SNAP Fashion

NYFW: Structured and minimalist coats to die for

I find it relatively difficult to get super excited about all the new winter collections when I’m pining for springtime and promised heat and sunshine…but I always have a soft spot for coats.

While London Fashion Week always produces exciting new ideas and cutting-edge collections, New York is the place for really wearable fashion and I know that come next Autumn I will be lusting after a structured and smart coat like these lovelies.

I love the leather detailing and shape of this DKNY coat

A more structured take on last season's blanket shape from 3.1 Philip Lim

Sports luxe lives on at Victoria Beckham

Cosy Proenza Schouler

Hell for leather at DKNY

Heavenly seven: Valentine’s gifts to yourself

As a single girl there has to be a plus to Valentine’s Day right? And I think it might be buying myself something special that no boy/man would get right! More useful than flowers and healthier than chocolates, here are six sweet treats that I am tempted by…and yes they are all a little bit pink.

Not a heart in sight- McQueen enameled skull ring £75

Anything from Chanel's SS12 make-up collection. Je t'aime!

Super cute for summer this sweeeeet brooch is just £6 from ASOS

One of very few stylish gym bags! Anya Hindmarch tote £95

Heart brass and acetate earrings by Marc by Marc jacobs £60

Victoria Beckham power sunbleach peach skinny jeans £175. This picture really symbolises buying something more luxe for yourself that fits perfectly and makes you feel amazing

Splash the cash? This candy pink quilted dyed denim Mulberry bag is a picture of pink perfection £395

Rainclouds + Ruffles: Michelle Williams + Rooney Mara

We’re bracing ourselves for an onslaught of sequins, feathers and ball gowns…it’s almost Oscars and Baftas time after all. So we were pleased as punch to see Michelle Williams and Rooney Mara looking tres chic in a non glitterball way for the Academy Awards Nominations Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton hotel.

It appears that Michelle is becoming a bit it a Victoria Beckham devotee and is that more Lanvin that Rooney is rocking? We love them both.

Michelle looks super cute in a Victoria Beckham raindrops dress

And at a Bafta do. I love this dress.

Rooney Mara effortlessly chic in sharp tailoring

P.S. I kinda want some Oscars carpet!
Pics: The DM.

Blake Lively for US Elle: sports luxe

I’ve just read an article in Glamour magazine saying that out of all the SS12 trends men like the sports luxe look best…and we bet this cover featuring Blake Lively in a sport Victoria Beckham mini dress will be quite popular too.

I love the sports details starting to trickle into high street stores, but for me this shoot is just a little too lads’ mag. Sports luxe works best with clean lines, crisp fabrics and bright colours so while Blake undoubtedly looks great, I’ll be skipping the mesh/fishnet extras and just-out-of-the-shower hair.

Having said that, I love the front cover where Blake looks super polished in a Victoria Beckham dress…and the Alexander Wang jumper and ski pants look.

What do you think?

The cover look

Love this look too

Too mens' mag?

Love the catwalk but not the editorial

All credit for the great image matches goes to Coco’s Tea Party (amazing blog!)

British Fashion Awards: The winners + best dressed

The crème de la crème of the fash pack were quaffing cocktails at The British Fashion Awards last night so we’ve picked our heavenly seven best-dressed celebs as well as bringing you the low-down of the winners.

Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and Olivia Palermo wore LBDs with a twist, while Georgia-May Jagger and Alexa Chung sparkled in metallics (not that Alexa’s wearing her kitty pumps again!)

Amber Le Bon looked super pretty in Peter Pilotto, while Poppy Delevingne glammed it un in a feathery Matthew Williamson gown. Who was your favourite?

Alexa in minimalist metallics

Georgia-May looks amazing in silver ruffles

Olivia Palermo in a trend double-bill: metallics and feathers

Victoria models er own LBD sleek maxi-style

Personally I'm not a fan of Kate's string vest-style dress but only she could pull it off!

Love Poppy Delevingne's Matthew Williamson number

I can' get enough of Peter Pilotto and Amber Le Bon looks stunning in this SS12 creation

And the winners are…

• Designer Of The Year - Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen (p.s. check out this amazing video!)
• Designer Brand – Victoria Beckham
• Red Carpet Award – Stella McCartney (for that illusion dress)
• Accessory Designer – Charlotte Olympia
• Model – Stella Tennant
• British Style Award - Alexa Chung
• Menswear Designer – Kim Jones
• Emerging Talent Award – Accessories – Tabitha Simmons
• Emerging Talent Award – Menswear – Christopher Raeburn
• Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator – Sam Gainsbury
• New Establishment Award – Christopher Kane
• BFC Outstanding Achievement in Fashion - Paul Smith

Victoria Beckham tries to bring leg warmers back

Once the preserve of dancers and kids of the 1980s, it seems the leg warmer is due a bit of a fashion come-back…if Victoria Beckham gets her way.

VB has been spotted out and about in one of her catwalk looks from the SS12 show (corset-detail dress) with LEATHER LEG WARMERS!

They might be practical in keep legs cosy and handily clip onto Louboutins but is this a look you think we’ll see the high street
emulating?

We’re not sure but tips to VB for practicing what she preaches!

VB - with warm legs

Check out the look on the catwalk

Images: The Telegraph.

Victoria Beckham for Net-a-Porter

Victoria Beckham has created a dress exclusive to Net-a-Porter. Launched just yesterday, the exclusive item sits alongside a handful of other dresses designed by the ex-pop star and three designs have already sold out…pretty impressive as they are all over £1,000!

The exclusive one: 100 silk + wool blend double-crepe dress for £1,395

And for the non-exclusive dresses that are now sold-out…

The extra-pricey one: Belted silk gazaar dress £1,950

Our favourite: Wool crepe dress £1,050

For super skinny waists: Draped wool + silk belted crepe dress £1,680

Fashion’s obsession with arty optical illusions

Optical Illusions are having (another) fashion moment. Stella McCartney’s ‘Illusion’ dress has been a huge hit with celebrities and spawned a hundred high street copy-cat designs, that enhance women’s curves in the most flattering way.

Penelope Cruz wears McCartney Illusion in a more unusual blue

Reminds us of...

Curve-friendly

Alexander McQueen has previously played with optical illusion dresses back in 2009, producing the hypnotic moiré-print dress. Herve Leger also went optical trickery crazy at around the same time with a super flattering banded body-con dress (of course).

I LOVE this McQueen dress on Victoria Beckham - genius.

Get waisted with Herve Leger's banded dress

Now it seems that beauty is getting in on the Op-Art action. This Optical Bronzer by Mac includes blush too and promises a super flattering shade for most skin tones…and it’s pretty! We’re keen to give it a go for £34.95, especially as it reminds us of super Brit artist Bridget Riley’s work which is a tad pricier.

Was Bridget Riley Mac's inspiration?

I always feel guilty about using such beautiful cosmetics!

If Mac could re-create this Riley for us as another blush that would be great, thanks x

Do you want to see more of this Op Art trend in beauty and on the catwalk or is it just us?

Posh fashion line bags Victoria Beckham £15 million

We love Victoria Beckham’s latest fashion collection (especially the cat dress!) and it seems that plenty of other people are convinced of the ex-starlet’s fashion prowess as her line generated over £15m of sales in the first 3 months of this year.

It’s expected that sales will continue to rise as more celebs wear Victoria’s creations (like Cheryl Cole and Kate Winslet) and with the roll-out of a slightly cheaper diffusion line. It’s reported that Victoria’s sales have increased by over 70 percent on last season.

Apparently if this success continues, sales could exceed £60 million in 2011 and Victoria might earn around the same amount as her husband, who we’ve read is on about £500k a week. (Should have been a footballer).

Eye-catching diffusion dress

Alexa Chung + Victoria Beckham do grown-up chic

They are recognised as two of the most stylish ladies on the planet – Alexa Chung and Victoria Beckham and both even have their own clothing lines. Here are two random pictures that simply make us go wow! (Well, there doesn’t always have to be a theme/excuse does there?)

How can a normal stripy shirt look SO good?

VB does colour - baby accessory optional.

Pics: The DM + Terry Richardson’s Diary.