Trend Alert: Monochrome High-Neck Dresses

In the past three days, we have seen a non-stop parade of black and white outfits, all with very prim and proper high necks. As you all know, see it once and it is an interesting experiment, see it twice and it is an intriguing co-incidence, but see it three times and it is a trend. I think we can safely say that, with Paula Abdul, Nicole Sherzinger and Jennifer Lopez (in Lanvin) all trotting out this exact combo yesterday - we have a fully-fledged new fashion fad on our hands.

Add to it the last couple of outfits that trend-setter Sienna Miller (also co-designer of label twenty8twelve) has worn, both with high necks (the white by Ralph Lauren) and you are safe to go and buy yours as soon as possible. A Peter-Pan collar is always a winner for me so I am loving it. What do you guys think of this trend? Answers below...

Pregnancy Style: The Posh Spice Way

Not everyone is going to love the Selma Blair school of maternity dressing. I get that. So I enlisted the help of my favourite preggie lady right now, Victoria Beckham, to show us another way. A high-octane, heels-and-all, chic in black version of maternity dressing that is every bit as awesome as Selma's. Just very, very different.

A uniform of black. A selection of Louboutin heels. Big VB handbags. Sunglasses. And you are set. You really can't fault it. And it works. For all of you who veer more toward Eeyore than Pooh, more Weird Emily than Dora the Explorer, if your heart lies more with The Smiths than it ever has with Happy Mondays then Victoria's maternity way is for you. Love it.

Trend Alert: Block Colour Maxi Dresses

We have covered bold, block colour cocktail dresses at length here on the blog. But yesterday not one, but two, a-listers took this to a whole new level (new depth?) when they both trotted out in block colour MAXI dresses. That's a whole lotta colour on one person's body! Katie Holmes wore a gorgeous fuschia dress from her own Holmes Yang collection, and Angelina Jolie floated around in a red Jenny Packham asymmetrical gown at the Tree of Life premier in LA.
For you at home, I would recommend that this trend needs height, so probs not for those of you under five foot five. Just saying. Then make sure you have some great draping lines, vertical stripes and the highest quality fabrics - with this much noticeable fabric involved, you definitely don't want to be swathed in polyester! Have fun.

Weekend Style: Summer Edition

The Northern Hemisphere has got some sun eventually after months and months of a very cold winter. And the stars are wasting no time at all in embracing summer style. It seems churlish to point out that we enjoyed another weekend of rock-solid 30-degree temperatures here in Cape Town, so are also still embracing summer fashion-fun. But let's look at Taylor Swift, Gwyneth Paltrow and Diane Kruger and see what we can steal from them as we wind down for winter.
Pretty floral dresses and Mary-Jane shoes from our youngest, Taylor. Yup, we can defs get on board with that. Expect to see a lot of this next summer - but girls, please note the length of the dress. Above the knee, but still sufficient to cover the knickers and upper thighs. This is much more the direction to follow for next summer.
Cool, chic, classics from Gwyneth in denim button through skirt and white blouse. This is a universal outfit with longevity built in. Worth investing in a skirt like that for next summer.
And the striped romper and flats from Diane? Cute. Again, rompers are here to stay through next summer, but gang, please make sure the fabric is top class and long enough so you don't get 'crotch-creep'. Revolting, I know. But someone needs to say it.
PS: Someone also needs to ask, where's Pacey? Haven't seen him for ages Diane. Let him out to play, please. I miss his lovely face.

Alexa Chung Takes Paris Fashion Week 2011

We all know that Alexa Chung is an arbiter of cool, hipster style. What she rocks out on the front rows of fashion week is sure to make its way onto the streets of Shoreditch, Williamsburg and Mitte. And, from there, to the Kloof Street and Greenside hipsters right here in South Africa. Before going mainstream and therefore no longer cool. (How's that for a short lesson in fashion coolness.)
So let's look at what she wore to Paris Fashion week and see what we can extrapolate. First, girls, get yourself some lovely wooly, charcoal tights for winter - they are the new black opaques. Second, we all need a couple of vintage-alike, cute, nude mini frocks or smocks.

But now look at what she wore when she arrived in Paris. Awesome Burberry jacket, cropped trouser, polka dot blouse and spiky brogues. Now this is a look I would totally wear. No matter where I am in the world. Mine, mine, please.

London Fashion Week Street Style: Tights and Socks

So here are the three key lessons for winter when it comes to tights and socks.
1. Stripes are the new patterns. Put away your lace patterns this winter and pick up a pair of striped tights. It is the more minimal and modern way to wear them this year. Henry Holland has made an industry of them in the UK, so if you can find a pair of his, so much the better.
2. Socks are knee-length and perfect for teaming with skirts in the new length. Black is fine but grey is better.
3. Opaques are, of course, ubiquitous for winter. Just remember, the freshest way to wear them is as if you have no trousers on. But you do. Shorts usually. I, of course, will not be participating in this fashion charade. I will be using my opaques as usual, as tights. But it is my job to tell you guys how it is being done, so please forgive.
Thanks as usual to MasterCard and L'Oreal Paris for making the London Fashion Week trip possible.

London Fashion Week Street Style: Turban Head Scarves

It is not very often these days that I play dress-up at home, experimenting with new fashions and trends. But I have done so twice in the past week, one of the times to try out this trend I spotted at London Fashion Week - and have subsequently already seen in Cape Town (albeit at uber-hip Design Indaba). We are of course talking about the turban head scarf.
I have seen it done it two different ways - largely dependent, it turns out from my experimenting, on the size of the scarf. The first is as a narrow and around the head - this is better suited to the long scarf or the smaller scarf. And the other is what I would call a 'nanny' style, covering the whole head and better for the square scarf.
I am defs going to be rocking this look this winter - if I can stop my nearest and dearest laughing loudly at me when I do. You should too. It's cool.
Thanks must go to MasterCard and L'Oreal Paris for sponsoring our trip to London Fashion week.

Black Leather Dresses: How Do We Make Them Work For Us?

Kate Bosworth can wear a paper bag and look half-way decent, so it is misleading to look at a dress looking magnificent on her and extrapolate to ones' self. And what of when the dress only looks meh like this one? If  she only looks ok, is it even remotely possible that an average person can pull it off? I don't actually think so. And so I turn my attention to the recent spate of other black leather frocks that have recently made themselves known on the red carpet.
Let's look at dear old Blair Waldorf/Leighton Meester. I think she is struggling to find her personal style niche and tries way too hard, in general. This dress is no different. It doesn't really suit her and doesn't really make her look pretty. She looks fine, of course, she is a lovely looking girl. But does she look beautiful or amazing or mesmerizing? No. So where would that leave us if neither her nor Kate can make these rather rigid (breastplates anyone?) and conflicted dresses work?

I think the first requirement is much softer leather. The second is bags of attitude and the personality that resonates with rock 'n roll and rebellion. And the third is a flair for accessorising. Something like a bit of a lilac bootie to lift and edge the whole thing. Then maybe it will work. I think that Vampire Diaries Kat Graham is getting there with this frock she wore on the weekend. Almost. Lose the neckpiece and you're there. Good luck to you all.

Trend Alert: How to Wear Block Colour Cocktail Dresses

If you look back over the past few weeks - excluding the awards shows - you will see a preponderance of fantastic, vibrant, exciting cocktail dresses in plain, block colours.
The best way to adopt this trend for yourself is to find a shade that really makes your skin glow. See how Kirsten Dunst has chosen a deeper colour for the same effect. Just find the one hue that works for you.
Then make sure you choose a frock made with the highest quality fabrics. For real shimmer and ladylike opulence, silk is the way to go, of course. The pink silk of Jayma Mays is stunning in it's simple quality.
Be careful of the stiffer fabrics if you need to sit down for any length of time, as it will crease badly and give you very broad hips. This is not a good look. The same applies if you are pregnant as you will get under-the-bump-lines like Natalie Portman here.
Fit is key, naturally. The tighter the dress, the better the fit needs to be, so if in any doubt aim for a body skimming silhouette rather than skin-tight, as this will land up making you look more expensive. Jennifer Garner has gone for a more avant garde design which works equally well while still showing off her figure.
And finally, pick the right length for you. Cameron Diaz demonstrates how shorter does not necessarily always mean sexier in this asymmetrical frock of desire. Although having said that Malin Ackerman punches above her weight in the dazzling persimmon mini that looks amazing.
Have fun!

How to Wear Sequin Trousers This Festive Season

I know that it is the festive season and therefore any amount of spangle involved in your outfit is permitted. So when you decide that you need to break out the sequin leggings or trousers this year, let me give you some time-honoured guidelines to ensure you look both joyous and stylish.
1. In everything, balance. If you are going for a legging or narrow fit trouser it is essential you balance them out with a heavier boot and blouse. If you keep the whole silhouette narrow, you will look both dated and enormous. So please. Do us all a favour. Ta.
2. Maintain proportion. With a harem trouser, make sure you have a lighter top half and make sure the horizontal is slightly higher than usual to elongate your legs - in other words try not to look like your legs are 5 inches long. That would be an error. You understand.
3. Modernise with a wide leg. The most fashion forward silhouette is characterised by a wider trouser leg, so if you can, use this with your sequin trousers too. It really is the most flattering shape as well.
4. Channel Joan Collins. If all else fails, there is a hard and fast rule of thumb when it comes to deploying sequin and that is to ask yourself: What. Would. Joan. Do. and all the answers will be yours. Have fun.