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Topshop designer collaborations for 2011

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Left: Slashed jersey-dress by Ann-Sofie Back, £70. Centre: Jersey studded jacket and gold wedges, both £150, by Ashish. Right: Denim pencil skirt, £50 and cropped top, £40, by Jonathan Saunders

The turkey and stuffing might not quite be digested by the time bargain-hungry shoppers prepare to raid the sale rails this Boxing Day, but while the idea of a designer must-have selling at a knocked-down price sounds great in theory, the treacherous and busy road to sales glory is less appealing.

A clever way of buying into designer territory, though, is to hold firmly on to that stash of Christmas cash and to wait patiently for the next instalment of Topshop’s London Fashion Week designer collaborations.

Designer Ann-Sofie Back’s seven-piece collection of gothic-inspired slashed cotton dresses and tops hits stores as early as January 6th, with prices ranging from £50 for a grey T-shirt dress, to £60 for a knee-length, black jumper dress slashed at the waist.

LFW “returnee” Jonathan Saunders, who will present his catwalk show in London again next February, will launch his designs on January 20th. Featuring fabrics such as denim and devoré, highlights of the range include a pencil skirt (£50) and matching cropped strapless basque (£40), made from panelled denim dyed in three different colours, while a black, long-sleeved devoré dress (£45) provides the perfect winter cover-up.

Then, as London Fashion Week fever climaxes in February, Ashish launches his collection. Expect queues on February 3rd as Ashish launches its Rihanna-inspired biker jacket (£150), embellished with sharp studs around the shoulders, alongside a tracksuit-inspired collection, comprising of sweater tops and cropped jogging-style bottoms.

What better way to grab a slice of the action without breaking the bank (or your nerves)?

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Sugababes model the Christmas 2010 sale bargains

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Take three girls, a rail of designer labels slashed by up to 75 per cent in the sales, a couple of trunkfuls of must-have shoes, and let the dressing-up fun begin.

We invited the Sugababes – Jade Ewen, Heidi Range and Amelle Berrabah – to test-drive some of the fabulous fashion bargains to be found in the January sales, many of which are starting on Boxing Day.

The girl-band are back on strong form after Britain’s Eurovision star, Jade Ewen, replaced founder-member Keisha Buchanan, who left in the summer, and have just finished filming the video for their new single, Wear My Kiss, which will be released in February.

They have a very individual approach to style, but have several things in common (apart from the stage), including the love of a good bargain and enthusiasm for “wearing the flag” by choosing British labels, such as Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen and Nicole Farhi, and designs by the younger, London-based stars, Peter Pilotto, Erdem, David Koma, Graeme Armour and Dean Quinn.

Heidi’s best sale bargain

“My Stella McCartney blanket coat is a favourite. My boyfriend bought it for me several years ago. It was expensive, even at sale price, but it will last forever. I wear it every winter. If I see something I really love, I try to sweet-talk the sales staff to put it away for me, so I can get it at a discount price. I’m really into Chanel handbags. I’ve got six now, and I’m still counting. They’re totally classic.”

Amelle’s sales tip

“I love a sale, but it’s best to go to the big department stores or shop on net-a-porter.com, where you have the choice of lots of different brands and you can shop around. Some of my best bargains have been Preen and Alexander McQueen from net-a-porter.com, and Givenchy from Selfridges. I shop by eye and almost never try things on. One in 10 things may not work, but I usually get it right.”

Jade’s shopping formula

Jade is the band’s “shoe queen”, and owns dozens and dozens of pairs. “I’ve got far more shoes than clothes. Shoes are my weak spot, especially Giuseppi Zanotti. When the sales are on, I like to make a whole day of it. I traipse up and down Bond Street and Regent Street. If I see something I like, I have to have it. I can’t stand getting home and thinking, 'I should have bought that’.”

Hilary’s sale shopping master plan: how to be a woman on a mission

1 Check your wardrobe for what you really need.

2 Give yourself a budget – and stick to it.

3 Be a 'Lone Ranger’; friends can muddle your thoughts.

4 Wear flat shoes – but carry heels in your bag so that you can check length and proportion.

5 Try it on: ten minutes in the fitting room can save you untold amounts of money.

6 Always choose classic over quirky; it will result in a better CPW (cost per wear).
By Hilary Alexander
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'The sight of tarty sequin dresses brings on the bah-humbugs in me'

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The sight of seas of discounted shoulder-padded, tarty sequin dresses in shops brings on acute attacks of the bah-humbug in me. Fast fashion and overhyped luxury products are equally - and doubly – unattractive when retailers give up pretending they’ve been able to flog them at full price.

What you see at this fag-end of the decade is a full display of the fear and stupidity of store buyers who have become wildly out of step with what we want to wear, and I feel brutal about this. Retailers mournfully tell us how they’re “up against it” in the recession, but blaming the economy sounds increasingly like a lame excuse. There’s “tough” trading – competing to sell tacky party-wear at rock-bottom prices – and then there’s failure to interpret the new mindset or to develop products that build a loyal following because they actually perform.
Much of the high street and many of the luxury brands who became so complacent during the boom are guilty of both. So, a piece of advice: what’s coming next is a phase where inspired pragmatism in design is going to win through.

I’ve felt this all year, because the most thrilling discoveries I’ve made have all been clothes, accessories and beauty products that are so functional, durable and replenishable that they underpin my way of life.

It says something about the pathetic state of play that finding a bra that fits, jeans that flatter and shoes that are comfortable feel like major achievements. If even I, as a fashion editor, find it difficult to buy such things, then I reckon more or less everyone must be in the same boat. Here, then, is a list of my year-end favourite useful things to seek out, plus a few tips about designers, shops and trends that are actually on the right track.

1 Uniqlo jeans If I’m being honest, I can’t give Uniqlo an unconditional rave, but I do admire the way it works at basics. Its jeans are cut better than more expensive brands and have the rare property of suiting grown-ups and teenagers. Yes, it has a peculiar range of colours and, although this is the fashion equivalent of blasphemy, I was underwhelmed by its +J line, designed by Jil Sander, launched this year. Yet, I’m living in Uniqlo’s skinny black cords and have complimented 40-plus friends for their denims. It turns out that we’re all buying jeans in the same place. At about £25, they’re worth buying in bulk.

2 Tezenis bras My hatred of the slutty, padded, underwired bras that have spread through every high-street retailer has driven me to despair. Rescue has arrived in the form of this inexpensive Italian brand which does the soft, simple everyday triangle bras Calvin Klein used to do and M&S has long since given up on. They come in lots of colours and cost less than £10.

3 Martin Margiela Replica trainers It was a near-tragedy for me when Margiela left the company this year, but here’s one consolation: the company will keep producing the Replica Seventies Austrian leather trainers that first appeared in 2002. They are men’s, but the smallest size fits women. I bought a white pair five years ago, on the grounds that they’re unobtrusive and cool – though I didn’t know how cool until guys started to stop me and ask where they’re from. They last for years, are super-comfortable and win you credibility wherever you go.

4 Phoebe Philo’s Celine I mention Philo’s arrival at this French label as a sign that something sensible yet chic, is on horizon at the start of a new decade. Philo says she wants to pioneer a daytime wardrobe rather than contribute to the glut of cocktail wear. It’s only her first season, but she’s so influential I predict that her ideas will bring other designers to their senses.

5 Batiste Dry Shampoo The delightful thing about the return of this arcane hairstyling product is that it’s happening without any hype. Part of the fun is that you have to search hidden-away bottom shelves to locate a range which looks as if it was designed when David Cassidy and the Osmonds were in the charts. Better still, it costs under £5 and is made in Lancashire.

6 Elnett hairspray I love the fact that my granny used this hairspray and that I see it backstage at every show – proof that it’s still the best around, and cheaper than salon imitations.

7 Long skirts Short skirts are “in” for spring, so go against the grain and wear long. It’s both avant-garde and classy to abstain from showing your legs in a season of micro-minis. Long was in evidence last summer and I predict that it will persist in a slim, sinuous way (as exemplified by Haider Ackermann) as an elegant stance against the slapper dress.

8 Kitten heels Shock: walkable shoes are back. That the arrival of small heels at Marni, Missoni and Louis Vuitton should cause such a controversy is a gauge of the insane extremes fashion has indulged in for the last five years. To me, it’s another refreshing sign that the new sensibility – sensible chic – will gain momentum as the avant-garde escape from ugly, crippling platforms. About time, too.

9 Utility-wear This catwalk code name for anything that looks related to camping, hiking or Army surplus is another signal that the excesses of the Noughties could be coming to a halt. Of course, the last thing a rational shopper would want is a fancied-up, fashion imitation of authentic utility clothing. The purchase of the real thing – a plain khaki army shirt – or a near-relation from Gap, delivers a nod towards a key daywear look in the most economical way for about £30.

Prêt-à-rapporter by Sarah Mower: say goodbye to tacky - comfortable and practical are the new watchwords in fashion.

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Little black dresses for the Christmas party season

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It’s 7pm. You’ve got half an hour to shower, change, do your hair and make-up and be out of the door on your way to an amazing Christmas party. But what are you going to wear?

The new purple, sequined mini that almost, but not quite, goes with your best heels? The red, satin, Fifties prom-dress that you love, but that doesn’t really work in winter because you haven’t got the right jacket or coat to go on top? The scoop-back, green velvet slink? Except that your only multiway bra – essential, given the spinal cleavage – is in the wash…

Or do you simply ignore the stress of choice and co‑ordination and reach for your favourite LBD, as trusty and reliable as a treasured family pet, and sashay forth, secure in the knowledge that the dress fits, flatters and makes you look and feel fabulous?

Nine times out of 10, I bet it’s the latter. Experimenting with bold colour, an exotic vintage or an elaborate, beaded confection is fun once in a while, but pulling it off requires serious concentration and confidence.

The Little Black Dress is one of fashion’s greatest success stories. It has survived acclaim and criticism, and been dismissed as boring, safe and frumpy. Yet nearly a century after it was first “invented” by Coco Chanel, it remains one of the most essential - and favourite - items in a woman’s wardrobe.

Tellingly, it was one of the most popular choices at the British Fashion Awards gala at the Royal Courts of Justice last Wednesday, worn by the likes of Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham, Grace Coddington, Eva Herzigova, Erin O’Connor, Jerry Hall, Yasmin Le Bon, Princess Beatrice, Pixie Geldof, Bond girl Olga Kurylenko, Daisy Lowe - fashionistas and style warriors one and all.

But to apply the word “little” to the big, glamorous, bold and beautiful creations that these girls were wearing is, well, a little ridiculous. Back in Coco’s day an LBD might have been a little slip of a dress, worn with a string of pearls. Today, though, it’s a major fashion statement.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR LBD

- Rock it, like Kate Moss, with a heavy-duty biker belt, a total contrast to her fragile, vintage chiffon gown by John Galliano for Dior
- Create an LBH (Little Black Hairdo) to match. Victoria Beckham’s upswept samurai-chignon was 'dressed’ with wide, black ribbons
- Wear bright red lipstick and shoes
- Pile on the pearls - wrists, ears and neck
- Pick lacy, cobweb or fishnet tights.
By Hilary Alexander, Fashion Director
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Knitwear for a warm winter

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Michelle Obama’s neat, little 'cardies’ are so 2009. This season, big it up in supersize knitwear.

This has certainly been the year of the cardigan. Where once it warmed only the hunched and bony shoulders of EastEnders’ Dot Cotton, or strained over the ample bosoms of Nessa in Gavin & Stacey, the “cardie” is now a major fashion item.

Championed by none other than the fashion icon that is America’s First Lady, the humble, little cardigan has been elevated to superstar status. Whether they are jewelled by Junya Watanabe or canary-coloured and cannily sourced from the J.Crew catalogue, Mrs Obama has run the gamut of cardigan style, flawlessly demonstrating how these knits can look as at home on the campaign trail as they do in the White House and at No 10 Downing Street. She wore a cardigan to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen in April, and yet another one in Oslo when her husband collected the Nobel Peace Prize earlier this month.

Michelle O’s personal choice is for the “little” cardigan in strong, primary colours, as bright as a box of crayons, and it has done her proud – until now.

But now, you see, as temperatures plummet on both sides of the Atlantic, the little cardigan must move into “Super-size me” mode. The time has come for it to grow ever larger, the rival to a jacket, the equal of a coat, but oh so much cosier.

Designers actually pre-empted the emergence of the “Super-Cardigan” way back in March, when their autumn/winter collections hit the runway. There were oversized, beaded and embroidered knitted flowers appliquéd onto a wraparound “coatigan” in Antonio Marras’s collection for Kenzo; “Magic Carpet” jacquards from Etro; multi-coloured tribal motifs at Diane von Furstenberg and Matthew Williamson; and hieroglyphic symbols at Missoni. More knit fantasia than fireside plain-and-purl, these were cardigans at their wildest and woolliest.

The knit frenzy was not confined just to the Super-Cardigan, either. There were matching sweater dresses and leggings, and a whole host of knitted accessories including pom-pom hats, arm warmers and leg warmers, trailing, fringed scarves and snuggly snoods. By Hilary Alexander, Fashion Director

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Fashion for middle-aged women?

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Ashley in Raleigh, North Carolina, asks, "I am now in the age bracket which is referred to as the middle-age. I have never been too fashion-conscious but have generally looked pretty. As I am getting older, I am realizing that not only from my husband, but also from other men, I am not getting the attention that I used to get. What am I doing wrong? What suggestions do you have on fashion for middle-aged and mature women?"

Is there such a thing as a middle-aged woman?

Actually no. So the first thing that you have to do is take this idea out of your mind that you are somehow old or mature or middle-aged. A lot of experts actually think that the forties are the new thirties

Fashion tips

* Keep reviewing your style. A woman needs to have her very own style but at the same time this style has to evolve. While you may have looked very pretty in a certain outfit, that will not work for you now - your body has changed and the world has changed.
* Take a look at your wardrobe. If you don't know where the Salvation Army office is in your town, just take your old clothes and throw them in the garbage.
* Unless you live in some remote place, there is much more acceptance for women in their 40s and older to be able to dress any way that they want. This is something that was unheard of just 10 years ago. So if you have the body and the attitude, mini-skirts or low-cut dresses are perfect for you, like Ali Larter.
* Stay up-to-date by reviewing many fashion websites and watching the television programs, particularly those that feature real makeover cases. (For example, Queer Eye for the Straight Girl, The Swan, Extreme Makeover, etc.)
* Seek advice. If you can afford to, get an image consultant (many are available for online consultation). If not, watching programs like "What not to wear" will help you a lot. You can always seek advice and input from younger friends and family members.
* Use the resources available. For example, if plastic surgery is going to help you get the body and looks you want, it might be worth it. If losing a few extra pounds will help you fit in certain types of clothes, take the challenge.
* Don't be afraid to try. Take risk and you will notice the difference in your personality.

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How to dress so that to look and feel younger?

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Margaret in Iselin, New Jersey, asks, "I was watching a television program and the expert commented that women should dress younger and they will not only look younger, they will feel younger too. I am in my early forties and don't know where to start and how to do it. I am also afraid that people might think that I am trying to be a teenager. How do I get it right?"

Tips on dressing to look younger

* What happens with most women is that they get stuck with the style that worked for them in thePhoto of a woman in her 40s who dresses very trendy and looks much younger past. For instance, women who looked good in their 20s get stuck in the style of the times that they were in their 20s, and that looks totally out of place today. So you need to say goodbye to any old style. You need to look stylish today in contemporary fashion for your age.
* Your wardrobe needs a makeover every season. Remember that you do not have to buy what you will see in Vogue or Cosmopolitan but you need to buy clothes with the cut and style that is in fashion and you can do that by buying at less expensive stores like Banana Republic or Gap or Ann Taylor or any other store that you like or can afford. Those magazines are great places to research what is in and what will work for you; so read them often.
* You must also note what celebrities your age are wearing. For instance, take a look at Madonna when she is not performing. She now looks very elegant but still trendy and stylish. There are many celebrities that are in their forties and they all look fabulous.
* Keep a watch on what "young" people are wearing and you just need to make sure that you can adapt it to your age and personal style.
* You can wear almost anything as long as it fits you well and suits your body.
* Be careful with colors. They change with seasons. Colors also need to match your skin color and your overall outfit. Sometimes, the right use of color can make you look youthful.
* Avoid looking too trendy or trying to dress totally inappropriate for your age.
* If you have gray hair or other signs of aging, make sure that you work on them. Gray hair can be easily hidden through dyes and there are several anti-aging solutions now available for women in your age bracket.
* Finally, always invest in that one item that is hot at any given point of time. Whether it is an accessory or an item of clothing, just include it in your wardrobe and you will appear as if you are keeping up with the times.

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How to look attractive?

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Jennifer in St. Louis, who recently purchased our book writes, "I have such small chest size that my girlfriends tease me that I will be fine with a Band-Aid and don't even need to wear a bra. I feel so uncomfortable in the bedroom and have not had a good relationship because of my being so self-conscious. What can I do?"

If someone has not already told you this, this is a state of mind rather than how one's body looks. We have tested this hypothesis with many couples. What we found is that physical appearance had very little to do with how a woman's partner felt about her. These women were hot in their mind and it came out in how they behaved and dressed. So what you need to think about is how to change your thinking. How do you change your own attitude towards your own body? You have to look at your own body and start to love it. If you don't, then you will present a very insecure image to your partner and he will not like you either. Believe me, so many men write to us daily telling us how attractive they find women like you. But men love only those women that are confident and full of self-esteem. They are more interesting and more fun to be around. (Related article: How to improve self esteem?)

Here are some additional tips to feel good about your looks:

* Start exercising regularly. It will not only tone up your body, you will feel much better about yourself. You don't have to do anything special; just regular physical activity will be great for you considering that you are not overweight.
* Invest in a new wardrobe. Shop for clothes that make you look more lively and cheerful. Choose colors that go well with your skin and hair color. Do not forget the accessories.
* Buy high-quality lingerie. Do not be too worried if it is too risqué. You will feel great when you wear it.
* Spend more time in front of the mirror. Dress up in your favorite outfits and admire your body in front of the mirror. Just because you have small front, it does not mean that you should not look at yourself in the mirror. Notice, in particular, those assets of your body that stand out, whether it be your hair or eyes or rear.
* Read inspirational books to develop your self-esteem.
* Stay away from people who tease you or try to convince you that a woman's self-esteem is to be determined by her size.
* Finally, smile. Smile for being a woman.
By Pierre Coda

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Tips for women with small chests

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Women so often assume that they are not attractive. Some men further reinforce this idea that a woman is nothing without a big chest (whether shapely or not or even if the large size is inappropriate for her body). In our book "Flat, but proud: Guide to love and, life," we have clearly shown from our extensive research that many men not only like women that have a small chest, they actually find them prettier.

When we conducted our research over a four-year time period, one of the questions we asked related to drawing attention to your body. It is obvious that unusually large breast size is difficult to hide and these women do not have to make any attempt to draw attention to them particularly if they take good care of their bodies and dress in style. The challenge is for the small-chested woman to draw attention to herself. While many women that we spoke to would often hide their front out of embarrassment or just did not want others to notice that part, the women that were successful in their lives actually flaunted theirs. This strategy combined with an image of a self-confident woman attracted the right kind of men to them - those that did not think size defines a woman or ones that actually liked such women.

We conducted some research of our own to assess the type of clothes available to these women. While it is true that most clothes fit them better and it is easy to find clothes to wear, what we found was that the clothes were generally designed to hide whatever little they had to show. The biggest disappointment, however, came from the bra manufacturers who ignored these women in the meanest manner possible. Either they did not carry any sizes for them or the choices were very limited.

Successful women have responded creatively to both these challenges. With regards to bras, they have either given up on wearing one altogether (Proud of small breasts) or make adjustments at home to whatever they can find. With blouses and tops, women have increasingly taken control of the situation by coming up with innovative solutions. We came across several of these designs during our research and we are highlighting some of these here:

* Wear a bright colored top or use a bra as a top
* Get hold of a silk scarf and simply tie it around your chest. It matches well with jeans or a mini-skirt
* Prominent and bold neckwear that draws attention to the torso region (notice the necklace and Cute neckwear)
* Wear strapless dresses to expose the shoulders, like Jamie-Lynn Sigler does
* Elaborately embroidered tops that are worn with style over one shoulder without a bra inviting instant attention
* Wear a gown like Felicity Huffman

The successful women consistently indicated that they often devised their own designs to stand out from the crowd. Victoria Beckham has admitted that she is ordinary but with her grooming she can look great. More often than not, it was only an improvisation and did not cost them anything but left a lasting impression on others. Since their chests were small, they could get away with what would be considered as provocative clothing if they were large chested.

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HOW TO TIE A SQUARE SCARF: Style#2

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# Start by wearing an underscarf and a turtleneck for neck coverage or a full underscarf (displayed here) that covers the neck area.
# Tie the scarf in half to make 2 equal sized triangles and place on head.



# Tie behind your ears just like a bandana
# This was done using a 34"x34" square scarf but can be done with small or larger scarves.

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HOW TO TIE A SQUARE SCARF: Style#1

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# Fold scarf into 2 triangles with one triangle smaller that the other (if you have a smaller scarf)
# Place scarf on head with one side longer than the other and secure with a pin under your chin


# Take longer side and bring it to the other side and secure with a brooch or a pin
# This was done using a 34"x34" square scarf from my collection
# If you want more neck area coverage you can use a 40"x40" scarf

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New Wrap Style in Beauty

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Please note that wearing this scarf will only work if you are wearing a turtlneck, either a regular one during the winter or a sleevless or mock turtlneck during the summer time




# Place shawl on your head with one end much longer than the other
# Tie at the bottom of your neck
# Bring longer end above your head (you can also twist it) all the way to the other side of your head
# Tie 2 ends together
# This is ideal for wearing on special occasions
# This was done using a 17"x60" scarf from my collection

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HOW TO WEAR AN AMIRA HIJAB (TRENDY LOOK)

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Style#1:
* Tie a colorful thin scarf being your neck (size 6x60 inches or wider if you desire). This will be used instead of the underscarf tube piece of amira 2 piece hijab.
* Place larger piece of amira hijab over it
* Beautiful look, dont you agree?




Style#2:
* Place 2 piece amira hijab on your head
* Place a thin scarf covering the underscarf amira piece and tie behind your neck. This was done using a 6 inch wide scarf that was tied in half.
* Beautiful look again with no pins and very easy to do.

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New Wrap Style

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A Hijab can be worn in so many Trendy or Traditional ways, here I will try to display some of my favorites in the hope to add many more inshallah in the near future. I will display Shawls, Square scarves & Amira Hijabs.





* Place shawl on your head with 2 ends equal length:
* Tie Once at the botton of your neck
* Bring both ends and twist at top of the head
* Bring both engs back behind your neck and tie one
* This is ideal for wearing on special occasions
* This was done using a 17"x60" scarf from my collection
* Please note that wearing this scarf will only work if you are wearing a turtlneck, either a regular one during the winter or a sleevless or mock turtlneck during the summer time

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