Today is a sad day... unfortunately ladies and gentlemen I have to inform you that I have been forced into retirement as the Sunday Mercury's resident diva, and will no longer be posting from this site.

Not to worry though! I have a new guise as The Style Floozie, and a completely new self-owned website and blog, which means that I am free to post to my heart's content about whatever takes my fancy. Hurrah!

Head over to http://thestylefloozie.moonfruit.com/ from this moment on and I will be populating it very soon with everything style, fashion and lifestyle related in Birmingham and further afield. There are also details on where to email me if you have something you want to say!

See you later lovelies, and have a very Merry Christmas!

Sarah xx

If anyone had been wandering around Selfridges, Birmingham at any point over the last month, you might have noticed a 'little' in-store promotion called 'Destination Denim'.

Photo: Jas Sansi

Now, a far cry from its original purpose as durable clothing for workmen, denim is available in all sorts of guises - from dresses, to skirts, jackets, shirts, shorts, bags, and of course jeans, as originally intended. It has also seen a rather generous injection of stretchy fibres into its make-up in some cases - which thankfully means that in order to get that skinny leg one doesn't have to sit in a cold bath in them in the hope that they'll shrink to fit (apparently this used to happen? Ouch!).

A couple of months ago I was sent a bottle of 'Intense Plumping Therapy' to review. Now, I'm heading for the big 30 in November so I figure anything that promises to help stop things shrivelling up or going South is probably worth investing in sooner or later.

The product is part of a new range brought to us by mother and reflexologist Matilda Archer, after being developed by a leading cosmetic surgeon in the USA. The range is 98% natural and paraben free and is described as being an alternative to plastic surgery. Well, I'm sold on that idea - it's certainly a darn sight cheaper too!

It's summer (yes, really), I'm sat in Starbucks in a freezing draft coming from the door (yes, it's still summer), and the V festival is about to start. Well, in my old age of 29 years - ahem - I have to say after the last couple of days' heavy downpours I'm quite happy that I'm not going to be attempting to pitch a tent on a mudslide that I would be calling 'home' for the next few days. Even if that does mean I'm missing out on seeing a host of great bands and artists playing to fields full of drunkards - And yes, this does appeal to me. It's also about the only time you'll see me in a heel lower than 4 inches, unless you happen to spot me at the gym, walking my dad's dogs (or rather, the dogs walking me) or on a run.

... but they did let me carry a watermelon!

Girls, you'll probably have an idea as to what I'm referring to here. Boys... probably not so much, but if you do, I commend you!

Of course my blog title pays homage - sort of - to Dirty Dancing. And Dirty Dancing, for those who are familiar and those who aren't, is one of the sexiest, danciest (that's a new word from the Diva Dictionary for those spelling militants out there) most brilliant films ever made... in my opinion.

Every fashionista, lady about town and die hard shopper - even the most hardcore - needs somewhere to retreat either after or during a good spot of retail therapy. So, in case anyone was wondering where they could go to escape the crowds for an hour or so, and relax in classy, yet laid back surroundings without having to venture outside of the city, I thought I'd do a bit of research for you.

Just over a week ago I popped along to Birmingham's latest plush city centre hotel and dining complex, Hotel La Tour. They recently launched their 'High Tea', and on noticing the Earl Grey Bellini and mini desert selection included, I was immediately sold. Easily in fact; cocktails and cake - what more could a girl want?

I should have written this post a long time ago, but I fell out with my laptop and now it doesnt like to work for me. Honest...

I did find a good time to write this a few weeks ago, but then the weather turned cold and wet and the sky spat out pea sized hail stones at us all. I figured then that blogging about sumer fashions and lacy lingerie wasn't really timely.

So now, whilst it's sunny, and I have not one, but two strange men playing around with my plumbing, pardon the pun (to those of you with minds that verge on the slightly naughty side, I can assure you it's nothing fun - sorting out a leaky shower and two forever flushing toilets that kept me awake for the best part of the night) I've decided the time is perfect. Unless the outfits I picture are now out of stock, in which case, err, oops.

Anyway, I'll stop mumbling.

A little while ago, I was invited to preview Harvey Nichols' Spring/Summer 2012 fashions. Well, I must say it was a little bit of a drool fest - and that was just at the shoes! (See below)

Here's a question for you guys and girls:

Botox on men: yay? Or nay?

Like myself, I'm sure many of you watch 'Take Me Out', right? Well, even if you don't, do read on:

I was watching Saturday's episode, when a single, sexy, Irishman came out to pick a lady.

Ladies, you know those friends, acquaintances and other lucky ladies who have wardrobes busting at the seams with gorgeous designer clobber that leaves you drooling at the thought of owning just one or two little items inside it?

Think that ever having a wardrobe like that yourself could just be a pipe dream, unless you manage to snag a rich man who wants to pay for it all for you, or alternatively land yourself that new job that you love AND pays you a small fortune for doing? (This rarely happens in media, so I think I'll be going down the rich man route). Well, your luck might be in.

I love a good fashion news story, especially one that originates in Birmingham. And guess what? I have one right here!

Following on from my news of the gorgeous new Birmingham born jewellery brand, LaLa Rocks, in December, I can now announce that it is now available to buy in the city's Harvey Nichols store, located in the Mailbox.

For such a young brand this is a massive coup; not only does this mean the products are now backed by a well known brand, Harvey Nichols is known for it's high end, high quality fashion, being a favourite of the rich and famous, as well as the general consumer alike. And as if LaLa Rocks needed it, its bracelets are already fast becoming a fashionista's favourite. Of course, I already have one, along with plans to add more to my wrist,