WRAP IT UP

It's payday for us tomorrow so of course I am already looking online at what I'm after this month. I'm blaming it mostly on the bad weather as we have been stuck inside all day with re-runs of Peppa Pig on. I'm sure you'll agree this is a perfect excuse for a bit of online shopping. I've been looking at wrap dresses for a while now and after my little browse today I've decided I'll be heading straight into Topshop tomorrow to try their midi wrap dresses. I love how versatile and also how flattering a wrap dress can be. It will honestly suit any figure as you can wrap it up tight on the smallest part of your waist and it will give you curves in all the right places. A midi length is also especially elegant and can be dressed up or down. Take a look below at exactly what I'm after plus my pick of the high street and some style ideas for all occasions. 

(from left to right)

1. Stripe Wrap Slip Dress  Topshop  £39.00

2. Floral Maxi Dress  Topshop  £46.00

This is what I'm off in to town on the hunt for tomorrow. I have seen a lot of people styling both these dresses and really love how versatile they are. I think the floral dress would be great as an occasion outfit, perfect for summer weddings with some tan heels and a nude fascinator. But you could also wear it slightly more casually with some snake print mules (see previous post) and a straw hat. I think it will be the striped slip dress that comes home with me (depending on the fit), as I have a girls night coming up I have my eye on it for. I would go with black barely there heels and a simple clutch with some jewellery for this but, could also see it working during the day with sliders and a denim jacket. 

1. Long Wrap Skirt  Zara  £19.99 (was £39.99)

2. Striped Wrap Skirt  Zara  £7.99 (was £25.99)

If you like the wrap style and want to take advantage of the trend then you don't have to stick to dresses. Try these skirts from Zara, both in the sale so you might have to head in to store to find them if your size isn't available online anymore. They're even more versatile than the dresses in my opinion as you can swap your tops around with them to give you a different look each time. Have a look below at one way to style the 'long wrap skirt' plus the Topshop floral dress being styled with 'those' Gucci loafers. Anyone else a little bit in love with these looks...

(Images via pinterest)

1. Black Tropical Print Wrap Culotte Jumpsuit  New Look  £29.99

2. Wrapped Skirt  Mango  £25.99

3. Wrap Skirt with Tassels  H&M  £29.99

Another way to do a wrap is with a jumpsuit, this one from New Look has the hottest trend in prints right now; tropical palm print. This one would look fab with some lace up heels or some mules for a daytime look. I love the tassel skirt from H&M and think this would be a great buy that you could wear throughout the seasons. The wrap skirt from Mango would give a more basic look and could be worn with denim and espadrilles. I love the fun cactus print on it and you could pick out the colours with your accessories. 

1. Double Layer Waisted Chambray Dress  River Island  £40.00

2. Printed Long Dress  Mango  £99.99

I love this denim layered dress from River Island, it's not a traditional wrap dress but it has a slightly younger feel to it and would be perfect if you're not confident about your legs. I love it with trainers but it would look equally as good with tan sandals and a straw hat for a casual summer look. The maxi dress from Mango has a gorgeous print on it and would be perfect worn with heels to an event or with sliders for an every day glam look. 

1. Wrap Dress  Topshop  £46.00  

2. Mini Tea Dress with Wrap Front in Daisy Print  ASOS  £35.00

If like me you loved the Topshop tea dress with the red floral print on it but missed out on it then give this one from ASOS a try. For another occasion look try this wrap dress from Topshop, the red is stunning but it also comes in a variety of other colours too. Pair it with a statement clutch and some heels for a glam look, or to tone it down style it with some gold flats for a daytime look that would be equally as eye catching. 

Sequin Wrap Skirt  Mango  £19.99 (was £39.9)

If it's something fancy you're after this skirt is a must. It's in the sale so don't hang around if you like what you see. I really love the casual look seen above and think this would be perfect for daytime drinks in town, or to go from day to night stick with the band tee and add some heels. 

Striped Trouser  Zara  £19.99 (was £29.99)

Again I know this ones not exactly a wrap but you can certainly wrap up the tie around the waist and I for one have these on my wishlist so wanted to share. I love them styled simply with a white shirt, mules and some gold jewellery. A perfect 'go-to' look for summer and by swapping the shirt for a tee and mules for trainers, you have a more casual look for running around town in. Or you could try your own little wrap with this styling (above) of a classic striped shirt. Maybe a little out there for some but done right it looks amazing and can turn a simple item from your wardrobe in to something everybody will be asking about. 

Hat  F&F Clothing  £10.00

Denim Jacket  H&M  £19.99

Tee  H&M  £5.00

Wrap Skirt  ASOS  £11.00

Bag  (old)

Bandana  New Look  £3.99

Pumps  New Look  (old)

Here's one I styled earlier. I wore this a couple of weeks ago for a daytime look and had a day full of play dates and chores. It has a little bit more style to it than the dreaded leggings and a tee but is still super comfortable and easy to run around in so perfect for days with the little one. I'm thinking I might also try the skirt with a cami, some heeled mules and statement jewellery for an evening look. 

Hopefully I've talked you in to wrapping it up for the summer. Please let me know what you think and I'll keep you posted on my luck with the Topshop dress. 

xx

MULES SS16

If you haven't already heard Mules are big news this season. It all started with Gucci, so no arguments there from me. The mid-heeled slip on mule is everywhere right now but I haven't found my perfect pair yet. So I decided to try a flat version that I could slip on in seconds with everything. I went for a pair from New Look in the end that were only £15.99, and I am so happy with my choice. I got them in black but love them so much that I'm now thinking I might have to invest in the camel as well. Check out my pick of the high street below as well as those Gucci ones that started it all off. 

 Slipper Princetown de piel  Gucci  £650.00

All hail the Gucci slipper, they may not be to everyone's taste but I for one love them. I love the effortless style of taking a classic loafer and giving it a modern twist as a slip on. As for the fur aspect, if it didn't provoke reaction it wouldn't be Gucci would it. If the fur doesn't do it for you though then you could try the 'Princetown Leather Backless Loafer' which looks fab in gold and a snip at just £380.00. Unfortunately they're just out of my price range so have a look below at my pick of the highstreet. 

1. KYLIE Backless Mule  Topshop  £62.00

2. MONUMENT Leather Mule Loafers  ASOS  £27.00 (was £45.00)

3. Dance Bow Mule  Office  £62.00

For the best dupe of the Gucci version then I would head to Topshop for the 'Kylie Backless Mule'. The Fur is missing but this of course does make it more wearable for those of us who spend most of our time running around a mother and toddler group rather than the streets of Paris. I do love the Office version though with the added bow detail that we have also seen everywhere this season when it comes to shoes. I love how the pair in the pic have been styled (image via pinterest), with a fresh summer dress and contrasting bag. The ASOS version are the best copy of these I found on the high street, but be quick with these as they are in the sale. 

1. Backless Slip on Shoe  Warehouse  £15.00 (was £39.00)

2. Pointed Mules  New Look  £15.99

3. Slingback Leather Shoes  Mango  £19.99 (was £39.99)

If you fancy something a little more casual then I would go for something lighter in colour but that doesn't mean you can't add a little pattern in. I love the outfit above (image via pinterest) the mules help to turn an outfit of basics into a chic modern look that would be perfect for weekdays as well as drinks in town at the weekend. To do this I would simply swap the large tote bag in for a bright clutch bag and add some lippy. The Mango versions here are the best buy if you want to try out this look for yourself. They have the added slingback detail on them so no worries on running for the bus. The New Look pair here is what I have gone for in black. But like I said, I may be investing in this colour too as they are super comfortable and so versatile. I went for my usual size in these and they are perfect, although they are a slightly skinny across the foot but I would definitely say give them a try. If I don't go for the Camel New Look version then you may well see me in the Warehouse pair. I saw these when they were full price and loved them so I can't not really as they are now just £15.00. I love the snakeskin print and would like to see the print being clashed with some summer florals and gingham. 

1. JONAS Mule Espadrilles Snakeskin  ASOS  £12.00

2. JONAS Mule Espadrilles Lace  ASOS  £12.00

3. SPEED UP Mules  ASOS  £32.00

4. Belan Leather Mules  Jeffrey Campbell  @ ASOS  £95.00

I love the espadrille style above and think these would be perfect on holiday with a playsuit or a chambray summers dress. Both pairs are selling out fast at the moment though so don't hold back on these, and at just £12.00, why would you!? The black pair here also from ASOS are a great alternative to going for the obvious Gucci dupes and perfect for dressing up or down. The Jeffrey Campbell pair are a little bit more pricey but the quality would most definitely show this and the white is perfect for summer and would see you right through to the end of autumn. 

Here are my own slip on mules from New Look. I have been wearing them today with my slip dress and denim shirt, an easy mummy outfit for a day of odd weather and running around doing all the jobs I didn't do yesterday. I also wore my bandana in my hair today, yet another use for my best buy of the year so far. Mine is from New Look and was just £3.99, I think they have even more colours available now so don't miss out on this trend. 

If I haven't talked you into a pair of slip on mules already then I'm sure a least one of these looks below will have you wanting a pair (images via pinterest)

So not only are they comfortable, they are versatile, and available all over the high street to suit all budgets. Pay day is just around the corner so why not treat yourself, you deserve it !

xx

CONFESSIONS OF SHOPAHOLIC - SALE EDIT  17.06.16

The summer sales have begun, we haven't necessarily had the weather yet but who can argue with a bargain. I fell in love with some sandals that arrived this week, found some fab bits in H&M and then the holy grail, the Zara sale went live. Of course all the bits I already own have gone in to sale, so if there is anything you've spotted me in that you liked head over to the website to have a look for it. For now lets focus on this weeks confession and my it's a big one...

Jeans  H&M  £10.00 (was £19.99)

Shirt  H&M  £7.00  (was £19.99)

I picked these bits up in H&M this week and have to say I was swayed by the terrible summer weather we are having. My idea was to keep it summery but covered up and go for things I could wear with boots. Although the jeans I could wear with a cami and sandals and the shirt will look fab with a denim skirt. They had lots of other fab bits in the sale too including some amazing maxi dresses with a really discount on them. If you have a holiday coming up I would definitely get yourself down there to check it out. 

Sandals  Mango  £14.99  (was £19.99)

I love my new sandals from Mango, at first I was unsure what colour to go for but in the end thought nude will go with everything. They are really comfortable and will be a favourite of mine when the sun finally returns. They have a feeling of Chloe SS16 to them which I love but if you want more of this then check out the website. They have a heeled lace up version that is an almost exact replica of the Chloe pair. I choose the flat slip-ons as I think I will get a lot more wear out of them. I find lace ups a little bit of faff when I have my little girl to get ready too, where as these can be slipped on in seconds. 

So on to my Zara sale finds, I originally looked on the website and wanted all of it of course. But I decided to go in to store so I could try it all on as Zara sizes are not always the most reliable. 3 trips to the changing room later (toddler not with me at this point) I had finally decided what I was getting. I had an exchange to do and thank god I also have a relative who works in there so I may have been helped out with a little discount too. Happy days all round!

Midi Dress  Zara  £25.99 (was £39.99)

You can't go wrong with an off the shoulder dress right now and this one is a perfect midi length with slits up each side. I love the slight palm print it has going on and the fact it has lots of different colours within the pattern makes it a versatile piece you can dress up or down. I'm off out for dinner tonight so I might give this one a go with some heels, it's a flattering loose fit too so will be perfect for too much food and one too may cocktails. 

Skirt  Zara  £25.99 (was £39.99)

Another trend I can't get enough of is embroidery so this one caught my eye immediately. I love the bright colours and for £25.99 it is an absolute bargain. Again it is so versatile with all the different ways you could dress it up or down. It's my second option for my night out tonight with a cami, blazer, heels and a blue clutch. For everyday wear though I could go with a denim top and slides. 

Playsuit  Zara  £15.99 (was £19.99)

I have been eyeing up this playsuit since I first saw it and it's also very similar to a lot of Zara's new collection bits they had in store too so points all round. It's such an easy piece to wear with sandals and has the slit on the back to give it another little edge. I think you could also wear it with a white shirt underneath if the weather doesn't go in our favour. Look out for this on my instagram. 

Shirt  Zara  £19.99

I wore this one today and had lots of compliments on the sleeves. I love it and although it isn't the easiest thing to wear with a toddler running around making a mess it is fab none the less. I wore it with some black denim jeans, my heeled espadrilles and of course a straw hat. I can't seem to go anywhere without one these days, check out previous posts for all the details on where I got mine. The shirt is a lovely floaty fabric and the ticking stripe means it will go with everything. Another piece I can dress down with denim or up with a pair of black trousers. I couldn't find this one on the website so it may have already sold out but have a look in store if you're interested. It is part of the Premium Denim range and comes up true to size. 

Let me know what you think about my outfit for tonight, because my decision making really isn't something I am proud of. Have a fab weekend and make some memories for Monday!

xx

FRAYED DENIM 

Denim is big this season and not just any denim, frayed denim. Whether it's a pair of jeans you're after, shorts, a skirt, tops or accessories, all have been given the raw hem detail. Yes, you can do it yourselves but I for one would rather leave it up to the experts and get the real deal. So I've had a look at what's available on the high street and have my pick of the best to share with you. If you're not sure how to wear the trend then check out my outfit ideas below too. 

(from left to right-top to bottom)

1. Relax Fit Mid-Rise Jeans  Zara  £29.99

2. Slouchy Jeans  Zara  £29.99

3. Frayed Denim Culottes  Zara  £25.99

4. Cropped Frayed Hem Jean  River Island @ ASOS  £42.00

5. Regular Waist Skinny Fit Jeans with Frayed Hem  Bershka  £29.99

In my opinion the best place to go for frayed hems right now is Zara. They have so many different pieces on offer and it's also where I got my own jeans from. I went for the Slouchy Jeans (top-centre), and they are so very comfortable. I had to size down because they come up big but apart from that they are perfect and exactly what I was looking for. I have seen a lot of people wearing the River Island pair which I also love but they are that bit more expensive than those others available. 

Hat  FandF Clothing (see previous post)

Top 1  New Look (old)

Top 2  Matalan (old)

Bandana  New Look  

Jeans  Zara  (see above)

Espadrilles  Marks & Spencer  (see previous post)

I went with my faithful hat as it seems I do everyday at the moment, see previous 'New Purchases' post for all the details. I layered up some cami tops to give a bit of depth to my outfit and went with my leather jacket as the weather is shocking (again) at the moment. I wanted to stay neutral with my shoes so went for my espadrilles from Marks & Spencer. I can't get enough of these shoes at the moment and love the lace up detailing with the frayed hems of the jeans. The bandana around my wrist is just to add another little bit of interest without complicating the colour scheme. 

1. Frayed Shorts  Zara  £19.99

2. Denim Shorts with Distressing and Frayed Hems  Honey Punch @ ASOS  £31.00

3. Denim Bermuda Shorts  Zara  £22.99

4. Light Acid Wash Frayed Denim Shorts  River Island  £28.00

I was very conscious here to not just pick shorts that only the very confident of us would wear or in fact the very young. You don't have to be a teenager or a size 6 to wear denim shorts this summer. The Bermuda shorts shown here available from Zara are a perfect option if you don'y like to go too short. If you want the look to stay young my advice would be to go for either a lace up sandal or a flat-form and keep the top loose and tucked in. If you do want to go for short shorts then the festival style available from ASOS are gorgeous with the pocket detailing. 

1. Blue Fray Hem Denim Skirt  New Look  £13.49 (was £17.99)

2. Raw Hem Denim Skirt  First & I @ ASOS  £22.00

3. Frayed Hem Denim Skirt  Boohoo @ ASOS  £18.00

4. Frayed Hem Denim Mini Skirt  Pull&Bear @ ASOS  £17.99

If you don't want to jump in at the deep in with the trend then this skirt from New Look is a perfect option and even better it's in the sale. My favourite here is the Pull & Bear skirt with the slightly washed denim look to it. In my opinion the raw hem detailing looks best either kept simple with fresh white tops or you can go a little bit girly. Try not to play around too much with colour though, the hems themselves are drawing a lot of attention so you don't want to clutter the look. An all white/cream embroidered blouse with some lace up Chloe style sandals (see Mango.com) would be a perfect everyday outfit for the summer. 

1. Blue Denim Fray Trim Sling Back Sandals  New Look  £12.99

2. Bisou Oversized Frayed Denim Shirt  Supertrash @ ASOS  £75.00

3. Denim Patch Shopper Bag  Topshop  £29.00

4. Blue Denim Frayed Hem Top  River Island  £25.00

5. V-Neck Frayed Denim Crop Top  Missguided @ ASOS  £20.00

I really love the oversized shirt here available from ASOS, and would be tempted to wear it more as a jacket than a shirt. I would style it with pretty midi dresses as an alternative to a denim jacket. It will also serve you well throughout the seasons so will be a real investment piece. I think the frayed edges trend works really well with the double denim look. By keeping the tones of denim similar you will add that extra punch but won't distract from the frayed edges and raw hems. 

Outfit 1 

1. Sunglasses  H&M  £6.99

2. Frayed Denim Top  &OtherStories  £45.00

3. Straw Clutch  Mango  £8.99

4. Skinny Cropped Fringed Jeans  Mango  £39.99

5. Destructured Leather Sandals  Mango  £24.99 (was 39.99)

I've kept the clothes simple with double denim but gone for crisp white on the top here and used the accessories to add a little bit of summer. I love these Mules from Mango and really wish I had got myself the H&M ones when I originally saw them. These are just as good and go perfectly with the bag also available from Mango. 

Outfit 2

1. Stripe Off The Shoulder Top  ASOS  £32.00

2. Bow Choker Necklace  ASOS  £5.00

3. Mid Wash Denim Buttoned Mini Skirt  River Island  £15.00 (was £30.00)

4. Leather Boot-Style Sandals  Zara  £59.99

Chokers are another big trend at the moment and look great with off-the-shoulder tops. They are inexpensive and can really add something to an otherwise casual outfit. This one is from ASOS but they are available all over the high street. Or if you're feeling clever a simple visit to a haberdashery shop can get you one for not too much money at all. All you need is to get your hands on some velvet cord and within seconds you have you're very own handmade choker. I've kept the colours muted here to let the frayed hems and the poppers do the talking. I love this skirt, only £15!!!, with the Zara shoes and would imagine that being real leather the shoes are super comfy. 

Outfit 3

1. Platform Sandals  H&M  £24.99

2. Denim Shorts  H&M  £19.99

3. Large Earrings  H&M  £6.99

4. Embroidered Linen Off The Shoulder Top  Zara  £25.99

5. Straw Bag  H&M  £14.99

This look is all about the accessories and I think it would work because I've kept the colours muted with each piece having something going on seperately. The shorts available from H&M come in 4 different denim wash options so if this one isn't for you go check them out. The embroidered top from Zara is a perfect example of girly elegance to pair with the frayed hem trend. Like the accessories it has something going on but is saying it quietly and letting the shorts do all the talking. 

Hopefully I've talked you into getting yourself some raw hems and with so many different options available it's hard to say no. Keep your eyes on my instagram for more of my frayed edge outfits and who knows I might even have talked myself into a skirt too! 

xx

TIE DYE SS16

Tie Dye print may be a slightly 'marmite' trend but I for one love it and was very happy when I came across an old dress in my wardrobe this week that has come right back in to fashion again (yes this means I'm getting old). I've had a little look at the runways from SS16 shows as well as street style trends, and trawled the high street so that you too can be a part of it., so take a look and let me know what you think.  

Altuzarra            Chloe            Valentino

                                               Issa             BCBG       Raquel Allegra

                                                              Max Azria 

(Images via Pinterest)

(Images via Pinterest)

I love all of these Streetstyles and particularly love the clashing of oranges and blues. This colour combination shouts summer to me and could be worn for events as well as dressed down for every day wear. Take a look below at my high street picks to get these looks for yourself. 

(from left to right-top to bottom)

1. Tie-Dye Knot Tee  Topshop  £16.00

2. Tie-dye Dress  Zara  £89.99

3. Halterneck Dress  H&M  £29.99

4. Strappy Tie Dye Swing Dress  Missguided  £20.00

The Zara dress here is a great example of how to wear tie dye for an occasion and would be great for summer weddings with some metallic heels and a clutch bag. The swing dress from Missguided is a perfect price to treat yourself while the sun is shining. I would style this one with trainers and a denim jacket to keep it casual. If it's an easy tee your after to wear with your jeans and slides then this one from Topshop is worth a look. I love the added knot detail on it to pull you in at the waist and give you some shape. 

1. Holiday Wave Tie Dye Shirt  French Connection  £65.00

2. Tie-Dye T-Shirt  Zara  £17.99

3. Tie-Dye Y-Back Cami  Forever 21  £7.99

4. Printed Cotton Scarf  Mango  £11.99

5. Tie Dye Triangle Bikini Top / Brief  Pull & Bear @ ASOS  £15.99 / £12.99

If the Topshop tee doesn't take your fancy then how about one of these. The Zara tee has a really pretty print on it and would look gorgeous styled with khaki and tan accessories. If you want something a little smarter then try this shirt from French Connection, I would love to see this one with all white for a holiday vibe. Carrying on with that dream, everyone apart from me is holiday shopping right now and on the top of everyones list is a bikini. This one available from ASOS is a really great little triangle bikini that would look great with some denim shorts for your walk to the beach. 

1. Maxi Dress in Lyocell Blend  H&M  £59.99

2. Tie Dye Beach Bag with Leather Strap  Pull & Bear @ ASOS  £20.50

3. Textured Skirt  H&M  £29.99

4. Tie Dye Authentic Plimsoll Trainers  Vans @ ASOS  £52.00

5. NADINE Tie-Dye Twist Front Sandals  Topshop  £50.00

On your way to the beach you might need a stylish beach bag for all your bits and pieces and this one is a perfect co-ord to the bikini (above) and a great price as well at only £20.50, you'll definitely thank yourself for that buy. The skirt from H&M is really beautiful, especially as my favourite colour still is yellow, it cheers everyone up and will without doubt have all eyes on you. I would style this with a simple white cami top and pick out the blue for your accesories. If you're not too confident about your body a skirt like this is perfect as it will pull you in at your smallest point and all the attention is on the print of the skirt. By adding heels you will also look taller and slimmer - something none of us would turn down. The shoes here from Topshop have 'that' twist detailing on them that is everywhere right now and I for one love. I would style these with double denim or to dress them up I would go with a little black dress, smart black clutch and gold jewellery. If it's casual shoes your after then these Vans are comfortable and ticking all the fashion boxes, what more could you want?

1. Tie Dye Hem Skirt  French Connection  £65.00

2. Tie Dye Blouse  Mango  £49.99

3. Tie-Dye Pleat Trousers  Topshop  £34.00

4. Wide Trousers  H&M  £14.99

5. Pleated Chiffon Skirt  H&M  £39.99

The skirt here from H&M has a co-ord top available on the website, it has vertical stripes and the same multi-coloured design, and I think paired together it would look far more expensive that it is and has a strong Chloe vibe about it. For a bargain buy of this trend try the wide leg trousers also from H&M, if you want more inspo on the wide leg trouser check out a blog post I did a while back. Pleats are big right now and these Topshop trousers would also be super comfortable, perfect for days running around after a toddler. But also just as perfect styled just like the streetstyle trend seen above with a white tee, biker jacket and barely there heels for weekday drinks without the children. If you want to go all out on the trend then the blouse here could be styled with the denim skirt, I would love to see them worn with chunky silver sandals and a backpack. Or you could wear them on there own and go for double denim with the skirt. 

1. Tie Dye Asymmetric Top  Zara  £25.99

2. Tie Dye Skinny Jeans  Vero Moda @ ASOS  £34.00

3. Printed Trousers  Zara  £29.99

4. Short Printed Dress  Zara  £39.99

Zara is the best place to go in my opinion for this trend right now. They have smarter pieces as well as easy wear trousers like these ones here. The dress here is a perfect example of something that could be worn with heels or trainers as well as worn on holiday with tan sandals, a fresh tan and natural make up. If it's a new pair of jeans you're after then these skinny jeans from Vero Moda are something a little different but the basic design means they are versatile for all seasons, and you would most definitely get your moneys worth. 

Hopefully if you weren't a lover of the trend before then you are now. It's honestly such an easy wear and can be dressed up or down for so many different occasions. Hope your all enjoying the sunshine,  let me know what you think and check out my instagram to see me rocking the trend.

xx