The Cambridge Satchel Company's Brand Evolution: S/S14 Looks Bright

Today I received some of the shiny new images from the S/S14 collection by the Cambridge Satchel Company, which has gone from strength to strength since its formation around a kitchen table back in 2008. This latest range shows just how determined the brand is to achieve longevity and not just be part of a short-term satchel trend. No wonder it's just had a cash injection of over £12 million from Index Ventures. Peach Pink and Bellflower Blue are going to be it-colours for the season, mark my words.

 [Images via Cambridge Satchel Company S/S14 launch and Google+ profile].

These longer strap options won't hang around for long this season.

 I would snap up this navy clutch in an instant.

Candy clutches (and traditional black) are sure to be successful.

Whilst I'm yet to get my hands on one of these bags, I can definitely see the appeal of their latest evolution into clutches, two-tone variants and long shoulder strap numbers. The key to keeping the brand fresh is to offer something desirable and different, as well as the same reliable models that the public knows them for. 

 Two tone works well in both of these colour ways.

Even small adjustments, such as panels made from leopard print or tartan fabric, Vivienne Westwood designed prints or iconic Harris Tweed, show that there is more than one ideal CSC customer and they will all be catered for. I've seen the Accessories Editor of Elle carrying a neon number at London Fashion Week, but I've also seen grandmas, students and mums buying into the brand as well. 

 There's nothing like a bit of punk spirit from a British brand.

Admittedly the designers could have easily become stuck in a rut of continually reinventing the wheel and trying not to shake up tradition, knowing how well the standard styles were selling, but instead they've tried new innovations and colour combinations regularly. Fluoro, double colour and metallic options have all proved popular, suggesting there's no let-up in satchel fever, and the company's products are stocked in over 100 countries. 

 These fluoro music bags would certainly brighten up a dull music lesson...

Taking a look at the latest styles, I have a feeling that Bellflower Blue is going to look great with S/S14 outfits, whilst the patent croc print clutches are real investment pieces for smarter occasions. The Cambridge Satchel Company has come a long way from its humble kitchen table beginnings, and I'll be eagerly anticipating its next move.

From Viktor & Rolf to Van Gogh: The Ultimate Amsterdam Fashion Week Outfit

Amsterdam Fashion Week is known for being a hotbed of talent, showcasing the best in Dutch design to a clamouring fashion pack from around the world. So, when Fashion Chick invited bloggers to dream up their ultimate outfit to wear in Amsterdam for the occasion, I couldn't resist taking up the challenge. Here's what I came up with and why I chose each piece...

[Clothing images via Fashion Chick. Background image, Van Gogh's Sunflowers, via Wikimedia Commons].

I wanted to capture the bold silhouettes of Dutch designers such as Viktor & Rolf, but also get a flavour of the Netherlands' great art scene, which is a constant source of inspiration for creative types. From vintage art legends such as Van Gogh in the newly re-opened Rijksmuseum to up-and-coming talented students, it's an inspiring place to be.

• I started with a Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Halton dress, covered with text and being a real statement piece. If you want to see more oversized text, the iAmsterdam sign is a cool place to hang out in the city - I'd have to make a pilgrimage in my fashion ensemble.
• I added a black cape by Lovarni to give a nod to the Viktor & Rolf retrospective at the Barbican several years ago, where dolls were clad in their designs, including voluminous cape-like coats.
• Accessories were Miu Miu cat's eye sunglasses, which add to the doll aesthetic, and a sunflower yellow spider clasp bag by Charlotte Olympia worthy of any Van Gogh fan with a designer budget. Of course, there had to be some real Viktor & Rolf in the mix, so I chose a waist cinching leather mirrored sphere black belt to work well with the Anglomania dress.At only €49 from Hervia (sourced using Fashion Chick), this is a real bargain.
• To continue the sunflower yellow injection of colour, I went for Topshop's Logan flared heel platforms, which add to the vintage feel of the whole outfit, perfect for taking out on the town at all those Fashion Week after-parties.

Aside from the items I've chosen, I'd also be keen to browse the city's best shops. I've done my research thoroughly and I know there are some great retro boutiques to visit, like Wini Vintage, as well as the Nine Streets, a key shopping area. To top it all off, the World Fashion Centre mall offers a huge range of stores and would keep me busy for hours.

So, that's my dream outfit to bring to the streets of Amsterdam, and an idea of what I'd get up to if I was jetting off to experience the best of Dutch design. Would you channel sunflower yellow or would you go for something totally different? Let me know what you think.

London's on Fire for S/S14: Meadham Kirchhoff, Giles and Vivienne Westwood Red Label

The catwalk was set ablaze this season by three great designers in London, each with their own slightly different fan-base. Meadham Kirchhoff is the brainchild of two talented young upstarts with a suitably edgy following, Giles has his endless celebrity endorsements and  mainstream fans from his brilliant New Look diffusion line, and Vivienne Westwood's Red Label boasting its incredible price tags and customer elite sitting not-quite-comfortably alongside her protestations that we all cut down on the number of clothes we buy. Ahem.

Controversial comments aside, these three shows had a lot in common; they all showed models looking empowered and fiery, whether channeling the Lolita look or going for something significantly more dishevelled. 

 L-R: Meadham Kirchhoff, Giles and Vivienne Westwood Red Label showed expressive styles with fiery traits - lace bras, bat-like headpieces and fierce make-up coordinated with a masterclass in layering that shouldn't work but somehow totally does. [All images via Style.com].

Both Meadham Kirchhoff and Giles chose to braid the hair of their models, whilst at Westwood it was all left to hang out in glorious waves, as though just undone from its plaits. The colours may not have been glowing at all times, in fact they could be pretty muted occasionally, but the prints and draping created lashings of drama to help things along.

 The boys  at Meadham Kirchhoff brought us a gold-tinged vision of summer with the prospect of raiding the dressing-up box for those accessories. 

Red satin princess-style gloves: check. Edwardian jacket fresh out of Downton: check. Gold jacket from that 80s fancy dress night: check. Finish it all off with strappy gold shoes and a piercingly bright orange wig and you're good to go.

This is what I call Lolita meets Little House on the Prairie (with a touch of Wednesday Addams). The Meadham Kirchhoff woman isn't afraid to wear her inner child on her sleeve, but that doesn't mean you should mess with her. She mixes decades and patterns better than you, and she can also drink you under the table.

 After reappropriating famous paintings and working with beautifully burned fabrics to set the mood of a smouldering country pile, Giles Deacon has finally created his own relics using these moody photographic prints by Glen Luchford.

There's a brilliant behind-the-scenes studio piece on Giles fresh on the Grazia website right now, explaining loads more about the creative process behind this collection. Amazingly, Giles spotted the photos being posted on Instagram by Luchford, many of them previously unpublished, and he was able to use them in the designs. There's an interesting cross-over with Prada here, as some of the pieces in the collection use prints from Glen's test shots for a Prada campaign back in 1997. 

What I love about the shapes of this part of the collection is that they flatter most figures and don't seek to exploit the women wearing the pieces. There's that all-important draping and forgiving volume that allows you to breathe underneath, rather than be constrained.

Westwood's combination of Pre-Raphaelite hair and distressed layers of clothing with slight Victorian and Edwardian nods (braces, muted florals, sharp masculine tailoring) was totally absorbing.

Being a Vivienne Westwood show, there were always going to be elements of punk spirit tied into all of this extravagance; the Climate Revolution t-shirts and the childish doodling of the make-up certainly added to that, along with the vertiginous multi-strap heels, but having Lily Cole steal the show in a beautifully simplistic and feminine beige dress made sure that this collection would be remembered for its balance of anger with feminine wiles. Trust Westwood to make beige look empassioned instead of bland. 

These three designers definitely lit up the catwalk for me, and they made a strong impact. I'll be watching out for the high street's interpretation of these looks.

Wool Week 2012: I Wasn't Born, I Was Knitted

The knitwear genius of Sister by Sibling at London Fashion Week, working a toile print (S/S13).

You may not be aware of the dearth of 'national/international [insert common theme, such as toilet paper, embarrassing medical condition or random emotion] week' publicity drives that take place throughout the year, but this time around there's a pretty worthy one that should be on your agenda: Wool Week. It's a global event that puts this 'most versatile and natural fibre' (thank you, official website) in the spotlight. 

As I've grown up surrounded by knitting - no, not in a strange wooly commune, but in the midst of my mother's favourite habit and a much-loved Jemima Puddleduck pullover from my childhood - it's become second nature to me to seek out the perfect pattern. I will lust over knitted designer delights or pure wool coats from COS and try to save up my pennies. Sadly I haven't inherited the family knitting gene and I cannot work out how to 'purl one' or 'cast off', let alone 'cast on', but I have a deep-seated envy for those who take to it naturally and can churn out a jumper or two in the space of watching one series of Downton Abbey.

To celebrate Wool Week 2012 and to cope with my inability to join a knitting club, here are three reasons to love wool even more:

1. You can be any age and get away with wearing it; there's no such thing as 'slutty wool' (good grief. Well, maybe a woolen mankini would raise a few eyebrows, but thankfully I haven't spotted one yet) and you can't really get called 'mutton dressed as lamb' (yup, sheep jokes, wool, enough said) for putting on a nice jumper. Anyone from babies to geriatrics can make it look good.

2. Back in the days of university, I learned that woolen cloaks were something of a staple item during the Renaissance and they were something to be feared as well as utilised. You could turn your cloak into a fairly respectable tent or rain shield if you needed to, and it was great for keeping out the cold, but also you could hide behind it and disguise your appearance. A group of people wearing cloaks and approaching you commanded the same level of fear as a bunch of teenagers in hoodies does today.

3. There have been some unforgettable fashion looks involving wool, and I'm sure there will be many more to come. Think of Vivienne Westwood's tartan, Chanel Tweed jackets, Raf Simons' powder pink elegant coats for his final collection at Jil Sander... How about Mark Fast's intricate woven dresses, or Markus Lupfer's sequinned intarsia jumpers? They're all made with wool. 

 Topshop gets in on the act with this design by Henrietta Jerram. Image via the Campaign for Wool. 

So, fashion lovers, it's time to wear your heart on your sleeve and celebrate all things knitted.

British Fashion Awards 2012: The Nominees

She failed to notice she was obstructing the red carpet...

[Image by Valie Export, 1976]

It's BFA time again and the nominees are in. The British Fashion Awards are one of the most celebrated annual fashion events, rightfully highlighting talent in the industry and giving young designers a helping hand. Who's made their mark in 2012? See below. Those marked with an asterisk are my tips for winning the awards.

Accessory Designer

Katie Hillier
Nicholas Kirkwood*
Philip Treacy

Emerging Talent Award: Ready to Wear

J.W. Anderson
Michael van der Ham
Simone Rocha*

Emerging Talent Award: Accessories

Jordan Askill
Sophie Hulme*
Dominic Jones

Emerging Talent: Menswear

Agi & Sam
Lou Dalton
Jonathan Saunders*

Designer Brand

Burberry
Stella McCartney
Alexander McQueen*
Mulberry

Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator

Edward Enninful
Katie Grand
Professor Louise Wilson OBE*

New Establishment Award

Erdem
Jonathan Saunders
Meadham Kirchhoff*

Menswear Designer

Richard James* [who has the same name as my uncle, so I'll make him my favourite to win...]
Kim Jones for Louis Vuitton
Oliver Spencer

Model

Cara Delevigne
Jourdan Dunn*
David Gandy

Red Carpet Creator

Victoria Beckham
Roksanda Ilincic*
Stella McCartney
Alessandra Rich

Designer of the Year

Christopher Kane
Mary Katrantzou
Stella McCartney*

British Style Award

Voted for by the public, with an insanely long nominations list, the highlights 

(with my favourite three choices) are:

 Adele
Victoria Beckham
Helena Bonham Carter
Duchess of Cambridge
Henry Holland
Natalie Massenet
Phoebe Philo
Lara Stone
Tilda Swinton*
Tinie Tempah*
Vivienne Westwood*

What do you think of the nominees - is there anyone on there you're surprised to see, or someone you feel has been missed out?

British Ballgowns at the V&A: Drawn

 Nicholas Oakwell's sculptural astronomy piece was unmissable.

I was determined to draw this dress as it was such a feat of engineering. The exaggerated front section, with a sharp point and seemingly unending folds fell away to reveal densely packed layers of black tulle. Contrasting with a flash of a nude slip, this was a complicated piece that surely makes many of us realise why people crave the excitement of dresses over jeans and trainers every once in a while.

 Deliberately punchy, with some of the frenetic energy of Westwood's designs.

Anything but a wallflower, this was Vivienne Westwood's most attention-seeking gown in the exhibition and it deservedly overshadowed its neighbours. I'm not sure it's one that us mere mortals could carry off, but it certainly rejects the idea of British formal-wear design being about stuffy Etonians and cucumber sandwiches. Featuring feathers, over-sized leopard print and a heavy dose of Angelina-style leg, this is one for making an entrance.

This Yuki dress was pure 70s glamour.

It may have opened the exhibition, but I wanted to save the orangey red glow of Yuki's voluminous dress until last. What might have looked like a tent on the hanger somehow came to life on the mannequin, alongside the story of its original owner, Gayle Hunnicutt, who wore it to Windsor Castle. This was a brave move considering she was basically wearing a giant kaftan to a royal property. Clearly she put design over decorum, and it paid off.

British Ballgowns runs until 6th January at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (nearest tube: South Kensington).

[All images are my own sketches, based on my visit to the V&A. Please ask before reproducing].

Top Spring/Summer 2012 Trends

As we're mid-way through the season, it seems fitting to look at the trends that have really made an impact in fashion and beauty. Here are seven of the best, giving you a week's worth of looks to road test:

 [Images via Style.com - please click to enlarge. 

L-R: Viktor & Rolf, Comme des Garcons, Meadham Kirchhoff].

1. Living Doll

On the Catwalk: Viktor & Rolf, Comme des Garcons and Meadham Kirchhoff all went for the doll aesthetic, fuelled by satin ruffles, frou frou skirts and very high necklines. Accessories included knee high socks, liberal amounts of glitter and incredibly long eyelashes, with Red Riding Hood-style capes seen at Vivienne Westwood to cover up. 

Wear with: tons of feline eyeliner, a sweet shop necklace and a quirky handbag, taking your cue from Olympia Le Tan's book clutch bags as seen on A-listers including Michelle Williams, who went for JD Salinger's Catcher in the Rye as her arm candy.

2. Cut and Paste

On the Catwalk: paste jewellery was seen at Miu Miu (in the form of cameo necklaces) and Dolce & Gabbana (used to embellish bodysuits and dresses), whilst Christian Dior's Spring Couture collection included jackets and skirts with exaggerated and obvious stitching lines. Meanwhile, laser-cut fabric turned heads at Louis Vuitton, Oscar de la Renta and Valentino, among others. The rule of thumb: either less is more, or more is more, with intricate layers of jewels or stripped back cluster sections of lace-like fabric holes doing the talking. Either way it's a feminine trump card that is more ladylike than the doll look.

Wear with: white tights and a beehive hairdo, applying as much Ellnett hairspray as possible - it's used by countless hair stylists and models.

[L-R: Stella McCartney, Lanvin, Balenciaga].

3. Olympic Arms

On the Catwalk: the shoulder was a key focus at Stella McCartney and Lanvin, where athletic arms really shone and you could forget about digging out your sports bra. The sports luxe trend relies on lashings of satin, halternecks, the occasional basketball vest shape and plenty of baseball jackets. Balenciaga provided padded shoulders that American jocks could almost carry off with aplomb. 

Wear with: a hint of body shimmer and bronzer (not too much or you'll give it an Essex feel), alongside a neoprene rucksack, fluoro eyeliner and Topshop hi-tops if you're going down the casual vest route.

4. Serious Talons

On the Celebrities: Both Adele and Lady Gaga have, ahem, spiked interest with their pointed manicures. If you're looking to really go for something different in beauty then this is definitely a style worth considering, as you'll never be able to stand a boring squared-off row of false nails again. Grab a rounded set and file them to an inverted 'V' shape if you can't find cool enough options on the high street.

Wear with: a pair of killer heels and some chandelier earrings. This look is versatile enough to work with several different styles, from leather jacket and hot-pants to the little black dress.

 [L-R: Charlotte Ronson, Prada, Louis Vuitton].

5. The Life Aquatic

On the Catwalk: it didn't have to be sea-themed, but aqua was everywhere during the S/S 2012 fashion weeks, from Charlotte Ronson's cool USA chiffon vibe to the elegant lace-clad Rodarte girl and the city-dwelling Prada woman with her long coat hiding a sneaky crop top. Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton brought us aqua tweed and gorgeous triple-strap kitten heels, House of Holland introduced cloudy aqua denim amidst sugared almond shades, and we all suddenly felt the need for an injection of that pale greenish-blue. This may have been the tip of the iceberg as far as pastels go right now, but it was a bloody big iceberg; aqua is the colour du jour.

Wear with: take a tip from Prada and go for bright red, making the blue tones really pop in comparison. Don't forget an aqua manicure or pedicure (try Barry M's Blue Moon) and a slick of pale lip gloss.

6. Deco Decade

On the Catwalk: Whether you blame the recession's glance back to the Great Depression, the Great Gatsby remake or the fact that Downton Abbey will be placing its third series in this decade, there was no denying the historical link between Dolce & Gabbana, Alberta Ferretti and Etro was firmly set to Art Deco. Milan Fashion Week, in particular, went crazy for the 1920s, but many other designers payed heed to all things Jazz Age, including Ralph Lauren. Key quirks included geometric lines, burnished gold accents on dresses, thin headbands and t-bar or Mary Jane shoes. Even at Victoria Beckham, the drop waist dress could be seen to have a 20s origin if you looked hard enough.

Wear with: the Marcel wave. A notoriously fiddly hair do, this is one of the most iconic things about the 1920s. Curl your hair and set the kinks with curling tongs and metal hairdressing clips, ideally following some of the brilliant step-by-step guides on Youtube.

 [L-R: Mary Katrantzou, Rodarte, Erdem].

7. Heavy Petal

On the Catwalk: the queen of intense floral prints is Mary Katrantzou, who continued to use them in her work but also added newer influences like underwater and animal forms which sat well with the flowers that made her famous. Meanwhile Erdem, another London print king, looked to chintzy blooms that stood out thanks to vintage-style hats, giving everything an air of cool granny chic. Lastly, those California Dreamers at Rodarte - sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy - made us look afresh at Van Gogh's sunflowers for our floral cues.

Wear with: all black or white creates a blank canvas from which the prints can almost blossom. Try a black pencil skirt with a simple black beret, a plain white t-shirt and studded kitten heels, or black leather trousers and minimalist boots.

Of course, this is by no means a comprehensive list, as there's still half a season for micro trends to emerge and expected trends to sell pitifully (yep, it can happen). Just bear in mind that these seven are going to be sticking around for a while yet, so you'd better get used to it!

It's Raining Clothes: 20% off at Urban Outfitters

Pssst: Urban Outfitters are having a one day sale! Get your virtual elbows at the ready for 20% off everything online from the UO Europe store, including free delivery when you spend over £75. 

If you're looking for the discount code, here's what to enter at the checkout: SP2.

You'll have to be quick as it's only valid from midnight tonight (11th April) until 8pm on 12th April, and if you're stuck for inspiration then here are a few things to tempt you from my wish list, to suit all budgets...

 Vivienne Westwood Anglomania + Melissa Skyscraper Heels in Pink

Ethically made and bound to grab attention. Perfect if you're into making a statement.

£128.00

 Urban Outfitters Exclusive: Eastpak Florid Backpack

Channel Mary Katrantzou but with a more practical edge. As it's Eastpak, you know it'll last.

£39.99

 Black Boater Hat

Classic British style with a summer twist and a very retro hat band.

£20.00

One thing to note: expect your order to arrive in an incredibly large box, even if it's tiny. The UO people like to cushion your purchases with a lot of padding!

Happy shopping...

LFW A/W2012: Vivienne Westwood Red Label Sticks to the Classics

 [Images collaged from Style.com photography].

In a time of economic instability, Olympic fever and the occasionally bizarre and nonsensical 21st century craze (I'm looking at you, Justin Bieber fans), it's sometimes reassuring to return to old ideas. With Vivienne Westwood's Red Label show for Autumn/Winter 2012 there was a distinct sense of deja vu - plenty of familiar shapes and patterns made an appearance and were lapped up by a willing audience. 

Westwood may well have been thinking, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it,' when she showed the three looks above, which all carry her signature style of clever pintucks, nipped-in waists and romantic flounces tied up with ribbon. Her failsafe creations will still prove popular, as many people - myself included - would kill to dress their curves in this way, but it was perhaps less revolutionary and theatrical than many of her previous collections.

For me, although Westwood has always been interchangeable with Britishness and tradition, she's also stood for outcasts, underdogs and rebels (and not just because she used to be Malcolm McLaren's partner). 

The three looks above are all ways that she has channelled some of that energy into this collection, though she is playing it safer than usual by sticking to standard body proportions, no pintucks or draping and no colour clashes. The rugby shirt on the left is only mildly different from one that you might see on a rugby player, and that's because she's chosen to use her own patches. The jumpsuit is a gorgeous pattern, but not hard to imagine working on an everyday woman. I love the fact that she has integrated more pedestrian ideas and given them the Westwood stamp, but it felt a little disappointing not to see them presented with a little more irony.

The most playful element of the collection was a hint of granny chic and the English eccentric, whether that meant the outfit on the left (which would blend into the set of Coronation Street in the 1960s) or the slight lean towards Worzel Gummidge (childhood fictional character who happened to be a scarecrow) in the central ensemble of oversized hat and layers of men's clothing with backcombed hair. The dress on the right is really bold but it does remind me of 1990s curtains and soft furnishings, with its jazzy angular structures. 

I'm not regarding these looks as negative or naff; I am fully ready to embrace the naffness, Dame Viv, really I am. I quite like the rejection of the new and the clear recycling of old ideas and stereotypes. I also enjoyed the earlier classic looks and the adoption of the very British rugby shirt. But perhaps what this show lost was a much-needed fraction of the utterly bonkers which I have come to expect and depend on. I know that Red Label is different to Anglomania and Gold Label, but it didn't have the edge this time. It will have strong commercial appeal and many copycats, but perhaps not raise as many eyebrows as normal.

Remembrance Poppies - Patrick Wolf keeps the trend alive

[Image via the Patrick Wolf Palisade Tumblr site].

Here in Britain we have a great tradition of wearing paper poppies as a sign of remembrance for those who fought in wars since WWI. It's not necessarily about patriotism, more about the recognition of courage, peril and loss, with the poppy being chosen after its prevalence in the fields of WWI battle sites. I wear one every year, with particular thoughts for the members of my family who were involved in WWI and WWII, with traumatic and life-changing consequences. The singer Patrick Wolf, who is a favourite of mine, posted an image today on his Tumblr blog of his poppy being proudly worn for his 'soldier ancestors and all those who never came home', and he encouraged others to do the same - 'be sure to wear yours this November'.

I'm glad that Wolf has shown his support for this cause and promoted it to his fans, because it's slowly becoming more and more difficult to raise awareness and for people to properly acknowledge Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day. When you buy your paper poppy you are not provided with a safety pin to attach it to your clothes because that was deemed too risky by the health and safety police a few years ago, so now you are responsible for your own pin-related injuries. Luckily the Poppy Appeal has been gradually moving towards fashion alternatives so that people can incorporate the cause into their everyday wardrobe more effectively, and without a safety pin problem in sight. I also wanted to explore poppy-inspired looks that take the strong colour or image and use it with stunning results, because I felt it's important to translate this theme to daily life and fashion (the very angles that the Poppy Appeal has taken).

[Image via the Poppy Appeal's Shop].
This large crystal brooch, £25, by Buckley won't get damaged in the rain (a danger of the paper ones) and it's glitzy enough to make an impact. Brooches have been having a major resurgence in fashion over the past couple of years, due to the demand for vintage-inspired clothing and the return to a British heritage look. You could wear this well with a tea dress and brogues.

[Image via the Poppy Appeal's Shop].
At secondary school I used to pin two poppies in my hair, to make them stand out more. These Kleshna enamel hair slides feel like a more mature version of my idea, and they'd also be useful for coaxing your hair into pin curls. Setting you back £12.95 for two, they're more expensive than normal hair accessories but you won't find them anywhere else and you're also helping out the Poppy Appeal with your purchase.

For the ultimate in poppy-inspired decadence, get some inspiration from this Acne Moorea evening dress with eye-catching asymmetric straps. In 'poppy red', it's a stunning colour that would be complemented nicely by the hair slides. Available from My-Wardrobe.com.

Vivienne Westwood's Anglomania range has made use of 'Poppy tartan twill' fabric to create a selection of pieces that would give you the figure of a wartime sweetheart. This blouse (£295) is curve-creating and celebrates the beauty of a feminine figure. It would look great topped off with a poppy necklace and a faux fur tippet. Available from Net-A-Porter.

For a more literal interpretation, Topshop has this ombre-dyed blouse (£40) that contrasts vermillion with inky blue. It's a sophisticated piece, with bell sleeves and a high neck, though you wouldn't want to pin a poppy through the delicate fabric. As an alternative, the Kleshna hair slides would continue the theme, or you could opt for a poppy phone charm from the official Appeal Shop.

Lastly, Jonathan Saunders has gone print crazy with this poppy scarf at Harrods, which takes the motif and uses a variety of colours (everything from turquoise to moss green). It's a very modern take on this traditional flower, but somehow the mix really works. At £289 it's pretty pricey, so you might prefer to make a donation to the Poppy Appeal instead.

Armistice Day - 11th November.
Remembrance Sunday - 13th November.

Work Wear Overhaul

Is your work dress code one of those horrific 'smart-casual' categories, leaving you somewhere between jeans and a trouser suit? This jumper dress, from Stella McCartney at Net-a-Porter, is a great example of how to avoid flashing flesh whilst also not looking too uptight. It injects colour without blinding anyone sharing office space with you (take note, lovers of neon). The high street should have something similar next season, so keep an eye out.

If you feel too frumpy in trousers but you need something smart, this Primark dress (from the Autumn/Winter collection, as seen at Look Magazine Online) is the perfect solution. You can pick up a slip to wear underneath it, then add brogues or sandals depending on what the weather is doing at the time. The mid-length of this dress means that it's appropriate for work, but just keep the cleavage area covered. The shape of this piece is similar to Miu Miu's SS/11 collection, showing how the British high street is really listening to designers but hopefully moving away from producing carbon catwalk copies.

For classic shapes in neutral colours, see these three pieces from Vivienne Westwood online [collaged by me]. With a simple pin-tuck, the pinstripe pencil skirt is more flattering and forgiving on the hips - great if you're not exactly boyish in figure. The Dryad dress is an example of how to do work function chic - still looking smart, but with a more relaxed and summery vibe in white. Lastly, the striped shirt with tie-print detail shows how you can have fun with your 9-5 wardrobe. On the high street, look for skinny ties or shirts with piping detail and contrasting cuffs.

Is your workplace full of creative types and fashion-led outfits? Take a tip from Alexander Wang [also at Net-a-Porter], where you'll find the edgiest sunglasses for popping out of the office on a coffee run, the sensible black maxi skirt that spirals into ribbons, and the sheer shirt with leather edges. For similar products, check out River Island, Urban Outfitters and Topshop. Similar shirts are widely available in the sales at the moment, if you're willing to add your own panels.

My Favourite Designers, #1: Vivienne Westwood

I recently made a pilgrimage to the Vivienne Westwood shop on Conduit Street, in central London. It was a gorgeous set-up, with a glittering window display and very attentive staff. I chose this Prince Charming handkerchief (£15) to tie around my handbag, because I loved the fairytale feel to its text and the elegant rose print. It was really hard to walk away without buying up rails of clothes, but I'm aiming to save up for one of her dresses.

This Dryad dress (taken from Cocosa) really shows you why Westwood is hailed as celebrating the female form. Although the model here is slender, the shape of the garment is very flattering on curvaceous women - the nipped-in waist adds shape, whilst the scoop neckline is structured and given a formal edge with the collar detail.

One of Westwood's limited edition pieces in the Valentines range 2011 (from Hervia), this pendant is to die for - a phrase I don't utter lightly. Using a sample of traditional portraiture with the eye image, she has transformed the emblematic heart and arrow icon into something new and original, with the trademark orb design added on top.

A newer example of her jewellery prowess (taken from Hervia), this stamp piece harks back to previous collections but is modern and tongue-in-cheek. The sturdy chain also means it's built to last and will serve as the antithesis of the delicate women's bracelet. It's bold, eye-catching and fun.

Intended to be mismatched, these brogues are such a brilliant statement piece. Although they are unusual, they'd be great for wearing in a more liberally-minded workplace, as the formality of the brogue and its high-quality design means that you could easily wear these all day.

Three reasons why Dame Vivienne has topped my list:

1. She's ethically-minded and keen on free speech. Every ad campaign she runs in the media features the words 'Leonard Peltier is innocent', raising awareness of a Native American Indian man who has been convicted of a crime that many believe he did not commit.
2. She knows that not all women fit the size zero mould, and she caters for all of us with her body-enhancing clothes. You can rest assured that her clothes will not alienate you, and it will always be you wearing them (rather than the other way around).
3. She's a successful woman who doesn't give in to old age or the pressures of modern society. If she wants to wear a slogan t-shirt or a cocktail dress, she'll bloody well wear it, and she'll star in her own clothing promotions instead of hiring an identikit model.

I wish her many more years at the top of her game. If you're ever near Conduit Street, do go and check out her stores - there's one for men and another for women - because I can assure you that you won't be disappointed.

Three Stationery Must-Haves

One of the many Archie Grand notebooks that has taken the stationery world by storm. The premise is to make a different book for every group of people you have met, with the range spanning 'Communists I Have Met and Liked' to the less popular 'Bankers'.
Image via the Archie Grand website.

Sumptuous, elegant and almost un-writeable, for fear of dismally failing to live up to your cover. This is a set of four notebooks by the designer Christian Lacroix, who has recently helped to reinvent classic fairytales with similar illustrations. Here, the notebook is reborn.
Image via Selfridges.

Featuring childlike typography but a sentiment that transcends age, the Waldo Pancake collection is very tongue-in-cheek and very much in demand. Other slogans include 'I could have been a novel' (for your Mills and Boon attempt) and 'If found do not publish' (for your secret diary). Image via Writers' Gifts.

My name is Polly and I am a stationery obsessive. Without the constant supply of new and exciting notebooks and pens on the market, there would be a hole in my life (but not so much of a dent in my bank balance). Since I could write a full sentence I've been hoarding these things, searching in National Trust gift shops up and down the country when I wasn't close enough to a dedicated purveyor of all things paper-related. Now I am left with a rather large collection of the things, and it's only now that I've begun to use them up, but with one roving eye on the newest launches in this department. Check out the three choices above to whet your appetite for more sophisticated writing days.

Currently I have 'The SS Great Britain' for lists, picked up during a trip to Bristol when I was eight or nine, and a brilliant black Moleskine journal (a luxury brand in the writing world) for writing reviews and articles in, which my Dad was given during a work conference and it's been corrupted with a brand logo but is otherwise perfectly useful. I used to write up my university notes with an incredibly naff 'Dickens World' pen that had a choice of four colours and was the width of a swollen thumb, but I've now graduated to a lovely 'Journalism Works' biro and a selection of Staedtler pens. For every occasion I find an excuse to bring out a different writing instrument or accessory ("Oooh, this calls for my new permanent marker/fountain pen/notelets"). It's a bit worrying, but takes up a lot less space than my shoe collection.

However, I'm always on the look-out for the next fix of stationery, whether it's a new branch of Paperchase that's opened or the news that Vivienne Westwood has moved into A4 journals (that made my 2010). If you've got a thing about paper, or some other vice that's not very rock and roll, let me know. We can start a support group.

Ethical but Aesthetically Pleasing: the new Mel collection at Office

[Images via Office Shoes].

When you imagine Vegan footwear, these styles are perhaps not what you would have in mind. The traditional stereotype of ethical brands as being centred around hemp and the socks-and-sandals brigade needs to be quashed, as proven with the new designs from Mel by Melissa. Each pair of shoes is lovingly made from bubblegum-scented plastic (which has to be smelled to be believed) and is recyclable, but also takes on the shape of a staple footwear style, such as the peep-toe heel or the flip flop.

You may recognise the boots, seen above in grey and red, from the Melissa collaboration with Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, where this basic template was adorned with large gold buttons and available in classic shades of red, blue, taupe and black, sometimes with a smattering of glitter. Now the Mel boot has arrived, which uses a gold ribbon design to give ankle detail to the streamlined shape. At £38, this is not far off the RRP of premium brand wellies, but will keep your feet dry in a definitely more feminine way.

If you're not into boots then the brogue option might just sway you - they've been in our fashion lives for a few years now in leather, canvas or faux leather formats, but the plastic brogue with lace-up detail and authentic panelling (£28) is an innovative new option. A pair of these would look great with some bright ankle socks or simple patterned tights (think lace, floral or polka dot) for a modern and quirky take on androgynous footwear.

This is style with a conscience, and I'm certainly a fan. For more styles, see www.melshoes.com.

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My Hair-oines (excuse the pun)

[Images taken from: Scalpture Blog; Grazia Daily; NY Mag].

Even though I am awful at remembering to brush it or actually dry it before I venture outside, hair has been a big thing for me since I began cutting my own mop in 2004. I've been choppy, angular, wavy, curled, asymmetric, irritatingly short and scarily long (which results in a close resemblance to Miss Piggy). Colour-wise, I've graced the bathtub with permanent reminders of shocking pink. purple tips, half blue (might I add, several years before Katie Shillingford did the same), near white, orange, pale blue with red tips, auburn, scarlet, mahogany, light brown, tan and various shades of blonde. I am yet to open a packet of dye labelled 'Tropical Green' because my quest for the perfect shade of turquoise was too exhausting. In honour of this little hair obsession, here are three big barnet looks that have got me gripped:

#1: The aforementioned Katie Shillingford, of Dazed and Confused magazine, loves hair transformations nearly as much as I do. Here she is in teal, with a great contrasting burgundy lip and a Miu Miu bag which I definitely cannot afford.

#2: Vivienne Westwood backstage at her SS/10 show, being given the same hair treatment as her catwalk models. The woman is almost a religion to me. She doesn't give a crap what you think of her, and she will quite happily take inspiration from a photograph of a man with his hair on fire for her shows (that's what Grazia said influenced this look). You just don't mess with a woman who can be so insanely creative. She is such an asset to British fashion.

#3: Yves Saint Laurent's bobbed wigs were one of my favourite fashion moments. Yes, it's a great little nod to the Louise Brooks style of the 1920s, but there's also a modernist attitude here - you can't see the model's eyes and you don't know what the hell she's going to do next, so it's not merely about superficial beauty.

As for my hair? I want to go back to the near-whiteness of last summer, but my current colour is fading nicely into a soft treacle colour so I'm letting the dye brush take a back seat for a while.