Clutch Bags

The right bag can make or break your party outfit. Texture, colour, print, embellishment – there are so many options. Here's my guide:

1. 'Giselle' hardcase embellished bag, £45, Accessorize

Head to Accessorize for THE best high street range of evening bags. They are absolutely unrivalled when it comes to a designer look for under £50. This blush-hued bag looks more like jewelry, so make sure your other accessories don't compete.

2. Miu Miu midnight blue velvet clutch, £295, NET-A-PORTER

Tap in to the season's velvet trend with this adorable bag. It looks amazing with rich berry or forest green.

3. Purple snake effect clutch, £20, Dorothy Perkins

Sometimes all you need is a jewel coloured bag to really bring an outfit to life. Contrast or match with your shoes or dress.

4. Alexander McQueen gold scull clutch, £625, Liberty

If you have the budget this is a must-buy. First appearances suggest a pretty, dainty gold clutch, but further inspection reveals this quirky gold scull clasp with blue river pearl eyes and Swarovski crystal teeth. Team this bag with anything, gold can be treated as a neutral.

5. 'Pyramid' hardcase silver clutch, £35, Oasis

This graphic silver and black bag will look ultra-chic with a bold-shoulder black dress.

Oasis Fashion Party

I love Oasis's signature look of the season; the slick 50s rock chick with a dose of Balmain. Now, the darling of the high-street, famed for its glamourous party dresses, is launching a new private shopping service called 'Fashion Party by Oasis' – perfect for the run-up to the Christmas party season.

This hassle-free, evening shopping experience for you and your friends includes 60 minutes of fashion inspiration with free Cava, cupcakes and style advice as well as 15% discount for you and all your guests. The 'party hostess' also receives a £150 voucher if the party takes over £750 and all guests are entered into a £100 prize draw.

All you need to do is go into one of the participating Oasis stores and make an appointment for your private shop for you and a minimum of 10 of your friends. The 'organiser' will receive invites to send out to all her friends inviting them to the party with the confirmed date and time of the shopping party.

Participating stores include:

Richmond
Bromley
Colchester
Bristol Cribbs
Oxford
York
Brighton
Leadenhall
Leeds White Rose
Nottingham
Islington
Cardiff (new store opening)
Cambridge (MH)
Birmingham Bullring
Leicester
Poultry
Merryhill Dudley
Peterborough (new store opening)
Lakeside
Reading
Milton Keynes
Regent Street
Aberdeen
Leeds plaza
Belfast Don
Chester
Glasgow BG

For more information please email fashionparty@oasis-stores.org.uk

EMU BOOTS

Generally speaking I'm a high heels girl or smart flats if needs must. However, on chilly winter weekends when I'm just pottering around, or after the gym, there's nothing nicer than being all cosy but still stylish.

My latest comfort investment comes in the form of Emu boots, first appearances suggest they're just another sheepskin boot brand jumping on the band wagon, but look a little closer and you'll uncover an 100% Merino wool lining, a lush suede outer, double stitched seams and the magic Emusole to ensure a long-wearing sole and extra support.

I'm wearing my chestnut-coloured high Bronte boots (£79.95, Fitness Footwear) with this season's treggings, super-soft cashmere and cottons for the ultimate in lazy-weekend chic.

Click here for more information on how to care for you boots with the Emu Shoe Care Kit.

LITTLE BOOTS

Blackpool-born and a whisker over 5ft, Victoria Hesketh aka Little Boots, is an unlikely source of fashion inspiration. But just like her music, we've taken her colourful style to our hearts.

Fashion editors across the board have been quick to pick up on this 25 year-old singer's quirky style. The appeal lies in the fact that it's quite typical of what other girls her age are wearing out on the town and to music gigs. It's an insight in to girl-next-door fashion, un-styled with a touch of naivety and utterly endearing.

She is fiercely proud of her Lancastrian roots, and cites Blackpool as the inspiration behind most of her songs – from the dark side of the seaside town, to the kitsch garishness. And it doesn't take a leap of imagination to see that her love of glitter and glitz in her style choices must surely have stemmed from here too.




SHOPPING LIST:

• Vintage pieces from the 80s
• Lurex, brocade and sequins
• Statement necklaces
• False lashes and glitter eyeliner
• Prom dresses
• Sky-high heels

See Little Boots at Preston's 53 Degrees, Monday 26th October 2009.

GET THE LOOK: Diane Kruger

I love Diane Kruger's classic yet dramatic look. With the release of her latest film Inglourious Basterds, we're getting to see a lot more of her impeccable style choices as she blazes the PR trail. She seems to love statement dressing, but somehow never looks over-done, jewelry is kept to a minimum apart from a skinny-strap watch, a bangle or a long necklace. She is not shy about making bold fashion decisions, she has the world's best designers at her feet and she has fun with it.

Mixing eras and styles with ease, this lady makes combinations that shouldn't work look simply stunning and leaves you wondering 'Why didn't I think of that?'. Scruffy boots, with 20s hair and sequins – brilliant. She's also not afraid to rely on old favourites, like her trusty Chanel handbags and box clutches, block colours or alluring darks and neutrals (you'll hardly ever see her in a print, preferring details with impact). On the red carpet she's been spotted in Balmain, Marchesa and Hervé Léger by Max Azria. Off-duty, she gets the balance just right too, mixing brights and keeping things casual with flats.

Main photo: Diane Kruger, in Chanel Haute Couture, at the Palme d'Or Awards Ceremony, Cannes 2006.

Click to enlarge image

1. Crystal embellished hard-case clutch, £45, Accessorize
2. French Connection watch, £90, ASOS
3. Sequin tux jacket, £60, Dorothy Perkins
4. Ruched hem hareem trousers, £35, Topshop
5. Purple animal print one-shoulder dress, £45, Warehouse
6. Strapless jewelled pocket dress, £70, Lipsy
7. Black sequin hard-case clutch, £22, Accessroize
8. Patent red clutch, £25, Aldo
9. Gold and black hard-case clutch, £30, Accessorize
10. Sequin dress, £125, Oasis
11. Black cut-out shoes, £40, Dorothy Perkins
12. Wool felt trilby hat, £22, Topshop
13. Light grey seamed crop T, £22, Topshop
14. Yellow draped vest, £15, Topshop
15. Light grey quilted bag, £35, Warehouse
16. Black tailored trousers, £75, French Connection
17. Purple ruched waist skirt, £20, Topshop
18. Orange/red shift dress, £30, New Look
19. Gold necklace, £12, Miss Selfridge
20. Pewter snake peep-toe flat, £18, Dorothy Perkins
21. Patent skinny belt, £12, ASOS

GET THE LOOK: Balmain

Thanks to rock-chic label Balmain, we were all wearing ripped acid-wash denim this summer. Now, for winter, the label's designer, Christophe Decarnin, has given us big shoulders, sparkle and black – looks that the high street has already taken to it's heart.

At the Balmain Autumn/Winter 2009 show, the model's make-up was kept neutral and and hair was super simple but slightly mussed, as it might look after a night in a smoky Parisian bar – the combination was the perfect backdrop for the angular shapes and sequins.

1. Sequin stretch bandeau dress, £50, Topshop
2. Slub popper-back T, £38, Whistles
3. Metallic shift dress, £34.99, River Island
4. Studded skirt, £45, Warehouse
5. Black longline tux jacket, £45, Miss Selfridge
6. Black studded belt, £12, Dorothy Perkins
7. Gem-encrusted brooch, £10, Accessorize
8. Studded strappy ankle boots, £100, Aldo
9. Silver sequin top, £39.99, River Island

CHLOÉ: On a shoestring

Chloé has to be one of my favourite labels. I love the classic, chic style – it just makes me sigh every season. The high street will never be able to recreate the cut and fabrics, but I wonder if I could just get a little bit of that Chloé look on a budget. The flat tan leather boots, the muted colours, the delicately pleated fabric, the soft leather bags...

High street:

1. Double breasted over-size blazer, £49.99, River Island
2. Knitted scarf, £16, Accessorize
3. Grey dress, £65, Whistles
4. Leather bag, £65, Topshop
5. Suede lace-up boots, £55, ASOS
6. Black boots, £80, Oasis

Chloe:

1. Double breasted alpaca-blend cardigan, £650, NET-A-PORTER
2. Alpaca-blend oversized scarf, £355, NET-A-PORTER
3. Cashmere shift dress, £480, NET-A-PORTER
4. 'Heloise' leather hobo bag, £800, NET-A-PORTER
5. Suede lace-up ankle boot, £480, NET-A-PORTER
6. Flat leather boots, £705, NET-A-PORTER