Ben De Lisi .. It's the Principle!

Those of you Project Catwalk fans will know Ben De Lisi as the charming and slightly annoying designers’ mentor. But for those of you who don’t know, he is also one of Britain’s best loved and most esteemed eveningwear designers! Ben designs a diffusion line in conjunction with Debenhams called BDL by Ben de Lisi, which has become one of the largest selling ranges under their Designers at Debenhams umbrella.

Well now Ben takes on his biggest challenge yet… he has become the head designer for Principles, and brings the British Highstreet brand back to its former glory with its new release early February at Debenhams. He has created a 106-piece collection for Principles specifically targeted at the 40+ woman. The collection focuses on well-tailored cuts, beautiful fabrics and flattering shapes and includes designs for weekend, smart day, occasion and evening wear, together with handbags and accessories. Ben de Lisi spoke up for the brand,

"I’m thrilled to be putting my name to and working on this new collection. It is aimed at the cultured, modern contemporary woman who has an eye for quality, cut and luxury. I just know it won’t disappoint,”

Ben de Lisi’s finest moment in fashion was when he made world headlines with the scarlet, one-shoulder gown Kate Winslet wore at the Oscars in 2002. He hopes to return Principles as one of the big sellers on the fashion market, and since there is a niche in the market for dressing the more mature ladies, it is sure to be a huge success.

From Fashion Faux pas to Fashion Forward!

You may have once cringed at the sight of your dad wearing his socks under his sandals on holidays…you may still actually! But little did we know that dear daddy would become a muse for many of the top fashion houses for 2009 and 2010. Top labels like Galliano, Burberry, Dior, Chloe and Alexander Wang featured the sock and sandal look in their catwalk collections. However, for a look considered typically preppy, Wang was the only one in my opinion, who managed to keep his cool edgy stamp on it with patent black leather shoes or animal prints and chunky knee highs with an almost mens gater-like effect on the back!

So what celebrities have already caught onto this craze??? Well, fictional fashion darling Blair Waldorf has been known to channel this preppy look, while her alter ego Leighton Meester also has been known to take a few fashion risks on the red carpet and was seen at an event rocking the new style statement!

Then we have your typical quirky dressers like Fearne Cotton, Chloe Sevigny, Agyness Deyn and of course Kate Moss who have all been attempting this look over the past year! Some even before the designers brought out their collections, so perhaps it was them that inspired the design houses and not our dad's bad taste?

So how can you attempt this look without looking like a 6-year old girl? Team with bare legs and short little dresses for a sexy evening look. Be selective in your style, not any old pair of socks will do (leave the grubby, old ones in the bottom of your sock drawer)… try Topshop, Oasis and Falke for the best selections. Topshop have great little gold and silver glittery socks, which are perfect for this type of look!

If you don’t like the look of the peep toes with socks, why not try pop socks (although this is a look best left to when the weather warms up a bit!) Or try the Wang look and toughen simple sandals with ribbed men's army socks.. you might want to buy a new pair and not borrow your dads old ones…yuck!.

So get socky…there are so many different choices… go hard with chunky socks, sweet and innocent with ankle socks, quirky and stylish with knee highs or sassy and sexy with thigh highs...the sock world is your oyster!

Armani Advert Revealed!

It has finally arrived…the much-anticipated campaign for Armani featuring Megan Fox!
Ever since we heard Victoria Beckham had been shunned in favour of a younger, hotter version, you could already imagine all the females worldwide sighing and instantly signing up to the gym or starting that fad diet!



Well, I have to say all that worry was for nothing...okay granted she is still and always will be a complete hottie, there is no denying that! But to be honest, I found Victoria Beckham’s advert way sexier and more alluring and more dynamic. Maybe it was the fact that I wasn’t expecting such sensuality from Vicki B, and I expected way more from Megan Fox, the photos are bland are extremely unexciting! Either way I am not impressed with the photos which were shot by renowned fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, who also shot Victoria’s campaign!



Not only that, but Eva Mendes, who is the same age as Victoria Beckham, is the face and body for Calvin Klein jeans and underwear…and her advert is also a lot more exotic and racy…she is 12 years older than Megan! So why was Victoria replaced? Well, Georgio Armani stands by his new model, claiming that "Megan is young and sexy and has a lot of spirit," and that "Emporio Armani and Armani Jeans are all about a youthful attitude, making her the perfect choice for the collections." In my opinion, Megan needs to step up her game before some older, more experienced woman comes along and snatches her new crown!



But no doubt the lingerie will still sell out, and men will be crashing their cars accidentally while staring at her giant billboards!

Nine Naughties...

First there was Moulin Rouge, then Chicago … and now the movie musical ‘Nine’ is set to become the next big thing. The movie is based in Venice in the early 1960’s, around celebrated film director Guido Contini, who despite all his successes is encountering a midlife crisis as he approaches his 40th birthday. The film shows him in an emotional journey as he tries to gain back his creativity, entangling him in a web of romantic difficulties.



Although the lead character is male… a strong cast of Sophia Loren, Dame Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Fergie, Marion Cottiliard and Kate Hudson, guarantee that it will be the female roles grabbing all the attention. Not just for musical lovers, but for fashionistas everywhere. If you fell in love with Nicole Kidman’s character Satine, in her diamond embellished corset or Renee Zellweger’s murderous sexy outfits you’ll have more than enough to fulfill you in this new movie. There are some truly breathtaking outfits for the likes of leading ladies Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Kate Hudson to dazzle in.

Colleen Atwood is the costume genius behind such movies as Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago which she won Oscars for, she even designed the costumes for genre films like Sweeney Todd, Edward Scissorhands and Planet of the Apes. So no doubt she has a delicious array of outfits for this star-filled cast. For ‘Nine’ she worked alongside mega-jewelers Swarovski to create the unique costumes for the dance numbers, making the outfits not only dazzling but also very authentic.



Thanks to this movie we are going to see a massive return in sexy lingerie…so if like me, you are obsessed with matching twin-sets or cute little bustiers look no further than budget busting La Senza and Penneys for your fashion fix. With Tess Daly strutting her stuff in the La Senza campaign, it looks like ‘Nine’ also inspired the caberet style shoot! So dust off those fishnets and make sure you get some new lingerie..and it'll be a very happy New Year!

Animal Attraction...

The fashion world are hailing Marc Jacobs an innovative genius for introducing the bunny ears to the fashion world… but they’ve been around for a long time, so where exactly did he get his inspiration from? There is of course the infamous playboy bunny costume introduced by Hugh Hefner in the 1950’s and instantly associates bunny ears with sex appeal. Then of course there is the return of the Cadbury’s Caramel Bunny who’s new look and dress was designed by Top Brit Designer Giles Deacon this year.

It is also being debated whether Maison Michel came up with the idea first or not? He had made lace headpieces of bunny ears and mouse ears too, and Marc admittedly came across the idea accidently when he saw someone with a large ribbon in their hair resembling ears.. So when Marc Jacobs’ Fall collection for Louis Vuitton came out this year, and his models paraded the catwalk with bunny ears, was this fashion history in the making or a copycat idea?

Regardless of who thought it up first, as usual, celebrities are the first to take on this outlandish trend, no shocks that Lady Gaga and Madonna were one of the firsts to wear them in public. But now uber cool Olsen twins and singer Lily Allen have been seen taking on the trend too.

I do think this look is actually really cute…but I really can’t see myself walking down Grafton street donning a pair of animal ears just yet? However, I also remember everyone initially laughing at leggings, skinny jeans, shoulder pads and structured skirts so maybe, just maybe this too will become known as “wearable”. Topshop have already begun to challenge the trend and have come up with their very own versions of slightly smaller headbands, so a little more normal, but I am still yet to see anyone actually wear them!

Cheryl's Mini Makeover!

Finally Cheryl Cole has gotten rid of those hair extensions and has given herself a mini fashion makeover. Gone (hopefully) are the days of the Xfactor live shows where she tried too hard to be on trend and uber -stylish, or that hideous mesh frock disaster she wore for her birthday! Gross!! She’s now a chart-topping, solo artist and deserves a new look away from tacky pop princess, this new look is more sophisticated and polished…but still keeps her young, fresh and sexy! Go Chezza!

Out at the weekend for a Gary Barlow bash she wore a gorgeous body-con Julien MacDonald colour-block dress, teaming it with a chunky Malene Birger Necklace and her new shaggy crop! What I love about this look is the muted colours (a nice change from her usual eye-popping colours), extreme structured shoulders and sheer sleeve detail...she looks delish!



If you want to channel Chez’s new look then look no further than your favourite online stores, www.asos.com and www.lipsy.co.uk. Both stock a variety of colour-block style dresses. And also the very on-trend, sheer-sleeve style dresses. And for those of you wanting to get the real thing??? Well the dress will set you back a few thousand…but the ‘By Malene Birger’ Mondi embellished felt necklace is available on www.net-a-porter.com for only €169…a bargain for a piece of designer heaven!

Save fast for Mark Fast…

Mark fast is fast (sorry) becoming one of the London fashion packs newest darling!

He hit headlines during London Fashion week for stepping up against the skinny nation and booking 3 plus sized models to sashay down the catwalk in his figure hugging, no holds barred creations. The fashion world went into uproar and his creative stylist quit just days before his collection was to be seen on the catwalk. But that hasn’t stopped this Central Saint Martins Graduate from becoming the next big thing!

Mark’s style of clothing is gothic elegance and he describes collection for Spring/Summer 2009 as “Pseudo-metallic knitted body armour”. With young singers like Cassie and Nicola Roberts championing his designs…we are sure to see this up and coming designer dressing even bigger stars in the near future. Rumour has it that he has been in talks to design a line for Topshop…following in the footsteps of designers like Ashish, Preen, Barbara Hulanicki and more recently Christopher Kane…so you better start saving!

To me he is the new Herve Leger…his dresses shape the body like a second skin…the designs are equally sexy but they have this edge and softness that keep it young and hip! He has brought knitting to a whole new dimension…no longer shall it be associated with little old grannies and their knitting needles. Goodbye wooly hats and twin-sets…knitwear is now officially sexy!