A Choo of Your Own

Jimmy Choo is the latest brand to offer a bespoke service on its products, joining the likes of Fendi, Burberry and Prada who currently offer a made-to-measure service on some of their most iconic products.

Burberry initiated its 'Burberry Bespoke' offering in 2011, allowing customers to essentially design their own classic Burberry trench coat right down to the cut, lining, length and collars. Whilst the bespoke trenches are at the higher end of the brand's price range, they allow affluent customers to have their own take on a product that has been a part of the brand for decades and add to the aspirational value that most luxury brands hold sacred.

As of this month, British label Jimmy Choo is now offering a bespoke service on some of its most popular shoe styles. Sandra Choi, Jimmy Choo's creative director, has selected her favourite styles for the service - the Nouk, Lance, Xenie and Tite models. Previously only available to the likes of red-carpet customers, this move to offer personalisation on Jimmy Choo shoes is a wise move in an industry landscape that is increasingly shaped by the demand for innovation in marketing and design, requiring designers to build on their previous offerings.

Customers can choose from a variety of colours and materials, with an option to have each pair stamped with a monogram of choice.

The Jimmy Choo personalisation service started on May 9 in the Sloane Street store, will be offered in Paris boutiques from May 19 and will roll out globally throughout the rest of May.

How long until we can design our own Manolos?

- A.T.

To tie-dye or not to tie-dye?

When I discovered that tie-dye was making a comeback for spring/summer, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. My first thought was 'oh god no'; I remember wearing brightly coloured tie-dye t-shirts as a child and only ever looking back with regret. My second thought was that surely only the sartorially challenged would go for tie-dye. However, my opinion has changed. I've found some tie-dye items that actually look really cool and that I'm tempted to add to my wardrobe.

I think the key with tie-dye is to wear it right and choose colours that will look good. I'm not a fan of the rainbow-coloured tie-dye items as I feel that those are the types of clothes we wore back in the 90s - and, for me at least, when I was a kid.

I've thrown together a tie-dye mood board with my favourite finds from internet fashion sites. Tie-dye can look subtle and sophisticated, so the thing to remember is to keep the colour scheme to one or two colours and to avoid garish colour palettes.

There are some trends that should be left in the decades they first surfaced - this was my original thought on tie-dye, but I'm now thinking that tie-dye and summer will go hand-in-hand perfectly this year. It was a major part of Versace's catwalk event showcasing their S/S 2013 collection, so we can't argue with what such fashion powerhouses dictate. Tie-dye doesn't have to mean dressing hippy-esque and certainly shouldn't be confined to just festivals. It's a throwback, but one I feel we can embrace. My verdict: to tie-dye.

- A.T.

Style Spotlight: Bib Necklace

One trend that has successfully transitioned into Autumn/Winter this year is the bib necklace, otherwise known as a 'choker' or 'collar' necklace. Browse any online retailer right now, from Forever 21 to Chanel, and you will find an assortment of necklaces in this style. In summer it was all about the bold African-stylee or floral bib necklaces, but as we head into the darker months it is clear to see how the trend has evolved to fit the season. Cue dozens of choker necklaces hitting stores recently, with thicker features and more metallic colours to match our wardrobes.

A bib/ choker necklace is one thing I felt I needed to enhance my wardrobe this winter. I'm all for the oversized plain jumpers and comfy leggings, but after stumbling upon this piece of jewellery I felt it would add a splash of colour to my outfits. The mix of colours on the necklace and gold exterior make it perfect for this seasons style, and the shapes on the necklace adhere to another trend this season: geometric shapes. Dark silvery greys and golds are in perfect fitting with the metallic revival of this season; 

My necklace:

(Primark, £4)

Designer options:
(from left to right: Lanvin, Chanel, Kenneth Jay Lane, Glossy Queen)

There are a handful of ways to wear the bib necklace, and I'm thankful that it's use isn't constrained to being worn on a night out. To go to class one day this week, I found myself wearing the necklace with a white oversized tee, turned up jeans, loafers and my black duffle. The outfit was warm enough for the weather right now and the necklace added just the right amount of colour that our otherwise dark outfits this time of year need. 

1. Black duffle coat, barbour.co.uk
2. Dark skinny roll-up jeans, hm.com
3. Brown loafers, aldo.com
4. White burnout tee, topshop.co.uk
5. Choker necklace, in Primark stores only

Below are some other outfit suggestions for the bib necklace. Here we have a chameleon trend that I'm confident will continue into next Spring. If you decide to buy one, remember that oversized, statement necklaces work perfectly with plain outfits - sometimes the necklace is all you need to set off the outfit.

           Try teaming a necklace with a knitted jumper

Matching the necklace to the tone of
your top works perfectly, as seen here
at Donna Karan

For a more glamorous look, try a gold bib and
use bronze tones with your makeup

Wearing a white top makes the necklace
more of a statement feature. Think contrast.

Heading out in the cold? Wear the necklace under
a coat, leaving the top buttons undone so it
still shows.

Bib necklaces transition perfectly
into nighttime, too. Try tied back
hair to accentuate the necklace.

There are a handful of trends to be fond of this season - and to thank designers for - from leather, to metallic,  to psychedelic patterns and oversized clothes. Whatever the trend, one characteristic sticks out: boldness. Embrace this whilst you can, and look fit for the season with a statement bib necklace. On a final note,  remember that you don't have to break the bank to get one - I found mine in Primark! 

- A.T.