To be stylish you must have no style

On a recent weekend I was lured into a shop by a sign so beautiful and life affirming it made my heart skip a beat. SALE. How I love those four little words. The letters were red and juicy and inviting. I felt like Snow White succumbing to the delicious red apple. Indeed a witch laid waiting inside for a willing damsel in fashion distress such as myself. Commonly referred to as a sales associate she was conjuring up some items to ‘diversify my wardrobe’. I’m no fool; she was trying to sell me clothes I would never wear. As soon as she uttered the words ‘quirky and geek chic’ I was instantly regurgitating my lunch. Images of, dirty hair, men’s oversized jumpers, brogues and satchels. Basically girls who dress like homeless boys.

The outfit in question was an oversized mans t shirt with an anorak and high waisted tweed pants with braces. Images of Agyness Deyn, La Roux and every T4 presenter ever struck me like a hot GHD to the temple. “And we have knee high socks that are so comfy with brogues. They really are the only shoe to be seen in this year.”

To someone of a lesser character that line would have converted me in a heartbeat. It’s true that brogues are everywhere and celebrities like Chloe Sevigny, Mary Kate Olsen and grungy pop tart Ke$ha are all fans. But they are also girls who sing about getting inebriated, don’t brush their hair for tv appearances and regularly look like they have been kept alive from copious amounts of MDMA washed down by red bull.

Geek chic is not in my repertoire and brogues are most certainly not in my wardrobe. And for this judgement I am cursed to be ‘unfashionable’. How odd it is to be “out” by being occasion appropriate and clean. Kirsten Stewart wore converse to award ceremonies and she is celebrated for ‘relinquishing the stuffy factor’. Isn’t the so called ‘stuffy factor’ the best part? The chance to dress up and be beautiful and radiant and fabulously female?

Even in everyday scenarios I can’t understand why personal appearance and etiquette have become so far removed from mainstream society. It is now completely acceptable to look like all your possessions are housed in a Tesco trolley. Of course not everyone is a girly girl. Some girls would rather sleep for an extra ten minutes than blow dry their hair. Some girls see no problem with wearing sunglasses in the rain, sleet or snow, and some think that the Nars multiple in orgasm is a group activity for swingers.

It takes just as much effort to brush your hair and wash your face as it does to find your wayfarers and that half broken smoke in your satchel. Sue me if I go out the door in the morning looking as best as I can that day without a hint of ‘quirk’ about me. Some celebrities should be admired for their style and some should be quarantined. If Audrey Hepburn said she washed her teeth with a “bottle of Jack” in the fifties things would have been a lot different. We’d all look like shit.

Rampant Rabbit

The new trend in headwear sees animal ears being coveted by celebrities such as Madonna, the Olsen twins and Lily Allen. Should we have learned from Bridget Jones Tarts and Vicars faux pas or could sporting bunny ears be more telling than one might think? Miss M investigates.

The iconic image of the bunny ear has transformed with its consumer over the years. Many young girls first memory of sexual innuendos came from bunny rabbits whether in the form of the Playboy club hostesses or the iconic caricature of Jessica Rabbit in the late eighties. Two thousand and nine sees the bunny ears as not only an acceptable accessory to wear during cocktail hour but as the feather in the cap of many a fashionista.

Not since the rabbit appeared in Sex and the City has there been more talk of a woodland animal. These once forbidden accessories hopped into the spotlight on the Louis Vuitton Fall 2009 catwalk. “I like the kind of Playboy, French coquette aspect to it" said the labels designer Marc Jacobs. Indeed one can’t help but think of Playboy when they see women donning bunny ears. The brash symbol of sexuality was something Playboy founder Hugh Hefner had in mind for the brand. 'I selected a rabbit for the magazine because of the humorous sexual connotation, and because the image was frisky and playful’. No one was surprised then when Madonna, the friskiest of all celebs, wore a pair to the Met Ball Gala in May. Interview magazine may have cried “mutton dressed as rabbit” but the fashion dress up box was opened and everyone wanted to play.

Parisian couture milliner Maison Michel created quite a stir in August when the Olsen twins wore a pair of their lace mouse and bunny ears respectively. Naysayers at New York Magazine speculated that the tween idols were experiencing a regression trying to regain their lost youth by playing dress up. What better way to forget about your recessionary troubles than pretend to be a fairy tale character from your youth. British style consultant and journalist Peter York sees them as “kitsch from beginning to end. They’re about escapism. The more escapism the better.”

A pair of bunny ears can be attributed to nesting behaviour brought on by the recession in the more mature shopper. The Daily Telegraph explains “(The recession) reflects the shift from rampant consumerism to a more austere but creative way of living”. Bunny ears can prove an economical way of revving up your sex life. Topshops ears will cost you £16, much more economical than a Basque and suspenders from La Perla. Nesting never sounded more enticing.

Who would have thought that topping off your couture with a pair of ears would be the look du jour? The tongue and cheek trend of rabbit ears can help channel your inner child or reveal your inner rampant rabbit. Either way these naughty accessories certainly offer a veritable two fingers (or ears) to the recession, and that is a trend we will be seeing for seasons to come.
 
Trend Update
Numerous pairs of bunny ears have been spotted at Vauxhall Fashion Scout-two pairs being worn by stylish gents.
French Connection Camden has male mannequins sporting the trend. Bunny ears are a go!

Vauxhall Fashion Scout-Life as an intern

It's been three long days of interning and on my day off I'm taking a little time to review all the divine shows and people I have met.

Vauxhall Fashion Scout is being held at the Freemasons building in Covent Garden this year. As an intern I have been assigned as front of house staff. Greeting audience members on their way into the building, showing people to their seats, guiding them around the beautiful building and trying to network is all part of the gig.

With so many fashionable people under one roof, it's a fashion journalism students dream. My celeb spotting is increasing also- a definite plus of the job. So far the list includes

• Hilary Alexander
• Nicola Roberts
• Rachel Stephens
• Sophie Anderton
• Beverley Knight
• Liz Mc Clarnon
• Jodie Harsh
• Rex from Big Brother!

Also project Catwalk winner Jasper Garvida showed last night and Britain's next top model contestant Jade walked on Thursday. There were rumours of Russell Brand and Katy Perry attending the BodyAMR show but alas they didn't show even though we waited an extra 25 minutes with fingers and toes crossed. House of Blue Eyes had an exhibition yesterday which included three mini catwalks. Models were covered in body paint, glitter and enormous platforms (males too!) There was manic dancing and free hugs for all sending a message of love and freedom. Lady GaGa was rumoured to show but with a gig in Dublin last night I guess she couldn't make it-disappointment all round. I would have loved to see her join in with the models and audience love dance along the corridor. F.I.E.R.C.E.