The ‘Little Black Dress’ is a big hit on the catwalk - but lets face it the ‘LBD’ has never been out of fashion -mini or strapless, knee-length or one-shouldered.  Lace is also big news this Autumn/Winter.  Picture above - Chanel.   Wear with stiletto’s and real/fake diamonds  Here are some high-street alternatives - 
Top left - black peticoat tier dress - Top Shop - Tall - £85
Top middle - black lace tiered dress - New Look- Tall - £30
Top right - black satin tiered dress - New Look - Tall -£25
Bottom left - black satin lace dress - New Look - Tall - £30
Bottom middle - black pleat frill dress -Top Shop - Tall -£32
Bottom right - black silk cutwork dress - New Look - Tall - £35

Super-sized costume jewellery is a big trend for Autumn/Winter 08/09.  Pile on heeps of jewellery like Givenchy (main pic above) or wear one statement piece as styled on ’Just Cavali’ (left) and Marni (middle) catwalk models.  Long gloves are also big news for next season as shown by John Galliano (right).

Right - Akris.  Left - Pollini - Rifat Ozbek 

What defines this look is the slim tunic silhouette and defining the waist (not a smock top in site)!  Cinching in the waist with a belt and wearing all one shade of colour but adding different textures and bold statement jewellery to break up the line of the body.

There is something about August that makes me want to look ahead at the Autumn/Winter fashion trends - even if I’m going to be shopping on the high-street.  You can look for yourself at Vogue.  The other trends that stand out for me are bold costume jewellery and long coloured, gloves, the ‘Folk’ look and ‘Tomato Red’ - not all at once mind you.   In fact, why change your whole wardrobe when sometimes just changing your accessories does the trick. 

 

 

 

 

Main pic - black dress - Dorothy Perkins - £40
Top pic - Laura Bohinc gold pendant - Asos - £205
 Middle pic - Mogil black leather belt - Asos - £50
 Bottom pic - diamonte trim gold mules - Tallgirls.co.uk - size 9  - £39.00
 

 

 

 

 

Main pic - purple rose cotton dress - Warehouse - £75
Top pic - purple patent sling backs -Amber & Jade - £69.95
Middle pic - Diesel purple patent belt - Asos - £48
Bottom pic - Claudia Canova purple glitter clutch  bag- Asos - £48

 

 

 

 

Top left - purple patent leather sling backs - £69.95
Top right - pink leather and patent ballet pumps - £74.95
Bottom left - pink suede and snakeskin shoe - £79.95
Bottom right - black and white leather brogue ballet pumps - £74.95. Sizes 8 to 12 - All Amber & Jade

When the postman arrived with my new Amber & Jade ballet pumps it was as if Christmas had come early.  The box was beautiful, the dustbag was beautiful and as for the shoes…   Amber & Jade shoes scream of quality, made with care and the highest quality leather and materials they really are designer footwear for the larger foot.  You can really see the difference in quality between these and your average high street shoes.  They recommend going up a size in their shoes, so I ordered the size 10’s.  I have quite wide feet and Amber & Jade shoes are a B fitting, (although they will be offering wider fittings in the near future) so I had to do my usual shuffling around my flat in the thickest pair of socks I own to stretch the leather, which is of such good quality, that it didn’t take too long to mould to the shape of my feet.  Another feature of their shoes are the reinforced leather sides and higher reach above the heels, which feels odd at first because I’m used to ballet shoes with a low back but this feels incredibly supportive and comforting after wearing them for just an hour or two.

Main pic - teal ruffle top - Dorothy Perkins - Tall - £22
Left - black skinny jeans - Dorothy Perkins - Tall - £15
Middle - peacock feather earrings - Top Shop - £12
Right - gold sandals - Totally Large Shoes - £94.99

 

 

I love these berry shade dresses from Monsoon -
Left - Maxi-dress - Monsoon - £200
Right - silk georgette dress - Monsoon - £180

 

 

 

There are some great bargains to be had in New Look’s sale.
Left - crochet top - was £8 now £4
Middle - white cropped jeans - were £12 now £6
Right - lace trim cam was £14 now £7
While I’m ready to applaud New Look’s Tall Range especially the jeans  - I’ve practically  lived in my £20 black skinny jeans and I love the ‘Pussycat’ and ‘Mela’ labels sold in-store.  Whilst browsing around the store yesterday,  why oh why do they have size 5 and 6 sandals hanging on the Tall Section?  Size 8 yes, but tall women usually have larger feet to go with their height, it stops us from falling over.   Oversights like this do not make tall women feel special,  just overlooked.  More to the point - perhaps New Look’s extremely successful selling shoe range for women could go up to a size 11 or 12 to compliment  the Tall range - now that would be great.   

Glastonbury is over for another year but there are still loads more festivals to come.  Create a sleek, laid- back boho look like Sienna Miller.
Top right - black mesh tiered skirt - New Look - Tall - £18
Top left - top - New Look - Tall - black crochet lace trim cami-top - £7
Bottom left - brown asymetric belt - New Look - £8
Bottom right - dark brown toe thong sandals - sizes 8, 9, 10 Magnus Shoes - £35.95