The Fashion Feed: Confessions of a Shopaholic Style Special

As Carrie Bradshaw is taking a short break from our screens Becky Bloomwood gave fashion fans a welcome reminder of just how good flashing the plastic can feel earlier this year in the film 'Confessions of a Shopaholic.' To celebrate the release of the film on DVD I've uploaded some scans from Oli magazine that offer a how-to on recreating 'Confessions couture' (using Oli products of course!). Oli have been mentioned in this blog several times and I love the fact that as well as offering me fabulous high street buys they also offer some fashion savvy editorial on all the important things going on in the fashion world. Simply click on the images to enlarge and read the editorial. Enjoy!

The Fashion Feed: Ginnifer Goodwin's Dip Dye Style Steal

To celebrate the release of He's Just Not That Into You on DVD this week's Fashion Feed is devoted to one of my favourite rising stars and style muses, Ginnifer Goodwin. If you have a spare evening I can recommend a Ginnie double bill of Mona Lisa Smile and He's Just Not That Into You, both of which go down a treat with a bottle of wine.

Ginnie has recently been spotted in Mathew Wiliamson's dip dye dress and she pulls it off with beautiful finesse. If you didn't manage to get your hands on one of these little beauties from H & M before all the A-listers snapped them up do not fear! I've hunted down some cheap but chic alternatives that will allow you to emulate Ginnifer's laid back California look with the same class and sass as she does.

From Top to Bottom: The perfect day-to-night summer halter from House of Fraser, £36.00. Tie die dress by TopShop, crocheted for comfort, £32.00. Quirky dip dye skirt by Debenhams with snake skin effect, £25.00.

The Shoe Fix: Get The (Electric) Blues

Blue is the colour at the moment, particularly in vivid electric hues making these shoes a wardrobe essential for any savvy fashionista. Their thick cut-away detail allows you to flash your feet flesh and the slim stiletto heel has fabulous sex appeal. This is the kind of shoe with a high cost-per-wear value as they will retro-up jeans, skirts, shorts and trousers quicker than Sony can release yet another 'Best of the 80s' compilation CD! They are now down to just £31.00 from ASOS so it's a buy now or regret it later kind of a deal!

The Fashion Feed: My So-Called Closet

My So-Called Closet by BradshawsCloset featuring Dorothy Perkins

Anyone who watched the fabulous 'My So-Called Life' the first time in the early nineties will be over the moon to know that the 'Angela Chase' look is back in a big way this season and I'm already salivating over some of the gorgeous checkered styles I couldn't wear the first time around because I was too much of a chubby teen!


My favourite checkered item available online at the moment is this gorgeous checkered shirt dress by Fred Perry. It just looks like an over-sized shirt borrowed from the gorgeous Jordan Catalano belted around the middle. You can pick it up at ASOS for £79.25 and is one of those pieces you'll be comfortable wearing time and time again.


If you want to go a bit more flirty and feminine you can't go wrong with this oh-so Angela purple check dress from Dorothy Perkins. It only costs £35.00 and is great for recreating a summery school girl look. It's something you could easily pair with leggings, use as a pinafore dress or wear over a pair of jeans making it muchos versatile.


If you're going to go for a straightforward check shirt make sure it's a really good cut so you can wear it from years to come. I love this one by Wrangler which is currently on sale at Oli for £45.00. For the borrowed-from-my-boyfriend look buy it three sizes too big and wear it baggy or tie it around the middle for shape when you want it.

For full on so-called closet chic you need to finish your look with a pair of Doc Martens, a messenger style school bag and some kind of accessory with the peace sign on it (which Angela would have borrowed from Rayanne Graff more than likely!). When it gets cold cover your shoulders with a faded denim jacket for that left-over-80s look the characters seemed to love so much and you'll look like you've just stepped out of the show!


BONUS ACCESSORY: There was an episode where Angela dressed up for Halloween in some kooky 1950s glasses. If you're into freaky chic they'll be just up your alley and are available at low, low prices from most costume shops!

The Monthly Must-Have: The Dolce Vita Dress

I am not usually one for all-over sequins but after seeing this on Caryn Franklin's runway at The Clothes Show Live over the weekend I couldn't help but indulge. Dolce Vita style fashion is set to be massive all the way through 2009 and having bagged one of these limited edition beauties for myself I have to say it is possibly the best dress I have ever tried on in my life.

It costs £60.00 from New Look and is currently available in their Oxford Street branch. I've had very mixed reactions to it when I've showed people. Most of the girls have loved it and most of the guys have hated it but what to men really know about style and fashion anyway? The tunic shape makes it very flattering and I just know with the right pair of heels this is going to make a fabulous outfit for a Saturday night on the town.

If you can't get your hands on this particular item due to funds or location then find something equally as sparkly to get the same effect. Sequin handbags, skirts, scarves and vests are readily available across the high street at a range of prices so nobody has to miss out on a bit of bling! Now if you'll please excuse me, I think I'm going to go and look adoringly at my new dress for a little while.

The Fashion Feed: Patriot Games

Last weekend I went to Clothes Show London for a 2009 trend update. As you can see from the picture above the 'Cool Britannia' look was showcased in a massive way suggesting that patriotic chic is well and truly back in vogue.

It has been over a decade since Ginger Spice sported that unforgettable Union Jack dress and I like to feel, at least as far as fashion goes, that we've moved on a bit since then. This red, white and blue wrap-over skirt is a fabulous way to recreate the 'Cool Britannia' look without it looking that little bit too much. The skirt costs just £40.00 from TopShop and is perfect for a bit of patriotism regardless of which side of the Atlantic you live on.

If you're more of a stars and stripes kinda gal, you can't go wrong with this distressed vest from Old Navy. It costs a paltry $10.00 and would look awesome teamed up with your favourite pair

of jeans and maybe even a denim jacket for that old-west feel. Tees and vests are available in a

range of flag designs online so get searching and hunt down your favourite designs.

If flags are a bit full on for you, why not try dressing in your nation's signature colours? This red 50s inspired dress cost just £80.00 from French Connection. The white shoes are $80 from Aldo and the gorgeous blue feather clutch is just £21.75 from ASOS. Together they make the perfect tribute to Queen and country...or president and country!