Girlie Spring 09

Black is still in until the warmer months make an entrance, so don’t feel like you have to suddenly look like a bright marsmallow to kick off the new season. Bring colour in by combining bright chiffon or silk scarves with grey sweaters or a black shirt with a simple black cardigan.

Prints – Leopard is still here, and so are flower patterns. However there will be more abstract patterns (see above, from Topshop) and geometric colourful prints.

Shoes – ballet pumps are being renovated with different textures such as velvety fabrics, in soft blues and pinks.

Make Up – colours are bright and luminous. Try yellows, bright blues in eyes, and keep lips natural or slighlty pink and glossy.

Picture: Topshop

The Beat Goes On

Agyness Deyn stormed the catwalk in Sao Paulo wearing an Ellus jumpsuit. The 80s are not fading away, this come back is getting stronger and stronger.

Picture: WENN via Glamour

From Winter to Spring – Crunch Survival Tips

With such tight times, good news is you can be fashionable and pocket-wise.

How? Fret not, I am not sending you on a hunting trip through gigantic piles of second-hand clothing. We are working with what you have in your closet that can be resuscitated for spring.

Leather jackets – I am taking my last season ones plus a recent 40 euro find, and they will be paired with blouses and t-shirts during the day. Cocktail hour sees me teaming these jackets  with feminine dresses for the coolest edge.

T-shirts – I am grabbing odd pieces of fabric, making simple bows and with a couple of stitches they go onto shoulders, close to your heart, at the bottom (left or right, you choose) or at the centre of the back. Bows are big this spring. Guys, winter shirts can be worn with rolled-up sleeves, so fresh, so now.

Jeans – Boyfriend jeans also get rolled-up, and if you dare, cut them calf-length for a sharp and so St. Tropez look.

And it is all colour–colour–colour…especially for someone Fashion Limbo recently styled, “Sabine”, there is no excuse so pump up the pigments!!

Picture: Fornarina

Guys Spring 09

Sportive – trainers are very 80s retro, boot-style trainers (high ankles) in silver, shiny greys. Sport jackets are light, hoodies in thin spring fabrics, light pinks and yellows.

All suited up – classic dandy shapes, straight legged trousers teamed with sharp cuts in jackets, creamy beiges (see above, by Dsquared) and some greys.

Colours – Grey is key, but bring a slight “umph” to your look with colourful thin scarves

T-shirts – For those who wish to be looked at, 80s prints are decorating tops with colourful prints and geometrical shapes, pink, green and yellow fluos are present.

Picture: Marcio Madeira via Style.com

Do and Don’ts – Frilly Skirt

Do wear with opaque tights and colourful peeptoes.

Don’t attempt a recent Fashion Limbo faux-pas, pairing the girly skirt with flat-chunky black boots….we don’t want to make Avril Lavigne fashionable again, do we? Especially when we are well over 15.

Picture: Wire Image

Fashion Paradise – Seville

I had the chance to travel to Seville (Spain) right before Christmas. The city is the capital of Andalucía (the southern part of the country) and it’s famous for its beauty, its flamenco culture, its fantastic food, and lately, as a great place to shop.

Where? The city centre is the place to go. The main streets to shop are Sierpes, Velazquez and Tetuán. To get there, if you arrive via the train station there are several buses that take you there in less than 10 minutes.

What to expect? The shopping streets are buzzing with so many places to go. It is heaven if you like the Inditex stores, Bershka, Pull and Bear, Massimo Dutti and there is practically a Zara on every corner. And, bonus, in Spain these brands are quite affordable (indeed, I felt like I was in paradise)

Other options? There are several H&M;s around the city (one in a shopping centre just a 4 minute walk away from the station), Mango, and again from Inditex, the popular Stradivarius, a shop with a fresh and young boho feel.

And remember: if you are there to buy shoes you will, literally, go bananas…so many shoes, such little credit limit?

Picture: Fashion Limbo by Robert Whippy

Get the Look – Lady GaGa

My boyfriend asked me yesterday “who is Lady GaGa?”, and I simply had to write about her.

Who? She is the current UK and US number one with her single Just Dance.

Her style? If you want to recreate her look, the peroxide blonde hair is key, with poker-straight bangs. She considers her live shows a work of art, with fashion one of the main elements, so takes current trends such as heavy eye make-up, patterns and shades that are easy to recreate with a bit of patience.

Too daring? We obviously don’t expect you to take the streets mimicking her skimpy look (her new video is truly inspired by a Cher 80s look, just wait and see) but black leggings, skinny black jeans and patent leather boots will recreate the look just fine.

Picture: Ladygaga.com

Leopard Still Here

Maggie Gyllenhaal brought a splash of originality to the Golden Globes Awards with a colourful leopard print by Lanvin. Hit or Miss? We like it!

Image: PA Photos

Upcoming Trend – White Shirt & Jeans

Ok, it is only January, it’s still cold, actually quite freezing. However, temperatures will go up (no kiddin’, they will!!) and soon you will have a closet full of very thick jumpers and a desire for lighter tops to team with your thicker trousers.

An easy and very trendy combo for Spring will be crisp white shirts teamed with your bluest jeans. This looks is at its best with wide-legged jeans. Hit the sales (there is still a lot left) for extra cheap and good quality classic white shirts.

Picture: Mango