Thanks to Topman our boys are limited to a uniform of skin hugging V necks and blood halting skinnies. On a recent shopping spree, my boyfriend came speeding back to me after separating for Topshop and Topman exclaiming 'the shops want to turn me into a woman.' But I had to agree. It was a solemn shopping day for him.

It is an entertaining idea, but I seriously doubt we are going to ever witness men readily striding in skirts like they do in check shirts which have bred over them. Yet, on the other side of the story, we women are continually dressing more like men. I, myself am guilty of following this inversion trend. But my question is - do we wear the clothes better?

I'll digress...

Since women decided to dress feminine and more like women, they then began to dress more like men. But then for equality, and now for the right to be fashionable. Think power suits with chin stroking shoulders. My own man wardrobe has been growing gradually. First with the boyfriend blazer, then the boyfriend jeans and more recently my shopping habits have even spread to the men's section. Not male style for women, but actual male clothes for women.

The latest male edition to my wardrobe is the baseball jacket. I have never been a great fan of the American sports style. Bright, electric hues adorn the football fields thrashing around in a heat of athleticism. It just seems so big, butch and brash. But then I found this gem in the male section of Primark.

My new baseball.

My love affair with this jacket began with this photograph in the July Issue of Vogue. This ageless issue celebrates style at any age and here is model Edie Campbell pictured in a red and black leather baseball jacket. She looks so effortlessly cool, admitting 'not bothering works a lot better.' She wears clothes that are 'on loan from her boyfriend.' Is this the answer to wardrobe worries? Can we just wear what our fellow males do to get that 'i just threw this on' feel that they do everyday when we can spend hours tweaking a look to try and achieve the same.

Edie in all her casual chic with playful ears by Topshop.

I will be routing this easy, casual style with my new jacket. I'll admit its not quite as cool as Edie's but at a mere £10 I was quite proud of my find. The fact that I found it in the men's section doesn't matter. Its broad manly shape adds to the relaxed look but requires some tiny, tiny shorts to balance it out a la Edie.

Lets take a look at some other yummy jackets...

Once again from the men's section, this American College Baseball jacket in a rich Burgandy caught my eye. With contrasting panelling in similar colours to my own baby. My boyfriend asked if he could pull off this of jacket. I had to say no. It would take some guy with style tomake this work. But when it comes to us girls - this would be easy!
http://www.asos.com/American-College/American-College-Burgandy-Baseball-Jacket/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1143995&SearchQuery=baseball%20jacket&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Burgandy

Now looking at a woman's wear take on this style. Not as Americanised. Not as heavy weight. It doesn't have that 'off the man' feel. Although check out the suede paneling - gorge!
http://www.asos.com/Asos/Asos-Suede-Front-Baseball-Jacket/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1030075&SearchQuery=baseball%20jacket&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=GreyBrown

Take a look at this Isabel Marant Jacket, a feminine take on the male style jacket. Simple, clean lines and beautiful leather sleeves. It flows out elegantly, ridding the 'from a man' style. This is an example of not when men's clothes look better on women, but when our tailoring of their clothes just looks better.
http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/77171?resType=single&keywords=baseball%20jacket

Now we are very accustomed to borrowing the odd hoody from our male friends for ease, but recently I have been toying with the idea of wearing men's boxers. No, not for weird sexual reasons and not those tight, bright novelty types. But some luxury ample ones would be perfect to layer under a long loose jumper, just peeping out the bottom. I don't know if I would ever have the 'balls' to actually wear these in public. They could be the answer to at-home sexy casual attire.

But for now, until I find the right ones these alternatives will satisfy my wonder...

These boxer-esque shorts from Topshop are great and practical (they have pockets). The rose tye dye effect is great to keep pushing the grunge trend.
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=20&viewAllFlag=false&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&categoryId=209768&parent_category_rn=208529&productId=1773625&langId=-1

Then I came across these VPL Deltois shorts. Take note of the boxer style panelling with seam detail but floaty feminine and fabulous. Again mens style but better!
http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/99226

Ever since I witnessed a breath taking fashion moment during an episode of Sex and the City the idea of running around in a mans shirt seems irresistible. Cinched with a simple belt, this look is so simple and yet so chic. I even found myself sifting through my boyfriend's ever so minimal wardrobe in search of the perfect shirt. The response I got wasn't so fairytale; 'no -that's my interview shirt!' But I will not be deterred, as it was confirmed by one of my good male friends that we girls do look better in a man's shirt then men do.

But is there a way it which we will not have to beg, borrow and steal anymore?

Meet Equipment...
A line of menswear style women's shirts, revived for Spring/ Summer 2010 - excellent!

A beautiful crisp white shirt by Equipment with large breast pockets . Teamed with cut off high waisted denim shorts. Pure casual shirting wonder.

Double D

I have a confession to make. I am addicted to denim.

At last count I have nine pairs of jeans, three pairs of denim shorts (with my eyes on a new high waisted Levis pair as I type), and two denim jackets (one with and one without sleeves). Last summer, denim even spread upwards in the form of my bleached shirt. This summer it has infected my top wardrobe again with the arrival of a slouch tee from Topshop, a refreshing variation on the ever so popular denim shirt. Its sleeves and pockets ripped off leaving a contrasting patch against the main acid wash. It is the latest edition to my breeding denim family.

My denim family is forever expanding (darker in real life)

I just can't help it. We are inseparable. But why have a got an obsession for denim?

I can remember my first proper pair of jeans. Ones that I bought myself and weren't just hand-me-downs from various cousins. They were dark indigo with a dramatic flair, embellished by silver stars. I always remember these jeans infamously as the 'what was I thinking' jeans. But after all, every seven year old girl was wearing the flair. Now, twelve years on, along with many other fashionistas, the skinny jean is my trusty denim outlet. My favorite pair? The acid washed skinny denims by Topshop that have been my most worn for a couple of years. So much so, they have a rather large hole between the back pocket and the waistband. They are weathered, beaten and ripped: or loved dearly I would call it. Evidence that the perfect pair do exist. The denim fabric is the epitome of casual cool and practicality. On those days where all other fashion fails you and you yearn for a new wardrobe, trusty jeans will always be there to pick up the pieces. Nothing looks better than a good tight pair.

But being a denim devotee, I am still unsure about the supposed fashion faux pas of head to toe denim. Is it too much of a good thing? Or something that is not channeled enough? I remember countless discussions between friends as to a persons choice to adorn this questionable look, but we never quite come to a conclusion. This season Chloe wanted us to embrace our inner ranch worker with slouchy denim shirts teamed with long jeans each sporting contrasting patching similar to my Topshop piece. It was casual and utterly chic, not at all wrong. The two pieces separated by a thin leather belt and accompanied by a brown leather bag. It looked so effortless, as if the woman was just returning home from tending to her horses. But could I imagine myself wearing this double denim ensemble in North Cornwall? I still wasn't convinced.

Chloe, from the S/S 10 collection

Dolce and Gabbana's take on this trend didn't help my ploy to conversion: denim jacket paired with denim skirt. When you imagine this combo in your head it reeks of a cutesy little girl and would be disastrous to anyone over ten years old. However, D&G tried to ease in this look by layering and decorating the pieces with black lace, diverting the eye so the two denims look less double denim and more delicious denim. But again I don't think I could pull this look off. It is more suitable on the catwalk. Yes I could look into buying lace samples from my local fabric shop and converting my existing denim pieces but I'm sure I would just end up looking like a lamp! Plus I have never been very favourable to the denim skirt since I said goodbye to my last at aged thirteen. I am much more of a shorts person. After all you don't have to worry about the positioning of ones legs.

But then, one day my attitude to the double D's began to fade. I was inspired by my neighbour, a person I would never have expected to admire clothes on, but I was. She did head to toe. High waisted jeans, slightly baggy, accompanied by a tucked in denim shirt while allowing some to billow over to hide and conceal a thin leather belt. She looked amazing, as if she had just walked of the pages of my Vogue trend round up, minus the long white hair. Who said you can't wear denim past a certain age?

Alexa in denim galore!

So there I was. It was double D-day. My first outing in nothing but. I stepped out in my high waisted denim shorts with a light denim shirt, both Topshop. I added a thin leather belt to break it up and some aviator sunnies to hide behind. I felt strange, slightly conscious of what I was wearing yet at the same time oddly cool. As cool as Alexa Chung looks in her Vogue shoot, a photograph that inspired my ensemble. 'Yes I am wearing double denim, and I like it!' I felt like shouting. But it ain't easy, it has to be thought about. Don't just chuck on every denim thing you own. Keep it simple and different. This is the rule that must be obeyed to make it OK. Choose two contrasting denim hues so it doesn't look too matching and I wore shorts to make it less head to toe. I like it, but I didn't want to make it too obvious on my double debut.

My new denim look slouch tee will be perfect to continue my relationship with this trend. Its dark blue colour will be a great contrast to my bleached shorts and thus a perfect partnership to finish my summer with.

Looking forward to next season, of its understated chic. Alas there is no strong outlet for denim amongst the neutral capes, coats and outdoorsy styles. But I will not stop wearing it I'm sure. You cannot ignore a love this strong: my lovely friend denim.

Nail it!

I often browse fashion blogs, posting sites and online stores to find an idea for a new look. A new way of styling my existing clothes: a sort of recycling you could say. But very often I am without the beautiful clothes in the shoots and without anything slightly similar. And without extensive funds. So I am back, stuck looking at my wardrobe day after day waiting for inspiration. Even when I am not planning on leaving the house, I still struggle. I just still want to feel glam, even though there is no one to appreciate it.

It is hard when you live so remotely. There is just no one to appreciate good fashion. My Dad laughs at my beloved ripped jeans, while sporting a sorry look on his face. 'You should take those jeans back, they're broken', I can remember him saying while I tried to ignore him.

But back to my problem. Its great when you can find an easy and cheap way to update your style. Take nail polish for instance. Last winter my friend and I lusted, green with envy, after Karl Lagerfeld's collection for Chanel in which a jade green hue accompanied the clothes on models and mannequins nails. So much so we wrote an article about it and our other musings on varnish. In our fashion brains, grey was the new black and pale jade green the must do colour. When I catch a glimpse of my tainted talons I feel a twinge of glamour, knowing that the flash of colour running through my hair looks so chic.

So imagine my excitement when I spied a new shade in the Topshop press images. This icy shade makes a such statement against the summer accessories that I made it my mission to find an equivalent. There amongst the summery colours in Boots was the one I was looking for. Mint Choc Chip by Barry M. Although it wasn't straight forward. I had to venture to a larger shopping area to find this quirky shade.


The first time I painted in this shade was before a gig, having had to wait a few days until I finished my weeks shifts at work. Chipped nail vanish just isn't the same after all. It looked so strong when I placed my hands near the black chiffon blouse I was wearing to see Calvin Harris: I can remember looking up at my hands as I danced and seeing shots of the icy colour. The blue is so different: the antidote to the hot weather. It felt so refreshing amongst the usual reds and pinks that so many nails are plastered with, and that I am guilty of. I'm glad I got some colour on before the winter comes, when glossy naturals will be on my nails instead.

I do wonder what my Dad thought of my quirky colour style update?

Is it time to cover up yet?

Before we know it the new season will be upon us. It is hard to think about what I will be wearing in a few months when now the sun still occasionally shines while I bask in aviator sunnies and short shorts. Alas it will soon be time to cover my sun kissed legs and pull on jumpers, presently dormant in the bottom of my wardrobe. But as I flick through the a/w Vogue round up, I can envisage the dream key items that will get me through the cold and dark coming months.

A cape will fall loosely around my shoulders as I walk to class. Not too showy, just minimalist and youthful. But enough to shield me from the rain that will no doubt plague our winter days. I do hope the high street will have the answer to Carolina Harrera's camel cape, so I can cosy up in warm hues.

Carolina Harrera camels up

Topshop camel cape

The most promising lead I have found is this Topshop minimalist creation above, embellished with an understated military look without taking away the loose casual feel. Topshop follows the way of the catwalk, with many designers abandoning their sleeves and allowing them to hang freely; the answer to easy throw on elegance. My eye will definitely be looking out for this towards the colder months.

If I can let go of my favorite jeans and leggings winter uniform I could imagine my legs wrapped in loose and fluid fabric in the form of trousers swishing away. But I am not convinced yet. We wear skinnies and leggings to compliment our assets. Why swamp our gorgeous pins? If you are not ready to ready to let go of the tight; go for the grown up skinny of the winter. The cigarette trouser.

Mulberry's cigarettes in a rich caramel hue

According to designers our girls are heading to outside adventures this winter, and if we are encased in layers of white stuff as of last January we will definitely be kitted out for it. The catwalks were array with large knits, autumnal colours, sheepskin, furs and luxurious tweeds. The staple item for this look is the shearling jacket, the best in blacks and caramels with sheep's wool trimming. Below is one of my favorites by Reed Krakoff. Its its simple oversized style captures the essence of this trend paired with a large knit.

Reed Krakoff goes to the country

I will be looking for my own twist on this, starting with the charity shops to try and find the real thing: used, weathered and beaten is after all the inspiration for the trend, taking my country gal roots to the city. Before I find this treasure, I will work this trend with these cable knit grey tights. Thigh high and a fabulous way to nurse shorts into this winters wardrobe.

Be knit-tastic this winter!

But is all this a bit too soon? Are we ready to say goodbye to the summer yet? I'm not. This in between stage is always hard to fill. Yet Vogue has come to the rescue, pointing me towards a pre-season trend. I have already expressed my boredom of the maxi, so look a few inches north and welcome the midi. Show a bit of leg with these middle length skirts instead of the cover-alls we are so used to.

Midi lengths opted for by these designers

Inspired by this new hemline, I bought a simple tubular grey marl maxi skirt from ASOS. Yes it is grey, but you can't argue when it looks so look. It is so versatile with its colour and shape. The grey allows easy styling, as anything goes. The maxi length means I can wear the skirt high up my body to then team with crops, or short length jumpers. The shorter length allows me to accessorise with flats, or my army/worker style boots for a tough edge to the mumsie style skirt. Or I can go glam on this simple piece with my new heels and various jewellery to spice it up. We may not be ready to cover up completely yet but this baby will be perfect for the rest of the summers evenings and the not so sunny days.

Easily dressed down with the boots!

This skirt is a great way to ease me into the winter, but with all these gorgeous coats and capes that will cover the high street walls, it may not be a problem.

Maxed Out?

The maxi dress has been the must have item for this summer. Championed by every shop on the high street for women of all ages. I see them everywhere from the beach to nights out even at gigs. Maxi at gigs, is that wise? Nothing feels more glamorous then when you walk into a room dressed in one of these floor length babies, even if in the tight ones you have to waddle a bit.

But when they are everywhere, I want something different. So where next from the maxi?

Styling is the key for a new take on maxi length. Designers for a/w 10 have unearthed a new trend of collaborating knitwear with evening elegance. Sometimes tight sometimes slouchy, sweaters were layered over sweeping floor length skirts. The deep opulent hues of purples, blues and reds worked the best, continuing to the floor with the skirts always looking glam whether with billowing volume from Louis Vutton or loose and flowing like from Dolce and Gabbana. But instead of investing in a new skirt when I student funds, I am experimenting with layering my existing knitwear with my existing maxi dress. I cheap way to update my maxi look by wrapping up in winter warms. Just make sure the skirt half looks glam.

Dries Van Noten in the Vogue catwalk report caught my eye with a variation on this trend. Layering a very slouchy almost t-shirt shaped sweat over a rich purple skirt with a subtle darker print infused. This designer had the more youthful look of the page of the supplement, so I thought layering a t-shirt over a maxi dress or skirt may allow this trend to sweep into daytime casual.


I can imagine myself meeting my girl friends for lunch wearing a long skirt and rocking a tee. I think I would want my skirt to be loose and flowing in a bleached purple and I would layer over my Amplified Rolling stones t-shirt or maybe one of my more oversized tees from the men's section in Primark would work better, lending towards the large knits of the catwalk.


Definitely day time chic!

No! Maybe

I very often buy small, easy on the purse strings items from Topshop: usually t-shirts or occasionally I feel the need to top up my perfect jeans account. I rarely buy anything big; as in the dresses or the amazing shoes. Sadly I just don't have the money.

Yet I found myself behind the purple curtains of the changing rooms during the ruled routine of poses, saying no to an item that I would usually snap up. Front, side, back: the poses when on and so did my opinion.

I had been looking for the perfect crop top for a while, even before the Isle of Wight festival. This one was good, reasonably priced at £14 (not forgetting that all important student discount), washed black with acid pink spelling out 'New York.' Perfect for my New York/ Sex and the City continuing obsession and very 80s. I'm sure Carrie would approve of this T.

But still I found myself saying no. Am I really out of my wardrobe filling ways already? I thought it would take a lot more weening than this. The shorts were harder to say no to, their retro high waist and rough leg holes: so taunting. 'Rosanna, they are not Levis: you want Levis' I eventually said to myself as I reluctantly placed them back amongst the shorts.

Thinking I had escaped the Topshop trap, I then found myself in the shoe section, lusting after something that I would not usually even contemplate because of the price.



I immediately tried on these Topshop Seanna clogs without thinking. I took one look in the mirror and quickly took them off for fear I would be too tempted. I rarely try on heels because I know I hardly ever wear them and they are so expensive. So why this pair? Have I become more of an investment buyer like I wanted? Or is this just an excuse to justify buying them?

So why do I like these so much? I first remember seeing Chanels spring clogs from which these above and many other designs like them where born from in the March 2010 Vogue. There were on the toes of Alexa Chung accompanying her denim feature. I fell in with their statement black and studded appearance against the soft blues and indigo's of the shoot.


These Topshop copyclogs are the perfect highstreet answer to Chanel, but when thinking about why I like them I found more reasons for why I shouldn't. Firstly, just the name, clog, doesn't sound that chic and when discussing these shoes with a friend: just the mention of this word made her nose wrinkle. Similar to Crocs; its just not good. As I look at them more I can see a resemblance to a pair of flat clog-esc shoes that my Mum has owned for years. I have never been that sure about them but they are excellent as a quick slip on pair to just pop outside in.

Yet after all these negatives, I still want the shoes. The studs add the youthful touch to the grown up appearance and punch away that mumsie feel. A pair of grown up heels to pair with my new wardrobe ethic? Possibly.