Bag Envy - Blame your Brain!

You're walking down the street, minding your own business when BAM, it catches your eye on another woman's arm - it's love at first sight, and you NEED it. You get out your phone and Google it, and suddenly realise you've got Pinterest boards devoted to it's beauty. 

"I Need You!" Your heart is screaming, but your mind is reminding you of the consequences..

I'm talking about handbags. Maybe for you it's shoes, or jewellery, but for us, it's the IT bag. New research has shown that we can't blame ourselves for being willing to do anything to get our hands on that bag; it's a chemical reaction.

At last, the news we've been waiting for - a study has proved that once we fall for something, be it a pair of shoes, a car, a bag or even a house, we will do (or pay) almost anything to get our hands on it - and it's beyond our physical control.

Advertisements from fashion brands have used emotional appeals to get us to value their products and brands, but now we know why they work.

Researchers have found that our willingness to fork out for something that we have fallen in lust with is down to a chemical reaction; there is a chemical that handles our 'value trade-offs' (that thought way, way in the back of your mind asking if it's really worth your hard earned cash!) that is activated once we develop a loyalty towards an item or a brand. Once this chemical is released, we start to believe this product, or brand is worth more than a similar product from a different brand.

So, next time you get the raised eyebrow (or worse - credit card removal) for lusting after a fabulous bag, just let them know that it's NOT your fault - it's a scientific function, blame your brain...

Find Similar for Shoes has officially launched!

It's here, the kind of thing us girls have been dreaming of! Finally the clever clogs at Imperial College have developed Fashion Image Recognition for shoes; enabling us to take a picture of a pair of shoes, whether from a magazine, online, or from a store and with just one click, be shown similar shoes for us to choose from.

How many times have you spied a pair of shoes, whether on a friend, a celeb, or even an advert, and fallen in love only to find that there is no clue as to where the shoes are from? Or maybe you've spotted your dream shoe in a fashion mag, but the cost of the sartorial pair is giving your purse the shivers...
Well, that's where Find Similar for Shoes is set to be a game changer!

Find Similar is a fashion image search engine, and now you can use it with shoes; enabling you to search for matches and save time and money - gone are the days when you spend hours searching through the web for that dream pair!

The process is simple; just take out your phone, launch the app with Find Similar Shoes integrated within it, and take a picture. The shoes will then be analysed by the software, based on shape, colour and pattern, and the results will be delivered straight back to you in seconds.

Find Similar is the first ever software to recognise shape, and works in the same way as the human cortex (in the eye!) to detect key points on a shoe, and matches it to thumbnails of shoe shapes within a database. You don't have to draw around anything or tell it what your looking for, becuase it can detect a shape in the same way that our eyes do. You know how your eyes light up when you spot the latest Charlotte Olympia must-have heel? Yep that's what happens over and over again in the Find Similar for shoes software.

Sound too good to be true? Find Similar for clothes is already available on Trendabl, via their Find It function, so why not download the app and have a go!

Key Trend Alert! Pastel Pink for SS14

Pastel hues and milkshake shades have crept their way from Autumn Winter through to Spring trends thanks mostly to Celine's fabulous pink coat which was replicated throughout the highstreet (never has an M&S coat generated such a long waiting list!). 
Pink has been the standout colour of the season, with designers from the catwalk through to high street injecting shots of bold pink into their collections. 

Snuggle up in a super soft cashmere jumper like this one from Whistles, to clash against the harsh leather textures that are in this season. For your work wardrobe, head into spring with this sensational peplum skirt from Jason Wu, and style with a silk blouse to earn some serious brownie points in the style and professionalism stakes!

Who said you need to wear your pastel pinks on the outside? Feel pretty in pink from the inside with this sheer lace delicate lingerie set from Elle Macpherson. The Monica Vinader Fiji friendship bracelet adds a touch of pink to a day or evening look, while this super cute Chanel Phone case is a fun way to add a feminine touch to your technology.

I had to find a way to sneak the Valentino pumps into the very first Find Similar post.. To any readers feeling particularly generous, you know where to find us!

If pink clothing is too bold, then add a subtle touch of the pastel shade via accessories such as these Barton Perreira Round Frame Sunglasses, or the Marc by Marc Jacobs clutch. You can add a  touch of pink to any look with this leather rock stud bracelet from Valentino.

What are your favourite pink pieces?