Smart Designer Shirts

Smart Designer Shirts

Shirts are having a fashion moment. The blouse has been pushed to the back of the sale rail and replaced on the shelves with the smarter, more structured and just plain cooler, shirt. No longer just the article of clothing that you pull on before heading to work, or hide under a suit at business meetings, every party and high-street now has smart, sexy women sexing up the classiest wardrobe staple.

Burberry London, know what I’m talking about, their spring/summer 2011 collection has taken the shirt and shaped, cut and coloured it into a must have piece. From sleeveless to boyfriend-cut with blousy in between, you can find a beautiful one, to go with almost everything in your wardrobe, from this quintessentially British designer.

I know what you are thinking- surely they can’t go with EVERYTHING in my wardrobe- but trust me I’ve tested the theory. Why not pick a sheer version and pair it with a gorgeous pair of city shorts and super high wedges. Or a sleeveless beauty with a pair of cigarette pants. Both looks are great combinations that will be in fashion, all throughout the summer.

Shirts will never go out of style as they are so versatile and come winter you can throw one over your favourite skinny jeans, for an off-duty look, any smart woman would be proud of.

Of course they don’t have to be structured and plain, you could always grab a MCQ design, like their red and blue checked, sleeveless number with added interest, lace-up shoulders. Pop on over a slinky maxi dress or skirt for a funky, youthful look, the late designer would be proud of. If the lumber-jack look sounds like it might be your style then look no further than the latest Etoile collection from Isabel Marant, for a taste of the designer’s laid-back Parisian cool. From simple to pull off, gingham to, on the money, plaid, she has given her fans the perfect way to look chic, which is exactly what we would expect from someone so cool.

The fact of the matter is, no matter what you are planning this summer, be it strutting round the office, strolling down piazzas or wrangling the kids through the holidays-you can do it all in style in a stunning, designer shirt.

We all know that fashion comes and goes but style is built in and that is what you are getting here. This is an article of clothing that will sit in your closet waiting to be worn for as long as you want it to and when you want to wear it, you can be sure that you will look as smart as you did the first time. Designer clothing is an investment so why not invest in at least one, or if you are anything like me get one in every style and colour just so you’re spoilt for choice.

Smart Designer Jackets

Smart Designer Jackets

So, it is far too nice outside, for all those gorgeous winter coats, you invested in last year (don’t worry they will still be super-hot come September) but that doesn’t mean  you don’t need a smart, sassy, summer friendly cover up. The designers this season are clambering over themselves to come up with the new “it” jacket.

Of course no, smart jacket article would be complete without mentioning Chanel. For years the label has been synonymous with sharp tailoring and sophistication. Their box jackets have adorned the shoulders of everybody from, Fashion royalty, Kate Moss and Sarah Jessica Parker and real royalty, Grace Kelly. Most recently the iconic look has been mimicked up and down high streets, across the globe. However they will never match the style of the real deal.

It used to be that a jacket looked a certain way, but today’s designers have reimagined the jacket for the 21^st century.

After cutting his teeth at design houses, Nina Ricci and Rochas, Oliver Theyskens took his universally cool style and joined the New York label, Theory. This collaboration saw the birth of beautiful blazers, in super modern cuts and fabrics that will take you from the office to the bar, in spectacular fashion. The Juji black, glazed leather blazer is a stunning example of the minimalist effect that runs through  Oliver’s entire collection and would look beautiful worn over a crisp white base outfit and a pair of killer heels.

If you are looking for something that stands out in a crowd then the go to designer is bound to be Marc Jacobs and his latest collection for Louis Vuitton.  Whether you fancy picking up the oriental trend that is dancing on the edges of fashion, with a gorgeous plum coloured satin duchesse jacket or embracing the colour blocking and super bright trends with the fluid bright blue lame blazer style jacket, you will find everything is spectacular in Louis Vuitton’s spring/summer 2011 collection.

Speaking of Marc Jacobs, head on over to his own label and see his take on the iconic Chanel box jacket.

The perfect place for a timeless jacket that retains a smart and simple elegance whilst maintaining the edge the designer is famous for is Vivienne Westwood Anglomania. This season’s jackets are understated and chic and instantly recognisable with Ms Westwood’s signature, exaggerated collars. These will see you safely through the summer and well into the dark and cold months. The beautiful Petit stretch cotton jacket will look amazing over a summer dress at all the weddings and street parties going on this season and the Bounty double-breasted twill jacket would finish off any silk shirt and pencil skirt combo for the office.

Whatever jacket you pick, remember that designer clothing is an investment and you’ll probably want something you can wear for years to come, so picking a style and pattern that isn’t going to go out of fashion in the blink of an eye is the best idea. Although it doesn’t hurt to live dangerously once in a while, so if you really want to take a style risk then Louis Vuitton is your best bet.

Smart Designer Jeans

Smart Designer Jeans

Until recently the word ‘jeans’ would have no doubt conjured up images of Kate Moss and her skinny rocker style wardrobe. But what about all the other cuts that have been around for years but seem to have been languishing forgotten at the depths of fashion for the last few seasons. In the nineties it was the straight and boot-cut jeans that everyone was wearing and then the noughties saw the rise of figure hugging drainpipe styles, that slipped perfectly into the knee high boots we were all wearing. Finally fashion has come full circle and we have more choice than ever before. Now let’s have a look at this season’s designer style.

With the seventies being the look de jour of 2011, flares are back and bigger and better than ever. 7 For All Mankind have the perfect jean no matter how seventies you want to go, from the basic and smart Boot-cut Black to the Trouser with belt Bleecker Vintage, that Ali McGraw would be jealous of. Team your super flares with a smart shirt and scarf-belt topped off with a gorgeous floppy hat, for that full on seventies look.  Of course if you’re not quite ready to give up your skinnies you could always ease yourself in with a pair of their tailored and smart straight legs which look hot with, this season’s block heels and embellished pumps. One thing to remember when looking at 7 For All Mankind is just how amazing they look when they are on, don’t forget these are the jeans, Victoria Beckham credited with giving her a bum.

The jean designer label of the moment is obviously J Brand, with the release of their now legendary Houlihans they put their name firmly on the fashion radar and this season we’ve been treated to the Agnes style. With biker detailing and front pocket zips these are tough and smart at the same time and they are they skinny shape you love. Another trend noticeable at J Brand is our liking for cropped jeans, be they flared, straight or skinny, they all conjure up images of Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot’s laid back glamour.

The biggest fashion movement in jeans this season isn’t even the shape, it’s the colour. The shelves of boutiques up and down the country are so colourful, you’d be forgiven for expecting a leprechaun to pop out and give you a pot of gold. Fearne Cotton, Katy Perry and even Victoria Beckham have been seen rocking colours from pale pink to super-bright yellow and the best designer label to get yours from is most certainly Current/Elliot.

The design duo Emily Current and Merrit Elliot, have been customising vintage jeans since 2008 and finally started cranking out their own designs and they are beautiful. Their signature boyfriend cut and rainbow of colours have established them as the go to label for celebrities looking to stand out from the crowd and I’m pretty sure I’m right in saying that if it’s good enough for Rihanna and the like, then it’s certainly good enough for the rest of us.

Smart Designer Dresses

Smart Designer Dresses

Dresses are by far the most wearable piece in any woman’s wardrobe and they come in so many styles that it is impossible to have too many.

There’s the Little Black Dress, Little White Dress, Little any colour you can think  of dress, summer, wrap, maxi, midi, mini the list goes on and on, which means there is a designer dress out there for whoever you are, whatever mood you are in and whatever occasion you are going to. That’s why every designer designs them and every smart, sassy woman wears them.

The maxi and midi are huge news in fashion circles for spring/summer 2011 and every designer worth their salt knows that so there is a huge selection out there right now. Rick Owens’ latest collection was full of day or night pieces all in his eponymous style and muted colour palette. His signature draping is combined in silk, chiffon and gauze for clothes that carefully wrap you up in luxury for the perfect party outfit and for day time there are gorgeous tanks that will be just right for walks along the beach in the summer sunshine.

Then of course there is the designer everyone’s talking about and the most famous dress of the moment.

Sarah Burton became the toast of the fashion world when she took the helm of Alexander McQueen’s label; after L’Enfant terrible’s untimely death and then she got her hands on the most covetable job in the fashion and design industry.

The world gasped as Kate Middleton arrived at Westminster abbey in a Sarah Burton creation and it’s obvious the designs for her labels latest collection were a precursor to the big event. Burton has lost none of the edge McQueen was known for whilst injecting a softer, more feminine twist to the clothes. The Avant Garde style is still there with stunning, silk and chiffon gowns that would look perfect walking down any aisle. Sophisticated, flowing maxi’s share the rails with gorgeous printed shifts and smart office friendly designs.

While the words ready-to-wear have not always been synonymous with the label the new creative director has made a smart move and introduced easy pieces like skater skirts and wool mix draped jersey dresses.

While we are talking about Kate Middleton or The Duchess of Cambridge as she is now known, she also had a hand in bringing another designer to the world’s attention. Daniella Helayel is the woman behind ISSA and that beautiful blue dress Kate wore at the engagement announcement. The whole spring summer collection is full of knotted, twisted, smart and sexy pieces that the woman herself says will take you from “the beach to the office then on to the red carpet” and whilst the red carpet part might be a long shot, it is definitely an amazing feat if one outfit can do all that.

Style and fashion changes so often some trends are blink and you’ll miss them moments but this is a piece of clothing that you are always going to have and you are always going to want to have in your smart, sexy woman arsenal. Grab a standout piece now and wear it forever then pass it on to your kids when they understand what it means to dress well.

Smart Designer Shoes

Smart Designer Shoes

How many pairs of shoes do you have in your closet? If you are anything like me you won’t know exactly but it’s certainly a lot. Shoes are an essential item for everyone, we have to wear them every day so it is only natural we want them to be beautiful. Thankfully the designers understand that and some of the shoes out there are true works of art.

One of the best artists out there is definitely Christian Louboutin. This French master has lived up to his goal “to make shoes that are like jewels” and women the world over, constantly lust over those iconic red soles. The latest collection has everything from block, kitten and dagger heels to platforms, pumps and wedges. They come in every style and finish that it is impossible not to find a pair you will love forever.

Keeping a close eye on today’s fashion for animal print, you will find gorgeous python skin and nubuck and pony hair leopard print on shoes that work in the office and the bar.  For footwear that brings out lust in the eyes of every woman, that sees them and will never go out of style, your go to designer is more than obviously Mr Louboutin.

A new name in sexy, smart footwear is Charlotte Olympia. The Queen of the floating platform and quirky cool pieces, burst on to the scene in 2006 and has gone from strength to strength, ever since. The spring/summer 11 drop is a lesson in smart pairs that look beautiful from every angle. With a mixture of snakeskin, raffia and even fruit these stunners are bang on trend and a great way to jazz up an everyday item.

If you’re looking for the perfect shoe for the office but want to retain a little bit of style and stay in fashion, then look no further than accessories impresario, Jimmy Choo. The label has long been known in fashion circles as the place to find understated glamour that will constantly put a smile on your face.

This design house is the home of gorgeous pumps and flats, in smart, sophisticated colours, low and high heels and an overriding sense of style. Check out the gorgeous Quiet patent-leather pumps which would look stunning with a pencil skirt and tailored jacket for those days when you have to go to work.

Now if you want a pair, that you really aren’t sure if you should wear them or put them on display in a gallery then take a look at the new offerings from Miu Miu. The younger, edgier sister label to Prada is, designer, Miucca Prada’s outlet for all the crazy, wonderful designs floating around in her mind. These are certainly not for the faint hearted but they are stunningly beautiful and will make any outfit a showstopper. Take your pick from vertiginous wedges and colour pop brights and treat the world like your own personal catwalk.

There is so much choice out there that this was just a tiny glimpse into what this season has to offer in smart, high-fashion footwear. Just remember you NEED shoes so there is no guilt here just beautiful, stand-out works of art that will look right at home in your closet.

Smart Designer Skirts

Smart Designer Skirts

Whilst dresses are the perfect all in one outfit, sometimes the best look is a nice smart skirt and top. This season you can pick from eighties fabulous skater girl style, glam seventies, pin-up fifties or bohemian chic.

Designer of the moment, Christopher Kane has stretched the boundaries of fashion and given us stunning skirts in his trademark out there colour scheme. Fluorescent yellows and greens are thrown onto leather A-line mini’s that look so much like lace, thanks to intricate laser cut detailing, that you are technically nailing three trends in one. Tuck in a plain white tee and throw on a pair of high heels for a look that will turn heads, all summer long.

Office dressing has never been more of a minefield, than it is today, in our fashion driven world but it has also never been easier to find a gorgeous designer piece that is smart enough to hold its own, in any workplace. Nothing looks smarter than a sleek shirt and pencil skirt teamed with a pair of classy pumps and Gucci have done an amazing line of pencil skirts this season. The draping in the Pleat-detailed silk-crepe pencil skirt, adds an edge to a perfect boardroom look and with a simple shoe change you could take this from day to night with little effort.

Another designer that obviously had work-wear fashion in mind when they rolled out their latest collection was Hannah MacGibbon at Chloe. The collection is home to smart skirts in muted tones from mini to maxi length, the gorgeous Cashmere wrap skirt is an understated nod to the ballet trend and would look perfect with a white shirt and leather wedges.

Out of the office, the maxi or midi skirt is the toast of the style elite, not the easiest lengths to wear but as long as you pick the highest heels you own, you can’t go far wrong with Erdem. This Canadian born designer earned his fashion stripes, working under Diane Von Furstenberg and it wasn’t long before his talent shown through and he started his own label. Here you’ll find almost ethereal skirts that are so summery you might just need sunglasses to look at them. Using lace, chiffon, floral prints and his eye for feminine style he has given us an amazing choice for June to September.

If you prefer to stick to mini’s but bright, out there, prints are definitely your style then check out Stella McCartney’s, Citrus print cotton skirt for that upmarket Carmen Miranda homage or head on over to Vanessa Bruno for cute little, straight off the runway pieces, in girly shapes and punchy prints. These skirts look gorgeous with the matching tops but would work just as well with a pared down tank top and subtle heels.

A skirt is definitely the most versatile wardrobe item, dress it up or down and wear it everywhere and the best thing about it is, come winter you can simply slip on a pair of opaques and carry on working it.

Smart Designer Handbags

Smart Designer Handbags

Men are so deprived. While they have to make do with stuffing things into their pockets, leaving unsightly bulges everywhere, we get to add a little something extra to every outfit with a smart, stylish handbag.

Mulberry is a name synonymous with smart bags that are always in fashion. Go for the Alexa or the Tillie, if you like the satchel trend, to complete that perfect preppy-girl look that this summer is all about. For a more structured and time-defying style, grab hold of the iconic Bayswater: in black, brown, snakeskin and patent leather, there’s a finish to suit everyone. You can even get a Bayswater laptop case and it doesn’t get much smarter than that.

The new kid on the block, in smart designer handbags, is Victoria Beckham. Beckham stunned the fashion world with her first collection in 2008 and last season she released her first line of bags. Her Hexagonal Chain Crocodile shoulder bag sold out within hours of its release and it’s really no surprise. Now available in, colour of the season, blush, this beauty and the others in the collection are smart, gorgeous, time-less and will go with everything. It’s safe to say that Victoria is now a bona fide designer and her next drop is bound to be amazing.

Now, if you are looking for a handbag that is a little more, out there, then check out Jil Sander’s, colourful shoppers. In silk-twill and leather with huge floral prints and fashion friendly stripes, these bags are guaranteed to liven up any outfit.

The designer Consuelo Castiglioni is probably not a name that many are familiar with but her Marni bags are certainly a lot more well-known and that is simply because they are gorgeous. Her spring/summer drop gives a glimpse into the future, as she is one of the designers that have picked up on the up-coming trend for mini, doctor style bags, with her stunning Woven leather and raffia tote. These are going to be huge, very soon, so get one quickly and be one step ahead of the fashion pack.

The Marni collection has handbags in all shapes and sizes-from slouchy, studded hobos to extravagant, embroidered clutches- you can find one to go with your entire summer wardrobe.

The early part of this decade was the time of the ‘IT’ bag and if any designer was going to design the new ‘IT’ bag for 2011 it would be Chloe. Their Paddington was the bag every starlet wanted on their arm at the start the 21st century and this time it’s the turn of the Paraty. This stunning bag is a modern classic with its structured top and slouchy base and looks amazing draped over the arm of any woman. Team it with city shorts and clean lines for a summer in the city vibe. It comes in so many beautiful colours, materials and sizes it must be hard to pick one but rest assured, whichever you do pick will last you through many seasons to come.

There are no rules when it comes to handbags this season, clutches can be huge and saddles can be tiny, anything goes so make your choice now and relax all summer.

Smart Designer Boots

Smart Designer Boots

In this country, we can never really rely on the summer to be bright and dry. In fact it’s more than likely that we are going to get some rain to come and spoil our fun. There is nothing worse than getting up in the morning, pulling on your gorgeous, new, raffia wedge sandals, then realising it’s a wet, horrible day outside. So for these typical British days it’s savvy to invest in a pair of smart, designer boots.

Chloe have done a huge selection of smart boots, this season. Take your pick from biker, hiker and rider- in soft grey, beige or black- these beauties are a super stylish way to toughen up any summer outfit. They all go perfectly with tucked in straight leg jeans as well as super short summer dresses, for that “I just threw this one” laid back look.

Heading off to the festivals this season? Make sure you pull on a pair of wellies. Historically the footwear item of choice for farmers and puddle jumping infants- these boots have become a must have item for every smart woman. Head to Hunter for the Royalty approved festival essential. The Hunter Originals are available in so many colours, nowadays; you can have a different classic pair for every day of the week. For something a little bit special, though, the Regent Grosvenor Embellished are the go to boot. With designer-stamped gold buttons and a fashion friendly rider shape, these are unique, smart and gorgeous.

The surprising designer, wading in to wellington design is Jimmy Choo. Hot on the heels of last season’s successful collaboration with Hunter, the fashion giant has teamed up with them again for spring/summer 2011. With all the Hunter functionality and an injection of Jimmy Choo style, what more could you ask for from a boot that will take you all the way through the seasons.

Of course boots aren’t just for those wet, dingy summer days and Christian Louboutin has designed the smartest, sexiest, party-outfit friendly footwear, out there. Platforms, dagger heels, canvas and fishnet all come together and no proverbial stone is left unturned in the latest collection. With the signature Louboutin class and iconic red sole these boots will no doubt adorn the feet of the fashion elite, for years to come, so step into a pair and join the most exclusive club in town.

Now if you want trendy boots that are still subtle enough to wear to the office then your best bet is, surprisingly, Alexander Wang. Wang has become synonymous with funky, high-fashion cuts that all the cool kids love and his latest footwear designs don’t disappoint. With wedges in mismatched textures and heel-less lace up boots, the young designer has turned convention on its head with amazing results. These will work with your daily work uniform as well as your skater girl skirts and midi dresses.

The choice is yours and the selection is endless.