Two thousand and nine was a very fashionable year that topped off quite a fashionable decade. There have been many celebrities who got the look right at every red carpet event, and others who always got it wrong. My top five best dressed celebrities (well six if you count the Olsen’s separately) are a mixture of actresses, models, reality TV show and fashion designers, and in some cases, all four. They have all been photographed in the front row of fashion weeks in New York, Paris and London, and have even been sitting together. Maybe their fashion tips have rubbed off on each other?

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have been leaders of the celebrity trends ever since the beginning of the 00s. But this year they both excelled in coining their own style. While they are both fans of the platform- even for popping out for a Starbucks- they do have quite contrasting styles. Ashley is the preened one of the two with sleek Oscar de la Renta gowns accompanied by styled hair and impeccable make-up. Mary-Kate on the other hand opts to rustle through vintage stores to get that unique red-carpet look. Her once boho-meets-dustbin look has been thrown away in favour of more designer gear. The two provide inspiration for designers such as Giambaltista, Proenza Schouler and Givenchy, and they also design themselves with two lines; The Row and Elizabeth and James (cutely named after the other siblings). They have recently joined the Council of Fashion Designers of America and have helped increase sales of such items as leather leggings and Balenciaga has Ashley to thank for their boost in handbag sales. These are just some of their key looks from this year.

Alexa Chung is never far away from a best-dressed list and of course she has to be mentioned in this one. Annoying voice and pretentious demeanour aside, this girl has definitely got a unique style and has everyone lusting after her get-up. She mixes vintage and high street perfectly, and has recently thrown designer into the mix with the rise of her pay cheque. Her move to NYC has been nothing but positive for this Brit, however her weight seems to have plummeted due to her hectic schedule. Her wardrobe doesn’t seem to be suffering though as she showed off her never-ending pins this year in denim shorts and mini skirts which were juxtaposed by her love of men’s clothes- from band tees to over-sized blazers.

Her overall look is Kurt Cobain meets Coco Chanel, with a bit of everything in between. A highlight from her 2009 wardrobe was a vintage navy sequined mini dress teamed with battered heels she wore to the NME Awards. With more television coverage and her new show It’s on with Alexa Chung, she has been a designer clothes horse. With friends like Christopher Bailey and Henry Holland, it’s no wonder she always looks amazing. What makes it worse is that she is one half of the coolest couples around. Surely it’s not fair that she has both the wardrobe and Alex Turner!

Chloe Sevigny has been around since the late 80s from her Freaks and Geeks days, but has since come into her own as the ultimate fashionista. She has such a dazzling résumé for someone in their early thirties- she now has her own clothing line for Opening Ceremony, and is the face of Chloe perfume. And with such a high profile and natural fashion sense, some of her outfits from this year have really set the bar high for any wannabe style princesses out there.

Mimicking the Miu Miu catwalk models in an underwear-as-outerwear ensemble and then coming up with her own trends such as socks with sandals at Coachella festival in California (one way of preventing blisters), Chloe goes to all the right parties and wears all the right outfits, and showing off her key features while she’s at it. Like Alexa, she’s a fan of nerd-chic, so nerd glasses and way-farers were a must with every look this year and no doubt it will carry on into 2010.

Whitney Port first turned heads with her quirky take on the American clean look in The Hills but has outdone herself this year in The City. Working in Fashion PR and fashion houses like DVF has certainly helped her wardrobe, no matter how weak the term ‘working’ is for her. She seems to follow trends subtly yet adds her own personality by teaming them with gold accessories in the form of rings and over-sized watches- much like the Olsen’s. Her golden locks sure help with her wardrobe palate enabling her to wear everything and anything. She is a fan of Marc Jacobs and dons designer gear to fashion events and parties. Using her reality TV show status to propel her into the fashion limelight appears to have been an excellent move as she has recently designed her own collection thanks to her coverage on the show.

Her love of body-con dresses by night contrasts her day look of jeans and trophy jackets. She too shows off her key features that happen to be her amazing legs- the navy dress she wore on her first date with her Ozzie beau Jay made me want to amputate them and disguise them as my own!

And finally, the youngest member of the Fantastic Five is Emma Watson. She sure has come a long way since the first few Harry Potter premiers where she was clad in matching tanks and cardigans. She now floats up the red carpet in designer gowns. It’s not only the magical film premiers she has been attending; this year has seen her social status soar and her fashion sense has too. As the face of Burberry’s Ready to Wear AW 2010 collection and is now friends with the brands creative director Christopher Bailey, Watson has blossomed into a fashionista that will certainly have her older equals green with envy. One look that epitomised her transformation was a canary yellow embellished Burberry dress which she wore to their catwalk show that closed London Fashion Week in September. This made her a force to be reckoned with and will certainly carry her into the next decade. I wonder what spell she cast on herself to become so fashionable.

All these women have taken style to the next level proving that one can create their own individual look. They however have the help of designer friends and bursting purses which makes it a tad harder for us everyday women to successfully pull off their effortless look. But who doesn’t love a challenge? Especially now that high street stores are more speedily copying the catwalk pieces, we are sure to be on next years best dressed list, at least in the workplace!

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There is something extremely intriguing about the designer Peter Jensen. Maybe it’s the allure of his Danish homeland imprinted in him, or it could be the fact that he is not very well known to the masses. He is however undeniably popular within the fashion world and his high street collaborations over the past few seasons have elevated his designer status.

Originally from Denmark, Jensen’s fashion story began with his “fat neighbour” whom he used to make clothes for. It was these tailored outfits that accelerated his love for designing and he enrolled in a six-month embroidery course. Here he was trained with utmost discipline and traditional techniques which still permeate his collections today. He reminisces about the tough methods and divulges that they would have to wash their hands in cold water and wear white gloves so the fabrics would not get dirty. Jensen has never forgotten his Danish roots and derives inspiration from Danish TV shows such as Matador and his dollhouse inspired spring 2010 collection reminds one of Ibsen’s renowned play A Dolls House. He completed a B.A degree in Fashion Design in Denmark where he studied the art of womenswear and he then went onto do an M.A Menswear Fashion Design in Central St. Martin’s in 1999. The Static Show (a month long exhibition of graduates collections) in which he took part to win an Italian backer focused on his menswear label, and to his surprise he won the financial backing. Jensen now teaches the Menswear M.A at CSM as well as focussing on his own work.

His menswear collections are mainly inspired by his personal style and also based on a Mike Leigh character, Keith, from the film Candace Marie. He is huge admirer of Thom Browne who he believes he goes “as far as you can go with menswear before it becomes grim”. For his latest womenswear collection, it was American artist Laurie Simmons that influenced his designs. Instead of a regular catwalk show, Jensen fused his love of film and photography to show his collection in a surreal dollhouse based on the monographic facets of Simmons’ work. Jensen is a fan of clean cuts and uses a multitude of fabrics and techniques to manipulate his clothes onto each model. “I like the cleanliness of American sportswear from the fifties”, and is a fan of Madeline Vionnet who predicted the future would be sportswear. This collection was awash with bright prints and peppered with some intricate embroidery detailing.

He is also a contributor to the website showstudio.com, where along with many other designers and photographers such as Alexander McQueen and Nick Knight he fuses fashion and film. However is adamant on his theory that fashion is not an art form, and that it is the way it is portrayed that is in itself the art-take styling photo shoots for example.

Peter has collaborated with many different labels and stores, such as Opening Ceremony, Urban Outfitters and Topman/Topshop. His most successful collaboration however was with Fred Perry. He was commissioned to use a misprinted Loral from the 1930s which added a vintage feel to his already European aesthetic. He also has a strong celebrity fan-base which includes the infamous Amy Winehouse, Helena Rubenstein and singer Nina from the Cardigans. He tends to design with these people in mind, and loves bizarre and not so obvious muses.

Having lived in London since his M.A, Jensen is intrigued by English pop culture as it infiltrated his youth in Copenhagen. He is more concerned with the conservative aspect of womenswear and doesn’t rate the sensual side as highly as some British designers-“Sexy is an English disease.” Jensen is certainly set to impress next season but kept his collection under wraps throughout the intimate interview in the University of Creative Arts, Epsom, in November.

www.peterjensen.co.uk

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Conveniently in time for Christmas, Nick Knight has just released a book of his most famous/infamous fashion photographs.

Knight first exploded onto the fashion scene back in the 1980s with his unconventional methods of photography. From digital manipulation to streaming shoots live on the net, Nick Knight has transformed the art of fashion photography and his book documents his most famous works. Some of the models he has photographed range from supermodels Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell to the luscious curves of Sophie Dahl, which have since disappeared. While an exhibition celebrating the 10th anniversary of showstudio.com takes place in Somerset House in London, the book aims to reach a wider audience and show just how influential Knight has been. He has shot multiple covers of Vogue and Wonderland and has done many a fashion spread for Dazed and Confused; most notably the Levi Strauss campaign in 1996. He has also worked on many designer campaigns with Jil Sander and his creative equal Alexander McQueen- who is an avid fan of the showstudio movement as he too believes in capturing the event in time be movement and making it accessible to the masses.

He uses inspirational figures that may seem like unlikely candidates. While he has used a plethora of famous models and personalities, he also casts people in their 60s and people with physical disabilities. “My aim has always been to push at the boundaries of what is and isn’t beautiful” Knight admits. “Instead of our perception of beauty opening up, it’s becoming more narrow all the time”. He is a firm believer in this aforementioned imperfection and states that “anyone with a brain knows that it is the quirkiness and imperfection in a person that attracts other people.”

Knight is famously so involved in his work and he even flew to China while the book was in print just to make sure everything was to his taste. “From the moment I conceive an image to the moment it is completed, every step along the way, I am interacting with it, changing it, pushing my thoughts and beliefs on to it”.

The book entitled ‘Nick Knight’ is published by HarperCollins (£50). It is a perfect gift for a fashion lover, photography expert or even just an admirer of art. Definitely a collectors item for those of you who wish to aspire to be as great as this fashion Knight.

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Music and fashion have always come hand in hand. When the Beatles were first styled by Fiona Adams, they appealed to the masses and their many looks set off trends that are still being reinvented today- take the iconic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club military jacket designed by costume duo Bermans & Nathans for example. Female musicians are usually at the forefront of this styling trend; Diana Ross and the Supreme’s sparkled in matching dresses and Lady Gaga now wears haute couture pieces on tour by the likes of Alexander Mc Queen. Florence Welch is another star whose individual style has been splattered across every fashion publication over the past few months.

However it is the men who seem to be reverting back to the Beatles heyday. A new trend emerging from recording studios today is that bands are opting to employ stylists to help perfect their look. Whatever happened to the do it yourself mantra of Morrissey that had fans on bicycles following him around Manchester in his trademark nerd glasses and Smith’s tees? No longer do the same dirt encrusted jeans and creased t-shirts of bands’ first album suffice, unless of course they have been manipulated that way on purpose.

When they first started out, Kings of Leon wore clothes tailored by Mother Followill which made it very difficult for people to emulate their style. After the release of their third album, the long knotted hair and bushy beards were exchanged for a more well-kempt look (except for the drummer Nathan who has held onto his long greasy mane). At red carpeted events they are styled in tailored designer gear and decked out in Burberry and All Saints whilst performing. They have also collaborated with French designers Surface to Air to create a limited edition clothing line which will be sold exclusively at Paris Texas, Copenhagen. I wonder if poor Molly dwelling in her Chamber would approve.

Tom Meighan of Kasabian recently shed his luscious locks as soon as their most recent album, West Ryder Lunatic Asylum, became a hit. Even Pete Doherty cleaned up his dishevelled look for a fashion spread in Elle magazine’s October issue, where he smartened up in a custom-made wool suit by Edward Sexton with Burberry accessories. What is the need for already established musicians to change their look in favour of more styled appearances?

Downloading and streaming are massive problems in the music industry and CD figures show a huge decrease in recent years. Bands have stepped up their game and feel the need to appeal to a wider audience by looking the part. It’s not all about selling records though as Alex Turner excellently demonstrates. It is a natural trend that as your music matures, your look does too. Having a fashionista girlfriend might make it slightly easier to master this transition, but it’s no doubt that he looks dapper in celebrity tailor Spencer Hart’s designs, who also provides ‘cocktail suits’ for David Bowie.

This exchange of fashion tips between the two genders in the music business has been bubbling for a while now. But it has suddenly exploded with the introduction of preened bands such as The Script, and of course the transformation of more experienced bands mentioned above. This trend will certainly affect how the bands of tomorrow will dress, and may even influence lyrics as bands are singing about themselves, and “sex” to quote KOL, being on fire.

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Dune- Leopard print boots £99/€120 approx. I’ve been trying to find leopard print boots for a while now and when I saw these in last weeks Style magazine I knew I was destined to have them. The high heel makes them an all round shoe as I can wear them during the day with harem pants or at night with a plain black dress. Let the shoes speak for themselves!!

Argos-Casio Watch €29.99. I much prefer men’s watches to women’s. The wider face and thick strap make it more noticeable than a dainty watch.

Topshop-Kate Moss Suede Mini Dress £150. Unlike everything else in Topshop at the moment, this has a classic zip-up back so there’s no need to worry about a pasty white back. The elegant long sleeves are perfect for a black tie event and when teamed with glitzy accessories can be turned into a party dress in a flash.

Balmain Leather Jacket, price on request. Everyone needs one!

Even though it’s winter there’s never a bad time to buy sunglasses. Ray-Bans are forever, or at least that’s what I keep telling myself with such a hefty price tag. There a so many variations of these glasses available, like the ones modelled here from asos.com, but I’m a sucker for the real thing when it comes to quality.

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When a black leather jacket is mentioned one usually envisions a rock n’ roll band from the 60s or an anarchist punk band strutting around on stage in the late 70s. One also conjures up an image of bad-to-the-bone groups of people, namely Hitler’s Gestapo and the frightening Hell’s Angels.

Nowadays, the indie scene has brought the leather jacket back to life on the music circuit, and with designers such as Balmain and Gucci cladding their models in leather, it’s no wonder the streets are suddenly awash with fashion’s most recurring trend. The anniversary of Balstaff kicked off the trend a few years back and ever since then the leather jacket has found a way to pop up in designers’ collections every few seasons.

Style icons made the leather jacket accessible to the masses when it made its cinematic. James Dean and Marlon Brando wore the ultimate statement piece in films such as Easy Rider and Rebel Without a Cause. Leather jackets, faux or otherwise, have also become a trusty wardrobe staple for the adoring music lover. Ever since the likes of Neil Young and Jimi Hendrix stepped out on stage donning a leather ensemble, the crowd were instantly converted and quickly clambered to their nearest leather jacket supplier to mimic their musical heroes. Kate Moss, Karen O’ and Strokes’ lead singer Julian Casablancas have always been fans of the leather jacket which has now become a new hit at summer festivals. The festie spirit has continued on into the winter months with many people opting to wear their leather as an over-garment, replacing the ubiquitous cosy knit for a hard-edged accompaniment to a day frock and the look can easily translate into eveningwear also.

The old silhouette however is being replaced by this seasons’ must-have. Balmain started the new shoulder padded version which is spearheaded by Victoria Beckham and Rihanna, and Christophe Decarnin has carried this look into his Spring/Summer ’10 collection. The introduction of studs, tassels, multiple (and completely unnecessary) zips, safety pins, cropped lengths and a range of different colours have given the old battered leather jacket a contemporary feel. These fresh new designs have elevated the leather jackets’ social status once again and unleashed it onto the cobbled catwalk.

Topshop Stud Leather Jkt

At a time when luxury buys are an infrequent splurge, this staple piece is sure to tide the shopper over for the next season or two. With designers such as Balmain and Balenciaga keeping the leather theme running through their collections, and shops like All Saints, Topshop and H&M packing their stores with multiple variations of the leather jacket, it’s no wonder the new jacket has become somewhat of a uniform item on the streets.

And with the constant resurgence of such a piece, it is no doubt that when this trend evaporates, it will spring back to life once again. So don’t go throwing them out as soon as the catwalks do!

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Whilst strolling along the seafront I somehow made my way towards Fairview Park. As I fought with myself whether to take a trip into the urban forest or head for the bus, an old vintage bicycle caught my wandering eye (and no, it wasn’t the cycle shop on the corner). It was propping up an orange sign that read ‘Quack & Dirk’. Of course, the fashion lover within me overthrew the sporty side and I opted to have a gander rather than walk anymore.

Quack and Dirk really surprised me. It houses a mixture of vintage gems, handmade pieces and imported garments under its cute orange roof. Located just off the bustling traffic polluted Fairview Road down an unassuming lane in a renovated garage, Q&D is a breath of fresh air. Once inside, the drones of buses and horns of cars are immediately muffled by the swinging tunes coming from a laptop tucked away in the corner. The vintage line named Auntie Maureen caught my eye instantly. The owner, Deirdre Cantwell, pays homage to her Aunt’s Narnia-like wardrobe she used to raid as a child and it houses wonderful vintage finds at a great price.

On location, Deirdre also tailors and makes her trademark duck-egg blue pieces in one of the cutest offices/till areas I have ever seen! The prices are undoubtedly reasonable giving the extravagant boutiques in the City Centre some stiff competition. Open Wednesday to Saturday, this hidden gem is definitely worth a visit on the way home from a High Street filled day of shopping. You’re guaranteed to find something new and unique each time you venture down the concrete grey lane and step into the bright orange and white interior of Q&D.

All images are from their fashion show at Krystle – Autumn/Winter ’09 range.

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The fashion industry tends to create vocabulary that soon becomes an everyday word.

One new word that has been plastered across shop advertisements recently is ‘snood’. It derives from the term, ‘scarf-come-hood’, which lets face it, is far too long to say when discussing this seasons’ must-have accessory. The knitwear contraption goes on over the head and sits neatly around the neck like a scarf. Luckily after wearing, it doesn’t result in the dreaded hat-hair crisis that usually follows the wear of such weather protectors.

This wonderful invention to protect us against the brisk winter winds (that are already ruining our carefully styled manes) has been seen in every designer’s collection. Anything Christopher Bailey projects onto the catwalk is sure to be a hit, and with the clean cut muted colours for women and the traditional Burberry print emblazed on the male versions, everyone will undoubtedly be snooded up this season. For a more statement snood, Mathew Williamson is your man. His blue fluffy number is a great way to stand out from the miserable weather whilst remaining on trend.

There are so many different fabrics and styles to choose from, including stretch nylon in the longer pieces, and textured cotton knits for the more cosy snood. The high street stores have jumped on the bandwagon so you are sure to find one that suits you, be it in extravagant colours or a more demure palate. Topshop’s Fair Isle print gives a classic tone to your look, whereas the blinding coloured snoods available from River Island will ensure flickers of jealousy from passers by. So get your scarves off and get your snoods on, honey.

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