Search Results for “x factor

Luxury gifts for her: Merle O’Grady Varvara necklace

If statement necklaces are your thing, look no further, for they don’t come much bigger and better than Merle O’Grady’s Varvara necklace. In her signature tough-luxe styling, the combination of black Swarovski crystsals and multi-layered gold chains give this vintage-inspired party stealer the ultimate wow factor – and one that’s guaranteed to turn every head this Christmas. So don’t shy away at your New Year party; get your fashion fix with this achingly cool stand-out neck piece – you’ll want to wear it with everything from simple tees to striking after-dark dresses. Merle O’ Grady Varvara Necklace, £297, available exclusively at my-wardrobe.com. BUY NOW!

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Cher Coulter’s top party accessories

This is a guest post by Cher Coulter, celebrity stylist, best friend to Kate Bosworth, and one-half of JewelMint, the new jewellery label that recommends bespoke designs based on your personal style. But she can introduce herself better than we can. Cher Coulter is a top Los Angeles-based stylist, whose client list includes Kate Bosworth, Sienna Miller, Katie Holmes, and Scarlett Johansson. Known for combining easy avant-garde with absolute glamour in her women’s styling, Cher possesses an equal talent for men’s fashion. Cher and her dear friend Kate Bosworth recently launched their very own jewellery line, JewelMint, which provides members with high-end jewelry for $29.99/month. We asked Cher to pick her top party accessories to share with you, our lovely readers, to have you sparkling like a celeb this Christmas. See below for her favourites… 1. Topshop Velvet Bow Clips, $15.“These are so Sixties, so swinging and so festive! To style, either beehive the back of your hair and stack them in the nest on top, or wear two on one side. So cute!” 2. Paillette Flap Bag by Chanel, $6000“This is the perfect party bag because you can sling it across your body and throw your hands in the air on the dance floor – but nothing will get lost!” 3. Sparkle Calf Sock by American Apparel, $9“For a fun look, team up these socks with those plain old pumps you just love. This is a cheap way to jazz up your outfit!” 4. Mystic Fall Earrings by JewelMint“These show-stopping chandelier earrings are the perfect party accessory. Try the Ganesh earrings for a more feminine look, or the Piet earrings to up your cool factor! Pull your hair back to give these pieces lots of perfect light to sparkle.” 5. Celestial Wreath Necklace by JewelMint“Want to feel like a […]

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Steep vs Cheap: metallic mini skirts

A metallic mini skirt is the perfect way to spice up your party look this festive season, especially when it’s laced with luxe textures and embroidery – after all, you can’t go wrong with a spot of decadence. For those of you with a bit of cash to spend, this statement golden silk-jacquard skirt from See by Chloe is the answer to all your high end needs. The sumptuous molten shade makes way for the perfect Christmas show-stopper, not forgetting the tonal graphic weave finish which takes the ever-stylish mini to a whole new fashionable height – but at £118, this one-off luxury may be a little out of reach from most of our hands. But don’t worry, we’ve found a cheaper alternative from House of Fraser at eBay Fashion Outlet for just £9.99 – yes, seriously. This gold acetate micro skirt by Untold oozes sleek sophistication, creating a chic but understated party number – plus, the subtle cinched-in waist and puffed lantern design gives this little beauty the ultimate feminine festive factor. See by Chloe Silk-Jacquard Skirt, £118, available at theOutnet.com. BUY NOW! Vs Untold Gold Lantern Skirt, £9.99, available at eBay Fashion Outlet. BUY NOW!

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Pretzels spark pro-anorexia controversy

Last time we had a pretzel, it was two inches thick, completely stodgy and covered in salt, but we’re clearly not up to speed – Pretzel Crisps, aka the snackers’ delight, has been advertising its thin and crispy versions on bus shelters in New York City recently, but its slogan has sparked outrage.

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Raf Simons and Fred Perry Shirt

Oki-ni do like their collaboration pieces, and guess what? So do we. That’s why we wanted to share this little beauty with you, yes one of the latest pieces to be added to the Oki-ni site, this great short sleeved shirt from a collaboration between designer Raf Simons and iconic sports lifestyle brand Fred Perry. The slim fit gives this shirt a really simple feel, but the iconic Fred Perry logo detail gives the shirt that instantly recognisable factor. The real style is in the details such as the small button down collar and the classic Raf Simons tailoring. Wear buttoned to the top without a tie for a contemporary take on office-smart or team with your coolest pair of jeans for a super stylish casual look. Raf Simons and Fred Perry shirt, £125 Oki-ni.

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Lunchtime buy: 3.1 Philip Lim sequined tuxedo vest

Sparkle in the sun this season with this luxurious 3.1 Philip Lim sequined tuxedo vest. We might be many months away from the party season but we’re all for daytime sequins to catch the light of that glorious sunshine! The eye-catching cover-up will take you from day to night and will transform any outfit, adding that all-important glitz-factor to jeans and tees and LBDs. And another thing: It’s reduced! £740 £370 from The Outnet.

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Guillaume Canet in Yves Saint Laurent

Yep, that’s it right there. That is how to wear a suit. French actor Guillaume Canet shows us how it’s done as he attends the premier for the Woody Allen film ‘You’ll meet a tall dark stranger’ at Cannes this week. That is – how to wear a suit and look effortlessly stylish whilst doing so. We can’t decide whether the secret is in his nonchalant pose or the fact that he’s wearing top-to-toe Yves Saint Laurent in the form of a black tuxedo, white shirt, black tie and black lace-ups. We’ve got a sneaking suspicion that it’s probably both of these factors, coupled with an annoying yet admirable ‘je ne sais quoi’ that French men have when it comes to dressing. Oh and there’s one more rather dazzling addition that contributes to Guillaume’s effortless cool, and that’s in the form of the very beautiful Marion Cotillard. Guillaume’s girlfriend Marion looked stunning at the Chopard 150th anniversary party earlier in the week wearing a Lefranc Ferrant sequined jumpsuit. We’re looking forward to seeing their creative talents brought together as Marion stars in ‘Les Petits Mouchoirs’ later in the year – a film directed by the very stylish Guillaume.

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MET Ball 2010: Eva Longoria Parker in Marchesa

It’s rare that Eva Longoria Parker gets it wrong when it comes to picking the right dress and her appearance at the Costume Institute Gala recently is no exception. Wearing red-carpet favourite Marchesea her platinum crepe column gown steals the show as Eva channels old style glamour with her side parted set and wave hair. The silver embroidery adds a touch of classic detailing to this contemporary take on the floor length gown, and the flared cascade skirt adds real wow-factor to the dress. Doing floor length dresses in oyster, cream and neutral shades is a venture into a difficult area as looking like a bride-to-be is always a distinct possibility, but the ankle-revealing length teamed with her fierce shoes firmly puts this dress in red-carpet domain. It’s a really sophisticated look for Eva and against her warm skin tone the champagne colour of the dress looks stunning – a true A-list starlet in a truly A-list designer.

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Doutzen Kroes in Rachel Roy

Enviably gorgeous model Doutzen Kroes makes us wonder why we’d ever opt for a LBD again when a LGD (little green dress) can look this good. Ok, so we may not have her Victoria’s Secret body, but wearing this piece from top stylist Rachel Roy’s clothing line Doutzen proves that a burst of colour is the smart option when it comes to achieving the wow factor. With clever cut-out detailing at the waist, this otherwise classic dress is given a contemporary twist, as well as creating an exaggerated hourglass figure. The bold jade green colour makes a real statement and makes the most of the trend for jewel coloured brights. Doutzen keeps the look simple by pairing the dress with killer heels, in this season’s most wearable shade – nude. If you want to go for a similar look, we’ve found this jade green fitted shift dress from Oasis for £75. The zig-zag detailing at the waist creates a panel that elongates your body so you won’t need to worry about that Victoria’s Secret figure after all. Buy it here now.

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Bargain Buy: Retro Vanity Bag

Do you remember that vanity case that you would take everywhere with you as a child? Packed with your treasured strawberry flavoured lipstick, various collected items and possibly a Barbie with no hair? Well, while your handbag items may have changed to a M.A.C compact, your blackberry and your credit cards, if you’re anything like us the desire to keep everything in a shiny vanity case still lingers. If you’re fed up of lugging your oversized shopper around town and fancy something a little neater then look no further – this bright red leather vanity style bag from ASOS is perfect handbag material that will leave your hands free to clutch all the more shopping bags. Plus it will hold all your essentials whilst keeping them safe, as its structured shape will protect your valuables from fellow pushy shoppers. Its shiny finish and cute hand strap gives it a retro feel and will add a pop of colour to your most basic of outfits. Reduced from £55 to just £30 it’s a purchase that’s worth making and it will give you that instant feel-good-factor with its air of nostalgia. Click here to buy now!

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Revlon invites MFL to the Dorchester to test new DoubleTwist mascara

Make-up. Cakes. Champagne. Cocktails. When Revlon invited My Fashion Life and a specially selected group of fellow bloggers to London’s impeccably swish Dorchester Hotel for an exclusive sneak peek at it’s new products, there really was no way we could say no. After-all, with a crack-team of industry heavyweights behind it, Revlon has arguably been one of the most exciting brands of the year. The 76 year-old cosmetics giant has undergone something of a renaissance since its signing of former Lancôme international artistic director and renowned make-up artist, Gucci Westman in May last year.

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Christmas partywear at M&S

Here at My Fashion Life, we’ve decided that November is the acceptable month to start getting excited about Christmas and therefore, the sparkly partywear that will start to filter through our favourite high street stores over the coming months. Marks and Spencer were quick off the mark when they hosted their partywear press day in October, showing us all the delightful and fashionably festive things that we have to look forward to.

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London Fashion Week SS10: Maria Francesca Pepe

Today I fell in love all over again. Maria Francesca Pepe’s S/S 10 presentation, which began with screening of her film Bathing Beauties for the collection, couldn’t have started any better. The dreamy footage showcasing her designs , modelled by Portia Freeman, among others , was completely enchanting as we watched the Bathing Beauties pose by topaz pools against the backdrop of a delicate piano.

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The recession hits Ugly Betty

Ugly Betty editrix Wilhelmina Slater’s wardrobe is the latest victim of the recession. Vanessa Williams, who plays the show’s bitchy boss has worn Rachel Roy, Giambattista Valli, Dolce & Gabbana and vintage Thierry Mugler for the show’s third season, which premiers October 9th, but said they are having to be mindful of the budget. She told WWD, “With the economic situation what it is, we scaled down in terms of the type of clothing that we’re getting. “There was a Naeem Kahn dress that went for $3,000 and they watched it and watched and by the time we got it, it was like $800. So we are being mindful of the budget and waiting for markdowns on Ugly Betty. Williams also said she’s been having a bit of deja vu wearing the vintage Mulger. “We’ve gone through a lot of stuff that is late Eighties, early Nineties, which is fantastic , a lot of stuff I used to wear when I was recording back in the day. “I would have deja vu moments of, ‘didn’t I wear this on stage already?’ Williams, who has been nominated for two Emmys, was in Dallas to help promote Dress for Success and its benefactor, Botox, which has donated $250,000 to the charity. [Images]

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Steep vs Cheap: A stunning statement

jewellery is the ultimate accessory. Whether it be in the form of those larger than life earrings or that gorgeous ring, picking those few statement pieces is a necessity. Personally I don’t think you can go wrong if you opt for a necklace, ideal for both dresses and t-shirts alike. This stunning piece from Oscar de la renta would look even more amazing (yes it is possible) in the flesh than in the picture but it should do with a whopping price tag of £805.

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Graduate Fashion Week 2009

My first day at Graduate Fashion Week, front row seats and the excitement I had been promised. With six shows to attend I had a fashion-filled day, the Universities being Epsom, Manchester, Ravensbourne, De Montfort, Somerset and Bristol. Models strutted down the catwalk to pounding music, dimmed lights and a flash of cameras as they made it to the end of the runway. There were numerous trends which continued to repeat themselves not only throughout the designers attending the same Universities but as a theme throughout the schools.

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Kate Winslet loves long locks

Kate Winslet hated having short hair. The 33-year-old actress sported a chin-length, textured bob at the New York premiere of her movie ‘Hideous Kinky’ in 1999, and insists she will never repeat the look. Looking at a photo taken on the night, Kate said: ‘Bless my heart. Well, my boobs look good. Yeah, that was my short haircut – I hated it. I would never do it again. You have to do short hair. It’s like a nightmare. It’s just not flattering to my face shape – at all.’ Kate – who raises two children with husband Sam Mendes, daughter Mia, eight, and five-year-old son Joe – is happier with the fresh-faced look she boasted at the New York premiere of 2008’s ‘The Reader’, where she had flowing blonde locks and a deep tan. Kate told Allure magazine: ‘That was a damn fine look. I had just gotten back from vacation in the Turks and Caicos islands, and I was all nice and tan, and my hair had gone blonder. I don’t lie out in the sun, and I always wear a high sun factor, so it was from literally just wandering around in the sun for a week, chasing after the kids and making sure nobody drowned in the sea.’ Kate added the most important thing for her is that she is comfortable in what she chooses to wear, and is dressed appropriately for her age.

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Summer 09 Trend: Body Con

As we are all by now well aware, the eighties made a colossal comeback on the catwalks for spring/summer 09. But it is one microtrend in particular that captured the hearts of the fashion flock and A-listers alike. Yes, you guessed it: Body con. Short for “body conscious, this refers to clothing that does exactly what it says on the tin: anything from skintight mini-dresses and mini-skirts, to tight high-waisted leggings and trousers and basically any other garment that makes you, as the name suggests, very conscious of your body – conscious in the sense that you may have missed those body pump gym classes and well now can’t quite eat lunch without busting a seam.

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Johnny Blue Eyes: Bringing democracy to fashion

I’m seated at the entrance of Nandos in Shepherds Bush. This is fashion stylist, Johnny Blue Eyes’ favourite restaurant. It’s also his local. Born and bred in Shepherd’s Bush, Johnny has lived in the area all his life, although he does flit between his home town and New York. As he approaches the door I recognise him instantly. His long thick dark hair is a major giveaway. He’s wearing a hoodie paired with leather trousers, accessorized with a big buckled belt and carrying a large oversized bag. Johnny greets me so warmly that I feel immediately comfortable in his presence. At 41, he describes himself as an artist first and foremost, however his love for dressing up has played a major part in his path down the road of fashion. Johnny is perhaps better known as a stylist, in particular for his work with artists such as Beth Ditto (whom he considers to be a close friend), Ana Matronic from the Scissor Sisters, the Klaxxons and many more famous faces. At the moment, the self-confessed grafter (Johnny wakes up at 7am every morning and hits the sack at 2am) has made a move to the world of design through his label House of Blue Eyes. “The House of Blue Eyes is essentially a movement”, says Johnny passionately. “It’s very inspired by Warhol and the energy of The Factory of New York in the late sixties, early seventies with me as the sort of Warhol-esque character with all these designers and artists and performers and models who are part of that house. The fashion collection is a big room in the house but it is essentially bringing together fashion, art and music…. The House of Blue Eyes is a house of love, and hope and change.” It was the House of […]

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Just Cavalli is here to stay!

The future was not bright for Roberto Cavalli’s diffusion line Just Cavalli a few months ago. First Cavalli was forced to pull out of Milan Fashion Week due to lack of funds and then Ittierre the holding company filed for bankruptcy. Matters were made worse by Cavalli blaming Ittierre for the

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Topshop grand opening: A slice of heaven in NY!

Even amidst the economic downturn the hype around the first New York City Topshop has been enormous , and that’s almost an understatement. Blogs have been tracing every step of the highly-anticipated opening and given that the Soho mega-store was slated to open back in Fall 2008, there have been many. In addition to a number of preview events and parties taking place these last few days, a Topshop Heartschallenger Van has been roaming around the city handing out free goody bags containing Topshop certificates with values reaching as high as $500. It’s little surprise that the van has attracted mobs of people, with Topshop fans closely following its every move via a GPS tracker set-up by the retailer. Given all of this hype , and the fact that Kate Moss’ 9th Topshop collection was going to be launched in tandem with the opening — I made my way down to the Soho location (478 Broadway near Broome Street), at around 9:30am this morning. With the Kate Moss ribbon cutting ceremony not taking place till 11am, I figured that’d give me plenty of time to get my hands on some covetable goods. Little did I know that people had been lining-up since 6am.

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Paris Fashion Week: Valentino AW09

This was a lovely collection, nice lines, a good palette and pretty pieces. It was nice, inoffensive, wearable and classic. There wasn’t really a wow factor. It was just all very nice. Since Valentino retired the design house has been having a few issues, with a designer revolving door, the latest designer in charge is in fact a duo. Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, they had their first outing with the couture collection, so this is only their second. Well, you can certainly tell that they are verging on the edge of caution. Clearly, not wishing to rock the boat they produced a very safe collection. There were no bad outfits, and there were a few very nice ones indeed. I liked the tiered blue coat and I thought the colour scheme of jade, aqua, lemon, burgundy and camel worked nicely. The silk prints were perhaps the highlight of the show. Valentino is all about glamour and elegance and these outfits were elegant, and they had a 1950s charm to them. But they failed to captivate and were easily forgotten. They will certainly please those looking for a sleek evening gown or seasonless coat or suit. But it wasn’t a collection to get the pulse racing.

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Daisy makes commuting fashionable

Unlike the other fashion capitals of the world, London doesn’t really notice when Fashion Week is in town. I will mention to friends that I’m off to the shows or the Natural History Museum and they will respond with “oh is there something on? This is very distressing for people like myself where fashion is not about what clothes you put on, but is a way of life. So anything that brings Fashion Week out into the general psyche gets top marks from me. Because this year celebrates the British Fashion Council’s 25th birthday, lots of lovely events can be expected in celebration. One of these is a range of illustrations by fashion darling Daisy de Villeneuve, which will not hang in a gallery but will instead adorn our Oyster card holders and chests. In collaboration with Transport for London, Daisy has created some quirky illustrations that will be sold on their new online shop. Daisy’s drawings are based on passers by from her time spent on our infamous transport system. Her images have a childlike cool factor and you can see why she is loved by the fashion industry. Having worked her felt tip magic for brands including Colette, Topshop, Shanghai Tang and V&A and magazine work for Lula, Vogue and Sunday Times Style. She has also managed to fit in time to exhibit and publish two books. On the TFL-British Fashion Council collaboration Daisy says: “I was born in London & have always loved it. I find it such an inspiring town, full of creative & interesting people. There is a special energy here, from fashion and music to clubs and magazines that is truly unique to London, no doubt the reason I can never stay away too long! So yes people, Fashion Week is approaching and if […]

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Who could possibly replace Anna Wintour?

Sooner or later Anna Wintour will be dethroned. The question is, “Who will be her successor? Andre Leon Talley could do the job with his eyes closed. But he’s just one year shy of Wintour and it’s more than likely that when she leaves the building, he won’t be too far behind. Rachel Zoe perhaps? Now that would be interesting. After watching the insanely addictive, Rachel Zoe Project, there’s no doubt in my mind that Zoe lacks the authority and organization skills required to push out a monthly mag.

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Go eco friendly with Oxx

It’s hard to get away from the words eco isn’t it? If David Cameron isn’t ranting about the environment then someone else (probably in The Independent) is. But don’t get me wrong; this is no bad thing. I am very much for saving the planet.

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Shine in Sequins From Alexander McQueen

One of the hottest trends this season is sequins, yep, those shiny little things that adorn Las Vegas showgirls – shrinking violets need not apply. Seen everywhere from Valentino Couture to Zac Posen these light-reflecting gems add texture and glamour to any outfit. Hot off the press are these navy Pailette skinnies by

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Made for Walking: Brian Atwood Jamie Over-the-Knee Boots

Is it just us, or is winter a much more exciting season for your wardrobe. The first thing we’ll will be embracing along with the impending autumn, are knee , high boots, actually lets get the sex , factor up here , we’re talking thigh- high boots. Now we know this A/W footwear trend has been skating on the edge of the fashion radar for a few seasons now, but for A/W 08 they are going to be thrust into the shoe- of- the -season spotlight. We’re talking heels and flats, leather, suede, embellishment – the options are endless.

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The Gladiator Mandal

Bernard Wilhelm Spring 2009 When the gladiator sandal sashayed down Chanel’s resort 2007 collection, a new mania was heralded. But with all this hype, fanfare and brouhaha over women and their newly beloved gladiator sandal, where do men factor in? The flurry of sprightly coloured and drab sandals Miu Miu sent out for their SS07 men’s collection paled in comparison to Chanel’s Amazon-like footwear . And as the gladiator sandal trail blazed its way into the closets of women, men were in a chasm of sorts, stuck with the fashionably faux-pas plastic flip-flop and the odd Miu Miu sandal. Fast forward to today and men can now clamour for the so-called gladiator mandal, or man-sandals, at very affordable prices too. Topman and HE by Mango carry some urbane gladiator mandals that effectively blot out the femininity that surround this style of footwear. Here are our top 3 picks.

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FrostFrench Accused Of Racial Discrimination

FrostFrench, the label founded by Sadie Frost and Jemima French has been ordered to pay out £5,000 to an ex-employee who claims she was unfairly dismissed because of her race. Aba Yankah who is of African origin was initially hired via a recruitment company last November as a temp for the company’s store in London’s Burlington Arcade. After a number of friendly calls with the stores shop manager, the sales assistant claims everything changed on her first day when they met for the first time.

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The Sweet Smell of Summer: Burberry

The olfactory overload when entering a perfume store could send a consumer out the door screaming, well this consumer at least. Last week I decided to take the plunge and spend some time picking out a new scent for the season. The sun was shining, the flowers were bright and vibrant but everywhere I turned, one perfume after another, was the stench of the notorious grandma smell.

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Colleen Mcloughlin: The Dress and the Glamour

The celebrity wedding of the year is over, and the photos are out for all us common folk to scrutinise. The dress, the flowers and the ring all go under the magnifying glass. So, what was Colleen’s dress really like and was it all that it was made out to be? I purchased the new OK! magazine this week to find out for myself. Now, it’s a bit difficult to express my opinion on her dress as Colleen actually wore two different wedding dresses on the day, but I’ll do my best…

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Wendybird: Fashion in motion

Getting dressed the other morning, as I twirled in my flippy little skirt and enjoyed that brief moment of bare legged joy before pulling on the black opaques and enjoying my daily dose of fashion escapism and make believe, I was reminded of “Wendybird”, the lovely film made by Ellen Von Unwerth for Erin Featherston’s A/W 06 collection.

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Sweatshop shame: Banana Republic accused of promoting unfair working conditions

Banana Republic, opened its first store in the UK yesterday in Regent Street, London, amidst allegations of promoting unfair working conditions. According to the charity War on Want, workers in its Indian factory are forced to work 70 hours a week for 15p an hour, often receiving only half payments for overtime. Even worse, the Guardian claims that workers are verbally abused if they dare complain, and petty disputes often result in docked pay.

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