Fashion Trends

Manchester based designer, Fatz Kassim, has launched her first ready to wear collection from her unique label - ZuZu Couture. The ex Project Catwalk contestants' first capsule collection is inspired by the couture pieces designed from her Northern Quarter boutique. The range - for men and woman - includes t-shirts, skirts, jackets and evening wear.

Fashion savvy Bargainistas should prepare to rejoice this Autumn with daily deliveries of designer brands in the latest trends at up to 60% off RRP. This season TK Maxx gives a nod to the forties with ladylike pencil skirts and chiffon blouses; the seventies with floaty dresses and high-waisted flared trousers; and the punk/grunge eras of the eighties and nineties with biker jackets, cult denim and tartan.

White Stuff, the fashion lifestyle brand is getting ready for cosy nights in and unpredictable British weather with the new autumn collection. The quirky label has also gone quite literally nuts this season, with a squirrels themed autumn 08 catalogue, out now.

If you’re looking to recreate this season’s premiere catwalk trend; ‘Heritage’ then the stunning A/W 08 collection from demi-couture designer Lorena de la Torre is set to inspire. This innovative collection cleverly combines two key elements of ‘Heritage’ by juxtaposing sharp military tailoring with check and tartan detailing.

Fashion e-tailer, asos.com showcases 3 womenswear fashion-led trends for July and August, all mixing distinct silhouettes with vibrant colour and striking prints. Matt Setchell, Creative Director of asos who directed the July/August campaign shoot commented, “The inspiration behind the July/August trend campaign plays with the overall theme of colour and light, fusing rich kaleidoscopic projections with a simple set of coloured blocks and cubes to give a more graphic edge.”

A Glasgow jeweller is exclusively stocking a glamorous Mikimoto pearl necklace worn by Carrie Bradshaw in the Sex & The City movie. Laings of Glasgow is the only stockist in the west of Scotland where the piece, chosen to replace the fashionable character’s signature nameplate in the film, is available. When Sex & The City began in 1998, oversized Chanel-inspired camellia corsages couldn’t be made fast enough to keep up with demand and Carrie Bradshaw made Manolo Blahnik a household name.

Nicole Richie was recently spotted running errands around LA in ParkVogel’s white Henley tunic. The Henley is from the ParkVogel’s Spring / Summer 08 collection and is made from 100% extra fine combed cotton jersey and voile cotton, perfect for long, hot summer days.

With celebs such as Amy Winehouse, Kylie, Sarah Jessica Parker and Victoria Beckham frequently sporting the corset on nights out and on the red carpet, it’s little wonder that the rest of us are pining to get one. No longer are corsets restricted to under garments, you can now wear your corset with pride as an item of outerwear too. The fabulous corset company Vollers have realised that we love to show off our favourite corsets and so came up with the idea of introducing skirts alongside their corset range to create sexy, stylish eveningwear outfits.

asos.com has consistently celebrated and supported emerging design talent. Having launched ‘The Laden Showroom’ in August 2007, it is now widening its ‘Independent Designer’ offering by introducing ‘Fashion Enter’ into the mix. Established in March 2006, ‘Fashion Enter’ has helped new and talented designers to succeed. A dedicated non profit-making company, its mission is to provide up-and-coming designers with all the support, specialist advice and networking opportunities they need to make their mark on the fashion world, as well as the chance to have their very own affordable PR representation in the form of fashioncapital.co.uk.

One of the hottest swimwear collections for 2008 is now available from BeCheeky.com, with an accompanying Swimwear Guide to help you find the most flattering styles to suit your body shape.