Denim is firmly back in fashion.  I thought it never went away I hear you ask? Well of course jeans are a perennial staple but this season it’s more polished and sleek cousin takes up the limelight.  Think minimalist, chic and elegant pieces that can suit all occasions such as the Denim Tunic.

It has a great simplicity and ease that doesn’t require much styling or accessorizing – just some classic earrings, sunglasses and a chic bag. The key is to keep the look loose, easy-going and relaxed.

As much as it looks great on its own it’ll also look stylish layered over your capsule wardrobe Breton tee or pretty blouse or teamed with your white jacket. A really elegant look is a tunic with wide leg trousers.

A heaven sent if you’re apple or pear shapes as the tunic shape will create a long, lengthening line and will deftly cover tummies, hips and thighs.

This one from Fifty Plus has rouching and ties at the bust will also draw focus upwards creating height and adding definition at the bust. If you are a little bigger busted then loosen the ties to open up a little and show more décolletage. This tunic is great as its cut curves in at the waist to give just enough definition. You could also add a belt to highlight the waistline – especially if you are petite.

Short Sleeved Denim Tunic Shirt

£26-£30

Sizes 12-30

Available in bleachwash and stonewash

 Fifty Plus

Report by Sharon Tyler

It’s all about hats what with Royal Ascot last week and the start of wedding season. A hat will instantly draw focus upwards creating height but also don’t underestimate its transformative effect or its ability to inject new life into last year’s dress.Talented milliner Georgie Carss knows all about that. She cut her cloth with famed British hat makers Edwina Ibbotson and Stephen Jones. One of her designs will add a touch of class and originality to any outfit. Turn heads in a peacock-plumed trilby or seduce in an exquisite oriental fan hat.

Whether you’re off to the races or a family wedding top off your outfit with a head turner and stylishly stand out from the crowd.

For a list of stockists and to view Georgie’s collections, visits www.georgiecarss.com

 Report by Sharon Tyler

There’s a lot of conversation about the beauty we see in our media and how it effects us. I should know…the need for beauty diversity one of my pet subjects.

So I’m taking this opportunity to salute the lovely Carmen Dell’Orefice featured in Grazia this week..who at 80 is still strutting the catwalks for high end names like Alberta Ferretti.

But wait, you could be forgiven for thinking the woman featured in this advert is not Carmen but her 35 year old niece… that’s digital post production for you!

Not sure why she needed 45 years shaved off her actual age to advertise a quality watch, but perhaps there’s a hard-to-work-out visual pun to be made around time keeping here!

Of course we have our own ‘octogenarian super,’ right here.

And, as I was with Daphne Selfe of Models 1, only yesterday as it happens…(we were chatting about her packed modelling schedule)  I’ve enclosed this picture to remind us all that beauty is still beautiful when skin is enlivened by the passing years.

No time machine needed here!

Designers do need to include curvy women in their design thinking. And working on ordinary bodies instead of tailors’ dummies or a model who is paid to mimic a tailors’ dummy in size is not a rounded training say we at All Walks!

Yesterday after months of hard work to create Britain’s first Centre of Diversity,  Govt Minister Lynne Featherstone was our guest at Graduate Fashion Week  to endorse the work of All Walks Beyond the Catwalk and celebrate our achievement. In the picture with her and myself above, is Mal Burkinshaw Director of the Centre and course leader at Edinburgh College of Art.

It was he who coined the term ‘emotionally considerate design and messaging’. In non academic terms that means learning to design for ordinary women of different sizes, ethnicities and ages by using models who represent a wider range of beauty.

Some our All Walks models turned up to help celebrate the moment wearing clothes especially designed by students at Edinburgh College of Art, it was great so see such body diversity, we were only sad that Valerie and Daphne our stunning 60 and 80 year old models were unable to join us!

Here they are below in all their glory in our ‘All Women,’ shot by Rankin for All Walks Beyond the Catwalk

Credits: Small pic above features co founder of All Walks Debra Bourne, Lynne and I, with one of the dummies donated by Tanya Reynolds of Proportion London which cover different sizes up to UK 18 so that students can train on varied sizes. With thanks to Annabel Staff for her photography.

The trend pieces needn’t be confined to the compounds of fashion magazines.  Here are some trend tricks to flatter YOUR shape this summer…

The Hide Your Hips Trick

A long-line fluid blazer will deftly cover your bum and hips without adding bulk.  Roll up the sleeves to flatter your forearms.

Orange Waterfall Jacket, £75, Wallis

The Control Your Thighs Trick

 The love for maxis is still going strong and no wonder as it’ll look effortlessly chic while perfectly keeping your thighs seductively under wraps.

Leandra Print Maxi Skirt, £100, Monsoon

The Add to Your Height Trick

 The all-in-one jumpsuit goes from head to toe, elongating your silhouette. Style with heels to enhance the effect.

 Apollo Jumpsuit, £167, French Connection

The Widen Your Shoulders Trick

 A slash-neck top adds width to narrow shoulders while also cleverly highlighting the waist.

 Cerise ripple texture slash neck top, £42, Minuet Petite

The Flatter Slim Legs Trick

The midi skirt stops at the widest point of the calf, immediately giving some shape to your pins.

Floral border skirt, £32, M&Co

The Whittle Your Waist Trick

High-waisted, wide leg jeans will minimize your torso while any unwanted lumps and bumps are confined under the wide-leg Seventies silhouette.

 Love Label high waisted wide leg jeans, £28, www.very.co.uk

Report by Sharon Tyler