Supermodels featured in F&F Summer Campaign

...Pulchritudo...

Glancing at the TV one summer evening sometime last week I was amazed to see the new F&F summer fashion campaign featuring the international male super model no other than Jon Kortajarena and Victoria Secret’s Model Amy Hixon. Never would I think to associate two internationally renowned supermodels with the supermarket chain store Tesco.  What impressed me the most about the advertisement was that only after the closing few seconds of the advert I realised it was an F&F campaign (Tesco’s own supermarket brand)! I was half expecting it to be a more luxury designer brand; the whole look and feel of the advert has that high fashion and supermodel feel to it, with beautiful models posing effortlessly in their t-shirts/kaftans making it look very effortless and unflappable to be parading around in the sun. 

This to me showed the power of successful marketing, with addictive music (featuring the uber cool British duo AlunaGeorge with their electro beat "You Know You Like It" track) and soft lighting the whole collection looked something far more worthy of being on a catwalk let alone on a plastic hanger at your local Tesco’s. You have to give it to the marketing team at Tesco Headquarters; they delivered on their marketing goal, having great recognisable faces (from the handsome Jon Kortajarena *swoon*) to talented new music artists (AlunaGeorge will definitely be feeling the success of this advert to their sales I am sure) everyone is talking about this advert.

Take a look at the advert and see for yourself some of the sensual yet moody posing…

The full collection is available at most Tesco stores and online.

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Hope you all enjoy the Bank Holiday Weekend! 

...ArA...

Keeping it Clear & Transparent: Bag Trend

...Perspicuus...

There seems to be a see-through-clear accessories trend running from clear stilettos to our handbags and clutches, the likes of Valentiono  and Burberry  fully embracing this trend in their summer 2013 catwalks.

I must admit I did not immediately fall-head-over-heels in love with it; the idea of a perspex handbag repulsed me slightly; can you imagine showing all passer-by’s your random bits and bobs all on display. It seems to me a bit too far-fetched and not very practical, the trend (or two second "fad") at first for me was like one of those security procedures before jetting off to a far away land.

I am still thinking that these clear bags look slightly a bit cheap and tacky, and are better left back in the 80’s when fashion was more forgiving  (Fresh Prince of Bell Air springs to mind). Nevertheless always being open-minded and experimental with fashion and styling (well I try to be at least) I gave in and went a bit crazy. I thought I would take baby steps and work with the perspex (a phrase I thought I would never say).  I can see it working perhaps on small day clutches when you need to carry minimal pointless garbage essentials, I feel that this is a fair experimental compromise for those of you who are not equally convinced as I with this latest season essential.

New Look have a great range of these transparent style handbags that are very similar to those gracing the Valentino lookbook, the best way to style these clear handbags to make them pop I feel would be with white tailored trousers/denim with a contrast shirt that will really bring out these quirky bags– take a look at some of my findings…

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Check out these three pieces (very Valentino inspired), the White colour I feel lives up to the summer/spring colour palette that you can work with in your wardrobe – chick without being too loud or in your face, with gold detailing making it a perfect contrast piece teamed with sky high stilettos!

White Winged Transparent Bowler Bag from New Look £19.99 | Black Winged Transparent Bowler Bag from New Look £19.99 | Fuchsia Winged Transparent Bowler Bag  from New Look £19.99

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These more futuristic bags are certainly for those of you who want to make a bold statement (also teams well into the neon trend), perhaps a good shopper style for those beach holiday days for storing away those flip-flops/sun creams?

Coolway Pink Thais Clear Vinyl Shopper £19.99 from New Look | Coolway Neon Yellow Thais Clear Vinyl Shopper £19.99 from New Look

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This more conservative take on the clear/transparent trend is better suited for those of us who do not want to show all our valuables in a clear transparent handbag (*cough cough* scaredy-cat-me).     

Pink Perspex Hard Box Clutch £12.99 from New Look

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Is this trend a hit or a miss for you guys? Or are you still unsure a bit like me? 

...ArA...