Passion for fashion costs over £500 a year
British shoppers are the second biggest spenders on clothes in Europe, according to a new report.
The report by Verdict, the market analyst, says that each Briton spends an average of £556 on clothes a year, up from £518 in 2001.
While the Italians remain Europe’s biggest spenders on clothes, the UK is catching up. Italians splashed out an average £602 each last year – down from £622 five years earlier.
Britain, Italy, Germany, France, Spain and the Netherlands account for £4 of every £5 spent on clothing in the EU, the report says.
But spending across these six countries collectively rose by just 3.9 per cent in the five years to 2006.
The new EU member states are experiencing a spending boom. Estonia saw its average annual spend per person almost double from £106 in 2001 to £209 last year.
Clothing sales across the 10 new EU member states jumped by more than a fifth to £7.7 billion over the same period.
A Verdict spokesman said: “The EU’s population is finding more attractive alternatives to spend its hard-earned cash on than clothing, and competition between the various clothing retailers of Europe is intensifying.”
The report says the biggest clothing retailer in the EU is Inditex – whose labels include Zara – followed by H&M and Marks & Spencer.
Versatility and Value
The New Year usually heralds a period of belt tightening. Well, financially speaking anyway. With this in mind, shopping for versatile investment pieces can maximise on your fashion budget without having to compromise on quality or design.
This beautiful, single-breasted, silver and gold weave tweed jacket from Basler is a wonderfully chic, classic investment piece. Fabulous materials and impeccable tailoring mean that it’s a piece that will offer effortless sophistication and almost infinite versatility that will endure for many seasons to come. Such is the versatility of this classically designed piece, you’ll be able to revitalise the look time and again, adapting it to suit a variety of occasions.
For a stylish and understated look, perfect for lunch with friends, combine a smart skirt and an on-trend, abstract print top with the jacket. The full look from Basler incorporates this rhinestone fronted jersey top and sophisticated crêpe skirt.
For a daytime look for the spring season, dress the jacket down with jeans and flats and complement it with stylish animal print accessories. Wear the jacket over your favourite white shirt by Gerry Weber. This one is slightly fitted, with pretty box pleat placket and split button cuffs. It goes wonderfully well with a pair of Michele Magic, straight leg jeans. They’re famous for their comfortable styling and for the clever panels which flatten your tummy and shape your bottom. Complete the look with a pair of fabulous Capollini matt-leather loafers and accessorise with this stylish, jacquard-woven canvas bag by Suzy Smith, adorned with white patent faux leather trim, gold-tone accents and double-chain strap.
If the occasion calls for a touch of refined evening glamour, emphasise the expertly tailored jacket with equally sharp, tailored separates in neutral tones and accent the look with gold accessories. These Gina Bacconi crêpe trousers are exclusive to Gray & Osbourn and combine beautifully with this sleeveless top, also from Bacconi. Accessorise this look with Suzy Smith’s exquisite, pure ivory leather bag with gold-tone studs and quilting detail.
Pink
Pink is on trend this spring in a big way. From blushing shades to vibrant fuchsias and warm corals, there is bound to be a shade that suits you. Don’t think for a second that pinks can only be worn in a subtle, feminine style. Gray & Osbourn has introduced bold shades this season that are set to make a statement.
Chesca’s pink cardigan is a must have for every woman’s wardrobe. Not only is it in a deep shade of pink that will transform any outfit, whether it be casual or smart. But it is also an on trend waterfall cardigan, a key piece this season, perfect for light layering this Spring.
Want to make a real statement? Gelco’s crushed leather jacket with it’s chic, sharp tailoring will do just that. In hot pink , this luxurious butter soft leather jacket will be invaluable this season. And its versatile, looking equally as stylish with a pair of jeans as a black tailored trousers.
Gerry Weber’s collection this spring has embraced this trend, mixing pinks with chocolate and white for a strong contrast. This lovely knitted V-neck jumper from Gerry Weber’s web exclusive range is pink, white and chocolate striped with beaded embellishment to make it look extra special. This looks great with the pink Gerry Weber gilet and jeans, or equally could be dressed up with a pair of smart trousers. Or for a more formal look this striped shirt is perfect for work wear but with a soft pink stripe keeps it feminine and on trend.
If you are lucky enough to be going abroad to catch some winter sun, Gray & Osbourn has selected this gorgeous sundress from Pomodoro as a suitcase essential. With pretty floral and paisley prints this cotton sundress is perfect for walking about on deck or exploring in the day. In lightweight fabric this print summer dress will make sure you look stylish all day long.
So whatever your occasion or taste, there is something pink in the new Gray & Osbourn spring collection for you, to make you stay on trend and look stylish no matter what.
How to find the perfect pants for your body shape
While some of the lucky few boast hour-glass figures capable of making even a potato sack look good, others are in a constant battle to find the right clothes to suit their body shapes. This goes for trousers and jeans as well. Not only do you need to find pants that fit your body, they have to look good as well. And while brands like Michele and Uniqsize offer designer trousers or designer jeans that fit the unique contours of your body, you first need to establish your body type before spending money on the latest pair of trendy jeans.
Here are the four general body types and what kind of pants you should be wearing:
The Apple
The Apple shape are those bodies where weight is distributed more on the top half of the body and less on the lower half. To make up for the lack of weight on the lower half, people with this body shape should buy trousers and jeans that are slimming while still making their lower half seem weightier.
Pants that suit this body shape include:
- ‘Bell’ shape flare pants
- Bootcut pants are slimming and help elongate the body
Celebrities with ‘apple’ shaped bodies include Drew Barrymore, Catherine Zeta Jones, Liz Hurly, Tyra Banks and Dolly Parton.
The Pear
Many people incorrectly assume that pear shaped people are overweight people. Well, I wouldn’t exactly call Shakira, Mariah Carey or Beyonce overweight. These famous pears have embraced their curvaceous shape by wearing clothes that fit their bodies, i.e., hide the bad parts and accentuate the good ones.
Pants that will compliment this body shape ar
- Bootcut pants – these help eliminate the weightiness of the body
- Relaxed fit pants draws attention away from the weight of the body
Celebrities with ‘pear’-shaped bodies include Kristin Davis, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Keira Knightly, Mariah Carey, Amanda Peet, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Shakira.
The Rectangular
The rectangular shape is usually a shape envied by many women. This shape has very little curves, and usually a flat chest to match. Women with this shape bodies have a slim, narrow and small frame with a straight linear appearance. Weight gain and loss is evenly distributed throughout the body.
Types of jeans and trousers you should be wearing:
- Skinny jeans – these hug your slim thighs and defines a shapely bottom
- Bootcut pants and wide leg jeans are also ideal for your body type
- Low waisted jeans will create the illusion of curves
Celebrities with this body shape include Cameron Diaz, Nicole Kidman, Hilary Duff, Sheryl Crowe and Rachel Hunter.
The Hour-Glass
Often seen as the sexiest body shape of all, this figure is perfect for many, if not all pants styles. This is a well-proportioned body shape and closely related to the pear shape, but unlike the pear shape, weight is neatly and equally proportioned between the upper and lower halves of the body. The waist is usually defined, hence the ‘hour-glass’ figure.
Lucky hour-glass body types look good in most jeans and trouser styles, especially slimming and bootcut styles.
Celebrities with hour-glass shapes include Kim Cattrell, Scarlet Johansson and Kelly Brook.