Marks and Spencer’s have recruited a new line up of familiar faces to model for their Spring/Summer ’10 campaign.  Dannii Minogue and Lisa Snowdon have been enlisted along with the not so familiar face of VV Brown (above) who is coming up in the ranks of the indie pop scene.  With Twiggy leading the pack, and the token fresh faced model that seems to be in their underwear in every advert, the five faces skip and jump on a harbour and frolic around a forest in the new adverts.

Each of the women represent a different age group and style of woman, which is great marketing on M&S’ part. Twiggy stands for the fashionable mother; Dannii the fabulous aunt; Lisa as the trendy thirty-something; VV is the young, fresh and stylish individual; and the model, well, she’s in a league of her own but shows off their new underwear range excellently.

From nautical stripes and everything nice to evening wear and work wear, the new collection houses a great mix to suit every age and body shape.  The Balmain inspired military jacket above is a key piece with embellishment on the shoulders Christophe Decarnin would approve of, and their take on the denim trend allows customers to pick from an array of washes, jackets and bottoms.  The geometric multicoloured dresses are worthy of the Erdem label (below) and their chiffon maxi dresses (above) are perfect for a planned getaway or if the weather picks up soon, ideal under a denim jacket.  They’ve also taken note from the catwalks with their nude on nude ensembles such as these great camel shorts with beige cotton tops.

The M&S website allows you to mimic each of the models looks and the collection starts at a reasonable €30 but can climb to quite a hefty price.  However with the M&S stamp, you’re sure to get as good a quality as their scrumptious chocolate puddings.  You might want to limit your intake of those however if the underwear-as-outwear dress is your desired look.

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Clog – such a funny word for a funny-looking shoe.  Associated with many Eurpoean cultures but most notably the Dutch, clogs have managed to creep their way into the trends this Spring, much like the brogue has done before.  Shoes are the one thing in fashion that tend to go full circle, dating back a number of years and all of a sudden explode onto the catwalks and filter down to the streets in a matter of months.

Once predominantly made out of wood, the clog has been tweaked since the 19th Century and has been reinvented by designers such as Chanel and Miu Miu (below).  Soon you will no longer need to learn how to clog-dance before stepping out in a pair of these wooden wonders.

Karl Lagerfeld came under a lot of criticism when he styled his models for Spring/Summer 2010 in custom made clogs with the Chanel logo encrusted onto the familiar bronze studs that attach the linen to the wooden sole.  But anything Vogue praises tends to become an instant hit, and when Alexa Chung sat cross legged on the cover last month donning a pair of these Chanel (below left) clogs, it has been all that fashionista’s can talk about.  She admitted herself that they are quite difficult to walk in, especially with tights, but since when has fashion been practical?  Louis Vuitton pictured right.

With an array of fabrics to choose from, such as linen, leather or suede, clogs are set to be this seasons ‘it’ shoe. Try a pair of Miu Miu’s sheepskin lined ankle boot clogs, or stick to the traditional silhouette but with a patchwork twist, the chunkier the heel the better.  And it doesn’t have to have a designer stamp, high street stores such as Topshop (below left) and River Island (below right) have imported their clogs straight from the Netherlands (well, from their factories, but who knows, they could have one in Amsterdam). Not to be mistaken with the extremely comfortable crocs, these new takes on the traditional comfortable clog are far from clumpy and frumpy as they have once been described.  So, you have to ask yourself, are you a cloggy?

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There was one colour that was visible on every catwalk and on everyone in the front row and is set to filter down to the masses very soon.  Camel is the new name for beige apparently and will be a major look for Autumn/Winter ’10.  The most common item in this colour was the coat.  Even though Spring is among us, the coat was out in full swing over the Autumn/Winter ’10 fashion weeks due to tempestuous weather conditions in London and Paris.  It seems fashionista’s were taking inspiration from the catwalks straight away instead of waiting until September by the looks of these street style snaps by Scott Schuman, aka the Sartorialsit (above middle/right).  Fashion blogger Susie Lau (above left) is a fan of the new popular shade, and was photographed at Paris Fashion Week wrapped up in a vintage camel toned coat but kept it fresh with a powder pink chiffon scarf.

A palette of browns and oranges were the backdrop for the Chloé (bottom) collection this season with an older woman feel to the collection.  High waisted trousers with silk pussy bow blouses were evident, with a mix woollen and tweed coats in similar shades being exhibited.  Beige, beige, and more beige as Sarah Mower put it, it seems the colour has become a signature element of the season.  Street style saw people in herds donning the range of beige shades from alpaca to caramel.  Giles by Giles Deacon (above) was awash with the same tones mixed with 60′s inspired hair and make up.  The colour came in shift dresses, leather skirts and scarves.  Marc Jacobs (below) also hinted at the trend with the odd piece flickering in and out of his collection.

Easy to wear with everything, try to avoid looking too washed out with a beige and camel overload.  Do mix tones with accessories or liven the outfit up with some red lips or towering sandals with chunky knit socks.

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On the back of her recent Brit award for Best Female Artist, which she accepted whilst wearing an orange afro wig, Lily Allen has revealed that she is quitting music for the foreseeable future (two years is quite seeable but we’ll let her away with that one) in order to pursue the different pathways life has to offer.

As face of the Spring/Summer ’10 Chanel campaign, Lily joined a long list of singers and actresses who have gone before her in the hop from one business to the other, such as Emma Watson for Burberry, Chloe Sevingy for Chloe and indeed her own collection for Opening Ceremony. But what better way to hone your love for shopping by turning that talent into a business venture. Lily will channel the creative juices that were once used for gold-chained melodies to a more down to earth job, such as running a shop.

The boutique Lucy in Disguise which will be co-run with her sister, will offer customers items which they can hire rather than splurge on. She insists her ideals are politically flavoured, stating that “It’s about making fashion democratic”. Surely it’s not just a way to keep the money flowing whilst her music career is on hiatus and a way of finding use for her abundance of designer gear that has be thrown at her in recent years. “It’s about getting really nice clothes but letting people rent them for affordable prices so they can go out and feel like a million dollars and it won’t cost them a million dollars.” Let’s hope it won’t end up looking like the costume shop where that dreadful luminous wig was found.

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It’s a given at red carpeted events that celebrities dress to impress and this years Brits were no different. The dresses and outfits certainly overshadowed the music that was performed on the night that included duets from Alicia Keys (in a dazzling black pointed shoulder mini) and Jay-Z, Florence Welsch and Dizzie Rascal, an outrageous rendition of ‘Dance in the Dark’ by Lady Gaga and a mix of Cheryl Cole’s ‘Fight for this Love’ and ultimate dance anthem ‘Show Me Love’

Lady Gaga is of course on top of the list for her awards get up. With an extravagant head piece and lace covering her face, she strolled up the red carpet in towering heels and a layer-cake white number which she exhibited with arms posing horizontally outward. Lily Allen channelled a gothic look in a black Chanel dress adorned with a red lace collar. When collecting her Best British Female award she changed into a sailor inspired number but her orange wig caught all of the attention. She insisted that it was for disguise reasons so the camera would not be able to pick her out of the crowd.

Florence Welsch of Florence and the Machine donned a gold vintage inspired corset dress. It was a very brave choice for the icy weather on the night. She too had a costume change when accepting the award for Best British Album which the gorgeous Tom Ford presented to her. Not unlike Lily’s red carpet dress, the asymmetric black satin dress with black lace set off her fiery mane beautifully as she gracefully accepted her award.

There seemed to be gothic darkness in the air at Earls Court as Pixie Lott also had a black lace number on. Alexandra Burke seemed to melt into the red carpet with a. Fellow X Factor winner Leona Lewis looked more like Beyoncé than herself in a metallic silver dress with bubble gum pink shoes- very Sasha fierce.

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Straight from Pier54, unassuming tourists were treated to Alexander Wang’s Autumn/Winter ’10 collection. The show was streamed onto screens in Times Square that had the models storming down the catwalk in Wang’s latest collection. The Wall St banker aesthetic juxtaposed against the mantra of the gypsies is a statement to the tough economic times we are living in but also a rebellion against the banks restraints on creativity. Certainly no restraints were visible from any of the New York Fashion Week shows.

Wang had a strong vision for this collection: “I wanted this season to have this buttoned up, strict pristine feeling in the suiting. It’s well-tailored men’s jacket but taking that idea and not make it boring, dated and conservative. It’s the silhouette of kind of making the shoulders really tight and then longer in the sleeves so that it goes past the hands and taking off all the buttons off the jacket so that it almost becomes like a layering piece like a cardigan. Then taking the jacket from the top and using it as a skirt, the lapel and using it as a bra top.”

The texture most visible was ‘velour du jour’, velvet pieces for every occasion that could be carried from day into night. Deconstructed suits, capes reminiscent of hippies and his classic chiffon mixed dresses made this collection an enviable one. For such a young and new designer, the others should be shaking in their Prada boots. Images above of Wang‘s collection – below Rodarte.

Rodarte, the spearheads of romanticism didn’t disappoint either. The Mulleavy sisters built their collection on the idea of sleepwalking which carried a dream like quality around the room. They said that their collection had been influenced by a recent drive through Mexico and the town of Ciudad Juárez disturbed them.

The models looked like a haze floating down the catwalk in crisp whites and creams mixed with colourful print work. Their take on the wool jumper added a fresh feel to the worn out designs that have come before them – wrapping the fabric from around the neck to under the arm. The Mexican ethnicity was visible in tasselled skirts and patchwork, and their lace leggings are sure to reverberate in collections to come. Nicholas Kirkwood’s heels set off the collection perfectly and the dark washed hair of the models slicked back added the Rodarte edge to a more feminine collection. The show ended with a white lace gown, resembling a distressed wedding dress – A perfect day for a Rodarte wedding.

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Once a gentleman’s outdoor shoe, now a staple in anyone’s wardrobe, the brogue has transformed its outlook to suit every style. The resurgence of the brogue, mainly the classic Oxford shape but the introduction of the Correspondent brogue in recent collections has proved to be a favourite.

Instead of walking in the countryside in the hardwearing leather shoe, both men and women have opted to don the brogue at summer festivals and on the streets. The now unisex shoe has become a hit with celebrities, with Alex Turner and Alexa Chung both wearing them, and also Agyness Deyn, Sienna Miller and Chloe Sevigny.

How do you avoid looking like the gent that wore them in the 19th Century? If teamed with a floral dress for spring, the brogue will add a touch of androgyny to an already girly get-up, and tan brogue look best with blue jeans to set a nice contrast. If it is the male look you are channelling this season, try wearing them with high-waisted chino’s to stay on trend, or classic black trousers echoing YSL’s ‘Le Smoking’ silhouette – if the leg is not tapered however, make sure the brogue has somewhat of a heel to them to keep the elegant look. Most styles are available with a mid-heel to take office wear into night.

There are many places to buy the ultimate brogue to suit your own personal style. The best place would be vintage stores, such as Wild Child in Georges Street Arcade or the Harlequin just outside it. Urban Outfitters cater for the ‘already worn’ brogue look. But also offer brand new pairs that will look perfect with their Spring/Summer ensembles. Topshop have a lot of different styles on offer, from classic tan to patent black, and come with a reasonable price tag. Office has both a classic brogue version and a reworked ankle boot type that combines both styles excellently. Whether it’s tan, patent or two-tone with tweed or studded, be sure and exude your inner masculinity whilst power-walking through the streets with a new air of exuberance.

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It seems when disaster strikes, everyone wants to help. It happened with Hurricane Katrina and in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, models and actors alike are lending their hands, and throwing in a few million while they’re at it, to the already poverty stricken country.

On the fashion side of things, Naomi Campbell is fronting the Fashion for Haiti campaign which will host a catwalk show at New York Fashion Week this season. Campbell began ‘Fashion for Relief’ after Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans and demolished the majority of the city and has since taken it to Tanzania and Mumbai, India. She said “Everyone else is trying to help Haiti, and we wanted to do our part on the fashion side of things”.

The fashion show will see models and designers take to the catwalk side by side in order to raise awareness and funds for the cause. Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe will be putting the looks together on the night and Marc Jacobs has created a special Louis Vuitton handbag for the show.

Scarlett Johansson has also expressed her feeling toward the natural disaster and has teamed up with Mango (whom she models for) to create a limited edition handbag in aid of Haiti. The cream bag with the ancient cartography of Haiti printed on the front will help raise funds for the victims of Haiti. Perhaps it could be a ploy to use the back of such a tragedy to advertise their new collection but the bag is a nice easy way of showing your support for the cause. Because let’s face it, donations otherwise would look quite miserable beside Leonardo Di Capprio’s or Brad and Angelina’s donations which all exceeded the million value.

Beyonce Knowles is the face of the new Fashion for Haiti t-shirt that has been commissioned by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, which costs $25 (£15). Beyonce says, “Join me and the fashion industry by buying and wearing the Fashion for Haiti T-shirt. Together we can send a message of hope by raising much needed funds for the people of Haiti.”

These little gestures are helping the overall appeal to people to help piece back the destroyed island of Haiti and there are so many other things you can do to help.

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Denim is a staple piece in any wardrobe. From the perfect pair of jeans to a denim jacket or shirt, it is interchangeable and infinite. This season, channel your inner Debbie Harry and mix your denim with denim. The key piece in this look is the denim shirt. It is strong, simple and can be understated or sexy depending on the shape and indeed your mood. Indigo, stonewashed and even white denim is making a comeback and the most affordable way to stay on trend is with the trusty denim shirt.

On the cover on this months Vogue, Alexa Chung is slouched in a pair of denim jeans with black Chanel clogs (another one to watch out for). Inside, she describes her love for all things denim and I couldn’t help but both agree with her and feel overwhelmingly jealous. While us mere mortal’s scour the high street for that perfect pair of jeans to emulate the comfort of our Levis 501 hand-me-downs, Alexa notes that she found her dream pair at Balenciaga. And that’s all it will be for us, a dream.

The denim shirt has exploded into every store this season (Topshop, Topman, New Look and Penneys to name but a few), but it has been present in fashion since it was almost a uniform for hippies in the 70s at Woodstock and has also been filtering down from the catwalks over the past few seasons. Spring/Summer ’10 catwalks saw troops of models clad head to toe in denim, but the shirt was the piece that shone through.

There is a range of different ways to wear this ultimate piece. A loose fitted man-sized shirt, such as these shirts from Topman, can be left open as a jacket or buttoned and belted, and it can look chic when tucked into the waist. Denim on denim was a favourite at Chloé with a loose fitting denim shirt that had the pockets ripped off to reveal deep indigo patches and dark fitted jeans with lighter denim shins. Take note from this look by wearing the denim on denim with contrasting washes; lighter on top and darker on the bottom for the body conscious fashionista’s among us. With such a denim overload it is important that accessories do not overpower the look and shoe choice is essential to avoid looking like you’ve just come from a rodeo. Pin this image of Britney and Justin to your wardrobe to remind you what happens when denim attacks.

Denim shirts are widely available from designer to high street but all seem very similar – it’s how you wear it that stands out. To revamp the classic 70s look, try adding lace into the mix. By attaching a strip of lace under the collar and across the shoulders, it immediately updates this classic look and adds a modern twist.

The denim shirt (first Topshop, second New Look) will last for seasons to come and is a great item to have in multiple shades and shapes as this will allow you to either look chilled out for a day look. With the right belt and shoes can transform into an evening silhouette – just remember to back away from the cowboy boots.

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Last week the haute couture shows took Paris by storm. The golden oldies were present; Chanel, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior, Armani Privé, Valentino and Givenchy. Others that took part in this extraordinary example of fashion at it’s finest were Alexis Mabille, Elle Saab, Thimister and Anne Valérie Hash.

The shows were awash with creative ideas inspired by both ethnicities and pop culture. Jean Paul Gaultier kept his tailoring title this year with clean cuts and a cream day suit with lattice jacket everyone will be pining after. However the rest of the collection left a lot to be desired. Gauchos, sombreros and Spanish shawls were styled with feathers and basket weave detailing that had the audience thinking they were in Mexico. He was just short of handing out burritos at the close of the show with the matador dressed models taming bulls.

Chanel surprised everyone (I think Lagerfeld was quite surprised himself) with a futuristic collection that was a definite change for the fashion house. He admitted that “It took me 54 collections to get there”, perhaps it took that long to create a time travelling mechanism. The sorbet shades were a delightful contrast to the usual monochrome looks and there wasn’t a navy blazer or a gold button in sight. Stockings glistened as much as the models hair- that was mounted in a love-heart shape on top of each models head with a streak of silver to add couture edge. Sarah Mower of style.com noted the rococo heels as a favourite and the ‘ethereal cloud colours’ had the models floating down the runway.

Held in the Dior house, Galliano’s collection was inspired by Charles James and the Gibson Girls. Snug fitted jackets and long draped skirts were not far off creations from Christian Dior himself back in the 50′s. Some of the editors sitting in the front row had to strain their necks to get a glimpse at these looks as Tavi, fashion blogger extraordinaire, donned an elaborate Dior headpiece. People were in awe at how Valentino models were able to walk unscathed down the catwalk as they were blindfolded with matching flowing fabrics. The multi-coloured garments match the kaleidoscope of colour the make-up artists had created and had one confused that perhaps Valentino had hired Avatar extras to model for them this year.

Ricardo Tisci at Givenchy delved into the houses’ archive to produce a 70′s inspired collection. He couldn’t help but admire the powerful, strong, erotic phase of Parisian women back then and he related to them. The tailoring created a masculine exterior to the feminine beauty of the models with tuxedo tailcoats paired with ostrich printed t-shirts. The flamenco influenced layers and the midnight blue column dresses juxtaposed the androgynous aesthetic eloquently and made for an all-round risk taking collection that went down a treat.

One that was certainly a shock to the system was the looks created at Alexis Mabille. The two-tone suit of pink on one side and black on the other really set the mood at couture week which screamed surprise. The two-tone detail was present from the shoes on either foot to the hair and even eyebrows of each model, an attention to detail all of the other houses should make note of and admire.

Couture week in Paris always has high expectations and these were certainly met, but not outshone. All shows had a similar idea-to out do the other, but only a few of them managed to create looks that will certainly inspire other designers and trends to come in 2010.

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