Ship-shape and Bristol Fashion

Pre LFW/LOOK Show excitement

2011-02-17T22:07:00.002Z

Ship-Shape & Bristol Fashion has moved! To read all about the eve of The LOOK Show and see my new home, please visit me here.

Love Is In The Air...

2011-02-14T17:10:00.004Z

Happy Valentine's Day from Ship-Shape! Regardless of your relationship status and feelings towards this Hallmark Holiday, I hope you are having a fab 14th February.

For anyone wondering how love and romance can translate to the catwalk and high street, check out my article for the Bristol Pigeon entitled Love Is In The Air on romantic trends for S/S11.

Something for The Weekend... The Big Swish, Gimme Shelter Vintage Fair

2011-02-11T22:56:00.007Z

This weekend is all about recycling, regeneration and pre-loved clothes as the Oxfam Big Swish clothes swap descends on the city. This Saturday you can get rid of your wardrobe hermits - you know, the kind of clothes that cling on for dear life to the sides of your closet, not wanting to be worn but not wanting to leave the comfort of those four walls - and get some new threads in the process.

Clothes swapping, or swishing as it is also known, has become big in recent years and given the economic downturn this country has faced it isn't hard to see why. The Oxfam Big Swish is just one of the many events going on at the CREATE Centre, as part of their sustainable fashion programme.

If you want to take part simply drop off any unwanted clothes between 11-12, peruse the rails and be ready for a 1pm kick off. I'd love to go but have actually double booked with another clothes swap - my own! I've been inspired by all the clothes swaps that have been happening recently so a few friends and I are getting together on Saturday to exchange our unwanted goods - I'll let you know how I get on : )

The Gimme Shelter vintage fair is back at the Lanes this Sunday with all the usual suspects including Motel, Cox & Baloney and Nylon Sky in attendance. Entry is free and there will be vintage clothes, shoes, jewellery and bags up for grabs, as well as plenty of vintage bric-a-brac and homewares.

If I have recovered from the excitement of my own clothes swapping sesh I'll be heading down to find some bargains, though I'm not sure anything can compare to the cream dress I found a couple of weeks ago.

Have a great weekend and let me know if you're planning your own fashion events by commenting here or emailing shipshape.bristolfashion@gmail.com.

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2011-02-09T20:37:00.001Z

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Reading List: Techy Tips

2011-02-06T18:35:00.006Z

For a while now I've been contemplating a move from Blogger to Wordpress and, as always, I've found making a pro/con list to be the most effective way to make the decision. Although this would be quite a big step for the blog, it got me thinking about all the little technical tips and tricks that bloggers (fashion or otherwise) use to get the best from their blogs.

So here are some of the blogs I've been reading this week, full of tips to get the best out your blog...

SVB - What have you done with my landscape, flooding the fields with this clone shape - For a style blog perhaps one of the most important factors is great photos. This post shows readers hour to get a hazy, vintage tinge to their pictures.

Pro Blogger - How Your About Page Can Make or Break Your Blog - a tad intimidating as a headline but as a post it actually makes a lot of sense - great for seasoned bloggers and novices alike.

Independent Fashion Bloggers - How Will Fashion Blogs Evolve in 2001? - A fantastic resource for any fashion blogger, IFB's post on the changes we can inspect in fashion blogging over the next 12 months is comprehensive and insightful.

Dressful - 20 Sarcastic Tips to Become a Successful Fashion Blogger - an excellent tounge in cheek look at how to be a 'successful' fashion blogger from a site packed full of useful info on the fashion blogging scene.

Lust Have: Tatty Devine's new collection. Yes, all of it.

2011-02-02T20:09:00.006Z

I'm a big fan of Covent Garden (previously Brick Lane) based jewellery company Tatty Devine and their quirky, whimsical designs. Perhaps best know for their brightly coloured acrylic 'name' necklaces, I first came across TD in my teens, when their logo was tattooed across strings of guitar pick necklaces and bracelets. I love that with every season comes a completely new concept (previously including dinosaurs, cocktail umbrellas and Amelia Earhart) and their new season collection, Astral Haze, does not disappoint.

Myth and magic has cast its wand over the Tatty Devine studios, with jewel encrusted unicorn brooches and quartz inspired bibs taking centre stage, but my favourite piece has to be the Halcyon Skies necklace, above. With the nights gradually getting lighter and winter slowly making way for spring, this dreamy necklace would make the perfect addition to any S/S 11 wardrobe.

If you want something Devine for yourself check out the Soma Gallery in Clifton Village which stocks Tatty Devine as well as several other contemporary jewellery designers.

All the fun of The Vintage Fair

2011-01-30T19:10:00.008Z

This weekend has been a busy one and not particularly gentle on my wallet! Before freezing my fingers off at the Gok's Clothes Roadshow catwalk I had some time to kill so I popped into Primark and came out with a brown paper bag.

I felt a little guilty making an impulse purchase just before seeing the man that claims women can survive with just 24 key pieces in their wardrobe, but I couldn't resist. Heavy cotton skirt with a voluminous black net underskirt, covered in a watercolour of poppies, this skirt is truly a work of art and unlike anything I've ever seen the fast-fashion retailer before.

After watching Gok and Co. I got an early night in preparation for yesterday. An early morning makeover courtesy of the Benefit concession in Debenhams kicked things of, before S and I hit the Bristol Vintage Fair in Portland Square. Sadly we peaked a little too soon, falling in love with a pleated cream dress and polka dot playsuit within the first ten minutes, thus blowing our budget an forcing us to dig around in our bags and purses to find enough cash for a cheeky cupcake.

Half an hour of Benefit later we were ready for the fair

A selection of gorgeous vintage bags

Circomedia on Portland Square was the perfect venue for a vintage fair

Clothes swapping fun at Goldmine on Stokes Croft

The fair itself was fantastic though, with some quality sellers in such a beautiful location. My pictures, below, don't really do it justice but if you missed it fear not - apparently there are plans for another fair in three months time, or visit their online calendar for upcoming fairs across the country.

After the fair we went long to the Goldmine clothes swapping party, armed with some pre-loved treasures to swap. The event kicked off at 4pm and when we rocked up not half an hour later we joined what can only be described as a frenzy of eager girls who looked like they had walked straight of the set of Skins.

I suddenly felt quite old as I rummaged through the rails looking for some vintage gems but S and I did come up trumps with some elasticated skirts (perfect as summer dresses) and 80s jumpers. By 5pm we were done and headed out with some fantastic finds and we had spent less than a fiver between us : )

Today I made use of the gorgeous winter sun to shoot some of my new (and old) finds...

50s style floral skirt from Primark

My stunning new pleated cream dress that I found at the fair...

... with a mocha coloured bow and shoulder panels

Two of the vintage skirts I picked up at the Goldmine clothes swap

Something for The Weekend... Bristol Vintage Fair & Goldmine Launch

2011-01-27T19:13:00.008Z

I love the period leading up to the new season - magazines, blogs, boutiques and events organisers get in on the action and at the moment Bristol has a busy hub of events and fashionable happenings taking place.

First up, I know I've been banging on about it this week, but don't forget that the weekend kicks off tomorrow evening with Gok Wan's catwalk show at Cabot Circus (it starts at 5pm , don't be late!) Gok will be showing of his high street finds and competing against Brit Smith-Start's designer outfits for his new Channel 4 show, Gok's Clothes Roadshow.

On Saturday the Vintage Fair comes to town. Joining the likes of Blind Lemon and Gimme Shelter, the Bristol Vintage Fair, above, is the new kid on the block as far as all things vintage go. Originating in Birmingham, the fair has been running at cities across the country since 2009 and came to Bristol for the first time back in November. This Saturday the fair is back at Circomedia in Portland Square and as well as lots of vintage goodies for sale it promises cupcakes, a vintage tea party and even a travelling hair and beauty salon - perfect if you want a beehive 'do to match your Mad Men style outfit. The event starts at noon and entry is £2 or £1 with an NUS card.

Just as the Vintage Fair is winding down, the fun (and vintage bargains) continue on Stokes Croft. You may remember that Shop Dutty opened The Goldmine last summer, a pop-up shop on Stoke Croft full of vintage clothes a a bargain price, not to mention a DJ booth, comfy sofas and plenty of tea and biscuits. All good things must come to an end and although The Goldmine closed just before Christmas, it has now been reincarnated as a permanent fixture in the basement of Shop Dutty on Cheltenham Road and will open to the public on 2nd February.

To celebrate it's new home, The Goldmine will be hosting a massive clothes swap, on Stokes Croft (opposite Pieminister) from 4pm with DJ sets, swapping and a few vintage bargains thrown in too. The festivities are due to go on into the night and if you want to take part simply bring some unwanted clothes to swap, or browse their clearance stock - bargains start at just 50p! For more info check out the Facebook page here.

P.S. Don't forget that La Freak Boutique in Montpelier will also be closing its doors for the last time this weekend, but not before every last vintage wonder is sold. The store will be open as usual on Saturday and also from 12-4pm on Sunday.

Behind the scenes: Gok's Roadshow

2011-01-25T21:53:00.007Z

This afternoon I found myself in a disused shop in Quakers Friars, watching a camera crew and production team flutter around a cute set full of colourful clutch bags, towering multi-coloured heels and quirky high street finds. It was of course all for Gok Wan's new Channel 4 show, Gok's Clothes Roadshow.

A twist on the original Gok's Fashion Fix format, Gok's Clothes Roadshow sees Gok and designer obsessive Brix Smith-Start are taking their high street vs high end battle on the road and Bristol is the latest city to get a visit, along with the likes of Birmingham, Liverpool and London.

Today a selection of Bristol's fashion enthusiasts, students and journalists have made their pilgrimage to Cabot Circus to see Gok at work, dressed in blouses, blazers, leopard print jackets and ankle boots. I join them outside in the rain, waiting to get a first glimpse of the man himself.

Gok was a hit at Cabot Circus last September

After shooting was delayed for over an hour - the morning filming session had overrun and even TV's best loved fashionista needs to eat lunch - we were allowed to enter the shop and minutes later Gok appeared. Dressed in his trademark black outfit - casually thrown together workman boots, low hanging black jeans and casual shirt layered over a vest - he was actually shorter than I thought he would be.

I must confess I thought I would be watching Gok customising outfits behind the scenes so I was surprised to find that I would be part of Gok's avid (on camera) audience. I can't give away too much but it was a very interactive afternoon and I can't wait to see the episode when it airs later this year.

Gok has no doubt had a massive impact on all the women attending his workshops and the audiences who have already flocked to see his catwalk frock-offs with Brix. If you want to see the catwalk show for Bristol then it is taking place on Friday (28th) at 5pm in Cabot Circus.
Come down to see the latest high street and designer trends and don't forget to check out Gok's Clothes Roadshow tonight at 8pm on Channel 4.

Something for The Weekend... Elsie Riley, La Freak Boutique & Gok Wan

2011-01-20T09:06:00.011Z

There are so many exciting events to look forward to in the coming weeks, not least the last of the January sales, the start of a new ethical fashion exhibition and the return of Gok Wan to Cabot Circus...

First up is the clearance sale at Elsie Riley. Run by the lovely Katie and named after her grandmother, Elsie Riley is a picture perfect boutique located just around the corner from St Nicks Market and is always so full of pretty, girlie trinkets. Whenever I walk past it I always picture myself lying on a chaise lounge, dripping in vintage pearls listening to Frank Sinatra. But that's quite enough of my daydreams - get down there and bag yourself a bargain this weekend!

Next up there is some sad news - La Freak Boutique, top, will be closing its doors for the last time at the end of January. The Picton Street boutique is closing down after enjoying years of being Montpelier's premier vintage emporium. Well known for showing at local vintage fairs and the £1 rummage box that entices in its shoppers this colourful shop will be sorely missed. La Freak will be open Thursdays-Saturdays until the end of the month so please visit and make the most of those crammed rails and sale boxes before their doors close for good.

Finally a little Something for The Weekend preview... next Friday Gok Wan will be returning to Bristol as part of his new show, Gok's Roadshow. Basically Gok's Fashion Fix with a twist, the filming of the catwalk face-off between Gok and Brix Smith-Start will be taking place at Cabot Circus on Friday 28th January. If you missed out on Gok's last visit then be sure to head down to the runway for 5pm to watch his high street vs designer show. More details to follow...

MBTs: Walking the walk

2011-01-16T21:12:00.006Z

As you may be aware I'm trying to get fit and with that challenge comes a whole new world of stylish opportunities; Stella McCartney for Adidas, Sweaty Betty, not to mention fitnesswear on the high street and performance enhancing footwear.

Trainer technology has advanced in recent years with the likes of MBTs, Fit-Flops and now the new Rebook Easytone trainers (with that rather distracting advert full of pert bottoms) becoming an increasingly popular choice of footwear for fitness fashionistas. The price of this type of footwear isn't cheap and has often put me off purchasing a pair in the past, along with their reputation for unflattering shapes and styles. Much akin to how mobile phones in the 80's resembled bricks, these kinds of shoes looked like brick strapped to your feet.

Just before Christmas I was invited to attend a body MOT in the city centre, courtesy of the folks behind MBT s, and I was lucky enough to be given a pair of my very own MBTs, below, to road test. As they arrived just before Christmas into a city coated in snow and ice, I decided to wait until the weather had mellowed before giving them a spin - my balance and coordination is an issue in regular conditions with familiar footwear - this would have been a Bambi on ice situation!

Masai Barefoot Technology physiological footwear, or MBT for short, was first developed in 1996 after researchers noticed how members of the Masai tribe walked barefoot over uneven ground. The brand was the first of its kind when it first launched in the US and its shoes aim to replicate 'natural instability' which in turn creates the need to balance, through a constant, rolling movement underfoot. The uneven surface forces the wearer to balance, in turn toning the leg muscles and improving posture.

Last week was my first trip out of the house wearing my pair (other than pottering around the house) and it felt so strange. The way the MBTs work forced me to balance, so I constantly felt like I was tipping forwards and convinced myself that I would fall flat on my face. Walking downhill was particularly challenging but now I've worn them a few more times I'm actually noticing a significant difference. I can really feel them working my calves when I walk up hills and because of they way they make you balance, I find myself concentrating on my posture more - which is one thing I am always trying to improve.

From a style point of view I was worried that I would look like I had shoe boxes strapped to my feet but the style I picked, while 'sporty' is also quite sleek. I have worn them with black leggings, boot cut trousers with dresses and skinny jeans. While I do feel self conscious wearing them it is more because of the way I need to concentrate on my walk, rather than how the shoes themselves look.

At £100+ this type of footwear should be considered an investment for your wardrobe so if you are considering buying a pair think long and hard about when you would wear them and what colour and style would best go with the contents of your wardrobe. With regular wear you could see an improvement in both your posture and muscle tone but the makers believe every wear will experience different benefits.

I've yet to try exercising in them but will report back when I do : )

Fashion and CREATEivity

2011-01-13T19:49:00.008Z

Fashion isn't just about the what you see on the catwalk or find on the high street. In Bristol we are lucky enough to be surrounded by a wealth of independent shops, designers and organisations who are committed to recycling, reusing and restoring garments.

Charity shops and vintage boutiques sit side by side and community based projects are around every corner working to make a better, more sustainable city for us to enjoy. The CREATE Centre is one such venue - an 'environment centre' that runs workshops, hosts exhibitions and conferences and focuses on promoting green living to its visitors.

Starting today and running until the end of March, CREATE are running a programme dedicated to ethical fashion and the future of fashion. Fashion Footprints: Sustainable Approaches aims to unravel the complex world of fashion and its ecological and social impact - from the cotton fields to your favourite pair of jeans.

The exhibition has been created by the Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World and curated by MA students from the London College of Fashion, and is touring the nation to educate consumers and industry insiders alike. As well as an exhibition there will also be a customising events, a Fairtrade fashion show and The Big Swish, a clothes swap organised by Oxfam.

Located near Spike Island, the centre isn't the first place you would think to go for your fashion fix but this exciting programme will make it worth the visit. If you can't get there during on a weekday then be sure to stop by on a Saturday morning before you hit the shops - what you learn might surprise you. I'll be checking this exhibition out and reporting back but if you get the chance to visit this week let me know what you think...

Fashion Footprints: Sustainable Approaches runs until 31st March at the CREATE Centre, for more information including opening times and a full listing of events check out their website.

New Year, New Loot - Part Two

2011-01-07T19:28:00.005Z

Welcome to New Year, New Loot - Part Two. If Part One was an insight to my fashion-forward mind pre-Christmas, then consider this post to be a look at how my brain works during the January sales.

Every year I read (and write) about how to shop successfully during the sales, what items to look for (the words 'classic' and 'wardrobe staples' spring to mind) and how to avoid the pitfalls and frenzy that only the January sales creates.

Then, every year I go and buy something like the layered vest top, below, simply because it costs a fiver and has a smiley face on it....

That's not to say I won't wear this vest (H&M) a lot - I will and it looks ace with black leggings - just that I get a little over excited at all those big red signs. This was my first purchase of a day out with some friends at Cabot Circus and while we were trying lace dresses and skater skirts I also came across this silk dress, below.

This has a tad more longevity and could work well as a dress or as a smart day-to-evening top when paired with some tailored trousers. The tie-dye pattern isn't something I would normally go for but that is a benefit of sales shopping - a price drop allows one to try out new styles, colours or patterns, without the fear of wasting a lot of money.

Once I'd warmed up a little I found The One, below, the dress that respects the rules of sales shopping and that made my heart skip a beat. It is a flattering, feminine shape, has a unique pattern, a vintage vibe and, crucially, goes with lots of other items I already own. Sadly as with all sale items there was one slight flaw - there was only one size left, and it was slightly smaller than I usually wear.
You can see it in the photo above so I obviously bought it. Does it fit? Well yes actually. Would it fit a little better if I were half a stone lighter? Probably, but at least this way I have a goal to aim for... at least that's what I'm telling myself...

New Year, New Loot - Part One

2011-01-07T17:23:00.012Z

Thanks to a mystery bug I've had a fair bit of time on my hands today so, aside from napping and the odd bout of nausea, I've been playing with my camera and all the lovely new treats that came my way over Christmas*.

This year, Christmas stocking aside, Mother Ship-Shape took me shopping in Bournemouth to find a few festive goodies. I love surprises - planning them, being on the receiving end, knowing about somebody else's surprise (I'm not fussy) - and usually insist on knowing nothing about gifts that might be coming my way. Year after year I've had some cracking surprises but this year the shopping trip saved my poor mother from the hassle and panic of buying for a surprise-aholic and also guaranteed everything would fit properly.

I tried on numerous pairs of tailored jodhpur style trousers before finding this stone-coloured pair from New Look. Thanks to my pre-wedding health kick they suit sitting both high on the waist or lower on my hips. They also go rather nicely with my gorgeous new Dorothy Perkins blazer, below. I adore the slight ruching on the pockets and the slouchy feel of the lightweight cotton, and the taupe colour is close enough to beige to be a wardrobe staple, but far enough away from camel to make it too A/W 10.

I also finally managed to get myself a pair of brogues from River Island. A cross between a loafer and brogue, the hidden laces make these shoes far more versatile and I can't wait till Spring to pair them with bare legs and summer dresses.

Somewhat surprisingly, I gravitated towards very similar garments and came away from Christmas with a practically complete outfit - a rare feat for my shopping trips, as Part Two of this post will show you...

Slouchy pockets and turned up cuffs make a perfect S/S blazer

My new stone coloured trousers came complete with brown knotted belt

Brogue + loafer =?

*Sadly not the new Jamie Oliver cookbook - at the moment that is only adding to the nausea feeling : (

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T20:51:00.006Z

Above: new year, new loot! Some gems from Christmas and January sales

Today started with such good intentions. After a whirlwind of Christmas and New Year celebrations (which always passes by so quickly doesn't it?) I decided I should sort my life out and freshen up for the new year. Cue manic tidying, multiple loads of washing and lots of ideas for revamping this blog and my other web projects.

All good in theory, but when I haven't been on 'blog watch' for a couple of weeks, I find a whole gallon of exciting posts I've missed, from some of my fave blogs, below. Now four hours later I have just about caught up but left very little in the way of time for my own posts!

It's been a very busy festive Ship-Shape season, what with Christmas stockings, January sales and the obligatory annual health kick (complete with new gym kit) so while I flex my fingers and start typing, why don't you check out some of the gems you might have missed over the festive season on my reading list...

Rock & Roll Bride - 2010 The Year That Was... Part One & Part Two - an extensive rock and roll round up of some of the best weddings/engagements/photo shoots of 2010 from one of my fave bridal blogs.
Bargainista Fashionista - Make it your own Christmas! - nowt to do with bargains but actually a gorgeous (and cheap) idea for an alternative wreath. This is so sweet I think you could have it up all year round...
IFB - Setting Blog Resolutions For The New Year - this time of year it can be tough to keep up the blogging momentum so this is a great read to reignite your passion for your blog and perhaps inspire you to create your own.
The Bristol Beauty Blog - The Beauty Diet Reboot for 2011 - An alternative diet for the year ahead - using up/getting rid of all those smellies and make-up bits and bobs that you never use!
Fashionising - Zoolander 2 on the way: rumormonger - by far and way my favourite rumour of the new year. Fact.

Merry Christmas from Ship-Shape!

2010-12-21T10:47:00.004Z

My MBTs have arrived! It’s not exactly the best weather for testing out new shoes but here they are in all their glory. More fitness related posts once I’ve tried them out and hit the January sales to update my rather shoddy gym wardrobe.

On a separate note, this is my last post before Christmas as I’ll be battling the elements and juggling presents in the snow between now and New Year, as I attempt to visit two families in five days with the help of public transport, eek! I hope you all have a lovely warm and merry Christmas and you have a safe trip if you have far to travel.

Merry Christmas!

Ship-Shape

xxx

Unleashing the animal within

2010-12-09T11:27:00.006Z

I’ve always been somewhat sceptical of the animal print trend. The line between chic (Kate Moss) and cheap (Paris Hilton) is dangerously thin, even if you only experiment with a flash of leopard print on your shoes or a whimsical scarf.

Also, for some inexplicable reason, I always thought blondes were the only ones who could pull of leopard print – perhaps I was guided by movie starlets and soap opera actors. Never the less I decided that this winter I would dip a toe in the murky waters of animal print and I was pleasantly surprised that not only did I like it, but it liked me back.

Originally I had intended to go subtle but, I blame the picture of a member of The Saturdays for stumbling out of a club and being papped and featured in Reveal magazine. Her leopard print dress (which turned out to be a playsuit but more on that later) with pearl button details and pronounced shoulders was actually from Primark, above.

At £13 it was the perfect way to try out the trend without breaking the bank and, by accident, I also ended up experimenting with another trend I’d shyed away from – playsuits. That’s what you get for grabbing the hanger off the rack and heading straight to the till instead of trying it on...

I'm saving the playsuit for the festive party season so for now you'll have to take my word for it that, despite the lack of hanger appeal, this is a really flattering garment and a great leap (in the right direction) into the world of animal print.

Weird Trend of The Month: two-tone hair

2010-11-28T18:42:00.005Z

There I was, browsing the pages of Look magazine on my lunch break and what did I come across but a luxurious looking fashion shoot featuring a model with striking, two-tone hair, above. Compare that to the barnet I’m sporting, below, and I think we could we could be twins no?

It’s strange really, because although I respect the fact that model looks stunning, with a gorgeous lean figure and strong features, her hair just makes me want to shout a tirade of abuse at the page. Surely the poor thing can’t be that out of pocket that she can’t at least by a packet of Garnier Nutrisse from Boots?

Alexa Chung and Drew Barrymore have being among the many celebs to road test this two-tone look in recent months but I'm pretty sure they can both afford to touch up their roots. I’d wager that I’ll have hair like that but look far less cool in approximately five months if I don’t book myself in for a haircut soon...

Above: My root-tastic hair and I on a night out, with my friend, A, looking not quite sober

Dispatches: Fashion's Dirty Secret

2010-11-15T20:25:00.006Z

I've just come back from a romantic trip to Venice and I was planning on putting up a few outfit posts and general holiday snaps but instead I thought I would write about what I'm currently watching, which is arguably more important than me prancing around in front of the Rialto bridge.

After getting back from the airport minus M, who has gone off on a business trip to Germany, I thought I would catch up on some telly when I came across Dispatches: Fashion's Dirty Secret. The documentary, which aired last week, investigates the working conditions in UK factories that supply the likes of New Look, Topshop and Peacocks (these links will take you to the ethical polices for each brand).

From what I'm seeing the main issues seem to be subcontracting within approved supply chains and while the point of the documentary is to be 'hard hitting', having seen documentaries like this before, I am not as shocked as I should be that this kind of labour is taking place in Britain.

Most savvy shoppers will have seen the likes of BBC Three's Blood, Sweat & T-Shirts and be aware that cut-price fashion can come at a cost. I wrote a post about cheap frills myself earlier this year and have become increasingly aware that in the fashion industry, words like 'ethical' and 'organic' are bounced around with little care.The shock factor with this film is that the long hours, poor working conditions and barely-there wages are happening to workers in Leicester.

Most of the brands approached for a comment either denied all knowledge of the work and/or agreed how it contravened their ethical trading policies. It's hard to love high street when a programme like this shoots down brands such as New Look, which I had always naively assumed was sounds its fashion responsibilities.

Take a look and see for yourself what the real cost of a £25 jumpsuit or Breton t-shirt is and have a read of Ethical Trading Initiative website where there are details on New Look's reaction and response to the film.

Don't Get Your Knickers in a Twist

2010-11-05T15:08:00.008Z

I opened a recent copy of Reveal magazine yesterday to be confronted by a pert looking bum in a pair of frilly tangerine coloured knickers. The headline ‘Knickers Can Improve Your Mood’ and the subsequent article made me, in the style of Carrie Bradshaw, begin to wonder... just how important underwear is to British women?

I’ll hold my hands up and say that as I read this I happened to be sporting some old, slightly sporty grey kickers with a mismatching pink and green bra. I couldn’t help but tug at the bottom of my skirt when the article revealed that a survey by Always found that 56.3% of us wear sexy underwear in a bid to feel more confident.

I for one am a big fan of decent underwear – quality cuts, soft fabric, matching sets and even clashing colours. I also believe that a decent pair of kinckers really can improve your mood – yesterday I was all over the place, late for work and generally a little down, which I blame on the aforementioned grey pants. As soon as I picked that pair out of my chest of drawers, I just knew my day wouldn't be as good as if I had plumped for the green and pink ruffled pair that matched my bra.

Now I'm not one for matching all the time - I happen to like clashing prints and colours - and what I wear on a day to day basis has nothing to do with what the boyfriend likes, but I do think most of us could do with an underwear overhaul. I recently wrote a post on owning too many clothes for Running in Heels and I think that wardrobe chaos, along with greying undies, can play havoc on your mood.

You may not believe me but I bet if you started every day opening your knicker draw to sets of fresh clean matching underwear you would have a smile on your face before you even sat down for breakfast.

Above: M&S underwear - proof that you don't need ruffles and lace to have great looking underwear

Regardless of your taste or budget, make time for your underwear and your life will be better for it. Get rid of anything with sagging elastic, moth holes or washed out - if you save these for laundry days then at least shell out a few quid on some cheap cotton knickers that fit well - try LaSenza, M&S or Toshop.

For the top draw stuff, and perhaps some Christmas stocking fillers, head to Harvey Nicks in Cabot Circus or Oyster:Me in Clifton, or try St Nicks Market for some handmade cheap frills.

This post shouldn't feel like a lecture, and if you don't think your underwear has any effect on your mood, confidence, sexiness or sass then pay no attention, but tomorrow morning pick your favourite pair. Throw on a matching bra and take solace in this; even if your mood doesn't improve, if you get hit by a bus you'll look fabulous... ; )

Welcome to the Garment Quarter

2010-11-02T09:37:00.010Z

Cabot Circus/Quakers Friars welcomed a new boutique to Penn Street last Thursday, in the form of Garment Quarter. My partner in crime and I were lucky enough to attend the launch party and have a natter with the masterminds of this high concept, service-with-a-smile designer boutique. Oh, and I'm now in lust with a pair of Vivienne Westwood 'Melissa' shoes...

I've been a bit naughty as I should have typed my ramblings on GQ up on Friday but instead I headed up to Doncaster to see some very dear friends - who don't have the internet. Coming from a city where I am hooked up to the net as if intravenously, I struggled with not having Google at my beck and call and developed some major withdrawal symptoms, especially on the train home yesterday when a businessman with a laptop sat next to me and started playing online Solitaire.

Anywho, I digress. The purpose of this post is to say what a genuinely lovely time we had on Thursday, and it has very little to do with the champagne and sushi we knocked back, and more to do with the lovely chaps behind Garment Quarter, who were kind enough to chat with us about their new retail empire.

As a former buyer for fashion franchise Herviea, owner John Reid decided to take his merry band of merry men south from Manchester to our very own Bristol. Drawn by the quirky sensibilities of the city and a gap in the market Garment Quarter was born. Cabot Circus was an obvious choice where the boutique is already proving to hold its own against the likes of Harvey Nichols, drawing in a wide range of customers it's first two weeks.

Ship-Shape had a natter with John and his colleague Patrick who told us why they think GQ will suit Bristol shoppers. "The focus is on providing individual, tailored service to all our customers. We're already seeing return customers and beginning to get to know and anticipate their needs for the coming seasons."

Although the boys have been working solidly on Garment Quarter since moving to Bristol a few weeks ago, they have still been able to squeeze in a little down time and experience Bristol's infamous nightlife. Both the boys have been pleasantly surprised at how welcoming the city's inhabitants have been; "I thought with Bristol being down South that the people would be a bit unfriendly" commented Patrick "but everyone we've met have been really nice and relaxed".

While S gave Patrick tips on the house music scene in Bristol, John gave me a hint of the kind of customers that have been frequenting the store. "The location is great and we've had lots of Saturday shoppers come in, as well as students and local footballers looking for something special. What we're offering is pretty unique to Bristol and with the range of labels there is something to suit everyone".

Naturally Vivienne Westwood's Red Label and Gold Label lines are present, as is Twenty8Twelve, Alexander McQueen (just men's underwear at present but hopefully more to follow) and emerging designers such as Ashley Marc Hovelle, who attended the launch.

Already there is talk of expansion and Patrick hinted that GQ could soon be setting up shop in neighbouring Bath. My fingers are crossed for John and the boys - all the stock in Garment Quarter has been handpicked and the focus is on individual care and customer service, something that while shine in its high street surroundings.

Garment Quarter, 25 Penn Street, Cabot Circus.

My partner in crime, S, and the lovely Patrick

Why hello, Melissa...

DJ, champagne and jelly shoes set the theme

Vivienne Westwood Red Label takes pride of place...

Bristol's best dressed men have been snapping up these plastic lilac loafers

If you go down to Leigh Woods today...

2010-10-25T15:52:00.005+01:00

...you would have been in for a big surprise. My friend C is currently taking a photography course and she decided that Leigh Woods would be the prefect destination for a quirky shoot.

That's why on Sunday afternoon I was hauling a bag of jewellery, masks and other such props through the woods along with C and several of her friends, dressed in capes, Sgt. Pepper style jackets and boating hats. We certainly raised a few eyebrows amongst the families, walkers and cyclists enjoying a quiet Sunday stroll.

I can't give away too much about the shoot as C was working with film and hasn't yet developed her photos but above is a Polaroid I took of the quirky characters enjoying a mad hatter style tea party.

It was a fab afternoon and fingers crossed there will be plenty more projects like this coming up in the future...

Bristol Street Chic with OSOYOU.com

2010-10-18T20:28:00.005+01:00

Bristol listen up. Your fair, fashionable city has been shortlisted as one of the style capitals of the UK on OSYOU.com. Obviously you and I know that Bristol is a fashion-forward city that could rival London or Manchester, and now we have a chance to prove it.

Last Thursday the folks behind high-street fashion website OSOYOU came to Cabot Circus to find and photograph the best of Bristol. Unfortunately, as they picked a weekday, I think they missed out on capturing many of Bristol's stylish residents but they did find some cracking shop workers and students, see below.

I particularly like Amie's look, above, with that gorgeous blush pink skirt and blouse combo - it's like the lovechild outfit of a prim and proper librarian and a rockabilly Gucci model. If you missed out on the event itself the fear not as you can still vote for your favourite Bristol gal to win, earning her some new threads and Bristol its rightful title of most stylish city.

You can go straight to the voting page for Bristol here. My money is on Amie but what does everyone else think?

Style History

2010-10-10T20:18:00.008+01:00

My (soon to be) in-laws have been having a belated spring clean of their house and garage recently, which resulted in several boxes of the boyfriend's belongings turning up at our flat, competing for floor space against books, furniture, bags and whatever else gets thrown on the floor when I walk through the door.

To cut a long story short, the boyfriend inherited the task of dealing with his grandparents house after they passed away a few years ago and so it was that we found ourselves on the living room floor, sorting through boxes of stuff he had decided to keep at the time. While he tackled military memorabilia, I was trusted with the task of trawling through 50 odd years of photographs.

As something of a photography fanatic, I was delighted to see everything from Polaroid snaps in the 70s to tiny, passport photo-size snaps from his grandparents in the 1940s. M's grandmother Christina used to be a model and the snaps that you can see here are ones her husband took of her throughout the years.

Above: M's grandmother Chris, third from the left

This was long before the age of digital photography and yet there were literally hundreds of images like this of Chris posing on holiday, outside their home and with her friends. There were shots of her taking part in modelling competitions and on holiday in a kaftan Ossie Clark would be proud of.

One of the things I love about fashion, blogging in particular, is how important street style and different sub-cultures have become. Outfit posts are so common these days and while there are some blogs out there that excel at this (The Satorialist and What Katie Wore, for example) there are also many bloggers out there that deliver half-hearted attempts. I include myself in this majority, which is why you won't often see me posing in my new threads.

However, when I look at all the images of what were effectively outfit posts for a different generation, I am inspired by the relationship between subject and shooter. Some shots are candid, some staged but in each Chris has that glamorous appeal that I associate with this era.

Fresh faced but with immaculate hair, fitted outfits and simple accessories, these images could appear on any vintage fashion blog today. Although fashions and models of camera changed over the course of 50 years, her knack of style and her husband's love of photographing her remained the same.

I wish I could have been around to experience such important decades of fashion and photographic developments but for now I'll settle for seeing them through the lens of M's grandfather.

Prairie chic at Peacocks

2010-10-07T08:53:00.009+01:00

I spent the afternoon with S in Broadmead and Cabot Circus, searching in vain for a decent pair of brogues to take my feet from summer to autumn and yet again I drew a blank. I did however, stumble across this delightful black dress, above, in the Peacocks sale.

With ruched puffball sleeves and a scallop hemline it isn't perhaps the most practical of purchases I could have made in October but I just couldn't resist. The scallop details and rose embroidery are very well finished and the shape - is very Little House on the Prairie. If I had found this £10 gem a couple of months ago it would have been worn with bare legs and gladiator sandals but I reckon it will look equally good with some opaque black tights and my new boots.

I also managed to sedate my current appetite for shoes by grabbing a new pair of ankle boots. Both previous pairs I had (gold moon boots and red Superman-style affairs) had more holes that Swiss cheese so as painful as it was, it was time to let go. The new pair are far more sturdy, with decent soles, a slight heel and chocolate brown leather - a fr more versatile than pillar box red or gold!

No picture unfortunately as my flat is a tip at the moment and you can hardly hang boots in front of a window now can you? So instead, her is a close up of the scalloped neckline and embroidery detail on the bust of my prairie chic dress...

The Wan and Only...

2010-09-28T09:12:00.011+01:00

Due to other commitments I couldn't make it to the Fashion Weekender - the 2nd birthday celebrations of Cabot Circus - as mentioned last week, which I was gutted about as it meant missing out on a one-on-one chat with style guru Gok Wan.

Since rising to fame as the presenter of How to Look Good Naked in 2006, Gok has helped a nation of women overcome their fashion fears with encouragement, a pally approach and plenty of flattering underwear to boot. While some women I know aren't fans of his 'Aunty Gok' approach - the boyfriend is convinced he is straight and just camping it up as an excuse to feel up women - I think his approach is fantastic and far more forgiving than some other TV stylists I could mention (Trinny and Susannah, I'm looking at you).

Although I couldn't make it to see Gok in person, the lovely folks at Cabot Circus took the liberty of asking him a few questions on his style secrets and what he really thinks every fashionista should own...

Q. What is your greatest fashion indulgence?

A. My collection of vintage trainers and my favourite second hand leather jacket.

Q. What is your life’s motto?

A. It’s not what you know, it’s what you know when you know it!

Q. Best shopping experience?

A. They’re all great! I love to shop and I really feel my hard work and dedication has made me King of the Tills!

Q. What do you love about fashion?

A. It’s power to transform both your appearance and your mood.

Q. What are your favourite words or phrases?

A. Probably ‘gorgeous’ and ‘bangers’!

Q. What one item of clothing makes all women look good?

A. Every woman should own a little black dress - it's a timeless classic but it must suit you.

Q. What's the best thing for smoothing out lumps and bumps?

A. Good underwear!

Q. What is the best style advice you give to women?

A. Get your foundations right. You cannot dress anything unless what's underneath is all in the right proportion.

Q. Which celebrity's style do you admire the most?

A. I think SJP* is consistent and I also like what Florence from Florence + The Machine is doing

*Sadly I think the answer to this question applies to the other SJP... ;)

Something for the weekend... Gok Wan does Bristol

2010-09-20T11:33:00.005+01:00

Channel 4's saviour of style Gok Wan is coming to Bristol this weekend to help Cabot Circus celebrate their second birthday. As part of the Fashion Weekender, Gok will be presenting catwalk shows in Cabot Circus on Saturday 25th September, while the fun continues on Sunday with catwalk shows from Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser.

The shows will preview the latest A/W 10 looks including animal prints, aviation and military, above, and there will of course be plenty of discounts and competitions on offer from participating stores too.

Cabot Circus has put Bristol on the map as one of the best shopping destinations in the South West and is the icing on the cake of Bristol's independent labels and boutiques. Speaking to Cabot Circus bigwigs last week Gok commented: “Since the opening of Cabot Circus Bristol now boasts the best shopping in the South West with an amazing mix of high-street and designer brands. Bristol has a very unique style – it’s urban, edgy and cool. I can’t wait to see what Bristol has to offer on 25^th September!”

Hopefully Gok will have time in his busy schedule to check out the other essential Bristol fashion destinations that give Bristol it's 'urban, edgy and cool' style. Unfortunately Ship-Shape wont be covering the event due to other fashionable commitments in Cardiff so make sure you get down there and check out the trends and tips for yourself!

All the Fashion Weekender events are free and the catwalk shows kick off at 11am on Saturday.

To get more information and find out how you could win a personal styling session with Gok visit www.cabotcircus.com.

Push: style without substance

2010-09-08T22:19:00.015+01:00

For a while now I have seen some fast-paced fashion ads cropping up on Five's younger, cooler sister channel Fiver (where I get my regular fix of Aussie soap heaven) for new reality drama Push, and this afternoon I finally caved and watched the first episode on YouTube.

Before I divulge my own opinions on this series about a fashion writer trying to make it in London, let me give you a little background info. Lydia Harrison is a blonde twenty-something with a penchant for Topshop and her fashion blog, Style Push.

Lydia has made the move from Glasgow to make it big in the fashion world, dreaming of a job on a glossy magazine such as ELLE. She is currently living with her ice cold cousin Chloe, has a Scottish gay best friend Alex (who has also moved to London) and has left behind a Scottish rogue who cheated on her and broke her heart.

Set in trendy North East London, the show is described as a reality drama, whereby the main characters are played by actors but the assignments that Lydia takes on (writing for ELLEuk.com and Models 1) and the fashion industry insiders she meets along the way are very real.

Above: Lydia wearing Topshop, YSL and Beyond Retro from episode 3

I'm guessing, from the 'edgy' adverts, late night slot and mix of reality and scripted drama I've seen in the first couple of episodes, that the makers were going for mix of The Hills and Sex & The City, set in the gritty yet glamorous streets of London.

Combining real fashion industry brands, publications, websites and Lydia's very own fashion blog is a very canny move - brands get publication and advertising while the interactive nature of a blog and Twitter account involve the reader. The lovely people at Fiver have even complied soundtracks and a lookbook for each episode.

The pesky little weak point is that the show itself is, for want of a better word, a bit shit. The plots are unbelievable, the script is stilted and stale and describing the actors as 'wooden' is me being polite. The conversation doesn't flow, the scenarios feel beyond contrived and even the backdrop of Shoreditch and Covent Garden does little to save the show. After only two episodes (I had to give it a fair chance after all) I feel like I know where the storyline is heading and the fact that after a week in London the main character already has an in at ELLEuk.com is a little far-fetched.

Push is a fantastic piece of marketing for all involved, except perhaps for the actors, but it falls flat as the primary function of an entertaining, gripping drama. The producers have clearly gone for style over substance and other than the closet candy worn by Lydia and Chloe, there is very little worth tuning in for.

Push, Wednesdays at 11.25pm, on Fiver

Consumed by Clothes

2010-09-06T20:31:00.006+01:00

Sometimes I wonder why I write about certain topics and other times I feel like I was born to put pen to paper, or fingers to the keyboard as is more often the case. My current article for Running in Heels is a mix of the two. I know I'm happy writing about clothes (God knows I have enough) but this time I took on the topic of what to do when you have too many clothes.

Just like the fictional Rebecca Bloomwood of the Shopaholics novels, who is something of a hypocrite when it comes to lectureing others on their finances, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel hypocritical giving advice on how to manage under a mountain of clothes.

Now don't get me wrong, I do try very hard to keep my closet in check but it isn't easy and takes discipline. Especially when my wardrobe isn't big enough to cope with my shopping addiction. I fully believe that even with Carrie Bradshaw's ridiculous wardrobe from the SATC movie I would still struggle to fit in all my bags, shoes and dress. However, one really must practice what one preaches so if you'll excuse me I need to tidy up my chest of drawers...

Style Crush: Katy Perry

2010-08-24T21:35:00.005+01:00

I have a guilty secret. I have a girl crush. I've tried to fight it and be strong but the cupcake bra was the final straw - I have a style crush on Katy Perry.

It hasn't always been this way though, honest! I distinctly remember despising 'I Kissed a Girl' so much that I wanted throw my radio out the window whenever I heard it. I warmed up a little when I saw the video for 'Waking Up in Vegas' and by the time there was that appearance at the Met Costume Institute Gala, in a dress so wacky it required a battery pack, I was smitten.

Skintight American flag dresses, 50s pin-up, heck, the girl even makes geek chic look good, though I don't think hubby to be Russell Brand would agree, below.

Katy shows off her geeky side on Twitter

What I like about Perry is the way she has fun with what she wears. Sure there is a whole load of concept behind the costumes and props in her videos but, unlike a certain Lady Gaga, you know that Perry will switch this off when she nips out to buy a pint of milk.

Tongue in cheek with the ability to poke fun at herself and fashion, Perry is a fresh alternative to serious pop and takes 'sugary pop' to a new level in her new video for 'California Gurls'. The cupcake bra was the icing on the cake and while I don't think I'll be busting out in a superhero outfits any time soon, Ms Perry has won my heart in the style stakes.

California Gurl images courtesy of Starcasm.net

London Yardies

2010-08-22T18:40:00.010+01:00

I've just gotten back from a fantastic weekend catching up with friends in London and am exhausted! Perhaps the numerous bottles of wine the night before trekking across London for the bloggers Yard Sale this morning wasn't the best idea, but it was worth it in the end.

For some reason I was expecting a tiny yard with a queue stretching round the block and Susie standing at the entrance with a clipboard. Fortunately it was a breeze to find, a huge space and although there were a few skirmishes to get at the rails, the crowds were few, especially when we first arrived.

All the stall holders were lovely and there were some great buys on offer but Susie's trestle tables definitely had the most items and the best prices, and this is where I found a gorgeous tan leather doctors bag and a blue cotton 'House on the Prairie' style dress, all for the bargainous price of a fiver! My London pal Polly found a gorgeous printed scarf and top after rummaging around in the bottom of a suitcase so we came away happy, though without a hot dog as the BBQ was undergoing some technical problems...

[Edit] Thanks so much to the lovely Susie Bubble for hosting the event, you can read her synopsis of the event and have a gander at some fab photos by reading her Yard Sale post here.

Fashionable follies fight over Susie's treasures

London's best dressed also raided the rails of Frou Frou and Style Slicker

My £3 vintage blue dress...

... which goes rather nicely with my label-less £2 leather doctors bag (vintage scarf added by moi)

Something for the weekend... Quakers Friars

2010-08-19T10:19:00.005+01:00

I know I'm going to feel old just writing this but when I was younger all we had to entertain ourselves during the summer holidays was running around on the beach and going to the local park. Fast-forward to the summer of 2010 and Bristol's youngsters can learn to designer their own clothes, try their hand at photography and attend journalism workshops!

Magazine Live! Is a five day event that kicked off at Quakers Friars in Cabot Circus on Wednesday and promise to educate and entertain creative kids aged 5-11. Events will be focused around a different theme each day and booking is not required so this would be a perfect event to take the kids to if they are no longer satisfied by making Rice Krispie cakes or helping around the house...

Magazine Live! is the first event of its kind and will give children a chance to express their creativity and explore beyond what they learn at school. A magazine will be produced across the course of the event by the participating children and there will also be a catwalk show too.

Events like this are a fantastic way of showing children how they can be creative and perhaps in fifteen years time the Next Big Thing in blogging or fashion design might be up on a podium reminiscing about their first foray into fashion...

Magazine Live! takes place at Quakers Friars until Sunday 22nd August. All events are free. For more info check out the Cabot Circus website.

[Edit: Photos added Aug 20th]

Style Bubble Yard Sale

2010-08-11T22:38:00.004+01:00

This is happening in London on the exact weekend that I will be visiting the big smoke. Cannot contain myself and not even a hangover or tube closure will get in the way of attending this - one for your diaries if you're a Londoner... Check out what Susie has to say on the event and get all the info you need here.

What a Goldmine!

2010-08-01T21:26:00.006+01:00

In the words of Austin Power's Goldmember, 'I like gooooold...' I also like treasure and bargains galore so I was excited to attend the opening of Stokes Croft's very own Gold Mine. The brainchild of those clever Dutty Girls on Cheltenham Road, Goldmine is a pop-up vintage boutique that is taking over the old motorcycle show room on Stokes Croft for a couple of months.

The not-for-profit venture will see proceeds go towards fashion and music workshops for the women of Bristol. All the clothes and accessories are a uniform price, ranging between £8 for boots and up to £15 for jackets, which makes a nice change from the overpriced stock in many of Bristol's vintage emporiums.

For tonight's launch I took along partner-in-crime Amy B to see what all the fuss was about and, glass of wine in hand, raided the rails. There were some fab find including a couple tapestry bags and a Laura Ashley dress that I had my eye on, while Amy found a couple of long granny style printed skirts that looked great on her - being able to pull of an elasticated waist with aplomb is truly a gift!

The party was in full swing when we got there, with a female DJ on the decks and wine and beer being consumed like water outside. From the looks of things it was the male species that were outside drinking, while their female counterparts were inside looking for buried treasures. There were a couple of fashion-forward men checking out the menswear (limited but good quality) but most of the shoppers were after dresses, jewellery and everything else in between.

Although I came away empty handed (apart from a glass of white wine and a choccy biscuit) I was pleased to see a wide selection of vintage on offer at good price. Despite the urban edge in Shop Dutty there was a wide variety of styles and genres covered and I will definitely be popping back before Gold Mine closes its doors in October.

The Gold Mine will be open seven days a week until mid October so pop down and bag yourself a bargain. For more info check out their Facebook page.

There is plenty of room in this old motorcycle showroom

As the party went on into the night vintage lovers, and I suspect long suffering boyfriends, made a beeline for outside

I fell in love with this black sheep jumper but sadly it was a little too itchy for me!

Gorgeous leather boots of bargain bucket prices

Mmm... shotgun a jammy dodger!

Some things for the weekend...

2010-07-31T15:40:00.008+01:00

I have been so busy with my new freelance gig that I have had hardly anytime to blog about the fashions of Bristol of late, let alone go out and experience them for myself, so apologies for the sporadic posting of the last couple of weeks.

Anywho, there are plenty of exciting fashionable happenings taking place this weekend including the epic Bristol Harbour Festival. OK, while not exactly fashion related it will immerse the centre of Bristol with live music, local produce and plenty of warm cider. There are fireworks, sailor caps worn in a ironic way and lots and lots of boats, decked out in colourful flags and bunting. Celebrations kicked off last night and will continue across the weekend so grab your friends and a picnic blanket and head down.

Next up is Motel. Originally only a Bristol brand, you can now find the iconic prints and simple body-con dresses across the country in Topshop, Republic and House of Fraser to name but a few. Luckily for us Bristol-based girls their flagship store on Park Street is getting a makeover which has resulted in a pop-up shop opening up across the road next Cooshti! The shop opened its doors on Monday and will be selling stock at ridiculously cheap prices and till the old store re-opens in mid August. For more info check out the Facebook event, here.

Finally, if you have any energy left this weekend then you should hot-foot it down to Stokes Croft for the opening of a brand new vintage store, above. The brains behind Dutty Girl are launching Goldmine tomorrow night, and opening to the public on Monday. Running till mid October, you have but weeks to get your hands on cheap-as-chips bags, retro t-shirts and 80s jumpers. The location of choice is Central Reservation, once a motorcycle showroom, this huge space is now used for exhibitions and promotion of the visual arts. Goldmine will be open seven days a week so there is no excuse not to pop in and bag yourself a bargain.

Victoria Topping: One to Watch

2010-07-29T22:10:00.007+01:00

Slightly off topic but I recently had the pleasure of interviewing the amazing digital illustrator Victoria Topping for Crack magazine. Although a little nervous, Victoria was a pleasure to interview and I was struck by the beauty of her illustrations. Working only on her precious Mac Victoria uses her love of disco and wallpaper patterns to create complex drawings built up of layers, textures and shapes.

Victoria has already had one fashion collaboration with Donuts (of Perry Road) but there will be more in the pipeline over the next few months so if you like her stuff as much as I do then keep an eye out on her website for more info.

You can read the full interview when Crack is out next week but to find out where you can get your hands on a piece of digital art check out her Facebook page here.

Why I Heart Anna Piaggi

2010-07-22T20:18:00.009+01:00

Anna Piaggi, photographed by David Baily for Another Magazine, courtesy of the V&A

I recently started writing for a fantastic website called Running in Heels and my first article for them was published today. RIH is a pan-European website for women 'with brains as well as style', set up in March 2009. Politics and culture have an equal footing with fashion and beauty and the site is a refreshing alternative to many of its celeb-following, relationship driven competitors. The lovely editor Alice just happened to have a profile of Anna Piaggi that needed writing so I jumped at the chance to wax lyrical about one of Italy's greatest exports.

If you haven't heard of Piaggi then obviously you should check out my profile of her for RIH here but, in brief, she is a whirlwind of colour and enthusiasm that has inspired the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and Manolo Blahnik to name but a few, can still rock a front row despite being comfortably into her 80s and has provided visual inspiration to her native Italian Vogue for the last thirty years.

The Running In Heels website

When I first had the epiphany that I wanted to be a journalist, Piaggi was one of the first topics I covered. Her Fashion-ology exhibition at the V&A back in 2006 showed me just what a fashion writer could look like, though I'm sure I've never seen another fashion creative come close to her in terms of style, flare or passion.

The article I wrote was a review of this exhibition, which appeared on a folded piece of A4 around my campus which was our creative alternative to the student newspaper. I still have a copy of it somewhere, where my little review sits in between a crossword and a page of creative writing.

At the time I had only just rediscovered my passion for writing and was attempting to turn it into a degree. I approached local magazines and publications for work experience and ended up becoming the fashion columnist for a magazine that I am still writing for, four years later.

My profile of an Iconic Fashionista...

I still have the exhibition catalogue for Piaggi's exhibition carefully tucked away on a bookshelf as a reminder of my first piece, and my first piece of inspiration as a fashion journalist. Whenever I see a picture of her front row antics I think back to the time I walked up the stairs into her exhibition, loosing my student self in her lavish costumes, treasured furniture and enigmatic magazine spreads.

Piaggi is a true fashion icon and will provide you with inspiration no matter what your vocation so do some research, read her books and just enjoy the visual feasts that she has provided over the last forty years...

Cox & Baloney store open for business!

2010-07-18T21:32:00.011+01:00

Cheltenham Road's latest addition has finally opened! Cox & Baloney have made the move from their stall at Woolies Indoor Market on Whiteladies Road to their shiny new boutique. It is no secret that I'm a big fan of this vintage emporium and first championed Cox & Baloney when I discovered their stall back in April.

I knew then that Amy Cox and Joney Lyons were looking to move to their own premises and was delighted when I found out that it would be on Cheltenham Road. Nestled between the independent shops and boutiques of Gloucester Road and the high street stores of the city centre, Cox & Baloney are in a great spot for passing people traffic yet far enough away from the competition to put their own unique stamp on the area.

But the new store is much more than just frilly frocks and girlie gladrags. There are three distinct areas spread over two floors covering menswear, literature, womenswear and cups of tea. When I popped in to the official launch party yesterday I was surprised to walk in and find book lined shelves and a small counter full of homemade cakes with barely a vintage dress in sight.

This is because Amy and Joney have joined forces with Richard, owner of The Mighty Miniature Bookspace, who owned the stall next to Cox & Baloney at Woolies. So close did the neighbours become that when Cox & Baloney decided to head to pastures new, they bought Richard and his mighty collection of pre-loved annuals and Penguin Classics along to their new store. Richard rents the space and says of the venture; "lots of bookstores have closed recently and you need to find new ways to make it work. At Woolies people just didn't seem to be interested but here in the the last week people have been popping in, wanting to know what's going on. Our collaboration seemed natural as our styles fit well together"

This collaboration is a canny move as the shop is no longer just a place to browse the rails but now acts as a meeting place, a library and chance to have a cuppa and cake. And plans don't stop there. Joney let slip that before long they plan to open the back room in the basement and fill it with sewing machines "to rent out for an hour to encourage people to customise their own clothes". This little workshop will no doubt prove to be a hive of creativity and will be yet another string to Cox & Baloney's very full bow.

The clothing still takes pride of place at the back of the store and has a quirky, girlie feel reminiscent of the old stall while the basement houses the menswear and feels like a study or den - with old leather trunks, rails of tweed jackets and 70s suits.

Currently only open on Saturdays the girls hope to have the shop up and running three or four days a week in the near future. I can't wait to see this boutique progress and be sure to look out for updates from Ship-Shape, and at the Cox & Baloney Facebook page here.

The front of the store is perfect for a spot of tea, a spot of reading or a slice of cake

A huge dresser showcases vintage crockery, cake stands and fabrics at the back of the store

I want that one... some great accessories and a stunning 50s prom skirt are on my wish list

Why have Ikea book shelves when you can have typewriters and wooden creates instead?

A selection of jewellery and vintage crockery courtesy of Bristol Vintage

Men are not left out with their own den downstairs, complete with deck shoes and old annuals

Opening Tomorrow...

2010-07-13T23:59:00.005+01:00

Bristol is all Whistles and Balony

2010-07-12T20:35:00.010+01:00

With all this depressing economical nonsense going on it is great to see two new stores opening in Bristol this week, both at completely opposite ends of the fashionable scales.

The first is Whistles, which is coming to Park Street this week, taking the place of the cheap and cheerful shoe shop Jade. The curved glass windows of the listed building will be perfect for showing off the surprisingly cutting edge fashions that Whistles now offers, see S/S 10 below.

When I was younger I remember Whistles as being one of those grown up brands that could only be worn by career women of a certain age but I have been pleasantly surprised by their last few seasons. This revamp is thanks to Jane Shepherdson, the former Brand Director of Topshop, who took Whistles under her wing in 2008 and reinvented it as a fashion-forward brand for chic essentials and one-off pieces.

I'm not sure when exactly the store is opening but I do know it will retain the character and original period features that make it such a beauty to look at - more info as and when I have it.

The second shop to be opening it's doors this week is a Ship-Shape favourite. I loved Cox & Baloney from the moment I saw it in Woolies market, below, which you can read all about here. So successful was their stall at the indoor market that the owners made the leap to go solo in their own store, situated on Cheltenham Road, near Colston Girls School.

The store actually opened its doors for trading on Saturday but will be having an official launch party this Saturday, 17th July, and will be full of vintage and reworked treasures plus lots of new and exciting collaborations. Owners Amy & Joney really made the space at Woolies their own and although there have been a few sneak peek photos of the new store I can't wait to see it in the flesh and no doubt bag myself a bargain to boot!

St Paul's Carnival

2010-07-05T15:52:00.011+01:00

Ah, what a weekend! Those of you that live outside of Bristol may not have heard of St Paul's Carnival but it is an annual event that has taken place in the area of St Paul's since the 60's. Celebrating Afrikan and Caribbean culture, all the local schools and businesses come together for a parade that brings color and life to the streets.

Locals and visitors alike line the streets to watch, dance and eat copious amounts of jerk chicken, all washed down with a can of Red Stripe. As an area St Paul's doesn't have the best of reputations and for 364 days of the year the streets are quiet but that all changes in July when everyone and their grandma comes out to celebrate.

This community event signals the start of summer for many Bristolians and the costumes of the parade are one of my personal highlights. The carnival is a place where you are sure to bump into old friends and make new ones, where everyone is friendly and the smell of community spirit is in the air. If you missed the event or would like to volunteer your support for next year's carnival then be sure to check out the official website, above, or the carnival Facebook group.

I took a few snaps of the fantastic costumes, below, but to see more pictures from past events click here.

Emily Blunt's fashion forward film

2010-07-02T14:15:00.007+01:00

British actress Emily Blunt has be a guilty pleasure of mine since I first laid eyes on her in The Devil Wears Prada a couple of years ago. She is a fine actress and often ends up with some fantastic costumes to wear on screen, her latest film being no exception.

I went to see Wild Target before Glastonbury but haven't had the chance to blog about it till now. Given its British credentials and Bill Nighy and Rupert Grint staring alongside Blunt, I would have thought the film would have received a greater fanfare from the national press. Regardless, from the first comedy caper style trailer my boyfriend and I were hooked. He likes Emily Blunt too but I don't think it has much to do with her clothes...

Image courtesy of snitchseeker.com

The film centres around a con artist (Blunt) and the hitman hired to bump her off (Nighy), with Ron Weasely hanging around for good measure. As film begins Blunt appears, riding a vintage bicycle complete with wicker basket, in a red coat and fabulous red heeled brogues. From this point onwards she appears in some stunningly beautiful outfits and manages to look stylish even while on the run.

Costume Designer Sheena Napier was in charge of putting together Blunt's look, which included pieces from the high street. Yumi Clothing supplied the red coat, mentioned above, and a black 'Hela' dress seen at the start of the film. With a Yumi store on Clifton Triangle you can replicate the look yourself for the streets of Bristol.

Due to the lack of positive press surrounding this film there is very little information out there about Blunt's wardrobe, which has a sense of downplayed glamour and edginess to it that really does magnify the 'London style'. A combination of leather, silk, sequins and (fake) furs are layered together to create a unique look that Blunt works to her advantage as a enigmatic thief.

Colourful shoes and tights carry the look and despite her groomed hair and make-up the look never feels over done. I wish I knew where this outfit, above, is from though - the combination of beaten up leather jacket and canary yellow skater skirt are pure edgy perfection. Want, want, want!

Life begins at 40...

2010-06-30T21:18:00.005+01:00

... or so it would seem for Glastonbury. This year was the festival's 40th birthday bash and I had the delight not only of attending but also working for Worthy FM, the official Glastonbury Festival radio station.

I loved every minute and although I didn't have much time to blog while I was there, I did note a few festival fashion do's and don'ts...

Do... bring footwear for every occasion. This year we experienced something of a heatwave. Add to this that not a drop of rain fell for the WHOLE festival and you begin to question why there were folks traipsing around in their wellies.

Don't... walk around with bare feet. That is just taking it too far...

Do... sport your floral garlands with pride - these head pieces are cute, feminine and are guaranteed to bring out your inner hippy. Avoid floaty florals though, and instead toughen up with denim and monochrome.

Don't... think that by shaving a small chunk of your hair of a la Alice Dellal you will transform into a supermodel and socialite too. The amount of girls I saw with this undercut look was depressing and surely will only lead to your gran suffering from a mild heart attack the next time she sees you.

Do... bring a bikini. Be it swimming in the mud or bathing in the sun, this practical piece of kit will come in handy on countless occasions.

Don't... forget the sun lotion. Burnt flesh is never a good look and will haunt you forever in your post-festival photographs.

Do... have fun with your look. Festivals are about fun, adventure, friends and the occasional spot of music. Who cares what you look like in your charity shop sailors hat or clashing patterns? So long as you're having fun and you're comfortable that is all that matters.

Wax On, Wax Off

2010-06-15T16:24:00.009+01:00

I still remember the first Barbour jacket my father bought, an investment for taking our dogs for long walks along the river behind our house: the starchy, waxed cotton, the oily smell and the injection of country into an otherwise jean-heavy wardrobe.

Now waxed cotton jackets are enjoying a surge in interest in the female market, thanks to the likes of Lily, Peaches and Alexa, below, sporting the look at British festivals.

Alexa works a Barbour and Breton combo at Vfest. Image courtesy of Clareification

It is not hard to see the appeal of a decent waxed jacket for such an occasion - festivals can be a messy, muddy business and what better to survive than with a garment that is waterproof, mud proof and could probably pass for a picnic blanket in times of need. I have been hankering for such a jacket for a while now and as Glastonbury is fast approaching I thought I would see if I could hunt one down.

The Barbour brand is over 100 years old, British born and bred and a staple piece in the wardrobes of farmers, land owners and country bumpkins across the land. I can't quite afford the price tag for a brand new jacket so I went to the next best place; RePsycho on Gloucester Road.

As predicted this retro/vintage store came up trumps with a large selection of well-loved (read:battered) wax jackets including a decent selection of original Barbour's for £40. Many of these were traditional men's jackets which just swamped me but this label-less women's jacket, below, I ended up with more than does the job, and was a snip at £30.

Though not a Barbour, it is in great condition, has a gorgeous paisley lining and actually vaguely fits me. It is a little big but I think this just adds to the twist of pairing such a masculine garment with floaty, romantic dresses.

I'll have more on festival fashion and what to pack later in the week but for now I'll leave you with photos of my lovely new wax jacket...

The buttons have a bird on them but other than this there is no indication of the make of the jacket

The paisley lining picks out the warmth of the chocolate brown leather collar

Damsel in 'dis Dress

2010-06-08T17:43:00.005+01:00

Well, if I'm honest this post has not turned out the way I thought it would, namely because I didn't think my dress would be holding me hostage! But before I get into my wardrobe mishap, I should probably start at the beginning...

This lovely white and yellow floral print dress with cut out detail is something I've had my eye on since spotting it on the web a few weeks ago. I love the cut, the print and the heart detail and whats more, this dress was advertised at just £22. Not from Primark or similar, but from the F+F collection at Tesco, of all places!

I very rarely buy any clothes from supermarket collections, mainly because I don't live within any stores large enough but also because I've never really rated the designs or quality. However in recent months I have been pleasantly surprised at the caliber of deigns coming from F+F and George by Asda. The major brands seem to have really embraced S/S 10 trends and there have been some very slick designs, particularly in the summer dress department.

This floral number had been in the back of my mind so I was delighted when I spotted it last night on a late night visit to Tesco. In a true 'meant to be' moment, there was just one left in my size. After quickly trying it on I was sold and hurried to the till before anyone else spotted my find. Naturally I thought it would be perfect for an outfit post, which brings you up to speed with where I am, sat on the sofa and stuck in my dress.

That's right, stuck. After taking a few snaps, see below, I went to change out of the dress and found the (supermarket quality) zip was stuck and would not budge. After being laughed at by the boyfriend via Skype, I've been forced to wait until he gets back from work to rescue me...

Graduate Fashion Week

2010-06-04T13:55:00.004+01:00

For every fashion student there is a pinnacle event that signifies the end of your degree and three years of hard work, blood, sweat and (quite often) tears; Graduate Fashion Week.

Now in it's 19th year, GFW is still the best place to see emerging British talent and put your fledgling brand on the fashion map. As always Bristol's University of the West of England (UWE) will be sending their best designs down the runway, including Amber Hards' creations, below.

Amber, along with fellow UWE student Vanessa Harris, has been shortlisted for the Fashion Innovation Award which is sponsored by Hammerson, the owners of Bristol's very own fashion behemoth, Cabot Circus.

The award is aimed at students who take a more 'cutting edge' approach to their designs and Amber made the cut by creating a knitwear collection inspired by the form and movement of jellyfish. Intricate methods and hooking techniques combined with innovative yarns secured a place on the shortlist and this is not the first time that UWE students have made an impression at GFW.

Above: Sketches show the intricacy of Hards' knitwear designs

In 2007 UWE graduate Nick Thomas won the River Island Gold Award for his knitwear collection and in 2005 UWE alumni Jess Noy won the same award for her deconstructed denim collection.

The event itself attracts plenty of press attention and with schools such as Central St Martins taking part, some shows are sold out weeks in advance - the likes of Christopher Kane and the late Alexander McQueen have had their graduate collections snapped up off the back of GFW and the shows are truly inspiring for students and industry insiders alike.

Graduate Fashion Week runs from 6th - 10th June at Earls Court and the UWE show takes place at 7pm on Sunday. For more information and tickets click here.

The Best Things In Life Are Free

2010-06-01T11:50:00.006+01:00

This is just a quick post to comment on the little surprises that life can throw you. As I was walking up to my friend F's house in Bishopston I noticed a bunch of magazines and CDs sitting on the wall of a front garden with a sign saying 'please help yourself x'. I don't know how long the unwanted bits and bobs had been there but by the time I walked passed there were still a handful of Vogues from 2002/3 and, as luck would have it, the current issue of ELLE!

While I could have easily swiped up most of the magazines I thought I would stick with ELLE as it is current and has some fantastic summer fashion features, cooing over my find the rest of the way.

So often magazines and newspapers are chucked in the recycling bin (which is of course far better than just chucking them away) but this was a really sweet way of de-cluttering and recycling at the same time. Will have to think of this next time I'm forced to part with my own fashion magazines...

Clothes Swap treasures

2010-05-24T17:24:00.007+01:00

Apologies for the slacking that has occurred recently - a freelance project has been taking up a lot of my time and when I'm not working the weather has just been too damn lovely to stay inside and blog!

I thought it was about time that I showed off the treasures I found at last weekend's Freakin' Fashion Fair Yeah, using the gorgeous afternoon sunlight as a backdrop. First up is the fantastically kitsch print dress which I think, if the polyester count is anything to go by, is from the 70s. It has a couple of stains and a funky smell to it but is looking much better after a gentle wash.

At present the length is down to my calves, making me look like a midget so I'm planning on chopping off a few inches and using the cut-off as a headband.

Next up is this green woolen shrug from Topshop. This kind of shape isn't normally my thing but I was drawn to the colour and the random lace patterns, which look rather similar to my own haphazard knitting samples from my time at university.

The jury is still out on this grey wool round neck jumper from French Connection. There is beading around the neckline and seams which I don't particularly like but it does fit well and is the perfect shade of grey.

I will take some more photos once I've styled each piece up and done a little tweaking...

All the fun of The Fair

2010-05-16T22:53:00.007+01:00

What a weekend - yesterday I not only scored some bargains at the Freakin' Fashion Fair Yeah, but also found a wedding dress the same day (though not at the same event). More on the dress later but here are a few snaps taken from the fair.

Bunting makes everything better. Fact.

A beautiful selection of vintage beaded bags and a vanity set

Raiding the rails - the clothes swap was a little slow to start with but picked up by the afternoon

The sun was shining at Hamilton House, where the fashionable fair was held

My friend Amy B found a lovely cream dress, originally from Urban Outfitters, for £6 and an awesome vintage white bag for a fiver. A little rough a round the edges, the bag redeemed itself by having lots of little compartments and pockets, perfect for all the highly necessary items us girls carry around with us on a daily basis.

I found some fantastic pieces in the Clothes Swap upstairs, exchanging a vintage blouse, Primark dress and handkerchief skirt for a grey French Connection round neck jumper, a dusty green knit cardie from Topshop and a fantastic vintage polyester floral dress.

The floral pattern is a tiny cluster of purple and blue cornflowers repeated all over the dress. There are pleats running from an empire line. At present it is too long and in need of a wash but after I've taken some Persil and a pair of scissors to it I'll post some pictures.

Fix Up Look Sharp: The Freakin' Fashion Fair is in town

2010-05-12T14:56:00.005+01:00

These graphics kind of say everything that needs to be said but let me just add that The Freakin' Fashion Fair Yeah is going to be a fantastic event for a fantastic cause. The Malawi Education Project has already benefited from a previous Fash Pack event back in December and although the event is free, all donations will go towards this charity.

Independent fashion gets a well deserved shout out and if whether you're interested in supporting local designers, charity projects or just fancy buying a new outfit - head down to Hamilton House this Saturday.

Doors are open from 11am till 6pm so get down there with old clothes you want to swap or breathe new life into, chill out with a cuppa and get your freak on. For more information from the Facebook page click here.

A little bit of charity...

2010-05-10T20:30:00.006+01:00

I love, love, love the charity shops of Bristol but of course there are always hits and misses wherever you look. I've often overlooked the small St Peters Hospice on Gloucester Road, as it is only a few doors down from the huge Marie Curie store, which is always full of treasures for the home.

But on Friday I wandered past and thought I'd just have a peek. Straight away I clapped eyes on this gorgeous creamy white blazer, below. Nautical double pockets with a navy trim, perfect gold buttons and a decent fit, for the price of £6 I couldn't resist! Nautical is what i consider a 'safe' trend in that most people can pull it off, and I always look forward to spring when I can dust off the navy jacket and striped Breton tees. This blazer will complement the look perfectly and has quelled my desire for yet another boyfriend blazer.

So, that was the hit, but what about the miss? Well that would be this African print tunic, below. I can't even tell you why I like it as it is not normally my thing at all, but I was drawn like a moth to the flame when i saw it. The shop assistant looked slightly concerned when I said I wanted to try on both items, so i quickly pointed out that it would not be in one go!

The tunic is extra large so the plan is to team it with a thin platted brown belt and some slouchy brown boots for a perfect festival cover-up. These two items couldn't be more different but that is just the way my wardrobe is - full of contradictions.

The Fash Pack presents... The Freakin' Fashion Fair Yeah

2010-05-04T15:52:00.002+01:00

On Saturday 15th May Bristol's fashionable forces will once again be joining together for another Fash Pack event.

The last time these ladies put on an event I was out of the country so I'm looking forward to The Freakin' Fashion Fair Yeah, their second shindig which once again is all in the name of charity. Hamilton House is their venue of choice and activities include *large inhale of breath* badge making, book swapping, face painting, charity shopping, tea drinking, cake eating and a one-stop customisation spot - all for free!

Once again the Fash Pack are looking for volunteers to help out on the day, as well as anyone who can spare their old clothes or pitch a stall. For more information check out their Facebook page for the event here. More info from Ship-Shape as and when it arrives...

Links a la Mode

2010-05-03T12:37:00.001+01:00

When Fashion Gets Ethical

Edited by Retrochick

The ethics of Fashion can be a blurry area. With so much to think about when we buy, from construction to provenance, how can we pick our way through such a minefield of issues and emerge with our ethics intact?

We all have a duty as consumers to be as informed as possible about the purchases we make, and this weeks Links à la Mode can help. Amongst this weeks picks Fashion in My Eyes talks about locally made fashion, Style Eyes discusses Organic Cotton, Hello Beauty buys some recycled sneakers, Oranges and Apples sorts the wheat from the chaff in second hand clothing and Shrimp Salad Circus brings you natural make up.

Once your done being educated we also have a good smattering of fashion frivolity to be getting on with too, and there’s even more on the original forum thread!

Links à la Mode : April 29

Avant Garb – Dedicated Follower Fashion grills Sandra Mendoza-Daly of Debutante Clothing

Betsey J – Why do we feel it’s necessary to financially compete with our fellow bloggers? Is it really worth it?

Dramatis Personae – Interview with Indie Designer Ureshii– fabulous made-to-fit clothes for the modern gal!

fashion in my eyes – Made in… Buying for the label

Glossary – Fashion 101: Back to Basics

hello beauty! – my new eco-sneakers, which are basically a jumble of hemp, recycled plastic bottles and car tires…

House in Tillford – Fur isn’t fashion! My rantings about fur

Idiosyncratic Style – Swoon-worthy Spring runway trends

Independent Fashion Bloggers – How to Contribute Articles to a Blog or Magazine

La Moda Dubai – Photoshop isn’t the only to manipulate a photo

Le Quaintrelle – Outfits inspired by Michael Kors Resort 2010 collection with pieces out of my own closet.

Mystery Creature – Look great for a sleek and sophisticated summer wedding with these 1930’s inspired wedding dresses

Oranges and Apples – Taste and secondhand clothing: sorting the wheat from the chaff

Out Of Order – Interview with Marisa of New Dress a Day

Retro Chick – The Lost Art of Dressing Up

Return to Sender – Little black dresses for the FATshionista.

Ship-shape and Bristol Fashion – These days knock-off trends are common place but is cheap fashion still a taboo?

Shoe A Day – How does fashion fit into Earth Day?

Shrimp Salad Circus – Get high-fashion makeup looks for less with all-natural, afforadable handmade mineral versions!

Style Eyes Fashion Blog – Organic clothing – should I bother?

Style Symmetry – 5 Days of Symmetry Challenge ~ Wear a 100% Vintage Outfit

The Coveted – Why Say Never? Chambray Jumpsuit & Clogs

When Ship-Shape met... ELLE's Natalie Wansborough-Jones

2010-04-30T10:02:00.010+01:00

As promised, here is my interview with ELLE's Senior Fashion Editor Natalie Wansborough-Jones, who was in Bristol on Thursday to promote ELLE's new competition, Shopgirl to Stylist.

Nestled in the corner of French Connection in Quakers Friars, we chatted about the influence of shop assistants, the must-read fashion blogs of the moment and style tips for S/S 2010...

SSBF: So Natalie, could you tell us a bit more about the concept behind the Shopgirl to Stylist competition?

NW-J: Our editor, Lorraine, went to New York and basically in New York there’s this whole big thing with shop assistants there – they are almost like celebrities there so she absorbed this kind of power.

The high street is very important to Elle. It’s all very well us shooting high-end designers like YSL, which I don’t actually think is affordable to everyone at the moment, but there are really strong mid-range and high street brands out there so its important to us to push that. I guess that all kind of mixed together to inspire us to find a great shop girl on the high street that wants to be a stylist and give them the opportunity to do that.

SSBF: There is so much information and inspiration available to consumers now, such as window displays, magazine spreads etc. How do you think shopgirls and guys have an influence in the way people dress?

NW-J: I think its not just in the shop either, I think that what is fantastic now is that, and I’m already starting to see developments having only been to French Connection in Bristol and Whistles in London so far, is that the people that work in these shops already have their own identity.

The Whistles girls all looked so incredibly chic, obviously dressed in Whistles, and the French Connection gang here are really, really cool, and they all have this identity, almost like its affiliated to their shop. Whether we find that regionally, I’m not too sure yet but seeing them out on the streets, they are almost setting a trend – I think that’s very true of the Topshop staff in London, they’re all almost part of a little gang in a way and they’re literally pioneering what [clothes] they have in the shop by simply being out and about in it themselves.

I’m constantly impressed by young people that I see on the street that put together high street in a really intelligent and cool way. I look at them and think ‘that’s amazing’, and I absorb that information and it influences me. I think as an outside thing it draws people into the store that can take inspiration from [the shop staff].

Above: Natalie critiques an outfit put together by French Connection staff

SSBF: There are many websites and blogs out there, such as ELLEuk.com and The Satorialist, which focus on street style and real people. What do you think of those kinds of blogs, ‘cause to me it feels like a revolution, making people a lot more aware what they put on their backs…

NW-J: I think you’re totally right, I think its fantastic. I actually just did a shoot with Garance Doré, who I think is a fantastic blogger and not only was she really cool to shoot with because her perspective, the way she looks at things is really new to us in a sense: its not a very controlled studio environment necessarily, it’s a bit more free, a bit more natural. We had many, many chats about fashion and she’s looking at it from a really intelligent point of view, not necessarily having this enormous background, she almost fell into it in a way and she’s and incredibly talented illustrator.

She has all of this going about and I think actually yeah you’re right – [bloggers] are pioneering a new moment in fashion for us and I think that’s why people are really recognising them and giving them a fashion status so to speak; Dolce & Gabbana putting them in the front row at their show for example. ELLE actually used Scott (Schuman, of The Satorialist) for a photo shoot a few years ago, before my time there, but this has been happening for a while and now its suddenly exploded and its almost like they have a certain amount of respectability.

SSBF: I guess that ties in with the Shopgirl to Stylist competition in that very few of the numerous fashion and style bloggers out there are in the business – they might have previously been in the business or are aspiring to get into the business but many of them have just fallen into it because they love fashion and now they’re seen themselves as fashion icons in a way. Do you have any particular websites or blogs that you like reading?

NW-J: Garance’s blog, I love her blog, Scott’s blog – I love his work too… I have to say I love the Purple blog by Olivier Zahm – I get huge pleasure out of looking at that – those are the three that my main focus is on.

SSBF: Do you have any favourite stylists?

NW-J: I do, I think that Melanie Ward is a fantastic, hugely influential stylist, I think Jane Howe was a massive stylist when I started assisting, I mean, she was the one who I found huge inspiration from. I think there are some amazing, hugely iconic stylists out there.

SSBF: Thanks to two universities Bristol has a huge population of students, many of whom will be graduating this year – do you have any tips on how they can break into the fashion industry?

NW-J: Perseverance; do as much work experience as you can. Every job for me, climbing the ladder to where I am now, has been through working for free and being in the right place at the right time but doing as much work experience as possible I know its hard when you’re not always being paid but do as much experience as you can and hopefully you’ll just get that moment when someone wants to employ you then it all sort of goes from there.

SSBF: So, so much of it can come down to timing then?

NW-J: It does, and that’s why this competition is so fantastic actually because to give you an indication, I will probably start to get CVs and applications on my desk around January from people asking me for internships and we don’t even start to look at anything till July. So you can imagine the amount of applications we get and a lot of them just get filed away unless there’s something like ‘friend of a friend’ situation, which does happen.

So with this competition the winner is being fast-tracked right to the front of that enormous queue and even if you enter and don’t necessarily win, you still get the chance to come and be with us in the office and spend some time with us. So to have that connection – if people come back to us in two years we’ll know who you are - and I think its simply being able to put a face to a name is really helpful and not just reading a CV that gets filed away somewhere.

SSBF: One final question: what would your best tip for Spring/Summer 2010 be for ELLE girls on a budget? Is there one particular piece or trend that they should look out for?

NW-J: I think keep it simple and keep it chic. There’s definitely a sort of French feel in the air so I’d have to say a really great trench coat.

Thanks so much to Natalie for the interview, the lovely staff at French Connection and Arabella from Talk PR for contributing to this interview.

Bristol launch for ELLE's Shopgirl to Stylist competition

2010-04-28T11:00:00.008+01:00

The winning team: French Connection staff with judge and Senior Fashion Editor Natalie Wansborough-Jones

Ship-Shape had an early start this morning, arriving at French Connection in Quakers Friars at 9am for the launch of ELLE magazine's styling competition Shopgirl to Stylist.

'Fashion's answer to the x-Factor' was launched at the beginning of March but over the next four weeks the ELLE team are hitting the high streets of the UK to promote the competition, which would see the winner receiving a coveted six month internship at ELLE HQ in London. This morning was a chance for Bristol to flex it's fashion muscles as French Connection staff were given the challenge of styling a mannequin in a S/S 10 trend using items from the shop floor.

The team's efforts were judged by ELLE's Senior Fashion Editor Natalie Wansborough-Jones, who was on hand to offer style tips and to encourage shopgirls - and boys - to enter the unique competition. Today the three teams came up with festival, floral and city chic looks and speaking of the winning team, pictured above, Wansborough-Jones applauded the use of accessories and said the look was "very ELLE".

Wannabe stylists have until 4th June 2010 to send in their entries to the website, where readers can comment on and 'love' their favourite looks. After that the finalists will have the opportunity to be mentored by by ELLE's infamous Fashion Director, Anne-Marie Curtis before the winner is announced in the October 25th anniversary issue of ELLE. So what are you waiting for? If you're aged 18 or over and currently work for a fashion retailer then send in your entries and represent Bristol while you're at it! For more details on how to apply and to see all the entries click here.

Ship-Shape was lucky enough to interview Natalie Wansborough-Jones about this competition, life as a stylist and the fashion blogs she can't live without so keep your eyes peeled for the post, coming shortly.

French Connection in Quakers Friars, where the event took place

Staff team up to put together a S/S 10 look for the styling competition

A team dresses their mannequin in a bid to win an ELLE subscription for a year

Senior Fashion Editor Natalie Wansborough-Jones tweeting from the store

A Load of Cox & Baloney

2010-04-27T21:56:00.004+01:00

This afternoon I paid a visit to Whiteladies Road to investigate a vintage boutique that has been on my brain for weeks. I first picked up a Cox & Baloney flyer at a launch party for Crack magazine, then when M and I went out for dinner with some friends last night the name cropped up again on a flyer for a vintage event at the Thali Cafe. Despite the boutique having been up and running for five months I never quite got round to visiting but I simply couldn't wait any longer so went to take a peek at the store, located inside Woolies Indoor Market.

This bizarre market used to be a Woolworths (RIP) so I was surprised that inside it was full of entrepreneurs selling everything from pies and coffee to soft furnishings and books. Wandering towards the back of the market a sign helpfully pointed me towards the stairs which took me to Cox & Baloney, and I felt like I had stumbled back in time.

Leather trunks, retro lampshades, tweed jackets and geometric 70s prints were just some of the gems I noticed as I ventured in to the boutique which had been lovingly decorated with kitch flower garlands and grand gold framed mirrors. I fell in love with some 'reworked' Laura Ashley dresses and a carpet bag but sensibly, perhaps somewhat too sensibly, left my credit card at home.

Co-owner and vintage enthusiast Joney Lyons mans the till

However this did give me the opportunity to chat to shop gal on duty and co-owner of Cox & Baloney, Joney Lyons, above. Joney was kind enough to fill be in on her transition from working in the production office of the BBC to running her own vintage empire, along with friend Amy Cox. Tired of working on projects such as Lark Rise To Candleford and Hollyoaks, the girls teamed up to create Cox & Baloney, a vintage boutique focused on recycling and "putting something back" into the community.

Cox & Baloney source many of their vintage finds locally, encouraging customers to bring in unwanted garments in exchange for a share of the profits. "People bring stuff in and sometimes we buy it from them or otherwise we'll split the profit, or give [the item] back if we can't sell it" says Joney, "this way locals get to make some money and recycle their old clothes".

As a customer comes up to the counter to pay for her black suede fringe boots I finger through the rail of vintage dresses and soak up the charming atmosphere. Soon Joney and I are back to chatting about fashion in general and how trends look to the past for inspiration. "Why go out and buy brand new when there are so many fantastic originals? We're giving granny clothes a new life again."

With all the vintage treasures on offer I'm inclined to agree - every piece in this boutique no doubt has a story behind it which is more than can be said for a brand new Topshop denim jacket. The clothes and accessories in Cox & Baloney are competitively priced, even cheaper than what some high street retailers charge so this hidden gem is worth checking out. The lovely ladies also attend regular vintage fairs such as Gimme Shelter at The Lanes and for a list of all upcoming events check out their Facebook page.

Trunks, suitcases and hat stands all help to display gorgeous vintage treasures

Table linens and cloths have been carefully folded and displayed

A display of shoes, fabric scraps and vintage buttons: swoon!

A deliciously tacky carpet bag - Mary Poppins and River Island would be proud...

Funky furniture creates a cosy space within which to rummage

Vintage dresses from the last four decades

The indoor market boasts more than just boutiques, including cafes, book stalls and a Pieminister!

Calling All Students!

2010-04-26T17:33:00.005+01:00

The loans are in, exams are looming and Spring/Summer trends have hit the high street so take a break from the books and head down to Cabot Circus for this Thursday's student evening.

Ah, university. The three year ride of discounts, student nights and blagging as much stuff for free as possible. Yes, I do remember staying up till 6am to finish a project, high on Pro Plus and surviving on chocolate digestives, but come on - all the parties, discounts and shopping sprees made it worthwhile. Come to think of it, I probably wouldn't have been up until 6am, high on Pro Plus and surviving on chocolate digestives if I hadn't gone to all the parties, or used my discounts on numerous shopping sprees but that's another matter...

Cabot Circus was still a building site when I was at uni and although this meant missing out on events like these, I think my bank manager was pretty grateful! But now Bristol's most fashionable footpaths are becoming student paradise from 4-8pm on the 28th as discounts, goodie bags, nibbles and live music take over Cabot Circus and Quaker's Friar.

Participating stores include A Wear, American Apparel, Warehouse and Urban Outfitters so just bring along your student ID and enjoy. If you're strapped for cash then look out for plenty of freebies from Rituals, Tampopo and and G Star.

Cabot Circus Student Night, Thursday 28th April, 4-8pm.

Click here for more information.

Knock-Off Fashion

2010-04-22T10:19:00.007+01:00

Today I finally met The Magazine Man. I don't want to get him in trouble, but for those that don't know, Magazine Man loiterers around the Bear Pit at the bottom of Stokes Croft, selling magazines at suspiciously cheap prices to passers by.

Previously only a rumor and subject of speculation, I was skeptical as to whether or not such a man existed. M and some other friends have told me about this vendor, as they are well aware of how magazines, fashion magazines in particular, are like crack to me. At the moment I'm forced to buy various publications on rotation each month, but if I had my way I would hold subscriptions to just about every glossy going.

So, when I heard about this mythical creature selling discounted magazines I was curious to say the least. And sure enough, alongside the likes of More and Reveal, there they were; Marie Claire, Grazia, Look and Elle. But Magazine Man was not the man I had pictured in my fantasies - no top hat, no jolly expression, no shouting 'roll up, roll up!' or handing out balloons to small children. In his place was a scruffy, shifty eyed tramp, who was obviously not selling these magazines because he was morally outraged at their RRP.

My eyes lingered over the titles as he slid up to me to let me know his latest deals. I didn't have any cash on me but decided to walk away anyway, unable to get my head around why I hadn't pounced on those glossy fashion bibles. He wasn't there when I came back after meeting S and when I mentioned my reluctance to purchase, she came out with a surprisingly truthful comment; "We buy knock-off fashion all the time" she said, "buying a cheap fashion magazine is no different from shopping for cheap fashion at Primark".

Like most girls I know my wardrobe is 50% cheap-as-chips fashion, 50% God-bless-the-credit-card fashion

This got me thinking about knock-off fashion and it's place in society. Knowingly buying fake designer goods is different from a splurge in shops like Primark but while not exactly a taboo any more, cheap clothes still come with a hefty price tag. Mass production, dodgy labour and production, excessive spending and increased textile waste are all a result of our desire to have the latest catwalk imitation right now.

In recent years documentaries such as Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts have highlighted how little most British consumers know about where their cheap-as-chips fashion comes from. Thanks to the spotlight on climate change retailers are starting to introduce ethically friendly policies and the recession has almost certainly been a factor in the increase of attendance at sewing workshops and vintage fairs. But there is still an obsession with catwalk copies at knock-off prices and I don't see this changing any time soon.

So how can you look achingly on trend without breaking the bank or contributing to child labour? Simple: do your research, make do and mend instead of throwing away perfectly good clothes, shop at vintage stores/jumble sales/charity shops and have a go at making your own clothes - you might be surprised at how satisfying it is once you get past managing to thread a needle without pricking yourself to death.

For more information about ethical fashion on the high street check out the Ethical Fashion Forum and for details of Primark's ethical trading initiative click here.

Cabot Circus Spring/Summer Show pt. 2

2010-04-17T10:34:00.006+01:00

Here are a few more snaps from the Spring/Summer fashion show at Cabot Circus yesterday, take on my Canon 450D and the good old point and shoot Olympus Tough, thanks to Amy B.

'Boho Chic' is no longer about floaty skirts and earth colours, as Urban Outfitters shows.

A white polka dot dress from James Lakeland is perfect for summer. Image courtesy of Amy B.

Denim shorts are updated with boyfriend blazers and boater hats.

The sun and blue skies accessorise the 'Mid America' line dancing. Image courtesy of Amy B.

Ship-Shape loves nautical from River Island and Wallis. Image courtesy of Amy B.

Strike a pose: Military vogue from House of Fraser.

A model dances her way through the double denim look. Image courtesy of Amy B.

Towering heels and short hemlines courtesy of A Wear, Ted Baker and Jones.

Cabot Circus Spring/Summer pt. 1

2010-04-16T17:33:00.012+01:00

The fashion season has well and truly hit Bristol and this weekend is the turn of Cabot Circus to show us what we should be wearing this Spring. And Spring has well and truly sprung as shoppers crowed into the sunlit centre of Cabot - with a ceiling of blue skies lighting up the bright white catwalk outside House of Fraser.

After the success of their anniversary catwalk show in September, the fashionable brains at Cabot enlisted the help of stylist Ricky Partner to create the two shows that will rotate across the next two days, while choreographer Vicki Jackson ensured the models had the necessary moves to wow the crowds.

With scenes such as 'floral', 'mid America' and 'Italian Riviera' there were many trends to get through to what perhaps could have been one hour long show was split into two shorter segments, advertised as Show A and Show B. My stylish stallholder chum Amy accompanied me to Show A and we were treated to the best nautical, floral and boho chic looks from the likes of Ted Baker, A Wear, Urban Outfitters and River Island.

Men, women and kids were catered for, as were the diverse clientele of shoppers. I'm a bit of a sucker for the nautical trend which ticked all the boxes but I was pleasantly surprised at the 'Boho Chic' scene from Urban Outfitters, New Look and Dorothy Perkins. I was expecting the maxi skirts and off-shoulder tops circa 2004 but this new take on Sienna Miller's favourite fallback was refreshingly modern, with plenty of denim and boyfriend blazers thrown in for good measure.

The 'Mid America' and denim scenes were rather bland and could have benefited from more diversity and accessories but the geek chic scene was spot on, with heavy, black rimmed glasses and nervous, awkward expressions to compliment the buttoned up shirts and prim blouses.

This season Cabot Circus have gone for quality over quantity and while merging both shows might have been a little too long for the average shopper, it would have been great to see more trends per show without having to come back at a later time. However this did give us the opportunity to explore more of the offers and talks within the 'fashion and beauty playground' in neighbouring Quakers Friars.

If you want to be part of the action then head down today or tomorrow for catwalk shows, competitions and talks - all for free! For more info and show times, click here.

Nautical but nice: models show of their moves in this season's cream and navy combo

The men were kept in the loop with the 'Mid America' look from Guess, Republic and Urban Outfitters

Bold colours and patterns characterise the floral trend, courtesy of Monsoon and Ted Baker

Clear blue skies provide the perfect accompaniment to the florals scene

Urban Outfitters show how to do the new 'Boho Chic' with cut-off denim, floral prints and leather ankle boots

Models get the double denim treatment from Zara, Next, Reiss and Dorothy Perkins

Peaches and cream: 'Beauty and the Geek' for guys and girls. Accessorise with heavy black rimmed glasses

Ted Baker, Fred Perry and A Wear tackle geek chic with checked shirts and demure blouses

Military looks by House of Fraser

When Ship-Shape Met Sketchbook...

2010-04-15T22:07:00.008+01:00

I've just come back from a fantastically sunny day trip to London, and have managed to fit in plenty of stylish sightseeing in, as well as enjoying a girls day out with some old friends. Sights to see included a trip to Selfridges for the The Girls, Paper Eaters exhibition and the 'for sale' wall by Supermarket Sarah.

First stop though, was a visit to the pop-up 'shop' by Sketchbook Magazine for a talk by Amelia Gregory. Amelia is the creator of the visual feast that is Amelia's Magazine, a bi-annual publication that ran in print from 2004 to 2009, and now takes the form of a website and blog.

Sketchbook are in week three of a four week run of lectures, workshops, sample sales and exhibitions, in their shop just off Carnaby Street. This week the exhibition was the cover illustrations by the gifted John-Paul Thurlow, whose work featured on the most recent cover of Sketchbook - The Fashion Blogger Issue.

As we were ushered downstairs to take our seats I felt all eyes were assessing the competition: the young, fashionable elite have been attending talks like this and with our leather jackets and chunky knit jumpers, we are all competing for a place in the fashion magazine industry.

After everyone had taken their seats Amelia introduced herself and talked at length and speed about the history of Amelia's Magazine and her ideas for the future. She provided tips on how to get ahead within the magazine and business industries and inspired everyone with the answers to her questions (though unfortunately it seems well placed connections are the be-all and end-all in this industry).

After wondering around Carnaby Street and taking an obligatory trip to the haberdashery department in Libertys, I took a trip to Selefridges to see the Paper Eaters exhibition. Andrea Blood and Zoe Sinclair are The Girls, the artistic duo behind the exhibition, The Paper Eaters: Long Live The Photo-Story! and they have covered Selfridges Ultralounge in homage to paper. Old typewriters, paper lanterns, neon pink netting and paper dolls adorned the the walls and as I wondered through the maze of magazines and hanging installations an editorial meeting was taking place.

It felt like the whole city was alive with creativity and style today and as we rounded the trip off with a trip to Portobello Market I couldn't help craving one of the little coloured terraced houses to call home. The quirky jewelery, vintage and antique shops could easily swallow up a month's wages and the chilled out vibe was the perfect accompaniment to a summery afternoon. I wish my trips to London were so few and far between but know that now I'm home I'll have to take solace in the colourful terraced houses of Bristol, and of course the cider, which really is the perfect accompaniment to a sunny afternoon!

Something for the weekend...

2010-04-12T13:04:00.007+01:00

This weekend sees the return of the Cabot Circus Fashion Show which I had the fortune of attending last September. The host of events taking place throughout Cabot and Quakers Friar are free to all visitors, with competitions, makeovers and catwalk shows taking place across Friday 16th and Saturday 17th April.

Cabot Circus has only been open for 18 months but it has already made its mark on the South West fashion scene, with high profile stores such as Harvey Nichols, American Apparel and Kurt Geiger taking their place alongside the usual high street suspects such as Oasis, Next, Topshop and House of Fraser.

The A/W anniversary show was fantastic fun and I'll be taking my new camera down to capture the action. If you're still unsure of what you should be wearing this Spring or just fancy a fun afternoon and lots of discounts and goodies then check out the Cabot Circus website for show times and details. To read the Ship-Shape post on the last Cabot Circus show then click here.

Birthday Treat

2010-04-08T00:56:00.006+01:00

My 25th birthday is coming up and this Saturday I'm going to a electro-swing/jazz/circus/burlesque night at The Island which, once upon a time, used to be an old fire station in Broadmead. The night promises to be full of fishnets and top hats and as an early birthday present M has treated me to a new dress for the occasion.

This cream lace shift dress comes from A Wear, a fantastic brand that started in Ireland and is now at Cabot Circus. Some items can be a bit hit and miss but there are some hidden gems such as this dress, that always draw me in to the store.

As well as black fishnet stockings and gold tap shoes, I'll be pairing the dress with an over-sized black bow necklace from American brand Hot Topic, and a black tux with tails from Topshop Boutique, circa 2008.

Fashion: The years that time remembered

2010-04-05T12:30:00.005+01:00

I find there is something rather fascinating about the humble pound shop (just go with me on this one). The peculiar gadgets, the oddball clientele and the sheer volume of products one can purchase for £1. OK so more often than not most of the stuff is rubbish but occasionally, if you look hard enough, you'll come across a little gem in the entertainment section.

At the weekend I found this Cosmopolitan annual type book and I've found it hard to put down! The Best of Cosmopolitan: The 70s & 80s, apparently £15.99 in most good bookshops, is and archive of British Cosmo, from its early days where Micheal Parkinson was considered something of a sex god, to the fashions that time really should have forgot.

Whats worse is that so many of these obvious fashion faux pah's are now seemingly familiar; the skater skirt, the harem pants and oh, the leggings - American Apparel must get a lot of their inspiration from relics like this!

Fashion of the 80's: Emanuel, Liberty and Anna Beltrao

Apparently the 80's was the era of the TCM: the Truly Caring Male

There is only one thing worse than an orange jumpsuit and that's Vidal Sassoon as a Naked Centrefold! (Be grateful I've spared your eyes...)

A feature on New York's famous roller disco, The Roxy

Ding Dong!

2010-03-31T21:05:00.006+01:00

Just a quickie as I'm currently in Bournemouth with the Ship-Shape clan but thought I would post this picture of me in a certain white dress. It is not The One but I have had fun trying on dresses with Mother of The Bride today. This number is a lot more traditional than I thought I would go for but I'm loving the huge flower corsage on the hip.

Bristol Fashion Week pt. 2

2010-03-29T19:22:00.007+01:00

After a memory card drama and some cyberspace transfer thingy that I still don't entirely understand, I'm now in possession of some more cracking photos pf Bristol Fashion Week. Images are courtesy of my partner in crime for the day, who accompanied me to Thursday's show at Cribbs. Below are some of her best shots...

The Jane Norman black lace and power pink collection that had us divided

Lady Gaga headgear and graphic prints on the Next models

Dorothy Perkins culottes - swoon!

Polka dots, navy and cream - lovely!

Prim and proper detailing in monochrome for John Lewis

The men get suited and booted by Cecil Gee

Futuristic prints and robotic moves from the Next models

Bristol Fashion Week pt. 1

2010-03-25T18:23:00.018Z

What a day! I've just come back from an afternoon at Bristol Fashion Week at Cribbs Causeway, which started today amid the heavy rain and wind. In case you were wondering, BFW is the bi-annual fashion event that showcases what all us Bristolians should be wearing over the coming months, that takes place at The Mall at Cribbs, running from today until Sunday 28th March.

Expecting just another Spring/Summer fashion show my partner in crime and I were delighted to fit in a whole day of activities including a free foundation consultation, info on what colours suit us and a goodie bag packed full of discounts to use in the Mall.

The nibbles and bucks fizz, courtesy of Marks & Spencer, soon made up for my soaking wet hair and damp clothes and we soon found ourselves in the hands of GMTV's Mark Heyes and Andrew Barton who hosted the show. Matching monochrome suits and self-promotion aside, these dandy gents provided the entertainment between scenes and even attempted to master the underwear as outwear look - with humorous results.

John Lewis kicked off the event and, along with fellow BFW sponsor Marks & Spencer showed strong collections that could compete with some of the younger brands. Acid pink tights, bright prints and rather exciting scallop edged coat from Jersie were on the agenda in the first half while the department store giant later showed off with a Sex And The City inspired take on florals and tailoring.

Marks & Spencer attempted a literal take on the underwear as outerwear look with mixed results but their nautical and ladylike dresses (think navy, sailor red and lots of polka dots) were a hit in the second half of the show.

Menswear and childrenswear were also catered for, with the likes of Bank, River Island and USC representing military and double denim trends.

The late Alexander McQueen received a tribute from the presenters and Bad Romance by Lady Gaga pumped out from the speakers as digital prints from Next strutted down the runway. The bright colours, figure hugging silhouettes and stylized head-gear made an impact as the models danced in a jerky, robot style, faces covered by yards of black netting that Gareth Pugh would be proud of. I was surprised by how moving the scene was and the late British designer's essence was clear to see in the futuristic, graphic prints, bold colours and use of trip-inducing accessories.

Dorothy Perkins were also a surprise hit, bringing back not only culottes but navy and white polka dot culottes! The outfits were nautical, quirky and terribly girly, and have succeeded in making me covet a pair of navy blue culottes, oh, and maybe a floral pair too... but I digress. Fashions from Karen Millen were graphic blocks of monochrome with hints of electric blue, with tailoring inspired by the infamous Herve Leger bandage dresses.

The black lace and powder pink collection from Jane Norman had myself and my fashionable friend divided - mini pink trench coats and black lace 'bodies' were Parisian chic in one corner and more French maid in the other.

Before we knew it the show was over but we managed to entertain ourselves for the rest of the afternoon, armed with our goodie bags and a renewed sense of anticipation for Spring/Summer 2010 collections. We even had a colour consultancy and make up tutorials but more on that later. I won't divulge too much only to write that apparently my must-have colour is, shudder, coral...

There are a few photos below but I'll post some more once my memory card reader has stopped conspiring against me.

Tickets can be yours for less than a tenner so if you would like more information about tickets and show times, please see The Mall website. Shows run throughout the weekend and the event end on 28th March.

Andrew and Mark introduce the show

Marks & Spencer with a literal take on the underwear as outerwear trend

More Marks & Spencer, working ladylike tailoring and nautical polka dots

Competition winner Barbra after her M&S makeover

Body con corsets and leather from Marks & Spencer

Next pays homage to Alexander McQueen with digital prints

Menswear goes military at River Island

La Senza teamed up with USC for the double denim trend

GMTV's Ness works polka dots on the catwalk

John Lewis come over all Sex And The City in the second half of the show

Lust Have: A Telephone Headpiece a la Lady Gaga

2010-03-22T12:36:00.007Z

I just saw the much talked about Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce 'Telephone' video for the first time and am now wishing this kind of headwear was more common, but then maybe it would be less fun? While the video was packed with a staggering amount of costume changes and props by Gaga favourites Jeremy Scott and Jean de Castelbajac it was a retro baby blue telephone that stole my heart.

The (and I use this term loosely) hat is by Fred Butler, the fantastically eccentric prop designer cum accessories genius who has created head pieces, jewellery and body adornments for everyone from Patrick Wolf to Skunk Anansie. After working for set designer Shona Heath after graduating from Brighton University, Butler set out on a one woman mission to cover the globe in quirky, colourful and out of this world designs.

If you like what you see and want to know more then head to the Fred Butler website.

Company High-Street Edit

2010-03-18T14:40:00.007Z

One of the reasons I love the blogsphere and the internet in general is that news, ideas and opinions get passed around like Chinese whispers; more often than not something starts out with one meaning and by the end of the game it has a totally new one.

Blogs are so subjective and as a reader one can pick and choose what pieces of information to retain, what posts to comment on and what links to click. As something of a magazine junkie it didn't take much persuasion from a post by Disney Roller Girl to convince me to go out and buy Company High-Street Edit, the new bi-annual fashion bible from Company magazine that focuses on all the trends hitting the high street over the coming months.

I walked on by the first time I saw this title peeking out at me from the shelves of the corner shop, dismissing it as another Elle Collections, or Vogue Catwalk pull-out but if I had only flicked through the pages I would have scooped it up with my Monster Much and headed straight for the till. DRG has written a great post on the High-Street Edit so I'll focus my attention on the design of the magazine, which I think sets it apart from its rivals.

Firstly, the choice of typeface; courier, aerial and label maker. This combination of edgy, contemporary, if slightly over used fonts with traditional sans-serif makes for a fresh, youthful look, perfect as Company is aimed at twenty-something women. The black text is offset against white backgrounds and cut out shapes of garments, key words are underlined and white boxes allow text and images to stand out against the page.

The matt, grainy paper (possibly recycled but unlikely) only adds to the concept of the magazine; this is not just a catalogue of seasonal looks from the catwalk there are interviews with top fashion bloggers, features about the wearability of the latest trends and tips on how to customise garments to update your look. Ripped edges and backgrounds of lined paper, fabric and newsprint should look cliche but don't. Instead they turn a fashion magazine into a great piece of design.

After the recent house move I had to make difficult choices about what magazines I would keep and what, sob, I would cull so it is great to have found a title for the permanent collection. Fashion and magazines are two addictions I'm happy to have and I look forward to seeing the next issue in September. If you want to get your hands on a copy then head down to your local newsagent now!

Images are layered with ripped edges and enhanced by the juxtaposition of straight lines

Collages of text and images give the blogger interview a scrapbook feel

Pages vary from simple and graphic like the spread above, to textured and busy below

Lace, gingham, newsprint and illustrated backgrounds don't over crowd the information

Blog of The Week: Mademoiselle Robot

2010-03-17T16:43:00.008Z

This week's Blog of The Week has been pressing my fashionable buttons since I discovered it a couple of days ago. The name Mademoiselle Robot has been rattling around in my subconscious for some time now, which is no surprise since the blog and its creator, Laetitia Wajnapel, have featured in The Telegraph, Company, Drapers and Asos to name but a few since the blog's inception.

But I finally got round to checking it out on Monday afternoon (when I should have been working, tsk!) and I think it has struck the perfect balance between blog and website, with different categories for everything from outfit posts, beauty tutorials, interviews and interiors.

Not content with just a fashion blog, Laetitia also runs a styling consultancy and runs a blog dedicated to cute animals, specifically puppies, kittens and bunnies (seriously). Hailing from Paris but now living and working in London, Laetitia writes witty, friendly prose that makes me think she would make not only an excellent shopping partner in crime but also a great laugh over a bottle of wine (an essential quality in my book).

Not only are there the usual outfit post but also 'Innerspace' where Laetitia has snooped round some super stylised homes, which goes to show that fashion is not only about the clothes you wear on your back. There are also interesting posts about her daily routine and the loves and likes of the blogsphere, entitled Secret Diary of a Blog Girl which you can read here. Video tutorials can show you how to trim your fringe (something I'm crap at) and master the art of classic French make-up and Laetitia's honesty and self depreciating nature only make her more appealing! If you've ever fantasised about Parisian chic then this should be your go-to blog for all things cliche and girly with a quirky edge.

Step Away From the Shell Suit!

2010-03-15T22:16:00.009Z

So, according to MSN, Bristol is the most unhealthy city in the UK, consuming far too much booze and takeaways. This is what we get for living in a city with more pubs per square mile than anywhere else in the country.* Apparently one in five of us smoke an average of 5 cigarettes a day and 4 out of 10 of us treat ourselves to two or more takeaways a week.

This little statistic happens to fall on the day that I started going back to the gym after a 3 month hiatus (yes, I did keep paying the subscription fee) so I feel it is the perfect time to look at sportswear, a major trend for S/S 2010.

Now this is not the kind of outfit you would run a marathon in but rather it is designer collections inspired by sports and sportswear. Stella McCartney has done this look so well that it led to a collaboration with sporting giant Adidas, but this season the focus is on American designers including Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren and Alexander Wang.

Above; luxe sportswear by DKNY, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang, courtesy of elle.co.uk

Slouching jersey, the integration of high performance fabrics, and a subdued palette of greys, dusty pinks and caramels have graced the catwalks in recent years as sportswear and streetwear have combined with luxury fabrics and cuts to create this season's sporty look. Collections gracing New York Fashion Week last autumn combined femininity with preppy jackets and cute playsuits.

In Bristol there are loads of designers and stores working this look. Seriously sports mad women should check out upmarket sportswear emporium Sweaty Betty on Clifton Triangle if you want your gym kit to look great on and off the treadmill. Stokes Croft's Dutty Girl have used lycra and jersey combinations that marry street and sporting influences perfectly and stock a large range of local designers while Avalaan of Gloucester Road has all the gear you need to look like you've just come back from the slopes.

Over the knee socks, which are a huge trend this season, can provide a preppy twist to slouchy shorts and hair slicked back into a ponytail or bun can add femininity and sophistication. Over sized bags are both on trend and perfect for fitting your gym kit in and if you want the luxury without the legwork then invest in cashmere jogging pants and sweaters. How ever you wear this look make sure you leave the shell suit in the fancy dress box!

*Disclaimer: this is one of the statistics the boyfriend likes to impress visitors with but I'm not entirely sure how accurate it is.

Something for the weekend...

2010-03-12T14:03:00.005Z

OK, well not this weekend but this is a reminder to get yourselves over to the Mall @ Cribbs Causeway website where you can still purchase tickets for Bristol's very own Fashion Week. The event takes place from 25th - 28th March and is a great way to see what your favourite high street stores will be stocking over the next few months.

GMTV's in-house stylist Mark Hayes will be hosting 18 catwalk shows across the event and the BFW team will be on hand to offer makeovers, in store discounts and free colour consultations. Tickets start at £8.50 so if you want to see what the South West will be wearing next season then secure your place in the front row now!

Blog of The Week: Show Me Your Wardrobe

2010-03-11T14:37:00.007Z

A healthy dose of voyeurism is essential to the human condition, whether this is when you're sat outside a cafe people watching, or peeking into someone else's home on Location, Location, Location. In fashion terms this comes from backstage videos from fashion shows, personal style blogs and a sprinkling of celebrity front row gossip.

A sense of curiosity (and finally finishing my copy of The ST Style's Big Fashion Issue) lead me to the fantastic fashion photography blog, Show Me Your Wardrobe, by the photographer and stylist Jackie Dixon, that comes with the tag-line 'a sneaky peek into the wardrobes of today's creative talent'. Dixon worked on the shoots involving Style's Natalie Hartley in The Big Fashion Issue, see below.

Started in 2008, SMYW quickly rose in popularity within the fashion industry, leading to regular features in British Elle and The Sunday Times Style magazine. Dixon has photographed numerous fashion insiders, writers, actors and musicians including Skin (of Skunk Anansie fame), model Georgia Frost and fashion journalist Angela Buttolph.

Regardless of where the images are taken (in front of a brick wall, inside an office cubicle or fashion closet), the result is fun, playful look at what the movers and shakers of the industry are wearing and seeing who will crop up on Dixon's blog next is equally exciting.

The BoW accolade is perfect for this blog so unleash your inner snoop and go take a butchers...

Style Spotting in Sunday Times

2010-03-08T09:50:00.008Z

If something is worth doing, it is worth doing well. Not to mention taking time over, which sums up how I feel about Sunday papers. I love settling down on the sofa with all the supplements but the average weekend paper weighs more than a small dog and has so many sections I can no longer count them all on two hands. Hence I like to take my time over these printed behemoths, often taking a few days (OK fine, sometimes a whole week) to get through the sections I'm interested in.

It is understandable then that when salivating over the pages of the Sunday Times Style magazine, The Big Fashion Issue, I have only just spotted the double page Chloe advert a few pages in, below.

Notice anything about the footwear on the left outfit? The sandal is more of a boot, a trend which I'm loving at the moment, but I couldn't help thinking how similar it is to the photo I featured a couple of weeks ago regarding wearing legwarmers and sandals, see below.

Who would have thought designer fashion could trickle down to what a backpacker is wearing half way around the world, or perhaps Hannah MacGibbon was channeling Northern Thailand this season?!

Needles to say, Style was packed with far more than just designer adverts; Colin McDowell wrote of the legacy of Alexander McQueen, Brit darling Alexa Chung did her best to charm in an interview with Claudia Croft and there was a cracking shoot of supermodel-in-the-making Abbey Lee. If you missed out on your copy then head to the Times website for all the articles.

2010-03-06T19:09:00.010Z

Today was my first outing to Broadmead and Cabot Circus since January and everywhere I went I could not escape the double denim trend. All the stores have followed the lead of Chloe and Jean Paul Gaultier and as a result the high street is covered in this sturdy blue matter.

I may have voiced my concerns before regarding the inertia I feel when trends from my childhood rear their ugly heads. Take leggings for example. Back in the early 90s my mum would wear them while exercising to Rosemary Conley videos while I would be forced in to a purple number with matching t-shirt.

When leggings first came back on the scene I was more than a little sceptical as I watched my flatmates chop the feet off their black opaque tights and team with denim skirts. By the time I finally came round to the idea of such a practical wardrobe staple Lindsey Lohan et all where wearing the bloody things as trousers -apparently even American Apparel were unimpressed. Now I must admit I have come round to the idea and do have a few pairs but I draw the limit at £10.

Anywho, I digress... The idea of doubling up on denim seems like one step too far for me and is a little too reminiscent of the pair of New Look 915 patchwork jeans I wore to death in 1997. Needless to say it was not a good look.

Despite my allergic reaction to 90s fashion, I am infatuated with the idea of denim shirts, particularly the stonewashed kind that would marry so well with this season's floral prints. I had my eye on one from Primark before I left for Thailand so was delighted to find it still in stock today.

For the price of a tenner it is not a bad way to dip my toe into the trend and I've paired it with one of my favourite vintage skirts (worn as a dress) and some brown boots for pretty with an edge mixed with a sprinkling of cowgirl, see below.

Ship-Shape is Back

2010-03-03T16:05:00.003Z

Well, after nearly five weeks of tropical heat, cultural adventures and plenty of buses, trains and planes, Ship-Shape is well and truly back on British, and Bristol soil.

While I'm not loving the temperature (about 25 degrees below what I've become accustomed to) I am excited to be back in a world where the internet is only a few feet away and where I can resume full blogging service.

Look out for posts about upcoming events such as Bristol Fashion Week and the pieces I'm eyeing up on the high street, as well as the development of Bristol's boutiques and everything else in between.

Thai Tee Tao

2010-02-22T14:05:00.005Z

Crazy-busy few days but we've finally made it to Koh Tao, an island off the coast of Thailand situated near Koh Pahngan (famous for hedonism and full moon parties), to chill out and learn to scuba dive . Before we left Bangkok I picked up a vest that I've had my eye on since we first got here.

Long colourful vests adorned with Thai beer companies and semi naked girls seem to have found a place in the hearts of many backpackers and while I'm not normally a fan of overly saturated trends, I couldn't resist this tee, above.

The camera design is so old school and similar to my Pentax K1000 that for 150bhat I just had to have one. I wanted something a little loose fitting for on the beach so I picked this guy vest, which has the added bonus of that 'I'm wearing my boyfriends tee' feel, though I don't think my boy would be seen dead in a 'wife beater'...

The photo doesn't quite do it justice but I'm currently hovering between mildly burnt and mildly tanned, hence why wearing white doesn't look too appalling!

Pai Style.com

2010-02-18T09:42:00.006Z

Just a quickie as internet access is short and infrequent and I still need to Skype my mother to let her know I'm alive.

I've just been on a three day trip around Halong Bay which is basically a collection of small, mostly uninhabited islands off the coast of North Vietnam. The scenery was stunning but the temperature a little chilly - my gladiator sandals did not see the light of day once, which is a first for this trip.

We met some American girls whose footwear combination I fell in love with. This shot, above, is of the fantastically wrong but oh so right legwarmer/sandal combo, which I've mentioned in a previous post here. The dark brown leather sandals were purchased in Bangkok while the maroon cable knit legwarmers came from Pai in northern Thailand.

Yes, I know it sounds like I must be clutching at fashionable straws here but I need to create my own stylish entertainment since I have zero access to LFW. Plus, I just love a nice bit of cable knit.

Bristol Fashion Week @ Cribbs

2010-02-13T09:38:00.005Z

A model struts her stuff on the catwalk at Bristol Fashion Week

While LFW is upon us I thought this would be a good time to mention that once again, Bristol will be having its own fashion extravaganza at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway in March.

From 25th to 28th The Mall will play host to a number of fashionable events and catwalk shows and the public will have numerous opportunities to enter competitions, receive freebies and discounts and take part in makeovers. Celebrity stylist Mark Heyes (of GMTV fame) will be hosting the S/S 2010 preview shows and hairdresser to the stars Andrew Barton will also be sharing tips with the public.

It is important for Bristol to continue to carve out a place for itself as the fashion capital of the South West so if you have a free morning or afternoon then go check it out. I will be blogging more about this bi-annual event once I'm back on Bristol soil but if you want to know more right now about show times, ticket prices and how you can be involved then check out the Cribbs website.

Image courtesy of Sarah King.

2010-02-12T11:14:00.007Z

Being out of the country and away from the life support that is The Internet, I've only just found out that the legendary British fashion designer Alexander McQueen died yesterday. The press do not yet know, or perhaps have just not yet told the awaiting public how McQueen died, only that he was found in his home by his housekeeper early yesterday morning.

I suppose I'm in a state of shock really, although it sounds so overly dramatic and self-involved to write such a thing. Its like remembering where you were when Michael Jackson died and I don't think it is audacious to say that McQueen gave as much to the fashion world as Jackson did to the music world.

The picture above is from a shoot for Dazed & Confused in 1998, entitled Access-able, that featured McQueen's designs on models with physical disabilities. Shot by Nick Knight, this was the first time I had heard of McQueen (or Knight for that matter) and fell in love with the spread. I think it is a testament to his desire to go against the grain and stick two fingers up at the fashion world. Love it.
Image courtesy of The Independent.

Pyjama Party: Cambodian Style

2010-02-08T10:54:00.009Z

At first I thought it was me, and all the crazy travelling around I've undertaken - I certainly haven't been having my usual eight hours of shut-eye - but having been in Cambodia for three days now I can officially confirm that I'm not hallucinating.

The women and children of Cambodia are indeed wandering around in their pyjamas. And not just any old PJs either - these matching blouse and trouser combos come with an exciting array of cartoon animals and doodles on too. Sickeningly sweet cherry, heart and teddy bear designs adorn what most of us would only ever consider wearing under the covers, or perhaps on a quick trip to Tesco.

Although the image above (courtesy of the rather amusing Michelle's in Cambodia) portrays a young girl, I've seen many women of all ages sporting what most of us would consider a fashion faux par. Designs aside, one of the strangest things to me is how neat and tidy these items of clothing are.

Cambodia is a dry, dusty and poverty stricken country and many of the clothes I've seen Cambodian women wearing understandably have these tell tale signs; washed out, worn and dirty around the edges. So far all the pyjamas I've seen have been pristine in apperence. According to some of the blog posts I've read, this is beacuse the pyjama outfit is reserved for going out and is the height of fashion.

I'll try to get some of my own pictures while in Phnom Penh but if you want to know more about this fashion fad then check out Challenge Nora or the blog mentioned above.

Bangkok Fairytales

2010-02-03T03:43:00.008Z

After a shaky start and a serverly delayed plane I'm now in Bangkok, in the backpacker area of Banglamphu. So far I've only had the day to explore but already this pulsating city reminds me of a fairytale place that I (Peter, Wendy and Tinkerbell too) like to call Never Never Land.

In South East Asia, Never Never Land is a haven for backpackers of the world; a hot, sweaty, sarong wearing utopia where the salt of the earth can come to unite and swap stories of island hopping, near-death experiences and inflated tuk-tuk prices. People watching on the infamous Khao San Road is a little like the moment when you see that group of lary, cross-dressing men at Glastonbury festival, only to realise that on closer inspection one of them is your bank manager.

To blend in like a Lost Boy, a few key items are essential. Firstly you need to kit yourself out with a variety of vest tops, sarongs and summer dresses. In many Asian countries it is inappropriate to flash your flesh but in Never Never Land anything goes, so long as it hasn't been washed in a few days. Men should opt for combat style shorts and a loose fitting tank top to show off tribal tattoos, honed muscles and a healthy looking tan.

Next come the accessories - the heart of any girl's wardrobe. Depending on how many memories you wish to take back with you, nothing says you've enjoyed yourself quite like a tattoo. Tribal, Celtic or even some of that pretty looking Chinese calligraphy would work well here, particularly when wrapped around your upper arm or on your calf. Jewellery is also important, especially if it is made from leather, thread or beads. You get bonus points if it has a religious or symbolic meaning.

A tan is another easy way to blend in, but only if you got it whilst trekking in Chang Mai or sailing around the Gulf of Thailand - sunbathing or (shudder) fake tanning is simply not acceptable. If you have no intention of inviting skin cancer to a private party then stick to looking pale and interesting while reading your worn down copy of The Beach.

How To Pack A Rucksack...

2010-01-28T22:13:00.010Z

I've only been back in the country for just over 4 weeks and now I'm off again! Flights have been booked to Bangkok from which the boy and I will venture through Cambodia and up the coast of Vietnam before flying back down to the southern islands of Thailand.

I have mentally (though unfortunately not physically) been packing my bags since we booked the trip last week and I'm having a difficult time working out how to fit everything I want to take into a 35l backpack. As a result I have come up with a few tips for anyone taking a break from Bristol to venture further a field....

Be decisive. Most backpacker or tourist hot spots will have everything you need, and more, on sale. Stick to some comfortable basics, good shoes/sandals and thin layers - spontaneous purchases of novelty t-shirts can wait until you get to your destination, and will often be a lot cheaper too.
Think small. Miniature toiletries save space and will fit nice and neatly into most nooks and crannies of your luggage, plus they look really cute too! If you are at all environmentally aware then purchase small clear bottles instead (Boots and Primark both have good kits) and decant your usual toiletries into these little wonders. Not as cute but these bottles will comply with airport regulations and can be used over and over again for everything from holidays to festivals, unlike throw-away miniatures.
Capsule colours. Using a favourite but simple colour palette when packing will make it much easier to decide on what to wear each morning. Choose colours and shapes that go well together and you can easily mix and match while away, safe in the knowledge that you have a well thought out but simple wardrobe. My current palette is black, cream and navy with accents of blue and coral.
Finally, don't take anything with you that you can't afford to leave behind. Your brand new Marc Jacobs bag might look fabulous on the streets of Milan but is it worth being mugged for or leaving behind in a taxi? Anything expensive looking can make you a target for theft, particularly if you have a tell-tale guidebook poking out of your bag. Any other sentimental clothing or accessories should be left behind unless you don't mind getting felt up by sticky fingers.

Make Do and Mend

2010-01-11T12:40:00.006Z

There are so many things happening in this city that it can be hard to choose how to spend a weekend. The snow is still asserting its dominance over Bristol but that didn't put me off from venturing out to Bristol's Biggest Indoor Picnic at the Trinity Centre. The event was full of craft making, book swapping and cake eating and while venturing into the world of knitting, A and I stumbled across Cloth Magazine.

As we got chatting to Harriet de Winton, one of the Creative Directors, A and I couldn't help falling in love with the magazine and walking away with several copies. The ethos of Cloth and its accompanying website is simple: a young, vibrant and informative guide for customising, making and re-working clothes and homewares.

The creative team are based in Bristol but the projects, events and personalities featured in Cloth come from all across the country. The fresh, young feel of the magazine and the kind of projects within it will appeal to those who might be put off by the stuffiness of some other British craft magazines. It is a revelation to

Tapping into the current trend (and necessity) for recycling and re-examining how and where our clothes from, Cloth is bible of information for both advanced and novice sewers alike. From the most basic hand stitches to making a dress out of your boyfriend's shirt, Cloth is switched on to what many young women want: responsible, unique and cheap fashion options.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to make some felted mittens...

Blog of The Week: Bargainista Fashionista

2010-01-05T10:57:00.006Z

For the first Blog of The Week of 2010 I was won over by a teddy bear, or rather a teddy bear beanie hat to be precise. Bargainista Fashionista caught my eye in Sunday's Observer Magazine as part of a 'New Year, New You style feature called 30 Ways To A Better Life, which is definitely worth a read if you're stuck for a New Years resolution.

Anywho, there was Susie Wong in the cutest woolly hat I've seen all season (from River Island in case you're interested), chatting about her blog and how to be a savvy shopper on the high street. The concept of her blog is simple: bargains on the high street in 'real time' - if Susie blogs about it on her lunch break then you can guarantee it will still be there by the time you finish work.

The reason this blog works is because the fashion on show is accessible to everyone. High street, eBay and etsy pieces crop up and River Island, Topshop and New Look all make regular appearances. Susie's genuine passion for fashion extends past item must-haves to how one could where the pieces and what trends they go well with, and of course, every post is about what is in stores NOW, this very second.

The only downside of reading this blog is the likely hood that you will turn into a raging shopaholic...