June 3, 2013

What Would I Wear to A Summer Wedding?

Anglomania ‘Resurrection’ dress, Elevated Tea Garden Court Shoes, Cupid Tiara, Animalier bag; Links of London ‘Hope’ bracelet, ‘Love Notes heart & arrow’ earrings; Breitling ‘Transocean’ watch

I get asked a lot of fashion related questions, one that pops up quite often is ‘What would you wear for a wedding?’. I never really get if they mean what would I recommended they wear for a wedding, or what would I personally wear, because lets face it it would be quite different! Since I like to indulge in some virtual shopping, lets play dress up on my own behalf! To be honest I have worn for weddings past things I would usually wear with the addition of sticking something on my head. Nice frock, pair of heels and the opportunity to wear a hat, what’s not to love! I am in two minds about the whole rewearing for things for big occasions. Personally I’d rather not be wearing the same dress for two weddings, vain perhaps, but I would like my friends to think I made an effort for their big day. In reality I doubt anyone actually notice what the guest are wearing. With that in mind though I would wear the same dress for two big events such as one at a wedding, then at a big party etc. I wouldn’t wear the exact same outfit though,I’d change main accessories to create a different look.

Whilst perusing the new season offerings this Vivienne Westwood Anglomania ‘Resurrection’ dress really caught my eye. It is bold enough to make a statement itself – that print will pop against black accessories. But it is also simple enough with the monochrome pallet to let bold accessories do the talking. Here I have paired it with brightly printed heels and an attention seeking clutch bag, both Vivienne Westood. With all that going on, I would keep the rest of the accessories low key and classic. These stunning Links of London pieces would be perfect, the little heart earrings and pretty bracelet. I really like the idea of wearing a watch and bracelet together, Breitling Watches do some incredible styles – yes I know they cost a fortune but this is my dream list right! As for the head gear, since this is a pretty full on look I think I would skip the traditional hat and go for this Vivienne Westwood Cupid horn tiara, a bit of fancy nestled in a perfectly coiffed up-do.

Images: Vivienne Westwood.co.uk and Christopher Warton Goldsmith

May 29, 2013

Trends: Cap it Off!

Look 1: all Vivienne Westwood – Worlds End cap, Gold Label ‘Gaia’ dress, I heart crap beaded clutch, Accessories Cossack boots; All Saints sunglasses from TK Maxx.

Look 2: Leather cap from ebay, Alexander Wang t-shirt and waistcoat, Vivienne Westwood Anglomania skirt, Vivienne Westwood bag, Y3 shoes from TK Maxx, Matalan clutch, vintage jewellery.

One of the most unexpected trends this season has been the baseball cap. Anything from vintage trucker caps to lux leather and embellished styles go. Leaders in the perfect way to wear caps are Rhianna and Rita Or. Riri goes for urban clothing with a grungy style, whilst Rita plays up the hippy girl with floral embellishments and peace emblems. I am a real fan of caps myself, the perfect disguise for messy hair and keeping the sun off your face in a nonchalant way.

Rhianna images Just Jared, Rita images Telegraph online, all hats 10 Deep at Capology.co.uk

May 28, 2013

Outfit: Vivienne Westwood Leopard Dress from ShopStyle + Review

Wearing: all Vivienne Westwood – Red Label leopard print dress c/o ShopStyle, Melissa Lady Dragon shoes, Accessories lilac bag & gold orb belt.

Today’s outfit post is a little different that usual as I used the shopping site ShopStyle.co.uk to find and purchase this summer outfit. I have been playing around with the site for a while now, so when I was asked to trial the site for review I jumped at the chance. Lets have a look at some outfit snaps, then I will get onto the review, scrolly, scrolly…

My aim for this outfit was a to find a dress that would see me through summer, one I could dress up or down. Ok so electric blue leopard print might not be everyone’s idea of versatile, but I can wear this for day with bright accessories like I have here, or add black stockings and stilettos with a little clutch for evening.

This actually wasn’t the first dress I ordered, first I had ordered an Anglomania dress and Melissa shoes, there was a big mix up drama but that wasn’t ShopStyle’s fault it was the vendor site Vestiaire Collective, I bought through. I will leave that for another post as I really want to focus on my positive experience with ShopStyle, what it is and how it works. Basically Shop Style is an online shopping service, it scours the interwebs for items on your behalf, basically allowing you to shop multiple sites at once. All you do is enter your search criteria or select from the bar on the right (See below). I typed in ‘Vivienne Westwood’ then clicked ‘dresses’ and limited my budget to £100 and under. ShopStyle then showed me a selection of dresses matching my criteria. I would usually look at about ten sites individually which I knew stocked the designer, this meant I just had to look at one site. I was really pleased with the search results, it threw up sites I would usually check Yoox, TheOutNet, ASOS etc and also included some I didn’t even know about. It also allows you to shop by ‘sale’ so you can find things which have been reduced, guarantying a bargain. Once you see an item you like ShopStyle redirects you to the site where the item is for sale so that you can view full details and make a purchase. ShopStyle only directs you through to sites, it is then down to the individual website to deal with your purchase.

It is a social site, so you can ‘heart’ things you like, read trend based articles and browse look books – making the experience even more fun. The only negative I found was that sometimes the items you click on were not available anymore, so I think they need to keep things update more frequently. I got a bit annoyed at one point where everything I seemed to click took me to non existent pages. Other than that it worked really well and saved me a lot of time. I will be using ShopStyle again, they also allow you sign up for tailored sale alerts, so I will get an email when things from my selected searches go on sale. All in all, I think it is a really useful tool. It can also be helpful when you know you want something, but aren’t sure what. You can search ‘Statement necklace’ for example and it will give you a wide range of ideas for inspiration.

All in all, ShopStyle is a great search tool, saving you time and helping you find exactly what you want at the best price.

My frock on the mannequin, image from Yoox.com

Have you used Shop Style? Does this kind of website appeal to you?

May 22, 2013

The Latest Beauty and Fashion Apps for your Phone

Stylish women thrive on fashion and need all the latest news and gossip to keep them fashionable; Phones4U can keep you connected to all the latest apps so that looking good is effortless! All you need is a smartphone and the app store and convenient functionality will be yours. check out the new htc one here

Whatever your style interests you are always guaranteed to need a mirror at the most inconvenient time. All women know the score: blind scrambling around in your handbag grasping for a compact mirror. Finally there is an app to answer your prayers. Mirror is an ingenious app that means you don’t need to resort to a mobiles self mode camera to apply last minute essentials. Always at hand, Mirror is perfect for when you’re in a rush.

If a whole new look is what you need then try Modiface. By using this app you can find the right shades and tones to suit you- and the best part is it requires no effort. All you have to do is upload your photo to Modiface and ‘try on’ their wide array of cosmetics. This is the easiest way to experiment with different make up without reaching for your purse.

But don’t forget that your wardrobe needs managing too, luckily Stylebook is at hand to help. Having been dubbed the best wardrobe management app it allows you to upload photos of your clothes to coordinate your outfits, help you pack for trips and track the latest fashion trends. No fashionista should be caught without this app!

Although you’ve finally updated and organised your style you still need to pamper your body to finish the look and enhance your beauty. SpaFinder is the perfect solution and completely hassle free; with one swipe you can locate nearby spas and immediately book an appointment. So download SpaFinder today and take advantage of your free time.

With so many useful apps at your disposal grab yourself a bargain from Phones4U and start downloading. There really is no reason not to invest in the latest fashion apps and become the go to girl for all your friends’ fashion and beauty needs.

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

March 8, 2013

Should Engagement Rings be a Fashion Statement?

As we move into the Spring and Summer months the wedding invites start to appear, perhaps you are even planning your own big day? I usually write something about current trends for wedding guest outfits however this year it is the engagement rings which are in focus. I think we can all say it is thanks to the Royal Wedding which has sparked such media interest in the topic and the hundreds of ‘”Princess” Catherine style’ engagement rings cropping up. There was much speculation as to why Prince William choose to give Catherine Princess Diana’s ring some saying it would be bad luck, William just wanting a lasting symbol of his dear mother. Whatever the reason it has caused a shift in engagement ring trends. For the past couple of decades yellow gold and gemstone rings have taken a back seat whilst white gold and platinum diamond rings have taken center stage. Thanks to the crazy world of Hollywood and WAGs huge, gobstopper rings have been all the rage. Ever on the hunt to out do each other the celebs have also created a trend for colour diamonds, JLO and Mariah Carey opting for baby pink stones whilst Rebecca Romijin and Kelly Clarkson choose yellow diamonds, most famous of all Carrie Bradshaw’s black diamond. More recently there has been a shift back to subtler engagement rings, Scarlet Johansson and Claire Danes both choosing traditional smaller stones with yellow gold bands. Halle Berry broke all the rules and went for a very modern emerald design. The main thing to remember is that this ring will be worn for the rest of your life, so choose one which suits your own style and tastes.

There are some key facts to help you choose the right ring for you. Samara James, a diamond engagement rings specialist lists the four C’s rule – cut, clarity, colour and carat. The first part of the diamond grading process is carat – where the stone is cleaned then weighed to calculate the size. Next a gemologist will grade the diamond by colour, this is done by comparison to a master set of diamonds. The highest is grade D which is total clarity and colourless, and the lowest Z. Next is to assess clarity, this is a microscopic assessment of the inclusions within the diamond. The final stage is the cut, where the diamond is scanned by laser and each facet recorded, this gives the idea recommendation for the best way to cut each stone. The cut is very important as a diamond which has better angles and proportions will have noticeably superior amounts of brilliance – the proportion of light reflected, scintillation – how the light reflects to give sparkle, and fire – how the light refracts to create colours within the diamond. Each diamond could be cut to it’s perfect state of beauty however in some cases a large stone would have to be cut down very small which would effect the size of the diamond or yield. Therefore bear in mind the four C’s when choosing as you may find the more beautiful diamond is smaller or may choose to have a larger stone with less facets – it really is personal choice. When choosing your ring Samara James recommends:

“We would always recommend choosing the best proportioned diamond possible, even it means reducing the colour and the clarity of the diamond to keep within budget. This is because the perfectly cut diamond will have visibly more brilliance, fire and scintillation than a less well cut diamond.” If you haven’t seen Samara James, they have a wonderful range of diamond rings, with some very unusual and also classic designs.

(Images credit: smh.com.uk, vh1.com, fancywedding.wordpress.com)