The Shoe Boot

Right now I'm loving the 'Shoe Boot': Comfy, stylish & warm! The shoe boot is nothing new, they're actually very old-fashioned, but they've slowly crept back into fashion over the past couple of years.

I love them because they're edgy and a little bit different to the usual ankle boots - which is what makes them so stylish. They're also great if you want to tone down a dress giving it a bit more of an effortless, carefree look. Add a cardigan and you've got a great casual daytime look! You can take this style to whatever extreme you like depending on what you team them up with. I like to wear mine with a pair of very skinny jeans and a cape. Skirts and dresses and with tights look fab with shoe boots too! Kiera Knightly, Sienna Miller and Alexa Chung below wear the shoe boot well in these pics.

Thankfully, you can buy shoe boots in various interpretations pretty much anywhere at the moment. I've picked out a few of my favourites.

Fantasizing is free of course, but if you've cleverly been saving up those pennies for the new season, you could always choose from some of Christian Louboutin's beautiful designs.

I love these Christian Louboutin C'est Moi Shoe boots (£430 / around $860) - they also have them in Pink.

I simply adore these lace ups designed by Kenneth Cole.

Jimmy Choo has produced a gorgeous little pair of tribal influenced Shoe boots complete with the peep toe (hotly tipped to be very in this season!). These are retailing at £550 (around $1100). Oh If only!

Rupert Sanderson's Kit Kat shoe boots (£615 / $1230) have an interesting twist at the front. Love it. The contrasting white heel is gorgeous too.
Ever so slightly more affordable, the talented Marc Jacobs has come up with a patent navy shoe boot to die for. How does he do it? Simply beautiful.

Another beautful Marc Jacobs creation, it so wouldn't be Marc Jacobs if it didn't have an innovative heel!
I simply adore the shape of French Connections 'Jennifer boot' retailing at £135 (around $270)

Love these gorgeous boots from La Redoute, encompassing a bit of the 'gladiator' look. Long length tongue adds an extra style twist. These are currently selling at £55 (around $110).

These black leather hidden platform shoe boots from New look are stylish too, would look great with skinny jeans and a cape, currently retailing at £40 (around $80).

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Found a cute pair at Dorothy Perkins, really like the low front and runched leather. These are fab for daytime as the heel is small.

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Festival-wear

Two of the biggest Festivals this summer are over, but thankfully we still have three big festivals to look forward to! Creamfields (23-25th Aug), Reading (23-25th Aug) and Besitval on the Isle of White (5-7th Sept).

With British weather and rustic camping to contend with, you may find it a little tricky to dress accordingly without losing your sense of style, so I’m here to help!

Seeing the likes of Sienna Miller, Kelly Osborne, Ferne Cotton Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Moss (to name just a few of my favourite festival junkies) looking comfortably stylish and chic in festival snapshots has made festival wear a new, unique style of its own which doesn’t necessarily need to be restricted to festivals anymore. Festival style clothing is comfortable, refreshing and non restrictive. People tend to push their own personal boundaries a little with a happy blend of hippy, bohemian, retro, nu-rave and emo... anything goes. We’re now seeing plenty of festival inspired clothing on the street, so even those who don’t plan to attend any of the upcoming festivals - read on for a little fashion inspiration.



Dresses are a super easy, simple and comfortable option for festivals. They also add a little glamour and femininity for those who choose to go it au-natural (sans make-up). Amongst a huge selection of great dresses at Asos, I found this lovely ditsy print dress which would be a perfect dress for any festival (£55).

Click to buy: Link to item

This type of dress would look fantastic teamed up with a brown waist-belt and thick black tights. I also found this gorgeous long knitted waistcoat at Miss Selfridge (shop online at http://www.misselfridge.com) for a hippy, boho ‘Sienna’ look (and to add little warmth).

Click to buy: Link to item

If shorts are more your style, Topshop (http://www.topshop.com) and ASOS (http://www.asos.com) have a fantastic choice, from high waisted ‘Mischa Barton style shorts’ to hipster ‘Kate Moss style’ hot pants. I love these eye catching turquoise coloured hot pants (£25); coloured denim is tipped to be a very popular trend this season!

Click to buy: Link to item

For a relaxed, dressed-down but funky festival style, I’m also loving these logoed t-shirts from ‘Junk Food’s’ latest range as seen recently on Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan.

Click to buy: Link to item

To keep warm in the evenings, I suggest either a trendy warm hoodie or a lightweight jacket. You’ll find a decent selection on the high street, but this Animal Print Bomber from New Look is our favourite at just £20.

Click to buy: Link to item

A sensible bag is a definite ‘must’ at a Festival, something stylish yet practical, which will allow you to dance to your hearts content without losing your valuables. Messenger styles are the most appropriate, and we just adore this gorgeous Woven bag from ASOS.

Click to buy: Link to item

For the Nu-raver’s amongst you, bum-bags are the way forward, and Topshop have delivered, offering them in both blue and pink for £15.

That’s the clothes sorted, now lets talk wellies! If you prefer a plain pair of Wellies, then Hunter’s are the way to go, seen on the likes of Kate Moss and Sienna Miller. This year they have launched their new ‘Festival’ range retailing at £75.

For the more fun-loving festivalgoer who wants something a little special to splash around the mud in we love these Babycham Wellies (£29.99 at dr shoes)

If wellies really aren’t your thing then how about these leather boots from Topshop? You could even team them up with your favourite pair of knee high socks.

Click to buy:Link to item

Of course, no festival outfit would be complete without your favourite pair of sunnies and plenty of good accessories. We love these Jeepers Peepers in candy colours (£12) and this leopard print scarf from Oasis to keep you warm. (£20)

For the perfect Festival outfit, dress comfortably, fields and stilettos do not mix! And remember layering is key!

Post written by:
Alexa Gilbert
(London College of Fashion)

The clutch bag

So, we're seeing the clutch everywhere this season, but are you hesitant to try them? My first thoughts on the clutch bag trend were: 'extremely stylish, but totally impractical!' I mean, what if I need to use my hands? Having a bag over my shoulder, or in the crook of my arm is what I'm used to and definitely seems a much more sensible and practical option. That was until I spotted a beautiful cream croc skin oversized clutch a few months ago and tried it out... I fell head over heels in love! Seriously, it was so comfortable in the palm of my hand. I bought it and wore it out that weekend, kind of expecting to get irritated with it halfway through the night, but I took the chance anyway because it looked so good.

From my own experience, I would highly recommend a clutch bag now, I love this style. The clutch really fits super comfortably in the palm of your hand. When you sit down it looks pretty on your lap too, and if you need to use your hands - it clutches neatly underneath your arm. The clutch is feminine, stylish arm candy. For those who really can't imagine a bag without a strap, thankfully - you'll find many clutches come with a detachable strap too.

Clutches are extremely versatile and adaptable, they can be worn casually as Kate Moss does in this pic, or on a night out with a stylish dress.

Victoria Beckham looks amazing here with her Special order Hermes Baccara Crocodile Clutch at the Oscar de la Renta Spring 2008 Fashion Show. (http://www.hermes.com/). To me, the clutch is the best and most striking piece of Victoria's well thought out outfit. As I said earlier, they sit perfectly on your lap too when you're sitting! In fact, I think the clutch looks a lot neater than a bulky arm handbag.

I particularly love the style of Mary-kate and Ashley Olsen, they make the clutch look effortlessly stylish here in 2007.

I'm loving Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. 'Signature - Carlisle' Convertible Clutch Tote - $425.00 at http://www.nordstrom.com/ and http://www.bloomingdales.com/

This Topshop Navy Leather oversize clutch is also beautiful, it's currently selling at £30.00 (http://www.topshop.com/). This bag is perfect for day and night and has a bit of a hippy, bohemian feel to it.

I found this little funky Retro "Yellow Submarine" Beatles clutch bag at http://www.thefest.com/ selling at $29.50. It would brighten up any daytime outfit. Would look fab with a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I could imagine Agyness Deyn or Peaches Geldof pulling this little clutch off perfectly.




New Look make plenty of really cute and inexpensive clutches, such as this Limited Edition Over Sized Snake Print Clutch (http://www.newlook.co.uk/) which is selling at £20, you can buy it in Gold or Black. Personally, I love any kind of animal influenced items, be it skin or prints, it can add a real edge to Accessories.

I also found this gorgeous little woven clutch for only £5, which you can buy in Brown, Red or Silver.

Though at $795, this is probably over many of our budgets, I love this MCM Women's Pop Croco Medium Clutch (http://www.bloomingdales.com/). Click to buy: http://www1.bloomingdales.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=125794&CategoryID=10009&PageID=10007*1*24*-1*-1*6

Blossom with florals

One would need to have been living in a cocoon to not have noticed the floral prints on virtually every spring catwalk and worn on many a shop manequin this season. This creative trend started off with small, almost identical calico prints on soft cotton flowy fabrics, however the flowers are getting bigger, bolder and much brighter as the style develops. Celebrities all over the globe are trotting around wearing florals this season.

Kate Moss pulls off the trend beautifully, looking casual, but incredibly stylish in this gorgeous floaty green floral dress. She teams it up with tights and ballet flats.

Sienna Miller looks effortlessly chic in this vintage floral cotton dress with bare legs and my favourite 'Devi Kroel' Python boots ($1990 http://www.devikroell.com/08/).

Florals definitely aren't restricted to dresses however, we're seeing them on skirts, tops, bikini's, jewellery, handbags, purses, and even printed on pj's and underwear! I seriously love this trend, its so feminine and pretty, yet it can still look sophistocated and not too girlie. The floaty dresses are fantastic on most figures as they hide a multitude of sins, along with the prints which detract the eye from any unforgiving body parts. If you don't like to show off your legs, you can also go for the ultra stylish maxi dress.

I'm loving this Floral cuff by Karen Millen (£75 from http://www.asos.com/)

I found this cute bohemian looking floral vest/dress in Marine/Teal at New look (http://www.newlook.co.uk/). A steal at £16!

Topshop (http://www.topshop.co.uk)/ have a huge range of floral bits, from corsages, to plimsoles, dresses, tops and knickers. I found this gorgeous little vintage peach floral top with ruffles/frills for £35, which I think is a fantastic buy. It would look great with blue skinny or flared jeans and a leather belt.

These flat t-bars, currently selling at £20 in Topshop are really cute and interesting. Would look fab with black tights.

A quick word of advice when shopping at Topshop: Keep checking the sale, loads of items tend go on sale toward the end of season, with massive price cuts!

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