A child is for life, not just for fashion week

I had the opportunity to attend LFW this year to review some shows for MFL. Whilst inevitably waiting for the late shows to begin, I noticed a rather alarming trend amongst the front row fash pack - the IT bags, shoes and jeans have been replaced with the IT child!

Yes, it seems in the current economic downturn fashion folk have declined to spend money on a ridiculously expensive crocodile/studded/jewel encrusted bag and are instead showering their hard earned cash on their little ones. Awww, how lovely. Or is it?

Immaculately dressed offspring sat perched on their model/actress/singer/buyer/editor's laps encouraging ooohs and ahhhs from the cynical crowd impatiently waiting for another pair of ripped jeans to stalk the runway. One celebrity brought her daughter and left her in the second row so she could sit up front, another removed her child from her lap so the cameras had a better angle to interview her. In the queue for the Betty Jackson show, sisters behind me complained they'd rather be watching TV than queueing up at 9 in the morning on a Sunday. Quite.

So why now? I blame it all on Tomkat! Suri Cruise may well be the cutest thing since Elmo but does she really need custom made Christian Louboutin's she's going to grow out of before you can say 'pretentious'?

I say, let the children play. If you really can't bare to attend fashion week alone (god knows I was bored of my own company by the end) then make like everyone else and embrace your NVBF (New Virtual Best Friend) - twitter. Share you're every move and thought with virtual friends who won't mind when you become bored and return to your life-size bag for company.

Pics: dailymail and babble

Exactitudes: a contraction of exact and attitude.

Currently exhibiting in Selfridges, in collaboration with The Photographers’ Gallery, is photographer Ari Versluis and stylist Ellie Uyttenbroek's fantastic Exactitdes. Their ongoing project consists of images that alude to our desire to both conform and rebel when choosing what to wear; resulting in a fascinating, and often humorous, insight into self-expression, identity, and fashion.


Since the exhibition opened on 26 February, Ari and Ellie have been recruiting on the streets of London to add to their collection of fashion 'types' found so far on the streets of Rotterdam, New York, Bordeaux and Rio Janiero, among others. The third revised edition of 'Exactitudes' was published last year and A and E's photographs have appeared in L'Uomo Vogue, i-D, Blvd., The Sunday Times style supplement and New York Magazine to name but a few.



A large selection of their images are available to view at www.exactitudes.com- get yourself down to Selfridges now and you might just be next!

ABC of Fashion Week Trends

This year's fashion weeks have unearthed a wealth of wearable and classic trends. Here is my ABC of fashion week designers' take on the most luscious looks.

A is for Aquascutum

In London, Aquascutum did monosyllabic colour to perfection. A simple palette of black, white and red was accented with flashes of cobalt blue and smidgens of gold.

Winter coats littered Aquascutum's runway in varying styles from modest to militant. The cape collar and shiny buttons on this coat save it from being labelled boring black and add to its classic with a twist appearance.



Flashes of white were added with the addition of this extremely wearable looking wool dress which looks as magnificent in monochrome as it would with any of the colourful coats it accompanied.



One of many red dresses this season, Aquascutum's chic cut and detailing makes for a refreshing change from the numerous ostentatious scarlett creations seen so far.



B is for Blumarine

In Milan, Anna Molinari for Blumarine sent some of the sweetest frills and feathers seen on any catwalk so far. Pale pinks were complimented with trimmings of sleek fur and sparkling sequins.

Cute cardies were kept interesting with clashing of textures including cashmere, chiffon, sequins and fur. These ensembles are anything but boring with their girly yet sophisticated allure.





Feathers fluttered all over the catwalk this season. Sexy but sweet, Molinari kept things light with this barely-there dress.



C is for Carolina Herrera

In New York, Carolina Herrera embraced our feathered friends also but unlike Molinari she used them to give a certain edge and fierce note to her clothes. Autumnal oranges, reds and greens went well with birds of prey's plumage as Herrera made hunting haute couture.

With the return of Halston, 70s styles were obligatory at most shows. Herrera updates this burnt orange 70s gown with a feathered collar bone.



A feather-print dress is given an eccentric touch with hunting hat and boots in flattering fall colours.



Not ignoring the gothic trend seen especially at London Fashion Week, Herrera chose to give the look a polished update with golden touches and black patent leather boots.