CHRISTMAS KNITS

I haven't blogged in ages because university + job in making me work like a mutha!!

However, it's nearly Christmas and I just have to extoll the virtues of the Christmas knit. Just came across my dream xmas jumper on theoutnet.com , past season Stella McCartney and even though it's a purse pinching £310, it's already sold out! In my opinion there's no point spending loads of money on a piece with such a short shelf life (we are talking 3 weeks max), so I've hunted out some equally as festive yet cheaper alternatives.

Stella M.

Topshop, £48

Cropped cardi, Mango @ ASOS, £47

And finally one of those is it hideous/is it amazing? numbers from LazyOaf.co.uk, £39. Available in boys & girls sizes.

Wear with leggings or thick tights, wooley scarf & hat and of course that much needed hint of irony.

VERY FASHIONABLE

After my puzzled blog a few weeks ago, asking what the hell Very.com was, the fog has cleared, the penny has dropped and I now understand that it is the new name for Littlewoods direct. Still puzzled as to why it's stocking Peaches for PPQ range- I thought was exclusive to Oli.co.uk.

On the subject of Peaches and her 2nd (or 3rd?) range for PPQ, I am very impressed. Miss Geldof and the PPQ team have come up with a cute collection of winter florals and Laura Ashley inspired smock dresses. Very current. This velvet dress above is 59 pounds and will be a great addition to your winter wardrobe. The sweetheart necklace and fitted shape gives a nod to the 80s trend that is huge at the moment, whilst the winter floral print make it a great day-dusk dress that can be dressed up or down. Student loan day on Weds. I am seriously tempted.

FAST FASHION

I've not posted in a while, because I've had no net access but I am pleased to say I am back blogging again. Much has happened in fashion in the past few weeks, mainly because New York fashion week has just finished and London fashion week is well underway. London fashion week promises to be a-mazing with shows from my favourites including Christopher, Jonathan Saunders, Amanda Wakeley, Nathan Jenden, the show list just makes me drool.

9.30am on Saturday the 19th saw knitwear designer Mark Fast's show take place. And whilst his sexy, body-concious knitted pieces have the fashion journos gushing, it was his decision to include size 12 and size 14 models in the show that caused the real stir.

The size 14 model is here on the left, whilst on the right and below are two classic catwalk size 6-8 models. The plus (!) size model looks a-mazing in my opinion, she looks like a pre-raphelite muse of Gabriel Rosetti and her curves breathe life into the body-concious pieces. Shame then that the stylist working on the show the Mail reported today stepped down after fast insisted on having larger models included in the show. It's an interesting back lash to the size zero debate.

SHARP SHOULDERS

Last week I suffered from my first ever case of what I have decided to call 'shoulder envy'. By this I am describing the overwhelming sense of jealously felt when one spots a fashionista with a bigger, pointier & generally more fabulous shoulder padded garment than the one on your own back.This fashion fever will no doubt be a problem for many fashionistas this a/w and can strike when you least expect it. In my case I was just strolling casually round the new branch of Zara in Leicester Highcross when a girl waltzed past me in an amazing shrunken blazer with the most exaggerated shoulders I have seen outside of a Balmain catwalk! Worst of all she had accessorized it with a genuine Chanel 2.55 handbag just to make me extra jealous. Grrrr!!!

Good news is I have found a fabulous version of her jacket in River Island, which I tried on today and is good cut and great quality for the highstreet. Plus it has addition of added sparkle which might make even fabulous shoulder girl want a piece of the action.

WHO NOT TO GROPE

Ah Trinny Woodall's been at it again, here she is groping Alexa Chung's breast on her US MTV show 'It's on'. The self-styled fashion gurus appeared on Alexa show in their bid to crack the lucrative American market according to the Daily Mail. I'm personally not bothered /offended/ suprised about the grope incident, I'm just excited to see three of my style idols in one room. I've been a closet Trinny & Suse fan since they groped their way through their first bbc series of 'What not wear' and rather embarassingly have a shelf of their accompanying books at home. They're my favourite celebrity Sloanes and if you read their books you will find that they do speak alot of sense & really understand how to dress a woman's body. Also, how hot does Alexa look in her breton top, denim cut offs & patent booties? All in all a fabulous meeting of fashion savvy minds.

BOYFRIEND SHOES- THE NEXT BIG TREND?

Just sat listening to 'Your Song' by Elton John on Heart Fm's late night love show & loving it. It's the showbiz luvvie in me coming out. On the subject of showbiz, I revisited my Saturday stageschool past this week and bought a pair of silver jazz shoes for £6 off Ebay. Just a stopgap until my student loan comes in and I can afford some nicer real leather brogues or jazz flats. American Apparel are selling unisex jazz shoes here http://store.americanapparel.co.uk/hartwick.html?cid=195#i so that you and your other half can co-ordinate your feet (not that I am in anyway endorsing this). My favourite colourway is the white; Sienna Miller wears her white jazz flats with acid wash jeans and pulls it off a treat.

Another pair of highstreet shoes I am currently in love with are these Alexa Chung inspired brogues from Clarks, 'Crepe Suzette'. I like the black patent colourway best, although the brown leather pair is also rad-tastic.

They are suprisingly flattering on, best worn with a miniskirt and opaque tights or bare legs if you are feeling brave. And at £44.99 they are a snip in comparison to the Russell and Bromley pairs Miss Chung favours.

VERY.COM ARRIVES

Anyone else had a look at Very.com as of yet? I've just had a quick look at the site, described as 'the Very network, made up of celebrities, experts and people like you, who all like sharing their advice and knowledge about things to buy.' Riiighht. Just what I've always wanted.

The site appears to be one huge confusing brand minefield where all the shop direct own brands plus the brands sold on their sites Littlewoodsdirect.com, Additions & Oli come together. Celebrities and designers endorsing the site include Fearne Cotton (pictured above in one of her own range dresses) Peaches Geldof, Jasmine Guinness, Terri Dwyer (an interior design expert now, apparently, after her 60 Minute Makeover success), Amy Molyneaux PPQ designer and Simon Webbe from Blue! Bizarre? Very (.com)