Wear the Trend: Espadrilles

Espadrilles are not something I would usually choose to put on my feet, largely in part to their surge in wearers over the past few years courtest of TOM's.  Since Chanel have decided to market a new range however?  Well, consider my mind changed.  The French fashion powerhouse have created this stunning range of two tone espadrilles that can pefectly compliment any outfit and as such, mainstream retailers have followed suit and have plenty of feminine style to offer us.  Unfortunately the price tag of the Chanels are a bit too much than I'd like to spend on a flash in the pan item.  Luckily the high street as always has plenty of just as nice styles for us to choose from for much more purse friendly prices.

 

1)  Madison Black Espadrilles - Carvella  £75

 

2) Pink and Gold Espadrilles - H&M £14.99

 

3) Lespy Espadrille - Dune £39

4) Koala Espadrilles - Topshop £45

 

 

 

 

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day One

December is a great month for everyone. Not only is the end of the month two log weeks of food, family and celebration but it is the one month of the year we can shop without feeling guilty. Everyday this month I'll be posting my favourite shopping treats and gift ideas. 

First up it this a novelty Gingerbread Man jumper from Topshop. Everyone loves a Christmas jumper and this one is quite possibly the best I have ever seen. Retailing at £42 it's more than you might usually spend on a jumper you can only wear one month a year, but when a jumper is this good, how can you resist? 

Wear the Trend: Spaghetti Straps

The summer might almost be over, but as we all know, fashion never sleeps and although most of our summer may have been filled with rain, as memory recalls September is usually one of the hottest months of the year. 

As a girl who seems to have developed a phobia of jeans, finding a nice dress has becoming something of an obsession of mine.  This season's spaghetti strap was one which I initially deemed inappropriate for my body shape, I mean, lets be honest, I know I'm not the only girl who would prefer a cap sleeve for fear of bearing their entire upper arm.  Having tried my first dress however, I realised that this style, as with many, is more a case of having the confidence to dare to bare. 

Whilst a plain up and down dress with these straps can be a little daunting, with the right cut and detail, you need to worry as the style will balance itself out.  See below for my top 5 spaghetti strap dresses.

 

 

1) Satin dress - H&M £34.99

2) Silk pleat slip - Topshop £100

3) Black ombre fringed flapper dress - River Island £50

4) Dress with ruffle neckline - Zara £35.99

5) Zenith bow front dress - Jil Sander @ The Outnet £387

Payday Purchase: Cheeky Pants!!

I visited my sister today and was welcomed by a belated birthday card that felt a little thicker, and dare I say squidgier (is that even a word? who cares, it feels right!) than one would expect.  What do I find inside?  These beauties, a present from my gorgeous cousin in London.  The perfect gift, I loved them!!

After showing my sister, she pointed out that she had seen some similar knickers in Topshop but with a 'Toy Story' print on, something which obviously prompted me to have a little look online.  What a treat met my eyes then.

The so called 'Cheeky Pants' from Topshop will win you no awards in the romance department, that's a given.  But with this unbearable heat, coupled with the fact that I have a flatmate makes them an ideal replacement for pyjama pants!  They come in several different designs, from 'The Moomins' to 'Superman'.  Even better, they're currently on offer of 3 for £10! See below for a few of my favourite designs.

Wear the Trend: Block Heeled Sandals

As women, we all love to wear a heel to work.  For some of us, however, a heel just isn't viable due to the fact that we are running round on our feet all day.  Enter the block midi heel.  A perfect style for summer, the block heel makes for comfortable walking as opposed to the formerly favoured stiletto style heel and is also a great step away from that hideously offensive and unflattering kitten heel.

This tan option is from Zara and is currently in the sale (from £49.99 to £39.99) which in laymans terms means you might want to snap them up before they're gone.

The neutral colour means they'll go with pretty much anything, but I favour this pair with a pair of chiffon shorts and a white blazer for an easy office to bar look.

The white colour of these sandals are perfect if you've got a summer tan, if you are more on a pale side, like me then luckily these Kurt Geiger shoes also come in black.  At £85 they are slightly pricier than their high street counterparts, but as any fashionista knows, you get what you pay for.

This pair are from High Street fave Topshop. Priced at £48, they won't break the bank and with their simple style and plain black colour they work with pretty much any outfit and are guaranteed to last. A safe yet stylish option if you are still unsure of this style.

At £625 this Rupert Sanderson pair are way out of my price bracket, but when a pair of sandals look like this, it would be a crime not to include them in a post.  This bright colour and perspex heel of this shoe make them just about as on trend as you can get and would flatter any summer dress.

Payday Purchase

 

So, the end of Uni means that one must treat oneself to and end of term pair of boots (like I need an excuse to shop). I've had my eye on the cut out boots for a while but have been holding out for the right pair. Lucky for me then that Topshop have bought in this pair of beauts.

Perfect for when one wants to wear a nice pair of boots, minus the horrid feeling you get from wearing boots in the hot weather, and even better in that you can accessorise with socks during colder weather and they would still look good. Also the ideal option to go with those little dresses/shorts/skirts, well actually, they're a pretty versatile option that you can wear with anything.

Buy here: topshop.com

 

Payday Purchase

It's a funny thing, I used to literally hate Topshop. Like seriously, my best friend Lauren always shopped in there and I used to refuse to go in because the place gave me such a headache, due to the fact that it appeared to me that girls walked in there with an individualistic style and walked out looking like clones. Obviously in the three years I ended up working there I changed my mind slightly and it could be said that I became one of the aforementioned clones. Since leaving I've reached some kind of happy medium where I can shop in their from time to time but still have my former opinion intact.

 

I used to have a similar opinion of H&M. Value retailers really were not my thing. Now I know how that sounds but I don't mean it in a snobby way, I meant it as in shopping is meant to be a fun activity, not something you do just to end up having to root through piles of clothes on the floor. I mean as a fashion student I respected both brands, but I never really shopped in them. Now, having worked at H&M for the last 7 months I love the place (yes I am one of those geeks who loves their jobs!) and in particular the Trend Range. Take this shirt for example (part of the range), at £29.99 it's a little pricier than the main line but, as with most things, you get what you pay for and this piece is both more on trend and of a better fabric.

 

The two tone of the shirt fits in perfectly with one of the main trends for the upcoming season and with the impetus of shirt wearers you can guarantee you'll look better than all your friends. What’s better? The trend range is only available in certain stores so you are a lot less likely to be looking like one of the Topshop clones! What's not to love!!

Payday Purchase

Apologies for the lack of posts, but fear not, all coursework has finally been submitted and there is time to blog again!! What better way to celebrate than with a pair of new boots?

I realise that I'm a fashion student and I am one of those geeks that gets excited in my retail job when a customer asks for wardrobe advice because it gives me a chance to link everything back to catwalk trends and designer influences and some on. Somedays however I just look at myself in the mirror and wonder how the hell they let me on my course with the way I dress!

My footwear seems to be a major factor of this, I seem to own one pair of boots, some uggs and then copious amount of ballet pumps/slippers. Time for a serious footwear overhall then.

What better way to begin this upheaval than with these GORGEOUS 'Adonis2' Cutout boots from Topshop. Teamed with wooly socks, a grey cotton dress and a leather jacket (this one from H&M looks fab), it's a surefire way to ensure you get noticed!

BFA Awards: Stella McCartney Leads Fash Pack

It's one of the most prestigious nights in fashion, and it's been another great one for our fash pack yet again with Stella McCartney alone scooping awards for both best designer brand and designer of the year.

Alexa Chung came away for the third year running with the award for best British Style, the only award voted for by the public, beating the likes of VB and Kate Moss.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a major Chung fan, yet even I can appreciate the contribution she's made to our fashion, 5 years ago no one in the industry would be seen out without those killer heels, yet nowadays, even queen of heels Victoria Beckham has been seen out in 'monk shoes'.

The award for best model unsurprisingly went to 'her of amazing eyebrows' - Cara Delevingne (so amazing in fact that they now have their own Twitter page @caras_brows )whilst my personal favourite designer, Erdem won the New Establishment award.

Despite the flop that was his Topshop collaboration, JW Anderson still managed to scoop the RTW Emerging Talent award where as Sophie Hulme and Jonathan Saunders won the ET awards for Accessories and Menswear respectively.

Wear the Trend: Star Prints

 





Who could forget Anne Hathaways gorgeous cover for UK Marie Claire from September 2011?  Not me for one.  The Dolce and Gabbana dress she wore frequently features in my dreams, a print which has been replicated in many retailers over the last few months.  I myself now have over a dozen pieces with the highly desired print but weeding out the quality pieces from the cheap looking print hasn't been easy.

Here are some of the best pieces:

The Everard Skirt, Aubin and Wills: Maxi length, star print and pockets! Who said Fashion and convenience doesn't go together! At £125 and 100% silk it's this season's must have skirt!

Complete the look with the brands matching vest: The Willington.

Mini Stars Printed Calf Skirt, Topshop: Admittedly not as nice as the Aubin and Wills piece, but this Topshop number is still worth it's £38.00 price tag.  It's calf length will make it great for that 'Granny Chic' look the likes of Fearne Cotton seem to be going for and would look perfect with a knitted sweater and flat pumps.

Chiffon Star Dress, Tesco Online: Possible one of my favourite dresses at the moment and only £25! Pity it's sold out *Sighs*

Star Print Midi Dress, Oasis: Similar to the Tesco dress with a navy slip and chiffon overlay with sheer sleeves, this High Street favourite is about as close to Dolce & Gabbana you can get.  Offering a more vintage look, it's no surprise that it's another sellout.

You can however find it on eBay here: Oasis Star Print Midi Dress

Payday Purchase

Whilst the last two weeks have bought us the first hint of sunshine in more than a few months, temperatures have still left us unable to completely break out our daisy dukes and racer vests.

I know I'm not the only one that has been left confused as to whether I should reach for my peacock coat or Topshop waterfall blazer.  Today i decided to go with the peacoat and then found myself feeling as hot as a Mexican whilst walking to Marks on my lunch break.  It wasn't long until my common sense hit me and I realized that what I really needed was to order a new trench coat - the perfect compromise for when the weather can't quite make it's mind up.

We all know that Burberry is the go to brand for a modern trench (anyone who doesn't know that clearly hasn't seen Rosie in the Burberry Body ad!) but let's be realistic, not all of us can afford the almost £700 price tag.

Fret no more, I have found the perfect substitute - this Paul & Joe Sister 'New Look' trench.  Whilst I realize it's not the traditional beige that Burberry offer, but if you can't get the real deal, this black trench is a pretty good alternative option.

Coming in at only £329 it won't break the bank and is the perfect piece to make the winter to spring transition in style.  Get it now at my-wardrobe.com

Mary Katrantzou Lands at Topshop

Her SS 2012 show was the talk of the fashion industry, but we clearly still haven't seen the best of British designer yet.  Today marks the launch of her third and biggest range for high street store Topshop, who are this year celebrating 10 years of sponsoring new British talent.

The capsule collection features 9 pieces, one of which we saw on model Poppy Delevigne earlier this week at the Elle Style awards, that all carry the intricate digital print of which Katrantzou has become synonymous with, but at more affordable prices.

'My idea behind the collaboration was to decide for the Topshop girl a range that is as close to the aesthetic mainline as possible' Katrantzou stated 'I can't wait to see the Topshop girls in the bowl dresses and for the most daring to see them try the print on print layering'.

See the full collection here: Topshop.com

Topshop's NewGen anniversary

Sponsoring raw British talent has always been a thing for high street leader Topshop and it seems like only yesterday they began sponsoring the British Fashion Council's New Gen, but it's been 10 years and the two have teamed up again for a collection of t-shirts from some of it's most noted alums including Mary Katrantzou, Erdem and of course, my favourite designer Christopher Kane.

The shirts are £30 each and will go on sale during London Fashion Week.  There are 10 tees and all can be viewed on Vogue.com now.

Steal Her Style: Rooney Mara

Previously known for her girlish outfits and long locks, Rooney Mara has made such a big transition in the last 12 months that she is set to take both the movie and fashion industry by storm in 2012.  As the star of David Finchers The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, her style has gone from babydoll, floral dresses to serious goth in just 12 months.  For her role Rooney has had to have numerous piercings, make up tattoo's, dyed hair, eyebrows and a whole new wardrobe.

Whilst in the movie she is miles away from her former self, on the catwalk she has turned it around in her favour, wearing pieces by all the best designers, keeping her Gothic hair style and bare make up.  This Louis Vuitton pre AW 2012 look from the Paris Premier of TGWTDT was no exception.

Whilst Rooney may have a whole host of designers queuing up to dress her, the majority of us aren't so lucky.  Well, no bother, I 've found plenty of low budget option to help us acheive the Rooney Look:

1) Dress: Michael Michael Kors Crew Neck Dress £100 on The Outnet

2) Dress: Theory Black Mildra Sheen Pleated Dress  £385

3)Dress: Roxy Dress by Goldie** £72.00 on Topshop.com

4) Shoes: Holiday KG at Kurt Geirger  £130
5) Shoes: Kapow Platform Black Kid Suede £80 on Office.co.uk

Payday Purchase

Nothing too extravagant this week, what with it being Christmas week :)! I did however dare to trip to the Trafford Centre on Monday and took my first stroll into Topshop since leaving in July and found this gorgeous 3 Row Metal Leather Tube Necklace perfect for the lazy days ahead when only plain tees and skinny jeans will do.

Welcome to the World (Of Fashion) Lola

So you may remember back in June when I told you my best friend of 11 years was pregnant with her first child.  Well I am sooooo happy to announce that she had her baby on Monday night, little Lola McCann.  

Who Says Pregnancy Cant Be Fashionable

I'd spent the weekend down south after pre booking it off of work, and as luck would have it Kelly went into labour the day I came home, devastated is not the word.  After 36 hours, Kelly's little brother Kane messaged me to let me know I had a new little niece (I realise not by blood, but Kelly and I have been best friends for more than half our lives so surely there's some legal equivalent of a civil marriage right? Naturally being the emotional person that I am I burst into tears as soon as I heard (leaving Lauren a little confused) but I just have to make it known how proud I am of my best friend.  I've never known anyone to mature so much in the space of 9 months and I still cant quite believe that she is a Mum, I mean we used to play  'Pop - Idol' in the front garden what seems like not that long ago, but still all I can say is that Lola is such a lucky little girl to have Kelly for her Mum, because Kelly is going to be the best Mother anyone could wish to have (Although dont worry Lola, I'll teach you how to dance, Kelly only has one single dance move).

Obviously being 300 miles away is not so great, because all I want to do is take her shopping (because your never too young).  But whilst the distance upsets me, it's also a good thing because I get to do lots of lovely online shopping to make sure I get her the prettiest items out there, check these out.

To start with the most important, 'nightwear' because, lets face it, all babies really do is sleep.  Next is one of the best places for clothes for girls up to 5 years and these two all in ones are the best I've found and at £9 each their accessible to everyone.  Jojo is also a great place for children's cloth, and have particularly cute designs.  Baby Dior?  Ok so your child wont be wearing these unless she is Suri or Harper but their cute, so why not throw them in!!

One thing that I love most about baby girls is the dresses you can put them in, and the accessories that come with them.  There is honestly nothing cuter than a little girl with tights that match her dress, I wish I could still dress like that.  Again, the price may be large, but I adore this Fendi dress so much.  I wonder if they do it in my size....

With the winter coming up, coats are a must have for babies.  These days they do not have to be just cotton and pink, you can get fur, printed, raincoats and with high street stores such as Topshop and River Island now launching baby ranges, pretty much anything you can get for yourself, you can get for your baby.  I have to say that I dont think you can beat a fur coat on a baby girl, and this brown one from Mama's & Papa's is now half price and only £24!

Finally, what are all girls known for? Shoes.  Just because she is a baby and not walking yet, there's no reason not to keep her feet looking stylish.  Whilst ballerina pumps look gorgeous with tights and socks, high street stores and even supermarkets such as Tesco now offer alternatives for the cold weather.

Whilst we all wish we could afford clothes for ourselves let alone our babies from designers such as Chloe, Fendi and Dior the highstreet stores do offer great cheaper alternatives.  You no longer have to go to specialist stores such as Jojo or Mothercare for childrenswear, you can now get it when topping up your own wardrobe, or even with your food shop.  Yes we all know there is a stigma attached to buying clothes from supermarkets such as Tesco or Asda, but it's the 21st century (not to mention recession) and affordable fashion is accessible to everyone.  Finally, too tired from the night feeds to leave the house? Joseph M and Alex and Alexa are great e-tailers for designer childrenswear and most high street stores have childrenswear available on their sites.

Payday Purchase

The first day of snow today in Cheshire, and I'm truly getting into the spirit with this jumper by Ashish's latest collaboration with Topshop.  There's not really been much good knitwear about season so I couldn't resist this jumper, whilst not the most glamorous pieces, it's guaranteed to keep me warm whilst no doubt making me laugh everytime I read it in the mirror (yes I'm that sad).

I might just keep it for the confines of my own home, but I still absolutely love this buy!

Christopher Kane for J Brand

Whilst it was announced back in February that Scottish designer Christopher Kane was to collaborate with luxury denim brand J Brand, after the high of his stunning Spring Summer 2012 collection he couldn't have chosen a better time to release the images via The Telegraph.

The collection featured denim jackets cut of shorts and flared jeans.  True to his signature he went a bit further and used neon brights to make the collection really stand out, with shade of green, orange and pink.

He is famous for his collaboration, with capsule collections with Donatella Versace (he was behind the versus range), Topshop and Beth Ditto (for Swarovski's Fashion Rocks), this is sure to be the most trend setting yet.

Topshop Unique SS 2012

If there is one thing Topshop doesn't do - it's understate things and this collection was no exception.  The theme was ancient Egypt meets urban street culture, and whilst some of the pieces were undeniably gorgeous, it was just that bit too much.

 

There were hieroglyphs and scarab beetle prints, plenty of bandeaus, gold bustiers and a beautiful pink dress.  Personally I loved the slouchy jumpers, on of which paid homage to the late Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra.  All sounding like a seemingly nice collection.

But then add to the mix the unsightly fabrics, body armour that looked like it would choke you and the cycling shorts that make you think that you'd be better off going without and the collection took on a rather strange twist.

I'm usually a huge fan of the Unique range, (up until July I could still use my employee to purchase some of the beautiful dresses they've done before) but this one leaves me a little more than confused.  Topshop Unique is supposed to be the premium, high end range, yet some of these pieces look like they were designed by a blind person (sorry for the bad analogy)!

Fashion Week In The Fashion Capital

Whats that I hear? Oh right, it's the pitter patter of well heeled feet as London Fashion Week gets ready to kick off!!

Thats right, this past Seven days have seen the beginning of some stunning trends for Spring Summer 2012, from the draw droppingness that was Zac Posen to the impetus that was Prabal Gurung but I could not be excited to see what my home town brings us for next season.

With a world famous reputation for being the edgiest of all fashion shows and celebrities all over the globe citing us as the trendiest nation, great things are expected all round.  The week will include 5 days of what are guaranteed to be show stopping collections followed by a day of menswear showcases.  Highlights will include Tom Fords woman's presentation and the Issa London - the label that hit the headlines after the engagement shot of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The shows I'm most looking for are:

Friday 16th
Sass & bide - 16.00
Basso & Brooke - 18.00
PPQ - 20.30

Saturday 17th
Ashish - 11.00
House of Holland - 16.00
Jonathon Saunders - 19.00
Issa london - 20.00

Sunday 18th
Mulberry - 10.00
Richard Nicoll - 11.00
Topshop Unique - 15.00
Tom Ford Woman's Presentation - 18.00

Monday 19th
Peter Pillatto - 9.00
Christopher Kane - 12.00
Erdem - 14.00
Girles - 19.30
Temperly London - 20.30

Tuesday 20th
Meadham Kichoff - 14.00
Amanda Wakely - 15.00
David Koma - 16.00

Wednesday 21st
NewGen Men - 13.00