NEWS - My Trend Report in Knitting Magazine

I've been blogging for four and a half years, and I've been working in online content for almost three years, but before all that I worked for a fabulous little magazine publishers. One of the company's titles was Knitting Magazine and this season I was asked to write their fashion forecast, a feature on knitwear trends straight off the catwalks. If you've got a thing for knitting, why not pick up the April issue and take a closer look. 

Find out more about Knitting Magazine here

CELEBRITY - Lana Del Rey in Giorgio Armani

Lana is the name on everyone's lips right now, and although I'm not the biggest fan of her music, there's no denying she's one-to-watch on the fashion front. At the Echo Awards last week she wore a silk satin gown by Giorgio Armani which fit fabulously into the 'under the sea' trend which we've been hearing so much about. The soft, icy blue shade and wave-like, tucked detailing make it a great choice. I'm just not so sure she needed that necklace? What do you reckon? She's even got the long, tumbling waves of a mermaid to go with her on-trend dress, which appeared on the SS12 catwalk. 

What do you think of Lana's style?

EVENT - The Future Of Fashion Hits Westfield

Tonight I got a sneak peek at some rather exciting digital gadgetry which is going to be set up at Westfield London from tomorrow for members of the public to play with. The Future Fashion event will showcase SS12 style, from fabulous Westfield brands, on a digital stage, but this digital experience is also a social one. Here's what you'll be able to get hands-on with...

• 103’’ interactive screens to create your very own SS12 outfits and mood boards (as pictured below) featuring 500 fab fashion items at the touch of the screen which you can share and shop
• Tweet mirrors - try a new look and share it with friends on Twitter
• Social photo-booths where you can take pics and upload to Facebook
• A 3D fashion show in a pop-up cinema with over 70 inspirational looks

When? Head on down to Westfield London from Tuesday 27 March - Sunday 1 April, and, for the first time, Westfield Stratford City is also getting in on the action from Wednesday 4 - Monday 9 April.  

Seeing as venues in East and West London are both hosting events, the organisers got us thinking about West London Vs East London style. Which camp are you in? I'm definitely West London... slightly more ladylike and less edgy than the micro-trend setters of the likes of Shoreditch, Hoxton and beyond. I ran out of time to create my own mood board tonight (I'll be back to try one out this week) but I've put my spin on the East/West style debate below via Polyvore, another way to create moodboards.

I was inspired by the lovely Melanie Rickey who gave us bloggers an informal presentation on SS12 trends  and where different looks fit best when it comes to the East/West divide. She made the very valid point that those who live West often can't be bothered to traipse all the way East and vice-versa, so we are influenced by those around us and the sorts of places we hang out. Melanie cuts through the fashion crap and can really pick out what works and what doesn't, which trends will stay on the runway and which trends will be in out  closet quicker than you can say 'We Are Fashion' (that's the hashtag for the event by the way, #wearefashion).

West London by thestylepa featuring knee length dresses

East London by thestylepa featuring white tops

They've got loads of gorgeous brands on board, so if you're heading to the shops this week (or next) why not swing by one of London's Westfield shopping centres and get to grips with the Future of Fashion - it will put the 'fun' right back into your wardrobe.

BEAUTY - New Virgin Atlantic Lip Colour

bareMinerals and Virgin Atlantic have launched a new lip colour which will be part of the uniform for Virgin's cabin crew for the very first time. With show's like Pan Am bringing back the glamour of air travel, this couldn't be more well timed. What do you think of the hue? It's called Upper Class Red. Commercially, it's also timed perfectly to support the launch of Virgin Atlantic's new Upper Class cabin which launches this spring.

The specially designed product will be available in a limited number of outlets like Virgin's Clubhouse spas and on Virgin flights before being rolled out further at a later date.

Vanessa White, Upper Class cabin crew at Virgin Atlantic comments: "All of the female cabin crew wear red lipstick so we were keen to find a 'Virgin Atlantic Red' worthy of the perfect pout! 'Upper Class Red' is a vivid shade that's bold, strong and perfect for travelling in."

Watch the video for some tips on how to get the look and how best to apply this lip colour...

Take a look at some old cabin crew uniforms for Virgin Atlantic and loads of other airlines at uniformfreak.com - it's oddly addictive.

TREND - Canary Yellow For Brighter Days

 

 

Yellow sure does brighten up a grey day, and with spring well and truly here (and summer feeling imminent)  I can't think of a better colour to add to your wardrobe. Try the Limited Collection dress from M&S above for a thoroughly modern take on the trend  - I love the sheer panelling. I've picked out a few pieces and 'ways to wear' below so if you've never worn yellow before, why not give it a go...

Look pretty in pastels with this Warehouse dress.The white shoes and shift dress combo give the look a retro, '60s feel that's really 'Lana Del Rey'.

Try canary yellow with a bright purple for a striking look, as seen in the M&S summer lookbook.

Go sporty with a figure-hugging dress and candy-coloured bangles from Primark.

Find more inspiration below...

Canary yellow by thestylepa featuring a pleated midi skirt

TREND - The Printed Trouser

The printed trouser is definitely one of the hottest trends of 2012. I got loads of inspiration at London Fashion Week after seeing so many people sporting this look. Personally, I struggle to look good wearing trousers, especially printed ones. I don't find they're the most curve-friendly of styles, but if you've got the figure then flaunt it in a printed pair. Try teaming yours with a white shirt or blouse and some fab heels.

The Americana-inspired lookbook shot above is for Primark so you can definitely test the water on this trend without spending a fortune. If you're budget is a little less restricted, then try some of my Polyvore picks below. Which print and colour is your favourite? 

The printed trouser by thestylepa featuring printed pants

BEAUTY - Victoria Beckham's Bare-Faced Chic

Victoria Beckham is pictured for Vogue looking great with natural make-up, I love her brows! With all the talk of her being exhausted after the birth of her fourth child, Harper, this pic shows her looking fresh and relaxed. There was a time when Victoria was victim of the WAG-tan and her make-up was quite harsh, but now it seems the natural look is best. 

And we didn't expect anything less than for VB to slip back into her pre-baby figure. Victoria Beckham says of that tiny little figure of hers: “I worked out a lot ... I ran a lot. I did it six days a week. I become quite obsessive when I get into something.” I just wish I could be so obsessed over exercise! Read more on Vogue.com 

To get Victoria's look, try...

Double Wear Light foundation

CHARITY - The Marsden March

I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who sponsored me for the Marsden March last weekend. I walked the 14 miles with two friends and so far we've raised £732, and hopefully there will be a little more to come too (you can still donate for a couple of months yet). Overall, the event raised around half a million pounds for the charity which is really fab. I try and take part in at least one charity event every year to do my bit and inspire me to be more active.

This year, I chose the Marsden March because Lisa Lynch was walking, you might also know her as AlrightTit and her intimate blog about her battle with cancer is something that I really recommend everyone reads. It was one of the first blogs I followed and I've got to know Lisa through her posts so I wanted to support her chosen charity in some way.

Lisa's Lovelies, definitely the biggest team walking who raised an amazing amount of money for the charity.

Lots of dogs came along for the walk too, some even wearing the same t-shirts like this Labrador.

 Famous faces like Larry Lamb also joined the walk, we passed him as he signed autographs for fellow walkers.

Follow The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity on Facebook to keep up with their work.

COMPETITION - Olympics Prizes With Jessie J and VitaminWater

Remember a while back I posted some pics of Jessie J for vitaminwater on Tumblr? She's their ambassador supporting the vitaminwater sponsorship of the 2012 Olympics. Well, this week, vitaminwater revealed the next step in their campaign with Jessie and it's rather fun! You might see some special bottles wearing Jessie's iconic bob - yes, vitaminwater's got hair! The special promo bottles give you access to a competition to win a VIP opportunity at the Olympics Games and a party with Jessie J, plus, access to exclusive downloads and the chance to win a HD video camera, which is a little bit awesome!

If you want to get the Jessie J look, her stylist Kimi O'Neill says that Jessie's favourite designers are 'Dolce and Gabbana, Simon Preen, Dr Martens, Hasan Hejazi, David Koma, House of Holland, Cassette Playa.' She's also into Topshop, American Apparel and River Island for those of us on a budget. Kimi says her styling tip is: 'if in doubt, add more!'

I fancied getting involved, so here's me wearing a Jessie J style cardboard wig... what do you think of my new look? It's hip to have square hair.

SHOPPING - On My March Wishlist

1. Models Own New Beetlejuice Nail Polish

The original Beetlejuice nail varnishes caused quite a stir when they were released and Models Own have just released some fab new shades for summer  –  Copper Pot, Tropical Sun and Indian Ocean. Get them for £5.00 each at www.modelsownit.com from 19 March.

2. Polaroid Sunglasses
I reviewed a couple of Polaroid styles a while back, but they've recently launched a special vintage-inspired collection to celebrate 75 years in business. These 1950s style sunnies were my favourite from the special selection I saw at the recent press launch. Cat's eye shape frames are the hot look for this summer!

3. Little red dress
This fab red 'Kaleidoscope' dress is by Susannah (a celeb-fave) and features a wide style collar that was seen loads at London Fashion Week this February. I love the feminine shape, simple cut and shiny sheen to the fabric. It'll set you back a not-so-modest £650 though. Maybe this one's staying on the wishlist.

4. Statement neckwear from Lamprini

This Greek brand creates really impactful jewellery and I've definitely fallen in love with the collar-style necklaces. They use a mixture of chains, gems and yarn to create eclectic pieces which say 'look at me!'

5. Red or Dead swimwear

The summer swimwear collection from Red or Dead is one of the best I've seen so far. The style pictured above is my favourite and features ships and messages in bottles... it's just awesome. Each of the fab prints comes in a range of styles to suit all shapes which is also a bonus.

ACCESSORIES - Alphabet Bags Goes For Gold

I love Alphabet Bags, and in addition to their fab letters and seasonal collections, the latest range is pure gold. The black cotton totes, feature four gold foil designs:

• 'Stay gold' - Stay gold, be true to yourself and march to the beat of your own drum.
• 'All the glitters is not gold' - This phrase originates from the 12th century.
• 'Good as gold' -  This bag would make the perfect treat for those who are as good as gold.
• 'Heart' is now also available in metallic gold foil on black cotton

These are a great little treat for a friend or for yourself, which is your favourite? 

ACCESSORIES - Girl Meets Dress Does Hats

Girl Meets Dress already offers a fab service in designer dress rentals for special occasions, but you should see the latest range of hats. By Bundle Maclaren, there's a mix of 'traditional with a twist' headwear and 'all out quirky' hats to choose from. Whether you need to make a statement for the races, a wedding or other fabulous event, these are definitely worth a look if you can afford the hire price. 

Prices seem to start around the £39 mark and go up to over £100. The brand have plenty of experience too, they designed 12 bespoke headpieces for last year's Royal wedding in April. Which one catches your eye? 

NEWS - Jean Paul Gaultier for Diet Coke

Diet Coke have signed up a rather famous name in fashion as Creative Director. This week they unveiled Jean Paul Gaultier as creative director for 2012 with a series of short films which the designer also stars in. They see the Diet Coke puppets styled to suit their personalities. All a little odd if you ask me... what's your verdict?

You can watch the rest of the videos on Diet Coke's Youtube channel or find out more about the collaboration on Facebook.

HAIR - Get 25% Off at Lisa Shepherd London

I recently wrote about an evening of hair pampering I had at the Lisa Shepherd London salon. Jason and the team would love to welcome readers of The Style PA too, so they've offered 25% off any treatment, plus a complimentary shampoo and conditioner too. Not bad eh? Just mention The Style PA when you call to book an appointment. 

Salon address: 24 Mortimer Street, London, W1T 3JP

Phone number:  0207 467 9560

Do let me know if you try them out... 

FASHION - Winter Kate Goes Pink for Spring

Winter Kate has a name that's apt for the cold weather we're getting in the UK at the moment, but the spring collection uses a pretty, new-season colour palette featuring lots of pink. Pink can be too girly for some, but the boho styling of this collection's pieces offer a more relaxed feel - this definitely isn't too 'Barbie'. Sheer fabrics, delicate prints and mixing different shades of pink are all factors in me now thinking I might be able to do softer shades of pink this season after all. 



Nicole Richie's collection - Winter Kate - will be available from ASOS and my-wardrobe.com from this month. 

 

So who else is doing pink for this season?

I spotted this pink bag in my inbox from Nica and Tulisa has been spotted carrying it already.

I also love this shot from the early spring collection at Jovannista, which is available at Topshop. It's a great way to tackle the pastels trend. 

Or try M&S's Limited Collection for colour clashing brights like this pink and orange dress. 

TRENDS - More Fashion Week Looks

I almost managed to keep up with the whole of London Fashion Week but with Milan and now Paris it's definitely not easy to keep up to speed. I have picked out a few more looks below though which could be a sign of things to come on the British High Street.

First up, it's those Russian hats! They appeared on the catwalk at Issa and Temperley below. Plus, with the weather at London Fashion Week being far from toasty, plenty of people hitting the shows were also sporting this furry headwear. I'm a hat person but I'm not sure I can pull this style off, what about you? More exciting the catwalk fashion though is the Temperley collaboration with Filofax! I love Filofax with a passion. 

 

Ashish went for grunge-glam with paisley prints in his trademark sequins. I wasn't a big fan of his A/W looks though, I much prefer his catwalk outfits for spring/summer with the playful florals and sequins brick wall design. The designer definitely mixes the feminine with the tough well though, and if that's your look he should be top of your list for style inspiration. Remember when I interviewed Ashish over here. Of the photos below, the 1st look is A/W and the rest are S/S...

 

Marni's H&M collaboration is the talk of the town at the moment, so the luxury brand's show was definitely THE one-to-watch. I love the punchy red in the collection as indicated by a couple of shots below (the cape was a look also spotted at Issa). The silhouettes are quite constructed with exaggerations at certain points like a wide sleeve or oversized collar. It was yet another example of the high necklines which I saw run through so many collections, necklines seem to have gone to their highest point for AW12. Are you a fan? My fuller bust isn't...

   

The Cacharel woman is described as 'fun, feminine and creative' and I have to admit, after seeing some of the pieces I wanted to be that woman. Amelia Earhart was also cited as an influence of the collection, evident from those chic cloche style hats. I loved the powdery grey/blue palette, punctuated with more vibrantly hued accessories and I just know that the coat picture below would be super flattering.