Who misses the ultimate fashionista’s TV series, Sex in The City? And who’s old enough to remember it?

Well here’s 2020’s equivalent – fresh to Netflix this week- EMILY IN PARIS.

This chic new Netflix show launched late last week and I am absolutely obsessed. Yep, I spent the whole rainy weekend cuddled up on the sofa bingeing the 10-part series.

Costume designer Patricia Field, who worked on Sex and the City as well as Ugly Betty and The Devil Wears Prada, designs for the series, which follows Phil Collins’s daughter LILY COLLINS (Emily) as she navigates a new city.

So, if you haven’t watched it yet – and why not? – expect great things.

The hot new show certainly came at a good time, as the nights are getting longer and the days are getting colder. Emily in Paris allows us to live out our fashion fantasies and forget about the nightmare that has been 2020.

The lead character certainly loves a matching colour look and a statement boot and bag, and who am I to disagree?

Emily’s first day in the office didn’t disappoint, as she opted for a yellow ditsy floral print cami top and matching midi skirt, styling with an oversized black belt, a matching bag, and killer heels. 

Emily’s exact top and skirt are last season’s Ganni, but I have found a great high street alternative.

Maxi Midi Dress, £29, Dancing Leopard

Multi Eyelet and Stud Belt, £15, Asos

Black Heeled Sandals, £59, Kurt Geiger

Kurt Geiger London Geiger 20 Mini Bag Yellow, £139, John Lewis

Tres Chic… Next up we have this gorgeous green look from the cafe scene. Emily pairs her apple green coat with a check co-ord and a cute neck scarf, not forgetting her signature ankle boots.

Duster Coat, £157, Jigsaw

Checked Dress, £15, Monki

Scarf, £9.99, H&M

Ankle Boots, £35, Missguided

It’s not stereotypically French if there isn’t a beret, and Emily nails Parisian chic, rocking a red beret paired with this season’s hottest trend, the short suit. Her gingham number looks unbelievably cute as she styles with a sensible heel and cross body bag.

Beret, £16.95, Gap

Blazer, £91, & Other Stories

Shorts, £4, Nasty Gal

Heels, £19.60, Dorothy Perkins

Greetings and welcome. We kick off with a stark WARNING for bargain hunting makeup fans everywhere.

The cheap designer makeup you’re contemplating buying this Christmas could be toxic. Shoppers – increasingly fuelled by the desire to emulate their Instagram idols – are buying fake versions of the most popular makeup brands at a fraction of the price. In particular MAC products – I’ve seen them all over social media and the internet.

But while these knock-offs look almost identical to the real deal, they frequently contain:

Lead

Mercury

Cyanide

Arsenic

Paint-stripper

& Faeces

Toxic ingredients that have sometimes left users with chemical burns, severe rashes and at risk of long-term health problems.

The UK beauty industry has exploded; sales topped £4 billion for the first time last year, and the appetite for the latest in vogue, big-brand items shows no sign of waning.

Social media has played a pivotal part in that growth, with consumers increasingly turning to YouTube and Instagram stars for advice on which cosmetics brands they should be buying. The millennial generation is vain and it’s all about the image.

Meanwhile, the counterfeit industry is booming, with sellers exploiting millennials’ online shopping habits and their unprecedented demand for big-brand cosmetics.

Regardless of whether it’s a fake Anastasia Beverly Hills or MAC – people are proudly boasting ‘I’ve got it’. They just want to display the ‘name’ on the packaging. But using knock-off goods can end in terrifying results.

On that sober warning, let’s get onto this week’s instalment of Zips It Up and we discover The Vampires Wife, Gucci’s Dress for Men and Ex Vogue Editor Alexandra Shulman’s new book all about Fashion is reviewed by my contributing Editor Chanelle Clarke.

FASHION giant Gucci is flogging a £1,700 orange check dress with a ribbon on the front for blokes, in an attempt to disrupt the stereotypes that mould masculine identity.

They reckon it looks great with a pair of ripped jeans, a man bag and a woolly bobble hat. The Italian firm says of its pricey check creation: “Inspired by grunge looks from the ‘90s and styled over ripped denim pants, this tartan smock in delicate colours reflects the idea of fluidity explored for the Fall Winter 2020 fashion show.

“The contrast Peter Pan collar and smock embroidery on the front add a childhood inspired element, which ties to a recurrent theme of the collection.” 

That should swing it for you, if you’re in two minds.

Somehow, I can’t see this selling out, especially in the current Covid climate.

Perhaps if you guys do fancy purchasing this dress and someone questions your decision, you can always reply with the following quote from Gucci’s website:

“Pieces with versatile ways to wear and style embrace each person who is part of Gucci’s individual spirit.”.

I would advise you ‘try before you buy’ though, because it hardly embraces the average male body-size – it only comes in XS and XSS.

H&M have announced a collaboration with cult favourite label The Vampire’s Wife just in time for Halloween.It’s an affordable ‘bold and feminine’ collection, launching at H&M on October 22

The British label, created by former model Suzie Cave in 2014, is famed for pretty prairie dresses infused with a dose of gothic glam, which are frequently spotted on red carpets.

The limited-edition line, which will be available online and in-store, promises to be ‘progressive in both attitude and fabrication’, with whimsical dresses and gothic capes amongst the pieces for sale from just £9.99. I will get that cape whether it kills me or not!

The Vampire’s Wife x H&M collection is made from sustainably sourced materials, utilizing recycled nylon and polyester. Designs were turned around during the Covid-19 pandemic, and statement pieces include the lace mystique mini dress with signature shoulders, the velvety mini dress with sensual pussy-bow and the romantic silvery lace cape.

Accessorizes are whimsical, including charm necklaces, bracelets and ear cuffs featuring eye, cloud and vampire teeth iconography.

Meanwhile, classic black dominates the collection for an invitingly mysterious feel, with shimmery black lace, opulent button cuffs and rich velvet textures adding to the luxurious tone.

While prices ordinarily start at £350 for dresses, the H&M line will offer fashionistas a chance to buy pieces for a fraction of that.

Dresses range from an affordable £19.99 to £49.99, while fashion fans can also pick up accessories from the brand for just £9.99.

Clothes . . .

and other things

that matter… by Alexandra Shulman

I raced through this book, although upon reflection I wish I had savoured it more. Since the age of eleven, I have been collecting and reading Vogue, so “Clothes and Other Things That Matter” was a book I was desperate to get my hands on. My love of Vogue is so all encompassing, that my late Grandma would decorate my birthday cakes as a Vogue cover, with topical headlines; bless her soul.

So, to the book…. Shulman’s manner is accessible, chatty and friend-like. There is no pontificating – she is surprisingly unaffected for someone who was at the helm of British Vogue for twenty-five years. At the driving seat of every fashionista’s Bible.

To introduce the book, Shulman tallies up all the clothes in her wardrobe. I was astounded to know that I actually own way more than her, handbags aside. Although my collection is rather less costly and definitely more Chanel-light. In the absence of being allowed to do many other things right now, tallying up your clothes is one to try at home on a free weekend. You might surprise yourself, and rediscover forgotten treasures.

The content of this book is multi-faceted; part autobiography, part fashion critique and part social commentary. These multiple layers stand together to make it a very beguiling read. Format wise, each chapter is dedicated to an item of clothing and/ or colour that has significance during different epochs in Shulman’s life.

The jacket of the book has a navy background, bubble-gum pink writing and a photo of Shulman herself in a L.B.D.  The semiotics of this become more meaningful as you read on.

Anyone who loves fashion and Shulman should read “Clothes and Other Things That Matter”. A little knowledge helps. However, of course, you’re reading Zips It Up so you’re probably already ” in the know”. 

Alexandra writes with élan and, of course, style. This book is a delight.

Chanelle Clark Bruccoleri

Welcome to October 2020.

Welcome to Zips It Up and welcome to the ‘second wave’.

It certainly looks like we’re in for a miserable Autumn and Winter as the Virus continues to spread bad vibes all over the place. Make sure you have a suplus supply of masks and here’s an early Xmas present idea for the man in your life. This is selling fast, so grab it now on eBay – £8.50. The Willy Face Mask will be sure to raise a smile on what is bound to be a rough Christmas this year. Full penis, testicals and grey pubic hair will surely go down a storm at the Tesco check-out.

Pretty much the only thing I’m looking forward to – NOT Christmas – is the US Presidential election, which looks like it’s going to be super entertaining, to say the least. Plus the return of Spitting Image. More about all that in the coming weeks.

As we say goodbye to Summer, we solemnly missed all of the ‘old normal’ closing parties in Ibiza and Mallorca, which didn’t happen – obviously. This time last year we were partying at Pikes, but its home town of San Antonio is in lockdown as we speak.

Pikes have instead left us with a parting seasonal surprise on their website.

The message was ‘although dancing was banned this year – we can still get our hands on the ultimate dancing shoes’ – and these beauties are to die for.

Pikes have collaborated with designer Terry De Havilland and created these beautiful ZIA rose gold & purple high shine disco platforms which have the flavour of Freddie’s infamous suite and Pamela’s shades of Pink restaurant, which I was lucky to visit this summer.

There’s 15% off for Pikes regulars if you visit their website. Alternatively, you can head to Terry’s official website where you’ll find the limited-edition platforms as well as lots of other fabulous footwear.

Pre-order now to guarantee yourself a pair. Release date is 16/10/2020.

Zia Pikes X Terry De Havilland

£325.00

Pre- Fully leather lined and leather sole. Exclusive Pikes x TdH packaging

www.terrydehavilland.com/product/zia-pikes-x-tdh/

Onto this week, and we have found a dress and mask all-in-one, the best items from the new H&M A/W 20 collection and why collagen is the answer to thinning hair.

YOU’D think that six months into the coronavirus crisis, we’d be used to wearing face masks – but in truth we’re always forgetting ours at home, whenever we leave the house.

Lottie Moss has the solution, as she was spotted in this £14 face mask dress in London last week.

And the best part is, you can pick up the genius dress for just £14 from Pretty Little Thing, via their website.

At first glance, the jersey dress looks like your standard autumnal roll neck knitted frock. But on closer inspection, it has loopholes for your ears as it stretches to cover your face.

• Long Sleeve Mask Bodycon Dress, £14 from PrettyLittleThing

While Lottie paired the frock with some chunky leather boots, the model featured on the website matched hers with heels for a socially distanced night out.

In other words, we never have to worry about leaving our masks at home again.  The second best thing to never having to wear masks again.

I must admit, I’m a bit sad to put away my summery pieces (although in reality, some might say “WHAT summer”). But actually, having looked at this week’s major new H&M autumn launch, I’m not that devastated.

Revealing the third drop from its AW20 Studio Collection, the high street fave has instantly made me excited for the new season. H&M have delivered cosy, fashion-forward knitwear with some seriously glitzy bits thrown in too (whether we get a Christmas this year or not).

There’s a mix of neutral, easy-wearing shades like creamy beige and wintery whites, along with punchy azures, beautiful blues and glistening greens. There’s also lots of crowd-pleasing black staples that form the backbone to the collection – culottes, blazers and skirts. Ideal if you want to mix in some colour but not go too full-on.

On the whole, the new collection feels very 70s David Bowie-esque, with its metallic shirts, wide-leg jeans and razzle-dazzle sequins, ideal for the festive season.  Even if that’s not on the cards this year, we reckon you’ll still find a way to wear them. The brown slim shirt and matching flares have sold out but trust me, I WILL hunt them down.

The tailored separates in the AW20 Studio drop have a more pared-down look to them, slouchier and oversized – perhaps a nod to our changing working wardrobe, where home has become the office.

This collection is for those that celebrate being oneself, above all else. Wear the bold earrings to work, try the lingerie-inspired dress over the red leather trousers, or layer with the deep V-neck dresses for a relaxed sexiness.

Here are my favourite pieces.

Voluminous Flounced Blouse, £69.99, H&M

Knitted Wool-Blend Cardigan, £69.99, H&M

Chunky-Knit Wool Jumper, £79.99, H&M

Sequined Dress, £119.99, H&M

Flounced Organza Blouse, £79.99, H&M

Glittery Shirt, £49.99, H&M

Rhinestone Clip Earrings, £24.99, H&M

Voluminous Cotton Shirt, £59.99, H&M

Much like retinol and hyaluronic acid, collagen is one of those skincare buzzwords  we see thrown around a lot – but it’s fair to say most people have no idea what exactly it is and what its benefits are.

What exactly is collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein [essential for building muscle] in the body. It’s a long, fibrous, structural protein [rope-like in appearance] that gives the skin strength and elasticity.

Often described as scaffolding for the skin, it acts like a trampoline providing a supportive base structure and giving us the ‘boiiing’ we need for bouncy, healthy-looking skin. Think plump, juicy skin.

With its fundamental face-perking credentials, it stands to the reason that beauty brands and consumers want a piece of the action, and skincare products promising to give our complexion added oomph via collagen are big business.

Whilst we’ve read about collagen’s benefits on our skin, it has now been revealed that collagen could be the secret to healthy hair post lockdown.

If lockdown – and a lack of hairstyling appointments – left you with thinning hair, first time greying and lacklustre ends, the following advice could come in handy.

1. Collagen may keep early greys at bay

People have ditched the home hair dyes and they’re not only looking for ways to disguise the grey hairs by opting for lowlights instead of all over dyes, they also want to keep them at bay. Collagen can act as an antioxidant to fight cell damage as studies suggest free radical damage to the cells that produce hair colour may be one of the reasons for early-greying. Other reasons could include stress, poor diet which may damage melanin producing cells, too.

2. Collagen could help rebuild hair from the inside out

Post-lockdown has meant most people’s locks are in desperate need of a restyle and treatment, as well as a good trim and/or restyle with a nourishing hair treatment, collagen will build hair from the inside out. Put simply, hair is primarily made up of the protein keratin. Your body uses several amino acids to build keratin, some of which can be found in collagen, so this could help keep hair healthy long after your cut.

3. Collagen could be the key to prevent hair-thinning

More and more people, due to the stress of lockdown, have complained about hair loss and hair thinning. As well as special shampoos and thickening sprays for a faux volume boost, regular trims to stop hair loss through splitting and a cleverly layered haircut – a collagen supplement could help. It makes up 70% of your skin and your scalp is an extension of that, a healthy scalp could mean less hair thinning. 

There are studies which show evidence that marine collagen in particular is most effective. This one is an ingestible liquid shot. Liquids absorb into the body far more effectively than pills and one 50ml shot contains the same amount of active ingredients as up to 15 pills.

Best collagen supplement for absorption

Kike Health Pure Marine Collagen Powder (200g), £29.95, Cult Beauty

This Collagen is Type 1, purified hydrolysed collagen, which means it’s easier to absorb than non-hydrolysed marine collagen. Just one serving provides 7,500mgs of high strength highly absorbable hydrolysed collagen to help supplement existing collagen.

The doctor-approved collagen supplement

Solgar Collagen Hyaluronic Acid Complex Tablets( 30 tablet ), £37.25, Cult Beauty

This is designed to nourish your skin from within thanks to high levels of collagen and hyaluronic acid. Added vitamin C contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.

Best budget collagen supplement

The Beauty Chef Collagen Inner Beauty Boost (100ml), £9.00, Cult Beauty

A vegan elixir to plump the skin from within and nourish your gut so a double whammy. Packed with bio-fermented papaya and grapeseed extracts, added pomegranate peel extract, gotu kola, organic goji, acai and maqui berries, plus more vitamin C to support collagen production and zinc to support skin structure and healthy hair and nails, it packs a beauty punch.

Welcome to another instalment of Amanda Zips It Up.

So, Fashion week came and went without any fuss, buzz or much coverage, which is a crying shame.

Word on the street is that the new virtual, remote version of LFW could be here to stay, for the foreseeable future anyway.

Although there were still beautiful locations and catwalk shows, watching it online wasn’t nearly as exciting. I fear that we are entering a new era, with the hectic chaos of Fashion weeks around the world dumbed and digitalised right down.

I wonder if this will have a knock-on effect, in the absence of supermodels, celebrities on the front row and fashion magazines capturing everyone’s outfits for us to gossip about for weeks after the shows?

We shall see.

This week I am launching an exclusive competition to win this beautiful, brand-new star skater dress by Boo Hoo in size M – L.

It has boho sleeves, a tied -knotted neck line and hem-line sits just above the knee. It’s a UK size 14 but can be worn smaller if you re-tie the front.

All you have to do is answer this question:

In 2014, Kate Moss presented the best male solo award at The Brits wearing a very famous costume. Who originally owned this outfit?

In-box your answers to me via my Facebook page throughout the next week. I’ll announce the winner in next week’s blog.

Good luck.

Onto this week’s round-up of fashion, we check out the new Rolling Stones store in London, Fabulous new Uggs and is it time to start renting your children’s clothes?