WELL HEELED – A/W15 SHOE GUIDE
LACED SHOES, £79, 3-8, DUNE
I love high heels. Maybe sometimes they’re not so practical for my job, especially when I’m marching up and down Oxford Street sourcing clothes or running around studios styling shoots. But given half the chance at a fashion launch or a glamorous evening out, I can’t wait to get them on. Give me a pair of heels and I feel I can conquer the world!
So this in mind I’ve compiled a high heel style guide for A/W15 –
EMBELLISHED MARY JANES, £129, 3-9, BODEN
EMBELLISHMENT and MARY JANE styles are key this Autumn and these pale blue ones by Boden encapsulates both trends. I’ve always admired Boden’s clothes for their style and colour and have used them so much on shoots over the years. But this year their shoes have gone one step further and looking amazing.
CURVY COURTS, £215 3-8 AND POM-POMS FROM A SELECTION FROM £29, CLIO B
POM-POMS are huge this season both on clothes and accessories. I first saw these amazing shoes by Cleo B at London Fashion Week whilst wandering around the stands at Somerset House. They’re so versatile as the pom-pom’s clip on – giving you the option of different colours for each outfit!
WINTER FLORAL COURTS, £110, 3-8, TED BAKER
WINTER FLORALS are another big look. Ted Baker’s coming up roses with these beautiful shoes. This brand is going from strength to strength. I really enjoyed visiting the new Shoreditch shop where you can get an all over transformation with clothes, shoes and fab vintage look beauty parlour and barber too!
STRAPPY HEELS, FROM £119, 3-8, LISA KAY
COURTS and STRAPPY heels are a must this Winter. Lisa Kay excels herself in the courts department with a fabulous array almost in every colour in patent, suede and leather.
PYTHON LEATHER COURTS, £675, 3-8, GINA (photography George Ong)
I love Gina’s courts in fashionable NUDE and also ZINGY COLOURS. They also embrace this Winter’s TEXTURE in leather python.
FLORAL AND STRIPED SNAKESKIN COURTS FROM A SELECTION FROM LUCY CHOI
Another designer that has blown my socks off is Jimmy Choo’s niece Lucy Choi. I was lucky enough to go to her boutique opening party recently where I spotted her wearing these amazing FLORAL and STRIPED SNAKESKIN courts. Lucy had designed them especially for the launch.
RED LACED SHOES, £129, 3-9, BODEN
LACES are a strong look for Winter. I’d definitely like to wear both the very seductive ones by Dune pictured on the model above whilst these RED ones by Boden would give a fab pop of colour to any Winter outfit.
BLOCK COLOURED SHOES, £39, 3-8, LA REDOUTE
Lastly the 70’s has graced so many runways this season. I love these chunky, block coloured shoes by La Redoute. The PLATFORM snakeskin T-BARS below by Dorothy Perkins also rock the 70’s vibe!
T-BAR PLATFORMS, £39, 3-8, DOROTHY PERKINS
POLO WITH PRINCE HARRY
Summer was so busy this year. I did my usual juggling act, organising shoots and trying to cope with everything the school holidays threw at me. Anyhow, ridiculously enough it’s taken until now to write about one of my Summer’s highlights – The Maserati Jerudong Trophy polo event with Prince Harry!
I was lucky enough to be the guest of my lovely school pal Katherine. She was invited due to her involvement with the amazing charity Centrepoint. Katherine, a TV producer uses her entertainment expertise in helping with Centrepoint’s comedy evening, Laughing Point. Centrepoint has always been close to Prince William and Harry’s heart. As children they made private visits to Centrepoint services with their mother Princess Diana who was the charity’s patron. Prince William has now taken over this role and he certainly would have been at the polo event if Princess Charlotte hadn’t been born just a couple of days previously, he obviously was very busy.
Amber Le Bon, Mariano Di Vaio, Yasmin Mills & Grace Woodward
So we headed West, down the M4 to the beautiful Cirencester Park Polo Club. Before lunch we stopped and ogled at all the gleaming Maseratis. Such gorgeous cars, I’d love to drive one! In fact, the day was shaping up to be a very glamorous affair, we had already spotted Amber Le Bon, Yasmin Mills, Grace Woodward and Mariano Di Vaio milling about the Maseratis!
Then the match began. I was very excited to see Prince Harry in action. He is an impressive equestrian. I was amazed how fast the game is, so much so the polo ponies are changed every seven and a half minute chukker. I was very pleased with myself that I had remembered to wear my wedges so that I could join in with the divot stamping at half time – a tradition where you stamp down the mounds of earth torn up by the ponies hooves. It’s also good excuse to have a bit of a mingle with the other spectators.
Myself and Katherine at the polo prize giving
I really enjoyed my polo day and think Centrepoint is a fantastic charity. The next comedy evening Laughing Point is on 12 th October at Palace Theatre London. The comedians include Nick Helm, Josh Howie and Jon Culshaw . Go see you’ll love it.
MARIE HELVIN – LINGERIE SHOOT
Bra, £25, Briefs, £16, by Always Aliza at J D Williams
You have to love Marie Helvin. Here she is looking inspirational at 62 years old doing a lingerie shoot for the Always Aliza range at J D Williams.
In fact, Marie Helvin has always been an inspiration to me. She was modelling in the first fashion show I ever went to as a teenager. Fashion designer, Anthony Price was doing a huge ‘Fashion Extravaganza” at the Camden Palace and my BFF’s and I travelled from Bristol for this monumental occasion. I like to think it was more like a pilgrimage. My friend Sophie had mastered the art of ‘ragging’ where you coil about a hundred sections of your hair in rag strips, leave them in for about 4 hours and once removed you have the biggest hair ever. So we all drove from the West Country in my friend Charlotte’s tiny hatchback car sporting our hair rags, the car hardly big enough to accommodate our heads. Fellow drivers up the M4 must have been fairly bemused at such a sight.
Bra, £25, Briefs, £14, by Always Aliza at J D Williams
Anyhow, it was with perfect ‘big hair’ that I saw Marie Helvin and her chum Jerry Hall on that dazzling catwalk and as corny as it sounds now, I had that Eureka moment and decided my destiny was in fashion. So Marie, I thank you! From then on I avidly followed her career pouring over all those amazing pictures her then husband David Bailey shot of her. Some of them seemed quite ‘out there’ to me as a teenager, especially the one where she wore her stiletto in her knickers!
Decades later and Marie Helvin is still is looking fantastic in lingerie. She says she has to work really hard at looking this toned now. She goes to the gym four times a week – doing 45mins to an hour of weights, rowing machine, bike and floor exercises. Well it’s definitely paid off.
Bra, £25, Briefs, £16, by Always Aliza at J D Williams
Modelling for Aliza Reger’s “Always Aliza’ range was particularly significant to Marie.
“Janet Reger was such an iconic brand throughout my modelling career,” she says, “and it feels great to now be modelling her daughter’s range for J D Williams almost forty years on.”
I love this collection with its pretty pastel shades and floral prints. The size range is really impressive too – it’s available in bra sizes 34B to 50G and knickers sizes 12-32 – hooray!
Marie says after 47 years of modelling lingerie this is definitely her last shoot. Oh no! Why stop now?
“Why?” She laughs, “I’d rather eat pizza…”
Bra, £25, Brief, £14 by Always Aliza at J D Williams
ABBEY CLANCY’S NEW FASHION RANGE
Lace-up front ,floral mini dress, £25
It’s been all go with Abbey Clancy. Just weeks after giving birth to her second daughter she has launched a fab new summer collection for Matalan.
Model and ‘Strictly’ champion Abbey looks amazing modelling this very 70’s inspired range. I love the strong floral prints and floaty maxi dresses – perfect for the festival season. But my favourite piece is the red wrap dress with its plunge neckline and thigh high split – oh yes!
Red wrap, plunge neck dress, £40
Abbey who is married to footballer Peter Crouch has a busy summer ahead looking after new baby Liberty Rose and 4 year-old Sophia Ruby. But she still has time to talk fashion!
“The 70’s are still a huge inspiration for the collection.” Says Abbey. “ I love the whole 70’s vibe and it’s big on all the catwalks – the entire collection is a great way to throw some glamour into summer holidays or festivals.”
Floaty, floral maxi, £40
She went on to say,
“ I’ve included some classic shapes including bell sleeves and lace-up front minis, with bold prints, which are ideal to brighten up your summer wardrobe.”
Ruffle front dress, £35
It’s definitely a winning collection, I might just pick up a few pieces for Camp Bestival this year. The prices are incredible, ranging from just £16 to £40.
High neck, side button mini dress, £30
The ‘Abbey by Abbey Clancy’ collection is available online and in selected Matalan stores nationwide.
COSTUME DRAMA
Watermelon bikini top, £38, 30B to 36G and matching briefs, £23, XS to XL, Freya
On the hottest day of the year when I should be sitting by a pool drinking a Pina Colada, I’m still scrambling around trying to find a swimsuit. As every woman knows (who isn’t a size 8 or under) finding flattering pool attire can be quite a headache. Anyhow after getting quite hot and bothered I’ve come up with some scorchers (!). So read on, for whatever size or shape, you too can be a bathing beauty….
Bandeau top, £40, 30D to 38G and high waisted brief, £24, XS to XL, by Freya
I love these swimsuits by Freya, a brand that understands curvy woman. Both bikinis go up to a G cup – hooray! The block coloured sporty swimsuit is so on-trend this Summer. Great with it’s detachable strap for sunbathing and slimming high waisted briefs whilst the fabulous watermelon print costume’s padded cups help create the perfect shape.
Floral balconnet bikini top, £34, 30D to 40J. Matching fold-down briefs, £20, sizes 8-20 by Panache.
Another brand that has me jumping for joy is Panache. The floral balconnet bikini top gives an amazing uplifting shape and comes in cup sizes D to J – Bra-vo! The matching briefs can either be worn over the tummy for desired extra coverage or folded down if you want to get a little more of you tanned! The Panache red polka dot set embraces this year’s nautical trend, again the bandeau top is so supportive and the high waisted briefs hide a multitude of sins!
Polka dot bandeau top, £36, sizes 30D to 38H and matching high waisted briefs, £23, sizes 8-20 by Panache.
Just as I thought things couldn’t go more swimmingly, I stumbled upon the fabulous new swimwear range by F&F. This wonderful collection comes in sizes 32C to 38F for bikinis and 8-18 in swimsuits. The purple strappy bikini and colour block two-piece are so striking and really supportive too as they are both underwired. This range is fantastic value – I can feel a little trip to Tesco is on the agenda!
Purple underwired bandeau top, £8, sizes 32C to 38F and matching strappy bottoms, sizes 8-18 by F&F
Colour block balocony bikini top, £8, sizes 32C to 38F and matching briefs, sizes 8-18 by F&F
And if you’re looking for a really flattering swimsuit, look no further than M&Co. Their slimming black one-piece has a control tummy panel and flattering wrap design. I’m also a bit in love with their leopard bikini. This costume is also very good for the more curvy lady with its removable moulded cups and supportive halterneck fastening.
Slimming wrap swimsuit, £29, sizes 10-20, M&Co
Leopard halterneck top, £16, sizes 10B to 18DD and matching bottoms, £16, sizes 10-20, by M&Co
I’ve often bought Boux Avenue bikinis in the past. They fit well and I find them very flattering. So I was pleased to find two lovely bikinis by them. The first is very feminine and floral – the longline bikini top and underwiring gives great shape and bikini bottoms are really cute with their adjustable side ties. The neon orange bikini also accommodates all sizes with its moulded cups. I’m loving the laser cut frill detail and the zingy colour would make a splash wherever you are. So here’s to a sizzling summer……. enjoy.
Neon orange frill bikini top, £26, sizes 32B to 34FF, and matching briefs, £14, sizes 6-18, Boux Avenue.
Floral, longline bikini top, £30,sizes 30C to 34DD and matching bikini bottom, £15, sizes 6-16, Boux Avenue.
MOONWALK 2015 – BARING THE BRA!
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Moonwalkers a la Fruity Couture!
I’m SO excited. It’s just over a week before I do my first Moonwalk! At midnight next Saturday 16th May, myself and 15,000 other magnificent bra-wearing walkers will be marching a half or full marathon through the streets of London. I’ve always wanted to do it, but this year so many of my dear friends have been affected by breast cancer that I’ve felt I have to take action and Walk The Walk!
This amazing event is now in it’s eighteenth year! I feel so inspired by Nina Barough CBE, Founder of Walk The Walk. Originally, Nina was also a fashion stylist (proving that all the best people are!) before a series of events made her change her path. She is now Chief Executive of a grant-making breast cancer charity that has collected nearly £100 million of fundraising – wow!
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Founder & Chief Executive Nina Barough CBE of Walk The Walk with a very saucy man
So how did it all start? Well nearly twenty years ago, 13 women decided to power walk the New York Marathon in their bras to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. One of these ladies was Nina who ironically 2 months later discovered she actually had breast cancer and an aggressive tumour too. Nina’s life was thrown upside down, embarking on a programme of treatment that included a mastectomy and radiotherapy. Her girlfriends felt they desperately wanted to do something to help and spurred on by the ‘Girl Power’ era of the Spice Girls, they banded together, bra emblazoned and power walked the London Marathon. Fashion designers like Paul Smith and Mary Quant as well as other notables like Richard Branson were keen to get involved too. They designed the girls’ bras and these were then auctioned off at the first Walk The Walk Auction.
The following year a second team entered the London Marathon, half of them got places but the other half weren’t so lucky. Nina not wanting to disappoint and waste the girls’ hard work, fund raising and training, that she decided to organise a midnight marathon for these ladies. These bra clad night walkers would hand over the ‘baton’ in the morning in Trafalgar Square to the other official Marathon walkers. Nina and a girlfriend actually completed the night and day marathon in 24 hours and the Moonwalk was born!
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Moonwalkers – Flower Power style
The rest is history and The Moonwalk has grown from strength to strength. Over 350,00 people have taken on a walk challenge, such as The Moonwalk New York City, now in its second year and The Arctic Marathon – a backcountry skiing challenge in deepest Lapland! The success of this charity is amazing. Walk The Walk has made grants to Breakthrough Breast Cancer and to Breast Cancer Campaign for its ground breaking Breast Cancer Tissue Bank. It is also committed to providing funding to hospitals across the UK to purchase Scalp Cooling Systems – special machines that help people retain their hair when undergoing chemotherapy. My lovely friend Sue had brilliant results with this treatment and said it was such a relief not to lose her hair. She felt she could still go out and socialise and most importantly it wasn’t such a scary experience for her 2 little girls as although they knew their Mum wasn’t very well they were reassured that she still looked the same!
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Moonwalk Fashion – True Brit style
So all in all a brilliant charity…. I’m fundraising for my Moonwalk so please, please do sponsor me –
https://moonwalklondon2015.everydayhero.com/uk/becky-john
Now it’s all down to the outfit. Ever the fashion stylist I feel the pressure is on! As you can see, there have been some fabulously decorated bras over the years. The theme for Moonwalk 2015 is ”Saturday Night at The Movies”. So, rhinestone encrusted bra at the ready, I promise to bare all (well nearly all) in a post Moonwalk blogpost soon………
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Myself and fellow walker Catherine Sloman aka blogger Battenburg Belle
THE BLUES – DENIM FASHION
A new shoot I styled in a location just around the corner from me in North London. The Belt Craft Studio is packed with eclectic props and furniture, perfect for our Denim story….
Photographer – Charlie Troman. Fashion Stylist – Becky John. Hair & Make-up Artist – Tricia Woolston. Models – Mila M and Gwilym at First Model Management and Marina C at Zone Models.
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Gwilym’s clothes, T M Lewin. Mila, Jacket and headscarf, Betty Barclay. Camisole, Jigsaw. Flares, Bershka. Mules, Sorelle Shoes
- Dress, Vera Mont. Mules, Sorelle Shoes.
- Gwilym’s clothes, T M Lewin. Marina’s dress, Phase Eight, shoes, Clarks.
- Clothes, H&M. Sunglasses, Andy Wolf.
- Clothes, Jigsaw Menswear. Sunglasses, Illesteva.
- Clothes, H&M.
- Clothes, Diesel. Tie, Glendon Lambert.Sunglasses, AM Eyewear. Shoes, Vans.
- Clothes, ASOS.
- Clothes by Bershka. Hat, Beyond Retro
JODIE KIDD – NEW SPORTSWEAR COLLECTION
Full zip softdri hoodie, £60. Active long sleeve tee, £45. Softdri lounge pant, £50
You have to be pretty fit to do this styling lark. Running around studios at shoots and lugging huge bags of clothes can really take it out of you! Whether it’s Pilates or circuit training I try and do a fitness class everyday. Obviously I want to look good too so I’m always on the lookout for stylish workout gear. So I was quite excited when I saw this new Green Lamb Performance Collection fronted by supermodel and presenter Jodie Kidd.
Softdri lounge hoodie, £55. Feathertech space dye leggings, £40
This range seems to have a really good mix of fitness leggings and racer-back tops for more high impact sports as well as lounge hoodies and pants for more leisurely activities. Sporty Jodie seems like a brilliant personality to get involved in this Irish based fitness brand. She’s super fit and a keen golfer and horse rider. We’ve seen her dance her socks off on Strictly as well as show off such amazing physical stamina in the celebrity Winter sports TV game show, The Jump!
Full zip softdri hoodie, £60. Active long sleeve tee, £45. Softdri lounge pant, £50. Studio bag, £50.
How did this new venture start? Jodie told, “I’ve been a fan of Green Lamb golf clothing for a long time and when they approached me to collaborate on a new performance collection it instantly made sense”
The brand was developed specifically to appeal to fashion conscious woman who demand high performance clothing that can take them directly from their fitness class to coffee with friends without changing.
Jodie explained “ Who doesn’t wasn’t to look and feel good after a class especially if I’m meeting the girls for breakfast.”
Exactly. Sounds perfect to me. The Green Lamb Jodie Kidd Performance collection will be available in the UK from this month exclusively online with House of Fraser.
Softdri lounge hoodie, £55. Feathertech space dye leggings, £40.
LITTLE FASHION-EASTER
Here’s to a cracking Easter…..
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Chick tutu bodysuit with hat, £10, 0-18M by M&Co
For the little chicks……
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1. Chick applique, leather baby shoes, £19, Daisy Roots. 2. Chick hooded towel, £18, M&S.3. Easter felt bags, £2.99 each, oakroomshop.co.uk . 4.Bunny ears, £2, Go Create at Tesco. 5. Bunny baseball cap, £6, M&S. 6. Bunny slippers, £24.99, Cuckooland.com
Easter Eggstravaganza……
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1. Personalised butterfly chocolate eggs, £25, biscuiteers.com 2.Golden milk egglets, £5.50, Hotel Chocolat. 3. colourful eggs in nest, £1, Poundland. 4. Bird print Easter eggs with iced biscuits, £1 each Tiger Stores. 5. All Our Eggs in One Basket set, £50, Hotel Chocolat. 6, Colourful chick eggs with chocolate eggs inside ,£5.75, Pussy Home Boutique.
For the Home Bunnies……..
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1. Bunny and cabbage apron, £24, Thornback & Peel at Amara. 2. Tapestry chick cushion, £19.95, Mad In England. 3. Bunny coasters, £13.50 for set of 4, Home Candy. 4. Chick egg cosy, £13.50, Cuckooland.com 5. Rabbit applique cushion, £89, Carola Van Dyke at Amara. 6. Chicken egg cosy, £6, The Contemporary Home.
Easter Bonnets and Accessories…….
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1.18ct gold bunny charm, £120, Links of London. 2. Feather bonnet on headband, £50, Julien Macdonald at Debenhams. 3. Chicken print bag, £45, Sophie Allport. 4. Picture hat, £75, Ben de Lisi at Principles.
STORM IN A DD CUP
Racer back bra, £110 and brief, £55
After doing a review in Femail about a new lingerie range that only came in a B cup, there was an outcry (quite rightly so) from my more voluptuous friends demanding that they get a look in too!
So I was overjoyed when I stumbled across the fabulous lingerie range Adina Reay that comes in bra sizes 32DD to 36G. This luxurious brand designed and manufactured in the UK manages to cleverly cater in fuller cup sizes whilst not compromising on style.
V-neck plunge bra, £120 and shorts, £60
Founder, Sharon Lake wanted to create beautiful lingerie that everyone could wear. As a curvier lady myself I was delighted to find a DD plus range that isn’t made from industrial type fabrics and have those horrid huge wide straps. This collection is so glamorous with its amazing laces, bespoke embroideries, satin, silks and tulles.
The contemporary styling makes this lingerie so unique. The bras give ultimate support with their racer back and v-neck styles. Whilst central panelling and ingenious tuck pleats on knickers and slips are very slimming too. What a fab collection. Quite frankly I can’t wait to get my hands on it. Have a look online www.adinareay.com I’m sure you’ll feel the same way!
Bridal balcony bra, £90. brief, £50 and slip, £130