Member-only websites provide an opportunity for women to have first pick of the online sales when it comes to designer fashion. Membership to these sites will give you the chance to purchase an outfit at a discounted rate before they all go out of stock. Remember never to pay to sign up to these websites, as there are free ones available.

Factory outlets also have top luxury brands at lower prices, so this is another great option to go for. Vintage fairs are perfect for this as well, as these are regular events all across the UK and you can choose from several different designer brands . Some charity shops may be selling designer items, therefore you should pop in to your local ones whenever you can and have a root through the clothing racks.

eBay is an additional option, as many people want to get rid of their old clothes at a discounted price. You may be lucky enough to pick up a great bargain on eBay, but be prepared to do your research well and time your bids well so that you can secure the final offer.

DTG printing has many advantages, although the main ones are that there are no placement differences as with hand applied transfers, and it is much cheaper and easier than setting up screen printing.  It is a little more difficult to print dark t-shirts with this form of printing however, so a white under base is created to enable the printing of darker shades, using a titanium-based pigment.  This means that complex designs can be created easily as ink only needs to be put on the under-base as it is needed. Adlogo is one of many online printing retailers who offer such services whether for bulk orders or just one.

This under-base needs a tight weave cloth, which slows down and increases the price of t-shirt printing, so a long print run is needed.  DTG printers have a problem with large blocks of colour as it has a tendency to put too much ink on.  DTG printing proves a great option for printing complex designs on t-shirts and to do small quantities.

The designers selected are Edward Meadham, Ben Kirchhoff, Todd Lynn, Christopher de Vos and Peter Pilotto.  Their designs will grace the catwalks of the London Fashion Week scheduled for February and September of this year.

The BFC established the Fashion Forward sponsorship plan five years ago to provide funding for emerging young British designers to establish their businesses in London.  The sponsorships are decided by a panel of judges including Caroline Rush, CEO of the BFC, Dolly Jones of Vogue.com., and Sarah Mower, American Vogue and Roving Ambassador of the BFC.  The group is supported by the London Development Agency and is sponsored by Coutts & Co.

The Fashion Forward sponsorship has been previously bestowed upon Giles Deacon, Erdem, Louise Goldin, Christopher Kane, Richard Nicoll, and Sinha-Stanic.

London Fashion Week is a celebratory and global stage where the most prominent designers come together in a dynamic and visionary event to showcase their seasonal lines.  The inclusion of hot, emerging designers brings a new element of vibrancy and innovation to a global audience.

London has always enjoyed a reputation for exciting new designers throughout the international stage.  It is considered one of the world’s leading fashion centres and the promotion of new designers will keep the city in the forefront off the industry for the foreseeable future.

Her lines consist of vintage inspired dresses, trouser suits and jet-setting holiday wear, gaining her specialist appointments such as designer for Gwyneth Paltrow’s dresses in the 2004 movie “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.”

In 2001 McCartney left Chloe and re-launched her own label “Stella McCartney”; this time with backing from the Gucci Group, the first store opened in New York in 2003.  A year later, other stores followed in Los Angeles and London, where she ended the year being honoured as Designer of the Year.

Her social conscience has led her to work without fur or leather in any of her designs and her work with leading cancer charities has seen her receive a Woman of Courage Award.

2005 saw her re-inventing women’s sportswear with Adidas, designing specifically for athletes such as Caroline Wozniacki who said: “With Adidas by Stella McCartney, I feel like I have everything any fashionable female tennis player always dreams about.”

McCartney has always sought cutting edge projects and in 2002 worked with artist Gary Hume to produce a line of handmade dresses and t-shirts.

With the recent launch of her perfume, McCartney, the Stella McCartney brand is going from strength to strength.

The industry is a serious one and in 1983 saw the formation of the UK Fashion Council (BFC).  Its role is to support the growth of the UK industry and showcase UK fashion as a major player on the global stage.

London Fashion Week, started in 1984 by the BFC, runs twice a year at Somerset House in central London.  The February show sports spring and summer collections and the September show showcases autumn and winter lines.  It is considered one of the major fashion events in the global fashion calendar.

An industry event attended by buyers, designers and press, it showcases collections from across the world.  There are also many other ‘fringe’ events happening at various venues around central London.  2010 has seen London Fashion week fully embrace digital technology, allowing catwalk shows to be broadcast over the internet, thus giving London fashion week a wider reach.

After the week is over Somerset House plays host to London Fashion Weekend.  It’s essentially the same event and is open to the public.

Interested in cultivating the future of the industry, the BFC also supports emerging designers with their MA Scholarship, Fashion Forward and New Gen schemes.

Although this Italian designer is a relatively new name in shoe design she is already the queen of elegant platforms, teaming them with peep toes; a perfect choice for that big night out.

Her fourth collection, out this autumn, is arguably her finest yet, and features sumptuous leathers such as snakeskin, together with metallic colours and gold studded heels.

Katia Lombardo also has a great line in ankle boots; the ‘colour block bootie’ has built in stretch for easy pull-off and comes in lovely autumn shades.  A chunky platform ensures a comfortable walk as well as a stylish look, some things that are often quite difficult to combine.

She has also produced a limited edition shoe, in conjunction with the designer fashion online store my-wardrobe.com, which will be sold in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.  This charity is the first dedicated research facility in the UK, and is prominent in encouraging women to be aware of the signs and signals of breast cancer with its TLC (touch, look, check) message. 

The shoe is a traditional Katia Lombardo style, a patent peep-toe, but the sole has been finished in pink lacquer, so the wearer can display a flash of support for this important cause.

Katia Lombardo heels

The event was organised by supermodel Naomi Campbell, and she reined in some of her most famous friends to raise funds to provide the people of Haiti with food and medical supplies as part of her White Ribbon Alliance.

The show kicked off London Fashion Week, a great way to remind everyone at the week-long event of the wider scope of happenings on the planet, and how fashion can help.

Some names in attendance were not necessarily associated with the fashion industry, such as the then Prime Minister’s wife Sarah Brown and singing starlet Beverly Knight.

Another pull to attend the catwalk show was one of the models: Kate Moss.  She has not graced the long runway for a while and was no doubt a highlight in the programme.  She wore an Alexander McQueen dress.

The show was organised less than a month after the earthquake hit the small island on January 12th, 2010, an impressive demonstration of the charities want to raise money.

It is not just the fashion industry who wished to help the victims of the Haiti quake, on the whole, Britons gave generously, in the first thirty-six hours after the disaster, a sum of £2 million was reported to be received by charitable Brits.

After a great deal of bad publicity, Naomi Campbell is now showing how much she cares, something these little small islanders’ appreciate immensely.

For Kylie Minogue, who fought breast cancer in 2005 and had the all clear she said “It means so much to me to be part of this year’s campaign for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. I wholeheartedly support their efforts to raise funds for the vital work undertaken by Breakthrough Breast Cancer.”

The campaign which hopes to raise £1million this year for the charity also has a range of fashion items sold through a variety of high street shops and online stores, including Topshop, Warehouse, Whistles, River Island, Marks & Spencer and my-wardrobe.com. A third of the proceeds will go to the charity.

Each of the fashion brands have chosen items to sell such as cocktail dresses, snug cardigans and accessories, to be sold especially for the cause.

Since its inception in 1996 Fashion Targets Breast Cancer has raised over £10.5m in the UK or Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Set up by American designer Ralph Lauren following the loss of his friend, Washington Post fashion Editor Nina Hyde, to the disease.

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Logo

Picture courtesy of geetarchurchy

The prices range from £10 to £2,000 and include pieces by Versace, Christian Dior, Prada, Alexander McQueen, D&G and Jean Paul Gaultier, as well as sunglasses, luggage and belts. Shoppers will also be able to buy some of the costumes that he has used over the course of his musical career, like pairs of the singer’s sky-high platform shoes and the over-sized spectacles.

The last time Elton John and his partner held such a sale was back in 2002 in London and on that occasion they raised £400,000 after selling 15,000 items.
Elton John said, “We always get a fantastic response from the public with these sales, I think the idea that the items we all buy and enjoy can help someone in dire need, particularly at this time of year, really strikes a chord.”

David Furnish added, “The new stock in Out The Closet represents the largest clearout that we have ever had, and it’s exciting to think that our clothes will draw a whole new demographic into our shop. For the first time we have sunglasses in-store and other accessories that will make great Christmas gifts.”

The proceeds of the sale will go to his AID’s Charity, the Elton John Aids Foundation.

The sale which is currently running and restocked everyday will end on the 19th December with a clearance sale.

Elton John

Picture courtesy of ErnstVikne

The proceeds will be going to Perthes Association which helps support children with Perthes disease, as well as The Italia Conti Trust which offers support and helps finance students at The Italia Conti Academy both charities Pixie supports.

Lott’s design on a grey jersey t-shirt features handwritten song lyrics and doodles and is available now exclusively online at Moschino for £85. This is not the first time she has delved into designing , recently Pixie supported The Princes Trust with her design of a  black and white zebra-print tee with black fringed sleeves which is on sale in River Island stores now along with designs from Alesha Dixon and Kelly Rowland.