London Fashion Week

Ok so it's hard enough accepting that it's almost winter, never mind trying to take in the key trends for Spring/Summer 09 but I can't let London Fashion Week pass me by without doing something on it.

My cynical eye goes berserk watching fashion shows. Firstly because of all the emaciated models - I find myself having to stop myself from screaming EAT SOMETHING - and secondly because most normal people wouldn't be seen dead in half of the things you see on the catwalk (and well let's face it we couldn't fit into it either). Nevertheless, these arguments are old and boring now and well fashion shows are still really exciting no matter how skinny the models are.
I'm not going to go through each designer one by one, quite frankly because I don't have the time, but here are some of the things that caught my eye.


Whether you like bright colours and outlandish patterns or something more subdued and sophisticated, London Fashion week, in association with French Connection, had something for pretty much everyone.

Firstly, tights. Eley Kishimoto had matching tights down to a tee, with each pair carefully orchestrated to match the outfits. There were even dresses in this collection I could actually see myself wearing - as opposed to some of those by Christopher Kane were some of the models looked more like Christmas trees and House of Holland where some of the models just looked plain ridiculous!
Now I always thought Jaeger was a designer only fit for the likes of my mum - and even then she'd started turning her nose up at it. But with its new look, I have to say I'm jumping on the Jaeger London bandwagon. Some of next season's collection was beautiful and if I could afford it I'd even consider buying some of it. If you've got a wedding coming up, I'd certainly recommend having a look!

Something I was really looking forward to after last season's offering was Luella's collection. I have to say I was a bit disappointed as it wasn't quite as quirky as her last collection. Her ditsy prints are still here (as is the orange) and there are more of her signature dresses as worn by Alexa Chung. But although there's still the fun come to be expected from her, this season's collection saw a more grown up Luella girl, with an abundance of pearls and tailoring.

Definitely a must-read

Thought I had to put this up.

Got a press release through from The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), which has produced a unique fashion workout designed to help people get the most out of this season's must have trends.

Firstly all you ladies (maybe even men - see last post) who have been wearing the sky-high stilettos in the shops recently, think again. Regular heel wearers can apparently shorten their calf muscles and throw their whole body out of alignment (argh) and bad shoes can cause bunions, blisters, pain in your ankles, knees and legs. The answer? Wearing different types of shoes of course with preferably with wider, chunkier heels, but if you insist on the razor sharp type...

"In your bare feet you can exercise your calf muscles and take them through their full range of movement. Standing safely on the edge a bottom step, drop your heels as far as they can comfortably go so that you are feeling a stretch in your calf muscles. Hold for 10 seconds then roll on to your tiptoes. Repeat this five times."

Next up is underwear.

How many of you are wearing the wrong size? Probably more than 70% of you! Wearing the wrong bra size not only looks bad but also puts you at risk of neck and shoulder pain, pinched nerve in the neck and sagging boobs - great excuse to go bra shopping eh?

As for using support pants as an alternative to exercise, that just doesn't wash with this lot. They say the key tp getting a smooth and firm bum is exercise - try these:

• go for a brisk walk, taking big strides to work your buttock muscles;


• standing on your left leg, holding your tummy in, lift your right leg straight back 10 times, without resting. Swap legs. Do the same, lifting your right leg straight out to the side. Swap legs ·


• Standing tall, squeeze your buttock muscles as hard as possible, hold for 10 seconds and do this 10 times.

Bags are my biggest problem - and not just mine apparently with bag-related injuries on the increase (symptoms can range from headaches, postural problems, and neck and shoulder pain). A safe weight limit for handbags is to carry no more than a couple of pounds and backpack users shouldn't carry more than 10 per cent of their body weight.

Opt for a wider strap to spread the load and switch sides regularly and use your hands and shoulders. Wrap-around backpacks are good in that they keep the weight of a bag close to your body reducing the risk of injury.

The last tips are about belts as they're apparently great for improving your breathing. Here are some of the physio's tips:

• Breathing in through your nose, bring the air into your tummy and let it push against your belt. Hold for five seconds and release. Do this three times every hour. This will promote deeper breathing, help you take on more oxygen and facilitates the elimination of carbon dioxide


• If you feel your midriff beginning to bulge above and below the belt, counter the sagging by standing or sitting tall, lengthening your spine and draw your belly button towards your spine without holding your breath.

So there we are, fashion and exercise all rolled into one! Think I deserve a rest now..

Metrosexuals gone mad!

We've been getting all girly in the Echo newsroom this week.

Make-up has been the hot topic of conversation after I discovered Superdrug has started stocking a range specifically for men.

Products from TAXI London include the aptly named Manscara and Guy-liner, with a concealer and lip balm available sometime this month and are, according to the company "essentials that a guy would perhaps normally borrow from his other half."

Now call me old fashioned but I hardly class eyeliner as an essential for a man and have certainly never been out with anyone who's borrowed mine (or at least not that I know of)!

I thought I'd drawn the line at skinny emo boys stretching (and, no doubt, seriously injuring themselves) into 15-year-old girl's jeans but nevertheless, it's out there - although all you local boys wanting to rush out for your Manscara and Guyliner (both £6.50) will have to go to Leicester or Nottingham I'm afraid, Loughborough's just not metro-friendly enough just yet.

Apparently, the range of male grooming products stocked on Britain's shelves has doubled in the last three years, with the UK male grooming market now currently worth around £700m annually and predicted to rise to over £820m by 2009.
This I can believe, especially after a quick survey round the newsroom to see how much Echo men spend on grooming products, including the essentials like shampoo and shaving foam.

One member of the newsroom, ahem Colin, uses more products than his wife, spends more time in the bathroom than her and spends about £40 a month on products - more if he's getting his nails done!

Suddenly I'm having flashbacks (or should that be flashforwards) to me one day in the future sharing foundation with my nearest and dearest, with "Have you taken my eyeshadow again" arguments instead of "you look fine without it" ones. But then maybe I'm just being sexist - if it was the other way round I'd probably be the first to start shaking my bra in defiance!

I did actually find myself asking Colin for beauty tips - at least now I know where to go for hand cream.

And I have to admit, he's got pretty good skin so he's obviously doing something right. He says he got it from his dad who, now in his 80s, looks more like 60. As much as I hate to admit it, maybe more men should be moisturising? Come to think of it I'd better start...

• I took to the streets of Loughborough to see how much the rest of the men in the town spent and what people think of men in make-up. See my article in this week's paper.

High Cross Leicester

I'm sure I don't need to remind you all to watch out for the latest news on the Loughborough Echo website but just in case you've missed it, I thought I'd remind you of the articles written by my colleague Matt in the last couple of weeks. The good news is Highcross Leicester is now open, offering all you shoppaholics something else for your bank managers to worry about. The bad news is what it could to Loughborough. See Matt's articles at http://www.loughboroughecho.net/

Don't be shy, get in touch. I've not had chance to get to Highcross yet but I'm interested to hear what you all think of it (particularly compared to Loughborough and the surrounding areas). Let me know either by commenting on here or dropping me an email at amy_watkins@mrn.co.uk
I'd also like to know which towns/cities you like to shop in and which shops and designers you prefer.

Things to look out for

I love French Connection's Autumn/Winter 08 collection.

Not the best label for a tight budget but for something extra special, it's definitely one to look at. I epecially love the coats, dresses and shoes - the things you can get away with splashing a bit more on.

Grey coat £160, black and white knit dress £75 (also in black), Grey knit dress £70 (also in black)

(image courtesy of French Connection)

For something a bit cheaper, Primark wins for me every time! These three are just some of my favourites.

Tartan tiered blue dress £14.00 (but should be warn with something underneath - it scratches!) worn with hooded PU jacket £15.00 in store now. Ladies trilby £3.00 and opaque tights £2.00. Scarf models own.

Two in one belted shirt dress £12.00

Platform town shoe £12.00 due in store end September (I have similar ones and they're surprisingly really comfy)

(Images courtesy of Primark)