Obamarama

Ok, so I know I’m a little late with this but to follow up from my Michelle musings I must share with you my two pennies with regards to the Inauguration Day idols.

First up, First Lady. I’m still on the fence about her lemongrass suit but I did dig her belle of the ball gown. Gorgeous in a blushing bride sort of way.

First daughters Malia and Sasha looked as cute as a pair of frosted cupcakes in their colourful coats and continued to fuel my desire to dress like a child.

A special mention though to Queen of Soul, Aretha. Franklin sure knows how to turn heads with this millinery miracle. R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Alithia Spuri-Zampetti

The latest in a long line of Central Saint Martins graduates to cause a commotion, Alithia Spuri-Zampetti is worth the hype.

Winner of the L’Oréal Professionnel Award, Spuri-Zampetti's dazzling cut-out creations deserve every accolade available. Alithia sites floral graphics found on Japanese 'furisode' kimonos as her main inspiration, favouring them for their collage and monochrome possibilities. In fact, the result is a collection of razor-sharp pieces which evoke birds of paradise, cubism, origami, and Elizabethan knights. Sticking to a 1950s silhouette, Spuri-Zampetti avoids alienating her audience - the cut and fit of the garment is as important to her as the visual aspect.

Looking at her work is like watching a futuristic anime re-make of In the Mood for Love. That's pretty darn spectacular in my book.

Sasha is Fierce

The lady with a glove formally known as Beyonce has reportedly been created to allow Ms. Knowles freedom to pursue an edgier musical style. But could it be Sasha also exists to allow B to step out of those beaded gowns and into something more Fierce?!
Armed with a suitcase full of leotards and a collection of futuristic fashion courtesy of one Gareth Pugh, Beyonce’s transformation into Sasha Fierce is nothing short of inspired. After watching Put A Ring On It for the umpteenth time I am convinced going out dancing in a leotard would not make me look like an 80s reject but a strong, powerful, sassy lady. I may even go as far to consider the merits of a Jacko-esque single glove, a la Fierce’s metal one-hand-wonder. After all, if an image change as simple as this can produce this Diva, why not? Long live Sasha. Fierce.

All Aboard

The Obamas are currently traversing their way to Washington, D.C. on board a restored 1930s train cart. One can only imagine the emotions carousing through the carriage as the vehicle speeds towards the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.
In less than 24 hours, Michelle Obama will join her husband and their two children as the first black family to call The White House home. As popular with the public and press as her charismatic partner, Michelle has enraptured the fashion world with her sharp personal style and strong, powerful beauty and was named one of Vanity Fair's Best Dressed in 2008.

In the shadows of 50 years of Inaugural gowns, Michelle is set to shine. Courted by designers and revered by fashion editors, Mrs. Obama is sure to have had expert advice on hand for her inaugural debut tomorrow. However, Mich need look no further than former first ladies to learn what works.

DO design your own. In 1961, Jackie Kennedy cemented her reputation as a style icon in her own creation: an eye-catching white cape designed and realised with the help of Ethan Frankau.

DO address the economic crisis. In 1977, Rosalynn Carter wore a Mary Matise coat to her husband's inauguration - the same coat she had worn to his earlier gubernatorial inauguration.
DO be G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S. In 1981, Nancy Reagan brought a touch of glamour to the White House with her elegant lace James Galanos dress.
DO support local talent. In 1993, Hilary Clinton supported her hometown by choosing Little Rock designer Sarah Phillips for her inaugural gown.

Whether Michelle chooses to DO any of these, tomorrow will be a memorable day for more than one reason....fashion journalists will no doubt debate how first daughters Malia and Sasha dressed too!

Three words

PUT THEM AWAY.

High Brow

Upon losing my tweezers to the depths of my mary poppins-esque bag I finally found myself ready to listen to my mother’s beauty advice: I have not plucked my eyebrows for a few months now and the results are quite surprising.

In previous incarnations my brows have born resemblance to spindly speech marks and worrisome worms but never couch-potato caterpillars. The bushy, unkempt eyebrow has always been avoided. However, three months of re-growth have not left me looking like Oscar the Grouch.

Instead, I have a fantastically on-trend pair of 80s power brows that are naturally sculpted and thick and dark enough to draw attention to my eyes. Sandy Cohen would be proud. Brow-beautiful Camilla Belle (below), Brooke Shields, Selma Blair, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, Lindsay Lohan and Audrey Hepburn are all testament to the benefits of big brows. Brow on.

Gossip Girl Returns...

I've been having serious Chuck Bass withdrawal symptoms since Gossip Girl's farewell from our screens. Constantly taunted with images from series two on my favourite websites stateside, it's taken all my willpower to stop myself from engaging in illegal activities - resorting to downloads online. But survived I have - taking strength from the knowledge that GG will return to ITV2 in January, and with visual aids such as these. Thank god for the internet.

Tales of the Unexpected

December's Vogue features a dreamy, whimsical fashion spread based on the works of children's author Roald Dahl (which include Tales of the Unexpected, the title of the photo story).

Shot by Tim Walker, it is a beautifully composed tribute to Dahl's most loved characters and has more than a little of the Bjork about it. Featuring the elfin beauty of Karen Elson, Helena Bonham Carter, Imelda Staunton and Jamie Bell, amongst others, it certainly beats morose models dressed in black. Enjoy.

"We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams" - Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Bring Back: Legwarmers

As winter sets in and the cold encourages us out of our ballet pumps and into our knee boots, I reluctantly wonder: whatever happened to legwarmers? In my case, they remain alive and well, lurking at the back of my drawers.

You may remember (if you have not already chosen to forget) the resurgence of legwarmers a mere 4 years ago. Worn by many with tights and short hemlines, they covered the curve of your foot exposed by a ballet shoe (or stiletto, if Jordan was your fashion icon).

As a student, they made me feel at once comforted, ridiculous, rebellious and cool. That's a tall order of emotions for two tubes of fabric. Sometimes that fabric was plain and black, in luxurious wool. Other times it appeared on my legs sparkly and pale pink; the FAME extras had nothing on me. They were my shelter in a city of wind and rain and if I'm entirely honest, I miss them a lot around this time of year.

The truth is, they retired about the same time as my flares, Laura Ashley print shirts and 80s batwing jumper dresses disappeared. However, unlike my motley crew collection of 70s and 80s second-hand finds, the legwarmers never did make it back to the charity shop. They remained with me, keeping my feet cosy in bed and occasionally making an outing on a winter run (the run itself happens maybe twice, possibly only once a year, hence the occasional).

Recently, I have seen my faithful furry friend (the legwarmer, not a dog) making the odd appearance on a commuter's leg on the tube, and constantly at my place of work where I often find myself sharing a lift with a legwarmer-clad ballerina.

So why the stigma? What, really, was so bad about 80s fashion? Yes, it was the era responsible for the shoulder pad and blue mascara but it also bore Herve Leger bandage dresses, championed the riding boot, and re-introduced the world to colour. See where I'm going with this? Legwarmers are not just for Flashdance fans, they are practical and flattering, if worn correctly. If worn with a short skirt (I wouldn't recommend shorts, unless Katie Price, as she is now known, is still your fashion icon) and rolled up to just below the knee, they can give the same advantages as your trusty knee boot whilst offering extra warmth! So why not join me people, as I take it upon my own shoulders (or should that be legs?) to single-handedly bring back legwarmers! Rejoice.

Have a Haute Halloween...

As if we need an excuse to dress up! Halloween is here and it's time to root around in that closet of yours for a stylish get-up which is both camp and sophisticated at once. Sound impossible? Fear not.

It just so happens that AW08 is full to the brim with trends that are couture costume-bound. So grab your gothic black velvets and lace, bohemian folk embroidery and (fake) fur, and heritage tartan and plaid because baby, it's time to play dress-up!

Songstress Stevie Nicks is the perfect poster girl for this season's gothic trend for black. Victoriana blouses, wool capes, velvet coats and lace dresses can be layered with aplomb for the perfect Stevie look. Pair with black lace-up ankle boots and big hair and you've not only got yourself a fashionable costume but a spooky one to boot! Winner.
Almost Famous was surely an inspiration for many designers when they sent Babushka babes down the catwalk for AW08. Penny Lane's fabulous 70s wardrobe of floaty dresses, lace belly tops, denim flares, fur lined boots and sheepskin coats were a hit with Gucci and others for their fall collections. Pop down to your nearest vintage store now or raid your mum's wardrobe for delightfully cosy and carefree costume.
I believe every girl my age is at some level influenced by Clueless in every decision they make, and it seems the designers are no different. Matchy-matchy suits in bubblegum colours? Check. Plaid and tartan? Check. Pleats, boxy cuts and blazers? Totally. Whether you choose to tell people you're a Clueless Betty or Gossip Girl Queen Bee, there's no avoiding these checked suits are totally Baldwin. Psyched.