Seasonal Updates & Top Tips

Tips:

• The structure of every good outfit is enhanced with the right fitting underwear.
• Accessories will dress up any outfit. Remember to finish off every outfit with the right accessories.
• A single breasted jacket and long trousers will instantly slim the body and give you more height.
• If you have a curvier lower body, go for boot cut trousers to balance with your upper body.
• To create longer, leaner legs add a pair of high heels to your outfit.
• If you have got great legs don’t be afraid to show them off in a skirt. If your lower body is curvier ‘A' line skirts are much more flattering than pencil skirts.
• If your too afraid to wear a lot of colour try to introduce it slowly with use of accessories ie, scarves, bags, jewellery, shoes etc..
• To avoid displaying unwanted bulges, looser fabrics are a better option than fitted.
• Avoid high and polo necks if you are busty. Stick to scoop and v-necks.
• Always have regular beauty treatments ie, facials, manicures, pedicures etc.. as these are key factors in personal grooming.
• Drink a lot of water and a healthy lifestyle will keep the radiance and glow in your skin.
• Be sure to look at yourself in a full length mirror before you go out, remember styling is all about receiving a balanced silhouette.
• When you try an outfit and it shouts back at you "buy me" that's means you look good and feel confidant, if in two minds-leave it!
• Invest in a great fitting pair of jeans, as you can always dress them up or down.
• Shirt cuffs should show an inch under a blazer sleeve, and long trousers should be worn just above ground level.
   
• Dress to impress yourself first and others later.
   

THE TREND REPORT: SPRING/SUMMER 2010

One Piece – Richard Nicoll - Ralph Lauren - RM by Roland Mouret
Underwear as Outerwear – Christian Dior - Fendi - Jean Paul Gaultier - YSL
Dirty Gold – Balmain – Marni - Phillip Lim - Christian Dior
Army / Khaki – Marc Jacobs- Rag & Bone - Aquascutum
Trench Coats – Loewe- Pringle of Scotland – MaxMara -
Double Denim – D&G -House of Holland - Twenty8Twelve -
Pastel Colours – Burberry Prorsum - Luella - Tommy Hilfiger - Christopher Kane
Digital Prints – Alexander McQueen - Matthew Williamson- Versace
White – YSL Calvin Klein - Collection Chanel- Givenchy
Tribal Style – Dries Van Noten- Givenchy - Kenzo - Paul Smith Louis Vuitton
Spring Bling  – Michael Kors - Phillip Lim - Miu Miu - Prada
Red Carpet Style – Oscar de la Renta - Donna Karan Collection Christian Dior
Hot Pants - Topshop - Arden B.
Lower Heels – Carvela – Marni - Prada
Clogs - Marc Jacobs-  Chanel- Louis Vuitton.

One Piece

Every so often, one-piece styles of clothing have a revival. As a unique style for Spring 2010 What started with bodysuits and leotards is now becoming a fully-fledged trend towards jumpsuits, playsuits, and dungarees. This trend is seen on catwalks teamed up with semi-sheer blouse or pretty camisoles and natural tan heels. 

Underwear as Outerwear

Underwear as outerwear is the trend that's strictly for exhibitionists only. This is a trend with varying degrees of dare; pieces edged in lace or sweaters with boned bra cups – all will hint at the lingerie look. Embracing spring’s neutral and pastel palette for a more romantic take on this trend. X-rated - Once again; Jean Paul Gaultier and Dolce & Gabbana took the underwear trend as far as it will go. The styles are usually seen complete with fine knit cardigan or a mannish tuxedo jacket.

Dirty Gold

More is more: cluttered up earrings and layered necklaces are noticed on the catwalk for SS10 trends. Dirty metallic is the way to go with choosing pewter over silver and dirty bronze over shinny gold. Warrior and gladiatorial dress shapes are best suited to oxidised metallics.

Army / Khaki

Replacing leather biker with a super functional, weathered flak jacket – the official outerwear of off duty models. Sexy surplus; cinching a ballooning men’s jacket with a thick belt. The key is to look for more dressed-up takes on uniform dressing: Balmain mixed army jackets with sequin cargo pants. Sleeves rolled up and buttons undone – 2010’s style soldiers stand at ease.

Trench Coats

Trench coats take a new direction with quirky tailored twists, slouchy parkas and come at all lengths, with or without sleeves. To complete this season's most irresistible look, key way to pull it off is to wear with collar up making sure the outfit can peek through by belting it with the buttons undone.

Double Denim – D&G

Denim is set to be one of the biggest trends for 2010; the freshest way to wear them this season is top to toe. Mix up textures: Chloe had patchwork jeans with chambray shirt, while the jeans at D&G and Ralph Lauren were ripped and frayed. Cute gilets, old school shirts, frayed jeans and ruffled mini dresses to strike a punky meets Wild West chord this spring. The blue crush starts here...

Pastel Colours

Baby blue, pastel pink, pale yellow, spearmint, soft lilac – spring’s prettiest Palette is mesmerising. Wearing sugary shades with thigh high cuts and provocative splits is the key while wispy feathers and sheet floaty chiffon and tulle make for a delicate mood.

Digital Prints

The dawn of a new decade brings forward-projecting thoughts which reflect in many a designer's work in 2010. Sci-fi finds its way into fashion in various forms as do re-interpretations of traditional futurist concepts. Perfect for exhibitionists, digitally manipulated prints are big news, Computer graphics add energy to the prints, thigh high dresses and tunics are great for attention grabbing impact.

White

A summer favourite, yes, but this seasons white lies in shape, form and fabric; The blazer returns thanks to slouchy tailoring at Michael Kors and Calvin Klein going for  prairie styles, architectural shifts or sweet slips. Shirt dressing is back at the fore; from frilly and feminine to sleekly starched.

Tribal Style

The military and tribal trends collide to become this fierce fashion trend. This African adventure is divided into utilitarian safari styles or crazy big cat and tribal prints as the modern warrior is confidence. Going wild with loud prints, sleek city ready tunics this trend is to experiment with.

Spring Bling

Thinking chic, now showy, these party pieces have an elegance and glamour that offsets the flits. The key is not to be afraid to pile on the accessories – as seen at Lanvin. Finding a relief from the recession with lashings of gold, gloss, glitter and crystals.

Red Carpet Style

Floor length dresses with plunging necklines and almost indecent leg splits will always give maximum impact.  To inject a little old Hollywood glamour, long embroidered chiffon dresses are inspirational. Knee Length dresses are a youthful option to the trend.

Hot Pants

Once upon a time hot pants were considered more suited to a gymnasium than the streets and so there it was on the Spring 2010 catwalks. And again in the front row. Always on the confident personality. It is not for the faint hearted…

Lower Heels

Shoes are big statements but heels are coming down. Alexander McQueen may have gone to new heights with his SS10 heels but for many other designers like Marni and Prada, heels have come back down to earth. Low wedges are also totally on-trend too and were seen in several of the big catwalk shows for SS10. From sliver wedges, to mini kitten heels, these comfortable, yet sexy walking shoes are what's hot and trendy in footwear.

Clogs

Rediscovering an old trend this year, clogs are it. These chunky wooden shoes that are generally associate with hospital garb are back in a major way...with a little upgrade, of course. Karl Lagerfeld sprinkled the Chanel 2010 runways with clogs would be a complete understatement. Like it or not the clog is this season’s key new shoe trend.