It was her casting for British Vogue by Mario Testino that brought her to people’s attention and this started in people’s minds her association with artistic style and elegance. She models for numerous fashion companies including Marc Jacobs, Burberry, Anya Hindmarch and, just recently, FullCircle. She is also currently studying art history and enjoys such interests as horse racing.

Many from the fashion world are thinking that she is going to be a model that people see more of in coming years. The new advertising campaign from FullCircle is focused on femininity and utilises a lot of delicate fabrics.

There are touches of floral inspiration in the clothing and these are often combined with unusual Japanese prints. They are mostly in muted tones and one of the most interesting pieces of clothing features a design of a bird that has been sketched by hand. The new range certainly has a great sense of summer about it.

The set was like a mystical forest and provided an excellent backdrop for showing off the designer’s latest winter collection. Fur hats and large shoes appeared to be some of the latest trends, as were fur coats with sequins that made them seem to almost be covered in snow flakes.

The fashion director of InStyle magazine is Hal Rubenstein and he commented, “Mr Jacobs has a way with theatrics that many other designers don’t. The lighting is fantastic, the sound is well-developed and the set is something to behold. He has a way of putting the ‘show’ in fashion show. The show recently seemed to be some sort of fairytale and it was certainly very beautiful and unique.”

All of the guests at the show seemed to be enthralled by the set, almost more than they were by the clothes themselves. Both of these things though were exceptional, and it seems as if Mr Jacobs continues to cement himself as one of the world’s leading fashion designers.

Mr Rubenstein continued, “His set is obviously very over styled but he does this on purpose because he knows it’s what the audience are coming to see. The clothes he puts on display are spectacular in themselves. People know that they are going to have something to look forward to and when they are put together with his beautiful sets, it creates an experience quite unlike anything else in the fashion world.”

This coat which is synonymous with nerds and trainspotters has been completely remodelled and now looks really cool, especially with skinny jeans and a tee shirt. Teamed up with a dress it also looks very cute and casual.

There is no need for plus sized ladies to miss out on this great trend either, as Bonprix (www.bonprix.co.uk) has a fabulous range of plus sized anoraks that are bang on trend. One that is set to be a huge hit is the plus size fishtail parka that has a looks of the mods about it with its fishtail hemline. The longer style makes it perfect with jeans, and the drawstring waist and buckle detailing at the back create a very flattering shape.

The faux fur that edges the hood is also right on trend, as are the sand and camel pastel colour options, but for those preferring a darker colour you can also get them in olive and black. The parka is available in all sizes from 14-30 and costs £27.95 irrespective of size.

If you are looking for a lighter anorak then the button through mac will be perfect. The shiny fabric also makes it ideal for both day and evening wear, and will literally go with anything you are wearing. This coat has a funnel neck and drawstring waist which is very flattering, is available in black or sand in sizes 14-28 and costs £44.95.

With the high demands the general public seem to face to dress in the latest fashion, or to dress in a similar way to a particular celebrity or role-model, there’s high concern about where one should start looking for clothes.

“When it comes to buying clothes I usually go for the cheapest, yet most comfortable option, that is why I do most of my shopping at places like Primark.” (Anonymous Source)

This is all well, after all Primark is cheap. However; Primark cannot, and does not offer a little of everything, and putting the ethical issues Primark faces aside, what is cheapest is not always the best option.

Maybe you have a special occasion coming up that requires formal attire-Zalando offers various different styled Maxi Dresses such as; the eloquent S’NOB Hamilton, or maybe you’re looking more for ideal prom dresses such as; the French Connection Vanetta Drape, that’s even currently on sale.

Secondly, you need a pair of dashing shoes to compliment that amazing outfit you’ve just bought. Zalando offers a wide variety of different shoe types. This can be from your sporty trainers; Adidas, Candice Cooper etc…to your more fancy footwear such as; Stiletto’s or boots.

Finally, you require the perfect accessory to complete the outfit. Handbags are a must have for any women now surely? Whether you prefer the flashy Raso Pietra or the more down to earth Paisley Flower, you can find one with a style that suits any occasion.

Zalando also offers many other accessories such as; belts, purses, hats, headphones, sunglasses and so on…

For the men, and children out there, don’t feel that this is a woman’s only website either. With the same categories of shoes, clothes (minus the dress of course) and accessories applicable to men and children as well, Zalando really is catering for everyone.

Article Courtesy of Zalando

Rugby players are not usually known for their keen sense of style, but Gareth Thomas stands out as a man that knows fashion when he sees it, and a man that knows how to make an impression.

Gareth is currently known best as the favourite to win Celebrity Big Brother and one of the first gay athletes to openly speak about his sexuality. For this, the Pink List has added him to their list of the UK’s 101 most influential gay people.

Although Gareth may not have the perfect supermodel looks given his rough game of choice, he does have some great company within the fashion industry. Louboutin in fact claims that he was their inspiration for mens footwear and continues to be an inspiration for their menswear ranges. The prominent loafers in the line are called the Alfie Flat after his Big Brother nickname and are made out of gold patent leather with soft velvet lining the insides.

Right now, Gareth is focused on being the nice guy inside of the Big Brother house, but when his stint on reality television is over most likely there will be a great deal of the public waiting to see what he does next. He already has fame as a superstar of the rugby world, for being an inspirational speaker and has backers in the fashion industry.

Therefore, it would seem that Gareth has opportunities waiting at every door, and it will be interesting to see which door he decides to walk through.

Savannah and Sienna Miller have stepped aside from Twenty8Twelve, leaving behind their posts as co-creative directors for the label so that they can pursue other projects.

The sisters have worked together for the past six years but they are hoping to move forward now. The label will be continuing with the current design team in place.

Sienna, aged 30, most likely is going to concentrate on being a mother as it has just been announced that she is pregnant. In the absence of the sisters the label will change its name slightly to Twenty8Twelve London, in place of Twenty8Twelve by S. miller.

Managing director for the label, Nish Soneji, stated that they have enjoyed a great partnership working with the sisters and that at the start they worked to create a new modern label that had ia unique identity along with strong design.

She said that the vision has created a British collection that is known for quality, finishing, and unique cuts and the clothes will continue to be produced and released to the public by the current design team. The label first launched in September of 2007 and was named after the birth date of Sienna.

Due to Savannah’s experience working as a fashion designer, and the celebrity of Sienna, the label grew in popularity quickly even launching the sisters onto London Fashion Week in 2009. At the moment, there are three stores spread throughout London with plans in the works for the label to expand into the United States.

An e-commerce website is also in the works and the label will be appearing again at London Fashion Week this year. Sienna commented that this is a great time for the company to grow as they need to be strong to make it through the poor economic climate.

Fashion conscious women may pore over magazines to check out the latest trends or the hottest designers, but according to one expert the only sure fire way to be fashionable in 2012 is to be environmentally aware.

Green clothing has experience a huge surge in popularity in recent years, though most people still feel that they are doing enough by donating their unwanted items to charity shops.

The clothing industry is actually surprisingly harmful to the environment; aside from concerns about the Fair Trade status of the original cotton plants used, hundreds of chemical are used in the process to take that raw cotton and turn it into usable fabric. It is even thought that a quarter of all pesticides used around the world are used on cotton plants.

Consumers are becoming more aware about green issues and are starting to care more about the impact the products they buy have had on the environment. In the same way that organic produce is starting to become a common sight on supermarket shelves, clothing made from organic cotton and other environmentally friendly materials, like hemp, are cropping up in the fashion department too.

Aside from buying your clothes from green labels, you can always go fashion shopping in your local charity shop. Styles are all cyclical, so items that some women have thrown out could easily be starting to come back into fashion. The best trick is to head to stores in expensive areas where you could even pick up some designer bargains; there are charity shops in posh areas of London that are well known for selling cut price Giorgio Armani suits and Versace dresses.

Vintage stores are just as green as charity shops; the only difference being that shoppers are guaranteed a certain standard in vintage stores, though they also have to pay more for the privilege. Most large towns and cities will have a couple of trendy vintage boutiques, or you could check out craft fairs and markets where arty types often sell vintage clothing – but with their own personal twist. 

The GLM tracks the use of language on websites and social media such as Facebook and Twitter, compiling lists of the most common words and phrases, When it comes to the fashion world “The Duchess Effect” held onto the number one spot for a second year running, while previous language chart-topper “Lady Gaga” disappeared out of the top ten altogether.

Even the phrase “Pippa’s Bum” made an appearance at number five in the GLM study, undoubtedly thanks to the hysteria that surrounded the bridesmaid’s dress that she wore at her sister’s wedding.

Kate and Pippa are fast becoming global trend-setters, with the Duchess and her sister able to create sell-out demand for a particular style, designer or High Street store. Every public appearance by the two, no matter how brief, is analysed by the fashion press with women all over the world then discussing the outfits via online forums and social media.

Global Language Monitor’s fashion expert Bekka Payack said that Kate’s influence stretches beyond specific styles, with young women keen to wear more graceful and feminine clothes in general, mimicking Kate’s classic, timeless look. The disappearance of Lady Gaga from the list, whose style is almost the complete opposite of Kate and Pippa, is another example of how womens attitudes towards fashion are changing.

This is the first time that the Global Language Monitor’s fashion list has been topped by the same person, though Lady Gag came close when she secured second place in 2009, followed by her number one spot in 2010. The GLM list for 2012 also features words and phrases such as pyjamas, paisley, braids and peplums.

The products in the new collection are in a variety of the finest quality, beautiful faux furs, and colours include monochrome Dalmatian, romantic snow leopard and liver spot grey. Everything in the collection, as always, is manufactured within the UK.

Elizabeth Eastwood is the creative manager and she has said that for this season they have concentrated on finding the best quality faux fur available, and they found it. She also said that their faux furs prove that real fur isn’t needed when such luxurious imitations are available. She added that they had contrasted colours and textures by teaming the furs with boucle cloths and traditional waxed cottons.

‘We have also concentrated on unique design detailing in order to offer our customers something completely different, taking our inspiration as always from traditional British fashion with a modern twist. My favourites include the Racoon Tail Scarf, perfect for a glamorous festive function and the Sheepskin Mittens with bow detailing, adorable’.

The ancient Greeks and Romans were keen experimenters with cosmetics. In their case, fairly dangerous substances such as mercury and white lead were freely used.

We know too by simply looking at the Old and New Testaments that fragrances like frankincense and myrtle were widely used in Biblical times.

In ancient Persia (now the Middle East), cosmetics were used even when certain Arab tribes converted to Islam. According to Islamic law, the wearing of cosmetics is permissible, so long as it isn’t worn in order to disguise the real look or mislead or cause sexual desire, and as long as it isn’t harmful to the wearer. A 24-volume medical encyclopedia written by one Al-Zahrawi has a whole chapter dedicated to cosmetics which he referred to as ‘Medicine of Beauty’. Here we find everything from perfumes, incense and perfumed stocks rolled and pressed into special moulds, which may well have been the precursors to lipsticks and solid deodorants.

In Japan, geisha wore lipstick made from crushed safflower petals, and this was used to also paint the eyebrows and edges of the eyes. Sticks of wax known as bintsuke formed a makeup base, and rice powders were applied to the face, along with, believe it or not, bird droppings.

For the origins of nail varnish, we only have to look at the Chinese who began to stain their fingernails with gum Arabic, gelatine, beeswax and egg from early as 3,000 BC. In this instance it served a very practical purpose in denoting social class. The Chou dynasty royals, for instance, wore gold and silver, and the lower classes were forbidden to wear bright colours.

During the Middle Ages, church leaders in the West took a dim view of cosmetics thinking them immoral and sinful to wear.

Across Europe, from the Renaissance period up until the 20^th century, having a pale skin was far more desirable in polite society as it denoted social status – for only those able to enjoy leisure time indoors rather than working the fields, would possess such pale complexions. Consequently, European men and women spent much time attempting to lighten their skin by applying powers and in some cases white lead paint, which may well have contained arsenic. Queen Elizabeth I is well known for her so-called Mask of Youth, which was derived from white lead.

If we fast-forward in time, it wasn’t really until the turn of the 20^th century that makeup began to evolve into something recognisable by today’s standards. And not surprisingly, it was America where it first flourished. It stemmed in large part from the worlds of ballet and theatre, and later, the movie industry in Hollywood. Along came Max Factor, Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubinstein and someone called Eugene Schueller and an unusual hair dye which later adopted the name L’Oreal. The rest, as they say, is history.