Who needs couch potatoes when you can be a lazy oaf?

Anyone who likes David and Golliath clothing will absolutely love Lazy Oaf.

It was started by Gemma Shiel back in 2001 with hand screen printed tee's and a market stall in East London and is now available in more than 150 stockists, including Sheffield, Leeds and Nottingham.
It does women's, men's, accessories and other random bits and bobs - great for a present and even better for treating yourself (like I did when I visited the Carnaby Street store last week when visiting my friend in London)
This is just an example of the range on offer - but you have to see the website for yourself http://www.lazyoaf.co.uk/

Image: Lazyoaf.co.uk

swish a woo

For all of those of you not in the fashion know-how, swishing is the new craze sweeping the nation.
It's where you get together with friends or just a random group of women (although friends might be a better idea - as my editor pointed out some random person might have fleas!) and swap clothes. Of course, swapping with friends who have decent fashion sense is advisable!
These events are everywhere - there's even one in Ashby de la Zouch on Tuesday for all you locals out there. There's also one in Derby today but sadly this was too late for me to go through my three wardrobes in the hope of finding something I could part with :(
With Spring coming up, this could be the perfect way of making some much needed space (and a lot of the events are in aid of charities so you can help people at the same time)
To find an event near you, go to www.swishing.org or - even better - if you're holding one, let me know I'd love to hear about it

And the tack prize goes to....

As if River Island couldn't have got any worse as far as my tack-o-meter, the designers go and throw this monstrosity into the mix - and a ridiculously overprized monstronsity at that.

This 'Union Jack Oversized Tote' from River Island's SS09 WW Hero collection will set you back £150.00 - don't all rush out at once, there might be a bit of a queue on!

Photo: River Island Clothing Company Ltd

Jean genius

Designers like Diesel have been doing it for years but let's face it, if you want to pay less money and you're inbetween sizes you're pretty much screwed - until now. Asda has announced the news women with a lack of money and a normal sized waist have been waiting for: inbetween jean sizes.

Available in sizes 11, 13 and 15, the £12 jeans are now on sale. Grab them while you can (unless of course you're larger than a 15, in which case you're still screwed I'm afraid)

Photo: ASDA

Ugging ridiculous

As if men weren't becoming feminine enough, the clever people at Ugg have decided to kill all things I like about men once and for all by making these!!! Now I'm biased anyway as I'm possibly the only woman alive who doesn't like Uggs - I just think they're wierd - but come on would men actually wear these?!

Valentines D.I.Y

This is all you're getting for Valentines Day because without sounding like a miserable old woman I think it's a total waste of time.

But if you do happen to be giving a card, save some money and make one with the help of the templates available from Urban Outfitters.

Go to http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/icat/home

sample this

I'm probably really behind the times but I've recently discovered sample sales, where you can pick up designer gear for a fraction of the price.

For those of you around London this month you might want to try...

- 'The Ultimate Sample Sale' at the 20th Century Theatre, in Westbourne Grove, on Wednesday, February 18 from 9am-7pm, offering up to 85% off women‘s clothing by Velvet, Lotus London, Paul & Joe, Amanda Wakeley, Temperley London, and more.

- 'Designer Sales Uk' at The Boiler House, The Old Truman Brewery, in Brick Lane, on Thursday, February 26 (Preview Day) from noon to 10pm, Friday, February 27 from 11am-9pm, Saturday, February 28 from 11am-8pm and Sunday, March 1 from 10am-5pm, with a range of British designers including Jean-Paul Gaultier, Gianni Versace and Vivienne Westwood and upto 80% off Biba.

For those of us not lucky enough to have London on our doorstep, there's also an online sample sale at www.catwalktocloset.com/ - and if you sign up to the newsletter you get these sunglasses for £10 to get you ready for Spring :)
Also take a look at http://www.koodos.com/, which not only has some great designer stuff for as little as £25 but also has a link to a bargainista's guide to London fashion blog. Obviously not much use to people like me who aren't in London but something worth checking out before you go on a trip down to the big smoke.

Comic Relief tees

Stella McCartney is the woman behind this year's Red Nose Day t-shirts and they're pretty cool.
Unfortunately there's only two designs to choose from - The Beatles and Morcambe and Wise. But there's also a kids' version which is really sweet.
They're £9.99 (and for some reason only "at least" £5 goes to Comic Relief) but they're for charity so take a look at http://www.rednoseday.com/ and find out how else you can help raise money.