The Future of Fashion - Straight From Your Printer!

It may only be a pipe dream for now, but one day, just one day, we might be able to simply 'print off' our new outfits. And I'm not talking the kind of cut-out 2D paper 'outfits' we used to play around with on cardboard cut-out paper figures when we were younger (if you're 30 years old or above that is - ie before technology was the norm!), I'm talking actual, tailor-made, fit-you-like-a-glove 'proper' outfits.

Take a look at this:



This is Dita Von Teese in what is thought to be the world's first 3D printed dress. It is made from hardened powdered nylon that allows movement, lacquered black and adorned with 13,000 Swarovski crystals, and is designed to fit Dita's body perfectly.

The dress is the result of a collaboration between designer Michael Schmidt who is famous for creating Lady GaGa's bubble dress, and architect Francis Bitonti, who renders designs with new technologies in unusual material.




Created virtually before being printed, by 3D-printing design studio Shapeways, the design had to incorporate 17 unique pieces to make the fabric work with the body as coming out of the printer it is not as malleable as most material used for clothing.

Now, this took three months to create, so saying that it's going to take off any time soon would be a sily statement - as well as the significant time frame, there would also be a significantly large cost associated with it at the moment. However, if you look back at how fast technology has developed over just the past decade, then I wouldn't be surprised if in the next decade or so we do actually see this kind of technology working its way into mainstream fashion, in some way or another. Watch this space, and remember, you heard it here first ;).

Your Spring/Summer 2013 Wardrobe Sorted With Harvey Nichols

After taking in London Fashion Week recently, we're all set to keep an eye out for our favourite trends for A/W 2013. But what will we be wearing during the spring/summer months that come beforehand? 

As it is now well renowned amongst those in the fashion 'know' in Birmingham, Harvey Nichols will be putting on their annual Spring/Summer show just in time for you to invest in your new season wardrobes. 

Cecily Dresses: Your Perfect Fit

Ladies, you know those moments when you open up your wardrobe, look inside, and think to yourself "I have nothing suitable to wear"? Well, I find this happens every morning when I'm getting ready for work.

Sometimes everything just feels too 'dull', but most of the time I'm left wishing for a totally new body shape, so that when I want to wear a smart, tailored dress that fits in all the right places, is comfortable AND flattering, I can, rather than having to make do with not-quite-tailored alternatives that whilst they might look OK, still don't give the crisp, clean look that I'm after. And unless someone starts stitching about three different sizes together (that would be for my bust, my waist and my apparently 'child bearing' hips), then when it comes to tailoring, I fear I am doomed.

Until now.... (and by the way, H&M, thanks for assuming that every woman in the UK is of a 'straight-up-and-down' shape, which effectively penalises me by the cut of your clothes for actually having a bottom, by regularly forcing me into far from perfectly fitting and much larger sizes than I should be)

God Bless Guy Ritchie

When Madonna married Guy, she knew she was onto a good thing. But whilst she eventually split with him, retailer H&M still held on tight.

Now as much as I detest the small sizing in H&M which regularly leaves me feeling like a 50 stone heffalump, there is one thing I simply cannot fault them for: their taste.

Introducing, ladies (and gentlemen if you like), your dreams...

Next Season, According to Mr Selfridge

Now that 'Mr Selfridge' is on our screens (although I must confess I didn't watch it - instead I caught up on Twilight so I could see the latest released one... I know, I know), I think it's time to talk about a little trip I took to one of his iconic 'Selfridges' stores. In fact probably the most iconic store in Birmingham, based purely on it's widely recognised exterior design.

Back in December, myself and a few fellow bloggers were given a sneak peak ino the trends Selfridges Birmingham are, and will be helping you fill your new season wardrobes with. As much as I'd like to say I got to test drive some of these, unfortunately I didn't, although I did get a lovely smokey eyed mini make-over on the Illamasqua stand in the beauty hall, and a glass or two of prosecco and some lovely food courtesy of Itihaas in the foodhall (one of the more recent, and welcome additions - their restaurant in the Jewellery Quarter is fab).

So, what's on offer? Well, much to my delight I was already wearing a (slightly tamer) shade of one of the big colour trends for spring/summer this year: tangerine. For the full effect, look to Roland Mouret and Victoria Beckham and one of their super flattering dresses, and you're onto a winner.




Also to my delight, black, white, monochrome, shiny and sheer are set to be big news too, along with big, bold accessories, and some in one of my personal vices: snake.

Black and white, either seperately or together in monochrome have long been a favourite of mine. Crisp, sharp, and unless you're doing it in leggings or shapeless jersey/sweat styles (I'll let you off for duvet days) the cominaion, when done well can often be super-flattering. The monochrome also fits in with the geometric prints as seen on the catwalks of Marc Jacobs, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Missoni and Sportmax

White and black were both featured on catwalks in shiny and sheer fabrics, which you will find on the rails of Selfridges, as well as in the trouser (cropped and slim) and suit silhouette. Now, since I put on weight over the last few years, I have been a little scared of buying trousers. Having being dealt a generous portion of a body part called buttocks, I find trousers rather difficult to buy - particularly in a size I would like (as opposed to skirts, in which I can always find a much better fit). So as much as I like this trend, I think I need to take me own advice, which I would give to you all, and that is to get over the size label on your clothes, and look at the fit instead. There is no point in squeezing into something too small, as it will only make you look bigger, having the opposite effect of what you were hoping to achieve. 

You could of course become a runner which, count my words, soon gets you into shape. This is my plan for the next few months - driven partly by the fact I just signed up to a half marathon in April - my first in over two years!

Accessories I am pleased to say are big, bright and bold... my favourite was from the selection on offer on the top floor: Chloe, snakeskin with chain 'stitching' and handles.




For the boys, it was a 'Preppy Riviera' look: think pastel and white, tailored trousers or shorts, teamed with polo shorts and light coloured blazers.

Block colour, geometric and bold prints and shiny fabrics were also the order of the day, much as with female fashion (so those of you who like to dress 'his and hers' can do so if you wish!).

There was also an extension of the popular streetwear trend, to luxury streetwear - oversized jackets, tops, shorts, in luxury fabrics and luxury embellishment. A word of caution on this trend though - don't go overboard - it can be a hard trend to pull off if it is too different from your usual style!

All in all, I think the big trends from the s/s 2013 catwalks have filtered down well across the selection within Selfridges, and I certainly had a good giggle with my fellow bloggers during our preview evening.

As with any trend, make sure it suits you before investing, and if you're not brave enough to do block colour, or print (for example) head to toe, then don't. Do a couple of pieces, or just do the accessories. And remember, you don't have to spend a fortune. It's not what you wear, it's how you wear it. The pair of shoes I always get complimented on in the street at the moment were a tenner from Primark. There, I said it!

(9 Jan 2013)

Roaring Into 2013, 1920s Style

I may be a little late with this, however, HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone. 

To those of you who have suffered from flu or any other bug that is currently going around at the moment, then my commiserations, and I hope you have plans to make up for it! For the rest of you, I hope your New Year celebrations were as good as mine.

So, why was mine so good? Well, think nice venue, great friends, and then, more importantly, think style! 1920s style to be precise, at a themed do at The Plough in Harborne. 





There's a lot to be said about (nearly) everyone dressing up 1920s style. For a start, there wasn't a single chavvy or tarty sight to behold... heaven! Now, not to be critical of the way girls and guys generally dress for a night out these days, but for once it was nice to not even have to come close to having to avert my eyes from a female bum poking out from below its skirt or hotpants, or look at a guy dressed uber-casually in jeans, T-shirt and trainers thinking "it's such a shame, if he just made a little more effort to dress smarter, he'd look so much better".

The great thing was, everyone actually made a serious effort - guys dressed in suits, slicked back their hair, groomed their 'taches (or drew a rather smart one on in the case of a friend of mine). Girls went for the curled or waved hair, embellished headbands, full make-up (although it can be a little too much for everyday) and all sorts of lovely slips, tassled flapper dresses, sequins and stoles. It really gave the place a classy, stylish air, topped off by a great 1920s style band.

Now, the fashion in the 1920s for female was very much drop waisted dresses; not the most flattering for a person of my generally large buttocked physique. But, being both determined to do it properly, despite being on a 'it's the end of the month and I'm a week from payday so I'm skint' budget - I decided to get creative. I hit the TK Maxx sale, finding a gorgeous black sequin front, lace back top (fits with the slightly gothic edge to the 20s), along with a really quite horrible and damaged dress with two diamante bits of embellishment for a not-so-purse-pulling four pounds.

 A few snips, stitches and accessories later... et voila! 




The dress is a fantastically full, low slung skirt and embellished headband (with added white feathers), which teamed with the top, pearls and some sparkly accessories, making for a 1920s style outfit adapted for my body shape, and something I can take apart and wear again! 

I don't call myself a Style Floozie for nothing ;)

(6 January 2013)

A Taste of Festive Indulgence at La Tour

Every Style Floozie needs a non-fashion indulgence once in a while, and yours truly , having just celebrated my 30th year on this planet, over in Amsterdam, was definitely ready for a little sit-down treat.

Cue Hotel La Tour.




A lap of 4-star luxury, sitting just a stone's throw from Birmingham's Moor Street Station, Hotel La Tour is perhaps the most recent stylish addition to the hotel landscape in our fair city. Despite having been open a while now, it is still one of our best kept secrets.

Like many hotels, it houses a restaurant and bar, serving its signature high tea. Unlike your run-of-the mill hotel bar, it offers a tranquil, quirky, and luxury setting, despite being located next to a busy city centre road, making it easy to believe you are miles away from the hustle and bustle, rather than just yards away.

Having sampled their high tea & been highly impressed the first time around, as soon as I discovered they had launched a Christmas menu, well, you can imagine my excitement - I love my food.