GHOULISH FASHION FOR HALLOWEEN & BEYOND!

Kitsch capes and witches brooms aside, Halloween-inspired fashion doesn't have to be just for the 31st October. Gothic glamour is a key trend this season, with crucifixes, creepy crawly prints and pumpkin hues popping up across the catwalks and high street. Here's my pick of the best pieces online that you will be happy to be seen dead in this Halloween:

 

 

 

1. Markus Lupfer cat sweater, Matches, £270.

2. Premium spike & cross necklace, ASOS, £60.

3. Quilted Spider silk tee, J W Anderson at Topshop, £59.99.

4. Quilted Spider print skirt, J W Anderson at Topshop, £69.99.

5. Pauric Sweeney blood orange overnight bag, Selfridges, £1,780.

6. Iridescent pointed courts, Topshop, £80.



SIX OF THE BEST: KNITS WITH WIT FOR AW12

The coolest way to beat the chill this autumn/winter is by donning a witty knit or sweater emblazoned with a topical motif. A knit with wit is a key style for the season (see Burberry's AW12 owl jumper) and if Ashish’s SS13 catwalk was anything to by, the trend will continue well into 2013 too.

Whether you opt for a cute motif or a fun slogan (Markus Lupfer's 'Totes Amaze' sweater is my absolute  favourite!), this trend is all about having fun with your fashion. I've just splashed out of the J W Anderson for Topshop ghost knit (number.6) which was also seen on Alexa Chung recently. And hey if a knit with wit is good enough for Chung, then it's good enough for us!

1. Knitted Garcon jumper, Topshop, £40.
2. Flocked deer-print sweater, Jaeger, £60.
3. Markus Lupfer Boom sweater, Farfetch.com, £295.
4. Markus Lupfer Totes Amaze sweater, Harvey Nichols, £295.
5. Sophie Hulme Dino pattern sweater, Farfetch.com, £465.
6. J W Anderson for Topshop Ghost jumper, Topshop, £69.99.

GRADUATE FASHION WEEK 2012: NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY SHOW

Yesterday I headed to Graduate Fashion Week to watch the Nottingham Trent University show. A good indicator of the buzz surrounding a uni's graduates at GFW is the crowd, and the Nottingham Trent show was packed to rafters with buyers and the fashion press including Grazia's Melanie Rickey on the FROW. I took my seat next to my fashion writer pal Natalie Dawson from WWB, who helpfully swapped notes with me during the show! One of Nottingham Trent Uni's specialist areas is knitwear, and the show proved to be showcase of some skillful work translated into fashionable, covetable collections. Here's my highlights from the Nottingham Trent grads...

Fashion is having a love affair with prints at the moment, and Dae Byn Lee's collection combined bold painterly prints with interesting structure in her collection. Natalie commented that the collection had a bit of the Basso and Brooke about it and she's 100% correct, don't you think?

Dae Byn Lee's painterly prints

The packed crowd 

Dae Byn Lee

My favourite collection of the show belonged to Tamsin Lakhani who showed the finest  of knits in rainbow colours that had a touch of the Missoni about them. Her striped knits in lean shapes elegantly skimmed the form and had a luxurious appeal.

From L-R: Elizabeth Daniell, Orla Emerson-Creak, Tamsin Lakhani.



Other collections that caught my eye included Elizabeth Daniell's bold graphic prints that had commercial appeal-aplenty and Orla Emerson Creak's intricate knitted seperates that reworked the 1960s mod look for the noughties girl.

Florence Bridge

The highlight of the show surely had to be Florence Bridge's glamourous resort wear in purple digital prints; the diaphanous maxi dress above floated down the runway and took my breath away.

The fabulous catwalk was followed by an equally fabulous after show party with free flowing champagne and an appearance from Made in Chelsea boys Jamie and Francis (it would have been rude not to ask for a photo).

What are your thoughts on the Nottingham Trent catwalk? I'd love to know your favourite looks as always...