We’ve picked our free favourites…

The first is the gorgeous white leather Betty dress. OK this one is a bit of an investment at £295 however teamed with some black leather gloves and killer heels and we are sure you will find the impact well worth the price. Take a closer look here.

Next up is this figure hugging little piece turning the little Black Dress up to date with a nice ruffle detail. It is sleeveless and structured with a zip at the back and is just £95.00. To order click here.

Our final choice is the Cadet Top – if you’ve got killer legs just team it with some sheer tights but if you want to cover up a bit more some thick footless tights or leggings will do the trick. And as a bonus it is only £50. For sizes check here.

We are giving one lucky winners a pair of tickets to this years show! Join us for the ultimate girls’ day out where you can find your brand new winter wardrobe, get great presents for friends, spot the hottest celebrities, get hair and beauty tips and watch the world’s most spectacular catwalk performance!

For your chance to win this amazing prize, just answer this simple question:

In which city will Clothes Show Live be taking place in?

To enter join the Fused Mailing List and send your answer along with your name, address and date of birth to competitions@fusedmagazine.com putting ‘Clothes Show’ in the subject box.

Clothes Show Live will take place at the Birmingham NEC, from 4 – 9 December 2009. Tickets cost £25 and include; entry to the show, a seat in the Fashion Theatre and entry to The Style Show. Or upgrade to a Platinum Ticket for £37 to receive all the Standard Ticket benefits PLUS; fast track entry with great seats in the Fashion Theatre, a goody bag and show guide. Tickets are on sale now and are available from the box office on 0844 579 3178 or online at clothesshowlive.com.

Get a massive 20% discount and enjoy some music from the Bigger Than Barry boys as well as wine from Barefoot and, for the first lucky customers, a goody bag!

No need to RSVP just turn up!

Style In The City invites you to attend a special Designer Showcase at Fazeley Studios, Birmingham. We’ll be checking out one of Birmingham’s most stylish venues as the 2009 Designer of the Future winner is unveiled and Fused readers are invited to come along too.

Enjoy an exclusive preview of the city’s brightest new fashion talent from Birmingham City University, and be amongst the first to see the new Ready To Wear collection from Birmingham based international designer, Sulaimi Brookman.

To confirm your place, please RSVP to events@rewiredpr.com or call Katie at Rewired PR on 0121 2362132 by Monday 24 August.

Style In The City comes to Birmingham on 24-26 September. For more information and ticket details visit www.styleinthecityevent.co.uk.

STYLE IN THE CITY DESIGNER SHOWCASE
In association with Area Magazine
THURSDAY 27 AUGUST 2009
6PM – 8PM
Fazeley Studios, 191 Fazeley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham.

Fairytales and Post it Notes have created a range of vintage jewellery which shows a distinct style and expresses a unique look with everything from necklaces to rings, brooches and even hair trinkets. The collection is individual and really cute, with a magical feel to it. Inspiration is taken from all that is ‘Vintage, Romantic and Mischievous’.  If you are looking for something different this is a great place to look.

The majority of the items are under £10, which is great because there are so many pieces that you will want to take home. Fairytales and Post it Notes sell jewellery online and most Sundays you can find them at the Backyard Market on London’s Brick Lane.

Limited edition items are also created from time-to-time offering something truly unique. A great idea for gifts, or why not just treat yourself…

Words: Lauren Chrimes

An ordinary closure becomes the latest designer decorative muse. So you may usually be on the defensive when told to to zip it – but this summer, it’s a style directive you’ll definitely want to follow. Yes, it’s time to put a zip in it and channel Siouxsie Sioux circa 1977. Zippers are popping up in some pretty unexpected places, and the effect is a tough-chic look almost anyone looks good in. Who’d have though that the humble fastening could this much of a stir?

When edgy punks stormed the catwalks of Spring/Summer ‘09 the key feature on almost every piece was the zip. A slew of celebrity hipsters have embraced the look zipping up in tailored looks with chunky fasteners. Zips have been spotted everywhere on the runways from Peter Pilotto to Phillip Lim. Alexander Wang sent his models down the catwalk dressed in a reconstructed off-duty style.

At Balmain, the look was pure glam punk with zipped up jeans and chainmail a-go-go. While at Yves Saint Laurent, Stefano Pilati went all-out ziptastic with chunky brass zips cutting through coats and skirts, oversize zip teeth on platform boots and ruffled zip clutches. You needn’t go all out, just use zips to give a renewed edge to your style and toughen up classic pieces like jumper dresses, boots and jackets. (Below: Zip sweatshirt, £42, Urban Outfitters).

Despite its pure functionality, the zip effect is in fact one of the oldest fashion tricks in the book. Not only is it a quick and handy way to bring definition and shape to almost any garment, it’s clean industrial look renders it a striking staple in its own right among punks and avant guardians alike. Even the simplest basics get a cool dose of downtown edge with the addition of an exposed zip. When working the zip effect, ensure that you keep things simple: With diagonal front zips don’t confuse things by adding long necklaces – let the zip take pride of place. On the same point, avoid metallic accessories and stick to block colour separates as an exposed zip is enough metalwork. (Zip vent minidress, £25, Lipsy / Zip front satin vest top £22 and Denim zip dress, £45 Miss Selfridge)

This is clearly a trend with an, ahem, zip code set to stay on our fashion radar. Jean-Charles de Castelbajac’s Autumun/Winter ‘09 show featured zip sleeves, skirts and pockets – and they were all on one dress. (Below: Tiered zip crop top, £25, Topshop)

Top image: Striped zip front dress, £32, Topshop / Zip front slouch bag, £25, Dorothy Perkins / Zip front boycon tunic, £32, Topshop.

Words: Megan McCluskie

With the onset of summer it’s no surprise that seasonal florals rear their head once again. However, this season sees a new take on the look as spring has sprung with a new posy of floral prints in eye-popping colours that bloom bigger, brighter and bolder. From traditional prints to more abstract designs, vibrant and brash florals feature in the collections of Alexander McQueen, Luella, and See by Chloé (below left image). With even Kate Moss adding more fashion clout to her current Topshop collection (above) by teaming with Liberty’s print designers – they of the iconic florals – we can be sure to see the floral trend in full bloom this summer.

If you’re interested in creating a memorable floral-centric fashion moment of your own that is daring and darling (without looking sickeningly saccharine), there are a few basic guidelines to follow.

First of all, colour is key: While faded florals are gracing everything from maxi-dresses to smock tops this summer, it’s the colour popping blooms that are really stealing the show. Opt for vivid hues in candy pinks, fiery oranges, canary yellows and bright blues. Just ensure your bright floral patterns aren’t too frenetic and perhaps leave it only to the daring fashion-forward to mix florals with stripes and plaids.

If all this petal power is a bit overpowering, you can tone down striking shapes with simple accessories and team bold floral print skirts with plain cotton tees. Indeed, while these big, vibrant, bucolic prints favour the brave you can still ground your choice by teaming prints with black separates (and the ever reliable black opaque tights). Try wearing cinch dresses with wide belts to give them a neater hour-glass silhouette. And remember that florals should always be worn above the knee; anything calf-length immediately looks like an outfit fit for a meeting at the WI – marvellous maxi dresses notwithstanding. Nor need florals be ditzy and whimsical – adding denim, a masculine blazer, studded heels or biker boots instantly give an outfit edge.

Check out our selection of florals that don’t favour shrinking violets:
Rose Bandeau Dress (middle image), £35, Dorothy Perkins, www.dorothyperkins.co.uk
Miami Floral Bodycon Dress (top image), £30, Topshop, www.topshop.com
Silk Floral Print Dress (left image), £325, See by Chloé, www.net-a-porter.com
Floral Tulip Skirt (right image), £35, Urban Outfitters, www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

Words: Megan McCluskie

The tedious job of applying fake tan and then finding when it drys you are going to have weird streaky legs for days is just too boring to deal with. We prefer Claire’s solution – just colour them instead.

They have the perfect solution to your pasty white legs this summer. For just £10 each you can choose from an amazing selection of styles, colours and fabrics so you can get your pins out without blinding your mates. Nice work!

Every company has a thought process beyond their name and logo and Lacoste is no different. After Rene Lacoste was reviewed as fighting like a crocodile in a tennis match in an attempt to win a crocodile skin briefcase in a bet, the nickname stuck, and for over 75 years the crocodile has been the eblem of the company.

For the next three months Lacoste are releasing line of limited edition shoes that are all are inspired by the reptile that is so associated with them taking the history and really delving into countries’ beliefs, stories and characteristics they connect to crocodile.

Some of the shoes aim to be a crocodile for your foot, such as the Tiller Egypt and Missouri Albino. The Nile Crocodile is one of the fiercest in the world, averaging 6 metres in length and has a choice of any animal that drinks along the banks of the Nile including hippos for its dinner. The underbelly colour of the Nile Crocodile is the main component of the Tiller Egypt, with a canvas upper perfect for hot weather such like found in Egypt and pyramids etched on by lasers which are constructed from a crocodile pattern.

Lake Venda in South Africa has a myth featuring the prescense of an albino crocodile in its waters and was viewed as sacred and virginal.Today still, young Venda maidens dance at the lake in honour of the God of fertility sans albino crocodiles, as they are very rare in the wild due to their lack of pigment making it difficult for them to survive under the African sun. In honour of this rare crocodile, the Missouri has an upper constructed of different materials all in white, whilst the bright colours featured in and around the shoe top are taken from the traditional clothing of the Venda tribe.

With so much thought and attention to detail being put into these shoes, they do deserve the title of special limited edition. It’s nice to see a company taking the brand’s logo and threading that into the actual output of the footwear increasing brand identity and weaving not just a history of the company but the design of the shoes which in this case is clearly a creative process worth hearing about.

Words: Alexandra Rochester

The tiger character designed by Tokidoki founder, Simone Legno exclusively for Onitsuka Tiger is making a comeback to join other colourful tiger characters for the new range which have been chosen to grace the retro court shoe that goes by the name Lawnship.

The artwork isn’t just thrown onto the expected standard places on the shoes, but with attention to detail in the lining and soles and will be protected by a clear outsole so that the graphic hits won’t soon be worn down and forgotten. Available in four colour combinations for both men and women and to add to it all, a limited edition Tokidoki show box making the whole package more than just something to stop your feet getting dirty.

The range is available now and all styles priced at £95 from Onitsuka Tiger Stores located:
15 Newburgh Street, London
22 College Lane, Liverpool

For more information visit www.tokidoki.it or www.onitsukatiger.com.

Words: Alexandra Rochester