This week, we’ve had a sneak peek at the gorgeous new season range from Debenhams, and being the kind generous people we are, we thought we’d share a little glimpse with you.
From tropical bright maxi dresses to cute shorts for sightseeing, Debenhams is definitely going to be top of our holiday list this summer. Our favourite item of the new range? It has to be the J by Jasper Conran Grecian Dress, which looks so designer, yet comes with the very purse-friendly price tag of £60.
Is it just us or does there seem to be a whole heap of pregnant celebrities around at that moment? Dannii Minogue, Claudia Schiffer, Denise Van Outen, Amy Adams – it seems if you’re not up the duff, then you’re simply not fashionably in the world of the celebrity.
Now obviously we know babies are more than a fashion accessory, but the latest batch of mums-to-be are blooming, proving that just because you’re pregnant, you don’t have to be unfashionable. From Claudia’s school run casual chic, to Amy and Denise’s red carpet looks, being pregnant hasn’t stopped these gorgeous girls looking great.
Our top tip to keeping fashionable while you’re pregnant? Check out your high street favourites to see if they do a maternity range – TopShop, River Island, New Look, Dorothy Perkins, Next and M&S all have maternity sections, which basically featured slightly adapted versions of their main range.
Also, just try buying a size bigger from your favourite shops? This might not work with trousers but for tops and dresses, especially those made in stretchy, jersey fabrics, it does mean you can carry on being that fashionable yummy mummy without sacrificing on comfort.
The only thing you might have to sacrifice is your heels, but thankfully Spring/Summer sees the return of the kitten heel, which is much more manageable when you’re carrying an extra person.
And with the likes of Claudia as style icons, you’ll be spoilt for inspiration. We just can’t wait to see how Dannii styles up her bump!
We don’t know about you, but we’ve very happy to see the return of Mad Men to our TV screens. If you’ve not seen this stylish show, where have you been? Set in an advertising agency in the ‘60s, it’s not just the storylines that are compelling – the fashion is as well!
Men in suits, women in slinky pencil skirts – forget the ‘60s, it’s the perfect office wear for today. So to help you channel your inner Joan Holloway or Betty Draper we’ve picked out some of our top Mad Men inspired buys.
This look obviously has ‘60s undertones but don’t go the full hog otherwise you’ll end up looking like you’re going to a fancy dress party. Think pencil skirts, sexy court shoes, twinset cardigans, swing jackets and the ultimate Mad Men accessory – red lippie!
L-R: Limited Edition Dress, £45, M&S; Tipped Cardigan, £38, Warehouse; Black Stiletto, £54.99, Schuh; Chain Scarf, £22, Topshop
Catch Mad Men on BBC4 at 10:00pm every Wednesday.
Don’t panic! We’re not suggesting you roam around in your birthday suit, rather that you embrace the new nude tones for the new season.
Donna Karan, Givenchy and Burberry all showed a plethora of nude shades on the catwalk and as ever, the most fashionable of celebrities have already umped on the flesh tone bandwagon.
Penelope Cruz chose a gorgeous figure-hugging Armani Prive dress for the Italian premiere of Nine, while Drew chose a dramatic dress from Atelier Versace for The Golden Globes. And it’s not just big Hollywood stars who have embraced this trend – Cheryl Cole stepped out looking stunning at a recent German music award show in a stunning Maz Azria dress.
Don’t worry if you haven’t got a spare £4,000 lying around (the cost of Cheryl’s dress apparently), as the high street is being quick to interpret this trend and has already started producing some gorgeous nude delights.
We’ve picked three of our favourites around at the moment, and as this is a trend that is sure to be a super summer hit, we recommend you invest now. Wear a nude coloured dress with black tights or team a flesh-toned jacket with faded skinnies – this is one look that will take you to and beyond the summer months with ease.
L-R: Biker Jacket, £45, Miss Selfridge; Dress, £110, Reiss; Bodycon Skirt, £22, Topshop
Here at Westfield HQ we get very excited whenever there’s a new limited edition beauty collection – and the new range from Estée Lauder, Michael Kors Very Hollywood Color Collection – is no exception.
Since this gorgeous new collection landed on our desks, we’ve been smitten with it. From the sleek beige packaging to the very glam colours, it’s a collection destined to make you feel like a Hollywood star – even if you live in Lewisham as opposed to LA!
According to Michael, “The inspiration for the Estée Lauder Michael Kors Very Hollywood Color Collection is iconic Hollywood glamour, both past and present, interpreted for everyday life.” And we can say that for once, the blurb is very true.
The Bel Air Beige range features a classic combo of beige and coral, with shimmery peach lips, cheeks and a smoky eye, while the Rodeo Pink range contains vibrant shades of raspberry, with the focus being on bold lips.
Our favourite item in this gorgeous new range though has to be the Estée Lauder Michael Kors Very Hollywood Shimmering Loose Powder. It may not make you look like Angelina Jolie, but we find the silky formula gives us a gorgeous glow, making us feel like we’ve just come back from an A-list holiday in the Bahamas.
It’s a fabulous range, which looks as good on your dressing table as it does on your face and we’re pretty sure it’s going to be a sell out. So, to make sure you enjoy a touch of Hollywood glamour at home, get down to your nearest Estée Lauder counter from 1st February!
Prints are always a big hit on the Spring/Summer catwalk, and this year proved no different. As well as the usual pretty florals, lots of designers showed quirky, yet cool, digital prints.
Givenchy chose to splash their abstract design all over their clothes – we particularly liked their jersey leggings, however, for us non-catwalk types, the easiest way to wear this trend is with an abstract print dress. And fashion-conscious celebs agree with everyone from Claudia Schiffer to Diane Kruger seen sporting a cute print mini dress on the red carpet.
What’s more, the high street has gone gaga for this look. From multi-coloured digital madness to the more understated monochrome feel, there’s something for everyone this year. We suggest you get ahead of the fashion pack now and snap one of these beauties up – some of our favourites are even in the sale now, so take your pick from one of our fab four digital print dresses.
L-R: Omaha dress, £60, Full Circle (available in store from March); Shift dress, reduced to £30, Oasis; UFO print dress, £35, Dorothy Perkins; J for Jasper Conran dress, £75 (in stores this spring)
We’re so fed up with wrapping up warm and dealing with the British weather, that we thought we’d start looking ahead to the fashionable delights heading to stores soon!
First up, is New Look. We’ve picked our favourite looks from their Spring/Summer 10 season and we have to say, it’s a corker. From cute pastel dresses to Chanel-inspired jackets, there’s something for everyone in this pretty collection.
Sometimes a trend comes out of nowhere and hits you like a wild pack of shoppers going mad for the latest H&M collaboration. After wandering around the shops the other day, we were hit with a vision of spots! From dresses to shoes, bags to skirts, it seems the high street has gone dotty for spots – and now, so have we.
For starters, the spot print conjures up all things fun and spring-like – things that are both much needed in our lives and wardrobes at the moment. They also have a fabulous retro feel to them – Topshop’s spotty shorts (below) definitely have that pin-up appeal – which is a nice counteraction to all that ‘80s garb on the rails at the moment.
L-R: Blazer, £50, Miss Selfridge; Skirt, £12, New Look; Dress, £32, Dorothy Perkins; Shorts, £35, Topshop; Purse, £4.50, Accessorize
Spots will also continue to be big throughout the spring and summer, when we’ll be throwing our spotty blazer over a striped nautical style dress for that real taste of true British summer style.
Get stocking up on your spotty prints now – this is one spot we certainly don’t mind having!
You have to hand it to Heidi Klum – she’s a TV presenter, supermodel and a mother to four kids – yet she always looks amazing and full of energy. Well, now we think we may have unearthed the gorgeous German’s secret!
We’ve found out that she’s a huge fan of Rituals, a natural range of beauty products, with one of her favourites being their Energy Bubbles Moisturising Cream Bath. This gorgeous smelling bath soak containing Gingseng and Chinese peony, makes your skin feel instantly softer and silkier, so we can see why Heidi is a fan.
The good news for us equally busy non-celebrities however, is the price. It’s only £9.90, which means you can indulge in a little A-list luxury in the comfort of your own home without breaking the bank. Rituals products are available in Ritual stores throughout the UK, as well as in certain department stores.
OMG! Could we be any happier at the moment? Payday is on the horizon, the snow has gone and now we find that shopping is justified as a great way of burning up calories and losing weight.
According to a survey by Debenhams, most British women cover an estimated 154 miles a year and burn approximately 385 calories a week – just by shopping!
Debenhams tested 10 shoppers with calorie-counting pedometers and surveyed 2,000 more shoppers to gain an understanding of the health benefits of the nation’s favourite past time. According to the figures, us ladies cover nearly 3 miles every time we shop, taking an average of 7,305 steps!
Ed Watson, spokesperson for Debenhams said, “The distance walked by an average British woman each year while shopping is the same as walking from London to Hull. This mileage is in addition to the stretching benefits gained while reaching for that must-have pair of shoes and strengthening arms muscles by carrying heavy shopping bags”.
So next time your partner moans at you for spending hours out shopping, you can tell him that you were actually out exercising. All we need now to complete our happiness is a calorie free chocolate bar…
