Ho hum.
That was pretty much my reaction when I heard Vicky B was launching her own line of dresses.
But it seems the collection has the fashion cognoscenti all ruffled under their collars. The collection garnered rave reviews at New York fashion week and to maximise exclusivity in the best way possible, the initial production run was limited to just 400 dresses. Backed by the man that knows how to play the media like a piano, Simon Fuller, this looks to be a very successful and lucrative career move.
Selfridges had the UK exclusive and on the first day, there were only three dresses left unsold by 3pm. From late December/January, the dresses will also go on sale at Harrods, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus.
The dresses start at around £1000 so clearly the credit crunch isn't crunching everybody!
If I'm entirely honest, I really don't see what all the fuss is about from looking at them. But then again with all the hidden corsetry on the inside, superior workmanship and premium quality fabrics, you probably have to try them on to really understand their beauty. (That's their story and they're sticking to it)
Dress No.1 is the Gavarnie Mirroire.
Dress No. 3 is the Minerve.
Here she is in the Frejus dress (Dress No. 4). Its a little too prim and proper for my liking but needless to say countless others have clamoured for it.
This is the Frejus, Dress No. 4 in all black, which is a MUCH better colourway in my opinion.
Dress No. 6, the Barbazan is definitely my favourite from the bunch. A simple strapless dress always works like magic for a formal evening out. The basket weave splattered with sequins adds a little oomph to a very simple and flattering style. (it looks like magic in white!)
Dress No. 7 is the Lombez and although its one of my favourites from the bunch, it doesn't look all that forgiving. But oh yes, the fabulous boning and corsetry on the inside....hmmm, still not that forgiving.
Proving the truth in the maxim, you are your own best PR, I love this dress the Bidart (Dress No.10). I doubt I'd wear it...but it looks fabulous. On Victoria Beckham.
Your thoughts?
Hello Officer Franklin! I promised I'd say hello to you, make sure you keep reading on a regular basis!!!!!
My, my, my its cold out there isn't it?
Well if you're in Europe or most parts of America and weather.com is to be believed, you're freezing your extremities off.
One of the BEST ways to keep that extra little bit warm through winter is to wear a hat.
Seriously, we all lose 20-40% of body heat through our heads.
Now hats, in particular, fall into three categories. The good (i.e. cute), the bad and the fugly.
So dear reader, here's my selection of the good!
And at such fabulous prices, get more than one and switch them up depending on what you're wearing!
A bright pop of colour on your head is a good way to beat the winter blues. This little piece of cuteness is a bargaintastic $8.80
www. forever21.com
Or this boho luxe style multi coloured beret for £11.75 from www. asos.com
I love these baggy berets, supremely flattering on all face shapes and hair lengths. This one is shot through with sparkly threads of lurex. Fabulous. £7.83www. asos.com
This is the cutest snow bunny hat I've seen in ages! It looks so warm, I want one for the holidays now! By the fabulous hatmakers, Goorin Brothers, available from www. asos.comfor £19.
I love a bit of sparkly wool and this sequin covered beret from www. monsoon.co.uk/accessorize is right up my spingly sparkly street. £11.75.
This beret is very versatile as it goes with everything in a low key understated way. The eyelets add a little bit of interest to the style. www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk£14.
I love Snoods! A snood is this supercosy looking combo of a scarf and a hood. Perfect to keep your head and neck warm as no drafts have any hope of getting in. www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk£25 now £9.
For those of you who prefer a little badass to your style, I'm in all types of love with this Ted Baker Penney Trilby. From www. asos.com Was £45 now £30.
(and fyi, I'm always confused on the difference between a fedora and a trilby, wiki to the rescue!
A trilby hat (or simply trilby, originally Trilby hat) is a soft felt men's hat with a narrow brim, a deeply indented crown, and a pinch at the front.
A fedora is a soft felt hat that is creased lengthwise down the crown and pinched in the front on both sides. A trilby hat is somewhat similar to a fedora, but typically has a shorter brim, and the back of the brim is distinctively more sharply upturned as a result)
Okay, this is clearly not a winter hat but i have noticed there are A LOT of weddings this Xmas. So if you're going to one, forget the fascinator and go for this positively vampish, vixenish, undeniably sexy little chapeau from Claudette Chapeau on www. asos.com. I want one now.
I'm definitely feeling the new very seasonal trend that's been creeping up on the horizon for accessories inspired by nature. And most specifically, the leaf.
These fabulous leaf inspired earrings are from California Hot new brand, Ateliette. A bargaintastic $20. Love it. I have a pair and they're fabulous, big earrings that are light as a feather, in 50 years time your ears will thank you for them.
Or how about this fantabulous pendant? Its a real leaf dipped in copper!
Regular readers know I love to give kudos to Etsy as and when I can. This pendant is by Elilu Designs or follow this link.....
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_2&listing_id=18486013
www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_2&listing_id=18486013
One of my favourite jewellery designers of all time is the short and wrinkly Kenneth Jay Lane, the guy just keeps churning out fashion finds. I'm loving this cuff and the best bit about a hinged cuff is you can wear it on your upper arm too when you feel like it. Nubian style.
www.shopbop.com
Song of The Day: Lady Gaga - Just Dance
I've just found one of the most fantastic new shoe websites I've come across in a long time.
www.kitty-cooper.co.uk
Kitty Cooper Laura £240 now £120. You get a choice of three fabulously decadent brocade.
Kitty Cooper, Dina £235 now 115. You can choose from the luxurious looking dove blue silk satin, chesnut or wood smoke nubuck. And yes, they all come with that seriously hot pink heel.
Kitty Cooper, I love the Tamara for their quirky appeal. Cute and fun, quite possibly a bit more of a daytime shoe but it depends, as always where you're going. Is it just me or is the social arena awash with weddings this Xmas? If you're going to one, and intend to be the hotness, these shoes would work a treat. £230 now £115.
I'm in all types of love with the layout, look and photography on the site and they've even had the decency to put almost everything on sale...and that's on top of the VAT drop. The shoes are bright, pretty and quirky and are the perfect type of shoes to work by day, by night, by brunch, by lunch, by dinner.
And quite frankly in these hard economic times, while I do advocate buying less and buying better over the cheap nonsense that WILL fall apart from the cheap and cheerful retailers....you also need to make sure you putting your cash down for items that will work hard in your wardrobe.
The shoes are definitely very ladylike and a bit proper, but when you work your magic with the dress, the clutch, the gems.....you will be ....the hotness.
I'm a HUGE fan of a cute clutch. There's something about the sophisticated elegance of a cute clutch in the evening, whether you're wearing jeans or a slinky dress, a clutch is the perfect accessory for you look.
I've never been a big fan of Accessorize, a little too made in China looking for me!
BUT I have to say, I'm eating my words right as as even though these babies were undoubtedly made in China for peanuts, they're tooo cute!
I'm loving the 20s flapper style influence on the style of this clutch. The scalloped edges, the all over beading, the colour, the hotness. And only £17.40.
I'm loving the screen siren-esque glamour of this one. The minaudière (small hard cased ornamental case) is big news this Xmas and this one is f.a.b.u.l.o.u.s.
And with the VAT reduction, the prices are even more bargaintastic.
Take a look for yourselves www.monsoon.co.uk/icat/accessorize
The asymmetric strap has been hovering on the horizon for a while now.
They're so popular as they offer little more coverage and a more interesting neckline than strapless, they're a little more edgy and contemporary than spaghetti straps and halter necks and they're just undeniably sexy.
And interesting neckline always attracts attention to the wearer so get out your best strapless bras (sagginess and over exposure being the biggest fashion faux pas in my book), leave out the necklaces, don a chunky cuff and load up the superstar earrings....and you dear reader, will be .....the hotness.
I prefer strappy shoes with long dresses (the point being sophisticated elegance) and the chunkier clunkier platforms with cocktail dresses (the point being attention grabbing glamourpuss). So now you know.
Ok, so the $288 price tag on the ABS by Allen Schwartz dress isn't necessarily credit crunch friendly. I am an advocate of buy less and buy better. Instead of a wardrobe full of crap, focus on a few timeless key pieces that will hold up longer than some Primark nonsense.
BUT there are deals galore to make the most of this season. Retailers need you, and don't you forget that. So don't be afraid to bring out the Ijebu in you and haggle like a Moroccan Kasbah carpet seller. I just did that at a big department store for a fabulous dress and convinced them to go from 20% off to 40% off.....RESULT!
....Nothing to lose ladies, not even any shame in that game. If you succeed, share your stories please!
Enjoy.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
For those that celebrate it I hope you all had a good one.
I had my new laptop stolen yesterday which sucks like hell. These things are so damn expensive to replace. And who really needs to dropa chunk of cash on a replacement laptop at Xmas....humph.
Anyway back to the hotness.
I´m in all types of love with this dress.
I love a good maxi dress for their ability to toe the line between glamour and laidback sophistication. They hide a multitude of sins and enhance all your best bits. They´re so easy to wear, easy to dress up or down and appropriate for virtually every genre of invitation that will be making its way into your life over the next few weeks.
This little baby is a credit crunch friendly $24.80 from Forever 21.
The monochrome colour palette keeps it sophisticated and sexy. The floral outline is seriously hot at the moment. Worn with strappy heels, some bigass earrings and a sexy little clutch...you mi amor, will be....the hotness.
