Jemma's Column
May
Ahhh a bit of good weather, open top cars, sipping wine outdoors, cool flowing fabrics, over-sized sunnies and glossy sun kissed hair, well that’s the dream but the reality is it’s very nearly time for me to peel off a few layers and I’ll be honest I am not match fit.
Here is my extensive list of must do’s before I can unveil any part of me:
Shave my legs – It seems I took Nicki Gillon’s advice about the 80’s coming back too literally and cultivating my own leg warmers was taking the trend too far. I’m not a waxer or laserer (pain is my enemy) so I will blow the dust of my faithful razor and get to work on them. I could be a while!
False tanning – Keep in mind some of my body hasn’t been on show for about 10 months. Yes I will admit to tanning just my arms and bronzing just my feet, but I bet I am not the only one!
Getting my lumpy, fat in places body into shape - Why do I let it get to this state every year? I am going away in 3 weeks and without the aid of a good surgeon or a genie offering 3 wishes I going to look more Belly McPherson than Elle.
Feet / pigs trotters - These have been festering away nicely in my Ugg boots all winter and now they need to be ‘best in show’ for my Havianas and gladiators. Are you kidding me? This is such a big job even the professionals are whistling through their teeth and inviting work ex’s over to stare in disbelief
I won’t even tell you about my bikini line and arm pits apart from to say I think I will need to get 3 quotes before I can commit
That aside the weather people promise a good summer so come on girls get booked in with your therapists and start the process to get beach beautiful. And next year lets remember it is prevention not cure!
April
News flash – changing weather is stopping fashion fun!! Ok I know us folk in Greater Manchester are used to varying weather but this is ridiculous. Last week I had t-shirts and pumps on, this week I am back in Ugg boots and leggings. I am bored, bored ,bored of wintery clothes and am chomping at the bit to get into my floaty florals!
You can expect a great month on Style in The City through April. We have got it all covered – Nicki and Amy from Manchester Fashion Network are in the studio talking about 50’s flirty fashion right through to what to wear on a first date.
April is also makeover month on Style and it is our aim to glam up the people of Manchester. Our team of experts have their styling tools poised to gloss, spray, pin and curl. We have teachers and mums all in our sights!
Feature wise I learn how to become a chic charity shopper. Which is like Victoria Beckham in flats – totally alien!! I am known for my snobbery when it comes to second hand clothing but now we are calling it vintage I am all over it. Fickle – me – no!!
Ashtanga, Ayengar, Bikram and Hatha, I know to some that sounds like the Geldof children being called for dinner but they are in fact all names of different types of yoga. Again, totally alien to most of us, that’s why we decided on Style to find out just what it’s all about. So, if you are thinking of taking it up then make sure you tune in to find out just which one suits you and your lifestyle.
Lets finish off with things we should be thankful for this month
- Chocolate (fingers crossed the bunny brings mini eggs)
- Long weekend (mainly spent drinking wine and sleeping in)
- Bright, colourful exciting trends coming to a store near you soon
March
March is upon us and I am very excited by everything to do with spring style. Marc Jacobs kicked back against the recession and at New York fashion week/weekend he sent his models down the runway in neons and pastels. Stylists everywhere are turning their back on black in the hope of cheering the nation up. So, I have decided to join in. I am very guilty of adorning black, I find it a safe, easy, slimming option BUT no more. I will attempt to brighten up Greater Manchester by adding pops of colour to all my outfits. Feel free to email in if you feel I look dull.
www.style@channelm.co.uk
Here are my March predictions on what we should be treating ourselves to –
Jumpsuits – either full length or short
Shoulder pads - think Dallas and Dynasty
Boat shoes – Elle McPherson loves them so that’s good enough for me
Legging jeans – hard to explain but they are as tight as leggings with a waistband and button like jeans. Very flattering!
Long line suit jackets – great for hiding lumps and bumps, gives your body a great line.
Just before I sign off a word of advice ladies: good weather will be with us sooner than you think and we will have to unveil our feet and bodies so start to get them in check now!
February
Hurrah, gloomy January is but a distant memory and fun February is upon us. Here are my personal good points to Feb:
1. Spring/Summer styles hitting the shops.
2. Valentine’s day
3. It’s a short month so fingers crossed we won’t run out of money.
4. All my sensible/boring friends who decided to detox and hibernate are up for partying again.
5. We can book a summer holiday and count down the months. (4 since you ask)
6. My gym won’t be as busy since everybody has given up on his or her health kick resolution.
And the best one –
7. New episodes of Style In The City.
The team has been working very hard and we have come up with some great style stories for you. If you want to know how to guarantee you don’t turn up in the same outfit as somebody else, what to wear on Valentine’s Day or how the Hollywood celebs are toning up then you cannot afford to miss a single episode.
Before I sign off, these are the key looks we should all be investing in to see us through spring/summer.
Wedges with cork or wooden heels
Pastel everything, and if you want to be uber-stylish then neon (yuck)
Under-stated bags – still designer, but how vulgar to shout it from the rooftops when we are in a recession.
Gladiator sandals (the higher up your leg the better)
Bold prints
Skirts as opposed to dresses
Enjoy February and the new show feel free drop me a line at
style@channelm.co.uk if you have any style dilemmas or just want to say ‘hi’.
Jemma
x
January
I hope you all had a great Christmas break and like me let it all hang out, unfortunately there seems to be considerably more to hang out after my numerous selection boxes. But now normal service can resume and it is back to fruit, veg and water. I don’t go in for all those quick fix diets and detox plans, I personally believe it has to be a way of life. Let me know how you will be getting slim-line in 2009 by dropping me an email – style@channelm.co.uk
2008 was an icon filled year for Style In The City. We interviewed all the great names in fashion: Gok Wan, Jeff Banks and Dylan Jones to name but a few. But the best thing that happened was that we are Guinness ™ World Record holders. Thanks to our viewers and a crack style team we managed to makeover numerous women and create a world record.
How on earth can we top all of that?? Don’t panic because we intend to! 2009 will be a bigger and better year for Style In The City and I fully intend to be quaffing champers at every celeb bash in Greater Manchester, road testing all the latest must-haves and getting top tips from Manchester’s fashionistas.
Before I sign off I suppose I should let you know my resolutions for 09. Bizarrely I want to learn to tap dance and I am going to accessorize more. Fickle some may say – but I just think your resolutions should be something you can keep!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
December
Don’t panic, you didn’t fall into a mulled wine induced sleep and miss December. The January sales are here early in attempt by the retailers to make some money over the festive period. So, here are my top tips on how to survive the sales scrums and come out looking stylish.
Before you go out for your day of sales shopping go through your wardrobe and see what you actually need. It is so easy to be swayed by the promise of slashed prices that you could end up with a mountain of clothes that don’t fit in with the stuff you already have.
Be aware of your rights as a shopper. If you buy something that’s reduced because it’s damaged you won’t be able to return it if you can’t fix it. However, you should be able to return it if there is another problem that wasn’t pointed out to you. Each shop has different policies. If you are unsure don’t be afraid to ask.
Wear layers of clothing that can be peeled off easily. This obviously helps when trying on but it also helps when it comes to Manchester’s unpredictable weather. It may be freezing outside but as a rule shops have the heating turned to nuclear!
And finally it’s only a bargain if you wear it. Keep in mind you won’t slim into something, you probably won’t get round to having something shortened and shopping in the sales is not the time for a drastic change of image.
Stylish Christmas gift tips
I usually have an embargo on all things Christmassy until December but since we are all counting the pennies and having to spread the cost here are some tips on how to save the pennies while not losing your reputation as a stylish gift giver.
Don’t bother splashing out on expensive wrapping paper; after all it only gets torn off in an excited frenzy (unless you’re my Mum and then it is lovingly removed and folded up for at least another 3 uses). My top tip is when you have finished with your glossy magazines tear out the stylish pages and use them to wrap your gifts. So, if you have a friend who loves fashion then use a piccy of Kate Moss or to make it even more personal use the horoscope page to correspond with the person. PS this is a great excuse to buy more magazines!
Stores like New Look and Matalan sell bangles in bundles – you get about 6 for £5.00. Why not buy a few packs and give them out in threes instead, if you re-package them into a glam box nobody will know.
Ok, I love the thought of making my own gifts however my mind is more creative than my fingers and I know for a fact none of my friends would appreciate a gift that looks like a 6 year old has made it (they are a materialistic lot). So, here is my tip on how to make them look homemade – get down to your local garden centre! It is an emporium of toiletries, candles and homemade cakes. None of it looks high street and you seem to get a lot more for your money.
November 2008
What a month we have had on Style in The City, well I should say I have had. It started with me having my hair cut by hairdresser of the year – Angelo Seminara. He works with Trevor Sorbie who has brought a bit more glamour to the city with his new salon. I love my new shaggy, just out of bed look and even more of a bonus it takes me a matter of minutes to do it.
I also had the pleasure of attending the launch of Vicky Martin’s new look store in The Triangle. She has at last given into peer group pressure and gone all vintage on us. I love the idea of copying the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Anne Hathaway and wearing vintage to swanky events. I could tell you it’s because my issues are green or I am pulling in the purse strings but in fact the reason is I am so vain I dread the thought of turning up in the same dress as somebody else.
Coming up over the following month I will be out and about filming Christmas pressies, party dresses and jewellery but the thing I am looking forward to most is our Style In The City event at Manchester’s exclusive Circle Club. Our show is put together with the help of Manchester’s fashionistas without them we couldn’t do it. So, we are throwing them a huge thank you bash offering all the things you would find in a typical episode of Style In The City. We have pampering, champers, fashion and dance – who could ask for more – hunky male models? – got them as well.
Just before I sign off here are the things I am glad for this month – autumn, I love winter fashion it’s so effortlessly snuggly. Christmas cups at Starbucks, it’s means the big guy in red will be visiting in a few weeks. And finally, dark nights, call me romantic but I love curling up on the sofa with a glass of red!!