Tag Archives: fashion

LFW ’15 Purchases

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Temptation comes in many forms at London Fashion Weekend, which bills itself as London’s biggest designer shopping event.  From Maybelline to Moschino, there is something for everyone.  Don’t expect much at the lower end of that pay scale.. but there are certainly bargains to be had if you look! I’d definitely recommend booking tickets for the last day, like I did.  Lots of designers/vendors were offering discounts and I even heard some brave souls attempting to haggle, so you may well get an even better deal.

Cambridge Satchel Company were worth a look, with decent discounts and free embossing.  I popped in to see what they had, as I’m a big fan of the quality of their work (we have recently purchased a gorgeous steamer trunk  from them which is just beautifully made).  Unfortunately they didn’t have the colour of their large satchel that I was looking for (pink.. obviously).  They did have their new ‘Peanuts’ collection, which was nice to see in the flesh.  Some fun choices for younger fashionista but I think their prices may still put off that target market.

Somerset House (the LFW venue) has a fabulous book shop at the best of times, so I had to pop in to indulge my guilty habit of collecting fashion books.  I picked up Choupette: The Private Life of a High-Flying Fashion Cat which I have been wanting to get my hands on for a while (self confessed cat lady here!) and the first of my two bargains of the day- Valentino- Master of Couture (hardback) for the princely sum of £2.50! With an RRP of £30 I just had to take it home!

Last purchase of the day is a beauty, and I’m almost sad that spring is just around the corner because I won’t be able to wear it as much! Luckily, there’s always the grim Scottish weather to rely on in trips home, where my winter wardrobe can sometimes be needed in July! I bought this Pretty White Lies black faux fur bunny jacket.  As you can see it’s sold out online in the black, but it is available in the grey if you love it as much as I do.  I went back and forth on buying this but in the end went for it when I saw they had only one size small left on the rail! I paid £40 for it and went away delighted.  Later, when googling for it for a picture to send my mum, I discovered the original price of £220 and sale price of £110 and I’m even more glad I bought it now! It even passed approval with my husband (who knows nothing about fashion and insists on making jokes about pirates and asking me where my parrot is whenever I wear my Alexander McQueen skull scarf… bless him) I’m off out for afternoon tea next weekend and I’m finding myself hoping it isn’t too warm to wear it, so I know that I am going to get a lot of use out of this gorgeous faux fur.

SIBLING @ LFW SS15

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Never understated, always fun- SIBLING is a London based designer launched in 2008. A collaboration between three friends, they started with menswear and now the label has grown substantially. They have worked with Children in Need and Disney… What’s not to love? 

Trademarks of the brand include breton stripes, leopard and bright neons. Today’s show was no exception to this with a cascade of colour, sequins and pattern, set to Madonna holiday.

I was in the front row for their show today, the closing show of London Fashion Weekend 2015.  The fun designs and upbeat music made for a highly entertaining show. I’m left wondering if I can work a giant bow hat into my wardrobe… 





Catwalk trends for A/W

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· 60’s was everywhere on the A/W catwalks. From polo necks to knee high boots for Louis Vuitton to printed shift dresses from Valentino, it looks like the swinging 60’s are back.

· Fairytale of fashion week… bring on the rich jewel tones, embellished capes and fur hoods. You can expect to see these all over the high street as the cold weather hits!

· Fast food… fast fashion! Karl Lagerfeld’s supermarket show led the way here! Trashy but fabulous is in, with garish colour blocking and in your face branding. And who could forget the wonder of McDonalds Moschino?! Definitely the chic-est happy meal around!

· Winter blues are all the rage this season, replacing the pink trends of recent years (Nothing will make me ditch the pink!)

· Maybe it’s the ‘50 shades of grey’ factor, but sexy seductive clothing featured heavily on the catwalk, and we’ll see that on the high street too. Look out for sumptuous silk, soft black leather and flashes of red. (Side note: Hate that book- how about we don’t glamourise domestic violence? – but love this look!)

7 fashion rules that you shouldn’t be afraid to break

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Life is full of rules, but style doesn’t have to be!

“Navy and black don’t go together”
This is one rule that has a lot of believers, but when used with caution navy and black can look very chic together. It appears a lot on the catwalk, and unlike a lot of catwalk looks, this is easy to try in real life. Try pairing black opaque tights with a navy dress- simple!

“You can’t mix patterns”
Don’t be afraid to try this- it can really freshen up your look! Once you’ve braved it you’ll be mixing florals and stripes like a pro! An easy way to start is to think of leopard print as a neutral. If you’re scared, you can experiment with details like scarves and belts.

“Silver or gold… not both!”
Mixing metals is very in! All over both the blog world and the celebrity circuit. The trick is to make it look deliberate, not just accidently thrown on! This is easy to achieve with stacking bracelets or layering necklaces of different lengths.

“You can’t wear red to a wedding”
Such an old fashioned rule- back when red was the colour of promiscuity. There are some gorgeous red dresses to wear to a wedding out there (And lots that aren’t appropriate… hint: no spandex or leather). And as a recent bride I can reassure you; as long as no one turned up in a white dress and veil I wasn’t remotely bothered!

“Faux fur is tacky”
Not always, some looks great and very realistic. So realistic that you should avoid PETA campaigners! Obviously some look faux fur pieces looks better than others but there is no reason you shouldn’t introduce this into your wardrobe this winter.

“Don’t wear more than one bold colour at a time”
Um hello, colour blocking? You can (and absolutely should!) break this rule. The colour wheel is your friend, don’t be scared to go for contrast! Teal and pink are my two absolute favourite colours, and whereas once they could never be worn together, now we know they POP! (Good news for my wardrobe!)

“Tall women can’t wear heels” / “Short women should always wear heels”
I’ll wear whatever shoes I like, thanks! I’m 5’4″ and my husband is 6’3″… I LOVE heels, they make me feel slimmer and more confident but do I have to wear them ALWAYS? Nope! On the other side of the coin, if you’re tall don’t think you can’t wear heels if you want to! This is an outdated notion from the days when women couldn’t been as both tall and feminine. In short (no pun intended) wear whatever damn shoes you want. Confidence is your best accessory.

How to dress for your shape : Part 2

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So last week I helped you work out your shape… now that you know what you’ve got – here’s how to dress it!

If you’re an apple, like Jennifer Hudson-
🍎You want to elongate your midsection and create the illusion of a smaller waist.
🍎V- neck tops to create the illusion of a longer torso.
🍎A good bra is your friend- the right one will offer good lift and support and make all the difference to your posture!
🍎Always wear your belt at the smallest part of your waist for maximum results!
🍎Wear shorter skirts to show off your legs (your best asset!) and draw attention away from your midsection!

If you’re a pear, like Kim Kardashian-West-
🍐Don’t wear bright prints on your lower half- that draws attention to hips and thighs.
🍐Try a-line skirts, which camouflage wider hips.
🍐Wide hem trousers also help to balance the hips.
🍐Look for jackets that hit right above the waist- they’ll be most flattering!
🍐Pointy-toed shoes are an easy way to elongate your legs.

If you’re an hourglass, like Scarlett Johansson-
⌛️Never hide your curves with baggy clothing- this will just make you look bigger!
⌛️Fitted dresses and a belt at the waist to enhance your hourglass shape.
⌛️Try high-waisted skirts to show off your hips.
⌛️You can pick thin, lightweight styles and fabrics to showcase your curves!
⌛️Skinny and straight leg jeans look great on you too!

If you’re a rectangle shape, like Cameron Diaz-
◼️Scoop neck and sweetheart tops are an easy way to create curves.
◼️Tops with detail- like unusual collars and ruffles to flatter your chest.
◼️Always invest in a good bra that will make the most of what you have.
◼️Experiment with layering to add more dimension to your look!
◼️You can play about with bright colours on your lower half- a really flattering look!

If you’re an inverted triangle shape, like Demi Moore-
🔽Wide-leg trousers and full skirts look great on you and create balance!
🔽Spaghetti strap tops and boat necklines are to be avoided- they make broad shoulders look broader!
🔽Look for tops that call attention to your waistline, either with cut or embellishment.
🔽Look for clothes that create the illusion of a waist – high waisted jeans are your friend!

How to dress for your shape : Part 1

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When it comes to dressing for your shape my philosophy is… Rock what you’ve got!

No matter the number on your label, it’s important to know, and appreciate your body shape. This can change with age, with most women seeing changes after puberty, but usually doesn’t even when your carrying a little extra holiday weight! Next week I’ll be discussing some top tips to dress to accentuate your natural shape- so take a look and work out what shape you think you are!

Apple – Apple shapes usually gain more weight in their tummy, bum and face. They’re usually bigger on their top half, with broader shoulders. The great news is that apple shaped girls usually have slim hips and gazelle like legs!

Pear- Pear shapes usually gain weight mostly on their bum and thighs (this sounds familiar). However they usually also have a smaller bust (this is how I know I’m not a pear!). Pear shapes will quite often have hips wider than their shoulders.

Hourglass- Lucky hourglass girlies find that weight goes on pretty evenly between their bust, hips and thighs. A narrow waist creates the hourglass effect- this body shape is one of the easiest to spot!

Rectangle- Any extra weight on someone of this shape usually appears around the stomach- but they’re lucky to have slender hips and a small waist!

Inverted triangle- Broader shoulders and a full bust usually signal an inverted triangle shape, particularly with a slim waist and narrow hips!

As I was saying, next week I’ll be talking about some of the best ways to dress for your shape… But the most important thing I can say is love what you are! Even when I gain or lose weight, my shape remains roughly the same… I’m an hourglass. I just have a little extra time at the moment!

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Top Tips for Pattern Mixing

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There’s a fine line between chic and stylish pattern mixing, and looking like you’ve been kicked through a charity shop. This makes a lot of people scared to try to mix patterns, but if you follow some basic guidelines it can be easier than you may think!

-To avoid it becoming overwhelming, try using one bold pattern and one more subtle print. That way one is the real focus point and the other is more complimentary.

– Make like project runway and keep it cohesive- pick a common colour that runs throughout your patterns, that will go a long way to tying the outfit together.

– If in doubt, start simple. Avoid croc print, chevrons etc… Go for a simple floral, polkadot or stripe. Chances are you already have these in your wardrobe.

– Add small touches- leopard print shoes are everywhere, and patterned scarves as a big favourite of mine. Adding these wee details make it look effortless.

Pattern mixing has been big on the catwalk and I think it’s here to stay. It’s also a great way to get more versatility out of your existing wardrobe- you may find pieces you never would have thought to pair together suddenly make a great new outfit. Worth a try right?

In Conversation with Cosmopolitan – The Truth About Celebrity Fashion

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It’s not even payday until Monday but it didn’t stop me… I’ve just ordered a ticket to Cosmopoltian Fash Fest (Okay, not such a fan of the name but I’ll let it go!)

I’ll be going along to the Tuesday the 16th of September session: In Conversation with Cosmopolitan- The Truth About Celebrity Fashion.  Their website states that hosted by Cosmo’s Editor-in-Chief Louise Court, this is a chance to get behind the scenes and discover trade secrets.  The panel are certainly well connected in the industry:

Pixie Lott

Victoria Adcock – Celebrity stylist to clients including Cheryl Cole and Victoria Beckham.  If you read my wee interview over at secretsofatwentysomething.com you’ll know that Victoria Beckham can do not wrong in my eyes so I’m interested to hear any tips from her stylist!

Lisa Valencia – Celebrity Make-up artist

Jess Moloney –  Designer Fashion PR for Vivienne Westwood

Ben Cooke – Celebrity hairdresser to clients including Nicole Scherzinger- who always has beautiful luscious locks!

 I can’t make LFW A/W this year due to work commitments, so I’m excited that I have this to look forward to instead.  Of course I’ll do a full review post afterwards!

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One Dress : Two Ways

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One of the smartest ways to pack for a holiday is to make sure you outfit build.  With the use of accessories one simple belted coral maxi dress can be worn for both day & night.

The daytime look features casual styling, with a straw trilby, fun flip flops and a canvas bag for trips to the beach.  I’m picturing this with beachy waves… beaut.

To switch it up for night, scoop your hair up in to a high bun, and pop on a rosebud crown.  Throw on a pair of wedge espadrilles and a cute straw clutch, and you’re ready for dinner, drinks & wherever the evening may take you.

Do you outfit build when you’re packing for holidays? Which outfit do you prefer? How would you style this dress?