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!

The Fashion Feed: Somewhere Over The Rainbow...

Rainbow Brights by BradshawsCloset featuring Forever21 bracelets

A good twitter friend of mine, GoddessSammy sent me a link last week about rainbow hued accessories dominating the high street and since seeing my computer screen awash with vibrant colour I've been dying to write a blog post about them. With summer drawing ever closer it's only right that your wardrobe should brighten up as much as the weather so I've made a list of my top rainbow picks.


First on my list are these gorgeous gummy bear necklaces from Lunacy Boutique. Not only are they fun but they really pack a colour popping punch, especially if you wear more than one at a time! They cost just £5.00 a piece and are perfect for adding a kitsch element to any outfit.


For true celebrity glamour you can't go wrong with these gorgeous pleather peep-toe heels in the style of Beyonce Knowles. Not only do these shoes tick several on-trend boxes with their buckle fastening and canvas detail but they also come in a fabulous zingy orange shade! The shoes will set you back just $39.90 from Fly Jane making them an absolute star style steal!


Finally I'm going mad for electric blue at the moment and as far as this season's key colour goes I don't think fashion investments get any better than this beautiful clutch bag from Debenhams. This handbag will see you through a Saturday night in the club and act as a quirky accessory for a wedding or formal dinner. It costs just £28.00 and will quickly become one of the staple fashion items you reach for to give your outfit a contemporary edge.

Born to Shimmer, Born to Shine

Sequins by BradshawsCloset featuring Betsey Johnson jewelry

Carrie was a massive fan of sequins and admittedly whether it's Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall it's always nice to add a bit of sparkle to your wardrobe. It's true they are a fashion move to be used with caution, but if worn correctly they can turn heads like nothing else.

This gorgeous little number from Almost Famous London is made from silver silk with sequin detailing on the central panel. At £135.00 it is more of an investment piece but with it's sheer lines and shapely design this little baby will be earning it's place in your wardrobe for years to come.

This sequin adorned clutch would make the perfect accessory for your dress. Clutch handbags are not just big in the world of Sex and the City they are also this season's must-have handbag design. You can pick this one up for £27.99 from Isabella's Handbag Shop.

Last but by no means least you can finish off a sultry shimmering look with this gorgeous Betsey Johnson ice-queen-esque bangle. It is currently reduced at NordStrom from $35.00 to just $22.90 making it an absolute bargain for those looking for a timeless bit 'O' bling.

The Monthly-Must Have: Indulge Your Sweet Tooth With A Candy Stripe Clutch

This month's must-have is this sweet and simple candy stripe clutch. Every designer worth their salt is trying to find new ways of bringing back 80s neon shades and this hard clutch bag is just the way to do it with subtlety.

This item is a style must-have because it ticks so many fashion boxes. All the top celebs have been touting hard case clutches on the red carpet of late and the block colour effect of this little beauty keeps it so on-trend.

It is currently on sale at Asos for just £19.75. We're expecting to see a 'sold out' sign on it very soon so we advise you to bag it whilst you can...no pun intended.

The Bradshaw School of Forties Fashion

Forties Inspired Fashion - by BradshawsCloset on Polyvore.com

The peplum skirt has it's roots in 19th Century style but didn't really take on until the 1940s. This bulbous trend died out in the 50s but was back again in the 80s, 90s and now, thanks to Ms Bradshaw, in the noughties too. The Peplum is fun because it goes against all the usual "does my bum look big in this" style conventions and looks surprisingly chic.

Our favourite peplum garment at the moment is this gorgeous electric blue number from Miss Selfridge. Not only does it boast beautiful contrast detail in this season's hot colour but the V neck front will be flattering to any figure regardless of shape and size. The dress costs £35.00 which is nothing for such a high fashion item. This look has come back time and again over the decades so it's well worth investing in a piece like this that you can pull out of the closet when ever the trend comes back into vogue.

The only way to finish off a peplum dress is with a pair of killer heels and a cutesy clutch. Our pick of the clutches has to be this feathered number from Asos, also in electric blue. The clutch style keeps it nice and retro but the feathers and the vivid colour will bring your look bang up to date. The bag is currently selling for just £21.75 and can be teamed with any number of outfits.

As for the heels, you can't go wrong with a pair of black skyscrapers. We love this pair from TopShop for their stand-out cross over detail. They will set you back £70.00 but like the clutch will team up with any number of outfits adding extra value to your wardrobe.

Become a Frill Seeker!

An American Girl in Paris - by BradshawsCloset on Polyvore.com

Perhaps the most unforgettable dress that Carrie ever wore was that amazing sea foam, 1000 layer Versace gown. It was beautiful Sex and the City irony that just when it looked as though Carrie was going to miss out on her fairytale ending she decided to throw on fairytale couture.

Versace gowns aren't known for their reasonable prices but there are still some gorgeous garments to be had for all you frill seekers out there that don't come with a designer price tag. The closest you'll probably get to recreating Carrie's lush layers on the high street is this slate green beauty from Monsoon. We're not going to lie to you, it's not going to cost you as much as a Versace gown but it's not going to be cheap. This ruched and ruffled prom dress is currently on sale for £200.00. It's well worth the investment if you can afford it, but if you can't there are other ways to frill seek on a budget.

For a subtler effect and a smaller price tag, try on this delicious satin ruffle dress from Lipsy. Not only is it slightly more versatile than the Monsoon dress but it will only set you back £70.00 which is a big reduction! The bustier design will pull you in at all the right places and emphasise the big ruffle effect at the bottom.

Frills and ruffles aren't exclusive to dresses and skirts of course, they've been appearing on all sorts of garments and accessories. Our favourite is this beautiful Fiorelli clutch bag in one of this season's hottest colours: coral. It is currently available at John Lewis for £35.00 and is versatile enough to wear day or night. Use it to modernise a jeans and T shirt look or match it with your favourite little black dress. Either way it will look fabulous, flirty and fun.

Peachy Keen, Jellybean!

Things may not always be peachy when it comes to love but at least you can cheer yourself up a bit by flaunting this feminine but oh so sophisticated muted shade. It's perfect for the more formal affairs such as weddings (for those of you at that horrible age where all your friends are already marrying off), first date dinners (for those of you still trying to get a leg up on the dating ladder) and of course those all important business schmoozing parties where looking chic and sleek simply comes with the territory.

This gorgeous dress from Etsy seller ouma is very reminiscent of the dress flaunted by Carrie in the opening credits of the show. It is a little bit more expensive than the average high street dress at $250 but it has every right to be as it is one of a kind and beautifully hand made. Nobody else will have anything like it in their wardrobe making it an absolute bargain, when you think about it. On top of the quality and originality of the piece, let's face it, you're never going to want to take this off so the cost-per-wear is going to be low, low, low!

Those of you who find peach a bit too much on the subtle side can simply accessorise with it to give your existing wardrobe a touch of class as needed. High street buys that wont cost you the earth include this luscious mock croc bag from New Look. Not only is mock crock the must have material for the spring season, but it also comes in clutch format offering the ultimate in bag versatility. The even better news is that it will only set you back £10.00 meaning you can feel peachy any day of the week.

Je T'Adorn

,The much-covetted Eiffel Tower bag from the Sex and the City movie gave fans a little reminder of Big and Carrie's adventure in Paris at the end of the series. The real deal by Timmy Woods is going to set you back around $500 or if you want the Swarovski Crystal covered version around $3000. Thankfully once again we've been able to hunt down some Paris inspired alternatives.

If you're intent on a bag purchase then TopShop have just brought out an Eiffel Tower clutch bag for a credit crunching £20. We know, we know it's not covered crystals or even fake diamante versions that you could pass off as crystals but it still says continental chic and won't cost you your life savings...you're saving that for your Vivienne Westwood wedding dress, remember?

There are also some beautiful Paris inspired necklaces to be had that can be used as a tip of the hat to the continental theme. This handmade version from Etsy seller adorn you will have you dressing up in berets and strings of garlic before you can say Aleksander Petrovsky. It will only set you back $18.50 and from here on in the city of lights will always be within reach.

The Clutch of the Matter

If there's one thing Carrie Bradshaw knew how to work it's the clutch handbag. Simple and stylish the clutch is living proof that good things do come in small packages. Thankfully the high street has been quick to catch on to this trend and as a result there are quite literally hundreds of different styles, colours and materials to choose from.

This gorgeous feathered clutch from asos is so NYC style and very similar to one that Carrie used in the show (above). Animal prints and materials are very big this season so sporting them on your new clutch bag will pack a double whammy. Of course there's a lot to be said for keeping things simple and if that's more your style then maybe you should check out this cream and gold clutch from Dorothy Perkins instead.

The beauty of both of these pieces is that they will complement almost anything you have hanging in your wardrobe. Such accessories always become fast favourites as you really get your money's worth out of them and they're so versatile you don't even have to think about how to finish your look it just happens and what women isn't pro-effortless style?

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Royal blue is a massive colour on the high street and on the catwalks at the moment. Needless to say this did not go unnoticed by Miss Bradshaw. Those deal clinching Manolo Blahniks from the Sex and the City Movie have inspired an army of followers to go in search of their own something blue. Of course not all of us can afford the $945 for the actual pair from the movie (yes that's right Carrie lied about them being $525, but haven't we all downplayed the cost of shoes at some point in our lives?). For all those recessionistas out there we've hunted out some stunning high street alternatives to help you work that timeless Sex and the City chic without having to take out a bank loan.

First on the list has to be this gorgeous pair of heels from fashion savvy retailers New Look. Granted they are patent leather rather than satin and they don't have the diamante detail but at £20.00 they're the most pocket friendly way of paying homage to that gorgeous pair of Manolos Big uses to seal the deal with Carrie.

Set off the outfit by teaming it with this fantastic patent royal blue clutch. Available from ebay seller Renubags for a measley £9.99 it will put the finishing touch to any jeans based or black trouser outfit. In a world of marriage fearing men you'll probably be glad to hear that you don't have to be tying the knot with anyone special to sport something new and blue so why not be bold with your accessorising and show the world that feeling blue is no longer something to be sad about?