Thursday, 12 January 2012
Afrocentric - my own creation..
The cropped shirt I think works well with the skirt - tucked in, obviously - and the waist belt gives your outfit a bit of shape so it isn't just hanging off you.
The shoes, I know, are a bit over the top with the snakeprint, but I think that whilst I'm following the African inspired outfit, I can get away with it.
The tortoise-shell sunglasses adds that bit of glamour so you can picture yourself walking through a 5-star hotel in Africa about to go on Safari. The brown clutch ties the whole outfit together and the bit of texture keeps in within the rough, outback theme I think this trend has.
The gorgeous bracelet is my favourite part of the outfit. I am a huge fan of turquoise and I think it adds a bit of range within the colour pallet of this outfit.The precious stones give it an expensive quality about the entire outfit.
Love,
A xo.
Afrocentric
A: I have never disagreed with animal print and I think it's something that can be tastefully done and you don't have to look like a hooker standing on the side of the road. I think the place where people go wrong is when they dress too provocatively - or they wear the disgusting leggings that just look horrendous! All over prints on dresses and skirts teamed with a shirt or vest top gives it a more classy look. Tribal prints are also gorgeous and perfect for summer.
Vintage Americana - my own creation..
The plaid shoes keep within the trend too and the design keeps it vintage. The art-deco earrings keep within the vintage style and the small aqua purse resembles many bags that can be found in your local vintage stores.
My favourite part of the Americana trend is the cat's-eye sunglasses. It gives a pop of sophistication and gives a sort of sexy Audrey Hepburn look.
Love,
A xo.
Vintage Americana
A: I love everything about this trend. Vintage is fabulous and I'm glad it's back. Obviously, I am a great believer that if you want a vintage look, you've got to actually buy vintage and not something from a high street store labelled "vintage". I love pastel colours - as seen in the Pale and Interesting trend - and mixed with 50s inspired prints it makes it a lot more playful. Mixing with highwaisted skirts including leather and plaids, it keep all body types in the loop.
Graphic White - my own creation..
I knew that tailoring and sculptor are important with this trend so I went with a strong blazer/trouser combo to give a summery office look.
The killer white high heeled sandals are to keep with that summer feel and to team into the outfit. The yellow trim gives it a pop of colour.
The white clutch with black trim breaks up the white so it doesn't look so angelic, the gold with turquoise pendant is to add another splash of colour and richness.
Love,
A xo.
Graphic White
A: I've always been a fan of tailoring and I'm never afraid to admit that. White is always a hard colour to pull off and I think it takes a super model to do it perfectly. I've always wanted to own my own white suit-jacket. It screams wealth and richness. White trousers, however, I think are made much more for celebrities doing guest appearances.
Gatsby Glamour - my own creation..
The dress is beautiful. It screams wealth with the detailed fringing and can suit any shape.
Alexander McQueen should be involved in most outfits, in my opinion. I used his shoes, mostly because the colours match the outfit, but also because it's a classic shoe shape.
The gold clutch and the drop earrings finish of a very classic and elegant look, with a bit of edge thrown in there for good measure.
Love,
A xo.
Gatsby Glamour
A: I think that if you have plenty of pennies in the bank, this look won't be too hard to pull off. Feathers and tassels don't come cheap and I think these looks may come off a bit costumey if accessorised incorrectly. Gold, silver, black and a bit of white are all included in this style, but unless you're minted or going to a fancy dress party: I wouldn't personally try it.
Pale and Interesting - my own creation..
I wanted to keep with the main idea of the dress. Ity;s flowey and white and I wanted to give a bit more structure to the rest of the outfit.
I used the black pattern and chose a black hat - obviously to keep the sun out of your eyes - with the simple bag that you could use for the beach.
Falling in love with the shoes - for the deck/bar than the beach - and used the white from the T-Bar in the sunglasses.
Love,
A xo.
Pale and Interesting
A: I love this trend. In summer you always want to show off your tan and I think this is the way to do it if you don't feel comfortable in white. From structure mini's to flowing maxi's, there's every style of clothing available in every shade of pastel colour that you can find that will no doubt pop up everywhere on the high street.
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Vogue: The Collections - Spring/Summer 2012, The Vogue Edit
Febuary's issue of Vogue has given an easy guide to the new Spring/Summer 2012 collections that have appeared on the catwalks all over the world.
I will be giving the trends along with Vogue's words on the different styles, including images from my favourite designers on the catwalks and my own personal opinion. I will also give my own outfit idea created on ASOS Fashion Finder as I have on previous posts.
Love,
A xo,
Friday, 6 January 2012
Ready for Summer
I think this outfit is really good for just a bit of minimalism if you don't want to think too much about an outfit.
Shoppers are always great bags. They're simple and they pretty much go with every outfit. You can even get them free from Topshop and other highstreet stores on occasion and it's a well known fact that eco-friendly organisations are big on them.
The black maxi-skirt are always a good base for an outfit. If you want to dress up or dress down, you can accessories it easily and simply with a few bracelets, different pairs of shoes and with a jacket.
Denim has been and always will be in, and demin shirts are a strong androgynous statement, but even if you tie it up like a cow girl or just leave it to hang loosely, you can still look relaxed, but very on trend.
Love,
A xo.
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Dream Job
I want to be known for styling celebrities from all over the world for premiers or even just little event parties.
I think this outfit is a strong representation of my favourite trends and how my money would be spent.
As seen in a previous post, I love collar detailing, and this white shirt, to me, can be teamed with pretty much anything and can be worn all year round.
The leather trousers teamed with the token Vivienne Westwood armour ring (which I will own one day) and the studded shoes shows the grunge side that I absolutely adore. Punk has always been a love of mine and Westwood being one of the main founders of bringing punk into mainstream fashion, she has become an idol of mine.
The bright yellow studded shoes are a statement piece and I don't think women should be afraid to draw attention to themselves in a stylish way. Obviously don't walk into a shop wearing some hideous Pineapple concoction, but if you can afford to and you feel confident enough: do it.
I chose the bag because I am obsessed with the Celine bag and this is the closest I could find. The Michael Kors watch is just something of beauty and goes with the use of silver within the outfit.
Love,
A xo.
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
ASOS Outfit - Winter Comfort
This outfit is a much more expensive representation of an outfit I hope to own - of course owning a Chanel bag would be INCREDIBLE, but unfortunately I don’t have a couple of grand lying around, so I’ll happily stick to my cheaper look-a-likes.
I love these ankle boots featured and they are available everywhere at the moment. I think they add a grunge look instantly when teamed with a dress or jeans.
I am very big on statement cuff’s, however without buying cheap cuffs and preparing to have a green arm, I think I’m going to have to save up for a while.
Everyone should own a decent knit jumper. Everyone suits grey and I think it goes with pretty much anything. It’s also a very relaxed colour an can be worn anywhere.
Cherry jeans are my obsession. All the main high street stores have made them available, but when it comes to quality, the more money you spend you know you’re getting something that will last.
I have been very inspired by Made In Chelsea recently and I am obsession by their range of fur coats and hats. This fedora was inspired by Rosie Fortescue.
Love,
A xo.
Collar obsession..
My favourite blog at the moment is Cats and Rocking Chairs by Morven. She has incredible taste and incredible style. I always look to her for ideas. She blogged in early November about how to make your own detailed collars - I was tansfixed.
Unable to find my own collar accessories, I’m taking her advice.
You can find all the information on her blogspot page;
morven-catsandrockingchairs.blogspot.com/2011/11/collar-details-diy.html
Love,
A xo.
A great little buy
Black Sheer Back Pintuck Dress - £32 down to £17, Miss Selfridge.
After 3 hours of sales shopping in Brighton, it is a shame that all I bought was this little black dress, but it really was a madhouse!
However, I think this really was a great buy. Everyone needs a simple little black dress in the wardrobe and this is now mine.
The good thing about this dress is that it can be worn throughout any season.
In winter you can team it with a pair of tights and some killer heels and a leather jacket (or a fur jacket to give it some glamour) for a night out.
In summer you can wear it on it’s own for a little bit of shimmer on the beach.
What I love about this dress is the sheer back. Showing a little bit of bra in a sophisticated way is always sexy and backs have always been an obsession of mine. There’s something really attractive about a bare back, but chiffon is also gives a flash of skin without being too obvious.
The tied waist is good for all sizes because it can show off the curves you already have or the curves you always wanted.
Love,
A xo.
Coat with Pleat Fur Hood - £85 down to £35, ASOS
The pleated back gives is more of a shape and slightly cocoons the shoulders to give it a more feminine fit.
Being quite a boxy shape, being a curvier girl it could make you look a lot wider than you are, but being a tall and stick thin (lucky) girl it will fit you perfectly.
Love,
A xo.
Dogtooth Coat - £100 down to £40, ASOS
I do love the way that ASOS have also styled this coat with an androgynous model and a shirt and jeans combo to compliment the Mod-esque look.
Love,
A xo.
A little treat!
I’ve never owned a decent coat that I was proud to own. I’ve been looking at the catwalks and at lookbook.nu for a long time and I’ve never been able to find the perfect coat.
As soon as the Christmas/January sales popped up after Boxing Day, I knew I had to give it one last go before I gave up and decided to live in my blazers and a denim jackets for another winter season. And there they were, the coats of my dreams.
I’ll be giving short reviews when they arrive, but for now I’ll give you a little information about why I chose them.
Love,
A xo.
If you love Gossip Girl as much as me..
You can have Serena’s Iphone cover for a fraction of the cost that it’s worth, like I did!
Alpha Gadgets on Amazon are selling it for £5.90 (with protective front cover)
BLACK NEW IPHONE 4S / IPHONE 4 WOOD CUT STYLE RUBBER HARD BACK COVER / CASE / SHELL / SKIN, WITH 6-IN-1 SCREEN PROTECTOR PACK
That’s all you need to type in the search bar (UK)
It fits an Iphone 4 and it is a perfect protective cover.
Love,
A xo.
Paris
When I was younger and I first remember being taken there by my family I had no appreciation for it because all I could think about was how tired or how grumpy I was - I was a pleasant 13 year old.
At 16 I went back there with my school and I saw it from a completely different perspective. It may of been to do with my love of photography, but I saw things a lot more creatively.
I took more time looking at the architecture, and I think that’s why I love Paris. I can’t put my finger on why, but their gorgeous detailing and craftsmanship adds a whimsical tone to it. The floor to ceiling windows are something you’d find in a castle and I think that’s why I love it. The rows upon rows of buildings have balconies over looking the streets as if you were the Queen looking over at your kingdom.
I can’t wait to get there in March with my University.
Love,
A xo.
Dream Dress
This is my absolute a utter dream dress and the killer is; it’s still available. At £120, it is quite expensive for a highstreet store (Miss Selfridge), however, you know there’s quality in the print and in the stitching.
The beautiful sunset colours give a summer-night feel. The good thing about this dress is that it is perfect for a dinner or even a fancy affair. I love the juxtaposition between the hard leather bodice and the pastel coloured draped skirt.
Rosie Fortescue from Made In Chelsea has been seen with her sister wearing this dress, so I know it’s good enough for pretty much anyone.
Maybe I’ll give it to buying this gorgeous piece, but I’m still not sure about the fit. Being 5ft 3 and having E sized boobs, it isn’t the best mixture for a dress like this.
Love,
A xo.
Universe
Love,
A xo.
if you can't afford Miu Miu - there's always Primark!
As a student, designer brands are a thing of imagination and fantasies. Being a fashion student however, there’s always the hope that the next scratch card I purchase will have a ten thousand pound prize waiting for me. Primark will always be a love of mine because they never fail to try and copy anything and everything. Luckily for me, they’ve actually tried to copy the chunky wedged heel that is all over the catwalks this season. For £18, it was definitely worth a try - I am still trying how to walk in the different shaped heel though.
Love,
A xo.
Alexa Chung Inspired
Chung has this indie/hipster (she’ll no doubt hate me for saying that) style that makes A-Line dresses one of the must haves to mimic her carefree image. Having smaller boobs, she doesn’t seem to have the same problem that I do - they aren’t easily sculpted around.
Whilst walking around The Clothes Show Live in Birmingham, this cute little dress captivated my attention on a small boutique stall amongst the vintage section. Cee Cee London was the designer and her clothes rails were filled of pastel coloured shirts and dresses with a few pairs of shorts thrown in there for good measure.
I knew I had to have this dress and couldn’t believe my eyes when the price tag said £25. I thought it’d be a dress Chung would be proud of and I knew that I’d seen something similar on her.
I love the black trim around the colour and against the gold buttons down the centre and I am a sucker for chiffon. The pleated skirt balances out of hips to my boobs and with a little black belt it cinched in my waist to make me look that much thinner. I also love the thinning of the chiffon around the shoulders to show just a hint of skin.
Now, being a size E, my boobs didn’t exactly get lost amongst the tight material, but I do still love this dress. I know it’d look a lot better if half of my boobs fell off, but I do not qualify for a boob reduction and I’ve been complimented on it too many times to want to change anything about it.
I may not look as good as Alexa Chung, but I know that there are styles out there that I can get away with.
Love,
A xo.
Favourite Fur
With these sort of coats you should style it either a tight fitting dress for a glam going-out look or just team with jeans and a simple top as ASOS have done so on their ad.
Love,
A xo.
Faux Fur
So here it is; autumn/winter 2011. It’s not much of a surprise that the runways are covered in chunky knits, capes and trench coats, but even if it is used in a small dose, faux fur is appearing everywhere. From collar and cuffs, trim on boots and hats or even with a stunning all over coat, faux fur has demanded attention for another year on the runways.
To seeing Marc Jacobs collection including it on bags and Stella McCartney on all over coats, faux fur has never left the runways since it was introduced in 1929 and then was commercially available in the 1950s.
Fur dealers have been traced back to 1862 with a man named Leipzig. However, in the years that progressed, it was highlighted that the murder of animals just for their fur was unethical and people began to rise up and fight against the ill-treatment of them. You can still see campaigns today from corporations such as PETA that has support from many celebrities such as Eva Mendes, Vivienne Westwood and Charlize Theron. You can also see more aggressive and passionate campaigners on the streets outside of Fashion Weeks all over the world protesting and even sometimes throwing paint onto passers by wearing real fur.
Vintage faux fur coats always seem to be more popular than buying the new versions as there is a history there and you can feel as if you were in the 50s. This was a brand new and exciting thing to be a part of. You can look glamorous without harming a thing.
The use of synthetic fibres designed to resemble fur has changed the face of ethical fashion. There will always be a difference between the qualities of real fur to fake; however, you do not have the thought in your mind about wearing a poor, innocent and mostly cute creature around your shoulders.
The highstreet has always followed the fashion from the high fashion designers as this is where trends are set for the season, so it is available to any working woman (or man) to be able to be a diva when you’re walking out around the town in a statement coat.
The great thing about fake fur is that it is a lot more versatile and easier to work with than real fur, for example; Topshop have been able to use different colours for a larger range on their duffle coats, something that would be a lot harder and more costly for designers using real fur.
So, this winter, add a touch of glamour to your day, even if it just with fur collar and cuffs on a duffle or trench coat or with a bit of trim on your boots, and make that statement that even though you look like a million dollars, it didn’t cost you your mortgage or a defenceless animals life.
Love,
A xo.
The Wrong Hair
So, Tumblr is a lot more influential than one might think. At the end of Summer ‘11 I decided that I needed a change before I took the big grown-up step into University life in Southampton. I’d seen that a big trend that was popping up all over Tumblr was dip-dye hair. As soon as I saw Alexa Chung rocking it, I knew I had to have it.
When my close friend Petrina mentioned she was getting her hair done with a friend who owned a salon, I knew this was my chance.
Sitting in the chair I tried to explain what I wanted to the stylist who kept a vaguely blank look on her face. She even brought over the head stylist over to see if he understood, he also did not. I then said ‘I’d like my hair to have dark roots and then blonde tips.’ A lightbulb seemed to appear above her head as she said ‘AHHHH! Like Pixie Lott!’ - I didn’t honestly know what Pixie was doing with her hair at the time so I agreed.
To my horror, half way through the highlighting process, I saw her getting higher and higher towards my roots. I knew it was about to go tits up, but as a typical British inhabitant I said nothing.
Now, it’s not so bad. My hair has grown out and the blonde is getting closer and closer to the tips of my hair. When I first saw it dried and styled, it looked as if I wanted to be blonde, but hadn’t done my roots for a few months. It wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t what I wanted.
The envy I have for Caroline Flack at the moment is overwhelming. Not for the fact she might be boinking a One Direction toddler, but the fact her hair is exactly what I wanted! When she popped up on Never Mind The Buzzcocks, I couldn’t take my eyes away from her. Not for her beauty, but for her beautiful hair!
I hope to eventually get my hair properly dip-dyed in peroxide, but until that day, I will just have to stare at her profile picture on Twitter in pure jealousy.
Love,
A xo.
Christmas Jumpers
Now, if you bumped into me on the way to the petrol station or the the shops just to grab something small that I needed, you would see me no doubt rockin’ a my blue and white snowflake Christmas jumper with a pair of leggings. I actually wear it all year round in fact due to how comfortable it is.
While I’m at University, my boyfriend sometimes steals my most valuable possession (the jumper) so I decided that whilst I was shopping with my boyfriend for his Christmas presents, I skilfully directed him towards the Christmas jumper section of Dirty Harry’s (a small vintage shop in Brighton Laines) and some how encouraged him that owning his own jumper would a much more festive idea than him constantly pinching mine! It is now awaiting him under my Christmas tree.
Christmas jumpers have got a very bad press. Bridget Jones didn’t give it a confidence boost when she slagged Darcy’s off (I actually thought it was rather dashing). However, Esquire’s December issue had a column focusing on how Christmas jumpers aren’t all that bad! And I’m there with them! I reckon my boyfriend will not pull a Darcy, but will look incredibly fashionable and well dressed whilst he sits next to me in my very own snowflake-covered wonder.
Everyone should own one; amen.
Love,
A xo.
Black Milk
Black Milk is a website that I stumbled across while searching through outfits on Lookbook.nu.
I immediately fell in love with their their bold graphic designs that can be found on all of their clothes. From leggings to dresses, Black Milk offers a large range of graphic images printed on their clothes. From universe prints to skeletal prints on their dresses and the UK and US flags on their skirts, it’s safe to say that if you want to be noticed, Black Milk in the place to go. Their range is quite expensive, but you are paying for the quality of the images that are available.
The only downfall with Black Milk that I can find is that their clothes are very tight. Your imperfections will stand out like a sore thumb, so if you have any bumps and lumps you want to hide, I suggest you go for the skirts and not tuck in the tops into it, or just avoid their bodycon range all together.
Love,
A xo.
My Perfect Christmas Presents
I’m lucky enough to of found my other half; he probably doesn’t see it that way as he’s just finished buying my Christmas presents. He’s staring at his bank balance as if he’s bought a small house. I have to explain to him that I’m spending the same on him, but a mutter under his breath about having to walk everywhere seeing as he’ll no longer be able to afford petrol was a sign he still wasn’t over the shock.
I’m very picky about my presents. I was thinking about what I wanted for a few months now. I’ve browsed every decent online retailers that I could possibly think of. From Very to Topshop and Silverrings.com to Oasis.
At the start when I was seriously struggling to look for any presents, I had no idea what I wanted. I even got to the point of looking at boxes of chocolates and sweets online, forgetting that I could just pop down the shop and buy myself a packet any day I wanted.
After months of searching I found the items that I wanted. Thanks to my love of fashion, Twitter and Made in Chelsea, I cannot wait to rip them open on Christmas Day.
- Two silver rings – I am a committed fan of the recent British reality - or so they say - show Made in Chelsea. I am obsessed by their lifestyle. Living in the centre of London with Mummy and Daddy’s hard earned work to pay. I was also entranced by the beautiful Caggie who I noted would accessorize herself with numerous silver rings. I knew that’s what I wanted. silver.uk.com was the place that I found them and as soon as I was advised what size to get, I sent the link to my boyfriend and out came his debit card!
- Red slippers – Alexa Chung has always been an icon of mine. After discovering the world of Twitter, she was the first person I looked for and followed – not in the stalker sense. After seeing a photograph she posted of shoes she had brought to Paris with her, there was a gorgeous pair of slippers that I saw and with the helping hand of River Island, I found a stunning little pair which had my name written all over them.
- Studded clutch bag – River Island has always done me proud. After growing out of that awful chavy faze that they went through since, well, since I can remember, they have come out the other side on top of the high street. As I dragged my boyfriend to find my red slippers, I saw this studded clutch bag out the corner of my eye. I’ve seen it previously with friends, but seeing as I had the exact same amount left over from my budget – I knew it was destiny!
- Wanna-be Birkin bag – if I ever own a Birkin bag, I know I’ve done something right with my life. However, until then I’ll need to settle for look-a-likes. I knew I wanted a new black bag and ASOS has always served me well. After getting an email from them telling me about their new Marketplace site they had for small boutiques to sell their wares. And there, amongst the handbags was my perfect look-a-like. I immediately fell in love and it’s a good thing my boyfriend has Paypal!
photographs to come.
Love,
A xo.
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