World Cup Fever at Blue Inc

It is not long now until the World Cup and we can't wait. With the matches being so far away in South Africa, most of us will have to be content with watching them on the T.V, but that doesn't mean that we can't get into the spirit of things by wearing some red and white to support the England team.

Blue Inc have a great selection of England supporting red and white clothes that are not only fun but also quite stylish in a football sort of a way.

England Striped Swim Shorts (also great to let everyone know where you are from whilst on holiday if they hadn't already guessed)

England Crest T shirt - not only a great way to support England but also a really eye catching top. 

England 66 T shirt -  a very important reminder that we have done it before and we can do it again.

England Crest Baseball Cap - perfect for World Cup barbecues, garden parties or just sat in the pub!

Sunset Dresses

Ashish Sunset Sequin Mini

Motel Camilla Dress - Sunset Palm

ASOS Sequin Sunset Dress

Ever since we spotted that amazing sequinned sunset dress by Ashish, we have been on the look out for a more afforadable version. We love Asos's version which features the same palm tree silhouettes over tropical sunset scene. If you are looking for a slightly more low key look without the sequins, check out Motel Rocks which has the same scene and warm colours on a bodycon dress.

Ethical Cork Shoes by Po-Zu

Have you ever considered cork shoes? If not, why not, cork is the new leather. Not only does it look good but cork, which is the bark of the Cork Oak tree is harvested without harming the tree and is then replaced by another layer, making it both renewable and sustainable. Whilst leather is natural and bio degradable, the rearing of livestock has a significant impact on the environment and the toxic chemicals used in tanning are damaging to the environment and the health of the workers and people living nearby. Synthetic alternatives are also damaging to the environment for a number of reasons.

Po-Zu make some great cork shoes which are amazingly comfortable, with a coconut mattress and  latex sole, so natural and non toxic that you can lick them (if that's your thing) and hand made in ethical factories in Portugal. We love their quirky style combined with practicality for everyday wear. If cork just doesn't go with anything in your wardrobe Po-Zu also have a great selection of eco friendly shoes including hemp sandals, vegan shoes and boots.

Massive Fashion Discounts for May

If the sunshine we are experiencing has made you want to update your wardrobe for the summer, then check out these great discounts which are perfect for stocking up on summer dresses and holiday clothes.

Dorothy Perkins is offering £10 off all dresses until Friday 21st May. Plus with every dress order you get the chance to win a years worth of shoes.
Cocosa, fashion club is offering £10 off your first £50 order when you join Cocosa using invite code newmember.
Also some great sales on the following labels including Edun, the ethical label of Bono and Ali Hewson with the aim of build Africa as a viable source for fashion and raise the awareness of the possibilities of the continent, featuring jeans and dresses, organic cotton and silk. Also Betty Jackson, C & C California, Vera Wang, Thomas Pink and Jantzen Swimwear.
People Tree have 20% off selected summer tops until midnight 20th May. They have some great organic and Fairtrade clothes.
Annie Greenabelle - another great organic label is offering 20% off with discount code 20SS10

Motel Clothing are offering 20% off with discount code CRAZY

Traffic People are offering 20% off all items with discount code TRAFFIC20
Boden are offering 10% off their summer collection plus free delivery.

Yumi (at Uttam Direct) is offering 20% off with discount code YUMI

picture from Yumi

The Denim Biker Jacket

The biker jacket is such an amazing style. A little bit rock and roll with a flattering assymetrical zip and cropped length. It looks amazing with little dresses and maxi dresses a like. Its popularity just seems to go on and on. Not only has the classic style of leather jacket been popular for at least 50 years, there have recently been lots of new takes on the biker jacket including the jersey biker (last year) and now this summers denim biker.

We have found the perfect denim biker jacket at Marks and Spencers. The cut is just right and the sleeves have great detailing on them. We also love the faded effect and zip details. The price is spot on at just £39.50. It would look amazing with anything from the seasons floral playsuits to neutral frilly pieces or the must have little white dress (or little black dress).

Karl Lagerfeld's film presentation

If you love celeb style watching (I do), then Karl Lagerfelds film presentation was probably as good an opportunity as any. The launch of his 17 minute film called Remember Now included guests such as Vanessa Paradis, Georgia Jagger and Diane Kruger. It was held in grounds of the Cinema de la Renaissance in St Tropez, a perfectly stylish location for a perfectly stylish crowd watching a perfectly stylish film. The film, which is about the hedonistic summer of a group of young, rich, beautiful people has recieved quite mixed reviews though.

It is obviously so much warmer there than it is here as the uniform of the party goers included sun dresses, sandals and shorts. Vanessa Paradis, the current face of Chanel's Coco Cocoon range wore a red jacket with a white top and jeans. Model Karolina Kurkova was pictured in a pocketed playsuit with a trilby hat. Leigh Lezark wore a casual jeans and t shirts combination with monochrome ballet pumps and a biker jacket.

Fashion Counterfeits and Copies

Many of us would shy away from buying counterfeit designer watches, handbags, t shirts and other goods. Yet the majority of us quite happily wander into a local high street fashion chain and buy a dress or jacket that is quite obviously copied from one of the seasons designer catwalk looks. At what point does copying become wrong and unethical and as consumers should we feel bad about buying these clothes?

Legally speaking any piece of clothing that uses a designer trademark or deliberately tries to make people thinking that they have bought the genuine designer goods is counterfeit. Ethically speaking, counterfeit goods or those that copy trademarks, logos and brands are often made in developing countries by companies with very questionable ethics. It is possible and highly likely that organisations dealing in counterfeit goods also involved in organised crime. Personally I have the opinion that if I can't have the real McCoy then I would rather do without all together instead opting for a unique and individual piece from a less known label. Surely part of the desire of these labels is the quality that you are buying. Although sometimes it may be difficult to spot a fake, counterfeits are unlikely to be made with anywhere like the same quality and it is bound to show in the end.  As those producing counterfeit goods have an obvious disregard for the law, they are not overly bothered when it comes to health and safety, if you are buying fake fashion, be especially careful of items like sunglasses and keep them away from children.

I am not completely sure that I can really take the moral high ground when it comes to counterfeits as I am always more than happy to buy the latest high street copy of  a catwalk trend. But then isn't all fashion pretty much copied from something else it, be it designer piece of celebrity trend?

Perhaps any form of copying is wrong. But then it seems to be human nature to want to follow trends and fit in, so it makes sense that there are a variety of options for each trend available in different price bands. Perhaps copying is OK as long as it is obvious that it is a copy and not the real thing (but then isn't obvious that a countereit Louis Vuitton bag is not real, who would really think that you could buy one for £20?) I'm not really sure of the answer but I know that counterfeits and copying of designs is now so commonplace, you could be forgiven for buying something just because you like it without ever knowing it is a rip off. If you are buying fashion with an obvious fake label just because you want to look like you are carrying the real thing then perhaps you consider what you looking to achieve.

Summer Boots

I often don't really consider boots as summer footwear but when teamed with shorts, cropped trousers, dresses or skirts, they make a great alternative to the ubiquitous flip flop or sandal. They are also great when you need something really comfy for walking a long way or in that wet summer weather that we some times get.

Here are some of our favourite summer boots:

The Work Boot

We love this flat strap boot from Urban Outfitters and think it would look great with a floral playsuit and parka jacket for a touch of the new grunge.

The Peep Toe Boot

This grey zip buckle ankle boot from Dorothy Perkins is the perfect accompaniment to your summer bodycon dress for a night on the town.

The Wedge Boot

Mini Market sells some of the hottest wedge boots around. Check out these gorgeous patent ones from My Wardrobe.

The Perforated Boots

One of the latest trends in summer boots is the perforated, punched or cut out style (We love these ones from Miss Selfridge) which looks especially good in nude or neutral colours. These cut outs are not about ventilation (although they are good for that too) but a great textured look.

The Welly Boot

With the British summer becoming so unpredictable a pair of Hunter Wellies have become the essential festival footwear. We love these very stylish red ones available from my wardrobe perfect for teaming with the seasons rainbow colours or nude colours trends.

ASOS to launch ethical online market place

Later this year ASOS will be launching an ethical online marketplace which will encourage their customers to recycle used clothes by buying and selling them online. The recycling of clothes is both good for the environment and bank balance giving consumers the chance to make money out of the clothes that they no longer want.

This is the latest in a line of innovative online offerings by ASOS who recently lauched ASOS life a forum and social network for discussing fashion and shopping.

The online market place will differ from the highly popular ebay in that it will allow sellers to fix prices rather than selling in an auction where buyers bid. ASOS will provide advice to sellers on how to display their items for maximum selling sucess. The marketplace will not only be accesible to individual sellers but also corporates and independent retailers and designers giving larger companies another way to sell their goods or to market excess stock. This site is a welcome addition to the other used fashion resale websites including Posh-swaps.com and the new ebay site dedicated to fashion.

Underwear as Outerwear

Many vowed that we would never wear this trend, me included but I will have to admit I am gradually coming round to considering it. I think the key to making this trend really work is opting for the designer versions of this look and steering well clear of trying to create your own 'underwear as outerwear' outfit by wearing your favourite undies on the outside. Of course, creating your own outfit with underwear is an option and could look great if done well but there is also equal potential for disaster! 

The designer pieces subtly use underwear inspiration to create pieces that look together and complete and not like you just got confused when getting dressed. A little glimse of lace here and there and a bustier style top perhaps in a fabric like denim that is not typical of underwear. These pieces by Italian label Sportsmax, are the perfect way to wear this trend with style. Lingerie inspiration without exposing too much.

  Sportsmax Bustier Dress

Lace Drape Skirt

Bustier T Shirt Top

Osman Yousefzada To Exhibit in V&A's Fashion In Motion Series

The new rising star of fashion, Osman Yousefzada has been selected to exhibit at the V&A's Fashion in Motion series, which is to be held on May 21 2010. The exhibit will include pieces from Osman's past collections which will be shown with the use of models on the catwalk, and contemporary dancers will also demonstrate how his designs move with the human body.

The 36-year old Afghan-British designer is starting to be taken rather seriously in the Fashion world as he now has a growing list of Celebrity fans, some of which include the Prime Minister's wife Sarah Brown, who has been seen wearing jewellery designed by Osman, actress Thandie Newton, and X-Factor judge Dannii Minogue. The designs have come from Osman "standing in front of the bathroom mirror and draping himself in extra-large towels," as he quotes. "If you look at most ethnic costumes- the toga, the sari, chadhur- it's all about wrapping yourself up."

His draped jersey gowns and sleek, pared-back pieces sell for around £595 for a day dress in Selfridges and Matches and Browns.

Osmar is simply delighted to hear that he is to take part in this spectacular fashion show, quoting, "It's a real honour to be selected to show in the V&A Fashion in Motion, which has just showcased some of the world's greatest designers including some of my favourite contemporaries," he tells Vogue. "I love the idea that my show will be accessible to a wider audience."

Fashion in Motion is a series of live catwalk shows presented at the V&A Museum. It features some of the greatest designers of our time, and brings catwalk events to a larger audience by modelling it against the beautiful backdrop of the museum.

Picture taken from www.thisislondon.co.uk/fashion

Tie dye - two tone or rainbowtastic?

There is no doubt about it tie dye is going to be a huge trend this summer. With maxi dresses and skirts, leggings and even accessories in bold and bright colours. Tie dye definitely has a bit of a seventies appeal about it but it was also a bit of a trend in the nineties (who said there was a nineties revivial going on?) and in recent years its more refined cousin dip dye has become the latest dying technique to be in vogue. Tie dye is one of those trends that could really only work in the summer, perfect for festivals, summer holidays and those incredibly hot days when clothes wise just about anything goes.

Emerald Tie Dye Dress

Janelle Splash Print Tie Dye Dress

Tie Dye Tights

Lorna Tie Dye Maxi Skirt

Angela Tie Dye Maxi Dress

Anabelle Tie Dye Western Shirt

We love tie dye and are noticing that there are two quite distinct camps for this trend the two tones and the rainbowtastic. The two tones are the slightly more refined version, either with a bold combination of either a bright colour and white or a much more subtle combination of perhaps a colour and its lighter alternative giving almost a slightly textured look. These are for those who would like to try a bit of tie dye but are not quite brave enough to go all out hippy. Perhaps for those who remember it all too well from first time round and want a fresher new take on the tie dye look. The most subtle versions of the to tone tie dyes are almost grungey especially in  greys or darker colours.

Aileen Tie Dye Maxi Dress

Alissa Tie Dye Maxi Dress

Kacey Tie Dye Maxi Dress

My personal favourite though is the rainbowtastic tie dye. The most eye poppingly delicious mix of rainbow colours in a haphazard and unstructured design. These are full on patterns for those that just have to get noticed. They cheer up your day and no one could possibly be miserable around you when you are wearing them.

The Costume Institute Met Ball

This years Costume Institute Met Ball Gala was held at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday. For those not lucky enough to get an invite (that makes 2 of us), we are reviewing some of the red carpet dresses and outfits. If you would like to see a full gallery of picture you can do so here.

Alessandra Ambrosio in Atelier Versace

Jessica Biel in Ralph Lauren

As has been the case at a number of red carpet events recently white, neutrals, nudes and blush tones very much dominated the colour schemes. Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame showed a new grown up look in her floor length white Burberry dress with a daring thigh high split.

Kristen Bell in DVF

There were also a few navy and bright blues, pinks, metallics and blacks and plenty of texture and ruffles.

Jennifer Lopez sparkled in Zuhair Murad

Eva Longoria Parker in floor sweeping Marchesa

There was also a bit of a bridal theme going on with full skirted ivory and cream gowns and floor length skirts with trailing trains.

Eva Mendes in Floral Dolce and Gabbana

As is often the case those that do something a bit different stand out from the crowd. We loved this floral print dress worn by Eva Mendes and Alexa Cheung's brave trouser suit with a white shirt by 3.1 Phillip Lim.

Images credits: http://www.look.co.uk/

Win £100 of shoes and more great prizes with posh-swaps.com

Posh-swaps.com has just had its first birthday and in celebration, they are holding a great prize draw during the month of May. Anyone who lists clothes to swap on Posh-swaps.com during May 2010 will be automatically entered into the draw. For each item listed you will get one entry into the draw so the more items that you list, the more chance you will have of winning. The winners will be drawn at the beginning of June and notified by email, all prizes should be claimed within 2 weeks or there will be a redraw to determine a new winner. So here is what you can win:


First Prize - £100 of shoe vouchers for Spartoo.co.uk (this prize is only available to those resident in the UK) - take your pick of some of the latest styles of shoes and handbags including some great designer brands.
Second Prize - a new Initial wallet by Lollipops Paris - a large and well organised purse with large coin pocket and sections for notes and cards, this is the perfect balance of style and practicality.
Third Prizes - three lucky winners can take their pick of one item from the Posh Swaps swapping account. With a selection of second hand accessories and clothes in a variety of sizes (and a few vintage pieces).
Runners Up - ten runners up will each receive one of our stylish reusuable Posh Swaps cotton bags.
 
To register and start listing your items visit http://www.posh-swaps.com/. It is completely free to use.

JC/DC Uses South Park Characters In New Fashion Line

French Designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, also known as JC/DC, has made the characters from hit TV series South Park the key figures of his new line. It is the second time that the designer has used the animation in his line of work.The collection for Summer/Autumn 2010 for Men and Women will compromise of T-Shirts, tops, leggings, and sweatshirts and will be made available worldwide, with countries such as Italy, Germany, Russia, UK, USA, and JC/DC's home country France.

The eccentric designer has enjoyed international success with his range of different, creative designs. He has worked alongside Celebrities such as Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Beth Ditto, and MIA, and his fashion archive which was showcased in preparation for his Gallierock in Paris was modelled by M.I.A, Matthew Stone, Jammer, and Slew Dem Crew. Talking about his collection, JC says, "I discovered South Park and Nirvana at the same time. I would mute my TV to play 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' loud. The fusion of his collection called the two made perfect sense to me. My JC/DC line is about Rock and Roll and South Park- with its irreverent story lines, quirky characters, colourful range, brutality and noisy drawing- encapsulates the world I want to portray."

Born in 1949 in Casablanca, Jean-Charles has had several fashion hits all across the globe over the past decades- he launched his first collection in 1968 for Ko & Co, with his first fashion show following just a year later. His designs have ranged from the crazy, 'out-there' look, to working on a more modest look for Sarah Jessica Parker for Sex and the City in 2003.

For more of JC/DC's fashion news and photographs of his designs, visit http://www.jc-de-castelbajac.com/

Picture and Quote taken from www.fashionunited.com