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Archive for November, 2009

Nov 30

Office sparkles for spring ’10

Office showcased a dazzling array of footwear for spring/summer 2010.

Chunky cork, clog inspired wood and killer wedges led the way in heels. Along with an abundance of studding/embellishment which added that extra glamour to anything from summer flats to sexy heels.

Loving the sparkly summer sandles-will look fab under a maxi-dress with a gorgeous tan, brightly painted toe nails and chunky accessories to complete the look….ahhh, roll on summer…!!

You can start buying spring/summer product online from early next year at Office.

fashionbite xx

Nov 28

Style-it-up…?

The winnners of UK’s Best Young Stylist in association with New Look and Nintendo Presents: Style Boutique will be announced today in a catwalk style-off at the Trafford shopping centre in Manchester. The competition, which launched in September, will give two young hopefuls the chance to kick-start their styling careers with a course at The London College of Fashion, tickets to a fashion show, a shopping spree with New Look and a Nintendo DSi to get practising with their new Style Boutique game.

If you’re a gadget loving fashionista..this game’s for you! You have the chance to set up your own virtual clothing store… without the stresses of rising rents and dwindling sales! I’ve had a go..and it’s actually quite good fun and strangely addictive- even for a games console luddite like myself! In the game, you’re woken from your bed as a shop assistant on your first day and you work your way up to store manager after successfully completing numerous challenges. These involve styling new customers, by picking from the clothes on offer in store, and customer service training. Once you’ve reached the dizzy heights of store manager you can start choosing your own shop interior, styling manequins and going to fashion shows to pick up on the latest trends. Further down the line, you can even open your boutique for other Nintendo players to visit and you can shop at other people’s boutiques to expand your collection.

If you fancy your chances as a shop manager, and want a no-risk strategy, have a go..you might suprise yourself! It’s the perfect stocking filler for an aspiring, young fashionista! You can buy it online at Game, which also has some good pre-Christmas deals on at the moment.

fashionbite xx

Nov 26

3 Comments

Louis Vuitton rocks clogs for spring ’10

Louis Vuitton’s footwear offer for spring/summer ’10 looks fantastic, and there was something for everyone (who has the budget!) at their press day this week with killer heels for the daring and clog-inspired kitten heels for those with a penchant for both comfort and fashion. Personally, I love the heels..I’m not sure how long I’d last in them though!

Marc Jacob’s spring/summer 2010 collection for Louis Vuitton moved far away from last season’s Parisian cocktail parties to a range inspired by new age travellers and life on the road. Oversized satchel and duffle bags in denim, apparently bleached by the sun, appeared in vivid shades of pink, green, orange and blue. Alongside sportsbag styles with fluorescent accessories.

To buy online, visit Louis Vuitton’s website early next year.

fashionbite xx

Nov 25

1 Comment

Postal strikes dent online clothing sales

So, the true impact of the postal strikes on online fashion retailers has finally been quantified….and it ain’t pretty! Despite many of the big online firms putting clear notices on their homepages stating ‘we are not affected by the postal strikes,’ many shoppers turned to the high street in October to guarantee their purchases on time!

The IMRG Capgemini e-retail sales Index, which measures online sales, has revealed today that October sales growth dropped by 5% in the last week (a fall of £53 million to put it into context!) after the postal strikes significantly dented sales. Shoppers spent £4.2 billion in total.

Within clothing, which is normally the star peformer, delivery concerns had a huge impact on sales, almost halving the amount compared to previous years. Clothing sales grew by just 13.2% in October, compared to an average of 27% in October for the last few years. The month started strongly but rapidly deteriorated in the last few weeks as a direct result of the strikes.

The report says: “many shoppers turned away from online stores and returned to the high street to avoid delays in getting their winter wardrobe and festive party outfits.”

However, on the up side, the study predicts Christmas will come early for online stores this year, as shoppers rush to avoid postal strikes by stocking up on presents in advance.

…not all bad then!

fashionbite xx

Nov 24

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Paul and Joe launches EXCLUSIVE collection for The Outnet

Paris-based designer Paul and Joe has created an exclusive collection for TheOutnet.com, Net-a-Porter’s spin-off discount site, which is due to launch December 1. The limited edition capsule collection will showcase 30 styles, ranging from £85 to £250, a fraction of the cost of its mainline range.

The Outnet, in case you haven’t come across it, is the bargain hungry fashionista’s dream site. It sells previous season stock from all the top designer brands at massive discounts! Earlier this year, I interviewed incoming director Stephanie Phair about her new role as head of The Outnet, just as it was launching. She was an impressive lady, with a CV that spanned 10 years in fashion, including a stint on US Vogue under the guise of Anna Wintour.

One of the key questions I asked was how Net-a-porter would ensure both brands were kept separate, so The Outnet could flourish in itself rather than becoming a clearance site for Net-a-Porter’s excess stock. Along with having brands which are solely stocked on The Outnet, Phair said she would look to introduce designer collaborations, exclusive to the site, which would be in keeping with their lower price points.

I’m hoping the launch of Paul and Joe for The Outnet will be one of many designer collaborations we’ll be seeing in the years to come…..so watch this space!

fashionbite xx

Nov 23

My-Wardrobe launches 30% off bags

If you fancy a pre-Christmas fashion fix, My-Wardobe has launched 30% off all handbags.

Just type QJX156 into the promotional code box at the checkout.

My-Wardrobe’s recent ss10 press day showcased an ever expanding range of bridge to designer level brands. Young designer Olivia Rubin moved away from her usual block, bright colours to create a muted palette of nudes punctuated with black. I really liked the collection, it seemed more mature than her previous lines, but worked really well.

Nicole Richie is also set to debut her first clothing line for ss10 called Winter Kate (named after the middle names of her daughter).

I’m not sure how I feel about the celebrity/designer ranges..I think they’re slightly old hat now. I’m not sure that having a clever stylist gives you sufficient qualifications to become a designer! But saying that, the collection (below) has some good pieces-it’s light, print-driven and has a distinctly bohemian feel- ideal for the spring/summer months.

All ss10 product will go on sale at My-Wardrobe early next year.

fashionbite xx

Nov 21

Asos launches annual flat-rate delivery

Asos has launched Asos Premier, an annual flat-rate delivery service for its UK customers. Having a nose around one of my favourite fashion blogs Disney Roller girl, I saw the post and had to flag it up to all you online/Asos lovers out there.

It costs £24.95 a year and includes free and unlimited next day delivery all year, free returns collections and no minimum order value. It’s a fantastic idea, especially for all you prolific Asos users out there.

See the Asos website for more details.

Fashionbite xx

Nov 21

5 Comments

Purity Cosmetics: mineral make-up review

I must confess, I’m a bit of a mineral make-up virgin but thought I’d give it a go. Mineral make-up, for all you newbies out there like me, is made up of a variety of minerals (as the name would imply)- such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, mica and ultra marine blue and usually comes in loose, powder form which can be applied using a brush or foam puff.

Benefits include: it acts as a foundation, concealer and powder so is fantastic values for money, it covers up fine lines and blemishes; the formula is light, doesn’t clog your pores (great for sensitive skin) and gives you a soft matte finish which lasts all day. I can’t believe I’ve never tried it!

I’ve been sent a few products by online mineral make-up firm Purity Cosmetics, so here are my thoughts…

Purity Cosmetics ticks all the boxes ingredients-wise, it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals, fillers or parabens- which some brands can (always check the ingredients list on the back!). I was amazed at how little you need for flawless coverage. I just sprinkled a small amount on the back on my hand, brushed it on to my face with a powder foam and it immediately smoothed into a matte finish which just glided on. It doesn’t create a heavy, cakey foundation-look which is fantastic- but if you want a heavier base for a night out you can just keep applying until you’re happy with the look.

Purity also offers a range of mineral powder blushers and eyeshadows, which are applied using the same technique. You literally just need a few sprinkes of the eyeshadow and it looks incredible. It glides on leaving a professional, glossy finish, no cakey bits in the corner and it lasts all day. And the best bit, the eyeshadows (which come in a range of colours) only cost £3.50..I was amazed at the price points for the standard of the product. The foundation costs £12.99, which is great if you consider it’s 3 products on one!

Conclusion: I’m a convert! I was incredibly impressed with the finish the powder foundation created..and it lasted all day without feeling caked on. I would give it 9.5 out of 10 for value, quality and lasting.

There is a huge range of mineral make-up brands out there, for more info Marie-Claire has done a fab review of some the top 10 brands.

fashionbite xx

Nov 20

Reebok Pump celebrates 20 years

Reebok Pump celebrated its 20th Anniversary in style last night, with a party in East London attended by the likes of Alice Dellal and Kelly Brook. And a DJ set from Jezebel soundsystems, namely Jade Jagger & Dan Williams, made sure the party was rocking.

Reebok Pump was created by Paul Litchfield, originally a basketball trainer, in 1989- it had such impact that its patented technology was quickly used by Reebok for their tennis, running and football trainers..and quickly adopted as a fashion trainer.

To celebrate 20 years in the business, Reebok Pump has teamed up with 20 sneaker stores worldwide, such as Size in the UK, and invited them to develop their own limited edition Pump shoe.

For more info, check out Reebok’s website at www.reebok.com.

fashionbite xx

Nov 20

2 Comments

Jog on!

I am loving the trend for next season…allbeit worn in the right way! Yes, sweatpants are making a foray into the world of fashion, as seen on many a catwalk for ss10. Now, you might be questioning the fashionability factor of the humble jogging bottom..but you might just be suprised!

Teamed with sky scraper heals and a tailored jacket, they can look very hot…and no stress about eating too much at Christmas! Perfect for the post-party season.

To get the look for a fraction of the cost, check out two fab online stores, Elliegray and Noballs, both have a great range to choose from.

fashionbite xx

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