
Zara strapless dress with synthetic leather skirt, £25.99
Zara strapless dress with synthetic leather skirt, £25.99
Asos short fantasy faux fur leopard snood, £18
First to catch my eye was this beautifully simple look (above), elevated to perfection with a few lovely little details. I adore the oversized cut of the shirt and how it's half tucked in, the zip-detail on the trousers and a flash of ankle above the mesh-detail courts. So, to recreate this, team Zara's Oversize Shirt, £29.99, with Topshop's Premium Black Leather Cropped Biker Trousers, £140. I am in love with the amazing biker detailing on these trousers and they're a perfect substitute for the Reiss version, but admittedly £140 is still not cheap, so if you'd prefer a faux leather version, then try Next's Black Faux Leather Skinny Trousers for a mere £32. Finally step into Asos' Sensation Mesh Kitten Heel Shoes (love these a lot), again a brilliantly cheap £32, and scrunch some salt spray into your hair: try Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray, £14.65 at Amazon. Lovely stuff.
I love the next look (above) so much that it managed to make me see two things I usually dislike (pink clothes and tracksuit trousers) in a whole different light. And that's no mean feat. I've always hated pink clothes; I love orange, coral, salmon and blush, but bright pink = Barbie in my eyes. A couple of weeks ago, however, my new favourite style icon, Columbine Smille, paired black skinny jeans with a bright pink silk shirt and a white fur coat and looked amazing. And now here's another reason for me to reconsider my allergy to pink. The same goes for the grey tracksuit trousers, which I generally think should never be seen away from the sofa. So it's testament to the power of a really well-styled look that two items I'm not sure about have been put together to make an outfit I love. Anyway, onto how to get this look for less. Team Marks & Spencer's Classic Collection 3/4 Sleeve Blouse with Camisole, £25, with George's Jogging Bottoms, £8 - but please never leave the house in these without adding fierce heels! Asos' Tender Lace-Up Peep Toe Shoe Boots, £44, will do nicely. Finally throw on a leather jacket, like Wallis' Black Leather Biker Jacket, £145 (or Warehouse's PU Quilted Biker Jacket, £55, is a great faux option), and you're good to go.
The final look (above) is a great party option, and perfect for the girl who doesn't want to look too saccharine sweet in a cocktail dress. Mixing up the textures means this lace top and leather skirt combo is a much more on-trend and interesting alternative to the potentially boring LBD. It's also très Christopher Kane, ergo very good. First you'll need a lovely lace bodysuit, so either dare to bare by showing off a statement bra under Fashion Union's Lace Bodysuit, £13.50, or, if your party's a little more conservative, try Miss Selfridge's Black 3/4 Sleeve Lace Bodysuit, £20, which has a black front panel but is all lace at the back. Over this, slip on Topshop's Premium Black Paperbag Waistband Belted Leather Skirt, £85, then step into Asos' Tuscan Cuff Wedge Shoe Boots, £45. Finally scrunch some salt spray through your hair, and I'd probably add a slick of bright orange or pink lipstick, too.
Blouse: Topshop; top (underneath): Topshop Boutique; faux leather trousers: Topshop; cardigan: Primark; faux fur stole: Topshop; belt: Primark; necklace: can't remember
Topshop knitted mohair maxi cardigan, £65
Topshop tobacco silk military pocket shirt, £45
River Island grey leather boyfriend aviator jacket, £150
Video: Lisaeldridge.com
I have a subscription to Grazia and I buy Vogue when I'm feeling extravagant. This month I just had to have it because I've got a bit of a style crush on Emma Watson. The lipstick is Collection 2000 Lasting Colour in Berry Blast.
Nothing perks up my day quite like a freebie, so I love to ask for perfume samples in department stores. They usually have loads and it's a great way to try out new scents. These are the ones I got today. I actually have a proper bottle of the Chloé one and it's one of my all-time favourite perfumes.
The best thing about this look is that it's so easy to replicate on the high street. Columbine's exact shoes, Zara's Suede Court Shoe With Heel, are still available for a very reasonable £49.99, and though I can't guarantee it's exactly the same, Topshop's Knitted Cable Jumper, £48, is a dead ringer for our muse's (which is also from Topshop). Pair these with Cheap Monday's Used Black Narrow Skinny Jean (Columbine's favourite jeans brand), £45, and then throw on Yuki's Juliet Tie Jacket, £95 at Topshop. All that remains to complete the look is to apply a slick of 17 Lasting Finish Lipstick in Showbiz, £3.49, and perfect your model pose. And there you have it, a lovely wintry look courtesy of this stylish Swede: simple but beautiful, and guaranteed to turn heads.
Picture: Columbine.freshnet.se
Topshop Sno coral thermal long sleeve top, £16
First up is a lesson in how to style a classic black or khaki aviator with white shearling collar (above): team it with tiered lace pieces in sludgy colours like mustard, puce or olive green, and thigh-high leather boots. So, to the high street. If you are still on the hunt for such a jacket, I suggest Zara's Sheepskin Perfecto Jacket, £69.99: not real sheepskin but one of the best budget versions I've seen. Under this, slip on Topshop's Lace Front Zip Back Shell Top; the lovely sludgy yellow will look perfect against the khaki jacket and it's a snip at £20. Pair this with some skinny black jeans and Topshop's Brittany Over Knee Boots, £80, and you're all set.
But if you prefer a black version of the aviator, then take inspiration from this look (above) and add luscious layers in rich, berry colours for a beautiful wintry look. I adore Topshop's Curly Sheepskin Panel Leather Jacket, £225: not cheap, but surely worth it for the butter-soft leather and luxe sheepskin detailing. Team this with Topshop's astonishingly Burberry-esque Chiffon Frill Front Zip Skirt, £35, and New Look's Velvet Bow Back Vest in 'Thistle', £10.39. Finally step into River Island's amazing Shutter Mid Fur Boots, £74.99 (want, want, want).
And lastly, we move away from the ubiquitous aviator and onto the other Burberry-inspired outerwear of the season: the smart military coat (above). I'm a sucker for anything utilitarian; I just can't say no to a row of gleaming gold buttons on a smartly tailored jacket in navy or khaki. And while khaki would probably be my military coat colour of choice, because it's very British officers circa WW1, navy is possibly my all-time favourite colour for any clothing: it's just so flattering and goes with everything. So I love the above idea of layering different textures of navy and black to create a seriously chic silhouette. The best military coat I've seen on the (virtual) high street has got to be Asos' Military Button Coat, £75, which comes in both navy and khaki (and also black and red, but I'm less keen on those). I love the idea of the navy version slipped on over Asos White's Silk Hitch Hem Shirt in navy, £50, in turn tucked into Topshop's Lace A-line Skirt, £35, to create a lovely textural mix of blues.
So there you have it. Three beautiful Bailey-worthy looks courtesy of the high street: all sumptuously stylish, seriously snuggly and won't force you to max out your overdraft. What more could you want this winter?
Pictures of Burberry Prorsum A/W'10: Elleuk.com
H&M duvet cover set, £19.99
Next faux pony skin leopard effect clutch, £22
As usual, it's the pictures of Miss Kling's outfits that I love the most. Elin favours quite a rock-chick look, with a lot of leather, studs and skin-tight trousers. She frequently shows off her legs in hotpants paired with slouchy vests or oversized shirts, or teams a minidress with dishevelled hair and lashings of eyeliner on the red carpet. I love the way she can take very basic pieces - skinny jeans and a simple white tee, for example - and make them look effortlessly chic with the addition of carefully chosen accessories and scarlet lips. Elin's brilliant outfits aren't the only thing that will have you coming back to this blog again and again, though. Part of its appeal is that Elin clearly has an amazing life and loves to show it off - cue pictures of her numerous fashion show invites, examples of her magazine spreads and photos of her rubbing shoulders with the likes of Alexander Wang at celebrity parties. And you know I love to get a sneaky peek into the lives of the fashionable and fabulous. So I suggest you check out this stylish Scandinavian's fashion credentials, because I can assure you there's a smorgasbord of inspiration on offer.
Pictures: Stylebykling
River Island cut work shorts, £29.99 at Asos.com
Topshop faux sheepskin backpack, £45
Whistles Clare Flying Jacket, £225