Designer Versus Highstreet: When to spend and when to save

Hi guys,
Like most people, I love a little bit of luxury, and I can't resist treating myself to designer things every now and again. But I'm also a high street addict and I love getting a bargain. I've tried to give up shopping in Primark so many times, but I always get lured back "just to have a look" and I always end up picking up something: their on trend styles and low-low prices are just too tempting!

As someone, therefore, who mixes designer and high street pieces in almost every outfit I wear (though my wardrobe contains significantly more high street items!) I thought it would be a good post to share my opinions on what you should buy designer, and what items you should save your money on and get from the high street. Unless you're a millionaire of course, in which case you can hang the expense and get everything designer! But this is for the average gal like me, with a relatively small amount to spend on fashion each month:

Accessories
When it comes to most accessories, I subscribe to the philosophy that designer is best. I think people notice if you're wearing a statement watch from a good brand or if your sunglasses are designer or high street. And because trends for these items change very little, they're worth investing money in. It's also worth noting they're usually much cheaper than designer dresses or handbags!

On the other hand, I like to update my wardrobe with my accessories (that's what comes of being addicted to classic black outfits) which means there are also pieces I like to get from the high street: I would love to be able to afford necklaces from Mawi, for example, but for oversized statement necklaces I don't think you can get better than Topshop - especially because fashion jewellery trends change so often.
I just can't seem to stop myself buying designer accessories - it's an obsession!

Clothes
As a general rule I shop highstreet when I'm buying clothes. We are so lucky in the UK, because our high street is the best in the world both in terms of style, and in terms of quality and fashion forward-ness. Of course, I would love to spend £1000 on that Matthew Williamson dress. But when Monsoon do a very passable equivalent for a tenth of the price (and you'll only wear the frock twice anyway!) it really does make sense to save your money.

I do caveat that though with this notable exception:

Coats
My black trench coat is Stella McCartney (I got it from a sample sale) and I really do think you can tell the difference in it's quality from my old Topshop black trench coat. Designer coats tend to be heavier, a little thicker, more well crafted. If you like to have lots of coats in lots of styles and colours (like me!) then the high street is going to be your best friend. If you choose just one winter coat that you like, and wear it winter after winter, then look for a designer coat you can really fall in love with.

Handbags and shoes
A lot of people will say that when it comes to handbags and shoes, designer is best. But what I think they really mean is that quality is best. Whether I'm buying from the highstreet or spending designer money, I always like my shoes and bags to be leather. It lasts longer, and looks better: it doesn't have that plastic sheen that pleather tends to have.

I think a splurge is definitely worthwhile on one classic designer handbag: especially if there's one you've had your eyes on for a while. Saving your pennies to buy your dream bag is definitely behaviour I approve of!

PS - Don't believe people when they say that designer heels are worth the money because they're more comfortable: As the owner of several pairs (Dior, D&G, Moschino) I can tell you that it's a myth!

A mix of high street and designer, but every pair is leather!

So in summary I guess what I'm saying is spend on the classics: your watch, sunglasses, everyday handbag and coat. But save on trendy tops, perpex necklaces and anything in neon: you won't wear it often enough for it to be worth spending too much money!

Of course, don't forget that buying designer doesn't have to cost the earth! Here are some of my favourite websites that I scour through at least weekly to find designer treasure at discount prices:
www.tkmaxx.com (They have regular designer flashsales, but you now have to sign up to shop)
www.theoutnet.com
www.brandalley.co.uk (You have to be a member to shop their designer sales)

What do you think of my suggestions? What items do you like to buy designer, and what do you think you can get just as easily from the high street?

Love Tor x

London hosts first ever high street fashion week

I have been thinking about high street fashion week frequently since I first read about it a couple of weeks ago. And I still don't know if I think it is a good or a bad thing; is it fashion trying to include the "ordinary folk" in a world most are either in awe or frightened of, or is it just a money making gimmick from the New West End company?

Highstreet = topshop. Enter gratuitous topshop model pic here. God I love topshop!


Certainly, they are yet to confirm any stores or companies that are taking part, and I am yet to hear of the event including even one catwalk show. Some retailers have announced fashion and beauty advice workshops, late-night shopping, and discounts as part of the fashion week; all great things, but not that different from the great service we already receive on the British high street: there are very few Saturday afternoons that you could wander down oxford street and not find a make over or some kind of in-store event going on! Wow that sentence used a lot of colons!

New West End’s spokesman Jace Tyrell said: "During London Fashion Week, the West End sees a big increase in sales. This way we can commercialise it and show everyone we have the best high street and the best designers." And obviously these are businesses, and they have to make money (especially at this difficult time, blah,blah,blah!) But i just wish they were pushing the potential of this event a little harder. Because take away the glamourous Highstreet Fashion Week title and what do you have? A normal week on oxford street with a few discounts thrown in!


Having said that, its too soon for me to condemn, and there are still a couple of months to finalise plans and reveal a schedule. I just hope that what we end up with is a week of celebration and excitement that the British high street (in my opinion the best in the world!) truly deserves.


Highstreet fashion week runs from September 7-11. As soon as I have more news of events and what not, you can guarentee I will post them here for your viewing pleasure!


Love, Tor x

Street Eeek!

Is it just me, or has the quality of vogue.co.uk's street chic daily wear feature gone, well, really really down hill?

Now I know that style is subjective, and one woman's 'blah' is another woman's dream come true. But it seems like the criteria for being featured has stopped being "must be wearing a really great outfit" and started being "must have legs like a new born colt".

Take the following as prime examples each taken from vogue.co.uk this week; all nice outfits and i'm sure wonderful women wearing them (if this is you, please don't send me any hate mail!) but not exactly what you would call vogue worthy, fashion forward outfits:

I know vogue.com isn't famed for its love of street stylings ala the facehunter, but that doesn't mean that season old styles worn in unimaginative ways should grace their site, does it? There are hundreds of women wearing these outfits heading in and out of my office every day, and i'm sure most of them don't give two hoots about fashion! (oh dear! minor bitchy moment it seems!)

.

Who knows, maybe, like me the vogue photographer hasn't quite got round to buying their new winter coat yet, and they're covering this feature guerilla style (straight in and straight out, as quick as you can!) until the sun comes out again. I'd rather believe this than that the fashion magazine i've trusted since my youth has started (say it quietly..) getting it wrong!

I just hope that doesn't mean I have to keep waiting for the quality of my daily fix to improve until spring, or more realistically if we're waiting for some sunshine, July!

Lots of love,

Tor xx

Comme de Garcons for H&M - Before

Today my day is split into 2 distinct sections: before and after I view the Comme de Garcons for H&M collection. Unfortunately, unlike half the bloggersphere, I had to get up and come to work this morning rather than get up and wait in line for a chance to try on/buy some of the range. So while everyone else is battling it out on Oxford street, I’m sat here with fingers itching, waiting for 5.30 to come, and praying that there will be something left by then (and that the queues wont be as bad as they were in Tokyo!)
I’ve been admiring the collection from afar for months; I need the shirt with ruffled sleeves and the circus master-type jacket in particular. (see below!) But often these things are so much more disappointing in the flesh, so I’m trying not to get too excited (she says as she scours the web for more pictures-again!)

However, provided everything looks and feels as good tonight as I hope it will from my computer screen, these are the things I will be looking out for:

And here it is up close:

I need this jacket! I need it more than I think I can express in words right now! I think I also need this models platinum hair....

Oooh! Ruffly sleeves! Like jewellery attached to your clothes - I want to wear this under a little black dress for work and team it with (it's an urge I cant control) boots and legwarmers!

Comfy and practical - not cool but things I love anyway!! I can see me slouching to work in these on hangover days and still feeling lovely!

For more pictures and the prices of everything check out the H&M website (it goes without saying really, but just in cases!)

Obviously, in true fabfrocks fashion, my take on the whole thing will appear hours after everyone elses, and I know in the back of my head that all the 'good stuff' will be gone but still, I can't help being excited!

Roll on tonight!

Love Tor x

I've found it! I've found it!

The perfect New Years Eve dress is mine! Mine Mine Mine! And not only is it perfect and sparkly and everything I was looking for, it is also subtle enough that it can be dressed down, accessorised, and worn over and over and over again. And then maybe again! And even better than that it came in under budget at £27 (well, £30, minus my 10% student discount, God love it!) Look look! Admire with delight:

Ok, so now my excitement levels have dropped and i've calmed down enough to type in proper sentences. Firstly, apologies for the glimpse at my grotty student kitchen: I have no excuse except that i'm a slob when it comes to all kitchen related chores, but I promise to clean it up right after i've written this. Honest.

Now onto the important business: the dress. This perfect gem is from Topshop where it rrp'ed for £50 but was reduced to £30 as part of the stores pre-Christmas offers: there are loads of other great deals in their online store.

The bodice is boned so it gives loads of support on the bust (i'm not even wearing a strapless bra in these pics and that is a never before seen gravity defying feat!) As you can see best in the third pic, the bodice also has a slight gold fleck running through it whihc reflects light and adds a little glamourous sparkle to the frock. The skirt is darted so it flares out into a tulip shape and it has big hidden hip pockets which is a design detail I adore. The dress is 99% cotton and the fabric is really thick so it holds in every lump and bump and creates a really lovely shape (even if I do say so myself!)

I am one very happy bunny! Although i'm now realising that it's very nearly Christmas and i've been so preoccupied with pretty dresses (and who isn't?) I've hardly started my present shopping........ Methinks I sense this weeks quest approaching fast.........

H&M hates my Body!

Another day, another installment of the quest for the perfect party dress! Today I attacked the 'Young Trend' section at H&M: My logic being that at just 23 I surely am still 'young' and 'trendy'. Right?! Right. You should know the drill by now: I selected the 4 party dresses I liked the most tried them on and photographed myself for your viewing pleasure: all in the quest to find the perfect Christmas party dress on as small a budget as possible.

Unfortunately through bad chosing, bad design, or both, all the dresses I attempted to display systematically hated my body: H&M hate me. Fact!

Dress #1: H&M hates my boobs

Apparently being young and having breasts are mutually exclusive concepts to the H&M team! This dress felt fun and floaty. The material was very flimsy, which I usually consider a bad thing, but putting it on it actually worked: it skimmed my hips and gave a great shape until.....i tried to squeeze in my bosom. I would have loved to have made it look good for you reader, but miracle worker I am not- my boobs are just not young and trendy enough. Fact.





For those of you that are feeling young and trendy though, here's how the frock (wich comes in black and grey) looked on the 'perfectly shaped' model:


Is it OK to ever so slightly hate a mannequin!?

Dress #2: H&M hates my arms

There's not much to say about this tuxedo style shirt dress (which looked amazing on the hanger and was made of a lovely quality cotton) except that i'm not holding my arms out like that out of choice. I'm holding them like that because the arms were sooo tight that I couldn't move. What's weird is that there was loads of room around the body and bust, so if the arms have been looser this would have buttoned up and looked rather lovely. Curiouser and curiouser........

Dress #3: H&M hates my curves

And now we move from one end of the scale to the other! Ok, so in the second picture i'm sticking my tummy out a bit but you get the idea! From the front this dress looked lovely: I loved the neckline, it minimised my bust, I even quite liked the (poorly attached) embellishments. But the problem is they had used enough material to make 2 dresses in constructing this frock: the result? From the side the dress looked like a shapeless sack light materity dress that was far too big for me.

Dress #4: H&M Hates my hips






Ok, I admit it! By this stage I was dissillutioned with H&M 'Young Trend' dresses and thought I might have more luck with a sequined mini-skirt teamed with a long sleeved top (an idea I admit I saw showcased on LK Today) How wrong I was! The poorly crafted skirt stuck not only to itself but also my tights and gave the illusion of 4 hips rather than my usual curvy 2: not a good look!

So there you have it! A full range of body hatred from the European clothing giant. Here's hoping River Island are a little better tomorrow..........

Christmas on a Budget: The Quest for a Perfect Dress - Part Two

Hey hey readership,

I think you'll agree by now that Tor, my blogging partner, is as cute as several buttons. Look at her face and hair - she makes Primark look appealing to me.
I am carrying on the Tor(nado)'s coverage of pretty pretty Christmas dresses, except today I'm visiting Zara, so that "Under £30" proviso has (ooh! there! there! in the sky!) flown right out of view. Nope, we're upping the budget to £100, even though my own personal fashion budget figures more generally around the "Under £6" mark. I'm not ashamed to say that thanks to the flimsy curtains at Cancer Research, everyone who frequents the Norwich branch has seen most of my pale naked flesh. The benevolent, elderly and poor have seen my nipples and this, readership is my gift to them.

I am expensif
Here are my 5 Picks from the Zara, Norwich store. These decisions were made 'on the hanger' and represent particular trends of which I am fond. I recall from reading an article in the Saturday Times a few months back that Zara is unique in that each store manager acts as a 'buyer,' ordering in designs from a vast selection, tailoring their picks to trends that are proving popular in their region. This is why the garments in Zara, Bluewater which I frequent when I'm visiting my mother is so much more 'high fashion' than the Norwich-y stock. There's a lot of money to be made around Essex-way and those girls know their designers. What I'm trying to put across is that the Norwich Zara is a little short on floaty and heavy on the tweedy. Just sayin.'

And with that:

#1Block colour - £39

I enjoy block colour. It makes me feel all Jonathan Saunders (A/W 07) and Mark Rothko (above, Untitled 1968). Unfortunately, this dress was also cut like a Rothko, that is to say straight up and down with no waist definition, no complimetary bosom display and hard 'n chunk in the hips.

I was a very angry caterpillar.

#2 - Pleat and Sparkle - £79

I love a fabric that can hold its shape. I am young woman with quite the curve and I need a garment that will compliment this arrangement. I find high street embellishment bling quite tacky and I usually avoid it like the sartorial plague that it is.

But look at that big pleat and my blushes. I'm so happy! Compare and contrast this dress and the despicable former:

Coo!


Ew!

Why it's like I have two different bums, so it is. Tailoring is a beautiful thing, friends. I love it when it when a garment has a fidelity with the body. Which brings me to.....

#3 - Body Con. £29

Yuh. This is from Zara's TRL section (y'know! for teens!) and this dress was deemed a Large. I am a Size 12-14 and a 34C and this was the extent I could clamber into this dress. And I'm not naive, readership. I know that most girls wearing skintight zip up dresses look more like this:

Christopher Kane S/S06

but I also know that skilled design means that a girl my size can look super fierce (can I pull off saying 'fierce'? I just don't know) in a bodycon outfit:

Christopher Kane for Topshop, February 2007

So shame on you Zara, super shame on you. Last I checked, teenager is not a synonym for 'no tits, no hips.' I just wanted a sexy dress in which to drink White Lighting in the park. Damn you.

#4 Chanel-lo! £79

Mmm, Lagerfeld-y. Can't argue with a monochrome chiffon gown that's 'inspired' by the ultimate in chic fashion brands. I felt awesome - floaty and malevolent.

To spare y'all the horror (the horror!) I have photoshopped out my nipples and photoshopped in a dark murky lighting scheme. It's well elegant, innit?

Me and my modelling partner are ready to sex it up, goth style. What say you, Karl?

Oh, Karl. I knew you would.

Love,
B.

Self-flagellation, H&M and a dress for Mary.

Hello friends,

When I started this blog I thought I'd be aces. I'd be breakin' news, crackin' jokes and all whilst being the epitome of fashiony chic.

Frankly, I forgot that my manner and dress is little above that of an early 20th century hobo and my ranking in the Unspoken Order of Fashion Events and Things reflects this. Honestly, I don't think Karl Lagerfeld would even bother to shit in my mouth, let alone invite me to the factory. This is the cross I bear: jeans and a t-shirt and second-hand news.

Here it is:

H&M are collaborating with Finnish textile company Marimekko to produce a range of over 50 products consisting of smocks, dresses, shorts and accessories that'll be out April 2008.

You knew that? Nuts.

I bet you've seen this picture too, right? Vogue.co.uk? Catwalk Queen? I know, I know. Worst blog ever. I want credit however for searching the web to find an image this big. H&M's Press page is like bloody Fort Knox. I steal for you, sweet readership out of the tenderest love. However, I also have some neato Marimekko facts and images for ya in the hope of squeezing just the tiniest bit of originality out of this thing.

FUN FACT!
Marimekko is all about feminism, sisters, and those who are doin' it for themselves! In the male-dominated business world of the 1950s/60s, Marimekko was largely run by women: Armi Ratia a textile designer and company fouder and Maija Isola, the women she hired to create some of Marimekko's most iconic prints. There's a very interesting potted history of the Marimeko company's feminist ideals here in The Guardian. Odd, because The Guardian is usually about as fashion-forward as a scotch egg. Hm.

FUN FACT!
The name Marimekko literally means "a dress for Mary" that is to say -the everywoman.

The blessed mother models a 1963 Marimekko design which can be bought here from blueforestdesigns on ebay for £87 plus postage. It's a much nicer change from Mary Kate Olsen, no?

FUN FACT!
HandM wishes it was the only one getting hot Marimekko action! Manolo Blahnik is using two iconic Marimekko designs for his Spring/Summer 2008 collection.

They're available in January 2008 if you're monied and interested. Apparently they're a fusion of "Turkish architectural lines and Finnish protest" [Source]

FUN FACT!
The signature Marimekko shape is: clean unisex lines and free-flowing style, [that] convey a utopian feel of sexual equality.

That's a shame. I'm very fond of my breasts. Still, who needs udders when you look this pretty?

Lovely. Undeniably lovely. But I think I'll just get a hat and wait until Christopher Kane designs his utopian feel of sexual blah-de-blah. My boobs will thank me, I think.

Your pal,
Becky.

Zara Hates Your Puffy Ankles

Hello friends,

Today I spent an exhausting 90 minutes in Zara trying on Christmas party dresses to display to you in an upcoming post. However, a more pressing matter quickly caught my attention - the anger and insanity that is their t-shirt range for pregnant women.

Now, I love Zara. Its half translated logo t-shirts with their long length and good quality cotton are a godsend for the style conscious nerd. They are also exceptionally generous in the gluteal area with their trouser tailoring and quick to rip-off the best Miu Miu and Balenciaga when it counts. All good things. However, it is clear that their maternity design team is a mad as a bucket of frogs.

The Many Moods of Pregnancy - (according to Zara)

1. Insecurity (re: erotic viability)


"I'm not fat !! I'm eating for two" Hey, me too Zara - and I ain't even with child. The desperation distilled within those two velvet exclamation marks is quite a thing to behold i'nit? I also enjoy the way the cotton mix clings to my own protuberances. You've gotta applaud their commitment to the verisimilitude of a woman's emotional state. They ain't pulling no punches. I know I've always said that pregnancy is no excuse to pile on any pounds at all. Those lactating LARDOS.

2. Pathetic Clinginess.


"STAY WITH ME" - Yup, it's clear that the impregnator in her life has noticed her horrendous physical deficiencies and has calmly decided to move on. Thank goodness Zara has produced a garment that does all your pathetic hormonal mewling for you! Eyes that have seen more sadness than any one person can bear are model's own.

3. Irrational grasping at chic femininity as typified by former single self.

"Kill for high heels" - I'm not sure if this is a nostalgic moment or an exhortation to all women unshackled by a bloating foetus to buy buy buy those Jimmy Choos whilst they still can and revel in the bunions of independence. Either way, it is as delightfully unhinged as any other in the range and I'm so very digging the Valerie Solanis fanzine style typeface.

4. Homicidal Food/Sexual Cravings.

"I'VE GOT A CRAVING (now!!!) - Yikes, right? Quite apart from the fact I don't think I've ever looked lovelier in a photograph, this t-shirt reunites with our old friend the crazed multiple exclamation mark. As if to underscore the horror (the horror!) of a pregnant lady in a state of need we've got a font that speaks of nothing less than Jack Nicolson at his crazytime typewriter in "The Shining"

Yeesh. And it was the crazy identical twins that were the fashion icons in that movie. Pre-chopping of course.























Am I right or am I right?

I'm right.

Love,
Becky.

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