Roving Reporter . . . Topshop NYC

Topshop opened to fanfare and shrieks in NYC, with two of the UK's most famous exports (that's Sir Philip Green and Kate Moss).

The opening was a who's who of A-list celebrities! Oh the excitement! Below are just some of my favourite celebs and fashion looks for the night!

Jennifer Hudson rocked a super on trend 'SEQUIN DRESS' for her moment in the 'Spotlight' (sorry about the pun). This season, sequin dresses are huge, the best value one is from Boohoo.com - STEAL HER STYLE.

Poppy Delevingne and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, total IT-Girl style. Making sure they had grabbed their goodie bags, they look total, NY rock chick.

HOT COUPLE ALERT! Newly-engaged Marc and Lorenzo stepped out to check out the latest fashion alert!
Anna Wintour came to cast her eye over, a full spread in US Vogue is so on its way...

Bee Shaffer, looks fab in all white . . . who is that dress by again??? It's driving me nuts!

Santigold looks like the original TOPSHOP Unique kind of girl doesn't she? This Sports Luxe dress is so on trend.

Taylor Momsen, she is just so cool! We love Gossip Girl at Fash-Pack, in fact, it's bordering on obsession and Taylor is definitely our favourite fashion darling! 

Roving Reporter . . . Breaking News!

Sorry boys, but Marc Jacobs is now totally off the market!

He announced his engagement to boyfriend, Lorenzo Martone.

Congratulations, Fash-Pack wish you all the happiness in the world, my aren't they a handsome couple!

We're assuming our invite is in the post!

Roving Reporter: Marc by Marc Jacobs

The younger version of MJ gave two pieces of advice yesterday: Wear your layers bulky, and keep piling them on.


For women's wear, Jacobs' formula was to start with tights (whether in autumn colours, stripes or geometric patterns) and cold-weather-survival boots. From there, he added dresses accentuating the natural waist or roomy peg-leg trousers with bold and cosy jumpers. Many of his looks were topped off with velvet hats and blanket scarves.



Luxurious textures played a big part - think wide-wale corduroy, rich herringbone and oversized houndstooth. And when textiles were basic, colour and construction were not. How about this turquoise dress with ruffles both on the button panel and the skirt?


In terms of menswear, Jacobs maintained the boots and voluminous trousers, but put up grandpa cardigans with shirt-tie combos and structured blazers. The designer upheld the spirit of the line by keeping things bold in a season when many are going dark, and all the better for a line targeting young label-lovers who want to mix their plaids with stripes (another of Jacobs' techniques).

My only gripe with this season of Marc by Marc? That it wasn't around when I went to uni. Life would have been so much easier if I had pieces like these to grab off my floor 20 minutes to lecture time in the winter months.

Seen and Overheard: Love Stoned in the Park

I once sat in Justin Timberlake's restaurant eating some of the most delicious macaroni and cheese ever while watching Trace Ayala (aka Justin's restaurant/design/every-other-business partner) take pictures with beefcakey firefighters on the pavement outside. For whatever reason. If only the firefighters could see Trace now...

William Rast, which Justin and Trace design with two others, showed right before Marc Jacobs and put up a decent fight for attention, despite the unfortunate time slot. As my friend Lizzy and I would say, that's William Rast Brand Fantastic. (Inside joke.)

Oh, and for anyone else who goes to that restaurant - Southern Comfort in New York - the mac and cheese recipe has changed and now tastes no different than the stuff at the supermarket. My tastebuds weep.

Roving Reporter: Marc Jacobs : In Detail

Marc Jacobs' huge empire includes a healthy chunk in the accessories sector.

So lets take an in-depth look into the detail of the off-the-chart Jacobs runway show.

Shoe-boots (shoots) were a huge, huge trend last year and they are set for a comeback. Check out those clog-style molded toes. Bizarre or hot? Baby-pink bows with harsh black satin. Very rock, very Madonna. Tell us what you think.

Firstly, if you have a bicycle chain, may I suggest you save some cash, spray it pink and wear it as neck adornment for next season perhaps? Love this mad oversizing of things. Just check out these radical sunglasses - 3D cinema anyone? Seriously, when it comes to A/W09...size really does matter.

Leg warmers, tights - who knows? Either way, Jacobs has cunningly mixed 80s insanity with chic 17th-century rococo to create this fabulous print. It's like a rebels' tea party!

When in doubt, add some bling. If you're still not sure, add a bit more! Alternatively, get a needle and thread and start sewing old and broken jewels to jumpers to create your very own catwalk looks.

Though the financial crisis has promised to kill off the crave for it bags, this piece of arm candy could change that. With 80s (I know, yawn!) being the main theme, keep it all studded. I have to admit I love the classic Chanel-style quilting with the rock-chic edge.

There were bug-eye shades and aviators, and now we have continent-sized ones. That must have been one hefty fashion party to require such gigantic eyewear the next day. Note the antique-style coat. Again, jazz up old wool coats with antique buttons and gems from Button Queen or Cloth House.

Netted lace, so Madonna in those rebel years. I love the way it looks so much like a tattoo. Tres cool.

So fashion folks, there you have it, Marc Jacobs in detail. The top seasons trends and how to DIY. Be sure to let us know what you think.

Roving Reporter: Marc Jacobs

If everyone was trying to be subtle about their love of the 80s for A/W09, then no one sent Marc Jacobs the memo...

V-neck, oversized grey jumpers (actually what I had to wear to school), were teamed with full, hip-enhancing miniskirts in cute prints. Opaque tights and tightly coiffed hair sealed the school girl look, while the crazy ruched gloves and brightly hued neck scarf added that flash of teenage rebellion.

As with so many others this week, strong shoulders were a huge trend at the Jacobs show. Whilst still keeping the uniform grey tones, miniskirts and fur show that these weren't just any school girls, but the glam, upstate New York ones. If they were to add a British kid to Gossip Girl, she would so dress like this.

Whilst everyone is concentrating on cut-outs this week, we were pleased to see a more developed twist at Marc's show. Here fabric has been slashed away from the top, dark layer (note the bandage-style silhouette), to reveal a more spicy and invigorating hot-pink print peeking through.

Again, this was an extremely 80s disco look, from the cutest shoots (shoe-boots), to the Pat Butcher earrings. Take Note: asymmetric dresses have been big this week too, but more interestingly instead of the one-shoulder look of past seasons, we are seeing a shift towards one-sleeved dresses.

High-waisted, pinstripe peg legs; Unlike Donna Karan, this is not classic workwear. Jacobs does a retro twist to his city slicker looks and we love it. While Karan is catering to the tough city ladies of New York, Jacobs is hanging out with the cool kids on the block - dressing women with a sense of style and who love humour and ironic twists to their wardrobes. This origami top is totally outrageous and the soft, golden meringue peaks are very brassy. Remember, Marc Jacobs is not for the shy and retiring!

I couldn't help but chuckle at this look. Its so Bowie/Ziggy Stardust. Strong shoulders, peplum on the waist, crazy psychedelic prints. This is the 80s reincarnated and I love it. Jackets with structured shoulders will be huge this A/W. Check out the cut out detailing on the neckline here: two trends in one. Though the model looks like she has a mullet, she is redeemed by the peg leg, ankle ruche-effect jeans. Now that is a style I can see being championed on the high street.

I've come over all giddy on this one. I LOVE gold and this dress is now my fantasy piece for next season. Already a big trend this summer, metallic (influenced by a new 80s revival) is set to still be huge by fall. The styling on this number is perfect. While the gold full-tucked skirt and structured shoulder is fairly dramatic, pairing with a simple belt and tights has made this outrageous piece pretty wearable. In fact I would dress it down with a black polo and cute, suede, shoe boots. Goodness me, I want that dress!

Cocoon coats started to put in an appearance this week, seeing a revival of the much loved winter silhouette. While cool and cozy, this style must be cinched with a belt to avoid looking like a marshmallow penguin. I adore this fur trim and the polka-dot weave is incredibly retro.

Colours at Jacobs were pretty loud and proud. There was a little bit of everything with Marc showing one of the biggest collections so far this week, with around 60 looks total. From canary-crazy yellow, bubblegum pink, forest greens and blazing blue, there was a total rainbow. This was all topped off with accents of metallic tones and held together by the uniform black opaque tights.

Pea-green coat anyone? Bright coats have been really huge for the past couple of seasons. These back-to-basic brights are a sure winner. I love the colour combo here and look forward to wrapping up in cheerful wool trenches and soft scarves to banish the miserable weather.

While trouser legs remained pegged, skirts yet again appeared to be heading back towards last summer's skater style. Short and flirty, these ditsy-print florals were bright and cheery. It's also important to remember that while these appear to be heavy silks or satins, you can keep wearing your summer florals into fall by teaming with thick tights. (Just a little credit-crunch tip for you)

I'm giggling quietly to myself at the state of these poor models locks. If 80s is coming back (and I think it's pretty obvious that it is) then I'm hoping we can leave the Boy George haircuts at home. Another strong and playful jacket silhouette. Loved the angular cut. It had quite a futuristic sports feel to it, which went well with the foil-esque skirt. Again long gloves - seriously the writing is on the wall, fashion folk!

Perfect in pink, this showed a move away from the earlier outerwear styles and oversized piece to total 80s body-con. This shift-style dress looks almost molded around the bust and waist. Very Lady GaGa. Interestingly styled with the in-your-face scarf.

The schoolgirl look began to return towards the end, with the black neck tie once more in the styling. This particular look was a lot darker and more gothic than the shiny, pop-80s look of earlier pieces. Again strong shoulders and flashes of electrifying turquoise showed versatility and fun in a kooky collection.

Finally! Loved this last piece of monochrome magic. Puff-ball, square shoulders, big hair and black lips...off to the school disco then?