GRAZIA: SHOPPER BAG MAD

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

Shoppers, Shoppers EVERYWHERE (IMAGE streetpeeper.com)

In this week's Grazia, we take a look at the Shopper bag madness gripping the nation- we can barely walk ten paces without seeing another take on the super-practical bag of the moment, even if it's name is rather ironic given the current economic panic gripping Europe. After we went to press, we saw a tonne more we would have loved to include. As you can see, there is one for pretty much every mood, style and budget....

Marc by Marc Jacobs £60

A.P.C £335

Denham £170

 The ultimate purveyor of the shopper (and the one who began the whole thing) is Celine. While the first Celine version may have been super sleek and black, now they are branching out with bright colours and, dare we say this in association with anything Phoebe Philo, FUN textures, as demonstrated in the brown carpet-y version below.

The Celine Cabas £1,880

The Celine Cabas £1,880

Topshop can always be relied upon to bring us many a version of a trend; in the past week they have had a big drop of all kinds of shopper styles which are a little more justifiable than a Celine blow-out. I love the autumnal colourways of the two below,perfect for merrily swinging as you crunch your way through the leaves underfoot. 

Topshop £46

Topshop £32

GRAZIA IS OUT NOW!

WHO ARE YOUR UNLIKELY STYLE ICONS?

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

In this week's Grazia, the Fash Ed and I have had great fun choosing the unlikeliest of muses for our AW wardrobes. I am feeling a definite affinity with a Del Boy look with so wrong it's right polo neck and sheepskin combinations and a bit of bling as the cherry on the sartorial cake. Meanwhile, the Fash Ed is enamoured with the Fraggle Rock look- think super fun textures and bright, bright colours. They are such 'happy, jolly creatures' she says- I don't think they could be anything else given their cheering appearence!

Quentin Crisp- Gay Icon and general fabulous dresser

Del Boy and a darling 60s air hostess

Have fun with a nun... and a fraggle.

As space in Grazia is at such a premium, we couldn't fit in our sixth Unlikely Icon but we think she deserves your attention. So, meet the cowgirl.

Jane Fonda in stills from the fabulous 1965 movie Cat Ballou  

The real Lucy Ewing (aka actress Charlene Tilton)

Jason Wu's city-fied cowgirls for FW11 (from catwalking.com)

FEAL recommend....

7 for All Mankind at Donna Ida



River Island £75



Rokit- from a selection. Around £80

Topshop £16

True Religion shirt £206

Hat from Vanessa Bruno £288

Collar tips- a must have styling accessory this season- £10 from ASOS

IN GRAZIA THIS WEEK....

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

We still cannot get over our Isabel Marant obsession. Our fringe-boot lust seems to reach new heights every day.

We couldn't fit this amazing shearling on the page but we still wanted to share it with you. We're thinking white patchwork mega coat plus burgundy leather skinnies plus white fringe boots equals AW11 Marant heaven.

The Kristin shearling is £665 at Selfridges

The Fashion Editor at Large also has her own column this week in which she spills the beans on the new fashion stalking/shopping obsession that is http://hardlyeverwornit.com/ . Click in to play 'Guess the previous owner' on items such as a vintage mink bolero (Ms Moss maybe?). The FashEd is also boldly stepping forth into AW with a full-on snake print look which she carries off rather fabulously don't you think?

IN THS WEEK'S GRAZIA...

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

...we wax lyrical about the brilliant idea of using your iPad case, make up bag or any other cool pouch-type-accessory as an alternative to your standard It bag. With the fantastic array of coloured zip-ups currently on offer, it's easy to switch from your standard shoulder bag to something a little more sleek. They also offer a sneakily lower cost option from a full on designer bag; one friend of the Fash Ed uses her £200 Mulberry cosmetic pouch instead of a £700+ Alexa, and the beautiful patterned Marc by Marc iPad case comes in at - you might want to sit down - £35.

This is one trend everyone can invest in - and one that was inspired by the super success of the Celine pouch, which kicked everything off. Available in lots of zingy colours, these colour-pop zip-ups were seen under many fashionable arms at the shows; as captured by Tommy Ton in the way only he knows how.

Images: Tommy Ton for Style.com

THE KATE BUSH FILES

Posted by Fashion Editor at Large

This week I'm having a Kate Bush love-in. She has released a new album "Director's Cut," featuring re mastered and refreshed versions of her greatest hits, and I've broken out my Kate Bush iPod playlist. Grazia were into the idea too, and this week's issue has a Kate Bush fashion story for your reading/shopping pleasure.

I only got into Kate Bush relatively recently, certainly long after she had retired to semi-obscurity. It is more than thirty years since her debut, yet to my mine and many others minds there is still nobody quite like her. Kate Bush began songwriting as a young teenager, and by the age of 18 was performing using her trademark falsetto voice, and balletically flapping her arms about in what became an iconic style. At the age of 19, in 1979, Kate had a worldwide number one hit, Wuthering Heights which I was surprised to discover, was her first and remains the most successful single of her career.

The Kate Bush Look is another matter. With the rush of 1970s trends currently zooming around the fashion landcsape, it is refreshing that her highly individualistic style is coming to the fore in both high fashion and high street. All spring, the Fashion Junior at Large has been sporting a fringed oversize rose embroidered kimono-style jacket that is straight out of the Kate Bush tour wardrobe. She bought it on eBay, but I've seen similar in multi-variations at TopShop. Then there's the unitards, jumpsuits and kitschy/Cirque du Soleil-esque gear that is stock Bush, as well as the uniform du jour for hipster girls all over the world on their Saturday night out.

I saw Karolina Kurkova in a Viktor & Rolf red jumpsuit in Cannes last week which is fairly well in keeping with the one Kate wears in Wuthering Heights.

Karolina Kurkova in Cannes wearing a Viktor & Rolf red jumpsuit

Here are a few of the iconic Kate Bush fashion images that have kept me entertained over the last week.

My favourite! Britney eat your heart out.

Photos: Rex, LFI, Retna

OVER THE ROYAL WEDDING? OF COURSE WE'RE NOT!

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

We are not even bothering to pretend that we are bored of all the royal wedding coverage; it was just too good to stop talking about just yet.  For those of you lucky enough to get your paws on a copy of this week's Grazia (apparently it's sold out now) make sure you spot the Fash Ed's contributions.

She got the lowdown from author Plum Sykes on what it is really like to wear McQueen for your big day:

She identified the tiara adorning that shiny, shiny hairdo (luckily we had researched all of the 300+ potential contenders...The Royals own a lot of sparkly headgear)

And Melanie called on her nearest and dearest designer friends for their expert opinions on the dress: 

That's just a snippet of an issue that required blood sweat and tears from the Grazia girls on Friday - spare a thought for them hard at work, whilst the rest of the nation partied!

Hopefully that will prolong your post-wedding good mood for a few more days.

IN THS WEEK'S GRAZIA...

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

We've got a somewhat rose-tinted view of the world! One colour is single handedly taking over fashion land, so have a look at our pick of the pinks. 

IN THS WEEK'S GRAZIA...

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

...read all about this season's high street hit, the Whistles Carrie Skirt. The most tweeted/blogged about item of the moment, apparently. And the frenzy surrounding this skirt looks set to get even more ferocious when two more colour variations are soon to hit shop floors!

IN THIS WEEK'S GRAZIA...

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

...we fantasise about the wardrobe that will be inherited by the fourth Beckham bubba, if it does turn out to be a little girl! Victoria has often spoken about her longing for a baby girl to play dress up with, and we can't even imagine the quantity of amazing labels that child will have in her wardrobe (and how much it is all going to be worth by the time she is old enough to wear it.) There are VB's iconic Spice Girl outfits, the maximum glamour of her WAG phase, not to mention the own-brand gowns, priceless jewels and formidable collection of Birkins. And of course, there are those leather suits!

IN THIS WEEK'S GRAZIA...

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....check out our edit of the two warring fashion tribes for SS11: Minimal vs Maximal! Whether you are in love with the OTT patterns, prints, ruffles and decadence of the maxi trend, or prefer the clean lines and colour pops of the minimal look, there is something for everyone.

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN...SALES TIME!

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

Yes, what used to be known as the January Sales have crept further and further forward, so now they start before we have even got Christmas out of the way! However, if you find the masses of 'bargains' (we use that word carefully) hard to negotiate, make sure you pick up your bumper double issue of Grazia today, featuring our Sales Guide. The Fash Ed and I have hand-picked the very best pieces for you to buy now and wear in 2011, so that you can chose items that will be on-trend for months to come, rather than yet ANOTHER sequinned dress that you don't need. After all, there is a reason why some things go in the sale.

Hope it helps, let us know if you manage to elbow your way to find the best discounted buys!

IN THIS WEEK'S GRAZIA...

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

...we round up the very chic-est headwear to protect your ears during the cold snap. We've identified the four coolest styles to be seen out and about in, proving that you can be stylish and practical at the same time. Personally I think Paloma wins best headwear for her lovely furry Cossack effort, but decide for yourself in this week's issue.

IN THIS WEEK'S GRAZIA...

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

...read all about the fashion team's Kate Middleton bridal wear predictions. The Fashion Editor at Large called on the elite of the bridal couture world to provide their first sketches for the job of the year. Which one gets your vote?