Topic: Trends

May 24, 2013

Trends: Summer Watches & Wedges

AWEAR Cut Out Peplum dress from ASOS, Casio Watch from Watch Warehouse, Charlotte Olympia Wedges from Net-a-Porter

Summer is still trying to burst through the clouds but I am sure it won’t be long now. In the mean time we can get to dreaming about balmy evenings sipping cocktails and having that extra spring in your step that feeling the sun on your face can bring to even the most mundane Monday morning. Two things which I think crop up on the summer radar are watches and wedges. The sun comes out and the sleeves come off, instantly revealing you watch which has been hidden all winter. This is the chance to really let your watch do some style talking. Either opt for a real statement piece like this retro Casio, or go for something which screams summer such as this Guess bracelet watch, both Watch Warehouse. Wedges for summer are a no-brainer, much more practical than stilettos for garden parties and BBQ’s. The hot colour for this season is baby blue, go for classic cork from Stella McCartney or walk on the wild side with Charlotte Olympia’s leopard print heels, both Net-a-Porter. To finish of your summer wardrobe up date you can’t beat a perfect dress. Florals for summer are a classic, but try a differnt twist and go for over-sized, graphic prints. If florals aren’t your thing, nod to summer with cleaver cut out details, both of these fab frocks are from ASOS.

ASOS Photographic Jewel Print TShirt dress, Guess watch from Watch Warehouse, Stella McCartney Wedge Sandals from Net-a-Porter

May 7, 2013

What the MET Gala 2013 Can Teach Us

Commenting on trussed up celebs isn’t usually my game but I really couldn’t resist with this years MET Gala having a Punk theme. Having a theme for any event doesn’t usually bode well and the stars out last night fell victim trying to live up to it. Unless you are at a fancy dress party don’t change your style for anyone! Let’s have a look eh…

Starting with Dame Viv and date Lily Cole, if anyone had the right to turn up in pins and rips it was Viv but of course she has been there done that. Instead she chose a sumptuous taffeta dress and cape from AW12, voluminous with a dropped waist. Pinned to her breast was a photo of Wiki-leaks’ Bradley Manning. In a sea of tits and legs it was ironically the most punk look of them all.

Lily wore a Westwood gown of course, the design the same as the iconic Olympic dress however the corset of the MET dress crafted from Amazonian wild rubber, a natural material.When I first saw this dress I wasn’t aware of it’s construction, stating on Facebook how I wished it had been made of rubber! The reason this came to mind being the colour of the dress, recalling the colour of the original rubber and latex punk clothing sold at SEX. The photo I found about just shows up the contrast of the corset and skirts.

Both Vivienne and Lily wore Clomper shoes which I was immensely impressed with,Vivienne wore a runway version with ribbon ties and intricate embroidery. Had to LOL at the lady in blue carrying her heels down the staircase, not our Viv she can ride her bike in these baby’s.

Christina Ricci was the only other star to wear Westwood (god knows why, not a bondage suit in sight), her McAndrew tartan gown was incredible, but I think she styled it a little off kilter. I didn’t hate her look but I think she should have worn cobweb or pvc stockings to give it a little edge.

I think by the far the biggest mistake of the evening befell those choosing evening gloves, both Beyonce and Kim are stunning women but their Givenchy gowns swamped them.

Katy Perry and Linda Evangelista (Marchesa) look like the went on a journey with Bill and Ted, falling out of the wrong century! I do actually like Katy’s crown and Dolce & Gabbana frock but think the shoes make it frumpy.

Even when the gowns were that bad, so many of the girls looked like trussed up turkey, overly tanned, hair slick wit gel or stiff with spray. Many translated punk as 80s eye make up, more suited to Halloween.Julianna Moore’s quiff was just ridiculous. Brit chic Cara Delevingne showed how to get it right with soft locks to balance out a smudged, smokey eye. Wanting to stand out from the crowd Jessica Biel donned a fake nose ring and Nichole Richie sported frosted hair – more Rocky Horror Show ladies.

Ok so I can’t leave out Madonna in her Givenchy outfit, yes it is pure Punk in a costumey sense,but if I’d seen someone wearing this on any other occasion I would have given serious hearts to it. The gilt pyramid studs, the tartan, the pop or fuchsia pink heels, even the damn wig. Gah I love it, I shouldn’t but I do and I don’t know why!

That’s not to say nodding to Punk fashion without looking like a pastiche is impossible, Miley Cyrus (Marc Jacobs), Cary Mulligan (Balenciaga), Alexa Chung (Erdem), Sienna Miller (Burberry) and Donatella Versace (Versace) all looked sleek and chic. I kind of wish Miley had slashed it across the bust, a la Courtney Love in THAT Dior dress. In fact, why they hell wasn’t Love there!!

The safest option was to flip the V’s to the dress code theme, Rooney Mara (Givenchy), Anna Wintour (Chanel) and Gwen Stefani (Margiela) all stuck to their tried and tested styles and looked fantastic.

Last but not least, Sarah Jessica Parker who stole the show, from faux-hawk Philip Treacy hat, Giles gown and thigh high Louboutin boot this was not a look for the feint hearted. What might have looked like over kill on anyone else, frankly looked freakin’ fabulous. She’s SJP and she can wear whatever she damn well pleases.

April 24, 2013

Sunglasses to Suit Your Mood

Clockwise from top left: vintage Wayfarers, All Saints Cat-eyes, Nichole Farhi Clubmasters.

I am so glad the sun has finally decided to put in an appearance, it means we can get out our sunglasses! As with most things I’ve acquired a little collection of different styles, I really like to match my sunnies to my outfits. I think by far my favourite styles are big, thick, black frames as they are easy wear and they go with everything. Above is my ‘handbag’ collection, as in the ones I keep stashed in my handbag. They were all cheap, £20 or under so I don’t have to worry about them getting broken at the bottom of my bag. Last summer the All Saints pair were my staple, such a flattering shape, year before were the Wayfarers. This year I wanted something a bit different and was taken by the Clubmaster style. I was lusting after the Rayban Clubmasters when I found these Nicole Farhi ones. I liked that they had a lower nose bridge and of course that they were only £20 from TK Maxx. I do think my next buy will be Rayban though, as the cheapy £5 vintage ones above don’t offer much protection in strong sunlight so I would like a classic pair of Rayban Wayfarers. Red Hot Sunglasses have some amazing ones and I think their prices are very reasonable, they also have an extra large lens Wayfarer design available which I haven’t seen anywhere else.

Clockwise from top left: Nicole Farhi, Celine, J MASKREY

Besides from my everyday sunglasses I also have a few pairs of special ones. These were either expensive so I don’t want them clunking around my bag when I’m not wearing them or they go with specific outfits. The ones above are my D-Frames, they kind of have a ‘geek’ glasses feel to them, nice and chunky. The translucent ones are really only for a bit of fancy as they don’t offer any eye protection, whilst the red Celine ones I feel need balancing out with the right outfit. The J MASKREY ones with the crystal kiss are my absolute favourite sunglasses in the world ever, aren’t they amazing!

Clockwise from top: Gianfranco Ferre, Nike, Miu Miu, vintage Dior

If I want a softer look then I reach for my tortoiseshell sunnies, I have them in a variety of frame shapes from nice big cat-eyes, to oversized honeycombs, delicate gilt trimmed and aviator. One for any occasion really! I tend to wear these with a vintage dress and heels, perfect summer look.

Finally I have these big, bright D&G ones. Not sure what category these would go in! They are great just for a bit of fun and would be the pair to take to sit beside a pool with a cocktail. I also have this sunglasses chain holder from GOGO PHILIP, I’ve got a real habit of tucking my sunglasses over the neck of my tops – inevitably I end up dropping them when I lean over so this is really useful and a little bit cool I think. All I could use now is a beach…

April 22, 2013

Things for the Alternative Bride

Don’t be getting the wrong idea, there are no wedding bells for me just yet, however I have been talking to a few people about weddings and how traditions are changing. Rock and Roll Bride is a fabulous blog documenting how creative weddings can be these days, reflecting the couple not just traditions. J MASKREY recently launched her new online store, with it her bridal range. I absolutely love the idea of a bride carrying a box clutch and rocking a pair of glamourous shades instead of a veil! Her crystal encrusted body jewellery would look really pretty but edgy too and who wouldn’t want to walk up the isle in these incredible shoes! Click here to see the full J MASKREY range

When it comes to wedding gifts I know toasters and crockery are traditional, snooze! Wouldn’t it be lovely to create something which the couple could treasure? I thought a charm bracelet such as the Pandora ones would be a wonderful gift, each guest could choose a charm. Padndora also do leather thong bracelets and necklaces suitable for men so it’s not just a gift for the bride. Click Here for Pandora Charms

April 18, 2013

Jennifer Lawrence On & Off Screen

Jennifer Lawrence on the red carpet, image from MyVue

I’m not usually one for celeb watching, however I couldn’t help noticing how incredible Jennifer Lawrence’s style is! On screen she often plays the girl-next-door, wearing practical, sporty clothes as in the Hunger Games and Silver Linings Playbook. Off screen she is a blond bombshell in the sleekest, figure hugging dresses and chic trousers.

Jennifer’s many glam looks, image from Handbag

Jennifer always keeps things simple, which is the key to her look. She adopts a make-up-free make-up look, barley there foundation, a little bronzer and a pale lip. Long, healthy sun-kissed hair is either left loose and tussled or in a soft up-do. For evening events she keeps away from fussy prints and sticks to bright block colours or chic blacks and navy. Accessories are a no-no, she may choose a delicate pair of earrings but gobstopper rings and statement necklaces aren’t for this girl. The same goes for shoes, either a classic pointed pump or an elegant heeled sandal makes the perfect, chic look. It is hard to choose my favourite look, but the sunshine yellow reflects her upbeat personality and the navy jumpsuit is the epitome of well tailored chic.

As Katniss in the Hunger Games, image from the Telegraph

April 10, 2013

SPRING TRENDS from JOHN GREED JEWELLERY

Spring is now officially upon us and even though the temperatures aren’t quite up to scratch yet, it’s time to start decking out your spring/summer wardrobe and jewellery collections to match.
The days are getting longer and lighter, so it’s a great idea to reflect this in your style and bring a bit of a spring into your outfits. Take the opportunity to introduce brighter colours and statement jewellery pieces to really make your outfits shine. There is a range of gorgeous colours and styles to enhance your spring wardrobe from John Greed, aimed at giving you a fresh, updated look. Let’s take a look at the hottest trends for spring 2013…

Oriental

The sumptuous and beautifully crafted oriental trend was a massive hit on the catwalk from designers Emilio Pucci, Etro and Prada. Elegant Japanese kimono silhouettes and delicate oriental blossoms were seen gracing the runway. The Pandora Spring Summer range follows this catwalk trend closely, focusing on the delicate and pretty cherry blossom flower. This flowering tree is famous for its stunning foliage which captures the very essence of springtime. Adding Pandora’s new range to your spring wardrobe is the perfect way to channel this trend with an extra bit of sparkle.

L to R:
Pandora Pink Cherry Blossom Flower Stud Earrings – £35.00
Pandora Pink Cherry Blossom Murano Charm – £30.00
Pandora Pink Cherry Blossom Multiple Flower Ring – £65.00

Floral

One trend that really epitomises spring is the timeless floral. These were rife on the catwalks this year, with prints and 3D flowers adoring the garments from Vivienne Westwood and Chloe. There are some stunning pieces of jewellery that will help compliment this trend, dainty floral jewels in soft colours are perfect and will accentuate this feminine look.

L to R:
Trollbeads Silver and Gold Daisy Bead – £252.00
Pilgrim Silver and Crystal Desert Flower Ring – £29.99
Pilgrim Marguerite Gold Plated White Leather Wrap Bracelet – £29.99

Sixties

The swinging sixties are coming back to the high street for Spring Summer 13! This means pops of colour and kooky motifs, mixed in with monochromes are going to be all the rage. The catwalks of Moschino and Michael Kors were full of mini-skirts, A-lines in vibrant patterns. Channelling this look is a sure way to bring some spring into your wardrobe; picking the right bits of jewellery will make sure your outfit is complete. Wearing eccentric pieces such as the Soda Pop button bracelet will ensure your outfit embodies the cultural sixties.

L to R:
Soda Pop Button-Up Bracelet – £6.95
Thomas Sabo Silver and Red Enamel Cherry Pendant – £134
Soda Pop Red Dickie Bow Necklace – £8.05

Monochrome

You can’t go wrong if you’re sporting black and white this season, as monochrome was dominant in almost every designer’s show. Making a statement with jumbo stripes is sure to turn people’s heads, this is a trend that is timeless and arrives almost every other season. Wearing monochrome is perfect for everyone; there are stripes, geometry, checks and zigzags; each pattern and shape of garment will flatter different body shapes. Jewellery for this trend can be black or white, or you could mix things up further by adding splashes of colour like Paul Smith.

L to R:
Pandora Dark Romance Charm Set – £125.00
Pilgrim Philosophy Hematite Plated Triangle Statement Collar Crystal Necklace – £39.99
Pilgrim White Leather Strap Watch – £69.99

Which is your favourite trend for spring? Do you think you will be sporting any of these looks this year?

March 26, 2013

Trends: The Key to Country Style

Get Kate’s style: Southwold wool hacking jacket; Burberry Brit denim skinny jeans; Mark Todd country boots; Lola feather trim hat.

No sooner had the royal engagement been announced than people world over were taking inspiration from Kate Middleton’s style. Famed for her stunning McQueen wedding gown and array of elegant Issa and Reiss wrap dresses, she is very much the future princess. One thing that is often neglected to mention is quite how well Kate dresses on her off-duty days. In fact country dressing is something the royals have had down to a T for many generations, with Prince Charles and the Queen keeping warm and smart to walk the corgis’ around Balmoral. The key to Kate’s dressed down style is a trusty jacket, tweed or boiled wool is a practical option as it will keep heat in whilst repelling water. A classic khaki colour is most versatile but soft browns or greys are also easy to wear. If you are a little more daring than the Duchess why not try a vibrant red. I have a multi-coloured tweed jacket myself and can attest to how wearable it is. Kate’s absolute staple are her skinny jeans, they go perfectly with tall boots, wellies, trainers, ballet flats and heels. Kate prefers dark washes in a nice indigo blue or black. For roaming around the country or just your local park a boot-wellington hybrid is a great option; pairing the practicality of waterproof wellies but with the style of a boot. This Mark Todd pair are great and similar to a pair Kate often wears. The finishing touch for Kate is often a beautiful hat. One of her most recognisable looks is this cowboy style which can be quite a laid back look. For something a little more versatile this Lola hat can be worn casually too, but the feather detail and structured shape of this Lola hat means it can be worn for more formal occasions.

March 17, 2013

Psyche – Perfect Pitstop for Summer

It’s nearly summer, well alright how about I rephrase that, its time for the new season! The weather might not be reliable but that doesn’t mean we can’t invest in some cheerful and bright clothes to put a spring in our step. I do love a good shop, both online and in person depending on what mood I am in, but it can be time consuming trailing around different shops and many department stores are a mish-mash of things which aren’t any one style. This is where specialist fashion store Psyche comes in, online or in real life (should you be near Cleveland) it is a designer life style store with the scale of a department store. With 30 years in the business Psyche stands out from the crowd as it retains a boutique atmosphere of carefully selected brands and merchandise, making shopping a thing of ease. I really like the way they cater for every budget without scrimping on quality, prices range from an average of £50-£200. This is really clever because it appeals to the way most of us shop these days, saving up for one statement, key item and hunting out lower priced pieces to top-up our look.

I thought I would pick out some pieces which I would like to be wearing this season. The first piece is this stunning jacket by Maison Scotch as £248.99 it is what I call affordably expensive – something you would save up for, an investment item. I’ve paired it here with an on trend summer look, but it would work just as well with a skirt and blouse for work or over a summer maxi-dress. Prints were all over the runways again, mix them or match them, so long as you cover yourself in them! These Paul by Paul Smith trousers and shirt are perfect for wearing together or alone. You know I am a shoe girl and I am in love with these glittery Ted Baker heels, too stunning to save just for parties, rock them with your summer dresses and even jeans. You can’t go wrong with a clutch bag, this Ted Baker in Peptobismol pink is the colour of the season, such a great pop of colour. Don’t forget your summertime chic with a pair of designer shades like these from Marc Jacobs. The easiest way to update your look is some new sparkly jewellery. I really like to layer up necklaces so these White Leaf designs are perfect for that, with their purse friendly prices you can afford to buy more than one (£19.99-£29.99).

Not forgetting the guys, here are some top spring buys which will see you into summer. My statement item of choice would be this Polo by Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply shirt £118.99, the patches make the print clashing trend easy. Baseball jackets have been high on the fashion radar for a while now and show no sign of going away so this Lacoste logo bomber is going to be a key piece well into next year. The simple shape means it will work with sweats as well as a shirt and pants. A nice pair of cargo trousers like these again from Polo by Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply are nice change to denim. Keeping with the smart-casual theme these Original Penguin boots have a Herringbone inlay which hones in on the Country Heritage trend. The Aviator is by far the most versatile style of shades, these Gucci ones don’t come cheap but are a great investment as they will never go out of fashion. I think accessories are made to have some fun with, this quirky Paul Smith tablet case is really sleek, whilst the Union Jack Barbour print holdall is practical and stylish. For a colour pop this Nixon watch is a subtle way of approaching colour and at £53.99 it is a great price.

What wardrobe update do you have your eye on for then new season?

March 12, 2013

Wearing a Red Dress to a Wedding

Red is one of my favourite colours, in fact my red dress is one of my absolute favourite pieces. However when I mentioned to a friend that I was going to wear it to a wedding I was met with a gasp of outrage! Besides wearing white – obviously a big no, no, it seems red and black are somewhat frowned upon for wedding guests. Red seen as too sexy, black too morbid. I can’t agree with this at all, I think red is such a cheerful colour and there isn’t a happier occasion than a wedding. The trick is to make the colour more friendly with the right accessories, I wouldn’t say wear a little red dress with back seem stockings and black stilettos for the occasion. Rather I would ‘pretty it up’ using so summery and laid back pieces. To illustrate I chose this stunning red dress from Zac Posen it has such a beautiful cut with a fitted bodice and full skirt. The Calvin Klein Collection shoes instantly give it a more day time and summery look, the colours breaking up the block of red. Adding a bold statement necklace takes eyes away from the cleavage and ads another colour contrast, this one is from Rosantica. I chose a simple and classic black and white clutch from Lena Erziak which ties in with the shoes. As I am not really one for a facinator and up-do, I thought this unique ear cuff from Husamel Odeh would look amazing, shown off with hair tucked behind the ear. The jacket was an easy choice for me, I don’t think you can beat a biker for throwing on with absolutely anything, yes even evening dresses. This luxe Wunderkind snake print makes the perfect update. Very wearable red indeed!

All images Avenue32.com *Commissioned post

March 12, 2013

Spring Wish List

Spring is in the air, all be it amongst the snow, but that doesn’t stop us lusting after warmer climates and lovely new things to wear. I have a stash of bright 80′s vintage dresses which are my summer staples. I can dress them up for work with a blazer or down with a leather jacket but I do like some nice new baubles to make them feel fresh each year. I think my key piece would be a watch, a nice big, statement watch. Definitely influence by Victoria Beckham who always has a beautiful chunky metal strap watch. This Chronograph watch from Swatch caught my eye with it’s lovely brushed gold finish and crystal studded face. It is nice that the fun brand of my youth now offers some seriously grown up stylish pieces. Did you have a Pop-Swatch? For the uninitiated they were a 90′s trend where the watch face popped out so you could swap it with your friends or remove the strap and clip it onto your school jumper, so cool!

I found the watch on the John Lewis website and was surprised at how much they had to offer. I admit it is more of a shop I go to for kitchen utensils but they have some amazing things on offer. Most notably is their vintage jewellery section which draws together collections from Susan Caplan, Eclectica and Alice Joseph to offer designer costume jewellery from the 50s-90s. It isn’t cheap, the stunning Eclectica 80s necklace above is £395 and the Alice Joseph 90s Valentino earrings £126.50, however you are guaranteed authenticity and mint condition. I really want to start investing more in my jewellery collection, I self confess a love for cheap tat, so it would be nice to have some classic pieces.

My other key items are heels and a clutch bag, there is nothing easier for me to pull an outfit together. As you know I don’t do flats unless absolutely forced so my summer sandals would be heels too. These Vera Wang ‘Hinda’ tick all the boxes, nice high but manageable heel and whilst a neutral the tan, white and black mix keep it interesting. They would also be just as fabulous with trousers as with dresses, maybe even shorts if we get super lucky with the weather. You can’t beat Lulu Guinness for a quirky bag and this ‘Dial M for Murder’ clutch is perfect for a bit of fun.

Finally no new season look is complete for me without some new make-up. I am still loving Bobbi Brown and picked up lots of tips backstage during London fashion week – more of that to come soon. What did prove popular were the new Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks, super easy to use as an eye liner or smudge up for a smokey eye.

What’s on your Spring / Summer wish list?

Commissioned post