LFF CELEBRITY STYLE CRUSH: ZOOEY DESCHANEL

Describing Zooey Deschanel as my style crush is a little bit of a lie, because in reality she's just my crush full stop. And I know I'm not the only straight red-blooded female that feels like this; I've spotted plenty of fashion girls modelling heavy, brunette bangs at the moment that have more than just a touch of the Deschanel about them. Heck, I've just spent two years growing out a full-fringe, but am I tempted!

Bangs aside, Zooey has been making some inspired red carpet fashion choices of late. From show-stopping red tulle Oscar de la Renta to her custom-designed Prada Golden Globes dress (complete with super-fly tuxedo nail art), Zooey adds a breath of fresh air to the Hollywood red carpet. Her signature look is to reference retro 50s and 60s styles, keeping accessories and styling minimal to maintain that modern edge. Which is your favourite Zooey look?

From L-R: Monique L'huillier, Oscar De La Renta, Paule Ka

From L-R: Prada, Moschino, Oscar De La Renta

LUXE FOR LESS: THE BEST HIGH STREET ACCESSORIES

The high street has really upped it's game when it comes to accessories. Now you can get the luxury look on a shoestring budget, with brands such as Zara, Stylistpick and Bershka offering stylish accessories that give you more bang for your buck. Look out for structured totes, soft leather sandals, embellished styles and jewelled costume jewellery to add a touch of luxe to your look. Here's some of my favourite affordable styles available online:


1. Flower and Jewel Drop Earrings, ASOS, £10.50.
2. Beaded Iridescent Clutch, ASOS, £35.00.
3. Necklace with Green Glass Beads, Zara, £29.99.
4. Ginger Tan Structured Bag, Stylistpick, £40.
5. Tortoise Shell Catseye Sunglasses, Topshop, £16.00.  
6. Leather Leopard Print Sandals, Bershka, £39.99.
7. Oasis Strappy Leather Sandals, ASOS, £28.00.

LFF'S HOT BRITISH DESIGNER ALERT: RIANNA PHILLIPS

British fashion knows how to do a great print, you just have to look at success stories of Jonathan Saunders, Erdem and Mary Katrantzou to see evidence of pattern dominating UK fashion design. It's always great to discover a new fashion talent with an eye for an artful print, which is why I'm excited to share the work of Manchester-based accessories designer Rianna Phillips with you. I discovered Rianna after we started following each other on Twitter and I'm not over-exaggerating when I say I haven't been this excited by a clutch bag since I saw Christopher Kane's gel-filled neon numbers back in 2011 (which is saying something for a self-confessed accessories junkie).

Rianna's unique digital prints fuse together delicate illustrations, photography-based graphics and geometric patterns, translated into seriously covetable portfolio clutches, pouches and silk-mix scarves in high-voltage, vibrant hues. Personally I'd style the neon-accented Varro collection (it's a tough call, but that my favourite) with a classic beige trench coat to make the colours and prints pop. Rianna also works with tie-dye, glossy metallics and jewel embellishment in her collections, visit her website to see more luscious designs.

1. Varro digital print collection, from £20.00.

2. Abstract Azurite collection, from £63.00.

3. Tamora collection, from £20.00.

4. Ophelia collection, from £63.00.

AN EVENING WITH BRITISH VOGUE EDITOR ALEXANDRA SHULMAN AT THE V&A

Last Friday evening I was lucky enough to attend an Evening with Alexandra Shulman at the V&A with my fashion pal, Style and Then Some's Katie Wright.

Held in the V&A's impressive domed Lydia and Manfred Gorvy lecture theatre, the venue for the event was equally as imposing as the British Vogue editor's journalistic credentials. However, if  members of the audience had come to the talk expecting to find a Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada type-character in the British Vogue editor, I suspect they would have gone away dissapointed. Shulman's public persona is about as far removed from the traditional stereotype of a Vogue editor as I can imagine; a quality which continues to make her enduringly fascinating twenty years on from the date she inherited Britain's fashion bible.

'God, what am I going to wear??' Shulman told interviewer Francine Stock was her first thought when she found out she'd got the coveted job of editing British Vogue. Talking through her most memorable covers from her career at the magazine, Schulman shared several of Kate Moss because not only is she beautiful but 'Vogue sells when Kate is on the cover'. The evolution of the celebrity clothes horse was apparent through Shulman's choices, with the 'trashy/perfect' Robbie and contraversial Victoria Beckham covers selling well, 'I think I had the last laugh putting Victoria on the cover now that she has become a successful designer own right' Alexandra told the audience. Putting a Marks and Spencer shirt on the cover of the May '96 issue also proved to be controversial cover for Shulman, as some believed the magazine should only be synonymous with luxury fashion. Shulman also discussed the Princess Diana commerative issue with whom Vogue shared 'a real relationship' with. 

Alexandra also took the time to answer the audience's questions on a variety of subjects from the possibility of Vogue moving into e-commerce to her desert island luxury! Continue reading after the cut for the Q & A responses..

LFF PICKS THE RIVER ISLAND AW12 COLLECTION

Next season's opulent 'Baroque and Roll' trend is a key theme in the River Island AW12 campaign. Heavy embelishment, glossy gilded brocade and colourful jewelled accessories give a luxurious feel to the high street brand's new season collection. As seen on the Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Lanvin catwalks (to name but a few) baroque influences that hark back to the 17th century courts of Europe are a mass-market trend for fall. I'm currently coveting River Island's heavily embellished  dusty pink shell top that has been given a modern edge styled with a white shirt and gold brocade skirt in the campaign. Question is, will you be embracing the Baroque and Roll trend come next season?

My favourite pieces from the collection:

Browse the full collection on Look.co.uk / shop River Island online.

SIX OF THE BEST: FASHION-FORWARD IPHONE COVERS

The market for printed and pretty iPhone covers is massive at the moment and I can understand why; I might not be able to afford a Lanvin dress for myself, but that doesn't mean my iPhone can't get the same treatment. The US's hippest label J.Crew have taken the same approach, putting some of their peppiest prints onto iPhone covers too. Whether you go for cute cartoons, monogrammed or printed, your iPhone cover can boost your fashion credentials for a fraction of the designer wardrobe pricetag.

1. Floral printed iPhone case, J.Crew, £21.40.
2. Lanvin printed iPhone case, Net-a-porter.com, £45.
3. DVF Mantra heart-print iPhone case, Net-a-porter.com, £25.
4. Anchor-print iPhone case, J.Crew, £21.40.
5. Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic Stardust logo iPhone case, Net-a-porter.com, £30.
6. Weston Agate printed iPhone case, Net-a-porter.com, £33.

LFF CELEBRITY STYLE CRUSH: LILY COLLINS

Who'd have thought that after producing Easy Lover and Another Day in Paradise, Phil Collins would also go on to (re)produce an A-list, fashionista daughter with supermodel good looks? Lily Collins is a rising star in Hollywood, and not only does she have poise, elegance and beauty, she also has a super-stylish wardrobe to boot. 

Collins' red carpet style is unique in that it is quite fashion-forward and bold yet completely feminine and demure. She can pull off full-length and fabulous gowns from leading fashion houses Alexander McQueen and Valentino just as easily as more edgy styles from youthful brands Carven and Marchesa, even throwing a cool leather bomber jacket in the mix from time to time. With her doll-like features and porcelain complexion, Lily has the world as her fashionable feet, and I think it's about time Chanel took notice and made a muse out of the next superstar Collins!



From L-R: In Collette Dinnigan, Marchesa and Alexander McQueen.

From L-R: Zac Posen, Monique Lhuillier and Valentino.

From L-R: Carven, Marni and BCBG MaxAzria Images: Zimbio

Are you a fan of Lily Collins' style? Which look do you think she works best?

6 OF THE BEST: HOODED SUMMER JACKETS

A hooded, lightweight jacket is a summer wardrobe staple. If you're as precious as me about getting your hair wet (remember that episode of Friends when they all go to Barbados and Monica's hair just keeps getting bigger and bigger in the humidity? That's pretty much me this summer), then a hooded lightweight coat will be your s/s lifesaver. I have a sturdy, cotton, khaki number from Mango that I throw on for my morning commute with most outfits; dresses, jeans and skirts- you name it my coat goes over it. I rather like the contrast between a glamourous evening gown and hooded jacket too; very 1990s grunge. So to save you the hassle (and your barnet the trauma), I've trawled the internet for my favourite styles available at the moment:

1. Khaki cotton parka, Dorothy Perkins, £55.00.
2. Modas parka coat, Vila,  £53.72.
3. Gucci hooded parka, Farfetch.com, £2079.
4. Altuzarra yellow walnut hooded shell parka, Net-a-porter.com, £420.
5. Camel cotton parka, Dorothy Perkins, £55.00.
6. Belstaff tourist waxed cotton-blend parka, Net-a-porter.com, £244.99.

AW12 CATWALK INSPIRATION: CHRISTOPHER KANE, MULBERRY, PRABAL GURUNG...

With this freakish weather we've been experiencing, I haven't been inspired to invest in a  substantial summer wardrobe this year. Instead I'd quite like to fast-forward to September and start buying my AW12 wardrobe instead. So for a bit inspiration I've picked some of my favourite looks from the AW12 catwalks; bring on luxurious brocade, metallics, embellishment and sumptious faux-fur!

L-R: Suno, Prabal Gurung and Christopher Kane.

From L-R: Lanvin, Erdem and Lanvin.

From L:R: Mulberry, Burberry and Mulberry.

HOW TO DO WORKWEAR ON A GRADUATE BUDGET

Dressing for your first job post-university can be a real challenge. When I started my first job in London as fresh-faced 22 year old (I'm a haggard 24 year old now, mainly thanks to my daily TFL commutes), I struggled to find smart, yet fashionable workwear on my meagre graduate salary.

I think there's a real gap in the market for a high-street store that is a one stop shop for young female professionals; ideally I'd wear Reiss and Whistles head-to-toe, but when you're earning pennies not pounds, that isn't realistic. So my advice is to shop around; Primark, Topshop and Zara have some great affordable separates that can be dressed up with nice accessories (my Zara bucket bag, for example, is great for corporate wear chic). For any of you fresh graduates embarking on your new career this year, I've challenged myself to shop the net for a capsule work wardrobe, with no piece costing more than £50.

1. Black jersey collar dress, Dorothy Perkins, £16.00.
2. Blush collar shell top, Dorothy Perkins, £25.00.
3. Marc B Lolita bag, Topshop, £39.00.
4. Cat print laptop case, ASOS, £10.00.
5. Lassoo points, ASOS, £28.00.
6. Leopard print cardi, Warehouse, £40.00.

TOPSHOP'S AW12 TRENDS PREVIEW

The 1960s ladylike look will be HUGE news come September if Topshop and Primark's AW12 collections are anything to go by. Topshop released their autumn/winter trends preview last week, with boyfriend coats, collars, monochrome, the wild west and sweaters also featuring as key trends in the high street brand's new season collection.

I personally can't wait to add some 60s siren styling to my AW wardrobe; being a long-limbed 5'11 I've always found the modette look works for my figure and I'm already eyeing up the dogstooth, boucle and tweed pieces I've previewed for fall. Not to mention the Stella McCartney/ J W Anderson/ Jil Sander style paisley print sweater in look 3 which I predict will sell-out in record time! What do you think of Topshop's AW12 collection? And will you be embracing the retro look for winter?