ShOp ReporT>>>UrBaN OuTfIttErS....OxfoRD St

ahhhh, Urban. How I heart thee...yet I never can afford to buy from you in bulk as I'd wish to.... apart from the accessories, sale time or giftie poo's. She neighbours high street giant Topshop but somehow stands her ground and comes off as the better one stop shop I think. She's large but doesn't overwhelm. Her ceilings are high, she has windows, something Topshop lacks on all womenswear floors. Grim. Her sweeping staircase makes you feel hip and cool and sort of homely at the same time.

Bare brick walls feature fantastically merchandised outfits that would have Lexxi Chung Chungs weeping as she didn't think of them first. Dresses are always amazing but at the top end of the high street price range for its age market. And there is always the danger if you do plump for a pricey printed garm, you must just see if on a lot of other backs. When I purchase from here I stick to plainer, safer items as hate wearing the same as the whole of London in an obvious way. Cardi's are always ace in here. Shoes, not so much. But the designer floor, now the shoes that lurk up there (2nd floor) are the types to anger Mr Barclays but worth the bollocking he might give you. Well edited designs and designers scatter the floor, in a spaced out luxe feel. Uber chic.

Urban's music is always banging and they sell what they play so you don't have to feel all loserish going 'what is this music you play' it's all here.

Home-ware. I love it. Bit over priced but I buy it all the same. Perfect for gifts. Their cards and gift wrap are always worth a look too. Book wise, wait for the sales as amazon is waaay cheaper. But they are so tempting of a lunch break shop.

Accessories, here lies my weakness. Necklaces, rings, watches, sunnies, belts, bags lined the whole store, waiting for you at every opportunity and you simply can not help but buy. Don't fight it, there's no point. Its all great tat that you'll love forever. Or until the next trend rocks up.

Just go there tourists and Londoners alike, you must. I always go to every store when in the states too.

Love>>>>LuSt hAvE

>>>Will vomit continously until these Belstaff's are upon my tootsies.

R@te or H@te???>>>>

Alexander McQueen.....dancing or turning in his designer grave??

waTcH>>>>>miLdREd pIErCe

Who doesn't love to emmerse themselves in a period drama just for the garments? Cue, HBO who come up with all the greats...the costumes alone astound even non-fashion lovers, as the shows all have colossal budgets to play with. Brits now get to marvel at great TV with the release of the majestic Sky Atlantic and the latest launch, 5 part mini-series Mildred Pierce is utter ensemble porn.


Mildred Pierce was originally a 1941 novel by James McCain set in California and the depression era, which in turn inspired the black and white 1945 movie of the same title, which starred Joan Crawford. In the series, Kate Winslet who plays Mildred and her fiesty, talented daughter Veda, cast as Evan Rachel Wood battle for centre stage in this epic drama. One can swoon at the 40's get ups and perve at hottie Guy Pearce, who burns around in a smoking hot retro car in the first 3 episodes.The acting is enough to make RADA disciples weep but the costume design by Ann Roth is what stole my heart. Think browns, taupes, tea dresses and fitted cap hats. Aviators, stockings, chunky knit cardis in effortless, earthy tones. Hair is up-do tastic, all victory rolls and waves. Red lips smoulder and speak well executed, drama riddled lines. LOVE.

 

★ChaNeL CouTUrE AW/11★

R@te or H@te???>>>>

Christian Louboutin style ballet heels....Darcy et all need only apply. Works of art for the shelf though.

>>>♥♥♥♥Elle of It

♥♥♥♥Heart♥♥♥♥MisS SeLfrIdGe

>>>Oh how I've missed Miss S and yesterday I ran towards her Flagship, snubbing Topshite and then openly weeped as I marvelled at her offerings. It was 9am, opening time and the store looked mint, as it should. Merchandised perfectly, tidy, stocked in size order for easy shopping and with pleasant staff. Lacy festival garb, maxi dresses galore, junk jewellery heaven, the new AW/11 collection beaming at me....people think its just for teens and early twenties lasses but how you are missing out if you don't know about what lies within.

When I worked as a personal shopper next door @ Topshop I used to sell waaaaaay more Miss S to older clients....think pretty blouses, fab (and well cut I might add) dresses, great trousers and all are truer to size than Topshop as well, which leaves you feeling better about life and yourself! Nothing worse than not fitting into your size and having to go 2 sizes bigger. And it's cheaper in here too which is good news for our bank balances. Great for work-wear, clubgear, day bits and even wedding/occassion outfits. Their sales are always smoking hot as well. Oh how I wish the Watford branch had never left the Harlequin.....sigh.

Love>>>>LuSt hAvE

Want. Now. To go with the YSL.....Mimosa by Chanel. Swoon.

....PurChaSe of the Weak (sic)>>>♥♥♥♥

YSL Topaz nail laquer....literally stopped my beating heart upon sight, Had to have. My toes look immense.

>>>nIcola emmIe LauNcheD>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Go, type in nicolaemmie.co.uk and book a shopping spree of dreams or a wardrobe cleansy poo. Best decision you'll ever make. Word.

___ jUst CoZzzz____________

Pretty.....Lanvin.....want as a wedding gift

///////////LE FleUr dejouR//////

photography by Nicola Emmie
location: Madeira & Cornwall

biCyCle F@shIoN>>>>>>

With my recent ebay purchase of a retro dutch town bike....which I've done up by myself, including a white&silver floral saddle, pink&white pedals, a new basket, handlebars and grips....it's all about bicycle ensembles and accessories at le moment...

Here's a few quaint lil piccies to whet your appetite and feed your cycling fetishes.......ding ding.

★CorNisH PastY★

HuddyWood are off to Cornish shores....this is the look that will be emulated....Edge of Lurve. Totes Amaze....>>>

Psssttt>> UrBan OutFitterS Wedding Dresses

Yea, s'right, Urban now does a specialist range of Wedding Dresses....it's called B H L D N. Can you imagine the designs they've whipped up. Fit for any fashion concious bride worth her something new. Am still drooling and though it's stateside only at present, its bound to be a matter of time before they hit these shores. Check out the accessories peeps. To. Die. For. www.bhldn.com

Shop Report>>>NeW L@@K....Watford

Used to call it Poo Look but oh how times have changed. Having been a sucker for her pricier high street sister Toppers forever and the fact that the Watford branch is laughable, I have braved clothes rails unbeknown to me since uni times.
The Watty branch is an absolute gem. I now almost break into a steady run upon sight of her signage. She is a huge spacious site and often has all the best stuff left just for me as not many chavvy Watford peeps like the great things that this fashionista desires. Sure there's still the same tat as most stores, but there's so much more than that in this branch....she's a flagship site. It's well stocked, TIDY (shock horror) and is well priced. The staff in this store are second to none as well. Many a time I've been helped by the lasses and lads that proudly work here.

The shoe section is massive, tear jerkingly so and though I'm no New Look heel fan as I have grown out of owning high cheapie shoes cos they hurt, I can honestly recommend this section to anyone braver and younger than I....soooo many party shoes/sandals/boots/pumpd galore.

Fitting rooms are large, loadsa tills which have sweets to tempt you with as well and just great clothes waiting to be discovered. This store does Men's, kids, larger ladies and concession brands. Get on down on a Thursday evening to see this branch at her shiny, sparkly best.

RazzzzzMatazzzzz: A sOphisticated Meeting PLAce



Photography: Nicola van der Woodvine

Shots

Shiny Disco Ball

Dancing Shoes

Miu Miu & Chanel





PreTty PiCcy

Love>>>>

>>>RandoM Purchase of the Weak (sic)

A pill box....on Amazon.

Mind if I don't. Or maybe I should???

Style's Eye Spys///The Harlequin....Old Skool MaLL

"Watford and shopping are two words that shouldn't go together but actually make an ensemble building dream. Sure Watford is grotty and a bit inbred but The Harlequin has served me for many years now and I feel it's time she got a mention.

Just a mere 15 minutes from London's Euston, this 'Mall' is one of the UK's older undercover, one stop high streets and is holding up rather dashingly. It's light and airier than some peers, ie. Brent Cross which is dingy and always induces a migraine, and it is cheap as chips to park here unlike my one true forbidden love, Westfield (which cost me £15 to park in her shiny realm of a car park before xmas). Music plays softly over a PA system, modern bus link tv's have been added and its very clean. Geri Halliwell's mother is STILL a cleaner here. Amazing fact.
The Harl does lack food spots though, many have shut down and been replaced by coffee shops but good old Ponti's is always a winner and John Lewis cafe is pricey but great. She's wheelchair friendly and has many extra facilities which is always great for new mums or people escorting the disabled (my mum likes to be pushed round these floors weekly)....

Shops, now, Primark is fecking fantastic (reviewed previously) unspoilt by the London consumer and still jam packed with all the latest trends and must haves. Plus its gigantic. Topshop is terrible, absolute no go here but the large New Look always acts as a back-up for that fail and I've got many a winning item in here for myself and clients. M&S is fab, John Lewis is the mall's department store ( JL own's the Harlequin which prevents Debenhams for being here, they aren't ever in same mall....another fab fact) and Zara here makes me go weak at the knees. All Zara managers act as buyers and thank the lord that Watford's branch, the manager has the London eye and buys in all the best merch. LOVE.
There's a creche, a massive HMV, BHS, Boots, all the usual culprits and what's more your more than likely to get all the must have items here as opposed to London's stores, which get attacked by
fashionista's globally!!"