The Golden Girls: Summer Styles With Added Shine

Golden Girls by BradshawsCloset featuring Miss Selfridge shoes

When it came to fabulous fashion picks I always felt that Miranda got a raw deal on Sex and the City. It's not really anyone's fault, the nature of her character was very business like until she became a mum when the fashion relaxed a little bit. Imagine my delight then, when I went to the cinema and saw Miranda strutting down the streets of Manhattan top-to-toe in gold. It was a stroke of style genius by Pat fields as it highlighed Miranda's trademark red hair and pale skin beautifully. Bagging Miranda's big screen look this summer will keep you bang on trend as the industry seems to have forgotten the chav connection and given gold a welcome resurrection.

These golden gladiator affairs from Kurt Geiger are my top style pick for this summer. Granted they are £110.00 but I'm thinking cost per wear. These beauties will look fabulous teamed with your bikini and sarong/kaftan by the poolside but will also look equally as fabulous with your little black dress come Christmas. In short, they are a timeless shoe, nothing is ever going to stop them looking good making them a must-have for all avid shoe collectors. Of course if you're sticking to a budget and you're just wanting a summer shoe to see you through the hot months Miss Selfridge are doing a lovely flat gladiator pair for just £25.00 (shown above). They won't be as versatile but you will be able to bring them back out of your closet for summers to come.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw this gorgeous metallic leotard from Wet Seal. It only costs $26.50 and looks as though it's come straight out of Gagas closet. The most likely place you're going to wear this is a club or girls night out and teaming it with a fitted black skirt and massive black accessories would mute it down just enough to be chic rather than freak. Of course, the more daring of you might be able to make this into some kind of beach combo wearing it bathing suit style and teaming it with a sarong/kaftan. Either way it will definitely turn heads for all the right reasons.

Accenting your golden girl look with some jewellery is the perfect way of completing your outfit. Chunky is the word du jour for summer 2009 so if you're going for gold, make it thick chainmail, celtic, or knotted designs for serious wow factor. My favourite pick is this knotted necklace which costs a paltry £8.00 from Peacocks. Come christmas you can team it with a purple dress for a fantastically festive edge.

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: Sports Chic on the Cheap!

Designers are taking inspiration from chav-style garments at the minute with sports stripes and neon vests swiftly becoming major fashion themes. A walk down the high street however is a far cry from a walk round your local council estate as perfecting this look requires two things Vicky Pollard never had: subtlety and style.

Going Nude. The key to this look is to keep it looking neutral and add just the token neon item to liven things up. Start with this gorgeous cream skirt suit from Peacocks. The skirt and the jacket will set you back just £36.00 for the pair and will create a fabulous base for your Sports Chic look. Their subtle colouring and classic shape makes them stand alone wardrobe basics too so you're guaranteed to get frequent use out of them.

Queens of Neon. Accessorise your suit with this gorgeous neon detail bag from Asos. It costs just £17.75 and epitomises the sports chic style with a muted tan base coupled with vibrant flashes of neon. You can pick up a matching belt from New Look for just £5.00 to add the finishing touch to your sports chic outfit.

1990s Remix. It is perfectly acceptable to mix neon colours, if you're feeling daring add in a yellow stripe or even lime green if you're particularly feeling the 1990s retro look. We particularly like this flourescent vest from American Apparel. At just £15.00 it is the perfect bargain buy for creating your own alternative sports chic ensemble. Customising this trend to your own taste will single you out from the hoards of other fashion followers and will allow you to easily mix and match any new purchases with your existing wardrobe so don't forget to keep it plucky and personal.

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!