Zara strapless dress with synthetic leather skirt, £25.99
Tuesday 30 November 2010
today i want... zara leather and jersey dress
Monday 29 November 2010
Sunday 28 November 2010
today i want... asos leopard snood
Asos short fantasy faux fur leopard snood, £18
Saturday 27 November 2010
today i'm channelling... reiss 1971
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.
Pictures: Reissonline.com
today i'm wearing...
Blouse: Topshop; top (underneath): Topshop Boutique; faux leather trousers: Topshop; cardigan: Primark; faux fur stole: Topshop; belt: Primark; necklace: can't remember
Friday:
Friday 26 November 2010
today i want... topshop maxi cardigan
Topshop knitted mohair maxi cardigan, £65
Wednesday 24 November 2010
Tuesday 23 November 2010
today i want... topshop rust orange shirt
Topshop tobacco silk military pocket shirt, £45
Monday 22 November 2010
today i love... lanvin for h&m
And from what I've seen so far, it certainly seems that way. This is not a collection of H&M t-shirts simply emblazoned with the Lanvin name; this is a range of beautiful show-stopping dresses, accompanied by a selection of blazers, tops, shoes and jewellery. Check out the full range on Vogue.co.uk here. My personal favourite is the one-shouldered yellow dress (below); I just love the ruffles and the contrasting black waistband.
In the meantime, check out the amazing video trailer for the collection below... it's pure bonkers genius.
Saturday 20 November 2010
today i want... river island grey aviator jacket
River Island grey leather boyfriend aviator jacket, £150
Friday 19 November 2010
today i want... topshop grey lace dress
Thursday 18 November 2010
today i'm channelling... emma watson
But we haven't seen much of Miss Watson this year, appearance at the Met Ball clad in snow-white Burberry aside. This is probably due to the fact that she's been across the pond studying at Brown University. And without Caroline Sieber by her side, her off-duty fashion has been pretty, well, uninspiring. But luckily a new Potter film has sparked a new promotional tour and therefore a string of new looks. If I'm honest, none of the outfits she's been seen in this year even compare to last year (she seems to have shed some of her fashion mojo along with her hair). I was not loving the velvet Vionnet number she wore to a photocall the other week, partly because she committed a cardinal accessorising sin: dangly earrings plus dangly necklace (= yuck). The shapeless Calvin Klein dress she wore to the New York premiere was really not good either. Her London premiere look of a vintage Rafael Lopez lace and feather dress teamed with mile-long legs was much better, but still not a patch on the Watson of old.
Happily, though, her style away from the red carpet has been coming on in leaps and bounds. The first look to really catch my eye was worn in that hallowed place of style, Heathrow Airport. On Sunday Emma tweeted, "That's London done, now off to New York! Wearing my favourite trench that Christopher Bailey @Burberry designed for me. Love it! x" (Follow Emma here). That's right, a bespoke Burberry trench. Jeeeeeealous! Said trench turned out to be a spectacularly beautiful pale grey number with black leather sleeves. And that wasn't to be the only Burberry beauty Miss Watson would parade on her sojourn overseas. No, over the last couple of days I've spotted her in not one, not two, but three more Burberry trenches: a classic navy military style, a dove grey suede and an amazing beige guy with studded sleeves. It was this last one that really made me sit up and pay attention, especially when, for her appearance on The Today Show, Emma teamed said studded trench with an adorable grey Carven minidress and sky-high peeptoes (see it here).
Finally, Miss Watson appears to be back to her fashionable best. I just love the juxtaposition of the super sweet Sixties-style minidress with the fierce studded coat and killer heels. Her haircut, which I'm generally not in favour of (sorry Emma, but it just doesn't quite suit you), actually works pretty well with this gamine outfit. So, how to get this look for yourself? Well, as you can no doubt imagine, it's hardly been easy to find a replica of such an individual and amazing Burberry trench coat. But Rare's Embellished Mac, £79 at Topshop, is really not a bad substitute; it has chain details on the shoulders rather than studs on the arms but the general idea is there. (Alternatively, I love the idea of imitating Emma's leather-sleeved version by pulling a sleeveless mac on over a skinny leather jacket.) Her cute Carven dress, however, is much easier to replicate. Simply layer Mango's Dress Totta (not sure what that name is all about) in Mole, £37.90, over Topshop's Sleeveless Silk Shirt, £35, buttoned right to the top. Finally, slip on Zara's Gathered Peep Toe With Heel shoes, £49.99, and there you have it. Simply spellbinding style, and certainly worthy of some house points, if you ask me.
today i want... river island leopard ring
Wednesday 17 November 2010
today i love... lisa eldridge's christmas gift ideas
Video: Lisaeldridge.com
today i bought...
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.
Tuesday 16 November 2010
today i'm channelling... columbine smille
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
today i want... topshop sno thermal top
Topshop Sno coral thermal long sleeve top, £16
Monday 15 November 2010
today i'm channelling... burberry prorsum a/w'10
So in truth, I've been trying to channel Burberry Prorsum A/W'10 for a good few months now, but given that it's only recently been cold enough to actually do so, I thought now would be a good time to share with you a bevy of Christopher Bailey-inspired delights from the great British high street. After all, as much as sacrificing one's student loan repayments in favour of cladding oneself in the genuine article might seem a good idea at the time, in reality it's probably better to spend a little less on clothes in order to leave enough money to feed oneself (I know, who knew I was so practical?!)
Besides, what is the high street there for if not to provide reasonable copies of designer pieces at a fraction of the price? And they've certainly been going all out to imitate Burberry this season. You can't have failed to notice that every single shop has been chock-a-block with aviator-alikes for months now, with everywhere from Primark to Whistles producing versions (with varying degrees of success). But if you're anything like me then you probably snapped up your sheepskin jacket long ago. The issue, now that we can actually wear our cosy outerwear, is what exactly to wear it with. And, as with so many of life's questions, Christopher Bailey has the answer.
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
Sunday 14 November 2010
today i want... h&m duvet set
H&M duvet cover set, £19.99
Saturday 13 November 2010
today i want... next leopard print clutch
Next faux pony skin leopard effect clutch, £22
today i love... elin kling
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
Friday 12 November 2010
today i want... river island faux leather shorts
River Island cut work shorts, £29.99 at Asos.com
Thursday 11 November 2010
today i want... topshop faux sheepskin backpack
Topshop faux sheepskin backpack, £45
Wednesday 10 November 2010
today i bought...
Tuesday 9 November 2010
today i want... whistles flying jacket
Whistles Clare Flying Jacket, £225
today i'm channelling... karen gillan
On the original promotional tour for series 5 of Doctor Who, Karen earned her fashion stripes in a series of lovely ensembles, including a metallic DVF skirt suit, a silky black jumpsuit and a flowing aubergine maxidress. Since then she's been papped out and about continuing her run of fashion successes: she attended a festival decked out in a cornflower blue Vivienne Westwood shirt dress, did a radio interview in a crisp white Victoriana shirt and Mulberry 'Alexa' bag, and turned up to the TV Choice Awards in a beautiful rust-orange lace dress.
But it's in the last few days, when scurrying about promoting the release of the series 5 DVD (which I so would get for Christmas, but it's a wee bit on the pricey side), that Karen has really struck fashion gold. The other day she showed off her mile-long legs in a sheer taupe playsuit teamed with a black blazer and Heidi-style plaits, and has also pulled off the tricky velvet trend by way of a gorgeous patterned dress. But it was her outfit for an appearance on ITV's morning show Daybreak yesterday that really piqued my attention (see it here). Erdem's beautiful digital floral prints have been seen on every stylish celebrity worth her salt recently, from Keira Knightley slipping into a floor-length maxidress to Leighton Meester stepping out in printed shorts. But it's Karen's take on the trend that really stands out. Teaming the statement dress with zero accessories, soft natural make-up and lightly teased hair allows it to speak for itself, but without overwhelming its wearer.
Now, obviously it wasn't easy to find a copycat of this dress on the high street, given the individuality of its beautiful intricate print (read: impossible). But sadly I can't afford the original (though I really, really want it) so I've decided to offer up some suitable printed alternatives. However, even this hasn't proved the easiest of challenges. Most of the high street's printed offerings are either mumsy ditsy florals (shudder) or unbecoming monotones. But I do quite like Topshop's Midnight Berry Midi Dress, £55. The rich berry tones are lovely and wintry, and I'm a fan of the chiffon overlay; just remember that midi-lengths always demand heels. For a shirt-dress style like Miss Gillan's, Mango's Flako Dress, £54.90, is a pretty good option, but it's worth noting that paisley is very tricky to pull off. I hate how they've styled it on the website: for one thing, mid-calf boots + dress is one of the worst fashion sins in any situation, in my opinion. Also, paisley paired with tan accessories = bad 70s throwback. Instead, take tips from our redheaded muse and team this dress with bare legs and simple black heels, and button it all the way to the top. However, if you're a wee bit scared of paisley (and I admittedly am), and put off by all the sickly sweet florals, then may I suggest a bit of animal print? You can't move for leopard print on the high street at the moment, and if you get it right, a fierce bit of feline can really update your look. French Connection's Blurred Animal Print Drape Dress is not cheap at £85, but has a very Erdem-esque colour palette and is probably much easier to pull off than my other suggestions.
Happily, the fact remains that whether or not we can successfully emulate Karen's exact choice of dress, we can still take inspiration from the brilliant way in which she wears it. Her genius formula of simple heels + nude make-up + swept back hair can, and should, be applied to any and every printed item of clothing you own. Try slipping on Topshop's Angelica Mid Heel Shoeboots, £75, sweeping Maybelline's EyeStudio Mono Eyeshadow in 'Silken Taupe' (my absolute favourite eyeshadow) over your lids, and backcombing your hair a little. And with that you'll be ready to take on anything the day throws at you, even a Dalek...