Target Market - What eBay Was Made For

Can I interest you in a genuine Rodarte skirt for around £6? A Zac Posen sailor dress for under £60? Maybe a Proenza Schouler jacket for £50? Not mainline of course (or knock off), but items from special collections these top designers have done for US retail giant, Target, and are available for UK based strapped-for-cashionistas to snap up from worldwide sellers on eBay.

In recent years Target's 'GO International' project has enlisted every super cool designer you can think of to design affordable ranges exclusively for their stores - Alexander McQueen, Anna Sui, Jean Paul Gaultier, Luella, industry darling Thakoon and, in October, our very own heritage brand, Mulberry will join this esteemed roll as they release an eight piece handbag collection, reportedly set to include the iconic Alexa handbag in velvet and denim. Amazing, huh? Well, unfortunately for us Brits, whilst the collections are available online from www.target.com, they don't ship to the UK. A small selection of the fantastic (and affordable) Liberty x Target range of clothing, accessories and homewares in a variety of classic Liberty prints can be bought from the London store or from www.liberty.co.uk but that's our lot, unless you're headed to the States or have a helpful friend over there - but don't book your flights just yet...

If you want in without the air fare, go to eBay, do a clothing and accessories search for 'Target' and make sure you're set to 'worldwide' sellers, then behold the treasure trove of bargain chic that opens up before you. In recent weeks I've acquired three (I KNOW. who could blame me though at these prices...) new Rodarte x Target dresses (ranging from £12-£40 + P&P) and a Luella x Target baseball jacket (£6.74 + P&P), all new with or without tags. You may have to filter a bit further to get rid of all the mod t-shirts and be careful with the sizing (the range is classed as 'junior' but that seems to just indicate a more 'youthful' style than fit although it does tend to come up slightly small) but I guarantee you, if you love fashion and are looking for something no-one else is wearing, you'll like what you see.

In fact, I wish I'd never told you.

Is SJP a JustLookingUK fan??

In all honesty, I can safely say it's HIGHLY unlikely (and my tongue is firmly in my cheek when I say this) but what a coiincidence... Following my 'Wedding Stress: Dresses for Guests' post of May 24 I received the following email from Almost Famous today showing fashion maven and modern day screen legend, Sarah Jessica Parker, wearing one of their fabulous frocks on the Today Show in an interview about Sex & The City 2. Admittedly this may have been filmed before my post too but, hey, a girl can dream...

Wedding Stress: Dresses for Guests

Aaaaargh. Wedding season is officially upon us and, as an unprepared guest, I haven't got a stitch to wear. It's not too bad if you know the crowd who'll be there on the day but when all you have to go on is the look of the wedding invitation, knowing what will be 'appropriate' can be tricky. My trusty Helene Berman silk leopard print shift is showing severe signs of wedding fatigue after last year so I'm having to buy something new which means ruling out entire shops before you even start for fear of social death by the dreaded outfit jinxsies, eg. what if the other guests are all super trendy? *crosses off Net-A-Porter, Selfridges, Liberty, Zara and Dover St Market *, or what if they're a more 'mumsy' or young mum type of crowd? *also removes Coast, Debenhams, M&S, Principles, French Connection, Top Shop and ASOS from list*. Hmmm. All I want is a pretty dress that no-one else at the wedding will be wearing; something I can wear again, that won't break the bank, but can be dressed up or down and will be suitable for the occasion. And if it goes with my gorrrrrgeous electric blue suede ankle strap wedges so that I don't then have to buy more shoes too, then so much the better. IS THAT REALLY TOO MUCH TO ASK???? "Not at all.." says Fitzrovia's finest crowd pleasing boutique, Almost Famous, "...and would you like 20% off too?". This eclectic little label has a fine eye for detail and stocks dresses (and tops, jackets etc) in every shape, style, colour and a wide range of sizes too. True, the label is favoured by WAGs and X Factor types but don't let that put you off, they really do have something for everyone. Even better, they almost always have some kind of special offer or sale on if you sign up for their mailing list in store or via the website www.aflondon.com. For those who can't get to their flagship store at 3-4 Percy Street, London W1, it would be handy to have back views of the clothes shown on the website but they have a decent enough returns policy whereby you can get a refund or an exchange (check the website T&Cs for full details) if you're not happy. To get 20% off Almost Famous online between 24th-31st May 2010, enter the code: summertime10 at the checkout. You can also follow them on Twitter at @almostfamousldn. Now, which one to choose....??

N-N-N-N-Nineties

Take That were reunited with Robbie, Whitney Houston is touring again, even INXS are back in the charts thanks to some slick sampling on the brilliant Professor Green's 'I Need You Tonight', and Snow's 'Informer' can be heard blasting from the trendiest hairdressers and bars (but this time the kids actually think it's cool). While 80's trends still linger, the 90's revival is now in full swing my friends, but how far should you take it this time round if you've already been there, done that and got the scrunchie?

Marc Jacobs' classic 90's grunge looks are always an easy winner - plaid mixed with military and a trusty pair of doc martens (try the 50th anniversary ltd edition 8 hole boots with pebble finish in the original black or cherry red colourways - £110) or luxed up with some tough looking heels - think Givenchy's ruched black leather wedge sandals (£925),Alexander Wang's peep toe 'Frejal' army boots (£470), or Alexander McQueen khaki canvas fold over boots (£650) - for cheaper high street versions try Urban Outfitters, Kurt Geiger and Aldo. Accessorise with a well scotchguarded slouchy leather handbag - a Jerome Dreyfuss messenger is PERFECT - add can of Batiste, then you're set for the festival season. Just make sure your combats are the skinny versions that Zara and Miss Selfridge are doing so well at the moment unless you want to look like one of All Saints.

Trickier to pull off is bodycon but if you want to unleash your inner En Vogue leave the spendy Herve Leger bandage dresses to Cheryl Cole and grab one of these TopShop versions for a fraction of the price. Similarly, pay a visit to American Apparel for all your body con and other 80s/90s wardrobe needs - you can always spunk the difference on a pair of the ultimate Louboutin's - black patent Pigalles (£375) - to complete the look.

Hammer Pants aka Hareem Trousers are all over the shop(s) and even if you remember the originals, don't think that this is a look - uh - you can't touch (sorry...). As a general rule, just go for more muted shades, structured fabrics and steer clear of anything shiny unless they're cropped, worn with heels and you've got the legs and confidence to carry it off, after all, no one wants their memory lane mutton moment ending up tagged on Facebook. These Picasso trousers, £120 from Reiss, are a more grown up way to work this trend and, as you'd expect, TopShop is all over this one with plenty of versions to choose from, whilst this £90 French Connection Hareem jumpsuit is a chic alternative.

The fashion mag fav trends for double denim and fringing (not necessarily together) doesn't have to mean looking like Tiffany or one of Wilson Phillips. For a nod to fringing try one of these great handbags or the Minnetonka Tramper Tassle ankle boots (£80 from Office) which look at lot better on. Check out how double denim was done at William Rast for a grown up approach - if you're wearing a denim jacket with jeans that are the same shade, do it up and break the monotony with a hint of t-shirt/shirt poking out in the middle or, if you're wearing a fitted denim shirt, throw a contrasting blazer over it. For a more relaxed feel, wear a pale denim overshirt as a jacket (like this oversized one from Whistles, £75) over eg. a breton top with skinnys/jeggings in a darker shade of denim or wear with a denim playsuit like this acid wash one from TopShop (£35). Check out Primark for some super cute, cheapo pale denim bow hair accessories too.

Also on a denim tip, I've been eyeing up Dexy's style cropped dungarees in Uniqlo recently (£29.99) and secretly I'm also a little bit in love with these stars and stripes denim cut offs from Top Shop (£32) that are reminiscent of quiff-era Vanilla Ice, or something Dannii Minogue would have worn for a Smash Hits story about her breaking America, back when she had a round face. While we're looking back, top of my reminisce wish list would be for Naf Naf to release an archive collection featuring their fab cotton jumpsuits with the mulitcoloured jigsaw/dice patterns on (anyone got a pic??). I was never a fan of their puffa jackets and suede varsity style bombers but the blogosphere tells me a lot of you are so if anyone at Naf Naf is listening... In the meantime, I found this brilliant US company, Stewart & Strauss, where you can design your own varsity/baseball jackets - they ship internationally and have a sale on until Sunday 9th May. I wonder if they could make me look as cool as Salt n Pepa...

I fear a line must be drawn before we start getting into the realms of reversible duvet jumpers, baggy and britpop. So, let's hold the bandanas, the tie dye hoodies and the Wallabees, but if anyone knows where I can get my hot little hands on a pair of these Travel Fox high tops that Neneh Cherry and the model girl who mimed for Black Box used to wear, PLEASE get in touch...!

Paper View: London Love for Stationer's Flagship Store

There are many things I love about working in Fitzrovia - the smorgasboard of great restaurants, bars and lunch places, the relative quiet, villagey feel compared to neighbouring Soho, hidden gems like the Movie Poster Gallery, proximity to the best homeware retailers and boutiques like Almost Famous, Bang Bang (vintage) Clothing and Heaven + Earth in the 20/20 Optical Store... But there is one place I literally cannot walk past without going in. With its' giant glass frontage, filled enticingly with bits and bobs I rarely need but almost always want, Paperchase gets me every time.


I've had an obsession with stationery, or - more precisely - notebooks, from an early age; I still remember getting in a whole world of trouble in junior school for spending the money I'd been given to pay a long overdue library book fine on stickers and pretty paper in the local stationer's sale which I'd happened upon en route, so being based so close to the HQ of these stationery dons is a real treat.


Not for me, their @Amazon online store - Paperchase's Tottenham Court Road branch, at the Goodge Street end of things, is a three storey flagship and is basically my idea of an affordable stationery heaven.


While the ground floor is dedicated to the more traditional stationery items (eg. greetings cards, gift wrap and packaging, every shape, size and colour of paper, notebooks, envelopes and writing instruments) as well as a few tote bags, photo albums and quirky gifts from cool product designers like SuckUK and the brilliant Fred & Friends, the second floor has recently been revamped.

This light and breezy, serene space now houses an array of small (although not all inexpensive) items, perfect for gifting, from both established and newer designers - from Comme des Garcons and Mandarina Duck to Tina Lilienthal and Susan Bradley - alongside a wonderful design bookstore and homeware section. Luckily they've kept the Caffe Nero concession for when it all gets too much.


The third floor (which is often relatively empty and has the most helpful, relaxed staff - top tip for lunchtime queue avoidance, particularly around Valentine's and Christmas) is for the hardcore arty types with every kind of paint, glue and art and craft paper known to man on show. That said, tucked away in the far left corner, there is also a small sale section where previous lines from across the store are sold off at greatly reduced prices. This can be anything from ribbons and birthday cards to door mats or full length mirrors. Be warned though - you will find things you never knew you needed - which is why I have two cut glass cupcake stands despite having a wheat allergy - and when you add all those 50p's etc up, you could be in for a surprise at the till! To be fair, that applies to the whole store though really. For the price of all my half-used, impulse bought Paperchase notebooks, I could easily have purchased some far more substantial, sophisticated stationery from a luxury brand such as Smythson... but where's the fun in that??






Above and below, Second Floorfillers: CDG and Tina Lilienthal accessories and the design bookshop.

Ground floor: Stationery collections so comprehensive (and gorgeously irresistible) that you can make sure your umbrella and water bottle match your notepads. You know, if you want to...

Cash from Chaos! Malcolm McLaren Tribute Charity T shirt

Photo courtesy of John Tiberi

Following yesterday's memorial, the family of infamous punk hero and post-modern artist, Malcolm McLaren, have produced a commemorative charity T Shirt featuring his famous slogan, CASH FROM CHAOS, like the one he wore during his famous performance of 'You Need Hands' in 'The Great Rock N Roll Swindle' - pictured left. All proceeds will go directly to the causes supported by Humanade, a charitable foundation set up in 2008 by Malcolm and Vivienne Westwood's son, Joseph Corré - founder of Agent Provocateur and A Child of the Jago - to encourage the business community to support human rights charities including Reprieve , Redress and individuals like Leonard Peltier. T shirts are £45 plus £5 P&P from www.humanade.org.uk/tshirt/and available in S,M,L and XL in yellow, sky blue, royal blue and black.

Know Your Brand's Value - Fashion Scrabble

Picture of Scrabble jewellery available from Katrina Louise.

This Summer the rules of Scrabble are being changed for the first time ever to allow the use of proper nouns. Until now only a few proper nouns had been allowed which were determined by a word list based on the Collins dictionary but this rule change means the use of place names, people's names and company names or brands will be allowed from July when the new UK version is released. According to a BBC report, the games company, Mattel, believe this change will "add a new dimension" to the board game and "introduce an element of popular culture" which they hope will encourage younger people to play. With that in mind, here's a look at how much a few fashion favourites could earn you on a basic score basis, although you may be better off looking to music for this one with JayZ (sans hyphen) coming in at a whopping 23 points for only 4 letters. Winner!

Erdem = 8,

Prada = 8,
Rodarte = 8,

Holland = 9,

Lanvin = 9,

Pilotto = 9,

Vogue = 9,

Gucci = 10,

Vuitton = 10,

Chanel = 11,

Hermes = 11,

Lupfer = 11,

Margiela = 11,

Pucci -= 11,

Thakoon = 12,

Versace = 12,

Hakaan = 13,

Rykiel = 13,
Schouler = 13,

Jaeger = 14,

Lagerfeld = 14,

Balenciaga = 15,

Laquan = 15,

Marchesa = 15,

Westwood = 15,
Mattijs = 16,
Schwab = 16,

Richemont = 16,

McCartney = 17,

Kenzo = 18,

Maxmara = 18,

Proenza = 18,

Sportmax = 18,

Beckham = 19,

Leibovitz = 23