Emerging Fervour

Style 2: Open Toe Boots

Another trend you can’t miss at the moment is the open toe boots that are trotting along everywhere, be that on the catwalks, celebrities or on us.

I have to admit, I couldn’t figure out what this trend is about, as all I could think of when I look at them is, why would you want to have warm ankles, yet cold toes? Just doesn’t make sense to me (actually that is my mothers voice I can hear in my ear!).

However, looking outside and having had the warmest day of the year this week but now its grey and getting cold again, I now understand. These confused boots fit perfectly into this confusing weather!

There are some unbelievably stunning designer ones out, a lot of them, however with price tags ranging between £300 and £1,000, it would be too painful to look at what you can’t get so I hunted the high streets for the ones that won’t break your bank account (or only dent it a bit).

Antoinette boots @ Topshop £90

Dinah boots @ Bertie £110

I always imagined who from my classmates at school would go onto do amazing things. I’ve known Claire Watt-Smith since I can remember and although we had our own group of friends, Claire was always so sweet and warm-natured, friends with everyone and everyone loved her. So, it’s no surprise that she’s now a very successful business owner for ethical fashion.

Claire founded Bobelle when she was just 23 ( which make fairly traded and hand made fashion accessories using the luxurious eel skin leather, a by-product of the food industry in Korea ) and within just 12 months of trading she was approached some pretty big names in publications including Eve, Business Review, InStyle, BBC and a few more to be featured in their mags. Claire was also contacted by an international charity and asked to join their campaign for late 2009. All of this activity attracted Topshop, our High Street giant, which was a huge milestone for Bobelle and then suddenly, a whole load of avenues opened up…the rest is history.

The girl has definitely kept herself busy and this goes to show that with a lot of hard work and determination, you can achieve almost anything you want.

I’m planning on interviewing Claire for Emerging Fervour, so make sure you check back for that!

You can check out Bobelle at www.bobelle.co.uk

Everyone is gearing up for this month’s London Fashion Week. The designers are making the finishing touches to their collection, the exhibitors are making sure they have enough marketing material and business cards to hand out, the buyers are finalising their ‘who to see’ plan and the bloggers are scheduling their weeks in the run up to, through and past fashion week.

With so much to cover your first port of call must be exploring the designer exhibitions at Somerset House and the ON|OFF Section at Victoria House. Back in September, we covered BodyAmr, Kron by KronKron, Beekay, Beautiful Soul, Rachael Cassar, Rocio Bags and a few others from the exhibitions and this season we’re planning on covering a lot more!

19TH – 23RD FEB EMERGING DESIGNERS EXHIBITIONS FROM SOMERSET HOUSE ∨

AND ON|OFF 19TH – 22ND FEB∨

You can also check out all the things to do in between shows with the London Fashion Week City Guide A/W 10. In fact, LFW along with Red Maps have provided us with maps that are available on site, you can also open a pdf and print it out, just visit the map page on the LFW site.

HOT MAMA!!! Claire used to work over at Pod1 with Nat, Tracey and I and we had to have her and her gorgeous little girl Sylvie on our wardrobe feature. How Claire manages to look so polished with a baby in tow is a mystery to us (we reckon it’s just bloody good genes) but this gives me some hope that one day I might be able to pull off looking this hot with a gorgeous snotty baby on my arm too…well, here’s hoping hey?!

JACKET

Claire: This dress I got for a fiver from Ebay, the label is in Japanese so I have no idea of the make, but I love it because its like a proper Japanese schoolgirl dress, very naughty, and a bit too short! The jacket is real fur, apparently its made of muscat – I have no idea what that is but they make very warm snuggly coats! I get why people don’t approve of fur, but personally I don’t see the difference between that and eating meat, neither are essential and its up to the individual.

Ah the lovely Anna. The reason I got into Zara again was because of Anna and her amazing finds there. She used to work at my old design agency with me; a really quirky graphic designer, Anna also does a bit of fashion design on the side – check out her site www.annaparellada.com

I’ve always adored her style and the way she effortlessly pulls off all of her outfits so I just had to ask her to be my next wardrobe feature. Here is the lovely Anna and looks from her wardrobe.

WAISTCOAT

Anna: I love this outfit because it makes me feel so ¨Spanish¨. I wear it all the time in summer nights near the beach or in the city, is so easy to combine as it can be worn with flat gladiators during the day or with wedges at night. I just feel so me in it!

WAISTCOAT

Thank you everyone who sponsored us for our High Heel Fashion Walk in aid of Action for Children. We managed to raise £180 for this cause…amazing. Thank you!

I’m writing this piece after just having finished the walk with Nathalie and although I almost went flying a few times throughout on some stray twigs and a pebble, I managed to stay upright for the entire walk (thank you to Nathalie’s arm) and make it to the finish line in one piece!

As you can see, Nathalie looks very glam, rocking her Urban Outfitters jumpsuit with her beautiful Scorah Pattullo ‘Natalie’ heels…

Here I’ve decided to go casual with Topshop jeans and a Zara jacket. I love these Liu Jo shoes; they can rock any outfit – no?!

Poor Tracey-Kay! After getting all excited about this walk – she had to cut it short after an accident on the way involving her flip flops, sharp gravel and an unfortunate trip resulting in a very sore and bleeding toe!

A friend has just forwarded a link to the Topshop website to show me these absolutely fabulous zebra print gladiator sandals. I saw her wearing a black version and they look stunning.  But the zebra ones excite me even more!! They are sexy, elegant and look like they should cost more than their £77. They would look fabulous with a jumpsuit and big chunky jewellery; you’d be ready for the jungle.

Uh… I might have to invest in a pair to tie me over until I get to make my own ones.

And if you’ve not got a jumpsuit already, Urban Outfitters has great ones at the moment

£38.00 Was £38.00 / Now £19.99