'Stupid' Diesel Campaign Banned

One of the Diesel ads that has been banned by the ASA. Copyright Diesel

Now I've never been a massive fan of Diesel, but you know I like their jeans and think their brand is pretty darn cool.

However, like FCUK before them, Diesel's new 'Be Stupid' campaign has cause a wee bit of controversy for the risque images featured.

Basically it's political correctness gone mad in my view. I think the images are funny, original and as The Guardian so rightly pointed out, award-winning.

They've been featured in magazines and on posters so far, but now the ASA (that's Advertising Standards Authority to you and me) has ruled that outdoor posters can no longer be shown in case they reach an "untargeted medium".

Kids have seen much worse than the image above in everyday life in my opinion. Hell they've probably done worse, given the level of anti-social behaviour that our country currently has.

Why stifle the creativity of one of the coolest brands around? Diesel's response to the criticism was that it was hoping to "tackle society's pre-occupation with 24-7 camera surveillance, yet in a light and non-threatening way".

If that was the thinking behind a woman flashing her boobs at a CCTV camera, then they must really think outside the box!

Check out the full campaign and its images on Diesel's official website

Harry Potter comes of (fashion) age

Harry, Ron and Hermione on the run in Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

Considering I was just 12 when the first film was released, I feel certain nostalgia now that the finale of the Harry Potter series draws ever nearer to a close.

Having watched the new trailer around 100 times since Warner Bros released it early this morning, I am now very sure about three things-

1. It will clearly be a smash
2. Voldemort has gotten scarier
3. All three leads are now leading fashion icons in their own right!

Seriously, Emma Watson started off as a little girl with frizzy hair and white tights, now she’s a worldwide style icon with a campaign for Burberry under her belt.


Emma Watson as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

Daniel Radcliffe was a geek in glasses and then he beefed up, stripped off and took a chance with some crazy coloured suits- all of a sudden he’s someone to admire for his fashion sense.

Then there’s Rupert Grint- funny from the start with wild red hair and freckles. Now he’s worked on his bod, grown his locks out and is still pretty darn funny.

As the stills and the trailer shows, all three have grown up enormously since that awkward Philosopher’s Stone exchange. They’re now fully fledged actors, who have quite simply become their characters to many fans.

Emma has the obvious fashion credentials- anyone can see that from her gorgeous Glastonbury outfit last weekend, and what I love is that some of her style has filtered down into the bookish Hermione.

That tailored navy blazer she wears on the run and that stunning red wedding dress are just a few of the fashion spoilers we’ve been treated to in the new trailer.

As for Harry and Ron, well they work the jeans and hoodie combo with real style! Together they just look the part and no wonder fans are getting very excited a mere five months away from its release.

Me personally, I’ve already booked my seat in the queue for the first midnight showing. Maybe it’s mad, or maybe just maybe it’s magic...

Check out the official Warner Bros Trailer below

Doctor Who: Style Icon!

The Doctor and Amy in action in 'Vampires of Venice' Copyright BBC

I was absolutely resolute no-one could ever replace David Tennant's magnetic, eclectic and of course- sexy Doctor, but after slowly being won over week after week with Matt Smith's offering, I have to say David Who?

Smith is just funny- simple as. He makes me laugh, makes me cry and I absolutely love his stubbornness that 'bowties are cool' thrown in every now and again whenever anyone questions his style.

Forget Karen Gillan's natural fashion flare- although we'll get to her later- for me, Smith's nerdy Doc pushes all the right buttons.

In theory a geek in a tweed suit with floppy hair and braces should not be attractive and yet, he totally pulls it off. Maybe it's his humour, or you know he's pretty fit without all the clever one liners, but whatever it is he's got, he's got it in bucket loads.

Every critic has eaten their words- including me and quite honestly the finale rendered me utterly speechless with the fast paced plot combined with one hell of an emotional rollercoaster.

Putting the Doc in a Fez hat and running around with a mop was the best bit for me, although Amy and Rory's wedding did bring a wee tear to my eye. Mainly because I cried my eyes out when Rory died so un-expectedly, so I was chuffed to bits they brought him back for the finale and had Amy realise once again how much she loves him.

Enough of the soppy stuff though, now to praise Amy and more importantly Karen's fantastic fashion throughout the series. Jumper dresses teamed with converse, tiny hot pants combined with cowboy boots and my personal favourite- her fabulous wedding dress and rose headband.

Off screen Karen has been praised for her natural beauty and own personal style- gaining column inches after column inches for vintage one offs and grungy red carpet appearances.

I think next year will be even better for Gillan and Smith- they have a fantastic partnership, great chemistry and of course, both are major style icons in their own right now!

Bring on the Christmas special... the countdown has begun.

Kate Moss Goes Dominatrix... Yawn

Kate Moss has been a hippy, a dominatrix, a rock chic, a glamour puss and now- oh, a dominatrix again. Is anyone else just a wee bit tired of Mossy?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m an avid follower of Kate and her ever changing looks; she and she alone can start and end trends, but when you see her recycling the same thing, you start to look elsewhere for a bit of fashion inspiration.

Harsh? Yes perhaps, but trying to shock has been done- over and over again by Kate and now the harder she tries, the more I recoil.

For someone who practically symbolised what 90s and for the most part 00s fashion was all about, Kate seems to have fallen of the radar a bit- is this latest magazine shoot her way of proving she’s still ‘got it’?

The shoot in question by the way is for uber trendy i-D magazine, which features Kate rocking a PVC corset and skirt, complete with lace stockings and Vivienne Westwood platform shoes. The harsh scraped back hair and dark lipstick is a look she’s donned before and consequently isn’t that scandalous.

Kate does look gorgeous and yes, she knows how to work a camera but it’s all a bit samey. If she really wants to shake things up- why not change her hair? That gorgeous dark crop from 2001 is now a distant memory and that mid length dirty blonde style now seems to reign supreme.

Mossy has been around for a while, so admittedly she has stayed current by constantly changing her look but now I wonder if she’s run out of options.

Just last month she launched her 12th collection for Topshop and although she’s always received critical acclaim, they just aren’t the guaranteed sell-outs they once were.

Am I being unfair, or has is it time for a new style icon to champion? Let me know!

Lady Gaga takes a fashion tumble!

There is no-one who can match Lady Gaga when it comes to rocking the most outrageous outfits, but even style icons can get it wrong sometimes.

Case in point- the lady in question decided ludicriously high platforms would be the best choice of footwear for strolling through Heathrow airport, only to then fall flat on her face.

To make it worse, the hoards of paparazzi caught it all on camera and the mighty Gaga was left more than a little red faced as she struggled to get back up. Ouch.

Perhaps it wasn't the best day to wear see through underwear, fishnets and a pair of leather chaps either, but I really admire her total lack of shame; she will literally wear anything.

No trainers and tracksuits for this pop star, oh no even catching a plane is a performance and Gaga never fails to live up to the hype.

May I suggest a lower heel next time though, or at least some platform boots that you're actually able to stay up in Gaga?

Mary Queen of Shops: Back in Business!

Mary Portas was something of an enigma to me last year. I’d never heard of her, even though she was everywhere and I felt somewhat ashamed that I was soooo behind the times in not acknowledging this Queen of PR.

Anyway, by total chance I caught Mary on TV with her original Queen of Shops programme and that was that. I not only acknowledged her- I practically fell in love with her.

I was totally hooked on how she took struggling fashion boutiques and turned them around to become thriving successful businesses.

She gave them a brand, an identity and some invaluable advice which helped them to develop their business and in the process, I got to drool over some fantastic fashion- be it high end or vintage.

So you can imagine my excitement when I flicked on the TV last night and saw that she was back on the box. I shrieked- yes, actually shrieked and perked right up from the nap I was about to have.

About two minutes in however, it appeared that Mary was now taking on every aspect of helping the British independent and last night it turned out to be a struggling fruit and veg shop in Hoylake.

Excitement quickly turned to dismay, not least because the people featured didn’t seem to appreciate Mary’s honesty and let’s face it- expertise.

However, as it turned out Mary’s lush accessories and fabulous outfits made it worth me tuning in for the whole experience, and the finished product at the end was just stunning.

I actually wanted to Google that little greengrocers and head on down there at 10pm to get my hands on their produce.

Here’s to next week… whatever she may be saving!

Wimbledon Fashion: Williams Sisters show how it’s done!

Screenshot of Serena Williams playing live on Centre Court- Copyright BBC

They’re the undisputed Queens of Wimbledon who never fail to shine in the two week tournament and this year will be no exception, I am sure.

Forget their actual form or rankings; I’m talking about their impeccable fashion choices of course!

With Venus dazzling yesterday on Centre Court in a Tina Turner inspired dress and Serena rocking a lovely little fitted jacket today, they really know how to make Tennis interesting.

First let’s discuss Venus’s outfit, which is about as far removed from a traditional Tennis dress as you could get.

The halter neck style was uber flattering and I loved the way her tasselled skirt shimmied as she darted around the court. All in all, a very nice effort from the elder Williams- elegant, yet still edgy.

Now to Serena, who championed big red knickers under her fitted Nike dress. It’s a shame she couldn't play in that cute jacket though, that really was a nice touch!

The BBC live commentary also noticed that she had fabulous sparkly silver nail polish on her nails, with a small ‘S’ in the middle! How rock chic.

As for the men, well Roger Federer is always fun to watch; ridiculously talented and not afraid to take chances with his Wimbledon wardrobe.

Andy Murray plays it safe with his style, but he’s someone who is all about the game as opposed to who’s styling him. May I just also add on a side note, he’s looking seriously hot this year…go guns, I say!

Cat Deeley’s Vintage line on QVC

Cat Deeley's Modern Vintage Jewellery Line on OVC. Copyright QVC

I don’t know about you but I love Cat Deeley. Ever since she first came to my attention on SMTV Live alongside Ant & Dec, she’s been one of my fave fashion icons and presenters.

Since graduating from kids TV to making more adult programmes (no, not that kind!) she’s been pretty unstoppable, even culminating in a move to the US in 2006.

That was clearly a smart move since the American’s love her and her style, as well as her Brummie accent apparently!

It helps of course that she’s a former model with glowing skin, sunshine locks and a wardrobe to die for as well, with a bit of a quirk which makes her stand out from the crowd.

Always on the 'Best Dressed' lists on both sides of the Atlantic, I’m surprised she hasn’t dabbled in the fashion and accessories industry before now, as by the looks of things her new ‘Modern Vintage’ jewellery line looks set to be a massive hit.

Appearing on QVC last Friday, the lovely Cat told audiences all about her new affordable line, which is both colourful and pretty intricate in detail too.

It was definitely a nice touch having the lady herself talk about her pieces, as those presenting skills certainly came in handy with persuading the audience to buy!

Although I’ll admit it was by total and utter chance I came across watching QVC (slightly addicted to teleshopping at the moment, I’ve just bought a whole new knife set I didn’t need) it was great seeing a fellow Brit beaming back at me and trying to get me to buy something I do need... Now what was the phone number again?

The High Street Get Real

Image taken from Debenhams online Swimwear section

So, a funny thing happened to me yesterday while I was out shopping on the high street- I saw a model in a store window that actually looked normal. I know, shock horror.

Everywhere I go these days I’m confronted with the image of perfection; young beautiful girls with impossibly skinny frames and glowing with airbrushed radiance.

Even in plus size stores, I always find the women posing in those promotional photos to be a tad unrealistic, so in every corner of the market women are being presented with a target which is impossible to achieve.

Clearly this is an issue which does irritate me, so I definitely did a double take when confronted on my shopping trip with an image of an un-airbrushed model in her summer swimwear.

Although I was shocked, I can’t say I was surprised having read in the papers this week about Debenhams ditching the airbrushing and M&S’s campaign to find a ‘real woman’ for their new season’s line.

The woman in question looked gorgeous; yes she was slim and radiant, but she hadn’t been altered in one way. No unnecessary reshaping, hair removal or re-shading certain areas- it was a definite step in the right direction.

Debenhams seem to really be rebelling against the traditional fashion values on the high street now and clearly aren’t afraid to try new things. After all this is the store who gave us size 16 mannequins in the window and used a disabled model to re-launch Ben de Lisi’s new Principles range for the store.

M&S is following suit by running a competition to find a real lady for their new DD+ lingerie collection. By bringing reality back to the high street, I think they stand a real chance of making up the lost ground caused by the recession.

After all who wants to spend money on clothes that look fantastic on the model but horrendous on us real women? And that’s why the losses continue, until they rest of the retailers realise this. British high street... take note!

Ascot Ladies: Back in the White

There seemed to be only one colour on show at Ascot on the final day of the Royal event, and that was white, white and more white!

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie shone in white tailored jackets and typical OTT hats, but for once it was Beatrice who seemed to have the edge with her look.

Rocking a gorgeous cream ruffled dress, nude shoes and biscuit coloured fascinator, Bea outshone her little sis, who in turn opted for a Royal blue dress, matching bag and feathered white fascinator.

Even their Gran, the Queen went for a white overcoat over her suitably stylish grey and white polka dot suit- clearly this is a trend that’s here to stay!

Only at this sort of event would it be even slightly fashionably acceptable to have your Nan wearing the same colour, albeit a different styled jacket to you. Oh to move in those circles...

Ascot Fashion 2010: Ladies Day!

One has to be both posh and stylish to qualify for entrance to this exclusive event, so naturally this will encourage people to go OTT in the vain hope of getting some press coverage.

So.. congratulations to Roxanne Pallet of Emmerdale fame, who was allegedly turned away from the Royal enclosure because her dress was too short!

In addition to this she was also sporting Miss Selfridge bunny ears, which would have been more suitable on a hen night rather than this kind of event- although I confess, they were pretty cool!

To save face Roxy then changed into a knee-length one shouldered cream number, complete with a cute little fascinator and was in favour once again.

I must give a special mention to Simon Cowell's ex, Jackie St Clair for her giant poppy hat, which just dwarfed everyone she stood next to and looked fab against her elegant navy dress.

Although the celebs put in a pretty good effort, it was the nobodies who really shone in balloon hats, peacock feathers and my personal favourite- a massive box of chocolates fashioned as a giant fascinator. Brilliantly bonkers; roll on next year!

Glee: Fashion Line Planned?

Omg, this is the best news ever! Clearly those clever people at Fox have caught on to the fact that our Glee cast are not only amazing singers, but are in fact, style icons in the making too.

Now that the season has ended, we need a daily dose of Glee news to keep us happy and this will do nicely.

Apparently plans are in motion for a 'Glee clothing line' to be sold at Macy's and an accessories divison to be available at Claire's.

Now for those in the UK, this may be cause to weep, but I'm sure they'll find a way to make it available here, considering its massive success on E4.

If they manage to replicate Rachel's cute skirt and sock combo, Quinn's floaty dresses and Mercedes soul wardrobe, I have a feeling they'll be on to a massive winner both here and over the pond.

Check out my fave spoiler site, TV Fanatic for the full scoop. www.tvfanatic.com/2010/06/coming-soon-glee-fashion-glee-books/

Cheryl vs. Natalie: It's Fashion War!

Whoever goes up against Cheryl Cole in the style stakes is clearly a brave lady, and Natalie Imbruglia isn't the first person I'd chose to compete with the mighty Chezza.

After Geri's disastrous appearance as both a judge and as a style icon, we've got the delights of Katy Perry and Pixie Lott to look forward to over the summer.

But this weekend was the turn of Nat and although she did me proud in a hot pink number and black stilettos, she then went an committed the worst kind of style crime... wearing the same dress twice.

Now wearing it twice in the same year is of course expected, six months is perfectly acceptable, in a month you may be pushing it, in a week...no no no and in the space of two days... style suicide.

While Nat decided to recycle on day two, Cheryl pulled out a gorgeous Missoni number, which showed off her pins to perfection and inadvertently sealed Ms Imbruglia's fashion fate.

I'm a big fan of Missoni's SS10 collection; it's light, playful and has a distinctly Tribal influence- in essence perfect for Cheryl's edgy reinvention.

Three season's in and she's no longer the Barbie with short (albeit) gorgeous dresses and ridiculously big hair. These days she's more urban and dare I say it, 'hip' Here's to the rest of the auditions, I say!

I don't know about you, but I could totally see Cheryl rocking this look next...

Copyright Missoni S/S '10 collection

So...THAT Katy Perry dress!

Screenshot of Katy Perry taken from James Corden's World Cup Live on 12/6/10 Copyright ITV

Forget World Cup fever and the finger of blame that currently resides with some goalie called Green, what really got my pulse rising last night was Katy Perry's fab World Cup dress!

Appearing on James Corden's World Cup Live alongside Simon Cowell, the gorgeous Ms Perry rocked a plastic flag dress, with one half dedicated to us Brits and the other to her home nation.

She hilariously stole the show with her quick quips and her very er, passionate plea for everyone to 'back the bush' (yes, it really is what you think) this World Cup.

While men 'back the beard, Katy's own unique take on it is sure to give us ladies a chuckle, while our blokes drone on about formations and fouls for the next few months.

In fact, I'd love for her to appear after every one of England's games and give her 'Katy' perspective to all, because aside from being hilarious to watch, that lady knows how to dress.

I'm curious to see how she'd top a rubber flag dress, complete with dominatrix style ponytail and femme fatale red lips though.

That said, this is the girl who has dressed up as Wonder Woman and a banana before, so really if anyone can top this look she can!

The Apprentice: Finale Fashion

Wow, I can't believe how well the kids did last night. Both teams really pulled it out of the bag when it really mattered... and impressed me no end with their fashion choices!

Don't get me wrong I thought their pitches were impressive and their branding fantastic, but for me it was all about who shined in the style stakes and once again Zoe came out on top.

Green tights teamed with a Margaret Thatcher-esque puffy blouse was a stroke of genius, while Tim clearly decided to follow my advice and ditch the tie altogether looking much more relaxed and altogether more confident.

Arjun and Kirsty stuck to what they did best on the night, rocking comfortable suits and simple tailoring. Although Arjun is still my little fashion gem of the series, with that fab hair- I'm very glad he ended up scooping the prize in the final boardroom!

Speaking of the boardroom, I only just clicked- six weeks into this process- that all the candidates wear the same clothes to face the Lord after each task!

How I missed this, I have no clue and what's more puzzling is why?! Continuity, or were all the boardroom showdowns filmed at once? There's a definite conspiracy theory to be explored there!

Special mention must go to Nick, who manages to get more sarcastic with each series, but does get more adventurous with his tie choices as well, so go Nick!

As for Karen, well this lady is destined for big things. She's slotted in so well with The Apprentice format and like I mentioned previously, she's a style icon in the making.

I'm already starting the countdown for the adult Apprentice next year; join me won't you?!

Cheryl's Killer Louboutins!

Cheryl Cole is certainly bringing out the big fashion guns on Day One of the new X Factor auditions, rocking a fabulous pair of Christian Louboutin heels and a killer leopard print dress.

Looking every bit the style starlet, her £1035 pair of lizard and python heels totally stole the show in Glasgow.

In case you fancy splurging a whole month's salary on these saliva-inducing platform heels, here's a piccy to drool over. Check out Christian Louboutin's official website for stockists, if you know, browsing turns to buying!




You can thank me later :)

The Junior Apprentice: Fashion Verdict

Forget the wannabe business brains of tomorrow; this series of Junior Apprentice has been all about one thing- the fashion.

Special mention on last night’s episode has to go to the lovely Karen Brady and her gorgeous Chanel necklace.

A worthy replacement for Margaret, I’ve found my eyes wandering away from the contestants on more than one occasion to sneak a peak at the fab shoes, stunning dresses and classic accessories that she's been rocking over the past five weeks.

I look forward to seeing her up the game for the adult Apprentice next year, but, until then let's get back to the scarily confident teens that have been storming the junior version.

Here’s my fashion verdict on the final four..

Zoe: Oh Zoe, how I wish I’d had your confidence with clothes at your age. Slicked back hair and a fiercely red pout, she has a no-nonsense attitude to both business and fashion. The real style rebel over the past six weeks, I've loved her beret, sailor style suits and colourful array of tights, despite her attitude really grating on me.

Tim: He's grown on me, Tim has. I like the fact he straightens his hair to perfection each day and still manages to look scruffy with his choice of suits! That said last night's tie-less look was uber-cool and dare I say it?- a wee bit attractive! Keep up the good work, Tim.

Kirsty: Despite being dwarfed by most of her fellow competitors, she’s mastered the knack of being intimidating and business-like with her cleverly cut suits and cute accessories.

Arjun: He has fantastic hair, a cute face and stylish specs. All combined with the fact he knows how to work a cool suit and is genuinely the nicest guy ever, he'll go far in the world of business and fashion; mark my words!

Read my verdict on the final tomorrow...

Pixie Lott set for the X Factor?

Could this be a more perfect choice of guest judge?!

Apparently Simon Cowell has called upon the lovely Pixie to star in Monday's auditions, after being super impressed by the 19-year-old on Britain's Got Talent.

After the announcement of Geri's surprise role on the show and now Pixie's appointment, I'm dying to see who else will make an appearance!

Filming is due to start today, and will probably hit our screens at the end of August.

Forget the crazy auditions, all I'm interested is who will come out on top in the fashion wars, after all Pixie's younger than Cheryl and has a whole new style of her own to bring into the mix.

Let the fash battle commence...

Gok’s Fashion Fix: Are We Loving or Loathing?

I’ve long been a fan of the Fairy Gokmother and his crusade to make the women of Britain look and feel good, but his new Fashion Fix series isn’t quite pressing my buttons this year.

Don’t get me wrong the fashion is just as fabulous and the couture is still to die for, but I think the new format is a bit too ‘Trinny and Susannah’ for my taste.

To see a load of women parade their old clothes and practically beg for a make-over from Gok is a bit desperate in my view. Bring back surprising a complete stranger in the street with a once in a lifetime ‘Gok-ing’ and a new dream wardrobe, I say!

There’s the negative out of the way, now for the positive- OMG that Mulberry bag which Brix managed to have custom made by those lovely folks down at the Somerset plant- surely it deserved a catwalk parade all of its own?!

I think that’s what helped her clinch the win this week- that and her looks were the best on the runway. Usually I always favour the high street over high end, but perhaps this was simply her week to shine.

That said I love Gok’s tips for quirking up an outfit- even if sometimes he can be guilty of over-accessorising! Here are some of my faves…

1. Gold pins as fashion accessories: Who knew household pins could be put to such good use?! I loved how he jammed around 50 pins into a pair of stilettos to make them look ‘studded’. Utterly brilliant.

2. Changing buttons on old clothes: This is an oldie but a goody. Gok recommends changing the buttons to update an old outfit and to make your piece stand out from others on the high street.

3. Adding fringing/shoulder pads: I’m not sure I’d wear a top with massive batwing fringe detail, but I loved his creativity last night in adding fringing and shoulder pads to a simple sheer top to give it some serious edge.

Cheryl Cole’s Glamour Dress: Hit or Miss?

She may have won Woman of the Year at last night’s Glamour awards, but is she in danger of losing her fashion crown with her choice of dress for the event?

Her specially made Julien Macdonald gown drew gasps from the crowd, but as some have suggested that may have been more to do with her skinny frame, as opposed to the dress itself.

Low cut, daring and a shimmering shade of pink, complete with black lace detail, I thought it was pretty but for some reason it didn’t seem to do Cheryl justice.

I wasn’t a big fan of her piled up hair either, but her make-up as always, was flawless and complimented the dress perfectly.

With the X Factor auditions starting on Friday, here’s hoping she pulls something spectacular out of the bag to prove she’s still got the Fash Factor. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist!)

Pixie Lott on GMTV

Screenshot taken of Pixie performing on GMTV on 8/6/10 Copyright GMTV

Fashion icon, pop princess and a designer to boot, Pixie has packed a hell of a Lott (geddit?!) into her 19 years on this planet.

Her peroxide locks, heavy eye makeup and Lady Gaga-esque hot pants have made her famous the world over, and you know her music ain’t bad either!

I’ve always had a soft spot for Pixie and this was only further intensified by her performance on GMTV this morning.

At 7.30am she looked immaculate- not a stray hair in sight, no dodgy panda eyes from partying the night before and- OMG that dress; utterly gorgeous.

The polka dot sheer top half and flirty skirt bottom looked youthful, fun and still quite retro. Teamed with knee high socks, a smattering of vintage jewellery and cute ballerina pumps, Pixie is like a younger Fearne Cotton in the making.

Speaking of Fearne, she too seems to have mastered the knack of rocking knee high socks and not resembling a school girl one bit, something which I can only dream of.

When I’ve attempted either knee high or indeed OTK socks, they’ve simply given up half way through the day and crumpled around my ankles in defeat. Pixie, Fearne- you know where I am if you want to share your secret!

Geri and Connie have The X Factor

Ok, so I haven’t officially ‘seen’ this yet to comment on, but hey this is big fashion news, so to hell with it!

I’m surprised by both of these choices really, but more so with the appointment of Geri ,considering her pretty awful stint on Popstars: The Rivals a few years ago.

Even more awkward/odd (delete as appropriate) is that she’ll be sitting next to Cheryl, who was being put through her paces by the former Spice Girl, only a few years ago to win a place in Girls Aloud.

I’ve heard it’s only a guest stint, but personally I feel like I’m having déjà vu, especially with Geri’s new hairstyle looking eerily similar to the one she sported on Popstars as well.

I would have much preferred Mel B, but hey- there is a long summer of auditions ahead and with Danni away, I think a range of guest judges will prove popular with the viewers.

As for Connie, I think this is a risk but one which will pay off in the long run. She’s got Holly’s warmth and has plenty of experience dealing with crying children from her Blue Peter days!

I’m just hoping she pulls out all the fashion stops, ala Cheryl to become the latest style icon to emerge from the show- who said it was all about the singing!?

Let me know what you think about the X Factor line-up so far…

Unusual Fashion Icon: Helena Bonham Carter

Now I may be the only one, but I love Helena Bonham Carter and her crazy (yes that is the only word to describe it) style.

She is the only Brit who doesn't give a toss how she looks in everyday life, on a movie set or on the red carpet, and that is a welcome change from some celebs and their- 'Oh I just threw this ball gown on by chance and look... there's a photographer outside my home'- kind of attitude.

HBC is quirky, unique and a car crash of couture on most occasions, but that's what makes her exciting to look at. In my mind, she's a mixture of Johnny Depp's eccentricity (probably obtained from all their film collaborations together) and Vivienne Westwood's eclectic style.



It helps of course that Helena is partner to one of Hollywood's self-confessed oddballs- the amazing Tim Burton- as well, because together on a red carpet they're practically gothic royalty.

Take last night's TV BAFTA's for instance. Plenty of pretty frocks (Amanda Holden) vintage finds (Lacey Turner in a gorgeous fishtail gown) and the train wreck that is Jordan graced the stage, but it was HBC that turned heads- albeit for the wrong reasons!

Style editors will undoubtedly proclaim her worst dressed and ordinary folk will almost certainly gasp- 'Did she get dressed in the dark?' but me, well I just thought, 'fabulous darling!'

A red satin dress, complete with a black suspender belt, mini top hat and a pair of purple Ozzy Osbourne- inspired shades. Genius really.

Personally I don't think anything can top her Alice in Wonderland look though- that bulbous head, heart shaped pout and frizzy red hair should be made mandatory for all celebs. Oh how I'd laugh if that became reality...

BGT: The final fashion frontier

Wow that was one heck of a final last night, but I think the right people won in the end!

As for Amanda..well her fashion rating reached its peak with her new 'do and white fishtail dress, complete with sparkling shoulders and a sexy side spilt!

After missing Friday's BGT, I caught up just in time to evaluate her looks for this year and it's fair to say it was her best series yet.

This may have been down to fabulous designers, Ralph & Russo who custom made all her frocks for the week and in doing so sky-rocketed Amanda to fashion superstardom.

My only little niggle was with Friday's frock, which I felt was a tad dull compared with the rest of the week's outfits. The corseted fit was perfect and she undoubtedly looked elegant but I just thought it was too safe and needed a wacky accessory to crank it up to the next level.

So with this year's BGT all wrapped up, bring on The X Factor I say!

BGT: Amanda Fashion Watch

Seeing as I missed BGT on Wednesday night for the aforementioned SATC movie fiasco, I’ve only just caught up. Purple fitted dress with large bow and sparkly shoes- where can you go wrong?!

Turns out you can’t, especially if you have Amanda’s stylist because so far this week, this lady has rocked so many different looks, I’ve had trouble keeping track. That said...here’s my rundown of her top looks so far...

Monday...Black and Beautiful: So unbelievably elegant and sexy, this is Amanda at her best. Loose curly hair and simple jewellery- including that HUGE sparkler that Stevie swallowed, she just looked stunning. 9/10

Tuesday...Grecian Goddess: I loved this look on her from the waist up, but the drape of the dress was a little unflattering on someone as slender as Amanda. The hairpiece was a nice touch and pretty trendy too, but the hoops were a little chavtastic for me. 7/10

Wednesday...Purple Princess: The cut of this dress was gorgeous on Amanda; flattering, chic and oh-so on trend with that lovely big bow! Cute accessories and those Dorothy-esq shoes make this a winner for me on every level. 10/10

Thursday...Glitter Bug: Tapping into her inner Balmain with spiky shoulders and sequins Amanda looked like a total glamour puss! Smokey eyes and poker straight locks completed the look perfectly. Thank god she resisted the urge to crimp; otherwise we’d of been looking at a very sorry sight indeed! 8/10

More on Amanda watch tomorrow and a full rundown of the final on Sunday...

SATC2 Review: Fab or Drab?

I so hoped the reviews were wrong about this film…but after two hours waiting in a never ending, baking hot queue to see the last showing of the day, I’m afraid to say the reviews weren’t just accurate, but perhaps kinder than they should have been.

Now I’m not saying this was a total disaster, after all this is a fashion blog and Sex and the City is nothing if not all about the fashion. So, I’ll skirt past the mediocre plot and just stick to where the film excels...the clothes, the hats and of course, the shoes!

Whoever thought up the 80s fashion flashback is a total genius, I have to say. Carrie with a poodle perm, Samantha in ill-fitting clothes, Miranda’s awful bowl haircut and Charlotte wearing trainers- this was seriously one of the best moments in whole two and a half hours I sat there watching this!

Of course I loved their desert outfits too; completely OTT and clashed wonderfully. No ordinary women would ever wear Dior and Manolos in the baking hot sun, in sand, on a camel and yet somehow they made it work, because let face it- we all wish we were them.

Unsurprisingly there were plenty of other fashion wow moments, mainly from the Queen of quirk herself- Carrie Bradshaw. From the recycled Galliano newspaper dress, to her wedding tuxedo complete with Lady Gaga-esque tiara, to THAT slit-to-the-thigh, tie die maxi dress, which will hereafter be referred to as the ‘cheater’ dress.

Ironically I recall her wearing something similar when she was cheating on Aiden with Big, so to have it flipped around here was a nice twist. Now all we need is Big and Aiden getting it on for it to be even stevens with all three of them.

Anyway back to the fashion...Miranda was a heck of a lot more fun in this movie. More colour and more cleavage mainly, while Charlotte’s continued her run of looking like the perfect Park Avenue princess.

I may be on my own here, but I would LOVE her to go a little crazy and dress like Samantha in the next movie (come on, we all know it’s going to happen) just to throw her out of her fashion comfort zone, and there’s no-one who likes to show off her body more than our Sam.

Speaking of Samantha, she was on brilliant form in this movie with her witty one-liners-“Lawrence of my Labia” was a particular favourite of mine- and a hilarious addiction to a mixture of pills and youth creams to ward off the menopause.

I’ve always found her fashion choices to be the most interesting, purely because she will happily wear a plunging neckline mini-dress to the office and not give one hoot what other people will think.

All in all it’s a fashion feast for the hardcore fans like me, who dream of owning their own walk in wardrobe and rack upon rack of Manolos, but for those after both style and substance you may find yourself disappointed.

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Glee Goes Gaga!!!!!

To say I was excited about this episode airing would be something of an understatement- the previews alone were enough to tantalise even the mediocre Glee fans into a frenzy!

So to the plot and more importantly the fashion...

Annoying though he is, Mr Shue decided to tap into his inner cool and assign our Gleeks the task of channelling Lady Gaga for the week, all because Tina wasn't allowed to be a Goth anymore. Clearly a very flimsy excuse, but who cares because we got to see Kurt wear a powdered wig, Rachel don a homemade cuddly toy costume (more on this gem later) and the best moment bar none so far this season... Finn in a red shower curtain dress, complete with eye mask.

Here's my fash ratings for the episode...

Tina: Good lord that was a lot of bubbles for one outfit, but actually worked rather nicely on a pretty boring character. Was a little bit confused as to why she was wearing it after the assignment ended, like two days earlier, but after her hilarious vamp attack on Figgins, all is forgiven. 7/10

Kurt: Never one to shy away from dressing up, Kurt rocked a fantastic silvery blue suit, powdered white wig and stacked platforms that even Gaga would be dubious about wearing, in this episode. Great message about staying true to yourself and blah blah blah... so seriously, how cool were those shoes?! 9/10

Quinn: Is she even pregnant anymore?! Loved loved loved this edgier look on the former head Cheerio- those lashes were fierce and the pink streaks were fab. Is it wrong that I want to wear this look on a night out, as opposed to just for fancy dress or Halloween?! 8/10

Rachel: Poor little Rachel with her two gay dads who can't sew. Good job this girl is gorgeous really, after all who could pull off a stapled outfit of cuddly toys?! Well, actually she couldn't either, until her mum stepped in and fashioned an A-Mazing geometric dress complete with Gaga shades. Fit as. 8/10

Finn: As cute as he is, when it comes to brains I think Finn was sadly missed out, if his tactless (if accurate) attack on Kurt was anything to go by. That said, his way of making it up to him (a full length red plastic dress, with puffy sleeves fashioned out of a shower curtain) was pretty special. Sounding like a superhero and acting like one as well, he saved Kurt from the bad guys and rallied the other Gaga wannabe's to realise they were freaks, but hey- that's ok. 10/10

Mercedes, Santana and Brittany: These ladies didn't get a lot to do this week, and that kind of showed in the costumes. They didn't set my world alight, although Brittany's "You look terrible. I look awesome." comment was pure genius. Love her.