Lots of key fashion looks were seen on the A/W 2011 catwalks back in February that have since filtered down onto the high street, and one that’s perfect for a closer look is the ever popular ‘Navajo trend’.

Top class designers have embraced the ‘New Native’ trend as it’s now been labelled; from the colourful Chloé cape, the fringing detail as seen on Isabel Marant’s knitted sweaters, Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B fall 2011 collection, Diane Von Furstenberg’s tasseled knee high boots and Matthew Willamson’s winter collection.

Fashionable celebrities have also been spotted embracing the trend including Blake Lively in a Cynthia Vincent Navajo sweater and Nicole Richie and Cheryl Cole in Isabel Marant’s Navajo jeans. Footwear designers have also picked up on this key trend and the new A/W collections from UGG, Caterpillar and Rocket Dog all boast a hint of south western inspiration.

Many high street stores have taken this bold theme and used key colourful patterns within their ranges including Next’s Navaho across the body bag, Monsoon’s Navjo sequin clutch bag, a cosy mens printed scarf from ASOS or the bold Vero Moda Navajo Pattern Long sleeve dress. You can buy colourful printed leggings, jackets and shorts from Urban Outfitters, who in recent weeks have had to change the label of ‘Navajo’ after the Navajo Nation, who have a trademark on its name, sent the fashion brand a cease and desist letter for selling items with Navajo in the title.

We love the vibrancy this trend allures and the choice of textures and trims available to style; suedes, battered leathers, moccasin shoe detailing, fringing, feathers, turquoise stoned jewellery to name a few. Why not grab your Navajo blanket bag and pull over your printed dress and denim jacket and add bangles galore or match your skinny jeans with suede fringed boots and a Navajo printed jacket to finish or opt for bold patterned leggings with a simple plain tee and biker jacket.

Full of colour, texture and detailing we think the Navajo trend is one worth following this season.

Ever wished you could walk around in luxury, designer labels but we’re scared to death by the price tag, well think ebay for designer gear and you have the fabulous website Hardlyeverwornit.com available at your fingertips.

This online second hand designer auction site was set up by Sharon Walter-Ferguson who wanted to de-clutter her wardrobe and create a viable business selling hardly ever worn designer clothing including shoes and accessories, which her two daughters could get involved with, where the rich and famous (think Kate Moss, Sadie Frost and Sharon’s daughters best mate Chole Green) could simply photograph their top notch designer gear, upload the pics and sell to us poorer mortals and pay 15% commission for the privilege. For the less computer literate or elusive clientele there’s also a VIP section where the vendor remains anonymous and the task of listing the items is done for you, at a mere 30% commission.

The site is split into ladies, mens and children and is easy to navigate, there’s a ‘new in’ section where I spied items for sale including gold strappy Jimmy Choos with a current bid of £104, 7 for all Mankind jeans starting at £90 and D&G sunglasses at £50, you can even buy a Lanvin wedding dress at the ‘buy now’ price of £1,200.

The site provides a list of accepted labels which you can check before selling and boasts items from designers such as Stella McCartney, Prada, Dolce and Gabanna, Fendi, Gucci and Lanvin to name a few. Hardlyeverwornit.com is also in partnership with a host of charities should the seller wish to donate their winnings.

So if you’re feeling a bit flush and fancy some designer goodies check out Hardlyeverwornit.com and see what fabulous bargains are to be had!

Chanel debuts their seasonal nail lacquer colours on the runway, and this year didn’t disappoint. New for autumn is GRAPHITE…a shimmery metallic shade that is gunmetal silver base, yet has a magical hint of olive green mixed in. The greenish hue gives it more life against the skin that most metallics don’t possess.

Chanel polishes can sell out, so we are marking our calendars for when Graphite arrives at Chanel counters in July. Yes, it is supposedly for autumn, but we are obsessed with it now, for summer. YES FOR SUMMER.
With a light tan, Graphite will be the perfect colour for a unique take on casual chic, worn with Havaianas, for example:

And graphite is perfectly delicious with more sophisticated looks, like with these Ash stiletto sandals.

Simply brilliant on every level.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colours in Graphite, Peridot, and Quartz.

Puma has become the world’s first major corporation to publish details of the cost of its impact on the environment.

Speaking at the launch of the company’s environmental profit and loss accounts (EPnL) in London two days ago, chief executive Jochen Zeitz said reducing Puma’s environmental impact would improve its future performance.

Jochen Zeitz, Puma CEO. Photograph: Timm Schamberger/AFP/Getty Images

“Sustainability is essential to the health and future of our business,” he said. “The business implications of failing to address nature in decision making are clear – since ecosystem services are vital to the performance of most companies, integrating the true cost for these services in the future could have significant impacts on corporate bottom lines.”

It seems Puma is changing the face of corporate discussion. Even the term “ecosystem services” sounds new. For years environmentalists have been frustrated by the demands of policymakers to put a value or worth on the environment. Perhaps corporate involvement will help; putting a price tag on nature seems to be the best way to save it.

Charges of hypocrisy have been levelled at Puma over its sponsorship of Formula 1 and Moto GP. Mr Zeitz responded by saying Puma is encouraging participants and partners in these sports to embrace the sustainable agenda. Personally, I think the issue of the environment is one so large; people tend to be overwhelmed when addressing it. When one change is made, then immediately 200 other things that should also be done to reduce one’s footprint come to the fore. However, I’m of the mind that one needs to take one step, then two steps, and not quibble righteously about hypocrisy each time an improvement is made. We don’t live in a perfect world, but that does not mean we cannot improve things.

Last year Puma changed their shoe packaging. They project that the change will save 8,500 tonnes of paper, and mean a reduction of 60% in water and energy used during the production process.

Because of their concern for the environment, many consumers want to know how products are being produced. We vote with our money, that is our power, our prerogative. Our concern has much to do with a corporation such as Puma stepping forward to fight for environmental sustainability.

When I was writing about my plastic shoes last week, I wanted to explore the environmental angle. Obviously, cows are high on the food chain, so it takes more resources to mass produce leather. However, I have no idea whether PVC shoes are made responsibly, with limited levels of pollution, humane factories, etc. There is truly a limited amount of information offered on how objects are manufactured. Companies have no incentive to offer this information. I applaud Puma for taking this first step. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if products like shoes had a label on the side of the box with an overview of how responsibly they were made? Like nutrition labels on prepackaged food!

I saw that Mr Zeitz was quizzed on the news about the cost of football kits changing every season, and the costs of fashion and consumerism in general. These are great questions. I am not sure that Puma can provide all the answers, though. Despite their responsible stance on environmentalism, they still need to be competitive with regard to trends. I believe that question is up to us, the consumers. Our discernment is what ultimately drives the market, and change.

-Miss H

Fashion relies on recycling for ideas and lately it seems everything is coming up 90s. Grunge has had its current moment by way of models who dress like lumberjacks off-duty (this means you, Aggy Deyn). Now the latest surge of 90s swag has more in common with the laid back & casual looks we saw in the hip hop scene and on stars of the era.

A very young Helena Bonham Carter

Nineties fashion included the rise of Jean Paul Gaultier and Lagerfeld for Chanel, but its real spirit was pioneered in the street. Vintage floral dresses, Marithé François Girbaud baggy jeans, long necklaces, men’s t-shirts on everyone, short cutoffs, motorcycle jackets, long flowy skirts, and of course big proletariat boots like Dr Martens or Timberlands truly defined the 1990s.

Now, after the rise of the plaid shirt as a wardrobe staple, the reinvention of grunge as a harder and edgier style (think Balmain), and the laid-back vibe of Alexander Wang or Henry Holland with their popular T lines, street style has embraced a funkier, brighter spin on the decade.

2011 90s Style – photo from Irish Times

Dreadlocks mixed with long, knit dresses and combat boots are style staples of late, while the resurgence of neon brights, stripes, polka dots, and hats hats HATS proves that fashion is having one more go at the inspirational decade. Even beauty trends are leaning towards undone hair, darker lips, and matte faces…just like when Christy, Linda and Naomi ruled the runways.

To further my point, I present this video from Sade. I had forgotten it until recently and lo and behold, Sade’s dress is reminiscent of a certain Kate Middleton’s wedding frock!

WELCOME back 90s! In all your white laced, hatted, and chunky-soled glory!

Trend Alert: Cork Wedges have been raging since spring and show no signs of letting up. Cork Soled Wedge Sandals have dominated fashion, and they are oh so wearable. Cork wedge sandals come in all heights and hues, and can be dressed up or dressed down.

I love the cork wedges for lawn parties or events you know will be outdoors part of the time. No heels sunk into the ground or wedged in between cobblestones!

Along with sundresses, I love the cork wedge sandal paired with all types of jeans…skinny, bootcut, straight leg, stovepipe….wedge sandals add charm (and make me tall!).

Along with added height, pretty cork wedges keep your stride strong and stable with a supportive heel. With so many interpretations of this versatile trend, shop for your favourite Cork Wedge Sandal from hundreds of styles at AllTheShoes UK!

There’s some great news for footwear shoppers this morning. VAT on shoes has been reduced to 15% from 17.5% – this means some price cuts across the board for adult footwear. As you may know Kids shoes are VAT exempt (as is Kids clothing). Whilst a cut of 2.5% might not be worth putting all the flags out for, but as our largest supermarket chain says “every little helps”.

Some merchants like Amazon, John Lewis, Shoe Shop and Schuh have taken the discount directly off the advertised price overnight; some others have launched some pretty generous voucher codes to pass on even more savings, others are taking the price off at the checkout. Today I’ll be checking that every discount is correctly reflected on my footwear price comparison pages, however it is applied.

2.5% might not seem a lot but along with the promotions available this week it’s contributed to the following savings, the price drop table shows today’s cheapest price and last week’s cheapest price.

There are definitely some shoe bargains to be picked up this week.

An Example of this week’s reductions