The Christmas Party Dress

With Halloween and Guy Fawkes recently passed, now is the time we all start feeling the Christmas spirit, yes the much anticipated season full of festivities! You can be sure that there will be plenty of party invitations; Christmas-time is most everybody’s excuse to kick back and enjoy themselves after a long year of work or study!

Don’t be left wondering what to wear! Whether you are after a newer LBD or something a completely different, now is the time to start hunting around for that perfect party dress (or more if you don’t want to be seen in the same outfit twice!... don’t worry you can always sell them on Fabricjam after you’ve worn them!).

If they haven’t already, many retailers will have their party dresses hitting the stores this week and it’s up to you to find that gem amongst the rubble.

I’ve spent some time browsing around and have managed to track down some great dresses to offer you some style tips and inspiration. If you’re sitting at an office desk – it’s the next best thing to being in a fashion show! (I’ve included the weblinks should you wish to buy any).

So these are my favourite little finds…

Oasis is always one of my first stops when I’m looking for something a little special and yet again they haven’t disappointed. My favourite from the collection is this beautiful art deco dress.£110
(Link to buy)

It tackles one of the biggest trends this season, sequins, which on paper could be a disaster but in reality it is truly gorgeous.

If you just can’t live without your Little Black Dress then why not take a look at the range devoted to them at Oasis. My favourite from the LBD range is this foil lace creation. The classic shift shape makes the dress timeless while the lace design feature is bang on trend for this season. Just team with thick black tights and sky-high heels, keep accessories to a minimum and let the dress do the talking! £75 (Link to buy)

Kate Moss launched her Christmas range for Topshop last week, which included some great party ideas. This aptly named ‘flirty dress’ is gorgeous and is available in two colours. (Link to buy )



This dress would work perfectly for a work Christmas party as it can be worn from day to night. And when the summer months come back around it can be worn without tights and your favourite pair of Havaianas!

And again, Topshop wouldn’t be complete without its own version of the LBD. (Link to buy)

This dress is gorgeous and adds a little fun to the normally plain LBD…it’s also quite reasonable at just £40!

My final High Street best buys come from a different source than usual, Debenhams! Perhaps not one of your normal stops on the High Street for party wear, but their more recent collections are definitely worth taking a look.

If your are lucky enough to be attending a truly glamorous Christmas party then you will be set to turn some heads in this classic red dress (also a massive colour for this season!) Think Katherine Heigl at the Oscars this year...

Link to buy

(Image courtesy of JustJared)

If you are after something a little shorter but still want to add a some colour into your outfit you really cant go wrong with this deep purple baby doll dress, from their ‘Sirens’ collection. (Link to buy )

It can be worn with or without opaque black tights, depending on how brave you are, and the weather of course!

Lastly, a few of my favourite designer pieces this season if you want to splash out or go full glamour!

Lover

Floral mini dress

£385 / $770

Philosophy Di Alberta Ferretti

Stretch satin dress

£280 / $560

Oscar de la Renta

Silk faille embroidered dress

£3180 / $6360

Missoni

Clarissa strapless dress

£1515 / $3030

Marni

Ruffle neck dress

£775 / £1550

Marchesa

Asymmetric pleat dress

£2,660 / $5320

(My personal FAVOURITE!)

Celia Kritharioti

Ruffle front dress
£535.00 / $1070

Antik Batik

Kika Tunique mini dress
£180 / $360

Fendi

Bow belt dress
£960 / $1920

Christian Dior

Strapless dress with rose detail

£3,815.00 / $7630

Whatever style you are going for this Christmas the High Street will have something special to offer you…with classic LBD’s and jewel coloured shifts you are sure to sparkle at this years Christmas party!

Remember if the colour is brighter than your usual, or if the detail is interesting then it’s wise to play it down with classic jewellery and thick black tights. Here Sienna does doesn’t let anything detract from the intricate detail on her Balenciaga dress.

...And lastly, don’t worry if you play it safe with a LBD, they’re called a classic for a reason... They are slimming, flattering, can be adapted to any style and quite simply never go out of Fashion!

Post by Alexa Gilbert, contributions from Claire Webb

It's Cool to be Comfortable!

Knitwear is set to be massive this season, with designers such as Stella McCartney, Christopher Kane and House of Holland showcasing their best knitting skills on the catwalk. The look this season is all about comfort and layering. Think chunky turtles necks and fine knit dresses. As Teen Vogue’s Fashion Director has sighted: "It’s ‘cool to be comfortable’ this season".

Forget knitting being reserved for your Gran and badly fitting cable knit (well fitted cable knit actually looks fab and is a definite 'must have' this season!) Knitwear has infiltrated most aspects of our wardrobes as of this autumn. From skirts to dresses to capes, the High Street is full of knitwear!

Normally I would advise not to ‘over-do’ a trend but that’s out the window this season! Wear knitwear head to toe, in combination with another big trend this season, layering!

Stars from Peaches Geldof and Hillary Duff to supermodel Claudia Schiffer have adopted the look.

As usual, Topshop is amongst the early adopters of this trend with a wide variety of knitted products on offer. From this knitted cape at £40 to this great knitted gilet at £38.





Go to Cape on Topshop website





Topshop Knitted Gilet




Go to Gilet on Topshop website








If you are heading out on to the High Street then I strongly suggest you pay Mango a visit. Mango’s latest collection is full of greys, deep purples and of course a spectrum of knits. From cable to fine knits, you will find something that suits you. H&M have also just launched their Autumnal offer, complete with cable knit skirts, and hot tipped product of the season, jumper dresses.

On the web, my two favourite e-tailers, ASOS and Oli.co.uk have chipped in to help knitwear become one of the biggest trends this season. I love this Chanel-inspired cardi at £45, just like style icon Alexa Chung.























And can just imagine snuggling in this cosy cream cable knit option from Oli at £45.

Go to item on Oli website

Knits don’t have to be reserved for cardigans and jumpers, this season we are seeing them turn up in skirts, dresses, capes and of course accessories so this trend is really open for you to interpret! Try to layer your knits, and don’t be afraid to experiment...

…remember if you look cosy, you’ve got the trend spot on!

Post By Alexa Gilbert

London Institute of Fashion

Roll up your Boyfriend Jeans!

The new trend hitting the High Street this week is rolled up denim. Think Boyfriend jeans and your favourite pair of heels…carrying your day look right into the the evening.

Celebs Katie Holmes and Rachel Bilson have really perfected this look, resulting in that effortlessly cool look we all love.

Rolled up jeans can be worn with flat pumps during the day like Katie does, but they are really made for showing off statement shoes. I love Katie's Gladiator heels paired up with boyfriend jeans. To complete this as an evening look, team up your jeans and statement shoes with a simple white vest, your sexiest black bra and favourite jewellery.
If you’re petite, heels are a must as rolled up jeans can shorten the appearance your legs. Gladiator heels are perfect for this look; we love these gorgeous Gladiator heels from Faith (£75)

When buying your pair of boyfriend jeans consider the length and width of the leg. Topshop have a great pair for just £40, these have a wider leg giving a more casual feel.

click here to buy.

You can either roll them up, or just gather them up and pin them to match your own style.

If you are after a slightly smarter look then straight-legged jeans are the way forward. I’ve found another fab pair at Topshop (£35)

click here to buy.

A good variety of Jeans are a staple in any wardrobe, these styles are also timeless, so it’s definitely worth investing in a good quality pair. For that there is only one place to go and that is Diesel.


Click: Diesel Nyoka jeans to buy.

These structured, tapered jeans would go perfectly with a killer pair of heels as well as your favourite pumps.

To add a bit of an 80’s feel to your look (which is becoming quite a rage at the moment) why not try a faded or ripped pair of jeans, we love these from Diesel at £120.

And remember if you have a restricted budget; just grab your boyfriends for the perfect

oversized look!

Try not to over-style this look, keep it simple, and remember to wear a fitted top to balance out your baggy bottoms. If you choose to wear them with pumps during the day - then a statement scarf or Chanel inspired jacket (check out Peacocks for their new autumn/winter collection, out September 1st!) are a must.

If you’re carrying this look into the evening then the bigger the heels the better!!

Post written by Alexa Gilbert

(London college of Fashion)

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)