The oil spill in the Gulf shows no sign of wanning, but Kenneth Cole Productions are pitching in to help by raising funds though sales of a custom t-shirt. “People everywhere need to get behind the Gulf cleanup efforts and by purchasing one of these custom T-shirts everybody can now look good by doing good,” said Kenneth Cole.

The Gulf clean-up “Kennethisms” include: WE CAN ALL CLEAN UP WELL and I CLEAN UP WELL. T-shirts retail for $35 on a the Kenneth Cole Productions Facebook Page where people can mix and match slogans and colours to create their own custom made t-shirt where in July 2010 100% of the net profits will be donates to AWEARNESS, The Kenneth Cole Foundation to support the Gulf clean-up efforts.

This is the first time a fashion brand has allowed custom-made designs to be created through Facebook, throw in the fact that it’s for a charitable cause, it’s rather admiral. But Kenneth Cole is no stranger to help those more needy than themselves with the company (and the man) a huge supporter of AIDS charities over the years.

With all the drama over the Obama’s image being used for a coat advertisement (without permission); it got me thinking about our love/hate relationship with buying winter clothes. We know winter will always come around, but shopping for winter clothes is not as fun as buying dresses for a summer party than a warm snug winter coat – which is just not practical. Ideally a wardrobe should contain a classic super warm coat, a lighter coat, a gilet and an array of jumpers. With no sign of the winter chill leaving the northern hemisphere quickly, a collection of knits to layer under a warm coat is a must and with winter sales now in full effect you need to stock up. From women’s coats, to gilets and ladies jumpers, our one stop shop this season is LandSend.co.uk.

Our top three picks (pictured left to right):

Women’s Regular Patterned Down Gilet, marked down to £24, this fun blue checked gilet is everything you need to get you through a mild winter. It comes with 600 fill power duck down insulation, dipped rear for lower back protection, is water repellent and wind resistant with hand warmer pockets on top of it all.

For something warmer we’re loving this Women’s Regular Insulated Squall Parka which has been marked down to £140 and is recommended for severe winter weather. It’s 100% weatherproof, has a thick warm fleece body lining with an extra layer of thermal insulation for total warmth and to top it off there is that adorable faux fur lining around the snap off hood.

If you’re just looking to stock up on knits, try this Women’s Regular Shannon Stripe Cardigan on for size. The thick grey and red stripes and soft yarn will keep you in good fashion for three seasons in a year thanks to the longer ‘boyfriend’ style cut. It will look great paired with skinny jeans when it’s cold or over a dress while there is still a chill in the air in spring. It’s a steal at £45.

Yesterday we gave Rihanna a thumbs up for her black leggings with side web-like slashes. Admittedly I’m not the biggest fan of leggings, basically because they’re not pants and shouldn’t be worn as such, and leggings/stirrup leggings had their hey-day in the early 1990s. I remember the mid 1990s – well kind of – I remember flicking through old Seventeen magazines at the library thinking I was cool and fashionable… not that I had the money to buy clothes then. Anyway… after seeing Rihanna’s pair, I gave leggings some thought and came to the conclusion that the slashed variety aren’t so bad, it’s just the tie dyed/jeggings/patterned/coloured ones I dislike. The slashed variety have a dirty grungy vibe to them that is great for playing down looks or adding some street cred vibe to a plain t-shirt and flats. Playing it safe with plain opaque black leggings is boring, jazz up a look with something a little more revealing this season with slashed leggings.

Our favourite, left to right:

• David Lerner Half Ripped Leggings, $99 – ShopBop
• Lace inset legging, $29.50 – Victoria’s Secret
• 6126 “Star” Ripped Leggings, $77 – Bloomingdales
• Aqua Couture Bandage Leggings, $161.47 – ASOS

British high street chain French Connection have long been popular for their chic little sequined dresses that occasionally make it on to the red carpet on the likes of Taylor Swift, Vanessa Hudgens and Sophie Dahl. The most popular perhaps is their Serpent dress which made waves around the world back in late 2006-early 2007 on everyone from Cat Deeley to Diane Kruger. Well get your credit card out because French Connection’s sequined and embellished dresses are giving the high-end designers a run for their money again with Katherine Jenkins and Olivia Munn seen on the red carpet wearing the Sequin Spirit dress (above left) and Stephanie Pratt and Alexandra Burke spotted in the Catcher dress (above right).

Both retail for more than $350 but if you want to shimmy in a sexy but non-showy dresses this party season, look no further ladies.

I loathe party season (just quietly) because I never have enough clothes to wear. Ever. You see, I’m not a big shopper, meaning I don’t grab a new dress every week or feel the need to pop into a store on my lunch break. I’m a picky collector – when I see something I love I buy it if the price isn’t too outrageous (after debating about it in my head for about 20 minutes that is). My friends think I’m a little too sensible to be working in the fashion industry, but I do like a roof over my head and a credit card statement that isn’t always red.

But let me tell you about a dress I’ve found that should help get us ALL through the party season and beyond, The Infinity Dress by Donna Karan. They say a little black dress is a girl’s best friend, well this LBD from Donna Karan’s Resort 2009 collection transforms into at least 10 different looks and you just have to add the extra layers depending on the weather and of course the accessories. Then post party season, pop it in your suitcase and take it on holiday with you! Talk about traveling light.

Shop it now at Neiman Marcus.

1. Wait for your friend to unceremoniously dump/kick out his boyfriend, so you can stake claim to the now-ex’s poetically threadbare vintage version (I lucked out…it could happen to you kids).

OR

2. Hold your breath for the ideal fakeout version, the not-too-new, not-too-faux preworn shirt. These deconstructed tees (Below) by Elizabeth And James‘ hit the mark, with their enlarged crewnecks and droopy sleeves. Thanks to our friends at Chickdowntown.com, we’re giving away both tees (Below, a $180 total value) if you enter through the comments!

Whether you wear one with a Jak plaid shirt, cutoffs and booties or as means to bring a feathered chapeau down to earth, you’re guaranteed a downtown edge.

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN WIN BOTH ELIZABETH AND JAMES SHIRTS…

1. Become a facebook fan or twitter follower of Chickdowntown (which will also alert you to future giveaways through the site!), and…

2. In the comments, describe the best outfit you can dream up that you’d pair with either color tee. I will choose a winner based on my favorite outfit from all eligible entries. By all eligible entries, I mean the winner will already need to be a facebook fan or twitter follower of Chickdowntown. Don’t make me love your outfit and not be able to pick you!

I will announce the winner in 15 days…looking forward to reading your entries!

Sagamori’s collection is an excellent example of this (shots Below).

Every single one of these looks shows a keen eye and talent, even before you learn that Sagimori is not even 25 years old yet. I particularly appreciate the short-short suit, something I would buy in a heartbeat. I’ve been sporting the no-pants look long before Lady Gaga came around, and it’s tastefully choquant when done right.

Interested in other designers who showed this past Tokyo Fashion Week? Check out Lessthan (girls) and Factotum (boys) for more occasion-amorphous ready-to-wear.

images: London Tokyo Style

This dress, $128USD, (Above Left) is a nice twist on the “LBD,” as Cosmo would call it, and this type of stretchy material usually holds its shape forever. Can people stop calling little black dresses LBDs, by the way? It makes my skin crawl. And I have been all about white jeans for the last year; unfortunately I impulsively hacked my J Brands into cutoffs. Perhaps these (Above Right) would be a suitable replacement, for a respectable $96USD…

At $62USD, this double-zipper high-waisted skirt (Above Left) with very flattering proportions is a steal. I’m pretty meh on the $82USD bandage tube dress (Above Right), due to 2008 being the red carpet year of Herve Leger cliche, and also the fact that the lightest-colored band is right at the waist, but I bet that this will be a popular piece. Taylor Momsen can wear it to church! 

Of course, now that I’m surfing the Oak store online, I might as well wander into more financially dangerous territory, like this Gestuz vest and Ideeen dress (Below, Left to Right)…

Little loose-weave knit dresses like this one (Above Left) are and will always be a chic no-brainer. This intestinal neckpiece/dress (Above Right) might be harder to stomach (ha ha ha) but it’s perfect for the girl who is shy, but still cutting edge.

Yeah, these floral leggings (Above Left) are a little Topshoppy; so what are you gonna do about it? Put this bustier-seamed cocoon (Above Right) over them…anything in this granny-panties tan color is the sex. Not joking.

I like everything big and strange that hardly looks like a piece of clothing (Above Left). Pair these pants (Above Right) with a brown suede knee-high boot, and I guarantee that your legs will be a conversation opener all night- “is that the boot or your socks? or your pants?” Combinations like this are not recommended when you’re feeling antisocial.

The size of this picture (Above Left) and the muted print makes it hard to see the feminine seaming details. Fortunately, I’m too busy praying for these stockings (Above Right) to show up in my mailbox to cry over it.

Love!

images: Copy Of An Imitation

1. Go to American Apparel and buy yourself the plainest, cheapest black t-shirt/tank dress available.

2. Add a pair of shoes from my ACTUALLY affordable list (with prices, Below)…

Red Suede Metallic Detail Booties, $21USD (Above Left) from gojane. Buckle Detail Patent Sandal, $19.40USD (Above Right) from ASOS. Leather T-Bar Platform, $132.86USD (Below Left) at ASOS, which may not fully constitute cheap, but for this much style, I believe they qualify. And these Suede Thick Strap Pumps, $69.55USD (Below Right) would do well with tattered (do it yourself, and don’t you dare buy ‘em like that) black stockings.

3. Wear your perfect summer party outfit until you dance the shoes to pieces (herein lies the benefit of choosing from the pricer bottom row).

4. Repeat as often as necessary.