The news broke over the last couple of weeks that as Hollywood legend Debbie Reynolds was to auction off her collection of iconic Movie costumes and memorabilia. Items included Julie Andrew’s guitar from the Sound of Music and set pieces from Cleopatra, but it’s the costumes that really caught people’s attention. Items ranged from a costume from Joan of Arc to Marilyn Monroe’s famous white dress from Seven Year Itch. You can see a video of the full collection here

So that got me thinking what really do we remember from movies? Is it the cinematography, the emotions, the characters? Chances are we do remember these to a point but as far as Hollywood history shows us it’s the costumes. Be it Marilyn Monroe’s billowing white dress to Audrey Hepburn’s figure hugging LBD. These beautiful items have proved timeless and even in recent years their influences can be seen on trends. Although the LBD has been revived many times and the style is constantly changing the Audrey inspired styles are still there on the high street.

Image sources- Audrey, Marilyn, Black Swan, Carrie, Mad Men

In more recent years there has been Black Swan inspiring the ballet trend in which floaty skirts, tight hair buns, pale shades and sheer fabrics all featured heavily in spring wardrobes. In fact I’m still on the look-out for a ballet skirt but that’s kind of irrelevant to this post. What I’m getting at is why of all the images and messages in movies do the outfits influence us the most? Well I guess the cynical could say it’s because women are fashion obsessed and need something to fill our shallow lives, personally that view disgusts me and I do not agree with that at all. In my opinion I think that women (and of course some men) are influenced by style in movies as they show grand outfits that are actually quite attainable in real life, well at least elements of the outfit.

It’s not just movies; TV shows can influence trends too. Step forward Miss Carrie Bradshaw and friends who for almost a decade were at the forefront of TV style. But in recent years it’s a show set before my parents were born setting the bar. I’m talking about Mad Men, showing Women striving and surviving in a world dominated by men and looking strikingly gorgeous at the same time in tight fitting dresses and big midi length skirts.

So although I’m not the typical, glossy magazine loving fashion writer I admit that I am very influenced by movies and TV shows. I am still searching for a ballet skirt and while I don’t feel as though there is a massive gaping hole in my wardrobe without this piece of movie inspired silk I will not rest until I find it!

Written and attended by Sherin Malik, edited by Rachel Charlton

The relationship between Fashion and Technology is ever growing. With endless fashionable phones and apps suited for fashionista's, it wasn't too long until we would start decorating and covering our phones to match our shoes. Case Mate, an American phone cover brand, invited the BSB Team to Breakfast to have a look at the new collection before they launch in the UK. The collection including various different styles of phone covers, for different phones and also iPad covers, that not only protects your gadgets, but also makes them look pretty cool and stylish.

First off, we got to see some really amazing looking covers for phones. They were a sturdy rubbery material and came in the form of different animal shapes. These covers would be perfect for anyone wanting to make a statement, with something fun and original. There were monsters, fishes and owl shapes and each one was quirky and cool.

There were also several iPad cases, which definitely looked like a must have. They looked sturdy enough to protect and look after your iPads, and came in an array of different colours and prints.

The biggest must have for any fashionista was definitely the Kayla clutches. They're little wristlets that have a compartment for your phone, and also open up into a little purse. They came in a lot of different colours (and patterns for next season) and were a firm favourite for everyone there.

Will you be covering your gadgets with any of these cool, fashionable covers?

If you'd like us to attend your event please email rachel@britishstylebloggers.org.uk

This month here on BSB is childhood month, because we think that you should never grow up and remember how much you loved life before you cared what others thought.

When I was thinking of writing this I knew clearly that I wanted to write about my career goals, alot of us have silly dreams of what we want to do (such as my sister, who may kill me for this, wanted to be a Jockey) but looking at my life now my original plans have kinda happened despite all the dips I've had. I still remember the assembly my year 2 or 3 class gave when I was seven or eight in which we all had to stand and say what we wanted to be when we grew up, though I can't remember all the details I know my answer was something along the lines of

"When I grow up I want to own a clothes and shoe shop so I can find lots of lovely things and sell them to rich ladies and my friends"

A silly childhood dream you might say and it was quickly forgotten when I realised my love of writing, and so I thought my desire to teach children. But I think in some way I have always gone back to my love of fashion. And as you all know a couple of years ago I realised that Fashion was where my heart lay and took the leap. And that's another thing that my childhood taught me- if you don't take a chance it will pass you by.  So yes while I realised that owning a clothes shop was not my lives dream, I knew that my heart lay in Fashion as it had since I was a child.

In a way I still feel the same about fashion as I did when I ws younger- my heart almost skipping a beat when I find the perfect piece, saving for a big item (even though that doesn't tend to be a clown necklace any more), seeing well made pieces and thinking how they could be recreated or perfected, planning outfits in advance and each time I get that girlish thrill like I did when I was young.

Of course I know that in some ways I will have to "grow up" eventually, and in some ways I already have. This time next year I will be living away from home in a different city to my family (it's only fourty five minutes away but still) and I am more than excited for this but I hope I never lose the imagination and dreams my childhood gave me.

I'm only at the beginning of my career but I've loved fashion since I was seven (thats fifteen years if anyone's counting), I hope that one day I can look back and say I've lived my childhood dream.

Hello everyone, hope 2011 is treating you well so far. Before I begin I’m going to explain what’s happening for one month only. At the end of the month myself and Amy our lovely editor are going to be launching something very special, so because of that we will be sharing each other’s columns.

Introducing 2o11 the year of “us”!

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RACHEL:

2010 was tough and amazing at the same time for me, I had some struggles still hanging over from the previous year but I fought through those and had some amazing opportunities. Most importantly I began to believe in myself again and this year I know that if I work hard ad stay focussed I can achieve near enough anything. By the end of this year I would like to be able to say that I  finished college, got into my top Uni choice, have gone to a top fashion event and most importantly had the most fun ever.

Ever since I realised my fashion dream I have known that I wanted to go to London College of Fashion so everything I have done so far has been building up to that. I finally took the leap in December and applied there, this year I will continue to build up my portfolio and stick in at college to achieve my ultimate dream.

In my life nothing has ever been handed to me on a plate so if you want to catch your dream you have to chase it.

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AMY:

I don’t know about you, but I really love reading blogs about other people’s lives. It’s fascinating in that it lets you live their dreams, and see their hopes, and it helps you to shape your own.

One of my biggest dreams in life has always been to travel. I’ve seen a lot of Western Europe, and a tiny bit of America, but it’s a really really big world - who wouldn’t want to see it?

As I write this, then, I’m crossing my fingers a lot. I’ve applied for a year abroad with my university, in either Australia or Canada, and in a few days time I should find out what’s happening. I would love more than anything to have a year in the sunshine, spending New Year at the harbour bridge in Sydney - or to go to Montreal, perfect my (Canadian French) and head down to New York for some time to live out a daydream.

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So, what are your dreams, hopes, and ambitions for the coming year? This year, we promise it can be the year of “us”.

Lots of love and hugs, Rach & Amy xxx

After christmas and my birthday summer is probably my favourite time of year. Those few weeks of sunshine we get a year have such a great affect on us Brits, we can wear a dress without tights and even better eat icecream in public and not feel freezing or silly!

My favourite place to spend a summers day is my grandparents back garden- ok so that's obviously not it above. Growing up I didn't play out in the street like other kids, we were down our grandparents most days but I'm one of nine grandchildren so there was always a new adventure to be had in the garden. Our granda's garden- first thing first, it was granda's garden- was almost magical. Through the eyes of an eight year old it went on forever. It had a patio area where we could have our tea and dinner outside all grown up like, a huge stratch of grass with a massive swing set, a leak trench- a trench for leaks, we used to like sneaking into this, no I still don't know why- a fish pond with super fast fish and silly ornaments, two sheds, one for plants another for junk and LOADS of flowers and plants.

This may seem pretty ordinary or mundane to you and in a tiny way it does to me too but I still love granda's garden- it's a bit more grown up now though with a decking area and no leak trench but my youngest cousin is 8 and she enjoys it just as much as I did even without the leak trench or swing set or rabbit- how could I forget him he used to burrow underneeth his cage and play in the garden with us. Anyway nostalgia fest over, my point is that summer is magical, we can act like children in summer and it's allowed! we can go to beaches and just the waves or build a sandcastle, we can ride merry-go-rounds- ok just me?

My favourite story as a kid was Alice in wonderland so I would always like to imagine that my granda's garden and new gardens or parks we visited had a magical secret behind them like the plants talked when we werent there or flys were really rocking horse flies or bread-and-butterflies. I was an imaginative child ok, which I wouldn't have changed for the world, who wants to live in a boring world anyway?

But now though being adults we can make summer magical with a grown up twist, we can wear the big sunnies but now they're chic! We can have afternoons in gardens with wine. everything's better in the summer, afternoon drinking doesnt even seem so bad! But we should never forget though hpw magic it was as children finding new things to play with, new adventures and the things we thought were cool at the time- the one thing that springs to mind here is the week meand my sister made my grandas junk shed into our "den" with a tiny black and white tv, deck chairs and car stickers in the window, again dont ask. The one thing I learnt in my teen years is don't grow up too soon, cos adult life is no where near as fun as being a kid!

So to complete this ramble I thought I'd list some things you can do for very little money to let our your inner flower child

• spend an afternoon in a field with your best friend giggling and making daisy chains
• buy some fairy wings and skip around a park
• buy some really really pretty accessories
• go to a playground and hog the swings
• have a slushie
• go to a beach or fairground
• bake cookies or cupcakes and lick the bowl out
• camp out in your back garden and stay up telling ghost stories
• go see a band you loved when you were younger, local outdoor festivals often feature has-beens or old singers and alot are FREE!

So there you have it, I think the sun really has gone to my head, I'm off for a lie down, but you lot go have fun and don't be afraid if looking silly!

Admittedly I have never been to a big festival, for one thing I can't afford it and for another I hate camping and in turn it hates me. I did however go to the Newcastle Evolution Weekender last year- two days for twenty quid? yes please!

My music range is what I guess you would call eclectic, basically everything and anything, a diverse bunch that not many people like many of the same bands or singers as me. I've been to a lot of gigs, from tiny little pub gigs with 6 people in the place- including myself and my friend on the door, the promoter and singer- to huge arena tours but I have never missed a support act.

Who know's I could discover my new favourite, fall in love with a new song or if all else fails dance like a crazy with my friends becoming more and more excited for the main event. The most bizarre things can happen during a support act's set too. And I have witnessed some weirdly wonderfuls, a mosh pit during the Human league, Marina of Marina and the diamonds dancing and singing wildly to Gwen stefani whilst wearing a glittering black and silver cheerleading outfit and how could I forget Gary Go "chatting me up" during his set. I say chatting me up, me and my two friends were actually the only ones cheering him on and we were front row centre, he simply pointed to me twice and asked me How I was, what I was doing for christmas and where I lived. no biggie really *fans self*. This rule also applies to the lesser known bands, I urge you if you do shell out all that money for a ticket please atleast see some new bands.

An even bigger tip would be if you like one style of music head to a completely different genre's stage, broadening horizons! If you're a dance or electro girl go see someone like frankie and the heartstrings, bombay bicycle club or two door cinema club. Raving is still optional though glowsticks may be frowned upon, maybe take a checky scarf instead.

Alternatively if you like indie sounds head on down to the dance stage, be prepared for a big dose or raving with a side order of feel good vibes. Kissy Sellout, Annie Mac presents and little boots or her associated DJ group Lovin and Gambling are definately worth checking out.

Finally, on top of that, here are some tips

• don't take yourself too seriously- who cares if you have sharpie marker on your arms? Its a festival about 2,000 others are in the same rain soaked muddy drunken boat- relax or you'll regret it!
• Never think it won't rain- I learnt this at Dalby forest last year and dressed in 3/4's and a vest. Always have wellies and a waterproof coat ALWAYS.
• Dress sensibly- A vintage maxi dress in a muddy field? Do you want to still be able to take this home after the weekend? I have three words for you. Primark, Matalan, Asda.
• Never split up- ALWAYS have at least one friend with you, yes you might get front row but what fun is that without someone to have a laugh with?

Vaguely on the Keep Calm and Carry On theme, Amy and Rachel went to London yesterday, and we made a vlog for you all to share our train journey and excitement!

First off here is the big video

It's fair to say that the day was probably the most bizarre day of both of our lives- when some of the first people you see of the day are twenty two where's Wallys, Zorro and a thunderbird it kinda sets the tone for the whole day.

We watched farrrr too many episodes of Doctor Who and everything else possibly relating to David Tennant, we even managed to include him in our pitch for this reason

Anyone spotted why Our Davey there isn't looking so good? Yep he's missing a leg! The madness of airbrushing!

The pitch went very well, we hope and the day was really fun. We met some lovely people and had to agree with each other, which was bizarre in itself.

We should be able to tell you more within two weeks but until then here's Rachel's favourite picture ever (you have no idea how much Haribo jellies were used as bribery to get this)

LoveLoveLove

- Amy & Rachel -