Accessories Designer Anya Hindmarch’s environmentally-friendly designer shopping bag has become a huge hit in England, selling out in just hours only to reappear on eBay with inflated pricetags. Created in partnership with Sainsbury’s supermarkets and global social change movement We Are What We Do, the bag emblazoned with the phrase “I’m not a plastic bag” costs just £5 and will be made more readily available through Sainsbury’s next month.

Read on, and for more about when and where you can get yours, or just get inspired about changing the world for a five-a’!: Bags it’s me first in the designer queue!
Source: Trendcentral Photo:Nicky Bence-Trower, the first buyer of the bag at the Hindmarch store in Notting Hill, DailyMail UK.

A trip to London this spring won’t be complete without a visit to COS (collection of Style). The new fashion concept that’s set to land in London’s shopping heartland, with a sleek William Russell designed Regent Street flagship, opened 16 March.  COS is described as the progeny of H&M that merges high fashion attributes (meticulous fabrics finish and fit) with ground level pricing; creating inspirational design that’s financially accessible.

COS splices its design flair with attainable prices for both men and women. These are immaculately produced wardrobe perennials: incorporating clean-cut accessible design with just a wink of character; a subtle design twist that lends each garment a modernist edge. This chic sounds very ZARA. So it will be interesting to see if  you can track track down an understatedly cool cocktail dress without paying top fashion-house dollar. Or find mens dapper with glove-like modern-edge tailoring minus the telephone figures price tag.

‘It is fashionable essentials, reinvented classics and the latest trends,’ says Rebekka Bay COS’s womenswear designer.

‘The focus is quality in terms of the fabrics, fit and finish. It’s ready-to-wear level design at high street prices. Plus, there are lots of fundamental pieces, like the perfect fitting piqué polo shirt; crisp shirting; classic T-shirts and cashmere V-necks,’ adds Michael Kristensen, COS’s menswear designer.

COS’s London launch will be followed by a roll-out tour of COS store openings in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands at the end of March.

Source: H&M press release 16/3/2007

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The top runway trends

After nearly a week’s worth of shows, there were some clear hits and misses at Fall 2007 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Los Angeles. Nevertheless, some clear trends for Fall ’07 emerged:

Shiny Shiny
Seen in almost every show, metallics and shimmery fabrics continued to dominate the runway in both casually chic and dressier ensembles.Who did it: Rami Kashou, Dina Bar-El, Alvin Valley, Anthony Franco, Charlotte Solnicki, Imitation of Christ, Joey Tierney, Joseph Domingo, Juan Carlos Obando, Kevan Hall, Literature Noir, Collection Bebe, Samora

Bold Prints
From dotted stripes to bright botanicals and geometric patterns, daring prints provided head-turning looks on the runway. These attention-grabbing motifs were interpreted in many different ways, including flouncy dresses, sleek halters and flirty tops.Who did it: VOOM, Sue Wong, Tart, Charlotte Solnicki, Alvin Valley

Snow White

Wintry white fabrications offered a fresh look for fall in tops, dresses, pants and jackets. Designer Rami Kashou even presented a white cotton voile gown.
Who else did it: Tart, Thrive, Alvin Valley, Anthony Franco, Imitation of Christ, Juan Carlos Obando

Shades of Grey
We saw a lot grey on the New York runways and this trend continues on the left coast. The somber shade is one of our favorites and looks great dressed up or down.
Who did it: Juan Carlos Obando, Kevan Hall, Literature Noir, Monarchy Collection, Grail, Thrive, Samora, Alvin Valley

Full Length
Among the plethora of short dresses and tunics, many full-length beauties also emerged exuding old school glamour and high style.
Who did it: Samora, Dina Bar-El, Imitation of Christ, Joey Tierney, Collection BEBE, Tart, Rami Kashou, Kevan Hall, Thrive, Anthony Franco, Juan Carlos Obando, Literature Noir, Sue Wong
Tailored Silhouettes
Whether oversized or fitted, tailored jackets, pants and dresses provided structure to an otherwise free-flowing aesthetic.
Who did it: Ziji, Alvin Valley, Anthony Franco, Grail, Joseph Domingo, Juan Carlos Obando, Samora

Bubblicious
Bubble hems and sleeves peppered the runways again this season. Continuing the trend of voluminous frocks, the look was seen in dresses, tunics, and tops. Some designers even went for double bubbles.
Who did it: Samora, Charlotte Solnicki, Literature Noir, Thrive

Prettiest Plaids
Some vibrant, some subdued, pretty plaids made multiple appearances on the SoCal runways. VOOM designer Joy Han even wore a plaid cap when she took her celebratory walk down the runway.
Who did it: Samora, Oligo Tissew, VOOM

fashion intelligence report provided by Trendscentral

 Goodness girls and boys - only those with growing pains (children) are cut some slack for wearing ankle freezers. ‘Ankle  freezers’ are pants that are too short for one’s shoe heel, hence the pant rises above and beyond the ankle when one walks.

The other pant length faux pas, yes you guessed it - street sweepers. Pants so long that they offer the wearer another occupation.

Calling all pant wearers: the perfect length will depend upon the shoe heel height you want to wear with them. So if you are wearing a pair of heeled boots and the hem finishes at the top of the heel, then they are too short! You must head back to your wardrobe and change, if your can’t resolve the length thing with different shoes or pants, you had better go shopping (for new pants or shoes).  Should you continue with your short pant look, you will forever more look like you have had a sudden growth spurt or be known as only owning  one pair of shoes or pants.

Our Rules:

1. You must commit to a pant length and the heel height that you will wear with them. If you are planning jeans and ballet flats - your jeans with this shoe will be cut shorter length and visa-versa when sprucing up in spectacular heals.

2. Jeans are the only pants that can cope with a little gravel rash. They can graze the pavement but never drag and sweep it.

3. Wearing straight/ wide/ boot / flared pants. Show the toe of your shoe, the hem length should finish with a 1/3-1/4 of the heel exposed. This will keep your legs looking gloriously long. The pant must fall smooth over the foot, if its bunching or covering the entire shoe, its too long. 

4.  Should your pants be cuffed - keep the finished length as close to the tarmac as you can and wear a wedge heel unless you want to fall arse-over-tit.

5. The narrow jeanis super long. Rouching at the ankle, so you will need plenty of length. Suitable for any heel height - but they definetly look better with flats.

6. Stove pipe/ cigarette  pants must have a finished length between the top and base of the ankle bone.

7. If you cross your legs and your pants show more than an inch of sock, hose or skin they are too short.

8. Unless of course you are wearing capri / collot pants - the hem should finish mid calf. If they finish an inch 1/2 above the ankle, you will look short and dumpy - even with heals.

PERFECT Length Pants                                                                          

SHORT Pants

Pants shown here are selected from Smartbargains.   

The thought of travelling long haul anywhere seated in economy is an overwheliming thought. What’s worse is leaving behind the best airlines for those that take to the sky without pillows and blankets, and I am not referring to the low cost carriers. Hello, Canadian Airlines and American Airlines!

Those of us who know they will be packed in at the back of the plane - struggling to snare their own and deserved clean pillow and blanket, will be green with envy seeing passengers walk by with a Plane Comfort. The developers of this product have obviously listened to the grones of passengers travelling on these unprized airlines - because they have created a little bit of plane travel lux:-

The All-in-One Travel Comfort Kit
The cozy comforts of home, packed to go with you, wherever you travel. This cleverly designed travel accessory provides three essential comfort items (50″ x 60″ microfleece blanket, fleece-topped pillowcase and inflatable pillow) in a handy and hands-free tote. For added convenience, the outside zippered pocket is the perfect place to stow your boarding pass, ID, magazine or snack. Planecomfort® is ideal for use on planes, trains, and motor coaches – no more sharing pillows and blankets with strangers!

 Clever                 Cozy                 Handy

To purchase buy on-line  

Look out for their new collection arriving for Spring - here is a preview:

product description provided by Planecomfort website

1.  Button up your shirt, all the way up to the top bottom. Now slide two fingers between your neck and collar. They should fit comfortably. Not your fist!
2. When you move your arm in a dress shirt, the sleeves should be long enough so that cuffs do not ride up your wrist.
3. The cuffs of your shirt should just be tight enough that they do not hang over your hand. You should not be able to slip into shirt sleeves without first undoing buttons on the cuff. (Don’t wear a big thick divers watch beneath any cuff – keep it slim!)
4. Make sure your shirt is comfortable and not too tight, check that the shirt does not pull uncomfortably across the shoulders, chest or waist.
5. Check the buttons of your shirt; they should be secure, no loose threads and well-placed with no gaping holes exposing your chest hair or waist. (Anyway you should always wear a shirt -T, it will make any shirt sit better and absorb any excess s-w-e-a-t)
6. To check the proper shirt length of your shirt, raise your arms and make sure that shirt tail does not come out of your pants. Remember tuck the shirt tails between your legs as you pull up your pants.

MORE Tips for even a better fit:

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Style icon SJP shifts from the celebrity face of a brand (2004 the Gap) to her own label ‘Bitten’. Yet another celebrity designer weaving her fashion flair for a mass market retailer. ‘Bitten’ will be an extremely affordable version of style available through the chain retailer Steve & Barry’s (more well known for their college sweats than glamour or fashion). According to TrendCentral ‘Bitten’ will bow June 7th with four seperate collections including, Classics, Casual, Trend and Lounge.

 And if you are wondering why she is doing fashion for the masses and not couture - FashionWeekDaily report Parker as saying, “Women should be able to wear great clothes and not lie in bed at night feeling guilty about how much money they’ve spent. High quality, luxurious clothes do not need to cost as much as we’ve been led to think.”

Read more on this post

Steve & Barry’s rule the mall - the fastest growing retail chain, that manages to undercut Walmart

Bitten Revealed! The details behind SJP’s first-ever clothing line

Recently we were standing at the Singapore Airlines check-in bound for Shanghai, where in a couple of days we would be pounding the pavement with 8 Shopaholics. Waiting in queue I was bemused by our standard issue black Samsonites and the minor variations.

Wendy’s was tagged with our easy to spot signature luggage tag (of course, she is more organised than most), Ellis’ bearing  an airline luggage tag addressed with a hotel she stayed at 2 flights ago and mine identified with nothing more than a fine red ribbon tied to the handle, and that just happened to be my mothers touch when she borrowed my bag.

Lost in my thoughts, I had total faith that the bar coded airline tag and luggage receipt would ensure this bag would meet me in Shanghai. And if it didn’t because of a smudged print or some other baggage belt mishap the risk of me not seeing my bag or even Ellis’ was far more probable than for Wendy’s bag. But I also figured travellers luck may not always be on my side and wondered how many other frequent fliers were so non chalant about such identification.

At check-in I asked the attendant “Who and how are travellers tagging their luggage?” Apparently the lesser travelled are hauling luggage with tags and locks everywhere. Many frequent fliers comparatively rely on their airline club luggage tag while a great number of us go tagless or in a last minute frenzy tie on a free airline tag with not much more than a telephone number listed.

With this in mind and reflecting on Peter Greenberg’s TODAY Travel Editor fact that one U.S. passenger in 150 had a mishandled bag last year, with the total number of bags reported mishandled in 2006 likely to top out close to 4 million. I figured it was about time to explore the world of the styled traveller to see what else was available beyond those dated leather luggage tags with the privacy flaps to ensure my bag arrives with me (honestly what lost luggage handler is going to want to unbuckel and fiddle with one of those tags to see whose name lies beneath, its easier to throw it into the depths of luggage storage).

These are the tags we rate to add mojo at the luggage claim belt:

 “MyTags™” travel bag tags are heavy duty polyester webbing with a steel split keyring (no chance of it getting caught in the baggage handling systems). It has two ID windows, the first for name and address, the second for your current trip itinerary. We like that, so if your bag gets separated from you, the carrier knows where you are now and in the future. Best of all you can customise with your name, something cliche or cheeky. For more read the Traveller Insiders product a review.

 Tepper Jackson’s luggage tags are fun with an upbeat design. They will at least have you waiting at the carousel feeling like tropicana has ’arrived’ and the knowledge that your black standard issue has now made it to show case. Made of textured PVC. Dimensions: 4″ by 2.5″. Available from Plum Party.

And if you are thinking there must be a luggage tag that is seriously lux for your prized LV or CHANEL (which unless it’s a knock-off, you probably wouldn’t check-in anyway) RFID Limited has unveils designer BagChip luggage tags for the elite.

A huge thank you to those who joined the Boston ‘Out of the Closet’ – A Party by Astin Brown inc. It is exciting to extend our network of clothing swap parties to Boston. 

Kara the host, gathered her girlfriends this week to drink bubbles and have fun exchanging their winter clobber. Not only have they made space in their closet for  spring dresses! but achieved a goal to edit their seasonal wardrobe and support the global campaign ‘Stopping Violence Against Women, in Pakistan’ . It was hugely successful because 7 girls exchanged 38 pieces of clothing at $US5 a piece and raised $1US190.00 (excluding after party donations)!! 100% directly benefiting the Pakistan NGO, Progressive Womens Association . 

The left over wardrobe will be donated to Elizabeth Stone House. A Boston-based organization assisting women in situations of domestic violence and abuse through shelter, prevention and intervention programs’

Enjoy your ‘new’ clothes!

Host your own ‘Out of the Closet’ Party- and you’ll see that its more fun than those relic of the 70’s, Tupperware Parties!

What else we do for this campaign

STOP PRESS: the horror of acid burn victim Nailah Farhat in March 07 Progressive Womens Association Press Release

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A Luxury Travel Blog has started an interesting idea for luxury bloggers to generate a bit of buzz for each other by creating a L-List or Luxury List. It is a contagious list of favourite blogs for luxury - travel, fashion, style and home. A list that builds on the luxury blog lists of others.

Here is our current list

TrendHunter

GrubStreet

TheMaterialist

B Glam
blavishBlog-Tique
Deluxe Blog.it
Foodaholic
Good Luck Deluxe
GourmetStation
High Chic
Janus Thinking
Living the Luxe Life
Lussorian
Luxist
Luxury Home Digest
Luxury Housing Trends
Luxury Portfolio
Luxury Reviewer
Luxus.fr
Restaurant Girl
Social Diva
Sybarites
Tango Diva
The Delicious Life
The Informed Traveler
The Lobby
Vagablond
Vinography
Wine Goddess

If you are a luxury blogger and would like add to the list then
1. Write a post.
2. Copy/paste the link list from the post you discovered the L-List into it.
3. Make sure the links are active and correct.
4. If your blog is on the list, remove it. This is not a self-promotion post. As Tim Fehlman (Z-List) said: “Don’t worry, because if your name is on mine, it’s on others and will spread.”
5. Add your favorite luxury - travel, style, fashion blogs on it (if you do forget you will be sent a gentle reminder from cyber checkers)
6. Add the url of the blog where you’ve discovered the L-List as well
7. Publish the post.
People will notice the L-List and continue it.

Your turn!