Return of the Mac

When I made a list of Wardrobe Staples last year, I was intent on getting a Mac even before they became "on trend" for Spring and I decided that I would have a look on ebay for one - big mistake. I am fine selling on ebay but rarely do I buy anything and certainly not clothes for myself, but thought that should change, in an effort to save money.

I found one, placed a bid at the last minute and then waited for about a week for it to arrive. I paid £7 postage and packing, missed the parcel because I was at work. Collected it from the Post Office to find that it had cost the seller £2.70 and was bemused that the package was round. When I managed to fight my way through the brown tape it was evident that the coat had just been sent in a carrier bag, inside another carrier bag and that the parcel was round? The Mac had been put the bag and then formed into a round parcel which meant it was screwed to fuck. I was so bloody angry, I can't even bring myself to try it on and just don't want it at all. It will go in one of those Charity bags that come through the door and I shall be leaving negative feedback or maybe even asking for my money back.

Disillusioned, I looked online for one and found a Kaliko Trench reduced from £130 to £31.50 on House of Fraser in the Clearance section. I have ordered it. It looks quite long and I wanted a 3/4 one really but if it fits I can always get it taken up a bit and you know how I love a bargain. I have never bought anything from Kaliko before, have any of you? or do you have any ebay horror stories concerning clothing? Have you got a Mac or do you intend to buy one for Spring?

More Shoe Love - only cheaper!

I haven't looked at Shoes on Amazon since I bought the bargain Steve Madden wedges last Summer, so thought I would have a little browse to see what was on offer. I couldn't believe how cheap these French Connection beauties are...


French Connection Women's Salvador Sandal


One of my daughters has adored these, but at £140, she wasn't prepared to spend all her Xmas money on them. I keep checking Asos to see if they have been reduced further but they are still £84 in the Sale section, whereas on Amazon they are an amazing £28 from £140! I just asked my husband if I could buy them for her and his response was "Why?". What a Twat, it is obvious why, she wants them, they are a bargain - enough said.

I wouldn't mind these gorgeous shoe boots for myself. Ideal for spring when you don't mind your toes peeping out with a Particulere pedi on your nails! £39 from £130. French Connection Women's Jaqueleleer Bootie

Shoes by Sophie Gittens

I met Sophie at the On/Off Exhibition on Sunday and although there were lots of lovely clothes on display, I was instantly drawn to her beautiful Shoe Collection for A/W10.
Sophie trained at Cordwainers, London College of Fashion and went on to become a finalist of Fashion Fringe Shoes, which included Manolo Blahnik and Rupert Sanderson on its judging panel and has earnt international praise from Vogue.com, Style.com and The Independent, with British Elle describing Sophie as "one of the New Shoe Designers turning heads.
I was fascinated to find that for this collection Sophie has taken inspiration from an American Architect and his passion for Japanese art, but once you know this, you can see the Origami influences in her designs.
You are looking at a Jimmy Choo and Gina price bracket, but with Python and Ponyskin being the materials used, coupled with the Italian craftsmanship, you wouldn't expect anything less.
The open toed boots were my favourites, but I loved every pair and as my own pictures were pretty rubbish, I photographed some pictures from the Brochure so you can see more more clearly.
I really hope this collection becomes more readily available, it would sit easily at Browns, Matches or Net-a-porter. Surely young home grown talent like this needs supporting. I know all my shoe mad blogging friends are going to love these as much as I do.
For more information see Sophies website http://www.sophiegittens.com/
So what do you think? Did anyone else see Sophie at LFW?

There are lots of things I am very Particulere about!

At last! What was it, 3 weeks wait? When my husband told me he had put himself on the waiting list at the City branch of House of Fraser, to be honest, I didn't believe him. He rang me on Monday and said "your nail varnish is in stock but I have to get it today, they won't keep it till tomorrow". What he failed to tell me was that he had put his name down for two bottles! How lucky am I? I could of course sell one on ebay and double my money, I could do my first blog giveaway....but I am sorry guys, I love it so much, I think I may need both bottles to see me through until they bring out the next crazy shade!

Playful Promises at Boudoir Event - Somerset House, LFW

I was invited along to the Boudior Event at Somerset House on Sunday by London based Lingerie brand "Playful Promises" a company created in 2004 by Emma Parker.
Emma developed an addiction to frilly and flirty underwear at a very young age and this lust for lingerie, led her to design her own very successful range which is now stocked in Topshop and Asos. No matter what your age or size, us girls love to wear fun and sexy underwear and this brand has something for everyone, from cute satin knickers in collectable tins which make great gifts for teenage girls, to sexy sets which would have done Madonna proud back in her John Paul Gaultier days, Playful Promises can fulfill your lingerie dreams with some styles going up to a very generous size 16.

A lovely 100% silk range with soft bras (suitable for smaller cup sizes) and knickers with rosette trims are stocked in Fenwick and come in at a very reasonable £35 a set.

There is also a stunning swimwear range which will have you running to the Travel Agents! Naturally I couldn't resist taking a picture of this red and leopard print one (ah, if only I was 20 years younger!) with its bow trim, it is seriously cute and will look fab with a tan.
You can buy the complete range online at www.playfulpromises.com

Falguni and Shane Peacock Couture at LFW (On/Off Bloomsbury Square)

Feathers, fringing and crystals seem to be the trademark of Fulgani & Shane Peacock as illustrated in their previous collections and the A/W 10 show didn't disappoint.

The Show was a visual delight on a drizzly London day with a colour palette of Turquoise, Red, Orange and Black. Sheer fabrics were mixed with leather harnessing, studs and jewels and adorned a collection where intricate detailing was in abundance with one complete "show stopper" of a turquoise creation which seemed to have a plastic lantern on the outside! God knows how you would sit down in it! but it was a delight to behold!

The Indian Design Duo bought more than a touch of Bollywood glamour to the catwalk and it is no surprise that they have previously dressed celebrities such as Frieda Pinto, Joss Stone and Madonna.

PPQ at LFW

Sexy Sophistication on a Saturday night at the PPQ show, with a black and gold colour palette. Fur trimmed coats as seen on many of the New York Catwalks continue the theme for A/W 10, as do metallics and velvet.

A stunning cocktail dress with gold ruffle trim was my particular favourite, a full length gold coat and cheeky playsuit broke up a stream of black coats, and dresses in velvet with satin trim. Square shaped handbags and tie up platform shoes which were "to die for" although all the ties hanging off them would be lethal if you got pissed.

I had been invited to this show, but judging by the tweets I saw, even some of those with front row seats didn't get in! Gutted not to be there, a great, although very black, collection! I loved it!

Paul Costelloe - London Fashion Week

One of the Live Streamed shows from London Fashion Week I managed to watch yesterday was the Paul Costelloe show which opened the event. I had seen Paul Interviewed on GMTV before the start of the show and I caught him saying that his inspiration was the Wild West. I couldn't quite get the relevance of this and expected a Doris Day "Whip crack away..." soundtrack, but instead he had Dolly Parton?
I expected to see Denim, Check shirts and leather Chaps, but far from it. Instead we had tailoring, rose trimmed sheer blouses, gorgeous metallic pieces in the form of gunmetal dresses and bronze metallic brocades (of which the coat pictured was my favourite piece), and some very wearable check pieces, skirts and a great tie up Jacket.
Paul Costelloe is obviously a name that has been around "forever" but I have never had a piece in my wardrobe, watching this show has made me want to change that, especially as his clothes are available in Department Stores across the Country. Surely this is a UK based designer that we should be supporting?
After reading many Bloggers show reports yesterday where they felt disappointed with what they had seen, I don't think anybody would not have raved about Paul's ready to wear collection, had they seen it in the flesh or watched the show via the Live Streaming.
This is one show I really would have liked to attend and I know that I won't be skipping past his Concessions in John Lewis or House of Fraser, when this collection hits stores and who knows, come next January Sale, I may be able to get that beautiful brocade Coat.

Changes

Check out my new three column style! It has enabled me to make additions to the Blog which I have wanted to do for a while now. As you have probably gathered, I am always on the look out for a bargain for either myself or the Girls, so I thought it was about time I shared any great items I find, with you!
Have a peek in the left hand column where you can see the three new additons.
1. Spree v Steal, which features an item I have seen on the Runway and its cheaper High Street Equivalent (see the Marc Jacobs v Windsmoor Chevron Coat)
2. Luxe for Less, which will feature a Designer Label beauty on Sale, which embraces future or current seasons trends or a great wardrobe staple and
3. High Street Pick of the Week, which shows an Oasis Dress which is featured in this weeks Grazia and on sale from £55 to £35. Links are attached to make shopping even easier for you, just click and buy! There is something whatever your age or budget!
Let me know what you think!

nyfw

I don't know whether it was all the Live Streaming that had me "chomping at the bit" for a bit of a fashion fix at NYFW, but I found myself far more excited than I usually am to see what the Designers had on offer for A/W 10. I am usually only interested in who is in the front row and what they wore, as I always feel I can't get my head around what will be on sale in another six months time, I mean lets embrace the Summer trends first, right?

I felt a bit guilty every time "Little Man" wanted something and I replied with "can you just wait about 20 minutes as I am about to watch the MarcJacobs/Rodarte/Micheal Kors/ProenzaSchouler show" poor little devil, what a bad Mummy! If a show was live when I was in bed, I watched it when I got up - the Porridge had to wait!

The Marc Jacobs Show almost bought me to tears! - what a complete Saddo! I think it was the fur trimmed Bags that did it, although others will tell you it was the enchanting version of "Somewhere over the Rainbow" soundtrack, or the fact Marc Jacobs himself unveiled the models from beneath a load of brown paper. Needless to say I loved the sequined cardigan and fur trimmed coats, so glam!



Rodarte was beautiful, but for me, completely unwearable, far too young. Wrap around detail on bodices had me thinking that the bigger busted amongst us, would look an even bigger cup size in these creations. It was all very enchanted garden, fairytale and winter wonderland with white flowing skirts and lace layers but on the whole, I felt a lot of it looked like a load of Charity Shop finds sewn together. An A Level Students textile project, but more exquisite.



Micheal Kors was wearable Luxe at its best. Fur trimmed clutches (I really must get a fur trimmed bag next Winter), knitted beanies and double belts, which is a result as I just found an old one for Claudia that would only go round me once now, which kind of defeats the object.



Proenza Schouler showed pleated Mini's with stocking tops on display, very St.Trinians, but there were some lovely dresses that looked like one shoulder numbers with tshirts underneath and again, more luxurious fur along with Graffiti print jeans from the Design Duo's collaboration with J Brand. After the shows live streaming, you were able to purchase the handbags from the Collection, online, but only for 24 hours (I wish).



Maxi Skirts were on almost every catwalk and although they look great if you are almost 6 foot tall, on a 5ft 2, forty something - um, I don't think so. Its bad enough when the bottom of your jeans get wet on a rainy day, without having a maxi skirt trailing behind you through the puddles. So not the most practical of looks for winter but I love maxi dresses for the summer.


I was also wondering did Di Roo take inspiration from that awful pink faux fur jacket in River Island last September, for their Blue fur number?



Along with this, I have been watching net-a-porter videos on youtube (stupid mistake) to see what their buyers were wearing to the shows and that is when I fell in love with Alexandra Wang Bags - oh dear. One buyer had one where the complete base of the bag was covered in gold studs.

Alexandra Wang bag £870 from

All the shows from London Fashion Week which starts tomorrow, will be streamed live, check out the schedule here.
You can also follow the newly "outed" Libertylondongirl twittering live from LFW
at @MercedesLFW as that's where all her news about the catwalk shows, parties & presentations will be.