A very disappointing week

This week has been one massive disappointment for me. Maybe I set my standards too high but what was supposed to be a fantastic shopping experience in London was so sad..

Contrary to popular belief I can admit when I'm wrong, and after all the hype generated by the fashion magazines about Patricia Field's collection for M&S I was really hoping I was this time, but alas it was not to be.
I have just one word - no make that two - for this collection. Truly awful.
This collection could have been gorgeous. Think Sarah Jessica Parker, Anne Hathaway and the good bits of Ugly Betty all rolled into one. And then mix that with the things that make M&S go wrong.
There were bits about almost all the pieces in the collection that could have been really nice but then each time it would be ruined by something trying to hard to make it look good, a common M&S mistake I thought it'd got over. Take the pink dress with frills - could have been fantastic but then there's just something about it that makes it horrible. Maybe it's the length, maybe it's the straps, I'm not sure. But I think you'd have to be a model to make it look good and let's face it if you're a model you can make most things look good.

So I've walked away from M&S and have turned to Primark in despair, looking for a friend that won't let me down (ok so I don't think of Primark as a friend I do have actual friends but you get the picture). I look to buy a t-shirt and suddenly the size I want, a size 12, seems miniscule. I had to buy a size 18 for it to fit like I wanted.
Don't get me wrong there's nothing wrong with a size 18 but what if I had been an 18? That's the biggest size there was, I would have had to walk out of the shop feeling bad about myself. How's that for service? And it's not just Primark, so many shops do this now it's ridiculous.

At what point did it become ok for this to happen and of all places at Primark?! It's about time shops started catering for real sized women - or at least made the right size clothes, a size 12 should be a size 12 as should be a 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 16, 18 and bigger. Yes I know you can harp on about it til you're blue in the face, it'll never change. But it's annoying. Very annoying.

Rant over...

clothes show

The Clothes Show Live and The Style Show in association with handbag.com website has now been updated, getting the ball rolling for this year's event, which promises to be better than ever.

Whatever your fancy - whether it be high street, boutique, vintage, designer, accessories, beauty, some relaxation or even a bit of everything - it should all be there, packed into Birmingham's NEC from October 5-10.

Tickets are now on sale from the box office on 0844 579 3178. Each one includes a seat in the catwalk show.

Have a look on the site now at www.clothesshowlive.com

Loughborough Uni: Best Dressed?

Right the challenge is on!
New Look is looking for the best dressed students and I think Loughborough need to rise to the bait. The winners not only get the joy of being crowned the winners but a free gig on their campus from pop group Alphabeat.

Scouts will be scouring universities, taking pictures and uploading them on the facebook site as well as holding exclusive Best Dressed launch parties at your local store offering you 25% discount, free booze, guest DJs, New Look stylist & goodie bags for everyone - as long as you have your student card (damn them!)

So girls and boys get ready to look your best, I'll see if I can find out when they're coming to our town.

In the meantime, go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Look-Best-Dressed-University-2008/

Shop of the month: M&S

Never again are you to view M&S as the place confined to your gran.

It's gone sexy. No I'm not talking about the lady from the adverts, it's joined up with Sex and The City, Ugly Betty and The Devil Wears Prada designer and stylist, Patricia Fields, to offer us a chance to get some New York chic into our lives.

And with the launch being midnight tonight, it seemed only right that I use it to kick off the first shop/designer of the month feature.

Patricia said she chose the brand for her one-off ‘Destination Style New York’ line because it understood women of all ages. She wants to bring New York's hottest styles to every woman's wardrobe with her 35-piece collection.

Now I have to say right from the off that from what I've seen so far (and it's not very much as it's been kept pretty well under wraps) it's not exactly my thing. But I think some of it's going to be really nice so if you're looking for something special for a night out, it might be worth a try and well it's worth a look anyway - well you've got to really, even if it's just out of curiosity.

For all of you living in and around Loughborough, you'll have to travel to Leicester and Nottingham to see part of the range and Birmingham if you want to see the whole lot. Otherwise have a look online at http://www.marksandspencer.com/

M&S's green credentials aren't too bad either, helping to raise an extra £1 million for Oxfam since it started working with the charity in January.

In case you're out of the loop, the M&S and Oxfam Clothes Exchange offers you the chance to take your old unwanted M&S clothes to your local Oxfam shop in return for a £5 voucher to spend in M&S, redeemable against a £35 spend on clothing, home or beauty products.

So what are you waiting for? This is the perfect excuse to clear out your wardrobe, help charity and get yourself some new clothes for autumn.

Stocking filler ideas

Yes I know I don't like the fact people are talking about Christmas already either but I'm writing this post anyway. You never know, if you're wondering what to get someone it might even help.

Colleen Rooney is not at the top of my list for people I would feature on here but she's written - well her name's on the book anyway - a style book so I couldn't not feature it really. Now this isn't a review because I haven't read it all but from what I have read it's actually pretty good - as long as you can get past the idea of learning all about the daily routines of a wag .

It's got some good advice, including make-up tips, shopping tips and just general fashion tips, and it's littered with lots of pretty clothes to look at. There is a lot of "I do this" to the extent where I started thinking so what! but I guess you expect that really.

But for anyone who, like me, can't bring herself to buy anything with a wag's face on the front, Gok Wan also has his own book (actually he's got a couple) which might be worth a look. It's by the same publisher and actually looks pretty much the same inside but costs 50p more so I'll leave that one up to you.

Colleen's Real Style is available on Amazon for £8.99. Gok Wan: How to Dress is available for £9.49.

The Clothes Show Live 2008

It's that time of year again. The Clothes Show Live is returning to Birmingham's NEC from December 5- December 10. And with it celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, it looks set to be better than ever.

I'll keep this post short and sweet but I'll be putting regular updates on here every time I learn something new.
In the meantime, keep yourself up to date at http://www.clotheshowlive.com/

Freshers - welcome to Loughborough

I couldn't let Fresher's Week go by without doing something specifically designed for you.

Ok, so you've got your loan through (maybe even grants) and suddenly you've got thousands in your bank account right? Wrong! Tempting as it may seem to have a splash out in Topshop and Miss Selfridge making full use of your student discount or even Primark, stop and think. Believe me I'm talking from experience (I still have clothes I bought in first year of uni I've probably worn twice). You get that money for a reason and technically it's not yours, yes go shopping but watch you don't get too excited with your new found fortune.

Now you don't need me patronising you, just watch the pennies or you'll see yourself totally skint by the end of the term with no money left for drink, clothes or even food! And ok so if you're from a big city Loughborough doesn't exactly offer the height of fashion but it's there if you look.

Meanwhile I want to hear from you, in the hope of maybe doing a fashion tip of the month for those on a budget.

It' s open to everyone. Whether you're out shopping and spot a bargain you think we should know about or think of a new way to reuse something old, I want to know. Contact me on amy_watkins@mrn.co.uk