Amber & Friends - Fashion News Blog - Mirror.co.uk

Suits you! What your working wardrobe says about your working style

2009-07-10T10:17:08Z

Sophia trouser suit, £129

Your working wardrobe can indicate your working style.

I caught up with the women's suiting experts at 9to5women.com who gave me a run down of the following different styles.

As a Mirror.co.uk reader you can get a 10% discount at 9to5women.com, just quote discount code 9to510

Which style "suits" you?...

THE BESPOKE BELLE
The Bespoke Belle excels in customer service. She likes to go the extra mile with her colleagues and clients by giving them the personal touch and tailoring work demands to their needs. This is reflected in the suits she wears - impeccable in its fit. She selects the 'Lilly-Rose Collection' suit at 9to5women.com and chooses from a selection of trouser styles, leg and skirt lengths.

THE PERFECTIONIST
The perfectionist wants it all. She knows business doesn't have to be dull and she wants to look modern and feminine as well as smart. She adds a touch of fashion to her look with 9to5women.com's trendy 'Sarah Jane Collection' puff sleeve suit, pencil skirt and pussy-bow blouse, these reflect her attention to detail.

THE PROFESSIONALIST
Her hemlines rise with the sales figures that she knows all about. She defies spiralling sales with a smart 'Sophia Collection' - seen above - suit that looks chic and sophisticated. Knowing that there's nothing more professional than a well-structured outfit, she mirrors her work ethics with smart looks from 9to5women.com.

THE TEAM PLAYER
She loves investing in staple pieces that can be mixed and matched. Every piece she invests in can effortlessly be worked into her existing wardrobe or new buys. She chooses the 'Capsule Wardrobe Collection' and alternates pieces to see her through the working week.

Fat and in fashion - Beth Ditto for Evans

2009-07-07T16:05:24Z

Should we learn to love our fat?

Beth Ditto takes the fashion world by storm

You know, the "Size-0" debate in fashion was all about looking out for people's health and promoting a healthy BMI.

So why then are the fashion press salivating all over Beth Ditto's collection for Evans when it's already been reported that obesity is as big a killer as smoking?

I think it's fair comment to say that Ditto is obese.

Is this the fashion industry majority giving the middle finger to the leaders, and Tessa Jowell, who tried to tackle the cult of the size 0 models and put the spotlight on more healthy ideals?

It's gone from one extreme to another - both unhealthy shapes and both within the realms of eating disorders. You can be an over-eater just as you can be an under-eater.

But how are the clothes I hear you cry!

Well they sit well on the high-street taking key trends from the streets of Hoxton and the uber cool and over-documented scene of which Ditto belongs.

Batwing tops disguise bingo wings. Stone washed pencil skirts to slim your thighs. There are also leggings which cleverly disguise "muffin tops".

It's very 80s (are you bored yet?) and pretty wearable.

The Beth Ditto at Evans collection launches on the 9 July with prices starting from £18.

Win tickets to DMC UK DJ Finals 2009, his 'n' hers CK fragrances and a whole load of other goodies!

2009-07-07T09:12:37Z

Win - tickets to the DMC UK DJ Finals plus Battle for UK Supremacy

Win - CKIN2U

How to wear your hat by Inja

Witness the most authoritative DJ battle this Thursday - the DMC UK DJ Finals 2009 sponsored by fashion honcho, Calvin Klein.

I've got one pair of tickets to giveaway plus a generous bag of goodies including Calvin Klein's CKIN2U His and Hers fragrance set, a timeless DMC T-shirt, 3 DMC DVDs, a CD and a bottle opener.

The battle commences at the 02 Academy Islington this Thursday with winning DJs going head to head with the best in the world at the DMC World DJ Championships.

So if you're wondering what one might wear to an evening of mixin, breakin and scratchin - that's easy! Inja, host of the DMC DJ Championships told us:

"If you're coming to the DMC UK championships this year, make sure first of all you wash and smell fresh before putting on your clean criss garms. No skinny jeans guys as it's gonna be a ram jam affair meaning hot. So you're gonna need some loose bottoms regardless. Defiantly a hoodie or a hat of some form so you can take part in my new single 'Hat Low' when I perform it.

"Fresh bright footwear man, not no crusty 1 year old field party shoes, cos we like them spanking trainers round here!

"Follow my lead - you can see me rockin an Alpinestars bad boy hat, 2 hoodies - one from Yeah Boy, the other from SupremeBeing. Jeans by Firetrap and classic Nike Dunks of course!"

Nang!

Okay to win and get a chance to be really "street" for a night, just tell me in the form of a comment below what your favourite all time hip hop record is. Don't delay - it's this Thursday and I'll be announcing a winner tomorrow at 3pm.

Good luck rude boys and bad gals.

Style guide: find swimwear to suit your shape

2009-07-03T12:29:54Z

Bikini top with adjustable straps, £16, bikini briefs, £14, both at Figleaves.com

If stripping off this summer and baring all fills you with dread, fear not! I caught up with the swimwear experts at Figleaves.com who offered their top tips for you to find the swimwear that helps you make the most of your silhouette.

Pear shaped

Try tie-side briefs and adjust them to fit and slim hips.

Use statement or decorative necklaces to draw the eye upwards

Wear halterneck tops and tiny straps to make your shoulders look wider (like the one above)

Ample upper

Wear decorative briefs and belts to draw attention downwards.

Try boy shorts and low-leg briefs to balance out your top half.

Use wide straps to minimise your shoulders

Boyish body

Try push-up cups and twisted bandeaux to enhance your cleavage

Buy control fabrics, ruching and draping to create a waist

Wear boy shorts and low-leg briefs to add curves to your hips

Hourglass

Supportive tops are essential for DD+ cup sizes

All over colours or prints keep you evenly balanced

High-waisted bikini briefs cover your tummy but show off your waist.

Check out what the celebrities are wearing on the beach, here.

All hail the political agenda of fashion!

2009-06-29T23:46:20Z

Yellow dress, £29.99, from Ebay

Talib Kweli + Hi Tek-Reflection Eternal -Back Again-Vid Premiere

Hot chick in the new Talib Kweli & Hi Tek video

Move over Mr Prime Minister, the fashionistas are in town!

According to the Guardian the latest slogan T-shirts simply must be political.

New York's The Fit Museum are hosting an exhibition this July called Fashion & Politics which looks at 200 years of politics expressed through fashion.

Or take a look at this indepth musing on the inter-relationship of politics and fashion by trendy fashion writer David Hellqvist too.

Here's my manifesto du jour - a Get the Look inspired by the hot chick in the latest Talib Kweli video, above.

This track means a lot to me because the artists have helped define my political views through great beats.

There's the fashion and politics.

Here's the look:

I simply typed "yellow dress" into Ebay to see what came up. Then I just picked a dress I liked! You don't need to buy exact copies - just use what you like as a starting point and see what you find.

You know, really good style is always personal and therefore timeless.

How will you express your political views this summer?

Meet the tweety darlings...

2009-06-28T12:05:32Z

Demanding an egg sandwich? Peaches Geldoff

Starting a Twitter account is a great way to hear about the latest trends, celebrity gossip and designer musings before they hit the headlines.

Here are some of my favorite fashion postings from over the weekend.

Karl_Lagerfeld - A respectable appearance is sufficient to make people more interested in your soul.

babygirlparis - Love The Salam Store @ Wafi Mall! They have the best clothes and also carry my Paris Hilton clothing line

stylebubble - Let's Pretend it's Hawaii: I can't praise the colour coral enough it seems... five posts on coral (coral 1, 2, 3.. http://tinyurl.com/myv85j

SHOWstudio - Iced tea and fancies served at Lanvin

MissKellyO@alexa_chung - im not there and i am in london how sad is that and im going to be in new york in a week i cant wait to see you!

Follow me on CarbootChic and get to hear first when I post the next giveaway.

Are these men from Paris Fashion Week or Paris Fashion Freak?

2009-06-27T15:04:55Z

Pretentious, moi?

More man rain as Paris Fashion Week's menswear shows started yesterday.

And - my! Oh my! - don't these fashionable men do well at putting the cock into their oh so amazing cocktails.

And coming from someone who wears blue leopard prints with pink zebra accessories to her local convenience store, that's saying something!

No one can be happier devouring the company of a good man than me but I'd rather French kiss a chav than exchange mono-syllables with one of these wossacks currently mincing po-faced along the Paris catwalks.

If good art provokes emotions then men's fashion currently goes above and beyond its calling - it's great art. That's because I'm filled with utter hate and confusion at the site of these freaks on Vogue.co.uk.

As a silver lining I'd comment that at least for women these outfits are empowering - I suddenly feel quite happy at the thought of never marrying and living alone!

We've got YMCA-style sailor suits from Hugo Boss. Unwashable paper crochets in pink at Issy Miyake and polka dots and gingham from Emanuel Ungaro who told the Telegraph that he dressed "like a flamingo" for this glittering event.

Je nes se quoi - I don't understand.

Riddle me this reader: most men want to look like ninjas - so why are the big designers producing menswear for Nicky Haslam and Laurence Llewelyn Bowen??

Festival fever: win a North Face jacket worth £150

2009-06-26T09:07:32Z

Win: North Face jacket worth £150

Alesha Dixon in North Face

Fashion has got festival fever

So in the spirit of things I'm giving away a snazzy North Face jacket (size medium) worth £150.

North Face is one of the premier outdoors brands and the label of choice for celebrities on Comic Relief's Kilimanjaro climb.

Of course as it's festival season all you'll need to climb up is your mates back, to get a better view of your favoured band.

To win, just tell me in a comment below what your favourite outdoor brand is.

'ey up, its bout time for Yorkshire Fashion Week!

2009-06-25T17:51:42Z

A Yorkshire design - by 'eck she's gorgeous

Forget thou flatcap, ditch thy tweed and ge tup North for Yorkshire Fashion Week.

It's a new initiative created by thou Textile Centre of Excellence in Huddersfield and the region's universities and colleges.

This year Yorkshire Fashion Week aims to raise the region's international profile in terms of design and textile manufacturing.

It's a little known fact but Yorkshire currently produces fabrics for some of the world's leading fashion houses, including Chanel, Prada and D&G - employing around 40,000 people in the process.

Shown above a dress that's trendy Gothic Lolita meets sexy wench - a Get the Look I couldn't resist.

Don't get left behind: all ye 'av te do is roll up skirt or dress so thou pins on show and go along to Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield between 8 and 9.15 in the evneing tomorrow (26 June).

For more information call 01484 346 543.

Fash-off: Jordan Vs Madonna?

2009-06-24T10:06:36Z

Jordan in the Yellow Corner

Madonna in the Green Corner

At the suggestion of Andy Phelps, a Mirror.co.uk reader, I've decided to do a blog that let's YOU decide who's style is more "tacky" - Madonna or Jordan?

Have your say in the comment box below.

And just to outline our competitors today so you know what's what..

There's Jordan in the Yellow corner, with her child in her arms and oversized-shades covering the gates to her soul. She's got the tan, she's toned and she exposes these assets to the world at every given opportunity with her skimpy get ups. Described earlier in the week as a "Barbarella with balls" does she have what it takes to conquer...

...The Queen of Pop?

Madonna stands alone in the Green Corner and it looks to me like she could do an awful lot of damage with those chunky bracelets hanging off her arms. She could do further harm with her fierce-looking fishnets which thinly cover her muscular legs. I think that outfit is designed to scare Jordan!

And before an audience of fashion blog readers, they're off....

Win a pant suit worth £70 and get in shape, in style

2009-06-23T11:14:02Z

Win this pant suit worth £70!

Fitness designer Ellie Gray has one lime-green pant suit to give away to an Amber & Friends reader. And it's worth £70!

So you can leave the men (or women) pant-ing for more this summer with a toned body.

Whether you choose Tess Daly's trend of choice - the midriff - or any one of the season's skimpy summer dresses, you'll do well to start exercising now to reap the benefits later.

Personally I find running pretty boring so my favourite way to get in shape is dancing. I've really enjoyed two DVDs this month (although not as much as I should have done).

These are the Urban Jam Hip Hop Dance and the Bollyrobics Dance Workout. Both these DVDs have the added benefit of enhancing dancefloor groovabilty no end.

To be in with a chance to win, let us know in a comment below, how you'll be getting in shape this summer.

Jordan is an unlikely style icon

2009-06-22T16:56:54Z

Jordan: putting the "bar" into Barbarella

You've got to love her, how many other single Mum's manage to pull off this skimpy gold-lamé number and still look hot?

Indeed not many woman under 25 could!

In this picture she's even wearing a trendy headband but has managed to make it look more sci-fi with her big "just out of bed" hair.

To me, she's Barbarella but with more balls.

We'd do well to give Jordan a break and just except her as the wild child that she is. We all have our foibles. Hers is clearly drink but she's by no means an alcoholic and far from an abuse parent.

In my opinion, the first steps to treating her like a human would to be to except her unique, brash dress sense.

Just look around you on a Saturday night and when the sun comes out - I loose count of the amount of saggy bum cheeks and waist-skimming cleavages I've seen running around the UK streets.

But is that really a problem? I think we'd do well to let women express their uncontrollable sexuality through dress sometimes.

Jordan - much respect! - a gold lamé medal for you!

Meet the knit wits at the Stitch 'n' Bitch club

2009-06-22T14:17:28Z

Member Matt knits a footy scarf

Bow-tiful - knitter Clare

Real people make their own knitwear and look darn fine in it!

I was down in London's pretty Herne Hill last Friday and chanced across a Stitch 'n' Bitch group - a worldwide organisation who arrange regular knitting events.

The Herne Hill group take their knitting sessions over wine - which makes for some pretty unique socks and scarves.

Although check out Matt's footy scarf and Clare's pretty grey jumper with a bow!

And the great news is that anyone can join a Stitch 'n' Bitch - find your local group or set up your own here.

Have your say - what do you want to see here next week?

2009-06-20T13:24:00Z

Question mark T-shirt, from eFashionLane.com

Wondering what the next trend might be or where fashion is heading this summer?

You might do well to stop trawling the labyrnth of fashion blogs out there and ask yourself first "where am I heading? What will I be wearing?"

My point is that fashion doesn't and can't exist without people buying clothes. Trends can't be trends without you actually wearing them. And magazines can't make money if you don't read them.

So I ask you today: what do you want to see here?

Do you want to dress like Victoria Beckham or Sienna Miller? Or would rather have a laugh at celebrities?

Perhaps you like the competitions? Or maybe you have some of your own opinions on fashion that you'd like to express?

Here's your chance to have your say. Love it, hate it or couldn't care less. Let me know in a comment below - it could be the next blog and start a new fashion.

LET'S GO!

Do something for Dad, bag him a pair of trainers worth £100!!

2009-06-19T14:29:52Z

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 11: win them for Daddy!

Do something for Dad. Show him you love him and care about his health with a brand new pair of running trainers.

I've got one pair of ASICS GEL-Nimbus 11 trainers for Dad, to giveaway to one lucky reader.

The new GEL-Nimbus 11 is the latest in a long line of award winning, running shoes which are used by runners worldwide.

The sporty looking trainers feature an asymmetrical lacing system which follows the curve of the foot to optimise the fit and feel too.

To win, just tell us about Dad's dress sense in the form of a comment below.

I'll kick us off -

My family have nicknamed Dad "Dude". This name's derived from his bad-boy image - he wears a Hugo Boss mac and Dr Martins with steel toes!

Tell us about your Dad now. Publish a few words about him, win him a pair of trainers. And most off all show him that you love him!