Gill Hart's Blog

Posted by Gill Hart

If there is one fashion trend that has grown bigger (literally) over the last 4 seasons, it’s oversized jewelry.

When worn correctly, oversized jewelry can be a miracle worker when it comes to pepping up your wardrobe. A huge necklace, some stacked bangles, a chunky cocktail ring or a wide cinch-waisted belt can dramatically change the look of an outfit.

Dubbed "statement necklaces", large, look-at-me neckpieces can transform a plain dress or top. However, add it to a piece of clothing that already makes a statement in its own right, and overkill.

If you are going to go “oversized” then make sure accessories don’t compete. An oversized cocktail ring, large look-at-me bracelets, or a rack of stacked bangles look great with a plain wintry sweater-dress or tunic top and leggings. A chunky unmissable necklace will brighten up a plain neckline such as a cardigan or jacket.

Long multi-strand chains or pearls can have a lengthening effect on the body. Oversized jewellery also has the bonus of creating the illusion of a few less pounds. An oversized necklace can also detract from unwanted lumps and bumps on the lower half, or a wide elasticated belt can suddenly highlight a waist you thought you didn’t have.

The best bit is that anyone — any age and any shape can wear fashion accessories well. Whilst dresses sizes may fluctuate you are never too fat for your necklaces or bangles. Rather than invest in an up-to-the minute dress which will last only a season, some fantastic statement jewelery will take you from one year to the next.

Posted by Gill Hart

I have always been a firm believer that a woman should have fun with fashion no matter what her age and size. That said, there is good news for all those plus-sized young ladies out there who are tired of being overlooked when it comes to the trends of the season.

Women over a size 16 (US 14) often despair at the lack of fashionable outfits available. However, thanks to UK high street chain Evans, there is now a chic celebrity-designer collection which ticks all the boxes for both fit AND fashion.

Evans has spent months in collaboration with American punk goddess, Beth Ditto, to come up with a lustworthy vintage and ‘80s-inspired collection, which channels fun and funky and a hint of rock ‘n roll.

Part of the problem is that fashion for larger women needs to be cut differently in order to flatter their shape. Evans' 22-piece range is designed for curvy girls, with especially-styled outfits for the fuller figure. From graphic prints to prom dresses, lycra leggings to stylish sweaters, there is something for young fuller-figured fashionistas everywhere.

Evans used the Gossip singer’s own unmistakable style and favorite fashion pieces as inspiration for the collection and such is its success since its July 2009 launch, there is already talk of a swimwear and underwear range.

Larger ladies outside of the UK need not despair. Although Evans is a British based high street chain, their online store delivers to countries in the EU, The USA and Australia.The Beth Ditto for Evans range is available in UK sizes 14 to 32.

Posted by Gill Hart

Famous for its abilities for making mountains out of molehills, the Wonderbra has achieved cult status amongst ladies who want to show a little more cleavage or need some help in the pull-me-up and push-me-out department.

Consequently Wonderbra is not so much associated with bras for women with big busts but for those who would like to appear a little more ample-bosomed. However, Wonderbra’s latest invention, the Ultimate Strapless Bra is heaven-sent when it comes to providing support for larger breasts.

As any well-endowed lady will tell you, finding an affordable strapless bra larger than a D-cup that offers good shape and actually stays put, is a rare find indeed. The Ultimate Strapless Bra does just that.

Based on innovative technology, the moulded cups contain “fingers” which imitate the action of a women hoicking up her breasts to give them support. The end result is a bra which does not slip or gape, even during the most strenuous of exercise.

The bra is available up to an F cup which is great news for anyone like me who has spent years trying to find a strapless bra that lives up to its claims. Whilst I personally found the cups a little bulky under thin fabrics, this is one bra that is not only comfortable, it actually works!

Posted by Gill Hart

Depending on your age group this fashionable footwear will likely as not conjour up memories of Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman or Julia Robert’s Pretty Woman. Or, if like me, you are the wrong side of 40, then Diana Rigg in The Avengers or '60s fashion icon Mary Quant is closer to the mark. I remember wearing a thigh-high Puss-in-Boots-style pair in the late 1970s/early '80s and I thought I was the cat's whiskers!

Love them or hate them, over-the-knee boots will be everywhere this winter, in PVC, leather and soft suede. They are without doubt the must-have fashion footwear of the season. Part of this Fall’s 2009 first drop of fashion, high street stores offer up some lust-worthy bottom-grazers in overtly sexy skinny-leg styles or sporty Prada-inspired fishing waders.

However, the biggest question is who will dare to wear them? Budding fashionistas the right side of 30 will jump onto this latest trend, but can a woman in her ‘40s and ‘50s get away with them too?

More mature ladies should avoid any hint of Pretty Woman by going for slouchy suede or soft leather and wearing them with a soft feminine dress or skirt. This season’s knitted dresses are made for wearing with thigh-high boots – choose an understated style in a neutral color for a more classy look. Soft gray or this season’s many shades of brown are less in-your-face than black.

One thing is for certain though, whatever your age, wearing these boots will certainly get you noticed. They are guaranteed to bring you a lot of attention, wanted or otherwise!

Posted by Gill Hart

The fashion world is abuzz with news of the latest fashion marriage between a high-street chain and lust-worthy designer label. Swedish chain MH&M has pulled-off an amazing fashion coup with its latest collaboration between Jimmy Choo and H&M.

This is only one of seven of H&M’s successful partnerships, aimed at bringing designer labels to street-smart fashion-savvy women. Their last venture (Summer 2009) proved a hit with British designer and Boho King, Matthew Williamson’s bold patterned and bright prints in everything from swimwear to maxi dresses.

What makes the Choo & H&M marriage so different is the idea that a designer capsule collection is built around accessories rather than clothing. Not only will it will feature 15 different shoe styles (all with the covetable red carpet label) but will also include a one-off range of party outfits which have been designed to complement Jimmy Choo accessories.

Husbands and boyfriends will no longer be left out in the cold either. A men’s capsule collection with clothing, shoes and bags is also planned — a first for the Jimmy Choo label.

The Launch Date for Jimmy Choo at H&M

The date for your diary is November 14, 2009. I predict mass hysteria will ensue as fashionistas vie for a pair of ballet shoes, sexy stilettos or boots at bargain prices. Instead of costing upward of around €450, shoes will start at about €40, about a tenth of the normal designer price. Boots will be priced around €180.

H&M outlets can be found in Europe, the U.S.A, Canada, the Middle East and Asia. The Jimmy Choo collection will go on sale at 200 H&M stores worldwide.

I don’t know where you’ll be on November 14th, but I will be one of the first in the queue!

Posted by Gill Hart

According to recent research, the average British woman buys around 600 items of clothing during her working life, which she will never wear.

So why do we do it? Well, according to Lloydspharmacy (who commissioned the research) more than one third of the women interviewed splashed out on under-sized clothes as motivation to lose weight. These pieces are dubbed “Carrots” — Clothes Aquired Rashly, Requiring Owners To Slim.

Deliberately buying an outfit that is too small provides an incentive for slimming into it. The biggest culprits are Scottish women who claim that they have 10 or more items hanging in the wardrobe which they have knowingly bought as too small, hoping one day to fit into them.

Not all our unworn clothing is too small however. The Daily Mail, December 5^th, 2008 revealed that research carried out on 778 ladies for UK TV's The Clothes Show Live found that women owned an average of 100 pieces but only wore around 30 of them, whilst the rest stayed on hangers. The reason? In addition to hoping to fit into some of them one day, women also keep clothing for sentimental reasons. The survey revealed that women may keep a favorite item for around 12 years. This is likely to be one that makes us feel particularly attractive or glamorous.

Posted by Gill Hart

If like me, ironing is not your strong point, then you may be relived to hear that one of this season’s tricky trends is the non-ironed look. This summer, looking like you have just slept in your clothes, just might pass muster for those with fashion-cred.

Some call it English Eccentric, some Depression Chic, whilst others refer to this wrinkled look as Granny Chic.

Love or loathe them, rumpled wafer thin fabrics are hitting the high street stores, influenced by the runways of Prada (Miucca’s golden wrinkled cocktail dresses), Lanvin, Bottega Veneta and Burberry’s collection of crumpled classics.

This just-laundered look best suits washed-out dip-dyed colors. You’ll find them in crop tops, dresses and even jackets and suits, all in divine crumpled fabrics. T-shirts have a pre-washed fade and denim takes on a distressed look, part of the acid wash trend.

For anyone who wants to downplay the opulence of designer handbags then you’ll also find “broken-in” bags, like those from Zac Posen, Giorgio Brato and Alexander Wang.

Personally, the thought of wearing something which looks as though you have had forty winks in does not really appeal, even if it is right-on-trend! I honestly don’t think its time for me to throw away the iron just yet!

However, this season, if it’s crinkled, crumpled or rumpled, it’s called “relaxed, downtown chic!” It is all in the name of fashion and not laziness, but it can certainly make that summer holiday packing a lot easier!

Posted by Gill Hart

As a child I used to spend hours playing with cut-out dolls and their paper outfits. I guess that was a sign of things to come, given my passion for fashion that has emerged over the years. If you too liked to play dress-up when you were small then Marie Claire's "My Virtual Model" could be just the thing!

On their online site, MarieClaire.comyou'll find a virtual model which can be configured to your body shape and then dressed-up with pieces chosen from selected brands, enabling you to try out the latest looks in fashion. The idea is to give women a chance to see how a certain style outfit looks on their body shape.

It is possible to personalize the model with your name, hair color/style, face shape, body shape, weight and height. There are also special features which enable you to have a bit of fun by changing your shape. You can put on weight, take it off, change your hair color or style and make yourself look younger or older.

The system currently has some limitations, for example there are only 3 body shapes, hourglass (curvy), triangle (pear shape) or inverted triangle (big-busted) and the choice of brands are currently limited. However, My Virtual Model will give you a good indication of the kind of cuts, colors and styles which are most flattering for your overall figure. This is particularly useful when it comes to swimwear as it allows you to see which styles (tops and bottoms) suit your body shape.

Once you have created your own virtual model you have to register to use the other features of the program, which enables you to select outfits from the brands available and dress your model. You will receive further instructions in the confirmation email. You can even save pieces into your own virtual closet!

Posted by Gill Hart

If you have a weakness for handbags and you’re English like me, the chances are you are a lover of British handbag designer Lulu Guinness.

Her iconic designs are loved the world over by the non-famous and famous alike (e.g. Angelina Jolie, Madonna) for their style, attention to detail and quirky sense of humor.

Lulu Guinness latest collection, for Spring 2009 has a decidedly fishy feel. I loved the Resort range of Poodle Parlors and coiffured poodles but nothing quite pulls at the heartstrings when it comes to evoking childhood memories of summer days by the sea than her seaside-themed range of seafood restaurant prints, kissing fish and other such typically Lulu Guinness-eque designs. According to the designer “the world is your oyster” when carrying one of these bags.

There are of course the classic-styles (Carmella, Jenny, Anna and Edith) , updated to make the most of the current runway trends in colors and textures, but for me what makes a Lulu Guinness bag is Lulu's almost irreverence when it comes to the rules of fashion, and the excitement of never knowing what themes and witty slogans she is going to come up with next.

In 2006 Lulu Guinness received an OBE from HM the Queen, for her contribution to British fashion and her designs have been featured in fashion exhibitions in museums around the world. Her bags easily recognizable and highly collectable, especially her trademark Snakeskin lips clutch, striped florist basket of roses, oriental fan and silk embroidered birdcage. There is a permanent collection of Lulu Guinness bags at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum for those who want to follow the work of this designer.

Posted by Gill Hart

Inspired by the runways of YSL, when it comes to this season's trouser trends, the dropped-crotch look with a mass of material floating between the knees may be comfortable, but to my mind, is akin to wearing a baby’s nappy (diaper).

Quite who wears these apart from the die-hard-fashionista, I am not really sure. Anyone the wrong side of 22 should think very carefully before donning a pair, especially if under 5ft 4. Whilst these may look glamorous on 6ft runway models with skyscraper legs, women like me have enough of a struggle to look good in this season’s peg-legged pants, yet along baggy trousers which look as if they have been borrowed from a circus.

I am actually no stranger to harem pants. Living in Thailand, they are reminiscent of the Thai fisherman pants that are worn daily not only by fisherman but by tourists like backpackers who find them comfortable and cool. However, what works for a stroll along a beach in Phuket, with a tropical tan and searing sun, does not convert so easily to a cold and damp London.

In fairness, since last year, harem pants have been toned down somewhat for the spring season. They are less billowy and clown-like and have been given a more wearable edge. For anyone who actually looks good in them, there are some gorgeous designs in the market.

The most wearable are probably those which are part of a jumpsuit, as you don't have the problem of what to wear on top, and they look more sophisticated in an all-in-one style.

Posted by Gill Hart

Spring 2009’s one-piece wonder is the jumpsuit, and for those who are old enough to remember the flying suits and boiler suits of the ‘70s and 80s, the hot new trend in all-in-ones may be an instant turn off.

However, think again! This season’s piece has had a modern makeover, with such a variety of styles that there is a shape to flatter all ages and body shapes. From sexy ones to pretty ones and sporty ones to downright sophisticated all-in-ones. They are comfortable, versatile and a good substitute for a dress, if worn well.

Interestingly, despite how it looks on the hanger, an all black harem-shape is surprisingly flattering, especially when it is teamed with tough, chunky accessories, like big necklaces and bangles. The baggy (but not billowy shape) covers a multitude of figure sins, and can be work with pretty flats or leg-lengthening platforms, depending on whether you need an extra lift.

Spring’s fringes and frills have also found their way onto jumpsuits. You’ll also find this season’s nude neutral tones combined with a frilled bodices and ruffles for evening. Add some bejeweled sandals and a pretty necklace for feminine appeal.

More sophisticated, grown-up styles come in pleats, halter necks, one shoulder numbers and waistcoated designs. For casual wear, a loose fitting jumpsuit with drawstring is the spring utility look.

So, especially if you are maturing in years, don’t shy away from this season’s all-in-ones. Try-on a few styles and you may be pleasantly surprised! When it comes to color, go for classic black or a neutral tone for maximum flexibility. Save this season’s eye-popping brights for those the right side of 22!