The Stars of the Golden Globes

The time has arrived where we are now getting into awards ceremony territory, as last week we were all witness to the Golden Globes and with the Oscars just around the corner this can mean only mean one thing, all eyes are firmly fixed on all the famous faces attending such events to see who has been a hit in the style department and more importantly which stars have made a bit of fashion faux pas.

The Golden Globes always promises to be an eventful night when it comes to fashion, and designer fashion come to that.  When you have half of the A list celebrities on the planet attending this one event it is little wonder that fashion designers throughout the world are clambering over each other to ensure that at least one of the celebrities in attendance is wearing their designs

There were of course a few demure looks with many celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston, Penelope Cruz, Mariah Carey, Kate Winslet and Halle Berry, opting for the colour black.  However, who can blame them as the little black dress is always known to reflect a sense of class and sophistication, not to mention the fact that it is flattering to all figures.  However, whilst Jennifer Anniston and Halle Berry both opted for dresses which revealed a bit of flesh it was in fact Penelope Cruz and Kate Winslet who stole the show with their extremely classy looks.  Whilst Jennifer showed a lot of leg in her Valentino dress, Halle opted to show off her cleavage in a floor length Kaufman Franco gown.  Whilst Penelope’s fish tail style Armani Prive dress oozed just as much sophistication as the Yves Saint Laurent asymmetrical gown as worn by Kate.

However, although all eyes were definitely on the dressed worn by the celebrities and attention focused on which designer was responsible for each creation everyone was also intrigued to find out just how the ladies completed their look, style after includes a lot more than just clothes.  Needless to say we were not disappointed in this department as stars such as Christina Aguilera decided to unveil new looks.  Christina sported a new chin length bob hair style which suited her face shape beautifully.  Deciding to leave her hair straight and accessorising her dress with just a pair of ear rings and a ring Christina looked effortlessly chic.

Furthermore, Christina was not the only hit when it came to hair on the big night.  Rather stars such as Sandra Bullock, Cameron Diaz, Nicole Kidman and Drew Barrymore all opted for beautiful styles, all of which completed their ensembles beautifully.  Granted none of the aforementioned went for a style which was quite as radically different as Christina’s, but none the less these stars did not fail to impress.   Sandra Bullock’s “tumbling down”, tousled look looked completely effortless but elegant all at the same time.  Whilst Nicole Kidman opted for a to the side bun, complete with sweeping fringe.    Meanwhile both Drew and Cameron both opted for sleek looks with all hair swept back, both of which oozed sophistication.

However, although of these hairstyles looked completely effortless I dread to think how many hours were spent in the salon creating these looks.  What’s more, many of the stars’ hair was glossy and shiny proving that they must take impeccable care of their hair, as such a healthy shine is rarely achieved over night.  Rather it is probable that many of these stars, under the advice of their hair stylist, use a natural shampoo and condition to ensure their hair looks healthy and shiny.

So with everyone looking so beautiful and with so much designer fashion on display all at once I can hardly wait for the Oscars to arrive.

Online Fashion Magazine Launch: Fashion Confidential

FashionConfidential.co.uk  has been on my radar for awhile now as a favourite online fashion mecca, but now I’ve discovered they’ve launched a new online magazine. I’ve been trying to cut down on buying fashion magazines over the past six months so to discover this new part of their website was a pretty exciting moment for me. Not only can I get my now get a bit of my much needed glossy magazine fix online, but I can get it for free, leaving me with more shoe money. It’s got everything you’ve come to expect from a high end fashion magazine, from great photography, great style, and a great ‘heads up’ on the latest fashion trends and how to get the look.

I first discovered their site when I was in what I like to call my “I must have a Marc Jacobs handbag for my life to be complete” stage and spent a many hours researching which bag would make my life most complete. I came across their designer fashion insider info  ‘style report’ blog after having a snoop around their handbags section and had made myself a regular visitor. I’ve long been a fan of the online mag at Net-a-Porter’s and not to mention the fabulous Asos’s magazine so was pretty impressed to see they’ve added a glossy to Fashion Confidential now. However, it makes me wonder if this is to be the future of the fashion magazine. So many amazing fashion magazines have had to close within the past few years that I wonder if online is a place the fashion magazine can truly thrive again without the restraints of printing overheads.

While nothing can beat that experience of opening up the latest copy of Vogue and seeing the printed version of amazing fashion editorials by the worlds greatest fashion photographers in your hands, there is something to be said about the currency, immediacy and interactivity of online fashion magazines. I love buying glossy magazines because even if I can’t buy everything inside them, I almost feel I have a little peice of them by having the magazine. Yet I love online fashion magazines because I can interact with them and they’re so fresh in terms of content. Does anyone else feel the same way or am I alone on this one? Either way, if you get a chance to check out Fashion Confidentials magazine, let me know what you think!

What’s in for Autumn Ladieswear 2009

The time has come to put away my gladiator sandals and sun dresses and start covering up again. So long Summer – it was a great three weeks! All jokes aside, as much as I complain about the weather, the great thing about living in the UK is that because the colder months last for so long I’ve accumulated a great range of autumn and winter ladies wear.

So, here’s what I’ll be refreshing my wardrobe with over the next couple of months as I pull out my favourite boots, scarves, and jackets and say goodbye to my lovely summer ladies wear.

The Structured Jacket

This year, structured Jackets have been making a major comeback, all thanks to Balmain, who we’ve been seeing Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham and Beyonce wear quite a lot of. However, the look, cut and the price tage of Balmain is pretty severe so I’ll be looking out for a classic black modern tailored jackets with a bit of sharp shoulder pad details. Apparently this is a trend that will be around for next year too – But I recommend having a good look at the tailoring to check out if you can remove some of the padding later as the trend disappears.

The Ankle Boot

The ankle boot is a faultless classic that’s seen a big revival over the last two autumns, and this one is no exception. They look great with pretty much any look and are so versatile that you only need one pair to work into your wardrobe. Their extra bit of coverage during the colder months means the keep you warmer than a standard pump, but won’t be as hot as a full calf length or knee boot so they’re the perfect compromise on style and warmth in autumn.

Simple clothes – BIG accessories

This autumn the clothes are looking pretty neutral both in colour and cut. In the season thats been dubbed by many as ‘ressission beige’, there will be lots of boring grey and black shades in minimal designs across a lot of ladies wear collections from what I’ve seen so far. I’ll be brightening things up by making thre most of my statement jewellery. Check out some of Marni’s statement necklaces and cuffs to get an idea of what I’m talking about here. It’s big, it’s bold, and it’s going to look great this autumn.

Dressing up for spring

Spring is a confusing time fashion wise. What should you wear outside when the weather is so unpredictable? How can you keep warm and still look good? It is all too easy to feel that the sun will never appear, and fall into the trap of thinking that dull weather means wearing dull clothes to match. However, it is possible to choose practical outdoor clothing that will keep you warm outdoors, and still look stylish. There is no need to either hide away in dark tones, so that you blend in with the grey skies, or shiver in bright but flimsy clothes more suited to the summer.

The ever-popular raincoat is absolutely perfect for the variable spring climate. Obviously, it is designed for wet weather, but also keeps out the cold. The raincoat, however, combines practicality with style. For that Parisian touch, accessorise with a beret (best avoided if it makes you look more like Benny Hill than Audrey Hepburn). Black is always stylish; try swapping the belt for another, contrasting one (if you buy a belt for this purpose, take the coat with you so that you can be sure that the belt will fit through the loops). A plain raincoat can also be jazzed up with colourful accessories, such as gloves, but you could consider a coat in a different colour, such as bright red, which would certainly cheer up a dull rainy day.

There can be cold winds in spring, and this is where scarves come into their own. Not only are they useful as a fashion accessory, but also add a practical touch. If by some miracle the sun comes out, they can be easily removed and stored in your bag, without taking up much space. Avoid the heavy winter version; instead, choose a lighter alternative. These are fabulous for a stylish spring outfit, as the variety of scarves available is endless. They can also be very inexpensive, which means that you can have a small collection without spending a fortune. In addition, scarves are a versatile item and can be tied in many different ways, or even used as a belt.

Hats are also a great way of keeping warm and are a much underrated accessory that deserves more attention. Most people can find a style to suit them, and it is well worth going to a hat department and spending some time trying on different styles to see what suits you. At the other end of the body, boots still have their place in the winter wardrobe. Wear with fitted trousers or jeans on days when it looks like rain, or under wider-legged trousers on dry days. If knee-length boots are too warm for your legs, ankle boots will still keep your feet dry on rainy days.

‘Every Little Helps’

It is my boyfriend’s birthday later this month. Men are always very difficult to buy for. It is either something technical, in which case I buy the wrong technical thing. Failing which good old socks, shirts or aftershave.

Well, I bought him aftershave and socks for Christmas so it is back to the search for a nice shirt for him. Where do you start when you want to buy a nice shirt for your other half. Most men will not allow much free rein when it comes to choosing the colour of a shirt, they will only wear conservative colours. It is as if they fear they will be sending out the wrong message if they dress in anything more daring than blue, black, green or grey.

So I’m half way to choosing the shirt, but which end of the shirt market do I browse. I thought I’d have a look on the internet to see if there is anything new in men’s shirts. Shirts are so dreadfully dull and functional that I wasn’t holding my breath in the hope of finding anything special on offer. Whilst as far as I could see, all shirts just looked the same, I was dumbfounded to see the price of shirts at the top end of the market.

For instance a casual shirt long sleeved shirt from Thomas Pink costs in the region of £80 – £90. In fact if you really want to splash out on your partner you can buy a Personally Pink gift voucher starting at a price of £135. For this amount, they will give you brass collar-bones with your own personal message and a voucher for your man to go along and get fitted for a Thomas Pink shirt.

Well, the Thomas Pink web-site is very inviting and I’m sure their shirts are well made and of good quality. However, for that amount of money you would expect there to be a large logo showing how much you have spoiled your beloved. As far as I can see the only distinguishing feature is the Thomas Pink name on the label. This is not seen by anyone except the wearer and ironer of the shirt. To show everyone how much you had spent on your man, you would have to strip his shirt off him and parade him about topless, with his shirt hung over his shoulder displaying the label. Taking into consideration the price, I have decided to purchase a Tesco casual shirt. For under £20 I can purchase a lovely conservative grey shirt.

Of course, style gurus may chastise me for making this purchase. I’m sure I have made a wise choice as there will be enough money left over to take him out for a special birthday meal; and I won’t have to strip him off to show off his shirt label. On the practical side, what happens in the life of a shirt? Firstly they get worn around the collars and cuffs, whiffy around the underarms and pen stains in the pockets. It doesn’t make any difference the pedigree of the shirt, it will befall the same fate. That is why I am sticking with my ‘Every little helps’ Tesco casual shirt as opposed to my Personally Pink Thomas Pink shirt.