The Hippy Hippy Shake

Summer of Love by BradshawsCloset featuring GAP jeans

From tie die tunics to groovy headscarves Carrie certainly knew how to work the hippy look and it has come back in a rather shameless way for SS 09.


My favourite hippy-look item on the high street at the moment is this yellow floral skirt by Red Herring. The reason I like it so much is that it is very different from a lot of the other stuff being put out on the clothes rack this season. It's shapely but the mini element keeps it fun. It is currently reduced to just £15.40 at Debenhams.


A more subtle way to give your wardrobe the hippy make over is with scarves and I have totally fallen in love with this coral patterned number from Missoni. At $100 I suppose it is quite a lot to pay for a scarf but if we're talking value for money it's a good buy. It's an incredibly versatile item and could easily be used to jazz up an old jacket come Autumn. You can buy this item at Net A Porter.


The last thing on my summer of love wish list is this gorgeous floral necklace from Dorothy Perkins. It is £50.00 which again is a lot of money to pay for a piece of fashion jewellery but, well, just look at it! This would look fabulous over a tee or a vest and is so well designed in my opinion it's actually reached statement status.

The Ladies Who Lunch Look

Ladies Who Lunch by BradshawsCloset featuring Dorothy Perkins heels & wedges

It won't be long now before we're tucking into all those lovely chocolate eggs! Having had chocolate for breakfast and elevenses however it seems only fitting that we balance our act of gluttony with an act of grace and go for an elegant lunch with the family. Of course, looking dignified with that much saturated fat inside you can be tricky, so you're going to have to let fashion do all the hard work for you!


The Ladies Who Lunch look is the epitome of chastity, a sort of under-stated bridal look that is classy through and through. Start with a white fitted jacket with nice feminine lines. This tailored jacket from Mango is just the job. It only costs £45 and the tie in waist will do wonders for your silhouette.


Team your jacket with a white flowing skirt, ivory vest and a pair of these little beauties from Dorothy Perkins. These really are the most versatile of shoes withe their neutral shade and cute cross band buckle. The heel is mid-height so they are practical but the slight platform gives them an on-trend edge. They are currently on sale for £28.00.


Once you have your whiter than white canvas all you have to do is accessorize it up to the hilt. I recommend pearls, dusky pink corsages and diamante brooches to keep it classic. If you want to do something a bit different however this ruffle detail parasol will certainly set you apart from the crowd. Brace yourselves for the price because at £107.66 from Brollies Galore this is without doubt an investment piece that you will need to take tender loving care of. If you can't quite stretch to that for such an obscure item you can of course pick up low-cost versions on the likes of ebay or opt for a pair of white lace gloves instead which are just as chic and very cheap.

The Fashion Feed: Follow the White Rabbit - An Easter Special!

Easter Special by BradshawsCloset on Polyvore.com

As if the promise of chocolate eggs wasn't enough, this year Easter Sunday is going stylish with big flowers, baskets and bunnies to boot!

Become a Basket Case. Enjoy country chic at it's best with this adorable floral basket from Accessorize. Although Easter Sunday is an excellent excuse to use it, it is the kind of item that is cute enough to last you all summer long. It's made from 100% straw to give you that authentic rustic look and will only set you back £10.00.

Get Creative With Corsages. Carrie Bradshaw may have been responsible for the corsage revival but fashionistas are increasingly finding new and inventive ways of using them to set off an outfit. Pin several corsages around the collar of a blouse, to a handbag or to the hem of a skirt for an instant customised look! Corsages are currently on sale in every size, shape and colour but we particularly like this over-sized blue version from Johnny Loves Rosie. It will cost you £50.00 but it will also last you a long time because all of their items are very well made. If you're on a budget you can pick up smaller corsages at Primark, H & M and New Look at more reasonable prices.

Follow the Pink Rabbit. Playboy Bunny jewelery is tacky and we're not going to deny that but in the spirit of Easter Sunday we've hunted down the perfect Playboy bunny bling ring. It comes in pink and is so sparkly, it's the only item of jewellery you will need. Wear it with your tongue firmly in your cheek in the Bradshaw I-wear-gangster-style-jewellery-for-fun fashion and you will totally get away with it. The ring costs just £18.00 from Littlewoods making it the perfect guilty pleasure!

Put A Bit of Flirt In Your Skirt

Moody Blue - by BradshawsCloset on Polyvore.com

Carrie and the girls seemed to have an endless supply of floaty, flirty skirts and since we're in the business of emulating Sex and the City style to the letter, it seems only fitting that we follow suit. The secret to the flirty skirt is to opt for materials and designs that accentuate your curves, helping you to really bring out your feminine side.

As far as frills go, you really can't go wrong with one of these fairytale style pettiskirts from Sterling and Pearls . Made from 100% chiffon these little beauties are guaranteed to have you twirling round the bedroom like a Balerina in no time. Our favourite is this Tiffany blue and black number but they come in a range of colours and contrasts so you can find the perfect shade to suit you. At just $67.00 it's perfect for those of you who want to recreate that American Girl in Paris look without having to fork out for the 1000 Layer Versace Sea Foam Gown.

Slightly more on the subtle side is this prim and proper black rose skirt from Peacocks. The calf-length finish makes it super classy and it comes complete with a tie belt. We reckon this skirt will make the perfect throw-on for summer days in the city, especially if you team it with a pair of on-trend heels to update the look. The skirt costs a paltry £10.00 so it really is a buy it now or regret it later purchase.

When it comes to the feminine mystique bows are big business too and we couldn't help but get over-excited when we saw this mono Bella Bow Skirt in the sale at Coast. Reduced from £95.00 to just £45.00 it is a true on-trend bargain that will see you through this season and beyond. The skirt finishes just below the knee and boasts gorgeous black belt and bow hemming for contrast allowing you to double-up on your fashion brownie points. Suitable for all occasions it's one of those garments that you're just never going to want to take off!

The Fashion Feed: Peaches and Cream

Peaches and Cream - by BradshawsCloset on Polyvore.com

As mentioned in our Fashion Feed 'How to Look Good Nude' neutral shades are massive themes on the high street this season. This week we're taking a look at peach and cream coloured must-haves all of which come with pretty sweet price tags.

The Dress. First in our virtual shopping bag is this Peach Oxidised Shirt Dress from Miss Selfridge. With it's studded collar and racer back straps it is the perfect smart-to-casual foundation and the bubble style skirt makes it so on trend. The dress costs just £28.00 making it an affordable and versatile addition to your wardrobe.

The Statement Belt. Gently accentuate your waistline with this beautiful wrap tie belt from TopShop. It will break up the neutral hues of the rest of your outfit and is very now with its eye-catching corsage with creamy contrast detail. The belt is a snip at just £20.00 and is something that you can wear over a cardi, blazer or even to add a quirky edge to an evening gown.

The Vintage Hat. Peaches and Cream couture wouldn't be complete without a classy vintage hat and this peach Kangol retro piece from Candy Says is just the job. The rose detail would match beautifully with the TopShop belt and the optional veil makes it an excellent option for summer weddings or for a fairytale themed walk in your local park. This item is a bargain at just 25.00 so snap it up whilst you still can!

The Monthly Must-Have: 80s Tropicana Makes a Come Back!

Club Tropicana - by BradshawsCloset on Polyvore.com

As mentioned in our recent blog post Retro Looks That Never Die, the retro look never goes out of style and we are delighted to see that the 80s tropical club look is making a come back. Inspired by cheesy retro TV shows like Miami Vice and equally cheesy pop songs by Wham! this look is all about fusing your pinks, greens and aquas to create a sensational tropical explosion.

To celebrate this unexpected tropical renaissance we've hunted down the perfect tropical print dress by Jane Norman. This month's must-have item boasts a beautiful blend of dusky pinks and muted greens making it the ideal canvas on which to create your bold retro look. As with all Jane Norman items the dress is flatteringly figure hugging. It is guaranteed to pull you in at all the right places and accentuate your curves to help you get that sexed-up, whatever goes 80s vibe going on. The dress costs just £40.00 and will last you a life time as this super saucy Samantha-esque look is destined to keep coming around and around for decades to come.

Team your must-have dress with a bright pair of aqua shoes, a stand-out turqoise handbag and a coral hair flower and before you know it you'll be caught up in Tropicana heat, where castaways and lovers meet...sing it George!

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.

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.

Flower Power: Not Just for Hippys

Floral designs must always be handled with care. If you're not careful you can end up looking either like someone who got lost on their way to Woodstock or like a 1950s house wife. Carrie has always been a big fan of flower power as she sported a range of stunning over-sized corsages throughout the series and The Sex and the City movie has reignited the nation's love affair with flowers as Carrie was seen sporting a beautiful, deep green, oriental style dress in the opening sequence.

The key note with floral designs is to be bold with the pattern but to keep the lines sexy. If you're going for a dress make sure it emphasises your silhouette by pulling you in at the middle and accentuating your curves at both the top and the bottom. If you're going for a skirt make sure that it's either just below the knee or to the floor - nothing says stay-at-home mum like a skirt that's wafting around your calves. Unless you have Sarah Jessica Parker's I-can-make-anything-look-fabulous body don't wear floral trousers. Keep it feminine and keep all your accessories plain so as not to clash with the main focus of your outfit which should be the flowers.

If you're opting for a corsage the good news is that Dorothy Perkins are stocking them this season in a range of styles and designs. Some original and quirkier designs can also be found on ebay. I picked up this gorgeous one-off piece from boutique apparel. When it comes to corsages it's a case of the bigger, the better but you might want to opt for colours such as red, black and white so you can mix and match them with more outfits. It can be the perfect accessory for an evening gown or even sprouse up a jeans and shirt combo. However you choose to exude flower power do it with pride!