Glam Slam: Postcards From Paris & London

Ryan Patterson in fashion paradise at London s flagship TopshopAccess HollywoodAccess Hollywood

By Ryan Patterson

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Just got back from Paris and London where I am still trying to process a week's worth of "majah" (as Posh would say) fashion overload! The street style there is just amazing... everywhere you look there's someone more fashionable than the next person.

In Paris... I swear they must have a mandatory class for scarf tying that they require everyone to take - even the men could expertly tie their scarves in ways Criss Angel would have trouble figuring out.

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If Paris is the Grand Dame of Chic... then London is her outrageous, eccentric little sister, ready to break all the fashion rules. I love how British women boldly mix colors and patterns in ways I would never dream of... or dare to wear. One trend I noticed, perhaps in light of the tough economy, I saw a lot of girls accessorizing with inexpensive ribbons. They wore them in their hair instead of headbands, tied them around their necks and around their heads - flapper style. Cute!

In the stores, some of the "Nouvelle" or new resort/early Spring collections were already out... and in a sea of dark Winter hues, it was nice to see all the bright colors for Spring. Le Bon Marche on Paris' left bank featured plenty of jet set chic resort collections. A Chunnel ride away, neon orange and pink Jimmy Choos were big at Harrods in London and just down the street... hip department store "Harvey Nichols" had fun bright orange and yellow patent leather Lanvin shoes.

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But mostly - it was all about the holiday collections. At London's flagship Topshop - four stories of the very latest trends at pretty affordable prices, the holiday theme for 2008 is "A Fashion Fairy Tale". It was all very dark and theatrical, not the cliched green and red you think of when you think "holiday."

This fairy tale is all about feathers and sequins. Feathered capes, feathered shrugs, feathered jackets, feathered scarves, sequined skintight leggings, sequined berets and sequined clutches (inspired by Prada's sparkly clutches).

Much of it had a vintage vibe, especially Kate Moss' collection, so it would be easy to achieve the look without a plane ticket to London. Topshop is opening in NY and it's also available online. But really, it would be just as easy to hit your local vintage store, where you could get the same dramatic look without spending a lot of bank.

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FASHION FLASH

Making your holiday list for sexy lingerie? For ideas and inspiration check out Heidi Klum and the rest of the Angels on the "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" tonight at 10pm on CBS.

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