Musos leading the way in the fashion stakes

Musicians have always led the way in more ways than just the music they write. Fashion often goes hand in hand with celebrities and
none more so in the music scene. Just think Blondie, Beatles, Abba,
Madonna and co. Often what they wore on stage was replicated across the world by teens and fashionable adults alike. We all like a trend to follow and it is often the people we look up to who set them.

Today, kids have even more choice of people to follow as there are far more "celebrities" now. Musicians are still leading the way though. Just take a look at these trend setters: Rihanna, Ladyhawke, Bat for Lashes, Lily Allen, Florence and the Machines, Goldfrapp and co. all flying the flag for fashionable sisterhood. Long live Frock and Roll!

Geek Chic

Geeeeeeeek! One of my favourite words yet I am still at a loss as how geek chic fashion has developed. Where did it come from? Suddenly it is cool to wear the same glasses you would have been bullied for wearing at school.

Short of having the tape around the edge of the rims, these are no different to the NHS glasses that the outcasts at school wore and yet it is fashionable to wear them even if you don't need them. Some people wear them with no lenses in - is this crazy or is it me?

Alexa Chung seems to champion the look with her wide rimmed specs and overly expensive satchel but no one can deny she does pull it off and look quite cool. Probably because she is the sort of girl who looks good wearing anything but she is not the only one to follow the trend. I know lots of people, mainly residing in the trendy East End of London, who will not step out of their trendy little loft style apartments without being kitted out head to toe in geekdom. It's kind of cool geek chic I guess and oh so spot on trend right now.

PS Talking of geeks, I am so proud of my boyfriend (self confessed geek) for how well his company is doing. Check out the company's blog at http://ubinow.net/blog/

SATC Part 2

I am soooooo excited about the second installment of Sex and The City. One of my favourties movies of all time, I can't wait to see the next one!

I love the whole fashion vibe around it and can't wait to see what trends will be set in 2010. Love it!

http://www.hbo.com/city/

Fire engine red lippy

Besides my wonderful red coat which I am hoping to get for Christmas. I am a big fan of red lipstick this winter. I am blonde but I still think the redder the better and, as long as you don't go too bold on the old eyes, you can pull it off with ease.

Probably best not to wear out if you want to smooch with your fella but wear it whilst dressed all in black with a little sparkly jacket and you are ready to P.A.R.T.Y!

Winter Warmers

Chunky knits are in. Big bad ass boyfriend cardi's are here to stay!
Just look at these lovelies being worn Stateside...

Winter and its many technicolour dreamcoats

Everyone loves to rush out and buy a new coat for winter. So, if you buy one staple for your wardrobe this festive season, make it the best and brightest coat you can find! Everyone who knows anything about fashion is wearing bold colours this season.

If you are slightly shy when it comes to colour, make it bold in other ways, whether it is an amazing fabric, a different style or bold structure, really go for it I say!
Some tweed or fake fur are good or old school thick grandad cardigans decorated with a vintage brooch, layered with a thick chunky bright scarf and a long 'T' underneath.



Leopard print is also back in fashion thanks to the likes of Kate Moss and co. Forget Vera Lynch - it's now classy short or long tailored coats for animal prints.







Whether it is toned down with a bright
chunky knit scarf, just that little pop of colour, say it loud and say it proud this winter girls.

Christmas wish list...

What I want for Christmas is... lots of things. I always say I don't want anything and try to deter friends and relatives from buying me anything but what girl doesn't secretly covet lots of little things that, should she have all the money in the world, and there were no kids starving in Africa, she would ask for...? Surprisingly, a lot of the things I lust after are summer related - perhaps because I am already thinking about my move down South next year. A lot further South...

First up is some proper ray bans. I have the fake red rimmed ones which do the job but nothing is as cool as the real deal. I am currently LOVING these turquoise numbers sported by Ashley Tisdale. All I need is some LA sunshine to go with them.

Next is a pair of cute, flat, black, ankle boots. Teamed with a little dress and black tights or skinnies would be ideal me thinks.

I have always bought Jane Norman coats. They fit me like a glove and I return
every winter for a snug fitted, high neck coat. This year I am coveting their fire engine red, textured tab-belt coat. Yum.

To go with my understated coat, I am thinking of headware and I currently love this from Accessorize. Hopefully I get it in my stocking as I have been a very good girl this year!

Places I like...

Gay Paris was the first romantic trip away with BB. Such fond memories despite the fact he was ill with food poisonening, poor thing. He bought the tickets for my 30th birthday, along with some other very thoughtful presents. He was also the first boyfriend to get my twin a present and, although we had only been dating a month at this stage, I knew then how much I was going to love him.

Beautiful Bergamo really is a sight for sore eyes. It has that old Italian charm, the one you can't find in one of Italy's main cities, which are so over run with tourists. This is how you imagine rustic Italy to be. Full of winding roads and beautiful smelling forestry; it is unkempt yet almost magical; truly wonderful, just like the local people.

If you go, make sure you stay with Mario and his lovely wife at Lavetta.
http://www.lavallettabergamo.it/eng/


Then there is Croatia. Such a beautiful place and again, quite unspoilt despite the fact hordes of tourists now flock there every year. It is best to see the islands by sea but if you get sea sick like me, then you are better off staying on land but doing small day trips.

Hvar and Dubrovnik are must sees and, don't forget to drop into Gils Bar in Dubrovnik for a cocktail or two - expensive but worth it. www.gilsdubrovnik.com

V cool.


You might not think Barcelona is a great location for a 3 day break in November; it is not much warmer than London, a lot of the shops and restaurants have closed for winter and there are only a handful of sites to see. How wrong you would be. The sun shone like a bright star in the sky and the people were as friendly as you would expect from the local Spaniards.

Favourite places there include St Joseph's Market with its brightly coloured sweets and fruit stalls, mushrooms galore and hanging hams. Animal lovers - beware of the stall selling our favourite pets - rabbits.

Prawns, live lobsters, chillies, fruit, choccies - this wonderful, eclectic and colourful market is a place where you can soak up the atmosphere, eat and drink away, all the whilse bustling Spaniards are doing their weekly shop around you.

We stayed at Confortel Auditori which is a nice, sleek hotel in walking distance from the main sites http://www.confortelhoteles.com and restaurants worth a visit are Les Quinze Nits in Plaza Real (just off La Rambla) and El Foro in Carrer de la Princesa.

Also, make sure you do the obligatory La Rambla where are all the street performers are lined up ready to show you their talents, visit the port, La Sagrada Familia (Gaudi's amazing unfinished church) and the Picasso Museum.

Final tip is hold onto your purses ladies. We did not have any trouble but have heard numerous (and I mean numerous) tales of people who have been mugged whilst over there.

Autumn

The leaves on the trees outside are such a beautiful colour. I love the fact that some are the brightest yellow and others are green, red, orange, purple. There is a crispness to the air and a crunch under your feet - just makes me want to go out and play in the park.