Fine and Dandy

This season fashion has turned his head back a generation. In a move away from the 20th century trends which have dominated the catwalk for years, fashion is looking back to the quintessentially British 19th century male – the dandy.

A dandy was a self made man who would pride himself on his appearance, extensive vocabulary and his love for leisurely hobbies. One of the first forms of aspirational dressing, the style of a dandy imitated the aristocratic fashion of his generation and brought an air of elegance to the middle class wardrobe.

Today, fashion has turned the original dandy appearance on its head and given it a fresh vibe for the modern lady. The updated dandy is female and can be seen donning pastel coloured brogues, floral blazers and skinny jeans. She is smart, sophisticated, chic and she draws her inspiration directly from the 18th century man.

After consulting a few fellowfashionistas we decicided this was one of the more difficult looks for the season, as the key factors are the smaller touches and the attention to detail. So below, the team at the fashion buzz have been brainstorming to come up with a comprehensive guide to the 2010 dandy.

Altogether more androgynous, the 2010 dandy would favour a short up do ala Agyness Deyn (the slick side do is also all over the catwalk) reminiscent of the 1940’s man.

Secondly the dandy would always have 2 key pieces to her outfit. These piece will often form the basis of your 2010 dandy outfit. This shirt is one item (available out urbanoutfitters.com)

And this shirt is the second piece - also available at urbanoutfitters.com. (also top tip - tie some ribbon around the shirts neckline for a parisian feel)

The key to rocking this trend is to mix strong masculine pieces with feminine trends (think flowery blazers or pastel coloured brogues.)

So combine these Office flowery brogues with the outfit to bring some feminity to the outift.

For more inspiration we have listed some key pieces below that a 2010 Dandy will also be including her wardrobe.

· Waistcoats
· Bow blouses
· Floral elements
· Pastel shade brogues
· High waisted jodhpurs

Finally, to complete the look, bold make up is key. Think stark red lipstick with pale skin for minimalist perfection.

Below we have also chosen some pieces which are perfect for putting a finishing touch to your outfit.
· Large Brooches
· Bow detailing
· Band hats
· Pocket watch

Perfectly professional, the SS10 dandy look displays feminity, whilst also depicting an image of power (a great look for work!). Here at the-fashion-buzz, we want want want.


Images

1- http://www.audreyhepburn.com/

2 - http://fashion-allure.com/style/wp-content/gallery/hair_styles_2008/agyness_deyn.jp

3 - http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/

4 - http://www.urbanoutiftters.co.uk/

5 - http://www.office.co.uk/

March Madness - Some great fashion offers and discounts

Just thought I would share some amazing offers that are going on at the moment. Perfect for updating your wardobe and getting some great spring style on a budget.

£10 off your first £50 order when you join Cocosa! Invite Code: Newmember Offer valid until 1st April 2010

Check out the sassy, new SpringSummer '10 Collection at Fashion Union. New customers get 15% off first orders plus free delivery plus free returns! Discount will be automatically added to your basket.

Get 25% off everything during the Mega Event at Laura Ashley! - until 21/03/10

Free delivery on orders over £75 at Sweaty Betty!

Free delivery on orders over £100 at OASIS

Offers and promotions at houseoffraser.co.uk

Peacocks version of the Chloe Louise vintage style satchel

High Street retailer Peacocks have sold out of their highly popular vintage style handbag that is a dead ringer for the Chloe Louise bag. The mock alligator skin bag with a gold clasp and edging is priced at just £10 a big saving on the original Chloe bag which retails at about £9000. The first 5000 bags sold out within an amazing 48 hours but if you are desparate to get hold of one, don't despair, more are on their way. If you really can't wait Peacocks sell a whole range of designer inspired handbags at very affordable prices.

The vintage style satchel is a huge trend this year with Mulberry also having their own designer version 'the Alexa' named after the uber trendy TV presenter Alexa Cheung. Debenhams also have a very lovely small tan leather satchel in the H! by Henry Holland range. At £40, slightly more expensive than the Peacocks version but really versatile and likely to last for many seasons to come.

Are they fur real?

Please excuse the play on words in the title but I just couldn't resist. I am talking about the designers who don't seem to be buying the whole global warming thing. Instead they are predicting an ice age or some very cold winters, certainly a lot colder than we usually experience in the UK. A number of collections for autumn winter 2010, featured the most amazing thick fur coats and outfits that could be likened to a yeti or abominable snowman.

Of course the most noteable of the fur suits was Karl Lagerfeld's for Chanel. Reportedly, it is fake fur not real fur, but is an over exageration of Coco Chanel's love of fur. The back drop for the show was equally as dramtic with melted icebergs and which had actually been transported from Scandinavia.

At Nathan Jenden this fur (or fake fur) coat looks so cosy and warm, perfect for cocooning yourself in on a cold winters day. The neon bright shapes add a bit of fun and stop the whole look from moving into teddy bear territory.

Louise Grey's colourtastic collection included the biggest of fur coats with flashes or orange. This is definitely one for the more eccentric amongst us.

I just can't wait to see how this trend will translate to the high street for the winter.

Picture credits
All from http://www.style.com/

Sketched monkey - men's t shirt

If you spend most of your non working life in t shirts, which lets face it many of us do, you might just sometimes want something a bit different that catches peoples eye (in a good way), makes you stand out from the crowd of other t shirt wearers and is a bit of a conversation starter.

There has definitely been a bit of interest in animals and particularly monkeys amongst the fashion world lately. Why monkeys? There is something slightly comical about monkeys. Perhaps it is there close relationship evolution wise to humans. Perhaps, they just remind you of someone you know. I love this artistic pencil sketched monkey t shirt with added headphones just to remind us how similar they are to us, or us to them. With its understated grey colour scheme it strikes just the right balance of individual and trendy but not too in your face.

This pencil monkey Tshirt is available from http://www.blueinc.co.uk/

Highlights from Milan Fashion Week

I am really loving this years fashion weeks, with live streaming and videos,it feels like you are actually there. Milan now almost feels like distant memory, but the looks and trends won't fully emerge until next season. Where London is all about innovation and Paris undertated quality, Milan is about luxury.

With some of the worlds most sought after super labels showing at Milan Fashion Week including Prada and Gucci, it is definitely one of the most important fashion week in terms of luxury fashion mega brands.

D and G collections almost always grab attention and that is what their clothes fully intend to do. For Autumn wimter 2010, their alpine and ski inspired clothing is sure to be a huge trend with the knitted snowflake bodysuit being a big favourite.

Prada showed a refreshing collection of classics, modelled by curvacious women (unusually for Prada) with Bee hive hair. These clothes are the sort of clothes normal women want to wear and signal a revision by Miucca to the nineties styles that she did so well. The interesting thing about these clothes is that womanly curves were very much a focal point.

At Gianfranco Ferre, again curves were a big focus with pieces such as coats with wide belts and pencil skirts with suggestive slits highlighting curvature to the maximum.

pictures from http://www.style.com/

Summer Dresses by Rise Clothing

OK so spring hasn't even arrived yet, but summer isn't that far away. With the last few days being filled with glorious sunshine, surely we are starting to feel just a teensy weensy bit summery or at least starting to put a little thought into our spring and summer wardrobes. These lovely dresses by Rise Clothing are just too good  to wait until summer for. In some of the seasons key trends including multi colour prints, tie dye and lace, these dresses the perfect wardrobe updates. Wear with tights until the weather gets better or socks and heels for the hottest Spring look around.

Rise Multi Coloured One Shoulder Dress

Rise Midnight Blue Dress

Rise Multi Shift Dress

 

Rise Cream Lace Dress

Rise Tie Dye Black Dress