I'm doing well today, third post in one day! This isn't really a proper post though, more of a plea. With my birthday and Christmas coming up, my mum and others have started to ask me what I want. I'd like to ask for some fashion-related books including topics such as fashion history, fashion illustration, street style, photography and even a beginner's guide to sewing/making clothes (bearing in mind I can't work a sewing machine). The only problem is, I have absolutely no idea where to start. I would love your recommendations of any must haves!

As you probably already know, I am a huge fan of The OC and miss it very much. Now Josh Swartz has made Gossip Girl, and I do love it (but not quite as much). I've been watching it on the internet and have found that the songs aren't as good but the world in which it is set is simply amazing. Wouldn't you just love to have an endless supply of beautiful dresses and go to glamorous parties all the time?


Jenny in Gossip Girl is the same age as me, and she is my new inspiration. She's one of the girls in the drama who doesn't have an endless supply of dresses but she can make her own. In one episode, she tries on a designer dress which she cannot afford, but she sews her own dress that is inspired from it. I'd love to be able to that - learning how to make dresses is on my to-do-list! Her outfits are gorgeous and she mixes vintage and unique pieces into her style. The yellow strapless dress is lovely and she wears another blue strapless dress which I love (but couldn't find a good picture of)!

That brings me onto the theme of strapless dresses, which Elle calls "nude shoulders". You might recognise the yellow dress above as it is the same one that Jenny wore in Gossip Girl. Jasmine di Milo also sent down the catwalk the black and white strapless dress which I love the shape of. My favourite little dress from the autumn/winter collections has to be the Stella McCartney dress that Jessica Stam modelled. I love the shape and cut of it - it's simply stunning.


Obviously, I only have a tiny budget, and I can't make my own dresses yet, so I look towards the high street. I've had my eye on this cocktail dress from Oasis for a while now, which comes in three different colours. I'd love to have all three to be honest, but love the bright colours of the pink and purple.

pic credits: style.com, elle.com

pic credits: style.com, elle.com

I must confess that I know very little, if anything at all, about fashion history. But I was watching the school play on friday night, and I absolutely loved the flapper-style dresses. In the 1920s the rise of the flappers was somewhat of a rebellion. There were drastic changes in women's clothing and their hair. Waist-lines dropped to the hips, hems started to rise, dresses became more shapeless and fringed. Long pearls, the cloche and feathered headdresses became popular. Hair was cut extremely short. It's often described as the girls wanting to be more like the boys. Girls even started to smoke, which was unheard of before.


This made me cast my mind back to the Met Costume Institute Gala earlier in the year, where there were some flapper influences. I love the shape and colour of Zani Guelmann's dress. Kate Bosworth was supporting the flapper hair which I actually quite liked. Kirsten Dunst's outfit came under much debate but I personally loved it.


Which brings me on to Kate Moss. Do we ever stop talking about her? Supporting her new fringe, she turned up at Fashion Rocks in a stunning flapper-esque dress which was inspired by a vintage dress in her own collection that she was wearing when she first met Johnny Depp. Created with Topshop it is apparently worth about £40,000 and decorated with 60,000 Swarovski crystal beads. It is on auction at the moment on Ebay, with all the proceeds going to the Prince's Trust. At the moment, bidding is at £5,500.

I don't know about you, but I definitely don't have that sort of money lying about. But I am quite inspired by this period, and may go searching on for flapper style dresses and accessories.

pic credits: style.com

I really must stop talking about the F/W Balenciaga collection but I really can't help myself. I actually love it so much, definitely my favourite collection from the autumn/winter collections. Topshop have released a range called 'Eco-Warrior' but within the Balenciaga collection there are some outfits which truly make me think of the phrase. Zebra print, which is used in the dress on the first picture, I think will be a big hit this season. I think the third picture shows perfectly the eco-warrior look. Many people have talked about how Nicholas Ghesquiere managed to mixed structured jackets with more feminine, floaty skirts or dresses - so effective.


I also think there were some hippy influences. Global mix and boho-tec have been key buzz words but some of the kaleidescope effects on the dresses said to me hippy. The prints on the dresses are absolutely gorgeous, and I love the cuts.


Oh, and while browsing through the backstage photos, I came across this lady. I don't really know who she is, but I think she fits quite well with the Balenciaga collection, don't you?


pic credits: style.com, elle.com

How gorgeous does Kylie look? She won the Q Idol award for her recovery after her battle with breast cancer. Her figure-hugging black dress is stunning and I love the lace on the sleeves. Kylie's hair is amazing, in a Marilyn Monroe sort of style, a bit 50s maybe? The colour of her hair really suits her, and her make-up is flawless. I can't wait to hear her new songs, and more of her beautiful outfits.

pic credits: the sun

There are many many gorgeous models out there right now. Alright, so that's stating the obvious but seriously, I can't keep up! Diana Moldovan is one of those models. This 20-year-old Romanian was discovered at a night club. And she has the most stunning eyes.


She's walked loads of shows both during the F/W 07-08 season, and at the moment for the Spring/Summer 08 shows. Oh I do love that Marc by Marc Jacobs dress! Diana has a look about her which I just love. I just hope we see more of her soon, hopefully in an ad campaign. But for now, there's loads of pictures of her around.

pic credits: style.com, elle.com, img