Alexa Beaty is making History today...first day of school, Carpe Diem sweetie.

what a pretty pair

have just stumbled upon another pair of recession busting bargains from www.missguided.co.uk.

gorgeuous diamond criss cross dress for £22.99: perfect with a blazer and heels for a winters night out or dress down with a denim jacket and converse for a daytime look.
http://www.missguided.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=3&products_id=627

and a black number with beaded detail also a bargain at £23.99 and available in purple, if you can't decide then why not pick both:
http://www.missguided.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=3&products_id=400

grab them now peeps...x

my salvation...

Yesterday I spent my day giving and recieving at the same time...I'm not making some kind of filthy innuendo, but merely referring to fashion's 69er: charity shops. I know many of you are put off by the infamous "did somebody die in this?" Little Britain sketch but you shouldn't be. In a time of reccession there is nowehere else I'd rather be- yesterday in one visit to the Salvation army, I bought a large gold statement necklace not dissimilar to one recently seen on Whitney Port, a large red and gold beaded necklace, and a gold brooch, all for £1:50. Furthermore, I picked up a brown waistbelt, a denim jacket and A shoulder padded paisley print dress all for £11.

It might be a selfish way to enjoy charity but it sure does feel good. Moreover, charity Shops are forced to assert a certain amount of quality control so all of the clothing will be in relatively good condition and if you can't find specifically what you need they will be more than happy to go out back and search the supply rooms. Okay, Doris from the Salvation Army is a little deaf and defintely doesn't move as quickly as she'd like, but I'd far rather natter to her in the storeroom for a while than try and make conversation with a snoooty high street assistant who looks at me like I've just killed her mother when I ask for a different size.

There's more too, infact the best part of Charity shopping comes with the post buy compliments-the ideal ones from a snooty label victim accqauitance: "Love the dress, where did you get it?"
"Oh this salvation Army £3:50" Then just watch them bubble with jealously and change the subject...priceless. Charity shopping is further enriched by the sense of giving it provides, every item is worn with a sense of pride, or even self importance, in the knowledge this purchase could have made a difference, it's a long shot but it beats the sweat shop guilt you feel when wearing Primark. In a world where reckless spending and greed has failed to sustain itself, maybe charity shopping can provide the slice of humble pie we all need.

Punk-do we dare to defy society once more?

If this summer has proved anything its that the boho hippie has died a timely death. Even Miss Miller who practically invented the look has smartened up her act, spending this summer sizzling on the red carpet with a tidy chic new look.

So, we know that flower power's revival is waning but what now? Autumn is here and us fashionistas are presented with a choice: one side sees tailored corners and nipped in waistlines check Lanvin and YSL. It's bringing back shoulder pads with a brute force nobody foresaw and blazers are now a fully fledged and accepted trend. Even Miss Selfridge have taken the trend on board presenting a sequined tux amongst many other similar peices in their Autumn range and fully pledging their alleagince to the slighty samey, been here before, secretarial, tailored trends that have defined the last couple pf years.

But what of the other...here one is faced with an alltogther rougher look, not rougher like the windswept freedom that was coupled with the boho era but something hardsher, more defined-an almost grown up grunge. Hiding somewhere between the punk elegance of miss Dellal (with her half shaven head and countless earrings) and the cutsey rocker girlfirend a la Alexa Chung. This is Punk and it's back.

To comprehend how punk can really stage a comeback one has to understand the style, this time the look's matured- it's far more wearable. Forget the "Sex Pistols" and "This Is England" it's studded belts, and distressed leather, think deep black eyeliner teamed with a dress and doc martens, denim waistcoats and lots of chains, ripped tights and black trilbys. it's clear that punk has grown into something far more chique. Even boring bloody mango has pushed the boat out placing a leather pencil skirt in their autumn range.

Moreover, if anyone needed persuading of it's credibilty Miss Jolie's apperance on the red carpet in a Micheal Kors black leather dress ought to do it. (See Inglorious Barstards premier LA.) In fact even primark praised for it's abilty to cheapen any high class trend has started selling a doc marten lookalike for under twenty pounds, whilst Aggy's been loyal to the DM's for years. It seems clear punk is here for the Autmn and accpetable once again. Anyone requiring a nod from the fshion gods, as if my blog isn't enough, need look no further than this month's Vogue which places Pixie Geldof in 12 page spread entitled-"Leather Rebel". Ladies and gentleman dust off your DM's and re peirce those noses the revolution is here.