Last week saw the launch of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, where the likes of Anna Sui, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger are exhibiting their new collections, and up-and-coming designers were setting trends for next Spring/Summer 2010.

One S/S collection that certainly “spiced up” the catwalk was that of Victoria Beckhams’ she unveiled her 3rd collection of dresses during Fashion Week. Even her critics were surprised by her “astonishingly accomplished collection.”

The collection was made up from some of her signature black and grey dresses, bold pieces, a long length evening gown and a bright purple silk zippered cape, to mention just a few. Corsets have also be incorporated into the garments. Several dresses also featured banding, which is emerging as a trend during Fashion Week. She noted that she had focused on a few key silhouettes, some being new, and other consisting of tweaks on already successful pieces. Beckham showcased 23 looks and explained them all easily to the press and critics, showing that she knows her collection inside out, and down to the final stitch.

She described her ‘Posh’ collection as “young” and “fresh” ensuring that her biggest critic Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole knew this, with her claim last month that Beckham’s dresses are “for older women” and “not something that any of Girls Aloud] would wear.” Beckham described the stunning purple silk mini dress as “cool and young” and other garments in the range as “youthful and fresh.” which I am in agreeance to.

Victoria Beckham’s latest collection proves to everyone that she knows fashion. We all know she knows how to wear it and well at that, but also how to make it – and that’s extremely impressive as there are not many people out there who fall into all of these categories.

www.victoriabeckham.com

A unique range of i-toc watches which are set to be the latest “must-have” for fashion lovers have just been launched this month, to a unisex 15-30 target market by Manchester based designer Sean Zoega through his website, i-toc.com.

The product is simple, stylish and surprisingly intuitive to read. The watch mechanism is housed asymmetrically within a designed solid piece of sleek and anodised aluminum and is available in six colours, metallic Red, Orange, Blue, Purple, Black and Silver with matching colour clock-face. 

The i-toc is a fashion statement that matches the wearers mood or dress. It will be a watch for people who want to express their individual personality, for those who don’t want to be part of the norm. 

Although the i-toc is a radical departure from the ‘normal’ analogue watch it is still a functional and simple timepiece. It still utilizes the ‘big hand, little hand’ concept.

“People choose their most personal products to reflect their character, to make a statement about who they are and what matters to them. The i-toc’s totally new concept in time keeping  and unusual contemporary styling is a celebration of being ‘that little bit” Says Sean Zoega

For more information see www.i-toc.com 

Even though the sun is unusually shining in Manchester, you can still feel that distinct Autumn chilled pinch in the air. So here’s our guide to the biggest trends for the upcoming colder months. 

Get the looks:

Over-the-knee / thigh-high boots

A must-have item for autumn. For the more conscious fashionistas out there you may want to go knee high but for those daring enough we recommend boots that will creep up even higher, thigh-high boots.

Coats

It’s all about big statement coats, the bigger and the shaggier the better. 

See-through clothing and Underwear as Outwear

Trends are set to get a little more revealing, because of peoples desire to show off and feel good about themselves. Celebrities have caught on to this trend very quickly, teaming sheer pieces with casual denims and trousers. Sheer pieces are soft and feminine, but to gentlemen they scream hardcore sex-kitten, so wear at your own risk!  

Military Fashion

Military strikes back this autumn 2009 as a key staple. It comes in several forms this season from feminine to sexy rock chick, this style is a must a winner. If possible go for a style with pronounced shoulders to incorporate another must have trend into your ensemble. 

Ripped jeans & torn denim

Ripped denim is back and big this autumn with ripped and ragged style being at the helm. They have always been both sexy and revealing, but this season they have become even sexier.

Studs

There’s no way around the fact that studs are a must-have this season. They add instant an instant statement and edginess to an outfit on everything from jeans to ankle boots.  

Pronounced Shoulders

Saving the best till last. This is “the” key trend of A//W 09-10, it works on any type of garment be it a dress or a top, you just need to own something that incorporates this trend!

Cat Footwear are continuing to inspire customers and build upon brand presence for A/W 09 with the exciting focus on the Earthmovers range. 

Cat Footwear are traditionally known for the manufacturing of boots and shoes that represent the long standing values of the Caterpillar brand, tough, genuine and durable. When people think Cat they automatically picture the infamous ‘Colorado’ work-boot, launched into iconic status in the nineties with it becoming ravers choice of footwear. In recent years the brand have began to expand upon brand perception, by introducing more fashion and trend inspired collections such as the current Earthmovers collection.     

The Earthmovers collection features various fashion inspired styles to fit any need. The inspiration behind the collection seems to have derived from an array of trends including: 

Artisan – in mood and colour, reflecting the gritty sophisticated dark urban trend. 

Active – upbeat trend with bright colours and graphic pops. 

Winter – inspired by chunky cable knits, argyle design and lumberjack plaid. 

Cat has also introduced a premium collection Legendary Raw Collection, which focuses on providing footwear for a more fashion-conscious consumer, by interpreting seasonal trends designed with the idea that rugged can still be refined. 

Both collections combine rich leathers, stylish shapes and considered detail to able to those who do not only look for trend-led product, but also weigh in product benefits in their purchasing decisions. This has built solid foundations to move forward into the forthcoming seasons, with new stockist for A/W 09 including Shoon, Johnsons Shoes and Scorpio.  

The brand and its styles are continuously evolving season on season, moving from work orientated footwear to a wide range of industrial fashion patterns to give the ‘Cat’ customer a style statement, whilst staying true to the original goals and values of creating long lasting, good quality footwear.

Soul superstar Beverley Knight MBE launches her first cosmetics range, K By Beverley Knight on 17th September.  The range will available exclusively to Selfridges for the first month, followed by other leading retailers in October as well as online at www.kbybeverleyknightcosmetics.com.  

The brand is entirely unique and the first to provide a full range of products that address all of the issues currently overlooked for darker skin tones. The new range, which covers 15 products, from oil-free foundations through to eyeliners and highlighters, is both sophisticated and affordable – perfect for today’s modern woman!  

With her musical career ever growing, Beverley has continued to expand her talents and has dedicated all her spare time to creating the K by Beverley Knight cosmetics brand. With so few brands catering too the needs of dark and black skin, she felt that there was a gap in the industry.

Beverley added “Time and time again I would find myself looking for make-up that would work for my skin – everything from bases to eye shadows and lipsticks.  The choice was very limited and, like the vast majority of black and dark-skinned women, I found there wasn’t anything that provided the full spectrum of colours I needed.  I was so excited to be offered the chance to work on my own range of products, introducing a home-grown brand which caters to all tones of black and Asian skin.” 

The brand is set to offer 15 products and a range of 78 shades – addressing the specific need in skin but offering a complete look and universal range.

This month sees the launch of the must have fashion accessory of the year, The September Issue  DVD. It is set for release on 21st September 2009 hot on the heels of its 11th September 2009 theatrical release.

The September Issue provides an unprecedented look behind the scenes of the worlds most influential fashion magazine, Vogue, when ruled with an iron fist and defiant pout by legendary editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour. The infamous Ice-Queen of Fashion transcended her industry to become a pop culture icon in her own right. The likes of Ugly Betty and Sex & the City are living testament to her far-reaching influence. She is the real, the original, Devil Wears Prada.

Award-winning director, R J Cutler provides a close-up, humorous and intimate look inside the hallowed hallways of this immensely powerful publication as US Vogue prepares for its biggest edition ever 848 pages of impeccable glamour that is The September Issue.

The film chronicles everything from the minutiae of staff meetings to jet-setting through the fashion capitals of the world. Designers new collections are scrutinised from the front row at the catwalk shows and the chaos of a high glossed cover photo shoot on the streets of Rome.  The film documents the entertaining revelation of the stressful, bitchy and gloriously demanding process necessary to create this fashion bible.

Featuring appearances from some of the best known and hottest talents in fashion including Vera Wang, Mario Testino, Thakoon, Isobel Toledo, Jean Paul Gaultier, Karl Lagerfeld and September cover girl Sienna Miller.

“You like fashion, you’ll love this! Go see it!”    Cosmopolitan

 “Crackling with wit and wickedness… it’s the real Devil Wears Prada”   Easy Living

Lily Allen was sheer fashion at this years V Festival. She teamed a sheer bodysuit for the underwear as outwear look, with jeans and a blue sequin cropped jacket, resulting in a winning combination… well for Lily anyway. I personally would think twice about displaying my lingerie/underwear in public, especially lingerie/underwear of the see through variety, and with it being very easily for a certain attributes to slip out. Despite these factors this ensemble really does work and looks great, just hope that it doesn’t catch on with the general public!