Tuesday 31 July 2012

Get Inspired.


If you are stuck for a bit of style inspiration, fashion blogs, magazines and clothing websites are of course a great place to seek inspiration. And in recent years, apps have taken over the fashion world as more and more companies are providing style inspiration for those on the go. My big tip though, would be to check out high street lookbooks (available online or as apps to download). Pretty much all popular brands these days do their own interpretations of catwalk trends, using lookbooks to showcase their new collections. Often these looks are far more wearable for day-to-day dressing. I would especially recommend  Topshop for those looking for edgy, avant-garde style, Zara  for classically chic looks and River Island for heavily trend-based ideas. Check them out by clicking on the links below. x.

Topshop A/W12 Lookbook
Zara A/W12 Lookbook
River Island A/W12 Lookbook

Sunday 29 July 2012

A/W 12 Trends on the High Street: Print


The Printed Trouser
From left; Topshop £35, Zara £39.99, River Island £30

The Printed Skirt
From left; Miss Selfridge £39, ASOS £18, Ted Baker £109

The Printed Top
From left; River Island £18, Zara £17.99, Miss Selfridge £35

With the A/W12 trends such as Baroque, Eastern Opulence and Geometric Florals, this coming season is a great opportunity to fill your wardrobe with PRINT, which if your wardrobe is anything like mine, is something that is severely lacking. With this (and the pursestrings) in mind I have put together a collection of some of the very best printed pieces that the High Street has to offer. And trust me, it was hard to whittle this down...there’s some great pieces heading out now ladies, get shopping! x. 







Friday 27 July 2012

To The Max!



Maxi Dresses. Such a firm fashion favourite of summer. Be it for a dinner date, drinks out, or for a relaxed BBQ, maxi dresses meet all of our needs for summer dressing. Colour, comfort and effortless style, I am just IN LOVE with maxi dresses at the moment. Not only this but I am convinced that the men in our lives love them too. There is something classily-sexy about covering up yet with only a thin layer of fabric between them and you...as we girls are so often told, it is the sense of mystery, of not seeing everything at once, that can be the most alluring thing. This gorgeous maxi dress above is £32 from Topshop in stores now. I just love the low back and nonchalant-throw-on look of this dress, its all very MIC’s Kimberly and one of my firm summer favourites. x.

Wednesday 25 July 2012

27 Dresses.


Ok, maybe not quite 27... and I’m not a bridesmaid, but I am having serious trouble deciding what to wear for a wedding this summer. Summer Weddings are one of the major fashion events of the season, a great opportunity for a new outfit but also a bit of a headache. Not only do you have to find a complete outfit (including shoes, bag, jacket or shawl etc) but it has to conform to style etiquette – THINK white-dress-ban and priest-appropriate-neckline. The photos too...oh the photos! The type which will go into album after album and pulled out routinely for reminiscent moments! A fashion fail then? Entirely unacceptable. So here are my four options to help provide inspiration for anyone else facing a similar wedding-guest-outfit dilemma. At the moment the only two certain parts of my outfit, are a black fascinator and nude heels...probably not quite enough clothing to preserve my modesty. Take a look and feel free to vote for your favourite! x.

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Summer Heat: Accessories Edit


So I’m having a bit of an accessories moment. And it’s not just because my wardrobe is now spilling out of my room and into the study, but because I am true believer that accessories can make or break an outfit. With this in mind I have been trawling the internet for boutique sites and came across luxury fashion and homewares company http://styleoutsidethebox.com/. They work with independent designers to bring unique, one off designs to a wider audience. My favourite is their jewellery range. Check out my summer holiday picks; this double-sided gold clutch, this gorgeous ‘Snow White’ ring  and White Chalcedony Stone leather braceletx.



Monday 23 July 2012

Essex Girl (Guide)


Cue Series 6 of The Only Way Is Essex (major guilty pleasure) which returned to our screens last night! And being an essex girl myself, I thought I’d pay homage to my home county by sharing my favourite looks from last nights episode. For anyone who missed it, there was drama aplenty and the clothes certainly didn’t disappoint either. My favourite? TOWIE style icon Lydia, who has an edgier style than the classic ‘Essex look’ but always keeps her outfits slick and pulled together. I loved her print shirt and pencil skirt pairing from Miss Selfridge! Get the look at http://www.missselfridge.com/romanyskirt x.

Saturday 21 July 2012

Buy Now, Wear Next Season: SALE PICKS


ASOS Midi Coat with Faux Fur Collar, was £140 now £54

Julian J Smith Print Envelope Clutch Bag from River Island, was £30 now £8

ASOS Ravel Hope Leather Boot, was £75 now £50

Floral Bardot top, was £18 now £10

Lipsy VIP Scallop Beaded Dress, was £120 now £95


 x.

Its All-White to Accessorise!




Thought I'd share my latest outfit with you, this I wore last night for drinks out with friends. I went for an all-white outfit (something you can only get away with in summer) and accessorised with print to break it up. The lack of colour and print in my clothes meant I could mix prints and colours in the accessories. In the end I went for a leopard print bag from River Island, pink zig-zag wedges from New Look (featured earlier on this blog), this beautiful green gemstone frog ring from Topshop and a blue statement necklace from H&M. TIP: dressing in one colour head-to-toe makes you look taller! Great for shorter girls like me. Hope you like it! x.

Wednesday 18 July 2012


Monet? Lucky shot I captured, reminiscent of Monet's 'Water Lillies'. Taken with a Nikon D300. x.

Faking It.



The lack of sunshine of late, plus the tendency of my skin to freckle has once again led me back to fake tan. Being naturally pale but as someone who loves that healthy glowing look, I have worked my way through pretty much every brand of fake tan, and from gradual moisturisers to 'permanent' spray on tans. My latest experiment has been with St Tropez's Everyday Body Moisturiser Gradual Tan, winner at Company magazine's Beauty Awards 2012. I have to say the smell wasn't one of my favourites but it wasn't in any way unpleasant. The colour was subtle but importantly had brown rather than orange undertones, although for a noticeable tan you would have to use quite a lot of product. Great as a moisturiser, it leaves skin soft and supple. Overall not a bad product, but this would have to be used as part of an everyday summer beauty routine rather than a quick ditch attempt at looking tanned. Purchase for £14.30 at http://www.st-tropez.com/gradual-tan-body x.

Sunday 15 July 2012

Retail THERAPY: Do you 'occasion shop'?


Feelings definitely play a huge role in the shopping process. Retailers know this. Hence why companies spend millions on creating the right moods and experiences in their stores, to get shoppers to shop. But do you know the feelings which motivate you to shop? Are you a compulsive buyer who gets home with a pile of clothes only for half to be returned later? Or are you the frugal type who buys what she needs, when she needs? For the majority of us, shopping is driven not by necessity but by the desire to treat ourselves. And the need to treat? Well that comes either as a reward for something we are proud to have achieved (such as the silver ring I bought for myself at the end of first year exams) or for when we need to raise our spirits. For me shopping can be a distraction in such times and lets face it, feeling better about your outward appearance (thanks to that new jacket or bag) can do wonders for the inside you. You become a more empowered version of yourself, with your new 'armour' and confidence, problems don't seem as great or you at least have a renewed vigor with which to attack these problems. So perhaps the 'therapy' in 'retail therapy' is the dominant word here? In the past fifty years, shopping has become a luxury for the masses, a recognised pastime. Shopping has become an expression of the events in our lives. Shopping has become an occasion. x.

Saturday 14 July 2012

Trending: Baroque



Balmain and Dolce and Gabbana led the way with this luxurious trend. Big on embellishment, brocade and gold detailing, the Baroque trend gives the best excuse to buy statement pieces, they'll last you all through the holiday season. x.

First Look.



New Season trends to get your head around. So black is back, and in a big way. Head-to-toe dressing in black leads to the advent of the glam-goth, who mixes textures and fabrics with lots of embellishment to keep this look from being dull. Ever a fashion favourite with real women, this look was all over the catwalks from Victoria Beckham's line to Chanel's extravaganza. More trends to come! x.

SALE.SALE.SALE.


With the fashion world looking to introduce Autumn/Winter 2012 style to stores, now is the perfect time to snap up bargains for summer dressing, plus get your hands on those key transitional pieces that will carry you into the next season. Online retailers such as ASOS are offering amazing savings of up to 70% off items right now, although you have to be quick to snap up items in your size. Best way to negotiate the sale period? Build up a wishlist of items as soon as they hit the stores and bide your time...sale time will come, and by signing up to e-newsletters you can be the first to know when. Tips to carry into A/W 12! x.

Summer Wedges.



Despite the weather, fashion junkies know that there is always an excuse for new shoes and these wedges from New Look are just the right mix of smart-casual for summer dressing (and oh-so-easy to walk in!) Great for dressing up a simple outfit, the print adds eye-catching detail to make you feel summery even if the weather forecast doesn't comply. Wear with jeans and a blazer for beer garden drinks with friends. x.

Shoe Lust.


Ever a fan of Abbey Crouch's sleek style, I loved her pairing of Givenchy's embellished wolfish sandals with a simple black outfit for dinner out with husband Peter Crouch. Simple make up and pulled back hair complete the look. Get yours on sale now at Net-A-Porter http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/194046 x.
Looking for a new way to get involved in the online fashion/accessories/beauty junkie world, I arrived at blogger.com. This blog will be a mix of all my favourite looks, products and trends... just in time for the new season (yes it's only july but with the weather as it as, delving into a world of coats, bikers and oversized scarves is seeming more and more appropriate). Hope you enjoy! x.
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