Timeless Tailoring

Suits and smart tailoring are no longer worn solely by men entrapped in the corporate world, paired with a yawn-worthy white white shirt and tie and overly shined leather brogues. Tailoring is something which can be appreciated by all, and has become a real artistry of fashion designers. There is no better way to clearly display the complex skills of design and craftsmanship by producing a beautifully sewn suit, nor will any piece ever be as timeless as a perfectly fitting piece of tailoring.

The trade has feminised over the years, with softer shapes and curved silhouettes, allowing the previously masculine dominated market to be equally appreciated by us girls. It's not just a look to be worn by ball-breaker business moguls, tailoring is now both practical, functional in business but most of all stylish and chic. A blazer can smarten up almost any look, and elevate a casual jean and shirt combination to a far greater fashion level of effortless elegance.

Many designer dabble within their collections each season with a couple of tailored pieces here and there, but others are specialists and clearly stand-out as the well-known, fashion names when looking to tailoring and quality design.

The name Helmut Lang immediately springs to my mind, and cannot be considered any less than a God in the female tailoring realm. His designs could happily grace any upmarket cocktail party, with others fitting perfectly into any high-flying workplace. I struggle to think of any occasion  in which a Helmut Lang piece could not be the ideal 'run to' in order to turn heads and evoke immediate jealousy.

This Cubist Print jacket is a personal favourite of mine. It combines both a classic assymetric, feminine wrap around shape to compliment almost any female figure with a modern, bold print design. It would look fabulous in a serious business meeting, or worn out to dinner with a killer pair of heels. Both versatile and functional - a girl's best friend!

Have no fear when you're faced with the need to suit-up and look smart, thanks to the fashion Gods of Helmut Lang we can still look sexy, stylish and sensational. I'm desperate to get in the boardroom just for the excuse to buy another luxury Lang design and discuss the most important business debate - fashion.

Rain, Rain, Come Again!

We all get the inevitable feeling of dread when looking outside before leaving the house and seeing the oh-so familiar rainy drizzle poetically running down the window pane. Personally, I love rain (when I'm inside!), and preparing for it does not mean grabbing the nearest mac-in-a-sac or cag-in-a-bag. You can step out and face the elements whilst remaining perfectly dry and looking as fashion savvy as ever. It might require a little investment in a few key pieces, but it's worth it to feel comfortable and look great.

No-one can design a trench coat like Burberry. I don't think anyone can dispute that, and if they did I'd like to see them try when faced with their current collection. They manage to cover every coat base, from simple and understated to stand-out and seriously daring. Meaning that, of course, I want to own every single design they now have - wonderful for the purse strings!

This metal plate vinyl trench caught my eye straight away. Burgundy is one of my favourite colours anyway, and I think it flatters so many different skin tones, even the ghostly white colouring I've been blessed with! It may be pricey at over £1000 but you can't put a price on the exquisite tailoring synonymous with Burberry, nor the incredible sense of style and glamour that will immediately envelop you every single time you wrap this piece around yourself. It's a high fashion hug in a trench - who could ask for more?!



For those fashionistas who don't want to make quite such a bold statement as with the metal vinyl number above - shame, but I can understand that perhaps such an amazing piece of glamourous design may not be appropriate at every occasion - there is the short lizard detail piece from the collection. This is far more practical and practical for every day wear. In my opinion, it isn't as fun as the vinyl number which I know I would  never be able to prize away from my body once I first put it on, but it is unquestionably just as beautifully-tailored and the quality is second-to-none. No less than you would expect from the fashion legends at Burberry.



Don't be dismayed when you hear that rainy pitter-patter outside. Instead, prepare yourself with any one of Burberry's trench wonders and you'll be wishing the rain to come again today and everyday!

Suited and Booted

I absolutely love being a girl, and I would certainly never wish to be anything else, but sometimes Men's fashion does make me a little jealous. The suave sophistication of a quality wool roll-neck, or the smart casual ease of a polo shirt just make life so easy for all you men! Us girls have to put in some real time and effort to look this good!

The most jealousy-inspiring piece of any man's wardrobe, for me, is a suit. Chic, classic tailoring, making even Mr. Average transform into Mr. Will you buy me a drink? I love the fun you can have with a suit, playing with each element to create whatever style of look you want. You can mix-and-match pieces, dressing it up or down by pairing a tailored jacket with a crisp, patterned shirt and jeans, or staying faithful to the classic look by matching a 2-piece suit with a block coloured shirt and tie. In my eyes, both are wonderful looks and appropriate for different occasions.

For me, Tom Ford is the perfect example of creating great design, tailored to what men want, and what they need. As well as keeping the ladies happy. Both these looks from his A/W 13 collection are a head-turner for me. They elude such class, style and elegance, I honestly wish I could wear them myself!

It's the versatility of a suit which I truly love the most. As well as the fact you can go through life building on your suit attire, adding pieces and updating looks. Always evolving with current fashion trends, but never needing to throw anything out. It's a hoarder's dream!

So my advice to any guy would be suit up and watch the women fall at your feet. It's a winning formula if I've ever heard one!

Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head

When the rain is pouring down outside, it’s hard to ever convince yourself that leaving the house would be a wise decision. However, sometimes you just haven’t got the luxury of the choice and you need to boot-up, wrap yourself in the biggest coat you own, and brace yourself for the elements.

It’s a daily battle I have with myself when back at university in the not-so-sunny Scotland. I love the city of Edinburgh, but with the amount of wind and rain it throws back at me, I’m not so sure it’s mutual. However, when the weather is like that, fashion can fight back.

I love the opportunity to wear a good pair of solid boots and wear a coat fit for sub-zero temperatures even in September – the usual rules of seasons just don’t apply in this part of the UK!

This Paul Smith Prince of Wales check double-breasted coat would be perfect for any suave man about town. It’s sure to keep you snug against those bitter winds yet seamlessly keeping any man looking sophisticated and dapper, even if he is soaked through!

For the girlies, I adore this gold wool-blend Herringbone Coat. It has such a simple, subtle and understated air about it, yet it’s super glamorous and chic. I would love to head off to lectures wearing this, although it would seem a shame to risk even a drop of rain touching such a beautiful piece of tailoring.

I tell myself, it may be miserable out there, but if you’re dressed right you can bring that missing bit of sunshine to the streets with a knock-out overcoat and a killer set of boots. When you’re prepared, no weather can get in the way!