5 Style Hacks I'm Stealing from London Fashion Week (And a Couple I'm Not)

London Fashion Week is renowned for styling sleights whose recreation outside the rarefied confines of Brewer Street NCP would see their proponents running the risk of a lifetime Tesco ban. But it's also an inexhaustible source of inspiration for those of us who fancy a little wardrobe shake-up... And nothing need stop you receiving your Ocado delivery in glittery pyjamas, eh?

Here are my Fashion Week-inspired resolutions for 2016...

1. Discover New Layers

L-R: Topshop Unique; Fyodor Golan; Mother of Pearl; Simone Rocha

Skirts over trousers: Yawn. Skirts over... skirts? I'm listening. Skirts over suits? *Yelps with excitement*

2. Try the New High/Low

L-R: Peter Pilotto; Mother of Pearl; Preen; Preen

Sports/luxe: done (over and over and over and...) But prim/prairie, demure/disco and sports/vamp, on the other hand...

3. Ruffle Some Feathers

L-R: Erdem; Mother of Pearl; Paul Smith; Huishan Zhang

Or, at the very least, some neck and hemlines.

4. Pop Some (Statement) Collar...

L-R: Burberry; J. JS Lee; Osman; Roksanda

After 400 years in the fashion wilderness, could 2016 see the return of the ruff? Roksanda (incredibly) put forward a pretty convincing case... But, whilst I muster the requisite courage (and wait for Zara to rustle up a copy), I'll be following Burberry's failsafe formula: fun fur + parka + peppy prints + preppy accessories = trans-seasonal style perfection.

5. Jazz Up My Hosiery

Clockwise from L: House of Holland; Osman; Mother of Pearl; Ryan Lo

And once I've finished rifling through the darkest recesses of my sock drawers in search of those Burberry-alike textured tights, I solemnly swear to finally try out the socks-and-sandals thing... Before investing in some new-style pom pom-adorned accessories (because, come next season, a bag charm just isn't going to cut it) and (*squeal*) some glittery tights. The '80s party dressing trend is going to be the best Crimbo gift an adult woman ever received.

And 4 I Won't Be Trying At Home...

Gareth Pugh; Ashish; Christopher Kane; Mother of Pearl

1. '80s power suiting? YES. Contouring using tights? No.
2. Glittery pyjamas? Yes (please). Hair of Marge Simpson and Krusty the Clown's lovechild? No.
3. Bag-for-life-based millinery? Call me old school, but I think I'll be sticking to umbrellas for the time being.
4. Skirts-over-skirts? Intrigued. Skirts-over-trackies-over-socks-under-slippers? Baffled.

Need to Know: Your LFW Crib Notes

• The Hottest Colours: Olive Green, Yolk Yellow, Rose Pink
• The Greater Spotted Prints: Gingham, Houndstooth, Florals
• Most Referenced Decades: '60s, '70s (yes, I know), '80s
• Most Commonly Credited Concepts: Fading Beauty, High/Low
• Most Unexpected Trend: Corsets over everything...

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Caped 'n' Cuffed

Having fallen truly, madly, deeply in love with Hailee Steinfeld's seventies-tastic caped Stella McCartney jumpsuit at this year's MTV VMAs, I was pretty darn excited to discover Pretty Little Thing's fabulously festive cranberry homage. Though perennially wary of over-egging the (Christmas) pudding, I decided to take Hailee's lead on the statement gold accessory front... throwing a jewelled ear cuff in for good measure (well, it is Christmas)... And, having repeatedly tried and failed to find an ear cuff whose fastenings wouldn't necessitate the necking of back-to-back buckets of prosecco in an attempt to dull the resulting pain (well, there goes that excuse...) over the years, Primark's amaaaaazing new £3-a-piece range is just about the best present I could have asked for...

Jumpsuit: Pretty Little Thing, Choker and Belt: Both ASOS, Shoes c/o F&F, Ear Cuff and Stud Set: Primark

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Party Pick 'n' Mix: Dressing Through the Decades

If it will take more than a cheeky Snowball to get you into a pair of sequinned flares this Crimbo, never fear - when it comes to your preferred party piece, this season, if you could have worn it to a shindig at some point between 1920 and 2000, it's probably back in style... so let's channel Betsey Johnson and party like it's 1999... 1989... 1979... or just about any other year you'd care to name...



'20s: Fringed Cape, Miss Selfridge at House of Fraser; Shoes, French Connection; Dress, Reiss
'50s: Dress, Coast; Shoes, Oasis
'60s: Dress, Anna Sui at Girl Meets Dress (To Rent or Buy); Boots, MARY at Topshop


'70s: Jumpsuit, Lavish Alice; Shoes, Warehouse
'80s: Blazer and Trousers, both Topshop Unique; Dress and Blouse, both Topshop; Shoes, Reiss
'90s: Dress, Mango; Shoes, French Connection

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Daring to Wear: The Cropped Flare...

I figured the cropped flare was one of those trends that, like phallically-symbolic inflatable accessories and sofa-print trouser suits, only worked on a runway - until fashion FOMO hit, as is its wont - and I discovered this high-waisted pair... which I now love more than full-length flares and skinny crops combined. Thankfully, I was already all over the perfect midi-boots... and I'd snagged an invitation to "design" my own bespoke belt at Elliot Rhodes' Covent Garden emporium the very day they popped through my letterbox - "burgundy, mock-croc and straight out of the '70s thankyouplease".

Jeans: H&M, Blouse: Dorothy Perkins, Boots: Truffle Collection at shoebou, Belt c/o Elliot Rhodes

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Gift Guide #2: 100+ Ideas to Make Everyone Happy...

Tearing your hair out over what to get the man/woman/child/foetus who has everything this Christmas? Whether you have £6 or £600 to spend, I challenge you not to find something they'll want here...

Click on product descriptions for more info/to buy, and don't forget to check out my Secret Santa and stocking filler ideas here...

Oh, and there are plenty of cheeky Black Friday weekend/Cyber Monday deals still waiting to be snapped up too, so go go go!!

1: '70s Tassel Necklace, Accessorize, £15; 2: Cutwork Sandals, Karen Millen, £165 (25% off this weekend), 3: Cutwork Clutch, Karen Millen, £99 (25% off this weekend); 4: Retro Style Sunglasses, Mango, £9.99; 5: Personalised Diamond Initial Necklace, Ernest Jones, from £44.59; 6: Black Suede Tassel Cape, Warehouse, £80 (£56 this weekend); 7: Multi-Tassel Collar Necklace, Warehouse, £22 (£16.50 this weekend); 8: Bag, Skinnydip London, £30, 9: Pom Pom Gloves, Coast, £49 (£39.20 this weekend); 10: Alona Bella Ear Jacket, £95; 11: Cable Knit Pom Pom Bobble Hat, Warehouse, £14 (£12.60 this weekend); 12: Bijoux De Famille Dress Me Plastron Necklace, £325; 13: Faux Fur Ear Hat, Quiz, £7.99; 14: Faux Fur Cuffs, Quiz, £5.59; 15: Belt, Baukjen, £59; 16: Filipa Grey Faux Fur Scarf, Reiss, £90; 17: Ava Hardcastle Hard Clutch Bag, Accessorize, £34.30; 18: Marbled Faux Fur Cape, Accessorize, £40 (£28 this weekend); 19: WOW Suitcase Bag, Accessorize, £32; 20: Black Fur Trim Hooded Cape, Quiz, £34.99; 21: Bijoux De Famille Eat Me Choker Necklace, £340; 22: Foster Hobo Bag, Jaeger Outlet, £59; 23: Helene Berman Veiled Pom Pom Beanie, £99; 24: Chocolate Milk Carton Bag, Accessorize, £29; 25: Black Sequin Collarless Cape Blazer, Lavish Alice, £68

1: Get Your Party On/Paint the Town Glam Gift Set, Benefit, £39.50 (Worth £81); 2: Limited Edition Pink Pepper and Mint Cleanse and Polish Gift Set, Liz Earle, £20.75; 3: Laura Mercier Matte To Metal Caviar Stick Collection, £39; 4: Laura Mercier Honey Bath in Fresh Fig, £33; 5: Penhaligon's Ladies Fragrance Collection, £35; 6: The Gift of Great (Big) Hair, Bumble and Bumble, £30; 7: Lily Lolo Vegan-Friendly Luxury Makeup Brush Set, £49.99; 8: REN Luxury Rose Collection Gift Set, £49 (Worth £59); 9: Facial Kit by Grown Alchemist, £34; 10: Lana #10 Lashes by Huda (Kardashian fave), £15.50; 11: L'Occitane Jasmin Immortelle Neroli Sensual Collection, £55 (Worth £73); 12: NUXE Prodigieux Addict Gift Set, £40; 13: Trust in Love Set by Stila Cosmetics, £30; 14: Models Own Chrome Gift Set, £10; 15: Clarins Perfect Lips Collection, £19.50 (Worth £42); 16: The Award Winners by Eve Lom, £75; 17: Spoilt Cow Vanity Set, Cowshed, £50 (£40 this weekend); 18: Omorovicza Introductory Christmas Gift Set, £59; 19: Molton Brown Mesmerising Oudh Accord & Gold Body & Home Collection, £95 (Worth £110); 20: Ultimate Bath Jewels by Aromatherapy Associates, £58; 21: Nutty Body Butter Sweethearts, The Body Shop, £12; 22: Flash Tattoos Set, £20

1: L'Occitane Collection for Men, £49 (Worth £75); 2: John Smedley Cashmere and Silk Hat and Scarf Set, £199; 3: Liz Earle Men's Shave Duo, £16; 4: Uniqlo HEATTECH Touchscreen Windproof Fleece Gloves, £12.90; 5: Modern Gent's Post Party Rescue Kit, The Body Shop, £16; 6: Wallet, Jaeger Outlet, £45; 7: Religion Canvas Shoulder Bag, £7.99; 8: Molton Brown Re-Charge Black Pepper Cracker, £20; 9: Reindeer Beanie, Forever 21, £9; 10: Alain Delon Framed Print, £195; 11: Birchbox Man Limited Edition Box, £25 (Worth £58); 12: Reiss Personal Shopping Experience, from £250; 13: Silk Knitted Bow Tie, Reiss, £50; 14: Personalised "I Love You More Than" Coaster, £6.95; 15: Puma x McQ Trainers, £100; 16: Christmas Jumper Hip Flask, Accessorize, £10; 17: Emporio Armani Logo Scarf, £39.99; 18: Smart Phone Projector, Not on the High Street, £17.95

1: Cath Kidston Spot Mini Satchel, £38; 2: Timberland Junior Classic Boot, £110; 3: Talking Paddington Bear, £18; 4: Make Your Own Lip Balm Kit, £15.75; 5: Mi Pac Americana Backpack, £17.99; 6: Make Your Own Bracelet Kit, Accessorize, £10; 7: Helen Moore Children's Faux Fur Collar, £30; 8: Marshmallow Toasting Kit, £14.75; 9: Girls' HEATTECH Knit Double Bobble Hat, Uniqlo, £7.90; 10: Maui and Sons Twister Stunt Scooter, £44.99; 11: Kickers Lovehearts Ankle Boots, £33; 12: Fox Cross-Body Bag, Accessorize, £25

1: Cath Kidston Baby Bag, £95; 2: Isabella Oliver Extra Long Skinny Belt, £65; 3: Isabella Oliver Slogan Maternity T-Shirt, £45; 4: Fortnum & Mason New Arrival Gift Box, £110

1: Molton Brown Frankincense and Allspice Reed Diffuser, £39; 2: Winter Christmas Candle, Cowshed, £36 (£28.80 this weekend); 3: Personalised Clock, £19.99; 4: Biba Faux Fur Throw, House of Fraser, £140 (£70 this weekend); 5: Glazed Apple Scented Candle, The Body Shop, £10; 6: TOAST Natural Soy Wax Candle in Porcelain Jar, £34; 7: Personalised Heritage Plaque, £19.99

1: Chocolate Teapot, £19.95; 2: Fortnum & Mason Rose & Violet Creams, from £5.50; 3: Brownie Club Subscription, £75.99; 4: Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut, £29.98 (save over £15); 5: Signed Copy of Marco Pierre White's White Heat 25, £25; 6: Discovery Dozen Gift, Laithwaite's Wine, £72 (save over £20); 7: Personalised Embossed Rolling Pin, £26; 8: Fortnum's Cocktail Truffles, £13.50; 9: Lily O'Brien's Christmas Chocolate Shoe Box, £40; 10: Pink Espresso Coffee Pot, £16.95; 11: Chocolate Egg & Bacon on Toast, £12

1: Sweaty Betty Yoga Fan, £15; 2: Puma Carson Cheetah Print Running Shoes, £60; 3: Sweaty Betty Media Armband, £30; 4: Puma Eskiva Metallic Boxing Boots, £75

1: Design Your Own Fragrance, £99; 2: Lulu Guinness Limited Edition Silver Polaroid Camera, £450; 3: 25 Heritage Heroes, Elemis, £225; 4: Men's Cashmere & Silk Hoody, John Smedley, £599; 5: Smythson 2016 Soho Diary, £180; 6: GHD Black Gold Value Set, £145 (save over £80); 7: Smythson iPad Mini cover, £275; 8: Cashmere & Silk Roll Neck Sweater, John Smedley, £399

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