Now I’ve never really been one for the Second life bandwagon, having, y’know, a life, but you can’t really ignore its huge effect with everything from fashion stores opening in it, to films being previewed there first. Naturally should you be a player of the game you want your character to be dressed to the nines, all the better to snag that second life boyfriend so you want to keep your avatar togged out well. Litt

Being a girl that really like skinny jeans and accessories, I hardly ever leave the house without my handbag. Skinny jeans are not forgiving enough to allow pocket space and I feel accessories are as key to an outfit…

So another year gone by, ands we take a look back at some of the *ahem* most exciting moments of the year.They include Victoria Beckham in that Roland Mouret dress, oh and leaving British shores for LA for like, all of five minutes, The lovely   
  

Oh deary me, what has the Times done today? In some sort of bitter tirade, Times writer Tad Safran has managed to alienate British women and possibly put a sudden end to his sex life – my heart bleeds… His article “American beauty?” claims to have observed women both in the US and Britain coming to the bizarre conclusion that American women look after themselves and British women… well, they just don’t…

OK, there are only 20 shopping days left till Xmas, and for those who are still stuck at what to buy the fabulous moi, I thought I’d give you a heads up. Cos none of us are super rich, I thought I’d choose potentially affordable gifts, though in my heart of hearts I yearn for a Tiffany necklace and a Paddington bag. See after the jump for product details,

Pom pom slipper bootie, £6 from ASOS.com, Lola Rose Puff Heart Necklace, £80 from Oli, Spot bird hottie, £12 from Topshop,Birdcage necklace, £12 from Hannah Zakari, Heart tab belt, £15 Miss Selfridge, Corsage bag, £89.95 from Karen Millen, Nica bag, £35 Debenhams

Obviously being the editor of The Bag Lady I tend to spend my time reading about the latest “must-have” accessories available from both designers and on the High Street. As a result of this I require a wider collection of accessories that your average person which you think would be considered in my pay check but alas no.

Instead, I am being ridiculously subtle by compiling a list and creating a collage of the key items that have caught my eye recently. As you can see, I am attracted by the array of bright coloured accessories currently on offer. This is definitely a wish list, a Miu Miu headband for £55 seems a bit excessive but it’s so cute!

See after the jump for stockists, prices and links.
Green hat, Sonia Rykiel at Net a Porter: £65 | Anchor necklace, Heidi Seeker: £7 | Strawberry cuff, Anna Lou of London: £15 | Sequin clutch, Accessorize at Oli: £30 | Men’s blue watch, Toy Watch at Browns: £115 | Star bracelet, Punky Pins: £20 | Bow detail head band, Miu Miu at Start boutique: £55 | Mulberry Roxanne Sweater tote for GAP, £85

I’ve never been in the USA in November, so have managed to avoid the mayhem of Black Friday; the day after Thanksgiving and supposedly the first real day of Christmas shopping for our friends across the Pond. Stores are notorious for pulling in the punters with big discounts, Black Friday sales and special events, something we usually had to wait until Jan…

Gemma Cartwright writes…My first experience of Primark was in about 1995 on a family trip to Newport, Gwent. I was looking for a pair of black sandals for a school disco and my mom remembered a cheap shop that she used to frequent when she lived in Wales in the late 70s. Ten minutes and £12 later and I was the proud owner of a pair of strappy suede shoes and a new ’secret’ shopping destination. The daughter of a true bargain hunter, I loved Primark instantly. But it wasn’t until I moved to London and discovered the massive Primark in Hammersmith in 2001 that I really became obsessed…

For some reason, nearly every person I know or am related to seems to have been born in the month of October. It leaves me stuck with the challenge of trying to buy truly unique presents for each of them (three are close friends with birthdays within days of each other). Obviously, I try to buy good presents that suit each of them but I end up stressing out and leaving it too late resulting in a slightly random array of gifts. This year, I have given it some careful thought and have decided that accessories (my first love) make the perfect present for almost anybody!
One of my close friends is literally one of those people who has everything. She shops regularly, has a very particular style and isn’t too hot on jewellery. But, then I came up with the inspired idea of buying her a vintage scarf! There are hundreds of stores across London where you can pick out such gifts, I also love the Celia Birtwell for Topshop scarves.

For another friend, I have decided upon a name necklace from Tatty Devine. A very personal gift for which you can chose the colour, font and phrase for just £25 (or £15 if you have a WEDGE card).

A cute clutch is another great option. They’re not too expensive and it seems unlikely that they’ll already have it. Especially with the fast paced turn around on the High Street at the moment. How about this silver, square clutch from Warehouse? Or this chocolate clutch from Dorothy Perkins, for £10.

Tracy Tjoeng writes…

Learn something new every day – or even better, learn a few new things every day. I had this lovely Marc by Marc Jacobs pump to show ya’ll and I went a little bananas describing every favored detail when I realized there must be a better way to phrase “I love the menswear inspired flappy thing under the laces!”

Check out this cool “Anatomy” map, which helpfully points out all the important aspects of a shoe and succinctly labels each. Did you know a shoe has a “breast?” It is the “forward facing part of the heel, under the arch of the sole.” And a “tongue” is the flappy thing under the laces. One of the more relevant, and better known, terms for the fall fashion season to remember: “toe caps” – which may be given more shape and definition through the “puff.” For more on shoe anatomy, check out Shoeguide.org.

Introducing a new feature to Catwalk Queen, where we show off our recent purchases and where you can tell us about yours!

Can you guess what we’ve brought by looking at our what’s in our shopping bags?

Besides skinny models, one of the most popularly criticized habit of fashion is the use of animal furs. But there’s always two sides to every story – even the Fur Story. The Bag Lady and Catwalk Queen readers enthusiastically gave thumbs up to Janice Dickinson, despite her notoriously rambunctious personality, for her “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” PETA naked parade. I don’t know many folks out there who actively support animal cruelty (its usually just general apathy or a lack of awareness) but

Gemma Cartwright writes…

It’s been shoes-a-plenty this week as we’ve been enjoying one of the busiest weeks ever for the fashion team at Shiny Towers. We started off with a bit of live shopping for Catwalk Queen, followed by some very, very important meetings about London Fashion Week, and then our very first fashion shoot on Wednesday evening. With a glittery, metallic disco theme, our models were, unsurprisingly, shoehorned into silver slingbacks, bronze ‘Dorothy’ shoes and towering wedges. There’s a video preview up already, and the results of the shoot will be on Catwalk Queen soon, so look out for that if you like a bit of glitz!

Today I’m back in the office bossing the girls about as usual, but I did find time in my lunch hour to pop into New Look for the launch of the latest Gold by Giles Deacon range, which includes all kinds of fabulous footwear. I did have my eye on a pair of zebra heels with jewels, but in the flesh they were just a bit too flashy for my taste, so instead I went for the chain detail leather sandals (£35). The heels are killer and I’m sure they’ll hurt after five minutes, but with the new season’s tough trends, they’ll be perfect! They’re also available in blue and cream if you like a bit of colour.

As the weather’s got worse in London, the team have been forced back into old faithfuls like flat black boots, slouchy leather numbers and – in Isabelle’s case – a pair of £8 ‘Dick Whittington’ boots from a charity shop.

However, Laura braved the puddles in these babies from Office, which we’ve all fallen for. The picture doesn’t do them justice. I’m completely converted to wide elastic straps now. No longer is it just a way of keeping the wrong sized shoe on the foot of a catwalk model, it’s now a mainstream trend!

Finally, I’ll leave you with one of my favourite photos of the week. I wish this Louboutin-laden shelf was in my room. Sadly, it’s actually Cricket in Liverpool, the designer store where the WAGs buy all their Cavalli. *drool*

Gemma Cartwright is Shiny Media’s fashion editor and the original Ms Shoewawa

Tracy Tjoeng writes…

Admit it – part of the appeal of Christian Louboutins are the unmistakable red soles and the nearly naughty peek of color just along the heel. And when you wear them, gawkers can tell from miles away exactly how much you spent on your lovely heels (approximately US$400) and what kind of classy lady you are (one with good taste, presumably).

So would you spend US$400 on Louboutins that only few could tell from another, potentially less expensive, shoe? Someday, I hope to be the kind of girl who can assemble a beautiful, chic outfit without high-end designer inspiration… but too often I need cues from the well-paid in the fashion world. So there, I’ll be first to admit it – as much as I think there are quite beautiful aspects about a Louboutin heel besides its red sole, I’d be dissapointed if mine were mistaken for lesser, or even just different, shoes.

But not always. On the other end of the spectrum, wouldn’t I sometimes wish to hide the identity of my shoe? Louboutins scream for attention just the way a Birkin would – please, take advantage of me, con me into buying things I don’t need, judge me based on my outfit, and pick-pocket my purse, cos what I’m wearing is worth at least US$500! A sensible person would suggest: if you don’t want folks to recognize your Louboutins, then…don’t wear them.

There’s an old wives tale going around my house, claiming that Louboutin’s are the most comfortable heel among designers, second only to Prada boots. Well, I thought… that can’t be true, I love Jimmy Choo! I debated this heartily with my household for a few minutes, and then I decided to call their bluff – we would treck to Nordies, help each other try on heels and declare which shoe was the most comfortable of them all. Lo and behold, I eventually nominated a pair of lovely black Louboutin Mary Janes as the most comfortable shoe, and since then, I never looked back.

There is a beautiful mesh of comfort and style when it comes to a Louboutin, which is why I love them so. Too often, though, we’re attracted simply to the red heel. If thats the case, frauleins, then why don’t we want this equally expensive and beautiful patent leather pump by Miu Miu (US$395)? Or this bold Betsey Johnson ‘Whitefield’ pump (US$240) which surely takes a cue from the latest shoe fall fashion? How about either of these lovely red sandals? What’s the difference anyway? (Christian Louboutin, US$640, and Manolo Blahnik, US$585.) So, girls… would you not only wear, but also buy Louboutins if no one could tell? Or conversely, would you avoid Louboutins because everyone knows? The curse is quite double edged, no?

More columns and opinions at Shoewawa

Gemma Cartwright ponders what to pack in her suitcase this Summer…

With less than a month to go before I head off for two weeks in the sun, I’ve had to start thinking about what to pack. I’m off on holiday with the friend who is partly responsible for turning me into such a shoe whore in the first place. She can wear heels all day without complaining and knows all the tricks for avoiding or treating blisters. But even she is a slave to her Havaianas once she’s poolside. The pool glam ‘heels and a bikini’ look favoured by rap video girls and pageant stars just doesn’t work in an apartment complex in Gran Canaria. But that doesn’t mean we should get lazy…

Summer is the worst time for shoes, because so many nightmares come out the woodwork in the name of keeping cool, looking ’sexy’ or dealing with the damp. Here are just three of the nightmares you might encounter in the next few months…

1. Crocs, jellies and waterproof ‘novelty’ shoes.

My hatred of Crocs has been documented many times before. I know they’re comfy, I know they’re fun, I know they’re practical. That doesn’t stop them being fugly. Why anyone would want to make their feet look like big rainbow coloured boats covered in holes, I don’t know. I also hate jellies. They get sticky and sweaty, they rub and they get grubby very quickly. Yes, they’re waterproof, but so are Havaianas and the new wave of rubber-based flip-flops, which are also far more aesthetically pleasing.

2. Ridiculously strappy Gladiator / Roman sandals

You have to have the ankles of a supermodel to get away with anything that ties this many times around the foot…but what drives me mad is the temptation to keep continuing the straps up the leg like a Roman soldier. It’s a recipe for disaster and shoes like this should be avoided at all costs. Not only do you look like you’re in fancy dress, but you’re asking for some very interesting tan lines. Shoes like this look cheap and nasty, and should be left to D-list celebs craving attention.

3. Super-high slides

What perplexes me about these is not so much the style, but the fact that 90% of the people who wear them can’t walk in them. Teaming a super-high stiletto heel with a tiny bit of fabric across the vamp is asking for a broken ankle. Just say no, trust me! Go for something between this and the above…you need some kind of support, but one ankle strap will do!

What to go for instead:

- simple flat sandals, perhaps with a bit of embellishment
- classic wedges. Not too much of a platform, but plenty of support
- flip-flops are perfect for the beach – you decide if you’d wear them in the city too
- ballet pumps. They do get sweaty in Summer, so buy a new pair each year
- espadrilles. Again, buy a new pair if your old ones are dirty, and don’t pay a lot
- A mid heel strappy sandal in black or white with a matching / wooden heel and sole
- canvas plimsolls / keds – for travelling, messing around and teaming with jeans

In the first ever Shoewawa column, Gemma Cartwright reveals some of the secrets of being a shoe-preme fashion editor…

It’ll come as no surprise to you that I spend most of my life sat at a computer. When it comes to the more glamorous, whirlwind side of the fashion industry, I can go months without a show invite, posh party or press preview, and then suddenly everyone’s emailing me asking me to pop along to their bash. The last couple of weeks have been busier than ever, so I have some great tales to tell…

Graduate Fashion Week took place in London last week, and I was lucky enough to be front row for the shows, checking out some of the best in new UK-educated design talent and schmoozing with fashion faces like Alber Elbaz, Stuart Vevers, Zandra Rhodes and Henry Holland.

It’s interesting to see the shoes that are chosen to accompany student collections. I saw everything from fetish platform shoes (left, at the Northumberland show) to cork wedges with Mondrian-esque poster paint customisation. Neon, metallic, lucite and patent were the most prolific trends, which’ll come as no surprise to savvy shoe fiends like yourselves. Wedges were popular, usually teamed with neon or silver American Apparel leggings or pointelle tights (often in purple). The look is still quite chunky and graphic, and futurism is still the footwear trend to invest in if you’re after something that’ll grab the attention of the fashion pack.

This morning I was treated to a sneaky peek of the new range by Georgina Goodman for Evans. I’m afraid I can’t bring you photos quite yet, but I’ve been promised pictures in the next couple of weeks. There were lots of concealed platforms, concentric striped uppers in metallic leather and suede, and some gorgeous ankle boots that had all of us swooning. One of the great things about this ongoing collaboration is that the shoes actually look like they could be part of Goodman’s mainline collection, but only cost about £50 a pair. It’s also great news if you have wide feet or calves, as the shoes are generously cut to fit Evans 16+ customer base.

Another place I’d recommend taking a peek at next season if you’re after bargain shoes with designer styling is Matalan. It may not look like a fashion hotbed from the outside, but don’t let that fool you. At the Autumn / Winter preview we all fell for the ribbon laced patent platforms, which are really fashion forward and will only set you back about £20 (which is a good thing considering you’ll probably only wear them a handful of times). There were also some fab functional flats, patent court shoes with chunky heels (very Chloe-esque) and some Victorian inspired laced boots.

Finally, just in time for festival season (most of the girls are off to mosh at Glastonbury, but I’ll be enjoying a slightly less exhaustive time at the 02 Wireless Festival) we got hold of some of the new limited edition wellies created by Dorothy Perkins for the ‘Plant More Trees’ campaign in aid of the Woodland Trust. They come in two (very cute) styles for £20 each, and for every pair sold a tree will be planted in the UK. While you’re on the site, don’t forget to plant a virtual tree online. For every 100 virtual trees, another real tree will be planted. Look out for the Shoewawa tree while you’re there!

Gemma Cartwright is Fashion Editor of Shiny Media and has edited Shoewawa since it began in 2004.

Gemma Cartwright celebrates as Graduate Fashion Week comes to a close…

It’s the final day of Graduate Fashion Week, and things are winding up as the individual University shows give way to the big gala presentations this afternoon / evening. Team CQ are currently back at Shiny Towers making sense of scribbled notes, garbled video and hastily snapped photos, but we’ll be back in Battersea tonight for some schmoozing and star-spotting at the champagne reception and gala awards show. Will we get our five minutes with Gold Award Judges Posh, Alber and Glenda? We can but hope!

Gemma Cartwright writes…On Sunday I will be sat on a stage at Graduate Fashion Week next to some of the most important people in the fashion industry. One of them is the man responsible for my dream handbag. Another is associate fashion editor at Harpers Bazaar. For obvious reasons, I want to make a good impression and though I really should be doing that by planning what I’m going to say, in reality I’ve been more preoccupied with planning my outfits. I’m not the only one. With all of the in-house CQ team heading to Battersea Park to cover the event, I’ve never heard the phrase “what am I going to wear?” so many times in one week…

I’m really dragging my heels this summer over getting my legs out. Maybe too many years of reading women’s magazine has left me with the urge to buff, exfoliate, self-tan, wax and moisturise before I’ll even consider getting the gams out.

I know what you’re thinking, how hard can it be to wear a dress? What’s the point in this column? Are we running out of ideas? Do we just like putting up really embarassing photos of ourselves for you lot to laugh at?But seriously, many people are scared of this season’s new staple item – the maxi dress – so, yet again the girls at Shiny Towers have road-tested the look so you know exactly what you’re getting into before you buy. Both Gemma and I turned up on one of the hottest days of the year so far ‘working’ our takes on the look…