Jean Paul Gaultier teams up with Melissa

Brazilian footwear label Melissa, best known for its collaboration with Vivienne Westwood, has this morning unveiled its latest collaboration with Jean Paul Gaultier. The designer has collaborated for the second time with Melissa, creating a recyclable 10cm plastic stiletto which launches in June priced £160.

"I've worked very closely with Melissa on the development of this style - it's very sexy," Jean Paul Gaultier told Vogue.com this morning. "I'd love to see it worn with fishnet tights, so you can really max out on the transparent aspect of the plastic!"

The style - called JEAN PAUL GAULTIER X MELISSA - will be available in black, caramel, beige, lime and tangerine.

Jean Paul Gaultier first teamed up with Melissa in 1982.

The Melissa brand has been long established with approximately 50 million pairs of shoes made over the last 25 years. The rubber used to make their designs is sustainably sourced and can be recycled after use. Because most of the designs use only one material (rubber) they are much easier to recycle and there is almost zero waste from the manufacturing process.

The most unusual thing about the Melissa shoes is the smell. The rubber is injected with scents of bubblegum and sweet shops which makes for an unusual sensory sensation, not often associated with footwear. No more smelly feet!

In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Melissa has put on an exhibit in Santa Tereza in Rio, which opened to the public this week and runs until November 15^th.

www.melissaplasticdreams.com

We’ve got our eyes on…

This gorgeous jumpsuit new-in at Topshop as part of their SS10 collection by Richard Nicoll:Camels, nudes and pale greys are all over the catwalk and look set to be the key colours in the hottest spring wardrobes. This jumpsuit hits the nail on the head. And not only is the colour spot on, the mixture of body-con and boyfriend has got us lusting after this essential item.

To really get pulses racing we’d team it with candy pink lips, matching nails and a sorbet colour-of-choice clutch and heels.

We want it now! £70 www.topshop.com

How to (and not to) walk in heels

Oh dear, last night was the opening evening of New York fashion week and there’s already been a tumble. The lovely Agyness Dean fell not once, but twice, in a pair of ultra-high Burberry platform heels.

Agyness tripped on stage during the Fashion For Relief Haiti NYC 2010 collection show, organised by Naomi Campbell who famously fell during a Vivienne Westwood show in 1993. Luckily the model was able to laugh it off, so we don’t have to feel bad for her, but really if the models can’t walk in these heels how are we ever supposed to?

The old saying ‘No pain, no gain’ springs to mind: yes there is a lot to be gained from wearing high heels – they make you look longer, slimmer, sleeker, sexier – but often they can really hurt!

Posh, Kelly Osbourne, Sarah Jessica Parker – even Oprah Winfrey suffer for fashion with their common complaint of bunions. A painful problem none of us want ever to have to deal with.

So where is the happy medium? We’re not born with the natural ability to walk well in heels; it’s a skill which needs practise in order to build up the necessary ankle muscles. Whilst some of us can’t be bothered, others take it too far. Give yourself and your feet a break. Don’t live in your heels but take the time to perfect that sexy strut.

Check out this ‘how to’ guide for some failsafe tips www.wikihow.com/Walk-in-High-Heels (Ignore the bit where it says the shoes in the picture would be good, they wouldn’t, they’re hideous. Just look for the heel height as a guide).

'Trekstock Loves' SS10 Collection launches

Teenage cancer charity Trekstock has launched its first fashion range named 'Trekstock Loves' which will be sold exclusively through Browns Focus and online from 15th February.

The seven designers who’ve partnered in the project include House of Holland, Ksubi, James Long, LPBG, Maria Francesca Pepe, PPQ and Richard Nicoll.

All proceeds from the SS10 collection go to Trekstock's chosen charity the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Trekstock appeared in the summer of 2006 and since then, has raised thousands of pounds and masses of awareness for teenagers with cancer through collaborations in music and fashion.

The idea originated when the charity’s founder Sophie signed up for a charity trek to Mount Everest. To raise money, she conceived the idea to put on a music gig, which then pushed her to visit the UK festivals spreading the word about the charity and promoting the event using her now cult 'I ♥ Trekstock' blue badges.

Since then, the Trekstock brand has gained invaluable celebrity support from artists and celebrities such as the lovely Beth Ditto, Katy Perry, Mischa Barton, Kings of Leon, Agyness Deyn, The Klaxons, Band of Horses, The Mighty Boosh, The Horrors, Kimberly Stewart and Sadie Frost to name a few, phew!

We’ve had a wee sneak peak at the range and we’re loving what we’ve seen so far. Uber-cool denim pieces as well as an absolutely fabulous short-sleeved nipple tassles T – it’s part of the men’s range but we want it! Check out the images below to get your fix.

To find out more visit www.trekstock.com.

RIP Alexander McQueen (1969-2010)

Today the fashion world is in shock at hearing the news the great British fashion icon, Lee Alexander McQueen has died. McQueen sadly took his own life at his London home this morning.

It is said he was troubled over the recent loss of his mum who died last week; subsequent posts on Twitter revealed he was finding the tragedy hard to deal with. The news comes nearly three years after McQueen’s close friend and person who discovered him, Isabella Blow, committed suicide.

London Fashion Week is about to start and the designer was to unveil his new collection at Paris Fashion Week next month. Both events will undoubtedly be overcast by a sombre mood as the industry mourns its loss.

McQueen's family has asked for privacy in order to come to terms with the news and countless high profile celebrities have already paid tribute to the designer.

Supermodel Tyra Banks, who hosts fashion show America's Next Top Model, said it was a "huge loss".

A statement released on behalf of supermodel Kate Moss said she was "shocked and devastated" at the death of her "dear friend".

Born in London in 1969 as the youngest of six children, McQueen left school at the age of 16 and was offered an apprenticeship at the traditional Savile Row tailors Anderson and Shephard, then at neighbouring Gieves and Hawkes.

At 20 he was employed by the designer Koji Tatsuno. A year later McQueen travelled to Milan where he worked as a design assistant to Romeo Gigli. He returned to London in 1994 where he completed a master's degree in fashion design at Central St Martins College. His degree collection was famously bought in its entirety by Isabella Blow who was a leading figure in the fashion world.

In October 1996 McQueen was appointed chief designer at the French label Givenchy where he worked until March 2001.

In December 2000, 51 per cent of Alexander McQueen was acquired by luxury brand Gucci, where he became creative director. Expansion followed and included the opening of flagship stores in New York, London and Milan.

McQueen was a four-time winner of the British designer of the year award as well as the international designer of the year award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. He was awarded the CBE in 2003.

The news comes at a time when it seems many talented, young people in the public eye have recently died prematurely.

When art meets fashion

Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928-2000) has provided the inspiration for a new bold range of jewellery created by Viennese enamel specialists Frey Wille.

The range is fun and unusual and enables you to invest in art, but with far more interaction. The designs were taken from Hundertwasser’s ‘Pavilions and Bungalows for native foreigners’ painting, which depicts colourful swirls and trees (see above).

Each piece of jewellery takes two years to be brought to life from planning to precise manufacture. With such dedication and meticulous design, the quality must be second to none.

Prints were all over the catwalk and look set to be big during the summer, but if you aren’t brave enough to sport a kaleidoscopic jumpsuit, accessories are the answer.

This range has covered all bases and when worn, would undoubtedly catch a few eyes and inspire conversations.

For more information visit www.frey-wille.com.

Blondes can win with John Frieda

We’ve all heard the old saying ‘blondes have more fun’ but now the fairer haired are in with a chance to win an amazing holiday courtesy of John Frieda.

The hair care expert is giving one lucky winner the chance to soak up the sun in Morocco. With picturesque landscapes and a gorgeously warm climate, it’s the perfect antidote for the returning cold snap.

Everyone loves that post-holiday look we show off when returning from the sun, but those of us who can’t wait for the summer holidays can replicate the look at home. To help, John Frieda are also giving away haircuts and sets of The John Frieda® go blonder shampoos and conditioners.

So what are you waiting for?!

Head to http://www.facebook.com/JohnFriedaUK and click on the Go Blonder & WIN tab to enter now.

While you are there, also check out Kerry Warn’s fan 'how to' videos for great hair tips, such as this one on how to achieve salon straight perfect hair:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=288189765994&ref=mf

The competition is open to UK residents only and ends Feb 25th 2010.