Rule Americana!

LA MOSS always knows a good thing when she sees it. And she wasn’t messing about with her 34th birthday outfit, a full length Chanel dress showered in stars!

Now we’ve seen the gradual integration of Americana into our wardrobes for the past few months with the fashionistas in the know sporting the look in everything from make up to dresses and scarves. In fact, Alexa Chung in that Topshop dress caused sell outs around the country (although I’m sure some of those have made their way onto a certain nameless auction site rather than into a loving wardrobe). This Spring/Summer 08 is going to be the making of the trend.

So what exactly is the way to interpret said look? Well, the good news is, the sky’s the limit, and it’s not just stars to look out for, as the whole Americana and stripes look is enjoying a revival.

Lets start off with the dress. Oh, the life saving dress that gets us through so many outfit disasters! The Topshop number was highly coveted (and still is if you can get your hands on one) but many more retailers are picking up on the idea. So why not get yourself down to Jaeger of all places. Pricey, though slightly less in the sale at £75, but a pretty little number that should see you through to the heat wave of Spring and Summer.

Another little jazzy find is the star print silk number by Gareth Pugh, available at Browns. Again a slightly pricey tag at £170 (but a bargain from £340), the obscured star print catches the eye at first glance as a diagonal pattern, and only becomes clear when the pattern hits the left shoulder. Genius!

For more purse friendly alternatives look no further than your handy web browser. ASOS have a variety of styles ranging from the cleavage plunging dressy dress, to the balloon sleeved chiffon number. Check out the chiffon blouses too, teamed with a pair of skinnies and some patent heels the look works a treat for day or night!

If your not feeling too brave for the full on effect, then a slight hint of the look will perfect any outfit with the ‘rock’ image. Just tie a monochrome star scarf around your neck and plain dress from last season will instantly be updated.

And as our American friends know, stars go so readily in hand with stripes, well... almost.

Stripes are good; they remind me of the archetypical French ensemble. However they have the slight tendency to make you look like the back end of a bus. Flattering ones curves is not the job of this look and is best saved for the more willowy amongst us to experiment with. However, us mere mortals are not ruled out as the addition of a skinny stripy scarf or bag to our look, and remember the slimmer the stripe, the slimmer the waist (well visually speaking anyway).
A nod to the fifties and hail the Americans is all well and good, just don’t try to replicate their flag. Separate, these trends can be classy, yet together they cannot work (think too many cooks….) Yes Chanel may have done it on the catwalk, but all you will get walking down Market Street will be stares. And don’t say I didn’t warn you!

To break up the effect just throw in a few fuller skirts and knee length dresses, although tone down the volume to avoid looking like an extra from Grease and your ready to go. The lighter denim trend works well too just choose the wash carefully to ensure the most flattering look, whether it be on jeans or skirts and the patterns will enhance the simplicity of the bottom half.

At least while we’re enduring US politics on a constant repeat, we might as well be topical with our outfits. All you need to perfect the look is a touch of British attitude and the sky’s the limit.