Scottish Textiles

If you want to keep up with fashion, then you not only need to be aware of the latest trends, but you also need to know when a trend has run its course.  Once you know what is out, you can start making space for what is in.

Midi Skirts

Midi skirts made a comeback this autumn/winter and we saw them on all the major runway shows, but unfortunately, it is already time for them to go.  Spring is now on its way, and there is no place amongst the super sexy styles that are about to hit the shelves, for the midi skirt. Instead try Republic clothing for super sexy minis in bright summer shades.

Stars

Dolce and Gabbana showed off these astrological prints during their autumn/winter 2011 runway show, but this print is making a swift exit from our wardrobes.  Stars do have a tendency of resurfacing in the fashion world though, so be ready for their return.

Single Prints

Last year, designers such as Marc Jacobs preferred the single print option with a less is more approach to the designs.  This year, a completely different attitude has been adopted, and the more the better is what we will be seeing on the runways.  Mix and match your prints to stay truly on trend this season.

Silver

In 2011, we saw plenty of cool and steely metallic slivers.  For 2012, metallics are still going to be prevalent, but this year they are warming up, so opt for gold instead.

The 50s

We all love the glamorous Fifties, but now it is all about the roaring Twenties.  It is time to trade in your full skirts and box handbags for flapper dresses and skullcaps.

Grey

The spring/summer 2012 styles centre on colour.  Whether it is bright, bold neon colour or pastel shades, it is time to embrace the colour and brighten up your wardrobe.  Grey was a great shade to utilize when trying to break away from the heaviness of black and Haider Ackermen showed us how to make this work during autumn and winter, but the days of grey are over. Coloured denim jeans is where it’s at for us ladies so make sure you wardrobe has a couple of pairs!

Shoes are a woman’s guilty pleasure, and you can never have too many pairs in your wardrobe.  Spring/summer 2012 will bring a completely new range of exciting shoes to lust after; some will be comfortable and practical, whereas others will be sexy and glamorous.  Check out the hottest trends below:

Metallic Toes

Metallic toes are going to be a big hit this season, adding a glamorous touch to any high heel.  Some shoe designers opt for the metallic toe in aid of creating a more durable shoe, but these metallic toe shoes are solely intended for fashion purposes.

Braided Sandals

Braided sandals are making a huge comeback this season.  Colourful braids and unusual braiding techniques are incredibly hot and on trend. 

Mega Platforms

Super mega platforms are not very comfortable and they do not exactly look the most feminine, but they are certainly a statement item. 

Transparent Shoes

Last year plenty of designers tried to push for transparent shoes, but their attempts were futile and they were not taken seriously.  This year however, the amount of designers creating this look has increased dramatically and sheer vinyl is sure to be in all the stores.

Rivets

Rivets are set to be a great hit this coming spring/summer.  These rivets will be apparent in all styles of shoe, from high heels to biker boots.  Whether it is small almost invisible rivets or large attention grabbing ones, whatever your preference, make sure you find a way to incorporate rivets in to your look. 

Bright Colours

Bright colours will not just be adorning our clothes this season, but our shoes as well.  From bold blues to garish greens, these shoes are certain to become a focal point for any outfit.

Shoe Sensation

Colour really hit the catwalks big time for spring/summer 2012, with numerous designers featuring striking selections using neon, fluro and candy colours. Colour blocking moves on from autumn/winter with plenty of high voltage neon’s seen on the catwalks and now filtering down onto the highstreet, Republic clothing have a fantastic selection of bright colours as you can see from the picture below. Make sure you add these into your wardrobe and start working your colour blocking.

Designers such as Peter Som, Jason Wu, Rodarte, Ruffian and Nanette Leopre all chose the colour blocking route with their collections, the clothes were also teamed with brighter, than bright coloured accessories, so don’t be afraid to mix and match clashing colours.

It’s not just brights either which are dominating this season, candy colours also proved big on the catwalks. Jill Stuart, Max Mara, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry and Kurt Geiger are all making the most out of the candy pallet which has also filtered down to the highstreet. 

Try mixing bold bright colours with more subdued candy colours for a stand out look, with shoes and accessories perfect to brighten up dreary days.

Colour burst

So it’s the season of the jumper, normally worn as a necessity rather than as a fashion statement, however this season jumpers have come into their own. You know something is going to be hot when designers champion them on the catwalks, the likes of Missoni, Tommy Hilfiger and Givenchy all resurrected the jumper as a fashion statement.

This season you should be rocking bright knits, slouchy sweaters and in your face, patterned jumpers. Power jumpers will keep you snuggly and warm but also make you look hot, hot, hot instead of a throwback from your childhood. Many of the highstreet stores have a huge selection of jumpers, glitzy for the party season or slouchy for casualwear. Clothing from Vila offer a selection sexy jumpers, yes that’s right sexy jumpers!

This season you can easily find jumpers to work with all the trends, for day wear and for evening wear so there is no reason not to add some knitwear to your wardrobe this season.

Why not work boyfriend style slouchy, cable knits big and baggy, opt for leggings or tights and team with boots for a rugged everyday look. For a sexier look try teaming a sequined black jumper with black leather trousers, perfect for a kick-ass evening out. Motifs are also big so why not wear a jumper adorned with a furry friend, just like the celebs have been opt for horses, birds, dogs, rabbits and cats for a on trend cute look. Finally it’s time to embrace pattered jumpers, try Fair Isle or Native American patterns in great natural looking colours.

Music is always in fashion, indeed fashion and music go together.  Band motif T-shirts and sweatshirts make an effortless style statement and give a simple essence of retro cool to any outfit.

Bands and genres define generations and set trends that are never forgotten.  A motif T-shirt in tribute to a beloved artist such as The Beatles, The Stone Roses, Athlete or Snow Patrol is the music-lover’s ideal staple to complete an individual, casual look.  This has not been lost on designers and retailers, and now there is no need to go to a gig to pick up a T-shirt.

These T-shirts and sweatshirts are generally not designed to look smart, so keep the rest of the look fairly crisp to give it the right balance.  Straight-leg jeans in dark blue denim, worn with a dark blazer will work well.  Finish with a scarf with neutral colours to give a stylish, casual look without looking scruffy.  For smart, lace-up trainers, check out the range by Converse.

Rockin style!

When you think of velvet you think of a thick, luxurious material which is really associated with this time of year. Velvet is perfect for Christmas night outs and adding a bit of luxury to your everyday wardrobe. When choosing party dresses why not try some velvet Republic party dresses to add a touch of old school glamour.

This season velvet has graced many of the catwalks but rather than in the traditional black, designers such as Ralph Lauren, Michael Van de Ham and Peter Dundas opted for paint box colours instead. There were plenty of dresses in rich jewel colours such as; ruby red, emerald, amethyst and warm rich autumnal colours such as navy blue and mustard yellows.

Velvet really does make a statement on its own, however to give it a regal edge look for jewel embellishments or opt for chunky jewellery to make a big statement. Velvet is a heavy fabric and you don’t want to be layering it up really so if you have a gorgeous velvet skirt or even a pair of velvet trousers look to pair it with lighter materials such sheer silk and lace, plus it also gives it a lovely romantic edge.

If full on velvet isn’t for you why not opt for some soft velvet accessories, velvet wedge shoes and platforms are hot and make a change from glossy leather, team with a velvet clutch bag and you add a nice hint of luxury to a plain outfit.

Designers continued to go retro this season by pushing the high-waist pants trend onto the runways for their autumn/winter collections.  Impeccably chic and very seventies, the high-waist pants are both loved and hated, but can definitely not be ignored as they hit the ramps this season.

Retro-Style

High-waist pants, hitting the highs of one’s figure and flattering the waist, bring a sleek new look to one’s wardrobe.  For an absolutely stunning look, combine high-waist flares with the same coloured turtleneck blouse to give the impression of really long legs, then accessorize with a tiny belt.

Trend-setting designers experimented with pinstripes and flares, combining the high-waist pants with silk blouses and technicolour shirts to create figure-flattering outfits that are kind to even not-so-slim waists.  These pants are great for women with small tummies, as well-tailored high-waist pants serve as amazing tummy-cinchers.  Dressed up with chunky heeled shoes, the high-waist pants create a sleek, sophisticated look.

A tip for the winter season is to pair these pants with woollens rather than silk and ultra-soft fabrics.  Also consider wearing the high-waist pants with a jacket as these pants tend to make hips look wider than they actually are.  For women with more athletic figures, however, the high-waist can be worn with a tucked-in top minus the jacket.

While choosing a pair of high-waist pants, make sure your pair fits perfectly.  The key is to have the waistband sit snugly against your middle.  This makes for the tailored fit that truly flatters the figure and creates an hourglass impression.

The high-waist has always been a controversial style, but fashion experts are praising the trend as one to be embraced this year.  High-waist denims are also seeing a surge in retail stores with jeans manufacturers stocking stores with the seventies inspired flares.   Complimented perfectly with a tank top or a peasant blouse, the high-waist denims create a flawless retro look.  The style is about tucking the top in so as to appear taller and thinner, so choose your blouse or top carefully.  Accessorize with bangles and rings and a pair of sunglasses for a look that is pure chic.

High Waisted jeans

If you’re looking to add some chic daytime pieces to your wardrobe, luxury lightweight knitwear, relaxed fit dresses and statement tops and tees then you can’t go wrong with clothing from Vila. The fashion brand offers clothing for the Adventurous Girl who is not a fashion victim but instead is graceful and fashion conscious. Following fashion trends you can easily pick key pieces out to complete your looks for every season.

Vila clothes have a wide range of shops around Europe including Scandinavia, Netherland, Ireland, Germany, plus they also sell wholesale to customers in Scandinavia, Iceland, Benelux, France, UK, Netherland and Ireland. Here in the UK you can buy Vila clothing from a number of retailers including Republic.

If you like fashion and the freedom what to wear what you want and when to wear it when you want then Vila clothing is for you. Reasonably priced latest trends and key style pieces you can’t go wrong.

Vila clothing

Ask many mothers who go to collect their children as school finishes for the day and they will regale you with stories of fashion faux pas, one-upmanship, and rivalry which only seems to be growing in intensity between mums who are competing to ensure that they are the best dressed and sporting only the latest designs by the best designers.

With a reported two-thirds of mothers saying that they try and get one over on fellow parents when their children head back to school following the summer break, one in six making sure they have a new hairstyle to display at the school gates along with their new outfits and others ensuring that they have a new tan, the school run looks set to change forever.

A survey conducted by a leading supermarket chain found  that mums will spend an average of 25 minutes on hair and make-up before leaving the house to collect their children, a whole 7 minutes more than they take to get the children ready for school in the morning.  A spokeswoman for the famous supermarket chain said: “People are often quick to judge, and a massive number of mums feel the need to impress at the school gates and purposefully get their hair done or splash out on new clothes.  So much so that they are spending more time and money on themselves, rather than getting their kids ready to step out of the front door in their new school uniform.”

School Gates

Picture courtesy of The hills are alive

Layering has always been a key element for winter warmth and fashion so what does Winter 2011 have in store? The tunic and trouser combination is a sophisticated solution for looking stylish and fashionable this winter, and well as keeping wrapped up and warm. With this style, you can look good effortlessly. Why not play with textures, shades and silhouettes? There is a whole-load of looks that can be created using this style of fashion this winter. Tunics and trousers is not something that we will grow easily bored of.

Firetrap have a great collection this season, they have worked in plenty of shapes and silhouettes into their ladies wear collection and it all has a bit of an edgy dark look to it.

Designers, are also taking in it their stride to ensure that the ‘trouser and tunic look’ is a success this winter. Designer clothing icons including Osman, Richard Nicoll and Michael Kors, are all having a go at creating the perfect trouser-tunic look. Whatever you style, with this look, there is something for everybody. For those who are a bit unsure, or even those who are slightly unhappy with their body, why not try a relaxed, loose look. Others that are more confident should try block and bright colours, which have been proven to add both interest and depth.

Any look is achievable when trying out this style. This combination of clothes can be worn anywhere, whether it is dressing up for a night out, or dressing the look down, pairing it with layers and a hat and scarf set, for just a casual day around the house.