Must buy item: Geri Halliwell's playsuit

The playsuit/jumpsuit was a bubbling under item last year. I got my mitts on two different types last summer and wore them to death. I'm a total convert - they really are much more flattering than you think. The only downside is having to strip off when you need the loo so they're not very good for camping/festivals/etc!

Geri Halliwell obviously agrees with me! She was spotted at Asda in Milton Keynes (oh the glamour of a Spice Girl, eh?!) wearing this gorgeous little star print TopShop playsuit.

Wear it like Geri with heels for an evening out or team with flip flops and a straw hat for a casual day look. It's just so versatile!

Other good places to buy one of these little numbers is ASOS or Miss Selfridge.

Kylie's back on tour and Pamela Anderson is selling up!

The interesting things on my radar this week...

1.Kylie's tour kicked off in Paris last night and she looked fantastic. This is a slightly bittersweet moment for me as I was meant to be seeing her in Antwerp tomorrow night but the friend I was staying with had a family tragedy so we had to postpone. Am obviously extremely gutted for friend but also a tad sad that I'm missing out and have to wait until July - sigh.

2. I'm in the middle of press show hell at the moment, but it does have some gems. I went to see New Look a couple of weeks back and their stuff looked amazing. But like Disneyrollergirl, I wonder why the stuff we see in the store is sooooo different to what they show at these previews.

3. The sun is shining so it's time to get on board with one of summer's big trends - straw. Top Stylista has her picks of the best straw bags out there - TopShop it seems is going big on this craze, so head on down there if you want to be a summer trendspotter!

4. Eva Mendes is fresh out of rehab and back to work as the face of Calvin Klein. Here's a sneak preview of Eva's shoot with Calvin Klein.

5. If you've always fancied being on Baywatch (and let's face it, who hasn't?!), now's the time to indulge this fantasy. Pamela Anderson is selling up a load of her stuff, including the iconic red Baywatch float, a bikni and some furniture!

If you do one thing this weekend...

... discover a fashionable new breed of dog. I'm torn between a puggle (a pug mixed with a beagle) or a goldendoodle (a golden retriever mixed with a poodle). The days of the small it dogs are over!

... pretend summer is nearly here. Well it is meant to be around 19 degrees tomorrow - woo! Celebrate the start of the sunny season with this lovely TopShop sundress and these gorgeous fringed sandals - tribal is so very in for this summer.

... wear your favourite slogan t-shirt to Executives and Secretaries and Denim T-shirt Slogan­ Party at Papermill, 2-5 Curtain Road, EC2. Choose one of these lovely little Uniqlo lovelies - my favourite is this local guide t-shirt, although be prepared to be asked for lots of directions!

Have a great bank holiday - see you on Tuesday!

Surprise, surprise - it's Cilla!

So I went to the Arcadia autumn/winter preview yesterday and it was fab. TopShop have once again come up with the most wonderful clothes, including a mad harlequin dress (very Miu Miu) and some fabulous shoes.

Trend wise, it seems headpieces such as headbands and fascinators will be big, as will brooches - all the ranges featured these.

There were some nice winter colour choices - Miss Selfridge had purple and coral, which look amazing together - and Dorothy Perkins had some lovely coats, including a pink checked fluffy number that wouldn't have looked out of place on a '50s movie star.

After the preview, I was lucky enough to be invited for VIP drinks with Sir Philip Green - head of Arcadia. He seemed pleasant enough but looks a bit like a wheeler dealer, which I suppose he is.

The highlight of the evening though was when Cilla Black appeared. A few years back I had a boogie with her and Duncan James to Kylie at a premiere party and let me tell you, she looks better now than then! She's really glam with very slim legs. Her companion was really dapper. Maybe Cilla's going to bring out her own range of clothes?!

If you do one thing this weekend...

... give yourself a style makeover courtesy of TopShop's Style Advisor service. Book an appointment and you get a personal stylist running round the store for you, while you relax in a lovely dressing room that doesn't smell of feet! This fabulous free service, which I sampled for myself last night with the help of the lovely Naomi, has just got even better! They've just launched a Style Advisor loyalty card so the more time you use it, the more freebies you get. It's a winner all round.

... scare yourself silly at the London Dungeon and their new exhibition about Jack the Ripper - eek!

... pretend it's summer already and purchase a pair of sky-high heels from Asos.

... tune into Pushing Daisies on Saturday night at 9pm on ITV1. It's about time Saturday night viewing got good enough.

Must-buy item: Do an Aggy with bright tights

The model-of-the-moment Agyness Deyn showed just how to deal with seasonal changes by teaming her spring/summer white dress with some bright coral tights.

Not only does this keep her outfit really fresh looking, but it also keeps her pins nice and warm - something you need with this bizarre ever changing weather we're having at the moment. Snow in April anyone?

The other great thing about this quick fashion fix is it's nice and cheap.

Pop down to TopShop to buy these lovely bright tights and give your outfit the Deyn look for the bargain-ous price of 6 quid.

Must-buy item: Gingham is go!

Even though it's freezing cold outside, there's something about Easter that makes me think of Spring. I know it's come early this year but I still want to ditch the winter wardrobe and break open some new floaty, colourful clothes.

Of course you still have to be practical - it's no good swanning around in a gorgeous tea dress if it's zero degrees outside.

So that's where this gorgeous gingham jacket comes in. It's only £50 from good ole TopShop and is one of those pieces fashion magazines calls transitional - i.e. you can wear it now and in spring/summer.

How cute will this look with a pair of faded cropped jeans? Or slung over a cute floaty ruffle dress? I'm very much in love... roll on April so I can start buying!!

Is anyone bothered about Kate Moss?

Floating around on my radar this week are the following news/gossip titbits:

1. Does anyone care about the new Kate Moss TopShop collection? According to the Daily Mail, it's a big fat no as hardly anyone showed up yesterday at the TopShop launch. To be fair, any following season isn't going to really be as big as the debut, especially as Mossy herself turned up for all of about 3 seconds in the window that time. Also, maybe the civilians are cottoning on to the fact that Kate just copies her favourite designer togs rather than creating something new and exciting.

2. All the papers are full of the details of the Mills-McCartney divorce today but hardly anyone has noticed how bad Heather's personal style is. It just goes to show you that not only does money not buy you love but it also doesn't buy you taste.

3. It's celebrity makeover day as Jessica Biel goes back to her natural brunette locks (thank goodness) and Gwyneth Paltrow has gone for the chop. As you'd expect from play-it-safe Gwyneth, it's hardly radical but it looks a lot better than the Donatella Versace style she had before!

4. Poor ole Sarah Jessica Parker. She was recently voted the unsexiest woman alive by some magazine. It must be difficult to deal with such nastiness, but let's not forget that Maxim is a magazine whose ideal of beauty involves pneumatic breasts and orange skin.

5. Banana Republic are coming to the UK. Their new shop launches tomorrow (20th March). I must be the only person who isn't excited about this. I found their shops in New York so uninspiring - for me it's just clothes for city workers, but perhaps this new shop will prove me wrong.

If you do one thing this weekend...

... watch the Dancing on Ice final on Sunday - it's the last time Holly will be getting her rack out for a while. .

... see woolly mammoths in 10,000 BC at the flicks

... buy a floral playsuit

... play Holy Moly's Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon on Facebook!

... eat a Henry Holland easter egg - so fashionable!

Guilty Pleasure Friday: Trannie pool parties and best in show!

These are some of the guilty pleasures I will be indulging in this weekend…

A trannie pool party at the Haymarket hotel

A DVD fest (as hubbie is working) consisting of Stomp The Yard, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days and Pretty In Pink

Buying doggie beer for my dog’s birthday next week (yes, I’m not joking this stuff is real)

Watching Crufts on Sunday night to see who is crowned Best in Show

Going to Primark and TopShop just to touch, see and inhale the clothes as I’m still on my shopping ban

Must-buy item: The Pippa jean

I love these TopShop jeans way much. It's not only because they are named after my best friend, but they also feel fabulous on. Yes, they may not look much in the photo, but the denim is soft, stretchy and very forgiving. In fact, I've had to go down a size in these - wooo!

They also come just to the ankle, which is very spring/summer. I'm going to team them with a cute gingham top and French Sole ballet slippers for that 50s startlet off-duty look!

Must-buy item: Ahoy there, sailor!

Rather than just ramble, I've decided to give this blog some more structure and it starts today with my must-have item.

This week, I've gone all nautical with this lovely spotty dress from TopShop. The sailor theme will be BIG this summer so get all ship-shape and snap up this perfect dress now. It's two trends for the price as one as this season, spots will be everywhere (and I mean the pretty dotty type and not an outbreak of acne). Team with white pumps for the day or add killer red heels at night for retro pin-up appeal. Guaranteed to pull any new man in port!

Dressing for winter

OK! I admit it! I think the fashionista thing is rubbing off on me way too much. I’m off to enjoy the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park tonight and in my pre-fash mag days, my only thought would’ve been how to keep warm tonight. Chunky sweater, jeans, hat – you know the kind of thing.

However, this morning I woke up and felt utterly bemused at what to wear. How does one dress for winter but stylishly? The thing is you never really see celebrities all bundled up and looking toasty. Posh Spice chose this very seasonal outfit of mini-skirt, bare legs and no coat to go Christmas shopping in. She must have really felt the cold, especially being such a skinny thing.

To be fair, you can see why celebs don’t do the winter woollies look. It bulks out the frame (and the camera already adds pounds), plus being warm isn’t very sexy is it? If Heidi Klum can’t look good while she’s skiing, what hope do us mere mortals have?

However, a couple of stars do it really well and I’ve been taking inspiration from these guys:

• Mary Kate Olsen – she plays with a mixture of proportions so avoids the Michelin Man look. Although being so skinny she’d have to wear a lot of jumpers to look that big.
• Jessia Alba manages to combine warmth, comfort and fashion with this cool military-inspired look.
• Sienna Miller - I think she does off duty dressing very well and is a realistic style role-model. Here she’s wearing lots of layers – perfect for when you’re out shopping and going in and out of hot shops

So what did I end up wearing today? I took inspiration from la dinky Olsen and threw on a chunky wrap cardy, black skinny jeans and grey riding boots. Topped with my Zara military coat, I think I’ve got this seasonal style nailed.

What I didn’t count on happening today however was having my photo taken for a feature I’m in – will my winter dressing pile on those pounds? We’ll have to wait until it’s published to find out!

Death by foundation and office bullies!

Today I received some great news. No, I haven’t been given the much-lusted after 40% discount from TopShop or received a Chanel handbag as a gift from some grateful PR. No, my joyous news is that on Monday I’m moving desks.

OK, so it’s no designer freebie but it will change my working life. Why? At the moment, I sit in what can only be called the beauty aisle. Daily, I have to pick my way through lip glosses, expensive moisturisers and designer perfumes to get to my seat in true Krypton Factor assault course style. Each time I get to my seat, I expect to receive a blummin’ medal!

So I’ve persuaded my boss that unless she moves me, I may drown under an array of hair products or slip on a foundation bottle. Death by foundation didn’t go down too well with her so I’m being shipped out to sit on a normal aisle opposite one of the few boys in the office – hurrah!

I also manage to escape the clutches of the beauty editor who truly believes she is the dog’s wotsits. I’m sure part of this is because she’s 28 and at that age you think you know everything. It’s not until you get to your 30s that you realised you knew jack sh*t!! Anyway, I really won’t miss her missives on the most important things ever – boys it seems – and the way she somehow makes me feel like I’m the uncool, chubby girl at school. Why are some women so good at doing that?

Good riddance to the beauty aisle – Monday is a brand new start. Now what can I pilfer before I leave?!

I’m making a list, checking it twice…

I really wish I was a kid again sometimes. Not only did you get long summer holidays, but you got all excited about Christmas. This year, I’m finding it really hard to get into the Christmas spirit – bah humbug! – so I’ve decided that maybe writing the old Christmas list may help (and also may give my hubby a few ideas!). Obviously, keeping to the theme of me now working in fashion, I’m going to try and make this as fashionable as I possibly can, but being a geek, I can guarantee it would rank highly on the fashion radar!

Embroidered TopShop jacket (left): Originally I wanted this for my work party, but now it’s become a mission. I’ve been told this jacket would be in stores this week but I’ve yet to see it. And as the fashion team don’t deem me cool enough to talk to, I can’t ask them either, so this is my big wish. Please Santa, bring me this gorgeous jacket!

Miu Miu headband: I’m not usually one for designer products but after purchasing my Marc Jacobs handbag in New York, I think I’m addicted. And really is £55 that much for a headband? Answers on a postcard please!

Anything from Eclectic Eccentricity: This is the coolest jewellery site. Really original, one-off pieces that won’t break the bank but will look truly fabulous. In particular, I love the ‘Meet in the Middle’ and “Pirate King’ necklaces.

Something cashmere: I feel at the age of 34 I really should own something that’s cashmere. I’m really hankering after one of these gorgeous cashmere blankets but for cash-strapped husbands/friends/parents out there, this cute short-sleeved sweater from Uniglo will suffice

Singstar: I am a wannabe popstar and sadly already own nearly all of the Singstar games but I’d love to add the Legends one to my list. Take That! Whitney! Bucks Fizz! Imagine the fun I’ll have…

I've been a really good girl this year (well, almost) so here's hoping Santa puts one of these lovelies in my stocking.

Ice, Ice Baby!

It must be such a trial being soooo fashionable. I’m going skating with my beloved ex-colleagues next month and all I can think of is how much fun we’re going to have. Ok it’s likely one of us will end up in hospital (due to the inability to skate coupled with inebriation!), but it will be fun. In this office, however, it seems everyone has a different outlook.

One girl suggested the rest of her team all go skating as a Christmas outing. A caterwaul of screeches signalled that the other fashionistas thought this was a good idea. Until one particularly bland looking girl (you know the kind – regulation long blonde hair, skinny jeans, fancy blouse, heels) uttered the words ‘but what will we wear?’ This stopped the screeching pronto.

To cut a long story short, the idea was soon pronounced truly terrible purely because it was difficult to stay cutting edge fashionable while skating. Jeans were too boring apparently, while the discussion about what coat to wear went on for an hour (I kid you not!). At no time, did anyone talk about the practicalities of what to wear… sigh.

If you’re off skating this weekend, I suggest you go for the boring jeans, scarf and warm coat option. However, if you can’t check your fashionista tendencies in with your shoes, how about this velvet fluff skirt from TopShop. Just remember to wear big knickers in case you do reveal more than you intended.

Earmuffs, mittens and soft cashmere tights should also do the trick of making you look stylish on ice while still keeping your vital bits warm. And if you want to go that little bit further, take your inspiration from the fabulous Torvill and Dean and wear chiffon, sequins and lyrcra!

Va, va, va voom!

Let me make it clear that I’m no fashion philistine. I adore clothes and love nothing more than flicking through Vogue and ogling gorgeous shoots. Fashion can be art (just go and visit the couture exhibition at the V&A if you don’t believe me!) but it can also be ridiculously silly.

Today one of the workies turned up in an outfit that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Dynasty. A bright cerise shirt with shoulder pads and a nice satin sheen to it to be precise. Apparently, volume and in particular shoulder pads are ‘in’ this season.

Being a gay man trapped inside a female woman, I appreciate and adore Joan Collins, particularly in her Alexis Carrington phase, but I’m just not sure I could do shoulder pads. Perhaps it’s because I did them first time round? OK, I was only about 13 and teamed my heavily-enhanced-at-the-shoulder-bolero-jacket with a spotty dress and ankle socks over tights (I was nothing if not classy), but it still managed to make me look like I played American football.

It also seems to me that fashion types are just darn lazy. Every other week a craze that was previously deemed un-wearable is now the must-have. Take those smiley happy t-shirts all the nu-ravers wore this summer or cowboy boots, which have suddenly made a comeback from fashion oblivion after being spotted on the likes of la Moss and actress Rachel Bilson.

I’ve been informed TopShop will be selling clothes that contain the shoulder pad and perhaps their version will be a bit more sedate than the workies’ second hand find, but I’d err everyone to think twice before donning their Dynasty garb. What looks good on Joan rarely looks good on us mere civilians.