Versace, Gucci, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Roberto Cavalli were some of the big names at Milan Fashion Week 2010 showcasing the latest fashion styles and trends for Autumn and Winter 2010/2011 with fur, leather and wool dominating the runway.

From models and stylists to electricians and photographers, some 8,000 people were involved in over 80 catwalk shows in the Fashion Week held February 24 – March 1, according to Italy’s National Chamber of Fashion, which organises the event.

Designing a collection and organising a show may take months of work and preparation but designers only have a little over ten minutes to impress the buyers, fashion editors, stylists and now influential fashion bloggers who write about the latest fashion styles generated by the Fashion Week.

As the economic downturn hit the luxury sector, several fashion houses collaborated together to put on fashion shows, cut back on their expenses or didn’t show at all but the fashion chamber’s director Giulia Pirovano told Reuters that there was a stronger showing in 2010.

“There were (cost) cuts last year but there is more investment in 2010. Investing in a show is a production investment because of the returns it brings,”

“The value of all the publicity that comes from fashion publications is 10 times the investment put into a show and this is important. That is why all the designers want all the top models, the best stylists, the best makeup artists,” Giulia Pirovano said.

Whether it was answering the customer’s call or a response to the tightening of the economic belt, designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Sportmax and Max Mara ticked all the boxes with a collection of jackets, dresses and corsets with traditional tailoring and very wearable silhouettes.

Latest fashion styles from the Milan Fashion Week 2010 were military inspired jackets by Burberry Prorsum, biker chic by Gucci, boho deluxe by Roberto Cavalli, cheerful prints from Missoni and Fendi had an underlying 40’s theme with voluminous swing coats and full skirts.

Young and old designers alike seem to be embracing fur and stepping away from the political correctness of 1980s and 1990s when PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) campaigned heavily against the use of fur.

Off the catwalk, the fur flew as Anna Wintour, the director of American Vogue, announced she would be cutting her Milan Fashion Week 2010 stay short to attend Paris Fashion Week and the Oscars. This meant that the major designers had to show their collections in the first four days of the show.

The changed scheduled angered local Italian designers and businessmen who felt the show should go on ‘Wintour’ or without her and felt that it would diminish the strength of the fashion industry in Italy.

“No one, not even if she is called Anna Wintour, can allow themselves to make or unmake our fashion calendar,” Milan Mayor Letizia Moratti was quoted as saying in Italian newspapers.

Wintour affect aside, according to the Fashion Chamber, the industry’s turnover fell 15 percent to 56.5 billion euros ($76.76 billion) last year. It has forecast a 6.5 percent growth this year hoping that Milan Fashion Week 2010 predictions about the latest fashion styles will translate into tangible sales.

Buying fashion and beauty products online is an attractive option for a savvy or time poor consumer with attractive discounts on offer and an opportunity to buy products not available in Australia. Here are five of the best Australian and international fashion and beauty online boutiques.

www.net-a-porter.com

NET-A-PORTER.COM is one of the world’s premier online luxury fashion retailer and online boutiques offering both Australian labels such as Sass & Bide, Nicola Finetti, Alice McCall, Willow, Tigerlily and international labels such as Stella McCartney, Lanvin, Christian Louboutin, Prada  and Marc Jacobs. NET-A-PORTER.COM is based in London and ships worldwide at a cost of £20 pounds plus tax or a flat £30 pounds if you live in the Americas. Sign up to their VIP newsletter to be one of the first to find about sales, new designers or new products instore.

www.diva.net.au

diva is a leading fashion retailer of women’s fashion jewellery accessories and draw its inspiration from catwalk trends from London, New York, Paris and Tokyo. Their range is updated regularly to reflect seasonal trends and are offered at very competitive prices. Diva currently ships to Australia and New Zealand and charges a flat rate of $13 for shipping or $3 for gift cards to Australia or a flat rate of $13 for New Zealand and $5.50 for gift cards. diva has a very attractive returns policy and will allow a return within a month of purchase (conditions apply). Sign up to their newsletter to keep abreast of sales, competitions and VIP offers.

www.strawberrynet.com

StrawberryNET is an online website that sells discounted cosmetics, perfumes and haircare. They stock famous makeup brands such as Christian Dior, Lancome, MAC and Clinique, hair care brands such as Redken, Tigi, Bumble and Bumble and Aveda as well as a large range of perfumes. The website has a great loyalty scheme so each time you buy products starting from your first order, you are entitled to a discount of up to a maximum of 10%. StrawberryNET also has free shipping and delivers internationally to 40 countries including Australia.

www.etsy.com

Etsy is a huge online marketplace where buyers and sellers from more than 150 countries come together to sell and buy handmade goods. Fashion sold on the website includes clothing, bags and purses and accessories. This is a great website to buy a unique item of clothing from up and coming designers and independent and undiscovered artists and a cheap and quirky alternative to mass-produced fashion. Each seller will specify what countries they ship to, what their shipping cost is and their return policies. Like eBay, remember to check each seller’s feedback to verify you are dealing with a reputable seller.   

www.bookdepository.co.uk

The Book Depository is an international online bookstore based in the UK and can provide all your fashion bibles and makeup book needs at a discounted price. Choose from a range of books such as The Sartorialist, The Little Black Book of Style by Nina Garcia of Project Runway fame, A to Zoe by noted stylist Rachel Zoe or Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me by self proclaimed Cosmetic Cop Paula Begoun. The Book Depository ships books free of charge, worldwide, to nearly 90 countries.

Remember to always shop online securely and safely online. Buying from overseas websites may be cheaper but always take note of shipping policies. It may be better to try and buy products with friends or family and share the shipping costs to take advantage of cheap goods and products purchased online.

Avoid the crowds in the post Christmas sales and shop online for women’s and men’s fashion in the comfort of your own home. While sales on international websites may seem enticing, you may run the risk of credit card fraud. Here are five tips to shop online securely and safely.

Only shop on secure sites

Web browsers such as Internet Explorer and Firefox display a padlock icon to indicate that the website is secure and it also displays https:// in the address bar. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says that some scammers may be able to reproduce symbols to give you the impression that a fake website is secure. If you have doubts, it is safer not to proceed. It is much safer to pay by a system like PayPal or pay by credit card as most credit cards insure you against fraudulent credit card use.

Make sure your computer is protected

Before you shop online, make sure that you are using a computer that has updated security software installed that includes an anti-virus and anti-spyware program. If you’re not sure whether the computer you are using is adequately protected, do not enter your credit card details online. Even if you are buying a product or service from a legitimate vendor, you may be at the risk of your credit card details being stolen.

Read the terms and conditions

When shopping online, it is important to be fluent with the website’s returns, refunds and shipping policy especially if you are shopping on an international website. Be aware of the full cost of your purchase, including currency conversion, taxes, delivery fees, packaging and postage. After adding these costs, it may be cheaper to buy locally. With any online shopping website, make sure there they have a physical address, phone number and fax number so you can contact them if you have any enquiries or you’re not happy with your purchase.

Know your size

Buying clothes and shoes online particular from overseas websites can be very daunting if you do not understand all the shipping, size conversions, and return policies. Most credible websites will have conversion tables available and may specify whether the item of clothing or shoes is a small or big make. If you’re not sure, email the website owner and ask them any specifics about your intended purchase.

Keep accurate records

Most websites will email you a confirmation of your purchase but make sure you also print out an online version and take note of any reference numbers in case the email is lost or accidentally deleted. This is the online version of a sales receipt so make you keep it on file in case you need to return or exchange the product. Make sure you also keep a record of their shipping and returns policy as well in case you need it.

Make sure you keep a vigilant check on your credit card statement to make sure that there are no fraudulent purchases and follow these tips to make your online experience is a pleasant one. Your perfect dress or pair of 4 inch heels is only a few clicks away.

Ever wanted to have a celebrity stylist for a day? These five fashion books are the next best thing. Get insider tips on what clothes to wear for your body shape, how to accessorise, classical wardrobe items to buy and everything you needed to know about red carpet dressing and avoid being  a fashion victim.

That Extra Half an Inch: Hair, Heels and Everything in Between by Victoria Beckham

“The perfect date dress is one that gives a hint of sexiness – but just a hint – and shows off the best of your body shape, but is also comfortable so you don’t spend the whole night fidgeting with it and you can concentrate on being sparkly, witty and fabulous.”

Victoria Beckham

This book is a high street fashion to designer labels tale of Victoria Beckham, ex Spice Girl and wife of soccer legend, David Beckham. She is surprisingly funny and shows a witty side to her that people barely see. The ex-pop star now turned fashion designer outlines basics like jeans, trousers, tops and of course after dark dressing and explains what style fit suits each different body type. Victoria lets us in on her favourite retail outlets and provides designer label options as well as cheaper and affordable alternatives.

The Little Black of Style by Nina Garcia

“Style comes from knowing who you are and who you want to be in the world; it does not come from wanting to be somebody else, or wanting to be thinner, shorter, taller, prettier.”

Nina Garcia

This book is written by Nina Garcia who is now the fashion director at marie claire but better known for her role as judge on America’s Project Runway. The book outlines ten basic tips such as the importance of the right shoes for your outfit, a good tailor and accessorising. The guide helps you find your own fashion voice and create your own signature look. It also includes style tips from fashion icons such as Rachel Zoe, Dolce and Gabbana and her fellow Project Runway co-host, Michael Kors.

Style A-Zoe by Rachel Zoe

“Glamour can come in the form of a suggestion, a hint – like a pair of oversized sunglasses – or it can appear in unapologetic glory, blinding bright from the pile of gold bangles on a bronzed wrist or at informally chic dinner you throw for your friends at a favourite restaurant.”

Rachel Zoe

This style guide is an indulgent look into Hollywood’s celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe’s personal style. She shares her tips not only on red carpet dressing which she is famous for but how to pack and travel like a jetsetter, ways to dress for chic dinner parties and to maintain a style for work that’s glamorous but wearable. The book showcases her high profile clients: Joy Bryant, Cameron Diaz, Anne Hathaway, Keira Knightly and many others.

A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style by Tim Gunn

“Style is not just about clothes, nor is something bestowed upon you if you are the correct shape or size. Style is about the way you hold yourself and move through the world.”

Tim Gunn

Project Runway mentor Tim Gunn steps out of the design studio to give advice on how to dress stylishly on a budget, how to find the perfect fit, ways to bag a bargain, how to find a fashion icon and ‘make it work’. All readers can benefit from Gunn’s frank but beguiling and conversational style.

The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own by Nina Garcia

“Simply put, these items make me feel classic. And there is no substitute for feeling this way. Ever.”

Nina Garcia

This book outlines the 100 basic items that a woman should own such as a white shirt, the little black dress, stiletto heels, jeans and statement jewellery. This is essential reading for anyone who wants to invest in a wardrobe of classic clothing items that will transcend several seasons.

Style is not about wearing the same designer from head to toe, being dressed right out of a look book or a magazine page. It’s about creating a signature style that expresses your unique personality and individual style. Follow these fashion bibles religiously and create your own fashion statement.

The biggest dilemma at Christmas is not what to buy your boss or in-laws but what to wear to the Christmas party. This is no time to step outside the closet and try out a new look – think tried and tested. It’s like the equivalent of meeting the parents for the first time. You want to show a hint of flesh but on err on the conservative side. Here are five tips to take you straight from the office to the Christmas party.

Decode the dress code

Your Christmas Party invitation may specify the dress code which may be casual, lounge suit, cocktail or black tie. If there is no dress code specified, the type of activity planned, venue and time of the party should dictate how formal you should be dressed. If in doubt, do some research and find out what your colleagues are wearing. With a few alterations, you can adapt your work outfit to become a Christmas party outfit. This can easily be done with accessories, a change of footwear or wearing a different blouse or shirt with your pants or wearing your hair differently.

Modesty is the best policy

You don’t want to wear the same outfit that you wear to work but you also need to bear in mind that your work Christmas party is an extension of your working hours and dress appropriately. You want to be eating lamb at the party and not be mutton dressed as lamb so cleavage, showing excessive leg, hooker heels or unbuttoning your shirt one button past the point of two buttons is definitely a no no at the Christmas party. You may be going to an after-hours Christmas party but your clothes definitely need a PG rating.

Accessories

If you’re going to make a strong statement at the office Christmas party, make it with your accessories and transform your outfit from day to night with a few strategically placed accessories. An interesting necklace, chandelier earrings, chunky bracelets or cocktail ring can be a talking point at the Christmas party and a way to break the ice with your colleagues. If you are unsure of the dress code, take a few choices of different shoes and accessories so you can dress an outfit down or up as appropriate.

Gaudy Christmas trinkets

While you want to want to get into the Christmas spirit, wearing a Christmas hat or a huge reindeer broach with a blinking red nose may look a little on the tacky side, clash with your outfit and can look unprofessional. Keep the Christmas accessories to a minimum.

Lingerie

Don’t spoil your well planned Christmas outfit with the wrong lingerie. Make sure that your panty line is not visible, bra straps are not showing and you are wearing the right underwear for your outfit.

When in doubt, it is always better to be overdressed than undressed. It is much easier to make your outfit look more casual by taking off a few layers, changing your footwear or adding a few strategic accessories.

Ex-model Elle McPherson, actress Jennifer Aniston and singer Kylie Minogue are all in their 40s and challenging the “mutton dressed as lamb” notion by wearing mini-skirts to flaunt their fabulously toned legs.

This backs up a survey by Debenhams department store in the UK that British women are not afraid to wear mini-skirts up until the age of 40 and if this trend continues, women in their mid-40s may consider a mini-skirt as an essential in their wardrobe in years to come.

Just 20 years ago, few women would dare to wear a mini-skirt after the age of 33, the store said.

“It shows that women now have an increasing confidence in their bodies and are happy to dress accordingly,” it added in a statement.

“If this trend continues, there’s no doubt that, within the next decade, women in their mid 40s and early 50s will rightly regard a mini-skirt as an essential part of their everyday wardrobe.”

The store noted that experts believe that the popularity of an intensive gym culture, providing women with well toned bodies for longer may be the reason for the shorter hemlines. So if you’re going to wear a mini-skirt, make sure you’ve got the legs to do them justice. Women need to dress for their shape and this fashion rule holds for the fashion illiterate whether you’re 16 or 60.

Mary Quant has been credited with experimenting with shorter lengths in the 1950s but it wasn’t until international model Jean Shrimpton wore a mini-skirt and raised hemlines and the ire of the Australian press at the Melbourne Cup in 1965, that the popularity of the mini-skirt was boosted. Since then, every era and season brings a different skirt hem length for women to adhere to whether it is the mini-skirt, pencil skirt or peasant skirt.

Women are always walking a fine hemline with their skirt lengths trying to conform to the fashions of the day and dress age appropriately. But if you feel comfortable in your own skin, you enjoy wearing mini-skirts, it makes you feel good and you’ve got the body to show it off, then really where is the harm?

If the 40s are the new 30s, and the 30s are the new 20s, then any belle de jour wearing a mini-skirt in their 40s shouldn’t warranted any odd glances. They are more likely to get admiring looks and jealous glances.

If this is indeed mutton dressed as lamb, then make sure you’re the hottest dish on the menu.