TopShop Style Notes

Im a fervent believer in the TopShop philosophy. And as such, I have subscribed to their fantastic newsletter. Here are some of their tips and current must-haves:

1 - Sequins: This is a major trend sweeping the stylish globe. I must admit a trend I prefer to keep to evening escapades, but TopShop claim it is something one can sport during the daylight hours as well:

2 - The Two Tone Biker Jacket: One of my favourites too this winter, the two tone biker jacket is another take on this current must have. It also allows for enhanced versatility.

Dubai - Part 1 of 2

And here's the Dubai leg of my trip - Given that we were travelling there during the middle of Summer, I was scared... I have heard that Dubai in summer is literally like being in hell. The heat is so intense, you struggle to breath, your nose bleeds and you have to walk slowly so as not to die of heat exhaustion.

But we had a great time - I didnt think much of it when I got there, but after our very cliche bout of DOING SOME SHOPPING DUBAI and returned to our hotel, I was sold.

They have fabulous brands - in such a way that you think you are in Europe / USA at the same time, what with Zara, Top Shop, Mango, Banana Republic, Gap and Bebe all being available in the same place at the same time.

So on to the general info on Dubai:

Language: Arabic, but English is also widely spoken

Currency: Dirham

Exchange Rate: R2.23 = 1Dirham

Getting Around: Taxi's are VERY cheap - buses are also available

Things to be seen in Dubai: The Palm, Atlantis (Hotel on the Palm), The Sail Boat hotel, Dubai Mall, Mall of Emirates, Dune Bashing, the tallest building in the world

In the second part of this expose on Dubai - Ill tell you all about the shopping!

Australia - Part 3 of 3

Shopping in Sydney is quite different to shopping in Perth - in fact, you wouldnt say that these 2 cities were of the same country...

First of all - Sydney has very few chain stores, whereas that is all that Perth has.
Sydney also has this great street shopping culture - Oxford street being the fashionable beacon for those who want to throw around some cash. Perth is more of a strip-mall kind of place.

I took a lot of note of what the stylish were wearing in Sydney:

• Boots + shorts + stockings


• Skirts + boots + stockings


• The guys are VERY stylish here, and their needs are catered for, unlike in SA where men's fashion has fallen off the radar.


• The style here is also very individual - no one succumbs to mechanised dressing if you can call it that - they all think about fashion in their own way and thus dress to suit their personalities, not to fit in with their friends. This was my favourite aspect of Sydney - the freedom and level of confidence that people have to pull off "different" looks.


• Leather jackets are really big - and arent that expensive either. You could pick up a great quality piece for under R1000, whereas the ones I have found here at home are way more expensive.


• 70;s and grunge are the biggest trends that I did see


• All-in-ones are also quite popular ( a trend that is taking a while to catch on here).

I must say, being all honest and stuff, that shopping in Australia has made me quite dispondent at times with what is available here - even the cheaper retailers have GREAT items, whereas here, you might struggle to find something remarkable enough to want to purchase it. I even compared the Jay Jay's in Perth with the Jay Jay's here, and they dont compare.

Sydney has become one of my favourite places to shop (next to London's Portobello market and Bangkok)

Australia - Part 2 of 3

In this part of my AUSTRALIA series, Im talking to you about the FANTASTIC shopping that Perth has to offer. I must admit that I wasnt expecting much from the most secluded city in the world (no joke - it's officially the most isolated city on the globe), but I gotta admit - people here are trendy, even the corporate ones!

Shoes in Perth are very expensive (well, they're expensive wherever you go in Australia, but I found that they are particularly expensive in this town) - so only buy on sale or dont buy at all. Rather save your money for the other fantastic deals that are to be had.

Perth has great chain stores: from Big W (= to our Game stores), to Woolworths (not the same as our woolies - but still sells groceries), Strandbags (handbag stores), Sportsgirl (one of my favourite stores in Australia - I have never seen another retailer do 70's vintage so well. They have taken vintage styles and used modern fabrics. An absolute MUST), Target, Just Jeans, Jay Jays (Same as ours back home), Salvos (Salvation Army - GREAT 2nd hand shopping), and so much more. You will see from my Sydney insert - Sydney doesnt have many chain stores, it has more of a boutique culture to it.

Current trendy items / looks at the moment:

• Leather / Biker jackets - worn with anything really
• TIghts - girls here love their tights and will wear them with boots, ankle boots, ballet flats, with dresses or even skirts
• Black and Tan: Another big look that I saw was a black outfit with either tan boots or a tan bag. Very sophisticated and understated - I really embraced this look because it's a great one for those days when you cant find anything to wear!
• Shorts, tights and boots: another fav with the Aussies: and a great way to keep your summer wardrobe relevant in the colder months
• All black is also quite acceptable. I have found that in SA, there is a slight stigma attached to wearing all black, but the Aussies have completely embraced it which is great.
• Jeans are a religion on their own here - and they love denim in all it's forms: boots, skirts, jeans, bags, etc....

From a guy's perspective - here are some of the bigger trends that I saw:

• Satchels - in high quality leather
• Skinny Jeans
• Leather jackets
• Hats

And while there was plenty of time for shopping, we did set aside some time for sight-seeing. Here are somethings that you can do in Perth:

• Go on the Perth "Eye" - gives you a bird's eye view of the city and surrounds
• Visit the Perth Zoo - South Perth
• Go to Ye London Court - a great little side alley stocked with british boutiques and pubs
• Visit the shopping district in Perth's CBD - between Barrack and William Streets
• Feed the swans on the Swan River

Although a sleepy little town - Perth has got a lot going for it. If you have the time, swing by.

Steal Rachel Bilson's Style

Anyone who knows me knows that Rachel Bilson is one of my most favourite style icons. In an article from Cosmo Online - she divulges her ultimate style rules:

Day or night, this actress looks chic. No wonder DKNY Jeans got her to design a line for them (called Edie Rose). Here, she shares her style rules.

1. CHOOSE DARK JEANS'They're so easy to dress up. I think skinnies look really flattering with heels. Get a good pair that has some stretch.'

2. RECYCLE TRENDS'It's funny how things are coming back in again so quickly – for example, one shoulder shirts were big just a few years ago and are now back in style. For that reason, I never throw anything out, and I like to wear things when they're sort of just coming out of being really cool.'

3. THROW ON A SCARF'I love scarves – I have so many. If you have a simple dress and a great scarf, you have such a good outfit. I just got an amazing silk Chanel scarf that has stars on it as a gift.'

4. MIX AND MATCH'I'm a big fan of mix-matching… taking pieces from certain outfits and pairing them with others. It allows you to create your own look.'

5. DRESS DOWN AT NIGHT'I don't like dressing up unless I absolutely need to. For a date, I wear a T-shirt and jeans with a great pair of superhigh heels. I've had to train myself to walk in them.'

RACHEL'S STYLE OBSESSIONS Yellow'I'm so into yellow right now. You can pair it with a neutral shoe or a contrasting colour such as green. And I'm not scared to wear yellow and black together.'Shrunken blazer'Wear it with tux pants and a vintage T-shirt for an androgynous look. I love clothes with a male influence.'Big bracelets'I'll put on one cocktail ring or big bracelet and that's it. Wearing a single piece makes more of a statement.'

Cosmopolitan | How to Wear | Fashion | Fashion Fiction

Cosmopolitan | How to Wear | Fashion | Fashion Fiction

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Pippa Lynch - Cosmo Online Fashion Feature

I was recently interviewed for the latest Cosmo online fashion feature: Debunking Fashion Myths - log on to http://www.cosmopolitan.co.za/Fashion/HowtoWear/fashion-fiction to read more!

(Or click on the below blog entry)