The calf dilemma

Today, after a stressful day at work I decided to treat myself to a Top Shop spree. (Working in Victoria street does indeed not help my wallet.)

I found a really nice skirt, very much in the sexy/smart tones of the season: black, under-the-knee, high-waisted, tight, with ruffles at the back. Oh and a sales price tag of £15.

All perfectly cut - Victoria Beckham style.

This is the definition of my dream skirt - or one of them at least: so what went through my erratic head to prevent me from running out of the changing rooms, buying it in all haste, smiling to an unimpressed and exasperated rush-hour crowd all the way home?

In a few words: I had a calf attack.

No nothing to do with my muscles melting following intense stiletto-wear. The dress made my calves look the size of my thighs.

I never really worried about my calves: they are toned, and usually barely noticeable. To be honest, I usually have a thunder-thigh panic instead of a thunder-calves panic. How ever even heard of that?

I am not the only one to worry about unusual parts of my body: there are more and more slim-lotions and creams to tone your arms, calves, back, neck and a myriad other places.

I am sure we are slowly sliding towards an LA beauty aesthetic: soon we are going to have to look like a movie star with bleached teeth, on a daily basis.

It is true, the Victoria Beckham cut - just below the knee - can be very unflattering if you have large-ish hips or short legs.

The waist looks fabulous (and so does the buttocks), but it is what I call a profile shape: it enhances you from a side point of view but often not from a front view.

It all depends on the shape you want to achieve.

Top Shop is deemed Wagalicious by Cheryl Cole

As it turns out I haven't been completely missing the fashion point by reading about the fascinating lives of Wags (yes, I have read the sequel A WAG Abroad as well and it actually is a really hilariously entertaining read).

Cheryl Cole, who does fit Alison Kervin's description of a superb Wag - tikka massala colour, impressive hair, even larger breasts and tight clothing - could be on her way to launch her own line.

After meeting with Kate Moss, she reportedly said she wanted to get into high fashion and the two girls started making plans.

The model-improvised-designer is rumoured to be in negotiations with Sir Philip Green to include her new Girls Aloud friend to work with Kate on her own Top Shop range.

I doubt there will be much designing, it will probably be an all-day-long window shopping job for the two fashion-fans.

Top Shop is betting on celebrities in an attempt to reach out to the high street customer (and not unsuccessfully it must be said if we take into account the Kate Moss collection still raises furies from fashion buyers).

It is a reasonable marketing plan, however it will probably mean another notch lost in high-fashion credibility for the store.

Hopefully the full stiletto, boob tube and lager Wagalicious-style does not perspire too much into the range; if the project ever sees the light of Oxford Street.

Christmas in Moss

Top shop has been counting down the days till Kate Moss' Christmas collection will hit the stores, and the day is getting close. TOPSHOP.COM, the web-shop onto which thousands of girls who want to look like 'stylish Kate' are going to log on tomorrow, probably cannot wait.

I have looked at the sneak peaks from the collection, and I have to say I am, not surprisingly though, disappointed.

Some pieces are undeniably cute, including a sixties-style mini dress 'a la Brigitte Bardot', but maybe not for Christmas.

Firstly, it might be a little too cold outside to be sporting a style that short, and risk turning your thighs into stalactites.

Secondly, Christmas tends to be about family dinners. And no matter how open-minded my own family is, I would not risk meeting my grand-parents in a snake spot print mini cocktail-dress, that reveals the colour of my knickers.

Top Shop experts will disagree with me however, the Christmas holidays should be about following our feelings and emotions to create a unique look.

If you want to follow Kate Moss' style advice (on the Top Shop website) be ready to be brave: "When going out for the evening, think about your arrival - the accidental pairing of a battered leather jacket and floor sweeping gown looks amazing and effortless"

Effortless surely. And a little unclassy too, perhaps.

But let tomorrow prove me wrong, when London fashionistas will overtake the store and secure a little piece of supermodel cloth. Well, with supermodel approval anyways.

London should better get ready for a grunge Christmas.

Kate Moss designer

"If you can't look like a supermodel you can at least dress like one" is the moto behind Top Shop's collaboration with Kate Moss.

Her designs are worn by everyone and everywhere now. Her new Autumn/Winter collection is already causing a stir in the model-obsessed girl ranks!

It's true that the Kate Moss clothes can be worn as well on a night out as just to hang out and have a coffee. But one think still leaves me sceptical: supermodels don't dress themselves, they just represent designers!

So how is a woman, who has been dressed all her life by others is supposed to give us all a lesson in style?

It's business: her clothes sell because she is the name of the brand.

It's all about the British culture of style.

Kate Moss isn't the first supermodel to cater for the high street. Twiggy has done it before in the 1960s: she launched her own collection that lasted three years.

The only thing is that, yes, these women have been in the fashion industry for years, they obviously something about putting clothes together to create a look. But it's a little bit too much about the culture of the name to me.

It's all very nice to be able to wear a (cheaper!) replica of what Kate Moss has in her wardrobe, but at the end of the day it isn't her who creates the designs. She only decides if she likes it or not!

Anyone sees a hint of ego and marketing in all that?