Welcome to this week’s edition of Amanda Zips It Up
I’ll start with the somewhat disappointing Kate Moss collection at Zara.
Massively over hyped and overpriced. First of all, I drove to my local big Zara on launch day and was surprised to see NOBODY waiting outside the shop. I remember when her collection at TOPSHOP launched, there was literally hysteria. Once inside the shop, I asked the staff where the collection was and they replied – it’s only online. So I drove home and went online and the cheapest item was a leopard print bag.
I do love the red sandals but they are almost £200. The collection is OK, but it’s difficult to disconnect from the pricing. Check it all out at zara.com – and I welcome your thoughts.
I’ll say no more. Check out www.zara.com for more prices and if anything is available.
Let’s’ get on with the goss at The Fashion Awards and check out the best coats for men this winter.
Beat the chill: because it has been FREEZING! Here’s some great men’s coats for wrapping up in style, as next week’s forecast doesn’t provide much hope of warmth, and winter has barely begun.
Herringbone, check or double breasted, classic coats never go out of style.
It’s always good to be prepared for anything the weather throws at you. Your coat purchase is arguably the biggest spend in your wardrobe, and the aim is to buy something that lasts several years and sits above trends. This season more than ever, designers and stores are championing classic styles in a neutral colour palette that will seamlessly work with much of what’s in your wardrobe.
Whether you opt for a long tailored coat, a style that dominated the Milan runways, including clean lined and ankle-length at Gucci, all-black at Valentino and oversized boxy 80s styles at Emporio Armani. Or whether you choose functionality, with a water-resistant trench or puffer coat that will keep you cosy, these are my picks of the best… and (broadly) affordable too.
Change up a neutral colour and stand out from the crowd. This trench is from Harry Lambert’s Cutie Circus collaboration with Zara and features a curved collar detail and generous patch pockets, the fit is cut slightly loose. Wear with a bold sweater and wide leg cords and trainers.
The drop shoulder creates a relaxed shape that allows for layers underneath. The minimal cut works well over officewear or to smarten up a more casual jeans and hoodie look.
If in doubt opt for classic black. It can be styled up or down to work for smart and casual occasions. Top tip: keep a lint roller by the front door for a quick refresh before you leave the house.
A classic trench is a failsafe for elevating even a tracksuit and trainers look. Tie the belt behind and wear open for a nonchalant billowing effect. In blustery weather pop the collar up and button up.
Part of the JW Anderson for Uniqlo collection this wool-blend coat is inspired by traditional Donegal tweed, it offers a wallet friendly way to tap into the popular heritage trend. Looks great over knitwear or layered over a shirt look with workwear trousers and sturdy boots.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky looked incredible at The Fashion Awards 2024 in London the other night.
The A-list couple, both 36, stood out a mile among the many stars at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday evening.
The Love on the Brain singer wore a fluffy turquoise hat with a matching coat that contrasted with her black bustier and elbow-length gloves.
Opting for a more muted look, A$AP wore a navy suit look with a white shirt and red tie.
Many A-listers attended including Mathilda Mace, a costume, prosthetics and Makeup Artist who opted for a very risque all-black outfit.
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan wowed with her pale blue and black gown that was complimented by her winged eyeliner and pale blue eyeshadow.
Fellow Netflix star, Ambika Mod, who starred in the series One Day also appeared at the event in a floral-style dress.
As the celebrities flocked to the event, many opted for eye-catching looks.
Singer and former Celebs Go Dating star Tallia Storm went for an all-animal print look as she wore a leopard print gown with a fur cape and matching leopard print heels.
Model Roxy Horner whose partner is Jack Whitehall, wore a bold all-white look.
Following the red carpet, the titans and innovators of the fashion industry were given awards at the London shindig.
Simone Rocha accepted the award for British Womenswear Designer of the Year, and used the platform to say ‘Free Palestine’.
‘I’m very proud of the work I’ve produced,’ she said. ‘My collections fuel my emotions. With this award I’d like to honour all the women and children who are displaced. She then added: ‘Free Palestine’.
Welcome to this week’s chilly instalment of Amanda Zips It Up.
I started the week in the balmy Balearics, with temperatures reaching 23 degrees, and ended it in a shivery Minus 1 in London. No shocks here though – it is indeed WINTER. So it’s time to dust down the winter wardrobe. As I wright this – it’s zero.
The cold conditions do have certain advantages. Namely that it’s time get the season’s must-have jumper into one’s wardrobe. And this year it’s the Fair Isle Jumper. The IT KNIT for 2024.
The Fair Isle Crew Jumper at M&S £35
A Fair Isle jumper is this winter’s go-to for fashion friendly, frosty winter dressing. Here’s how to style one in your everyday wardrobe. FYI, they work with everything from your basic denim pieces to a puff-ball skirt…
Remember, the IT KNIT must come in this season’s Brown hues
For Smart
Mix cosy Fair Isle knits with a slinky, pencil skirts and add edgy ankle boots for a feminine but rocky edge. Keep your colours tonal (burgundy berries and autumnal browns) for a polished finish.
Everyday Preppy
Mix up your cosy fabrics and wear a heritage wool sweater with a shearling coat; the result is cool and lowkey. Go for a pop of red and keep the rest of your palette simple with white and navy or dark denim.
The High/Low Mix
Clash a traditional cosy knit with a party skirt; the result is unexpected and fun. Sandro’s satin ruffle mini brings a playful edge to a chunky roll neck. Just add pointed flats.
Onto this issue, and following my recent report on Grandpa Core Fashion(and sticking with the subject of M&S) – guess which legendary footballer has his own Grandpa Core & Hat collection in stores now?
As we hit party season, Rita Ora’s new Xmas collection has landed at Primark and as well as all those plum and brown tones filling the rails this winter, Leopard Print is EVERYWHERE… but how do you make it look chick, like Kate Moss?
Football icon Ian Wright has unveiled his new hat collaboration with Marks & Spencer – and it’s full of the top-quality headwear for which Wrighty is renowned.
Hitting stores and online now, you can browse this hat collection collab with the legendary Gunner (and national treasure) right away. It consists of a range of “current and timeless” hats and winter wardrobe must-haves, intended to be a staple in any man’s wardrobe.
The Arsenal icon comments that he wanted to release a line of men’s hats that focus on “value and quality” while ensuring there’s still “a hat for everyone”. And with prices starting from £15, here’s all you need to know.
Hats The Wright Way launched on Thursday 14 November, just in time for Christmas shopping.
The collection includes nine core styles, from a bespoke Herringbone Baker Boy to the Denim Docker design, with the whole range coming in a major 18 colourways to “complement and elevate any outfit”. With styles and fabrics loved by Ian himself, this range remains securely in the camp of budget-friendly prices, with prices starting at £15 up to £35. Loads of belts, scarves and accessories in the collection too.
The football hero said ‘I’ve always worn hats, I’ve always loved hats…A lot of people would say to me that they don’t suit hats, but there’s a hat for everyone and this collection is all about that. It was a no-brainer to partner with M&S because they’re known for their value and quality, which is important to me. I wanted the hats to have that weight to them that you only get with top quality fabrics, and this range really has that.”
Some top picks that are already popular in Ian Wright’s collection, include:
Rita Ora has launched another huge new collection at Primark, designed with the fast-approaching party season in mind. It’s a ‘you bring the vibe, we bring the sparkle’ range, that – according to the blurb – was inspired by the singer’s trip to Paris fashion week earlier this year.
She said: “Hey guys, so excited that my Primark party launch is finally here. I’m so excited about this because it just has so many different energies, especially when you go out at night time if you want to be more glitzy, if you want to be more understated, we’ve got big coats, we’ve go textures, you’ve got all the options. Hope you love it.”Rita said in a post about the new collection. “Whether you’re out for dinner, drinks, or hitting the dancefloor, my range has got you covered!
From faux fur jackets, styling co-ords, sparkling bags, gold party shoes, dresses and more. One of our favourites is the Rita Ora Lace Mesh Midi Dress, which is only £20, it would make the perfect Christmas party dress this season.
Here’s my picks and just to let you know, I bought the gold satin slip dress which I shall be wearing to the Mi-Soul Christmas party.
Personally, I’ve always loved Leopard print. As do others in the style set – for example, it has long been one ofKate Moss’s signature looks. But too much leopard print can sometimes look cheap. I have just bought a leopard print suit, and I’m having my doubts about it.
But when Kate stepped out in Paris this week for a handful of shows recently, it was hardly a surprise to see her clutching a leopard print bag (by Saint Laurent, naturally). What her statement tote did do, however, was remind us that subtly playing into the leopard print trend with an accessory, rather than going a head-to-toe, can actually pack a lot more fashion punch.
A leopard print bag is a top pick for those times when you want to add a touch of bold playfulness to your outfit – especially when teamed with an otherwise all-black ensemble, a rebellious hint of Moss-style rock’n’roll.
Clearly fully on board with the trend, on another occasion Kate was seen carrying a leopard print bucket bag in the French capital, again against the canvas of an all-black get-up. Another time the same week, she wore a leopard print coat – over, you guessed it, an all-black outfit.
The rule is: choose one leopard print piece and keep everything else black. It’s cool, it’s chic, and it’s a failsafe style winner.
What if you love colour? I also love leopard print with cherry red or burgundy. Leopard print dominated the AW24 fashion shows but was also a regular on the SS25 catwalks, meaning if you buy the right leopard print item now, it’ll last you well into next year too. Plus, in my eyes, leopard print is a timeless, neutral staple, which is why this is one trend to invest in.
Welcome to Amanda Zips It Up – and let’s start by saying RIP Trevor Sorbie, the legendary hairdresser who created the innovative ‘WEDGE’ haircut back in 1974. He died of bowel cancer this week but leaves a brilliant catalogue of work, intentional salons and iconic legacy in the world of fashion.
RIP Trevor Sorbie
High on the list was the MTV EMAs 2024 – admittedly, perhaps not such a significant awards event as we get older, but nonetheless, a great opportunity to observe more red-carpet outfits.
For the first time in history, last Sunday night it was Manchester hosting one of the music world’s most acclaimed awards ceremonies, with notable names travelling across the globe to be in the room.
As per usual, stars took to the red carpet in gilded gowns and tailored suiting ensembles, while inside the event, which took place at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, guests checked out performances from Raye, Shawn Mendes and Tyla.
This year, the host was fashion It-Girl and pop star Rita Ora. It was Rita’s third time hosting – just in time for the release of her new collection at Primark which lands this week. She made an emotional tribute to Liam Payne who passed away last month and was very close to the singer.
My pick of the best dressed:
Rita Ora
As expected, the host for the evening Rita Ora went all out for her red-carpet appearance, dressing in a dreamy plunging neck gown adorned with what looked to be blonde artificial hair from Ashi Studio’s FW24 Couture collection.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
The New James Bond?
Dressing in fashion’s most favoured colourway for AW24, Aaron Taylor-Johnson made a sartorial style statement in all-burgundy – this season’s colour.
Mabel
Mabel didn’t let the chilly November weather ruin her night. The singer sported a body-hugging long-sleeve tartan print dress with white tights and a strappy heel combo.
Neneh Cherry
Mabel’s Mum Neneh Cherry channelled their inner Hailey Bieber, styling a boxy oversized suit with a set of black boots and a slew of gold jewellery.
Vick Hope
Settling on a custom white structured corset and an ethereal floaty sheer skirt, Vick Hope was still in white mode after her marriage to Calvin Harris.
Raye
It-Brit Raye chose an autumnal brown-toned dress with intricate diamanté embellishments on the lower half. She accessorised the look with a stack of diamond necklaces, matching earrings and a striking cuff bracelet.
Shawn Mendes
Ahead of his performance on stage, Shawn Mendes took to the red carpet in a sleek black suiting look which he elevated with an unbuttoned collared shirt and set of leather loafers.
But the winner was Maya Jama copying Elizabeth Hurley in THAT plunging thigh-high slitted safety pin dress
Far from subtle, the gilded Versace midi dress in question featured a selection of gold-toned safety pins fixing the cutout waist feature together and accentuating the straps. The elegant black dress fitted Maya like a glove, with the plunging neckline accentuating her curvaceous figure. Maya’s dress choice was made famous by a young Elizabeth Hurley in 1994 when she donned the sleek-chic dress to attend her then-boyfriend, Hugh Grant’s movie premiere, Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Enough of that though, we need to crack on with this week’s issue of AZIP and we discuss Meta’s Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, End – of -the world fashion for men, straight out of East London plus Vegetable’s natural Viagra.
Apocalypse-core – straight outta East London is dressing like it’s the end of the world.
Last week we featured Grandpacore fashion. This week we’re talking Apocalypse – core. This isn’t a new phenomenon— but it is going to define winter 2024.
We are now witnessing the rise of “prepare-wear”. As climate change continues to challenge weather patterns and natural disasters become increasingly common, we all need clothing that can adapt to different temperatures and climate circumstances more readily. Think mountaineering gear — with a hint of apocalypse.
Everyone appears to have taken note. Puma has enlisted SKEPTA for a second collaboration, this week dropping a Tech-Luxe Collection consisting of hiking boots and Pertex puffer jackets. The Britpop revival has fanned the flames too, with Liam Gallagher fronting STONE ISLAND’s winter campaign to launch its new “Glass parka” (“made from polyester mesh protected by a semi-gloss transparent polyurethane film”). We also saw his son Lennon and ex-wife Patsy Kensit model for Italian outerwear label Napapijri’s Arctic Circle archival capsule push.
The North Face’s latest collaboration with Japanese label Undercover dropped this week too, and Represent 247, Manchester’s hottest streetwear label, just launched its first, 44-piece “vintage hiking” collection.
There’s a pull from the lifestyle market for highly technical products that look good regardless of whether you intend to go up a mountain – or very much don’t. For this reason, heritage brands like Berghaus, which was founded in 1966, alongside industry newcomers, are all piling into the resurgence.
Look up #gorpcore on Instagram (home to 251,000 posts) and you will quickly pick up on how outdoors devotees wear this trend. In short, everything from the hiking and ski cupboard, all in one ensemble. From the feet up this includes, but isn’t limited to: hikers, thick walking socks, long johns, waterproof trousers, Uniqlo Heattech second-skins, bright-coloured fleeces, a shell or puffer jacket, Alps-appropriate gloves, balaclava, cycling shades and an Arc’teryx “Head Toque” to polish everything off. Looks scary to me.
THE RAY-BAN META sunglasses are the first artificial-intelligence wearable success story.
The onboard AI agent can answer questions and even identify what you’re looking at using the embedded cameras. People also love using voice commands to capture photos and videos of whatever is right in front of them without whipping out their phone. Oh, and they’ve got that chic Ray-Ban styling.
And now Meta’s smart glasses are getting even more AI-powered voice features. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the newest updates to the smart glasses’ software at his company’s recent Meta Connect event.
Zuckerberg said at Connect. “So, they’re great glasses. We keep updating the software and building out the ecosystem, and they keep on getting smarter and capable of more things.”
You can already ask Meta AI a question and hear its responses directly from the speakers embedded in the frames’ temple pieces. Now there are a few new things you can ask or command it to do.
One of the most impressive features is the ability to set reminders. You can look at something while wearing the glasses and say, “Hey, remind me to buy this book next week,” and the glasses will understand what the book is, then set a reminder. In a week’s time, Meta AI will tell you it’s time to buy that book.
Meta notes that live translation services are coming to the glasses soon, meaning people encountering different languages could see translated speech in the moment.
There are new frame colours and lens colours being added, and customers now have the option to add transition lenses that increase or decrease their shading depending on the current level of sunlight.
Meta hasn’t said exactly when these additional AI features will be coming to its Ray-Bans, except that they will arrive sometime this year. And with only two months of 2024 left, that means very soon.
