Cancer: 22 June - 22 July

It's time to brighten up and insert some colour into your life. Colour blocking is a big trend this summer and you should be having fun with it. Indulge in pops of pinks and oranges, and enjoy all the colours with a big smile on your face. Wearing bright colours will definitely put a spring in your step and will also brighten up everyone around you.

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Leo: 23 July - 23 August

We all know Leo's love the limelight, so this is your month to shine. Sparkles and sequins are your go-to pieces and you should embrace them to the fullest and sparkle like you deserve to. If a full sequin dress is too much, you can always add a bit of glam with some sparkly jewels and accessories. Either way all eyes will be on you and you will look fantastic, as usual.

Virgo: 24 August - 23 September

A little birdie told this psychic that there's a certain trend you don't like. Well, this is the month to try it out. Whether it's bright colours, or maxi dresses, it's time to at least try it out and see for yourself. Go out, have fun with the trend and relish all the compliments that you'll get.. Who knows: you may actually really love it.

Libra: 24 September - 23 October

It's festival season, so it's time to embrace your inner festival chic, even if you're not going to any festivals. Fringe bags, wellies, crochet tops are all your friends this month. Keep it natual, with a fresh face and add some fun accessories. All you need to finish up your cool new look is a spray of dry shampoo and you're good to go.

Scorpio: 24 October - 22 November

Be bold this July and wear lots of prints. Take you pick of feminine florals or nautical anchors and stand out from the rest of the crowd. With prints being all over the high street this season, you have plenty of different patterns ands designs to choose from and make them your own. Once comfortable, you can also mix and match prints and have fun.Image Source

Sagittarius: 23 November - 22 December

Keep it simple and subtle this month, with neutral colours and plain prints. Being simple definitely doesn't mean boring and, if worn well, a plain tee can have the same effect as a bold top. The secret is all in the accessories. Be it a double fingered ring, a colourful bag or a statement necklace, they'll had some excitement to your look, while keeping you looking classy and sophisticated.

Capricorn: 23 December - 20 January

The Little White Dress is this summer's hottest trend, and now's your time to embrace it. Whether cotton, lace or chiffon, get a pretty one and be the envy of everyone around you. Not a fan of mini's? Then why not get the same effect from a white maxi. Either will look so pretty on you and you'll feel like a princess.

Aquarius 21 January - 19 February

The sun is finally out, so it's time for a picnic. Grab some friends, so food and all you'll need is the perfect picnic outfit. Whether it's a cute pair of shorts, a coloured tank, or a floral dress, anything goes for a picnic. Take inspiration from what's around you and wear shades of green or sky blue and enjooy relaxing outdside in the sun.

Pisces: 20 February - 20 March

There's no need to go out and buy a whole new Summer wardrobe. Be creative with what's already in your closet and have fun with it. Mix and match your favourite pieces into combinations you'd never have thought of and wear it all with confidence. Because, we all know that confidence is the best accessory to have...that and a smile.

Aries 21 March - 20 April

This is the month to do something drastic: Whether it's that short new hair cut, fun hair colour, of a cool new piercing, I say: go fo it. You're still young and can get away with it. If you don't like it, you can always get rid of it and we know that hair grows back. So what are you waiting for?

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Taurus: 21 April - 21 May

Be the gorgeous sultress you are and invest in some red. Whether a red dress, red shoes, or even  just a red t-shirt, make an impact and stand out. Red is the perfect out-going colour and everypne will want to be you as you strut your stuff impressively in everyone's favourite colour. And if you don't feel too comfortable, well fake it till you make it as Red works for everybody.

Gemini: 22 May - 21 June

It's all in the details this month. Invest in a dress with a unique zip, a pretty bracelet, or shoes with a unique pattern as it's the little things that count. These fun little details will make your whole look stand out a lot more and will have you feeling a lot more glamorous. Don't forget to finish the look with some adorable little hairpins or cute little earrings!

So then, what do you wear to work out?  For me, it's not about going too high-tech.  My main aim is comfort, decency, and practicality, but I know that there is a school of though that suggests taking the high end approach is best.  After all, if you want to be a champion runner/spinner/Zumba dancer, then you should have the best, most expensive kit you can afford, right?  Anyway, to illustrate, here is a moodboard that hopefully demonstrates what I look like when I'm pounding the streets!

Created using Polyvore

Now then, in terms of my all-important comfort/decency/practicailty triad, the above ensemble ticks all the right boxes.  I had my Asics trainers fitted at a proper running store, the big tshirt means that I am not constantly pulling a too-clingy sports top down over my (still not toned) stomach and the Nike capris have a fabulous little zippy pocket at the back which is perfect for my keys.  Aside from the trainers (which were justifiably expensive) and my sports bra (it's a Shock Absorber, but that's as far as I'm willing to discuss my underwear on here), everything else was fairly cheap; an old t-shirt that I had lying around, socks and running pants that I picked up from a discount store.  High fashion and cutting-edge wasn't exactly top of my list.

Yet, I definitely think there is some substance to the "top of the range kit makes for a top of the range performance" idea.  I'm pretty sure that if I owned this kit by Stella McCartney for adidas, I'd be itching to get my sport on!

Created using Polyvore

There is however, one pretty big problem.  The above ensemble would cost somewhere in the region of £350 - more money that I am inclined to spend on any outfit right now, let alone one that I will only wear when I can be bothered to haul myself out of the house and along to a fitness class or on a 10k run.  The one benefit to Ms McCartney's collection though?  If the concept of high end filtering down to the high street eventually really is a universal truth, then it shouldn't be too much longer before my beloved mid-range labels get the hint.  I still appreciate a good cut, good fabric and good texture, even if it is just work out.  I like a bit of edge.  And I don't always need to wear pastel to get my sweat on!  Here's hoping!

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

For our first post on British Style Bloggers, and with fathers day around the corner, we just had to celebrate it.  The old(er) couple, the famous movie star and of course Beckham we have picked our fabulous father friends, and highlighted their statement accessory pieces.  For it is the accessories that really do maketh-the-man.

Elton John and his partner David really do know how to make an entrance.  Heads usually turn, the fashion police maybe called, but one thing for sure is that these guys love to accessorise.  They can both often be seen rocking a bow tie, and one such new tie designer we love is Emma Ashford.

Now for the likes of Mr Depp he rocks a different kind of style.  Fusing rock n roll with a hint of gypsy style he is the modern day dad. Large leather cuffs with buckles are his statement piece's and follow the likes of Shean Leane.

Now last on our list of well accessorised dad's is Beckham, well we really couldnt leave him out...  Over the past few year's there has been an ever increasing trend to wear beads, but not the typical Top Man type festival beads, the more expensive designer beads.  This year in particular we have noticed a trend of wearing said beads alongside watches.  A trend we hope continues, as the more accessories on a chap the better!  Check out Luis Morais for his take on sexy beadwear.

So there you go, our pick of the bunch for fathers day.  But what say you?  Do you know of other fabulous dad's that should've made our list?

Callum from Maketh-The-Man

Men's Style columist

As we head into the (so-called) summer months, some of you will be going through that famed rite of passage: graduation.  If your family are anything like mine, graduation will be up there with weddings and the birth of children with regards to how many hundreds of photos you are asked to pose in.  I've just opened up my 'GRADUATION MASTER' folder, and there are a total of 269 snaps taken by a variety of family members and loved ones.  Alright, so I'm not in all of them, but I feature in a fair few, and the plan is to be able to look at them in years to come without feeling too mortified at my sartorial choices!

Of course, the level of control you have over your choice of outfit is fairly minimal, as you will more than likely be required to dress in a particular way under your cap and gown.  My university only went as far as to recommend that a plain white shirt and black/skirt trousers were advisable, but as you can see, this suggestion was very much open to interpretation:

Becca (far left) and Amy (centre) both went for the frock option - and beautiful they are too, but such choices are not without complications.  A graduation gown is a somewhat cumbersome item, and the beauty of wearing a shirt is that you have something to anchor to anchor it to.  My particular outfit comprised a shirt from Next, a skirt from River Island, and shoes from Office.  A fairly classic, comfortable look that shouldn;t provide too much embarrassment or confusion in the future.  That's not to say you can't have fun with the details though:

This shot actually shows me holding a teeny tiny Thomas Sabo mortar board charm, a gift from my mother with fingers painted in 'Haymarket' by Nails Inc., my own little nod to the fun and fashion of the day - well, it can't all be serious, can it?!  Still, this is an important moment to traverse, so here are my top five graduation syle tips:

1. HAIR.  Are you wearing a cap?  Bear this in mind when styling your barnet.  Also, prepare for the elements - hairspray is king.
2. SHOES.  Make 'em comfortable, you do quite a lot of standing around.  And make sure you can walk up some stairs/across a stage in front of several hundred people in them.
3. CLOTHING.  Whatever you are required/choose to wear, apply the same sort of rules as you would to shoes.  This is not the day for a wardrobe malfunction.
4. MAKE-UP.  Go for neutral and photo-friendly - let it be all about the diploma and your massive smile.
5. SAFETY PINS.  Have a few in your handbag, in case of gown-anchoring issues.

Finally, and most importantly of all: enjoy your day!  You've worked so hard, you deserve it!

(all photographs © Bob Lewis, 2010)

Pearl Westwood started her blog Fashion Pearls of Wisdom back in June 2007. She's Manchester's resident fashion expert who seems to know all the right shop assistants and where the sales are, how to get the best of ebay and vintage and is a designer fashion encyclopedia. She also recently opened her own online vintage shop http://www.shopstreetstyle.com/. She does all this while battling long term health problems making her one inspiring blogger in my mind as well as a really lovely person. So let's get to know her...

Images belong to Pearl, used with her kind permission.

From your blog posts and my own experience shopping with you you seem to be a real vintage expert, opening your shop must be exciting, would you like to tell us about it?  

I think of myself as a super fan, I just can’t get enough of learning about clothes, seeing clothes from difference eras and so on. I decided to open my online vintage shop because a lot of people have said to me they adore vintage looks but don’t quite know how to incorporate them into their style. There are many people who like to do the full vintage look the 1940s is a popular era where the clothes, hair and make-up are recreated. Yet many people still want to have a modern look but to incorporate vintage elements for a unique style. In my shop I currently only stock vintage clothes which are easily styled up in a modern way, to show how easy it is to add a little vintage to your wardrobe.  

Manchester is quickly becoming my favourite place to shop with our shopping sprees. What's your favourite thing about the area and how would you describe the sense of street style and shops? 

Manchester is a real mix; there is a shop to suit everyone I am sure. The Northern Quarter has seen a big re-development over the last few years with the number of vintage shops growing. Oxford St is a great place to take a stroll for a vibrant array of vintage shops from proper thrift stores like Ryan’s vintage to Retro Rehab who rework vintage garments with a modern twist. Street style is varied to from the dolly birds who frequent Harvey Nic’s to the vintage lovers in the Northern Quarter and the High Street chicks; you certainly won’t be short of people to snap.

 What inspired you to start blogging and has your motivation to carry on posting changed at all?  

I first started blogging as I wanted to record my experiences with fashion, from bad outfits to good outfits, style tips and discovering the history of brands and trends. My motivation is still the same although I have come to incorporate a much wider range of topics such as fashion and feminism, ethics in fashion and body image.

What were the hardest challenges to solve or work round in your early blogging days? What is the very best thing from your blogging experience?  

The hardest things for me are the technical issues; it took me some very frustrating long nights to figure out certain elements. But I have found perseverance and the help from other bloggers get your there in the end. The best thing about blogging has to be the friends made along the way; you really enter into a community of wonderful like-minded folks. 

Do you feel your style has evolved at all since you began blogging? I've seen a few floral and pink things lately!

My style is constantly evolving! I think you are to blame for the floral embracing Florrie! This year my style has softened a lot, with the florals, lighter colours and more girly dresses. I think this comes from the influence of friends and designers but also from a shift in my life and personal circumstances. For a long time I wore clothes like amour, it is easy to feel safe and protected wrapped in a leather jacket, staple black trousers and sharp heels. I think this comes from working in a very competitive environment, but through suffering from ill health this past year I have started to ease out of my shell and be more open. Life is too short to spend time worrying, it is there for enjoying.  

I sense a Vivienne Westwood obsession, what is it about the designer and her brand you like so much?

I first fell in love with Vivienne Westwood many years ago. I was working as a waitress serving breakfasts in a hotel/bar and the manager and I got on fabulously. His name was Manolo (like the shoes) he was a good deal older than and one day he asked me to accompany him to buy a tie for him to wear to a wedding. This was the first time I ever went into a Vivienne Westwood shop, at the time the shop in Manchester was in a different location and it was a very long, slim building. It was like entering wonderland, the shop itself was beautiful and the treasure inside like something I had never seen before. Whilst Manolo tried on endless outfits, the sales assistant kindly explained to me all about the Rocking horse shoes which I was in awe of. The one thing that caught my eye was the beautiful crystal encrusted orb logo brooch which was to become the first piece of Westwood I bought a few years later. From then on I learnt a lot more about Vivienne, her history, her design influence and all the campaigning she does. We can learn so much from her, I think she is a really fascinating woman. 

What's the best piece of blogging advice you've been given and would you like to add some wisdom of your own?  

Be yourself. I see many blogs who seem to imitate other more famous bloggers and it never works, it always seems false. Be true to yourself and blog about things you are passionate about; don’t worry about how many followers you have etc. If you are blogging because you want to be famous or make lots of money they you will be sorely disappointed. Having one person who is truly interested in reading your blog is so much more valuable than having hundreds of ‘empty’ followers. The best advice I can give you is to write from the heart and people will read. Don’t be shy to interact with other bloggers, I don’t mean spam up their blogs with ridiculous comments saying ‘follow me’ and leaving your blog link ten times, that is just disrespectful. Read blogs you are genuinely interested in, leave meaningful comments and gradually you will build up friendships with fellow bloggers. Blogging should be fun, like everything if you don’t enjoy it your probably shouldn’t be doing it! I would also like to add that you will never know about a huge percentage of your readers, it is mainly other bloggers who comment and follow with Google/Bloglovin but check your stats, there will be plenty of readers who simply bookmark your blog. Beware that your blog isn’t private; anyone can read it and stumble across it. I can’t tell you how shocked I still get when someone says ‘Oh I read your blog’ so top tip, don’t write anything you wouldn’t want to see on the front page of a newspaper.

The problem: How do I encourage Benedict Cumberbatch to fall in love with me?

It's a hard question indeed, with many answers. And so to help, this month I have created this handy flow-chart.

I hope that helped. Either way, here is a picture of the man himself, to soothe your pangs and because in my opinion, far more gents should try muttonchops, actually.

Remember - the ask box is always open, and urgent problems can and will be answered on the tumblr between monthly fixtures. Feel free to ask anonymously!

You don't have to do what I say,

Clairefix.

Peace out, problemeers! And hey - feel like being a great help? But the clairfix link-button in your sidebar and point other people in the direction of my helpful help! Cheers!

<a href="http://clairefix.tumblr.com" title="clairefix"><img src="http://i.picasion.com/pic41/0d7ab11deac96407616b0bf0e2948f82.gif" border="0" alt="gif animator"></a>

Yet another annual recurrence, feathered products are flying into the shops, reminding those of us with festival tickets to start shopping for them, stat, and encouraging those of us without to go ahead and pretend we're attending anyway.

There's something refeshingly free-spirited and bohemian about feathers, whether hung from a delicate necklace or tucked into a trilby, they're a sure winner when it comes to summer fashion. But how can we inject some feathered fun into our wardrobes without resembling a primped up paraqueet?

Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise.

The key to this trend is simplicity. The smallest tuft of feathers here or a hint of a print there can speak volumes, and with that in mind here are three different ways to encorporate some feathery frongs into this seasons closet.

Much as I deplore almost everything Fashion Bloggers Why? has ever written, I do have to agree with some of the things critiques of fashion blogging often say - like the way in which many higher-end bloggers seem to have more expensive and vintage clothes than anyone could ever realistically need in a lifetime.

When I first heard Taylor Swift's Better Than Revenge, it was the lines on the images used in this post which first stood out to me. When I hear music, I don't hear the melody, I hear the words - and I hear words that mean things to me louder than the others. So, is it any coincidence, I wonder, that it was lyrics about the link between clothing and sophistication that stood out to me?

I don't have a problem with bloggers wearing and showing off expensive clothing - if you have it than you might as well make a show of it! - but those who seem to think themselves above others because they wear designer labels or vintage dresses really do annoy me. Do they not realise, I wonder, how it makes them look?

In a way, they remind me of the characters of Gossip Girl, many of whom are abhorrent in so many ways (but some of whom are modest, sweet, and kind, too). If you've not watched it, I do think you might just be missing out - it's a genuine window into a world most of us never wanted to see. The ones I dislike the most are the ones who dress the most like these particular bloggers - but they're also the most spoiled, and the ones who apparently equate their money with the opportunity to do whatever they like with no consequences what so ever.

There are some of the higher-end, evidently more affluent fashion bloggers who seem to be genuinely down-to-Earth, lovely people, placing themselves in the public eye in order to share a little inspiration and some truly wonderful photographs (one example would be Making Magique). Others, though, seem not to really understand reality at all. I wonder, then, whether anyone ever told them that vintage dresses don't necessarily equate to dignity or sophistication.

Again, I think in cases like this that Where is Harriet?'s Bloggers Verses Socialites post seems especially salient - while it's in many ways true of all bloggers, it is maybe more so in the cases of the Blair Waldorfs of the blogosphere - those with the beautiful clothes, the money and the social lives... maybe people just read their blogs to live a little vicariously?

What do you think? Is my assessment too harsh? Would you agree?