Dressed to Kilt...

A few years ago I spent the best week of my life in New York City and was lucky enough to be there while Tartan Week - the Big Apple's tribute to its love of all things Scottish - was in full swing. Being surrounded by handsome men in kilts was not a difficult task I must admit.

Now that another NYC Tartan Week has drawn to a close, I've started thinking about how much I actually love my national fabric. Yes, admittedly there are some absolute howlers out there, but in general I love a good bit of tartan.

Some people might think it looks a bit twee and old-fashioned and frumpy but personally I think tartan can look super stylish and sexy - whether it's simple black and white plaid or bright, clashing, in-your-face colours.

If you're really bold and want to stand out from the crowd I think this stunning little number from Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B collection is the perfect statement dress. It's bright, bold, sexy and is guaranteed to get you noticed.

Or, if you're not 100% sure about the look but fancy giving it a go, you can't go wrong with a tartan shirt teamed with a pair of skinny jeans and converse trainers, or ballet pumps for a girly twist.

Over the years I've had quite a selection of tartan garments taking pride of place in my wardrobe - ranging from my red tartan mini-kilt (a particular favourite from the age of around 17 but sadly no longer with us) to an abundance of tartan shirts, to a Vivienne Westwood inspired All Saints skirt. Alas I have never had tartan shoes - but I'm sure it won't be long until I satisfy that particular craving.

Most fashionistas out there will know that Alexander McQueen was a big ambassador for tartan - he featured it quite often in his designers and this is a favourite of mine...

Marc Jacobs introduced men in kilts to the catwalk - something I applaud him for because, let's face it, a man in a kilt is a very attractive thing - but I'm not so sure I'm digging the gladiator sandals with this ensemble. The kilt? Tick. The shirt? Tick. The sandals? Fail. Sorry Marc. You look sort of like a Roman Warrior who got a bit confused when his army invaded Caledonia...

Speaking of men in kilts... *sigh* I have tried to persuade the bf to see the light and accept that he should wear a kilt on our wedding day but I'm afraid he's having none of it. Probably because he's got chicken legs. And he's English. But a girl can try right?

Anyway...glass of cold water, deep breaths - back to the fashion. I love this dress from HeartLoom and Nicky Hilton has been pictured wearing it - what's so perfect about it is that if you want to give tartan a go, but you're not too much of a risk-taker, this is the ideal offering. It's wonderfully subtle because of the colours but it's still obvious what kind of look you're trying to go for. I also love shirt dresses during the summer because they're so cool and lightweight, and it's so easy to throw an outfit together if you're in a rush in the morning.

It would take a brave, and very confident, woman to compete against Kate Moss - she looks amazing here and tartan trousers are certainly not easy to pull off. In fact, they're notoriously difficult. As much as I love tartan kilts, skirts, dresses, shirts and shoes, trousers are something I would never attempt to wear. I'll cover it up with the excuse that my legs just aren't long enough or skinny enough to draw this much attention to them, but the truth in the matter is, I'm simply not brave enough!

Net - A - Dreamer

Every couple of days I get a darling email delivered to my inbox. Quite often entitled "Look of the Day" or "Your Perfect Outfit" - followed swiftly by a little laughing man and the age old phrase "you wish!"

The words "Hello Claire come and gaze upon what you can't ever have" may as well be the permanent subject heading but I still get a thrill of excitement everytime Mr Net-A-Porter pays me a visit.

I think I hit an all-time natural high this morning when I perused the website at all the new stock on offer (oh to be one of the 'other half' for just 24 hours so I could buy myself some of these little gems). Admittedly I'm not a fan of everything high fashion, I think sometimes designers cross the line and veer dangerously into the tacky/gaudy side of fashion, but in general net-a-porter delivers the goods.

One woman who has become a major fixture on my net-a-porter wish list of late is the one and only Victoria Beckham - you have to hand it to her; what she lacks in vocal talent, she more than makes up for in the style stakes. VB knows exactly what looks good, not only on herself, but on other women and she's proven to be a hit among some of Hollywood's biggest female stars. I'm loving this stunning draped purple parachute-silk dress. Sadly (for those who can afford such a luxury) so do many others and the dress is sold out...but oh a girl can dream can't she?

 Another designer who has recently caught my eye is the magnificent Giambattista Valli - Penelope Cruz and Queen Rania are big fans of his designs. Looks like Penelope and I have a couple of things in common - only she actually got to marry Javier Bardem and gets to wear Valli. I think this grey silk draped front dress is stunning and as soon as I saw it I could picture Natalie Portman wearing it (pregnant bump and all). The cut and shape at the top of the dress is quite similar to the Rodarte number she wore at the Oscars and I can picture her rocking this with flat silver gladiator sandals for a dressed down look on a summer's day in LA.

This is a more structured dress that I could actually picture someone like Victoria Beckham wearing - you can tell it's very a clearly a dress from this picture but watching a model sashay down the catwalk, you would swear it's a top and brightly coloured skirt. Fab-u-lous.

If I ever make it to the Hollywood red carpet I'll turn to Catherine Malandrino fashion inspiration. This glamorous navy gown is so elegant and I've got an image of Marilyn Monroe or Elizabeth Taylor in my head when I look at this design.

Azzaro - I just want this. For me. I picture me in this dress.

Alexander McQueen was a master of his time and I'm glad his legacy is continuing under the leadership of Sarah Burton.  This Swarovski embellished skull clutch is incredible and could be teamed up with pretty much anything (I'm picturing skinny jeans, towering stilletos, gold belt, simple top and a statement necklace) - and what better to wear with it than this amazing McQueen skull ring?

And so my morning of net-a-porter gazing must come to an end...until next time my lovelies x

A Nod To The McQueen

Today, incredibly, marks one year since the death of one of fashion's most creative, most flamboyant, most controversial designers. A true genius and master of his trade - Lee Alexander McQueen.

The East End boy, born to a Scottish father (we have to claim him SOMEHOW), whose breathtaking fashion creations were adored worldwide, sadly took his own life following the tragic death of his mother, who had been battling cancer, just nine days earlier.

I was in Australia when I heard the news of his death and I can't believe 12 months have passed. I've never been fortunate enough to own a McQueen anything (althought I did treat myself to a 'copycat' version of his skull design scarf when I was about 18 or 19) but I appreciate everything he did in the name of fashion. He was extravagant to the point where he specialised in the ridiculous, but he made it work. Everything he did was completely unique to him. He was lavish, his runway shows were unconventional and I think it was almost as if he aimed to bring drama and shock to the catwalk. I'll never forget the moment I watched Aimee Mullins literally gallop down the runway on those incredible intricately carved wooden legs. McQueen was, quite simply, a sensation who took the fashion world by storm. Things that other designers would never even dream of doing just did not faze him.

For this year's Spring/Summer collection no one would have envied the task that surrounded Sarah Burton - McQueen's first assistant of 15 years - as it was down to her to take to the helm of his fashion empire. But it was a challenge she more than met and while she kept all the usual McQueen themes - nature, beauty, passion and romance - she still managed to establish her own identity as a designer to watch for the future.

At the age of just 34, McQueen had already been awarded the accolade of British Designer of the Year an amazing four times - and in 2003 he was also named the International Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers.

It saddens me knowing that his incredible talent was stolen from a world where he was worshipped and adored. In saying that however, I hope he is at peace with himself now - given the circumstances surrounding his tragic death one can only hope he is in a place where he is happy and with his mother who was his mentor throughout his life.

His memory will live on in the fashion world forever.

Lee Alexander McQueen - 17 March 1969 - 11 February 2010