Back To Basics...

Nothing is more important than a comfy cotton tee shirt to wear under your jumper on a cold winter morning. It makes the whole difference to your day. However I've always found it quit difficult to find good quality basics that you don't have to throw away after two wash. UNIQLO is my answer. If anyone is interested, their latest store has opened on Oxford Street and promises to be a real success. From plain leggings to comfy cotton tee shirts to reasonably priced cashmere jumpers, everything is on display. And with the Christmas season around the corner, it is also the perfect spot for some christmas shopping. From t-shirts and sweaters to denim, all of their clothes are made according to exacting Japanese standards for quality and come in an astonishing array of colors and styles, it's time to shop. Viva casual clothes! Viva UNIQLO!

A Touch Of Cavalli

Stella McCartney, Karl Lagerfeld, Viktor & Rolf and Madonna have all worked with high street brand H&M and each time it has been a real success. This season it is Roberto Cavalli's turn to collaborate with the high street store. I am not usually the biggest fan of Roberto Cavalli's design, but I have to admit that after having had a glimpse of this collection, I've changed my mind. "The collection is built around a selection of Roberto Cavalli's favorite pieces throughout the years" says H&M's head of design Margareta van den Bosch. This fall every woman will have the opportunity to have a piece from this Italian designer, who makes women feel sexy and elegant in his leopard print trademark. Leopard and zebra is what prevails in this collection. From jackets to evening dresses to sexy lingerie there is something for everyone's taste. For me it has to be the cute yet sexy sequined mini dress which is being displayed in many of the H&M advertisements. Amazing is the only word I can use to describe it. Amazing, amazing, amazing simply amazing..."

The Golden Age Of Cate

Australian actress Cate Blanchett is back on our screens as Queen Elizabeth (We can not forget that it is nearly a decade ago since her role in Shekar Kapur's Elizabeth earned her an Academy Award nomination). This time I thought she was even more striking than she was throughout the first movie. Cate is on top form and is absolutely breathtaking whether it is with her acting skills or because of the epoch costumes she wears. The story might not be incredible and attention grabbing, however, everything from the costumes to the set is mind blowing. English tradition and opulence is de rigueur from start to finish. Cate Blanchett shines as always and delivers an outstanding performance. From Babel with Brad Pitt to Notes on a Scandal with Dame Judi Dench, it seems like this year is Cate's Golden Age. Every fashion lover will definitely be amazed by the high standard of the costumes and make up used in this period movie.

"Fashion's Seven Sins"

Magnum Photos is a photographic co-operative of great diversity and distinction owned by its photographer-members in four editorial offices around the world; London, New York, Paris and Tokyo. These various photographers portray people, events, issues and personalities. Aside of the large collection of iconic members, Magnum also represent cutting edge photographers. Magnum Photos is currently showing an exhibition at the Magnum Print Room which concentrates on images from a publication called Fashion Magazine. This magazine gives the opportunity to individual Magnum photographers to interpret high fashion. The photographers who are represented include Martin Parr, Bruce Gilden and Alec Soth. Today, whilst I was viewing the photographs displayed in the gallery, the images that grabbed the most of my attention were from an American photographer, Bruce Gilden who joined Magnum Photos in 1998. Gilden is known as being a street photographer; his work done in New York City represents what he calls "Fashion's seven sins: Power, Fame, Addiction, Body, Fantasy, Exclusive and Illicit". I thought what he calls the "Seven Sins" were perfectly translated through his images. "I'm known for taking pictures very close, and the older I get, the closer I get." It seems like he will continue to produce extremely communitative shots for a long time to come. Be prepared.

Sweet Galliano!

This Year, the John Galliano Spring / Summer 2008 Pret a Porter show in Paris can be described with two words: Sweet and Innocent. It definitely made me drift back to my childhood. With pink chiffon dresses, embroidered taffeta skirts, light silky summer dresses and floppy hats, it has to be said, it was the cutest show. A fairytale. With a merry-go-round in the background, doll like models dressed in soft colors such as baby blue, light pink, cream, gold and beige, everything a girl could wish for was on display. Apparently, this was exactly the atmosphere Galliano himself wanted to create for his new and dreamy collection: "Fashion has to be fun, flirty, happy and romantic". I agree.

J'Adore...Couture...

This autumn, the Victoria&Albert Museum is housing a beautiful exhibition on what Christian Dior once described as the "Golden Age" of fashion. The exhibition explores the creation of couture design from the post war era to the global success of the major fashion brands by the late 1950's. It is a must see for every fashion lover. With designs from Paris such as Balenciaga, Balmain, Givenchy and of course Dior himself and from London with Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies, there is something for everyone to admire. From a Givenchy blue cape to a red version of Dior's Zemire design, this is your chance to see some of the world rarities. Within the second part of the exhibition, fashion photography and illustrations from this era prevail. The slightly somber room is filled with photographs that enable you to enter the very exclusive and private world that was Couture at that time. Cecil Beaton's 1948 photograph was the one that caught most of my attention. For me, it was a glimpse of this opulent era.

One Exciting Pair Of Shoes!

Heels up girls! Next fashion season will develop a serious shoe obsession. The first time I spotted these incredible and most unbelievable pair of shoes was whilst browsing on my favourite fashion website, Style.com on a Sunday afternoon. They there were the shoes that definitely stand out from the Spring and Summer 2008 Paris shows. These black and white knee high boots / gladiator sandals (not quit sure they can actually be called shoes) are Balenciaga's latest and most incredible creation. Since spotting these fabulous "sandals" a few weeks ago, I regularly see a picture of them in the magazines I flick through. They are so striking! I want them! But how on earth would I be able to wear these pumps and more importantly where would they go "incognito"? All of this put aside, Balenciaga's current designer Nicolas Ghesquiere seems to be on the right path to impress the fashion pack with the design of his shoes (do you remember the mind blowing robotic stilettos from the Spring / Summer 2007 collection?). Jimmy Choo, please step aside, Balenciaga is back in town.

Lovely In Leather!

Last Tuesday an article in Grazia magazine grabbed my attention. The fashion piece I was looking at was on the new frenzy for leather jackets. Suddenly it came back to me. I had one in the back of my closet dating from a few years back (I was going to save myself some cash!). I still thought it looked way over the top to wear to college with my daily basic pair of jeans. So I have to admit I forgot about this jacket until I came upon this fantastic piece and decided to try it on. Since that specific wardrobe moment I haven’t stopped wearing it. A leather jacket is everything you would like to expect from a piece of clothing. It is practical, beautiful, comfortable and you can wear it with absolutely anything! The more exciting part of this is that there is such a wide collection of jackets out there for you to pick from. They come in any shape, size and color you can imagine. All the fashion stores from Top Shop to Primark have their own in an array of styles and colors. But hey! I have to admit that I would easily trade mine for the Top Shop sweet and sexy little piece. It simply looks fantastic! Go and check it out!

The Sunday Times Magazine Investigative Piece: "The Monster In The Mirror"

The Investigative Piece from the Sunday Times Magazine is written by Yvonne Roberts and investigates the prolem of "Clinical Narcissism". Firstly, the writer introduces the problem of narcissism straight away, by introducing a woman whose husband is suffering and dealing with clinical narcissism: "Claire, is 47, a mother of two, and recently divorced [...] a friend studying to be a psychotherapist suggested she look up narcissism on the internet". With this example the reader is able to relate to the issue easier. The journalist offers a very good and indepth definition of the "narcissic personality disorder". She has very interesting and extremely relevant interviewees within her piece: people who have suffered from narcissism, people who are still suffering from it and in depth explanations from a doctor, Dr Alexander Lowen. The journalist even gives the reader the definition going back to the Greek Mythology. She has also incorporated a number of references and statistics from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders which makes the reader understand the problem effectively. She also uses "I" which shows that she got emotionally involved with the issue and gives a lot of emotion to the piece. I also thought the topic investigated was very interesting and gripping to read about. It is a new and fresh idea. I had never read anything on this subject before. A very informative piece.

The Telegraph Fashion Magazine Investigative Piece: "Slowly Does it"

The Fashion and Lifestyle piece I have chosen to analyze is an article from the Telegraph Fashion Magazine and is written by Tamsin Blanchard. The article investigates with depth at whether people are sacrificing quality for quantity regarding today's fashion. I enjoyed reading this specific piece because there is a number of interesting facts and she introduces her piece in a very original fashion: "And we are on fast forward when we are shopping too, buying clothes s though they are going out of fashion which they probably are, almost as fast as we can wear them." She has incorporated gripping quotes from high end designers such as Giorgio Armani. I also enjoyed the fact that she incorporated some of her own experience regarding the issue with sentences such as: "I have a black dress by Martin Margiela." She also compares the two sides: fast fashion and slow fashion. This article is a good fashion investigative piece because it concentrates on a specific issue but also introduces the season's trends. The piece is illustrated with a fashion spread which I believe makes it very unique and eye catching for the reader.