The Very Simon G

Holly Willoughby... is that YOU in Cosmopoitan magazine??

2012-02-27T07:40:00.004-08:00

I couldn't believe it either... I actually thought this was Pamela Anderson (not in an offensive way, in an 'ohmigod you look HOT' way!). Usually covering up her body in slinky dresses, this shoot for Cosmopolitan magazine's April issue proves that actually a leopard very much does change it's spots! Look at her bod! Wow. I think Holly should rock this look for a red carpet soon... now THAT would be fierce!

The Oscars 2012 'Very' best bits from the red carpet...

2012-02-27T04:16:00.006-08:00

Whaaaaaaaaa the climax of award season ladies and gents... THE OSCARS!!

Who cares about who won what (well, apart from Meryl obvs!), it's all about WHO WORE WHO and which A Listers looked amaze!

Here's a few of my favs...

*Gwynie's Tom Ford gown and cape set the (white) standard of the night.
Utterly gorgeous and full of timeless chic*

*A dark horse... my next best dressed - Shailene Woodley in a
statuesque Valentino couture gown. So classy!*

*That leg is working over time Angie! And the black velvet Atelier Versace
gown speaks for itself - she's bringing sexy back!*

*This is a master class of how to dress for your body... THANK GOD
FOR OCTAVIA SPENCER! Her obsession with Tadashi Shoji sure
is paying off. Having a focus in the middle of a gown like this
takes pounds off!!*

*Don't love this Armani Prive dress, but I think overall
Penelope oozes Hollywood glamour like no other*

*Not a wow gown, but a gorgeous safer option. Marchesa too,
so Sandra can't go wrong really!*

*Erm Jennifer, are you in there? You look STUNNING!
What a fab Zuhair Murad wonder!*

*Short of breaking into Giambattista Valli's studio myself
and wearing one of his couture gowns, I was dying to one on the red
carpet, and Emma Stone does a great job! Perfect for her skin tone too*

*Oh Meryl, how we love you! Best Actress accolade, and a best
dressed from me too. Gold lame Lanvin has NEVER looked so good!
WERRQ*

*Just as I was beginning to tire of Michelle Williams' too-old-for-her
choices, she does this! Loving the LV, and the pink and red clash too!*

*Jessica Chastain is one to watch, not only as a new brilliant actress,
but in the fashion stakes. A testament to McQueen's design*

*I can give or take George, it has to be said, but Stacy...
OMGorgeous!! That liquid Marchesa does absolute wonders
for her! I'd gladly but her on my mantle piece!*

*Is it just me or does Rooney Mara look a bit... awkward??
WHY dear? You're wearing Givenchy for God's sake!!!!*

*Cameron Diaz, love, I'm a bit over this strapless obsession of yours.
The Gucci dress is lovely, but it's just a bit.. mehhh*

From the Oscars 2012: J Lo and Cameron Diaz, it's BEHIND you...

2012-02-27T02:17:00.003-08:00

I reckon this is the picture of the night! Two gorgeous women, two gorgeous bums, two gorgeous frocks (Zuhair Murad and Gucci Premiere respectively). How apt that the two best-dressed ladies presented the 'Best Costume Design' award!

Stunning ladies!

From the Oscars 2012: Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen...

2012-02-26T15:38:00.002-08:00

Black and gold is probably one of my favourite colour combinations of all time, so it's no surprise that Jessica Chastain's custom Alexander McQueen gown is by far the best on the Oscars red carpet so far (I know I know, it's only just started... I did say SO FAR!).

For someone who usually goes for quite... understated numbers, this is a REALLY good move her the Help actress.

Love it! Do you??

Twitter has spoken: YOUR favourite London Fashion Week collections revealed...

2012-02-26T11:18:00.002-08:00

Here's what YOU said when I took to Twitter to ask which London Fashion Week collection was your favourite.

Just for the record, mine were Topshop Unique and Mary Katrantzou!

@ForTheYoungDude - Mary Katrantzou - prints were so cool
@MadeleineAyers - GILES!!!
@p_courtney - Burberry Prorsum & Holly Fulton
@BeautyandDirt - Mary Katrantzou - Watched in on iphone
@Stylenoirmag - Corrie Neilson & Fyodor Golan
@sugarandspiceSG - I actually really liked the silk tee dresses at Antoni & Alison
@Hockeyfrilla - Martine Rose!
@ItsaLDNThing - Acne. Shoe-leather structures that ignored the body, only to be harshly cinched in at the waist - yes please!
@geisharocks - Ji Cheng: Elegant gowns & clever draping details.
@Kirstyinsanity - deffo Mary Katrantzou (obvs!) - green and velvet at PPQ and Felder Felder - have you ever seen so much colour AW?
@stylecupidblog - James Long for me. Loved it! Sophie Hulme dinosaur coats too!
@AnastasiaDuck - MqQ

Kate Beckinsale, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME...

2012-02-26T11:03:00.004-08:00

...I mean really, it should be criminal to look this good!

I don't know whether it's just a case of me seeing Kate Beckinsale's Diane Von Furstenberg pink jumpsuit as the best bit of celebrity red carpet styling EVER, or I actually do want to turn for her, but either way she is 100% my girl crush.

What do you think of her Spirit Awards 2012 look? Obsessed as me??

From Milan Fashion Week AW12: Versace's gothic take...

2012-02-26T10:07:00.006-08:00

'A return to deep, dark Gothicism' should have been DVer's (Donatella Versace's new name) strap line for her new autumn winter 2012 collection. It's a nod back to her late brother, Gianni's last collection of 1997, before he was shot, Tim Blanks tells us.

More than any designer I can think of, DVer really does channel the season she is designing for. Heavy in black, this collection took on a moody winter feel with lots of black leather, long-sleeved dresses and a pretty muted colour range - including her favourite citrus hues of yellow and orange (to chuck in a bit of last minute colour maybe?)

It had a slight air of Lacroix to me. All the crucifixes. Which are fine, don't get me wrong, but as a Jew, I would be maybe slightly less inclined to leaf through rails of the stuff and buy it.

Having said that, DVer did give us a few stand out, red-carpet worthy gowns, like the one-armed white crystallised beauty that surely will end up on the back of Angelina Jolie.

I think Versace, for me, is better with a few more colours and prints. That's what I expect now. That's why we love her.

Today I'm Loving...

2012-02-25T03:43:00.006-08:00

FOR THE BOYS...

Givenchy's blue tone jumper, £400
Vivienne Westwood's heart Tee, £199

Topman's New Power Station sweat, £50

FOR THE GALS...

Mango's linen dress, £59.99
Jil Sander's short sleeve face knit, £1,080

River Island's GORGEOUS printed umbrella, £15
H&M's tiger print shorts, approx. £15

Miss Selfridge's chiffon body, £49
Zara's chiffon dress, £29.99

From Milan Fashion Week: Just Cavalli mens... YES PLEASE!

2012-02-24T10:17:00.002-08:00

Browsing through the pictures of Milan Fashion Week (God I want to be there!) it was Just Cavalli's menswear that screamed out at me... maybe because it included gold, animal print AND a fabulous, chic cape! Here's a few pics to just whet your fash-etite (fashion//appetite - get it?).

Take a look inside Joan Rivers' closet... PURE FABULOUSNESS!

2012-02-23T14:51:00.002-08:00

If you've always wondered what the Fashion Police host has hidden away in her wardrobe, wonder no more. Here she opens it up to Time Out New York... look at those furs!! Amazing. And the plastic bag of jewellery attached to what she wore it with for reference... GENIUS! We heart JR!

Beyonce Exclusive: new campaign for House of Dereon!

2012-02-23T05:23:00.000-08:00

She's had a baby. We know. And she looks GREAT now, post-pregnancy. We know that too. But we haven't seen Beyonce in a proper glam shoot for a while. Well thank goodness that is about to change because here is the first picture of the amazing power-house in the new campaign for her clothes line, House of Dereon.

In the shot, HOD's muse and one half of the creative team (other half Tina Knowles), Beyonce wears a studded bodice, one of the key pieces from the spring summer 2012 collection.

I'm also told exclusively that the collection is made up of pleated trousers, structured jackets, bold printed maxis and some amazing fringed suede shorts.

Doesn't she look great??

From London Fashion Week - my new shirt heaven, Palmer//Harding!

2012-02-22T09:11:00.002-08:00

It's rare that I fall in love with a menswear collection, in fact I can probably count on one hand those that I would put into the LOVE category (Westwood every season and Givenchy's Rottweilers are two). And now, thanks to Palmer//Harding - a rather lovely design duo I stumbled upon at Somerset House over fashion week - I can add another to the list.

You may not know this, but I have a lot of shirts. And I mean a lot. I love shirts. My latest is a vintage 80s silk Versace. Palmer//Harding's foundation is shirting. In fact on their website it states that the label is: 'focused on bringing directional design to a traditionally neglected garment in a wardrobe, the shirt'.

Leafing through the collection they were showcasing, Autumn Winter 2012, you should have seen my face. With each shirt I gave a squeal - 'Ohmygod I love this one', 'This one is amazing', 'Ohhhhh look at this one!'.

Folds, pleats, pins, drapes and long kaftan lengths all made up their AW12 collection, and in just black and white, Palmer//Harding have quite literally made up my entire new season's wardrobe.

What's more, their collar choices were impeccable. I asked where they came from, and Mr Harding told me that they had found a box of 1921 aero-collars that they archived and used in a library for this collection and next. Genius!

We are also told of this new collection that: '...soft draping meets the structural boldness of Bruno Walpoth's wooden sculptures, creating a garment that is beautifully sculpted against and away from the body.

'For AW12, the shirt has been elongated and exaggerated... Relaxed shirt-tails lengthen the silhouette to evoke a grungy undertone...' I won't go on, but all the above and below have stimulated my fashion taste-buds. I need the lot. NOWWW!

Here's a few images from Palmer//Harding's Spring Summer 2012 campaign as well, all of which I want to own too!

Stockists include Avenue 32

Professor Green in OMGorgeous Givenchy at Brit Awards 2012

2012-02-21T15:11:00.001-08:00

It's quite unusual for me to talk about a male celebrity on the red carpet looking amazing (maybe I should start to more?!) but I simply had to when it came to Professor Green and his stunning Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy suit at the Brit awards 2012 tonight. HOT HOT HOT. And a lot jealous.

His black wool tuxedo, with chic satin lapels, was custom made for him by Mr Tisci. And doesn't he look über dapper in it?!

Good move Prof. Givenchy suits you. Mind the pun. Maybe we could, you know...borrow clothes?? Thanks.

London Fashion Week AW12 - some more 'Very' fav bits...

2012-02-21T09:04:00.001-08:00

It's been a bit of a whirlwind this season, all the days seem to merge into one as you hop from one show to the next, back to the office, back to Somerset House and back to the office again, stopping at Starbucks on the way. OMG how fashion and gross do I sound?? Sorry.

Anyway, just thought I'd share these pics with you from the last couple of days.

As a brief respite from the rather unforgiving and relentless prying street style photographers and the no-carb policy of most of the London Fashion Week goers, I headed, intermittently, to the Handpicked Media bloggers suite. In a bid to unwind and relax between shows, it was also lovely catching up with some of my blogging friends and, naughty I know, to eat as much chocolate as I could possibly shove in my gob! Sorry but I need some kind of sugar to keep me going. Don't tut at me!

Also it gave me a chance to use my new Fashion Week computer, the rather gorgeous (and size zero) Asus Intel Zenbook which, by the way, really does give Apple a run for their money. It's SOOO light-weight and easy to use. In love!

*The chocolate basket I almost attached, thanks Handpicked!*

*My GORGEOUS new Zenbook, fashion week solution!*

*Fav bits from Warehouse... I know, I thought it was designer too!*

*An amazing Spice girls jacket I spotted on the way out of a show and
the back of the Devil in Prada - Anna Wintour herself at Topshop Unique*

*Some Holly Fulton spring summer 2012 up close - the mesmerizing prints!*

The Very Mummy G's new dress!

2012-02-20T15:26:00.004-08:00

Whenever I get an 'OMG I just bought...' call from The Very Mummy G I brace myself. For a mum, she dresses very well. She loves a designer piece. Being in the industry it does get a tad annoying sometimes though - those 8am Saturday morning fashion shows and phone calls during important meetings to ask what goes with the new shoes for instance.

But sometimes I don't mind. Like today for example. "Oh my God, I just bought a Mary Katrantzou dress from Harvey Nichols" she said. I nearly died. I actually asked if she meant a Topshop one, but she tutted and said "no, I mean a real one!".

Now you all know how much I love Katrantzou. I've harked on enough times about how desperate I am for the print-genius designer to dip her toes in the menswear pool. And when I came home to find my mum stroking her new dress, and on the eve of Mary's autumn winter 2012 show, I thought it good timing to show you the dress in question.

I know I know, I'm jealous of my own mother too. It's a STUNNING dress!

*Modeled by The Very Mummy G*

*Dress available in Harvey Nichols now*

Today I'm SERIOUSLY loving...

2012-02-20T14:55:00.003-08:00

...this incredible Peter Pilotto full print silk blouse, £505
Don't know if you saw his spring summer collection, but
every piece was better than the last! Amazing!

Styled here with a gorge Proenza Schouler shoulder bag, £1375
and Proenza Schouler's straight leg trousers, £549

London Fashion Week AW12 - 'Very' fav bits so far...

2012-02-19T05:01:00.000-08:00

London Fashion Week is well underway, which we all know means over-eager editors, bloggers and the like running around, Starbucks in one hand, smart phone in the other. London becomes a weirdly strange fabulous place. You spot people in outfits that you wouldn't see at any other time of the year. It's like these fashion creatures crawl out from under the rocks from which they come twice a year. The more outrageous the better, all really thinking 'Take my pic, Mr Street Photographer!'

Anyway, I was a tad lame on day one and only made it down to the PPQ show, but was pleasantly surprised! Victoriana shapes, long coats with pleats and folds, big strapped scarfs and bicycles down the catwalk (of which I am told the BFC had no idea was happening until half an hour before the show so they had no choice really!). Silk evening dresses made me smile too. Dresses I can actually see on the red carpets!

***Sister by Sibling's Barbie collaboration and their

fabulous new menswear collection - leopard print galore!***

***This Hillier sausage dog necklace (LOVE IT!) and the
cute old man, the Pearly King of Newham. Was he FROW
anyone??***

London Fashion Week AW12 Editor Watch...

2012-02-18T14:17:00.001-08:00

Never mind the shows, it's the people watching that I, along with a lot of people, love. And what's better than seeing two of the most esteemed veteran fashion editors nattering away, attempting to use their phones!? Here's Suzy Menkes and Hilary Alexander outside one of the shows today.

Love that they're old friends. Very heart warming.

Anna Dello Russo Wears: big white fur!

2012-02-17T07:02:00.000-08:00

It's fashion week time again lovely reader and while the rest of us mere mortals pull out some of our finest items from our wardrobes, other fashion-y types - like the fabulous Anna Dello Russo - can have their pick of any designer threads they want.

Over the couture shows in Paris, Ms Dello Russo favoured white - the bigger and fluffier the better!

The first night saw her in a Versace number, belted and gorgeous, and the second day she chose a YSL coat of such epic proportions, such yeti-ness, such fabulousness...

LOOK - may she always rein as Queen of Couture.

Tim Blanks talks Victoria Beckham Autumn Winter 2012...

2012-02-15T01:59:00.002-08:00

If you haven't seen anything of Victoria Beckham's autumn winter 2012 collection yet, then take a look at this video from Tim Blanks, veteran fashion reporter. He talks to some of the best in the industry, including Grazia's Paula Reed AND Victoria herself, who tells us that David did actually influence next season's collection a tad!

Today I'm SERIOUSLY loving...

2012-02-15T01:09:00.003-08:00

This Mary Katrantzou gorgeous printed silk top.
The queen of print does spring summer oh-so well!

Barbie goes Royal... with a collectors William and Kate set!

2012-02-14T01:36:00.004-08:00

It was only a matter of time really wasn't it? A matter of time until we saw a William and Kate doll set. And who better to make one? Barbie! This oh-so-cute gift set, available on pre-order from tomorrow for £99.99, is the perfect ode to the Royal couple's magical wedding day. In his finest red and black uniform, the Prince looks ever so handsome. And in her teeny tiny McQueen replica, the Princess looks gorgeous!

All I need now is a Barbie Queen and Princess Anne and I'll be a made man!!

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Watch: Elle Style Awards 2012 in Antonio Berardi

2012-02-13T14:07:00.000-08:00

Oh wow. Oh wow. OH WOW! Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looks OFF THE CLOCK at the Elle Style Awards 2012 tonight in London. She surely outshines anyone there!? Look at her face, her legs, and oh yeah, that STUNNING Antonio Berardi dress.

Give me a cape attachment of swathes of neutral flowing fabric and some sparkle and I'm anyones. And, it seems, so is Rosie!

Truly gorgeous. Best dressed awards, obvs!

Lisa Vanderpumps' Vander Pumps!

2012-02-13T12:05:00.000-08:00

How I love this woman. The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star, Lisa Vanderpump - personally my favourite 'housewife' although I have an unhealthy obsession with them all - has her own shoe, aptly named THE VANDER PUMP!

Rather rudely I had to find out on Twitter. You'd think that Lisa would have told me personally - we're friends you know - but no. Ryan Haber, shoe designer and friend of Lisa, has put in production her Vander Pump which comes in pink, her favourite colour, and black. Obviously they are super high, and obviously they are customized with Swarovski crystals - two things Lisa NEEDS in any shoe.

Doesn't she look GREAT in the campaign??

Get yourself a little slice of Vanderpump...

The Vander Pump is on pre-order at the moment, $525

Bafta Awards 2012 Best Dressed: Meryl Streep in Vivienne Westwood

2012-02-12T11:11:00.000-08:00

The title says it all. In what was a particularly poor red carpet fash-off, Meryl - not that I'm scraping the barrel because I did actually say WOW out loud - won it for me. Once again the heavy weight actress wore Vivienne Westwood, after wearing Westwood couture for the the SAG Awards.

Tonight she chose a gorgeous floor length black gown with a 3/4 sleeve cover up. Oh, and that A List smile that just warms my heart.

Let's hope she takes away the best actress award too!