For all those aspiring fashion editors out there looking to hone their trend-spotting skills, here’s how it’s done…

WATCH AND LEARN

Spotting a trend is down to practise. “It will suddenly click for you,” says Stylist’s fashion director Alexandra Fullerton. “You’ll notice you’ve been seeing a lot of one thing.” For freelance fashion writer Lauren Cochrane, “It’s worth keeping tabs on anything you see more than three times.”

WATCH TRENDSETTERS

“Look at certain collections during the Fashion Weeks,” says Lauren. “Prada, Balenciaga, Céline and Christopher Kane are very influential.” Luisa De Paula, buying and merchandising director at My-wardrobe, adds: “We look at blogs and the street to see what people are wearing in real time.”

EXPECT TWISTS ON THE EXPECTED

“You will often have an idea of what’s coming up,” says Alex. “Spring/summer shows almost always feature white. The trick is to spot how it’s being done differently this year.” The mid-season pre-collections are also a good indicator of what may appear on the catwalks.

WILL IT CATCH ON?

Not every next big thing is warmly embraced by us, the buying public. “It has to translate into real life,” says Luisa. “A trend can look fabulous, but it won’t be loved if it means having to wear heels from morning to night, or if it means you can’t carry a bag.” Ask yourself, can you run for the bus in it?

SEEK ECCENTRICITIES

“It’s the sudden flash of the unexpected that often becomes big,” says Lauren. “A great example now would be Prada’s hot-rod shoes: something new and exciting that makes people sit up.” An item like that can often be one of the most copied when the high street catches on.

Emma Hill explained ‘I love Lana’s nostalgic references to bygone glamour and the fact that her look is retrospective yet so modern. This inspired us to create a bag that was timeless, refined and elegant, yet with a beautiful practicality that would suit any woman. We love its perfect proportions and effortless simplicity.  As soon as the sketches were completed it felt so familiar, loaded with classic Mulberry heritage DNA.’

Of course the singer got a front row seat to see her namesake bag make its catwalk debut…

After writing a feature on her last week for SheerLuxe I’ve become somewhat of a fan. However you feel about the music she’s irrefutably one of the most intriguing pop stars out there at the moment. But does she deserve to be the new Alexa? The jury is still out in that one.

It’s all about the confidence. Believe you look good and so will everybody else.

(From Refinery29.com)

A jacket like this one is top of my wish list this season. It’s a nod to Chanel’s signature cardi-jacket but with flashes of neon.

(From Jak&Jil.com)

A glance at the front row this February is enough to confirm that printed trousers are going to be the essential buy of Spring / Summer. I love these, especially paired with an army-green jacket (which is fast usurping black as the base colour of my wardrobe)

(From TheSartorialist.com)

Taking pastels to new heights! I love that she’s even dip-dyed her hair a shade of icy blue.

(from NicelyTurnedOut.com)

There’s a lot of editorial out there trying to suggest which ‘statement pieces’ you should invest in, but I’m always in favour of an eye-catching jacket or coat. You wear them more than any other piece in your wardrobe so make yours a good’un, like this Balenciaga creation.

(From Jak&Jil.com)

 An oversized Celine bag in neon. THE. DREAM.

(From Refinery29.com)

 More icy blue, this time paired with white. It doesn’t get much more of-the-moment than this. Not convinced by the gloves or socks though, but I suppose a girl’s gotta stay warm.

(from FaceHunter.Blogspot.com)

Awesome use of colour. There’s a definite Peruvian vibe going on here.

(From Refinery29.com)

We’ll finish like we began – with another amazing hat. Wide brims are the way forward when it comes to headwear this season.

(From Refinery29.com)

Last night the Editor at Large of the most outrageous Vogue of them all, Vogue Japan, was at the V&A for a Q&A session hosted by Gianluca Longo. As expected, the lecture theatre was packed to the rafters with journalists, stylists, bloggers and young designers, all waiting with baited breath to hear the inimitable style star speak.

First and foremost, I’m sure you want to know all about her outfit. Picture this: thigh-high, peep-toe boots; a leather pinafore dress thick with embellishment (think Xena the Warrior Princess); a silver bauble headdress; and YSL’s ostrich feather coat (the same one she wore to Marc Jacobs’ AW12 show last week). Perfectly Anna.

It would take me forever to cover all the pearls of wisdom that came out of her mouth, so I’ve condensed it for you into a few inspiring sound bites.

‘I’m often quoted as saying “I don’t want to be cool, I want to be fashion’. To many people cool means thoughtless and not try-hard, but I think style is about expressing yourself. Don’t be lazy!’

‘Getting dressed is like preparing a table of food – you want it to be full to the brim. I love glamour, excess and maximalism. Why reserve sequins and extravagance for the evening? Wear your best dress in the day time too’

‘A blogger is a cross between a paparazzi and a journalist. They offer a new view and turn the camera on the people – the editors, the buyers – who are the tastemakers. They are not afraid to communicate what’s really going on fashion, with no agenda other than their passion’

‘Put on a high heel, go outside and everything will change’

‘Fashion is a fierce industry. If you want to succeed you must be determined – never miss a season, be on duty always and keep your eyes fresh. Put in 10-hour days if that’s what it takes’

‘My biggest challenge in this industry is not to get old. And I don’t mean ageing – I mean adapting to change. I didn’t have the first clue about what a blog was when I first started mine, now it gets 25,000 hits a day’

‘Of course I’ve made a faux pas, it’s part of the process! Take a risk, be ridiculous, provoke. Express something new’

‘Dressing up is my job now. I plan all my Fashion Week outfits six months in advance and change five times a day while covering the shows – usually when I’m being shuttled from one to the next by my driver’

‘Fashion is ageless. It’s not about what you are but how you feel. Experiment and try new things’

‘My style is schizophrenic. I wear masculine tailoring by designers like Ermenegildo Zegna to menswear shows’

‘The last time I counted I had 4,000 shoes. I never wear the same thing twice, but if I think it will still be an incredible piece in a few year’s time then I archive it in storage. Maybe one day I’ll do something with my collection’

I’m not always dressed up. When I go to yoga in the morning I wear leggings and a little top and when I walk my dog I’ll be in jeans. But I’m a firm believer that high heels create your attitude. I’d rather go barefoot than wear a flat’

After the talk finished we were offered free beer and canapés in one of the adjoining gallery rooms. We gossiped and drank until the museum emptied, then made our way outside. And who should we happen to run into…

Anna’s greatest fashion hits:

Spotted at London Fashion Week: poster announcing the  first Vogue Festival!

Two days (20th – 21st April) of lectures and panels from the great and good of fashion, including Tom Ford, Mary Portas, Christopher Bailey, Diane von Furstenburg, Matthew Williamson, Natalia Vodianova and more.

Gold tickets, which include entrance to all events plus a specially curated Vogue goody bag, are £280. A bit steep maybe, but be patient and you’ll soon get the chance to buy half-day attendance.

Fashion fans from far and wide are going to be vying for tickets so make sure you keep an eye on the site. See you there…

www.vogue.co.uk/voguefestival/

Today also marks the 10 year anniversary of Topshop’s NEWGEN sponsorship. Over the past decade they’ve helped nurture the talents of Erdem, JW Anderson, Meadham Kirchhoff, Jonathan Saunders, Holly Fulton, Marios Schwab, Christopher Kane, Mary Katrantzou, Roksanda Ilincic and more. It’s a considerable contribution to British fashion and it’s one they hope to continue. This morning, on the opening morning of LFW, Sir Phillip Green announced that Topshop will be renewing it’s sponsorship for another decade. Hurrah!

To celebrate, everyone’s favourite high street shop is releasing a collection of limited edition T-shirts designed by its NEWGEN alumni. Plus it’s released a Nick Knight-directed fashion film starring Karlie Kloss – check it out for a retrospective look at some of Topshop’s most memorable collaborations.

The NEWGEN T-shirts are on sale here, priced at £30. All proceeds go to charity.

I interviewed VV Brown once upon a time. She was launching her first album and I’d been commissioned by Rococo magazine – a ‘freemium’ which is now sadly defunct – to speak to the singer pre-cover shoot in a draughty London studio.

Back then VV Vintage was just a twinkle in her eye. To be perfectly honest I’d forgotten all about her entrepreneurial aspirations until a press release dropped into my inbox this morning.

VV and her creative partner Lola have finally launched their sustainable fashion site, VVV. They’ve been busy cherry picking special retro items and tweaking them to create inimitable pieces, and the result is a collection which might just revive the reputation of vintage.

When I first moved to London and was living in a small shared house in Bethnal Green I trawled the cluster of vintage stores around Brick Lane on a weekly basis. But the gems become fewer and further between until eventually I ended up with a closet full of shiny shoulder-padded jumpsuits and 80s party dresses. I know this is the experience of many fellow vintage fans. It’s also the reason there’s a distinct ‘vintage is dead’ backlash going on at the moment. But I still harbour hope, because nothing beats a truly amazing one-off find.

Enter VVV…

For the eccentric, eclectic, experimental and unique fashion girl there’s so much to be excited about here – from the simple bodycon dress with plumes of feathers sprouting from the shoulders to the iconic, painted stars and stripes jacket. And the prices are reasonable too.

There are two vintage pieces that I’m still in love with: a sunflower print playsuit (far and away the most flattering thing in my wardrobe) and a photographic poppy print kimono maxi dress (the most complimented item I own). Now, thanks to VVV, the faith that I might find another has been restored.

P.S Look out for the Ashish pieces. Considering VV Brown’s close relationship with the designer I’m going to say these were probably pre-owned by the singer herself.

Click the images to scroll the gallery.

Visit my Portfolio section to read the interview in full.

According to the My-Wardrobe.com buying team they’re selling in their thousands – the unexpected style bullseye of the summer – so there aren’t many sizes left at stockists or on the label’s own website. You can see where this is going, right? Yes, I ordered a pair. I was suckered into this totally mental trend like a true fashion victim. And do ya know what? I don’t even care!

If you’re inexplicably drawn to wedge trainers too then feast your eyes on this little lot…

Ash, COOLBIS Black Suede Womens Wedge Trainer, £169

ASOS, Ark Leather Ankle Boots, £85

DKNY, Heath Sneakers, £160

ALSO, Netz Trainers, £80

Guiseppe Zanotti, Leather Sneaker Wedge, $650

See by Chloe, Sneaker Style Ankle Boot, £310

Coachella is the ultimate festival in my opinion (fuck you, Glasto). The skies are guaranteed to be blue, the chances of getting your wellies stuck in eight inches of gloopy mud are nil and you’re almost certain to be shoulder-to-shoulder with half of Tinseltown. It’s also a hot spot for ‘festival style’ snappers – a golden opportunity for bloggers to get Fashion Week levels of attention lavished upon them.

The location being the sun-drenched Californian desert, my staple UK festival attire of Hunters, a raincoat and trusty skinnies just ain’t gonna cut the mustard. Temperatures of up to 30ºC demand floaty blouses, Aztec-print shorts and tassel-embellished cross-body bags; a wardrobe befitting of Nicole Richie – the poster child of how festival dressing should be done, Cali-style.

That’s why I’ll be needing all these pieces from her new Winter Kate lookbook ASAP. Especially the top left dress please, thank you.

Click here to find out the location of your nearest launch and if you can make it you might even win some goodies.