Contributions from Caryn Franklin, Jane Galpin, Melissa Dick and Kathryn Byrne.

February

I have a pair of rounded toes light brown cowboy boots and I usually wear them when I'm going out with a denim mini skirt but I really want to wear them during the day to university and i'm not sure what to wear them with - what cut of jeans, length of skirt etc? could u help me with this and show me some photos if you could?
thanks
Laura

Hi Laura,
Cowboy boots are a brilliant start to your spring/summer 05 wardrobe and can be worn with virtually anything. They look great with tiered peasant skirts either full length, mid calf (so the skirt covers the top of the boots) or in rara form at mini length.

You can wear them with cropped pants (again make sure they cover the tops of the boots) or safari style shorts; drainpipe jeans also look great tucked into cowboy boots, wear with a kaftan style top and big belt. Alternatively you could go for the ‘boho’ look and wear a gorgeous floral sundress and cardi ala Sienna Miller.

There are so many options, really anything goes! Have a look at our catwalk and high street trend reports as well as an e-book on your individual body shape. These will give you useful tips on how to achieve the seasons key looks.

I have an interview at the end of the month, for a job as a website designer at a hospital.  I don't really know what to wear.  Should I go for formal, i.e. skirt, blouse and jacket (which I'm not that keen on) or could I go for something a bit more interesting which still looks smart and looks like I've made the effort?  Could you give me some advice on what would look good?
Thanks
Farrah Roberts
P.S.  I live in a fairly small city with not much of a choice for shops so it's likely I will buy online.

Dear Farrah,
 I do hope we’ve caught you in time. If you are going for a creative post like a website designer you can break away from the age old rule of wearing a formal suit to interviews. By all means you should still remain smart, but this can be achieved in a number of ways. 

Your first port of call should be to invest in a really well cut jacket, black is classic, but there are some great ones around in cream, peach, baby blue and beige. Many have pretty sequin embellishments or corsages which can also work well. By wearing a smart jacket you create more leeway with the rest of your outfit.

An a-line or full skirt with a simple vest/camisole or crisp white shirt tucked in and a belt around your waist and of course your jacket would look both stylish and smart, finish of with some boots or simple stilettos and you have a lovely polished outfit. 

Another option would be to wear your jacket with a pair of great jeans, although a usual ‘no no’ in interviews a smart pair of boot cut style jeans in a dark denim, that fit really well can look fab and just as smart as a pair of black trousers plus it will add a bit of personality to your interview outfit. Again team with a white shirt or camisole/vest, a lovely necklace and some smart heeled boots or stilettos.

Most of the high street shops have excellent online stores so you should be able to get everything you need really easily.  www.topshop.co.uk is brilliant. You should also try La Redoute, it’s a French catalogue that offers directional styles with a sophisticated edge, and should offer just what you’re looking for for the interview. Call 0870 0500 455 for a catalogue or visit www.redoute.co.uk.

Hi,
I’d love to take my 17 year old niece to a fashion show. Please can you tell me how I could go about getting tickets. We live in Surrey.
Thanks so much.
Barbara Christie

Hi Barbara,
Unfortunately all the big designer shows are strictly for the fashion industry, photographers, stylists, journalists, buyers etc and tickets are very few and far between.

The British Fashion Council however do have an exhibition for the general public over the weekend of Friday 18th to Sunday 20th February. Tickets are £10 and inside there will be big screens showing the fashion shows, you can get makeovers courtesy of Elizabeth Arden, manicures, pedicures, facials etc; plus be in shoppers paradise with bargains to be had from an array of designers including Frost French, Temperley, Phillip Treacy, Lulu Guinness and Betty Jackson. Although not strictly a fashion show, it would be lovely day out for both you and your niece and a great way to get a feeling of the buzz of London Fashion Week. 

Call the BFC hotline on 0871 222 3214 for tickets

Hi,
I'm not sure whether you can help, but I need to find wide fitting wedding shoes.  I normally shop at Evans for shoes, but I understand that they are not selling wedding shoes this year as in previous years, sales have not done well.  Do you know of any alternative suppliers?  I am getting married in August and have not got a clue where to start.
Many thanks
Katie Walton

Hi Katie,
An excellent place to start is Ivory of Bond Street. They sell beautiful wedding shoes, including wide fitting styles. They are based in London but would be well worth a visit, to have comfortable shoes on your wedding day is so important, the staff there are extremely helpful and will be on hand to help you find the perfect pair. 
 
You can visit their website at www.ivoryshoes.com or contact them on 020 7408 1266.
 
I know it can be a real nightmare to find great fitting stylish wide fitting shoes, a good tip is to buy your wedding shoes in a fabric that could be dyed say black afterwards, (the staff at Ivory of Bond Street would be able to advise you on this) giving you more for your money and ultimately a gorgeous pair of evening shoes that fit perfectly!

I was wondering if you knew what the key fashion items are for Spring/summer 2005 and would I be able to find them on the high street?
Thank you

You may have noticed over the last couple of weeks or so that the high street is becoming awash with the hippy and peasant trend which was so huge on the catwalk. They really are two of the easiest trends to wear; A simple kaftan style top over cropped trousers, jeans or skirts with chunky ethnic style jewellery will create the ethnic hippy look, great for all shapes and sizes.
 
For the peasant look buy yourself a long tiered skirt, team it with a pair of boots or sandals, vest and a big belt and voila. These are however just a couple of ideas; for a complete guide to the season have a look at all the trends in our latest catwalk report, our e-books will then help you to put the looks together from the high street.

Hi,
My poor daughter aged 14 in May, has size 9 feet - she has very long big toes poor girl. Can you recommend any good retailers to us?
We live in Gloucester.
many thanks,
Gill

Hi Gill,
Finding stylish and fashionable shoes in larger sizes really can be hard if you are just looking at what the high street offers. Certainly Next go up to a size 9 as do Barratts but in researching I also found Faith; who excel in good value, fashionable footwear. They do seem to have really addressed the problem well with their range of size 9 shoes, which is perfect for image conscious teenagers.
 
Your main local Faith store is in Cheltenham, unfortunately they don’t stock the size 9 range but you can have a look at the faith website and either order online or make a note of the pairs you like and the store will order them in for you, it will take 5 to 7 working days but it will enable your daughter to try them before you buy. Please do let us know how you get on!
 
Faith – Cheltenham store 01242 514691
www.faith.co.uk
 
Do also look at our directory under tall where you’ll find online retailers 9-11 and Lush. Both these companies specialize in shoes that start at 9 so it will be a great moral boost for your daughter to feel that when shopping in these online stores, she has the smallest feet in the shop!
 
Do tell her won’t you that many of the worlds top models take a size 9 shoe – so she has something in common with Ms Campbell.

Please could you let me know where I can buy Arianne Poole's make up products. Does she have a web site? or can you advise me where i can find a list of stockists.
many thanks
Vivienne Hamilton

Hi Vivienne
Ariane's products are for sale on her website www.arianepoole.com I am sure you will get all the info you need there.

Hello
In few day’s I will visit UK and would like to have a hair make over but I don’t know where to go.
Please help
Regards
Ula

Hi Ula
There are so many good places to go. Here are a couple of my favourite hair salons where you'll find excellent cutters & stylists that have been trained by top celebrity hairdressers Charles Worthington & Trevor Sorbie who have both previously won the biggest accolade here in the UK  - the 'British Hairdresser of the Year' award.
 
Charles Worthington
6-7 Percy Street
London W1T 1DQ
Tel: 020 7636 4686

Trevor Sorbie International
27 Floral Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2E 9DP
Tel: 0207 379 6901
 
Have a wonderful trip to the UK

That’s all for this month - join us next month for the answer to your question.