The shift dress is a great dress for any occasion. Versatile, lady like and flattering it is a classic dress that always looks stylish. The below the knee pencil style skirt or mini shift is a great look for this season and it will take you from office to bar and onwards. Wear with court shoes and a smart jacket for the office, with slouchy boots for a cool daytime look and with killer heels and lots of sparkly jewellery for a great evening out look. The shift dress is also available in all sorts of fabric for a variety of looks from check/tartan for a colourful and trendy look, satin for an slinky evening look, or even a stretchy material for a more casual/ sporty look. Florals, embellishment and leather are also great ways to wear the classic shift dress.

The shift dress has been around since the late fifties when it was just above the knee and considered very daring and short. In the sixties the mini shift dress became very popular and the empire line shift dress was also created. These styles both have a huge influence on today’s shift dress.

This simple but classic, soft baby cord shift dress is a key wardrobe basic that is suitable for so many occasions and will last for many seasons to come.

Leather just seems to be every where at the moment. Leather jackets have always been popular but leather trousers and dresses are also every where this year. The leather biker jacket is probably the most common leather jacket and is a firm favourite among the celebrities but this winter there are a number of other trends around including smarter leather blazers and leather coats. The great thing about leather is that it is one of the only pieces of clothing that you will own that improves with age.

At Givenchy - an all black outfit was finished off with a cape style leather jacket. The cape almost looked military in its style and is an eye catching bold style statement.

At Alexander McQueen - a classic leather blazer gave an edgy look to a long style tailored jacket and trousers.

Rick Owens is well known for his must have leather jackets. This autumn and winter he created  some really innovative styles with panels sewn together to create oversized jackets.

At D Squared - a butter soft leather jacket with smart buttons and and details for a sexy but sophisticated look.

pictures from www.style.com

This Almost Famous leather jacket is a right on trend for this year with lovely soft leather and chiffon collar, waistband and cuffs.

I usually consider florals, a bit of  a summer thing but this autumn and winter they are defintely making a very welcome apearance. Floral prints are a great way to brighten up an outfit and cheer yourself up. These florals are a bit different from the romantic summer florals though. They include black, blues and purples aswell as autumnal tones of yellow and red for a warmer and more wintry look. There are all sorts if variations on the winter floral print from vintage retro styles to ethnic styles.

At Roberto Cavilli - Rich reds purples, blues and greens gave eye catching outfits for both day time and evening.

At Matthew Williamson - romantic floral designs were combined with pixelated florals designs, for a very chic and stylish look. 

pictures from www.style.com

Try combining winter florals with thick opaque tights, faux fur trims, chunky  knits and sassy street wear for a not so girly take on this traditional fabric pattern.

This velvet floral skirt is a great way to wear this seasons florals. With warm colours, a contemporary floral print and a lovely soft texture.

I love a bit of glitz and an award ceremony for a bit of dress watching. Even better a fashion award ceremony, where the stars, designers and models all turn out in some of the best fashion out there. Yesterday the British Fashion awards, sponsored by Swarovski and hosted by Mariella Frostrup was held in London and attended by amongst others Claudia Schiffer, David Furnish, Emilia Fox, Erin O Connor and Sophie Ellis Bextor, .

The winner was non other than Luella Bartley, ex fashion journalist with Vogue and Dazed and Confused. Luella who launched her label in 1999 is pretty much self taught and has inspired  a huge following of the fashion elite with her quirky London style. Luella returned to London fashion week last September much to my delight. Other awards went to the following:

Menswear Designer of the Year - Christopher Bailey

Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design - Stephen Jones

Designer Brand award - Jimmy Choo

The Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator - Tim Walker (photographer)

Accessory Award - Rupert Sanderson

Emerging Talent award - Louise Goldin

Red Carpet Designer - Matthew Williamson

Model of the year - Jourdan Dunn

Bespoke Award - Richard James of Saville Row

Emerging Talent award for accessories - Nicholas Kirkwood

If you want a bit of Luella’s award winning cool London style, try wearing this satin blouse from her Autumn winter 08 collection.

Hats are big news this year with beanies at Alexander Wang and Burbery Prorsum. berets at Marc Jacobs, snoods at  Alexander McQueen, caps at Dolce and Gabanna, all sorts of hats at Richard Nicholl and pointy witches hats at Luella.

Hats are a great way of making a real style statement and also keep you head and ears warm (you know how much body heat you can lose from your head?). The key to wearing  a hat with style is putting it on just right and looking like you haven’t tried too hard. This seasons beanie is a really easy hat to wear and goes with anything, just about. Here are some of my favourite hats for keeping your ears warm in style this winter.

This Miss Sixty  hat is a simple design but the warm orange colour will definitely make you stand out in the crowd.

This North Face Memphis Bell Womens Beanie looks great with dark hair and has a lovely delicate design.

I love this velvet rose corsage beanie. It is so pretty and has a lining for additional warmth.

If you want to add a bit of designer style to a plain black coat, this Missoni hat is just what you need.

This bobble hat has real character.  A great stylish option for a walk in the countryside.

I once swore that I would never wear a pair of leggings again. This was back in my teens when leggings first became fashionable but then they became so popular, that the whole look of a pair of leggings worn with shapeless T shirts completely put me off. I was completely wrong though. Leggings are now back in fashion and I just can’t resist wearing them. This time around though I shall be very selective what I wear my leggings with and once they start to go baggy and out of shape in the wash they will be going straight in the bin.

The best thing about leggings this time around is wearing them with skirts and dresses. They can be worn with a dress for added warmth and I can now be brave enough to wear a dress even on a cold winter day. On those occassions when you have a lovely dress but feel it is slightly to much for the day time, I don’t know why but leggings seem to dress it down some how and make it slightly more wearable for the day time. Leggings are even good for getting that little bit of extra wear out of a little worn summer dress. Leggings are possibly the most comfortable leg wear there is, more comfortable than jeans, tights or tailored trousers. Finally, leggings are a great accessory for adding some colour or interest to an outfit. They are availale in so many different varieties including patterned, glittery and wetlook.

I think the key to looking good in leggings is always wear a long top, dress or skirt with them that goes to at least mid thigh length. Short tops and leggings are a definite no no.

A pair of long black leggings are an essential for my winter wardrobe this year.

I have just finished reading Disney Roller Girls post on Extreme Heels: Have they reached t(r)ipping point. I am in definite agreement with her post about how ridiculous the height of the heels on shoes are becoming. With models tripping over in them on the runway, what hope is there for people like me who lead busy lives full of all sorts of obstacles. I always love buying a pair of beautifully high shoes, but they then sit in my cupboard. I occasionally bring them out to admire them but they usually go straight back in the cupboard and rarely get worn. I often find myself wearing the same old pair of ballerina flats, just purely because they are so amazingly comfortable and easy to walk in. But there are times when I wish I could just combine style and comfort so I was pleased to get some ideas on how this is possible.

 I have now opened my mind up to a whole range of possibilities in the footwear department that are both stylish and comfy. This season there are plently of lovely chunky mid height heels around.

With Love Evie triple strap court shoes

The Leather Collection Kiersten Leather Court Shoes

Every time I post about Spring Summer 09 collections, I shiver a bit. I know I should be looking forward to the season ahead and what trends and fashions it will bring but at the moment all I want to do is find a lovely warm jumper to snuggle up in. I love winter, but keeping warm is all I can really think about when the weather turns cold. For me a lovely soft jumper is the clothing equivalent of a lovely warming comfort food like shepherds pie or roast beef.

It is a good thing that chunky knits are in this year as there is plenty of choice from jumpers to cardigans. But my absolute favourite knitwear for all weathers is a cashmere jumper. Cashmere is just about the softest knitwear there is and magically when it is cold keeps you warm and when it is hot it keeps you cool. Great for those times when you come in from the freezing cold and the central heating is just too much.

This long belted cashmere cardigan is perfect for wrapping yourself up in. It is great for keeping warm for around the house but also looks amazingly stylish for going out. It is made from the finest amazingly warm and soft cashmere.

pictures from www.style.com

Last week , Alexander Wang was awareded the prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award, worth US $200,000. I think he is definitely a deserving winner, with an amazing Spring Summer 09 collection and an army of dedicated followers including many celebrities. Alexander Wang has his own brand of laid back cool with his designs being labelled as ‘new grunge’.

Alexander Wang beat a whole list of promising hopefuls including Richard Chai, Alejandro Ingelmo, Irene Neuwirth, Juan Carlos Obando, Obedient Sons & Daughters and Organic. Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava and Albert Q Swanepoel of Albertus Quartus were each awarded runners up prizes of $50,000.

 The much talked about and coveted Spring Summer collection by Alexander Wang, featured his signature Grunge girl look but with a newer focus. More colour, more body concious and more sexy, his latest collection but still with that relaxed and ultra cool feel. Alexander Wangs clothes are also becoming more accesible for people like me with the launch of his diffusion label T by Alexander Wang which includes T shirt dresses and other casual pieces.

If you love the Alexander Wang Grunge Girl look, you will love this Farhi Sleeveless Knit Tunic Dress.

As you get older (I am not that old, but everything is relative) you start to work out which clothes suit you and which do not. You learn to follow fashions very selectively and pick out the bits that you love and make you feel great and forget the rest. As  a petite (5ft 2), I have to choose my clothes carefully and it is not difficult to get proportions all wrong and look completely ridiculous in clothes that  don’t do you any favours.

Generally I opt for fairly fitted clothes that skim over any of the lumps or bumps that I would prefer to hide. I have come to love a few items of clothing that no matter what the fashions of the season, always look good.

Miso printed cardi knit

The short fitted cropped cardigan is a firm favourite of mine. It goes with just about everything from jeans and T shirt to shift dress. This style of cardigan makes me feel feminine and ladylike.

Petite printed twist front dress

There is something about a wrap style dress that emphasises the waist and flatters the figure. I don’t know how, but this style of dress originally designed by Diane Von Furstenburg can literally work miracles.