Roving Reporter: Horace

Jill: What did you think of the Horace show?
Naomi: I loved it. It's funny how everyone is doing the whole 90s-grunge thing, when Horace has been doing it for the last how many seasons.
Jill: Did you go last year?
Naomi: Yes.
Jill: How was the show last year?
Naomi: Think Alexander Wang but with a British stamp. A bit more dirty. You're a Horace newbie. What did you think of the show?
Jill: I loved the way they used neon but made it look really gritty and dirty.
Naomi: Totally. At first I was scared when I saw the highlighter pen-coloured jumpers but the styling was so good, it just worked.
Jill: Leather, leather, leather.
Naomi: I know. I don't know what I'm craving more, leather or fur?
Jill: Didn't you love the way they used the blonde-haired, blue-eyed model for the look with the Grim Reaper-like cape?
Naomi: I was thinking that too.

Conclusion: If it's dark, dirty and grimy, the Fash Pack team love it.

Roving Reporter: Doo.Ri

Hello, fashionable people! As you might or might not know, tomorrow starts London Fashion Week. So - it's fabulous.

BUT in light of that, there are a million things to plan - which party will have a better scene, which booties go best with the fishnets - you get my drift. So how's about I give you my first thoughts on a few looks from Doo-Ri Chung, and you tell me yours? Great! xoxo

(PS: The line had gorgeous variations on the basic white shirt and pretty purple dresses, but I like black. So deal.)


If you must do 80s, at least make it a beautiful, textured Dior New Look-esque power get-up.


Fine, so here's some grey for you. Beautifully draped skirt, abstract-Valentino coat detailing and tights that everyone should buy now.


I don't eat meat and won't touch an egg unless it's free-range organic. And yet every time I see a fur I can't help but mentally drool. Oh, life. It's nice to combine a relaxed silhouette with an accent as luxe as pure-white fur.


Chanel Iman is working the high-waisted trousers and strong-shouldered top. The accented neckline keeps this from going too retro.


I don't think I have words. Probably my favourite thing from Doo.Ri, any collection.

Roving Reporter : Preen

Preen are a huge favourite of mine. They're famous for their asymmetric, deconstructed innovation, and this season was no exception.

Cut-outs are a clear trend winner for A/W09 and Preen more than most have it down to a fine art. Alongside slashed-out sections, they delicately worked chiffon, leather, wool and innovative sparkliness into a fun and playful collection, both rich in colour and design.

Perfect in pink, these beautifully tailored and slightly peg-legged, ankle-skimming trousers are possibly my favourite thing so far this season. Well draped and totally sassy. I love the sheer shirting too. Though in the real world, I'm thinking perhaps a camisole underneath wouldn't go amiss - after all, its not really appropriate Tube attire, is it?

This Pucci-inspired print was far more S/S than A/W, but in true British style, who am I to complain? Again, asymmetric dressing is a key trend, sure to continue a few more seasons.

I loved the way Preen replaced a shoulder with sheer fabric, developing the cut-out trend to a new level.

Hey Jill, look it's your favourite! Here at Fash Pack (though half-vegetarian), we LOVE fur! (But we haven't completely justified it in our minds...) This asymmetric, powdery fur coat is racing straight to the top of our wish list.

Preen trouser shapes mirrored dresses, sleek and body-con, though they weren't quite as skinny as the indie jeans of last year. Trousers are definitely tailored for A/W09. Oh and fur, cardigan, coat, love at first sight!

Monochrome magic, again another body-con piece. Models look like they are wearing flat pumps? Could this be true?! (My ankles hope so.) This piece reminded me of S/S, Henry Holland (see MIA at the Grammys). Again, slight tribal printing and sheer fabric make a great twist on cut-outs (don't you just love it when trends all come together).

One of my faves from the whole collection. Preen is renowned for their rock-and-roll twist, and this wet-look dress is perfect for all those stylish rebels. So how do Preen work? Well here is my theory . . .

'Midriff slashes and a well placed twist = a masterpiece!'

S/S08 was the year of the 80s skater skirt and it looks like, with the inevitable 80s return, so is one our coolest skirt shapes. While super-flirty and full, this little number is perfectly girly. I absolutely adore this.

Always a winter classic, I adore this oversized dogtooth check coat. I have to admit, I was rather surprised that this was the first time I've seen it for A/W. In typical Preen style, they have vastly exaggerated its size with great fitted leather cuffs. Love the rock-couture feel!

It seems that are British-born designers are totally blowing away New York! If only we could support them enough that they would come back home. Either way, I'm pretty keen to claim back Preen as one of our.

Come Brits, show the Yanks (Jill, we love you) what we're made of.

Roving Reporter: Couture week, a Parisian diary...

Paris is often described as the centre of chic, the home of fashion and the place to be: the only country to hold a week dedicated to couture, the true art of fashion.

This is by no means my first time in Paris. It is, after all, my spiritual home, yet I still get lost in the magic that Paris conjures up.

Firstly, let me start with the look and the ambiance. The look in London can often be described as ‘eclectic’, ‘unique’, ‘creative’ or for those outside of fashion ‘weird’. The London look is one of spontaneity and, in many ways, showing off. Colours are bright, looks are loud, and everything screams ‘fashion’.

Paris, on the other hand, is pure class, down to the last lick of mascara. The age range is different, too. Though you have various generations at LFW, the overall vibe is very young, and uber-trendy.

Paris, however, is very mature, sophisticated and took my idea of Parisian chic to a whole new level. As one companion at the shows told me, 'In Paris, they take fashion VERY seriously'.

The scene was like something out of Dynasty: tightly coiffed hair, heavy makeup, and dare I say it, a slight overload of Botox describes the true Parisian fashion crowd.

Outfits were nothing short of exquisite, but with a much greater feeling that these woman always look like that, unlike their London counterparts (for whom LFW means abandoning the Ugg boots and jeans combo).

Smart trouser suits (evidently designer, by their beautiful attention to detail), well cut dresses and simple yet elegant prints were the rule of the day.

Also, shockingly in abundance was fur. There were very few front-rowers not wearing skin, and whether you are for or against, there is no denying how simply incredible they looked.

On the men's side, lets just say I wouldn’t mind a Parisian man as a souvenir. If only boys in London dressed like that! Suits were incredibly sharp. Coats were very dressy and, again, of excellent quality.

With just a pond in between us, how have we managed to dress worlds apart?

Paris is a lot stricter than London, but the fashion crowd here also have a lot more cheek. I enjoyed taking a step back and observing the air kissing and challenging of the poor security, who often raised his eyebrows at the fashion crowd's own self-importance. But it is these Ugly Betty moments that make me love fashion more.

I don’t affiliate with that crowd, but boy to I love to observe them!

Though the shows certainly do run more on time than London, there is a much more organised, yet laissez-faire approach. There is no pushing or shoving. The Parisians are far to classy for that...after all, they might just scuff their Chanel.