Boho Chic is a women’s clothing style that takes much from Bohemian and hippie styles. This is a clothes style that comes and goes, but is always around in one form or another. In recent years the phrase has become synonymous with the actress Sienna Miller, describing her eclectic fashion sense. Boho Chic has inspired a number of high street ranges designed to appeal to those who want to emulate the look of their favourite celebrities.
The look is very popular with those who attend music festivals and some of the staple clothing items which make up the look include floaty, gypsy style skirts, tunic baggy cardigans and hippy style bags. The look is reminiscent of some Indian and Nepalese styles and does not have to cost the Earth, as there is no reliance on designer labels.
One of the reasons that the look is so popular is that it is very easy for the wearer to put together themselves. Those who do not have much money can search charity shops for suitable items and it does not involve hours on the high street trying to find items that go well together.
It is also popular as it is a comfortable style and you can tailor the look to suit yourself. If you are not comfortable in the floaty skirts then faded jeans will work well. The baggy cardigans can be replaced with cropped jackets; you can experiment with different combinations until you find a look you like.
The well-known designer fashion house Chanel is French in origin, and was launched over 70 years ago by Coco Chanel. No longer in the Chanel family, the label is now owned by the great grandsons of one of Chanel’s partners. It is today one of the leading fashion houses and a world renowned brand.
Coco Chanel was born Gabrielle Chanel in 1883 and started her career in cabaret. She then went on to design hats as something to do to pass her spare time, and found that she enjoyed the process immensely. Her life’s work grew from there.
Chanel’s work was extremely popular; she is credited with creating the ‘little black dress’ which is still popular today. Her clothing lines were simple although elegant, and gave the wearer a feeling of class. The clothes were timeless, and many of the original designs are still being worn today.
Today the label includes many perfumes, the most famous of which is the Chanel No.5. Coco Chanel’s ‘Mademoiselle’ was a top selling fragrance for several years running after its release and remains popular still. In the range of accessories, Chanel handbags are a much sought after item by both celebrities and members of the public, some selling for thousands of pounds each.
With boutiques worldwide, the label has gone from strength to strength. Even with the introduction of newer, fresher design labels such as Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney, the simple elegance of the Chanel range remains timelessly classic.
There are some great clothing styles available to buy this season that will take you right through into next year, some designer women’s clothing essentials that you should have for Autumn Winter include military jackets, fur, preferably faux fur, sheepskin, and high-waist jeans and trousers. If you pick out a few items from these styles you will be able to mix and match your way through the season.
Basics are an essential part of your wardrobe, and many of these basics are in year after year, little black dresses, never go out of style, and neither do straight legged jeans or trousers as well as plain women’s t-shirts, take a look at this seasons colours and tones and you can easily pick out some basics that will see you through. For example, plaid is a popular choice for autumn and has been with us for much of summer so you will probably have some in your wardrobe, so try a plaid jacket or dress for a tougher look than we saw over summer.
Although as I have mention a wardrobe essential is the LBD this season colour of choice for evening wear is fiery red, you can make a great impression in a stunning red dress, or if you’re not brave enough to wear a red dress opt for a bright red top pair with a black pencil skirt or a black pair of high waisted trousers for a good contrast.
Accessories this season are all about been warm, so lots of chunky knit scarves and woolly beanies in crochet designs as well as faux fur hats and sheepskin and leather gloves to keep you toasty as the winter sets in.
For those of us who have a budget that doesn’t stretch to designer clothes, the next best thing may be to opt for a selection of designer accessories instead. Items such as jewellery and handbags are a good way to improve the overall look of an outfit without having to completely break the bank.
Of course, even designer accessories can prove to be expensive, which is where the Internet becomes very useful. There are a number of online retailers offering designer items at a reduced price, although shopping around is recommended, as some will offer a better deal than others.
Some designers provide a list of approved retailers that you can check to ensure that you are buying the genuine item rather than a copy. It is always a good idea to buy from an established retailer, as this is the only way you can ensure that you will receive good customer service as well as having the assurance of buying from a secure shopping site. You are also much less likely to be sold a fake.
Purchasing such items from an Internet auction site is another option. It is often better to buy second-hand, as you will be able to find them cheaper and they are usually in very good condition. It is also important to double check what you are buying and get as much information in advance as possible in order to ensure that you really are getting a bargain. Some fake items do make their way onto these sites so buyers need to be wary.
Last year saw the launch of Liam Gallagher’s clothing range Pretty Green and it seem that a year on thee brand is going from strength to strength because the label is now opening its first shop, from 11am on Friday 30 July you can visit London’s famous Carnaby Street where the stand alone store is.
The 2,000 sq. ft pop-up shop that covers two storeys with the basement area will offer items from the spring/summer 2010 range, which includes polo shirts, oversized parkas, knits and skinny scarves in the Mancunian’s signature style as well as a selection of exclusive Pretty Green pieces.
The store which is decorated with ‘60s Mod influences features a giant image of the former Oasis front man perched on a Lambretta scooter on Brighton beach. The brand which was after a song by The Jam, is available online via their website as well as been stocked in Selfridges department stores.
Chanel has increased its bag prices by 20%, as of July 1st the price for a small, classic black 2.55 has gone up from £1,600 to £2,045, which is a huge increase, with many of their prices even for smaller bag over £1,000. Meaning if you want one of these coveted handbags you will have to save for a lot longer now.
While some people see them as a good investment and something that can be passed down through the generations others find that paying so much for a bag is quite ridicules, however Chanel are not alone with their high prices, other designer bags such as Fendi, Lanvin, Chloe and YSL all sell for upwards of £1,500. Many of these normally sell out before they are launched with many people going on lists to purchase them.
One of Britain’s most successful designers and fashion businessmen, Paul Smith, is launching his first collection of children’s wear called Paul Smith Junior. The range is designed for newborns up to 14 years old, will retail between £34 and £250 and will be stocked at Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Brown Thomas as well as other major stockists.
His children’s range will follow similarly to his adult clothing ranges with his signature style of quirky classics-with-a-twist approach, featuring child-like charm. Borrowing from the main men’s and women’s collections and ‘downsized’ he also uses a bright, punchy colour palette.
The ranges focus on the traditional with the girls range including rose-print, silk dresses and cute, cardigans as well as soft, jersey, long-sleeve T-shirts to layer under wool smocks. He also focuses on tiered peasant-skirts, corduroy jackets, wool pea-coats and kilts and tweed shorts, all with a nod to the past.
For the boys he opted for practical clothing style that is ideal for play, the collection includes multi-stripe and floral shirts, graphic-printed padded jackets, quirky Tees, khaki parkas, pinstripe jackets and luxurious cashmere knits.
The internet is a good place to purchase vintage fashion items and there are many specialist shops that have their own websites, as well as several internet auction sites where bargains can be found regularly.
When purchasing online, be sure that you have a full description of the item that you are interested in. If not, contact the retailer to obtain more details. Vintage clothes are by definition old, and more than likely, used. This means that there could be signs of wear and tear on the item and maybe even a bit of damage. By obtaining as much information as possible you are avoiding the possibility that you may end up with an item that is unusable.
You should also obtain the accurate measurements of the items. Dress size calculations have varied a great deal over the years and you need to be aware of individual measurements of bust, waist and hips, not just of the item, but of yourself as well.
It is a good idea also to ensure that you check with retailers to find out if they offer insurance on deliveries. If you are paying for a classic vintage item you may be spending several hundred pounds, so insurance will be necessary if the items are lost or damaged in transit.
Internet auction sites such as eBay are favoured for the purchase of items such as vintage handbags, as when many people clear out their wardrobes they are now more inclined to sell, than to throw away.
Jimmy Choo is a shoe designer, whose designer label shoes are much sought after. The Malaysian-born designer is based in London and produces hand-made women’s shoes that have been popularised by shows such as Sex and the City.
He first began making shoes at the age of 11 and graduated from what is now the London College of Fashion in 1983. He began his own business in 1986. He first came to public attention when his designs were worn by the likes of Diana, Princess of Wales. He was awarded an OBE in 2002 and was given the status of Professor at the University of the Arts, London, in 2004.
In 1996 he joined forces with Tamara Mellon to create Jimmy Choo Ltd. Since then the company has produced couture lines as well as ready-to-wear items. There is also an accessories line that includes handbags. Stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Kidman regularly wear Jimmy Choo shoes.
In collaboration with the high street store H&M, a range of Jimmy Choo shoes and bags has been made available for those who cannot afford to buy at designer label prices. On the first day of sale, customers queued outside the shops and many sold out within a few hours of opening.
The official Jimmy Choo website has an online shop allowing customers to purchase the designs 24/7. The shoes are also available online at other websites and occasionally feature in sales, making it easier to pick up a bargain.
Jimmy Choo for H&M
Picture courtesy of Shibuya
The New York Fashion Week is part of the fashion marathon that covers four major fashion centres of the world. The other three are Paris, London and Milan. New York was the setting of the world’s first fashion week in 1943. The intention was to take the attention away from the French, as those in the industry were not able to make the trip to Paris due to the war.
Since 1994 the event has been held in Bryant Park, in a group of huge marquees. Those who attend have to be invited, and invitations are limited to industry professionals and celebrities. The show moved to Damrosch Park at the Lincoln Centre in 2010.
The 2009 event saw the designers introduce a series of cost-cutting measures due to the economic climate. These measures included staging smaller shows and displaying clothes on mannequins instead of using catwalk models.
There are several fashion weeks held in New York. These are to showcase autumn/winter collections, spring/summer collections and ready-to-wear collections. The collections presented during the February week suggest that menswear for women is going to be a popular look. One of the most popular shows was that presented by Victoria Beckham. Her fourth dress collection met with the critics’ approval. It consisted of elegant tailoring and attention to detail, silencing those who have dismissed her attempts to recreate herself as a fashion designer.
The show has its own website which details the designers and the shows which are taking part.