Shopping Spotlight: This Charming Girl

Based in Glasgow but sold in France, Greece and Spain as well as the UK, This Charming Girl offers a range of both vintage and contemporary jewellery at reasonable prices. Founded by designer Jacqueline Currie in 2006 it gives its consumers not just a piece of jewellery but a beautiful, diverse talking point with a unique design and materials from over 100 different sources.  The website shop showcases many beautiful necklaces, brooches and earrings, some of which are exclusive with very limited stock. If you want something individual and different get yourself online and bag yourself a beauty of your own. Below is Detours top three pieces from the collection for you to drool over…
 

Among the treasure trove of the online shop are these Decadence Earrings. A Charming exclusive they cost a mere £9.50. Made from from rare vintage pieces they are simply show stopping!

With bows as big as ever, this bow necklace is bang on trend. Made of antique brass they are an absolute steal at £9.
 

And for those of you waiting in anticipation for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland film… I present the “I’m Late, I’m Late” brooch. Made from antique gold and priced at a meager £8.50 this is one piece to snap up before its sold out!!

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, Lush Style

As a celebration of the new year Lush have put together a pack which, as suggested by its name, has something for all the body starting at the end and ending at your toes. Natasha Rampley outlines the special pack and delivers her verdict on Lush’s latest bulk offering.

The Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes pack costs £12.50 in-store and contains: a full size face mask of your choice and a full size of their BIG shampoo, as well as sample sizes of a moisturiser of your choice, Leomony Flutter cuticle butter, Handy Gurugu hand cream and Pied de Pepper foot lotion. The pack also includes a mini sugar scrub, one of their Vitamin C toner tabs and one of their Mini Each Peach massage bars. Plus, for some amusingly obscure reason explained within the pack, you receive a paper moustache to cut out and stick on your face, should you so wish.

Given the variety of products, and moustache, included in this pack £12.50 is a brilliant deal. The face masks and moisturisers are catered to your skins needs depending on which one you pick and that Lush smell, which entices many a customer through their doors, is transported from store to your room in this little box, resulting in your very own little slice of Lush. Perfect as either a gift for someone else or simply a little pick-me-up for yourself, this is something I’d recommend for Lush fans and those wanting to explore the Lush products but aren’t sure where to start.

More Fashion Fun

There is feeling of excitement and anticipation in Newcastle this week. Tuesday the 16th of February marks the opening of St. Andrews Way, Eldon Square, bursting with new shops and endless fashion possibilities.

Anyone who has been in town the last couple of days will have noticed something different. The lack of Topshop, New Look, Republic, River Island, Miss Selfridge, All Saints and Muse enticing us t buy lots of pretty things. This is because Eldon Square is having a re-vamp and it promises even more shops to spend your well-earned money in. New Look, River Island and Topshop are going to be flagship stores, which are the second biggest stores after those on Oxford Street. The latter - Topshop - will now have three floors! I don’t know about you, but I’m very excited about this. After recently visiting the Oxford branch, I had mentally spent hundreds of pounds in the vintage and brand section. Although I still can’t afford my dream wish list, I can now purchase a few of my favourites without having to travel to London to do so.

Another positive addition to Eldon Square is the opening of the four floor Debenhams, with floors dedicated to menswear, make-up, shoes and accessories, womenswear, childrenswear and home products. Also joining the St. Andrews Way gang are Superdry, Paperchase, Tesco Metro, Oasis, Dorothy Perkins and Schuh. The stores are holding events during the week, including make-overs, being snapped by fashion’s favourite blogger and stylist Jackie Dixon, gift cards, competitions and music talent. Throughout Eldon Square, the “Cook, Eat and Enjoy” festival is taking place all week. A health and beauty village will be running from the 18th to the 20th February, providing mini make-overs, style and beauty advice, samples from retailers like Boots, Fenwicks, Debenhams and John Lewis. You can look perfect and dazzling, especially if you want to be scouted by talent scouts looking for this year’s Miss Newcastle 2010. Dress to impress this week!

The main event though will be happening this Tuesday at 10.30am where the party begins, with cirus performers, street dancers, acrobats and stilt walkers.

To celebrate this new venture, I have included some of my favourite picks from some of the stores.

To chanel the girlie, feminine look of spring here are a few of my top choices in Topshop:

Or if you want to continue the Parisian look:

Another must-have this season are the floral bustier tops or bralets which to me remind me of more Victorian times, although a more riskier stance with stomachs on display. I’m going to team mine with wavy hair, high waisted shorts and some new flip flops. I like these two from Topshop and Miss Selfridge:

Miss Selfridge has a funky take this season, from polka dots to paint splattered dresses. Considering the former Newcastle branch was tiny, I am interested in seeing what the new store has to offer. My favourites that I’ve spied online are still very girlie but different:

When it comes to accessorises both shops have a lot to offer with kitsch necklaces, like this Topshop Key To My Heart one, I already have the 4 chained Once Upon A Time one as well as a gold looking glass necklace which everyone thinks is Disney couture, but only £8! Their watch ring is another fashion staple I’ve seen in every store recently. What with watches on necklaces, bracelets and now rings, how can we ever use the excuse of being late?! Miss Selfridge have caught on to the French trend with their own “Oui” and “Non” earrings as well as offering a different take on charms, with a watch bracelet.

Roxanne- My very own giant gobstopper

The palpitations my heart feels as I willingly let myself wander past the section devoted to handbags in the department store are not that of a heart attack but instead a feeling of lust and desire for something so close yet so far out of reach from my longing palms that wish to grasp the soft, smelling leather. Gliding isle by isle my eyes landscape the army of clutches and totes all metaphorically yelling at me to pick them to be my right ‘arm’ man.

It is almost as if I have travelled back in time. Lumbered once again with a huge fringe and missing teeth, I stand in my denim leggings paired with what would now be a revolting crop top and a bum bag buckled around my waist, which secures a Tamogotchi and pogs, I gaze at the mountains of sweets before me in the shop. Then I see it, the mother of all crushing bank balances a Roxanne Mulberry tote, the giant gobstopper of the sweet shop.

An iconic classic perched with its siblings on a polished shelf, Roxanne as her designer has so wisely named, meaning bright star, beams at me with her soft oak coloured leather and gold stud detail, a perfect addition to any outfit.

Picking up my chosen bag, the army surrounding me suddenly silence and the only sound is the pounding of my heart as I wish only to venture a little further from the spot which my body is frozen to place Roxanne on a pedestal, the till. Being the ‘poor’ student that I am reality sets in and she is left waiting to be homed by some lucky soul, probably a spoilt daddy’s girl who can blow £750 as easily as sherbet on a dipstick.

Boasting English luxury with its belt strap buckle, external mulberry rivets, pockets and a suede interior, this bag is undoubtedly an investment worth making. A reasonable size at 34cm wide, probably the length of one of those strawberry shoelaces you could buy and devour for 10p in the good old days before the recession, this bag can fit in all your basic lady needs and more. Let’s face it, we always need more space, for that extra lipstick you want to bring, the two pairs of sunglasses in case you change your mind and the hair products and accessories in preparation for the expected windswept look that British weather regularly throws at us.

Although right now I may not be the proud owner of such a delight, one day I will blow the sherbet off the dipstick and swagger with Roxanne in the crook of my arm. But until then the burning desire I feel is going to have to settle down and pitch a tent because it might be sometime before the swear jar is full or before I even consider saving the student loan I seem to religiously blow in the first week of it landing in my bank account. If for some bewildered reason I haven’t persuaded you and you aren’t swarming Mulberry as we speak I will gladly accept your generous donations for my Roxanne fund, all of course at your loss.

Tis the season to be pretty

Stores to be seen in…

Or rather stalls to be seen at! Camden market in London has always been a must stop-shop. With eccentric dressers and wild haircuts (Mohican anyone?), Camden is one place where you can truly be yourself because anything goes!

Most people think the market is full of tat. But spend more time browsing through the quieter parts and you’ll find some special pieces.

The indoor part of the market has just been reopened and is full of stalls, selling classical vintage pieces, from fake fur coats to pussy-bow blouses. I found a stall outside, which had exquisite polka dot skirts to sheer emerald green blouses and vintage bags. It was, however, slightly pricer than other stalls, much to my disappointment as I wanted to buy it all!

My favourite find is a stall that is ran by three lovely Chinese women, bursting with dresses in all styles and colours for only £20 a piece. And they’re different! Instead of looking like a Topshop clone, you get individuality for your money with your own take on this season’s must-haves.

On the main street next to Camden market is a great shop called Echoo. This again has plenty of unusual dresses, some at only £5!

Another secret shopping place of mine is, Greenwich. Travelling there is a different experience too, using the Dockland Light railway (which has no driver), its above-ground so you get a good view of the Canary Wharf’s offices and the river.

The market there is full of stalls, selling home-made cards, jewellery, body creams and bags. I found one run by LauraLaura which had jumpers in bright colours, with lots of popular French slogans across the front. The high street is full of these say it yourself t-shirts and Topshop, River Island and New Look have some of the best but check out www.lauralaura.net for an original design of your own.

Outisde the market, head to Bullfrogs. This shop has so many quirky items in it and I always visit when there’s a sale on! Being inspired by Blair Waldorf of Gossip Girl, I left with a purple coat with bows on for £25, a lilac floaty dress for £15 and a see-through pink and black blouse for £10. I left proudly with bargains galore knowing that nobody else will look the same as me!

The Clothes Show Live: Vintage Fashion

With many of the High Street stores taking inspiration from vintage fashion for new collections, it was refreshing to see a great mix of vintage and charity shop stalls at The Clothes Show Live. Within the main arena there was Anita’s Vintage Fashion Fair, a market style collection of the best of London’s vintage stores. With the prices being just as reasonable as the Hight Street for a one-off piece of history, it was easy to see why this area was so popular. I myself managed to bag a bargain of a 1960’s vintage vanity case, complete with the original mirror and containers, all for just £22.

However it wasn’t just the Vintage Fashion Fair causing waves at Clothes Show Live. As the recession hits further, a great deal of us have come out in support of charity shop fashion, so it was refreshing to see a promisingly busy Oxfam stall. A stalwart on the fashion scene, with the Oxfam Originals collection and collaborations with designers such as Henry Holland and Christopher Kane, it has always been a place of inspiration to me. This boom in popularity may make it harder for you to find that amazing piece, but I lucked out again with a vintage nautical print neck scarf for only £3, very similar to one that was in Topshop last season for £22.

This just goes to show that no matter where you look there are bargains to be had, and you never know what you could find amongst the clutter in your nearest Oxfam or British Heart Foundation Shop, so all that’s left for me to do is to urge you to get scouring now!

The Swinging 60s

One trend which repeted itself time and time again at the Clothes Show Live’s catwalk this winter was: 60s prints. Think bright colours and outlandish prints (like characters from an ‘Austin Powers’ movie) and you’re pretty much there! The sixties gave us Twiggy, mini skirts, flower power and love and peace. But to get a 60s vibe in your look imagine you’re heading out to a disco, (and not the one your junior school threw you when you left for secondary school). Instead, imagine you have been sent back to 1960 and you are going out for the night.

Clothes-wise think geometric prints such as this blue patterned dress from Dorothy Perkins, or go monochrome with this tank vest from New Look.

When thinking about how to accessorise both of these earrings, from New Look, pay tribute to the 60s disco vibe. Otherwise stick to the same formula as you would with 60s clothing and go for bright,clashing prints or monochrome accessories.

If you shy away from ‘out-there’ prints but want something brighter than black and white in your wardrobe go for bright colours in one block, such as this yellow dress Twiggy is pictured in here, and of course if you’re feeling brave you can bare your legs in a mini skirt complete with 60s accessories and tank top. Whichever way you wish to achieve the 60s look, aim to bring colour to your outfit, to brighten up the sea of dark colours we tend to stick to in winter and spring and you’ll be there. Now, where did I leave that disco ball?

Christmas must-haves for men. Clothes Show Live style!

 The Clothes Show Live, at the NEC in Birmingham, is not the place to go if fashion runs your life, however, it is the place to be if you just like to get an idea of what to wear and what’s currently on trend.

 The fashion show was more about the performance and entertaining a crowd full of eager Tweens and industry wannabies than it was hard-fashion. In-spite of this, there were a few excellent pieces for guys this Christmas.

 The most exciting items had to be the shoes. Guys normally get a bit of a bad deal when it comes to shoes and trend; they’re either too sporty, too jazzy or just boring. This time though, they were just right.

Military Boots from All Saints, £165.

They may cost a fair bit, but they will last a long time.

Dr.Martens (DNs), £70-£150  from Dr.Martens.com.

  How can you say no to such an icon? You may have had a pair as a child, so you can have a pair as an adult. This pair cost £70 on the site. They come in plain colours and in patent too, but you could go for classic black. Dr Martens were a big player at the Clothes show, some of the guys wore pink patent.

Circus fashion crept upon us last winter. This Christmas it’s back and it’s on E. There were a lot of sequin and patent pants on the catwalk, but don’t appeal to most guys. Here are some other options, which are a bit less ‘uhoh!’ and a lot more ‘bravo!’ 

Silver Super Skinny Trousers, £50, from Top Man, also available in bronze. Wear them with military boots and a black blazer to tone them down. Wear with the burgundy blazer below and a tweed bow tie as a festive statement.

Metallic pants may not appeal to you right now. These Religion Slim Trousers are exclusive to Asos.com, £65. Great because you can wear them all year and aren’t metallic.

Dandy is making a long awaited come back. In honour of this, blazers and dikkie bows are now essential. Here is a Burgundy Poachers Jacket, £140, from Top Man. This would look dandy with most pant choices, but I would suggest sticking with skinny jeans or trousers to get a sleek silhouette.

Not feeling the Poachers Jacket, then how about velvet? The classic-cut of Asos’ tipped velvet jacket is soft, looks great open, and looks even better closed. £70, Asos.com 

Could it really be Christmas without tartan thrown in somewhere? Top Man, £36. This would look great, open, in the summer with a band t-shirt, bleached denim three quarters and military boots.

If you need to accessorize, shop around for bow ties. Velvet or tweed in a neutral or rich colour will make a subtle but alternative statement. Wear with white shirts, or if you dare to be a little more impactful, find a contrasting print which will add a little more interest to the ensemble.

 Although it was a bit of a theatre, the Clothes Show was inspirational, a great way for the younger or ignorant to see what fashion can be, which is, what you want it to be.

Alternative Style Icons

It seems that nowadays people have even lost the ability to be individual not only with their style, but with the people they regard to be stylish too. We all know the typical ones - Audrey Hepburn, Kate Moss and Victoria Beckham to name but a few - but what about those super stylish women who look great but remain under the radar? Here Emily Solan gives them the credit they deserve.

Anna Karina:

This Danish film actress from the 60’s had the fashion world at her feet. Her professional name ‘Anna Karina’ was devised by Coco Chanel herself, she had a the typical 60’s look - heavily lined eyes, blunt fringe and when mixed with her effortless every day chic, one beautiful woman was created. She was even stylish enough to carry off a beret!

Kate Jackson:

Lead singer of the now defunct indie band The Long Blondes, Kate’s style provided us a with a much missed link to the past. This vintage vixen was nominated for Sexiest Female at the NME awards 3 years in a row, and managed to place at 7 in the annual NME Cool List. Adding a touch of glam to a scene full of drab indie boys, she was never seen out of vintage outfits, this former librarian echoed the former glamour of such bands like Pulp, Blondie and shone heads and tails above the skinny jeaned masses.

Edie Sedgewick:

Now she may be far better known than the above two, but how many of those people who cite her as a style icon could actually describe her style? She is known for her androgynous look, which was very on trend in the 60s, but she placed far too much femininity to create an a totally androgynous look. The influence of Edie can be seen today with the strong emphasis on a heavy lined eye with a paler lip to add drama to the face, and the pixie crop is still a massive look for hair this season.

Florence Welch:

She is officially making being ginger cool again. Her mismatch, crazy stage outfits have hit the fashion world by storm, and more people are getting the courage to copy her looks. My easiest suggestion would be to copy some of her downtime looks - brogues and lace dresses, rather than attempting her rather full on ‘disco bat’ look!

Karen O:

On face value her outfits seem a bit out there, but to add an extra dimension to your outfit follow Karen O’s lead. She ’s not afraid to use bold colours and accessories to stand out, which is something that anyone can do. While her outfits can be a tad over the the top, it’s this unique take on style that sets her high above many others in the fashion stakes. Karen O’s influence has increased greatly ove the last few years, and her personal designer Chrisitan Joy was commissioned to create a range for Topshop, making Karen O’s look more accesible.

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