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!

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.

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.