Well isn’t this high street chain doing well for itself; first they had Karl Largerfeld design a collection, then Madonna and now Jimmy Choo. According to H&M’s official website this will be the first time the store will be ‘collaborating with an accessorise brand, and in celebration of this the brand will also design a collection of women’s outfits to compliment the accessorise- what more could you ask for!

Obviously the first thing to go will be the shoes, theres no doubt the Carrie Bradshaws of this town will be fighting for piece of the collection. But don’t go pushing your mates to the floor in a rush to get a pair- the collection is said to be a around over the festive season.

A look at what will be included in the collection

Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor, H&M said: “We adore Jimmy Choo’s shoes and bags. They are glamorous and sexy, and they add instant style to the simplest of outfits. I like the way we have worked with clothes to accessorize the shoes and bags rather than the other way around. It’s a joy to be able to offer top end designer shoes and bags of excellent quality to our customers.” you said it Margareta.

So if any of you have yet to decide what to get your friend/sister/daughter/mother (basically any women you know) nothing says I care like a pair of Jimmy Choos. Londoner’s better watch out as i’m sure there are going to be tonnes of women stomping the pavement in these red-carpet favourites.

Following on from Miss Moss, Beth Ditto has decided to branch out from the music scene and spread her unique sense of fashion…. to Evans- granted it’s no topshop but the stars latest collection is certainly something to look out for this summer.

The highstreet store is known for catering to sizes 14-32- so to collaborate with a celebrity- especially someone as outgoing as Beth Ditto is certainly exciting stuff. The collection was launched on July 1 and went down a huge hit- which included Kate Moss’s seal of approval. They will be available on all high street stores by July 9.

The pieces play with prints and designs that are usually considers as a no go area for larger women- but with Beth Ditto spear heading the designs the pieces are all colourful and flamboyant. Personal favourites include sequined tops, a monochrome dice patterned dress and chain cobweb bat wing jumper.

Beth Ditto Collection

The collection is young and colourful with pieces that you could definitely find in H&M or Topshop- and a blessing for anyone who has had to face the thought of fashioning bland oversized bed sheets as evening wear.

check out the collection online at www.evans.co.uk

BRAND FOCUS;

WILDFOX COUTURE

LA-made brand, Wildfox Couture, is an American vintage-inspired women’s knitwear/t-shirt brand. Sound familiar? Unsurprising, as the brand has a strong celebrity following, visible in the fashion press. Celebrity followers include: Audrina Partridge, Vanessa Hudgens, Whitney Port, Katy Perry, the list goes on.

Inspired by Native American artwork and vintage rock & roll t-shirts, the young designers and childhood friends, Emily Faulstich and Kimberley Gordon created a brand that tells a story of their generation and friendship. Get an insight of their world here.

The collection offers a range of super-soft and loosely fitted tees that gives a touch of vintage to any outfit. What I love most about the tees are the fun graphics and boyfriend-fit which easily gives them that “my favourite vintage t-shirt” factor. Part of my personal desire-list are oversize roses t-shirt and love potion no.9.

What sucks though, is the lack of distributors here in the UK. But, once again, ASOS saves the day!

Chuck Bass! (....and the other two)

There is no doubt about it. Apart from teen shows such as Skins, the lives of the scandalous upper east-siders in Gossip Girl have us hooked beyond all else. Like shows such as the original Beverly Hills 90210 and our older generations’  trials and tribulations with Carrie and the girls in Sex and the City, audiences have been inspired by what they see beamed into their front rooms on plasma screens.Gossip Girl has been influential in the way that they have switched up the impressions that us lot over the pond have on American fashion and teen culture. Sure Marissa was good girl gone bad and did a few lines of coke but her fashion sense wasn’t exactly cutting edge. One Tree Hill? Puh-lease.

Most people focus on the lovely ladies of the series, prim and proper Blair and “manly” Serena and racoon-eyed Jenny advice but what about the xoxo Gossip boys?

Chuck Bass

Notably the most flamboyant dresser of the series, most of his outfits are loud for the sake of being loud. The set stylist should be given a raise, Chucks outfits are usually hilarious, totally OTT and weirdly sexy. Whether he’s donning a shark embroidered chunky jumper or trying to get us to believe the idea that a seventeen year old boy would rock a bow-tie religiously, he manages to pull it off. If I was a guy he would so be my muse.

Nate Archibald

Obviously no teen TV show would be complete without the compulsory pretty boy role. Lucas, Ty, Maxxie, Justin-the list is endless. Nate Archibald is the epitome of W.A.S.P chic. He is a walking billboard for Ivy League schools, “vacay” in The Hamptons and Abercrombie and Fitch. His disheveled prepster uniform of polo shirts, tan trousers and lace ups scream “old money”  in a good, take-him home-to- mum way, Great eyebrows too.

Dan Humphrey.

Brown, Green, Grey, Blah, blah Black. The book geek from Brooklyn has the most uninspired look in the whole show but unlike the rest it has an element of truth to it. After all you are more likely to bump into a guy dressed in indigo wash skinnies and a khaki jacket than a neon orange trench coat with purple trousers next time you go to the shops.

(Okay, I admit that I know exceedingly little about men’s fashion. All I know is that if I only had a choice of a shirt and trousers or a t-shirt and jeans for my whole life, I would be exceedingly depressed.)

HOYFASHION

Fact: This year Liverpudlians were voted to have the most undesirable accent in the UK. Fact: Liverpool is the famous setting for now defunct television soap Brookside. Fact: Liverpool has some rather styling inhabitants.

I’ve decided to pay homage to our trendy brothers and sisters in colder Northern climes. It is often that many fashion blogs and articles especially when it comes to street styles focus on London and London only in terms of what is hip and happening in Britain. Well we may be a small island but we are small and mighty and it seems that there is a lot more to us than what meets the style scouts eye and that personal style extends much,much further than Hoxton.

The HoyFashion website focuses on the style and panache of the places north of Watford, because yes, they do have shops up there. From rockers to hip-hoppers they have it all covered and it is great to see what seems to be a brighter palette than the dead-dog tired monochrome look of the South recently.

Take a look and be inspired, it’s really dead good.

personal favourites from the collection

If you collect watches like squirrels collect nuts, you do not want to miss out on the new collection by Swatch, who have teamed up with Indian fashion designer Manish Arora to produce some very unique pieces that will be a great accompaniment to your summer wardrobe.

Manish’s celebrity following includes the likes of Katy Perry- who recently modelled his unique carousel dress to present the MTV Europe Music Awards this year. Now you can get a hold of some of the designer’s crafty work from just £65.

The collection includes a shimmering gold watch adorned with an explosion of pink hearts- much of the collection reflects the designers bold and dramatic catwalk collection. Using four of the classic Swatch watch styles, the collection is a mixture of colour meshed together with Bollywood glamour (so expect bold designs and flamboyant excess)

The range is composed of six beautiful watches- but you better keep an eye out for them as they are selling out fast.

LOOKBOOK

The concept is simple: Lookbook started as  a social experiment in style by a girl,guy duo in sunny San Francisco a few years ago.

Users are encouraged to upload pictures of themselves,showcasing their “look” of the day.Lookbook says their goal is : “To bring together diverse, aesthetically talented and open-minded people around the world and showcase the best in international street fashion.” And thisis exactly what it does. Frequented by stylistas and fashion mavens alike,Lookbook is the perfect platform for stylists and designers to showcase their work infront of a like-minded captive audience looking for inspiration.

Members are encouraged to post looks that are stylish,unique and fashion-forward,so don’t expect to see your typical Ugg-boot clad Sloaney or Ghettofab New York hipster adorning each page.

Each look can be given a “hype” if it is popular with fellow users and when a look is “hyped” the person who posted it is rewarded with a karma point. The more karma points you earn the bigger your reputation and the more like likely your outfit will be featured. If by some amazing chance you receive some crazy “hype” love from avid LookBook folllowers your outfit will be posted onto the “Hot!” page and that means you are a total fashion darling-well until another picture is uploaded.

Overall Lookbook is a great idea and is perfect to while away a few hours! So I guess the next question is “This is great! where do I sign up?!” Ah now here’s the catch- LookBook works on an invite only policy,so if you really want in on a slice of the action sign up and be prepared for a long wait. Or like a lot of fellow bloggers, you can Look but don’t touch.

www lookbook.nu

LAURALAURA

London based designer Laura Hearn aka LauraLaura has created this divine,touch of vintage inspired knitwear.

LauraLaura first came to my attention through my weekly fix of Grazia magazine and I instantly had to have one. Unfortunatley so did alot of other readers and before I knew it they were all sold out! I did manage to nab a very cute navy blue jumper with “S’il vous plait” stitched on in white.

Each garment is hand embroidered with sweet messages such as “S’il vous plait” or the cryptic “I am a secret” and the more recent “I should CoCo”.Because Laura uses unwanted goods and turns them into something precious and charming each item is guaranteed to be unique and totally one of a kind.

Visit LauraLaura.net to get your hands on these gems.