Fashion News

Kelly Brook New Look

For all you tech savvy fashionistas out there you should check out New Look’s UK flagship at Marble Arch. The store has launched an innovative concept with Blippar, the world's first mobile augmented reality and image recognition platform enabling advertisers to reach consumers via outdoor ads, billboards, magazine and in New Look’s case, window displays. For the less tech savvy, Blippar is simply another phone app, but the first of its kind to recognise images.

New Look had a glamorous assistant on hand to cut the ribbon and launch the concept, the lovable and curvy Kelly Brook. Kelly Brook has long had links with New Look with her high street lingerie and swimwear lines appealing to a wide range of customers. Kelly kept her clothes on for the launch wearing a seventies inspired black wide-legged jumpsuit with up hair. The new Blippar POS is for Kelly Brook’s new make-up range. The store is one of the new premium and boutique stores featuring cutting edge technology such as the Blippar enabled Kelly Brook POS.

So how does it work? Customers are able to ‘blipp’ the POS to load rich media content enabling them to try on Kelly Brook's nail varnish range as well as having their photo taken with Kelly and watch an exclusive New Look video of Kelly talking about her new make up range. To blipp the window display customers need to download the free Blippar app then scan Kelly Brook's signature to load interactive content.

Peter Andre Milano Shirt

The press release says ‘Peter Andre launches stunning new men’s clothing range’. They weren’t my words, yet on inspection, the range isn’t half bad. Undoubtedly it is very ‘Peter Andre’ but there are a lot of ‘Peter Andre’ type men out there. Men who like slim fitting shirts, plucked eyebrows and a year-round tan.

So 'alpha by Peter Andre' is the new and exclusive menswear range designed by the man himself.  Having been involved in the entire design process, Peter is extremely proud and excited to be welcoming his Autumn/Winter 12/13 men's fashion collection which follows his sell out Spring/Summer' 12 range. Including the Greek Alpha a symbol on all of his designs, Peter wanted to symbolize a cultural yet fashionable sign of his Greek heritage.

The collection is predominantly shirts and t-shirts, so you could wear a different Peter Andre shirt for every day of the week. Prices are fairly average for a brand but pricier than high street favourites, at £25 for a tee and £55-£60 for a long sleeved shirt. I rather like the Milano, a narrow stripe button down collar shirt featuring contrast under collar and placket.

Marios Schwab ASOS Lingerie

London based designer Marios Schwab has designed a lingerie line exclusively for online retailer ASOS which launched at London Fashion Week. The collection of underwear is fierce, yet feminine, inspired by traditional silhouettes. The collection comprises 40-pieces including bras, high-waisted briefs, slips and bodies in a sexy colour palette of black, midnight blue, poppy red and berry. It is the perfect collection to slip into for winter.

Marios Schwab studied fashion in Berlin before moving to London to do a Womenswear MA at Central Saint Martins. He launched his own label in 2005 and the ASOS collaboration marks his first foray into lingerie. Named Kallisti (Greek for ‘the fairest’) the lingerie collection was launched at a cabaret themed launch party in London complete with Parisian dancing girls. Jessie Ware, Harley Viera Newton and Leigh Lezark were just some of the glamorous attendees.

The collection is well embellished with sequins and studs. According to Schwab, ‘the Kallisti metal bra encapsulates the range and the Bardot pieces are fun for everyday wear.’ You could get away with wearing some of the pieces as outerwear, a trend still around this season if you are brave enough (I’m mainly thinking of the cold!). Try the Studded Corselette with a sheer matching maxi skirt, or the No Bra Body with a tutu for a party hard look.

Giles Deacon Dolls

Fashion has to be fun for Giles Deacon so style insiders barely batted an eyelid when he threw a Halloween party to launch his new collaboration with Matches. Other than marks painted onto his face, the designer dressed in normal clothes, but the party still had a spooky theme. The new capsule collection for Matches launches in a couple of weeks and features a clothing range of 16 pieces including linear T-shirt dresses, sundresses, chinaware and notebooks.

In keeping with Deacon’s quirky style, the pieces feature hand-drawn illustrations, based on a series dolls created by the designer. He created the series of dolls whilst travelling, which he admits are based on real people in his life, “but I could never disclose exactly who”. He is not the first designer to create dolls for adults, just look at these amazing photos from Susie Bubble. Everything from the Viktor & Rolf 'I Love You' doll to Sarah Burton's paper maquettes for Alexander McQueen and Christopher Kane's Barbies.

"I always have a stack of sketch books on the go at any one time." Deacon told Vogue at the Halloween party about the sketches which came to formulate the dolls "The difficulty is that I travel a lot and, logistically, it's not that easy carrying everything around with you from country to country."

Sophia Webster Heels

Just look at these shoes! Aren’t they gorgeous? With their ice-cream shades and pastel beads these heels will turn heads. They are the creation of Sophia Webster who has been named a rising star in footwear design. Her website hasn't even launched yet but Sophia Webster footwear has already been snapped up by three of fashion's key retailers - Dover Street Market, Harvey Nichols and net-a-porter.com and teen actress Chloe Moretz wore her designs at a red carpet event last month.

With a celebrity following and the backing of the likes of net-a-porter, Sophia Webster is on course to be a runaway success. "What I do is very feminine and fun and done in a chic, sexy way," Webster told Vogue online. "My shoes are for women who want to express their personality through their shoes and will appreciate and enjoy them."

Webster followed her childhood passion for art and design by taking an art foundation course at Camberwell College of Art, before completing a degree at the prestigious Cordwainers College. She was then offered a place on the footwear pathway of the Royal College of Art's MA womenswear course, which helped her land a coveted role as Nicholas Kirkwood's design assistant. Kirkwood’s influence is clearly evident in Webster’s collection, with both bringing fun and frivolity back into footwear. Kirkwood mentored Webster and generously provided production facilities for her NEWGEN sponsored spring/summer 2013 collection.

Stella McCartney Knit Dress Stella McCartney Argle Knit

Having a chat with mother yesterday over the Sunday Times Style magazine she said, ‘It’s good isn’t it that proper jumpers are in fashion at the moment’. And she’s right – proper jumpers are on trend, and it is a good thing. I remember a few years ago traipsing the shops for a warm jumper that I thought was fashionable and having to come home empty handed.  Now, thanks to the heritage trend revival, it is easy to find knitwear that’s both practical and warm, and stylish and cool.

I’m not just talking about granny jumpers, but also cashmere sweaters and sculpted knitwear. It is thanks to designers showing proper clothing on the catwalks that we can snugly clothe ourselves from the high street this winter. Designers like Stella McCartney, who says, ‘knitwear plays on texture and volume and becomes a really important part of the wardrobe this season.’ McCartney has gone all out to create stunning knitwear of architectural proportions.

Take the Felted Form Sleeveless Dress, an Aran cable knit dress with cap sleeves and sculpted cocoon shape with exaggerated hips. It costs £655 but is made from 100% wool and is quite something to behold. They also offer a long-sleeved version and cardigan cable knit styles in powder blue, coral pink and sand.

Nancy Dee Dress

On the look-out for ethically conscious fashion for the party season? Then look no further than Think Boutique and the new collection of Nancy Dee dresses. These pretty frocks are proudly made in the UK from sustainable fabrics and offer a flattering fit and trend-led style.

Nancy Dee was created in 2008 by sisters Tamsin and Seraphina, who recognised there was a need to bridge the gap between style, comfort and ethics.  Their aim is to make ethical fashion accessible, by creating easy-to-wear styles at realistic prices without compromising on quality or standards. They fit perfectly with the Think Boutique philosophy which was launched as an online ethical fashion outlet by Victoria McQuillan in 2010.

Nancy Dee offer trousers, dresses, skirts and tops. The new dresses which have just landed at Think Boutique offer versatile office to evening dressing. The gorgeous Marie dress (£82) in flattering soft charcoal black features a perfect on trend structured peplum detail and feels as good as it looks in softest bamboo and organic cotton jersey. Or for a fuller peplum style in the same soft wearable fabric the Gwen dress (£75) comes in festive red cherry. My personal favourite is the stunning Vashty Dress (£76) in antique gold which has a flattering crossover top and full skirt shape making it the perfect dress for a vintage inspired ladylike silhouette. In soft bamboo jersey with silk chiffon shoulder panels the Vashty dress is perfect for work and parties alike.

Blingbacks

All women know the perils of wearing heels (and men, they are the ones giving us a piggy-back home when our feet hurt). Most refuse to be separated from their favourite shoes though. Heels are fun, elegant and sexy. They are the finishing touch to an outfit, whether you wear them every day or just for special occasions. When you find the perfect pair of comfy heels it’s like heaven, but when your beloved new shoes turn out to be carrying a lot of hatred towards your feet it can be hell.

Luckily, we don’t have to suffer anymore. There are numerous products to help us party the night away in comfort, and Blingbacks are the most exciting of the lot. Blingbacks jazz-up a pair of heels for a night out whilst protecting them from rubbing and slipping with the discreet silicon strip. Slip them onto any pair of shoes and the squidgy rubber lip protects the back of your heel, whilst a decorative outer clip transforms a classic heel into something extra special.

The idea behind Blingbacks came to inventor Mario Granito when he saw a picture of a celebrity (which celeb . . . no one knows) with an embarrassing plaster hanging from her heel. The new collection of six styles are all available on either black or clear silicon so they work with any shoe colour. Choose from feathers, petal trails, pearls and bouquets, ellipse necklace (pictured), butterfly chandeliers and hearts.

Worn by celebs and featured in numerous magazines, Blingbacks are currently available in Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins and also online on ASOS, Amazon as well www.blingbacks.co.uk and cost £12-£15. They can be easily removed without damaging the shoe and are the perfect 2 in 1 solution to heel problems. With the festive party season fast approaching, why not try something new? 

Marios Schwab Debenhams Marios Schwab Debenhams

Top young designer Marios Schwab is the latest to team up with department store Debenhams. Debenhams are known for their designer collaborations and were doing it long before the likes of Topshop and H&M. The Marios Schwab collection for Edition at Debenhams landed last Friday and features a range of party perfect dresses.

Greco-Austrian Schwab completed his BA at Esmod Berlin then went on to the MA course at Central Saint Martins. He worked for the designer Kim Jones, on Jones' womenswear label, before starting his own label in 2005. Based in London, Schwab specialises in elegant cocktail dresses, and therefore has a fan in girlie girls like me. His mainline AW12 collection features shift dresses, lace, pencil skirts, subdued shades and chiffon touches. Delicate, feminine, yet flirty, he has transferred his signature aesthetic to the new line for Debenhams.

Marios Schwab has created a collection of eight dresses to be worn both day and night. As with Schwab's mainline, the pieces are punctuated by embellished details and flattering body hugging shapes. The black sheer sequinned maxi dress is quite a find for £150. It has long sleeves, a skinny belted waist and a silver sequinned layer underneath. Buy it for a glam Halloween party and reuse it come the festive party season. Gorgeous.

Bela Forest Bag

Just in time for Halloween, Suicide Blonde is making waves in London. An emerging accessories and jewellery label, Suicide Blonde offers beautiful, unusual products with a strong ethical ethos and signature aesthetic. The collections are designed by founder, Estelle Lordonne, and beautifully handmade in England in small to medium quantities, making them extra special.

The label’s strong ethical ethos has secured them a place at the Centre for Sustainable Fashion at the prestigious London College of Fashion. Lordonne aims to source sustainable and carbon neutral materials. The leather line includes travel/ credit card holders, coin purses, wallets, laptop bags and slouchy leather holdalls. The designs utilise a new technique of digitally printing leather to create dream-like gothic images. Take the Bela Lugosi Forest bag (£275) which depicts Bela Lugosi as Dracula in a forest. The small black tote has a Gothic Bat zip puller in sterling silver. The large holdall costs £425 and a laptop bag, £565.

The dainty oxidised silver and precious stones jewellery pieces complete the otherworldly tale.The jewellery line is composed of rings, pendants and charms made of 925 Hallmarked Sterling Silver. These, like the unusual the silver zip pullers used on the leather accessories are mostly inspired from Victorian trinkets. Charms include miniature knives, keys and safety pins. Get ready for Halloween in style with the vampire fangs necklace in sterling silver and ruby stones.

Chinti & Parker Letter Sweater Chinti & Parker Letter Sweater

I love these jumpers! Ethical luxury label Chinti and Parker have launched a collection of letter sweaters inspired by the lettered knits of varsity teams. Knitted from 100% cashmere, in simple navy and cream styles, wear yours with Ivy League pride! There are 13 letters to choose from – A, C, D, E, H, J, K, L, M, N, R, S, T.

I’d go for E, or maybe M. Made exclusively for chintiandparker.com and net-a-porter.com the sweater only comes in one size with a relaxed fit. You pay £350 for the cashmere and exclusive design, not cheap, but a beautiful piece none the less. Wear yours with skinny jeans, cords or thick knitted leggings for a preppy look on or off campus.

Chinti and Parker work under the banner, ‘conscious cloth’. Cousins Anna Singh and Rachael Wood launched the brand in October 2009 with a clear mission to create beautiful, ethically made garments that value style on par with substance. With classic style, luxury fabrics and an ethical conscious, the label was propelled into Vogue and the wardrobe of many a celeb. Chinti and Parker specialise in relaxed basics with a chic finish – knitwear, cotton separates and accessories.

People Tree Hedgehog

Wool Week happens every autumn around the world and its happening now (15th to 21st October 2012). It is the fashionable highlight of the Campaign for Wool which aims to educate as many people as possible about the benefits and versatility of wool in fashion and furnishings. This in turn, supports many small businesses and local farmers whose livelihoods depend on the wool industry.

As winter approaches we should all be looking forward to wrapping up in wool sweaters. Benefits of wool include warmth, strength and handle. It can be knitted to create jumpers and cardigans, felted for coats or woven to produce skirts and trousers. There is plenty going on as part of Wool Week. The Wool School initiative for example, has fashion, textiles and design students across the country competing to design wool sweaters to be sold in top UK retail stores, including Top Shop, Marks & Spencer, Harvey Nichols, Pringle, John Lewis and Jigsaw.

Londoners might have noticed Harvey Nichols’ giant ball of yarn (I spotted it last night) which sits proudly on the shop’s facade, complete with knitting needles. Lyle & Scott are injecting fun into the campaign by hosting a woolly golf extravaganza outside their store in Covent Garden Piazza this weekend. Golfers will be able to try their hand at negotiating a woolly golf course, carefully bypassing large sheep!

Burberry Orchard

There is a new ‘It’ bag for winter ’12 and it’s by Burberry. A brand synonymous with style right now, Burberry can do no wrong. The bag in question is the Burberry Orchard. Emma Stone, Blake Lively and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are just a few of the celebs who have been spotted with the bag in the last few weeks.

I call it an ‘It’ bag because it is THE handbag everyone wants, but unlike other ‘It’ bags, it isn’t loud or crowded with bling. It is subdued and classic, a beautiful bag that will last for decades. The original style made a catwalk debut at Burberry's autumn/winter 2012 show, and has been updated this season to reflect the brand's evolving style. The Burberry Orchard is very versatile, inspired by vintage luggage that could double up as an overnight bag. A big bag comes with a big price tag, from £995, but even this is cheaper than some designer bags of the moment.

The Orchard is available in a range of colours including the classic Burberry check, and then there is the check jacquard version (which is decked out with alligator skin) which will set you back a tear-jerking £14,000. Its loosely apple shaped with short tote handles and vintage look clasp. It has been featured on countless blogs and last week was mentioned on GMTV. It is the perfect day bag, roomy enough for all your things yet effortlessly chic. Inspired by the countryside, it looks very British, and is clearly catching the hearts of fashion lovers worldwide.

Topshop High Tops

Department stores make shopping oh-so easy. Too easy in fact - you can swan in and find lots of great brands all under one dry and warm roof and end up leaving with bags full of things you’ve fallen in love with. You can mix and match in the changing rooms, which you can’t do if you go into separate stores on the high street. Selfridges London has made the experience even better by launching a brand new design concept for its Topshop concession.

Topshop has been given a luxury make-over in the department store making it one of the most premium Topshop spaces in the world. The concept marks a ‘new direction for high street shopping’ and is part of the store’s recently re-designed 3,200 square foot ‘Women’s Street’ department on the ground floor. The ‘women’s street’ will also showcase Topshop Unique, Boutique, and the brands’ designer collaborations, including the latest range designed by young Irish designer J.W. Anderson. Selfridges street wear offering sets them apart from their competitors who focus more exclusively on designer, high-end labels.

The shopping space has a curved black marble wall, mirrored ceiling and bespoke fitting rooms. It is the perfect environment for trying on some of Topshop’s best pieces, all carefully edited by the Topshop buying team. In the run up to Christmas, Selfridges will receive an exclusive mix of new pieces which cannot be bought in other stores.

Nicholas Oakwell Couture

Despite haute couture originally referring to the work of British dressmaker Charles Frederick Worth's work, produced in Paris in the mid-19th century, Britain itself isn’t known for its haute couture names. Instead, Paris is where it’s at in the world of haute couture and where the term itself is a protected name that can only be used by firms that meet certain well-defined standards. The number of couture houses has decreased considerably over the last century as designers struggled to find it a profitable enterprise.

Members of the elite Parisian fashion circle include the likes of Chanel, Adeline André, Giambattista Valli and Givenchy. Brit designer Nicholas Oakwell however is muscling in on the Parisian scene. Oakwell’s latest couture collection was showcased in Paris for the first time this season in a move to put British fashion back on the couture map. Oakwell worked as a successful milliner before turning his hand to couture. Based in London, he hopes his presentation in the home of haute couture will bring the spotlight back to UK talent and quality craftsmanship.

Ada Zanditon SS13 Luca Romanyi Jewellery

I am a big fan of Ada Zanditon. Not only does she make beautiful clothes, but they are ethical too and a strong story always follows through the range. You can tell that Zanditon puts her all into each collection to make something unique and personal.  Zanditon’s AW12 collection was called ‘Simia Minerals’ and her SS13 collection follows on with the nature theme, moving from a focus on gorillas to a focus on tigers.

The heroine of the story is the Tigress, beautiful and wild, yet exquisitely glamorous, she is the epitome of the Ada Zanditon woman.  Zanditon's signature looks abound in this collection of regal dresses, billowing separates and sharply tailored jackets. To create the world of the Tigress, Zanditon drew inspiration from a diverse range of cultures and era's. Using the library of the Imperial War Museum, detailed research on the uniforms, documenting photographs and medals of the British Indian Army circa 1900 onwards, inspired the key silhouettes and subversive print stories.

Zanditon explored the use of Tiger imagery in art across cultures, selecting her colour palette and print style from the Chinese paper cutting tradition and the paintings of Henri Rousseau. Zanditon uses transparent, metallic and sheer silk fabrics layered with this season's unique prints. We have bright gold, fiery orange and tropical green, making a sophisticated a thoughtful collection, a step up from the standard summery jungle themes. There is the Prestige dress, the Raj coat and the Beach and Beyond dress – perfect for ethical beach to bar dressing with its multi-functional and stylish design.

Red French Sole Pump

Hands up, who’s a fan of The Wizard of Oz? Then put these dates in your diary, because the original Dorothy’s ruby slippers are going to be displayed at the V&A from October 20th until November 18th before being jetted back to the US in time for Thanksgiving. The iconic shoes worn by Judy Garland as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz will be on display as part of the V&A’s Hollywood Costume exhibition.

It is the first time that the shoes will be on display outside America. They are on loan from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington and unsurprisingly attract millions of visitors each year.  Since filming for The Wizard of Oz wrapped up in 1938, the slippers have remained apart from Dorothy's blue-and-white gingham dress so the exhibition will also be reuniting these two fashion icons.

The original slippers are only available for the opening weeks of the exhibition, so a replica pair will take their place for the duration.  It took V&A senior guest curator Deborah Nadoolman five years to secure the iconic shoes for the exhibition! Rumour has it the shoes were originally silver, but were changed to red to stand out more against the yellow brick road. Dorothy’s red satin shoes feature a modest heel and are covered in red sequins sewn onto fine chiffon, with bows edged with red glass beads.

Boutique by Jaeger Winnie

Boutique by Jaeger has gone all out this season with a sixties beatnik vibe. The look is young, fun and flirty whilst remaining true to Jaeger’s sophisticated self. The collection combines a playful sixties spirit with a clean, contemporary aesthetic for plenty of wearable styles.

Jaeger was established right back in 1884 by Lewis Tomalin. The brand has really made a push to stay in the limelight over the last five years. In 2008 Jaeger London's first fashion show took place at the British Fashion Council Tent and in 2009 the brand celebrated its 125th anniversary. Boutique by Jaeger is the edgy younger sister of Jaeger and continues to draw in a youthful, fashion conscious crowd looking for a step up from Topshop and warehouse.

Check out the Boutique by Jaeger AW12 preview online for waffle knits, polka dot separates and fluted hem coats. Already a fave with the fashion mags, this might be Boutique’s best collection yet. The Winnie Cable Knit, available in red, navy and cream, is a great winter buy. It costs £120 but with 80% wool mix it will be super warm and you’ll never want to take it off.

Jewel Top Midi Skirt

ASOS is the king of fashion ecommerce. I feature ASOS a lot on here because they make shopping easier. Anything you want, from clothing, shoes, gifts and beauty, can be found and ordered straight to your door at the click of a button. The concept has kept customers coming back for more and made ASOS millions of pounds. Yesterday, they took shopping one step further by launching the ASOS Daily Edit app.

The innovative app offers a bite-sized hit of the best of ASOS womenswear on a daily basis straight to your phone. Customers can choose from six edited categories designed to fit their lives; holiday, weekend, work, going out, special occasion and date night. The mobile web app is available on iPhone and Android and allows users to create their own hotlist, share favourite items with friends or simply buy the pieces.

If you don’t want to miss out on the best of ASOS then this app is for you, making it all too easy to spend away your wages. What would be your top tips for the Daily Edit today? Here are mine:

1.       All over jewelled top, £85. This really is ALL OVER jewelled. Its right on trend for this season’s opulent baroque looks and is sure to get you noticed. Wear it with plain black skinnies or a black skirt, the perfect sparkly winter warmer.

Betty Satchels

Betty iPhone Case

Every time you buy a beautiful Betty product you continue the story of two English girls who met in Bangalore. Overwhelmed by the poverty around them they hatched a dream, to build a future for people who have been forgotten through beautiful things. This season Betty and Betts introduce the Fairtrade Betty accessory collection, a range of lush leather purses and bags.

Founders JoJo Blythen and Tanya Clarke met at an egg race on a hill in south India in 2006 and between them they have nearly 20 years of experience in design and retail management in the UK and India. They only work with Fairtrade certified suppliers, endeavouring to ensure a fair and transparent supply chain. A percentage of the profits from their designs go back into developing disadvantaged communities in India and the duo hope to set up the Betty Foundation to extend their reach in the future.

The Betty Satchel (pictured) is perfect for every day travel, in beautiful colours such as gunmetal grey, tan and a rich juicy plum. It has accessible zip pockets, plenty of room for a small computer, a kindle, a wallet and everyday essentials with an across-the-body strap. All leather is buttery soft, easy to clean and wears beautifully with time. The satchel is the most expensive item in the collection at £249. It can be accessorised with the Betty wallet, iPhone holder, card holder, iPad holder and passport holder, all of which feature ‘Sausage’ the dog.

Louis Vuitton AW12

Louis Vuitton crowned best global brand in fashion sector is slightly misleading. ‘Best’ is subjective as we all have different tastes, but what they have achieved is the status of wealthiest global fashion brand. The French brand beat off competition from Gucci, Burberry and Prada in the Interbrand's Best Global Brands study which ranks worldwide companies in terms of their estimated total annual value.

The report ranks all kinds of companies, and Coca-Cola topped the list. Louis Vuitton was the highest ranking fashion company, the second highest place going not to a luxury brand but to high street favourite H&M. Vuitton ranked 17th overall with a value of £14.5million and H&M came in 23rd place overall, with an estimated worth of £10.2million. Zara followed closely behind in 37th place.

Clearly then we love our affordable brands, not just nationally but globally. It also raises the issue of costs. Should a brand that is making millions pay its workers a pittance? Or charge us consumers the earth for a handbag? They are making their money because they got the branding right, because consumers in this case can’t get enough of the LV monogram.  Other luxury brands Gucci and Hermes made it into the fashion top five.

Boux Avenue Cutsey Bra

Lingerie store Boux Avenue is showing their support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a whole host of pink products. Why not treat yourself to some new lingerie or pyjamas content with the notion that you are supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month too?

Breast Cancer Care is the only UK-wide charity dedicated to providing emotional and practical support for anyone affected by breast cancer. Breast Cancer Awareness Month runs throughout October with a range of events going on and plenty of fundraising opportunities. A number of companies are showing their support by offering special pink products with a proportion of profits donated to the cause. Everything from bread (yes bread, Burgen will donate 2p per pack to Breast Cancer Care), flowers (Asda’s Tickled Pink Bouquet donates 50p to the cause) and candles (Yankee’s Candle Pink Blush Large Housewarmer Jar donates £1 to the cause).

Fashion and accessories are one of the key product areas offering undies, slippers, jewellery and clothing. Tomassa’s Pink Clouds jewellery collection offers a 10% donation from each sale, but with prices ranging from £750 to £4,500 that is quite a commitment. You’re better off heading over to Boux Avenue where you can buy something just as pretty for a fraction of the price.

Tweed Cape Firework Leggings

Online ethical fashion boutique Think Boutique has launched its new Autumn Winter Collection all proudly made here in the UK by some of the best ethical designers that the UK has to offer. Offering fashion-forward designs with an ethical conscience, Think Boutique’s appeal is wide. The autumn/winter 12/13 collection is available now, full of chic easy to wear pieces.

The Think Boutique AW 12/13 collection brings together tweeds, wool and knitwear, combining them with soft floaty tops, glittery trousers and stunning silk jersey shirts. Key shapes include chic dresses with peplum detail, ladylike tailored jackets, skirts and a range of easy to wear wardrobe staples.  These are further complemented by cosy capes and stunning statement jumpers.

Sumptuous berry shades are brightened with pops of bright golds and reds and contrasted with strong graphic patterns. Nothing shows this off better than the Firework Leggings (£30). These recycled jersey leggings are handmade by the Remade in Leeds project which brings together local seamstresses, artists and knitters to create a unique collection using recycled fabrics from local Woollen Mills and clothes collected at their monthly swapping event. Made by the same people, the Berry Tweed Cape is another great find (£105) and the sparkly Foxtrot Jumper (£50) with embroidery detail looks perfect dressed up or down this winter.

Halston Heritage Sequin Dress

Roy Halston Frowick was the original man behind Halston – the cult seventies fashion brand. An American fashion designer, Halston was altering clothing and hats for his mother and sisters from a young age, and by the age of 18, was working as a window dresser. The Halston brand experienced huge success before the designer died in 1990. Then in 2009, the legendary American label launched its Heritage brand, Halston Heritage, the most recent collection of which has just landed at Net-a-Porter.

Halston Heritage has brought back to life some of the brand’s signature styles - draped one-shoulder gowns, fluid jumpsuits and tuxedo-style tailoring for a Studio 54-inspired take on modern dressing. The brand however, is a permanent fixture on the discount site the Outnet. Does this mean that Halston Heritage doesn’t sell?

Halston had a strong connection to pop culture evident by his friends and clients, who included Andy Warhol, Bianca Jagger and Elizabeth Taylor. The modern Halston Heritage woman is a lover of simple, feminine shapes and easy chic dressing. The AW12 collection features a wearable palette of black, camel, grey and navy with a sexy splash of red. Perfect for stylish office wear, the Halston woman is a professional who likes to look well-groomed.

Betsey Johnson Catwalk

Betsey Johnson’s daughter is launching her own fashion label. Normally, you might think the daughter’s label will be edgier, younger and more fun, but not this time. Betsey Johnson is known for her cute and crazy style, a lover of frills, sequins and girliness, so her daughter, Lulu, actually plans to tone this down for her own line.

That’s not to say it will be boring. The brand, jointly established by Lulu and her best friend Allison McClellen, will be inspired by her mother's line. It will be called Lulu and Allison and "It's definitely going to have a Betsey aesthetic, but we did tone things down and make them more modern," Lulu Johnson told US website Racked.  "It's a line for women who still want to be hip, sexy and cool."

Mother Betsey, has been in the fashion industry since the 1960s. She formed the Betsey Johnson label in 1978 and it’s still going strong. I have one of the label’s necklaces – featuring a bunny, mittens and pink pom-poms it is a perfect example of Johnson’s exuberant style. Based in New York she started out designing for a clothing boutique in 1965. Betsey designs clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories and perfume, available globally. Prices fall into the low designer bracket, affordable kooky fashion.

Betsey and Lulu will also star in a new US reality television show on the Style Network due to air next year. The show documents their lives in fashion and is a must-see for fashion lovers. Betsey celebrated her 70th birthday this year, and is a great-grandmother as Lulu has her own daughter, Layla. Watch this space for a Lulu and Allison first look.

Catherine Chelsea Girl Sasha Chelsea Girl

I’ve come across the most scrumptious footwear brand. Chelsea Paris creates beautiful vintage inspired shoes and following the success of establishing Chelsea Paris in the UK, the luxury shoe brand has now opened up an online shop so you can browse and buy from anywhere.

The woman behind Chelsea Paris is Theresa Ebagua. Theresa moved into footwear design after a career in computer science. She moved over to the glamour of the fashion industry by jumping in at the deep end with a shoemaking master-class in Milan. Theresa’s inspiration comes from a variety of places and experiences special to her – the antique textiles from a Nigerian flea market, or a vintage ring from an estate sale in LA. Woven into her designs are Theresa’s long-standing loves such as the Art Deco movement, the sights and colours of her native Africa, and historical French fashion.

In celebration of the launch, Chelsea Paris is giving away a pair of beautiful handcrafted shoes to one lucky lady. Sign up to the newsletter online for a chance to win. Chelsea Paris shoes are each hand crafted by artisans, manufactured alongside Dolce and Gabanna, Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik but sold at half the price.

Decorative Pod Pouch

Arnie & B’s lifestyle store has plenty to keep your interest. Designers Gail Spencer ‘Arnie’ and Rebecca Clark ‘B’ have thirty years’ experience in the design industry. Now they have turned their design skills to something a bit different – the Pod Pouch. The Pod Pouch is a necklace-come-bag, beautiful yet practical.

You can wear the Pod Pouch around your neck or across the body.  Combining beautiful, soft leather with metal chain in various finishes, the Pod Pouch looks fantastic paired with casual t-shirt and skinny jeans or over a shift dress for a more formal occasion.  Available in 2 designs, plain and decorative, the Pod Pouches can be used to carry a smart phone, hold loose change or to keep a lipstick on an evening out or at a festival.  The designers have created a beautiful piece of jewellery with an edgy, almost industrial feel.

A great alternative to a bag, the Pod Pouch allows you to leave the clutch at home or keep your most valuable possessions close to you. I actually had a similar idea years ago for my A-level coursework. I produced a wrist purse that could be worn around the arm like a decorative lace band, but it had a zip compartment for hiding money away. Ingenious?

The decorative Pod Pouch makes a dressier statement than the plain. This necklace features multi-tiered chains combining antique gold, black and silver finishes as well as the supple leather pouch.  It costs £45. For £35 you can pick up the plain Pod Pouch, a simple version which is great for a cool, utilitarian look worn messenger-style, as well as necklace-style with more embellished ready-to-wear.

Burberry SS13

Today saw a whole host of big names at London Fashion Week – Erdem, Christopher Kane and JW Anderson for example. It was Burberry Prorsum that continues to be one of the most highly anticipated shows of the LFW season though, and thanks to live streaming on the Burberry website, the spring summer 2013 show was fully inclusive.

There was a lot of colour to the collection with candy shades and jewel tones teamed with camel and beige. Creative director Christopher Bailey seemed to take inspiration from that British favourite, Quality Streets as trenches and capes in foil shades of fuchsia, raspberry, maroon and gold, green and cerulean all made their way down the catwalk. The same look was shown at Burberry menswear.

Cape shapes dominated, offering a chic cover-up if we experience another wet summer. There were even transparent shower proof versions. The voluptuous collection included huge bell sleeves on trench coats and jackets that then worked to mimic the shape of full skirts below. They were balanced out with thin wedge shoes, scalloped all the way up the foot and again in bright flashes of colour.

Micro knickers added the fun factor worn with cropped capes and slim fitting jackets. Accessories had a foil-like sheen too, with tote bags in shimmering jewel shades or transparent, continuing the trend of last summer. Models looked natural, accessorised just with sunglasses and belt tied tightly around the waist.

Laura Ashley Jumper Laura Ashley Tunic

Laura Ashley started making furnishings in the 1950s on her kitchen table. Having gone through the cycles of fashion to fad, the British brand is still here, alive and kicking on the high street. First half year profits rose 13% to £8.3 million this year as the company diversified its product offer. Laura Ashley, who sells furniture, home furnishing, fashion and kidswear, thank homewares for the rise.

Characterised for classic English country style, Laura Ashley has made a resurgence thanks to the trend for all things vintage (and British). I’m about to move into a new flat and I would love to furnish it solely in Laura Ashley! Ashley opened her first shop in Wales in the early sixties and now has more than 200 stores in the UK.

So we love Laura Ashley interiors but what about the fashion? Once upon a time, Laura Ashley was the bee’s knees. My mother speaks fondly of Laura Ashley dresses from the seventies. Is it a go-to shopping destination now? Well, for ladies of a certain age, I think it should be. That’s not saying there isn’t something for the young ones, I remember fondly cooing over a seaside print dress a couple of seasons ago.

Uniqlo Jacket

Uniqlo have teamed up with French label Comptoir des Cotonniers to create the rather exquisitely named, ‘Mademoiselle Plume’.  What’s a Mademoiselle Plume? It’s a featherweight padded jacket (and gilet) for ladies of course, inspired by the boxy-cut style Parisian women are so taken by. A great autumn buy for day to day dressing at high street prices, I expect this style to be a sell-out success.

Comptoir des Cotonniers offer relaxed, stylish womenswear sitting at the top end of the high street market. They opened their first store in 1995 and are now sold across the world. The silhouette combines natural femininity and refinement, the perfect office to home pieces for the modern woman. Uniqlo built their name mass retailing colourful separates - sweaters, polos and leggings. They have previously collaborated with Lulu Guinness, Jil Sander and Orla Kiely. The new collaboration combines Uniqlo’s sense of fun with Comptoir des Cotonniers’ sense of style.

"I wanted to offer a fashionable, feminine and lightweight-down jacket in line with the lives of today's women," said Comptoir style director Delphine Ninous to Vogue. "I particularly like to wear this down jacket with a leather skirt to go out at night or, during the day, under a man's jacket."