Loving this week....

Brew Drinking Thinkings

Brew Drinking Thinkings (BDT for short), is a magazine style uber-blog that launched on 21st March. It is compiled by some of the best bloggers from around the internet. Alongside these awesome bloggers I managed to sneak in and I am one of their official fashion writers! (You can find me in this role on twitter @BDT_Fashion).

The idea behind BDT is to create a hub of articles, information and entertainment for women who don't get a lot of time, so they can have a great 'go to' place for the best of the blogsphere and the internet.

Scarved for life (Guest Post)

After the previous wonderful guest post from Dr Horsewhip C Delaneysss for the gents, he has kindly written another fabulous post on men's style.

 

Scarved for life

Good morning my dears.

Another day of undecided weather through the window and the appearance of goose bumps on my arms, led me to choose a mixed grey wool scarf today, which works well with my grey overcoat. How to wear it was an easy decision,

• Ends of scarf in each hand
• Centre of scarf placed to throat
• Ends of scarf crossed over at the back of the neck
• Ends of scarf  brought forward to hang down mid collar bone
• Centre of scarf pulled slightly away form the neck and left to hang

 Image Source

Wishful Thinking...

What I am lusting after this week...

Weekend Bargains...

I know I usually do the Bargains post on a Friday but I have had a pretty hectic week (I am currently writing this post at 2am whilst sat up in bed!).  But I still wanted to bring you some bargains: ready, steady, shop!

THE OUTNET SALE - 80-85% OFF!

(ENDS IN 2 DAYS)

ANNIE GREENABELLE MID SEASON SALE

20% OFF ASOS SPRING COLLECTION

(SELECTED ITEMS ONLY)

UP TO 50% OFF AT MISS SELFRIDGE

ALL IMAGES PROPERTY OF SITES MENTIONED - EDITED BY ME

Milan Fashion Week AW11 - Part 2

BOTTEGA VENETA

The Bottega Veneta show had a strong 1960s vibe, with the creative director being inspired by Monica Vitti in her role in the 1964 move 'Red Desert'. Figure hugging knits were teamed with slight flared skirts, models sporting messy beehive style hair styles and white tights paired with matching white shoes. This collection was an altogether more ladylike affair than last year's sportier look.

The colours were as if the dial had been turned up slightly on traditional autumnal hues, with oranges, rust and other warm colours on the catwalk. There were also gorgeous printed shift dresses which had a vintage yet modern feel to them. The textures on display were many and varied, including waxed leathers, layered lace and woven wools. 

ALBERTA FERRETTI

Shorter hems and higher boots were the order of the day at the Alberta Ferretti show. Sixties inspired shift dresses were finished with thigh high velvet boots. This interesting use of velvet made it less boho and more sex kitten. There was colour galore in fabulous jewel tones and full suits of bright popping colours. 

The final part of the show was filled with the luxurious signature Alberta Ferretti gowns. Nude colour embellished dresses floated down the catwalk.

DOLCE AND GABBANA

Dolce and Gabbana went for the extremes of masculine and feminine for their show. Gorgeous androgynous Teddy Boy inspired tailoring and brogues shared the catwalk with ultra feminine chiffon gowns and sexy body con dresses. The masculine pieces had as much sexiness about them as the more feminine pieces; the key was the attitude and swagger.

I am obsessed with star prints and am therefore totally in love with the stars that were all over many of the dresses on display at the show. In imaginary land where I have lots of money I would totally get married in one of the full length star gowns (I kid you not).

GUCCI

Gucci have carried forward the 1970s influence into the next season, with bold and luxurious colours that announce the arrival of the Gucci woman in the room. The brands 90th anniversary show did not disappoint, they went all out with high impact looks. Jewel colours from head to toe strutted down the catwalk, even some of the furs were coloured. 

The Gucci look is high powered and groomed within in an inch of its life. It manages to have a high powered look whilst retaining the feeling of the wearer being all woman.

IMAGES FROM ELLE UK, MARIE CLAIRE UK, VOGUE, FASHIONISTA.COM, STYLE.COM, HARPER'S BAZAAR

IMAGES EDITED BY ME AND USED FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY

 

10 things I have learned from blogging

I have been blogging since May of last year and it has been a great experience for me. It has opened up so many doors for me and allowed me to meet some great people. But these things don't happen by magic and there is more to blogging than you might think. I was thinking about this recently and decided to write a list of ten things about blogging that I felt would be useful for anyone who wanted to start blogging themselves.

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This list is based on my experiences and the things I have learned from other bloggers since I started.

Outfit Pick N Mix - PFW

This week's Outfit Pick N Mix is a great selection of some of the street style pics from Paris Fashion Week. Make sure you check out the sites mentioned, as there are loooooads more pics to feast your eyes on folks!

 

1.HANDBAG.COM

2. HARPER'S BAZAAR (Tamu McPherson)

3. TELEGRAPH FASHION 

4. ELLE  (Photo: Courtney D'Alesi) 

1. REFINERY 29

2. MARIE CLAIRE UK (Joanna Blackaby) 

3. MY FACEHUNTER 

4. TRENDLAND

 

Trend - Pink to make the boys wink

I know that pink isn't always everyone's cup of tea. But this season pink comes in so many shades that it is no longer just the territory of little girls. Whether you go candyfloss, bubble gum, or fuchsia shades, this is the season fall in love with pink again.

INSPIRATION

L-R: CHRISTOPHER KANE SS11, MARC JACOBS SS11, LANVIN SS11, JIL SANDER SS11

IMAGES from Style.com

SHOP THE LOOK...

VINTAGE 80S PROM DRESS (SIZE 10) £65 - MY VINTAGE, SIENNA COUTURE EMBELLISHED SHOULDER TOP £45 - EVANS, DENIM HOTPANTS £19.99 - NEW LOOK, SKATER SKIRT £34.99 - RIVER ISLAND

 'DARA' CAPPED SLEEVE DRESS £69.99, FIT AND FLARE DRESS £42 - DOROTHY PERKINS, LADY LUCK NECKLACE £17 - QUIRKY BOUTIQUE, PEEP TOE COURTS £75 - DUNE

SUEDE CROP TOP COLOUR BLOCK DRESS £65 - ASOS, PINK ONE SHOULDER BODY £18 - MISS SELFRIDGE, TEXTURED BODY CON DRESS £65 - RARE, FLARED JERSEY SKIRT £6.99 - H&M

ASYMMETRIC TUNIC DRESS £25 - AWEAR, CHIFFON TIE BACK DRESS £16 - DESIRE CLOTHING, 'PRINCE' COURT HIGH HEELS £62 - SCHUH, SKINNY TROUSERS £35.99 - ZARA

'DORIS DAY' DRESS £95 - POPPY VALENTINE, FAIR TRADE AFRICAN PRINT SKIRT £39 - FASHION CONSCIENCE, COLOUR BLOCK MINI CROSS OVER BAG £20 - TOPSHOP, PINK HEART SUNGLASSES £7 - PUNKY PINS

WHERE TO BUY

ASOS

A-WEAR

DOROTHY PERKINS

DUNE

DESIRE CLOTHING

EVANS

FEVER LONDON

FASHION CONSCIENCE

H&M 

MISS SELFRIDGE

MY VINTAGE

NEW LOOK

PUNKY PINS

POPPY VALENTINE

QUIRKY BOUTIQUE

RIVER ISLAND

RARE

SCHUH

TOPSHOP

ZARA

IMAGES FROM SITES MENTIONED

Saiqa's Skydive for ShelterBox

There are positives and negatives to everything and social media outlets such as twitter can get a bad rep. Whilst there are some negatives, there are some positives. One of the great things that I have found being on twitter, is the amount of people that I discover who are doing amazing things.

This past week I noticed one of the people that I follow on twitter Saiqa Aftab, @saiqababble had begun to tweet about a sponsored skydive for The ShelterBox Trust. As someone who is terrified of heights, I always have such admiration for people who do these scary things for a good cause.

Saiqa's aim is to raise £1000 (obviously more if possible) by doing a 13,000ft tandem sky dive with the Red Devils Parachute Regiment Freefall Team (Netheravon Airfield, Wiltshire [Red Devils HQ]). It is such an amazing cause. You can read about her decision to do the skydive at her blog.

 Image property of Shelter Box

Holy Jewellery Batman!

I love it when I find something that appeals to my love of fashion and my total geekiness at the same time (I am so in love with the MAC/Wonder Woman collaboration). So when I stumbled across another awesome comic book meets fashion collaboration, I had to share it with you all.

Noir Jewellery for DC Comics

Noir Jewellery have teamed up with DC Comics to create fabulous super hero themed jewellery! The collection is just amazing. What is not to love about a blinging bit of Wonder Woman/Batman/Capatin America jewellery?!

Whilst Noir are an American brand, I was happy to find out that Spoiled Brat (who always seem to have their finger on the pulse of hot brands) are now selling some of the collection in the UK.

Prices start from £60.

Images from Spoiled Brat

UNIQLO & Cath Kidston Collaboration

I love a good collaboration especially when it involves two of my favourite brands and is in aid of a good cause. So obviously I am pretty excited about the news of a UNIQLO and Cath Kidston collaboration!

Monday (21st) sees the launch of a T-shirt range which mixes the classic Cath Kidston pattern with UNIQLO printing techniques, resulting in some fabulous vintage style T-shirts. And the best bit? The proceeds from this project will be donated to the Japanese Cooperation in Family Planning, helping to fund an initiative which supports a safe motherhood programme in Zambia.

The sad hatter (Guest Post)

I think that this is possibly my first guest post! I don't know why it has taken me so long (probably due to my 'organised chaos' existence!) 

For some time now I have been wanting to include something for men, so I sought out a male perspective for the task. And luckily for me, I managed to find someone who fitted my requirements...a gentleman no less!

The Sad Hatter

 

My dear gentlemen, as spring begins to waken from its seasonal slumber, it is time to consider what hat to wear. Yes gentlemen, there is more than one hat in the world than the beanie that hangs on the back of your head like a used nappy bag. 

Image Source

 

Since I was a small child, I had a thing for hats, at an early age I wore a plastic policeman’s helmet for three days straight (‘style over comfort’ whispered in the breeze around my hot sticky head). This said I was not one of those ‘crazy’ or ‘zany’ (choke on that word) members of the group who wore all types of hats, all day, every day, in doors and out, far from it. I have spent thirty years looking for the right hat ‘The HAT’, the hat that performs miracles and turns pyjamas into princely robes only to find that many hats for many occasions is a triumph in itself. Many a time I have heard, ‘the bowler is back’ and ‘the trilby will live forever’ only to find it’s for women only and this craze will last about a week. Women do look hot in men’s hats but why can’t we wear them as well. 

Image Source

 

I have tried, Bowler, porkpie, trilby, fedora, top hat, panama, beanie, baseball cap, fishing hat, flat cap, trapper hat and many more. The trick is to know your hat size    (6 7/8), head shape and what you will be wearing that day. DO NOT buy ‘one size fits all’ unless it fits you and looks good with what you are wearing at the time or matches a planned outfit. How you wear the hat is also a trick of great importance, angle, a slight tilt to the side (SLIGHT) or the wear higher or lower on the head is very important and could change the hat or look entirely. Also if you know a hat has potential and can be worn or broken in stick with it, but if it has been in the wardrobe UNTOUCHED for three years then you may think about giving it up.  I may rant my dears, but I now have several near pyjama changing hats that I love like children and in turn they love me back. Keep looking they are out there.

Love

Dr. Horsewhip. C. Delaneysss.  

Milan Fashion Week AW11 - Part 1

JIL SANDER

Milan Fashion Week is usually about the polished uber sleek looks and Jil Sander sits right at home amongst this ethos. The careful balance between eye catching and minimalism was done with what felt like ease. Whilst keeping to Jil Sander's minimalism and signature silhouettes, the collection managed to stay far away from being boring.

It was good to see after the previous season's bright collection, that this season didn't see a retreat into monochrome or darks. The collection also illustrated that modernity need not mean staying far away from bold colours or pattern. The colours on display were not for the shrinking violets amongst us and there were some almost neon knitted pieces and floral patterns to be seen.

ROBERTO CAVALLI

For me, Roberto Cavalli knows how to tap into the 'rock chic' sensibility in a sexy way and the AW collection did not disappoint me. And whilst the Cavalli woman of AW11 is not some new futuristic version, she had a new harder look. Soft fabrics in blurred prints were layered and mixed with flashes of leather and metallics giving the look a grungier edge. The Cavalli woman is now a fiercer version of her feminine self; she is warrior like and strong.

The slick hair and the smudged dark eye makeup on the models had a feel of the cool girl at school that all the other girls wanted to be. A sort of glamour that isn't too try hard.

BLUMARINE

 The Blumarine collection managed to be simplistic and eye catching. The collection was grouped into colour sections, with the first block of looks being grey, camel, navy and black (was this really the same Blumarine?!). Then out came a flush of bold bright primary colours. These colours came in head to toe colour blocking looks that had maximum impact.

Whilst the collection was criticised by some for being a lot tamer and simple compared to the previous collection, there were some elements I really liked. Although nothing amazingly new, I really liked the lace pieces; especially the primary coloured lave pieces. I also loved the camel coats that had bold coloured linings.

MARNI

Marni is often referred to as one of the more 'kooky' brands. And to be honest, that is probably why it appeals to me so much. Whilst everything is so clean, crisp and sophisticated at Milan it is nice to have something a bit more quirky. This season, Marni added a dash of ladylike vintage influence which resulted in it being one of Marni's strongest collections in my opinion.

The geometric prints (some matching the runway) were mixed with layers of wool, leather and furs. Matching coats and skirts added to the new 'grown up' Marni woman, but was kept from straying into boring by the choices of colour and print. Whilst keeping firm Marni fans happy, I have a feeling that this collection will convert others.

IMAGES FROM ELLE UK, MARIE CLAIRE, STYLE.COM

IMAGES EDITED BY ME AND USED FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY

Outfit Pick N Mix - MFW

It is time to feast your eyes on another lovely goody bag of outfits I have found around the internet this week. This week is a fine selection of some of the best outfits out and about in Milan Fashion Week.

1. HARPER'S BAZAAR

2. TELEGRAPH FASHION

3. THE FASHION SPOT

4. MOTILO BLOG

1. MARIE CLAIRE UK

2. ELLE CANADA 

3. ELLE

4. THE FASHION WIRE

London Fashion Week AW11 - Part 4

ERDEM

The Erdem show was like a moving art gallery with beautiful prints that resembled the most gorgeous water colour paintings. In a season where the rules of 'no colour for winter' have been thrown out of the window, Erdem did not disappoint. The water colour style prints were present in an array of beautiful jewel tones, oranges and reds, which added warmth for the winter ahead.

As well as the usual Erdem dresses that are just beautiful, I really liked the bright knit jumper mixed with a ladylike skirt. I am always a fan of things that aren't supposed to go together but work so well when they do. Erdem always manages to balance luxury and ladylike style with modern sensibilities.

TOPSHOP UNIQUE

In a show that saw no less than Anna Wintour in attendance (and sat next to Phillip Green), Topshop showed Fashion Week that it is no small fry. I have always been a fan of Topshop and the absolute Britishness of the brand, and this collection was definitely quirky and British through and through.

If you had told me prior to the Unique show that I would be dying to get my hands on some Dalmatian inspired clothes, I probably would have laughed at you. But I would actually bite you hand of if you offered me a pair of the Dalmatian spotted booties that some of the models wore! (I think it is the Cruella De Vil in me!). And the hair on the models (which put me in mind of Minnie Mouse) was too cute for words.

Alongside all the cute whimsy of the 101 Dalmatians look, was some vintage American glamour. Fake furs tossed over the shoulder, longline skirts and beautiful silky printed shirts. The 'must have' pieces on display were too many for me to count. And in my humble opinion, Topshop is a British fashion brand we can be proud of.

GILES

The Giles collection was beautifully Gothic with an understated sexiness. Brocade, lace, monochrome and feathered looks were in abundance with gorgeous textured leather. Giles described the collection as -

"Austere, not austerity. I thought about the nineteenth century obsession with female hysteria; something buttoned-up, but at the same time with something completely wild lurking underneath."

 The collection was most certainly a move away from the previous season, which featured a loud and cartoon like aesthetic. But as usual, Giles managed to give us a feast for our eyes. This time he gave us luxurious fabrics, and a darker more dramatic feel. 

HOLLY FULTON

For me Holly Fulton is so brilliant as balancing fun ideas without her collection looking like a costume party. I am in love with her Deco meets Pop Art prints, the cityscape and lip prints being my particular favourites. Her attention to detail is just amazing with hand woven tweed, embellished dresses and fur trims.

The collection used last season as a foundation and upped the game. It relied less on show stealing accessories (which was a brave move after the impact last season) and had a slightly harder edge whilst keeping the signature Holly Fulton look. Everything about the collection encapsulated the young and fresh side of British fashion.

IMAGES FROM ELLE UK, MARIE CLAIRE, STYLE.COM

IMAGES EDITED BY ME AND USED FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY