Trend Watch: Shemagh Scarves

EDIT: PLEASE CONTINUE COMMENTING ABOUT THIS TOPIC AT OUR NEW WEB SITE. YOUR COMMENTS ARE IMPORTANT! FOLLOW THIS LINK: Trend Watch: The Shemagh Scarf Ok, this is a trend I never anticipated. I'm not sure how it is in the rest of the world, but all over England teenagers and those up to their mid-twenties are wearing these 'shemagh scarves' - some call them Palestinian scarves. You'll have noticed that the entire cast of Shipwrecked have them. I've even seen them in the small town where I live, so this is clearly a trend which is reaching far and wide. Generally neck-wear of any kind is fashionable this year, which i'm happy about for practical reasons - a little bit of material round the neck goes a long way to keeping you warm during spring. I'm actually considering buying one of these in hot pink (as it's one of the major colours of the season and will add a bit of girly-funk to a plain outfit)...what do you think? Please warn me now if you think it's hideous! Urban Outfitters stock a full range online:~ coloured are £18 (green, pink, purple or yellow), whilst plain white is £15. Alternatively this eBay seller has a massive variety, each priced at only £7.99. Plus they ship worldwide and have rare colours like red and blue.

Fashion & Celeb News

Diane Von Furstenburg sue Forever 21 [Shop Diary] M by Madonna at H&M - Selling out or sell-out? [Catwalk Queen] Bloggers a little too fast for Sarah Jessica's 'Bitten' [Sassybella] Irina-Lazareanu face of Kate Moss for Topshop [Nitro:liciouos] Paris Hilton could face jail time [Style Ikon] Lindsay Lohan's Mary Janes [Batch Please] Trend Report: Black & White [Frugal Fashionista] Cheryl Tweedy looking hot in Catherine Malandrino [I Heart That]

Primark Rave

I can't say a bad word about Primark lately. During a visit to my local store last weekend I picked up a pair of aviator style sunglasses for £2...they look identical to these worn by Lindsay Lohan recently. I'm still in a state of shock - they don't look cheap, they fit perfectly, the quality feels good. What's the catch? Sometimes I seriously wonder how Primark do it. Granted they are just a fill-in pair until I make that all important decision on which shade of Chanel 4128 to go for. I also snook away with a deep blue sweater tunic which I got a ton of compliments on when I wore it over black leggings, a bunch of £2 stretchy vibrant tank tops, socks and underwear, a black smock top which I wore out with jeans last night and a mens hoody for slumming it round the house. Total spend of £35 and I walked out the store with a bag FULL. Anyone else had any good Primark buys lately?

Rate Her Outfit: Hilary Duff

Nothing too controversial this week but how do you all feel about Hilary Duff's outfit? Something you'd wear? On a side note, I do like her hair colour and style here. Leave a comment and be as brutal or as nice as you please... Related posts: Rate Her Outfit: Paris Hilton, Rate Her Outfit: Victoria Beckham, Rate Her Outfit: Carmen Electra

Must Haves For 2007 - Your Shopping List

I don't know about you but i'm sooo over winter right now. I don't know about you but i'm sooo over winter now and have just had one hell of a spring clean. During one of those 'I hate every item of clothing I own' days I completely obliterated my wardrobe. One pile for the bin, one pile for the charity shop, one pile for eBay (I'll post the link to my wardrobe clearance once everything is listed) and so on. I think perhaps I may have been a little too ruthless as now there's not much left, except for lots of empty, swinging wooden hangers. So now it's time to go shopping. After much thought and research here's my definitive list for what's hot for 2007: * Monochrome...black and white. One of the easiest (and most chic) looks to create. * Bright colours. Hot pink, electric blue, yellow, red, whatever. Vibrant is best. * Sport couture. Sporty goes all luxurious. * Prints: floral, polka dot, jungle/animal, retro, graphic, 60's inspired - as long as it's bold it's in. * Tunics, empire, babydoll, swing, a-line, trapeze...whatever you wanna call it. This shape is most definitely IN. Team with skinny jeans or leggings and you seriously cannot go wrong. * Short hemlines and mini-dresses. * Metallics - especially silver, although gold will become more prominent in winter. * Cropped jackets layered over over-sized t-shirts or tunics. If the jacket has a 'swing' shape then all the better. * Peep toe flats. * Skinny jeans and leggings refuse to go away and will remain right on trend for at least the remainder of 2007. * Dresses, dresses and more dresses. Dresses will be everywhere! For accessories BIG is BEST:~ * Chunky wedges * Sky high platforms * Large pendants on long chains * Big sunnies * Oversized bags Come winter:~ Most of the above will see you right through until spring 2008. In my opinion fashion isn't moving so fast at the moment. We're seeing true trends, not just fads, which last for more than one season. * Big patent bags * Coloured tights * Trench-style coats * Lots of head to toe black - the little black shift dress will be huge! * Masculine tailoring * Grey, purple, berry and deep shades of red - some call it 'oxblood'

Yay or Nay? High Waist Wide Leg Jeans

Celebrities obviously want a piece of this trend but do us 'real' people want it? Not me. High waist plus wide leg = fashion disaster, in my humble opinion. If you're a true fashion follower then Topshop has a few options. On a side note, doesn't Geri Halliwell look fab - she looks the perfect weight for her height right now and with that tiny waist you'd never have guessed she's a new mum!

DVF Does Multi-Print

Diane Von Furstenburg does the print look perfectly. There's no escaping this trend - it's PRINTS wherever you look! What do you think? Love or hate this trend? At least it's not boring hey.

Eva Longoria for Bebe Sport

Eva Longoria is the new face of BEBE SPORT and here is a sneak peek of the ad campaign which is soon to launch in the US. Check out the web site for more - these are some pretty hot photos. This is one lady who really knows how to work the camera. Now, I reckon Eva is a pretty good choice - she certainly makes me want to get some new gear and get right down to that gym pronto.

Abercrombie & Fitch opens in London

Abercrombie & Fitch is coming to England! On Thursday 22nd March they open their 10,000 sq foot flagship store in Saville Row, which is expected to achieve similar sales as the New York Fifth Avenue store. Now, I took a trip to the Abercrombie & Fitch store in New York last year and a shopping experience it certainly was. Gorgeous cheerleader-type girls walked around in skimpy tops and denim minis whilst some hunky boys were topless. These were the staff, I must add. CEO Mike Jeffries, has promised ?�a store full of gorgeous kids??in London too. He calls them ?�Etore models??not sales assistants! Jeffries??recruiters have apparently scoured the London College of Fashion, upmarket clubs, gyms and former reality TV contestants (think Shipwrecked, not Big Brother) to find the best looking young guys and gals. With over 1,000 stores already in the US, I?�m surprised how long expansion into Europe has taken. I expected this day to come a whole lot sooner. And now that it?�s arrived? Well, i?�m not sure. For the past few years I?�ve loved having a few unique A&F items sent over by friends or purchased on state-side trips. With a store in England, Abercrombie will be kind of, well, mainstream won?�t it? Another thing, shopping in this kind of environment does nothing for the self-esteem!

Fashion & Celebrity News

COS hits the streets [Catwalk Queen] Giorgia Armani ad may get pulled [Batch Please] Marc Jacobs is back in rehab [Sassybella] Coloured fur is in [Style Bytes] Kate Moss for Topshop in Vogue UK [Shop Diary] Trend report: bright colours [Frugal Fashionista] New couple? Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen [Celebrity Nation]

Pick of the Week!

Can you tell i've got summer on my mind? Here's a very sexy top to show of a tanned back in the hottest colour of the season - Milla top with braided back available at Misamu. I'm imagining wearing this walking down a seafront in the south of France...with an Orlando Bloom lookalike to my right. A girl can dream can't she? Remember to use code BGLAM for 20% off. Misamu ships worldwide - just change the currency on the site to that of your country before you start shopping. Related Posts: Trend Watch: Blue

Giles Deacon GOLD Has Arrived At New Look

The much anticipated 'Gold' capsule collection of 35 pieces, by Designer of the Year 2007 Giles Deacon, has finally arrived at New Look. Check out the web site for stockists. The range, modelled by Drew Barrymore, includes shoes, accessories, signature print coats and dresses. Dresses are around £40, coats £50, jewellery £5-£15 and shoes £30. I've yet to see the quality of the garments in person. New Look does roll out the cheap and nasty at times - I hope this isn't the case with the 'Gold' collection. I'm still not convinced. What do you think about these designer-high street collaborations? Have they been done to death? Getting kind boring? Or is it great that us budget-conscious fashionistas can get our hands on designer gear?

Perfect Spring Outfit

I love receiving weekly emails from My Wardrobe as they always feature the cutest ever outfits. Most major online boutiques now offer similar within 'Lookbooks' featured on their site. It's a great way to get ideas of how to create certain looks. You can then always search for the look from stores that match your budget. I'm in love with this 'Sophie' tote bag by Botkier, although I'd never trust myself with a cream bag! Related Posts: Outfit Inspiration

Trend Watch: Platform Shoes

Platform shoes were all over the fall 2007 runway shows which took place recently. This is clearly a trend that's not going anywhere any time soon. These pictured appeared at the Paris shows and are certainly not for the faint hearted. It's a trend i'm certainly glad of - at 5'2" I need all the help I can get. From left to right: Christian Dior, Giambattista Valli and Lanvin. Related posts: Trend Watch: Sporty, Trend Watch: White & Metallic, Trend Watch: Blue

Rate Her Outfit: Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton on 10th March. What do you think of her outfit? Short mini-dress, gold disc earrings, blue satin trim courts and boxy mini-bag...Leave a comment and be as brutal or as nice as you please.

Steal of the Week: $50 Hudson Jeans

EDIT: Sorry girls these jeans are now all SOLD OUT - bargains don't stay around for long do they!! What an amazing deal ~ Hudson Jeans for $50 reduced from $149 with FREE shipping too. These are the premium denim jeans of choice for many Hollywood celebs such as Jessica Simpson, Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria and Jessica Alba. I've tried these myself at Macys in New York last year and was amazed by how slimming the cut is and how great they make your butt look! Be quick, all sizes are currently available but at this price i'm sure they won't be for long. Hudson jeans run small - I'm usually a size 25 or 26 and had to size up to a 27. When you order don't stick to your usual size. I suggest ordering two pairs - one the size up from your usual and one two sizes up, then return the pair that's no good.

Trend Watch: Sporty

From left to right: Jean Paul Gaultier, Dries Van Noten, Marni and Jean Paul Gaultier. The spring 2007 runway shows got realistic for once and knowing that we all like comfort, showcased stacks of sportswear. This trend goes well with three other notable trends: neon, metallic and graphic print. The key to a winning look is to incorporate a couple of sporty garments into your current wardrobe, a sporty tunic paired with leggings or a graphic vest teamed with skinny jeans and sneakers. Don't go overboard - less is more. It's perfect for a casual weekend guise! Options are available all over the high street but for those of you who are designer chicks at heart numerous well known sportswear brands have now turned to leading designers in order to raise their profiles. Seek out Norma Kamali for Everlast and Yohji Yamamoto and Stella McCartney for Adidas. Quick links: (1) Topshop hooded a-line swing top £22 (2) Stella McCartney for Adidas bag £65 (3) Topshop plastic bangle £8 (4) Urban Outfitters lace up jazz shoes £30 Related posts: Trend Watch: White & Metallic, Trend Watch: Blue, Spring 2007 Fashion Watch

Flawless Skin With Bare Minerals

Every one of us wants flawless skin. I know I do. Having heard so much about the Bare Escentuals range I finally decided to bite the bullet and try it last week. HQhair.com has the full range online for those of you in the UK and this is where I purchased or you could buy from this great seller on eBay, who has fantastic feedback. Elsewhere, buy from Sephora, which is also a must visit for how-to videos and info about the brand. So what is Bare Minerals make-up? It's 100% pure and free of preservatives, oil, fragrance, talc and other skin irritants. Millions of women swear by Bare Minerals and their search for the perfect foundation/powder is over. This make-up even claims to actually improve the skin over time. I bought the Mineral Veil powder and the appropriate flawless finish brush to apply it with. This completely diminished the look of my pores like no other powder has done before. Shine was gone and my skin definitely looked much more flawless. Some users complain of dry patches and itchiness but I didn't find this. Be careful not to apply too much. Less is more. Here's some useful instructions about how to achieve the flawless look:- Swirl a small amount of Mineral Veil, angle the Flawless Application Face Brush and swirl into the lid until all the Mineral Veil has been tucked iinto the bristles. Tap away excess. There should be no visible Mineral Veil on the outside of the brush. Buff the Mineral Veil into the skin in a circular motion, starting on the outside of your face near your cheekbone, swirling as you go. Buff around your face and then approach your forehead, cheeks, and nose. For oilier complexions, in humid climates, or with heavy moisturizers, start with an application of Mineral Veil before applying bareMinerals foundation. I'd be interested to hear how the rest of you have found this? Is it a miracle product for you?

Yay or Nay? : Lacoste's New Pumps

My April edition of Glamour magazine crashed through my door this morning and one of the first pages I noticed as a I quickly flicked through was Lacoste's full page ad displaying these very girly, very summery sneaker style pumps. Very Mischa Barton-esq. See the full range of styles and colours at Lacoste.com. You can't buy online but the site does provide stockist information for each style. What do you think? Are these a yay or nay? Related posts: Yay or nay? Topshop's tulip hemmed jacket, Yay or nay? Topshop's check bomber jacket

Fashion & Celeb News This Week

La Lohan gets back to blonde [Batch Please] Recently released - Stella McCartney for Adidas [Nitro:licious] Drew Barrymore is the face for the latest designer-high street collaboration between Giles Deacon & New Look [Times Online] Liz Hurley is the new face of Monsoon [Catwalk Queen] Reese Witherspoon & Jake Gyllenhaal dating? [Just Jared] Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen's cosmetic collection is here [My Fashion Life]

Liz Hurley's Wedding Album

Liz Hurley married businessman Arun Nayar on Saturday. She certainly makes a stunning bride. So stunning in fact that HELLO! magazine reportedly paid her £2 million pounds for the photographs. Not bad for a days work. Her dress was designed by pal Donatella Versace and Elton John gave a personal rendition of one of my fave songs, 'Your Song'. Oh, how the other half live. If you'd like to see more, this issue of HELLO! is out on sale from today.

Miss Selfridge: 25% off Accessories!

Yipee! What a deal! Miss Selfridge is one of my favourite places to shop for accessories, so imagine my delight when I turned on my computer this morning to find this fabulous online exculsive ~ 25% off all accessories. It's always disappointing to discover a code in the aftermath of a shopping spree [I had already bought this slouchy grape purple suede shoulder bag last week] but it does mean I have the excuse to shop some more.

Alexander McQueen Skull Ballet Pumps

The Alexander McQueen skull print ballet pumps have just arrived at Net-A-Porter. I wonder which celebrity will be seen in these first? Personally, I think these are pretty hot, although I am slightly surprised that skull fashion has stayed around as long as it has. I was pretty shocked to see that quite a few of the spring collections incorporated this print but then again it's edgy-ness is just so appealing. These pumps will set you back £210. Related Posts: Fabulously Fashionable Flats, Oh La La Lanvin

Twins Again

For the last few years Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have championed very different looks, probably in an attempt to assert their own identities as individuals. Once upon a time you would never read about 'Mary-Kate Olsen' or 'Ashley Olsen', it was always 'Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen' as if they were one person. Now, that would get annoying, wouldn't it? This week it appears they are twins once more. Black plastic shades, check. Black jacket, check. Bleached wavy hair, check. Silk scarf peeking out from jacket, check. Huge bag to make me look skinnier, check. Sullen look on face, check...

Louis Vuitton Spring 2007

It seems like the bag trend for gold hardware is steaming ahead, with Louis Vuitton featuring it in its spring 2007 collection. Thankfully the hardware is a little more delicate than that used by Balenciaga, although this bag is way too boxy with too much going on for my liking. Then again, Louis Vuitton bags will never be understated and always demand attention. Scarlett Johansson is the current face of this luxury brand and she performs her role beautifully. But does the use of a famous celebrity to promote a brand make you more likely to buy the product?

WTF?

Is it just me, or does Paris Hilton look like she works at Disneyland here?

Nobody's Perfect

Sienna Miller out grocery shopping in London this week. All the proof you need that nobody's perfect. Sorry to say it Sienna, but in this shot you look more homeless person than fashion icon.

Jessica Alba: Pashmina Scarves

Ever since I spotted a trend emerging with Jessica Alba's wardrobe, pashmina scarves with literally everything, I've wondered when this trend is gonna take off in the UK. Afterall, there's no chance of finding a cute one otherwise. Alas, judging by the spring collections that have hit the UK high street, it's finally here. I could get addicted to these - what a cheap and easy way to make a plain outfit look less plain. I bagged this grey and white stripe one, which I absolutely LOVE wearing, from river island for just £9.99. I've also spotted similar at urban outfitters and accessorize. Important Post: I Want To See Your Street Style - come on girls and guys...don't be shy!

Help Me I.D These Sunnies...

Ok, so i'm overdosing on Victoria Beckham just a tad this week but can anyone help me i.d these sunnies? I really want, no make that NEED, these shades. The sun has actually been shining brightly in England today too (which makes a change).