Vintage Fashion Is Quite Simply The Bee's Knees!

I love vintage clothes, which actually makes me right on trend, as vintage wear is BIG right now.  Those of you who love Rachel Zoe as much as I do, know that the stylist to the stars has for some time now been spreading the word about spending less on the high street, and instead creating our own, individual and very stylish looks.  Of course she spends her hard earned dollars sourcing decades-old Chanel on Hollywood Boulevard, but we can still find an absolute bargain in one of our local specialist vintage shops or online.

My favourite period is the 1950s, and I’ll tell you why.  Women in those days were celebrated for their curves – no Twiggys or Kate Mosses in those days!  Our ‘50s ladies celebrated and accentuated their hourglass shape, with nipped in waists, swinging skirts and sweetheart necklines – a great look for those of us with lumps and bumps in both the right and wrong places!

Of course the diva of this period had to be the amazing Marilyn Monroe.  The all-time ultimate blonde, Marilyn knew how to dress to impress – and boy did she.

Our Marilyn liked a bit of sparkle – and let’s face it, so do we. Diamonds might be a girl’s best friend, but any pretty jewellery does us, to be honest!

If you’re looking to dazzle in your ‘50s glam outfit, this red crystal drop jewellery set could be just what you need.

Available as always from our Seasonsonline store, these Austrian square cut crystals can blind at a hundred paces and the necklace can be worn either as a choker or with a little more length.  At only £12.99, it’s certainly a staple piece for your jewellery collection.

However, we have to remember that despite the image portrayed on TV, women in the ‘50s did not spend their entire time walking to the shops in high heels, a killer dress, coiffed hair and diamonds.  “Day dresses” however, although a lot plainer, were equally as pretty, with floral prints being very much “de rigeur”.

My favourite shop for sourcing some vintage classics has to be the wonderful Martha’s Closet.  At fabulously reasonable prices, their outfits do get snapped up very quickly, so you do have to keep looking – but it’s well worth the effort.

(Wouldn’t this look absolutely stunning with this blog’s chosen necklace?  It’s only £42 from Martha’s Closet – go snap them both up!)

It’s handbags at dawn in the Seasonsonline office!

You know, it’s not often that the team at Seasonsonline disagree about something.  Most mornings we can be found pouring over the latest edition of a glossy mag, cooing over a photo of a celeb in all their red carpet glory, or wincing at Britney Spears’ latest fashion “creation” (sorry, Britney!)

But a few weeks ago, something happened.  Something which would draw almost a physical line across the office. 

Katherine Hiegl.

We came across this photo and were naturally drawn to Ms Heigl’s jaw-dropping outfit, a gorgeous classic raspberry number, designed courtesy of one Donna Karan, complete with wonderful gold Louboutin platform slingbacks.  As always, we then began to add our own comments which, nine times out of ten, are all in agreement and all obviously on the mark.  However, in this instance, we simply couldn’t agree.

Would Katherine’s dress look better with or without some sparkle around her neck?

Since I’m in charge of writing the blogs, I am therefore entitled to publicly give my opinion, which is that this outfit needs something to give it a little “oomph”.  I’m well aware that the trend this season has been to steer clear of necklaces and work the earrings and bracelets combo instead, but for heaven’s sake, this is red carpet! (The ShoWest 2010 closing ceremony in Las Vegas to be precise).

So come on, what do you think?  Are you for or against?  Am I bang on or right off?

My choice as an ideal fashion accessory for this outfit, would be something elegant, such as this little number:

Impressive?  Too right it is!  These sparkling crystal diamantes and white pearl beads set in silver plaiting are positively begging to be accessorised with a plunging neckline.  The length of the necklace can be adjusted to suit and you can buy the whole set for £10.99 at Seasonsonline.

I think this would compliment the little sparkling detail at the base of Katherine’s neckline and I’ll bet my last KitKat that you do too.

So, if you think I remain style queen supreme, comment “Sparkles!”  If you think however, that I am talking out of my pert behind, comment “Plain Jane!”

Help us to regain our team spirit over at Seasonsonline and give us your opinion! 

Everything’s coming up roses

Floral prints are adorning the pages of most women’s magazines at the moment, particularly the piece of this fashion season – the floral jumpsuit.

Florals tend to be associated with spring, so they are appearing a little later than usual this year, but the variety of colours, fabrics and designs is absolutely amazing.

This playsuit by Joy, at £39, would be ideal paired with either gladiator sandals for a more casual look, or some bright red heels and a clutch, if you’re heading out to dinner on a hot sultry night.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for something a little more unique which will certainly help you to stand out in a crowd, try one of our favourite vintage stores, Martha’s Closet.  We found this absolutely stunning 70s maxi skirt and top for only £54.

Floral patterns have always been a classically English design (well, we’ve got to be proud to be English for SOME reason haven’t we?  But don’t get me started on the football….)  So, to be an English rose, why not pick some pretty matching accessories?

This is a very simple, very pure look, so beware of spoiling it with too many accessories, or an abundance of glitter.

Carry on the flower theme with this gorgeous rose-shaped cocktail ring.  In yellow and white enamel and clear ab diamantes, its size can be adjusted to suit and it will look fabulous with any brightly coloured piece.  Available from Seasonsonline for £7.99.

Alternatively, this blue psychedelic flower resin bangle is both funky and trendy – ideal for that younger, party look.  Seasonsonline has this is in stock for a crowd-pleasing £3.99.

And finally, what about picking up on another of this season’s trends, which particularly materialised at Ascot recently – a hair fascinator?  Let your imagination go wild and be brave enough to leave behind the predictable plain rose.  There are literally thousands of designs and colours out there and this is one of our favourites.

Wow – doesn’t this colour stand out? This fascinator has a carnation shape and is made with a mix of bright pink and more muted green ostrich feathers, finished off with some clear crystal beads.  Because it has both a crocodile clip and a brooch pin fastening, if you feel too self conscious to wear it in your hair, you could fasten it to a sash or your clutch for an instant glam look.  Available from Seasonsonline for £6.99.

Let’s get down to business - Outfits & Jewellery!

The art of power dressing has long since been used by many business women to make themselves feel in control and authoritative in the work place, particularly if they work in a male-dominated environment.

Believe it or not, extensive studies have been undertaken to assess the psychological benefits of dressing to impress at work, and power dressing does indeed in most cases, give the wearer much more confidence.

We’re not talking Joan Collins a la Dynasty here, with shoulder pads the size of small planks (although as we all know, shoulder pads did try to raise their excessive heads again this year) and glittering jewellery from Cartier.  A simple skirt or trouser suit, pretty blouse and heels is just as effective.  However, let’s face it girls – it is a little boring, and does become part of a “uniform” in offices such as law and accountancy firms.

To feel a little more feminine and to stand out among the suited women in your workplace, make sure your heels are more stilettoed than chunky.  Stilettos have made a comeback this year and do wonders for appearing to lengthen your legs and slim your ankles.  Uncomfortable if you’re standing or walking all day but you know what they say – no pain no gain!

Next, as you can see above, add a little accessorising to make your outfit more individual and you, more memorable.  Because you’re in a professional environment, you need to keep your accessories subtle – make sure your colours are muted and there’s not too much glitter going on.

Someone who has got this look bang on is “Mary, Queen of Shops”, Mary Portas.  Renowned for her straight-talking, authoritative style, Mary effortlessly moves between corporate and fashion.

Mary’s love of cocktail rings is legendary – and infectious.  Why does a large ring on your finger make you feel more powerful?  We have no idea – but it does.  Stay away from flowery and decorative embellishments, and go for something big and bold.  We love this ring from the Seasonsonline site. This large silver & green crystal coil ring is only £8.99 – but is bound to make an impression.

For a necklace, the same goes – straight forward elegance, not overly girly but telling the world that this is a woman who knows what she wants, knows what is best –and will work hard to achieve it.

This black diamond necklace does precisely that. At £5.99 from the Seasonsonline site, it will accessorise all of your working outfits perfectly – and make your colleagues sit up and take notice.

Seasonsonline girls know all about style

A well planned, spectacular piece of jewellery can quite literally make an outfit.  Without being too garish or piling on the bling, one simple item can draw attention not just to your clothes, but to the colour of your eyes, your hair, your neck or your decolletage.

A beautiful necklace can lengthen your neck and make even a simple dress look elegant and stylish.  Those in the know are well aware that with any LBD, a pair of heels, an up-do and a stunning necklace or glittering earrings can literally make heads turn.  What seems to be effortlessly stylish is most likely to have been planned months in advance.

Jewellery can also help to draw the eye away from the bits you’d much rather weren’t noticed.  A well thought-out, deliberately designed outfit can nip, tuck and flatten, whilst some strategically placed gems guarantee that your slight imperfections will fade into insignificance.

Here’s a fantastic example of what we’re discussing.  Actress Sophia Bush, although possessing a figure most of us would kill for, has opted for a rather cute yet plain mini skirt and vest top.  What sets this outfit entirely apart, however, is the stunning necklace.  You might think that something this large would look completely out of place against a plain skirt and vest.  However, in actual fact, it adds some needed glam (although a tied scarf would look very European too), transforming her look into Manhattan woman about town.

Fortunately, although this gorgeous Miriam Haskell necklace is likely to set you back by several hundred pounds, you can recreate this look with any large, glittering piece.  My personal choice is this pretty silver crystal set.  Available from the Seasonsonline site for £24.99, the silver necklace has a number of Swarovski crystal drops, set amidst a background of swirls and a crystal flower.  The earrings have a 4cm drop and the necklace can be extended to compliment the neck of your top or gown.

www.seasonsonline.co.uk - £24.99

Remember, being stylish or glamorous is all about how YOU feel, not about how much you’ve spent on an outfit or accessories.

Are you a Seasonsonline customer?  Why not send in a photograph of yourself looking fab and wearing one of our products? Show the world how to be a fashionista and let them copy your style.  We’d love to see you strutting your stuff, regardless of age or size – our girls know how it’s done!

See you soon!

Gypsy jewellery - a summer fashion must have!

Club wear is out, the gypsy look is back – hurrah!  Florence Welch, et al have taken up where Fleetwood Mac left off (and while we’re on the subject, Stevie Nicks happens to look younger than most of us – and she’s 62!)

Yes, ethereal beauty reigns supreme this summer.  Pagan-looking girls the length and breadth of our island are gathering as we speak for a couple of long months of hard festival going.  Last seen in its truest form in the 1980s however, when bustieres, Indian/hippy clothing and Victorian lace all merged into one wonderful ensemble, it has today metamorphosed into a more casual affair.

Tassels, waistcoats, ruffles, long flowing outfits like those worn by Florence – the essence of this season’s style is comfort and simplicity.

With that in mind, we’ve found the most fantastic dress from ASOS.

This Reiss Tropez Jersey Kaftan dress is both elegant and funky enough for festivals.  It’s rather steep at £85, but can be worn for all sorts of occasions and will last for years, provided you treat it well!  Because for a change the weather is sunny this year, simply team it up with a pair of gladiator sandals and some oversized sunnies, and you’ll be bang on trend.

If you want to go for a more colourful look, choose a chunky belt and some tribal jewellery to accessorise the piece. The Seasonsonline store has a fantastic selection in stock.

One necklace which will really stop people in their tracks is this brightly coloured turquoise fish necklace.  A mixture of turquoise stone and wood adds some fantastic texture and the mosaic effect is truly stunning. A true infusion of ethnic gypsy, available at £10.99.

Cuffs are the bracelets of choice at the moment, and would suit our dress perfectly.  We’d recommend something like this metallic silver and faceted black bead cuff bangle, available for £7.99, again from the Seasonsonline store. 

If you’re visiting festivals for the first time this summer, bear in mind the following points and you’ll be sure to stay safe, stay comfy and relax, safe in the knowledge that you look HOT (and no, we don’t mean like a lobster):

·      Choose something that will cover your shoulders and back or you’re likely to burn whilst you’re watching the bands – particularly if you’re on someone else’s shoulders

·      Make sure that whatever outfit you wear, it’s machine washable!  You’ll be spared the mud this year, but are likely to encounter dropped food, sauces and lager.

If you’re not comfy, you’ll not be able to relax and enjoy yourself properly.  Make sure you can strip off or add layers, as the temperature changes.

Carrie off this gorgeous cocktail ring!

Have you seen it yet?  We are of course, talking about SATC2 which premiered a few weeks ago.

Featuring the uber-stylish Sarah Jessica Parker, the SATC girls all have their own unique identity, when it comes to fashion choice.  The only problem is of course, most of us aren’t able to stretch to even one Blahnik, never mind two! 

Which is where Seasonsonline comes in.  We show you how you can look a million dollars on any budget.  How you can create your own style, your own identity – and lead trends, rather than following them.

Perhaps unsurprisingly for the beginning of summer, florals are still big news, with hoards of fashionistas racing to the shops after seeing SJP’s Vivienne Westwood floral ensemble, which she wore to the SATC 2 premiere in Japan.

Those of you who’ve seen the film know that Mr Big gives Carrie a huge black diamond ring, which has since flown off the shelves (for those who have a few spare hundred thousand pounds knocking about).  The point is, costume jewellery, particularly rings, are still very much “de rigeur” – the bigger the better!

For a more funky look, and to avoid resembling Aunt Maud’s wallpaper, those in the know are teaming up these very feminine dresses with chunky belts and military jackets – Current/Elliott does a particularly beautiful one which is hardly cheap at £201, but it has been reduced from £288, so is therefore technically a bargain!

But back to SATC. If you’d like a ring just like SJPs, but don’t fancy selling the house in order to buy one, take a look at the Seasonsonline site.  We have a similar, gorgeous silver and black oval gem cocktail ring in a vintage design, for only £7.99.

SJP’s ring.  Price – large mortgage

Seasonsonline ring.  Price - £7.99

Isn’t it stunning?  It will go with any outfit and will stand out beautifully, acting as the perfect contemporary accessory.  An absolute must for your jewellery collection.

Remember girls – glitz and glamour comes in all shapes, sizes and prices.  You don’t have to live in LA or New York to be a fashionista and draw admiring glances.  Slip on a pair of heels, order yourself a Mojito, and simply ooze style.  Unlike SJP and the girls – you don’t even have to live in the city!

Looking forward to Christmas?

Don’t look so surprised, fashion labels have already put the finishing touches to their Christmas 2010 collections and high street stores will be taking delivery of their autumn stock in the next few weeks.

The industry’s best stylists, including Gabrielle Teare, are reporting back from the catwalks and early indications point towards a very interesting AW season!

Aside from the usual autumnal colours of browns and blacks, this forthcoming festive season is likely to see a plethora of sumptuous, almost Gothic revival, with velvet and lace making a huge comeback.  Reds and purples are set to become as popular as that LBD, with capes and ruffles a principal feature of this look.

Forget Marilyn Manson though, this nod to the gothic genre is seriously top end luxury.  Just check this out!

How beautiful is this creation from Antonio Beradi? Sheer elegance.

Of course, most of us won’t be able to stretch our purse strings to buy one of Beradi’s stunning outfits without them pinging back and slapping us in the face (as no doubt would the bank manager).  However, you can bet that manufacturers’ machines have been furiously sewing away over the last few months, and we will see some high street interpretations by the end of October.

So – what to wear to accessorise one of these slinky numbers?  (Probably a corset in our case!)  Assuming that most probably our outfits won’t have these beautiful detailing on the back, a little sophisticated glitter is definitely in order.

Check this out:

You can just see it, can’t you?  Snow falling outside, you standing next to an impossibly good looking bloke as you chat next to a roaring log fire, champers in hand, with your low cut velvet gown sweeping around your gorgeous high heels, this fabulous necklace glittering in the candlelight..

Ok, we’re getting carried away a bit here – but you get the picture!  This stylish necklace and matching earrings in fuchsia pink is only £14.99 from Seasonsonline.

There were literally gasps around the office when this next one came in.

This crystal heart on cream pearl drop choker set is only £14.99 from Seasonsonline and is ideal when you need a simpler yet still eye catching piece of jewellery to compliment your outfit.

And now we’re off to have a Baileys around the fire – who cares that it’s 20 degrees outside?  A girl has to plan her wardrobe well in advance!