Purple Dresses

For a formal or dressy do, this Nicholas Millington dress is perfect. The folded effect is great for hiding any lumps or bumps resulting from a little festive over indulgence. The strapless neckline is great for showcasing your favourite necklace.

This Miss Sixty Purple Jersey Dress has a very flattering wrap over front and corset style waist. A great dress for any party or Christmas event.


This purple V necked dress by Diesel is perfect to take you from day time to evening. The V neck is a flattering style and looks great with a medium length necklace, black opaque tights and ankle boots.

The shops are awash with purple dresses this winter. I love the deep rich tones of purple. They are great for an evening out or a Christmas party. When accessorising a purple dress, you can always opt for classic black accessories or try something a little different like handmade jewellery in copper which looks amazing with purple. I love these 'dotcentric' copper and brass earrings by Anderson at Munique Fashions

Green is the new black

This year, there has been non stop talk of green and ethical fashion. I think this year green and ethical has finally become really fashionable. The concept of organic and ethical clothing has been trendy for a while, but now there is a huge range of green clothing that is stylish and very desirable in its own right. Even those who have no conscious, find themselves checking out what the new ethical labels have to offer.

The green fashion explosion has been fuelled by Esthetica at London Fashion week which is now in its fourth year. Esthetica is a sustainable fashion initiative championed by the likes of Katherine Hamnet and Noir. Since its launch Esthetica has attracted exciting new talent like Mark Lui. Esthetica labels adhere to a set of guidelines including the use of fairtrade, organic and recycled materials.

I am loving the new ultra stylish green labels, the perfect opportunity for guilt free shopping!

Handmade jewellery made from recycled materials by Mana at Munique Fashions

Spatial Necklace by Mana

'Your Something For Me' Necklace by Mana

Urban Warrior Necklace by Mana

The Statement Necklace

This winter the statement necklace has been seen all over the catwalks. It is a beautiful piece of jewellery that should be worn with a simple and minimalist outfit to show it in its full glory. No other jewellery is required as this necklace much such a loud statement on it's own. This seasons trend is not confined to one type of statement necklace, as long as it makes itself noticed in terms of its colour, sparkliness, size or shape. There are so many options to choose from you are sure to find one that suits your style and outfit.

At 3.1 Phillip Lim - a contemporary take on smart style with elegant separates combined with a long necklace with coloured discs.

At Alexander McQueen - a stunning sparkly choker with distinct historical references.

At Dries Van Noten - a statement necklace in rich autumnal colours made of chunky multicoloured bangles.

At Gucci - the statement necklaces had a folk theme with a mass of gold and coloured coin like charms on a web of delicate chain.

Pictures from http://www.style.com/

At Munique Fashions - A silver 'Veil of the Incas' necklace designed by Perivian artist Juan Contreras and inspired by an ancient Inca bridal veil.

A Christmas gift for the lady who has everything

It is always a difficult task choosing a Christmas gift for a wife, daughter, mother or sister who seems to have everything. Perhaps you really haven't got a clue when it comes to ladies fashion or your friends or relatives taste in fashion. No matter how much they have, they will always be delighted with a gift that allows them to choose something beautiful and individual, that really suits their own style. A gift voucher from Munique Fashions is a great present that every lady will love.

Munique has a large range of handcrafted unique fashions. There is definitely something to suit all tastes and budgets from the luxurious semi precious stone jewellery to the funky and quirky recycled jewellery and the stylish leather handbags and classic Alpaca wool wraps. Gift vouchers come in £20, £50, £100 and £150 denominations.

Designer Clothes Christmas Online Shops

Besides H&M, Zara, AE and all of the disposable and trendy retailers, there are a lots of shop out there waiting for you to discover. This holiday, try something new, shopping malls will be crowded all around. Online shops are one of your option and they're just waiting with lots of never-ending products. Here's some online shops that made name with their great quality and discounted products.


Yoox.com

A provider of all things glamour and art. From clothing to photography books, Yoox has items on sale that are from past seasons. Think of it as a lesser-known BlueFly for extreme fashionistas. They carry common brands like Versace and D&G but also Comme des Garcons and DSQUARED at a fraction of the retail cost.


Nordstrom

This department store is one of the best when it comes to customer service. From the moment you enter their doors until the moment you come back for more (because you will, trust me) you're treated as if you are their #1 customer. That's because to Nordstrom, everyone is the #1 customer. Refund and exchange policies are great but what's great are their sale prices. Granted they are a designer department store and are in quite a different tier than Macy's or Kohl's however for the value of what you're getting, the prices are worth it. Their BP department for juniors is an especially fun place to shop (even for twenty-something year olds like yours truly).


Rachelleigh.com

Rachel Leigh, an up and coming jewelry line, carries pieces that are amazingly stylish without making customers break the bank. It's quite unbelievable how much of a cult following the line has developed with celebrities when it's not something impossible to get.


Individual retailers & shops

There's nothing like getting or giving a gift that you know no one else has. Head to the historic areas of your cities or states where there are tons of antique shops. Chances are there are tons of consignment shops too with vintage stuff like scarves, belts and sunglasses. Brooklyn's Park Slope has a store called "1 of a Find" (1ofafindnyc.com) and it's a gold mine for vintage pieces that can still be worn today. Besides the fact that anything you buy will be unique, it's also a way to live green even on the holidays.

The demise of the 'It Bag'

2008 will go down in fashion history as the year that the 'It bag' fell from grace. No longer are women able to afford to spend a months wage (or more) on a handbag. The credit crunch and global economy has had a serious effect on the luxury goods sector and almost everyone is now having to think carefully about their spending habits.


The 'it bag' was a phenomena brought about partly by celebrity endorsement of certain high end designer handbags. As 2008 has worn on, the public have become more and more enlightened (although we were already pretty enlightened) to the fact that celebrities are only humans the same as anyone else. Well perhaps not the same as everyone else but certainly no better. If they can dictate and develop their own style, then why can't everyone else?


The new 'it bag' for 2009 is something unique and individual, not chosen beacuse of its price tag, designer label or that fact that it has been spotted on the arm of a celeb. It is a bag chosen by someone purely because they love it and it really says something about their unique style. I live this chocolate leather handbag it is smart and stylish, adds some texture to an outfit and is an unusual but practical shape.

Christmas Party Shopping List

Dress

Tights

Jewellery

Handbag

Alpaca wool wrap

Aloe Sunless Tanning Lotion

You don’t have to wait until you go on holiday to get that tan. Include Aloe Sunless Tanning Lotion on your shopping list and complete your fabulous look with a tan. Forever''s Aloe Sun Tanning Lotion’s special formula pampers your skin with Aloe and other moisturizers while giving you a smooth even tan.