The New Black

As part of the 90s revival, which does not appear to be going anywhere, are the high-waisted loose fitting mum jeans. Love or hate them, you cannot ignore them, the high street is awash with washes on various versions of these trousers.

 

We have both had run ins with these jeans in different shops on the high street and they can, quite literally, be the most unflattering, ugly piece of clothing that you will ever put on. And not in a cute ugly way you understand, if the wash is too pale on the hip and thigh area, you'll look as though you are standing in front of a magnifying glass, a la Joey from Friends in Mr. Heckles' apartment circa 1996. And if you do dare to turn around, the sight that can confront you is terrifying --PAN ARSE!! Pan Arse is the absolute worst, it is the phenomenon where your bum looks so flat it is as though someone had cruelly stepped up to you and whacked you on the arse with a frying pan.

Well, we think that we have found the solution -- Black jeans! Although they aren't exactly what you would call flattering, the allover dark wash does mean that you escape the perils of the pale enlarging wash and somehow even Pan Arse is avoided. Magic.

Outfit details: 

Neoprene top - H&M

Mom jeans-  Topshop

Gold wedges - Office

Lipstick - MAC Viva Glam III

Dinosaur Necklace: Pressie from Esmerelda

Photography by Hannah Gerrard <3

The Girl Repeller

We RF girls may not be menswear fashion experts, but we do know a well-dressed man when we see one. But sometimes we see a man's style that is so upsetting that we can't help but wonder if they are a part of a league of gentlemen who have adapted Leandra Medine's Man Repelling mantra into their own Girl Repeller. Do these men know that these fashion items have the ability to extinguish all traces of female affection? We can only hope that they are aware of their sartorial choices, but as a public service announcement would like to reveal our list of Girl Repelling clothing. 

T-shirts with half-naked women in "sexy" poses

We truly find the popularity of these shirts baffling. Women do not find objectifying other women attractive. We don't think its a coincidence that every time we've seen a dude wearing this kind of shirt, there are no 3D women in sight.

Cargo Shorts

Old Navy's hottest seller is most girls' kill joy. The awkward length of these uselessly utilitarian shorts makes the wearer's legs look completely oxymoronic, both stunted and spindly. To increase female repulsion levels, just pair with ratty sneakers and a peak of white sock. We say to men, don't be afraid of wearing shorts, just go for a higher hem and ditch all the extraneous pockets. We've all moved on from 2002 and so should you. 

Turtlenecks

This incredibly hard to pull off look can only be mastered by fishermen, computer moguls, and some introverted creatives. All others should be warned of the high levels of toxic ridiculousness that they emit. 

Eyebrow Piercings

Some women are not fans of facial piercings, but we know every girl has met that dreamy boy with a cute lip piercing that may have changed their minds. However, we believe that a man's supraorbital ridge does not need any further decoration. The 90s are totally on trend but this one can stay in the past. Don't let a good face go to waste.

Do our readers have any Girl Repelling trends that they loathe? Or do you just love a man in a turtleneck? Let us know in the comments below. 

Halloween Work Wear

We believe that you can never be too old for Halloween celebrations, but one of the things that sucks about being an adult is not being able to wear the McCall's-pattern-mom-made Belle dress out in the daylight on October 31st. 

You may have to wait til the weekend to fully unfurl your costume designs, but as Halloween falls on a Thursday this year, we encourage fellow Halloween lovers to inject some ghoulish glam into their everyday work wear.

1. Me & Zena Spider Web Necklace - If Arachnaphobia still gives you nightmares then this necklace might not be for you, but we think this Black Window jewelry is a beautiful touch of dark glamour and surely Elvira-approved!

2. Barry M Halloween Green Polish - Orange and Black are the go to Halloween shades but we feel Frankenstein and the Creature from the Black Lagoon deserve some color love. You can Monster Mash your keyboard with your monster green digits. 

3. Polly Sock Halloween - These Jack Skellington-esque socks would look absolutely rad with a pair of prim and proper pumps and a midi skirt. If you feel that bones on show on too much for your workplace you can always hide them securely in a pair of booties and just be warmed by your secret Halloween love. 

4. Burgundy Ladder Tights - These ladder and lace tights evoke the image of cobwebs and the beautiful wine color will lend itself to many Autumnal outfits. 

5. Full Midi Skirt in Patent - Give off a wicked witch vibe in this PVC skirt that hits so many F/W seasonal trends -- gothic & 90s (Yes, we remember that pleather jacket you rocked on the playground.)

6. Lazy Oaf Kitty Pass Case - Some people believe that black cats bring bad luck -- but according to superstition, it's only if they cross your path. Keeping a black cat is actually good luck! So bring yourself some much-needed luck on your morning commute with this Black kitty cat pass case.

7. MAC Lipstick in 'Hang Up' - Vampy lips are everywhere this season and we love it! It's a great excuse to channel your favorite character from The Craft.

8. Bella Feather Jacket - As soon as Halloween hits, the temperatures drop. You'll need some faux fluff to keep you warm, you might as well look like a glamorous evil queen. Don't forget your pointy heels, extra arched eyebrows and an apple in your lunch bag. 

Get Your Coat Love, You've Pulled

1. Checked coat - NW3 by Hobbs 2.Vintage cocoon coat - ASOS 3. Ovoid coat - Topshop  

4. Intersection coat - Antipodium 5. Francesca coat - Monki

One of the best things about the winds increasing and the temperatures dipping is that it signals the start of winter coat time. For years the coat was an after thought, worn exclusively for practical reasons, but not anymore - this year the coat will take centre stage in your winter wardrobe, so make sure you get one that you love.

Here are our favourite cosy cover-ups, because remember, Winter Is Coming...

Printspiration

(From top to bottom: Joan Smalls in J.Crew, Unknown street-style amazingness, Sara Mary in April Vogue Japan, Solange Knowles in concert, Kiko Mizuhara in April Frau Magazine)

One undeniable trend for S/S is mixing prints. Are you scared? So were we! Well, I think I still am a little scared but I'm trying to think of it as a thrill-seeking experiment. Sky-high roller coasters, horror movies, bungee jumping and mixing prints all induce the same amount of an adrenaline rush in my body. Ironically, what soothes me the most is when I see print mixing with bright, rich colors. If you have more trepidation, pair one bright print with a monochrome print. And finally, the best way to print mixing prowess is to wear accessories or outerwear that you feel confident in -- they could be more subdued like a oversized blazer or more bold like a statement necklace, but whatever gives you that internal "Daaaamn, I look cute, boo" sensation when you put it on. 

Miriam has already taken the print plunge and is dots-deep in an Urban Outfitter's Ghanaian-print bomber jacket, F21 polka-dot top, and geometric print clutch. I hope to follow her in footsteps and also the print-mixing queen, Solange Knowles. Whenever I feel the need for printspiration, I just shuffle on over to tumblr and type her name in the tags search. Go forth and printsper! Alright, I'm done with these puns... for now. 

Boys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses

With a burgeoning collection of obnoxious sunglasses and fake specs between us, we were thrilled to receive an email from Kaki Read, a fashion coordinator at Warby Parker, suggesting that we collaborate on a post together. Disproving the old adage, �boys don�t make passes in girls that wear glasses�, Warby Parker vintage inspired frames are super stylish. What�s more they even give you a warm glow inside, as for every pair of glasses sold, another pair is distributed to someone in need � helping the less fortunate has never been so appealing. Below, Kaki shares her tips with us on how to look stylish at work and during the weekend. Based on her tips, we have compiled some ensembles and paired them with our favourite Warby Parker frames.

"When going on a day trip, looking the part of a tourist is half the fun. This doesn't mean that one should dress in a souvenir t-shirt and cargo shorts, like so many unfashionable tourists do [Circle of trust confessional; we are actually really rather partial to a souvenir t-shirt! - RF]. Dressing up a bit to celebrate a day free from work and life's other obligations sets the tone for the adventure. If the weather is warm, a high-low dress is a great look for a giving off an air of being on vacation, albeit a short one. High-low dresses are short in front and taper down to longer lengths in back. Many are made out of flowing fabrics like chiffon, which cause their hemlines to flare out whenever their wearers walk more than a few steps, creating a glamorous effect. This glamour can be increased by also wearing over-sized sunglasses. Sunglasses by Warby Parker add retro allure to the contemporary style of a high-low dress and a pair of wedge or high-heeled sandals can complete this ensemble.�

Clutch Bag - Zara, Chunky Sandals - Topshop, Leaf Bracelet - Tatty Divine, Chambray - H&M,  Crochet Detailed Dress - Nasty Gal

 

The Jasper Violet Magnolia Sunglasses are particularly lovely!

�Dressing stylishly for work requires careful consideration. You have to find a careful balance between sharp style and modest maturity if you want to inject some edge into your office wardrobe without losing the respect of your peers. An easy way to overcome this obstacle is to embrace androgyny. A crisp, fitted blouse makes a great impression, especially when worn with tailored slacks�A short blazer is an edgier alternative to a sweater vest, especially when wearing eyeglasses like Warby Parker's frames.�

Jaquard Jacket - Zara, Perforation Detail Blouse - Bershka, Pegged Trousers - Topshop,  Loafers - Kurt Geiger, Studded Leather Bag - Zara, Notebook - Urban Outfitters,  Write On! Pencil Ring - Me and Zena 

 

We love the Tenley Burgundy Fade glasses.

Friday I'm In Love...Or Not.

When the thought of dressing to impress a man makes you throw up in your mouth, deciding what to wear on a first date can be tricky. We have gathered the following pieces of advice from a collection of anonymous cool girls:

1. Stay away from anything too skin tight - you don't want your bangin' body to distract too much from your glowing personality.
2. Wear your most ostentatious jewellery; hopefully this will alert him to the fact that you do not require "a ring on it". 
3. Don't get too dressed up, dress as the best version of your everyday self. ?
4. Only arms or legs should be on show - don't let them see the goods too early. And keep your mid to lower back covered -- the bra mechanics are too difficult to be worrying about on a first date.
5. Whatever makes you feel like a vixen...but nothing too tight. There's nothing worse than feeling like a chubb in a tight top after a meal.
6. Wear something you're comfortable in, which reflects your personality. [For us that would be something with spikes and a floral print. (Pro-tip: Your date will not be able to resist commenting or touching your spikes so you will have to come up with a witty retort if you choose to don them, "These are my thorns but I'm a rose." "It keeps the perverts away.")]
7. Dress in smarter work clothes than you normally do so that they think that your job is more important than it actually is, then arrive late and say that it was because of your hectic work schedule.
8. Don�t wear too much make-up. That way, he�ll be impressed rather than disappointed when you wake up with him the morning after date 3 having had two too many margaritas.
9. Try to stay true to yourself but don't go to one extreme or the other, so don't slut it up or be super conservative.
10. Sexy bra and pants and the rest is immaterial, he won't notice or remember.

"I ain't no-one's trophy...I kiss who I want, when I want"

Grease 2's Stephanie Zinone has the right attitude.

Dear readers, share your own first date fashion tips below! Curious minds want to know.