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Victoria Beckham’s empire continues to grow

March 20, 2013

Victoria Beckham has quite a reputation as a fashionista, with her notoriety spreading across the world from Milan to New York. Now, after many months of looking for a perfect area from which she could expand her fashion empire, Beckham has just bought her first ever store. The former Spice Girl now owns a Battersea Spar, in south London, which is a 850 sq foot building. The convenience store is within walking distance from her own office in London, and Beckham’s range of products is growing at an exponential rate.

Beckham has been looking for more space in the past, with purchases of shops and warehouses around the country, until the Spar was spotted by one of her agents when it came on the market. It has big operating spaces, glamorous offices and will soon be renovated to provide a modern experience. The former singer has not yet bought her inaugural flagship shop but for now she makes these deals herself. Which her relentless pursuit of global domination gathering pace rumours are rife on what will be her next target.

Right now it seems that the former Spice Girl has her eyes on a VB store in Paris, Manhattan, Milan or perhaps even London. She apparently wants to get the perfect VB shop for her line of products, and it most likely won’t be a small one.

Since she launched her line of outfits and accessories almost eight years ago her fashion career has flourished. Just this month she launched a new range in China trying to capture the Far East market which can be lucrative for fashion designers. David, her husband has is also no longer known as just a footballer with his fingers in many pies, including modelling, has just been announced as an international ambassador to the Super League in China.

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M&S fashion sales fall in January

March 1, 2013

According to sources from Kantar Worldpanel, the M&S fashion brand lost 0.4% of their shares in the market and underwent a 1.3% decrease in retail sales in the weeks after the 20th of January. However, as much as M&S suffers through the ordeal, high end brand Zara and lower end budget chain Primark showed a doubling of sales, as with H&M, Next and Debenhams as reported by the Sunday Times.

Because of the increase in other retail chains and the decrease in sales at Marks and Spencer, there will be a lot of pressure on CEO Marc Bolland especially after the devastating results that came after the Christmas holidays. Studies show that sales have decreased by 1.8% in the United Kingdom from the 29th of December up to those following weeks as well as a devastating 3.8% blow on general merchandise.

The Marks and Spencer group had taken ex Debenhams and Jaegar chief Belinda Earl to improve the face of womenswear and ultimately give the brand a once-over. However, Earl had mentioned that their last trading gig had felt that it was a “greatly promotional and very challenging” retail market and that it lacked time to further apply their plans on improving the brand.

Thus, the new Autumn Winter collection spearheaded by Earl will only be launched this July, quite late considering that other retail chains launch their collections right before the season starts. Judging from their increase in sales, it looks like avid shoppers are more attracted to low priced fashion that Primark offers.

The Kantar figures were taken from the National Statistics, which reported a decrease of sales in January due to the snow affecting several areas of the United Kingdom. Kantar was not available for comments while Marks and Spencer refused to give out comments as well.

 

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Understanding the language of flowers

December 14, 2012

Flowers have their own type of language, which may sound odd but also familiar at the same time. After all, most people know that you give someone a red rose if you want to be romantic and you offer them a sunflower if you are looking for a friendship gift.

The Victorians actually went one step farther and turned flower giving, or floriography, into a secret code in which a carnation meant yes if it was solid and a striped one meant no. However, in modern times the language is more deep rooted and linked with symbolism as well as social convention.

In fashion it is hard to consider flower as a uniform category. Most of the time flowers are a symbol for femininity, but that topic in itself is pretty broad. Every type of floral print conveys a different type of fashion, but that is why designers love to choose floral patterns. In a way, flowers are like mode music for fashion.

For instance, a bright daisy print can be something that is representative of the sixties and is generally perceived as uncomplicated and sunny. On the other hand, more muted floral prints like something you might see on Little House of the Prairie are more vintage and generally are very trendy for a nostalgic vibe.

This season the headline floral print is obviously oriental as many designers are choosing to combine chrysanthemums and peonies on black minimalistic prints. The result is slightly gothic, but can be very elegant and sharp creating a floral quality that is as delicate as an Asian woman and tends to be especially striking on smaller woman.

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Airport scanners could change the way we buy clothes

September 28, 2012

Airport scanners are something of a controversial issue, because they are seen as something that are protective for security, but many people argue that they are an invasion of privacy.

Some libertarians are saying that they take airport security too far, and are not worth the invasion of privacy, for the additional security that they offer. Travellers are also bothered by them because they delay the process of getting on the plane, and are in addition to the already extensive security measures that take place at an airport.

However, it seems as if they are about to find a place that is going to make them welcome among the population, as they are going to be used as a body scanner to measure people up for clothes. This is going to mean that very accurate measurements of the body can be taken, which will allow people to buy clothes online with a great deal more ease.

Shopping online has become the primary means of shopping for many people, although when it comes to clothes, even the most keen online shopper is nervous about doing it. This is because they do not have the option to try on the clothes, and they might be unsure about whether they are going to fit. This can lead to the clothes having to be returned, which is a great deal of hassle.

The body scanners could prevent this problem by providing an incredibly accurate measure of the body, and online clothes stores could then use this information to provide recommendations about what sort of clothes the person should be buying. This is likely to mean that far fewer clothes are going to be returned, and customers are going to have a much more satisfactory online clothes shopping experience.

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Other countries starting to follow Britain’s lead in wearing inappropriate seasonal clothes

July 21, 2012

For many years Britons have been well known for turning the logic of climate fashion on its head. But, news is filtering through that other cultures are also dressing for summer in the height of a cold, bitter winter.

For a long time, the UK has led the field in inappropriate seasonal choices, with clothing designed for the Bahamas worn in middle of a Manchester mid-winter. Memorable scenes at Aintree of women in strapless numbers can’t help but linger in the mind when it comes to seasonal fashion.

The issue of looking good regardless of climatic conditions seems to be a common human weakness. People have been in denial when it comes to climatic choice and it appears geography does little to improve our common sense.

It’s not just women wearing summer clothes in a stiff cold northerly that is the issue either. The Brazilian issue of Vogue reports that coats are one of the best sellers in São Paulo during the colder months; except that winter in Brazil is not that unbearably cold with temperatures regularly hovering around 19 degrees. Editor Daniela Falcão explains that with a year long summer, women get bored with wearing the same clothes.

In New York, fashion can be turned on its head thanks to the ever present air conditioner. It means summer dresses are not a problem in the middle of a snow laden winter in the Big Apple regardless of the conditions outdoors.

All well and good, but as people ignore the seasons and dress according to what suits them clothes designers are tending to do the same thing. It means ignoring local conditions or culture which may be part of the makeup of a particular locality. Sometimes we have to work with what we have, and when we do that the results might come as a pleasant surprise.

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Kelly Osbourne hands out solid advice on what clothes to have in your wardrobe

July 18, 2012

Women dreaming of being able to afford clothes from top designers can take heart from the comments of Kelly Osbourne. Her advise is for women to look for so-called knock-offs and prioritise their spending.

Well known for her left of centre fashion selections, Kelly makes the point that you don’t have to be rich to look good; all that’s needed is some common sense and planning ahead to have a well rounded wardrobe.

She says women should try to cut back costs on everyday street wear, and save money for just a few more expensive items for important occasions. Fashion accessories should be well thought out, and a good choice of handbag and shoes is all important.

Kelly, who has a preference for Vivienne Westwood’s range of corseted dresses, says for anyone to look good they must make their own fashion choices, and not be influenced too much by the latest trends. The corseted dresses, with their figure hugging style make the star feel slimmer that she actually is and that helps with her confidence.

She regards herself as the ultimate tomboy and describes her wardrobe as a mixture of smart casual wear, function-ready ensembles and glamorous pieces reserved for red carpet events. Kelly says she may not know how to sit and walk glamorously, but she looks and feels beautiful which is more important.

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Kate’s Jubilee outfits are a resounding success

June 6, 2012

Kate Middleton wore a series of stunning and stylish outfits over the weekend for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. She also showed how big a fan she is of designer Alexander McQueen by choosing some of his creations once again. The first one the Duchess of Cambridge wore was on Sunday at the Jubilee Thames River Pageant. For this she chose a scarlet red dress by McQueen which had previously been seen on Kim Kardashian and Tulisa Contostavlos.

Kate had chosen a long-sleeved version of the dress which she wore with a red hat and nude shoes. It looked very elegant and complemented her hair and complexion perfectly. It has been commented upon that she was diverting attention from the Queen who was wearing white, but it certainly made Kate stand out from the crowd. It was obviously the Queen’s day and although Kate looked stunning, the main focus of attention was certainly the Queen.

On Monday the Duchess was with the rest of the Royals, attending the Diamond Jubilee Concert outside Buckingham Palace. There they watched the line-up of stars performing for the Queen which included Elton John, Robbie Williams and Stevie Wonder. Kate wore an Alexander McQueen blazer over a Bella dress from high street brand, Whistles. She looked great again and gets it just right when she matches high street clothes with designer brands.

Kate chose Alexander McQueen again for the final day of the celebrations on Tuesday. This was the ceremonial day and there was a Thanksgiving Service at St. Pauls, a lunch at Westminster and an appearance on Buckingham Palace balcony. The Duchess was wearing a very stylish, knee-length, lace dress which was the same colour as her nude shoes. She accompanied these with an oyster sash and a Jane Taylor hat.

 

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Copy the Celebs for the Best Prom Dress Styles

April 26, 2012

You’ve got a prom later this year and you need inspiration, where do you get it? You go where the prom dress designers go, celeb and catwalk spotting. Most of the latest prom dress and ball gown designs are inspired by both what’s appearing on the catwalk shows at London, Paris, New York, Milan, and what those A list celebs choose to wear on their many red carpet walks.

You’ll find videos on YouTube, photos on Flickr, and of course there are those high end fashion mags. Take inspiration from your favourite celebrity who tops the fashion rankings.

Getting inspiration is about defining the kind of style you want. You may love the short dress that one celeb is wearing, and the particular colour of a different dress worn by another celeb. Perhaps the hairstyle of another is the one for you!

The ‘trick’ is putting all those different style flavours in to one package, you. After all, what looks great on a 6 foot catwalk model might not look so great on you if you’re 5′ 3″. The idea is that you make yourself look the most glamorous you can for that prom evening.

Back in 2011 Taylor Swift wore a strapless heart shaped bust dress, with a sequined bodice and a long tulle skirt the overall effect was stylish and playful. Using that as a starting point you could look out for similar items, mixing and matching fabrics and colours to get the right effect for you.

Are you curvy with legs (you know what I mean), well think back to when Michelle Trachtenberg from Gossip Girl wore that dark navy strapless short dress. It was by no means flashy, but has just the right balance of showing enough and hiding enough. Is that your style?

Getting the idea? Find celebs close to your physical shape and colouring and copy what they do; they pay thousands for high flying fashion consultants to dress them. You can take them as an example to develop your own style for free.

At the High School Musical 3 premiere, did you spot Vanessa Hudgens wearing that that flirty number? While it was a simple short black dress, it was the stylish accessories that added enough of panache to make her look gorgeous.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on your prom outfit. There are plenty of online prom dress and ball gown shops who are offering the latest designer copies at really reasonable prices. By doing some simple mixing and matching, accessorising, and making sure you are dressing to suit you, you can wow them at the prom.

Article by rubyprom.com

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Dresses for every generation

March 12, 2012

Since time immemorial, dresses have come to symbolise special occasions and dressing up. You only have to think of wedding dresses to emphasise the point. Over the years however, it has become increasingly evident to both designers, and wearers, that dresses are far too stylish and versatile to just sit in wardrobes waiting to be one at an event that warrants dressing up.

Since the 1950′s, the lbd, or little black dress, has been a staple of every womans wardrobe. Ever since the exquisite Audrey Hepburn in films such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s showed us how different accessories can make one dress become several different outfits, women have ensured that they always have at least one to bring out for a whole manner of different occasions.

During the 60′s we had the freedom of the mini dress, allowing women to show off their legs like never before, followed by the modesty of the maxi dress in the 70′s which came right down to the feet. The only leg on show with this was a brief glimpse of ankle, and that conveyed the modesty of the times.

In fact, you can track social history by which dresses were worn at which time. The more freedom women achieved, the more freedom they had in their dresses. When women got the vote in the 1920′s, and ended generations of oppression, the loose, to the knee flapper dress embodied the new freedom that women were experiencing for the first time.

During the war years, dresses were austere to match the times, whereas in the 50′s when the rock n roll era kicked in, along came another distinctive style of wide skirts and billowing petticoats with emphasised the dance moves that were all the rage at the time. The new romantics of the 1980′s wore dresses of all lengths, as well as the pencil skirt of the 30′s making a reappearance, with deep splits at the back.

Today’s dresses encompass all of these past styles and more. We have short dresses, long dresses, loose dresses, tight fitting dresses, and everything else besides. Casual summer dresses are more likely to be seen that skirts in the warm weather, and lightweight washable fabrics allow us to wash and wear our favourites over and over again.

Dresses are by far and away the biggest selling singular item of women’s clothing today, and it is easy to see why. There are styles to flatter every size and shape, they are available everywhere, and whatever your personal preference in style, there are dresses out there to suit.

Article for Boohoo.com

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Boohoo for Dresses

January 22, 2012

Whatever your size or shape, a dress can be the most flattering item in your wardrobe. They can give illusions of height, slim waists, bigger or smaller chests, and give a woman a boost of confidence when they need it. Whilst dresses have never gone out of fashion, their popularity has peaked and troughed over the years. Now, however, dresses are the must have items of the year, and there is no shortage of styles available.

Dresses have been around since we first ever decided to stop walking around naked. Only 60 years ago you would be lucky to see anyone over the age of 40 wearing anything else apart from a dress, but thanks to the denim revolution, they started to be worn only for special occasions or nights out as women embraced the comfort and practicality of jeans and trousers.

We seem to have come a full circle as dresses are not only very much back in vogue, but there is once more dresses for every kind of situation imaginable; from glamorous nights out to comfy every day dresses. This current uplift in popularity has resulted in every store, both online and on the high street, stocking dresses in every kind of style, colour and length imaginable, and often at eye popping prices.

We all know how the internet has revolutionised shopping as we know it, and how with just a few clicks of a mouse we can buy everything from a pair of earrings to a car, but the growth of online retail websites does have a downside. There are now so many sites out there that finding exactly what you want can be time consuming and frustrating. This isn’t a problem with dresses however; you simply have to head to www.boohoo.com

From the moment you enter this amazing site, you are greeted with a selection of dresses that has to be seen to be believed. By selecting a heading, say evening for example, and using the filters to select size, colour, style and price range you will instantly be rewarded with a stunning range of dresses to suit your criteria. Whatever the occasion you want the dress for, you will find the perfect one on boohoo.com.

Not only are the garment on boohoo.com incredibly high quality, they also come with the kind of price tags that make you rub your hands with glee. It’s hard to think where else you could get a stylish sequinned shift dresses for only £10, or a long sleeved leopard print mini dress for £12. At prices like these, you can fill your wardrobe with the dresses on boohoo.com and have one at your disposal for any eventuality.

Once you have selected your dress, you don’t have to look far for your shoes and accessories, as they are all available on the boohoo.com website. There are stunning sateen spiked heeled shows here for only £20, the perfect accompaniment for a short evening dress. Add some jewellery and a bag from the accessory department and you are all set for that big night out without your purse suffering much discomfort.
Article for Boohoo.com

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Winter Dresses

October 6, 2011

An Advertising Feature

September’s London Fashion Week saw the return of fashion’s darlings, along with a host of fresh design talent, and now that LFW is out of the way, we can all concentrate on perfecting our favourite looks.

Whether you’re feeling avant garde or just dipping your toes in the fashion water this season, you will no doubt find yourself falling into fashion line as the runway’s key trends are already hitting the high street.

Key trends for winter will be forties, fetish, heritage and nostalgia, and at the heart of each of these, as usual, is the dress. The simple dress, in its many wonderful and elaborate guises was out on in force for London Fashion Week, so take your pick from the plethora of styles.

Louis Vuitton paid homage to all things fetish in leather dresses while London designer Eudon Choi showcased a collection with distinctly equestrian influences, combined with Grecian shapes for dynamic, flowing dresses.

Alexander McQueen, now operating under the creative direction of Sarah Burton, was on standard exquisite form with a collection of signature bold, avant garde dresses, taking in both heritage and fetish for dramatic effect and Gucci paid homage to forties’ glamour.

If you can’t quite stretch to a couture price tag, head to the high street or go online to find your perfect winter dress. Very.co.uk is a one-stop-shop for directional, trend led dresses with offerings from high street retailers like French Connection and Pepe Jeans. It also has online exclusives and stocks collections from BBFs Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton. Shop Holly’s collection for classic, feminine dresses in forties shapes, while Fearne’s offers a fresher and more directional look.

So, with more choice than ever and styles to suit all, whether you’re cladding up in couture of wearing high street finds, make a buzz this winter.

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2012’s must-have occasion wear

October 4, 2011

2 2012’s must have occasion wear

 

mulletdress 2012’s must have occasion wearThis year’s Fashion Weeks have given us plenty to think about when it comes to updating our occasion wear wardrobes for 2012. We’ve taken a look at the hottest Fashion Week trends to give you a round up of the evening wear styles you need to own next year.

Mullet cuts

The asymmetrical high-low or mullet dress got the official NY Fashion Week seal of approval and looks set to be big for spring/summer 2012 as a result. This high at the front, low at the back hemline is great for those looking for something fresh for next year’s parties. Mullet dresses work great as daywear, but for evening they’re so easy to dress up with heels, cute cropped jackets and fur. If you’re looking for next year’s evening dresses UK occasion wear specialists Coast are ahead of the curve and have a fresh new line of high-low dresses in store already.

Peplums

Over the past couple of seasons, peplums have been a pencil skirt-only trend, but for spring/summer 2012, no skirt is without a peplum detail. As showcased by the likes of Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs and Jason Wu at NY Fashion Week, peplums are fab for adding some instant vintage glamour to an occasion wear skirt or evening dress.

Polynesian prints

Prints were an essential summer wardrobe item for 2011, and 2012’s evening wear collections packed a punch on the catwalks with the hot new print trend for next year – Polynesian. Think Bali, Fiji and Tonga and don’t be afraid to go top-to-toe bold with banana leaf and palm prints from the likes of Diane von Furstenberg. Alternatively, Dior gave us a far more subtle take on the trend with their NY Fashion Week show, utilising big tropical-themed prints in chic muted colours rather than OTT brights.

The modern Mod

If floor-length glamour isn’t your style, then next year’s take on the Mod look might be more up your swinging 60’s street. Calvin Klein wowed us in New York with his new take on Twiggy’s classic style, utilising ultra-modern tailoring and futuristic muted metallic fabrics. This look is perfect if you like your evening wear clean, bold and minimal.

Pretty pastels

For a feminine 2012 look perfect for spring, go for refreshing pastels. Spotted all over the NY and London Fashion Week runways from Proenza Schouler to Victoria Beckham, these pale candy hues are great for those who like a clean, minimal look that’s ideal for showing off your summer tan. Pastels look great on structured dresses like the shift, and if you don’t want to go top-to-toe pastel then team with that other must-have colour for spring 2012, crisp white.

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