Nautical Swimwear

I love daydreaming about cruising about the Caribbean on my own private yacht. Sun shining, sky blue and sea glistening. This is probably not something that I am going to get the chance to do, not this summer any way, but that doesn't mean I can't look the part. I love nautical style clothes, they are timeless, elegant and sometimes a bit retro. You can't go wrong with navy as a colour, it suits most skin tones and is better than black for the summer. I also love the details on nautical style clothes, brass buttons, gold cord, anchor motives and red trim.

The horizontal stripes that are so traditionally nautical look great on swimwear and never really go out of fashion. That is why I will be picking out some nautical swimwear for this year for strolling along the beach in San Tropez, lazing on the deck of my luxury yacht or what ever else I decide to do this summer.

Navy mother of pearl swimsuit

Striped bandeau swimsuit

Navy nautical lace up bikini

Michael Kors abstract print nautical swimsuit

Weekly Shopping and Goodies 20/05/09

Picture from Shopping and info

The shopping and goodies girls have got some real treats to read about this week. Swim wear, give aways, bargains and lots more. Enjoy!

A Few Goody Gumdrops and Chickdowntown are giving away a necklace from the House of Harlow by Nicole Richie.

Enter to Win!Bags, Bling and Beauty invites you to check out swimwear tips from Shoshanna Gruss.

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy is getting summer ready with ChickDowntown and you can too - just read and win!

Couture In The City shops sandals and savewith Smartbargains.com.

Fashion Fille loves colors- and welovecolors.com! Find out what's her favorite on the awesome tights site!

Raging Rouge blows her diet with a 2,000 calorie treat by MAX Factor.

Shopping and Info found Blake Lively’s brown cross body bag.

Spork Fashion braves the heat to check out the Silver Spoon Dog and Baby Gifting Suite. These are some spoiled babies!

Less sugar, less money, less waste - Spork Living asks, why wouldn't you want a Soda Stream machine? Make Your Own Soda With Soda Stream!

Style Eyes would love to invest in a beautiful, flattering and expertly draped dress.

The Bare Skinny knows where Kim Kardashian got her Balmain inspired vest.

Suffering from a breakup? The Well-Heeled Society breaks it down with The Relationship Journalist Lisa Steadman's new workbook (that gives her gift registry kudos on page 77!).

The Draped Dress

One style or trend that has really jumped out at me lately is the draped dress. Designers seem to be falling over themselves to create the dress to out drape all others. Draped dress is rather a general term which can be applied to all sorts of dresses from elegant Greek goddess dresses to body con dresses and quirky styles of dresses with fabric draped in an unexpected way. There are so many trends that don't work for short people like myself. Generally speaking though, the draping of the fabric gives a very flattering look. Not only do the folds of the draped material skim over any lumps or bumps giving the appearance of a streamlined silhouette but the draping of material usually creates diagonal or vertical lines which help to elongate and lengthen the body.

Whilst many styles are copied from designer clothes by cheaper versions for the high street, I think a beautifully draped designer dress is not easy to copy. You are less likely to find an expertly draped dress on the high street. If you like a particular draped dressand you have the money, it may well be worth investing in, it will last you for many seasons to come. Amongst others Peter Pillotto, Vivienne Westwood, Sophia Kokosolaki, David Szeto and Versace are considered to be Masters of drape.

Jasmine De Milo at My Wardrobe

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania at My Wardrobe

Sophia Kokosalaki at Yoox

Rick Owens at Yoox

Versace at Yoox

David Szeto at Start London

David Szeto at Start London

Osman Yousefzada Jewellery at Astley Clarke

Being a huge fan of designer Osman Yousefzada, I was both interested and excited to get an email telling me of his latest collection of jewellery for Astley Clarke, a jewellers that I also love for their contemporary and innovative jewellery by a number of designers.

The capsule collection which comprises of a necklaces, bracelet and earrings is definitely true to Osman's signature style of clean minimalist lines with multicultural and architectural references. The jewellery has been produced by the finest craftsmen in the country including jewellers from Birmingham's jewellery quarter. The designs are bold and would look great with some of the eighties style clothes that are around at the moment. They would look great with the strong silhouettes of the eighties power suit with shoulder pads. They would also look amazing with a plain black dress or black top and jeans. They have both futuristic and art deco appeal.

Interview with Top Personal Stylist - Gabrielle Teare

I was delighted to be able to interview top personal stylist, Gabrielle Teare and find about a bit more about her exciting job as a personal stylist, as well as her own personal style. Gabrielle provides a luxury style service, personal shopping in London and training for professional image consultants.

Being a Personal Stylist sounds like a dream job, what does it involve and what is a typical day for you?

It is great doing something that you love, it means that everyday is exciting. I also love it when my clients really change their look and are thrilled to look amazing. I get as much pleasure out of it as they do.

A typical day would be colour and style in the morning then we go shopping and fill in the wardrobe gaps and I show them how to style themselves to show off their figure to its best advantage.

What is the best part of being a personal stylist?

Best part is the excitement of my clients, also I get many photographs and thank you emails . To watch someone dancing on the spot in front of the mirror because they love the way they look is just so rewarding.

What type of people (if there is a type) are your clients?

My clients tend to be upmarket men and women as I am based in Chelsea. Age ranges from 17-65 mums, professional women, men who work in the city, rock bands, styling for TV and magazines.

What is the best piece of advice that you can give someone on looking stylish?

Advice is buy things that fit you. Buy style not fashion. Only buy things you really love.
If you have a good figure SHOW IT!! Fashion is a secondary issue it has to fit and flatter first. This way you wear all the things you buy and dont waste money.

Where is your favourite place to shop for clothes?

I like Harvey Nicholls. Selfridges great fashion shops. Pinko is a fantastic shop really fun chic Italian clothes.

Who is your favourite designer?

Dolce and Gabbana, Armani and Roland Mouret

How would you describe your own personal style?

I am petite size 8 and hourglass so I wear everything fitted. I always exaggerate my shape so I have extra curves in the details maybe a peplum on the jacket or curves on the bottom of the skirt. I love drama so lots of black and white, red, electric blue, hot pink colours. My style is romantic dramatic.

How much importance do you place on keeping up with the latest fashions?

To keep up cheaply buy a great new pair of shoes. If the colour is yours buy the seasonal colour but choose each season from the fashions, the things that will suit and flatter you.
Smocks are a classic example of this, they make people look pregnant but last summer, all my clients had bought one.

Now we have the boyfriend jacket and padded shoulders. These work on tall women or women with small shoulders. If you are shorter and petite be careful they will drown you!!

For more information on Gabrielles styling services, visit her website http://www.gabrielleteare.com/

Weekly Shopping and Goodies 14/05/09

My shopping and goodies friends have really excelled themselves this week with giveaways, sample sales, high heels and most importantly cupcakes.

The Fashionable Housewife found the 4 most comfortable sandals for Spring / Summer

A Few Goody Gumdrops is giving away a Roncato train case filled with Sue Devitt, Stila, China Glaze and more Beauty "Goodies".

Enter to Win!Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy lathers up with Caress Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash! Time to suds up ladies!

Couture In The City shares with us May is IMAN month! Check throughout this month for exclusive giveaways and IMAN interview!

Fashion Fille has yet another totally awesome giveaway. This time, she's giving out free Yeah Yeah Yeah's swag! Enter now to win!

Handbag du Jour has got the scoop - shop the one-day private Ted Rossi sample sale this week in NYC.

Princess Dominique Dishes Fashion is BACK and she's spreading the fashion love Fabulous ALDO Handbags UNDER $50! Get them while they last...

Puppies and Worms loves the Magnolia Bakery Vanilla Cupcake recipe.

Quinta Trends talks with Ricky Gonzales about his fashion brand VMarie.

Latin flavour from Phoenix.Shopping and Info found out how to eat 70% off at celebrity favorite restaurants like Café Med.

Style Eyes indulges in a bit of guilt free shopping at the Ethical one stop shop

The Fashionable Gal is giving away Jill Mansel's new book "An Offer You Can't Refuse". Enter for a chance to win this book!

The Well-Heeled Society shows you python stilettos so high, you can kiss the sun!

What's Haute Magazine's beauty editor Allison Croce gives a beauty how-to on achieving a flawless face!

picture from Puppies and Worms.

An Ethical One Stop Shop

Toga Jersey Dress

Ruffle Neck Top

Embroidered Bow Top

Colourful Embrodiered Dress

Every where I turn on the Internet, I am confronted by adverts for Adili. It is almost as if they are trying to make sure that I keep up my newly found social consciousness and environmental awareness. The pictures in the adverts look promising and I am all for more choice in eco fashion, so I couldn't help but take a look. Adili certainly has quite a lot of choice including organic cotton, bamboo and fairtrade items. Each picture in the look book also has a bit of an explanation of the benefits of buying the clothes eg 'US$2 billion's worth of chemicals are sprayed on cotton every year and over 20,000 cotton workers die each year because of poisoning. we want to change this so we use 100% chemical free cotton'.

Whilst I have become a lot more concerned about the impacts of my fashion choices, I will not wear anything just because it has been labelled eco fashion. I still want different, pretty, quality, stylish and well made clothes. I love Adili as it is just like a department store with its own label and a range of ethical brands including Bllack by Noir and Karen Cole. It's own label clothes are great, perhaps because Adili have taken steps to ensure that their clothing is ethical and cool. They nurture and commercially support the very best young design talent, a method of getting great designs that is used by many fashion retailers. They also have beautifully handcrafted pieces made using traditional skills passed down through generations. I love the idea of an ethical one stop shop and Adili is probaly the answer to many an ethical shoppers prayers.