Time to have a break and go to see the Maison Martin Margiela ’20’: The Exhibition, in London.

Fron June 3 to September 5 , this exhibition will celebrate 20 years of one of the most influential and enigmatic designers.The Margiela aesthetic has always offered a radical alternative to what we might deem as chic and “designer”.

The retrospective will have photographs and videos that will show how the designer became a genius for his radical and misterious designs. Martin Margiela started as Jean Paul Gaultier assistantand and created the iconic tabi boots.

Strongly recommended!

Maison Martin Margiela ’20’: The Exhibition

June 3 – September 5 2010

Somerset House Embankment Galleries, London WC2; 020 7845 4600

So we are well and truly in the New Year. With everyone back at work and all the excitement of the New Year well and truly behind us, many people are starting to ask the same question- just what is going to be big in 2010? Well amongst many of the trends emerging from the fashion world it seems that one of the biggest trends is the use of plus size models.

OK I know what you are thinking- haven’t we been here before? Doesn’t it seem like every year someone comes forward and proclaims that the particular year in question will be the year of the plus sized model? Don’t they always say this and then once the novelty has worn off all magazines and fashion houses revert back to hiring size zero models? Well if Mr Lagerfeld himself can do a u turn on the issue of plus sized models then surely there is hope that in fact 2010 is the year for the plus sized woman!

V Magazine has decided to publish a Size issue for the month of January in replace of the normal monthly issue. The issue will feature several curvaceous women modelling a multitude of outfits and designs. What’s more the voluptuous models will not be wearing baggy, loose fitting clothes. Rather they will be wearing exactly the same types of outfits we would expect any standard model to wear, so look out for swimwear, bra tops and low rise jeans, highlighting that plus size fashion does not have to be dull and boring. But what is even more incredible is the fact Karl Lagerfeld has actually played a role in the production of this special edition of V Magazine. Mr Lagerfeld oversaw a photo shoot of burlesque dancer and plus size woman Dirty Martini, in a range of revealing outfits at Coco Chanel’s house for the Size issue. What is astonishing about this is that just a few months ago Karl famously said that “No one wants to see curvy women. You’ve got fat mothers with their bags of chips sitting in front of the television and saying that thin models are ugly.”

So it seems that Karl Lagarfeld has had a change of heart when it comes to plus size women, so if he can give his seal of approval to use of plus sized women within the media then surely it is more possible that 2010 has the potential to be the year of the plus sized woman!

After this weekend it seems that summer isn’t quite over yet, and if the news from the Met Office is anything to go by the good weather is set to continue for the rest of this week. OK I know the weather hasn’t been scorching but it can’t be denied that it has been warmer than usual for this time of year. So this can only mean one thing, we are going to have to postpone sporting our new autumn/winter wardrobe for a little while longer. However, it’s not all bad news as this just simply means that we have a little more time to get all the key trends that should be included in this season’s wardrobe.

Everyone knows that as a new season approaches there are a few essential items which the wardrobe of every self respecting fashionista should have, and it appears that this season if you are only going to make one purchase then it should be something with big shoulders. Definitive shape is very important this season, and jackets, tops and even dresses are sporting the bold shouldered look. So it seems wise to invest in such an item if you want to portray yourself as somewhat of a fashion devotee.

Another key trend this season is leather. Leather skirts and trousers are available for those who are brave enough to wear them. However, for those not quite so brave there is always the leather jacket. Although some may see a leather jacket as a safe option its impact should not be underestimated, and if you really want to make an impact and be bang on trend then opt for biker style leather jacket. A jacket such as this can make even the simplest of outfits appear edgy.

Cropped is also very big this season, so if you want to keep up in the fashion stakes then opt for something which reflects this trend. For many women the thought of wearing a crop top fills them full of fear. However, this trend does not mean that everyone has to feel uncomfortable and walk about with their midriffs on display. Rather opt for the layered look and pair a crop top with a vest and keep your stomach covered if you feel uncomfortable about showing it. Or try a cropped cardigan or jacket instead.

Now in terms of shoes there seems to be two key trends emerging both of which are centred on the boot. The first of these trends is the over the knee boot and the second the ankle boot. Both are at polar extremes to one another but both can create a very dramatic look, granted the former is much more difficult to carry off than the latter. Careful consideration should be given to finding the right pair of over the knee boots as some can appear tacky and create an entirely different look to what we were intending. However, the ankle boot is much easier to shop for, there are so many great pairs in the shops at the minute that your only problem will probably be deciding which pair to buy.

So these additional days of sunshine should give us just enough time to perfect our Autumn Winter wardrobe and when the sun has gone we will have the perfect outfit to showcase!