The Hotness - Pump Action

For what has got to be the first time in recent memory, flat shoes have made their way to the top of partywear footwear lists.

Flat shoes might seem to take some of the fun out of dressing up, but sometimes, just sometimes, its nice to have a little injection of comfort.

The party season is THE season for dressing up to the nines for no apparent reason so if you're going for flat shoes, make sure the rest of your outfit is the hotness. In my humble opinion, flat shoes by night work very well when worn with very short skirts and dresses. And they look better when work with tights too. It helps tone it down just a teeny weeny bit.

So a thigh skimming, barely covers your bum LBD or black sequinned mini, a bright pop of colour with the tights (www.tigerbites.blogspot.com/2008/11/bit-of-leg.html...and some spingly sparkly ballerinas. Cuteness.




And you just knew I'd say the more sparkly the better. Be the dancing queen in these fabulously sparkly little pieces of joy from
www.faith.co.uk £21.54


Or if you prefer you spingly sparkly shimmer and shine with a little more sophistication, go for these black ballerinas. BP Edie from www.nordstrom.com $49.95.


And why not take a delicate pirouette on the wild side with these calf hair leopard print ballerinas? Fabulous. www.nordstrom.com $49


Jewelled is the way forward. Love these. www.asos.com £15.

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Oh my, these Antik Batik are very sophisticated aren't they? There's something about black suede that is so much more sexy than black leather n'est pas? www.asos.com £100 now down to £80.


And last but not least, a good dose of girlie fabulosity. Dolce Vita metallic pink leather ballerinas from www.nordstrom.com $69.95

All I Want For Xmas....is a perfectly wrapped pressie

What's a great present without great packaging?

In fact, a rather mundane present becomes a great present with the right packaging.

So ladies, arm yourselves with some fabulous wrapping paper and bright proper satin ribbon...trust me, the gratitude will be amplified tenfold!

Even if its just a humble box of cookies for your building's caretaker, wrap it up nice and pretty.

A well wrapped gift implies a lot of time and effort.

If you can, find a great colour/print of wrapping paper you love and wrap all the presents you put under the tree in the same paper. Last year I found some fabulous black and gold damask paper for a steal at Old Navy and they all got a big pink bow. Very undeniably from me!

And in these credit crunch times, most stores are happy to do all the hard work for you if you don't have the necessary Blue Peter skills to wrap your gifts up in fabulosity.

Here are some of my favourite ideas for great packaging.



Ikea magazine boxes work like magic and are soooo cheap AND I can almost guarantee the recipient will find another use for the box. And if not, take it back (after they've opened the gift and stack your magazines up in them).


See? That Ikea magic comes in so many different colours. They come flat packed, all you have to do is pop 'em into shape and tie a big bow.



An unusual colour combo like this deep sexy chocolate brown with the big red bow just looks expensive doesn't it?


Coco Ribbon's signature packaging is instantly identifiable and never fails to put a big smile on the recipient's face.


Ikea have these fabulous, fabulous fabric covered storage boxes that are just magic for gifts. I have so many dotted around in different colours and sizes, magazines, computer cables, bangles (yes I have that many!). So especially if you use them for family members, discreetly swipe the box back after they've opened the gift!



Ikea again, what's not to love about the bargaintastic selection?


Or go for a very Christmassy red box with a simple satin or chiffon ribbon bow in white.




And finally onto the ribbon. You can get the best ribbon in my opinion at John Lewis in he UK or MJ Trim in America. Just pick out your signature colour/print for this Xmas and away you go. Double sided satin is the easiest to use as its glossy so looks all slick and expensive and easy enough for a 5 year old to tie.


Grosgrain ribbon looks very fancy but is a lot harder to tie nmeatly. Just make sure you start your battle armed with double sided tape and you'll eb fine.


You can see I really enjoy wrapping pressies can't you!

The Hotness....Hat Trick

Hello Officer Franklin! I promised I'd say hello to you, make sure you keep reading on a regular basis!!!!!




My, my, my its cold out there isn't it?

Well if you're in Europe or most parts of America and weather.com is to be believed, you're freezing your extremities off.

One of the BEST ways to keep that extra little bit warm through winter is to wear a hat.

Seriously, we all lose 20-40% of body heat through our heads.

Now hats, in particular, fall into three categories. The good (i.e. cute), the bad and the fugly.

So dear reader, here's my selection of the good!

And at such fabulous prices, get more than one and switch them up depending on what you're wearing!



A bright pop of colour on your head is a good way to beat the winter blues. This little piece of cuteness is a bargaintastic $8.80
www. forever21.com


Or this boho luxe style multi coloured beret for £11.75 from www. asos.com


I love these baggy berets, supremely flattering on all face shapes and hair lengths. This one is shot through with sparkly threads of lurex. Fabulous. £7.83www. asos.com


This is the cutest snow bunny hat I've seen in ages! It looks so warm, I want one for the holidays now! By the fabulous hatmakers, Goorin Brothers, available from www. asos.comfor £19.


I love a bit of sparkly wool and this sequin covered beret from www. monsoon.co.uk/accessorize is right up my spingly sparkly street. £11.75.



This beret is very versatile as it goes with everything in a low key understated way. The eyelets add a little bit of interest to the style. www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk £14.



I love Snoods! A snood is this supercosy looking combo of a scarf and a hood. Perfect to keep your head and neck warm as no drafts have any hope of getting in. www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk £25 now £9.


For those of you who prefer a little badass to your style, I'm in all types of love with this Ted Baker Penney Trilby. From www. asos.com Was £45 now £30.

(and fyi, I'm always confused on the difference between a fedora and a trilby, wiki to the rescue!
A trilby hat (or simply trilby, originally Trilby hat) is a soft felt men's hat with a narrow brim, a deeply indented crown, and a pinch at the front.

A fedora is a soft felt hat that is creased lengthwise down the crown and pinched in the front on both sides. A trilby hat is somewhat similar to a fedora, but typically has a shorter brim, and the back of the brim is distinctively more sharply upturned as a result)


Okay, this is clearly not a winter hat but i have noticed there are A LOT of weddings this Xmas. So if you're going to one, forget the fascinator and go for this positively vampish, vixenish, undeniably sexy little chapeau from Claudette Chapeau on www. asos.com. I want one now.

All The Parents Want For Xmas Is...

Okay, so the countdown to Xmas has officially begun.

9 days to go and no doubt many of you are fretting over what to get for whom within a reasonable price range.

As always, Tiger Bites is here to help with a selection of gifts. I have used most of my ideas myself in the past so I promise they will be well received!


The rents, what do you get the people in your life who gave you life yet have pretty much everything they want.

Make it thoughtful. It doesn't need to be expensive but it should definitely be thoughful.

So if you're travelling anywhere right before Xmas see if you can pick up a piece of local artwork.
Try and pick something your Mum will like (Mum's tend to be more picky than Dad's) and wrap it up nicely.

If you have the time and the budget, get it framed. Its an interesting gift, and likely to always be a conversation piece when they have people over. "Oh look at what my fabulous child got me when they went to xxxxx, how thoughtful are they?"



This is quite possibly the best gift you could give your parents. It doesn't have to be expensive but does require a bit of thought and time.

Find as many old pictures as you can of your family in a variety of places and at totally different points in time, put them together in chronological order in a really nice photo album. My Mum LOVED this present so much when I gave her one. I found pictures of her as a child, her brother as a kid, her parents when they were you and then lots of our baby pictures right through to now.

If you can't find many pictures, just take them to a print shop, get them enlarged and put a few in nice frames.


These frames would look great staggered on a wall. Maybe get all the pictures printed in black and white for a more interesting, artsy feel. $24.99 for 10 frames from www. target.com


A very pretty and very reasonably priced frame from Paperchase £12 on www. amazon.com


I'm so loving these Aspinal's of London albums. If Smythson ( www. smythson.com) prices are distinctly upper end, Aspinal's are comfortably middle bracket and therefore infinitely more affordable. This brown croc album is $179 from www. aspinalsoflondon.com


Another Aspinal's beauty reduced from $95 to $85 www. aspinalsoflondon.com


Another great option is a digital frame, ready uploaded with a selection of images (and batteries!).

The Hotness - Take a Leaf

I'm definitely feeling the new very seasonal trend that's been creeping up on the horizon for accessories inspired by nature. And most specifically, the leaf.


These fabulous leaf inspired earrings are from California Hot new brand, Ateliette. A bargaintastic $20. Love it. I have a pair and they're fabulous, big earrings that are light as a feather, in 50 years time your ears will thank you for them.


Or how about this fantabulous pendant? Its a real leaf dipped in copper!
Regular readers know I love to give kudos to Etsy as and when I can. This pendant is by Elilu Designs or follow this link.....
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_2&listing_id=18486013
www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_2&listing_id=18486013


One of my favourite jewellery designers of all time is the short and wrinkly Kenneth Jay Lane, the guy just keeps churning out fashion finds. I'm loving this cuff and the best bit about a hinged cuff is you can wear it on your upper arm too when you feel like it. Nubian style.
www.shopbop.com

Song of The Day: Lady Gaga - Just Dance

Bright, Pretty and Quirky Party Shoes

I've just found one of the most fantastic new shoe websites I've come across in a long time.

www.kitty-cooper.co.uk

Kitty Cooper Laura £240 now £120. You get a choice of three fabulously decadent brocade.




Kitty Cooper, Dina £235 now 115. You can choose from the luxurious looking dove blue silk satin, chesnut or wood smoke nubuck. And yes, they all come with that seriously hot pink heel.


Kitty Cooper, I love the Tamara for their quirky appeal. Cute and fun, quite possibly a bit more of a daytime shoe but it depends, as always where you're going. Is it just me or is the social arena awash with weddings this Xmas? If you're going to one, and intend to be the hotness, these shoes would work a treat. £230 now £115.


I'm in all types of love with the layout, look and photography on the site and they've even had the decency to put almost everything on sale...and that's on top of the VAT drop. The shoes are bright, pretty and quirky and are the perfect type of shoes to work by day, by night, by brunch, by lunch, by dinner.

And quite frankly in these hard economic times, while I do advocate buying less and buying better over the cheap nonsense that WILL fall apart from the cheap and cheerful retailers....you also need to make sure you putting your cash down for items that will work hard in your wardrobe.

The shoes are definitely very ladylike and a bit proper, but when you work your magic with the dress, the clutch, the gems.....you will be ....the hotness.

The Hotness - Party Clutch

I'm a HUGE fan of a cute clutch. There's something about the sophisticated elegance of a cute clutch in the evening, whether you're wearing jeans or a slinky dress, a clutch is the perfect accessory for you look.

I've never been a big fan of Accessorize, a little too made in China looking for me!

BUT I have to say, I'm eating my words right as as even though these babies were undoubtedly made in China for peanuts, they're tooo cute!


I'm loving the 20s flapper style influence on the style of this clutch. The scalloped edges, the all over beading, the colour, the hotness. And only £17.40.


I'm loving the screen siren-esque glamour of this one. The minaudière (small hard cased ornamental case) is big news this Xmas and this one is f.a.b.u.l.o.u.s.

And with the VAT reduction, the prices are even more bargaintastic.

Take a look for yourselves www.monsoon.co.uk/icat/accessorize

The Hotness - Work to Play Outfit

With the increased traffic and the rapidly increasing invitations, a lot fo women just don't have the time to go home and get changed before heading out to yet another hot party.

So this is where you need the perfect day to evening outfit.

And I'm in all types of love with this dress, from www.asos.com, down to £29.37


By day, wear it with cute ballet pumps, thick knit black tights and a chunky black cardigan if you're in wintery climes.

Faith Ayork £28.
If you're a tropical beauty, wear it with cute ballet pumps and a lightweight cardi.

Keep the jewellery to a minimum to keep your look fuss free.




By night, amp up your sex appeal with these glam glad inspired heels from Nine West.

Nine West Jamil Heels $89


Inge Christopher St Petersburg Clutch $230


Ateliette San Francisco Earrings $25

With this cute clutch and some fabulously seasonal earrings, a perhaps a wide gold cuff...and you dear reader, will be the office party hotness.

Enjoy.

xoxo

The Hotness - Ruffle My Feathers

And as its the 1st December today and the official start of the party season, I'm giving you two pieces of fabulosity.

The black dress is timeless and classic in its sophiticated elegance. A great one or two or three will mean you ALWAYS have something to wear to that party you need to go to. Go wild with the accessories as how you choose to accessorise can totally transform your look.

Okay, I'm sure a lot of you look at this and think the ruffles add inches and have an unflattering way of making you look bigger all over. NOT TRUE! I just tried one on and not only did I fall in love with it as soon as it was on, it was supremely and surprisingly flattering giving a much more va-va-voom effect than expected. I'd recommend you stick to simple, bold colours to avoid looking too twee and work some serious magic with your accessories.



Take this simple but so damn sexy ruffled dress from Calvin Klein. $198....A price that makes it more of an investment classic LBD than disposable fashion. BUT with disposable fashion, just bear in mind that ultimately somebody pays the price. I'm not saying the more expensive the item the better, au contraire, I know enough about fashion and manufacturing to know that's certainly not the case (Louis Vuitton, please stand up). But I do wonder with that £5 dress, how much the underage, underfed workers got paid. Fair trade my ass.

So now that I've got your head round the numbers, lets get our heads round the accessories. The picture shows the dress in all in fabulous simplicity. Great. That's the best starting point.

Now picture yourself in it.
With your hair up in a messy ponytail.

Add some beaten gold earrings for a little ethnic je ne sais quoi (Monica Vinader £185)


And an erickson beamon style cuff for a bit of bad girl bling.


Throw on these fantabulous Christian Louboutin (yes, him again) Bretelle heels.


And bring on the colour riot with this fab purple alligator VBH clutch.


And where would the signature Tiger Tem style be without a quirky Bobby Dazzler? Loving this Alex Monroe Twig Citrine ring.


And dear reader, you would have gone from how pretty to gad-damn....she's the hotness.

Enjoy.

xx

The Hotness - One Shouldered Wonder

The asymmetric strap has been hovering on the horizon for a while now.

They're so popular as they offer little more coverage and a more interesting neckline than strapless, they're a little more edgy and contemporary than spaghetti straps and halter necks and they're just undeniably sexy.

And interesting neckline always attracts attention to the wearer so get out your best strapless bras (sagginess and over exposure being the biggest fashion faux pas in my book), leave out the necklaces, don a chunky cuff and load up the superstar earrings....and you dear reader, will be .....the hotness.

I prefer strappy shoes with long dresses (the point being sophisticated elegance) and the chunkier clunkier platforms with cocktail dresses (the point being attention grabbing glamourpuss). So now you know.



Ok, so the $288 price tag on the ABS by Allen Schwartz dress isn't necessarily credit crunch friendly. I am an advocate of buy less and buy better. Instead of a wardrobe full of crap, focus on a few timeless key pieces that will hold up longer than some Primark nonsense.

BUT there are deals galore to make the most of this season. Retailers need you, and don't you forget that. So don't be afraid to bring out the Ijebu in you and haggle like a Moroccan Kasbah carpet seller. I just did that at a big department store for a fabulous dress and convinced them to go from 20% off to 40% off.....RESULT!

....Nothing to lose ladies, not even any shame in that game. If you succeed, share your stories please!

Enjoy.