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).

Click on logo to go to site:

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.

Click on logo to go to site

The Chanel 2.55

With Christmas not too long away now, its time to start writing your Christmas wishlist…and top of mine is a quilted Chanel 2.55 bag!

The bag is named 2.55, as it was created in February 1955. This long standing Accessory is still a huge fashion 'must have' today, and is frequently seen decorating the arms of countless celebrities. The bag is versatile enough to be adapted to many different styles from day casual to career and evening wear. Here Alexa Chung looks stunning wearing hers combined with a 'typical Alexa' black satin bow dress.
















































Back in 1955 it was Coco Chanel herself with the bag on her arm, and nowdays it's no less than the beautiful Polish model Daria Werbowy who models the timeless Chanel 2.55. Yes it's all about iconic fashion!

Mischa Barton, Mary-Kate Olsen and Victoria Beckham are all devotee's of the quilted bag, and as you can see, it's not just black that makes a statement. The bag is also available in white, Gold, silver and red.












Sienna Miller and Lindsay Lohan both love their Chanel 2.55 handbag.

If you are interested in picking up one for yourself, then you will have to visit one of the boutiques as you cant get them online. It will be worth the journey though for the quality of service and gift-wrapping!

The bags retail in the early thousands, so if this is slightly out of your price range then you can always borrow one. Yes, you read right, you can now borrow designer bags from online sites such as Fashionhire.co.uk. You can pick up a Chanel 2.55 for around £70 a month.

Of course, if this is still a little out of your price range then the High Street has a number of interpretations available.

Not always an obvious choice but Dorothy Perkins are so on trend this season, especially with this patent Chanel inspired quilted bag for just £12!

Click on the following logo to shop at Dorothy Perkins:

I really love this little number from ASOS, the lining of this offer is beautiful and really compliments this gorgeous patent oversized clutch, £39.

Topshop have also taken inspiration from the fashion house that invented the Little Black Dress with this Chanel inspired quilted bag

If you love Chanel as much as I do and you happen to live in the UK, then may I suggest you take a trip to Primark this week, they have a gorgeous tweed Chanel inspired jacket selling at £17 and beautiful quilted pumps in cream and black that just scream Coco! Just team with a plain white tee and your favourite pair of skinny jeans for a fantastic street look.

Post by Alexa Gilbert
London College of Fashion

In need of some Christmas gift inspiration? Then take a look at some of the stores below:

I'm with the band!

This season is going to see the return of bands such as Led Zepplin, AC\DC and The Police. No, no they’re not doing a ‘Take That’ and reforming, they’re appearing across the chests of stars such as Kylie, Lindsey Lohan and Carmen Electra.

Stars have adopted the look with the likes of Kylie supporting 'The Police' and Lindsay supporting 'Iron Maiden' with their retro Tee's.

As for wear to buy them, vintage is always best. Beyond Retro and Rokit are both great shops to pick up a vintage band tee, but be prepared to pay a little more for the truly retro bands.

If rummaging through racks of Vintage clothes isn’t your thing, the Internet is always a good place to start. Moretvicar.com is a great website where you can buy vintage t-shirts and they come in both men’s and women’s (Men’s t-shirts are easily adaptable and can give you a cool oversized look).

I love this Sex Pistols t-shirt, with diamantes to add a little femininity to the look, for £35.






















And of course, ASOS is not far behind with a wide range of Junk Food t-shirts. (which pay homage to not just bands but to superheroes too!) including
this AC/DC t-shirt (£40)
























Or you can follow in Kylie’s footsteps and pick up this Police offering



















If you are still unsure on how to wear this trend, here are my 5 Band Tee rules:

1) Retro is best: Make sure you stick to old bands rather than contemporary ones. If your Tee looks too new then you’ve got the style wrong.


2) Don’t wear it too tight. Why not go a size or two bigger? For an evening look tuck into a high-waisted pencil skirt or with super skinny jeans and killer heels.

3) For a day look, team with a pair of converse or ripped denim shorts, tights and pumps. If you’re a little more adventurous, why not follow in Aggy’s footsteps and team with a pair of tailored trousers and braces.

4) If you can’t find the exact style you like, you can always customise! Slash the neck line for a truly 80’s look (set to be big this season!)

5) Finally and most importantly, keep it simple and relaxed. To avoid looking contrived keep hair and make up to a minimum but perhaps add some gothic dark nails.

Post written by Alexa Gilbert
London College of Fashion

Inspired to Accessorize

Accessories add the perfect finishing touch to any outfit. A gorgeous necklace, bracelet, earrings or the right handbag, belt, tights or scarf can be really eye-catching, stylish and expressive. If your outfit is a little on the plain side, you can really go to town with accessories.

I'm especially loving long gold and silver vintage necklaces, plain or with charms. These can come understated and thin or bold and chunky as Sienna does here. You can wear a few or buy them as a group of necklaces connected together. Pretty diamonds, pearls and charms always look sophistocated and glamorous - especially on that special occasion or on a night out. Interesting, bold and chunky bits are great eye-candy if you don't mind people looking! Be adventurous, creative and wear your accessories with confidence - don't offer any apologies and you'll pull it off just fine!

Animal print and vintage inspired bracelets/bangles, neck scarves and handbags are also a hot trend at the moment. I particularly love the Peacock feather earrings that you'll find in different variations at a lot of stores right now. Ever since Sienna Miller stepped out in that Matthew Williamson Peacock dress in 2005, Peacock feathers have braced many a catwalk and we've seen them adapted to and used on many different items.

Big, bold and interesting ear-rings are still very much in, but check and be careful with wearing weighty ear-rings as wearing these too often can severely and permanently distort the shape of your ears.

Skinny belts look extremely stylish sitting around the waist, gathering in looser fitting shirts, dresses and tunics. Wide waist belts are still very much in fashion too!

Scarves, wraps and Pashmina's look stunning worn so many ways, around the shoulders, neck, waist or even a little one tied to your handbag!

Handbags and purses are gorgeous in all shapes and sizes this season. You can go: Large or Small; Nappa or Shiny patent leather; Hippy Hobo style or Neat; Large or Small clutch; Bright or Neutral coloured (to name but a few different styles!) As you can see - there really are virtually no exclusions. It's all about being yourself, using different handbags with different outfits, being bold, creative and finding what fits in with your own personal style.

This is most certainly a season where almost anything goes. As long as you love what you wearing, you will look comfortable in your own skin and it will almost certainly look chic.

I've done some style-stalking and collated a few pictures of Celebrities wearing fantastic accessories. Enjoy, be inspired!






Kate Moss wears a stunning glittery shrug, vintage earrings and coloured scarf, then for the day she wears her balenciaga oversized bag, white ray-bans and a few silver diamond bracelets























Miley Cyrus CMT Music Awards, 2008 wearing Diamond, drop earrings.
















Katherine Heigl 2008 looking very glamorous wearing diamond stud earrings and a triple strand pearl necklace, and then wearing a bold shiny metallic necklace




















Ashlee Simpson-Wentz wears a single headband, oversized shades, oversized leather handbag/purse and a vintage style necklace with charms
















Lauren Conrad wears a black waist belt and fine Gold vintage style necklace





















Sarah Jessica Parker wearing several necklaces in varying shapes and sizes with a daring combination of gold and silver chains, big beads and stones.


















Agyness Deyn wears a white harness, Sienna Miller wears a black leather harness.





























Sienna Miller wears a brown leather studded belt and a brown hippy style handbag.
















Kiera Knightly wears gold and emerald old hollywood glamour style vintage ear-rings



















Sienna Miller wears a leopard print wrap, silver bracelet, oversized straw bag and hat.














Gwen Stefani wearing a chic houndstooth check wrap slung stylishly across her shoulder, then again with an animal print handbag.

















Hayden Panettiere and Eva Longoria Parker, Hayden wearing diamond ear-rings and a clutch bag, Eva using an oversized red hobo style leather Handbag.


Kate Hudson wearing a Jimmy Choo's "Saba" bag, sunglasses and a scarf
















Beyoncé using her Dolce & Gabbana "Miss Pocket" Patchwork bag and wearing a long pretty necklace