Kate who?

If only I could conjure up £300.
Mario Testino's 'Kate Moss' book which contains over 100 images of my absolute favourite model shot by Vogue's favourite photographer is being published this month.
The reason for the huge price tag is that it's limited edition (there were only 1500 copies made and each one is signed by the world famous photographer) and it includes never before seen photos of the pair as well as an actual essay from Mossy herself.

Pretty special, oui?
(Although I'd still feel really guilty for spending that much money on one book...)
So to mark the publication of the book here are some of my favourite shots of Kate Moss taken by Mario Testino, both undeniable fashion legends:

Kate Moss Spring Summer 2010 collection

As usual I love some of the Kate Moss for Topshop designs (those gorgeous maxi dresses and that fab Kimono) and loathe some of the others (a multicoloured feathered cape springs to mind...)
But for once I think I have found a dress that I could actually wear (see below)

Obviously the whole appeal of the Kate Moss for Topshop collection is that the supermodel herself played some part in coming up with the collection- however the sceptical side of me says that this was not very much- and this is the aspect which shoppers are attracted to.

Many bloggers and magazines critical of the collaboration say that the poor and deluded Topshop customers shop the range because they think that this will make them look like Kate Moss.
But no one is stupid enough to think that one perchase of an embellished shift dress is enough to make them look like the famous multimillionaire supermodel, pouting in the adverts.
Instead they buy the clothes because they look good and they want to emmulate her unique and celebrated sense of style. Sure they want to buy into her brand as well, like any other well established designer or label. I mean I love that little 'Kate Moss' logo as much as the next girl, but people who are interested in fashion can think for themselves too. They are not going to buy just anything with Kate Moss' supposed seal of approval.

But I do have approval for this printed swing dress, from her new collection. So tempting...

List Monday- Top 10 Trends of the Decade

Seeing as we are fast approaching 2010 I thought I would sum up the biggest crazes we have seen in the noughties, including the good, the bad and the ugly.

1. Internet and Technology. Where would be be without our Blogger/Google/Facebook/Ipods/Wikipedia/Twitter? It's hard to imagine life without any of them now.

2.The Bob- Made popular this year by Posh Spice putting off her WAGish extensions and now everyone is at it from Katie Holmes to Rihanna. So as far as hair is concerned shorter is definitely better, not to mention chicer.
(Haha I am such a hypocrite I have long hair but don't have the guts to chop it off...)

3. Fake tan- Bleh. Need I say more?

4. 'Thinspiration'- Each decade has a new perception of woman; in the fifties it was the hourglass figure, in the sixties it was waifs like Twiggy, then big hair and hippy flares for healthy looking woman in the seventies, athletic leg warmers and neon for females in the eighties and amazonian glamorous supermodels (including the greats: Linda, Naomi, Christy and Cindy) in the nineties but this decade it will be known for the way-too-thin models. Dare I even say anorexic?
Make no mistake I am a big fan of Kate Moss, Jourdan Dunn, Sasha Pivovarova, Agyness Deyn, Karlie Kloss, Alexa Chung, Coco Rocha, Sophie Dahl Daisy Lowe and Chanel Iman (I could go on) but do you not think that it is time for something different?

5.The Rise of the Vampires- Is it any wonder we love vampires? Even just the word "vampire" has associations with lust, passion, blood, gore and now thanks to Stephanie Meyers, Edward Cullen, the ultimate fictional heart throb. Thanks to the books which have sold millions and now have a cult following and the new adult TV series True Blood which just shows that vampires are not just for tweens. So its no surprise that Vampires are here to stay.

6. Chick Lit- Ever since Helen Fielding wrote Bridget Jones, the best selling author has spawned a whole load of copy cats and even started her own genre. Without Chick Lit we wouldn't have Sex and The City, based on the column by Candance Bushnell and a ton of other films and books.

7. Reality TV- Earlier this year Big Brother said that they were stopping the programme after one more series because the viewing figures were plummeting. We have seen it all in that George Orwell 1984 inspired house and they have had every single type of person imaginable in there. We have seen the "dumb blonde bimbo" (see point 8 haha) the angry middle aged woman, the gay dancer, the '"intellectual student" who says he is going into the house "because it is an interesting social experiment." They cannot shock us anymore.

But of course we can't forget Simon Cowell who seems to be single handedly carrying on the Reality TV rein (whilst infiltrating the music charts) with the phenomenal X-Factor (19.1 people watched the final last night!) and of course the series which brought us Susan Boyle, Britain's Got Talent.

8. The WAG and the 'Dumb' Blonde- Thanks to Jessica Simpson, Jordan, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie (who interestingly enough tweeted "P.S. I went brunette. I feel smarter already" earlier this week) and films like "Legally Blonde" we have a new stereotype of the girl who wants nothing more than to marry a rich man, own a chihuahua, have big boobs and dress in head to toe pink.

9. Indie Music- The past decade has brought us The Strokes, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines and Deathcab for Cutie to name a few. For me it is definitely the defining music of the era.

10. Big Franchises- Good 'ol J.K.Rowling didn't know what she had started when she released Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. She went from scribbling chapters on the back of napkins at her local cafe in Edinburgh to being worth more money than the Queen. Soon to follow suit and jump on the merchandise bandwagon was Spiderman, Lord of the Rings, Batman, A series of Unfortunate Events, Narnia etc etc etc. Nice one Harry, Ron and Hermione.

What do you think are the best and the worst trends of the decade? It doesn't have to be one on my list either, just let me know in a comment, I would love to hear what you think...

Beth xx

Top 10 Best Dressed- London Fashion Week

This season the fashion forward celebrities who attended London Fashion Week outdid themselves in the style stakes. But out of all of the people and the parties here is my countdown of top 10 best dressed of the week:

10. Georgia Jagger in Chloe. With that bed head hair and minimal makeup she looks like she has rolled out of bed and into her heels. The ultimate laid back look.

9. Agyness Deyn doing what she does best at the Burberry afer party; tomboy cool. Brouges, mini dress, stockings and a cool jacket top off her casual night time look.

8. Leigh Lazark shimmers in this all black glittery number.

7. The lovely Jourdan Dunn looks gorgeous holding this shocking pink Mulberry clutch. (I had to stop myself from using the words "glowing" and "radiating" which is what people always seem to describe pregnant ladies as...)

6. Kaya Scodelario, who plays the oh so cool Effy in Skins looks oh so cool here in a Comme Des Garcons tee and Mulberry shoes.

5. Super models Natalia Vodianova and Lily Donaldson are the perfect stylish pair. Loving Lily's necklace and Natalia's Stella Mccartney dress.

4. Chanel Iman looks stunning at the Mulberry after party. Love that midnight blue jacket. But then she looks so good she could wear a plastic Tescos carrier bag and make it look fashionable.

3. Kate Moss, Queen of bohemian cool looks amazing at the Topshop unique show. I predict I rise in the sale of trilbys!

2. Alexa Chung, self confessed Luella obsessor looked amazing in this floral spring summer frock at the Vogue LFW dinner. Love her eye makeup, wish I could master that 'cat flick' liquid eyeliner look.

1. But at number one it has to be Emma Watson. She outshone all of the other A-Listers from Victoria Beckham to Liv Tyler at Buberry's closing party for the 25th anniversary of LFW in this dazzling dress.
Seriously is there nothing this girl can't do?
-She plays the one and only Hermione Granger.
-She has got a place at Brown University, one of the best in America and got straight A's on her A-Levels (nearly said OWLS then but stopped the Harry Potter nerd speak coming out just in time)
-She is doing some designing for charity People Tree
-AND on top of all that she always manages to look good.

However this Burberry dress (which is the ultimate party frock: short + sequins = stunning!) paired with some killer heels, tousled hair and smoky eyes is her best fashion choice yet.

Who is your number 1 best dressed from London Fashion Week?

Oh how I wish I was sitting in her stylish high heeled shoes...

Chloe Green is one lucky lady.

As well as getting as many Topshop clothes as she wants for free because her billionaire dad Phillip Green runs the store she gets to sit next to Kate Moss on the front row of the Topshop show at London Fashion Week...

Jealous, me?!

But then again her Dad is there as well, which does make the whole "I'm sitting next to the one and only Kate Moss" thing seem quite a bit less cool.

B xx

Latest Style Obsession: Plaits

There are many reasons why I am currently in love with braids. Its mainly the fact that you can wear them in so many different ways and that each style looks fresh, feminine and oh so effortless.
I will let the photos do the talking though: Kate in her super cute plaits and daisy chains

We Heart It (I am addicted to this sight. Especially now they have sorted themselves out and improved the layout!)

Another We Heart It find

The beautiful Chloe Sevigny, love her bohemian style plaits.

We Heart It once again- If anyone knows the original sources though let me know!

A brilliant illustration from the artist Elisabeth Moch

Fashion Toast's simple yet cool plait

Braid beauty special in Bogue Taiwan, this hair do is awesome!

And of course they were also seen on the runways- Luella AW 09 had Pippi Longstocking style hyper plaits

Whereas Alexander Wang's spring summer 2010 ready to wear had loose, relaxed and breezy braids
The lovely Karlie Kloss backstage at A Wang.

I hope you have found these images as inspiring as I do...

B xx

Kate Moss AW09

What do you think about Kate Moss Kate Moss' new collection for Topshop?

Because at the moment I am just not sure...
I am a big fan of Kate and usually I want loads of items from her range, but this time round I have only seen 1 out of 47 pieces that I actually want to buy.
However the dress I have my eye on is really lovely (even though it is £50 so I had better get saving!) and looks like it will be perfect for keeping snug in winter whilst looking good.

The Radar- Latest Obsessions

I am off on the train to Bristol tomorrow specially to see the new Banksy exhibition at Bristol City Museam and Art Gallery!
So excited! I am just there for 3 days though so will reply to your lovely comments when I get back.
For now though here is a list of my current obsessions:

1. Christopher Kane for Topshop.

Christopher Kane + Topshop= A match made in style heaven.

His last collection designed specially for Topshop sold out and this one is even better with a whopping 39 pieces including bags and shoes!
The only problem is that even though this special Topshop collection is a fraction of the price of the real thing it is still pretty expensive (or too much for me anyway!) with the price range being from £40 to £160.
Photos were leaked on the internet but then taken off from the Topshop crew before I could save them and add them onto here... So I can confirm there will be a crocodile t-shirt dress similar to his awesome primate inspired ones in his S/S 09 collection but unfortunately I can't get ahold of the photos.
Cannot wait till I can get myself down to Topshop though so I can try something on by my favourite ever designer!

2. Arctic Monkeys new song "Crying Lightning."

3. Paper chain style necklaces a la Louis Vuitton.

4. Whip It Trailer:

5. The Perm.

See ya when I get back...
Beth xx