Things we want to see more of in 2009: Shingai Shoniwa of the Noisettes

Wild Young Hearts


We're big fans of Shingai Shoniwa on CQ, and we've featured her great style a couple of times of the site so it's great to hear that her band are bringing new material out. The Noisettes' latest single is called Wild Young Hearts and it's a heart-burstingly wonderful piece of romantic pop, it kind of reminds me of Kylie's Tears on my Pillow which is a good thing! Watch the video above, and hopefully we'll be seeing a lot more of Shingai in 2009.

Lily Allen in Sonia Rykiel: When wearing a dress just because it's designer isn't a good enough excuse...

Reminiscent of that time when Victoria Beckham thought it was acceptable to wear a belted sheet simply because it was by Marc Jacobs, so has Lily Allen displayed the same error in judgement, only with much less finesse. Revealing more than we needed to see, the British songbird stepped out for dinner Wednesday night in this sheer baby pink Sonia Rykiel dress, which left many scratching their heads. Not only was it far too long for her, but it exposed her lacy pants for the world's paps to shoot. Proving that just because its designer, isn't a good enough excuse to try and pull it off, Lily has shown us that a label doesn't necessarily = buy. Thanks for the timely reminder Lils!
[Image Source]

X Factor goes designer with Alexandra in Alexander (McQueen)

I confess, I've been completely swept up in the X Factor hype this year, and have been avidly watching the styling in particular. For Saturday night's Big Band show we had everything from 20s Topshop flapper dresses to custom-made Jessica Rabbit red gowns, but it was Alexandra Burke's nautical themed 'Candyman' performance that surprised me the most. X Factor is known for using a lot of high street clothing, but Alex was actually wearing customised Alexander McQueen. The £990 dress from Matches was chopped short and embellished with gold rope trim on the shoulders and pockets. That's almost a grand's worth of designer fashion, altered in the name of entertainment. It's a good thing she got through to the next round...

Fashion Follows Function in j'tote Designer Laptops Bags

Laptop bags get a real makeover.

This limited-edition collection contains 500 bags of each of the 10 unique & beautiful designs.



If you've ever craved for stylish and fashionable laptop carry bags, j'tote's range of bags are just what you're looking for. The entire range comprising of 10 unique designs share a common feminine feel. These bags are the design and creation of multiple award winning young Irish designer Anna Vahey Casey and fashion-conscious Texan Jeri Barr.

The Fall/Winter 2007 inaugural collection of j'tote designer bags was recently announced. These laptops bags are made from (weird) stuff like bamboo, suede, floral fabric, wooden beads, etc.


The entire range of j'tote bags are made to fit notebooks up to 15-inch in size. Price range on these fashionable bags is between $175 to $315.

The name of the 10 designs are Maeve, Saoirse, Derville, Shauna, Alannah, Grainne, Dubheasa, Aoife, Afric and Melania. To find out what they look like or purchase one of them, please visit the company store.

[via Electronista]

Add quirky touches to any outfit with the Indie Designer Labels website

If you're a fan of putting your own quirky spin on the trends of each season then take a look at the Indie Designer Labels website. Fashion, accessories, jewellery and handbags are just a few of the categories on offer. Even pick up pieces that are recycled, handmade or eco-friendly.

One website featured is Kristina Bilonick Studio, where for just US$22 you can pick up this adorable jewellery print website.

The suggestion is to pair it with oversized sunglasses and skinny jeans. Also try adding some cute pumps for a gorgeous off-duty look, perfect for the dodgy weather. Don't forget a cardigan though, for when the sun goes down!

Designer Anand Jon Accused of More Sexual Assaults

A celebrity fashion designer already accused of raping or sexually assaulting 12 women and girls.

A celebrity fashion designer already accused of raping or sexually assaulting 12 women and girls who came to him as aspiring models was charged on Tuesday with attacks on six additional victims.

Los Angeles prosecutors have now charged Anand Jon, an Indian-born designer who has appeared on the popular television show "America's Next Top Model," with a total of 46 counts involving 18 victims, all with ties to the fashion industry and between the ages of 14 and 27.

Jon, who is free on $1.3 million bail in the Los Angeles case, was also being sought by authorities in Dallas in connection with three sexual assaults there.

Prosecutors said the 33-year-old fashion designer, who was touted by Newsweek magazine as a person to watch in 2007, was expected to enter a plea to the new charges later on Tuesday.

Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney, said that her office would ask that Jon's bail be raised to $2.3 million in light of the new charges. She said he would also face extradition to Texas for an arraignment there.

Prosecutors say all of the women who have accused Jon of rape or sexual assault came to him as aspiring models and Superior Court Judge Eldon Fox has prohibited him from being alone with any woman under the age of 30.

The charges against Jon include forcible rape, sexual battery, sexual penetration by a foreign object, sodomy by use of force, forcible oral copulation, false imprisonment by violence, assault with the intent to commit a felony, lewd act on a child, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and sexual exploitation of a child.

Prosecutors said the attacks occurred between November of 2002 and March of this year and that Jon was first investigated after one of the alleged victims contacted authorities.

He was arrested at his home in Beverly Hills in March.

According to a December profile of Jon in Newsweek, the designer has dressed such celebrities as Paris Hilton and Janet Jackson, plans to launch a new line of jeans and is developing a reality TV show about his life.