Marni Army

It's a funny thing a high street/designer collaboration. I've never been able to work out if it heightens the value of the high street label or devalues the designer element. Valentino x Gap failed to raise my pulse. Jason Wu x Target left me indifferent and Mary Katrantzou x Topshop (as much as I adore her own line) was never going to be a threat to my bank account.

Then Marni waded in. And things got hazy.

I have long been an admirer of the designs and own a couple of incredible key pieces already. These left my bank card a little frazzled at the time so when I heard she was joining forces with high street giants H&M I, and my bank manager, breathed a sigh of relief.

Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that the designer had somewhat 'sold out' to the mass production of the high street and although I agree with Masato (designer for Giles Deacon and owner of self-named brand) who, in my earlier interview with him, had said he loves collaborations as they link designers and the every day man I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. And really - should I be buying into it?

Surely a little peak couldn't hurt, could it? Which is what I did after work this evening. Well, what I actually did was venture into H&M to return a top that I'd purchased without trying on a couple of nights ago and there it was...the collection.

I just popped over - mainly as I was surprised there was any left - and then I saw them.  A pair of gladiator sandals I had admired several times in the promo shots and window displays set up in preparation for the launch.

 

My trusty sandals that I wore religiously gave up the ghost last summer so I was in need of a new pair. Because of my earlier personal quibble about the devaluation of a brand that was once the preserve of the most stylish women in the world I decided to view them for what they are at their most basic - a stylish pair of sandals that will go with EVERYTHING this S/S. And one pair of my size left? It was meant to be.

 

Success.

Did you buy anything from this latest collaboration? Let me know what you think to it all...

Fluro: A How To Guide

So... the past few months I've pored over the S/S 12 shows, magazine predictions and been to all my buying meetings and there's been one trend forecast I've been unable to avoid. Fluro.

If you're anything like me the mere word gives you the shivers and immediately transports you back to hideous 80s shell suits and sweat bands. Grim.

But, unfortunately, as a buyer/agent I am not at liberty to bypass such a strong look due to my personal mental flashbacks. However disturbing they may be.

It is definitely a look that is going to be all over the high street and me, being me, I know I'll have to at least dabble in it. So I have devised a few 'looks' that range from dipping your toe in to full on diving head first into the vibrancy of it all.

This is for those who want to nod towards the trend but are unsure how far to go. I think if you keep the main outfit basic, tone wise, it means the accessorising of it can be what keeps the look up to date but without taking too far a departure from your comfort zone.

Again, this is quite a basic day look and, I think, so easy to achieve. I'm sure you've been unable to avoid the bright coloured jeans popping up in high street windows up and down the country and they may look intimidating but pairing them with a basic tee, a soft leather and some pale tonal shoes and bag makes them much easier to wear than they may first appear. Highlighting it with a bright bib necklace (most of us have them from last S/S) makes it, I think, a great look - I'll certainly be digging out my cobalt skinnys this week.

This is a stronger evening look and I think Miu Miu has it absolutely right with the dress. It's classic enough in shape to avoid being an 'unwearable' high end piece but the nod to fluro is done so well that surely any girl wearing it would feel a million pounds. There's no need to dress this up, simple black heels and a clashing clutch et voila!

And of course, there are those who have read fluro is a-coming and rejoiced. This final look is for them. Prints are also going to be massive this coming S/S season and believe me, you can bet if there's a designer ballsy enough to embrace fluro they're going to be all over prints. Topshop's responsible for these beauties and Miu Miu for the top (they're really onto the fluro thing, non?) and why not let everyone enjoy your worldly possessions by throwing them all in a see through bag (courtesy of Jil Sander)? But really, if you're going to do that you, at the very least, need the Comme des Garcons coin purse.

Actually...by the end of this post even MY convictions are thawing. Best get to Topshop online before those leggings sell out!