AW13 - how to do punk with glamour!

Punk's not dead - it's alive and spitting and residing in your favourite high st stores for AW13.

Illustration by Beverley Duddridge

Be afraid - be very afraid?

Well, to me it's all a bit of a double-edged sword.

Let me explain.  I used to be a punk many moons ago but not when It was in its infancy.  More when it had shrivelled up and taken to sitting in the corner of a grotty pub snarling at everyone.  So to actually try and find punk clothes in the high st of the small town I lived in as a teen was like trying to find a shop that sells chocolate in the Sahara desert.

So I did what any born-too-late punk would do:  I covered all my clothes with millions of safety pins and my mum refused to be seen out with me in public. Sorry Mum!

But seeing slogan tees and tartan drainpipe jeans everywhere has elicited in me a kind of nostalgic curiosity. 

Even though I'm now a fully fledged member of the girly-girl club and love nothing more than glamour and glitz (the very antithesis of what Punk is all about) I can't help but swoon over little tartan kilts with humongous safety pins (hurrah) and don't-mess-with-me faux leather jeans.

"But could I wear Punk without a) looking very stupid and b) compromising my need to look glam at all times?" I hear you cry.

Well, the answer is a) yes and b) yes.  

Basically anyone can wear punk.  The trick is not to dress in it from head to toe.  After all, you really don't want to look like you're going to a fancy dress party.  

By all means wear tartan trousers with a slogan tee but throw a tailored pin stripe or black jacket over the top and wear with strappy heels for a cool yet classy look. 

Jacket - Zara

Trousers - Pull and Bear

Top - Mango

Shoes - Carvela by Kurt Geiger

Not a fan of the slogan tee? Then substitute it for a satiny blouse in electric blue which will look striking paired with the tartan trousers, whilst still retaining an air of sophisticated glamour.  

Top - Mango

And if the idea of tartan trousers leaves you cold, consider a cute tartan mini like this one from Mango 

Great pleasures in life #1

Yep, the humble cappuccino and pain au chocolat courtesy of Cafe Nero. 

Enjoyed on a glorious sunny morning overlooking the river. 

Sublime! 

Go to www.cafemero.com to find your nearest outlet 

The only way is Glamping - or a bit of Yurt won't hurt!!!!

Now I'll tell you one thing about me, I would rather slap myself in the face with a wet fish than go camping in a tent.

The only remotely outdoorsy things I do are lie on a sunlounger in the garden or sit outside a cafe sipping a cappuccino.

I positively hate the idea of sleeping on the floor of a wet tent with spiders crawling in my hair - ewwww.  And I don't do wellies either - not even the cutesy flowery ones.  The idea of stomping around in the mud at some festival (and yes, they're all invariably going to be muddy if they're held in the UK) fills me with the deepest horror.

So the idea of 'glamping' was something I didn't immediately dismiss out of hand.

Glamping, if you don't yet know, is short for Glamorous Camping.  The Urban Dictionary describes it as something that 'isn't done by usual outdoor types who climb mountains.'  Well that's ok then!

But isn't that an oxymoron I hear you cry!  Yep, I know it sounds incredulous that the word camping could ever be associated with anything even remotely approaching glamour.

I was sceptical at first but the facts seem encouraging.  Instead of smelly, damp canvas, the glamper stays in little wooden huts called yurts which come with all the essentials such as electric which is an obviously crucial commodity for operating hair dryers and straighteners!

Their interiors are really cool too and I'm not just talking about their air-conditioning units - they're often stylishly designed using the latest colours and fabrics.  And best of all, you sleep in a proper bed rather than on the floor in a grotty sleeping bag.  Hurrah!

Take a look at this stylish website http://www.glamping-uk.co.uk for examples of glamorous, glamping gloriousness.  There's even mentions of hot tubs - whoop whoop.

It's kind of your own little haven in the middle of the woods and you can pretend to be that intrepid explorer but still be able to tong your hair and watch TOWIE too.  Good times!

Kylie's bedroom secrets

Ms Minogue does it again – this time designing a range of über-glam coordinating bedsheets, duvets and throws that could turn any lacklustre room into the glittering boudoir of your dreams.

Bit strapped for cash?  Beautify your bed with this amazing cushion, only £20

Find the Kylie range at House of Fraser or online
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How to live glamorously for less - or I won't tell if you don't!

Think you need a shed load of cash to shine? Think again!

Just follow my tips below and you'll be glamming it up with the best of them quicker than you can say Nicole Scherzinger! 

Step 1: Go for a maxi dress

To me, nothing says glam more than a floor-length showstopper. Head straight to Boohoo.com who boast a humongous  selection of maxi lovelies starting from just £10!

Step 2: Be well heeled

Choose heels that look designer for a fraction of the price
Try Zara for statement heels that look like they've stepped straight off the catwalk.

Step 3: Attitude.  
Rock that look with every diva's accessory of choice - sunglasses of course!
Primark do a fantastic range from only £3

Step 4: Environment. 

Hang out somewhere choc full of glam loveliness and you’ll feel a million dollars.  

I like anywhere beside water and where there’s water there’s usually a swanky 

bar/restaurant just waiting to serve you that Mojito. 

What would you do to get glam for less? 

Handbags Anonymous

Addicted to handbags?  You need therapy!

Yep, Therapy at House of Fraser – of course!

Feast your eyes on these luscious lovelies arriving at a store near you

I’m particularly loving the Harriet bag – perfect for channelling this season’s ladylike glamour - think Grace Kelly in Monte Carlo.

If you only buy one thing this month, make it a statement necklace

Make your look zing with a dazzling, over-the-top necklace.  And the more glitzier, the better. 

The likes of Zara, H&M and River Island are over-brimming with these lustrous lovelies. 

River Island

River Island

River Island

Zara

Zara

Wear them with the ever-faithful Boyfriend blazer for extra glam sophistication or give a plain shift some show stealing schzam! See below.

And don't just save these shimmering lovelies for evening wear.  The new rules say there aren't any rules for when you're supposed to wear anything, so day and night you can add drama and completely rework your existing wardrobe. 

Bargain!