As long I can remember I have always been a fan of Black & White. This was in fact pointed out to be by my web development company Zfweb when designing a newsletter template for me I sent a number of examples of what I liked. They pointed out that every single example I had sent them was black & white. I had no idea!

This got me thinking and I was stunned to learn that my entire wardrobe consists of nearly only monochrome items. There was only one single coloured item which wasn't! I wondered how long this had been going on and dug deeper - all of my favorite brands are indeed black and white - Marc Jacobs, Chanel....... Looking back through old photos - there I am at my year 10 school formal in a BLACK & WHITE Teena Varigos taffeta strapless gown!

Having turned 40 this week I was going through some old photos for a photo board I am putting together for my big bash..again, alarmingly most of the outfits I am wearing from age 2 on - are black and white! Here's a few...

Mini Me 3                          Da 70's - oh dear                           80's (bad hair on left)    80's School Formal                   Early 90's

I think this says a lot about my personality - I'm a Scorpio - very much all or nothing - passionate, loyal but don't cross me. Very clack and white with no in between views. I look around my home...black couches, black & white cushions, black and white striped tea towels, black and white prints on the wall, bedspread...

Failing at a simple trend: black and white

Written by Tania Braukamper

A look that's as simple as black and white can't really be hard to master... Can it?

According to your votes, Thandie Newton's off-the-shoulder black and white dress, this simple yet elegant outfit by Yeojin Bae, and Victoria Beckham's horizontal black and white stripe dress are all hits. What do they have in common? They're all simple, sleek, but with enough detail to keep them interesting.

So if simple and sleek sounds easy enough, why can't can't these next three celebrities get it right?

One of the biggest dangers of black and white is looking like a waitress, or like you're just heading down to the office (in a totally boring ensemble). As we've mentioned previously that's exactly what Katie Holmes did wrong. If wearing black and white corporately, add a splash of colour, a patent leather belt, SOMETHING to liven it up!

Ali Larter's dress is a good fit, but the black die is where it all gets messy. Black and white work best as block colours or contrasted as patterns - and the heavy black boots aren't helping her either.

Kate Bosworth on the other hand has taken a cute look and just missed on the cut. Rather than being sleek the dress is too baggy.

So just remember, as a colour combination black and white may be classic; but it can still come out less than great. Keep it simple and clean but with enough detail to give it flair!

For more great trend rteports go to www.fashionising.com

TTFN

MMP xx

Couldn't be more thrilled to get the big thumbs up over competitors from fashion industry guru Fifi on her Best Recessionista websites Fifi Report.

The FiFi Report is written every week by fashion editor, stylist and uber shopper Fiona Milne (other wise known as FiFi.)

A truly professional shopper, FiFi has won many accolades including The Nobel Purchase Prize. She has worked tirelessly for the under confident and is currently lobbying for shopping to be an Olympic sport.

In the fashion industry for many years, FiFi has been fashion editor at Instyle, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and Fashion Director at Elle. She has styled many celebrities including Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman and Elle Macpherson as well as thousands of supermodels around the world in fabulously exotic locations.

And she has also shopped and shopped around the world in all the most fabulously exotic locations.

Here's what she had to say about the best recessionista sites around!

> Fashion

It’s official you are a Recessionista. You want to look fabulous but how can you get the look without splurging? Maybe you need to hire a bag instead of buying one. Or maybe you need to clean out the wardrobe and sell a few things. Or maybe you just need to hit the Outnet and get your own Stimlus package.

Here are the best recession busting sites:

Wish to Wear Rent designer bags for weeks at a time. Chanel anyone?

Love Me & Leave Me is Australia’s premium online fashion service giving members the option to borrow or buy the latest fashion accessories from leading local and international designers.

Indian Giver A high fashion online store that allows you to borrow and return the latest looks…. It seems to just have Australian designers such as Camilla and Marc.

The Wardrobe Store A little daggy but it’s worth a look at the designer resale emporium with no Auctions: See it, Love it, Buy it. Plus you can donate to a charity.

Miss Money Penny is the smartest and fastest way to shop for new, near new, and vintage, women’s designer and Australian labels - for a fraction of the retail price.

For the latest on what' fab in fashion, beauty To join the Fifi Report go to http://www.fifi.com.au/fashion/13612/issue-280/

Gill Linton: Fast Fashion is For Losers

November 6, 2009