Borrowing heavily from the seventies is the crochet vest.  These trendy pieces of crochet, once essential to every hippie girl’s wardrobe, are roaring their way back into fashion.  Featuring beautifully delicate crochet patterns and finished off with a fringe hem, the versatile crochet vest is a simple way to spice up an otherwise ordinary outfit.

Flower Child Chic

As the crochet vest can be made to match with different outfits, you can mix and match it with different styles for either day or evening wear.  Throw a crochet fringe vest over super trendy rust jeans and a floral blouse or combine it with denim cut-offs and a plain t-shirt for a casual dressed-down look.  Take care to tone down the accessories, finishing off the crochet vest look with minimal jewellery like a few dainty necklaces and a simple bag.  For a truly hippie look, try pairing a crochet fringe vest with wide leg denim jeans, a paisley top and platforms – definitely eye-catching.

The light and super stylish crochet vest can be woven into both autumn and winter wardrobes.  The intricate crochet and fringe lend a vintage touch to an otherwise modern outfit and the open-at-front, loose fitting vest adds a Bohemian touch to your appearance.  Crochet fringe vests are available in almost every colour, with the delicate laciness of crochet lending itself to an endless variety of patterns.

Top designers are taking the crochet vest and incorporating it into next year’s spring collection as well, so there is no doubt that the crochet fringe vest is here to stay.  Grab these perky additions at rummage sales or, if you want the classier option, order them online from any of the major retailers.

The travelling man carries an overnight bag or holdall for most of the time, but he need not compromise on style.  A travel bag can give him an essence of finesse, and help him to make the right impression when he arrives somewhere new.  However, the bag still has a job to do, as everything that he needs must fit neatly inside.  It should also be reasonably lightweight, at least until it is filled.

Overnight bags and holdalls come in all colours, shapes and sizes.  For business trips, choose a bag in a neutral colour that will complement the fabric of a suit or overcoat.  For trips of several days, a quality trolley bag may be ideal.  For overnight stays, a duffle style will be more suitable.

For stylish weekends away, look for a bag with a striking design, such as the Fred Perry overnight bag.  Ensure that the bag is the right size for the type of travel required; for example, will it need to fit easily into the overhead locker of an aircraft?  Also consider its capacity and whether it will hold everything that it needs to.

Toiletries and medications need not be stuffed into an inside pocket of the bag; invest instead in a quality wash bag.  For a little extra luxury in the hotel bathroom, look at collections by famous brands including Mulberry.  For more affordable alternatives, the department store is the best place to check out the various ranges on offer.

Travelling in style

To be honest most stores have had their sales on since early December, most places now put reductions on before the once traditional Boxing Day sales. It doesn’t mean that after Christmas there won’t be much left on offer in fact you might be lucky in finding some good bargains on items which were not in sale before Christmas.

I find items such as designer clothing have the best reductions after Christmas and into the new year as stores look to get rid of autumn/winter stock, so you can find bargains on brands such as Firetrap, Police 883, Diesel, Voi and Franklin & Marshall to name but a few. The best items to look for are those which you need, because it isn’t a good deal if you don’t actually need what you are buying, which is why sale time is my favourite time to buy items such as jeans, shirts and jumpers. Look for items which are not too fashion forward, basics are the best so next year you don’t look like your wearing last season’s clothes.

If you are a bit of a label hound then checking out outlet stores to see their bargains is a good idea, outlets normally have the best prices but at sale time there is normally a lot more off which means you can pick up your favourite labels from places like Designerwear at a fraction of the original cost.

Whatever you buy make sure you get the best deal this sale time and if you find you have too many clothes why not be charitable and pop them into clothing banks.

Those that can afford to pay for designer clothing are extremely lucky.  Many women crave to own something from their favourite luxury label, but unfortunately do not have the bank balance to match.  Some great fashion ideas can be obtained by looking through the many women’s designer brands out there, so it is well worth carrying out some research.

Some of the top women’s designer clothing brands include Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Vivienne Westwood, DKNY, Ralph Lauren, Guess, Armani Exchange, Abercrombie and Fitch and Cavallaro, but there are so many others to consider.

Dolce & Gabbana is sometimes shortened to D&G and is very popular amongst women.  They are an Italian fashion brand, offering a range of luxurious and stylish clothing.  Their Dolce&Gabbana designs are very formal and timeless, so can be worn over a long period of time and never look dated.  The D&G range has a more casual urban feel, with unique styles on show.

Prada and Gucci are also well known Italian labels and tend to specialise in leather goods such as shoes and handbags, but also stock clothing.  Chanel is a French fashion brand and is expert in the haute couture sector.  Its style can be described as one of casual elegance.
 
DKNY stands for Donna Karan New York and is an American fashion brand.  The designer offers trendy clothes aimed more at the younger market and covers a range of items for women, including accessories, clothes and general fashion.

Logos

Stylish cold weather essentials are essential for the cold winter season, and a coat is a season staple.  As well as being warm, a stylish coat completes any outfit.  The duffle coat is making a comeback this season, in comfortable wool-blend fabrics and neutral colours.

A scarf is the perfect accessory to wear with a coat on a cold day.  Select a colour to complement the coat, for example a grey coat will look good with a scarf in purple and black hues.  A high-quality wool fabric will be warm, and a stripy design gives the perfect look.

Leather gloves in dark colours will complement a winter coat and accessories.  A lined glove gives added warmth on the coldest days, without compromising on style.

Winter sunglasses are here to stay, and dark polarised lenses with a stylish metal frame are versatile for work and play.  And finally, the wet-look is well and truly over; so do not forget an umbrella.  Select a lightweight, compact piece in a matching dark colour.

Top five must haves for a cool winter

When talking about fur as a trend we are looking at faux fur not the real thing (in this day and age there is no need for the real thing as synthetics, good quality ones feel like the real thing).

Designers filled their catwalk shows with fabulous and mostly faux fur creations, Gucci opted for brighter colours such as purple, mustard, teal and berry red, whilst Donna Karen mixed it up with animal print. It was also seen added as finishing touches with YSL creating detachable fur hoods and plenty of other fur trims.

For the party season fur is really a must especially with  lovely, sparkly Republic party dresses, not only will it add a touch of glamour to your outfit (think old Hollywood), but also keep you warm in the freezing winter temperatures. There are a couple of ways you can go, you can go short and sweet with a cropped fur jacket or you can go for a more bohemian look with a loose fitted longer fur jacket or coat à la Olivia Palermo at London Fashion Week .

The great thing about fur jackets is that they are not just restricted for evening wear, a good fur coat or jacket will also work really well for day wear as well as keeping you snuggly and warm. You could go for a long fur coat or a jacket with a nice trim, depending on your style. Fur accessories are worth investing in too, such as hats or even headbands. Fur gloves not so much but a fur scarf or shawl, yes please.

And finally don’t forget fur trimmings for those who don’t want to go the whole hog!

Following John Galliano’s recent court appearance, it comes as no surprise that models at his catwalk shows at Paris Fashion Week strode out in courtroom ensemble.  The looks were not dissimilar to his own courtroom attire – think waistcoat style jackets teamed up with a polka dot neckerchief, covering a bare chest.  Black suits rolled off the catwalk, reflecting what would have been a sober time for the respected former Dior designer.

For his spring/summer 2012 collection, Galliano enlisted the services of Bill Gaytten, who was handed the unprecedented role of creative director for the John Galliano label after 23 years as Galliano’s right hand man.  Gaytten’s evening wear was far from casual, with black ties, tighter-than-tight black satin trousers, and matador/military jackets featuring ornate details combined with intricate stitching.  Models mimicked the extravagant designer to a tee, sporting flamboyant hats in bright colours, adorning eye-catching ribbons and feathers.  Drop-crotch trousers, layered checked and striped tailoring, and military jackets evoked a dramatic yet carefully conceived and highly wearable menswear collection.  While several major UK stores no longer stock the label, the collection is likely to greet its ever-growing market in Russia, the Middle East and Asia.

While Gaytten’s role has been likened to that of Sarah Burton for Alexandra McQueen, given the success of re-hashing previous Galliano looks in his catwalk shows, it is hard to believe that Gaytten would fail in his ambition to keep the Galliano label alive.  Expect Gaytten to find the courage to further build on Galliano’s signature looks and use them as a basis for creating fresh, future collections.

When going on a night out, everyone wants to want to look their best and stand out from the crowd.  Different styles of dresses suit different skin tones and body shapes, so knowing which designs work will be a God send.  This guide will zap away any fashion fears, so that everyone can choose the perfect dress for a night out whether you like rocking designer clothing or are a highstreet fashion queen.

Yellow and white outfits can make fair skin look even lighter, so if fair, steer clear of these.  Red and green colours can look great on those who have dark hair; while bright shades can make other hair tones stand out more.

Women with a dark skin tone can get away with light colours; so think white, green, yellow and pink and if possible they should avoid wearing dark colours.

If someone has an olive complexion then neutral coloured dresses are the way to go, making grey, black and brown ideal.  Red and blue may also work well. Plus don’t be afraid to make a statement with your dress, with some funky styles from Designerwear for Gio Goi.

Regarding body sizes, women with larger chests should not go for high necklines, as they can make the outfit look frumpy and accentuate the size.  Low cut dresses are much better and will enhance the more generous figure.  For those who wish to hide their tummy, empire line or flared designs can work well.  Adding a necklace or scarf can also distract from this area in order to bring focus to the upper half of an outfit. 

Black can also be a very flattering colour, as it helps to create a visual slimming effect to the eye, as well as looking elegant and classy.

Smaller chested women can get away with high necklines and long sleeves, but low necklines can also work, especially with a push up bra to add more shape and femininity.  Avoid going for dresses with large patterns or prints on as these can swamp the wearer.

From the runway to the party, nothing says style like leather and fur.  Since 1921, the House of Gucci has been synonymous with fine, exquisitely crafted leather clothing and accessories.  This year’s autumn and winter collections bring together some of the hottest colour themes from the runways of the world.

Tres Chic: Fur and Leather

Gucci’s autumn and winter collections feature an adorable double-breasted coat with an overflowing fur collar, and an orchid hush melange wool and cashmere coat.  The Mongolian fur trimming makes a remarkable style statement.  Arguably one of the most coveted skirts in the celebrity wardrobe this season is the malachite green and deep teal patterned skirt.  The skirt is paired with a deep teal shadow fox fur jacket.  Cognac is the colour to make a girl look like a million dollars in a Gucci leather strapless dress.  The shadow fox fur line of wristlets, and collars in cherry and teal emphasise a stepping away from conventional theme colours to a rich bouquet to ring in the holiday season.

Gucci – A Tradition of Excellence

Gucci’s focus this season appears to break the traditional notions that bind leather and fur by producing a line of clothes and accessories that use colours and designs that set the runway on fire.

Gucci Autumn/Winter 2011/12

Diverse is the word that comes to mind while describing shoe trends this winter season.  With dazzling colour schemes, a variety of materials and styles to fit any mood, this season’s shoe trends will have women rushing to stores to stock up their wardrobes with the latest.  Here is the lowdown on what’s hot and what’s not, this winter.

Top Shoe Trends

While on the colour scheme, it is good to know that bright hues are definitely not in vogue.  The trendiest colours to wear are black, grey, white, metallic shades, burgundy, dark blue and the all-time favourite, beige.  Winter shoes feature materials like reptile skin, suede and satin, with fur and lace being used to embellish many creations.

Reptile skin in particular was seen on a number of models who walked the catwalks this season, with designers opting for snake and crocodile skins for most of their creations.  Patent leather was another season favourite, in bold combinations like red and black or blue-burgundy.  Suede boots and high heels were also featured on a number of ensembles.

The laced-up look is very popular this season, being carried over from the spring/summer collection this year.  Spring’s delicate, feminine look has given way to a more aggressive look this autumn/winter, with bolder colours and longer lacing making a strong statement.

Buckles and chunky heels are hot, with designer collections featuring both in a number of styles.  Ever popular is the stiletto heel, made over in the darker colours of winter for a stylish look.  A new trend seen this season is wearing socks with shoes.  Although this makes for an elegant effect, socks can even be replaced by warm tights for a similar overall look.

Without the heat of summer, autumn’s shoe range can afford to be versatile.  Tassels, velvet, lace and satin all vie with one another to decorate shoes and sandals, and the sheer range of available options is breathtaking.  Pamper your feet this autumn with boots, sandals, flats, heels and stilettos.  Stock up this season and make your shoes a style statement!