THE FASHION NEWS ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Posted by Bethan Holt, Junior Fashion Editor at Large

Today is International Women's Day and so (quite rightly) the internet is celebrating female achievements and talking about the inequalities and injustices which still exist and what we can do about them. One of the things I read this morning was The Telegraph's 'Feminist and Proud' piece in which four high profile women who proudly call themselves feminists discuss why that fight is still important. Personally, I don't see what all the fuss about calling yourself a feminist is. The term has a bad rep but I wish that everyone who just wants to live in an equal, fair world would just get on and say they're a feminist rather than worrying about whether that might label them a man-hating bra burner (yawn).

One of the contributors was Sandi Toksvig who wrote:

"Not long ago... I attended a degree ceremony for the University of Surrey at Guildford Cathedral. Afterwards, a young woman dressed in her academic gown and mortarboard was being helped down the steps by her parents. In addition to being bedecked in educational success she was also wearing high heels; such high heels that she was unable to manage the stone stairs on her own. On the day in which her mind was being celebrated, her shoes infantilised her."

Girls looking happy in trainers (images via facehunter.blogspot.co.uk)

 I am quite into the idea that part of being a good feminist is supporting other girls in whatever they chose to do. Have a baby and stay at home with him/her? Go for it. Get an abortion? Be my guest. Wear ridiculously high heels which you absolutely cannot walk in? Yes, have fun! But sometimes the choices we make aren't exactly autonomous but heavily influenced by what we think others will think of us. Fashion can be guilty of implanting ideas so strong that people who really want to be fashionable follow them, sometimes to their own detriment. So it is my personal opinion that is was quite stupid of the fashion/ celebrity/ TOWIE machine to make those silly heels so very desirable. Luckily we're mostly past that little era. So much so in fact that we have completely swung the other way and pretty much the hottest footwear right now is trainers. I'm wearing my fluoro Nikes today and every street style blog is littered with influentially stylish girls  in Air Max, New Balance, Vans etc. What's more, plenty of shows this season styled their looks not with spindly heels but with sensible brogues. I love The Times' Hannah Rochell's blog En Brogue, which is a tribute and source of inspiration for all shoes flat. 

I'm not stupid enough to think that this will last forever but let's just have fun with it for today. 

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND...

While there might not be loads of sample sale action at the moment, there is one which you might like to take a look at this weekend...

We know that this blog can get rather London-centric sometimes so were very pleased to hear about a fun-sounding fashion event up North. Peter Jensen's SS13 collection was inspired by the sculpture of Barbara Hepworth so he has hooked up with The Hepworth Wakefield to host an event to celebrate the launch of the collection. On 27th March, Jensen will be at the gallery along with models wearing his pieces to talk about how he worked with Hepworth's art. Contact  01924 247360/ hello@hepworthwakefield.org to get your free tickets. 

Peter Jensen SS13 with hats by Bernstock Spiers

If you like shoes, you need to get this book. Pre-order now or get to a Roger Vivier boutique (great excuse!) to get yours from April 5th. P.S These might have heels, but you can definitely stride along alone in them, no infantilising issues. 

THE FASHION WEEK WARDROBE: AN EQUATION

Posted by Bethan Holt, Junior Fashion Editor at Large

*During London Fashion Week, I will be writing for The Daily, the LFW newspaper. Every day here on FEAL we will be posting a version of my Daily story. Today it's all about how editors get dressed for fashion week...

"I do a panic buy the week before shows" confides In Style's Victoria Moss, summing up a very familiar routine. The anticipation of being surrounded by fellow fashion experts, trendsetters and highly preened bloggers is bound to bring out the credit card. While fashion weeks are ostensibly about viewing the new collections on the catwalks, it is now just as imperative that we ramp up our own looks for the occasion rather than letting the designers do all the talking

To make matters somewhat easier, there's a dressing equation to follow in order to subtly impress our peers without appearing too much like street style photographer bait, as Moss told me "I'm not really the type to be hovering around outside Somerset House hoping for a Scandinivian blogger to take my photo, so I'm more about conjuring something up which will let me look at least half chic for a 12 hour and beyond day". 

There are three components to this equation and they go like this:

1. SOMETHING JUST HITTING DOWN IN SHOPS

So right now, that's SS13. Jayne Bibby, from WGSN, is going for "bold and versatile" monochrome. By the looks of the courtyard at Somerset House today, that's quite a consensus Victoria has mixed her SS13 trends- black & white plus florals- into one MGSM jumper. 

Black and white SS13 vibes... in February snow (image via Vogue.com/ Phil Oh)

2. SOMETHING YOU'RE SEEING ON THE CATWALK

Cara Delevingne enjoys her red lip at Marc by Marc Jacobs

Once we're a few days into New York, there are trend starting to emerge which we can have a rumble around our wardrobes, or make-up bags for. The Observer's Helen Seamons is particularly into the Antonio Lopez red lip seen at Marc by Marc Jacobs which will "add polish". Personally, I got out my tartan trousers for yesterday after seeing it in plenty of men's shows back in January- see Lou Dalton- and in some of my favourite pre-fall collections, see Preen. 

3.  A TIMELESS CLASSIC

Lily Kwong gives good white shirt in NY (image via Vogue.com/ Phil Oh)

This is the completely non-try hard, anchor of your outfit; the cheery on the sartorial cake. Navy sweaters, jeans and crisp white shirts are probably the very best examples.  Grazia's street style expert Hannah Almassi believes Peony Lim's Manolo Blahnik pumps in every colour are an excellent example. "The best looks will mix Zara and Balenciaga with seamless skill" adds Hannah. Too much pressure? Do as DisneyRollerGirl’s Navaz Batliwalla, "I dress the same as any other day".

SS13 SHOWS: DO "THE SHRUG"

Posted by Bethan Holt, Fashion Junior at Large

Now that so many shows are streamed live online, available to watch the world over there are some who say the fashion week is a dying breed. They say it is only a matter of time before editors, bloggers and buyers are just sitting at home, laptop on knee in their PJs instead of spending weeks working out schedules, jumping on planes and rushing between appointments. It certainly sounds like far less effort but would it be anywhere near as productive, exciting, debate inducing or effective? Of course not because without being able to talk face-to-face with designers and feel the clothes, anyone who is already on the outside looking in would get nowhere near as brilliant an experience. I've been on both sides. When you're at home/ desk watching shows streamed online, you top up what you're seeing by following the tweets of everyone who is there in person, you reply and interact. Then, a few hours later you might go to Style.com or Vogue.com and see what the designer said to those most highly respected reviewers and whether that skirt really was satin, or is it something weird and new? When you're there, you may not always get quite so good a top-to-toe view as those watching online but you get to see who else is there, talk to other showgoers and, if you're lucky, go backstage after and see the clothes and accessories close-up as well as perhaps talk to the designer then tell the world about it. That's the point. It would all become deathly boring if the point of view we had was that universally gleaned from a computer screen. And let's not even begin to talk about how buyers would get their job done.

It's not just that the catwalks would get bland. There's an almost equal interest in what attendees- celebs, editors, stylists, bloggers- are wearing as there is in the contents of the shows they're watching. That's because they're the translators; taking catwalk pieces and making them almost user friendly. Yes, there are your Anna dello Russos who are highly entertaining and fabulous not terribly useful when it comes to help with looking incredibly chic, right for now but not so ridiculous that you might be mistaken for attending a fancy dress party. It's a fine line. As I was attending shows in London and now have been trawling through the many street style albums which are collating from New York, London and Milan, there's one very simple styling trick which seems to have reached epic levels of use this season. It's nothing exactly new- I've seen it before but it is a look which will make you so very now without having to spend a single penny. It's called, well I have called it, "The Shrug" and it can be summed up as "draping your jacket over your shoulders rather than putting your arms through the sleeves". It's free, versatile and works best with jackets with some defined shape or structured like a blazer or varsity. The easiest to emulate trend ever?

All images from Tommy Ton on Style.com and NYMag.com 's Street Style pages

WHAT IS 'BLOGGER' RIGHT NOW? THE TOP TEN MOST BLOGGED ABOUT ITEMS NOW

Posted by Bethan Holt, Fashion Junior at Large

We've had so many responses to yesterday's post about the 'blogger' trend via comments, tweets and e-mails. We thought we'd have have a bit of fun today so have put together our view of the top 10 most blogged about items right now. Obviously there are so many blogs out there that we have no idea if this is statistically true but we've asked around and looked at what people have been mentioning so far. Do you agree? If not, what would you have gone for?

1. JEFFREY CAMPBELL SHOES

These clumpy platform boots have gained a rep as the bloggers' favourite boot. Nobody wears them better than Stella from Stella's Wardrobe. She's rarely seen with her Jeffrey Campbells.

Stella in her Jeffrey Campbell boots (image from stellaswardrobe.blogspot.co.uk)

Stella's studded Jeffrey Campbells (image from stellaswardrobe.blogspot.com)

2. PRADA- EARRINGS AND COATS

Prada always produces a hit piece or seven. At the moment it's anything bling from their SS12 collection, especially the earrings and jackets. For bloggers who want to get this look, there are loads of guides showing you how to make your own versions. These make your own guides are probably worth a blog post in themselves at some point- watch this space!

Susie in her Prada chandeliers (image from stylebubble.co.uk)

Meg Gray, whose site is Gray Gardens, in her Prada crystal jacket, as introduced to us by Susie Bubble (image from Tommy Ton on Style.com)

3. MICHAEL KORS WATCH

Need I explain? A big watch is de rigueur when you're looking for max impact in shots.

www.oh-so-glam.com

4. ACNE'S MINT KNITS

This is My-Wardrobe's most blogged about item.

www.houseofsartorialism.blogspot.com

Image from style.com

5. YSL RING

Many of those commenting said that the YSL ring was a bloggers favourite, I guess the fact it spans half the hand is a big bonus.

chicchefblog.com

6. 3.1 PHILLIP LIM BAG

Any one will do, but Mr Lim's structured, graphic and massive bags seem to be a big blogger favourite. My Wardrobe say this one is in their Top 10 most blogged.

www.dulcecandy.com

7. ASH WEDGES

Melanie wrote about these a while back. There'll be all kind of variations around for a while yet, given the gem versions I've seen about at press days.

lolafromvalencia.blogspot.com

8. WHISTLES WISTERIA

This is Whistles' hit print of SS12, now sold out almost everywhere. Olivia Palermo has been styling out the look on her blog this week.

image from www.oliviapalermo.com

9. H & M TROUSERS

I've seen these everywhere, both on and offline of late.

allaboutthestyle.net

10. JIL SANDER HAT

Another item with lots of how-to-do your own guides dedicated to it. Of course, the Queen of Bloggers and Street Style Stars, Anna Dello Russo is its most famous wearer.

bloggers.com

www.nitorlicious.com

Do you agree with our list? What do you think we should add to it?

FEAL team xx

COACHELLA FASHION: THE FOUR EASY RULES OF FESTIVAL FASHION, PLUS TUPAC RISES FROM THE DEAD

Posted by Bethan Holt, Fashion Junior at Large

Hanna Gaby Odiele and Kasia Struss rocking out at Coachella (image from Harper's Bazaar)

It's a pleasingly predictable occurrence at this time of year: the hype surrounding Coachella as the first music festival of the year. There is always buzz about the line-up, the attendees and What 'Everyone' (aka fashion bunnies) Will Wear. But what is quite comforting about the photos which pour out of Coachella - which is near Palm Spring in California - and therefore has quite warm weather - is that what people wear never really changes that much. The general uniform is frayed denim shorts, some form of boots (Dr Martens/ wellington/ worker) a cool top (boho fringing or graphic print), and some sweet friendship necklace/wristband type thing, not forgetting the obligatory slouchy bag. This is a good thing.  When in daily life there are many ways to look cool, so many options that it can often be overwhelming, Coachella, and festivals in general, are places where it is easy to look pretty fab in four easy steps. Not including getting off your face and lost in music, obvs.

THE FOUR RULES
1. Denim shorts
2. Cute little top
3. Work boots
4. Slouchy bag

Here are a few of our favourite takes on the denim shorts look...

Kate Bosworth in animal tee and little Mulberry bag. I'm a big fan of the
lime fish earrings too (image from  harpersbazaar.com)

Coachella not scout camp- boyish badges and camouflage, and hey is that Josephine de la Baume? (image from harpersbazaar.com)

Ok, they're coloured denim but these laced up shorts are along the same lines. Really love the scarf flapping in the wind and wintry hat (from www.mrnewton.net)

Zanna Roberts Rossi lets her bleached and ripped denims take centre stage. This is a bit chavvy for us at FEAL.  (image from harpersbazaar.com)

The Zombie that is Sky Ferreira does double denim, and looks more grungy than cutesy festival.  (image from www.fashionologie.com)

When the festival fashion formula is so easy - read: safe - it takes a lot of sass to veer off course. These girls did and we love them for it. Hanne and Karla (top and below) are my best dressed for the sole reason that they actually look like they're at a festival. They're a bit thrown together but there's not a a denim cut off in sight plus they actually look like they're having a brilliant time. 

It's Hanne and Karla again... LOVE Hanne's fringing, face paint and pewter patterned trousers (image from  www.harpersbazaar.com)

Best Dressed Who Are Clearly VIPs at an Exclusive Party Rather than Moshing in with Everyone Else...

Harley Viera Newton looking very sweet in pastels and Charlotte Olympia slippers. (image from HarpersBazaar.com)

Alexa Chung in Phillip Lim- a sweet evening dress and Jesus sandals. Not an outfit for muddy days or tents. Long gone are the Barbour days for Alexa (image from Derek Blasberg at Harper's Bazaar)

Nathalie Love and Gia Coppola (image from Vogue)

Best Dressed Normal People...

I have no idea what this girl is actually wearing, but her make-up is fabulous enough to warrant a special mention (image from Huffington Post)

Blanket coats...

Image from HuffingtonPost.com

What festivals are all about... 

Image from www.huffingtonpost.com

Best dressed man: Kanye West in Celine SS11. We like the 80s open chest plus medallion styling. 

Kanye in Celine (image from harpersbazaar.com)

See through rucksacks? These girls must be staying at The Standard or The Parker as their bags are filled with lollipops and bright fun things rather than pants and wet wipes. 

Image from Vogue

PLUS, you MUST WATCH the hologram performance from Tupac and Snoop Dog. It's moving and beautiful and quite unbelievable that a performer could be so present nearly 16 years after his death....

SOCKS AND SANDALS, BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW THEM

Posted by Bethan Holt, Fashion Junior at Large

I say "Socks and Sandals", you think...

Giving a bad name to the socks and sandals combination (from www.sandalandsoxer.co.uk)

right? Well, perhaps not THAT bad but this particular sartorial combination has a universally poor reputation, and quite rightly so really when the classic look involves camper friendly velcro straps and crusty old M&S calf hugging socks.

But here at FEAL, we've started to think that it's time to freshen up our perspective. And this week is the perfect time. If you're anything like me (and are in the UK!), you'll have been woken by blindingly bright rays of sunshine each morning. This leads you to don summer skirts and dresses and eschew a coat. Then, you leave the house and realise that the sunshine doesn't quite translate to temperatures balmy enough for your attire. I have made this mistake every day so far this week. But moving back into winter clothes is too depressing a thought to entertain. So our solution? Wear your summer shoes with socks to save your tootsies from freezing.

Here are some inspirational street style pictures to get us going...

From www.thesartorialist.co.uk

(From www.thesartorialist.com)

From www.vogue.co.uk

From www.style.com

I haven't yet seen a good photo of FLAT sandals and socks. I reckon at the very least the look requires a low block heel to get from Nanna to Fashion. It can go very girlish and cute if it's executed with a flatform and frill- anyone else remember the white frilly socks which you wore with school summer dresses? Going to John Lewis to buy them signalled the start of Summer when I was little. 

I'm going to attempt a more grown-up version with a proper heel and perhaps a sleeker sock, though I have fallen a little bit in love with the lace ones below. Right now though, something a little bit toastier is required I think. 

Here are some of our favourites... Find more on our new Pinterest page here

Gianvitto Rossi £555 at Browns

Chloe £410 Net-a-Porter

River Island £35

Topshop £90

Lace trim for ASOS £4

Happy Socks £8

Urban Outfitters £8

Lacy mint socks £1.99 New Look