2020 Fashion

Remember, I mentioned PrettyLittleThing’s sell-out £15 face-mask dress a few weeks ago? Well, they’re BACK, now in animal print, amongst other colours and patterns.

THE infamous face mask dress that sold-out on PrettyLittleThing in just 24 hours is back and I’ve MANAGED TO BUY one!

The bizarre frock that comes with a built-in face covering originally came just black but is now available in a stone shade, plus prints, including a leopard, marble, grid, and a PLT logo design. And the dress’s popularity has also seen it go north in price, from £14 to its current £18.

The dress, which has been seen on the likes of Lottie Moss, resembles a turtleneck with ear holes attached, meaning that it can instantly go from stylish to practical. At first glance, the jersey dress looks like your standard autumnal roll neck knitted frock, albeit very body-con. But on closer inspection, it has loopholes for your ears as it stretches to cover your face.

And while the design may seem a little kooky, it has proved a hit with customers, with the retailer confirming it sold out in just one day.

I tried to buy it first time around, but was too late. As soon as I saw the news flash – I managed to grab one. I’ll post pictures when it arrives.

In other words, we never have to worry about leaving our masks at home again.

Kylie Jenner has released ANOTHER cosmetic collection.

The youngest Kardashian and cosmetic billionaire shared a ‘animal print themed’ shot of her new makeup collection this week.

The fun packaging has a leopard theme with several brown, beige and copper tones and is just in time for Halloween. The 23-year-old mogul had fun with the names of the products which include Bad Kitty, Cool Cat, Rawr and Can’t Be Tamed.

“My new collection launches on 10.26!!!!!! just in time for fall thank u for all the love xo” Kylie says on Instagram. That’s the 26^th October to you and me.

‘I’m way too excited to show you guys this palette,’ she wrote on one social media entry where she was laying tummy down with her bum in the air.

The packaging also showed her smouldering while sitting in a chair. And she laid down on a leopard print sofa while in a leopard print cowgirl hat.

If you’re a fan of Kylie’s make-up (which most of the planet seems to be) then look out for more lip glosses, eye shadows and blushes. There is even a large box set.

While she has yet to reveal details about the new collection, the beauty advised her 198 million followers to ‘stay tuned later today on’ her Instagram Story for the reveal.

In just 45 minutes, the reality star received more than 2.1 million likes and 11,000 comments from fans, raving that she looked ‘stunning’ in her skin-tight ensemble.

Her face was perfectly contoured and she rocked a dramatic bronze eye-shadow and long eyelash extensions, which complemented her brown lipstick. She completed the stunning look with a pair of strappy black stilettos, which were barely visible.

Another way to celebrate the otherwise cancelled Halloween this year I suppose.

Welcome to mid-October. It’s always around this time of the year when I start thinking about Christmas present ideas.

As usual, Men are notoriously difficult to buy for, but I have found the ultimate gift for Santa’s sack.

A mini hot tub just for your testicles –
The Testicuzzi.

Yes, the Testicuzzi is a real product that lets men soak their balls. The creator claims it all started with a conversation about current trends with college students, including filling a cup with water, dunking testicles in it and having a girl blow into the water with a straw.

I can’t say it was something I was doing at college.

Eureka! They decided to make a real hot tub for guys’ testicles and the company immediately designed and 3D printed a prototype.

The Testicuzzi features a pillow to rest your penis with a chamber to dunk your balls and a battery-powered jet to create the bubbles. It’s available to order now, with delivery expected around early December, so perfect as a Christmas present. 

It has already had some great reviews. Those who have used it have said: “It’s a magical experience. It’s comfortable, it’s refreshing and relaxing on the testicles.” At the moment, it comes in one-size but the creators promise they’ve done their research and the Testicuzzi should be big enough for most men.

The creators researched testicle size and averages. Penis size varies a lot, but testicle size is actually fairly consistent across different men. The Testicuzzi caters for the statistical averages and they report that, so far, nobody has had any issues with size. They do have plans for varying sizes – more for the ego and comedy, I presume.

 There are three colours available – jet black with a red pillow, white with and black pillow and the extremely fancy 14k gold-plated testicuzzi. The white and black versions are currently on sale for £34.35, with a standard price of £85.94, while the gold-plated version is £7,701.

Onto this week’s Zips It Up and we discover the 2020 version of Sex in The City on Netflix – Emily In Paris, check out Ralph Lauren’s ‘FRIENDS’ collection and Justin Bieber collaborates and designs his own CROCS. Groan.

The One Where Ralph Lauren Collaborates With… Warner Bros

It’s been 25 years since Friends first graced our screens.

And in a year during which we’ve been imprisoned in our homes bingeing on Netflix, I’m viewing it all over again in its entirety.

I watched Friends avidly first time around in the mid-90s. Of course, we all loved Phoebe’s kookiness and Monica’s obsessive cleanliness, but it was Rachel Green’s fashion – and that haircut – which I had for a while – which catapulted the fictional character to the realms of style icon.

She was a true fashionista, spending her career working at Ralph Lauren  Ralph Lauren as a buyer at Bloomingdales. Now, fans of Rachel’s wardrobe can rejoice, because it’s all coming full circle.

As an homage to Rachel and her sartorial choices (and to celebrate the show’s 25^th anniversary) Ralph Lauren has partnered with Warner Bros to create a curated Wear-to-Work collection based on Rachel’s wardrobe from the show.

The range features pieces from the Polo and Ralph Lauren main lines and comprises a selection of Rachel-esque 90s and 00s items, including woollen pantsuits, boots and dresses, all given a Friendly makeover for 2020.

Warner Bros clearly recreated the set to showcase the collection in these brilliant pictures.

It’s official, Justin Bieber has snapped up a Crocs collab. 

GROAN.

The humble plastic clogs, worn by NHS workers and chefs alike, have become the footwear industry’s big hitters. Yep, 2020 belongs to Crocs.

As polarising as Marmite, Crocs have secured famous fans in Pharrell Williams, Shia LaBeouf and even Steven Tyler, as well as collaborations with Balenciaga, Birkenstock and Post Malone. What’s more, the team over at Adidas have seemingly noticed the popularity of the plastic slip-ons, as the brand dropped its own pair of polyurethane clogs over the weekend.

And now the biggest fan of the ugly, holey slip-ons has just snagged his own collaboration. Justin Bieber, as well as favouring Air Dior kicks and Yeezy sliders, has been a long -time wearer of Crocs. Bieber took to Instagram with a simple image captioned ‘Soon’, showing a satsuma-orange pair of the plastic footwear, emblazoned with charms (yep, Crocs charms are a thing), floating in a swimming pool. 

Not only did this get fans of the slightly bonkers crooner excited (his post has received over 1.3 million likes thus far), but it also sent the latter’s shares soaring by more than 11 per cent, and trading spiked. 

Now it has been confirmed that this will be a collaboration with Bieber’s apparel brand Drew House. Launching this week, the unisex Drew House x Crocs Classic Clog pulls inspiration from the signature yellow of Bieber’s brand and includes eight custom Jibbitz charms. You can guarantee, thanks to the Canadian singer’s pulling power, that this will be the biggest Crocs drop to date.

£54.99. crocs.co.uk

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