Style Tips + Advice

What Size am I? We all know that clothes sizes vary wildly from shop to shop. It can be frustrating having to pick up two or more sizes to try on because you can’t trust their measurements, not to mention the minefield of online shopping. There is no need to despair any longer though, because one woman has come to our rescue! Anna Powell-Smith has launched an online calculator to help us find the right size store by store.

The web developer was moved to act after reading an article in the New York Times, in which a writer blasted shops for the discrepancy in sizing. She then set herself the challenge to solve this age old issue by collecting size and measurement data for a range of high street stores. She has catered her site to both a US and UK audience, with store sizes on both sides of the Atlantic.

Powell-Smith told the Guardian: “As everyone who's ever bought clothes knows, high-street sizing is completely mad. You can easily be a size 8 in one store, and a size 14 in another, and it's impossible to guess your size without lots of zip-wrangling.”

The site is hugely easy to use – just enter your bust, waist and hip measurements onto the online calculator and the programme will calculate the best clothes size for you for each store, for a top, skirt and dress.

Using the system, Powell-Smith was also able to analyse sizing patterns, proving us right that sizes do vary from shop to shop. She discovered as much as a four inch difference from one shop to the next and she found they all varied in body shape. M&S and Karen Millen, for instance, offer clothing for a more pear-shaped customer and Next has the smallest sizes on the High Street.  Last year plus size retailer Evans tried to revolutionise the way women shop by offering ‘Shop by Shape’.

Whistles Roll Neck JumperThis blog may be a little late, as it’s February and we are meant to be talking about spring fashions. But still, it’s FEBRUARY and its cold, so whilst we may be talking about spring fashions, we are still wearing winter woollies.

At the weekend, I bought a black roll neck jumper from Whistles in the sale. I had been thinking about getting a roll neck sweater all winter, but was worried that they wouldn’t suit my non-flat chest shall we say. So I went off on a mission, can bigger busts wear a roll neck sweater?

I hadn’t worn roll necks since I was a teen. I guess they were fashionable back then, because I remember having a few, including a lilac one and a black one. I then developed a kind of phobia about putting them on, I didn’t like the restriction around my neck, and never again did I go near a roll neck until this weekend.

Roll necks came back into fashion last year with the seventies trends, a nice mustard roll neck making for the ultimate nostalgic throw back. A skinny roll neck was also the best accompaniment to the full skirt, as it balanced out the silhouette. A skinny black roll neck, I decided, was the most chic of options. Effortlessly stylish, it could be worn with all my skirts that I currently struggle to team up with tops.

So my answer to, ‘can bigger busts wear a roll neck sweater?’ is most certainly yes. The key is to make it slim fitting and skinny rib. It should be fairly long (no stopping at the navel), and fit well under the arms (no baggy areas). My Whistles sweater is very fine rib in a cotton/silk blend, so it’s lovely and soft and has no restrictive feeling. It should also see me well into spring without being overly warm, and is classic enough to wear season after season. Sales are still on, so get a move on if you want to give the roll neck a go. 

Aubade FigleavesValentine’s Day is fast approaching, and it probably splits the nation more than any other celebratory day. Is it the perfect excuse to celebrate your love, receive flowers and go out for a lovely meal, or just a commercialised affair dreamt up by the greetings card companies?

The problem with Valentine’s Day is the pressure of not knowing what the other person will do. Many people in long-term relationships may just push the day aside and get on with life, but men should be very wary of the girl who says she doesn’t want anything. What she means is, she wants you to romantically override this instruction and buy a card and some flowers instead. If you have agreed that you are doing presents, or you are feeling particularly loving, good old lingerie will always make the perfect Valentine’s gift.

Every girl likes lingerie, and it’s something that can be difficult to justify buying for yourself unless it’s super practical, because it doesn’t tend to be on show, whereas a new dress or shoes will be. Rigby & Peller’s Creative Director, Nicky Clayton, offers the following tips for successfully selecting the perfect gift this Valentine’s Day:

1.       Take a look in your partner’s lingerie drawer – You will be able to gauge her favourite colours, giving an indication of what colour lingerie she would like to receive.

2.       Don’t forget style – Style is just as important as size. Purchase something pretty, feminine and sexy as women generally don’t find practical bras romantic.

3.       Outerwear is as important as underwear – Take note of what she wears most. Does she prefer tight clothing, deep necklines or loose clothing? Rigby & Peller’s friendly lingerie stylists will be on hand to help advise on the best choices to create the perfect silhouette.

Purple ASOS DressFashion is like a passionate and turbulent affair. It has its ups and it sure as hell has its downs. One morning you couldn't have got it more right; everything you are wearing is on trend, fits well and works perfectly. But on other days it just goes wrong. It could be an out-dated print, a bad skirt/top combo or the most common fashion mistake of all, which is bad colour matching. The great news is that by arming yourself with a little colour matching advice, it's easier to avoid some of these major mistakes.

Matching our accessories to our outfits is something all women struggle with. Worrying whether the handbag is the right colour for the dress or that the shoes match the top can make us much more than just fashionably late. When looking at colour matching, some of it is just intuition. Some of it passes with each trend and what may be acceptable one season is a huge mistake the next. However, there are some golden rules about colour matching and by following these few simple rules, you can guarantee to have the perfect colour blend every time.

Start with your favourite part of an outfit and work from there. If the dress is the key garment, then work around that but if it is one of the fabulous handbags from Jane Shilton, start with that and then pick your outfit colours to match. A common mistake is to assume that everything has to match in colour and tone. Black may be slimming, but an entire black outfit of shoes, dress and bag can lead to a pale and pasty look. The same colour is fine for a whole outfit however, if you vary the tone. If you do want to wear a green bag with a green dress, for example, its fine provided the shades are different. In fact, a whole outfit of one colour but with many shades can work brilliantly, especially with blues or greens.

Royal Ascot Fashion Royal Ascot FashionRoyal Ascot isn’t until June, but the organisers have just released the new rules which are intended to clear up previous ‘misunderstandings’. For almost 250 years, Royal Ascot has established itself as a national institution and the centrepiece of the British social calendar as well as being the ultimate stage for the best racehorses in the world. With nearly £4 million in prize money on offer and a total of eighteen ‘Group’ races over the five days, Royal Ascot attracts some of the wealthiest names in the country and requires a certain form of attire.

Charles Barnett, Chief Executive at Ascot, said: “We have worked extensively with experts in the world of fashion to define better what formal dress means, with the overarching intention of being as helpful as possible to our visitors and assisting everyone in understanding what is expected and, we believe, cherished about the dress code at Royal Ascot. It isn’t a question of elitism and not being modern in a world where there is less and less requirement to dress smartly – far from it. We want to see modern and stylish dress at Royal Ascot, just within the parameters of formal wear, and the feedback we have received from our customers overwhelmingly supports that.”

So what is the new dress code?

Nicola Cupples

Nicola Cupples has every fashion girl’s dream job. She is founder of My Style Companion, which she started in 2007 as an image consultancy and personal styling service. My Style Companion also has their own Style Training Academy for people who want to train to be a personal shopper. Naturally, I took the opportunity to ask one of the UK’s leading style experts what her predictions were for fashion in 2012. Here’s what Nicola said:

1. 1. What are the top fashion trends for 2012?

It’s all about having a flat tummy in ss12 with the length of tops rising dramatically to expose the midriff so it’s off to the gym for me! From bra tops to shrunken tees and tops – this is not an easy trend for many women to pull off.

Colours to watch out for are very feminine, soft sherbet hues and pastels and virginal white worn as block colour. Bright tangerine, a popular colour in aw11 has seeped in to ss12 for those preferring a bolder bright. Contrasting black and white in bold blocks was also a popular theme on the runways for ss12 and is always workable for any wardrobe, giving major bang for your buck.

Prints that will be hot are floral, whether delicate and feminine in every hue of blue imaginable or brighter, bolder large prints. It wasn’t just Missoni flaunting their trademark zigzag and chevrons for ss12, as Etro, Celine and Dior showcased varying sizes and colours in their tops and dresses. The zigzag is ss12’s new stripe or spot.

Jil Saunder

As the headline says, florals aren’t just for summer. This winter flower power has fought through the cold weather and is here to stay. The way to wear it is bold, think tropical prints and sixties carpets rather than ditzy patterns. The inspiration comes from Erdem’s painterly prints, Jonathan Saunders’ tropics and Jil Sander’s winter blooms.

Erdem’s prints for A/W ’11 were more abstracted than previous seasons. His Monet style prints are perfect for the grown up woman, be inspired by the rich use of colour and all over texture. At Jonathan Saunders, startling turquoise tropical bird prints were featured on warm orange dresses, whilst green and blue were juxtaposed against black. Jil Sander’s winter blooms include a romantic textured rose print and bold florals against a navy background on cocoon shapes and even a jumpsuit.

adidas by Stella McCartney

Even if your New Year’s resolution isn’t to start going to the gym, everyone can benefit from some extra feel good exercise in January. Whilst hitting the park might not be all that appealing, it’s never too early to start prepping for the summer bikini season. Kick start your motivation by investing in some new fitness clothes and fitting in that exercise won’t seem half as bad.

There’s no longer any need to sacrifice on style at the gym, especially this year as the Olympics brings sports trends to even the highest of fashion. As the gym and catwalk blur, now is the time to have fun with your fitness clothes. Embrace high performance fabrics and high design touches as you shop this January.

Adidas by Stella McCartney makes stylish gym dressing easy, featuring sports basics, running shoes, yoga wear and ski wear. The sale at adidas offers up to 50% off, making treating yourself even simpler. For the new season look out for minimalist faux leather (Stella uses vegan materials) and rubber trainers, £120, and the futuristic silver metallic polyester rucksack, £80. For an ethical running jacket, why not check out Christopher Raeburn who recycles old materials for his fashionable outerwear.  Staunchly British, all Raeburn garments are proudly ‘Remade in England’ and produced in East London but they don’t come cheap, at upwards of £600.

Metallic Dress

Everyone likes a bit of bling for New Year’s Eve and this season metallics have been right on trend. Christmas might be over, but there is still time to get a bit of razzle-dazzle in your life this weekend, and why stop there? Metallic looks for both day and evening wear are sure to brighten up the grey dreary days until spring arrives.

At the A/W shows Mulberry showed a floor length pleated metallic gown, dressed down with a tarnished metallic parka, chunky metallic shoes and a golden metallic bag. Very flashy for Mulberry. Oscar de la Renta showed textured metallics; a crinkled gold foil trouser suit and floor length shimming sequin gowns. Jenny Packham went all out with the disco glam. Floor length foil dresses look like liquid metal, gold sequin covered mini dresses and bronze open toed ankle boots.

Acne, Moschino and Stella McCartney also all sent metallics down the catwalk but with a tougher take on the trend. McCartney showed boxy, oversized bronze t-shirts and cocoon dresses teamed with black ankle boots for a futuristic look. At Balmain, their signature biker style was dressed up in metallics with full glittery gold trouser suits and silver skinny jeans. The classic Balmain shouldered jacket was updated in metallic blue and startling gold.

Lipsy Sequin Dress

If there is ever a time to wear sequins, its Christmas. Whether it’s a night out on the town or Christmas day at home with the family, there are sequins for all occasions this festive season. They are also very on trend this season, with sequins seen on the catwalk at Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs and Prada.

At Stella McCartney oversized sequins were placed on black and white chiffon dresses and blouses. The fashion lingo for these over sized sequins is ‘paillettes’, French for ‘spangle’. Marc Jacobs went for a tougher approach with black paillettes on structured black garments. Paillettes lift an outfit and are definitely the trendiest way to wear sequins.

Apparently sequins are thought to date back to 2500BC! Evidence suggests that the people of Pakistan attached gold versions to clothes in the Kot Diji era. Fast forward a few thousand years and sequins are available not just on the catwalk but all over the High Street from Marks and Spencer to Primark. Be brave about it and wear your sequins with confidence. Gold or red will be particularly dazzling for the festive season. For a day time look, team sequins with a less textured item. Pair a sequined top with a cashmere knit and smart jeans for pretty yet comfortable Christmas Day style.

French Connection

Following our previous post ‘How to Beat the January Sales’ you should now be fully aware of the rules as stated by Amanda Wright, founder of exclusive online clothing boutique Hunter Dunn. Keep focused, buy quality over quantity and don’t be tempted by the price for the sake of a bargain, were the gist of the guidelines, but what specific pieces should you really be looking for? What sale bargains will truly earn their keep by sticking around in fashion for next year? Keep reading for some of the key trends to snap up.

Big Skirts

If there is one piece of the season, it’s the full skirted midi. The summer was all about pleated, but now you want to buy a fuller skirt. Wear it now with a roll neck knit and keep it for spring/summer to wear with a blouse for a Mad Men inspired look. Camel or light coloured denim are great fabrics to snap up. The French Connection skirt pictured, is down to £40 from £72 at ASOS.

Florals

Thanks to designers like Erdem and the strength of the vintage trends, florals are here to stay for another year. Winter florals won’t look out of place when we move into summer, particularly if you go for evening wear.

Colourful Sweaters

A slim fitting colour block sweater will also look fab with your new midi skirt. Colourful knits were all over the A/W catwalks and continue for S/S. To stay really on trend next year opt for tangerine orange or cobalt blue and wear them through January to brighten up your day.

White Tailoring

Sale Shopping

A QVC study carried out this year has shown that women in the UK spend more than £1.6 billion on more than 500 million items of clothing they will never wear, with the average woman hoarding around 22 garments in her wardrobe that will never see the light of day.  Furthermore, the vast majority of these crimes against fashion can be blamed on impulse buys, with over 30% of women surveyed admitting that almost all of these items are sales purchases. Will we ever learn?

With the recession still playing havoc with the purse stings, more consumers than ever are looking to buy investment pieces, viewing items on a ‘cost per wear’ basis and shunning the disposable ‘fast fashion’ that many outlets offer. So, with the January sales looming, how can shoppers avoid wasting their hard earned cash and get sales savvy to find a true fashion investment?

Amanda Wright, founder of exclusive online clothing boutique Hunter Dunn, offers some top tips on how to beat the sales:

·         Take stock of your wardrobe: Before heading out to the sales, take a thorough look through your wardrobe.  Note down the items which need replacing or the gaps which need to be filled.  Then, whilst shopping, use the list to keep focused, and stop you getting carried away purchasing things you don’t need, or won’t work with the rest of your wardrobe.

·         Update classic basics with on-trend accessories: When it comes to buying staple sale items such as dresses, jackets and trousers, go for timeless, well cut shapes without any obvious references to current trends. Then, use accessories to bring in transient seasonal trends to create classic looks with a contemporary twist!

Drake's Scarf

Men are hard to buy for, let’s not mess about. Not all men, but most. Whereas girls tend to like anything pretty, guys need something to be useful or fun. The thing is if they want a new game, cd or pair of trainers they will just go out and buy it, leaving nothing left for Santa to wrap. This is why we are all guilty of leaving it until the last minute, because buying gifts for men is such hard work.

That is, unless the man you are buying for is that new breed of style conscious metrosexual and then it can be fun. Wikipedia describe metrosexual as a man ‘who spends a lot of time and money on shopping for his appearance’, practically a woman then. So with just a few shopping days left before Christmas, what can you get the metrosexual man in your life for Christmas (or what can you get him to prompt him to be more metrosexual??)

A true metrosexual will have a Mr Porter obsession as bad as our obsession with his older sister, net-a-porter. Browse Mr Porter and you’ll find Scandinavian cool by Acne, Italian charm from Gucci, English heritage from Burberry and American preppy from Ralph Lauren. Does he like looking dapper? How about a silk pocket scarf by Drake’s. £50 might be a lot for a scarf, but it’s not a lot for a silk scarf from Mr Porter, but only if he’ll appreciate the beauty.

ASOS Lace Dress

Discounts have been rife on the High Street all year as retailers struggle to keep their sales steady after the recession. For this reason, plenty of retailers have started their January sales early, meaning there is still time to get some bargains in before Christmas. If you spent all of your money on Christmas presents don’t despair, with these fashion sale bargains you can treat yourself to a new festive outfit.

ASOS have today launched a sale, offering upto 50% off. If you order today you will receive your goodies before Christmas day with standard delivery, or order by 22nd Dec for next day delivery. The sale features mens, womens, swimwear, jewellery, shoes and bags. Going out this weekend? This ASOS lace bodycon dress is a bargain at £20.50 (pictured), available in red, black or navy. Team it with a clutch bag, statement earrings and shoe boots for a funky look with lace. One of the best discounts is found in this Vero Moda dress, £6 from £32. The wrap over belted style would be a good option for a casual New Year’s Eve teamed with leggings. If you need a bit of warmth for Christmas day whilst still looking stylish, team this half price skinny cable knit in either green or red with faux fur collar, with a black midi length leather skirt.

Guest author Nate Schrader works his art background into writing for HandbagHeaven.com amidst keeping up with trending fashions. Oh, have any looks of your own to share for the holidays? You can share them and enter your look in our Polyvore contest for a FREE handbag!

As the holidays heat up and we’re hurrying to get our shopping done, it’s easy to let one of our most important priorities get away from us – what to wear! Between office, family, and friendly holiday parties to attend, our eye-catching ensembles have limited attention amidst dawdling kids or the appetizer you left burning in the oven. So to make your life a little easier, let’s look at the different ways you can style a white dress for each of your get-togethers. You’ll save some money, know what dress you’re wearing, and only have to worry about accessorizing. Plus, there’s something to be said for a lady who can rock a dress three different ways around the Christmas tree.

In these three looks, the Steven Alan Fairchild Dress has a square neckline and cap sleeves for a classic, conservative look up top. Feeling flirtatious? The Fairchild’s skirt leaves room for a bright pair of leggings or bare legs & boots to make sure your look is still up for a little holiday fun from now to New Year’s.

Look 1: The Classic Fem

[crop cardigan] [exotic satchel] [velvet tights] [oxford wedge shoes] [necklace] 

Look 1

ASOS DressChristmas is almost here and fashion is on the forefront of many of our minds. You might find yourself thinking about what outfits you are going to wear to your upcoming holiday parties and what accessories to pair it with. An amazing factor is that with fashion come endless possibilities. Wear a holiday dress in style with the perfect accessories.

What are some simple accessories that can jazz up an outfit?

Red lipstick is festive and bold. Wear red lipstick with a little black dress or a pair of stylish black pants and a ruffle top! The red lipstick will make your face come alive with beauty and youthfulness.

A pair of white gloves is lovely and elegant and goes perfectly with a gown. Stay warm as you head outdoors and enjoy your holiday get together. Slip your white gloves in your matching jacket’s pockets and feel confident because you look like the fashionista you are!

As well as pairing your darling frock with red lipstick and white gloves, why not put a sparkly hair clip in your hair? Curl your hair with hot rollers or with a curling iron and feel lovely. The sparkly clip in your hair will add the perfect amount of glitz and glamour to your holiday ensemble.

Are you ready for all of your holiday activities? Fashionable accessories can create the perfect amount of style to a festive frock. Have fun accessorizing and creating a gorgeous look for your holiday season! 

Michelle Mone UltimoWhilst men might want to streamline their torso, women usually want to give their chest an outwards boost. Yes I’m talking about cleavage, loved for centuries by men and women alike. A survey carried out by leading lingerie brand Ultimo found that 8 out of 10 women would wear a bust-boosting bra to increase their chances of pulling at Christmas.

The Miracle OMG plunge bra by Ultimo is still the brand’s top seller. The bra can boost wearer’s bust by two sizes thanks to its innovative technology. Ultimo was launched by Michelle Mone OBE in 1999 with her very first bra invention featuring gel, the now iconic ‘Miracle Solutions’ plunge bra famously worn by Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich to boost her cleavage.

Mone said: “Having a full, sculpted cleavage gives instant sex appeal and boosts your confidence as well as your shape, and a well-fitting bra will also make your silhouette appear instantly slimmer. Women keep coming back to the Miracle OMG because it creates maximum impact and comfort – perfect for turning heads at the Christmas party and all year round.”

Previous Ultimo research also revealed that 54% of woman voted the cleavage-enhancing bra as the ultimate invention ahead of hair straighteners (24%) and the Little Black Dress (16%). I think I’d go for hair straighteners personally. Meanwhile three-quarters of men questioned said they looked forward to seeing their colleagues swapping office get up for more risqué attire at the annual do, and 35% said that a good cleavage is often the first thing that they notice about a woman on a night out. Only 35%? The point about having a good cleavage is that it’s pretty much in your face surely?

Spanx for MenPeacocks have launched their first control tee for men, helping men across the country to suck it in and look fab this festive season. Although Peacocks have not offered this sort of product before, the idea is far from novel. You can already get the Spanx for Men Zoned Performance crew neck t-shirt which helps to make your abs and chest look firmer (boys) as well as their Cotton Compression tank. A toned torso however comes at a price, with the crew neck costing £78 and t-shirt £58.

In stark contrast, Peacocks tee costs just £8. The t-shirt has been created with a control panel inserted into the top designed to flatten and tighten the full stomach area. The “tummy tightening” t-shirt has sold out online in its first week of launching.  

As a nation, British men are becoming more metro sexual than ever with the increasing trend for guy liner, manscara, man bags and now, control wear. And why not make the best of yourself I say. Men are becoming just as hung up on their body image as women, so it doesn’t surprise me that they are stealing all of our tricks of the trade.

In the last four years shapewear has become an essential item in every woman’s wardrobe and Peacocks has seen a 110% rise on ladies shapewear on the year with shapewear hosiery being the bestselling item in the collection.   

Claire Pemberton, Peacocks’ Lingerie Buyer said: “Until a few years ago control wear was every woman’s guilty pleasure but it has now become a must-have item in every woman’s wardrobe. We have introduced the men’s version to boost the body conscious male’s confidence, and ego, and hide any unwanted extra pounds.”

The Peacocks tee should be back in stock in store and online before Christmas. So what’s the verdict guys, does it work? 

Topshop SNO JacketHalf the fun of going skiing (or snowboarding) is dressing the part. There are lots of stylish choices out there these days, but finding the most affordable brands can be tricky. Snow wear has to be made for the part – insulating, breathable, waterproof, comfortable, and with all the pockets and tags you could ever need.

At Topshop online you will find a range of ski wear that meets all of the requirements above. Isn’t Topshop amazing? They have everything you need. Their SNO range is perfect for all snow bunnies from pros to those that prefer to watch from the sidelines. Prices range from £10 for socks to a very reasonable £95 for quilted ski jackets.

Leg SolutionsGeorge at Asda has carved out a good reputation for affordable, fashionable clothing. What’s more convenient than picking up a new top with your weekly shop? Now they have launched a new range of solution dresses just in time for the Christmas party season. Classic and stylish, each dress is designed to flatter a specific body shape and work with the much loved and loathed leg region.

According to the Daily Mail 71% of women don’t like their legs (which is silly because I’m sure you all have fabulous legs!).  Also, 65% of women don’t know how to make the best of bare legs for the party season. I don’t think bare legs are necessarily a great idea for winter. I love tights and with so many varieties of comfortable, soft tights out there, I would definitely go for this option.

That said, a dress designed for your particular body shape provides an easy solution for Christmas parties. Paired with some of the magic underwear you can now get, you’ll be body confident in no time. Asda’s ‘Pin-up’ dress collection includes styles in size 8 to 20. They work with body shapes ‘skinny’, ‘thighs’, ‘hips’ and ‘calves/ankles’.

Skinny girls should try the red, fitted shift. You can get away with a slim style to make the most of your figure. Wearing a dress which stops at the knee covers the thigh and shows off the slim calves. Women worried about wide hips want a dress that flares out over the problem area whilst showing off a nipped in waist. Asda’s solution is a purple V-neck style with long sleeves and short, floaty skirt.

New Look Coat

Guy Fawkes Night, 5th November. A time for fun, fireworks and hotdogs. It might not have sprung from the most amicable of events but Bonfire Night can be a great time for socialising and viewing some pretty fireworks. With all events as I’m sure you will agree, it is important to consider your outfit. It needs to be casual but stylish, warm but attractive, so where do you start?

Outerwear is probably what everyone will see the most of since it is a November evening. I would opt for skinny jeans with a cosy sweater. You could go for a simple cable v-neck like the ones from Crew Clothing. They come in a range of scrummy colours and they are not too bulky to wear under a coat.

The coat/jacket really depends on how chilly it is, and I don’t think temperatures are too bad for November this year. A parka is a good option. Not only are they ‘in’ this season, but they are awfully practical. You can stay warm and dry, plus they should come with a hood which is handy for times such as this when umbrellas would just be a pain. French Connection has this lovely military parka with a fully removable quilted lining so you can wear it all year round if you want to.

Alternatively, maybe a quilted style would work. It gives off a relaxed, heritage vibe which is perfect for watching fireworks in a field. If you can’t afford the real Barbour deal, then check out this cheeky impersonation from New Look. At £34.99, it comes in a range of colours and seems like a real bargain.

Vero Moda Leather CapeThe cape was popular last season and is still around for this autumn/winter. A grown up version of the poncho (remember when they were all the rage?), a cape should have structure and flatter the shape.

Capes were seen on the catwalk at Lanvin, Anna Sui and Diane von Furstenburg. Lanvin showed classic, unembellished capes in nude and black, whilst Ana Sui showed heavily printed capes in wine gum shades. Capes are historical items of clothing, and have their roots in religion, but right now they are definitely having a fashion moment.

You do however, have to be careful how you wear a cape. They can be very useful for this time of year as a comfortable, cosy cover-up. Lots of different styles are in the shops: military, tribal, belted, fringed, hooded and buckled. Athletic shapes can really work the cape with flair. Team with skinny jeans or a print dress or do the well-bred rural riding hood with a long skirt and flat boots. Pear shapes need a short cape with a belted waist, and busty girls should go for a cape/coat combo with sleeves to avoid looking like a tent.

The modern way to wear a cape is cinched in with a skinny belt. Play with pattern like at Anna Sui, tribal prints are particularly key for this season but could date quickly. Decide if you want a cape coat, which needs to be thick and shower resistant, or more of a knitted cape for warmth around the house. It is best that the length of the cape stops a few inches above your knees, and wear with skinny jeans or trousers to balance out the silhouette.

StylingHow do you fancy training as a fashion stylist? Helping people to love their appearance is a truly satisfying and wonderful position to be in. Some people might think appearances are shallow, but having self esteem and love for yourself is a far cry from shallow. I really believe that being confident in your appearance can have an impact on all areas of your life.

This is something 30 year-old Nicola Cupples knows well. She has a passion for fashion that has taken her from her native Liverpool to a career that most women can only dream of. She set up her own style advisory business My Style Companion in 2007 and now spends her working days helping people to find as much joy, confidence and pleasure in clothes and looking good as she does. 

Now, she is launching the national Style Advisor and Training Academy programme that will train women to become a new breed of style consultants and personal shoppers. It will also involve creating a new network of fashion advisors to share ideas and expertise. The question is, can you really teach style? Nicola says: ‘I set up the Academy in response to the number of women I met who wanted to learn to do what I do and train as fashion advisors.  It’s an incredibly rewarding career and we give our students everything they need – from the all important training to business support and an ongoing network of practical and emotional support.”

ASOS Cocoon DressThere are so many fashion silhouettes to choose from this season, you are sure to settle on one which really suits your shape. With vintage styles still going strong, there are fifties full skirts and seventies long lines, sixties minis and eighties shoulders. Dressing to suit your figure can make the world of difference, so where to start?

The best thing to do is to try on everything in your wardrobe, take a good hard look in the mirror or even better, take photos of yourself and decide what works for you and what doesn’t. An easier, but just as effective option is to go through your Facebook pictures, looking at pictures from the past can give you a better perspective. Just remember what worked this time last year might not suit you again this season.

Long and Lean

The long and lean silhouette is so NOW. For summer it was all about the floor length skirt, but to update for autumn try a tunic and straight trousers. This style will skim over apple shapes but don’t be afraid to add a belt if you want to emphasise your waist. It will look particularly striking on tall frames.

Cocoon

A very autumnal look for when you literally wish to cocoon yourself away. Follow Jil Sander’s lead with a simple block coloured tunic dress in the classic cocoon shape. The extra volume to your waist is guaranteed to make your legs look super slim, especially when worn with heels. Wear with block coloured accessorises.

Hourglass

Thanks to the vintage/Mad Men influences of previous seasons the ladylike hourglass silhouette is bang on trend, and hugely flattering. Everyone can fake some killer curves with the perfect outfit. A pencil skirt will cling in all the right places and a skinny belt is the modern way to cinch the waist. 

Topshop Feather Bomber

Glam rock is all about drama, glamour and opulence. To get the look you have to travel back to the 70s and find inspiration from David Bowie and Gary Glitter with their outrageous outfits and platform shoes. This time around however, glam rock is more luxurious – think plush velvet, sparkle and jewel tones.

Jewel tones reigned supreme for A/W ’11 with names like sapphire, emerald, ruby and garnet coming to mind. For maximum impact you can wear it head to toe as seen at Ralph Lauren, Gucci and Diane Von Furstenberg. Otherwise for a more youthful look, try skater style velvet dresses or shorts and top combos.

Mix velvet, sparkle and faux fur for night and glitter boots are a must (see previous Miu Miu post for inspiration). Why not try a black lace body teamed with jewel coloured shorts and a faux fur stole. Or sequined cropped tee with skinny jeans and a leather jacket. For day you can wear an oversized sequin sweater with shiny leggings to get the look.

Topshop have fully grasped the glam rock trend and intensified it into this one super cool marabou feather bomber jacket. In deep red and cropped it costs £95. Add gold jewellery and a statement clutch and you’ve got one killer look. This dress by Eleven Paris is super sexy with its sharp silhouette, zip detailing and mini length. It might cost £210 but it offers the perfect balance between feminine styling and rock chic in a beautiful ruby shade.

Juicy Couture CoatWe all love a bargain, especially when it comes to clothes.  Brand Alley, the online designer sale site has announced a 70% increase in sales in just nine months! Brand Alley doesn’t just stock fashion either, at the moment they have fragrance, saucepans and beauty products.  Their range has significantly increased over the last couple of years, which is one reason for the increase in sales.

Brand Alley works by selling items in flash sales, once the stock is gone, it’s gone. They are by no means the only designer outlet website out there. Members only site Cocosa has even shorter sales than Brand Alley but concentrate on higher end products, similarly Achica the ‘members only lifestyle store’ sells branded homewares and gifts. At the other end of the spectrum, theoutnet.com can make even some high end fashion within reach.

These sites are addictive! From the comfort of your own home, you can browse through random sales looking at things you wouldn’t go out of your way to see in a shop. You do this because you might stumble across a bargain that you hadn’t realised you needed before, but now, how could you live without it? I do this all the time, which is why I have six cute mirrors that I can’t put up because I don’t want to put holes in the wall of my rented flat. And why I have a bikini that doesn’t really fit me that well.

But still these are bargains because one day they will be useful! From an ethical perspective, if these products are past season then it makes sense to snap them up surely rather than let unwanted gifts pile up in a warehouse somewhere, or worse, in landfill. So without further ado here are my online bargain tips:

River Island JumpsuitJumpsuits, you either love them or you hate them.  Seeing as they have been around for quite some time now, I imagine many of you love them, even if you don’t wear them. The jumpsuit ain’t going anywhere for autumn/winter, but it has got a bit more glam.

The new season looks have jumpsuits in slinky silk or satin. A jumpsuit can make a relaxed evening look as easy as pulling on a dress – just add heels, a necklace and you’re ready to go. A skinny belt will add shape and break up the silhouette. A seventies influence dominated last season, and this hasn’t gone, but rather it’s been brought bang up-to-date.

The palazzo pant jumpsuit was seen on the catwalks at Hakaan, Sonia Rykiel, Balmain, Michael Kors and Maria Grachvogel. If you are going for the wide-legged jumpsuit, opt for a narrow top. At Michael Kors, the wide-legged palazzo pant was balanced with a halter-neck top in slinky plum satin. Hakaan did the same but in a simple black cut. Charles Anastase went for a full evening look with rich red velvet, long sleeves and a Peter Pan collar.

Clements Ribeiro veered away from the seventies influence and updated the jumpsuit with cocoon shaped sleeves, cropped legs and front beading. You can trust Acne for a causal take on the trend, they showed a cropped utility style jumpsuit and a sleeveless style (which looks a bit dinner lady chic if you’re in to that sort of thing).

Kate's Issa DressThe impact Kate Middleton/The Duchess of Cambridge has had on fashion since announcing her engagement to Prince William and the subsequent wedding which ensued, has been significant. No one could deny that. I was however, quite surprised to learn the extent to which you are all influenced by the style of the Royals and American First Ladies.

According to research by shopping comparison website Kelkoo, 26% of the ladies they surveyed had recently bought an outfit worn by the Duchess of Cambridge. I know the royal blue Issa dress worn to make her debut as Prince William’s fiancé sold out within hours, but have a quarter of you really gone out and purposefully copied the Duchess’ style? (It’s fine if you have, she has good style).

It wasn’t the Duchess of Cambridge who came top though in Kelkoo’s poll ‘The First ladies of Fashion’ of all time. That crown went to Jackie O with 37%, closely followed by Grace Kelly with 35%. The Duchess of Cambridge came third. Jackie O was the wife of John F. Kennedy when he was in office in the early 60s. She has always been remembered for her elegance and innate sense of style, oversized sunglasses and shift dresses, and it seems she still continues to inspire.

For modern day inspiration, Brits are most inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge and Michelle Obama, both of whom have been praised for their public fashion appearances. Over half of Brits looking to dress in First Lady fashion admit to following media reports on the latest outfits to keep a close eye on trends and 5% keep a scrapbook of coverage so they don’t miss a thing. 16% go as far as taking a picture to their hairdresser to replicate the style of a famous icon.  A further 15% buy the beauty products they use and recommend, a point proven by the sell-out of White Gardenia Petals by Illuminum after our recent Royal Wedding.

Hunter Boots

We are in October. I know it’s ridiculously hot at the moment, but be under no illusion that the weather is bound to take a drastic and horrifying turn, and it will happen soon (sorry I’m really not trying to jinx it).  Along with the fun boot shopping – leather riding boot, UGGs, patterned cowboy boot, whatever takes your fancy this season – everyone needs a good pair of wellington boots.

You can get some great wellies from all sorts of shops on the High Street, but if you are more of an extreme wearer I would really recommend spending a bit more on some wellies that you can keep for years. I get a fair bit of use out of my wellies at festivals and dog walking, and I have completely fallen in love with my new Hunters. They are so comfortable and sturdy, which is what you want from a wellington really.

The Hunter Boot company saw a 120% rise in sales last year, helped by improved distribution and greater range of styles. Originally a Scottish company, Hunter have benefitted from the boom in heritage trends and back to British mentality. They have expanded to new foreign markets at just the right time.

Hunter have collaborated with Jimmy Choo, created a funky festival range, added a leather boot collection, and even experimented with ballet flats. They sell to men, women and kids, and stock umbrellas, socks and bags.

Charnos ArmouryIf you watch Dragons Den then this idea will be familiar to you.  Hate your arms? Or simply want to update an outfit for autumn? Then Charnos Armoury from Mary & Charnos could be for you. A similar idea was recently touted on Dragons Den from the less than flatteringly named company FatPhRocks. FatPhRocks ‘Wingz’ are available in a range of colours and styles and fit around the body on the bra line.

Charnos Armoury differs by fitting more like a shrug. Part armoury, part hosiery, I think it’s a great idea. For the 75% of women who hate their arms, sleeveless dresses can be a real problem, and let’s face it, many party dresses are sleeveless. Personally, I’m quite happy with my arms but I am always looking for ways to keep warm which makes the armoury a perfect alternative to casual cardies or shivering at a dinner party.

There are two great designs, which are available in a variety of gorgeous colours.  The 140 denier Plain design (£18) is produced using a 3D construction technique, and is available in the following shades - Night Noir, Mega Magenta, and Intense Indigo. The Luxury Lace Armoury is made using a special warp knitted lace which can be cut to your desired sleeve length without fraying. Luxury Lace is available in Night Noir and Charcoal and costs £22.

With the plain option perfect for daywear, and the lace style elegant enough for evening wear, you have all bases covered. Unlike ‘wingz’ Charnos Armoury looks great as a shrug, you don’t have to hide the edges under your dress and it is easy to take on and off. The dark colours will work with most outfits too, and of course, dark colours are highly flattering.