January Blues

A time for dieting and detox, January should bring out the most strong willed of us. Even if I was hell bent on losing a few pounds, which would be quite nice, I'm too much of a foody to cut down on calories, and too much of a wimp to bring out the trainers and star jump my way to a lower jeans size. Still, Spring/Summer promises to bring back the corset. With underwear as outerwear in full saucy swing, I'm thinking love handles could easily be squeezed and cinched, disguised under intricate lacing and stitching.

Jean Paul Gaultier teams soft corsetry with tailored suits, toying with gender associated garments. The feminine, peachy silk of the corset whispers towards next season's big trend, utility luxe (which I'm unashamedly underwhelmed by; my pale complexion doesn't fare well with airy fairy wifty wofty wall flower fabrics), but the underwire of the brassiere gives it more structure and punch.

Dolce & Gabbana was just my cup of tea - things were kept simple in monochrome hues with dollops of gold and rust red to interest. Coquettish lace encouraged voyeurs to think around the wrapping and what was underneath. Teamed with cheeky ruffled bed hair and a smear of blood red lippy, I can't fault this look, and the corsetry to match.

Both beautiful and bizarre, McQueen trussed up nature inspired design in a man-made, factitious and fetishised corset.

Rolls in the hay took a Chanel turn for the better and the prom dress got a well needed makeover.

Twenty8Twelve is just love on a hanger. I could easily annoy the staff of the Westbourne Grove branch by hovering along their wooden floorboards for hours, fondling their wares. This season, denim wrapped it's way around the bust of wafer thin models, and poppered it's way past the navel.
If you really can survive on meal after meal of celery, rice cakes and low fat dip, with ice cubes for pudding, I salute you. Keep powering through the hunger pangs with thoughts of Mulberry's new gang member on your mind - hello, Alexa, where have you been all my life?

No, I don't mean Chung, I mean that fabulous leathery beauty in her claws. Available from the 12th of this month, the Alexa looks like the Bayswater's long lost cousin. What's the matter, Bayswater? Scared Alexa is better looking than you? I have neither the funds nor the heart to hurt my Bayswater by replacing it with the Alexa, but if anything were able to motivate me to get to the gym, it would be that.
Shots of corsets from catwalking.com
Link for Alexa bag