My Blonde Ambition

WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR TEE

2012-01-18T13:00:00.003Z

Sometimes you just come across an item of clothing that sums up the way you feel to a T. Literally. Although some may say the statement on this T-shirt doesn't entirely apply to me (well, you can't be good all the time), I do feel it highlights a recurring problem I have.

Still, if honesty is as good as therapy, then I'm helping myself by buying this Zoe Karssen 'Good Girls Love Bad Boys' T-shirt and wearing it with pride? Thought so. Sold!

Zoe Karssen T-shirt £69.95, Harrods

TELL ME ABOUT IT... STUD

2012-01-17T20:21:00.000Z

It's always been my ambition to learn to walk in heels (proper, towering six inch heels), but alas it's not meant to be. My hips/ankles/toes cannot take the stress, anxiety and pain that comes along with a heel height of three inches or more.

But I do still like to look at shoes I wish I could wear and admire them from afar.

These Alexander McQueen McQ studded leather shoes are just one example. First spotted in neon pink, they've drawn me in and now I'm torn between these and the electric blue. They're so beautiful that I probably would just keep them as an ornament even if I could walk in them, because they don't deserve to be subjected to a lifetime of sticky club floors and dirt laden pavements. These shoes are works of art and I would happily look at their shiny studs all day. Enjoy!

McQ Alexander McQueen Studded Court Shoes £265, Coggles

FROM NEON TO NYLON

2011-12-12T23:58:00.000Z

American magazines never register that highly on my must-read list, but Nylon is always an exception. Maybe it's because it reminds me more of the edginess you'd expect from British fashion magazines, rather than the overly-glossy, preened to perfection pages that seem to repel me from going anywhere near US Vogue, Elle and Glamour etc.

And I love this month's cover featuring Hollywood actress Dianna Agron in a gorgeous neon pink and white lace Christopher Kane creation.

The dress, from the Scottish fashion designer's Resort 2012 collection, fits perfectly with the 60s-inspired styling of the shoot, which sees Dianna wear a mixture of high street and designer pieces reminiscent of the decade.

I love this shoot! Photographed by Marvin Scott Jarrett and styled by Michele Reneau, it's definitely a major reason to buy this month's Nylon.

http://www.nylonmag.com/

A FASHIONABLE WALK OF SHAME

2011-12-05T23:13:00.000Z

It's not that I'm a total humbug but this year's Christmas TV adverts haven't got me in the festive mood at all. X Factor stars can't save the M&S ad from mediocrity and I can't bring myself to love the John Lewis effort when they've used a poor cover version of a Smiths classic to get an otherwise well made point across.

But Harvey Nichols made my day when this video dropped into my inbox - total genius and strangely gets me in the mood for the festive season!

Maybe it's because its story is so familiar to me, especially at this time of year when an abundance of Christmas party nights leads to missed last trains and that inevitable 'one more for the road and I'll just crash at yours' idea that always seems like such a plan at 3am.

Its point may be to make sure we're suitably dressed in all situations this party season but even with the best of intentions, I think I'll probably still be resembling the girls featured at the start of this video rather than the perfectly polished princess at the end!

FASHION EVENT: STYLELAB

2011-12-05T22:02:00.000Z

Like most girls, I love a bit of Topshop, love a bit of Benefit, so the ideal night would be bringing the two together in some sort of form? Glasgow's super-stylish private members' club 29 has decided to give us all a pre-Christmas treat and bring the two brands together for a night of fashionista fun in the form of its popular StyleLab event.

First hosted in the venue back in July, the glamorous StyleLab event is an evening fit for fashionistas. Hosted in 29's Network Bar from 6-9pm on Wednesday 7th December, guests at the event can expect:

A masterclass from Topshop style expert Laura Davidson, personal shopper at the flagship Glasgow store on Argyle Street
Make-up demonstrations & beauty treatments by Benefit Cosmetics
A complimentary 29 cocktail on arrival
Delicious canapés courtesy of the Grill Room
Live music from DJ Josie Smith
A fabulous goody bag packed-full of stylish treats worth over £30

Definitely one not to be missed!

Tickets priced at £15.00 per person and are available now from 0141 225 5615 / www.29glasgow.com

WELCOME TO MY BLONDE AMBITION

2011-11-29T09:33:00.002Z

It was time to give the old blog (The Caledonista RIP) a much-needed makeover, so I went a step further and actually got myself a new domain name to match the new look! Blogging has taken a back seat of late, but I'll be making a conscious effort to post about the things I love on a more regular basis, which is another reason for the makeover.

I'll still be posting about Scottish fashion but I get asked all the time about my personal taste on everything - not just fashion, but make up, hair, music and men, so I've decided to expand a bit and make room for more of my life in my blog.

Here's what you can expect from My Blonde Ambition and remember you can now follow me on twitter at @bella_blondie_:

And during the revamp I've managed to lose blogroll so if you like my new blog and want me to link to yours, make sure you leave me a comment to say hi!

ALL DOLLED UP

2011-07-20T21:27:00.000+01:00

I'm a big fan of funky online store Doll Boutique, which stocks some of my favourite labels like LnA, Wildfox and Olivia Rubin, so I was very excited to hear via their blog that they'd launched an own brand range. And it's actually quite to my liking!

Lace, denim and sheer maxis are just a taste of what the Doll Boutique brand will offer, but I think it's in keeping with the cutting-edge designs they already offer from more established brands. Love the photography too!

Sheer Leopard Maxi £65

Cream Knit Cut-Out Dress £65

Denim and Lace Shirt £55

www.dollboutique.co.uk

PRISONER CELL BLOCK CHIC

2011-02-14T21:29:00.000Z

When the 'What's New For You' email (otherwise known as the 'What You Can't Afford' email) from Net-a-Porter drops in to my inbox on a Monday, I usually have a quick,admirable scroll and file it away for future fantasy shopping details. Signing up to receive new arrivals from my favourite designers is one of the most worthwhile things I've ever done - how can you not get excited by Christopher Kane, Isabel Marant, Alexander McQueen and IRO in the same email?

But today's one was a bit of an eye-opener for all the wrong reasons. I'd seen the Stella McCartney SS11 collection before but, presented to me in stark packshots on a white background, gone was the designer allure. What replaced it? An inexplicable urge to dig out my Prisoner Cell Block H boxset.

Stella McCartney Oversized Denim Dress £435

Stella McCartney Oversized Denim Top £265

Stella McCartney Mid-rise Wide-leg Denim Shorts £345

Stella McCartney Mid-length Denim Skirt £345

How I haven't noticed the similarity between Freja strutting her stuff on Stella's SS11 catwalk and Bea Smith steaming the living daylights out of Her Majesty's linens on the press before today, I will never know. But if Stella didn't take some inspiration from the Wentworth women, I'd be mightily surprised.

Bea Smith may have been the 'top dog' in her denim tunic and grass green shirt combo, but I always thought the true style icon of the show was Erica Davidson, the long-suffering blonde goddess of a governor that was surely destined to parade her beehive and prim skirt suits in an altogether more glamorous environment than the shaky-walled prison.

So maybe next season Stella will look to 'Davo', as the legendary Lizzie Birdsworth affectionately called her? I think it's a far better look than Bea Smith, whose 'style' is one fashion crime I don't intend to commit this season!

Stella McCartney SS11

http://www.net-a-porter.com

NET-A-NEON

2011-02-13T15:07:00.000Z

With the launch of Net-A-Porter's online TV channel, I thought it was worth checking out what they have to offer. Here's a look ahead to how we'll all be dressing should we choose to follow Christopher Kane's philosophy, which appears to promote a cultural clash of prim and proper princess meets nu-raver? So we'll all be looking like royal ravers come Wills and Kate's big day in April? Maybe not, but you can bet you'll have worn at least something with a neon twist come the bank holiday weekend:

KATE THE GREAT

2011-02-12T11:25:00.001Z

Just when I think I can't envy my favourite supermodel anymore, she comes out with these amazing shots for her new Longchamp collaboration. Never mind the bags, look at Miss Moss (soon to be Mrs Hince bleurgh!) rocking that hair. That is the hair I want! Never thought I'd say it but it may be time to bin the bleach and swap the platinum for some soft highlights a la Kate.

http://www.longchamp.com

WHERE'S THE LOVE?

2011-02-10T22:08:00.000Z

Just when you get over the depression that is January in Scotland, February comes along with all its shiny hearts and flowers nonsense. I know I'm not the only one that's totally fed up with the overflow of Valentine's-themed emails that have hit my inbox this week. I don't care if you can creatively transform boring knitwear and scarves into loveheart shapes (Oasis) or if your lingerie will guarantee some looks of love this weekend (too many predictable retailers to mention). Straight to the junk folder I'm afraid!

Being a singleton (and not bitter at all) I'm a bit anti-Valentine's but there are things out there that I love this week. All of which make more of a statement of love and affection then a box of overpriced chocolates and a bunch of withered flowers. So you can keep your cards and poems - this is what I'd like for Valentine's Day and it's not in the least bit romantic:

Limited Edition Leather Heart Necklace £20, La La Land

Love and Fame Cashmere Sweater £425, Jaggy Nettle

Slag Cashmere Sweater £425, Jaggy Nettle

Wildfox I Need Coffee Cutoff Tank £60, Doll Boutique

Amplified Madonna Bad Girl Tee £30, Swishlife

IF THE SHOE FITS...

2010-12-22T14:56:00.000Z

Seeing as my joint obsession with bows and skulls is sticking around for the foreseeable (very much like the bad weather), I've picked these as my must have shoes of, well, possibly all time:

Vivienne Westwood Melissa Black Lady Dragon with Skull £120

I HAVE to get these shoes. Heard that they may be available from the Westwood store in Princes Square, Glasgow, so the temptation to purchase is within commuting distance. Would like to think they will be more reasonably priced in the January sale but as they're relatively new I don't fancy my chances. Unless Santa can help, I'll have to start saving!

FORGET THE SNOW, IT'S LULU & CO

2010-12-08T11:35:00.001Z

Don't know about you but I'm sick of the snow. Picturesque it may be but it's not practical and winter fashion is not flattering, no matter how many magazines try to tell us that we can look good under swathes of snoods and snug oversized cable knits. And that's before we throw on the eternally-unflattering cape on top!

So I'm looking to the Spring 2011 collections to provide some much-needed relief from the bleak midwinter styles that are currently being inflicted upon us by just about every high street retailer. I get that it's dark outside but is the only alternative to black really Santa Claus red?

One that's caught my eye very early on is Lulu Kennedy's collection of limited edition collaborations with designers from her Fashion East alumni. Lulu & Co, available at Matches, comprises unique designs from some of the top names in Scottish and British fashion - creations by Holly Fulton, Jonathan Saunders and Louise Gray sit alongside House of Holland, Gareth Pugh and Richard Nicoll. All very different designers, all who have benefited hugely under Lulu's guidance and direction at the beginning of their careers.

There's something for everyone in this collection and, though I may only be able to daydream about owning one of these pieces, it's a welcome distraction from the fashion-unfriendly snow and a ray of light to think that in a few months' time we may start to see some Lulu & Co-influenced designs on the high street...

Jonathan Saunders dress £995

Louise Gray double silk dress £780

Holly Fulton printed dress £225

Lulu & Co is available at Matches

http://www.matchesfashion.com

GLASGOW'S LOOKIN' PRETTY GREEN

2010-12-07T19:41:00.000Z

I make no secret of my admiration and love for Liam Gallagher. He's my kinda guy - knows his music, knows his fashion, knows his football. End of. Well, in my opinion anyway! Maybe what I like most about him is that he divides opinions. The mention of LG always provokes more than a shoulder shrug - people do genuinely love or hate him. And that includes family members these days!

I may have started out as a fan of his music, his unmistakable voice and his unrivalled stage presence, but in the absence of any musical endeavours since the end of Oasis last year (well, until his new band Beady Eye released a superb track late last month), it's been his adventures in fashion that have provided me with a Liam fix.

Liam's Pretty Green clothing label launched with a handful of trademark Gallagher-style logo T-shirts, scarves and hats, promising to deliver a whole range of garments that would appeal to and cater for fans of the former Oasis frontman. Many fashion commentators, I got the impression, sniffed at the early offerings from Pretty Green. But they didn't anticipate what LG had up his sleeve. Wearable, well-cut separates in the finest fabrics, covetable collectors items and a unique perspective of menswear was not what many had expected or, quite possibly, wanted Pretty Green to deliver. After all, 'celebrity' clothing lines are ten a penny, right?

Wrong. This, I believe, is a brand that will go the distance. Why? Because everyone wants to look like their hero and Liam Gallagher wears it very well. If only he would design something for the ladies...

A Pretty Green pop-up shop is due to open tomorrow (Wednesday 8th December) on Ingram Street, Glasgow, with the man himself rumoured to be making an appearance. I say good luck to him with the transport nightmare that is Glasgow at the moment! Here's my pick of what to look out for if you manage to visit the store when it opens.

Pretty Green Black Label Green Parka #2 £550

Pretty Green Black Label Black Poplin Button Down Shirt £105

Pretty Green Black Label Black Wool Polka Dot Scarf £90

Pretty Green Green Label Stonewash Indigo Denim Jean £85

Pretty Green Black Label Red Velvet Pea Coat £480

Pretty Green Champagne Desert Boot £95

Would have LOVED to be there when this opens but, despite being registered on the site, I didn't receive any info about how to get an invite/pass to the launch, though I've heard others did - very disappointed! If anyone is going/has been invited, would love to know how you managed it!

Pretty Green's pop-up shop opens in Ingram Street, Glasgow on Wednesday 8th December

http://www.prettygreen.com

DECK YOUR DIARIES WITH DECO FROM HOLLY

2010-11-09T22:54:00.000Z

How much is too much to spend on stationery? Two years ago, in an attempt to become more organised, I parted with £40 for a leather Aspinal of London diary. I loved that diary - all soft and shiny, with clean white pages just waiting to be written upon. For two months I managed to embrace the joys of an organised life, carrying around my prized diary every day and actually looking forward to any excuse that would allow me to check its pages for existing appointments and fill it with exciting new ones. Electronic, synchronised (and free) calendars would not provide me with nearly this much fun, I said to myself.

But alas, when the diary's pages became tattered and torn from weeks of being squashed in to overfilled handbags and the cover dulled from dustings of stray bronzers and powders, the novelty of the diary had worn off as fast as its shine.

So two months is as long as I lasted with a diary. So you would presume that it would be a bit irrational to consider spending the best part of £300 on another one?

Irrational it may be, but I've fallen for Holly Fulton's collection for Smythson.

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Holly's. With art deco inspiration and a penchant for Swarovski, she's a girl after my own heart. And then she goes and collaborates with Smythson and well... I want to hate it and say it's overpriced and a waste of money, but have you seen it?

Pale yellow and blue goatskin covers, featuring art deco sketches, and a limited edition version closed with a smoke grey Swarovski slide. I'm sold.

2011 SOHO DIARY WITH SWAROVSKI SLIDE £295

CORRESPONDENCE CARDS, HOLLY FULTON CAPSULE COLLECTION £50

2011 SOHO DIARY, HOLLY FULTON CAPSULE COLLECTION £225

2011 PANAMA DIARY, HOLLY FULTON CAPSULE COLLECTION £118

AQUA MANUSCRIPT BOOK, HOLLY FULTON CAPSULE COLLECTION £195

AQUA PANAMA NOTEBOOK, HOLLY FULTON CAPSULE COLLECTION £70

Holly Fulton for Smythson, from £50
http://www.smythson.com

VOGUE'S BAD COLE

2010-09-06T22:28:00.000+01:00

Oh. No. I almost cannot believe how bad this cover is.

I love Vogue, I love Cheryl Cole (who doesn't?) but this is completely wrong, for me anyway.

Vogue October 2010

I actually like the first Vogue cover Cheryl graced. She looked gorgeous, glossy and every inch the perfect cover star. Okay, so it was all a bit American and not very edgy at all, but it didn't offend me and it certainly didn't make me think twice before picking up the magazine.

Vogue February 2009

This time round - well, I'm actually thinking of a protest non-purchase and leaving a gaping hole in the ten-year Vogue collection. It is that bad, I think.

The flowers are fussy, the face is flawlessly fake and the fashion has been forfeited in favour of a disturbing Stepford Wife-esque stare. This is not the Cheryl we love, need or want and even Vogue can't sell this image of the newly-single pop princess to me.

Everything about this cover is wrong, wrong, wrong and the more I look at it, the more I want to pour tar over the puke-inducing pink image. Are those cover stories deliberately ironic? From the 'fresh start' that may as well have been snipped from the stems of those awful flowers to the surely intentionally comedic 'Pure Style' scrawl that obscures what little we can see of the actual clothes that Cheryl wears, everything points to Vogue having a laugh at the expense of the nation's sweetheart.

Sadly, I do believe they are only laughing at the expense of the faithful readers (*me*) who buy every month no matter who is on the cover. I'm not a fashion fascist who thinks that it should only be models that grace the covers of fashion magazines - but I do think that if it's not a model on the cover, then there should be at least a degree of fashionability rather than accessibility about the cover star and their image.

This cover doesn't deliver for me but I'm sure it will deliver perfectly well in terms of sales for Vogue, which is probably just what the advertisers ordered/dictated. Us fashion fans? Let's hope this isn't the first in a long line of unfashionable disappointments from the magazine that was once our style bible.

THE FACE WAS SUPERSWEET

2010-09-06T21:44:00.000+01:00

Normal service has almost resumed after Leeds - The Libertines were amazing, so thanks to all those who wished me luck on standing in a field waiting for Pete Doherty to turn up!

On Friday, I won my first ever Twitter competition, and actually, my first competition win for a while. A simple retweet earned me this amazing T-shirt thanks to the good people at Supersweet:

I would describe it in my own words but I don't think I could add anything of value to the already perfect Supersweet description - Sooo ‘Hoxton-Shoredtich-The Face’.

Can't wait for this to arrive, thanks Supersweet!

http://supersweet.org/

PS - The T-shirt is by LalaLove and you can purchase it here.

CHELSEA GIRL

2010-08-25T21:50:00.000+01:00

I'm on my way to Leeds festival this week. It's a trip that only has one purpose: to see The Libertines. Of course, it will be made more fun if the sun shines occasionally and I manage to enjoy the weekend hangover-free, but that is the main point of the journey.

Anyway, ever the optimist, I decided that an addition to the footwear collection was in order before I set off for a hopefully not-too-muddy field in West Yorkshire. I've been after a pair of Chelsea boots for ages but I've found the search quite tricky.

Here's what I've discovered about the Chelsea boot:

1. It's very difficult to resist the ones that cost about a month's wages.

2. It's even more difficult to find vintage ones in my size.

3. It's only a centimetre of a difference between ankles and cankles.

And here's some of the lovely ones I found on my search:

The Rock n Roll Ones

What a Chelsea boot should look like, with a little added extra.

Versus Chelsea Boot, £255, Browns

The Bright Ones

I do love these but, let's be honest, they would last all of two songs at Leeds if I'm lucky. And even if they're not festival-appropriate, I'm sure I'd get sick of the sight of red feet, not to mention the constant suede-scrubbing in order to rid them of droplets of drink from previous nights' out. Pretty but definitely not practical.

Red Suede Chelsea Boot, £65, Urban Outfitters

The Ultimate Ones

When I saw these, I could imagine that my feet would enjoy slipping into the creased leather so much that they wouldn't want to venture back out again. The chief Chelsea, in my opinion.

Balenciaga Arena Chelsea Boot, £495, Browns

The On-Trend Ones

The label of the moment gives us the boot of the moment in the shade of the moment. See a small trend emerging? So do I, but I fear these may be a one season wonder. Fine while we're all cooing over camel/beige/caramel/taupe or whatever take on toffee you fancy, but when we're back to black in January, these could just be another expensive mistake.

Opening Ceremony Chelsea Boot, £345, Browns

The Overpriced Ones

I don't have a total dislike for New Look and, in fact, I happen to think they do some things really well. Unfortunately, for me, shoes isn't one of them. Any pair of New Look shoes I've ever owned has been uncomfortable - even the supposedly fail-safe flats! When I saw these boots I thought 'might give them a go, they're leather and they look nice' but when I saw the price tag? No. Way. Leather they may be, but I'm willing to bet that they don't last any longer than the plastic ones they produce season after season. And I'm not prepared to go through the pain barrier to find out!

New Look Leather Chelsea Boot, £60

The Perfect Ones

Maybe after not winning the ASOS Battle of the Bloggers contest I'd have a right to never shop with them again, but I'm not one to hold grudges, especially when there's bargains to be had! Could not believe my luck when I spotted these boots. Perfect in every way - leather, lived-in, luscious! - and under £50, they were just too good to say no to. Got them on free next day delivery and fit like a glove, so they've become my Leeds must-have. I hope they last the distance!

Asos Alfie Leather Chelsea Boots, £45

HEY (SCARY) DOLLFACE!

2010-08-16T21:20:00.000+01:00

I actually love Matches. It's one of the places I wish I could transport from London. Alas, I don't think Glasgow is ready for it. Or, more likely, Matches ain't ready for Glasgow!

Anyway, I like to browse their online store every now and again, just to see what I would be buying were I blessed with a better paypacket. Online window shopping is the best!

Straight to the sale section I headed, then, only to be met with a perplexing fashionista dilemma - am I supposed to like these Christopher Kane T-shirts and think they're a bargain??

Vintage Dollface Vest, Christopher Kane @ Matches, was £188 NOW £48

Vintage Baby T-shirt, Christopher Kane @ Matches, was £198 NOW £48

Vintage Baby Tank, Christopher Kane @ Matches, was £188 NOW £48

I'm slightly freaked out by these. Maybe it's because I'm not very child-friendly, shall we say, but these tees really don't do it for me. My bank balance will be pleased, I'm sure, but I'm disappointed that I've found some Scottish designer fashion for less than fifty quid and I'm not excited that for once I may actually be able to afford it!

The red tank is the least offensive for me, but I'm interested to see what other Christopher Kane fans think. Are these more freak than unique?

KILTY KILTY?

2010-08-11T22:59:00.000+01:00

As far as fashion cliches go, wearing a kilt is up there with sporrans, tartans and see-you-Jimmy hats if you're Scottish, right people?

But if Vogue says they're the thing to 'buy now, wear now', what should we do?? Abandon our accents and embrace the trend without fear of semi-racist ridicule? Or, the route I'd much prefer, forget that this 'trend' exists at all and go looking for a nice sensible skirt that comes without any stereotypical style connotation.

If the voice of Vogue does get to you, however, here are some semi-acceptable kilts that may just allow you to try this trend without feeling like you're auditioning for a part in Braveheart.

A pleather kilt actually looks a bit more wearable than the leather/pleather shorts that are everywhere at the moment.

Faux leather kilt, £25, Next

Another tartan-free kilt! Denim updates the kilt and again looks really wearable. Not sure about the wash though, could do with being really distressed to disguise the fact that it's a pretty plain kilt.

Denim kilt, £38, Oasis

Warehouse have gone for tiered pleats with their plain black kilt. Bit back-to-school for me though.

Cut About Kilt, £40, Warehouse

If you've got a spare few grand to indulge in this trend, may as well go all-out for the kilt in true Scotsman style with a Christopher Kane. The darling of the Scottish fashion scene gives us a wool kilt with a cheeky twist, plush pleats and leather buckles to the back, ladies.

Christopher Kane Task buckled wool kilt, £2020, net-a-porter.com

And if you're going to do tartan, best look to the grand dame of fashion herself, Vivienne Westwood. Not that she would support shopping for seasonal trends, since Viv's all about the sustainable investment these days. But how could this be anything but a piece of fickle fashion?

Pink Tartan Wool Pleated Skirt, £195, Red Label by Vivienne Westwood at Liberty

CAN YOU HELP ME??

2010-08-06T20:21:00.000+01:00

Something AMAZING has happened to me and I'm not quite sure what to do with it so I'm asking you guys for help!

I've been shortlisted as a top ten finalist in the ASOS Battle of the Bloggers competition!!

Can't quite believe it myself, hence the exclamation mark overload, but it has happened.

Seeing my name on the finalist page made the hours of writing and rewriting soooo worth it!

Regular readers will know I'm a fan of ASOS so to have their judging panel think that I was good enough to make it to this stage is an honour in itself.

Of course, I'd also like to win! But competition is fierce and I've read the other entries (which are VERY good), so I'm not all that confident of bagging the amazing prize, which is:

The winner of our Battle of the Bloggers competition will become ASOS.com's resident Street Style Blogger-at-large and given a series of fashion assignments to undertake.

We'll send you to a stylish city every four weeks for the next few months, along with a photographer, to make your own personal fashion discoveries. As well as blogging about the people, you'll also need to write about the places you go to - from regional trends to the coolest places to hang out.

You'll get your own branded blogging channel on ASOS Life where your column will be hosted, as well as coverage on ASOS.com and the HP site. And when your time with ASOS.com is up, we'll set you up with your own blog on an external site so you can continue to write up a storm.

What with all that blogging to get through, you'll need the right tools, so you'll receive a Vivienne Tam netbook just like the one in the SATC2 film, courtesy of our friends at HP.

So, as you can see, much help is needed!

If you can spare two minutes, click on this link where you can vote for me (Joanne Wilkinson) and read my entry (though this isn't compulsory if you feel you've read enough from me lately!):

http://community.asos.com/post-details/?contentid=5155674360050586276

While you're there, I'd recommend having a browse on the newly-revamped ASOS website. They've gone all Acne and you can't go wrong when you do that!

Thanks guys x

VOTE FOR ME

Joanne Wilkinson

THE AVIATOR THAT MAKES ME WANNA FLY...

2010-07-29T00:15:00.000+01:00

I can't put in to words how much I love this Acne Rita leather aviator jacket so pictures will just have to do. What I will say is, no matter how much I would love to be wrapped up in this taupe, shearling-lined creation that would make my life complete, the £750 I-could-buy-a-MacBook-with-that price tag means this will always be a fashion fantasy:

High street alternatives?

Asos are quick off the mark, as per usual with this £110 aviator bomber jacket:

Not sure about the bomber style and if anyone can vouch for the quality of Asos leather this would also be appreciated - sometimes their own brand range fails to live up to expectation so would hate to shell out only to be left disappointed at the quality.

The Topshop girls also managed to make us all jealous over on their fabulously informative Inside Out blog, where they just fancied showing off their shearling in front of the cameras. More stock of these soon please!

Warehouse also say, quite rightly, 'get it or regret it' about their take on the aviator trend. At £65, I thought 'bargain!' until I realised it wasn't leather, so not sure that it is now!

Think I may hold out for the Topshop stock or trawl some vintage shops. Anyone know of any other high street alternatives?

GOING FUR IT!

2010-07-27T00:35:00.002+01:00

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's completely sick of this depressing Scottish summer. I look out of my window, see the dark grey skies and think it must be October! All those summer dresses I bought for Ibiza which I thought, stupidly, would see me through a summer of beer gardens and hot nights have now found their home at the very back of my wardrobe as I cling to my trusty leather jacket and boots.

So summer's officially over for me (unless there's a miracle and we get hit by that rare thing they call an Indian Summer), and the constant sale signs in the shops no longer interest me. It's not a bargain at 50% off, or even 75% off River Island, if I'm NEVER going to get a chance to wear it due to lack of sunlight.

The bad weather has, however, allowed me to catch up on some essential fashion mag reading, whereby the sole purpose is to plan what I will be spending my savings on in the coming months. Elle had a particularly hilarious feature on the new 'essentials' for the season ahead which, in case anyone is interested, will be a sleek and simple one. One Elle executive even commented that there will actually be things we want to wear this season, rather than things we feel we must indulge so as to prove our fashion cred. Wonder who would make us think we had to do such things?

Anyway, I say this feature was hilarious as it pinpointed the furry boot as the shoe of choice for AW10. Really?? Along with the loafer, the furry boot will be topping our shoe wish list in the not so distant future, making us wonder what all that gladiator nonsense was about. I'm struggling to think how an oversized slipper-like shoe that stops at the most unflattering part of your calf is going to translate in to something that I will think I need come September, but luckily Scottish fashion designer Louise Gray has added some much-needed colour to this picture and who knows, this may be the look I go for:

You can always rely on Louise to put the fun in to fashion and I'm actually finding the fuchsia furry jumpsuit very appealing right now, as it's perfect for our Scottish weather! Though I have to say, I'm not a fan of real fur so I do hope this is faux...

http://www.louisegraylondon.com

FASHION EVENT: THE FINAL WHISTLE

2010-07-06T23:24:00.002+01:00

I love my football, but I realise that a lot of ladies out there don't, so this one's for you!

If you're sick of seeing/hearing/reading about all things football, you'll be glad that the World Cup finally draws to a close on Sunday. So why not celebrate the end of the beautiful game and the return to normality? Why not, indeed.

Get a group of girls and head down to The Rowantree at The Caves on Sunday night, where we're all being encouraged to give the football the send off it deserves. No red cards, no penalties, just plain old-fashioned girlie glamour that reminds us why it's good to be a girl sometimes.

Canapes and cocktails await you at this enchanting venue, where you'll be treated to a night of fashion, beauty and top tunes in the finest Edinburgh surroundings. With cocktail masterclasses, mini-makeovers by Benefit and Aveda and a showcase of designer style from House of Fraser, it's the perfect way to indulge in a bit of WAG-style activity and you don't have to go through the agony of pretending to be interested in the game. Result!

Best of all, House of Fraser are supplying the goodie bags, so you just know that the £15 ticket to this event will be worth it.

When the final's being played, I'll no doubt be knee deep in mud, aimlessly wandering around a field trying to find the way to the main stage before Kasabian play their set, but this seems like a more glamorous and certainly more civilised way to celebrate the end of the FIFA festivities.

The Final Whistle
An exclusive event to celebrate the conclusion of the 2010 World Cup

Sunday 11th July
7pm til late
The Rowan Tree
8-12 Niddry Street South
Edinburgh
EH1 1NS

Tickets are £15 per person. To buy, contact The Caves on 0131 557 8989.

T IN THE DARK

2010-06-30T13:32:00.000+01:00

Shhhhh don't tell anyone but... I've never been to T in the Park. Despite having tickets in my possession a total of three times, I've yet to make it to Scotland's most famous music festival.

But this year may FINALLY be the year that I manage to make a belated visit to Belado - I have confirmed fellow attendees (no last minute let-downs as per), tickets have arrived and I believe I have the funds to go. Now getting excited to be heading for a weekend of bands, beer and bucketloads of rain no doubt.

Anyways, time to decide what I'll be wearing. I'll be leaving the 'essential' stuff like tent, sleeping bag and ground sheet until last, but festival fashion is everywhere and it's about time I started to sort out what I'll be taking with me seeing as it looks like I'll be attending this year!

I have a pair of Hunters but was thinking that something shorter may be required should the sun decide to show its face in Scotland that weekend. Had my eye on a pair of the fantastically plastic Melissa for Vivienne Westwood boots for a while but the rational part of my brain tells me £90 is way too much to spend on jelly shoes. However, Google is a wonderful thing and it led me to Agatha, a Lincolnshire-based boutique that has an online shop. Agatha, named in Vogue as one of Britain's best boutiques, happens to have a sale on the red boots that I love and they are now just £37.50!!

Can't believe the price of these (they were £75 at Agatha, compared to £90 at other retailers) and going to snap them up before they sell out!

http://www.agatha-boutique.co.uk/

FASTEST FINGERS ON THE FASHION PULSE

2010-06-29T21:04:00.000+01:00

If, like me, you have become an extremely lazy shopper thanks to a) the internet, b) lack of inclination to stand in a badly-lit changing room or c) all-round can't be botherdness, you'll know what I mean when I say I sometimes even find online shopping laborious.

When I visit the high street, I'm generally hoping to find what I'm looking for in the first shop, leaving more time for cocktails and less chance of me getting stressed out because I have nothing to wear. This leads me to head firstly to Topshop, because there's a 90% chance I'll get something in there. If that fails, I'm shuffling my overscuffed boots up (and usually back down) Buchanan Street, usually resulting in me grabbing the first thing that looks 'okay' on me so I don't head home empty-handed. This kind of shopping is, for me, not in the least bit enjoyable and inevitably leads to me getting home and deciding to wear something I already owned before I set out on my expensively pointless shopping trip.

You would think that online shopping cuts most of this faff out of my spending sprees but, no, I've gotten in to a bit of a rut. I trawl the internet like I shop the high street - clicking down the list of favourite websites, in order of preference, until I near the end of my bookmarked stores where I usually just buy something for the sake of it. By the time the parcel arrives, I usually can't remember why I even clicked on the item in the first place and it usually ends up back at the retailer via my local post office or consigned to the back of my wardrobe. These purchases lie undisturbed for about six months, where I stumble across them during a rare wardrobe clear-out, complete with original tags and devoid of any appeal they may have once had.

I've even tried just clicking on every website's 'new arrivals' category to cut down on the time spent browsing, but even that doesn't work - some websites have pages of new arrivals and I'm afraid that, once I've visited Topshop, All Saints and Whistles, I've lost the will to see what's new and exciting elsewhere. Basically, after a few clicks I decide it's not my day and get distracted by Facebook. Until the next day when I repeat the process all over again.

I'm sure I'm not alone, which is why I'm excited to share a SAVIOUR for my fellow online shoppers. Shop Pulse (http://www.shoppulse.co.uk) is a genius website that allows fashionistas to browse new arrivals from multiple retailers AT THE SAME TIME! No more time-consuming trawling, no more countless clicks to see what's new - the clever Shop Pulse people have done all the hard work for us!

But the best thing about this nifty online tool is that it's actually quite pretty to look at too and if you don't manage to find something to buy from the many online retailers promoting their new arrivals, there's plenty more fashion-friendly features to browse: a style blog, street style, inspiration pages and personal stylist sections mean minutes can be frittered away at Shop Pulse without ever having to spend a penny!

All your favourite online retailers are on here, from high street to high fashion, so all budgets are catered for and you can even filter by your favourite stores to make life easier. If you see something you like, simply click on the image and you'll be taken to the retailer's website to purchase the item or take a closer look. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

You can tell I'm a fan, it's saved me so much time already! Check it out today.

http://www.shoppulse.co.uk

CHECK OUT PLANET FASHION...

2010-06-20T21:36:00.000+01:00

It's always nice to come across a boutique that stocks lots of unique and directional labels, even better when the boutique is Scottish. So if you're looking for something a bit different, The Moon and Mars is the place for you!

A collection of owner Kate Barrett's favourite labels, The Moon and Mars launched in 2009, featuring an eclectic mix of global designers. Some of the names you'll recognise - Chelsea Rebelle, Surface to Air, Swedish Hasbeens, Teamo - but the store also stocks some labels that I certainly hadn't come across.

In line with most other retailers, the online store has a sale on just now and I'd recommend signing up to the email newsletter for news of exclusive discounts and promotions.

Here's just some of my favourites from The Moon and Mars - pay a visit to the website and you're sure to have a few of your own:

Chelsea Rebelle Suspender Tee £60

A heavy silk oversized blush pink T-shirt with adjustable bright pink elastic suspender detail. A favourite of rock chicks like Kelly Osbourne, expect Chelsea Rebelle to add an edge to any outfit.

Surface to Air Serra Boots was £198 NOW £140

These may be my new favourite boots. Black suede and leather with a severely directional detail and totally walkable heel height of 3.5 inches. Parisian perfection!

Teamo Mini Witch Dress was £135 NOW £67.50

The Mexican masters of haute-goth delve into the dark side with this coin-embellished creation.

Swedish Hasbeens Slip In Super High was £135 NOW £108

When a shoe adorns Manhattan's most famous heel-lover, you know it's a good 'un. Sarah Jessica Parker chose Swedish Hasbeens' handmade creations when she opted for this season's essential clog. Form a queue, ladies...

www.themoonandmars.co.uk

GET LOST IN KANE'S ORCHID PRINTS

2010-06-02T23:00:00.000+01:00

Anyone else manage to bear with Lost until its recent finale? This one's for you then. We never did find out why 'getting back to the orchid' was so damn significant. It remains one of life's great unsolved mysteries, up there with 'why are the numbers bad?', 'where is Walt?' and 'what's happened to the polar bears?'.

Anyway, if said orchid was anywhere near as significant as these Christopher Kane prints, I think I understand why Jack, Kate and Sawyer et al were so desperate to reach it:

Orchid print T-shirt £190

Orchid print satin jersey dress £600

LOVE the 'fierce' Versace ankle boots with this amazing dress.

Christopher Kane SS10 is available from Net-a-Porter.com

http://www.net-a-porter.com

CLARISSA EXPLAINS IT ALL!

2010-05-31T16:49:00.000+01:00

If, like me, you love rather than loathe the 90s, you'll have been immediately drawn to this post due to its familiar title. Yes, back in the day, Clarissa really did explain it all, though I'd have to admit that there can be no explanations for some of her peculiar fashion choices. Explain this one Clarissa:

Just by chance (otherwise known as Twitter), I came across Double Magazine's fabulously nostalgic childhood issue which succeeded in indulging my current 90s obsession. The magazine is a London/Manchester based project that tries, and I think succeeds, to be something a bit different to your average fashion magazine. It's a mix of fashion editorial and commentary with a good dose of music thrown in, so it's ideal if you're like me and think one does not exist without the other. I may be a latecomer to Double Magazine, but I'll be making sure I don't miss an issue from now on.

Another plus point in this issue was a piece on Scottish fashion designer Louise Gray, whose colourful and youthful collections caught the eye of the fun-loving Double Magazine team. The high street wasn't forgotten - I actually laughed out loud when I saw the Blossom-inspired fashion spread! Yes, that big-beaked brat from Channel 4 has made the transition from teatime torture to trendsetting teen. From floral cycling shorts to floppy velvet hats, who needs the Olsens when you have Blossom and Clarissa? Fifteen years later, yes, but they got there in the end!

If it were me, I'd be including some other 90s teen fashion icons like Angela from My So Called Life - Clare Danes has never looked cooler and Jared Leto was way hotter when he was the mean and moody Jordan. I went through about 40 cans of Boots colour mousse trying to achieve this bright red hair colour in the belief that it would bag me my very own Jordan:

I also like the feature that listed all the typical things you would know should you be lucky enough to be a 90s kid. I know they've been done to death but I still do laugh when I think about how Smash Hits and BIG! were the only places on earth that you could find the lyrics to Joey Lawrence's new single before Google was invented. And how Tammy Girl was our Topshop. And the only haircut that ever mattered was the Rachel. And how Clarissa really did explain it all from her bedroom windowsill.

www.doublemagazine.co.uk

THIS WEEK I'M LOVING... THE HOULIHAN

2010-05-31T15:22:00.000+01:00

Like most of the female population, I'm partial to a bit of Grazia every other week. The things you learn from that magazine... Well, mostly I don't learn anything other than I need to find a way to make more money so that I can afford some of those 'must-have', 'can't live without', 'covetable' items that Grazia insists on promoting via its glossy pages.

But this week I did learn something that stuck in the old fashion dictionary. The Houlihan (above) is set to be our new best friend. No, it's not a thing of Irish folklore, rather a mythical invention from US denim mavericks J Brand, glossily packaged to make us think it's a new way to wear the tiresome and overdone combat.

It ticks all the military trend requirements - exposed side zip, abundance of patch pockets and green stitching - and I do actually like the skinny, low-rise fit of the cargo. I just don't know if I like it enough to spend £245 on it. Maybe better waiting until Topshop have a more affordable version?

As per, Grazia does a very good job at convincing me that I will not resemble an All Saint wannabe circa 1997, but the new crop of cool kids currently hanging out in their Houlihans: Kate Bosworth, Rihanna and Jessica Alba to name but a few. All very well and good, but what if you don't have anything close to their long lean limbs? Hide them in hareems maybe?

The ever-reliable Doll Boutique, never one to miss a trend, has the J Brand Houlihan in stock now so if you have £245 to spare and just can't wait for the cheaper high street versions to appear, it would be rude not to try the trend.

www.dollboutique.co.uk

FASHION NEWS: INTRODUCING LOULA CREATES

2010-05-31T13:12:00.000+01:00

Regular Caledonista readers will know I'm always on the look out for some unique hosiery. Living in Scotland tends to mean that you don't get your legs out that often so we like to show them off in other ways. I'm never short of a 120 denier tight or staple cotton legging, but it's nice to step away from standard and reliable black in favour of something altogether more fashionable and fun.

So it's exciting to see up and coming designer label Loula Creates following in the fashionable footsteps of hosiery geniuses Bebaroque. Founder Loula, a graduate of Glasgow Caledonian University, creates bespoke tights and leggings using an array of colours and prints, perfect for adding some personality to an outfit.

All designs are unique and created by Loula herself, with 80 denier hosiery (£39) and luxury cotton leggings (£99) available to order from the Loula Creates website.

Here's a selection of some of the bold and bright designs currently offered by Loula:

Crazy Legs Legging £99

Pretty Princess Legging £99

Rouge Rox Hosiery £39

Blue Brilliance Hosiery £39

http://www.loulacreates.com

GET THE OLSENS' INFLUENCE FOR FREE!

2010-05-14T00:27:00.000+01:00

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are somewhat of a guilty fashion pleasure for me. It goes against my better nature to be in awe of the bug-eyed, bedraggled twins but when Karl Lagerfeld gives you his fashion blessing, you must be doing something right. Sometimes I think the Olsens could take over the world if their tiny frames weren't weighed down and held back by the layers of grunge-meets-glam garments that they've designed/acquired from their many years in the spotlight.

I wanted to hate their clothing ranges with a passion. But the Elizabeth and James line is actually quite cool, if a little pricey. Masculine tailoring, reminiscent of the twins' well-documented wardrobe, is the mainstay of the range, which sees a few ruffles thrown in to soften the look. How it fares on a 'normal' frame is anyone's guess (I've yet to meet someone with enough spare pennies to purchase a piece), but I like the look and I'm sure some oversized dark glasses will set off a tailored blazer or one shouldered top perfectly.

Scottish fans of the tiny twins can get the Olsen look from Doll Boutique, who now stock the covetable Elizabeth and James range online. And if you're willing to spend a few bob on something from the range, you'll get a free copy of the Olsens' guide to style, Influence, worth £20.

If I were a rich girl (to quote Gwen Stefani) I'd be buying these pieces:

Foliage Dress £195

Cropped Sleeve Boyfriend Blazer £195

One Shoulder Double Layer Jersey Top £95

You'll only get a free hardback copy of the book with an Elizabeth and James purchase while stocks last (I'd imagine) so better visit Doll Boutique's online store as soon as if you want to get your hands on some Olsen style.

http://www.dollboutique.co.uk

DUNDEE, THE CITY OF A FASHIONABLE DISCOVERY...

2010-05-13T23:49:00.000+01:00

You may not think of fashion when you think of Dundee. To be honest neither would I, but since it's Scottish Cup Final weekend and the tangerine side of the city of discovery are going to Hampden, I think it's quite fitting to have something fashionably Dundonian to celebrate.

This Whistles Dundee silk top may be clutching at straws when it comes to treating yourself to a piece of Tayside-inspired fashion but why not, I say. It's always best to have an appropriate, ready-made excuse to hand when justifying fashion purchases. And if the person you're justifying your purchase to just happens to be male, then they'll appreciate your knowledge of footballing events and therefore your fashionable celebration. It's just the same as buying an oversized, oversponsored and overpriced strip, right? All for the love the game ladies...

One of my fashionable friends reckons the print isn't inspired by the Scottish city, or any footballing team from Tayside for that matter. She reckons it's more of a tribal take on Crocodile Dundee's style. I didn't know there was such a thing as Crocodile Dundee style, but there you go. Some know-it-all fashionista even insinuated that there may actually be a print named Dundee, like the poorer, lesser known sister to the Paisley. Surely not? Did I miss a trend there? Safer bets would be that some fashionable being in the Whistles design team hails from the east coast and rather fancied referencing their roots with a minimalistic, graphic print. Either that, or Lorraine Kelly's home city has just become the fashion capital of Scotland.

Anyway, whatever the inspiration, here's the Dundee silk top in all its £95 glory:

United may not win the cup on Saturday, but if you step out in this silk printed top, you'll certainly win some admiring glances! I won't need another excuse to splash out on this one.

http://www.whistles.co.uk

NEWS: SCOTTISH FASHION AWARDS 2010 NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

2010-05-08T00:00:00.006+01:00

Okay, so every time I mention the Scottish Fashion Awards on the blog, it seems to stir up some opinion - hoping for more of the same now that the shortlisted stylistas have been announced.

Thanks to the lovely people over at The Herald and VOGUE.COM, I'm able to bring you ~~the list of people who paid to get a nomination~~ those who have deserved some recognition for their contribution to and promotion of the Scottish fashion industry over the past 12 months:

Scottish Designer of the Year sponsored by VOGUE.COM

Jonathan Saunders
Graeme Black
Christopher Kane
Clare Waight Keller for Pringle of Scotland
Pam Hogg
Scottish Young Designer sponsored by Glasgow: Scotland with Style
Holly Fulton
Graeme Armour
Henrietta Ludgate
Rachel Barrett
Louise Gray
Iona Crawford
Accessory Designer sponsored by Swarovski
William Chambers
Bebaroque
Tartan Twist
Janet Eagleton
Keira Thorley
Scottish Fashion Retailer sponsored by Forth Wines
Cruise
Jane Davidson
Pam Jenkins
Boudiche
ROX
Doll Boutique
Scottish Textile Brand sponsored by The Herald
Angela Cassidy
DS Dundee
Lyle & Scott
Roam
Begg Scotland
Icon - sponsored by Galaxy Radio (online public vote)
George Lamb
Karen Gillan
Tilda Swinton
Alex Gardner
Simon Neil
Isla Fisher
Gerard Butler
Sharleen Spiteri
Paolo Nutini
Amy MacDonald
Scottish Communicator sponsored by BAA GLASGOW
Eilidh MacAskill
Stacey Duguid
Kingdom of style blog
E-Tautz-Patrick Grant
Joe McKenna
Scottish Graduate sponsored by Marks and Spencer
Odette Valentine-London College of Art
Ingrid Garrioch-Grays School of Art
Nadia Scullion-Edinburgh College of Art
Jett Sweeney-Edinburgh College of Art
Scottish Model sponsored by Toni & Guy
Amanda Hendrick-Model Team, Glasgow
Lisa Omand-Model Team, Glasgow
Amy Newlands -Superior Agency, Glasgow
Stephanie Willemse -Superior Agency, Glasgow
Nicola Mimnagh -Model Team, Glasgow
Kate -Stolen Agency Edinburgh
International Designer of the Year (using a Scottish fabric/textile) sponsored by Mercedes-Benz West of Scotland
Markus Lupfer
Peter Jensen
Rodarte
Hall of Fame Recipient 2010 - Sponsored by Hotel du Vin Group (To be announced on the night).
So there you have it. What's your thoughts? I'm pleased to see a few of my favourites, like Holly Fulton, Iona Crawford, William Chambers, Bebaroque and Doll Boutique in there. I think the fashion communicator category is the strongest I've seen for the Awards (even though I'm not there ~~because I didn't pay~~, boohoo!).
The Icon Award will no doubt cause the most controversy. Last year, the rumblings were that Gerard Butler was making an appearance. He didn't. This year? My sources say it's highly unlikely he'll attend an event that's loathed by his favourite Scottish fashionista. And should everyone's favourite Aussie, Shannon from Home & Away, or George 'Big Brother's Little Brother' Lamb clinch this one, everyone will be perplexed by their claim to this Scottish crown. Isla's parents are Scottish and Larry Lamb's son was born in Dundee. So it's all legit, style sceptics. Otherwise known as 'them that think awards shows will clutch at any old straw to get a few more column inches'. Not me, of course. I'm a believer.
The event will take place on June 20th, not at Stirling Castle, but at the Glasgow Science Centre.
www.scottishfashionawards.com

TIME TO UNLEASH YOUR UPPER EAST SIDE...

2010-04-28T00:49:00.000+01:00

So regular readers of this blog will be very aware that I have a keen interest in the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite and that Gossip Girl over on ITV2 makes the midweek slump a bit more bearable. I was a bit distressed when I discovered, during what seemed like an extra long seven days last week, that there was no Wednesday night fix of GG on ITV2! I feared the worst. How could it just end? Just like Chuck Bass, I hadn't seen that one coming!

However, the good people over at ITV2 reassured me with a teasing trailer (featuring a Baldwin brither no less!) and a very nice tweet: Gossip Girl is back on our screens tonight at 8pm. ABOUT TIME! Two weeks without the GG fix is two weeks too long.

So in celebration of its return to my ever-shallow TV screen, I've been having a nose over at Miss Selfridge, who just happen to have a GG-inspired collection.

Jenny 'Lil J' Humphrey, played by Taylor Momsen, rocks it for me on the show so it will come as no surprise that I'm most impressed with the Miss Selfridge take on the platinum blonde's rock chick style. Taylor, who has also recently cemented her style status as the current face of New Look, would wear these dresses well, no doubt teamed with ribbed stockings, ankle boots and studded leather.

This is my very favourite, though I'd have to get a feel of the fabric before deciding if it was worth splashing out on:

Jenny Black and Silver Dress £45

Jenny Lace Tier Dress £49

Serena Black Bodycon Dress £49

Serena Embellished Waist Dress £39

Blair 2 in 1 Floral Dress £45

Blair Pink Baby Doll Dress £45

Vanessa Leopard Maxi Dress £59

Vanessa Coin Trim Dress £39

My overall verdict? It's a fun interpretation of each Gossip Girl's individual style:

Jenny - Definitely my favourite pieces and right on the money for Brooklyn's most fashionable blonde

Serena - Probably the truest representation of character style, could see Serena slinking in to one of these dresses for many of her dangerous liaisons with European princes. Hardest to wear; not everyone will be able to slither in to the body con dress as well as Ms van der Woodsen.

Blair - So disappointed with this! The Waldorf deserves better in my book and I doubt even Darota would be pleased to receive these dull dresses. B may be prim, proper and preened to perfection but boring she is not. And you would rarely see her in this shade of pink.

Vanessa - The surprise package for me, as Vanessa rarely wears anything that catches my eye in the series. I always think her boho in Brooklyn looks out of place, but I can imagine wearing these dresses in Ibiza this summer so top marks, especially for the leopard maxi dress.

You know you want it? Unfortunately the collection hasn't quite made its way to Miss Selfridge stores in Scotland , and I'm not sure that it will, so best snap up your favourite while you can from the online store.

xoxo

http://www.missselfridge.com

HOLLY FULTON GETS SAM CAM'S VOTE

2010-04-21T23:37:00.000+01:00

The choices this year, it would appear, are red, blue or yellow. Even if politics falls way below your priority list in life, behind shoes, bags and even socks, you can't help but notice that every other sod on the tv/in your newspaper/on your twitter feed seems to have been gripped by the current 'election fever'. The only good thing about the recent volcanic ash chaos was that it managed to free our skies of planes and our minds of mindnumbing political tit-for-tat.

Anyway, seems the ash cloud is on its way but the political agendas are not, so back to boring Brown, canny Cameron and clueless Clegg. Not my personal views, of course, just something I overheard somewhere...

But everyone knows that the REAL interest in this political stand-off lies with the ladies that put up with these dull men in suits. For months, the media have been intent on comparing the wardrobes and work ethics of Sarah Brown and Samantha Cameron, desperate for one of these women to follow in the elegant footsteps of Michelle Obama and become the First Lady that Cherie Blair never could be.

Sam Cam is the obvious frontrunner, with her Smythson association and sharp sartorial style, she definitely gets my vote. So how pleased was I to see her sporting a Holly Fulton necklace when I was browsing Miss B, the Browns Fashion blog!

The Scottish fashion designer is currently stocked at Browns, which is an emporium of luscious labels and covetable clothes that you just never tire of looking at. I couldn't see the actual necklace that Sam Cam was wearing on the Browns website but here's one that's quite similar:

This Deco Necklace with Crystal comes in at £230 but is a real statement piece, so if you have the cash I reckon it's worth the splash.

Shop more Holly Fulton at Browns here.

http://www.brownsfashion.com

IF I HAD SOME MERE CASH, I'D BUY SOME CA$HMERE

2010-04-12T22:37:00.000+01:00

Fashion should be fun. Some designers forget this and give us endless rails of ~~boring, bland~~ and basic garments. So give hip New York label Ca$hmere some credit for coming up with some t-shirts that are worthy of some ooohing and aaahing and even a bit of hahahahaing. The devil may wear Prada, but I'm sure God is wearing one of these:

Can't decide what one I like best - Tinker Karl or Anna 'Fashion Monster' Wintour. I'm sure there will be plenty of put-upon interns saving up their tips to buy the latter...

Ca$hmere t-shirts from £75 at Doll Boutique

http://www.dollboutique.co.uk/

BEBAROQUE BIRTHDAY TREATS FOR ARIES!

2010-04-02T16:48:00.000+01:00

I actually like having my birthday in April. As an Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac, I like to think that the year starts in April. Well, it is all about me after all. Not that I'm your stereotypical selfish Aries at all... It makes sense to have the year start officially in April, considering the first three months are usually dull, depressing and debt-ridden thanks to Christmas. So I just write off everything that goes before April and say that the year really starts here.

So I'm trying to come up with some gift ideas for the less-than-creative family I'm blessed with. And what did I find when trawling Urban Outfitters' website? A pair of Bebaroque ARIES tights!! I got quite excited by these crystal-embellished black opaques. I did say it wasn't all about me. But when a pair of gorgeous tights is named after your starsign, well surely it is about you just a little bit??

At £80, they don't come cheap, so I decided to have a peek over at Boudiche and see if they had these Aries tights in stock. I found the tights. But over at Boudiche, they're called Ariel tights. Not all about me after all, but still as gorgeous! When I hear the name Ariel, it just makes me think of my favourite Disney movie The Little Mermaid, and these tights are just as colourful and magical as the tale of the little redhead that finds some legs but loses her voice. Tragic.

Anyway, I'll still be putting Bebaroque's Ariel tights on my birthday wishlist.

Bebaroque Ariel 120Denier Tights, £79.95, Boudiche

http://www.boudiche.com/

FASHION NEWS: SHOP AT JONATHAN SAUNDERS ONLINE

2010-04-02T15:44:00.002+01:00

If I'm being absolutely honest, the last Jonathan Saunders for Topshop collection didn't really do much for me. The Scottish designer is known for his colourful take on prints and I just expected a bit more from the collaboration, although I did like the 90s feel of the pieces.

But just to remind us what Jonathan does best, the designer's relaunched his website and you can now buy some Jonathan Saunders from the online shop. Now this is more like it. Pop watercolour blocks on flimsy t-shirt dresses and vests, oversized scarves and silk cashmere sweaters. Bit pricier than the Topshop collaboration of course but this is why we love Jonathan Saunders, and love does come at a cost no matter what those 'free loving' hippies of the 60s said. And they were on acid after all. Whereas these colourful creations just look like one great big acid trip.

Here's my favourites:

http://www.jonathan-saunders.com/

FASHION NEWS: SCOTTISH FASHION AWARDS 2010

2010-03-19T22:25:00.000Z

For its fifth anniversary, the Scottish Fashion Awards will be switching venues, moving from Stirling to Glasgow reports VOGUE.COM. Moving the event from the traditional surroundings of Stirling Castle to Glasgow's futuristic Science Centre will hopefully take the event in a new and modern direction. The campaign for the event officially launches tomorrow with nomination forms available from the official event website and The Herald, with this year's ceremony being held on 20th June.

http://www.scottishfashionawards.com/

FASHION EVENT: POSED MAGAZINE LAUNCH

2010-03-19T22:04:00.000Z

It's not every day that we can look forward to a glossy fashion magazine launch in these parts, so it was quite right that the Posed magazine launch was the hottest ticket in Glasgow last night. From the snippets we were treated to on the magazine's website, it looked like we were in for a very fashionable treat and so myself and a super-stylish plus one headed along to the Classic Grand.

Now, we weren't best pleased when our names didn't appear to be on the guestlist but after reading Queen Michelle's review, it seems we weren't the only ones whose names were hard to find! The Classic Grand is a great venue but I would have to again agree with Michelle - the place was far too dark for the occasion. I too had wanted to take lots of pics to post, but the lack of light made it difficult and we were jostling with the official photographers for a spot to stand never mind try to snap at what was coming down the catwalk. The lack of light meant we didn't spot many familiar faces, though we did see Queen Michelle in the queue for the free alcohol and one did not look amused, though she did look amazing as always!

It seemed to take an age for anything of any note to happen but that was perhaps because our feet were getting sore from having to stand due to a shortage of seats and our ears weren't exactly loving the music that was being played. Drinks - now that was definitely one plus point. At £1.50 for a vodka, we couldn't complain that this was an overpriced fashion event!

We had to manoeuvre our way past a clown on stilts (yes, you did read that right and no, we're not quite sure what he was doing with those balloons either) to get our goodie bags, which consisted of a free copy of the magazine and some slim pickings of samples. Again, the dark was against as we struggled to scan the pages for a preview of what was to come. At this point, I felt it would have been great to have some sort of order of ceremony as we were kind of hanging about no knowing what was going on or who we should be appreciating for all of the effort that went in to the show.

So when it did finally start, plenty of fashion on show. Spotted Miss Selfridge in abundance, Henry Holland tights (lots of) and some homegrown talent that I think the announcer said was on sale at Che Camille, but I really can't be sure as I was struggling to see past the photographers at this point.

I thought the hair and makeup was amazing throughout the show, really striking and different. But I would have loved a bit more diversity in the clothing that came down the catwalk. I know it's a Scottish magazine with an international slant but we have some amazing Scottish designers that are sold internationally and it would have been a fab statement to see more of them appearing at the event.

But this is the start of something and that's at least a step in the right direction on the Scottish fashion scene.

So I sat down with Posed today once I'd shaken off the hangover and I am very impressed by parts of it, although at £5 I'd perhaps be looking for something a bit meatier that had more reading material. Some of the photography is amazing and, much like the catwalk show, the hair and makeup throughout is sublime. I loved the layout of most features and graphically-speaking I thought it was going in the right direction, so design-wise I think it's spot on. One piece I had to skip through quickly was the feature on the magazine's first issue muse, model Amy McLelland. Not because she isn't a worthy subject, but because the piece was littered with spelling mistakes - you can't misspell Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld and Vivienne Westwood in the space of 1000 words and maintain fashion credibility, so I'd hope that was sorted out by Issue 2. I loved the feel of the pages, it instantly feels like a premium magazine and the cover is another area that the Posed team has managed to get just right.

My overall opinion is that the magazine, for a first issue, is an amazing achievement and I'd definitely like to see more of it. I'd like to know more about contributors and I'd love to see more Scottish fashion designers and retailers featured alongside the best international designers.

It's a definite thumbs up from me, I'd love to know what you all thought of the Posed launch and the magazine itself...

http://www.posed.biz/

FASHION NEWS: COS COMES TO GLASGOW

2010-03-17T21:04:00.000Z

Thanks to the fabulously-informative ELLE blog, I discovered that Cos has opened in Glasgow's Princes Square. Cos, the chicer, smarter and simpler sister of H&M, has been something of a fashion insider's secret for a few years. When I lived in London, I lost count of the amount of times I would ask some super-stylish, yet never obviously-so, being where they got the covetable shift dress/trench coat/white shirt that adorned them that day, and nine times out of ten they would shrug 'just Cos'. Annoying, but informative if nothing else.

I didn't really get it at first, there didn't seem to be anything remarkable about the clothes, but they just seemed to work. From the perfectly-pointed shoulder to the lightly-crumpled shift, the Cos trademark seems to be wardrobe staples with just enough of a statement to make them stand out from their overpriced competitors. It's where French Connection longs to be, Whistles almost is and Reiss is too scared to go.

I'll be heading to Cos this weekend, hoping to purchase a piece that invites lots of admiring looks and 'where did you get that' questions. Here's some Cos treats to keep you going, if you've not yet managed to see what all the fuss is about:

Shirt €49 £45

Oversized coat €150 £129

Belt €25 £19

T-shirt €35 £29

Dress €79 £65

Top with shoulder pads €35 £29

Suede coat €350 £290 (ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!)

Panel skirt €45 £39

Wedge shoe €150 £129

Layered top €69 £59

Skirt €49 £45

Wedge shoe €150 £129

Check out the Cos website, unfortunately not transactional, where you can view their amazing spring/summer 10 lookbook.

http://www.cosstores.com/

Cos
Unit 34 - 35,
Princes Square Shopping Centre,
48 Buchanan Street,
Glasgow

PERFECT FIT FOR LAURA LEES

2010-03-17T20:09:00.000Z

Anyone who has more than a bee sting for a bust will know only too well how important it is to make sure the ladies are strapped down/propped up correctly. We've heard it a thousand times before - ill-fitting bras cause back problems, one in seven women wear the incorrect cup size etc, etc. And still, it seems, we are no wiser when it comes to buying our bust's best friend.

So Freya and Scottish fashion designer Laura Lees (yes, not the most obvious of fashion partnerships) have decided to team up and make sure that, even if we don't quite get the importance of wearing the correct bra, at least our t-shirts will state that we do. Or at least give the impression that we do.

Laura Lees for Freya is a collection of rockabilly-meets-girlie t-shirts promoting the 'Holy Fit' message, which encourages all us ladies buy the best for our breasts! I especially liked a vintage-feel design that featured a boudoir-inspired fashion illustration, very Amy Winehouse!

This was the only design I found for sale, though:

This one's on sale at Leia Lingerie for £25 and you can buy one here.

All proceeds from the sale of the Laura Lees for Freya t-shirts go to The Genesis Appeal, the only UK charity dedicated to the prevention of breast cancer.

Visit The Holy Fit website for more information and look out for a fab video where Laura Lees explains the inspiration behind the design of the t-shirts.

http://www.theholyfit.com/

'CHARM AND JUNKIES' INDICATE THE TRONGATE IS ON THE UP

2010-03-08T00:22:00.000Z

Thanks to the fabulous Flossy and Dossy, I've discovered a gem of a magazine. Always a good thing, even better when it's all about Glasgow/Scotland and all we have to offer. Indicate Magazine is on to its 4th Issue and I read it online, although I do hope there's a chance of getting a physical copy at some point, as sometimes it really is just good to sit in a corner and scrutinise some stylish spreads.

So, this is the front cover, taking an image from the eerily-beautiful Day of the Dead story:

Featuring lots of Bebaroque garments, always a winner with me, this fashion story in the snow is vivid, bold and different to anything I've seen in recent months. Fashion aside, the quarterly mag also covers music, photography and culture.

And that's where the reading really kicked in for me, with an immensely entertaining article on the Trongate. The writer's honesty about this area of Glasgow hit home with me and covered a lot of things about the area that I dare not ask, or venture in to for fear of what I may find. Situated between the Merchant City and Saltmarket, Trongate is that murky middle-ground that should be a place that I'd like to frequent, given its vintage shops and proper-music bars, but I actually don't stray this way at all. As Lillian Spark rightly illustrates in her feature, there's a host of unsavoury happenings and people lurking about these parts and if you're not familiar with its faults, you probably won't be able to enjoy its finer points.

The quotes at the end, from shopowners and residents of the area, are worth the read alone. Lynne Anderson of Tatty Bon sums up the Trongate as "charming, with some junkies. Charm and junkies!" Only in Glasgow.

As I was reading her take on the Trongate, it reminded me of how some people view my favourite place on earth, Camden Town. I love Camden, it has a great atmosphere, but it has an edge to it because it's hardly the safest or the cleanest place on earth. And yet there's good times to be had when you find the places that are hidden from the tourist trail. Maybe the Trongate is like that? I really hope so as Lillian's description of the vintage shops and unique bars made me actually want to chance it and see what it was all about. The Artist's Quarter investment, if it happens, would be amazing for Glasgow and people looking for an alternative to flashy Merchant City bars and the soulless chains that fill the city centre. If it could emulate the Northern Quarter in Manchester, with cool and quirky places to drink that don't actually cost you a fortune to get drunk in, it would be the ideal place to get a few pints before heading along to the nearby best music venue in the world, the Barrowlands.

Oh, and if you're in need of any further information on the Trongate's unique selling points, this lovely piece at Glasgow Survival poses the question on everyone's lips: just why does the place have so many leather shops and who is actually buying the stuff?? Guaranteed to make you laugh, and avoid McDonalds at all costs, if nothing else!

www.indicatemagazine.co.uk/

RETAIL REVIEW: INTERNACIONALE

2010-03-07T22:31:00.000Z

Having held a very poorly-paid position once upon a time in this outlet for all things cheap and occasionally chic, I admit to still taking an interest in what's happening at Internacionale. My first ever purchase was back in the day, when it was known as The State of Independence, and everyone in my class at school flocked here for the latest Unicco bag. This was the 'It' bag of our generation for about a year, and if you didn't have one of these faux-leather, metal-plated numbers, covered with the obligatory tippexed 'mentions', you could kiss goodbye to any cred you thought you had.

By the time I was seeking employment to fund my education (or more like shopping trips to Topshop/sessions in the union), it was known as Internacionale. It may have sounded continental, but with its nasty lilac signage and horrid orange ticketing, it really was a place for the common people. An overload of stretchy, shiny and scratchy garments swamped the shopfloor and the only thing that made an impression from the diamante-encrusted jewellery was the nasty green tinge that lingered on your skin from the cheap metal. It literally took days to scrub off, not nice if you were channelling Victoria Beckham circa 2002 with a HUGE blinging crucifix. Not that I ever did...

To be honest, I rarely bought anything with my staff discount when I worked there and I've never bought anything from the place since. It's been a good few years since I set foot in an Internacionale, but I see they've gone all black and white and the stores don't seem nearly as grim as what I remember them to be. Curious, I paid a visit to their website and was disappointed to see that they've not ventured into the world of e-commerce as yet.

However, I did sign up to their email newsletter and was pleasantly surprised by what dropped in to my inbox. A Grazia-inspired feature highlighted some new season items that - shock horror - actually looked wearable! The on-trend nude pieces were noticeably bereft of nasty diamanté detailing and a gorgeous Breton stripe knit bore more than a passing resemblance to something I'd almost purchased in Topshop recently.

Looking at the vastly-improved photography and of course the clothes, I'd say Inter has taken a step away from the Quiz end of the market and is now more comparable to Boohoo.com, which has carved out quite a presence for itself online.

Copyright: Internacionale

The prices have remained at the lower end of the scale and I'd be interested to see if the fabrics have moved on too. If so, it may well be time to pay Internacionale a visit next time I'm on Argyle Street, safe in the knowledge that I can find a bargain minus the bling.

www.internacionale.co.uk

FEBRUARY JUST FLU BY...

2010-03-07T21:19:00.000Z

I used to think January was the most grey and depressing month until February knocked me for six this year! Flu, freezing coldness, more flu, fund shortage, further flu... even thinking about it depresses me. And whilst all this nonsense was happening, and I was struggling to concentrate on Jeremy Kyle from my sickbed, fashion moments passed me by. Like, all of the fashion weeks. The passing of Lee McQueen. Lady Gaga at the Brits. The March editions of Elle and Vogue. I learned that fashion's not much fun when you're full of the very unfashionable coughing and spluttering! I'm sure I can't be alone in having missed out on February.

But on the bright side, we're now in to March, yay! Spring has sprung and all is well in the world of style. And Alice in Wonderland has finally made its way on to a big screen near us. Even better, Gossip Girl is finally returning to the ITV2 small screen!! And when did Taylor Momsen (who I love, love, love) become the face of New Look?? I have a lot of catching up to do!

HEADONISTIC THOUGHTS...

2010-01-27T23:31:00.000Z

I was doing a little online research today to conjure up some inspiration for a new hat/hairband look - the sparkly beret's looking out of place in dreary January and the Pixie Lott comparisons when I wear my gold rope headband are getting slightly tiresome.

So I paid a visit to William Chambers' website, haven't been on for a while, and loved the latest collection. If I had the budget, or was shopping for a very special occasion, something from William's showstopping collections would be first on my shopping list.

My favourite from the Autumn/Winter 09/10 collection is this:

Patent Camillia Headpiece £190 (online price)

But I also like these:

Felt Trilby £195 (online price)

This comes in a few different shades but this one, called Petersham, is actually my favourite and if I thought I could pull this look off without appearing too ridiculous, I would definitely save up to add this to my growing collection of head attire.

And I just have to have a bow in there, all the better for being a red one:

Felt Oversize Bow with Veiling £145 (online price)

Again, this comes in various colours, from Charcoal to Cerise, and you can also request other colours.

If you're looking for something to dress your head and have more funds than fear, then William Chamber is the way to go.

Visit his online store where postage and packaging is only £9.50:

http://www.williamchambers.co.uk

MISS THE MIX TAPE NO MORE

2010-01-25T13:55:00.000Z

Being an eternal teenager, I like to flick through the pages of magazines that are no longer targeted at me but still hit the spot when it comes to some quiet reading time. When I was of the correct age to be spending my dinner money on Mizz/Sugar/Bliss (or It's Bliss as it was back in my day!), I skipped the fashion pages in favour of those oh-so-insightful quizzes. Ones such as 'Is he the boy for you?', 'Who's your REAL best mate?' and, the all-time fave, 'What kind of kisser are you?'. In between answering/cheating at these quizzes to ensure I got the result I wanted, I would read and re-read this week's horoscope then see if my letter to the agony aunt got printed this time. Fashion wasn't on my magazine-reading agenda, though looking back to photos of my teens, perhaps it should have been. It would certainly have prevented the Benetton jumper obsession!

Now that I'm a bit older, I can appreciate the fashion pages a little bit more! So it was fab to read a recent edition of Mizz and find more than a few things taking my fancy. The clothes clearly wouldn't, nor are the meant to, fit me anymore, but the accessories can always be relied on to keep you looking and feeling a bit younger.

When I was 13, my favourite thing in the world was buying the latest glossy mag from the newsagents and trotting home to read it, with Long Wave Atlantic 252 on the radio, which was just the best music station ever! Most of the mags even had a page where you could tick your top ten song choices, cut it out and post it off to the radio station, where they would play your favourites. Genius! And then you would shove in a blank tape, waiting to hit the record button when they played all your favourite choons. Much more exciting than clicking on iTunes and getting it instantly...

So I oohed and ahhed over this necklace from Rock N Retro, which just happens to be a fun and fabulous haven for all things plastic and fantastic, based in Stornoway:

This cassette necklace, at a pocket-money price of £5, looked amazing hanging from the neck of a brightly-dressed model in Mizz. Now, you can't do that with an MP3 can you?? The owner of Rock N Retro, Sarah, clearly is a girl after my own heart, as she describes her inspiration for this creation with a longing for Atlantic 252 and her memories of recording on to a mix tape!

Retro, indeed. Rockin', most definitely!

Shop online at Rock N Retro:

http://www.rock-n-retro.co.uk/

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF SCOTTISH FASHION LIFE

2010-01-23T16:08:00.000Z

Congratulations to Edinburgh's Godiva Boutique and Caledonista favourite Iona Crawford who have both been nominated for a Scottish Sun Variety Award 2010! They're up for the Best Up and Coming Artist/Designer of 2010, so good luck to both. You can vote online for your favourite here:

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/scotlandfeatures/2814738/Scottish-Sun-Variety-Awards.html

B*WITCHING BUYS FROM LOUISE GRAY FOR ASOS

2010-01-20T14:45:00.000Z

Another day, another designer collaboration for ASOS. This time, it's the turn of Louise Gray to take on the trends and try her hand at fast fashion. So what's the jist?

Well, full fashion marks for fringing, flocking and colour blocking. Raised eyebrows for the bright green bloomers...

And my personal favourite:

And I know we're on a permanent 90s nostalgia trip these days, but there are some things in fashion that don't deserve to be revived, recycled, reworked, reused, regurgitated or even, quite frankly, remembered. Here's just one - matching indigo denim...

I do hope that this is a one off and not the start of some annoyingly-omnipresent micro-trend. It was never a good look the first time round and every time I see this outfit, I'm transported back to an extremely unfashionable time when it was considered acceptable to have these twits sitting atop of the charts:

Blame It On The Weatherman? No, more like blame it on the stylist! Or lack of. Whatever next, combats and camouflage a la All Saints?

But as the B*witched girls would say - C'est La Vie!

Shop Louise Gray for ASOS

STACEY DOES GOOD

2010-01-13T22:39:00.000Z

It's always nice to get a sneak peak at what those in fashion's most prominent positions are wearing, so the Elle Blog is worth checking out this week. They did a fab section for London Fashion week, where the ever-stylish Elle staffers showed off their pencil skirt and ankle boot combos (the fashion uniform of the AW09 shows), so I'm pleased they've reintroduced this for the new year.

Elle's Executive Fashion Editor, Stacey Duguid, just happens to be Scottish and stylish, in her Isabel Marant tartan shirt and geek-chic YSL spectacles.

The downside to this blog is that you get wardrobe envy and job envy all at once! But for all those fashion masochists out there, I'll be joining you in checking this blog section out daily.

DEVORE JONATHAN SAUNDERS/TOPSHOP SS10

2010-01-13T21:43:00.002Z

Looks like Jonathan Saunders is loving the 90s resurgence as much as some of us lot are, judging by his latest collaboration with Topshop, due to go on sale 20th January. The Scottish fashion designer has dumped his trademark prints in favour of denim and devore... well, unless VOGUE.COM and just about every other fashion website have been slipped the preview photographs sans prints.

The only images I can seem to find of the forthcoming collection look pretty plain compared to what we're used to seeing from Jonathan, but I don't think the interest will have disappeared. He says he's been influenced by the "bold and graphic shapes of the 80s Memphis Group", and that should mean a good shock of colour somewhere in the collection.

I'm especially loving the new full-length bodycon creation, complete with devore design, which Jonathan also uses to turn a plain white t-shirt into something a bit more special.

Not sure about the panelled denim, but maybe it will make more sense once the full collection is unveiled.

This new longline bodycon shape is starting to filter through to the high street, with calf-covering tube skirts appearing at Topshop. It's a tricky one to pull off without resembling a sack race contestant gone wrong - the merest hint of a hip in this shape will, I fear, lead to a great big fashion reality check for most. But you just know that there will be those lucky few that manage to resemble an Olsen twin on one of their better grunge-inspired days.

It's definitely a look I'm happy to admire from afar!

Jonathan Saunders for Topshop hits stores nationwide from 20th January 2010.

www.topshop.com

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

2010-01-06T20:10:00.000Z

What's the fastest way to make something an instant sellout in 2010? Make sure Cheryl Cole's got it, flaunts it and looks fabulous in it!

Being a fan of Team Cheryl and all things Girls Aloud just because it's rude not to be, I perked up when I saw Doll Boutique's tweet today - yes, there will be more stock of this Wildfox t-shirt. And in time for Valentine's for all those whose first love is fashion. It's not sad, it's sensible.

This one's in dirty white. Hard to imagine Cheryl ever wearing anything that's less than crisp and clean, given that she is the style Snow White of our times.

Wildfox tees are hot, hot, hot. I think I may have blogged about this before. Here's some more that are in stock at Doll Boutique, to keep us going until February...

That one's to celebrate the return of 90210 to our screens! Thank you E4.

Get Wildfox online at http://www.dollboutique.co.uk/.

WHITE OUT

2010-01-05T18:46:00.001Z

New year, new look, same old snow outside! Inspired by the lovely powdery-perfect white stuff currently making it impossible for most of us to go anywhere, I've decided to indulge in a bit of a blogover. Not sure that my eyes have adjusted to the brightness yet, but we'll see how long it takes me to get bored of the blackless background...

In the meantime, and to celebrate the snow(!), here's some bright, white beacons of style to look at while we're avoiding the ice outside:

From Alice Palmer's AW09 collection, here's how to wear white and look warm. Now all we need is a white coat of some sort for those surely-freezing arms...

And what about these bargainista boots from Office?! Now £20, down from £85, with sizes 3-8 available. Amazing.

SALE Shopping Scottish Style

2009-12-28T15:28:00.002Z

I've been good and managed to partake in some non-shopping activity over the past few days, but now I feel like it's time to trawl the net for some serious sale bargains. There's so much out there, with some websites and stores offering up to 70% OFF, but a lot of the time the sale snips are misleading. Many items have been on sale for a while and been stacked up in stock rooms since the summer, gathering dust while us shoppers seek out the latest, greatest new trends.

But come Christmas, crisp white cotton dresses that didn't sell when the sun shone are suddenly thrust on to sale rails, trying to convince us that we're getting a bargain when all we're really doing is snapping up summer's has-beens. Very rarely do we get the satisfaction of actual bargains that last longer than the family-sized tub of Celebrations that we gladly received under the tree.

Anyway, some savvy sale shopping can throw up some true gems, particularly designer pieces that steer clear of time-dependent trends. Here's my pick of the Scottish sale buys to get rather than regret when the dreaded January bank statement lands...

Alice Palmer for ASOS

Monochrome Bandage Knit Dress

was £65

NOW £19

With Cheryl Cole continuing to step out in bandage dresses galore, the body con trend shows no signs of easing up so keep it classic with monochrome to make sure your hip-hugger doesn't look obviously aw09.

Christopher Kane for Topshop

Mirror Bodycon Dress

was £85

NOW £40

Mesh, mirrors and more from Scotland's most prolific designer, at less than half its original price... a true Topshop bargain!

Jonathan Saunders at Net-a-porter.com
Printed Silk Chiffon Dress
was £640
NOW £448

Okay, so it's not exactly a snip at this price, but if Santa was very good to some of you out there, then this has a fair whack off its original price and works well in winter and summer.

Laura Lees at Labour of Love (farfetch.com)
Silk Skull Shift Dress
was £162
NOW £113.40

I absolutely LOVE this skull motif silk shift dress! Perfect for parties all year round.

Pringle 1815 at ASOS
Piped Hem Wool A-Line Skirt
was £150
NOW £105

A piece of Pringle for less! I love the shape and colour of this cute wool skirt.

Queen and Belle at Matches
Grey Snake Print Scarf
was £220
NOW £160

Slightly expensive, but when it's cashmere who's complaining? One that really will last a lifetime.

Pleasure State VIP at Boudiche

Grace Contour Balconette Bra Scarlet

was £50

NOW £12.50

A serious bargain from the exquisite lingerie boutique Boudiche. Available up to a G Cup.

Vivienne Westwood at Cruise

Victorian Ornament Bracelet in Aged Silver

was £65

now £35

American Retro at Doll Boutique

Metal Tunic

was £245

NOW £125

This is the perfect top, rock chicks everywhere will love its new almost-half-price-tag.

M&Co. at mandco.com

Satin bow dress

was £40

NOW £20

A half price party dress that wouldn't look out of place at summer weddings. It's like Coast without the hefty price tag.

Lyle and Scott Vintage at Xile Clothing

5 Button Cardigan

was £95

NOW £60

A cardigan never goes wrong in Scotland and the classic black with gold buttons is a style staple worth snapping up at sale time.

Bebaroque at mytights.com

Babooshka 80 Denier Tights

was £70

NOW £52.50

Embellished with bows and jet black Swarovski crystals, these plum 80 denier tights are what your legs are calling out for!

Holly's Skyscraping Shifts Land at ASOS

2009-12-22T13:45:00.004Z

Scottish, and now British, Fashion Award-winning designer Holly Fulton has created a collection for online fashion haven asos.com, so now everyone can snap up a piece of the designer who’s due to set the screen alight with her Carrie-perfect creations in the new Sex And The City movie.

Her art deco-inspired designs will stand as tall as the New York skyline in any wardrobe, including SJP’s, so this is one designer collaboration to truly covet. Structured shifts and high-waisted skirts featuring Holly’s now-signature futuristic meets geometric graphics in new season shades of yellow, blue and grey make this a streamlined collection that manages to maintain its high-end feel, largely thanks to stark styling by asos.

At £85 for a silk and cotton mix shift dress, it’s not that much of a jump from high street prices, but I do wonder who will be paying £65 for what appears to be a plastic necklace? It’s always tricky to tell from photographs when it’s an online purchase but it does seem a bit steep for what you get. Roll on the sale!

Looking forward to seeing what Holly comes up with next year, since it was announced that she’ll be receiving NEWGEN sponsorship.

www.hollyfulton.com

www.asos.com

Issue 2 - The Coveted Magazine

2009-12-07T19:35:00.002Z

I'm loving the second issue of The Coveted Magazine, especially the Up On The Roof fashion feature, complete with obligatory grey Glasgow clouds hovering in the background. Was also nice to see a bit about Kingdom of Style's Queen Michelle, an inspiration to many a blogger. Bit ashamed to say that, although I knew she was Scottish, I didn't know she still resided in sunny Glasgow. Funny how you assume that every successful fashion blogger must be living it up in London a la Susie Bubble! Also enjoyed the party dress feature, which was more creative than many mainstream magazines' attempts this month, so one to proud of Coveted team!

I've had to make do with a flick and click through the online version, but I'll be trying to get my hands on a hard copy this month for definite.

Check out Issue 2 of The Coveted Magazine here.

Keira Thorley's Ladies of Leather

2009-11-26T23:18:00.006Z

Searching for the perfect leather jacket is a loveless and laborious task I think. I've had many leather jackets, from bombers and blazers (why the Jennifer Aniston moment, I hear you say, and yes it was a deep red like everyone's favourite Friend!) to the ubiquitous biker, which is destined to forever stay in my wardrobe no matter how battered it gets. But looking for a replacement leather jacket is like trying to find a replica of your first love, and I'm convinced it just doesn't happen. Once you've found the perfect leather jacket, all others pale in comparison to your deep-creased and softly-stretched ol' faithful.

And yet, I still find myself trawling vintage, high street and online stores, hoping that one might catch my eye enough to at least mount a challenge to the slightly discoloured biker that's hanging by its last zip in my closet.

My budget doesn't quite stretch as far as the leather on the aforementioned leather biker, but if it did, I'd visit Edinburgh-based leather expert Keira Thorley. I love her Forties-inspired leather garments, especially this indulgent jacket named Lady Metallica for obvious reasons:

With cute puff shoulders and a tie neck detail, this would be the perfect way to liven up an outfit, be it a LBD or skinny jeans. Another one to add to the 'when I win the Euromillions' shopping list, but a welcome one I think! For those with more pounds than pennies, you can get this leather lovely and more online at http://www.keira.uk.com/.

Finger Lookin' Good

2009-11-26T22:31:00.004Z

You've got to feel sorry for fingers these days. While the less-than-useless shoulder enjoys its current position as fashion's erogenous zone, the overworked and overlooked fingers have been frozen out of fashion recently, with all the best gloves this season being of the fingerless type. I, for one, am overjoyed with my recent Topshop purchase - a pair of studded leather gloves, devoid of practicality yet strangely satisfying in the sartorial sense.
But maybe it's all about to turn around for fashion's forgotten finger. Well, that's surely the idea behind the digit-indulgent fashion finger puppets from RUBBISH at Liberty. They're all there, finger-sized knitted versions of fashion's foremost figures. From the iconic Karl Lagerfeld and Anna Piagi to the abstract Viktor & Rolf and freakishly lifelike Giles Deacon, complete with staple oversized spectacles. Our very own Christopher Kane makes it in to the London edition of this quirky stocking filler, with a snow white complexion that sets him apart from his uber-tanned mentor Donatella Versace.

All very well in theory, but at £65 a pop, this might be taking it too far in the name of an off-the-wall fashion fix.

http://www.liberty.co.uk/

Beverly Hills, That's Where I Want To Be...

2009-11-25T19:41:00.005Z

... as Weezer most eloquently sang (a good few years ago now!), and I do agree. Maybe it's this horrendous Scottish weather, but I do really believe I was supposed to have been born in Beverly Hills, as surely that's why I have such an aversion to wind, rain and dark, dark nights. Let's face it, when it's blowing 60mph winds and the rain just keeps on coming, you don't really see the point in making an effort with your outfit.

So I was browsing Doll Boutique, hoping to find a little ray of sunshine, when this lovely little Wildfox number popped out at me, satisfying my need for a fashion fix and 90210 moment all at once:

The LA label has become the t-shirt stop de rigueur, with famous American clotheshorses like Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Katy Perry, not to mention our very own Katie Price, choosing to show their slogans Wildfox stylee.

Also at Doll Boutique are these covetable Melissa Ashanti boots that are just shiny enough to slot your skinnies in to:

www.dollboutique.co.uk

Doll Boutique
16 Park Rd
Glasgow
UK
G4 9JG
0141 337 6059

Fashion Events: Kakao by K

2009-11-25T19:35:00.000Z

26th November Kakao by K is participating in a late night shopping event involving the best boutiques and restaurants on Thistle Street. Kakao by K is offering all shoppers 10% off every purchase and a warm cup of mulled wine whilst browsing between 6pm and 8pm.

And on 5th December - showcasing for one evening only the Scottish knitted accessory collection – ‘awa wi the fairies’ from 5pm-9pm. Lynn Wilson's collection is a series of knitted textiles in geelong lambs wool and cashmere, including bags, scarves, hats, cushions and throws.

Kakao by K
45 Thistle Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1DY
0131 226 35 84

girls@kakao.co.uk

www.kakao.co.uk

Mon-Sat 10am-6pm
Thur 10am-7pm
Sunday closed

Coveted Reading

2009-11-10T19:52:00.004Z

Apologies for the lack of fashionable fodder in these parts of late, the day job has taken over in recent months and the laptop has had a lack of action, evidently. Can't quite get to grips with blogging from a Blackberry - too slow and how on earth do you do pictures on that thing??

Anyway, a belated shout out to The Coveted magazine's first issue which you can read here, giving us something to be proud of in the Scottish fashion world. Some lovely imagery and interesting features make it well worth a flick through and let's hope there's more to come. Well done The Coveted!

LFW: Christopher Kane - Check Out THAT Front Row

2009-09-21T22:42:00.005+01:00

It was always going to attract the biggest names in fashion this week, but Scottish fashion's most prodigal son couldn't have expected this eclectic mix of names to be mingling stageside. Philip Green, Anna Wintour, Donatella Versace, Natalia Vodianova and... Joan Collins. The Dynasty revival is in full, shoulder-padded flow.

Yet from the pictures posted on Topshop's addictive Inside Out blog, it would seem that Christopher has shunned the sharp shoulders in favour of an altogether more feminine look for summer. Sweeping slithers of nude organza draped delicately alongside pared down pastel checks, signalling a swing towards sweeter dressing save for the suggestive slits that broke up the gingham blocks.

Carefully placed cutaways and an ever-present emphasis on the bodice ensured the collection stayed current, playful and confidently commercial, which was probably just as well given that his notoriously ruthless guests had a prime view of it all from the most exciting front row of the week thus far.

Sweetie, Darling! You Could Win an Ab Fab Jonathan Saunders Dress Thanks to Grazia

2009-09-21T21:59:00.003+01:00

Patsy Stone was my IDOL when I was an impressionable young child/teenager in the 90s and I'm, pretty sure it was my admiration for this blonde, beehived and totally bonkers character that led to my fascination with fashion. After all, don't all magazine editors get chauffeur driven to clothes shows, sipping champagne and swooning over their latest rock star squeeze? No??

Anyway, said obsession might come in handy as I've just entered this cool competition on Grazia Daily to win a Jonathan Saunders dress. Fellow Ab Fabbers, I'm sure you'll know the answer too so get over to http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/ and makes sure you're in with a shout!

LFW: Graeme Black SS10 - Jewel in the Crown

2009-09-21T21:02:00.002+01:00

The Scottish Designer of the Year continued to wow the fash pack at London Fashion Week's 25th birthday bash with a collection that looked nostalgically to another era of British dominance. Black steered clear of stereotypical summer safari styles, with not a trace of animal print on show, opting instead to clash clothing from 1920s colonial rule with a cocktail of citrus colour. White and khaki provided the blank not bland canvas for this very much arranged marriage of two very individual looks and it looks like it may well be a match made in fashion heaven. With VOGUE.COM reporting that many a major fashion player was there to witness another Black triumph, it's almost inevitable that we'll be snapping up jodhpurs, one-shouldered saris and citrus colours come spring.

Fashion Event: Scottish Style Awards 2009

2009-09-18T00:13:00.003+01:00

Now in its fifth year, the ever-glamorous Scottish Style Awards will take place on Saturday 31st October at The Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow's Merchant City. Promising to be a night to remember for all the fashionably right reasons, with suitably stylish songstress Sophie Ellis Bextor taking charge of the presenting duties, this is a ticket not to be missed.

Incidentally, tickets are only £45 - a steal in comparison to some other Scottish fashion type events that shall not be named, but I think we can all remember the events where we gasped at just how much we had to pay to sit at the back of the room minus promised goody bag! Tickets entitle guests to:

- Glittering Moët & Chandon champagne reception
- Scottish Style Awards ceremony hosted by Sophie Ellis Bextor
- New Talent & Fashion Designer of the Year runway shows
- Live music performance by The Phantom Band
- Luxury goody bag
- Official after party

Not so sure about the date of the event - why clash it with the most fun fashion event of the year?? Halloween parties have gotten so fashion forward over the past few years that it's almost impossible to turn up in a £5.99 get up from Matalan complete with false blood fangs and think you're not going to feel ridiculous next to the vintage costumes and stage-style ensembles that some party goers have clearly not thrown together at the last minute.

Halloween queens, you have a choice to make...

The Scottish Style Awards 2009 will take place at the The Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow's Merchant City, on the evening of Saturday 31st October.

http://www.scottishstyleawards.co.uk/

Eyelet You Into A Secret...

2009-09-17T23:15:00.005+01:00

You can view Christopher Kane's collection for Topshop online now! As I have just done. And also work out exactly how many pieces this month's wage will accommodate. As I have also just done. Visit the Christopher Kane for Topshop minisite here:

http://www.topshopstyle.com/Christopher_Kane/

I've had some fun with this. Loving the design of the minisite, which uses swatches from Kane's collection, spliced into a spinning circular story, introducing snippets of the styles we can expect to see this season. It's all there. Nods to a Desperately decadent Susan, seeking layers of lace, punctuated only by scattered street chic eyelets. Neon eyelet stamped bodycon dresses proving not so bulletproof but for the mirrored embellishment, deflecting any hint of insecurity. Sheer mirrored mesh dresses and leggings teamed with towering mesh platforms. No, these looks are not for fashion's wallflowers and again Kane presents a collection intent on making a very noticeable mark on the high street.

There's a cool shop the look book feature which you can probably use interactively when the collection is officially launched on topshop.com, but for now it's good to browse.

Billowing babydoll shapes lend a softness to bikeresque eyelet detailing, creating a look that manages to maintain femininity and fashionability. We like.
Not sure which is the scarier prospect: this neon bodycon dress, with its twinkling mirrors or the crocodile print t-shirt. Both for snappy dressers, I suppose.

www.topshop.com

Mirror, Mirror on the Fall Collection from Christopher Kane at Topshop

2009-09-06T20:27:00.003+01:00

A while back I submitted a question for Christopher Kane on Topshop's Inside Out blog and I'm thrilled that he decided to answer! Here's my question and Chris' answer:

Even though everything is a bit 'wow' in your new collection, what is the one piece that every girl should own from the new range and why? Cheers, The Caledonista
From my new range I recommend some tartan cashmere or one of my multi coloured ribbon dresses, especially look 21. My Topshop range is really amazing, I think every piece is special and you should definitely purchase my mirror sweat pants to wear with a suit jacket and high heels, not forgetting the mesh all-over mirror dress that is seriously beautiful and very sexy.

So it's mirrors, ribbons and tartan we need to look out for... can't wait! Sounds as eclectic as ever and sure to be another fashion winner for Topshop.

Christopher answers loads more questions from other fans of his work here on the Topshop blog, where there's also details of their new magazine, due in selected stores from next week. I'm also excited about that and hope it will be available to pick up in the Scottish stores, as it makes sense for Topshop to have something like this to showcase their new season range.

Fashion Event: Jane Davidson Fashion Show

2009-08-17T21:51:00.003+01:00

This went unnoticed in my inbox, so sorry this is a bit late for all you Caledonistas looking for an excuse to skip the sloppy sail rails and fix your eyes on some new season offerings. Jane Davidson hosts another fashion show this Wednesday 19th August, with two showings at 11am (for the fashionably freelance or super stylish students!) and 7pm for those that can't duck out of the day job, no matter how tempting. Moi? I'm off to sunnier climes for a much needed hol, so I'll have to wait a little longer to see what's in store for the new season.

www.janedavidson.co.uk

Iona's in Fash-yen

2009-08-13T23:51:00.005+01:00

Tokyo's talking about Scotland's Iona Crawford thanks to an inspirational collaboration with Japanese artist Yukako Sakakura. Iona's 2010 collection took centrestage at Tokyo Fashion Week and the creative partnership paid off, with Vogue.com reporting that the show has led to Iona's designs being snapped up by some stylish stockists.

I love the simplicity of this collection and the photography (by Catherine MacGregor) is amazing - everything from the model's silver white hair (just like mine, I'm allowed to be biased!) to the kohl clad eyes set against the most natural of environments aids the dramatic impact of Iona's designs and it's fab to see her gaining even more recognition.

I'm sure she wore one of these creations to the Scottish Fashion Awards, and I loved it then. Look out for Iona when she's showing at Atmosphere in Paris, during Paris Fashion Week.

http://www.ionacrawford.com/

Style Hunting in Scotland with Grazia

2009-08-13T22:54:00.006+01:00

Has anyone else been enjoying Grazia Daily's Style Hunter series? Grazia's Hannah Almassi gives this sharp and stylish account of her visit to Edinburgh and Glasgow and came to the conclusions that most Scottish people will understand and know only too well: it may be sunnier in the east but the tanned people live in the west!

Glasgow's glamourous tan-fans were out in force to greet Grazia in the rain while festival flurry almost drowned out the fashionistas in Edinburgh, but Grazia did manage to get a few snaps of Scotland's most stylish:

This is Laura Daly, a retail floor manager (for All Saints maybe??), sporting my fashion lust have of the season: All Saints' Amos Jacket. All £395 of it!

And I'm assuming this is Kakao by K's owner, Karina Baldorf, looking cute in a cream and black Edith & Ella dress. I'm biased - she wears a big bow, she wins.

Don't You Just Hate It When...

2009-08-13T22:31:00.003+01:00

You decide to perk up your blog with some butterfly background and it wipes all the other blogs you were following! Ahhhh. Can I bothered to re-add them all? No. Am I missing my fashion fix? Yes. Off to trawl t'internet then to see if I can refind my online style bibles...

Oh found one. Fashion Week Daily are reporting that All Saints has taken Spitalfields style Stateside with an in-store boutique in Bloomingdales, which will apparently lead to several standalone All Saints across the US. From East London cool to Upper East Side chic then. Will it work? I predict it won't be long until we see Gossip Girl's Taylor Momsen parading in an All Saints parachute dress.

Holly Fulton's a Fashion-East-a Again

2009-08-03T22:29:00.003+01:00

After impressing on her first showing at the Topshop sponsored Fashion East event, Holly Fulton has been confirmed to make a second appearance this year. British Fashion Council ambassador and uber fashion journalist Sarah Mower confirmed the Fashion East line-up on Vogue.com and caledonistas everywhere will be delighted to see Holly back on the catwalk.

Holly, who was crowned Young Designer of the Year at this year's Scottish Fashion Awards, will be hoping that the event can do for her what it did for her fellow Scottish designer Jonathan Saunders, who has gone on to enjoy an acclaimed and successful fashion design career since showing at Fashion East.

I just LOVE this robotic Swarovski-encrusted shift dress from Holly's Aw09/10 collection - I remember seeing it on one of the many models at the Scottish Fashion Awards and it looked truly stunning up close. Amazing!

Check out this video of Holly being interviewed by Swarovski:

http://www.hollyfulton.com/wp-content/themes/hollyfulton/scripts/shadowbox-js/flvplayer.swf

http://www.hollyfulton.com/

Tell Me About It, Stud

2009-08-03T21:56:00.002+01:00

I felt like these boots were talking to me. I first spied them sitting pretty and smug in the shoe department of Topshop's Argyle Street mecca in Glasgow. I thought "Don't look at me like that, it's summer and I'm here to look at gold gladiators and cork sole wedges." But as I left the store that day, the puddles looked way too pleased to meet my exposed toes in the not-so-sensible suede sandals, and I knew then that I would be back to clinch my NBBs (new best boots) before August was done.

I didn't actually think I would have to get quite so friendly with the NBBs so quickly, but there you go. I actually have a very unsightly blister from too much wearing of the NBBs over the weekend. Not that they are uncomfortable, just that I think I took us both by surprise as they turned out to be the only suitable item of clothing for a wet weekend in the north west of England, and we were rarely separated at any point over those three days.

As I look at them now, with their bold burnished buckles and oh-so-now studs, I think they are still talking to me, but probably just begging for mercy or, even better, a nice break in the weather so that they can have a little rest until winter comes calling. But still, the best purchase I've made this summer!

Aztec Studded Ankle Boot, £75, Topshop