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.

The Beckhams never rest: David's Signature fragrance

First, i want to apologise for all these days I spent eating Christmas chocolate and mince pies instead of posting ... I truly have no excuse, but I guess that's what the holidays are for!
I really do need to figure out how to use that twitter.

I am sure everyone is still digesting the turkey and the pudding (I for one, am) so I will skip the clothing advice today - after all it's the week end, a snug jumper will do the trick.

It is Christmas week but the Beckhams have not wasted time: just after Victoria pre-launches her dVb dress collection, her husband is advertising his new Signature fragrance.



First off: I was really taken by the video. The way it is shot throws shivers down your back.

It is meant to be a more sensual and sophisticated version than the original Instinct perfume.

I only had the chance to smell a whit of it, and it is best to judge a perfume after it has been in contact with the skin for a few hours.

To be honest I prefer Victoria's clothes, but the fragrance does for a late present. It is young and has character.

And it will complete a dVb pair of jeans for the fans.

Sienna's Fashion Week new hot ticket

Sienna Miller has been all over the news lately for her affair with Balthazar Getty - the on/offs of celebrity privacy poured over to the public by the raging paparazzi.

But regardless of the infamous gossip, Sienna seems decided to be back in the media's eye for something that, in my opinion, is of more public interest than her smooching a billionaire.

Twenty8Twelve, hers and her sister Savannah Miller's fashion label, is scheduled to make it's catwalk debut at the upcoming London Fashion Week in February.

On the provisional fashion week schedule released today, her label was charted to show on Sunday 22 February - just a hit for those who want to get their hands on the hot ticket.

The label started in 2007, and it has not been unsuccessful with the stockists.

They have some strong pieces and the collection could be a pleasant surprise. In my opinion it still lacks that sparkle, a little like a Cappuccino with no chocolate on top.

To be fair it has to be said, the Miller sisters' designs are a modern classy wardrobe with an edge with makes it an excellent city-wear choice.

Also, the price tag is much friendlier to the eye than say, the - however dazzling - dVb Victoria dresses.

Posh takes Selfridges by storm

Victoria Beckham is everywhere, on magazine covers, all over the news and in Selfridges...

Well, her dVb dress collection was anyways. That is, before a bunch of angry fashion-avid shoppers ripped the hangers bare.

By 3pm, only three of the 58 dresses purchased exclusively by Selfridges were left dangling on the rail.

The dresses are breathtaking, even with a price tag of about £1800.

Posh's influence in fashion is only beginning. She knows her fashion lesson and she is intent on showing it.

She told the Times: 'Being in the Spice Girls, fashion-wise probably didn't open any doors. If anything it shut doors and I've had to bang them down.'

Doors have been banged down (if only those of Selfridges), and in a month, Harrods' doors better beware as the range is going on sale internationally.

Victoria almost rivals Anna Wintour in terms of immaculate, perfectionist style and determination. The devil knows what these women will do with fashion next.

All I can say is that I can't wait to see.

Sarees are the new thing

Sarees seem to be popular with fashion celebrities lately. Liz Hurley was wearing a rich-pink Indian dress, in Mumbai, a couple of days ago.

Not quite as striking as Victoria Beckham, but the gown, lined with gold and subtly embroidered, still captured some attention.

The two fashion-hungry celebrities are not the only one to be taken by Indian dress-making skills. Sarees are traditionally made of light silk and richly died and decorated.

That's why designers love them.

Manish Arora took the Indian embellishing techniques to an extreme during Paris fashion week last month, with fascinating theatrical results. (Although sometimes a little nightmarish if you don't like clowns...)

We know have to wait and see other ways in which the sari can be reinterpreted.

Victoria is back as Vogue Cover-girl

Victoria Beckham can now count two Vogue covers in her books, as she appears dressed in an Indian bridal gown for Vogue India's new November issue.

The 32-year-old designer is posing in a peach and red embroidered sari, with curly extension locks on her new pixie crop; and she looks breathtaking.

As a faithful front-row buyer and designer, Posh knows the ins-and-outs of fashion clothing, and she sure can recognise real talent. She reportedly commented on the beauty of the bridal outfits saying, "this is real craftsmanship".

Victoria has never been shy at experimenting with her image. And after being charmed by an affluence of traditional Indian-inspired designs, it is no wonder she jumped on the opportunity to taste true embroidered bridal-wear in an Eastern background.

Mrs Beckham knows, after all, what she is doing.


Victoria's First Vogue Cover was photographed by Nick Knight for British Vogue's April 2008 edition. She wore a Nina Ricci silk bustier dress and Swarovski-crystal bracelet.