Designer Label Fashion

I know, it seems like National Shoe Week around here, but I have been looking out for these amazing Yves Saint Laurent black lattice ankle boots for ages. They have appeared in umpteen fashion spreads over the past few months (according to Alexandra Shulman she eventually had to ban them from Vogue shoots), and you can buy them from Matches Fashion.

I can only apologise if they give you Wicker Man-type nightmares, but hey, no one ever said designer footwear would be trauma-free. These Black lattice Yves Saint Laurent caged heel ankle boots are £905 from Matches Fashion.

Or check our more Yves Saint Laurent at Matches Fashion.

“Soooooooooooooooooooo tell me what you want, what you really really want…”  “Er I’d like some Spice Girls-era platform trainers please, and then I’d like to zigazigaaah”

I spotted these summery two-tone yellow and white wedge platform sneakers on the Browns Fashion website today. They are See by Chloe (Chloe’s diffusion line) and have more than a touch of Baby Spice about them. They are cute, though as a more mature 30-something I am more of a Kurt Geiger Fashionistas lady myself.

In yellow canvas with white rubber toe caps, these two-tone platform wedge trainers are lace-up and have a coloured logo on the sole. 100% canvas and rubber, with a heel height of 5 inches, these See by Chloe yellow and white platform trainers are only £165.

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Browns Fashion suggest teaming the platform trainers with cropped jeans and a cute tee. But if the 1990s were your heyday and Emma Bunton your heroine, why not put your hair in bunches and team the sneakers with this gorgeous short 100% silk chiffon See by Chloe yellow cape dress, £348 at My Wardrobe.  Under slip is 100% cotton, dress fastens at the back with buttons.

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Or check out See by Chloe designer fashion and shoes at:

• Browns Fashion
• My Wardrobe
• Matches Fashion

Sadly one of the best ways to freshen up your fashionista wardrobe without spending a lot of money on new clothes is to spend a lot of money on a new handbag instead. But with the new season handbags from Smythson surely we can be forgiven for melting the credit card plastic a bit?

The new season Smythson bag - the Enid - is pretty special. A smart, functional and structured bag available in small, large and clutch bag sizes, the Enid range of designer bags is available in muted colours - chalk, pebble and granite (that’s off-white, grey and sort-of-dark-grey-black to the rest of us). Before you think this means we now have to match our bags to our gloomy recessionista moods, there is also a rather stunning coral and grey Enid to add a bit of brightness.

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This is the large Smythson Enid bag, in soft Pebble-coloured goatskin. Large enough for travel and business use, it has a sumptuous peach silk lining with two ruched pockets, one long zip pocket and a longer compartment for business papers or magazines. It has a shagreen grey and gold clasp, and costs £895. The large Enid bag in Pebble is 33.5 x 25 x 12cm (20 cm handle drop) / 13″ x 10″ x 4 3/4″ (8″ handle drop).

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The small Smythson Enid handbag in goatskin again has a luxurious peach silk interior, It has two ruched internal pockets and one long zipped pocket. Shown here in Chalk, the small Enid has a shagreen grey and gold clasp, and measures 32 x 21 x 12cm (13cm handle drop) / 12 1/2″ x 8 1/4″ x 4 3/4″ (5 1/4″ handle drop). The small Enid bag in Pebble costs £775.

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This elegant Enid glutch bag in dark-grey Granite will take you from day to evening with ease. made of soft goatskin, the Enid clutch has a peach silk interior and ruched internal pockets, with a pretty external shagreen grey and gold clasp to close. The Enid clutch bag measures 27.5 x 13 x 6cm / 11″ x 5″ x 2 1/2″ and costs £550.

At time of writing, all the Enid bags shown above are in stock at the Smythson online store - you can view the full Smythson Enid range here, and those not currently in stock are available to pre-order with a four-week wait. And all these Smythson bags come presented in Smythson’s distinctive and beautiful Nile Blue gift packaging.

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The Enid designer handbag and clutch range from the luxury leather goods firm Smythson is named after Samantha Cameron’s playwright great-grandmother, Enid Bagnold. I’m loving the old fashioned handbag names but I am wondering how other handbag manufacturers come up with them. Do they have to work through the alphabet in order, like meteorologists naming tropical storms and hurricanes? Or look in The Times “hatch, match and despatch” columns pre-1940 and take it from there?

Are they going to run out of old fashioned names or will we keep going backwards until we’re wearing the Frideswide or the Hildegard? Or the pre-language Ugh (okay maybe not the Ugh). And which edgy new handbag designer will go out on a limb and offer us the Demi-Leigh or the Candice-Chantelle*, or even name his/her new must-have designer handbag after Grandma Hilda who worked in a pie factory and needed a bag with a fags’n'curlers pocket (but would never have spent £1000 on a handbag in a thousand years)?

But if £800+ on a designer handbag is just too much (whether named after a celebrated society playwright or your pie-factory Nan) - but you still NEED a designer handbag treat - then don’t forget to check out the cute Anya Hindmarch summer canvas totes which are only £55 each - or £100 for two.

*I actually like Candice-Chantelle but then I have pregnancy-brain and so am not to be trusted name-wise.

Frivolous, sexy, and worth living on Tesco Value baked beans for a few weeks for - yes, Kurt Geiger have brought back their Fashionistas designer shoe range. Lace on heels, cut out flowers, tottering platforms… everything you don’t need on a shoe but really, really want. The Fashionistas range from Kurt Geiger is inspired by the best fashion capitals around the world. Check out my three favourite pairs below, or visit Kurt Geiger now for the full Fashionistas designer shoe range.

These gorgeous and elegant high heeled glossy black Kurt Geiger Fashionistas courts have a snake effect section and platform, with milliners lace up the heel. These Fashionista Bermondsey shoes are hand finished and cost £220. Heel height 110mm.

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These cute decorated yellow flats from the Kurt Geiger Fashionistas range are made of soft patent leather with elasticated back, milliners net and oversize decoration. The Warwick Fashionistas flat pump is £170 and is also available in pink.

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Stunning metallic platform sandals with orchid flower decoration from the Kurt Geiger Fashionistas designer shoe range.  These Nolita platform sandals have a contrasting patent leather t-bar buckled ankle strap and a peep toe. The Kurt Geiger Nolita sandal costs £220 and is also available in grey.

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So visit Kurt Geiger now for the full Fashionistas designer shoe range.

Designer fashion house Chloe - under the eye of creative director Hannah MacGibbon - has gone mad for cute scallop detailing this season. Their scalloped edges (both large and small) add some cute interest to flirty, fun summer clothes in a frankly miserable and depressed world. Check out some of our favourite Chloe scallop-detail new season clothes and shoes, below, all from Matches Fashion. Or visit the Matches and Browns Fashion Chloe areas.

These lovely navy blue Chloe shorts have a cute black scallop edge on each leg and an elegant waist bow with black scalloped edging. Wear with little tees or long line jackets, with or without tights depending on when the sun makes an appearance… Chloe scallop edge navy blue and black shorts, £785 at Matches Fashion.

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If you can’t stretch to those shorts, these lovely summery white Chloe ballerina flats have a scallop edge - perfect with cut off jeans or a flirty skirt. White Chloe ballerina scalloped flats, £258 at Matches fashion.

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An elegant polkadot blue and white dress that channels French chic - this Chloe dress has a round neckline and long sleeves. The sleeves and dress have a large scalloped edge. Chloe blue and white scallop edge dress, £868 at Matches Fashion.

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These elegant black and nude peeptoe Chloe court shoes have a scalloped edge and are the perfect transitional Spring to Summer court shoe. Chloe black and nude peeptoe scallop edge courts, £328 at Matches Fashion.

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Visit the Matches and Browns Fashion Chloe areas.

Treat yourself to some of the best Italian and European designer brands at Forzieri Italia - and get £10 off when you spend over £125. Just use voucher code 754987 at the Forzieri checkout. Offer ends 22 March 2009. Check out some of our Spring favourites below, or visit Forzieri now.

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This gorgeous Just Cavalli Silla bracelet watch is only £187.44. It has an oval dial and is decorated with dazzling Swarovski crystals and the Just Cavalli logo. Signature gift box included.

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Wear the watch above with this simple yet stunning white summer dress in 100% cotton, by Julia Cocco, £140.58. This mid-length white sundress has a lace insert and thin straps.

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This striped summery bucket tote bag in leather and cotton by Francesco Biasia is £132. Striped canvas fabric with contrasting leather trim. Dustbag included.

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Don’t forget - when you spend over £125 at Forzieri Italia you get £10 off: just use voucher code 754987 when you get to the Forzieri checkout. Visit Forzieri Italia now.

Now this is what designer shoe sales are all about. Secret Sales are currently holding a sale of Georgina Goodman shoes and boots - with huge discounts off the RRP. It is free to join Secret Sales - and easy to sign up online with no obligation to buy. The Georgina Goodman designer sale ends at 23.59 on Wednesday 18 March 2009. Visit the Secret Sales Geogina Goodman designer shoe & boot event or check out our favourites from the sale, below.

These stunning Amber Purple Suede Platforms by Georgina Goodman in magenta and purple contrasting suede have a funky platform and a high heel. These Georgina Goodman stilettos cost £114 in the Secret Sales event, from an RRP of £285.

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Ypu can never have too many boots, and if your feet are still smarting from several years of spindly heels you’ll be pleased to know you can be super-sylish in almost-flats (I know, I never believed it until now either). These Georgina Goodman Bernie Coin Mock Croc Boots are riding boot-style boots in black glossy mock croc with silver coin detail. Georgina Goodman boots only £198 from an RRP of £495.

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Delivery dates will vary and most Secret Sales orders are delivered 5-10 working days after the end of the sale. Sign up to Secret Sales now.

You can also save money by referring friends to Secret Sales. Once you are a member, for each friend that signs up and makes a first purchase, you get a £5 e-voucher off your next order (you can save up these vouchers to use one bigger discount).

What is Secret Sales? It is a FREE TO JOIN online fashion sales club. It regularly offers designer fashion with amazing discounts, typically between 30% and 80% off the RRP. All products sold by Secret Sales are 100% genuine.

It is easy to sign up and start shopping and you’ll get regular updates on upcoming designer sales (you can choose not to receive these if you want).

Membership of Secret Sales will always be free, with no obligation to buy. However the option to become a member by visiting the site directly is available for a limited time only. After this, non-members will need to be referred by a friend who is already a member - so sign up to Secret Sales now!

Sales will end at different times, check on the Secret Sales homepage for new upcoming sales.

The Anya Hindmarch seasonal tote bags have arrived - and they’re only £55! The Anya Hindmarch tote is strictly limited edition so order yours now. There are two stylish seasonal tote bags available - the grey canvas seasonal tote bag, and the off-white seasonal tote bag.

Or buy both Anya Hindmarch seasonal totes as a set for only £100 for the two.

These Anya Hindmarch seasonal tote bags are heavyweight canvas totes with a printed graphic design. They have a naplak leather handle and a large internal zipped pocket.The bags are 32.5cm x 37cm x 19cm.

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View the Anya Hindmarch grey canvas seasonal tote, and the Anya Hindmarch off-white seasonal tote, £55 each.

Or you can buy both seasonal tote designs as a set for only £100 for the two.

Or check out the Anya Hindmarch website for designer bags and purses.

Tote bags are great. Totes mean never having to sort through the clutter we carry round all day and never use - when it gets too much, just buy a bigger tote and tip it all into the new bag. And they’re fantastic as hiding places for smaller bags and purses we “bought in the sale” and don’t want our joint account co-signatories to find.

So this post is about yet another tote, and I think one of this season’s best - this shiny and bright cobalt blue tote bag from Anya Hindmarch is a perfect way to update your wardrobe for spring. The tote bag itself is smart enough for work and the cobalt blue colour would look great with this year’s nautical prints. Featuring Anya Hindmarch’s 2009 leather and chain handle design, it adds a modern twist to an established bag style. This tote bag is suede lined with internal pockets and a studded base and measures 32cm x 35cm x 20cm.

Anya Hindmarch large patent Naplak leather cobalt blue Flavie tote bag, £595 at Anya Hindmarch.

The Flavie tote shinyness comes from the Naplak leather - Naplak is a patent leather variant that over time creates a glass-like effect on the leather. The recognisably Naplak creases are achieved through tumbling the leather for increased durability.

The Anya Hindmarch Flavie tote is also available in black, ideal if you like your bags to match the economic gloom (but shinier).

Or check out more Anya Hindmarch bags at her website.

Stella McCartney is best for Summer 09 nautical prints. We’ve lusted after the nautical silk shift dress, chucked our handbag clutter into the nautical print bag, gone retro with the nautical print one piece swimsuit, dieted into the nautical bikini, and channelled ladylike chic with the nautical print silk blouse. (Obviously not all at once. That would just look stupid.) Well say hello to… the Stella McCartney nautical jumpsuit!

This gorgeous and relaxed Stella McCartney nautical jumpsuit, £775 at MyTheresa (actually called the Stella McCartney marine print romper) has a casual loose fit with large pockets, a round neck and button front. The jumpsuit has a stunning nautical print of boats, seagulls and anchors and is 100% silk.

Browse Stella McCartney at MyTheresa, Browns Fashion or Matches Fashion.