"Tonight, Matthew, I'm going to be..."

Who wasn't in love with the star prints shown by The Kaiser at Chanel, and Stefano Pilati at Yves Saint Laurent, this season? So 1920s Americana, so patriotic, so red white and blue, so "let's do it for our country!" "Oh, Lewis!"...*

The answer to this mostly rhetorical question is, of course, NOBODY. The world has gone star(k) staring mad. (See what I did?!) London's Oxford Street-Regent Street high-street hub has turned into the MGM of yesteryear: more stars than there are in the heavens. Yet as the lights go out all over Europe, I forget about all Hollywood, because Doris Day could never make me cheer up, quite the way those French girls always could the high-street, usually a place (state of mind?) I am likely to pledge my firstborn unto for ripping off catwalk looks at lemonade prices, has, on this occasion, GONE TOO FAR.

STARS ARE EVERYWHERE. IT'S FREAKING ME OUT.

But, and yet. I still love the star prints. How can one not? It's spring! (Allegedly.) What could be funner and flirtier than a navy, star-printed shortie jumpsuit and a pair of fabulous sunglasses? Unfortunately, not only does everybody else love the look, it ain't subtle. If three lasses all wear jumper dresses to the same bar, no-one would know. Three of you wear a star-print -- even in wildly varying forms, a jumpsuit here, a cardigan there -- oh, the jokes will never end. Yet there is still, to quote Heaven 17: temptation.

Here's how to indulge in the trend without going starry-eyed:

Clockwise from top left:
Stila All-Over Liquid Shimmer, $22 from Stila.com
Stila All-Over Shimmer Eyes in #7, Champagne, $18 from Stila.com
Magic Stars, £0.44 from Sweetiebag.com
Fresh Supernova Mascara, $25 from Sephora.com
Angel by Thierry Mugler, $45 from Sephora.com
Silver Star Chain, $9.99 from GirlProps.com
Barry M Dazzle Dusts, £4.50 from Superdrug.com
Champagne Supernova Bath Bomb, £2.65 from Lush.co.uk

If that little lot isn't ample sufficiency, well...why not have a read of the excellent Star, and its even better sequel, Star Struck, by noted author Pamela Anderson?

*Quick poll: who was hotter -- Lewis from Grease 2, or Kenickie from Grease? Or has Jeff Conaway's latterday behaviour/appearance negated all Kenix hotness forever? One to ponder...

Grabby Hands

And now for part two in our Hot List 2008, or things I'm totally excited about this year.

Clockwise from top left: black sunglasses
Hexagonal panel box bag, £25 from Topshop, available in apple green, teal, black and gold (not available on the website)
Floral blouse, also from Topshop
5ml perfume oil, from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, $17.50
Trouser jeans
Chloe Saskia bag, price varies at Brown's, Bergdorf's and Net a Porter
Purple Haze nail polish, $18 at Rescue Beauty Lounge

Bold Bags
I'm fond of these two bags for their unique shapes and bright colours. The Chloe Saskia, which comes in all varieties of style and colour, is a knockout with its scrumptious bold leathers and Lucite handles (classier than a pair of clear heels). Topshop's Hexagonal Panel Box Bag is perfect for getting away from giant “could fit an Olsen twin in this” bags and has just enough space for your essentials for a night out or an afternoon in the park.

Chunky black sunglasses
I own a gazillion pairs of trendy sunglasses (turquoise Wayfarers!) thanks to Forever 21 and ebay but am on the lookout for my one perfect pair this year, preferably black. My fave source is ebay’s Smash Vintage, who always have the cutest vintage inspired styles and great customer service to boot

Violet nail polish
I stocked up on tons of dark colours this winter but for spring and summer I am all about bright purple shades. I like Rescue Beauty Lounge's new hue, Purple Haze, as well as Nail's Inc's Belgrave Place and OPI's Do You Lilac It.

Dainty prints
Like Topshop's floral blouses and skirts for spring

Smelling nice
On my list for spring fragrance: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab’s “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” perfume oil based on the Christopher Marlowe poem (limited edition love poem oils run until March 23). Notes of heather, clover, Irish moss, English ivy, tea rose and carnation guaranteed to make you want to frolic in a grassy field.

Trouser jeans
As much as I love my skinny jeans I don’t know if I want to go through another warm season with denim sticking to my legs
Available: Old Navy, Gap, Svoboda

I'm Starting To See A Pattern...

Even if you spend the rest of the year dressed in head to toe black now is the time to give in to summers wild array of prints and patterns. These aren't boring basic florals or even the Pucci-wannabe mod redux we've been seeing a lot of lately they're abstract, bold, eye-catching designs that are easy and fun to wear. Now these Celia Birtwell meets Jackson Pollock prints were all over the spring/summer runways so you can expect to see them everywhere this summer.


Masterful Missoni prints through the seasons


Prints can be tricky and I admit to being one of the most floral-phobic individuals on earth but these new school abstract florals and colorful graphic inspired prints are very user friendly. As with everything else there are tricks to wearing them.

Rules:

- Keep It Simple: I know I say that for just about every trend but they're words to live by. Too much of any good thing can take a look from trendy to tragic in an instant. Unless you're going for a mix & match look its usually best to keep it to one patterned piece per outfit. If you're doing a patterned blouse pair it with pants or a skirt in a solid color.


- Mix Master: If your feeling brave and wish to mix prints and patterns for an eclectic look remember to seek out coordinating colors. Look at the 3rd outfit in the Missoni pictures, there are two very different prints within the outfit but the colors all blend together to create a uniform look. Also keep in mind the types of patterns your mixing. Its usually best to mix opposing patterns like a floral with stripes. Too much of the same and you risk clashing.

- Look Within: When coordinating your accessories with your prints chose colors that are either within the print itself or go with everything neutrals. Granted one never wants to get too "matchy" but the easiest way to coordinate is to find colors that already a part of the print. If you're more into an eclectic look you can also mix in colors that are harmonious aka opposite each other on your good old art class color wheel. An all blue patterned shirt will look great with a pair of orange flats, trust me on this.

- Try Something New: Part of the reason prints can be so intimidating is due to the fact that there are so many bad prints out there. We've all seen the eerily reminiscent of wallpaper florals or the done to death bandana paisley patterns and frankly were too stylish for that. The best prints around right now are abstract and just a little bit retro. Look for bold patterns with an artistic quality.

- Never Mind The Bullocks: I have heard far too many people say "I can't wear prints, they'll make me look bigger" and I'm really tired of this kind of thinking. I'm not overly concerned with what makes anything look bigger or smaller instead I'd rather focus on what keeps things in proportion. If you feel your losing your shape in a giant flowing printed blouse throw on a solid belt. It balances things out and will show off curves instead of drowning them in too much material. And if you do feel self conscious wear prints on parts of your body you wish to show off. Prints draw the eyes in so use them to display your best features. Most of all don't ever say you can't wear something because of blah blah insert percieved notion here, judge each piece of clothing individually. Cut and fit are the most important things when it comes to looking good so focus on that first and foremost.


Printed Tunics: All from Anthropologie
Shoes: Bottega Veneta chain link sandals, Bottega Veneta Heeled Sandals, Fendi heels & K Jacques St. Tropez gladiator sandals available at Net-A-Porter
Bracelets: Scott Stephen, Giles & Brother, Scoop & Ben Amun

Now I've gone ahead and created four outfits each featuring prints in the form of a colorful tunic tops from Anthropologie, a store that never met a print it didn't like. I love tunics for summer because they're light , simple and go with just about anything. Throw on sneakers and you're good for a picnic, heels and you're good for an evening out. These combinations can be worn with jeans or shorts or whatever tickles your fancy. These serve simply to illustrate how versatile prints can be. Any of the accessories can be mixed and matched with the tops themselves and combined in an array of ways. Add on a great bag and a few dangling chains and your pretty much set.