You know what they say about men with big feet...big shoes of course!

Am I the only person who, while trying to be a serious journalist and watch the budget yesterday, couldn't help noticing the size of Alistair Darling's shoes?!
Just a little something to brighten up the mood seeing as the government's made sure I won't be able to afford designer clothes anytime soon.

But all is not lost...TK Maxx, in association with Look magazine, is offering a £250 shopping spree to celebrate its new season of spring dresses.

To get the money though you've got to work for it - by telling TK Maxx why you deserve to be dressed up.

Entries so far include:

“Because I've been invited to the Cannes Film Festival and I have no classy evening dress to wear. I need your help so I can look amazing next to all the stars.”

“Being a new mum to my five month old daughter. I spend my days covered in everything. Wearing nice dresses is not an option most of the time. For my birthday my husband has got us a night away at a lovely hotel with dinner. A new dress would make the evening even more special. Especially since I can't fit into any of my old ones!”

Simply go to ww.tkmaxx.com and you'll find the competition on there. Good luck!

Chic-onomically friendly

I promised you for an update and I hate to disappoint so here we are, the Outnet is here and I have to say I love it!

Net a porter has finally realised that not everyone is as loaded as Paris Hilton and has created a discount site. At first I was ever so slightly cynical (what can I say it's the journalist in me) but these really are discount prices.

Ok so some things are still stupidly expensive (you're not going to get much change for £200 on a lot of it) and yes some things are just truly hideous but I would recommend you save this to your favourites and pop back every now and again. I reckon it's going to be like TKMaxx - full of rubbish one minute and absolute crackers the next. You can also sign up for updates so you know when new stock comes in.

Have a look for yourself at http://www.theoutnet.com/

Can he fix it? You bet he can

He's ba-aack.

I named my blog after him so it was pretty obvious I couldn't let the first episode in the new series of Gok's Fashion Fix let me pass me by without a post.

And this season has a new twist with the phrase "shop less, wear more". Women apprently only wear 30 per cent of their wardrobe so Gok's now challenging us all to limit our outfits to just 24 key pieces - yes ladies 24 (as opposed to 124)! This will certainly be an interesting series I'm sure.

Your capsule should consist of:

1 pair of well fitting jeans

6 tops

1 pair of trousers

1 skirt

2 jackets

1 coat or mac

2 versatile dresses

4 pairs of shoes

1 wide belt

1 pair of statement gloves

2 bags

2 scarves


NO WAY could I do that - how much washing would you have to do? And I find it difficult just to get rid of one item and I have two double wardrobes crammed with the stuff!
I do like the idea of slim-lining my wardrobe a bit though but maybe sticking to 50 items (although I don't even know if I could stick to 100). Let's have a go - if you manage it let me know :)

I'll just leave you with the awful quote of the evening? "It's so beautiful it's like an angel sneezed on it" - oh dear god someone pass me the sick bag (Not a Gok quote by the way, I don't think I'd be able to look at him the same way again)

No I don't particularly like it either.

At a whopping £15,100, this Balmain one-shoulder cocktail dress, designed by Christophe Decarnin, has been chosen by handbag.com as the most recession-unfriendly item for 2009.

A dress for people with more money than sense, otherwise known as wannabe celebrities, who don't care about how trashy they look as long as it's designer.

Or maybe I'm just bitter because my reporter wage won't stretch that far...

handbag.com fashion director Belinda White said: “The Balmain dress epitomises self-indulgence and extravagance at a time when most people are worrying about their finances.

"It appears that despite the price-tag and the state of the economy, some people can still afford to stick two fingers up to the recession.”

Other contenders were:
- Chanel Matrioshka handbag - £4,200

- Chanel pale pink quilted handbag - £2,400

- Christopher Kane scalloped silk dress - £2,136

- Giambattista Valli for Moncler Gamme Rouge jacket - £2,000

- Meadham Kirchhoff denim jacket - £1,715

- Balmain jeans - £1,200

- YSL cage booties - £1,100

- Louis Vuitton Tribal sandals - £1,100

- Louis Vuitton Graffiti trainers - £700

The Stella affect

Stella McCartney has announced she's creating a capsule collection for Net-a-porter.com
I won't be able to afford it but I'm sure it'll be pretty, see for yourself when it comes out late Spring.

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.

Defying the crunch

Anyone who read my 'damn the rich' post will be glad to hear all those I grew so insanely jealous of at the Clothes Show helped it get more people through the door than the year before.
187,000 visitors flocked to the deals - 2,000 more than 2007 - and sales are expected to be more than £20m despite the credit crunch (well it's alright for some).

Anyone visiting London at the end of May can see the first ever Clothes Show London, being held at the ExCel Conference and Exhibition Centre from May 29-31.

Fantastic news for everyone who like me craves designer gear but can barely even afford Primark (which by the way I am now avoiding - or trying to - in an attempt to have better morals, mmm we'll see how long it lasts folks will keep you posted)

Net-a-Porter is launching a new discount website called theOutnet.com in April.

Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet said she will buy in cancelled orders of designer goods and offer them direct to us lot with discounts of up to 80%.

Natalie Massenet told The Sunday Times: "We are very excited about this. It's time to give the sale customer a place she can call her own."

Ok so I'm not entirely convinced it'll be cheap as chips, it's still designer after all but hey it's worth a look. Register your interest at www.theoutnet.com

Eau de burger?

Ok so I said I wouldn't leave it so long again - no excuse really other than Christmas laziness but I'm back now ready to face the new year and (hopefully) packed with enough opinions to punch even the strongest kangaroo.

As much as I hate to go with tradition and follow the crowd, I can't let my first post of the year pass me by without talking about the recession.

I couldn't believe my eyes seeing all the posts on my Google reader. I guess it was obvious to most people but I would never have thought the likes of Chanel would be affected by the credit crunch, plastering sale signs on its windows for the first time and laying off staff. What is this world coming to?
Nevermind we must remain positive - and so my only New Year's Resolution is to try and cheer everyone up!

So get ready for lots of money saving posts and quirky fashion stories I pick up on my travels.

Not strictly fashion I know but the first has to be Burger King's new 'scent'...

Flame is a men's body spray that smells like “flame-broiled” meat! For God's sake have you ever heard anything so ridiculous? And you can actually buy this for $3.99!Who on Earth would buy this?
I'm not kidding this is real, don't believe me? Watch this:

Sexy or whorish?

According to Elle, "as Christmas approaches it's all about over-the-knee boots".
Does Julia Roberts in Pretty Women immediately spring to mind for anyone else or is it just me?

Maybe it's because I'm short (I'm on 5'2) but I just don't see the attraction in these. But if you do, Elle suggests teaming with leggings and leather biker jacket for an edgy, dressed-down look, or with a belted tunic.

For some ideas, go to http://www.elleuk.com/shopping/elle-edits/%28section%29/knee-high-boots-a-w-2008

Damn the rich!

I went, I saw and I conquered (but not as much as I wanted to)

Imagine a room the size of a concert venue and fill it with thousands of women and screaming teenagers. What have you got? The Clothes Show of course!
A day's worth of fashion shows and bargain shopping cheap enough for anyone (even me) to be able to afford and for a minute I was officially in heaven. But unfortunately journalist's wages aren't as glamorous as everyone seems to imagine and so I was stuck with one t-shirt :(
Cue me scowling at every rich woman with six or seven huge bags of bargains - and secretly wishing I was them. Nevermind, I thought, I'm here for the experience.
And an experience it definitely was. Great for Hollyoaks and Shipwrecked fans with semi-naked men aplenty. But on a more serious note the clothes were absolutely fantastic.
The fashion theatre saw six or seven different scenes, each with a different theme, from beachwear to English classic and of course Christmas ball. The choreography meant everyone was kept well entertained - but it was quite hard to concentrate on the clothes with all the dancing going off.
The designer catwalk in the main room gave me more of the fashion fix I craved, showing six designers straight from London Fashion Week. Ever since chavs came in and totally crashed the whole Burberry scene Daniella Westbrook style I've been far from a fan but I liked pretty much everything in the Autumn/Winter collection (unfortunately). There was plenty of futuristic randomness that you would expect from high-end designers but by far my favourite - for the sheer fun factor - was Jean Charles De Castlebajac. He's a hard designer to explain but I smiled all the way through, especially with his Barack Obama I have a Dream dress. I think the best way of explaining is to show you so visit http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/081029-castelbajac-on-backing-obama.aspx
The Maybelline stage gave everyone a chance to see the young designers of the future and the latest collection from New Look - which was unbelievably disappointing.

By 6pm I'd officially shopped til I dropped and my body was screaming at me to leave.
Overall verdict? Not enough freebies (in fact none spring to mind other than a voucher book with online discounts and the odd ones snapped up by the screaming kids at the various stages) but still a great day out. Bring on next year (although I'd better start saving now)

Clothes Show update

Right I've seen the Coca Cola advert which, according to my colleague Shelley, makes it officially almost Christmas. There may be a credit crunch going on but there should always be room in the kitty for presents, no matter how small, there's no excuse for being a Scrooge.

One easy present would be tickets to this year's Clothes Show Live at Birmingham's NEC from December5-10. Tickets cost £24 for a standard ticket, which includes entry into The Style Show presented by Handbag.com and a seat in the Fashion Theatre, and £36 for a platinum ticket where you get VIP treatment with fast track entry and great seats in the Fashion Theatre, a goody bag and showguide.
To book you tickets call: 0844 579 3177 or buy them online at http://www.ticketswitch.com/tickets/web_finder.buy/clothesshowlive

But if your pennies really won't stretch that far, handbag.com has a competition running every Monday until December 5- so get entering!

Another idea would be a magazine subscription, and they're all offering Christmas deals to help you out. One tip though, hang on as long as possible as they get better the later you leave it. It is money well spent just for the warm fuzzy feeling when you see it waiting on your doorstep each month (and Elle do limited edition covers for subscribers).

Highcross Leicester

A thousand apologies for not writing on here in over a month, it won't happen again.

It may have taken me a while but I finally visited it - and I liked what I saw!

Having attended the Derby Westfield opening back in October last year (the first in the country to be owned by the same company) I had high expectations. I'd never been to Leicester before so that was an experience in itself - it took a little while to find but then again my sense of direction has never been a strong point!

Inside I suddenly heard my former editor screaming in my ears - "it looks the same as every other bloody shopping centre, you could anywhere!" Yes you could be anywhere - and it is exactly the same as every other shopping centre - but it's definitely worth a look, especially with Christmas coming and sale days already beginning courtesy of the credit crunch (oh and the new House of Fraser outlet store offering up to 50% off which opens this Saturday).
Leicester's worth checking out too while you're there. Make a day of it.

Next up the new Westfield centre in London...