This one’s for the sneaker freak! Nike remade their classic 1970’s running shoes for Junya Watanabe’s spring 2007 show in Paris. The twist is not in their design, but rather that the shoes are severely distressed to re-create a blast from the past. The soles of these high end sneakers are stained and patched to create that authentic vintage look. Read the rest of this entry »

Nordstrom eyeing up locations in Manhattan for their new flag ship store and the competition better watch out ..Macy’s Barneys and Bergdorf! On your toes there’s a new kid on the block. As reported in Women Wears Daily by Pete Nordstrom: It’s been a goal of ours for a long time and we’re aggressively pursuing the right opportunity, Pete Nordstrom is the president of merchandising. Potential sites include Penn Station by West 34^th Street, lower Manhattan and Columbus Circle vicinity.

Above Vivienne Westwood 1977

 Move over Chanel! Brian Gazar best known for his work on A Beautiful Mind is rumoured to be behind a film based on the life of Vivienne Westwood. It’s bound to include her turbulent relationship with Malcolm McClaren, manager of the Sex Pistols, as well as her transition from miss average to designer punk super star. At the age of Twenty Five she abandons her role as a working class conformist and gets caught up in the underworld of the punk rock revolution. It’s hard to believe that this Fashion guru began her designing empire as ayoung woman slashing T’s and ripping leggings. With Miss Vivienne being one of the most influential designers to date this movie will be a must see!

“You have a better life if you wear impressive clothes” Vivienne Westwood 

Cape Town

Fashionista

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A French actress, Audrey Tautou (Amelie and The Da Vinci Code) is playing Miss Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel in a French film set to be directed by Anne Fontaine. Gabrielle coined the name “Coco” after she sang “Who’s Seen Coco In The Trocadero”. This unknown designer became infamous for her “little black dress” and like many others she began as a girl from humble beginnings. Few people would ever guess this icon began as poverty stricken, illegitimate child of a travelling sales man. After the death of her mother she is sent to a Catholic orphanage where she is left to fend for herself, soon she takes solace in her sewing and magic happens. I just need to look at my eye shadow and tote to know how the story ends. The search is on for the leading man, a French polo player who lends Coco money to open her first store. It’s bound to be great! Everybody loves a good rags-to-riches story filled with character building tragedy and a little romance for the soul. This movie is bound to inspire us all. Filming begins next year. I can’t wait!

Above Chanel and Audrey Tautou who was chosen because of her striking resemblance to the style icon.

Above Marilyn Monroe who famously stated that Chanel no.5 was the only thing she wore to bed.

Cape Town

Fashionista

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Everyone’s wearing the skinny electric style.

Above Posh and Ashlee Simpson sport the trend.

Below Charmaine a student at goldsmith college in

Sara from LifeAtUni: What are you wearing and why?

Charmaine: Summer top from Topshop, jeans from Topshop and bag from

Sara from LifeAtUni: Who inspires you?

 Charmaine: Kate Moss and Kirsten Dunst 

 Sara from LifeAtUni: What is style?

Charmaine: It’s being an individual…. Its about how you interpret fashion.

Why not have a look at this weeks LOOKBOOK ….

And don’t forget to check out our new LOOKBOOK on 5 June which features the short shorts

Charmaine above with Lilly and Rieke

Photograph: Jan Faukner

 Skinny’s out this year ’cause everybody wants to be chunky-licious! Gone are the days of petite stilettos and balancing on twigs. The neighbour-crushing platform and the chunky brick heal is here to stay. As the hemlines are rising so are the heights of heals. And with the short shorts on the mend the flat shoe is definitely on the frits!

Love Cape Town Fashionista

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The cinch belt is the accessory of the year and fashionistas are doubling them up. Hailed as the modern day corset and solely responsible for creating instantly trimmed waistlines and hourglass figures. A single cinch is no longer enough. Most are familiar with the essential 3″ and the classic 4″ available in an array of colours and textures, each finished in an assortment of clasps, buckles and bows. The horn-buckle, the flutter and my favourite the triple buckle belt are going nowhere anytime soon!

Love

Cape Town Fashionista

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Squared!

This summer season the squared look is back with a fresh spin. The squared look meets electric and neon colours. Rocking … You decide…  Below Drew Barrymore in white Ray Ban shades.

Blue seems to be the colour du jour of the moment injecting fun into outfits

Gorgeous with tan and bronzed bodies

This week we feature blue in our London LOOKBOOK to check it out click on the link below http://www.lifeatuni.com/lifestyle/style/lookbook/lookbook.php 

My favorite mini bags…..

Above Marc Jacobs and  Dior drawstring white Mini’s

Above shinny Versace mini and the mini Tods tote    

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London 

Fashionista                                                                                                                                                                                     

The miniature has just gotten HUGE!

Above the Fendi Mini

Little bags are making big waves, girls it’s time to clear out the junk from the trunk ’cause there’s only room for the essentials. Its time to discard all those emergency supplies - that you never end up using but yet take with you everywhere -  leave home with your mobile, keys and wallet. It’s your chance to finally break free from the clutter! You’ll be seeing an array of mini Channel, D&G, Fendi and Hermes, just to name a few. The pocket book, tote.. they’ve all shrunken, but they are more fabulous than ever!

Cheap Chic On the Rampage!  

Cheap chic is on a rampage and its looking fine. Being one of the scouts for LifeAtUni LOOKBOOK I get to check out what Londoners are wearing and why? You’ll find us under every hook, nook and cranny searching for fun and funky individuals to feature in our Fabarrastic LOOKBOOK. Needless to say I get to talk to a lot of Fashion Hungry Young Things and find out what inspires them, what they are wearing, why and where they purchase their goodies and fab spanking buys.   During our last LOOKBOOK shoot we focused on shorts and skirts and what struck me most was that the cutest skirts, tops and dresses were all purchased at H & M and/or Primark… and at bargain basement prices.. one outfit was a total of £12 and this particular participant looked super cute and no-one would of guessed you could LOOK that good for £12! LOOK out for our new LOOKBOOK coming out in June.  Of course we all know Primark rocks but often Primark goodies don’t look that good in reality and better in glossy mags. But I believe that it has become increasingly harder to distinguish the Primark goodie from a Topshop or High Street goodie. Primark cuts and materials seems to have improved and the best part is no longer the price as often Primark items sell on ebay for double the original price! FHYT are preferring to shop at Primark instead of Topshop and increasingly state that they prefer the styles, cuts and LOOK.   It just proves that you can fake it al cheap O style if you have a good eye and pay attention to fabrics and colours. Gone are the days that you are required to wear something expensive or labelled with your Primark al cheap O purchase… now it seems acceptable to strut your bargain buys from head to toe.      

Well that’s what fashion is all about having fun, being daring and dangerous with your expressions!

Hope to see you hot legging it through London, we will be LOOKING for you!

London Fashionista 

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Fashion accessory colour of the moment - Dare To Go Red. Shout it out in luxurious red! Glossy red lips signal glamour queen and enticing ‘kiss me quick’ lips will always be a knock out with the boys.

Red alice bands and belts are eye catching candy delights.  

Band it up in Red

Hydrate in style!

Good bye plastic…. Hello Swaroffski…  my water matches my ring!

Cinderella wannabes on the increase as the rise in foot operations hot foot it up the charts becoming on of the most popular cosmetic surgery operations!

Toe trimming, shaved heels and collagen implants.  Woman are taking a stand on aching and undesirable toes by undergoing foot lifts, foot overhauls or foot corrections in preparation for summer. The most popular operations are shortening of the second toe, toe lengthen and trimming wide feet.   

This summer season many women will grab their shinny stilettos while others grab a gleaming scalpel to replace toes and get rid of corns and straighten skewed toes.

Bones are cut and shaved, silicone is injected into the fat pad of the foot and more.

So what are you?

Shoe Shopper or 

Toe Shopper? 

To complement your stilettos enhance your toes?

No way! Rebel and throw out heels – go for flats, treat your tooties.

Plus Cinderella didn’t have to hot leg it around the city!

Don’t be a toe shopper this season, be a show stopper in flats!

LOL…

Straight off the run way – Chanel took to the skies to in order to show off their ready to wear collections. Chanel created a youthful sporty and preppy LOOK! The creations sported nautical stripes with colorful accessories. Giving us some more nautical glam (a girls gotta ask – how much more nautical glam are we in for this season?)  Other creations included Prep School Society girl meets patent white shoes and ankle peep toe boots, that are surprisingly interesting, edgy and fun! The little white dress teamed with red accessories similar to how Valentino accessorized his little white dress. The collection also featured, wide pants, large look at me hats and one piece swim suits.