Hobo or Snob: Prada vs. Asos vs. Topshop

Left: Prada Wingtip Brogues £510 @ Prada.com or £517.12 @ Saks Fifth Avenue
Right: Metallic, Pink, Tan Monroe Creeper Shoe £95 @ Asos.com

This summers most loved fashionista Prada Espadrille Brogues finally gets the high street treatment courtesy of Asos and Topshop. Asos definitely wins out for me as I think Topshop might have been treading carefully not to upset Prada or get sued over copyright violations.  

Left: Kingston Contrast Eva Sole Brogues in Black & Tan £60 @ Topshop

Asos wins out for me not only based on Price, but also as it's available in a wide variety of colours and as some of you hawk eyed fashion followers might remember, the Prada Flatform style brogue was worn by Rihanna about two weeks ago

Rihanna in the Prada Wing Tip Platform Espadrille Brogues

High Street Hobo - High Street Fashion Hit List

This is a new feature which I shall be updating once every week (except I'm away on holiday), I will try and make sure I have 10 new items each week, but depending on what's out there plus my taste it might not always add up to 10, but anyway enjoy my debut Grazia fashion style chart rundown

1. Green (varying shades of it) is the new black this season, add to that the bow blouse on this lovely silk number and you'll be sure to induce fashion envy around town - £30 @ River Island 

2.  Statement necklaces are always on trend, and we're so in love with this slithery number from asos - £35 @ asos.com

3. These metallic turquoise bow flats are at the very heights of chic, show off your pedicure in them while pairing them with everything from  denims, Whites and summery dresses - £40 @ Topshop

4. Its already been declared that Green is the new black, but i need to add that Snakeskin is the new leopard skin and I'm totally in love with this pocket friendly Snakeskin clutch from BooHoo - £15 @ BooHoo.com

5. I'm loving this pastel retro fantastic pants, wear them with soft coloured bow blouses or a luxe white tee for Instant chic points - £64 @ Fever designs

6.  The 60's a in full swing this season, take a cue from the catwalks and pair this lovely number with sleek trouser pants or with with basic tights - £35 @ Dorothy Perkins

7. I'm in love with this retro working girl style teal skirt, great cut, fit and price plus you get a  decent belt thrown in too - £32 @ Miss Selfridge

8. Loving the minimal feel to this belt, cinch in your favourite maxi's, jumpsuit with this sleek number - £20 @ Warehouse

9. Keeping up with the spirit of all things 60's are this mod-ish boots from H&M - £49.99 @ H&M 

10. A sleek blouse always lends an air of sophistication to any outfit, pair these with denims or even the lovely pants on Number 5 of this chart or even the skirt on Number 7 - £35 @ Wallis



For the stylish men out there, rather than pick various items from different shops i decided to focus my attention on River Island as I'm loving their menswear at the moment

1. Puffa style jackets are huge this Autumn/Winter, I totally love this slim version from River Island - £75 @ River Island

2. Everyman whether style conscious or not deserves to have a check shirt in his wardrobe, i love the retro yet modern feel to this check shirt the shoulder patch make it a notch above other check shirts out there - £35 @ River Island

3. Mustard style tones add to the general look and feel of autumn, this jumper is fantastic - £36 @ River Island

4. Eat your heart out Vilebrequin, this River Island trunks will surely get you noticed - £19.99 @ River Island

5. We love the Burberry-esque feel to this plain simple tee - £16 @ River Island  (also available in navy)

6. Gilets are autumn/winter essentials, I love the camel/tan contrast on this one - £55 @ River Island

7. Corduroys in my opinion are wardrobe staples, but they seem to be everywhere this Autmn/Winter, while brown/rust tend to be default corduroy colours, I love the navy Blue hue on this pair - £38 @ River Island

8. A well tailored blazer will always be on trend, this lovely River Island Blazer would look great with a pair of smart denims - £95 @ River Island

9. A flat cap keeps your head stylishly ward - £15 @ River Island

10. A well worthy add to any jumper collection are this colour blocked pair - £36 @ River Island

Hobo or Snob: Balmain vs. H&M

Left: Balmain leather Bomber Jacket £1,717.50 @ Mr Porter
Right: Baseball Jacket with Imitation Leather Sleeves £34.99 @ H&M

Balmain's much loved Leather bomber jackets gets a high street makeover with these lovely H&M baseball jacket.I can't help but think the popularity of Balmain's bomber helped influence the decision to include the faux leather sleeves to this Baseball Jacket, which otherwise would have the same fabric all through.

And here is Kanye wearing his beloved Balmain, which he clearly loves as he's been spotted wearing them numerous times.  

Kanye West out and about in his Balmain Bomber Jacket

And here's another variation of the H&M jacket which I shall definitely be adding to my wardrobe, I love the blocked colours, those Orange leather (even though they are faux) are to die for

Baseball Jacket with Imitation Leather Sleeves £34.99 @ H&M

  

Hobo or Snob: Gucci vs. Topshop

Colourful Fedora's on the Gucci Fall '11 runway

Summer is barely over and Topshop are already ripping off the Autumn Catwalks (gotta love Topshop), case in point is the Gucci fall catwalk where models strutted their stuff in colourful fedora's, fur stoles and pussybow blouses. Ready to buy now though are topshop's lovely colourful fedora's available at a very friendly £25 in a variety of colours, grab one before it goes

Orange, Burgundy, Pink, Blue, Dark green  Fedora's £25 @ Topshop 

 

And yet another Topshop/designer rip off you should look forward to is Topshop's take on Stella McCartney's polka dotted sheer body as can be seen below

Left: Stella McCartney sheer Polka Dot Body
Right: Topshop Sheer polka Dot Body as seen in the 'Glam Underground' section of their  Autumn lookbook

Hobo or Snob: Alexander McQueen vs. Miss Selfridge

Left: Skull Print Cashmere Scarf  £245 @ Net-a-Porter
Right: Skull print Silk Chiffon Scarf £165 @ Net-a-Porter

Alexander McQueen's iconic skull print scarf gets the Miss Selfridge treatment at over 90% off the price of the designer original, its decent looking and it won't break the bank. I'll definitely say YES to their version, I love the Neon skull print scarf the best

LEFT TO RIGHT: Mono Mini Skull Scarf £16 @ Miss Selfridge
Khaki Skull Print scarf £14 @ Miss Selfridge
Neon print Skull scarf £14 @ Miss Selfridge
Skull & Rose scarf £ 14 @ Miss Selfridge

Miss Selfridge are not even hiding the source of their inspiration at all, see below for more proof

Left: Leopard Skull print Scarf £285 @ Net-a-Porter
Right: Leopard Skull scarf £14 @ Miss Selfridge

Hobo or Snob: Ralph Lauren Purple Label vs. Topman

Left: Ralph Lauren Purple Label Suede Shirt £1,565 @ Mr Porter
Right: Mustard Suede Shacket £90 @ Topman.com

Oh dear, looks like I've been spending way too much time on Topman.com as i couldn't help but notice the similarity  once more between this lovely Mustard Shacket and Polo Ralph Lauren Purple Label Suede shirt. Now God forbid I compare the fabrics and cut, as we all know Ralph Lauren Purple label will win on all accounts, but as a suede shirt priced at a quite modest £90 in comparison to Ralph Lauren's £1,565 tag, Topman's mustard Shacket isn't shabby at all, if styled properly, it'd looks just as good. I personally love how it has been styled with a printed shirt as can be seen below, and during those winter months take a cue from how the Ralph Lauren purple label has been styled and add a Polo neck knit underneath

Left: Ralph Lauren Purple Label Suede Shirt £1,565 @ Mr Porter
Right: Mustard Suede Shacket £90 @ Topman.com

Hobo or Snob: Burberry Prorsum vs. Topman

Left: Burberry Prorsum's Fair Isle Knit £550 @ Mr Porter
Right: Reindeer Yoke Jumper £40 @ Topman

Summer is barely over and the shops are already stocking Winter knits, not that I mind much of course,  it just means there's extra time to stock up on some Winter essentials. One of which will undoubtedly be this superb Jumper from Topman, I'm head over heels in love with it and can't wait to wear it during those cold winter months. I also couldn't help but notice its similarity to  Burberry Prorsum's Fair isle knit, as a lot of the design centres around the shoulders, both jumpers are beautiful and worthy additions to any gentleman's wardrobe, but at a pocket burning £550, I'd have to wave goodbye to Burberry Prorsum's knit.

Celebrities are Hobos too

Left Jamie Winstone in a Dolce & Gabbana Silk Satin Dress and Topshop Wedges
Right: Walberg Blue Suede Ankle Strap wedges £70 @ Topshop.com

Its always nice to see celebrities giving High Street brands some love, such was the case this past week, when Jamie Winstone mixed high end with high street when she attended the Dolce and Gabbana Party at the Net-a-Porter Head offices in London on thursday night wearing a Dolce & Gabbana silk satin dress with Topshop's Walberg blue Suede wedges. Those wedges are proving very popular as they're selling out fast, last time I checked their website, they only had them from sizes 36-38, with sizes 39-42 all sold out.

Left: Eva Longoria at the Microsoft imagine awards in New York
Right: Asos Rust egg shape Shift Dress £20 @ Asos.com 

Also championing the high street was Eva Longoria, when she attended the Microsoft Imagine awards in New York City wearing a £20 Asos Egg shape dress. The dress which was originally priced at £50 is still available in a number of sizes and colours on the asos site at a very reasonable £20.