As the first woman openingly showing a pregnancy bump to grace American fashion magazine Vanity Fair’s International Best-Dressed List, Samantha Cameron is certainly not one to allow morning sickness and maternity wear to restrict her style. After all, personal style and fashion sense are each a question of knowing what to wear and that’s about more than following the latest trends. Of course, her fashion credentials are impressive and come as no surprise this side of the pond. She was the Creative Director at Smythson of Bond Street, purveyors of high end stationary and expensive leatherwork, so Mrs Cameron has always known a thing or two about accessorising.

Making her debut on the 2010 International Best-Dressed List, which is regarded by many as an insiders’ guide to the world’s style elite and a who’s who in global fashion, the wife of Prime Minister David Cameron is in illustrious company. Samantha Cameron, featured alongside fellow First Lady Fashionistas Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. It should be noted that not only are these ladies key influences in the corridors of power but they also determine a great deal of our fashion policy too.

Let’s start with the woman behind the most powerful man on the planet. This is the fourth consecutive appearance on the International Best-Dressed List for Mrs Obama. Already, her influence on the fashion world is being felt quite acutely, having been credited with the revival of the cardigan, the shift dress and whether or not we want to thank her for it, exposed arms. When asked about the type of person that makes the list, Vanity Fair said they were individuals who were fashion leaders, rather than followers. Gray and Osbourn know that this is born out of a confidence in your own sense of style and that is something you grow into. So, if you know that a shift dress works for you, modern expressions of this classic piece will keep you at the forefront of fashion. We’d recommend the elegant shift dress by Helene Berman, which incorporates the finer points of the ‘Michelle Obama’ look; shift dress, black patent belt, short sleeves.

Running a close second to Michelle Obama, with three entries in the Best Dressed list, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy owes her status as a fashionista to an altogether sultrier look. That being said, she has reined in the rebellious, super-model chic that was a signature of her younger days and instead employs a more demure, sophisticated style these days. Again, the shift dress features prominently, so think Gina Bacconi and Fenn Wright Manson. She will rarely  go above a kitten heel these days too, most often choosing flats for state visits. A pair of Angeline Tournier Ballerina flats are ideal for a special occasion especially if you’re going to be on your feet for an extended period of time.

Strangely, the last time serious consideration was given to the midi, Britain was enduring a period of relative financial instability. That was the 1970s and along with the three-day week, the British economy was facing high rates of inflation and a bit of a mini-midi-maxi crisis. Even more strangely, before that the historic precedent for the mid-calf hemline had been set in the 1930s, another period of invasive recession. Should we have forecast this return to favour for the midi when we were in the grip of the credit crunch? Perhaps that’s reading too much into the cyclical recurrence of the midi trend.

The midi hemline has a distinct air of sophisticated restraint that seems to rally against almost all of the over-the-top trends and revealing pieces of out there. In fact, it does feel that it’s verging on an almost radical departure, which is a strange thing to say about something which places itself so firmly in the middle-ground. The graceful mid-length is set to be a fashion feature because it fills a void between two extremes.

You have no-doubt been struck, as we were, when flicking through fashion magazines and looking at celebrity snaps, just how rare it is to see evening wear that is suitable to women of every age. Long gowns are still the reserve of the red carpet function. For a time, this did generate a sense that the only way to distance oneself from the mini-skirted, headline-grabbing celebrities was to go to take the hemline to the other extreme. This isn’t a question of age, rather one of agenda.

Taking our lead from a quite different kind of red carpet clientele, at the nuptials of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, were covered by the Swedish ‘Hello!’ and essentially managed to put the standards, or lack thereof, of the standard celebrity event into the shade. Interestingly, it was the evening’s matriarchs who managed to comprehensively outshine their younger counterparts in the fashion stakes. European style luminaries like Queen Rania of Jordan, Princess Rosario of Bulgaria and Princess Letizia of Spain looked somewhat immature and insubstantial in comparison to the mother of the bride, Queen Silvia of Sweden.

The elegant compromise that is the midi hemline is not the reserve of any particular age-bracket but a classic piece that transcends a lot of our modern sensibilities and with that, manages to distance itself from either end of the hemline spectrum. Its return to the catwalk is being championed by designers who are renowned for their union of classic styles with modern executions. For example, Chanel has re-worked their tweed skirt suit into a new silhouette for the autumn season. The ongoing momentum that the midi skirt trend is enjoying will continue to gain traction into the winter. When putting together an outfit, think mid calf length, flared midi-skirt paired with a cropped jacket and just over mid calf length, mid heeled boots. It’s an exercise in layering and redefining proportion. A graduated silhouette is a key look for the season and the midi is right in the middle of it.

Joseph Ribkoff is the official designer to Miss America but the Canadian design house is also renowned for clothes that will work for all ages.  At Gray and Osbourn, we understand the importance of striking that balance between timeless style and the most recent trends. This is something that Joseph Ribkoff has become synonymous with; building a reputation for innovation, versatility, and uncompromising quality. From relatively humble beginnings in 1957, during a time of revolution in women’s fashion, the Ribkoff brand has grown to cover 22 international markets.

How though, can a designer maintain identity across such a wide and diverse portfolio? This is something which Joseph Ribkoff himself refers to as, “the multi-dimensional needs of today’s woman.” Usually, any effort to be everything to everyone is recipe for failure but Joseph Ribkoff is one of the very few designers that manage to pull off this dichotomy, with versatile dresses and designs for all occasions.

Across the pond, Joseph Ribkoff’s designs for Miss America manage to embrace a full range of occasions. After all, Miss America is an icon in American culture and as such, must represent the non-profit organisation in a number of different situations. The Miss America pageant is the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women and the incumbent Miss America needs ready to wear outfits for all of her different media appearances and bespoke evening dresses for special events. Joseph Ribkoff is tasked with catering for all of these.

At the same time, he also creates designs for one of the UK’s most recognisable women, Jane MacDonald. Jane is a well known songstress first and foremost. However, she’s also a successful author and has most recently been invited into countless British homes as a host of ITV’s lifestyle programme, Loose Women. Jane’s signature style is stylish and glamorous, making her the ideal exponent of the multifaceted Mr. Ribkoff’s design ideology.

Joseph Ribkoff does specialise in smart separates and versatile dresses but the strength of these designs lies in their ability to effortlessly transform from day into eveningwear. For ladies looking to turn heads at any social event, the signature styles use striking prints and this season’s key trends include the off-the-shoulder-dress, particularly incorporating bold floral prints and the zebra print jersey dress are both excellent example of this. Likewise, monochrome jackets and stripes are very in this season but draw heavily on that classic, Chanel inspired style. For inspirational ideas and the finest in ladies fashion, browse the collection at Gray and Osbourn.

Joseph Ribkoff is a Canadian designer whose label specialise in smart, separate pieces that are suitable for both day and evening wear. Striking prints and statement pieces have become somewhat of a signature for Joseph Ribkoff too. The wonderfully stylish fashions quite often incorporate highly detailed finishing touches, such as elegant ruffles, subtle ruching and dazzling sequins to give the look a glamorous edge suitable for a truly special occasion.

Gray & Osbourn have recently launched a range of Joseph Ribkoff that is only available online. Pieces like this two in one, frill top with a wonderfully chic, bolero style shoulder line and silver rivet attached mock belt. This item is ideal for the lady who considers herself ‘pear-shaped’. The mock belt gives the allusion of drawing in the waist, taking the emphasis away from the hips, while the squared collar elongates the shoulders, and balances out the width at the hips.

Another key item is Joseph Ribkoff’s black jersey, hareem trousers which are supremely stylish and incredibly comfortable.

This utterly gorgeous, ruffle-necked dress from Joseph Ribkoff will make an absolutely stunning statement at any special occasion. The wonderfully flattering black jersey skirted dress is comprised of 12 panel design and elegantly sculptured, gold ruffle collar and bodice. The striking, ruffled collar gives this dress an unique finishing touch and adds to its sense of style.

With the ever growing trend in online shopping, it’s hard to tell what new lines are going to be the most popular; which are the ones that will be picked up by your peers and which are the ones they wish they’d found first. Gray & Osbourn understand this drive for originality. We know that you want to have something a bit different to the rest. Well, with this in mind, Gray & Osbourn are proud to be able to bring you some exclusively online pieces from some of Europe’s top designer brands.

A recent study of web-based shopping habits has highlighted that 65% of online clothes shopping is done by women over the age of 35. Of this market, the most rapidly growing sector are women between 55 and 64 years old. As discerning shoppers with a well defined sense of their own style, this is a market that knows what they’re looking for. That’s why Gray & Osbourn are so proud of being able to offer some extra ranges available only online from designers like Basler, Betty Barclay and Charnos lingerie.

In recognition of the importance of reinvigorating classic fabrics for the key trend of the season, Basler’s breathtaking, tweed box jacket, in a luxuriously textured ribbon knit, is one of the signature pieces amongst Gray & Osbourn’s online exclusives. Likewise, their deliciously soft angora and wool coat with the beautifully gentle swing effect of a semi-fitted silhouette is exclusive to the web. Betty Barclay has embraced the benefits of online exclusivity too. The knitted roll-neck dress in the season’s must have colour, purple is already proving to be a popular favourite with our web customers.

The pressure of Christmas shopping will almost inevitably turn from walking in a winter wonderland to a nightmare before Christmas. The crowds, the pressure to find the perfect gift and the desperate search for inspiration before you finally buy whatever isn’t sold out. It’s the same thing every year. Every year more people are choosing to shop from the comfort of their own home away from the wet weather, enormous crowds and jaded shop assistants.  It’s so much easier to shop in the warm, with a cup of tea by your side!

The only thing that keeps us returning to the real world of the shops is the search for inspiration. That’s why we’ve made the experience of browsing for that perfect present, totally painless.

The enormity of the internet can be intimidating when you don’t know what you’re looking for. If you’ve got a specific item in mind, it can be yours with a couple of clicks but if you don’t, it’s hard to know where to start. Gray & Osbourn bring together Europe’s finest designers and arrange their items intuitively, making it easy to refine your search. Our range of Christmas gift ideas embrace the most up to the minute trends and classic styles, while catering for all budgets. To assist you when shopping for stunning designer fashions, you can browse the range by brand, price, style, or size. Our size guide gives you the support to shop for clothes with total confidence. There’s something for everyone in our gift range too; from jewellery and accessories to clothes and collectables.

There is an ongoing trend in home-shopping sales that points to a greater inclination amongst consumers to shop at home. The combination of online, mail order and telephone sales saw a rise of 18% in October compared to the same period last year. This suggests a growing confidence in the home retail market as the year upon year increase in September was less than 12%. This is the best indication of total sales growth since 2002. However, last year, in the final three months of the year, there was negative growth in this sector. This was no doubt down to increased prudence in the face of the credit crunch. The nature of the home-shopping industry is that it hinges on plastic payments and during those particularly tough months, consumers displayed an extremely cautious approach to spending. In the run up to Christmas, this improved consumer confidence will hopefully be sustained.

There have been some clothing retailers that feel they have been affected by the relatively mild transition into winter, with some showing signs of struggle in comparison to a much colder October in 2008. However, as Gray & Osbourn continue to embrace the most up to date styles, while still maintaining their reputation for classic fashions and enduring quality, sales of investment items like winter coats and knitwear continue to grow. Knitwear featuring exquisitely fine knit layers to warm woollen jumpers and cardigans are key for the winter season. Popular for housing quality designer brands, Gray and Osbourn rely not just on product but their superior home shopping service.

Gray & Osbourn are proud to report that Gerry Weber and Basler, two German labels that they represent in the British home-shopping sector, are experiencing improved sales. Gerry Weber have attributed their success in a difficult financial climate to their adaptability to contemporary design trends while they maintain a focus on classic styling. As a proud stockist of Gerry Weber in the UK, Gray & Osbourn have been able to take advantage of an increased number of designs, letting them react quicker to the needs of their customers and order accordingly. Items like their stylish, soft boiled wool jacket with asymmetric front and layered sleeve detailing, in the seasons key colour, purple, bear testament to this position that blends classic design with the most up to the minute fashion trends.

Another high profile German brand, again a label that works closely with Gray & Osbourn, is adapting to embrace these contemporary looks. Basler are moving towards a more modern target market but are not doing so at the expense of their traditional values or at the risk of alienating their established customer base. As long as they continue to offer exceptional quality, in terms of both manufacture and design, shoppers will be warm to a more contemporary design slant. This is expressed beautifully in their outerwear for this season. Synonymous with smart tailoring and relaxed elegance, Basler’s use of fine angora, velvet and super-soft cashmere show their commitment to classic fabrics in their modern styles. Their cobalt blue swing coat, with slightly flared sleeves and a stand collar, manages to be both chic and timeless. Similarly, their semi-fitted, plush velvet jacket is ideal for this season.

Gerry Weber has become synonymous with high quality, beautiful designs; making it a perfect pairing with Gray & Osbourn.

Gray & Osbourn are confident in recommending Gerry Weber designs to their discerning clients as the fashions are supremely wearable, right across the range, from casual outfits to their smartest tailoring.  The tasteful quality of Gerry Weber’s range are matched by their credentials for excellent value for money.

As the German designer is renowned for clothes that are well designed, well made and with clean lines; so are Gray & Osbourn. As we enter the winter season that will carry us through to 2010, we can see the current trends being reflected in Gerry Weber’s use of soft textures, such as jersey and tweed, which are incorporated into their tailored looks. Striking prints such as checks and paisley patterns are key also key trends for Gerry Weber this season. This fabulous orange collar box jacket looks great teemed with a coordinating check skirt.  Strong colours including rich purples, reds and corals are teamed with black to create stunning looks that make a statement. As with so much of the fashion world, achieving a balance between modern trends and classic designs is so important.

Jaeger has brought the luxury British fashion brand Aquascutum home to the UK. The 158 year old label has been struggling under Japanese company Renown in recent years but the purchase by retail entrepreneur Harold Tillman and Belinda Earl, the chief executive of Jaeger, looks set to herald a Burberry-esque reversal of fortunes. The union creates a retail group with combined global sales in excess of £300m.

Aquascutum was founded in 1851 and has operated out of the same flagship store on London’s Regent Street since 1901. In 1853, Aquascutum tailor John Emary developed a shower-proof fabric which was adopted for use in officers’ coats during the Crimean War. Emary and his son left Regent Street in the late 1870s, handing Aquascutum over to Scantlebury & Commin. The brand now became synonymous with weather-resistant clothes for outdoor pursuits. A trademark was registered in 1895. Aquascutum overcoats were famously worn by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, who granted Scantlebury & Commin Aquascutum’s first royal warrant in 1897.During the two World Wars of the Twentieth Century, British soldiers of all ranks wore Aquascutum’s trench coats. Aquascutum have since achieved several more warrants, building up an illustrious client list that included the Queen Mother, Winston Churchill, Cary Grant and Sophia Loren.

Aquascutum remained a family-owned business until 1990, at which point it was bought by Renown for £77m. By the end of 2007, Aquascutum’s pre-tax losses in the UK nearly doubled from £7.5m to £15.7m. This loss did include an outstanding operating charge of £4.7m on fixed assets but overall sales also fell by over £1m. Manufacture remained to be carried out in England over this period. However, the impact of the Jaeger purchase on the manufacturing staff, including the 120 currently based at its factory in Corby, is yet to be seen.

Comparisons have been frequently drawn between Aquascutum and Burberry, with the continuing rise of the latter mirroring the fall from popularity of the former. Robert Clark, senior partner at Retail Knowledge Bank, said “Aquascutum was a Burberry waiting to happen, but it never had the investment, management input and innovative leadership in a global world to do a Burberry.” The fashion house formed by the union of Jaeger and Aquascutum, with combined sales generating figures in excess of £300million, promises to herald an illustrious new chapter in the history of both parties. Under the successful stewardship of Tillman and Earl, the homecoming should prove to be a happy one for this historic British brand.