Perfect Pinks

"I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and... I believe in miracles." - Audrey Hepburn

I have mentioned before how pink is a big shade for autumn/winter 2013, from pink coats dominating the high street and the likes of Christian Dior emphasised this oh so feminine colour on their winter/autumn catwalk. Think lady-like-pale-barely-there-pinks rather than hot neon numbers (that dominated the summer 2013 trend). This suits me fine as the homebody inside me loves dusty pastel pinks; I feel it is an easy colour for all to wear for an ultra-chic look and so girly *que girly tehehe's*. There is something about these pale pinks that just embraces the season well with it’s snuggly and vintage feel….I had a look around for my favourite pink pieces…

1. Cardigan £34.99 from H&M | 2. Fluffy Swing Boyfriend Coat £89 from Topshop | 3. Light Pink Chunky Knit Snood £15  from River Island | 4. Jersey Lined Lace Shell now £12 from Warehouse | 5. Jacquard Baggy Trousers £39.99 from Warehouse | 6. Mystery Patent Bow Slippers £24 from Topshop

Stay classy!

...ArA...

Put the “Point” in Everyday Flats

...Commodum...

I always have a pair (well more than one pair) in my collection of sturdy trusty flat shoes that never fail to disappoint. I have even been known to carry a spare pair in one of my enormous handbags when towering about in one of my higher heels (my feet always thank me for it later). With the sunnier weather I personally do not like to sweat around in high heels (leave that to the gym, the sweating that is); especially when you are on your feet for more than a few hours - keep it comfortable and practical.

I like to team up my flats up with some light washed acid jeans for that laid back summer ensemble, to keep it clean and easy going. I am currently loving the range of “pointy” flat shoes that can be seen everywhere on the high street, slightly smart yet casual - I love the slight attitude that these shoes scream with that pointy front, great for everyday wear when you may want to leave the stilettos behind for better days. 

Some of my seasons favourites…

1.

June Pointed Ballet Flats £35 from Asos

These pretty cut out  scallop detailed flats have cute pin buckle and strap detailing that give it that extra girly touch. Cut out in style they are right on trend. I love the strong coral/pink colour it is perfect for the sunnier days and will brighten up any outfit.

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2.

Faux Suede Loafers £19.90 from Forever21

These bad boys add a fierce roar to any casual look with the lion motif, team them up with a baggy pop art t-shirt to add that instant 90's punk vibe. As they are faux suede they are perfect for being worn this time of the year (hopefuly the lack of supposed rain will not wear them out too quickly)!

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3.

Leather Loafers £34.99 from H&M

Another season friendly pair with the nude/beige undertones, these beauties are at a very steal price considering the quality of the leather. The faux snakeskin top detailing make these pair more expensive than they look. Overall very simple yet stunning.

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4.

Pointed Slipper £49.99 from Zara

Wow. Where do I begin with these blue eyed beauties? The bold Aztec style print screams attention; they are perfect for bringing a simple outfit to the centre court. I would easily team these up to add an instant style statement to one of my simple jersey maxi dresses, without looking as though I am trying too hard. 

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5.

Aldo Bozena Toecap Pointed Ballet Flats £45 from Asos

AH another one of my favourites, for those of you who love the toecap contrast trend then these are both comfortable and stylish without hopping around in agony in sky high heels all day. These can easily be worn to the office, being both smart and wearable. 

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6.

Glitter Slipper £39.99 from Zara

Check those sparkles, these flat slippers can rival those of the taller kind -  glittery and sparkly they certainly do not lack in personality. Again, very smart looking but can easily look great with some blue jeans and a fitted blazer. Who said flat shoes cannot do glam? These pair certainly do.

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Do you own a staple pair of flats?

...ArA...

A Very British Spring – Essential Accessories

...Imber Ymber...

Well seeing that the slight improvement in the weather was short lived, I thought it would only be fitting to make a suitable spring wardrobe essential post, that tailors around the spring rain showers we seem to be getting quite frequently lately (bo ho…better leave those spring/summer clothes at the back of the wardrobe yet)!

The lack of sun does not mean that you cannot dabble with those cute spring flowers here or there (instead of being on the grass they are the print on your scarf or blouse, I have not seen a single daffodil yet thus far). I have rummaged around and tried to create British-weather proof spring essentials that will still leave you feeling spring(ish) without shivering your knees off in the heavy winds...leave those strappy sandals and spring skirts for a warmer day (unless you are wearing them with thick tights)!

1. 

Always keep an umbrella in your bag, you never know when the temperamental weather turns sour! This beautiful Black Floral Print Umbrella has a frill trim detail all the way round (I love extra details) and looks very pretty and has a very cute black rose handle, the details are so beautiful and make it very feminine. It is currently on sale from River Island for £7!

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2.

Who can go wrong with a classic bowler hat? I am loving this dusty pink number so on trend with the pastel spring palette, it will keep your head covered in those downpours as well as adding a vintage laid-back feel to any daytime outfit. It is also available in black and burgundy  but my favourite for spring has to be this light pink which is again very feminine. It can be brought from H&M for £7.99!

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3.

River Island have created a very good alternative to those rain/overcast days which will leave your Wellies behind, I tend to avoid Wellies simply because unless at Glastonbury for me they are not practical for everyday-wear, instead ankle boots tend to be more favourable to wear in Spring being both comfortable and not leaving you feeling like you are still stuck in autumn/winter.  These Black High Shine Chelsea Boot Wellies are great for dressing up or down (as well as keeping your feet dry and not flooding ruining those beloved pastel ballet pump shoes that you looked forward to wearing all spring). Grab them from River Island for £20!

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4. 

If you have hands like mine they tend to always remain cold (no matter what the weather), the current harsh wind does not help (especially when holding an umbrella, my hand tends to turn into a great numb bloodless piece of flesh). These cream studded leather gloves (I am a sucker for any clothing that is studded..,*cough cough Valentino-inspired cough cough*) are perfect for teaming up in spring. They are a far cry away from those thicker winter wolly numbers that are now firmly tucked away in my bottomless wardrobes. They are at a steal sale price for £14.50 (reduced from £35) from Asos, especially as they are leather and studded! 

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5.

This beautiful oriental print scarf is advertised to be green, although I think it is more of a light minty green/light aqua-ish pastel colour which is so pretty for spring. It again looks very feminine and can be teamed with your outfit to add a bit of spring sensuality and keep you warm at the same time. It can be brought from Acessorize for £12.

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6.

Not strictly an accessory as such although I feel this is an essential handbag item when out and about and had to feature it; it is simply a life saver if you have sensitive hands like mine. I currently have this Sanctuary hand cream in my handbag, it never fails and is a very friendly tiny travel size tube at 30ml for £3.00 available from Boots. It always moisturises my hands without being too heavy and greasy; leaves them smelling divine and soothes away the harsh effects of the coarse wind that dry out my hands, leaving me feeling more like I have dried prunes for hands!

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Lets hope the British rain departs soon, enjoy your lazy Sunday!

...ArA...

POW! Statement Necklaces

...Adversus solem ne loquitor...

The trend that started last year was wearing a lot of statement necklaces, from spikey edgy numbers to more softer pearl shaped ones sprinkled with a few stone encrusted details here and there. There was gold, rose gold, silver and bronze metallic ones that were dominating the outer shell of our statement necklaces, but more textured cloth material ones (a bit like those collar bibs that were around a few years ago) are also making a strong comeback with quirky and bold colours adding a futuristic modern trend. 

H&M have a great collection (my favourite by far) and are a good example of taking a fun colourful twist at statement necklaces, so shiny and so pretty! If you are on a budget New Look offer a wide range that are very affordable yet still look on trend.

I certainly jumped on the bandwagon last year and layered/mixed and matched a few to create a unique and personalised style which can dress up a plain jumper or add a bit of understated glam to that crisp collared shirt. 

Statement Necklaces I am glad to say are hanging around our necks it seems for some time, the likes of the High Street are filled with them and add a custom touch to those everyday outfits! Take a look at 6 of my favourites…

1.

Flower Layered Collar £20 from Topshop

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2.

Acrylic Mixed Shapes Collar £18.50 from Topshop

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3. 

Necklace £12.99 from H&M 

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4. 

Black Short Statement Necklace £12 from River Island

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5. 

Celebration Skull Statement Necklace £24 from Asos

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6. 

Neon Pink and Orange Spike Necklace £7.99 from New Look

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We all love a bit of bling bling, especially on our statement necklaces. Do you have a favourite?

...ArA...

Monochrome Trend Spring/Summer 2013

"Black and white always looks modern, whatever modern means" - Karl Lagerfield

A trend that is dominating a lot of the high street is no other than the Monochrome trend which is chick, simple and classic! Maybe because of the lack of spring weather or sun I have been living in a lot of black and white colours, just as well that it is on trend. A common misconception about this trend is that it is purely just black and white, even though this is partially true the excitement of surviving the Aztec world-doom-prophecy in 2012 (please note the sarcasm) meant that a lot of designers have seemed to regained an interest in Aztec/tribal prints which are fuelling a lot of edge into this Monochrome look; there are a lot of monochrome prints that you can filter into this trend to add that extra definition of style if you want to be more adventurous.

If you are a girl like me who loves to dabble into those wearable investment pieces then this trend is definitely for you (we all love a bit of regeneration from those splurge moments a couple of months later when the account balance is not so happy with you). If you would rather avoid loud neon colours or you are not overly taken by those spring pastels then you can definitely work with this trend to create your own signature Monochrome look by being inspired by different textures and materials.

What I love about the Monochrome trend that it can be very easy to achieve - anyone can master it by using simple black and white colours to incorporate a neat clean and extremely elegant look. Any age or body shape can embrace this trend and wear it out for dinner with friends or for that last minute business meeting…the smart yet understated look of the Monochrome trend oozes style and sophistication without being too *POW* in your face. It is most likely will compliment your existing wardrobe, you will probably have that staple classic white/black blouse/skirt lying around in that bottomless wardrobe (it is time to re-dust that old black skater skirt from 2011 and re-use it)!

There are a lot of good pieces out on the high street, I have tried to create an edgier take on the Monochrome trend, take a look at the night-time to daytime look to give you all some inspiration…

Night-time Monochrome

Black and White Stripe Panel Midi Dress - £28 from River Island | Silver Tone Gem Stone Skull Drop Earrings - £8.00 from River Island | Strappy Sandals - £49.99 from Zara

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Daytime Monochrome

Black Vertical Stripe Longline Vest - £10 from River Island | Necklace – £9.99 from H&M |

Black Sheer Mesh Biker Jacket - £30 from River Island | Wet Look Leggings - £18 from Topshop | Attack Leather Gladiator Ankle Boots - £65 from Asos | Black Metal Plate Geometric Black Pack - £40 from River Island

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Any monochrome-ers out there?

...ArA...

#1 Spring Essential: The Tweed Biker Jacket

...Tempus Vernum...

Spring is in the air! (despite the current lack of sunny spells...where art thou spring weather)?!  With the run up to Easter I thought I would make a mini-series of my essential spring-wardrobe-must-haves, all in time to embrace the warmer weather (I hope, despite it currently raining outside)!

A spring jacket is a key investment piece that should be the basic in any girls’ wardrobe; especially at the moment with this transitional weather all in the run up to summer (not to mention the constant worry of English rain).

There are lots of different prints dominating spring jackets at the moment, from tweed to tribal prints. The tweed print has made a comeback with a modern twist (think edgy biker meets Coco Channel) and is still running strong in 2013. Neon colours are dominating the high street and so are tribal/Aztec style prints, although I feel the Tweed Biker Jacket is an investable trend that can take you into autumn 2013 (always thinking ahead); therefore will be more friendlier (*ahem* justifiable) to your purses.

The key things that I look for in a good jacket are the finer things like detail rather than where I purchase the jacket from, look for vintage button embellishments to golden/silvery stylish fastenings…look for pieces that can be styled up or down whatever the occasion. I have rummaged through the high street and have selected five of my favourite spring jackets that I feel are very now! Take a look and be inspired...

1.

This funky lime/neon-ish number (oh so on trend with sports luxe craze) can be picked up from River Island for £70 – it is oversized too so can be ideal for layering on those colder spring mornings, bright and cheerful just like spring!

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2.

Even though this is not tweed I found this tribal biker piece a safe buy, with its leather lining collars and arms it is still very wearable and quite understated yet still edgy, a transitional piece that can be used for those overcast weather moments, it can be obtained from Zara for £99 

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3.

I LOVE this beige tweed, you can see the classic Chanel inspiration oozing through it, its gold zip detailing at the front and cuffs will just glisten under the spring sun! Team it up with big black sunglasses whatever you outfit to add instant glamour. Grab it from Warehouse for £65 

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 4.

This classic cut black biker jacket is right on trend with its zip detailing and tweed print, team it up effortlessly with the monochrome look, buy it from H&M for £34.99 

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5.

This collarless tweed jacket is perfect for that high neck lace top which will elongate your neck or team it up with a silk scarf  to instantly look sheek in spring (very Grace Kelly). This is currently reduced by 50% in Mango for £29.99 (bargain)!

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Have you got your perfect Spring Jacket ready?

..ArA…