Best One Yet

H&M is on somewhat of a roll at the moment. Their sales have been going up in the past few months, with thanks to the Matthew Williamson for H&M range, which launches a second installment on the 14th. And this success also passed through into their most recent press day. 

I always look forward to H&M's press days, I'm not going to lie, mainly for the food and drink. There's champagne and goodies served on silver platters, a far cry from the high street. This time was no different, we sipped fresh orange spritzers and ate mini chocolate fondants- little pots of chocolatey heaven. I'm actually hungry thinking about them now. But anyway, I'm deviating. Back to the clothes.

As with all other press days thus far, the Balmain influence was glaringly obvious. It's all about the shoulders for AW 09. Dominant materials were leather, wool, suede and velvet. Accessorises included thick purple woolly hats, leather biker gloves, fur trimmed scarves and patent leather shoes, a little bit dominatrix and very chic for H&M.  I spied a cream leather jacket and black velvet dramatic shoulder dress that are on my latest wish list. I'm also really loving the floral bustier crop top that comes in store in a few weeks time, but can't decide if it is just a little too over the top 80s. 

Anyway, check the pics below.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Okay, so the title may be a tad over the top, but it's sunny and it's press day season, which means one glorious thing; freebies abound. Although I'm sad to admit that they've gone way downhill. Take River Island for instance. I went to a press day of theirs about a year or so ago and it was amazing, and that's a word I never usually associate with River Island. There was free flowing champagne, ridiculously good cakes and brownies, beautifully ornate dresses that wouldn't look out of place in a Sex and the City scene, and, the best bit, a £100 voucher. 

But this year they've downsized times a million. Someone's been hit by the credit crunch, big time. The huge warehouse space has been traded in for the tiny PR showroom, champagne has been replaced with value orange juice and the vouchers and freebies are gone. Shame. But anyway, I guess you don't need to be handed freebies left, right and centre to appreciate fashion (but it definitely helps), so back to the clothes.

Hmm where to start? With the pleather hareem pants, or the tie-dye fur jacket or maybe the thigh high blue and silver stiletto boots. Yep, it wasn't great. There was a distinct Balmain influence, shoulder pads were everywhere, but everything was also rather tacky. It was like there had been a silver sequin and glitter explosion. A drag queen's paradise. Clothes were overly shiny and covered in studs and sequins. There were even some fur covered ankle boots a la Solange Knowles. 

There was a continuation of the 80s vibe that's taken over the high street of late, with a whole accessories range titled 'Bowie', comprising of neon pink triangular bags, oversized belts and earrings and electric purple and blue stilettos. A large amount of the A/W range was largely tacky, shiny and over the top, but it wasn't all bad. Oversized charcoal knits looked beyond comfortable and the leather fingerless gloves were the right amount of retro. There was also a pair of dove grey studded and slightly fringed peep toes that I may indulge in, but on the whole the collection wasn't enough to entice me back into River Island again.

Balmain Bluffing

About a week ago I went to the Affordable Vintage Fashion Fair in Bethnal Green and have been meaning to write about it but erm... well, just never did. Getting there an hour and a half too early was a mistake but I didn't want a repeat of the Angels vintage sale where I ended up queuing behind about 1000 overly eager people. Thankfully this was a much calmer affair. The fair itself was quite small and there wasn't that much tantalising vintage booty to be honest. There was an amazing stall of vintage inspired head pieces made using pearls, feathers and vintage brooches but they were in the range of £70. Hmmm, wasn't this supposed to be the affordable vintage fair? There was also some authentic vintage corseted basques in white satins and cotton that I'm kicking myself for not buying. The pop up tea shop with cupcake proved too distracting. Damn cake weakness.

However I spied a woman trying on a black sequin jacket and willed her to put it down. I was ready to say to her 'I wouldn't bother if I were you' and then snap it up for myself (all's fair in love and fashion) but needn't have as she discarded back on top of a pile of musty wares. Needless to say I grabbed it and promptly handed over the £10 price tag. I got the jacket home, added some shoulder pads and silver buttons and voila, it's the closest to Balmain I will probably ever get. Unfortunately. But I'm pretty happy with my efforts andplan on wearing it for my first day working at Tatler on Monday.