A insiders view of the Forever 21 London store

Curiosity got the better of me yesterday, and on my way home I couldn't resist making a detour to the new Forever 21 store on London's Oxford Street.

After being tempted by all the hype, I plucked up the courage to tackle the hordes of people all desperate for a bargain like myself.

The best way to describe Forever 21? Primark meets H&M with a Topshop vibe and an Urban Outfitters design, with typically American features such as drawers housing lingerie and folded t-shirts stacked on dressers.

The clothes? Lots of festival fashion-ponchos, hareem trousers, slogan tees and vests, tribal and folklore inspired designs and prints, and a mix of day and evening wear, ranging from a bargainous £3 (plain tops) to £40 plus.

Forever 21 really is a shopper’s paradise. Similar to a department store, but a cheap one, filled with clothes, shoes, bags and jewellery. Never have I seen so much jewellery in one place.

After tackling the three floors, ground and lower ground clothing and 1st floor accessories, my basket was overflowing with goodies including a pair of monochrome tribal print harems (£14), a gypsy inspired sheer shirt (around £12), red velvet shorts dungarees and a necklace with a robot pendant.

However my fashion bubble was burst when I saw how big the queues were for the fitting rooms and tills. Unfortunately, the lure of ordering clothes from the Forever 21 website in the comfort of my own home outweighed queuing for 30 minutes in their amazing flagship store.

A perfect pout! New lip tattoos.

I came across these lip tattoos in ASOS magazine and had to share. Made by American beauty company Violent Lips,the temporary lip tattoos come in a variety of colours and patterns and are designed to last 4-8 hours,depending on your skin type, so perfect for a night out then.

If like me you are useless at applying lipstick and end up with a) more of it on your teeth b) uneven colour or c) a tout pout, than these lip tattoos are perfect.

 

 I'll be wearing the Pink Kiss and Red Love in the daytime.

 And at night, the Leopard or American Flag.

Available at www.asos.com

Showstopping jewellery by Louise Gray at ASOS

How cute is this french fries necklace (below) by new designer Louise Gray? The jewellery designer has launched her debut line at ASOS as part of the ASOS inc initiative, which nurtures and supports emerging and established designers, hands together for the online retailer.

The 11-piece collection also features pendant necklaces with duck whistles (that actually work), bells and goodly eyed motifs, along with heart shaped pyramid rings and a fold-over heart bag.

With payday less than a week away, I'll be logging onto ASOS and getting me a piece of jewellery history with pieces from Gray's collection. The whistle pendant and earrings will be perfect for V Festival, no-one will loose me.

Perfectly petite- Sarah Michelle Gellar's blackout

Sarah Michelle Gellar knows how to dress for her size and shape in this black sheer top with diamante collar, dark wax jeans and heels at the Ringer presss conference at the Comic convention last week.
The '5, 3' star's diamante collared blouse draws the eye to her slender neck and collarbone, while her sandals add height to her petite frame

My denim hell.....

It's been widely reported in all of the newspapers that buying jeans is more stressful than buying a house for the over 50s. Let me add to this in saying that finding a pair of jeans in your 20s that fit is no cup of tea either. You've probably seen me declare on Twitter that my wardrobe is now a jeans free zone, having got so sick of scouring the high street for jeans that fit (length and waist), are flattering and don't fade or shrink in the wash. It really is mission impossible, hence why now I have given up jeans in favour of trousers and skirts that flatter my petite shape.
So to all you retailers out there, listen up, it's not just older women that are disowning your denim.
Isn't it time to design a range of jeans for each body shape.

When you can't blame the stylist

I noticed these tees on River Island online today and had to share......
Talk about confusing. Didn't anyone tell the buyer at River Island that dog's bark and cat's miaow? Even my two-year-old niece knows that. The only excuse I can think of its that the retailer's buyer got very confused during the rush to sort out the store's Autumn/Winter 11 collection, or perhaps the irony is lost on me?
Can't say I'll be rushing to buy one of the £15 t-shirts.  The joke is on you River Island!

Wednesday's must-have

I've fallen in love with this jade green playsuit from Toppers, which will take me from Summer through to Autumn. I'll be teaming it with espadrille's or gladiators for day during the warmer months, and in Winter, adding sheer black tights and green stilettos.

Green conversational animal print playsuit £50 Topshop.

Hat Party

It's the time of year when you're wondering whether you can still get away with wearing your summer playsuit and teaming it with a cardi, or if you should in fact dip back into your winter wardrobe. The latter I refuse to do. The solution to the conundrum....... a hat, and River Island have some beauties.

Black cat ears bowler hat £19.99

Green fedora £19.99

Brown fedora £19.99

The Lazy Oaf sample sale

Where better to spend a wet Saturday afternoon then at the Lazy Oaf sample sale, bagging bargains and people watching in East London's trendy Brick Lane. For one day only, the kind people at Lazy Oaf opened their doors to offer fashionistas the chance to own crazy tees with watermelon prints, quirky sweatshirts and chintzy jewellery at bargain prices. I'm never one to pass up a bargain.

 

Model behaviour-Disney inspired character tee and American flag bodycon skirt, both £10 each, less than half the original retail price.

 These cropped tees would be perfect over a maxi skirt or teamed with dungarees and hi-tops. I feel an American road-trip coming on.

That's my Autumn/Winter wardrobe sorted!

Talk about wearing your expression, with the move of a zip these sweatshirts (below) go from happy to sad. Words are no longer needed.

One, two, buckle my shoe

Old fashioned buckle shoes are making a comeback this Autumn/Winter. Once associated as the must-have shoe for comfort for the older lady, these beauties are arriving thick and fast to the high street. Kid you not, my prediction is that these shoes will become the ultimate must-have for any fashionista come next season. Granny chic, yes please.

River Island £35

Red and Dead at Schuh £55

A trip to Battersea Boot Sale on a sunny Sunday

Normally I prefer to get rid of all my unwanted goods at boot sales rather than buy someone else's pre-loved items, but after hearing good things about Battersea's weekly car boot sale I decided for once to be a buyer rather than a seller. According to Time Out, Battersea is amongst the top ten car boot sales and where you are most likely to pick up a cheap vintage Chanel handbag, slightly creased Barbour jacket or Cartier shoes circa 1920. Right up my street.

After a somewhat nightmare journey, courtesy of public transport, I managed to navigate my way to the sale thanks to my trusty and battered A-Z. Then I joined the burgeoning queue of hundreds all looking for a bargain for just a mere 50p entrance fee (before 1.30pm buyers pay £3 and £5 before midday).

On entering the sale, I made a bee-line towards the back of the college's car park, where the car boot is held, towards the stalls lined with rails of clothing. My first bargain, a Burberry mac for under £50. On a nearby stall I noticed DKNY jeans, another, nearly new garments from ASOS and Topshop, and a guy selling Orly Kiely bed covers. My second purchase was a vintage cerise jumper for a £1, sold to me by a woman who openly admitted her shopping addiction often got her into trouble, join the club. Another favourite stall of mine was one selling second hand leather briefcases and satchels, an old-fashioned bicycle and khaki boiler suit.

An hour into my car boot shopping spree and a 99 flake later, I noticed a brand new H&M cream evening dress, tag attached. The story, according to the seller, was that she had bought the dress but found it didn't fit and luckily for me never returned it. A perfect dress for the many weddings I have this year and next.

I think I have Battersea Boot Sale to blame for my new car boot sale addiction.

Must have....

I spotted this cute bear hat on River Island's website and had to share. Not only does it work for this Autumn/Winter's faux fur trend, but is ideal festival wear. This is River Island fashion genius at its best. Jessie J eat your heart out.

Topshop's pre fall 11 collection

While everyone is donning playsuits and ditsy dresses and thinking about their holiday wardrobe, I have been getting excited about the arrival of Topshop's pre-fall collection next week. I only have pencil skirts, faux far, fitted boy-ish trousers in mustard, orange and flame red on my mind.

Miss Selfridge's new Project#1 collection

Miss Selfridge's new Project #1 collection, designed by the brand's assistant buyers, has just hit stores, and is quickly becoming the talk of the town.

The 14-piece line is influenced by British street style, drawing inspiration from music and band culture, in laymans terms-a collection perfect for the festival season.

I'll be teaming the animal print leggings with a band tee and studded boots when I hit V-Festival next month.
A round of applause for the Miss Selfridge's young talent please. See my pick of the collection below.

Black fringe back jacket £38

Animal print detail leggings £22

Stone pleat shoulder shirt £38

Rust cold shoulder shirt dress £46

Eddie leopard slipper £45

Burgundy leather satchel bag £45

Viictoria Beckham launches affordable collection

It seems Victoria Beckham has become the latest designer (?) to slash her prices and introduce an affordable collection ready for next Spring, hurrah. Despite their hard to wear shapes, I have a suspicion they will be a sell-out.