I thought I’d share something that I am quite excited about. It’s called TOPModel from one of my favourite gift companies in the world, Depesche. The company itself is German and the German website has been up and running for sometime, but the English website launched on Monday.

It’s aimed at tweens and young teens, with fashion themes and dress up virtual dolls. The website itself is great, but the thing I wanted to share with you is the ‘Designer Table’ section. The TOPModel products include a range of colouring books featuring very faintly-printed ‘models’ for kids to design and draw clothes for. Some packs come with stencils so children can draw basic outlines of clothes onto their TOPModels and colour in from there.

It encourages kids to draw and design, and does so in a fun and ‘trendy’ way, at an affordable price. The board folders with the colouring book, stencils and stickers are priced at £8.95 and each big colouring book are priced at £6.25. I picked up a colouring book at my local TOPModel retailer yesterday and I think it’s great value for money – the books feature lots of pages of blank-models for drawing and example pieces to inspire kids. The colouring books are updated seasonally – the TOPModel colouring book I purchased is the ‘High Summer 2010′ book, so all the example models are wearing summer fashions. The book is so thick with pages, however, I think the Summer book will keep me going for a while!

The best part of this concept, in my opinion, is that once the design is finished, the design can be published on the TOPModel website for all to see. Users can then vote and comment on designs in the ‘Design Table’. I think it’s a great way to encourage children to be creative and the (safe, moderated) community aspect of the website means that they get great recognition for their drawings.

The TOPModel website can be found at www.top-model.biz. Colouring books are available on www.amazon.co.uk or from retailers listed on the ‘Boutique’ section of the TOPModel website.

Like most girls, I love shoes! In fact, I love boots most of all. I have the most amazing pair of mid-calf high black biker boots that have seen me through this winter, and I’m sure many more winters to come. My boyfriend refers to them as ‘Bad’ boots in homage to Michael Jackson and they’ve even received compliments from complete strangers in the street. I do love them dearly! But with Spring just around the corner (yes, the snow storm we have here in Northamptonshire may fool you!) I’ve been thinking about adding a new pair of ankle boots to my wardrobe.

I love how high street shops are taking inspiration from vintage style – distressed leather, laces and straps on what I’ve come to realise from browsing Etsy are also known as “granny boots”. I dream of soft leather, light brown ankle boots to wear with faded denim and ditsy floral prints. Or, after looking through my Etsy Vintage finds, I may have to dig out my trusty old Doc Martens. Living in a Northamptonshire, a county world-renowned for it’s shoes (don’t believe me?) we’re lucky enough to be the UK home of DMs – a fashion ‘claim to fame’ for us locals, with our very own factory shop with discounted Docs and all shoes having been made here until 2001…after getting inspired in the Etsy Vintage department looking at boots, I may have to go shopping

vintage black EQUESTRIAN heeled leather ankle boots from NodtoModvintage $34

80s Neo-Victorian Brown Leather Ankle Boots, size 6M from Victorian2ValleyGirl $35

size 7 eggshell leather side zip pull on ankle height beatle boots. 80s Lord and Taylor pixie rocker booties. from lisazain $38

VINTAGE 80s Super Red Leather Lace Up Flat ANKLE GRANNY BOOTS. Size 6 1/2 M from TimeBombVintage

VINTAGE HUNT CLUB BROWN LEATHER SHOE BOOT SIZE 8M from KMalinka $42

Vintage The Original Doc/Dr. Martens Beige and Black Funky Floral Print Punk Boots. 8 Eye Lace Up. Made in England. US size 7/UK size 5. from leftylouvintage $125