Archive for April, 2010
Cheltenham Gold Cup, Ascot Ladies Day, Aintree and the Epsom Derby are all great events an important part of the British racing calender. For those who enjoy getting dressed up, having a bit of a flutter along with a glass or two of champagne, you can’t really beat a day at the races. If you are planning to go to any race days this summer, you may be slightly confused about what to wear and if there is any etiquette that you should follow, but it is really quite simple and once you have decided what to wear, you are sure to have a great time.
The type of dress that you should wear will vary for different race courses, events and also which enclosure that you have tickets for. Most race courses will provide some information with regards to dress codes on their website. For some of the really big racing events, the fashion is a really big part of the day. At Ascot ladies day, not only will you get to see some great horse racing but also some great outfits and really eye catching and unusual hats. There is almost a competiton to see who can wear the most stylish and unusual hats.
As a general rule, the more expensive your ticket is, the formal the dress code will be. So if you have a premier ticket at Ascot with access to exclusive areas of  the grandstand, men will be required to wear a suit or jacket and tie. Women are expected to wear equally smart clothes. Those with tickets to the Grandstand are also required to dress smartly and lasies to wear hats. For those in other areas of the racecourse, whilst there is no formal dress code, the organisers encourage smart dress and why not, such a great opportunity to get dressed up.
So what is smart enough to work as a great race day outfit? I always like to wear dresses. A feminine and elegant choice that will allow you to look individual and stylish whilst sticking to any dress code. A dress looks great when worn with a hat or if you don’t like wearing hats, a fascinator. Medium height heels and a smart clutch bag also finish the look off perfectly.
Many race courses now have best dressed awards on Ladies Day presented by celebrities. If you want to have a chance at winning the award, we would suggest choosing an individual outfit that really suits your body shape. Also choose your colour carefully. You should pick a style of hat that really suits your face shape. If the weather is not warm, you will also want some sort of cover up, look for something that really compliments your choice of dress. Finally accessorise with style remembering that sometimes less is more.
You will usually be able to find great race day outfits in occasion dresses shops and departments. Three quarter length dresses or even maxi dresses usually work really well, although shorter dresses are acceptable. If you want to stand out from the crowd opt for bright, bold and punchy colour blocks or patterns.
Politicians wives are moving more and more into the public eye. As the election gets nearer and the debate on the role (if any) of politicians wives in politics, we look at the style of Samantha Cameron who was recently voted ‘Best Dressed Woman in Politics’ by visitors of the My Celebrity Fashion website. The site asked 1334 women between the ages of 18 and 30 to choose the three most stylish women on the political stage based on their image. When asked what they admired most about each of the women 82% choose overall sophistication for Samantha Cameron.
Samantha definitely has a great style, even when pregnant with her fourth child, she still manages to look polished and chic. She has the ability to effortlessly combine high street pieces with some individual accessories for a unique style. She is also a great supporter of British designer talent including Erdem, Vivienne Westwood and Holly Fulton. She adds interesting touches to her outfits like the black nail polish on her toes that she recently wore with open toe sandals. She also has a dolphin tattoo on her ankle -perhaps not a typical look for a politicians wife.
The fact that she is Creative Director of the quality accessories brand Smythson, where she has previously been awarded the Glamour magazine award for best accessory designer and that she studied art in Bristol suggests that she has creative talent and perhaps explains how she always manages to put together such great outfits, even though she has now stepped back a little in her role at Smythson in order to assist her husband and Tory leader David Cameron on his campaign trail in the run up to the election. What ever happens in the election and whatever your political persuasion, it is hard to deny that in terms of style Samantha Cameron wins hands down.
Samantha Cameron always manages to look really relaxed but also very smart and incredibly chic. This is probably partly due to the fact that she is very relaxed in front of the camera but also that she picks clothes with just the right combination of classic and on trend. A beige blazer or tailored jacket with navy slim cut trousers and a white t shirt is such a simple outfit but it really looks good on her. Her clothes always fit to perfection and are made of great fabrics that hang and drape perfectly. She admits to facing many of the same budget constraints that so many working mums face in choosing which clothes to buy but perhaps this is why she is so admired for a style because unlike many celebrities she can pick great clothes without spending a fortun,e although she does have some great designer clothes too.
Some of Samantha Cameron’s most memorable outfits include the pair of £29.99 shoes from the high street that she wore in October last year, a simple and very elegant Phillip Lim dress and an array of beautiful maternity dresses that she has been seen wearing recently. Get Samantha Cameron’s style with a gorgeously simple shift dress like this sage green sleeveless round neck shift dress (pictured above) , some neutral court shoes and a simple pendant necklace.
For many of us tie dye evokes thoughts or memories of the seventies, hippies and Glastonbury. It has long been associated with these things, but lately it has made a comeback but with a great new look. The new tie dye is fresh and stylish with just the slightest touch of seventies glamour. If tie dye is not for you, you can always try out its slightly more sophisticated sister dip dye.
Tie dye is a dying technique that uses string and tying a piece of clothing to create varying amounts of resistance to the dye. Pieces of fabric that have been tied tightly will have very little dye and remain their original colour. It is also possible to creare a much more subtle effect by loosly tying the fabric and allowing it to take a greater amount of the dye. The pattern is created by the folded fabric where it has been dyed and can range from distinct lines or shapes to more subtle textured effects. Many people will have made their own DIY tie dye clothes in the past.
For spring summer 2010, Tie dye designs are much simpler than their seventies equivalents, with designs in just one colour and neutrals being a key choice. For example, the simple design around the hems of this navy tie dye skirt and top (pictured top left)Â give a chic but relaxed look. The textured effect on this blue velvet top pictured top right)Â created by loose tie dying is a far cry from the bold designs of the seventies.
Navy is a key colour for this year and works really well with tie dye. A navy and white combination is incredibly striking. Tie dye looks great on fabrics with different textures, think crinkled finishes or velvet. There are also some much brighter colours around and these work particularly well on hot summer days and for holiday outfits.
Dip dye is another dying technique that has become really popular in recent years. Some interesting effects are created when the subtle variation of colour is combine with a patten or print. Again this look works really well with neutral colours for sophisticated everyday tops. A dip dyed top with darker colours at the bottom than the top is a great way to slim and flatter the waist and hips.
Both Tie dye and dip dye are great looks for the summer and look best when worn with simple accessories. Don’t go over board with beads, bangles and belts. Â Try and keep the colour schemes as neutral as possible and add smart classic styles of shoes and handbags to avoid looking too way out. Dip dye particularly can work amazingly well for all sorts of occasions including work, parties and casual. Team one dip dye piece with a great pair of trousers for a smart look or combine two matching tie dye pieces for a much more relaxed and casual look.
Don’t dismiss tie dye as being something from the past which is out of date or not in fashion. Tie dye is a great summer look that is very current and very now. As with almost all clothing, it is not just about what you wear but also how you wear it.
As the weather improves and as the temperatures begin to increase finding something to wear to work which is not only reflective of the work environment but which is also comfortable becomes increasingly more difficult. Despite the fact that Britons up and down the country are rejoicing at the fact spring has finally sprung and that summer is just around the corner many women are struggling with what to wear to work each morning.
For women who work in an office the winter is an easy time of the year when it comes to deciding what to wear. In general they simply wear trouser suits on a daily basis, or even suits with skirts. The majority of skirt and trouser suits come in dark colours such as black or brown which are perfect for the winter months but come summer such colours arenâ??t quite as practical. Darker colours such as these tend to attract the heat, something which most women want to avoid during the summer months.
However it is possible for women to still wear trouser suits to work throughout the summer months without having to sacrifice their comfort levels. By mixing navy and white together women could create a summery look which still looks professional. It is possible to wear a white trouser suit with a navy top or vice versa, or even navy trousers with a navy top and a white jacket and not look out of place in the office.
The white will allow the wearer to remain cool both in work and on the journey to and from the office. What is more, although this look still appears rather formal and professional, and therefore highly suited to the office, it is also somewhat more relaxed and less rigid than the winter look of dark coloured trouser suits. In addition to this these colours represent the nautical look which is set to be very big this summer again. So not only will teaming these colours together leave the wearer feeling cooler but they will also be very much on trend.
In addition it is also advised in an attempt to keep cool in the summer months that women swap their long sleeved blouses with short sleeved blouses. In most offices it is acceptable for employees to removes their jackets whilst in the office, short sleeved blouses would therefore be beneficial. In some instances it may even be acceptable to wear a sleeveless top.   However the level to which the wearing of such a garment is accepted will vary from office to office. It is therefore recommended that the example set by superiors in the office be followed. For instance if a manager wears a sleeveless top then it would be fair to say that this is seen as appropriate summer office wear.
It is much easier to dress for the office during the summer months than many women may think. Nevertheless it is important to remember that the office is a professional environment and as such any outfit worn to the office should reflect this. It is easy for women to opt for comfort over professionalism and consequently dress too casually for the office. However, it is no longer necessary to choose between comfort and professionalism as if the right outfit is chosen the two can be combined.
With the release of the new Sex and the City 2 film in June, we thought it would be a great time to celebrate all things Sex and the City. The film, which moves on from the last film which saw Carrie (SJP) and Big get married and follows their life as a married couple. When Aidan arrives on the scene gets us wondering whether the temptation will be too much for Carrie. It also highlights the difficulties of Charlotte being a mum to two girls. But enough about the story line, for many of us the clothes, handbags and shoes are what makes Sex and the City such a must watch for anyone who oves clothes.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Carrie (her character in SATC) have long been admired for their style, she has even had a Manolo Blahnik shoe named in her honour ‘the SJP’. With the fairly recent birth of her two twin daughters (in real life), she has managed to effortlessly move in to the perfect urban yummy mummy style without loosing her love of taking the odd risk. She is a shining example of how dressing in your forties can still be fun and trendy and how ladies can look better with age.
For casual wear SJP keeps it simple and chic with bootleg trousers and simple separates. She adds a bit of style with great accessories like a brightly coloured scarf or some great flat shoes. To get this look, it is really simple to build up a wardrobe of great basics in neutral shades. She often layers pieces for a great effect and wears tailored jackets or blazers with jeans. Her shoes and accessories are really bright and vibrant. Try adding some bright red or pink ballet flats to a navy outfit. Her style could be described as both varied and classic with a twist.
The secret behind SJP’s style is breaking the rules in her own stylish way. She makes her outfits her own with a touch of her own personality for example wearing a little black dress with brightly coloured shoes or wearing shorts instead of a typical red carpet gown. She also has a very feminine dress sense with a great eye for a gorgeous dress be it for day dresses or evening dresses. She has an innate sense of what looks good on her but also tries out lots of different ideas.
When it comes to the red carpet, Sarah Jessica Parker has the ability to be front page on the newspapers and be one of the most talked about celebrities, after all it is her style that we all love her for. Her gowns whilst definitely risky are always breathtaking and perfectly complimented by her beautiful hair which is also very much a part of her signature style. Her make up is usually quite simple but with dark smoky eyes.
Here are some great evening dresses that we SJP would love (teamed with a gorgeous pair of Manolo Blahniks or course)
