Green Undies From Marks and Spencer

I love the idea of green undies. I suppose it’s because they are the one article of clothing closest to our skin, and when one reads all this awful stuff about how these ordinary products are actually treated with scary chemicals and made under dodgy conditions, it makes sense to be extra careful.

So when I found out that Marks and Spencer, one of my favourite brands of undies since I was a child, had built what is probably the world’s most eco-friendly factory in Thurulie (not far from the capital, Colombo), Sri Lanka, I was excited and pleased.  It’s amazingly a 100 per cent carbon neutral, 100 per cent green, 100 per cent ethical factory – in a lush, green, tropical setting that looks more like the latest eco-friendly boutique hotel rather than a factory. Apparently, after seeing Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth”, M & S chairman Sir Stuart Rose made a plan to actually do something about climate change through his business, creating a “5-point 100 step initiative” which involves things as simple as reducing plastic bags and hangers to building amazing factories like this.

The undies are very reasonably priced too. Like the “Per Una” Organic briefs above (panties) which range from £2.00 – £6.00 or under $12. Bras are no more than about £15 or $30.

Advice for Petite Women

Naturally, petite woman have a desire to look tall, it is not just about the clothes they wear, but the posture they hold.However, for women a sure way to create an illusion of being a little taller is to wear strips going down, never across. In addition, a good trick is to wear quite light clothes, for instance chiffon or cotton material, so when they walk they do not feel so weighed down, and therefore tend to walk tall with their shoulders and head held high.

A round neck I have always felt makes you look shorter and a little plump, go for a V-neck, or even try the Kaftans style tops could work wonders.

A very simple light jacket, nothing with patterns on or to much detail, a lot of detail closes a person in, you want people to see you for you, not be hit with to much detail, it would just be to chaotic for your small frame.

Victoria Beckham’s Inspiration: The Brit School Teacher

I suppose it makes sense when you think about it, with those pencil skirts, high-heeled stilettos and trademark tight-lipped facial expression.  Posh Spice once claimed that she never even owned a pair of flats, but was busted this summer when she was caught in flip-flops at Disneyland. Far from dressing like a relaxed Californian since her move to the States, Victoria has gone the other way, dressing more un-laid back like ever before in tailored, tight pieces that scream “uncomfortable”.

When asked about this change in style,  the Essex-born Victoria told Company Magazine in an article out this week:

“It hasn’t, not at all. I am very British in my style. Think school teacher…..I love pencil skirts and fitted blouses, classic cut dresses and well fitted jeans mixed with classic tailoring.”

Hmmm. Having lived in the UK, I can honestly say that most British girls are actually some of the most relaxed dressers I know, bordering on the scruffy, especially if they spend a lot of time in the Country. Victoria, I believe has a style of her own, purely made for the pages of the tabloids.  Why the woman sold 400,000 copies of her book on fashion, The Extra Half an Inch is completely beyond me. The Guardian newspaper sums it up rather perfectly.  Here’s a bit of it:

I have no qualifications to write this book; that’s why I’ve got someone else to do it for me. But let me share my insights anyway. First I’d like to knock something on the head. The idea that, once you have a bit of money, you start wearing couture and stilettos all day and live on caviar and champagne is just nonsense. They’ve both got far too many calories.

My own inspirations come from Grace Kelly, Jackie Onassis and Giacometti sculpture, but this book is not my attempt to tell you what or what not to do. It’s my last chance to cash in on what remains of my fame before David retires.

I am grateful for the possibility of being close to Victoria’s credit card” – Roberto Cavalli.

Is Anna Wintour The Worst Dressed For 2008?

The fashion police were out for the end-of-year judgements and you’ll never guess who made it to the Worst Dressed list of Time Magazine…..Anna Wintour, Vogue editor and Meryl Streep’s inspiration in The Devil Wears Prada. Yes, the silver monstrosity by Lagerfeld she wore at the Costume Institute Gala was certainly a faux pas, but to give her credit, the theme was “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy”.

More unlikely A-listers who made it to the bad list included:

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow came in fourth with the transparent lace basque Antonio Berardi dress she donned at the Paris premiere of Two Lovers in November.

The ensemble – which showed part of her breasts, thighs and even her white underwear – was slammed by fashionistas.

Position number seven was awarded to Katie Holmes for the white silk jumpsuit and black lacy top combination she wore to the opening of her play All My Sons last month.

Surprisingly the badly-received outfit wasn’t the fault of an expensive designer; it was designed by Mrs Cruise herself.

Others in the top ten include Paula Abdul, Kate Bosworth and Beyonce.

Holiday Shopping: Party Dress Tips

The holidays are here and it’s time to dress up, ladies (and gentlemen)! If you’re one who normally prefers to dress “down” rather than “up”, you now have the perfect opportunity to show some sparkle by dressing up for all those parties and get-togethers in the coming weeks. And the simplest way? Through a good party dress.

Good things about The Dress:

1. You just throw it on – no need to worry about matching/coordinating as with separates.

2. There’s just something about wearing a dress that makes a woman feel instantly feminine and good all around (provided it fits well).

3. Dresses are easy to find and surprisingly cheap these days.

4. For even more penny pinching, use an old “Little Black Dress” and  simply glam it up by adding on some statement jewelry like some chunky jewelled cuffs or an interisting necklace. If you still don’t have that LBD wardrobe staple (shame on you!), do yourself a favour and buy one today. Try Top Shop for some cool LBD’s that will last years. H & M also has finds that will keep your Christmas budget lean and healthy.

5. Lastly, don’t forget good undies.  A good dress will look even more fabulous on you when you make the effort to wear the “streamlining” kind like shapewear. Its not cheap, but unless you are a pilates fanatic with  buns of steel, it is so worth the expense.

Who Is More Stylish? Michelle Obama or Sarah Palin?

Looking Smart in Valentino

With the U.S. election days just days away and the frenzy coming to an end, it’s a good time to ask the burning question of the campaign:

Who was more stylish? Michelle Obama or Sarah Palin?

Let’s start with the Alaskan Mom, whose recession-unfriendly shopping spree made headlines this week.

A mere three months ago, Sarah Palin was a nobody.  And indeed, the Lady Governor looked the part, as seen in this photo taken from a UK paper wherein Ms.Palin is dressed more like Rosanne Barr from the 80’s sitcom (and it seemed to suit her too).  It’s amazing what a bit of cash and a LOT of professional styling can do though, because by the time she was introduced at Mc Cain’s VP, in her smart black suit, red heels by Naughty Monkey, and “updo”, Ms.Palin decidedly had created her new Republican look, which was later perfected by Tina Fey. Add on her trademark glasses, peeptoes and earrings (be they indigenous Alaskan or hoop), and you had the Sarah Palin style, which, when more designer labels were thrown in, was elevated from “middle management” to CEO. But then again, whose look wouldn’t be upgraded with $150,000 spent at Neiman Marcus?

Michelle in a Carrie Bradshaw-inspired outfit?

Michelle Obama, on the other hand, had, I believe, a better sense of style to begin with, even before all this election kaffuffle. The Havard grad declared that she likes online shopping for sensible brands like J Crew, and has even been likened to Jackie O (wow, that’s what I call the ultimate compliment), proving that you don’t need a huge budget to show your sense of style. Ms. Obama likes her outfits simple, sharp and put-together, as seen in her thigh high boots and slick coat ensemble she wore on her birthday in Las Vegas, prompting The New York Times to say that she “dresses to win”. And you know what’s the most surprising thing of all? No, not that she can pull of pearls without looking matronly like Barbara Bush, but that she apparently dresses on her own, without the use of a personal stylist.

Halloween 2008 Fashion Trends

Halloween is upon us, and as everyone knows, the best thing about the spooky holiday is dressing up.

On the street,  fashion pundits are predicting that the trends for 2008 are the characters who stood out this year, mostly from t.v and film.

For the youngerlings, everyone’s favourite tween popstar, Hannah Montana; the High School Musical gang like Sharpay and Gabriella are strong favourites, meaning sparkly jeans, rhinestones, fringes and wigs are in order. Boys will likely be seen as The Joker, now immortalized in even scarier form by the late Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight”.  Star Wars costumes are what I would call “classic”, but even more so with the release of the Clone Wars cartoon this year, we’re sure to spot more than a few Darth Vaders, Storm Troopers, and Jedis.

Current “in” personalities like the presidential hopefuls and Sarah Palin (who can forget Tina Fey and Palin in SNL?) are likely to be seen roaming the streets and parties this Halloween season, which I have to admit, I’ll be looking forward to! Olympic costumes should also be trendy, with swimming attire and medals ala Michael Phelps, which hopefully wont send the wearer home with a cold.

On the runway, its nice to see Brit handbag lady Anya Hindwitch (I mean, March) get into the spirit with her weeklong Halloween Extravaganza at her stores. What a great marketing move! Another great reason for me to head straight for her shops!

According to Vogue:

“…To get you in the spooky mood, the designer’s stores – as well as online boutique – will be hosting a week-long Trick or Treat extravaganza where, if you pick a treat from Anya Hindwitch’s Trick or Treat bag, you could end up winning yourself a clutch, purse, key ring or even a bag from the autumn/winter 2008-9 collection.

Pick a trick, however, and it’s a forfeit for you – in the shape of sinister stickers and jelly brain and lucky bone sweets. Do you dare?..”

Scarves, Style and Celebrities

I never thought of myself a scarf person. As a student living in Paris in the early 90’s, I sometimes donned the “cravat” look, tying an Hermes scarf (or one that looked like it) around my neck, above my navy blazer, complete with shoulder pads. Very 90’s Eurotrash. Since then, scarves have not been an essential in my wardrobe, except for when the weather dictated. Until a trip to Laos last month.

In Laos I discovered the most beautiful scarves. Gorgeous designs, intricate weaves, they were so many to choose from (at great prices), and best of all they were soft and wearable.  I went crazy in the Luang Prabang night market (a veritable treasure trove of scarves and embroidered linens) and came home with 10 scarves for me plus some for presents (which the recipients loved). What an amazing place that was.

But back to scarves. Since then, I’ve rarely been without my beloved scarves (great for all weather I’ve discovered since the sweltering heat of Laos).  I find that it completes my look and adds that little extra bit of style. Even my fashion-forward 6-year-old loves scarves, and I must say they look fab on her.

In Hollywood, scarves are almost a necessity (for the stylish at least), as seen on Nicole, Lindsay, Jessica et al. In fact, they’ve all been wearing them since last spring, by both men and women. There’s even been a book written about celebrities and their knitted scarves aptly called “Celebrity Scarves“, written by Abra Edelman. Aside from great photos of the celebs in their own creations (people like Daryl Hannah, Rosario Dawson, Eartha Kitt, Portia de Rossi and Parker Posey), it gives instructions on how to recreate the scarves yourself if you happen to be a knitter.

Whats Your Fashion Style?

Now for the pressing question every gal’s gotta know. 

“What is your fashion style?“

Here are some of our favourite places online you can find it out.

Ladies Home Journal: 10 fun questions, asking you things like: “If you were to open a business, what would it be?”

I Village UK: This one from the UK promises to discover your “inner style”, questions like ” Your favourite Decade Is…” (the 1940’s-50’s was my definitely my favourite- everyone was so coiffed!).

Retro Runway: This one is for the younger gals. Are you stuck in a time warp? Find out at:

Celebrity Beauty Buzz: I admit, I’m a bit of a celebrity fan. How can you not look at what they’re wearing when they have access to the best designers, stylists and fitness trainers?  So are you a Gwyneth or a Gwen?

Celebrity Holiday Style: One more celebrity quiz – as its October tomorrow, the holidays are definitely creeping up.  Find out if you’re a Cate Blanchette or a Kate Hudson when you get into the season this year. Warning: this one is a manual one, so you have to add up the points yourself.  Hey, its good to exercise those grey cells too, ladies!

And a tribute to my all time favourite fahionistas, every girl should know which Sex In the City girl she is! In case you were wondering, I’m Charlotte .  But I wish I were Carrie!

Which decade are you? The 70’s!

1970s:

Where do I start? How about I make a list of the words that come to mind: Hot pants! Platform shoes, jeans, bell bottoms, polyester, mini skirts, maxi skirts, Yves Saint Laurent, Charlie’s Angels, disco fever, cat suits, trouser suits, custom t-shirts, three piece suits, and the list can go on…

This is the decade in which my mother was in her twenties and when I was born. I have seen the pictures, and I have fit into her old clothes that still have a special place in her walk-in closet. I definitely like the whole ‘boho’ look that came out of the late 1960s and 1970s and admit to owning many clothes in that style, but I cannot imagine living during this decade. I’ll leave that look to Sienna Miller and Kate Moss.