HAT-TASTIC COUTURE: PHILIP TREACY

Ever wonder who makes those incredibly awkward yet somehow stylishly extravagant hats that you always see Lady Gaga wearing? Well it’s this guy, Phillip Treacy. Having designed hats for high-end designers such as Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Givenchy and having been a five time BFA (British Fashion Awards) winner for the Accessory Designer of the Year, this Irishman is perhaps the most influential hat designers in the world. One of the things I love about his designs is that they seem to be both daring and lavish at the same time.

Check out his creation for Sarah Jessica Parker at her Sex and the City 2 Premiere, a hat or perhaps a ‘head piece’ that sums up the nature in spring time complete with real looking butterflies.
Yes it’s beautiful and rather extraordinary...but there’s only one question I want to ask here.....How on earth did that hat balance on her head without falling off???
Treacy now designs bags and purses too, which I found to be just as tasteful and much more sobering. My personal favourite from the spring/summer collection 2010 was the pink and white stripped clutch with a classy Phillip Treacy’s signature embellishment; casual enough for the day and elegant looking for the evening. (I was unable to find a still photograph of the clutch but it is viewable on his website.)
If you're looking to make a stunning, dramatic appearance for Ascot or an extravagant wedding, Treacy's hats are perfect for the occasion. Phillip Treacy’s pieces are available to purchase in Selfridges and Harrods as well other stores listed on www.philiptreacy.co.uk. These hats are also available online at www.asos.com and www.net-a-porter.com

Bangles of the East

Over the summer, I got to go trekking through the Himalayas with a huge group of people...it was sort of a religious/sightseeing trip. Our adventure started in Kathmandu, Nepal and we travelled all the way through Tibet, China. So of course a huge part of experiencing new cultures and seeing places along the way is without a doubt; SHOPPING! One of the most special, unique things I bought were these exquisite gold and enamel bangles/bracelets which I've never seen anywhere else before. These are exclusively from Tibet; I couldn't find them anywhere else apart from in China so I thought I would show them to you....

If any of you loved them as much as me...I might consider selling a few of them on eBay (they are brand new and have never been worn)...just leave a comment telling me which one you liked so I can start selling.

DOROTHY PERKINS OFFER/ WINTER PICKS

Attention shopoholics, bargainhunters and fashionistas;

DOROTHY PERKINS is doing an exclusive promotion this week online and in store;

25% OFF EVERYTHING!!!! ***OFFER VALID TILL 19 SEPTEMBER***

the way to claim this voucher is to type in the promotion code 'DPVIPD' in the checkout (online)

Hope this is useful for all you uni/school students to re-stock your winter warbrobe.

To be completely honest, DP is one of those high-street shops that I've kinda not been shopping at regularly for a while since I find the styles have become generic and same-ish season after season. However, it's great for getting your winter essentials and tends to sell it's strongest pieces this time of year. Here are some of my favourite winter season picks from the Dorothy Perkins website this week;

1. Ivory glass bead top, £50

Beaded and sequinned detail tops and dresses are definitely going to be in fashion this winter. I loved this dress/tunic as it looks both simple yet sophisticated with its unique scallop pattern...Dress it up with an oversized clutch, creamy coloured heels and a bunch of bangles to make you look stunning for any evening out.

2. Navy button military jacket, £50

We all know the military trend is going to be everywhere this season and a key must-have piece to follow this trend is a coat/jacket. I personally bought a similar coat from DP last year and can tell you...it's perfect if you're the type of person who prefers not to buy 10 coats every year to go with your entire wardrobe. Since navy blue contrasts with almost any colour, this coat is both practical, stylish and in season....what more could you ask for!

3. Slate grey lace blazer, £38

Dressy Blazers and Romantic Lace; two trends that have lasted for the past few seasons. Thrown together however, they seem to create a trend of their own for this winter. The lace material gives a more girly/ pretty look to the blazer...making it appropriate to wear for a night out.

Combine it with a classic LBD and a smokey eye makeup to get a gothic glamour look

4. Chocolate lace up ankle boots, £43

Fitting in to the military trend perfectly, these man-ish boots are a tamed down version of the original Dr Martens. At first, not something that looks attractive and eye-catching but try pairing it with a soft chiffon dress or any pretty outfit and it's suddenly all about grunge glamour and the boy-meets-girl trend.

5. Tan structured belted bag, £30

A classic structured bag that is an essential for any wardrobe. I love both the colour, being in style for A/W and the style which can be put together with almost any look.

To shop these looks and more visit; www.dorothyperkins.com and don't forget to get your 25% off by using the promo code 'DPVIPD'

Happy Shopping!