Friday 30 September 2011

today i'm wearing...



Shirt from Topshop; shorts from H&M Fashion Against Aids; shoes from Zara; bag from Topshop; bracelet from ASOS; sunglasses from Ray-Ban.


Who'd have thought I'd be able to wear shorts with bare legs at the end of September? This weather is insane. Kind of nice to really get the most out of the last dregs of summer though. I'm going to try to wear all my shorts over the next couple of days before the tights have to come out again.

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today i'd love to wear...

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Thursday 29 September 2011

today i'm wearing...



Shirt from H&M; striped jeans from Topshop; shoes from Primark; bag from Miss Selfridge; watch from ASOS; bracelet is DIY; sunglasses from Ray-Ban.


Once again these jeans have confused my computer and it's taken away the stripes... Anyway, how ridiculously hot is it today?! I was clinging onto the last vestige of summer, but this heatwave has reminded me how uncomfortable it can be. I think I'm definitely ready for autumn to return.

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Wednesday 28 September 2011

today i'm wearing...




Leather gilet from H&M; denim shirt from Topshop; skirt from Zara (borrowed from my mum); shoes from Topshop; necklace from Topshop; sunglasses from Ray-Ban.


Just had to steal this skirt from my mum. Love it.

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Tuesday 27 September 2011

today i'm wearing...




Leather jacket from Topshop; t-shirt from H&M; jeans from Topshop; shoes from Primark; cuffs from H&M; sunglasses from Ray-Ban.


The lovely DSLR has had to be returned again so back to bad quality pictures for a little while, I'm afraid. However, I've ordered a brand spanking new camera for myself so hopefully better photos will be on their way...

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today i want... kurt geiger perspex pouch

Thanks to their very successful advertising campaign starring the gorgeous Anja Rubik, it probably won't have escaped your notice that Kurt Geiger have recently launched a new range of accessories, entitled 'Everything but the Dress' (visit the official blog here). Now I've always rather liked Kurt Geiger shoes, but they are sadly out of my price range (these babies would be in my possession right now if money were no object - the name of them shows it was meant to be). So I assumed the same would go for the accessories: lovely, but ultimately not going to be on my purchasing radar. Well, I was half right. There really are some beautiful items: super-soft leather oversized clutches with zip detail, studded luxe bracelets, and purses in candy colours, to name but a few. And most of these items are, sure enough, out of my price range, with purses costing up to £120 and totes up to £450. But when browsing some more, I noticed with delight that some items are actually much more affordable. Still, when I came across this fantastic perspex clutch for a mere £30, I thought it must have been priced wrongly. But no, there's a whole range of 'pouch'-style clutches at around this price point, ranging from perspex and printed silk through to snake-print and metallics. I love them all but I'm obsessed with perspex (my ASOS perspex clutch is one of my all-time favourite accessories), so it's no surprise that this beauty has landed itself straight at the top of my wish list. I may not be allowing myself to buy anything until October, but once September's out this will be mine.



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Monday 26 September 2011

today i'm wearing...




Blazer from Dorothy Perkins; jumper from Next; trousers from Topshop; shoes from Next; bag from Topshop; watch from ASOS; sunglasses from Ray-Ban.


Just as I've finally given up on summer and broken out the autumnal wardrobe, the weather forecast says we're in for a mini heatwave later this week. So it'll be goodbye to the knitwear and hello again to sunglasses and shorts. I tell you, this confusing climate does not make outfit planning an easy task...

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Sunday 25 September 2011

today i'm channelling... acne s/s'12

You might already know how obsessed I am with Swedish brand Acne. Their clothes are just so entirely representative of how I'd love my wardrobe to look. Each season I become more and more obsessed with them, so of course I was awaiting their S/S'12 show in London last week with bated breath. Not only did the front row include three of my all-time favourite style icons, Elin Kling, Columbine Smille and the divine Clémence Poésy, but the clothes were also pretty darned awesome too. Casual, slightly sporty, effortlessly laid-back. A wider colour palette than I would usually like, with baby pink, ochre yellow and rust orange punctuated classic black leather and blue denim. My favourite part of the collection was the cut-out star motifs across tops and jackets, as well as fierce zipped leather motocross trousers. I also loved the juxtaposition of simple white looks with sporty black accessories, and the perfect proportions of the jackets and skirts. Of course it wasn't easy to track down high street items that capture that indefinable Acne brand of cool, but I've chosen a few things to get you on the right track. Because if I can get just a little closer to dressing top-to-toe in this brand, that's a step in the right direction.


3. Zara draped top, £25.99
6. Gap 1969 denim pencil skirt, £7.99 (reduced from £35.95)
7. Jovonna leather skirt, £58 (RRP £88) at ASOS
8. ASOS knitted dress with roll neck collar, £40 (reduced from £50)

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Saturday 24 September 2011

today i want... topshop heeled chelsea boots

Due to recent numerous extravagant purchases (a £60 jumper, two pairs of the Topshop black Ambush boots in case I wear one out, £60 shoes that are ridiculously painful, Ray-Bans, and many more) I have decided that I really need to shop less. First target: don't buy any more clothes (or shoes or accessories) until October. Yes, that's not exactly very far away, but baby steps. Unfortunately, I haven't stopped browsing online shops 24/7, which isn't exactly helping me achieve this goal. My latest obsession is this amazing pair of boots. I'd noticed them before on the website, but it wasn't until I saw them in the flesh, as it were, in the Oxford Circus Topshop the other day, that I realised just how perfect they are. They are just so very Alexander Wang, and that can only be a good thing. The slightly pointed toe, the buckle strap, the perfect height of heel... it's all there. It's taking all my willpower not to give in, but so far, my resolve is holding strong. I keep telling myself I'll wait for the sales (in, erm, four whole months...) I'll keep you posted, though, because when it comes to Topshop, I very rarely manage to say no.



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Friday 23 September 2011

today i'm wearing...




Leather gilet from H&M; jumper from Topshop Boutique; top (underneath) from Topshop; jeans from Topshop; shoes from Zara; necklace from Topshop; sunglasses from Ray-Ban.


I never usually wear anything twice in a week, but I'm a bit obsessed with this beautiful leather gilet.

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Thursday 22 September 2011

today i'm wearing...



Jumper from Topshop Boutique; leather shorts from ASOS; boots from River Island; clutch from Topshop; sunglasses from Ray-Ban.


I ordered this beautiful huge knitted jumper about a minute after seeing it. I love navy and I love oversized knitwear, so this guy immediately called out to me. In the evening I changed into my Topshop zip leather shorts, which aren't suitable for work, but which look just perfect with a lovely huge knit.

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Wednesday 21 September 2011

today i'm wearing...




Coat from Preen/Edition; t-shirt from Topshop; mesh top (underneath) from Zara; jeans from Topshop; shoes from Next; bag from Topshop; cuffs from H&M; sunglasses from Ray-Ban.


Sorry for the hair-in-face pictures; it's super windy today. Seems like summer is sadly gone for good and autumn's here to stay, so the coats are starting to come out. I'm clinging onto my Ray-Bans for as long as possible though.

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today i want... topshop red snakeskin leather jacket

If you've followed my outfit posts at all, you'll know I'm a huge fan of jackets. In fact, the hanging section of my main wardrobe houses only jackets and coats. Oh I do love a piece of outerwear. In particular, I have a weakness for leather jackets (read my post on them as one of the basic items every woman should own here). Whether they're black, cream, tan, zipped, quilted, cropped or sleeveless, I can't get enough of them. They're just such an easy and versatile way to add edge, interest and timeless style to your look. Of course, you should stock up on a classic black version, but don't overlook standout styles, too. This sensational Topshop beauty has rocketed to the top of my wish list because it's just so incredibly statement. Red, snakeskin and patent - and yet it still manages to look chic rather than try-hard. If you're looking for the next addition to your leather jacket collection, I can't suggest anything more amazing than this.



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Tuesday 20 September 2011

today i'm wearing...




Leather gilet from H&M; silk shirt from Topshop; jeans from Topshop; shoes from Topshop; clutch from H&M Fashion Against Aids; sunglasses from Ray-Ban.


Tonight I caught up with my lovely newly-married friend over a drink called a Hedgerow Fizz: sparkling wine, elderflower cordial and a blackberry. Yum.

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Monday 19 September 2011

today i'd love to wear...

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today i'm wearing...





Jumper from Zara; trousers from Topshop; shoes from Zara; bag from Topshop; bracelet from ASOS; sunglasses from Ray-Ban.


Whenever I wear this jumper, it seems nobody can walk past me without commenting on how bright it is... well, you can't go wrong with a bit of neon on a Monday.

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Sunday 18 September 2011

today i love... the best of nyfw

With New York Fashion Week over for another season, here's my round-up of all the best shows and looks of the week, according to me...


My favourite shows:

Why I loved it: Phillip Lim is consistently one of my favourite designers to show in New York, and this season was no exception. A beautiful collection with nods to urban sportswear, which showed off Lim's penchant for effortless layering and expertly cut tailoring. Minimalistic but shot through with bursts of colour and unexpected detailing such as zips and sheer panels. Get the look here.
Colour palette: Navy; black; white; lilac; apricot; silver.
Trends: Layering; sportswear; silks and chiffons; monochrome; loose, slouchy fits; metallic accessories.

Why I loved it: Elin Kling styled the show; need I say more? A beautifully minimalistic collection played out in soft sorbet shades. More colour than I would ordinarily be happy with, in fact, but Elin's distinctive no-frills styling saved the day. Simple shapes of beautifully cut t-shirts and dresses were interspersed with little hits of pattern and texture, and added up to a show which wasn't breaking any design boundaries, but which was utterly wearable and desirable.
Colour palette: White; buttercup yellow; sea green; cobalt blue; black; cornflower blue.
Trends: Minimalism; silks and chiffons; leather; loose, slouchy fits; sorbet shades.

Why I loved it: An incredibly down-to-earth, wearable collection, perfectly encapsulating that very New York brand of cool (despite Olivier Theyskens being French). Nodded to the 90s with slightly grungy cobweb knits and low-slung trousers, but luckily these references weren't taken too far, and were lightened by sharp tailored jackets, hits of metallics, and pieces in Chanel-esque bouclé. Very simple and casual for the most part, but with stunning evening dresses, too: there was something for every occasion.
Colour palette: Black; white; navy; cornflower blue; silver; gunmetal.
Trends: Leather; sheer; denim; 90s; metallics; layering; loose, slouchy fits.

Why I loved it: Wang is known for his very distinctive brand of downtown cool, and this collection, with motocross-inspired pieces in leather, mesh and velvet, was no exception. Effortlessly cool as ever, this season Wang added interest with details such as perforated leather, ruching, zips and stark vivid florals, all on a range of little dresses, biker-style jumpsuits, oversized knits and sporty leggings. As ever, utterly covetable. Get the look here.
Colour palette: Black; burgundy; white; navy; cornflower blue; neon orange.
Trends: Sportswear; sheer/mesh; leather; jumpsuits; biker chic; velvet.


My favourite front row looks:


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Saturday 17 September 2011

today i'm channelling... 3.1 phillip lim s/s'12

So New York Fashion Week has been and gone, and hands down my favourite show was 3.1 Phillip Lim. This didn't come as a surprise to me, because as the seasons have gone by I have fallen more and more in love with Lim's designs. Recently his shows are so absolutely representative of how I'd love to dress that it's almost as though he's designing for me (I wish). His Resort 2012 collection was pure perfection (see it here) and I still keep referring back to it whenever I'm lacking outfit inspiration. And his S/S'12 collection, shown last Wednesday, was no different (see it here). I immediately fell in love with every piece. Played out in a beautiful soft palette of snow white, navy (my favourite colour for clothes), lilac, apricot and black, Lim showed effortlessly tailored trousers, shorts and jackets alongside draped silk dresses and camisoles. Details such as black accents on stark white, perfectly placed zips, flashes of silver from belts and shoes, and monochrome bags clutched in the hand, served to further ignite my love of the collection. Put simply, if I had the money, I'd buy every piece. Sadly, however, I don't, but that's where the great British high street comes into play. Thankfully for us, our favourite shops are already offering some beautiful Lim-alike pieces so that we can channel this fantastic designer's timeless brand of chic a season early. See below for my picks, and if you need any inspiration on how to wear Lim's designs, check out style icon Elin Kling looking simply amazing in his Resort collection here and here.


3. River Island white silk vest, £15 (reduced from £29.99)
6. ASOS pleat front city short, £12 (reduced from £35)

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Friday 16 September 2011

today i'm wearing...


Top from Topshop; leather shorts from ASOS; shoes from Topshop; bag from Zara; silver belt from H&M; bracelet from ASOS; sunglasses from Ralph Lauren.


Man I'm exhausted today. It's been a busy week and I wish I'd had more time to catch up on all the shows from NYFW. Luckily I'm doing absolutely nothing this weekend except for sitting glued to my laptop. (Oh, and watching Downton Abbey. Excited.) Now, dinner, and then it's time to watch the Ann-Sofie Back show here.

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today i want... simone rocha for topshop net sleeve dress

Clever old Topshop. Just as LFW gets under way, a bumper crop of amazing capsule collections by up-and-coming British designers hits their website to get us all excited. One of them is of course their own line Unique's A/W'11 collection, but as you'll know if you read my LFW show reports from last season, I wasn't really a fan of it (though some pieces have grown on me since then, admittedly). Much more exciting to me is the capsule collection by Simone Rocha. I chanced upon pictures of her S/S'11 collection several months ago and absolutely loved it; I was really taken by her clean, architectural designs and expert layering of contrasting textures, and featured it as 3rd February's "today I'm inspired by". I really liked her collection for A/W'11 too, and this amazing dress, part of her Topshop capsule, looks like it could have come straight off the catwalk. I love when designers really stay true to their trademarks in their high street collaborations, not compromising on anything but price, and it seems like Simone's done just that. I am trying to shop a little less right now (not going toooo well) so I'm going to resist this beauty, even though the net sleeves are calling out to me. What I can tell you is that if I were attending shows at LFW, this would be making up part of my front row wardrobe. Beautiful.



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Thursday 15 September 2011

today i love... london fashion week


Wow, where did New York Fashion Week go?! I have been so busy these past few days that I've barely had time to catch up on any shows, so sorry for the lack of posts. This weekend I'll be swotting up on everything I've missed, so lots of posts to come, I promise. In the meantime the style set are already decamping over to our fair capital for what is definitely the best of the four fashion weeks (of course I'm not at all biased). There's just something brilliant about London designers; they're a little more experimental and less afraid of making mistakes. Whereas New York can be a little prim, Paris a little prissy and Milan too showy, London is brave and fun. So here's everything you need to know about LFW...

1. Once again, I really recommend the website catwalklive.tv (@catwalklivetv on Twitter) to keep you up-to-date on which shows are streaming on which website. It's so helpful to have little reminders so that you don't miss your favourites. There should be a pretty large percentage of them available to watch live, what with Topshop streaming quite a few on their website and many designers letting you watch via their own sites, too (including the cream of the crop, Burberry).

2. I've been pretty rubbish at updates from NYFW, but I promise to try harder with LFW. I'll be glued to my laptop over the weekend and on Monday evening to update you on all my favourite shows and front row looks, so be sure to keep checking back.

3. If you'd like to brush up on the best British designers' A/W'11 shows, check out my LFW show reports from back in February.

4. For regularly updated show reports, front row snaps and every single catwalk look, my first ports of call are Vogue.co.uk and Elleuk.com.

5. Finally, here's a list of all the shows I'm most excited to see. Especially Burberry: I'm leaving work an hour and a half early on Monday so that I can live stream it. Can't wait!

PPQ (Friday 16th)
Emilio de la Morena (Saturday 17th)
Jonathan Saunders (Saturday 17th)
Mulberry (Sunday 18th)
Topshop Unique (Sunday 18th)
Tom Ford (Sunday 18th)
Acne (Sunday 18th)
Peter Pilotto (Monday 19th)
Christopher Kane (Monday 19th)
Erdem (Monday 19th)
Burberry Prorsum (Monday 19th)

Happy LFW!

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today i'm wearing...



Jumper from Topshop; jeans from Topshop; shoes from Primark; bag from Zara; watch from ASOS; sunglasses from Ray-Ban; lipstick is Benefit Silky Finish in Fruit Cocktail.


Was feeling quite wintry this morning so decided to add a pop of dark berry lipstick. However I don't think sunglasses plus dark lips is the best look ever... Might wait until it gets properly cold to break this lip colour out again.

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Wednesday 14 September 2011

today i'm wearing...



Leather gilet from H&M; shirt from H&M; trousers from Topshop; shoes from Next; bracelet is DIY; nail varnish is Topshop nails in Parma Violet.


Sorry for the bad pictures; my lovely camera had to be temporarily returned. Shame as these photos don't do my amazing new leather gilet any justice. Oh I do love it though.

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Tuesday 13 September 2011

today i'm wearing...



Shirt from Topshop; jeans from Topshop; shoes from Topshop; clutch from H&M Fashion Against Aids; necklace from Topshop; sunglasses from Ray-Ban.


For some reason uploading photos of these jeans takes away their stripes. Odd... I can assure you they're actually blue & white striped, not grey (see a better picture here). Anyway, I really rather like them and they're a great way to add a subtle twist to a simple look.

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Monday 12 September 2011

today i bought...


I featured this beautiful H&M leather sleeveless jacket (gilet/vest/waistcoat?) as 1st September's "today i want" and I've been hopelessly lusting after it ever since. I've phoned H&M Customer Service three times since then, and each time I was very pleasantly surprised by how polite and helpful all the operatives were, but unfortunately none of them could tell me whether the leather vest had already sold out, or hadn't come in yet. It seemed their system had no information for this particular item (confusing, yes). Finally one of the very nice employees rang up the distribution centre for me and managed to find out that yes, it had already come in, but it had only been sent to the Regent Street and Oxford Street stores in London. Bit disappointing as it annoys me when things are not at all widely available. But I decided to take a little trip into London (I don't live far away luckily) to have a scout around. I wasn't very optimistic about finding it, since the guy also said they had low stock, but to my utter delight there it was in the Regent Street store, a whole rack of the beauties. I tried on about six just to make sure I had the right fit (they're very oversized, so I sized down). I still can't believe I've actually managed to get my hands on it; I'm so pleased. I absolutely love it and can't wait to wear it.

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today i'm wearing...



Denim shirt from Topshop; jeans from Topshop; boots from Topshop; bag from Topshop; watch from ASOS.


Got home too late to take photos outside today, so inside will have to do. Have been in London picking up a very exciting purchase. Will show you soon...

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Sunday 11 September 2011

today i'm wearing...

(Friday)




Jumper from Zara; trousers from Topshop; shoes from Topshop; bag from Topshop; bracelet from ASOS; sunglasses from Ray-Ban.


Wore my new faux leather trousers on Friday. I'm loving this cropped trouser length right now; I think it's really flattering. Not quite sure what I'll do about my ankles when the weather cools down, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it!

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