MELLOW YELLOW

With the weather as miserable as it is at the moment, I feel like we all need cheering up a little bit. I want to inject some colour into my wardrobe and have been inspired by images of bright yellows to banish the winter blues. So I thought I'd share the looks I'm loving with you. 

Image via pinterest

So this is what I'm talking about! I came across this image on pinterest and just had to have a look for some yellow of my own. The pop of colour is so striking and looks effortlessly chic against the black and white. Pairing it with slouch heeled boots and a quilted jacket is genius and balances the outfit out perfectly, making this an outfit fit for Winter temperatures but with all the essence of Summer.

Kimono: H&M  Image: Gucci SS16 via pinterest  Jumpsuit: Whistles

Top: Topshop  Skirt: HotSquash @ House of Fraser

Here is some of what I have found on the highstreet as well as a bit of Gucci SS16, because you can't go wrong taking inspiration from Gucci! It is another perfect example of how to make yellow a fully transitional look between the seasons. Because the colour is a little darker and slightly muted yellow it means although there is more of it, it is not overpowering. The nude shoes allow the co-ord suit to be the focus with the eye being drawn to the centre of the jacket. You are first grabbed by the bow, which was seen all over the catwalk and in my opinion is a huge look for 2016. That then takes your eye down the centre of the jacket where they have added in ruffles and gold buttons. Again both huge trends for this year.  

I found a jumpsuit in Whistles that represents the Gucci yellow colour perfectly. It has the detailing on the back with cross over straps and is a cropped length. I would style this with black mules or slip on loafers and I think if you were looking for a day look, it would look amazing with a white shirt under it. The yellow skirt is a brighter yellow so needs to be tamed a little with black and white to add a balance. If it was styled only with black the contrast would be too strong and it could look very dated. The white possibly added in a jacket would bring the look straight into SS16 and could go from day to night. The Kimono is a perfect piece to style with a white tee and straight jeans, for an up to date look go for jeans with a frayed edge to them. Or if you really want to grab attention you could add some more colour underneath it. I would go with a bright red OR green with matching top and bottoms. The tee (above) is something I might invest in myself and is the simplest way to introduce the colour in to your wardrobe. I will be styling mine with black trousers and white heeled boots. 

Trousers & Top: Zara  Coat: Mango  Dress: Zara

Trainers: Nike @ ASOS  Bag: Cambridge Satchel Company @ ASOS

If you don't fancy going all in with the yellow, why not try accesories or adding it in to patterns. This is done perfectly by Zara's new collection. Stripes are already a huge trend this Spring (see previous blog posts), not only this but they've got the perfect blend of colours to brighten up your day without you needing sunglasses. They also have some striped pieces with more whites and greys with yellow if you want to go for a lighter look and get rid of the dark shades of winter completely. Both the pieces above I would style with glove shoes (see previous blog posts) for a relaxed look. The trainers above are a great buy to effortlessly add some yellow into everyday outfits, and would last you right through the year paired with white tees and denim. If you want to go a little more fluro, the satchel is another piece for all year round smiles. I would love to see it styled with navy to really allow the colour to pop. 

Clutch Bag: SayWhatYouSee 

I have this clutch bag on my birthday list for the end of February. I came across the brand recently and love their handbags. The detailing on this one is amazing and it looks like such soft leather. The only problem is, it comes in 5 different colours so I cant quite decide which one to go for. The yellow thoughts of today are starting to sway me in that direction though so I will keep you updated!

If the end of January is as bleek for you as its is me then come payday why not treat yourself with a little bit of sunshine. I for one will be getting my fix!

Let me know what you think 

xx

FLATFORMS

I have been having a slight love affair with my own flatforms recently. They really do go with everything! Mine are from Zara and are similar to the Stella McCartney ones but I have recently found some in Mango that are so much like the Prada ones that I equally love. So I thought I'd do a quick post to share with everyone what I've found in the hope that everyone will join me in the love for the flatform.

Zara £39.99         Stella McCartney £625

Stella McCartney £580         Zara £39.99

So these are the ones that I have (top left) I chose the navy simply because of the time of year. To be honest I wanted both the navy and nude pairs but when a choice had to be made I went with what I thought I'd be able to wear more of at the moment. As you can see the Stella McCartney ones (right top and bottom left) and the Zara ones are so similar, they have the same styling to them with the white sole and the colouring, even the footprint is the same. I really do love how good these Zara versions are, and for only £39.99 they are such a bargain. I have been wearing mine with skirts and tights, jeans and socks, the list is endless to the possibilities. I'm so glad I decided to brave the socks and shoes look, I wasn't sure at first but with the weather being so cold at the moment I decided to try it. Not only is it super practical but I really liked it styled with a chunky knit and turned up skinny jeans. I kept my socks the same colouring as the shoe to make sure the look didn't end up too busy. I can't wait to get my legs out with them too though. I think this will be when I'm tempted to get the nude pair as well, I think they will look really cool as an alternative to ballet shoes in the spring/summer. 

Mango £79.99       Prada £630

Prada £700        Mango £79.99

These are my Mango find, now you can see why I got so excited! They are so much like the Prada ones its unbelievable. I love the Prada pair in the tan (bottom left) with the orange stripe, and have seen these styled on so many people. They are a firm favourite for this transitional period and like the Stella McCartney pairs look really chic with socks. As I can't afford the Prada version I think I'm going to be putting the brown Mango pair on my birthday list. I think they would look really good styled with floral dresses and loose midi skirts and could be worn like the Zara pairs right through to the summer.  

Here are some of my favourite ways to style the flatform. I really love them with skinny jeans with a turn up and socks, but like I said keep the colour pallet minimal when it comes to the socks. The attention is all about the sole on these so you dont want to distract at the ankle too much. I'll also be wearing mine with a kick flare jean, possibly a slight man repeller again but I don't dress for men, I personally dress for other women so I'm not worried. I've been wearing mine with my culottes and with midi and mini skirts. They also look really smart with a loose black trouser, this would make a great look for those days when you can't quite decide between smart or casual dress. 

  

Hopefully I've talked you into the flatform, you wont regret it I promise! Let me know what you think.

xx

GLOVES FOR SHOES

This post has simply grown out of an email I received from Topshop this week. It was just to show off their new pieces in this week and included their gold glove shoes! They are in my opinion the most fabulous shoes, man repellers none the less but so very comfortable and absolutely huge for the new season. The originals are by Celine and slightly more pricey but for a highstreet version these are pretty spot on. I've included a pic below of the Celine ones as well as details on where to get your very own. But be quick, they are selling out fast. The first thing that caught my attention with them was the colour so I decided firstly that I must have a pair, and secondly I wanted to do a post on the updated metallic trend that was all over the runways in the SS16 shows. So read on and see my opinions on the shiny trend.

Topshop JUNO soft glove mid shoes £59.00

 Zara £39.99                Celine £530.00

Topshop £59.99            Topshop £59.99

All~Mango   £29.99  

£59.99              £49.99

These shoes will go with everything from midi skirts to ripped jeans and are a perfect way to bring an outfit up to date and straight into spring 2016. I do love the metallic ones from Topshop and Mango to brighten an outfit of jeans and a tee up but at the same time the simplicity of the grey ones from Zara will be a timeless piece and is something that you could throw on with any colour combination. The blue heeled ones from Mango would look stunning teamed with the stripey trend thats going on this season (see previous posts). 

SS16 METALLICS

So the metallics trend was big for AW15 and its definetely sticking around for Spring. The colours have gone a lot fresher and the silhouettes softer but the high shine is still there. I've had a look at what was hot on the runway and put some outfits together with some key pieces from the highstreet. 

Karen Walker            Akris            Isabel Marant

    Lela Rose        Karen Walker       Isabel Marant

                                  Alexander McQueen     MM6 Maison Margiela     Temperley

On the runways is was all about keeping the looks simple and freshening everything up with clever detailing to each piece with zips and break lines. The hem lines have stayed long with Midi and Maxis taking center stage, which is perfect for transitional styling as it means we can keep our legs hidden for a while longer. The Karen Walker casual look with jeans shows exactly how we should be wearing our denim for the new season. High waisted, cropped above the ankle and I particularly love the fresh bleached colouring, which makes a nice change from the dark denim of AW. 

My favourite (above) is the Alexander McQueen look with the ruffles adorning the skirt. Ruffles are huge right now and add a girly edge to a look. By mixing this with metallics the look is striking but balances itself out with the colour palette of soft pinks which complement the bronzey/silvery tones of the jacket perfectly. The added detail on the jacket with the plaited laces is absolutely beautiful and again helps to balance out the look from top to bottom. 

Isabel Marants show of metallics was particulary strong and gives us perfect examples of how we can emulate the look on the highstreet. The elements are kept simple and the colour palette monochrome. I love the look (above) with silver tie around the waist trousers, again cropped above the ankle and with all the detail kept in the tie at the waist. This is something we saw come down to the highstreet last season but this time in a fabulous metallic fabric. By pairing it with bright whites and keeping the fit tight on the top it prevents the look from being overpowered.

Here are some of my outfit ideas for the trend:

Silver tee: Cos  Shoes:  Zara

Blazer: Zara  Jeans: Topshop  Bag: Zara

My first outfit that I have put together takes inspiration from Karen Walker. It's a perfect way to wear metallics in the real world. Firstly the jeans are form Topshop and most definitely will be going in my basket! They are the; MOTO Pale Blue Binx Jeans, £40.00. They are the perfect pairing with the glove shoes and will step you straight into Spring 2016. The silver tee is from Cos and is such amazing quality. It is a piece that will last forever, I'm thinking as well as the outfit above it will work great under a v-neck sweater and when the weather starts warming up could be worn under a loose cami top. The white blazer adds the bright white element from the catwalk and I've added the pink bag because I have fallen in love with this colour combination. 

Shirt: Zara  Skirt: ASOS

Boots: Zara  Jumper: Cos  Bag: Whistles

This look is a softer look, but still keeping the colour palette stuck on the whites, greys and pinks. The skirt is giving us the metallic element with its high shine and is a perfect compromise if you don't quite have the confidence for the 'look at me' silvers and golds of the trend. By putting the shirt under the jumper you keep the top half soft and girly so as not to over take the skirt. The accesories I have chosen for this look keep it understated without going unnoticed. The bag in particular has such amazing detail on the strap and is a perfect size to fit everything in for everyday use.  

Shirt: ASOS  Shoes: Carvela

Bag: Topshop  Skirt: Topshop  Purse: Cos

This look places all the attention on the accesories to bring in the metallic aspect. The shoes I love and look like they have come straight off the runway. They will see you through the whole year and go perfecty with shorts and mini dresses in the summer. The bag is from Topshop and showcases how to style up a backpack without looking like you're on your way to school. As a mum a backpack works perfectly for me as it means I have all my hands free and by adding in the purse you have completed your look from head to toe! For the clothes I've added some ruffles in and kept it quite smart with the pencil skirt. The colours and the detail is what brings it all up to date, not only with the on trend ruffles but with the pockets and split on the skirt.

So as you can see the colours calling out to me are the fresh vibes of white and dusty pink but if this isn't your thing then it doesn't mean you can't work the metallics trend this season. In my search for all things shiny I came across an absolute beauty of a skirt. The skirt on the left (below) is a Gucci skirt which is £915.00, it has a silk-blend fabrication and is undeniably a thing of pure beauty. But the skirt on the right (below) is a Warehouse find and is in the sale at the moment for just £25.00. The colour doesn't shout out to me as loud as the Gucci version but for the difference in price I think we can accept the compromise. I would love to see this skirt worn casually with a grey tee, in my mind I'm thinking a bright green jacket and some fresh white trainers. Or at the moment with an untucked patterned jumper to complement the colouring in the skirt. 

  Gucci                            Warehouse

So whether you are thinking keep it bright and go heavy with the darker metallics or like me fancy going fresh and clean with white, hopefully there is something for everyone here. Be it gold, silver or bronze the highstreet is bursting with metallics. There are a lot in the sales too, I wanted to keep everything here about new arrivals but its worth having a look to see what you find! 

Let me know what you think and shine bright 

xx

SS16 STRIPES

So my first post on SS16 trends! Finally we can start thinking about shaking off winter and bringing in the new looks of spring 2016. I personally love spring and all the freshness it brings. I'm a simple soul really and can't wait to get myself some daffodils (I can always hope my husband will get me some but I may be waiting a while), loose some of the winter layers, and bring some colour back into my wardrobe.

After having a look at what was hot on the catwalk, I decided to do a post on the new stripe! We all love a stripe, its a wardrobe staple and an easy go to, but this season they have gone bigger, bolder and are a rainbow of colours. The trend was particularly big for Prada who went bold not only with pattern but with their fabrics too and clashing accesories for ultimate impact. The looks were fun and have many aspects you could individually take from them and add to more basic outfits to give them a new edge for the new year. Tommy Hilfiger and Missoni both had Maxi dresses with multiple lines and clashing colours, and all the looks had a strong 70's feel to them especially with their accesories.

      Missoni                     Prada                  Tommy Hilfiger

The catwalk looks are obviously not looks us mere mortals can wear on day to day basis so I've trawled the high street and picked some of my favourite bits to dress up or down. 

Skirt: Boden  Top: Whistles 

Dress: ASOS  Jumper: H&M  Dress: ASOS

Firstly I really love all the colours on show here, its so refreshing compared to the greys and blacks of winter. My personal favourite is the jumper (centre) from H&M. The host of colours along with the multiple stripes is exactly what the trend is all about. I'm thinking of styling it with a leather skirt and trainers for a day time look. Or for an easier through on piece, it would look super hot simply paired with jeans, I would go with my kick flares for the 70s feel. The dresses both from ASOS will take you right through to summer. The maxi in particular is fab as it also has another trend going on, the peekaboo shoulder which is sticking around for SS16. The top and skirt are great pieces to simply team with black if you want to keep the look low key. I would invest in some trousers with a paper bag waist for the top (top right) to pull you in at your smallest part and elongate your legs. If you want to go ultimate impact with the pieces I would say clash it and bring in some different textures. Suede would be perfect and is available in every colour now on the highstreet.

Dress: Missoni  Two-piece co-cord: Topshop  Top: Topshop

Top: Topshop  Skirt: Topshop

I've included a dress from Missoni here (top left), its £850.00 so possibly a little out of some of our price ranges but it is a statement in how to make this trend wearable for all of us with its shorter hem line and easy fabric, definitely look out for copies on the highstreet of this one. The Topshop two piece (centre) I love for its amazing colour combination. The clashing blue and pink would both make this easy to wear now while the weather is still slightly grey as well as perfect in the summer with black chunky heeled sandals. The Riviera feel to the midi skirt (bottom right) was also seen all over the catwalk as it always at this time of year. I would love to see this made super smart with a white shirt and some flat slip on backless flats as seen all over Gucci right now. The tops also from Topshop are great buys and could both be teamed with midi skirts and trainers or throw them on under your dungarees. The short sleeve top (top right) with the high neck line to it, which has been a favourite in AW15 is a perfect piece to take you smoothly through the seasons. 

I hope you all give the new stripe a go, be bold, be bright and let me know what you think!

xx

NEW SHOES

I just wanted to do a quick post about my new shoes. I've been waiting a couple of weeks for them as they are a late Christmas present but they have finally arrived....

Shoes: Next

Here they are, Chanel inspired ballet pumps (above). The real deal (below) are sling backs and come in 3 different heel heights. The most popular being the mid-heel which is modest but gives a touch of elegance. Mine are a simple ballet pump which to be honest will be most practical for me with all the running around I do after my little one. 

The detail on the cutout of these copies is where the difference really is as Chanel have the extra cutout along the side of the shoe making it a sling back. But as far as copies go I think these are pretty spot on. They are brand new in and as yet I have only seen them online. They also come in black with a patent toe if you want a more a/w look to them, I wanted to go for the full on Chanel look though so went with the monochrome heritage cap-toe. The price of the Next ones is also pretty amazing, £25.00. So you could even go for both colour choices as they are less than a fraction of the price of there designer counterparts. 

I cant wait to style mine up with leather trousers, smart black tops and crisp white shirts. Team them with jeans and sweatshirts and to make them safe for now with tights and dresses. I might even wear them tomorrow as I'm so excited about them so keep an eye out for them on Instagram! 

CHLOE INSPIRED 

On yet another trawl of the internet looking at whats new in for the new year I came across a Chloe shirt that looked very similar to one I got not that long ago in the sale, in Marks and Spencer. The designer version which is a cotton linen blend leopard-print shirt is £653.00 and I found it on the Harvey Nichols website. Mine was a sale find for £9.00 in the Limited Edition collection. They also did a dress which is a lot like the Chloe dress (see below) also available at Harvey Nichols. Unfortunately the M&S ones are not available online anymore but in my local store I know they still have the dress for just £16.00 so worth a look. 

Shirt: Marks and Spencer  Skirt: Zara  Shoes: Zara

I styled my shirt up with a leather skirt and my new favourite Zara shoes to make it a little bit more casual for daytime wear. 

Shirt: Chloe  Dress: Chloe 

As the one I have is no longer available online I thought I'd have a look for some alternatives, all of these are in the sale also so you need to be quick...

(From left to right)

Shirt: Warehouse £50.00

Dress: Warehouse £50,00

Short sleeved dress: Mango £24.99

Dress: Mango £24.99

Shirt: Mango £24.99

Dress: Marks and Spencer £16.00

Let me know what you think! Happy shopping

xx

NEW YEARS EVE 2015

We didn't have a babysitter for New Years Eve so we decided to have some friends round to us for the evening. I still wanted to dress up for the occasion but also wanted to be comfortable so the obvious choice was a jumpsuit. I went for black as we were cooking for them so thought this would be the most sensible choice. We had a really lovely evening, I tried my first Martini, swiftly followed by another 4/5 which I wasn't so sure about the next day but at the time seemed like a very good idea. We had an evening of eating, drinking and dancing with our best friends and to make it even better, baby stayed asleep all night! She must be a heavy sleeper like her dad as she didn't make a sound bless her. All in all a successful night and a happy mummy...until the hangover the next day. 

Jumpsuit: H&M  Shoes: Aldo  Necklace: Marks and Spencer 

 Lipstick: Mac (Ruby Woo)

I wore my jumpsuit with my black heels from Aldo (alternatives shown in earlier post) and a necklace from Marks and Spencer, Limited Edition collection. I'm not usually a fan of a statement necklace but with the simplicity of the Jumpsuit I thought it worked in glamming it up a little bit without over doing it. 

If you fancy trying a jumpsuit here are a couple of ones on the high street now. I have to say I do love a jumpsuit for most occasions, its such an easy outfit choice and can be dressed up or down so easily turning it into so many different looks. Once you have one you'll keep going back to it again and again, especially in black because it will never go out of fashion. 

                        Jumpsuit: H&M £29.99           Jumpsuit: Glamorous @ ASOS £30.00

Hope everyone elses New Years Eve was as good as mine and good luck for the year ahead!!

xx