Catwalk Lessons.

A beginner's guide to designer fashion.

Ski-slope shoulder pads? 

Fitted leather?

Super skinny acid wash denim?

All featuring on any sensible girl’s A/W wish list and all inspired by the designer of the season, Christophe Decarnin. Not ringing any bells? Well, he’s the brains behind Balmain. 

Everyone, from Heat magazine to Harper’s Bazaar is telling us, or rather ordering us, to sit up and take notice of this clever, clever man and judging by the rate at which the copy cat designs are flooding onto the high street it’s probably not a bad idea.

Those dramatic yet perfectly proportioned peaked shoulders are everywhere and best of all they are super chic, absolutely no risk of eighties throwback syndrome whatsoever. Excellent news.

The quilted leather waist skirt is perfection in garment form and the peaked shoulder tuxedo is a timeless cult classic, teamed on the catwalk with smart skinny trousers with a turn up and a pointy pump.

Decarnin has shaped the way we dress this season whether we like it or not. That leather biker jacket you tried on in Topshop? Inspired by Balmain. That body con mini dress with the embellished shoulders you lusted after in Urban Outfitters? Yep, Balmain again.

The pick of copy cat Christophe includes this dress (featured left) costing £19.99 from Ark and this skirt (featured below) is £35 from Topshop.

Repeat after me, Christophe Decarnin; it’s a name we definitely haven’t heard the last of.

  

Written by Viki Imrie.

Guilty pleasures.

Why I Just Can’t Stop Wearing ...

1. Ugg Boots – every year magazines place these beauties in the ‘what not to wear’ section but they have managed to survive!! Personally, I do not understand the abuse they get because they allow you to basically wear slippers outdoors. Okay they may make you look a bit like an Eskimo and boys HATE them (often referring to them as ‘UGG-ly boots’) but so what! Sometimes comfort has to come first!

2. Granny Pants – continuing the winter theme, keeping your bits warm, it’s the granny pant! They are highly unattractive and not really a turn on in the bedroom but still every girl has at least one pair. And why not? Although, as demonstrated by Bridget Jones, choose the days you wear them wisely so as not to be caught off guard.

3. Denim Jackets – if not worn properly these can bring back memories of year-6 school discos where the fashion icons were members of S club 7 or B*witched. As long as you have learnt your lesson and NEVER team it with another denim item then a denim jacket can remain a classic addition to your wardrobe, as they always come back into fashion each year.

4. Parkas – the perfect hangover item because you can literally hide most of your body AND your face. Unfortunately in the process of doing this you look like Kenny from South Park, but sometimes that look is better than the beast that is lurking beneath it after a heavy night out.

5. Jeggings – following the successful resurrection of the legging from the 1970s, some (arguable) ‘genius’ decided to combine them with jeans to create the ‘jegging’. On first glance these look really weird and like they would probably be the most unflattering piece of clothing possible – ‘cough, cough’ camel toe. But when worn with a loose fitting top they are actually a more flattering version of skinny jeans, and are much easier to tuck into boots than normal jeans. You do have to be prepared to embrace your curves as they leave little to the imagination, so before wearing them listen to ‘Bootylicious’ by Destinys Child and shake your jelly! I do...

Written by Sophie Harrison.