Is the Fashion Industry tightening it's belt?

It appears that the "Credit crunch" is causing shock waves in the world of fashion and celebrities. The recent revelation that Wags are starting to do their own nails and cutting back on visits to the hairdresser, has been highlighted by Alex Curran, who bought a £2 nail polish from a bargain bin! Celebrities have always been known to go bargain hunting in bijou boutiques and London markets, seeking a unique scarf here or a lived-in leather jacket there. Kate Moss and Sienna Miller are adept at the art of mix'n'matching apparently abstract fashion ideas and evolving them into new trends. Skinny jeans, the boho look, beanie hats, embellished belts.... they all started life on street markets and in second hand shops.

Alex Curran shopping

Credit Crunch Chic "Credit Crunch Chic" is the new style statement, confirming what those of us who like to ring the fashion changes already know! To update your wardrobe every season, means buying trendy, but low cost clothes online and from high street stores. Then choosing accessories for maximum impact and minimum strain on those credit cards! While the high-end haute couture names may be tightening their belts and cancelling after-show parties; stores like Peacocks have doubled their online turnover and ASOS is riding the storm in style. Right:Kate Moss modelling Stella McCartney's Spring collection

From the Vera Wang collection

New York Fashion Week At the recent New York Fashion Week many designers unveiled new ways of "cutting their coat according to their cloth." While everyone enjoys seeing the latest fashions on the catwalks from the leading fashion houses. In reality, most of us buy the scaled down high street copies. The high cost of launching new season collections has lead to some changes in the usual whirl of high octane shows. Designers have scaled back their catwalk shows and in some cases, cancelled the lavish after-parties. Vera Wang and Betsey Johnson, changed their format completely and chose intimate presentations in place of a formal catwalk show.

Marc Jacobs, New York's golden boy, reduced his usual 2000 guest list down to a meagre 700, and decided to forgo his after- show party. Calvin Klein and Zac Posen also cancelled their swanky do's, normally as much a part of the fashion week experience as the catwalk shows themselves. While the Halston fashion house, really set a new precedent - which could be the shape of things to come! Their new season collection was revealed via a video, sent direct to the fashion media's inboxes and doing away with the catwalk show or normal presentation style altogether. Left:From the Halston collection

Stella McCartney & Kate Moss team up Stella McCartney Spring 2009 collection, called on the services of her friend Kate Moss. The new collection was modelled by Kate, allegedly on a fabulous location shoot in St Barts. The pictures have psychedelic backgrounds and strange rock formations that look more like a studio photo shoot, than a costly 'on location' production. If Kate Moss is pregnant, Stella will no doubt be planning a whole new maternity range for the autumn..... Right: Kate Moss modelling Stella McCartney's Spring collection

and Finally.... you'll like this.... but not a lot!
Following on from the successful Emporio Armani underwear poster with David and Victoria Beckham...... we now have Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee in a spoof photoshoot! The magician and his wife are pictured in the same pose as Posh and Becks, perhaps in answer to the media's less than complimentary coverage of their beach holiday in the Bahamas! Thankfully though, Mr Daniels did not try to recreate the Becks full frontal shot - he maybe a good magician, but some illusions are best left alone!

Above: Posh and Becks in their Armani underwear. Right: Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee in their version of the famous poster.