Trends

With Summer disappearing as fast as we can say ‘where the hell was the bbq summer?’, you might as well turn your thoughts to shopping. According to recent retail figures, that’s what alot of British shoppers have been doing with Summer sales figures coming in far higher than expected.
Now is also a great time to check out what’s new as most retailers are getting new stock in on a weekly basis.  Amazona Style are no exception with new styles being added every week. Their shoes all come in UK sizes 8-11 (and sometimes 12) and they stock everything from flats to heels, sandals to stilettos.

Our favourites have to be the black & white brogue heels (above), the abstract print heels and brown suede shoe boots (below).

Fed up with the British Summer so heading for a last minute holiday in the Sun? Don’t panic! They still have some fabulous gladiator sandals and summer mules in stock in the Sale. Check out the Copper Leather Sandal - perfect for complementing a tan.

NEWSFLASH! Amazona Style are offering Free Shipping to all customers for the rest of of August – even on International orders! You could save up to £15.95 on postage but you’ll have to be quick though, the offer ends on 31st August.

Eek! This is a trend that I’m not sure many of us will follow unless your under 20 but thankfully, it is a recession busting trend that all of us can afford (even if your mother is never going to understand).

It first started appearing on the catwalks (mainly Alexander Wang) at the end of 2008 and can now been seen on every city street.

A big hit with young Hollywood, stars from Miley Cyrus (trying to make herself a little edgier, I’m guessing) to Linday Lohan and Mischa Barton have been flogging this trend (with Li-Lo you’re never sure whether she’s being fashion-forward or just plain old skanky).

Think Grunge meets Rock Chic and you’re getting it. Whatever you do, don’t mix it with sharp tailoring or crisp shirts or you’ll look like you had an unfortunate accident on your way to the office. Instead think leather, mini’s, ankle boots and studs and you’re on your way.

So, what do you think - stylish or skanky?

Photo credits: fashionising.com; wenn.com

It’s one of the most observed issues surrounding tall women: Should you date significantly shorter men?

Personally, I’ve never bothered to read those articles in the past as I don’t recall a time when I have ever been attracted to a much shorter man. AT 6ft2, I’ve had dalliances with men of 5ft10 and possibly 5ft9 when I was a teenager, and I’ve dated men of 5ft11, 6ft and 6ft1 far more than I’ve dated men of 6ft5 and above but what about proper ‘short’ men? It’s never really crossed my mind, until the other day….

Following a friend’s party recently, I’m now racked with a gigantic schoolgirl crush on one of the sexiest men I think I’ve ever met.  He was so much fun, so hot I nearly fainted and had a body that could make you think that skinny dipping in the Thames in Spring was a great idea (don’t worry, we didn’t).  And to be honest, it wasn’t so much a case of ‘You had me at hello….’ like the movies, since his first words were  ‘F*!k me, you’re f*****g massive’ (a line usually guaranteed to ensure the cold shoulder from me all evening).  However, when he was maybe 5ft7 and I’m 6ft5 in my heels, he might have had a point.

Short man/tall woman couples are all over the media, even more so since Sophie Dahl started dating Jamie Cullum.  So, why are shorter men attracted to tall women who only accentuate their lack of stature?

Several studies have investigated whether height is  a major factor of attractiveness to the average man and almost all of them have found that it is definitely not .  Whilst supermodels are almost always over 5ft9, singers and film stars are often far from statuesque.  Much of the earlier research seems to suggest that  tall women are not more physically attractive than their shorter friends but are perceived as more glamorous and prestigious.

Therefore, to the extent that tall women are preferred as mates, it is probably so that the man can show her off as a hard-to-acquire status symbol, like a Lamborghini. If you’re honest with yourself, you know that when you see a shorter man with a very tall girlfriend or wife, you do wonder just who the hell he is or what he has. It is possible that broadcasting his status in this way may also allow him to be taken more seriously by his male colleagues, friends and inferiors, and so to rise further in status: “Hey, that guy has a 6′ tall wife — he must be a real go-getter”.  And more importantly, parading around your tall wife is a far less vulgar signal of status than, for example, driving up in an obscenely expensive car or sporting tons of jewellry. Consequently, the man does not suffer a loss of reputation as he would with those other signals, and because it is less conspicuous, he is less likely to draw the jealous scorn of those around him. He will provoke class envy in them, for sure.

I was lucky enough to be sent to Monaco yesterday for my day job and I bizarrely ended up at a dinner party with 15 of the most beautiful, supermodel-thin, tall women and 5 older, very successful and much shorter men.  The men were more than enthusiastic about their taller wives and girlfriends and explained that it was almost the norm in Monaco and many have only dated women who were much taller than themselves. It seems the notion of tall women as a status symbol is definitely a reality.

So, the question still stands, do I choose to pursue a man significantly shorter than me? Or am I too tall for him? Maybe, as he’s not an international financier, film star or Formula 1 boss, he doesn’t find tall women attractive and doesn’t need the status boost.  As he’s not wealthy or famous (and those things have never been attractive to me), I’m guessing that I experienced proper sexual  chemistry and, alas, I don’t think there’s a cure for it.

Now, can someone just pop round and explain to him that I’m the next best thing to a Lamborghini except I’m more affordable and I handle better than a Murcielago….

When even Karl Lagerfeld likes a tweet every now and again, you know you’re on to a winner. I was pretty impressed with myself for getting into it even before my super-technologically-advanced friend started tweeting. The fact that with his iPhone, he tweets way more than I do these days is irrelevant.

The beauty of Twitter is that everyone from celebrities to politicians to farmers can communicate with the world in less than 160 characters. You don’t need to be clever with it, just tell people what you are doing. Ok, so fair enough you may not be interested in various people’s updates and the occasional spam that you get can be quite irritating but it is nothing compared to other social networking sites. What I love the most about Twitter is the personal contact that people have with fans. Paris Hilton never stops telling us just how fabulous her life really is and Sarah Brown keeps us up-to-date with her life at 10 Downing Street. If you are a fan of The Hills, you’ll find the whole gang online: Lauren, Lo, Stephanie, Audrina, Whitney, Heidi, Spencer, Brody, Frankie and Holly.

The Hills crowd can't get enough of Twitter

In terms of publications, you’ll find various international magazines: Vogue Paris, The Times Style, Marie Claire US and Elle US as well as their international counterparts. Follow @Modelinia for major models such as Chanel Iman and Sasha Pivovarova! Brix Smith-Start tweets fashion horrors (with photos!) that she spots in supermarkets and restaurants. Her current favourites are Italian women interpreting the SS09 floral trend! Lagerfeld isn’t the only designer to twitter; Marc Jacobs was rumoured to be one of the first to hit the trend and Betsey Johnson likes to keep in touch with a few updates! And for the latest on high street deals, follow stores and labels such as ASOS, PPQ or Topshop.

You can follow Amazona on Twitter here @amazonastyle and me, Stefanie Grace, here @stefaniegrace.

I only have winter shoes. This never really conciously occured to me before and it’s quite a shocking discovery. I’m guessing it’s not because I have a phobia of any footwear in a bright colour, or that I mind showing parts of my feet in mules or sandals. I think it’s because I don’t see clothes like other women do. Clothes cover me up and, if I’m lucky, might make me look a little slimmer. When you’re 6ft2 and you’ve have a life-long fight to find anything to fit you, even a t-shirt, then fashion doesn’t really hold the same excitement for you as it does a 5ft6 girl. So summer clothes? No, I don’t have those either.

Anyway, since starting the blog I have got better - my wardrobe is no longer just filled with midnight blue jeans and navy trouser, a couple of more interesting items have found their way in. Shoes however, are a different matter.

I don’t know about you but summer shoes are things that elude me every year. In around April, I think to myself, ‘There’s lots of lovely summer clothes around but I don’t have any shoes to go with them. I should pick up some sandals and wedges’.  So I’m going to get some, I do some research, I even choose my favourites, and then I never get round to buying them.

My entire Summer months are commenced every morning with a choice between what I’d like to wear (linen trousers), and what I end up wearing (which is always sensible cords or jeans so I can wear them with some shoes I actually own).

The thing about most summer clothes is that they don’t go with your winter shoes. If you feet over a UK size 8 (US 10), then finding something summery to put on those big flippers is akin to finding a unicorn on Oxford Street on a Wednesday afternoon.

Well, thank your lucky stars that the girls over at Amazona Style are coming to your aid. For the next two weeks, you can pick up any of their summer sandals for half price (saving over £50 on many styles). Whether it’s blue or green, pink or metallic copper, they’ve got something to flatter you at Amazona Style. Flat Gladiators you’re after ? Or even some platform, heeled ones? You’d better be quick - they’re selling fast.

FINALLY! Here’s a trend that we all already own, have always kind of liked and are pretty pleased to see making a comeback! No matter how tall you are, for dressing up or down, you can always have denim to fall back on.

The denim jacket is a classic. My personal preference is the denim blazer. I bought one from Oasis when I was 15 and I’m excited that, not only do I still fit into it, but that I can wear it with confidence this summer! HOWEVER, I am still not a fan of jeans AND denim jackets together, so I’m not recommending pairing the two comeback trends together, but definitely give both a go separately!

There are nevertheless many different ways to wear the denim jacket this summer. A stonewash crop seems to be the most cutting edge, yet check out these pics to see how the stars are rocking the trend. Even a pregnant Nicole Richie looks fab!

If it’s too hot for a whole jacket (unlikely in the UK, but we are keeping out fingers crossed that current temperatures do not drop any lower!), then the denim waistcoat is the style savvy way to dress up any t-shirt. See modelesque Gossip Girl Blake Lively rock her on trend cover-up!

Distressed denim is also back in a big way. 5’9” actress Cameron Diaz has been pictured countless times in her distressed jeans.

White jeans are perfect for the summer months and everyone from celebs to royals have been pictured embracing the trend. Look how 5’10” Kate Middleton pulls of her casual look. The high street is FULL of tall options too, which is fantastic! Try Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Urban Outfitters, River Island and French Connection for starters. I managed to snap up a pair from New Look for just £12! I can even wear heels with them without looking ridiculous!!

I’m feeling like an old Granny right now. I usually consider myself to be very aware of new trends and brands. I am the one who knows about that obscure flip-flop, the hot NYC handbag designer or even the name of the Obama’s dog. I know those silly random facts as I have some weird ability to retain lots of information, providing it’s generally useless (this skill did not extend to exams unfortunately). Hollister? Who-ister?  Never heard of them. Oh God, is this the first step on a slippery slope in to middle age?

My (23 year old) housemate had this fab t-shirt hanging up to dry and I noticed it was longer than usual, with overall larger proportions. I tried to persuade her to sell it to me, assuming it was some weird Aussie brand she had bought with her from the Antipodes, before she told me to nip down Westfield (the latest monster shopping centre in London, for those of you non-locals) and pick one up.

Yes, it appears Hollister Co, or HCO, or just plain Hollister as it is usually referred to, completely passed me by. Now of course I am far better informed and know it’s an American Lifestyle Brand which is an off-shoot from Abercrombie and Fitch. Really? Has anyone over 5ft4 or larger than a size 10 shopped in AF recently? Maybe it’s just me but their women’s clothes might just fit one of my legs and even in the gents styles I’m a XXL (I’m 6ft2 and around a UK Size 16 - not usually an XXL!).

Despite being the second most popular brand of US teenagers in 2008, it was only in October of this year that the company came to England with it’s first store in Brent Cross, shortly followed by BlueWater, Westfield and Southampton. With plans to open several new stores across the UK this year, Hollister is not only affordable but also accessible.

So, as I was saying, Abercrombie is sized for midgets who don’t eat. Hollister t-shirts, however, seem to be cut perfectly for tall girls and women! With good length, shoulder width and excellent deep v-necks in many styles (perfect for tall girls with broad shoulders to balance the body shape), there’s lots of colour and design variations for only around £20 per shirt.

Loving the Hollister this Summer. I’ve already got three. Maybe the Oh-So-Sexy, sepia surf adverts are working too well on me. Do I resemble a Californian surf chick? Maybe.. from a large distance, with a substantial amount of fake tan, providing you squint….

Why don’t you go and have a look? If you’re miles away from any of their stores, they also do mail order online from www.hollisterco.com

Finally, after years losing the race in the fashion stakes, Long Tall Sally has come up with something wearable…. even more, it’s desirable!

LTS has spent the last few years designing frumpy, dowdy clothes and as the only high street store specialising in clothes for tall women, this is annoying to all of us girls over 5ft9.  If the designs were hideous enough, the cut was phenomenally bad meaning it’s been well over 5 years since I’ve shopped there.

Imagine by surprise when the Summer catalogue drops through my letterbox (yes, 5 years not having shopped with them but they STILL send me marketing literature. Desperate?) and there is a fab dress on the front cover. What’s more, it’s a maxi dress! The bain of tall women everywhere, the maxi dress is one style that often eludes very tall girls as they are just never long enough. And nothing looks worse than an ‘almost’ maxi dress.

Anyway, back to the dress in question. It’s blue (my favourite colour) and has a bohemian edge to it, fitting in with this seasons trends.  It’s not that cheap at £75.00 but I think it could be a good buy.

www.longtallsally.com

There are many things which I cannot live without. If you ask me for my top three desert island must-haves, I’d be at a complete loss. I’d be paralysed with the infinite choice. All I know for sure is that lip balm and a kikoi would be there.

I should be the founding member of LBA (Lip Balmers Anonymous) – I am never without some tube, pot or applicator. It’s never coloured, always clear and ruins my day if I leave the house without it.  Honestly, I’m more upset if I find myself lip balm-less than if I’ve forgotten my mobile phone.

OK, so weird lip-moisture issues aside, the other item I absolutely cannot live without is a kikoi (pronounced  ‘kick-oy’).  If you don’t know what I’m talking about then listen up! A kikoi was originally a mans sarong from the East Coast of Africa but has now evolved into a multi-functional garment for both sexes and for all ages.

A typical kikoi

Celebrities are also fans of this African essential. Keira Knightly and Kate Hudson are always spotted in theirs. Even Brad Pitt sported one in Vanity Fair!

Traditionally woven on looms in Africa in 100% cotton, they are brightly coloured, nearly always 60 inches by 40 inches square  and lightweight, so they dry super-fast .   Most commonly used as a unisex sarong, this nifty bit of fabric becomes irreplaceable to any who have had one – I used mine endlessly:
-     when I’m just out of the shower and running around the house
-    On the beach as a windbreak, beach towel, head rest or picnic blanket
-    As a shawl or scarf (great as a muffler for skiing!)
-    At home as a table cloth, chair throw or cushion cover
-    As a temporary cover for the back seat of my car when I’ve got dogs with me
-    As a baby blanket

I always keep at least one kikoi in the back of my car for ‘emergency use’ and you’d be surprised how often it’s called on!

For under £20.00, you could grab one of these and try it for yourself.  Do make sure you’re buying from a responsible and ethical supplier as this is one product where you could really make a difference to a small industry in a third world country.

So, if you’re shooting off on holiday soon, pick one up and start a life-long passion!

Kikoi’s are currently on sale at Amazona Style (including fab new beach kikoi’s featuring ultra-lightweight towelling on one side!).