The Fashion Feed: Tell Me About It, Stud.

Carrie Bradshaw Searching for Her Stud - by BradshawsCloset on Polyvore.com

If we're honest, 21st Century studs are few and far between, at least if we're talking about men they are. Thankfully finding a man to live up to the mantle of "stud" will be the last thing on your mind when you see the studded treasures up for grabs in all your favourite shops this month.

This glossy studded bag for example is very similar to the Chanel Tote Carrie was touting about in Sex and the City the Movie. It's fully lined with a black glossy finish and is big enough to squeeze all your on-the-move beauty essentials into. This bag is on sale at Forever 21 for a paltry $34.80 so you can achieve the designer stud look for much, much less.

One of the top must-have accessories at the moment however has to be the black studded belt. Belts are big news and are currently being sported by all the top celebs over cardigans, coats and evening gowns. You can pick up this chunky black beauty at One Poster and it will only cost you £9.99. It would team up beautifully with the Forever 21 tote and give a modern edge to jeans and a white shirt or a Carrie-style shift dress.

If you feel that the silver studded look is a bit too agressive you may want to opt for a piece which is studded with coloured gems instead. We love this gorgeous turquoise ethnic look bangle from Fantasy Jewelry Box. Turquoise is just as big news as studs are this month so you'll still be right on trend if you do go for the subtler approach to finding the perfect stud.

East Meets West: Experience a Taste of the Orient

A Taste of the Orient - by BradshawsCloset on Polyvore.com
A Taste of the Orient - by BradshawsCloset on Polyvore.com
Whenever Carrie sports a style it isn't long before it hits the high street and thanks to Sex and the City the Movie oriental prints and motifs are massive fashion news.

Miss Bradshaw looks gorgeous in green but the oriental trend comes in many shades and with a range of affordable garments and accessories readily available in all our favourite shops gettting the Geisha look doesn't have to break the bank.

As shown above, sunset shades are designer favourites this spring so why not start your oriental outfit with some strong orange tones? The gorgeous tunic pictured above costs just £28.00 from Dorothy Perkins and the matching hair lily comes even cheaper at just $7.50 from My Diva's Closet Not only are these items painfully on-trend they ooze confidence. Who needs a little black dress when you've got a whole pallet of colour?

Create contrast with bold green tones. The shoes pictured above cost $196.00 at Shoes.Com but if you can't stretch to that you can create a similar effect with these gorgeous patent leather wedge heels from Farah. You can currently buy them on Zappos for just $67.50.

To complete your look go super girly with a fan and / or a parasol. As mentioned in this week's Fashion Feed fans are going to be the hottest high street accessory once the humid months are upon us so beat the escalated prices and bag yours now. Ebay currently list a gorgeous selection of oriental fans and this fabulous lace parasol can be picked up at hatsnstuff for just £39.50. The parasol is more for a walk in the park on a summery day than a trip to Tesco. It may not be the most versatile item but it will protect you from the harsh rays of the sun at weddings, christenings and Sunday trips out to the coast and will add a touch of class to anything you team it with.

Competition Time: Win a Sex and the City Style Goody Bag!

We're giving away a range of designer make-up from one of Hollywood's leading make-up artists: Victoria Jackson worth over £150. We're also going to be giving away an exclusive tips booklet from Victoria herself to help you recreate Carrie's effortless glamour every day of the week! And that's not all. We're also going to throw in a range of Carrie-inspired, on-trend accessories such as this gorgeous mustard pashmina from Scarf World to complete your Sex and the City look!

To get your hands on this amazing prize all you have to do is email us with the answer to this painfully simple question:

What is Carrie's Maiden Name?

A. Golightly
B. Bradshaw
C. Hobbs

Email us at: closetcompetitions@gmail.com with your name, postal address and the answer to the question. The winner will be randomly selected and announced on the 31st of March. Good Luck!

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.

The January Shoe Fix: Epic Gladiator Footwear

Caged shoes are so Sex and the City, but most of the high street stores are selling theirs for over £60.00 leaving any cash-strapped shoe lovers having to do without gladiator-esque footwear.

We didn't take those high-cost price tags lying down however, oh no. We believe that women everywhere have the right to own the latest shoes and thus have endured an online quest of epic proportions to hunt down the cheapest and chicest gladiator sandles.

There is hope even in this bleak, economically challenged world of owning footwear that will turn heads. At just £34.50 these designer look metallic stripe sandles from Asos will put the world to rights once more and allow women from all walks of life to cage their feet Carrie style. As long as there are reasonably priced shoes in the shops, there is justice in the world!

The Fashion Feed: Valentine's Day Special

If you're in a relationship Valentine's Day can be sublime. If you're single however the whole day appears very different and it can be a very isolating experience. Well, we're here to let all you sassy singles know that it's just not worth getting hung up about. Saint Valentine's day is supposed to be a celebration of love, it's not about getting so depressed about being alone that you hang yourself from your shower rail!

This week's fashion feed is a Valentine's Special aimed not only those people who are in such a comfortable relationship they don't even close the bathroom door any more, but also all the single ladies who deserve love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love. We've found three fabulous and fashionable ways to show the world that you've got your love, even if you don't happen to be in love just now.

Valentino for Valentine's Day. Why not ditch the emotional baggage this year and concentrate on the kind of baggage that actually has an off-chance of impressing somebody? We love this Valentino inspired piece from Fashion Junkee. It looks like Valentino could have designed it but only costs $50.00. Whether you're meeting your other single soul-mates for a pizza and a film or are having a candle-lit dinner with a special someone this bag will make the pefect companion to take along with you.

Vintage Valentine. Vintage chic is big business these days and if you want to work the vintage look this Valentine's Day why not pick up this adorable love locket from Dallas-based designer Rebecca Berry? The locket is silver-plated set with a pearlized Lucite oval stone which features a retro style pin-up girl. You can buy the locket for $82 from Plastic Land and keep that someone special right where they should be, close to your heart.

I Want Candy. If you fancy something equally quirky but not quite as pricey pay a visit to The Lunacy Boutique where you can pick up a range of fabulous love-themed accessories at very reasonable prices. We adore this love heart bracelet which features a range of classic slogans from those yummy pastel sweets we used to devour as kids. At only £14.00 how can you resist a little sugar this Valentine's Day?

Can A Woman Really Fake It?

As you are reading a post from Carrie Bradshaw's Closet and not the lastest issue of Cosmo, you won't be surprised (although you may be disappointed) to learn that the title does not refer to orgasms. We think Meg Ryan made the case for womankind in When Harry Met Sally when it comes to that rather sensitive question. What we're more concerned with is whether or not you can easily and cheaply fake a designer look without being found out.

A few blogs ago (Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue) we were lamenting the fact that the deal breaking Manolo Blahniks in the Sex and the City Movie cost many a pretty penny. And in these hard times, it's unlikely you're going to break the bank for a pair of shoes, even a pair as beautiful as those. This got us thinking, why not just create a replica pair? There are currently some very cheap blue satin shoes, complete with pointed toe, selling on ebay. Handily you can also buy some suitably shimmering diamante buttons to stick or sew (depending on how much attention you paid during textiles lessons) onto your new pair of shoes. The result? A pair of shoes that look the real deal but actually cost you under £25!

We suspect that in these hard times the ability to customise clothes and shoes is going to be the way forward. The pros of this little venture are that whilst you're customising the clothes you already have you're not out buying new ones and racking up major credit card debt, when you're finished you'll have a one-of-a-kind item and you can get replica designer wear at a fraction of the original price. The cons - it's going to take you a little bit of time and effort.

For those of you who really can't face picking up a needle or a bottle of superglue, you can still fake it but you will be doomed to spend your Saturday afternoons trawling the jumble-sale likes of TK Maxx and Matalan Discount Stores. There's nothing wrong with their products but it will probably take you an age to find what you're looking for!

Because we're nice, we've found the perfect item to start off your faking-it collection. This gorgeous quilted white bag from Dorothy Perkins screams Chanel and even comes with a designer look gold chain strap. It will only set you back 12.00 and will look a million dollars. Besides a man who means what he says and a free shopping spree at Prada what more could a girl want?

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.

Where it's at this Winter

The tide of fashion can turn very quickly and if you want to stay afloat the only people worth talking to are the designers who spend all their time trying to push boundaries and stay at the cutting edge of forward-thinking style. I caught up with one such individual to find out what was going to be hot on the High Street for Autumn/Winter 2008.

Victoria Smith, a freelance embroidery designer from Manchester, has recently started selling her own individual designs after several years of hard graft in the fashion industry. As you can see from the images left and below her new enterprise 'Fancy Stitches' fuses a range of styles and inspirations to create truly unique looks and she's got a lot of ideas on what to wear this season.

So Victoria, what looks do you think are going to be big for the back end of 2008/beginning of 2009?

Looks that are big this Autumn/Winter seem to be tartan- jackets, mini skirts and tops, aswell as leopard print, bows, frills and delicate beadwork/embroidery. Purple and mustard are also key colours this year.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

My inspiration comes from everywhere but my main sources are magazines, shops (fashion and interior design), fabrics that boast nice patterns - I have even been inspired by somebody's curtains!

Nature is also endlessly inspiring flowers are massive part of my designing so its important that I observe the world around around me to keep coming up with new ideas. Different cultrues such as Indian and African are so colourful and rich, and so different to ours that they also strongly influence the fashion world.

What looks do you see being the future of fashion?

I think fashion is always revolving and things keep come back in, even if its a few seasons later. So we are likely to see styles from the past coming back round again, for example, floaty empire lines were really in over the summer, now the emphasis is on more fitted smarter looks. This cycle is likely to repeat itself next year too.

Do you think that the UK is particularly daring when it comes to style?

I think London is one of the top leaders in fashion world, producing designers such as Scott Henshall and Matthew Williamson. Central Saint Martin's (fashion college) has produced many leading lights in fashion world who are often pushing boundaries of fashion. You only have to look to London Graduate Fashion Week for rising stars like this. London Fashion Week also highlights how London is seen up there with the other leading fashion capitals such as Milan, Paris and New York as people travel from round the world to come to it.

Patent Leather: Cheap and Tacky or Chic and Classy?

Patent leather has come back to reinvade the high street like never before but is this necessarily a good thing? I have to admit that my gut reaction was...no. Patent leather can often look really cheap (even if you've paid a lot for the item in question) and the last thing you want is to look tacky. Patent leather however does have a certain retro charm and if you use it correctly it can be perfect for giving an otherwise simple outfit a bit of an edge.

I picked up these red patent leather sandals at my favourite discount store: Peacocks. They cost £15.00 and are going to work a treat with wardrobe staples such as jeans or a little black dress. The likes of Fendi, Chanel and Dior have all included patent leather bags in their new collections but since we're not all on a millionaire's budget you will be pleased to know you can pick up patent leather bags at slightly more modest prices at DestinationFashion.Com where prices start at £14.99.

Patent leather is a great material for anyone wanting to emulate Samantha-esque chic but whatever you do never wear more than one item at a time. You just end up looking like you've been shrink wrapped before coming out and people will assume that you simply can't afford to buy real leather and are settling for a cheaper looking alternative. Even if that's true, they don't need to know that so keep it minimal and you'll look both with-it and worth it.

Satchels Can Be Sexy

Forget the retro school girl stigma satchels have become chic, sleek and sexy this season. This gorgeous, red, faux leather effort will set you back a mere £5.99 from Bargain Handbags Galore.
It boasts three compartments and an inside zip pocket enabling you to jam-pack it with all your favourite make-up and accessories. The strap is long enough to fit perfectly on your shoulder even with a bulky winter coat on and because it's a deep red it won't feel too garish alongside your other seasonal favourites.

If you do want to opt for a slightly more low-key or intellectual look then go for this designer-esque navy/tan satchel. Bargain Handbags Galore are selling this little beauty for a paltry £3.99. It has more pockets and zips than you can shake a stick at and comes complete with a 'Claro Paris' stamp on the clasp giving a subtle nod to the fashion capital of the world. I use this bag for more formal engagements but you could also easily use it to class up a more street wise outfit. It is of course the unlimited flexibility of handbags that makes us love them so, and thanks to bargain ebay stores we can all rest assured that we won't have to miss out on the top looks for autumn/winter 2008.

C is for Carrie, Court Shoes and Comfort

All of the Sex and the City girls were well known for clomping around the Manhattan streets in killer heels but there's a lot to be said for comfort. No wonder Carrie had to take cabs everywhere, it's not as though you can go on a 6 mile urban hike in 8 inch stilettos. The court shoe is a great alternative to hideously high heels and were, on more than one occassion, favoured by the girls on the hit show. I found these amazing Salt Pink Court Shoes at Kurt Geiger reduced from £120.00 to £59.50. Kurt and the crew broke traditional style taboos and mixed together red and pink to created a timeless shoe that will match beautifully with a range of styles and colours. For the traditional look match your heels to the colour of your outfit or for a trendy street look wear them with jeans.

If the credit crunch is really taking it's toll on your shoe fund then pay a visit to Peacocks. I picked up this fabulous pair of court shoes in this season's key colour - mustard. They were a snip at £12.00 and will definitely come in useful this season and for seasons to come. Mustard is a colour that seems to come back round every year so it's worth keeping a pair of mustard shoes stashed in your closet to modernise an otherwise classic look. Court shoes still give your legs and posture a boost but will also enable you to walk gracefully rather than tripping over or getting your heels caught in drains and man covers. Always a bonus if you ask me!