Recently by Laura Davis

IF YOU too have decided to ignore the insane AW08 trend of carrying your belongings in a bum bag wrapped around your left knee then you are left with two choices.

When it comes to handbags this season the options are simple - they're either big and slouchy or small and neat.

CHRISTMAS is only 12 weeks away. We know this because Nook & Willow sent us an email to tell us.

Before you run screaming for the earplugs, to block out Jingle Bell Rock on repetition in the supermarket, let me share the other piece of information in their message.

JUST because the second phase of Liverpool One's opening this week doesn't mean we should forget about the city's independent shops.

Here at GBS we love both and, after checking out the new offering (Wagamama - yey!), we'll be heading over to Bold Street for its festival weekend.

WE LOVE it when the PRs for national brands visit from London because it gives us a chance to find out everything they've got in store for us here in Liverpool.

Met Topman's press officer last week for lunch and she passed us these never-been-shown-before artist impressions of the new look Church Street store.

JUST two days after Naomi Campbell demonstrated her gentler side with her Fashion for Relief show at LFW, all the frocks were being showcased here in Liverpool.

The Girls Behaving Stylishly headed along to Grey Space to check it out before they are sold at auction by Fashion Exchange. Our observations were:

IF YOU haven't checked out the events at Chester Fashion Fortnight yet then you still have time.

This week's highlights are as follows...

IF YOU were shopping on Bold Street at the weekend you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Liverpool trend of wearing your pyjamas outside was spreading to the workplace.

But we can reveal that the girls at Bravissimo were actually modelling the new range of nightwear designed especially for bigger boobs.

MODELS, designers and retailers will hit the catwalk as Chester Fashion Fortnight is launched today.

More than 50 Chester retailers will be offering special fashion offers across the city and we'll be keeping you up to date on the main events right here.

GOOD news for new designers - Liverpool's jeweller to the stars has extended the deadline for its Capital of Culture competition.

Boodles is looking for a piece of jewellery or a trophy that encapsulates the city - with inspiration drawn from its history, future, people, art, architecture, music and culture - and has donated £10,000 towards having it made.

I'VE styled fashion shoots in some funny locations but never before in a place that was once used to store dead bodies.

Yet that is where last week's Vivienne Westwood A/W08 shoot took place - in a lecture hall that Liverpool University used for carrying out autopsies to teach students of anatomy. You can see a video of behind the scenes above.