Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes - From girl-next-door to fashion icon and a move to London on the cards

What is it with Katie Holmes of late? The girl is unstoppable! She’s transformed herself from girl-next-door to a credible fashion icon.

Her appearance in a jaw-dropping Jil Sander dress and even more delectable court shoes at the Screen Actors Guild Awards to support hubby Tom Cruise catapulted her to the top of many a best-dressed list.

From the moment she had her long nice but plain long locks lopped off in favour of an iconic chic, sophisticated crop Katie Holmes has been the name on every fashionista’s lips and it seems all her hard work has started paying off after those pics of her as the new poster girl for Miu Miu made the headlines last week.

You can always count on Katie to be the first to get her head around a new trend and make it work for her and when she’s not running around after baby Suri in her flat French Sole ballet pumps she always sticks to length lengthening (and slimming) high-heeled courts and pumps.

After several seasons in the shadows the court shoe is having a bit of a revival this year and we’ll be stocking up on Steve Madden’s orange pumps, perfect for adding a splash of colour to spring/summer’s new nude shades.

For evening we thing Katie would definitely approve of these claret lattice peep-toe heels from Robert Botella, chic, sophisticated and a sprinkling of sassiness, just like Ms Cruise herself.

Thankfully the Cruise’s are thinking of making a move to London, Tom Criuse used to live in up-market Dulwich during the late 1990s, we wonder what area he will pick this time?

Judging by this picture of the Cruise’s arriving at the Ivy restaurant in London, it seems they have already found their fave eatery!

Seems as though we’ll be able to keep an even closer eye on Katie’s next foray into fashion in the near future!

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Barratts and Priceless are the next victims of the Credit Crunch

As if the gloomy January weather wasn’t enough to make us miserable, there seems to be daily news on the fall of some of our favourite stores!

Barratts shoes and Priceless shoes are the latest shoe stores to have been thrown into administration as the pressures of the credit crunch hit.

The chains, which were placed into administration yesterday, had been badly hit by a downturn in trade; a realisation that has meant 5,450 jobs are at risk.

With the recent fall of Kate Kuba, amongst others, it seems that stores are dropping left, right and centre!

But have no fear; bang on trend styles and great customer service has meant that here at Shudoo we have avoided such a fate at the sticky clutches of the recession.

With all this depressing news of the country’s dire economic climate, we need to cheer ourselves up. With up to 60% off a wide range of amazing shoes, boots and accessories, it is our duty to Queen and country to treat ourselves and spend, spend, spend, to help drag this country out of its recession.

Turn those frowns upside down ladies; we finally have an excuse to shop! We’re doing it for the sake of the country, alright?!

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Grazia magazine’s Shopping Editor Sophie Ferguson Jones chats to Shudoo about styling Anne Hathaway and fashion must-haves

Shudoo chats to Grazia magazines Shopping Editor Sophie Ferguson Jones about Anne Hathaway’s style, her fave stylist tricks of the trade and her fashion essentials…

1. Five items every girl needs in their wardrobe?
A Little Black Dress, straight cut jeans, killer ‘out-there’ sandals, white shirt and cotton t-shirts.

2. Most treasured item in my wardrobe?
My Chanel jacket

3. Biggest mistake women can make when shopping or getting dressed?
Buying clothes that don’t suit them just because it’s ‘in’ fashion.

4. What is your favourite stylist trick?
Scarves are my new love, you can put them in your belt, loop them through bag handles, put them in your hair, on shoulders or on the beach – anyway!

5. Which celeb would you most like to style and why?
Anne Hathaway is my new one, she needs to identify her own style and ‘get cool.’

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Keira Knightley at Paris Fashion Week dressed head to toe in Chanel

When we spotted our favourite Pirates of the Caribbean’s star Keira Knightley having lunch at ‘Chez Paul’ restaurant in Paris, we fell in love with her new chestnut hair colouring and cute fringe.

We think it is our fave Keira hair-do to date and quite a change from The Dutchess stars previous side-swept style.

Miss Knightley wasn’t just in Paris to sample fine cuisine, oh no, she was guest of honour for Chanel at Paris Fashion Week.

I guess that’s a benefit that comes with being the face of Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle fragrance.

The lucky fashionista shared the front row of Karl Lagerfeld’s couture show for Chanel with Marianne Faithful who is an English singer, songwriter, actress and diarist and ‘Quantum of Solace’ Bond Girl Olga Kurylenko.

The chiseled British actress looked flawlessly chic in true Parisian style, dressed head to toe in Chanel, finished with a quilted Chanel handbag, of course!

Despite looking effortlessly sleek, as only the French know how, the 24-year-old still shone as our own English rose.

We especially love Knightley’s black platform heels with patent toe and pearl embellishment; we certainly have a huge case of shoe-envy right now!

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Ceril Campbell - Celeb stylist to Cat Deeley, Zara Phillips, Patricia Field and Trinny chats to Shudoo

Celebrity Stylist Ceril Campbell talks to Shudoo about Jennifer Lopez’s curves and fashion must-haves.

For over 25 years Ceril has styled, advised and re-imaged film stars, pop stars, TV soap stars, sportsmen and women and young Royals for Red Carpet events and much more.

She has appeared on GMTV’s fashion slots and many other fashion and make-over shows over the years. Her style tips and advice can be read in national newspapers and magazines as well as online.

Ceril has styled some of Shudoo’s much-loved celebs such as Cat Deeley, Zara Phillips and even styled other stylists such as Sex and the City’s Patricia Field and Trinny Woodall from renowned fashion critic duo Trinny and Susannah.

1. Five items every girl needs in their wardrobe?
In these credit crunch times a girl needs well-made, longer lasting classics that can be adapted seasonally with the latest trends using inexpensive High street or Vintage to achieve the latest looks. A great fitting pair of jeans, LBD, a white shirt, a coat/jacket, It would be very easy to give many more than five, but the 5th has to be…a seriously sexy pair of shoes, even if you don’t need them they make you feel good!

2. Most treasured item in my wardrobe?
My Ossie Clark white chiffon evening dress with a Celia Birtwell print that was made as a special order for me by them when I was about 18.  But I am such a hoarder.  I also have my late mother’s vintage clothes all the way back to the 30’s,  and many of mine from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s that include Biba dresses, Bill Gibb knits, 70’s handmade snakeskin platform Kensington Market boots and more.

3. Biggest mistake women can make when shopping or getting dressed?
“not looking in the mirror at themselves from all angles-especially from behind” and on a psychological basis- not perceiving themselves how others see them. So they may dress or buy inappropriate clothes for their age, size, body shape, and colouring. I am starting monthly interactive workshops in conjunction with Aveda in Covent Garden, London from the beginning of February to help women feel and look their best, and learn how to make the most of themselves.  for more info or tickets: www.discoverthenewyou.co.uk

4. What is your favourite stylist trick?
Creating the best possible silhouette under an outfit with perfectly fitting lingerie, sexy scaffolding and clever solutions such as backless bras and sexy shape wear from my lingerie solutions website

5. Which celeb would you most like to style and why?
Jennifer Lopez as she is curvy and I always find it more rewarding to style a girl or woman who has a curvaceous body, who likes to embrace their curves rather than trying to be a size 0.

Check back tomorrow for more great Celeb Stylist Interviews…

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Mischa Barton steps out in must-have Dior fertility statue heels

Well no sooner had SHUNEWS reported on John Galliano’s crazy heel designs for Christian Dior; Miss Mischa Barton emerges wearing the exact heels in question…

Mischa recently celebrated her 23rd birthday in Paris attending the Dior Fashion Show as part of Paris Fashion week at the Rodin Museum.

She was looking very in-keeping for the Spring-Summer 09 collection in a bright yellow embellished dress even though we are still in freezing February.

It seems she may need some more flesh on her bones to keep warm in the British Climate, looks as though she’s forgotten she’s not on LA anymore!

Her yellow tasseled dress seemed very reminiscent of Louis Vuitton’s recent collection incorporating tribal fringing, shells and beads. But the real show-stoppers had to be the much- talked about fertility statue heels.

Always one to keep her finger on the fashion pulse, it didn’t take Miss Barton any time at all to grab herself this season’s must-have heels hot off the catwalk!

Mischa’s fleeting visit in Paris didn’t last long as she was soon on the Eurostar back to London to meet new love interest, rocker Luke Pritchard from The Kooks.

The O.C star certainly has a thing for musician types having previously dated Whitestarr front-man Cisco Adler and Rooney singer Taylor Locke.

The couple met having lots of friends in common and kept bumping into each other at the same parties, however their relationship could be a logistical nightmare with Mischa being based in LA and Luke in London.

Luke has been touring with his band The Kooks, while Mischa has been filming her latest movie Bhopal: Prayer for Rain in India.

They do say distance makes the heart grow fonder, guess we’ll have to watch this space, we won’t buy a new hat just yet…

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John Galliano for Christian Dior shows off some crazy heel designs

This season it’s clear to see, judging by the Spring/Summer 2009 catwalks that shoes are the must-have accomplice right now, beating costume jewelry which last season was tipped to be the hottest new accessory.

Shoes are so extreme at the moment that to qualify for the ‘statement’ heel it must be at least a crippling 15cm, have a heel like a protractor, fringing and embellishment with studs and beads.

John Galliano for Christian Dior displayed some of the most unusual heels at the ready-to-wear Spring Summer 09 catwalk show, with gleaming metallic styles one of which used intricately carved heels that resembled fertility statues which looked like it would be more at home as the figurehead of a boat! Check it out here!

The opening of new shoe shop ‘Browns’ last Saturday shows that appetites of fashion hungry shoe lovers everywhere are saying ‘what credit crunch?’ as appetites for high heels with even higher price tags hasn’t been reduced by the economic down turn.

If you thought handbags were the essential item for fashionistas, think again… Handbag sales have flattened over the last 2 years and shoes are the new ‘it’ item, and where better to satisfy your Terry de Havilland craving than at shoe heaven, Shudoo.

Shoes are a great entry point to a designer label, as most of us can’t afford a Christian Dior price tag on coat for example but could stretch to afford a pair of his killer heels, they will always be more affordable than designer clothes.

Historically, extreme fashion in shoes, such as in France and China, has always been followed by political and economic upheaval, and it’s interesting to see things going a similar way now.

So what do you think, is the sky the limit with heel height? Or is anything higher than 8 inches just plain impractical, highlighted by the catwalk models tumbles last season?

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Mamma Mia stars Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper have found love off-screen after an on-screen affair

If you’re a fan of hit movie ‘Mamma Mia’ you’ll have no problem recognising leading lady Sophie played by Amanda Seyfried.

Mamma Mia is a stage-to-film adaptation of the 1999 West End musical based on the songs of successful pop group ABBA, with additional music also composed by ABBA member Benny Andersson.

The film did very well at the box office becoming the most successful Hollywood film musical of all time and the highest grossing film of all time in the United Kingdom.

(Previous record held by Titanic!) So if you haven’t seen it yet then nip down to your nearest DVD rental asap!)

Amanda captivated audiences everywhere with her enchanting voice performing alongside Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan.

Her on-screen love, hunky Sky, was played by Dominic Cooper and there chemistry was undeniable whilst filming on an intimate Greek Island, so much so that their on-screen romance has continued off-screen and they have recently gone public with their relationship.

Dominic was on a break from his 13 year relationship with 30-year-old Joanna Carolan when filming Mamma Mia and Miss Seyfried’s two-year relationship with musician and actor Jesse Marchant also broke down in the wake of the co-stars’ relationship.

Amanda’s most recent film ‘Jennifer’s Body’ which co-stars Megan Fox and Adam Brody is a 2009 dark comedy and horror film. Miss Seyfried was recently spotted feeling the chill in Canada doing reshoots for this movie.

She was certainly wearing practical footwear for the occasion which is a rare occurrence with celebs these days, not mentioning any names, cough-Victoria Beckham.

Her chunky brown cowboy/biker-esque boots were certainly keeping her tootsie’s warm in the unforgiving Vancouver climate. Get Amanda’s look with these Manas short cowboy boots right here at Shudoo.

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More shoe stores feel the crunch…

All evidence points towards Shudoo being the only place to buy shoes by the end of 2009 as yet more footwear businesses feel the crunch.

Shoe Studio Group – distributor of Nine West, Pied a Terre, Bertie and Kenneth Cole - has long been the talk of the town with rumours of financial problems flying around ‘the biz’ since last summer.

And now Mosaic, who own Shoe Studio as well as the likes of Karen Millen, Oasis, Warehouse, Coast and Principles, have finally called it a day as the For Sale sign goes up.

Mosaic intend to focus on their more successful womenswear brands as shoppers tighten their snakeskin belts and make do with one sturdy pair of Birkenstocks.

And what of other shoe shops?  Barratts and Priceless owners Stylo have warned of tough trading too as they manage stock levels and costs with a sharp eye.  Why?  No surprises that the company’s interim results (that’s business talk for ‘what have we made?’) are less than impressive.  A Stylo spokesperson says that the board are exploring ‘strategic options’ for the business.  Oo-er.

Meanwhile Shudoo combat the credit crunch by giving us up to 60% off many of their fabulous footwear lines.  Now, that’s my kind of strategic option.

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