When I was growing up I spent many a happy summer on holiday in North Wales.

I loved the ice creams, charming British beaches and woke up every morning excited about the day ahead. This is apart from one year, when I was about five years old, and was playfully running along the beach with my sister.

All of a sudden I felt an almighty pain in my foot. Looking down, it became apparent that I had been stung by a jellyfish. Not the most pleasant experience for a five-year-old; I spent the rest of the holiday avoiding the beach and in a foul mood.

This is why I’m not that taken with Emma Cook’s jewelled jellyfish cardigan.

I really like Emma Cook and animal appliqués are delightfully quirky, providing the animal is cute – like a rabbit, panda or kitten. But this jellyfish is not cute in any manner.

For me, there is nothing attractive about a slimy jelly-like fish with tentacles! Ok, perhaps I am being jellyfish-ist, I mean, they must have feelings too, right? But still, there is no way I would walk around in this.

Perhaps jellyfish enthusiasts out there might think this wool cardigan is the bees knees. And if, perchance, they are reading this, I would say rock it in style with skinny jeans or leather shorts.

Personally, though, I’ll stick with my Sonia Rykiel jewelled heart cardies.

Emma Cook Jewelled Jellyfish Cardigan, £315, available at Matches. BUY NOW!

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Not that we ever need much enticing into Topshop, the high street hot spot is serving up yet another tasty treat as Emma Cook’s highly-awaited third collection arrives in-store next week.

After the sell-out success of her previous two footwear collections for the global giant, the cult following of this British designer is set to continue with her three designs for spring.

You’ll soon realise it’s all about the bows. For starters there’s a tan leather open-toed ankle boot , a retro-rodeo girl’s dream with matching bow detail at the outer edge; close behind is a sweet canary yellow strapped sandal with bow detailing to the front strap; and finishing off (earning first place in our book) is a seriously tough tonal black leather and suede panelled slingback, sweetened with a bow at the back.

Worked across the the three designs in Cook’s typical quirky-cool fashion are inverted pyramid platforms and high scalloped heels , both of which will easily become her signature for spring.

Emma Cook for Topshop is set to hit Topshop stores and online shelves on Monday 15th February, alongside Louise Goldin’s forthcoming footwear collection. Now all we need do is decide is which to wear at Fashion Week…

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How many of you have shared in our dream of being able to borrow that dress from Kate Moss, have a nosey around Naomi Campbell’s clothes, or call up an uber-cool designer to pinch a piece for the night? Oh, you have? Pretty exciting, then, that Topshop are set to make those Christmas wishes come true.

The high street giant’s latest venture, Dress Me Up, allows shoppers to steal a star’s style for a day by hiring dresses from their wardrobe. Names signed up to the initiative include Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Jourdan Dunn, Erin O’Connor, Scarlett Johansson, Freida Pinto, Sophie Dahl, Olivia Palmero, Nicola Roberts and Dita Von Tease.

And if none of the names above tempt you, there’s a bunch of designers who are donating their dresses too, from Topshop favourites Christopher Kane and Emma Cook to Richard Nicoll, Zandra Rhodes, Clements Ribeiro, Marios Schwab, Jonathon Saunders, Meadham Kirchoff and Danielle Scutt.

But that’s not the best part. Hiring a dress from your new borrowed-from-the-stars-wardrobe costs a mere £40. And, if after wearing your favourite dress you can’t bare to see it go, you’ve got the chance to own it forever as it falls into auction, with proceeds going to Age Concern and Help the Aged.

“Having worked with Topshop for so long, we didn’t think twice about donating our dress. It’s such a great cause, especially at this time of year,” Emma Cook told Vogue UK. “The combination of being able to help support Age Concern and Help the Aged and the chance for someone to wear our dress that wouldn’t ordinarily be able to afford to, is such a fantastic concept.

Oh how we agree , Christmas party nightmares solved in one cheap-chic step.

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Emma Cook’s highly anticipated collection of  A/Wo9 boots for Topshop finally went on sale today.The A/Wo8 boots were a massive success and the latest offering from the designer is set to follow in its footsteps.

Cook has created two styles for the collection – all of which are wedges – and although one shape is very similar to the 2008 chained, chunky boot, the other looks like more of a shoe-boot with brogue-style characteristics.

Our favourites are the first three lace-up designs made from printed pony skins. The support around the ankle combined with the chunky wedge  means these boots are perfect for winter and bound to be comfortable to totter around in! Get yours while you still can as judging by last year, these babies are not going to be around for long.

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