LFF LOVES: EMMA COOK'S FESTIVE COLLECTION FOR TOPSHOP

Topshop get some serious style kudos from me this year. First there was the inspired Unique AW12 show, then came J W Anderson’s lust-worthy collection and now TS are rounding up a stellar year with an uber-cool festive collaboration with Emma Cook.

Whimsical London fashion designer Cook has collaborated with Topshop to create a festive ‘Wonderland collection’, comprising of fashion, accessories and fun Christmas gifts. Featuring glossy wrapping paper prints, quirky animal motif tees and cute novelties, Topshop’s latest collaboration puts high-fashion into festive.

My highlight of the collection is definitely the kitsch/ chic china wear decorated with prints featuring fauna, evergreens, sequins and bows. It looks like the sort of table wear you’d find in a high-end interiors store to me; stockpile your present cupboard with it before it sells out! Here's the LFF edit of the range:

 1. Wrapping paper print dress, £140.
2. Xmas print plate, £12.
3. Fairylight print dress, £120.
4. Wrapping paper print diary,  £9.
5. Jingle bell mittens, £25.
6. Deer print tee, £30.
7. Xmas print mug, £8.
8. Reindeer names jumper, £60.

LFF LOVES: ASOS' AW12 STATEMENT JEWELLERY

For the best statement jewellery on the high-street this season, look no further that ASOS’ seriously luxe AW12 offering. 

Featuring colourful jewelled earrings and quirky statement necklaces, ASOS have a plethora of adornments to update your winter look. To style this trend for now, mix up your look and pair your jewelled accessories with a casual grey marl sweater for that perfect high/low combination. 

1.Premium flocked gemstone necklace, £50. 
2.Midnight bug necklace, £20. 
3.Crystal shard burst necklace, £50. 
4.Jewelled moon doorknocker earrings, £20.
5.Winged stone collar necklace, £40. 
6.Bee door-knocker earrings, £15. 

TREND ALERT: NEON KNITWEAR

Thought neon was just a summer trend? Well think again; neon remains a key colour trend for winter and will continue to be a style highlight (sorry... very bad pun) well into SS13.  

It's also a great way to update last year's winter coat if you don't have the budget to buy a new season-style; simply pair your current cover up with a cute pom-pom hat and chunky knit scarf for an instant update. Alternatively you can commit fully to fluro with a cosy neon knit; a sure-fire mood-enhancer that will banish the winter blues. Here's my pick of the best highlighter-hued knits to add to your winter wardrobe:

1. Julie neon wool & angora jumper, Jaeger, £140.

2. Pom Pom beanie, Forever 21, £3.90.

3. Acne Lina Pineapple sweater, Farfetch.com, £185.55.

4. Striped fingerless mittens, Forever 21, £6.65.

5. Acne River angora ribbed scarf, Matches, £150.

6. Sandro Sensation knitted jumper, Net-a-porter, £175.

7. Hot pink chunky knit scarf, Jaeger, £65.

8. Neon blue Mango cable knit jumper, John Lewis, £34.99.

LFF LOVES KURT GEIGER'S AW12 'SWEET REBELLION' ACCESSORIES LINE

If you're looking for accessories that will draw 'I can't believe it's not designer!' glances this autumn/winter, then look no further than Kurt Geiger's new-season accessories line. The aw12 ‘Sweet Rebellion’collection takes names from popular ‘60s sweets, with Creative Director Rebecca Farrar-Hockley explaining: ‘For me Kurt Geiger has always been like a grown up sweetie shop and even more so since launching accessories too!’

I like to think of myself as a bit of a handbag connisseur (or pervert, whatever you prefer) and KG’s new-season accessories line is ticking all the right boxes for me; reassuringly chunky chain straps, tactile pony hair details and clean shapes all create that high-end look. In particular I am lusting after the iridescent Lollidrop Mini Chain Bag that has a Marc by Marc Jacobs feel for a purse-conscious £80. What could be sweeter!

1. Rhubarb Rock Bag in Leopard, £270.
2. Humbug Clutch, £150.

3. Sherbert Jazz Bag in Green, £120.

4. Lollidrop Mini Chain Bag in Multi, £80.

5. Rhubard Rock Bag in Red, £250.

6. Lollidrop Mini Chain Bag Studded, £100.

 

SIX OF THE BEST: JEWELLED EARRINGS FOR AW12

If SS12 was all about the off-the-wall statement earring, then AW12 belongs to jewelled, luxurious adornments set with coloured crystals and faux-gems. Look out for faceted stones in an array of colourful jewel tones to tap into this trend.

This is both a fun and versatile trend that will multitask in your AW12 wardrobe; pair with simple knit to add some dazzle to your daywear and offset a stylish shift with finese for cocktail hour. Here's my pick of the best styles available at the moment:

 
1. Lanvin vintage-look earrings, Matches, £495.
2. Jewelled vine drop earrings, ASOS, £20.
3. Frankie bling earrings, Kurt Geiger, £30.
4. Kenneth Jay Lane crystal drop earrings, The Outnet, £55.
5. Jewel bauble earrings, ASOS, £18.
6. Shourouk DS Montana earrings, Matches, £305.

TOTES AMAZING: THE BEST BAGS FOR AW12

If you hadn't registered already- I'm pretty crazy about handbags, so I've done a bit of fantasy shopping and selected my favourite styles for AW12. As a guide, here are the key trends to look out for when selecting your new-season accessories:

• Purple is the colour to be seen in for AW12; update your LBD by accessorising with a statement clutch in a rich purple hue. Christopher Kane's deep purple leopard print clutch (no.3) is undoubtedly the accessory of the season. 
• Animal prints are, as ever, a key trend. If you're bored of leopard prints, try a reptilian effect, as seen in the Whistles 'Jocelyn' tote (no.9.)
• Look out for gold hardware details to add a touch of luxe to your look. Sophie Hulme's (no.8) hardware-heavy totes wowed me at London Fashion Week back in February. 
• Digital prints are still big news. Rianna Phillips' 'Spiked Juliette' clutch (no.1) combines delicate florals with edgy spike prints, updating summer's blooms and botanicals trend for AW12.

1. Spiked Juliette digital-print clutch, Rianna Phillips, £72.00.

2. Jimmy Choo Candy glitter clutch, Net-a-porter.com, £350.

3. Christopher Kane leopard-print clutch, Net-a-porter.com, £390.

4. Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Karlie bag, Selfridges, £220.00.

5. Green metal tip satchel, ASOS, £28.00.

6. Lily with Tiger detail bag, Mulberry, £595.

7. Delta leopard print structured bag, Stylistpick, £35.00.

8. Sophie Hulme medium black tote, my-wardrobe.com, £559.00.

9. Jocelyn snake tote, Whistles, £295.00.

A SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE STYLISTPICK AW12 COLLECTION

If you're a fan of a killer  heel, then you're sure to love Stylistpick's AW12 collection. Razor sharp spike heels in glossy metallic finishes make for a fierce footwear collection for the forthcoming season. Tote-wise, structured shapes remain a key trend for Stylistpick, as does colour blocking, updated in muted tones for the darker season. The killer heel + structured totes combination is the modern way to power dress, so get ready for some unapologetically fierce looks next season ladies!

These styles are not available on just yet, but you can sign up and become a Stylistpick member to be notified when the collection drops.

AW12 TREND ALERT: WINTER FLORALS

One of the most wearable trends we'll be seeing for AW12 is winter florals. British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman named 'winter florals' as her big trend for the upcoming season during her recent talk at the V&A; which of course, means this is a key trend for the season.

Forget summer's chintsy florals and tropical blooms and instead think of wild meadows and abstract botanicals in dark and edgy tones. Metallic finishes and luxe embellishment also update this trend for the new season.

From L-R: Erdem, Hermes, Bottega Veneta, Erdem from Style.com.

To get your winter florals-fix on the high street, head to Topshop, where I've seen some great pieces that translate the trend for those on a budget. Here's my pick of the best pieces online now:

1. Oriental Floral Cigarette Trousers, £45.00.
2. Long Sleeve Floral Shirt, £40.00.
3. Scandi Floral Tee, £18.00.
4. Floral Print Cigarette Trousers, £36.00.
5. Rose Beaded Clutch, £28.00.
6. Missy Floral Slingback Shoes, £28.00.

LFF PICKS THE RIVER ISLAND AW12 COLLECTION

Next season's opulent 'Baroque and Roll' trend is a key theme in the River Island AW12 campaign. Heavy embelishment, glossy gilded brocade and colourful jewelled accessories give a luxurious feel to the high street brand's new season collection. As seen on the Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Lanvin catwalks (to name but a few) baroque influences that hark back to the 17th century courts of Europe are a mass-market trend for fall. I'm currently coveting River Island's heavily embellished  dusty pink shell top that has been given a modern edge styled with a white shirt and gold brocade skirt in the campaign. Question is, will you be embracing the Baroque and Roll trend come next season?

My favourite pieces from the collection:

Browse the full collection on Look.co.uk / shop River Island online.

AW12 CATWALK INSPIRATION: CHRISTOPHER KANE, MULBERRY, PRABAL GURUNG...

With this freakish weather we've been experiencing, I haven't been inspired to invest in a  substantial summer wardrobe this year. Instead I'd quite like to fast-forward to September and start buying my AW12 wardrobe instead. So for a bit inspiration I've picked some of my favourite looks from the AW12 catwalks; bring on luxurious brocade, metallics, embellishment and sumptious faux-fur!

L-R: Suno, Prabal Gurung and Christopher Kane.

From L-R: Lanvin, Erdem and Lanvin.

From L:R: Mulberry, Burberry and Mulberry.

TOPSHOP'S AW12 TRENDS PREVIEW

The 1960s ladylike look will be HUGE news come September if Topshop and Primark's AW12 collections are anything to go by. Topshop released their autumn/winter trends preview last week, with boyfriend coats, collars, monochrome, the wild west and sweaters also featuring as key trends in the high street brand's new season collection.

I personally can't wait to add some 60s siren styling to my AW wardrobe; being a long-limbed 5'11 I've always found the modette look works for my figure and I'm already eyeing up the dogstooth, boucle and tweed pieces I've previewed for fall. Not to mention the Stella McCartney/ J W Anderson/ Jil Sander style paisley print sweater in look 3 which I predict will sell-out in record time! What do you think of Topshop's AW12 collection? And will you be embracing the retro look for winter?

PRIMARK'S AW12 COLLECTION

Primark's AW12 campaign is doing the rounds on the internet at the moment, and there's no denying the collection is looking good. There's a definite retro theme to the brand's AW12 range, with plenty of 60s and 70s references and a Patti Boyd-alike model. Knitwear take centre stage, from polo neck through to cable, dogstooth and waffle knits. Shapes are long and lean with pencil skirts and tailored trousers contrasting against the chunky knits. Top of my wishlist are neon pink v-neck knit, bright teal lace-print pencil skirt and the brocade ankle grazing trousers, key pieces that will update my wardrobe come the new season.

What are your thoughts on the collection? Will you be heading to Primark for you AW fashion-fix?
See the full collection at on Look.com.

LFF SHOPS THE SS12 SALES

The summer sales are well and truly underway, and there are some great bargains to be had both online and instore that will see you through summer and into AW12. If you have got your eye on something in a store that hasn't started their sale yet, my advice is to wait it out a couple of weeks as there are plenty more sales to come and there's nothing more annoying than shelling out for something lovely then finding it's been discounted the next day!

As you can see, there's a bit of navy and green theme going on with my sale picks because 1., I've seen lots of green in the AW12 collections and  2., navy is one of those great colours that works equally well in summer and winter; go nautical for SS and style it with rich autumnal tones for AW.

1. Tweed pleated dress, Jaeger, was £299.00 now £149.00.
2. NW3 leaf earrings, Hobbs, was £35.00 now £24.00.
3. NW3 Kisses blouse, Hobbs, was £79.00 now £59.00.
4. NW3 Parliament shirt dress, Hobbs, was £159.00 now £79.00.
5. Navy colour block platforms, Dorothy Perkins, was £42.00 now £25.00.
6. Bali Geo Trouser, Warehouse, was £45 now £25.00.
7. Werdie Marc by Marc Jacobs Canvas Tote Bag, Matches, was £200.00 now £140.00.
8. Navy square heel sandal, Dorothy Perkins, was £30.00 now £20.00.

PREVIEW THE WHISTLES AW12 LOOKBOOK

Remember my blogpost way back in April covering the Whistles AW12 press day? Well, if you liked what you saw in original blog, then you're sure to love the Whistles lookbook to accompany the collection. You're probably bored of me cooing over them by now, but in my opinion no high street brand can compete with Whistles in the lookbook stakes. The styling, mood and product always delivers.

With a pared-down and minimalistic feel, the AW12 lookbook has a super-luxurious mood. There's plenty of black, lashings of leather and tactile texture throughout. Everything is kept simple with the focus on the clothing; minimal jewellery and accessories are complemented by a low centre-parted ponytail sported by the campaign model. My favourite looks are the cute cropped parkas and duffel coats styled with tweed and lace mini dresses that are reminscent of J.Crew's now-signature quirky styling.  

Which are your favourite looks from the collection? And will you be buying into the Whistles AW12 range? I'd love to know your thoughts.

METALLIC SKIRTS: KEY 2012 TREND

One item that I am really coveting at the moment is a metallic leather skirt. As seen on the Felder Felder, Prabal Gurung and Suno AW12 ready-to-wear catwalks, high-shine metallic skirts were big news at the fashion weeks in February, particulary when combined with some luxe leather.

From L-R: Felder Felder, Suno and Prabal Gurung AW12 RTW shows. Style.com.

To style this look, pair your metallic skirt with something low-key, a sporty sweater or a cosy knit will prevent you from looking like an extra from Doctor Who. Here's my pick of the three best styles online at the moment:

1. Metallic pleated skirt, Topshop, £90.00.

2. Felder Felder Jill embellished metallic leather a-line skirt, The Outnet, £245.

3. Topshop gold leather skirt, Ebay, £69.99.

HAVE YOU DISCOVERED J.CREW YET?

If you haven't discovered the fashion label J.Crew yet, then you're in for a fashion treat. The New York-based label was founded in 1983, but has become hot sartorial property in recent years thanks to the brand's creative director as of 2007, Jenna Lyons. Lyons is the living and breathing embodiment of the brand, her preppy electic look is reflected throughout all the J.Crew collections.

So what's the J.Crew signature look all about? Well expect the unexpected with this fashion brand, colour combinations are delightfully off-the-wall and styling is kooky and unique; a casual hoody pared with sleek courts and printed cropped pants shouldn't work but 100% does. Prices are not the upper end of the designer scale either, with cotton tees starting at £30. Currently you can only shop the collection online at Net-a-porter, The Outnet and J.Crew.com, but rumour has it Lyons has been spotted scouting London for locations for a UK flagship. Watch this sartorial space!

J.Crew's Fall 2012 RTW Collection: Image source Style.com  

WHISTLES AW12 PRESS DAY

On Thursday I had a sneak preview of the Whistles AW12 collection in the opulent surroundings of Claridges.

As I made my way round the rails photographing my favourite garments, I soon clocked Whistles' main inspiration for fall: texture. Fabrics had a pleasing stiffness and simple pieces like a track pant or a cigarette trouser had been transformed through the use of leathers, brocade and boucle. When so many high street shops are cutting costs and producing flimsy garments in cheap fabrics, in contrast the Whistles AW12 collection feels reassuringly luxurious and timeless.

Of course there are plenty of other trends running through the range too, Whistles love a good print and they have plenty to offer next season from delicate dots through to blurred and colourful graphic prints. The Olympian  look will continue long after the games themselves have finished with plenty of sporty pieces in the collection, my favourite being the butter-soft leather track pants that are so wrong yet 100% right.

For Whistles next season's colour palette begins with soft greys and mints, moving in to navy, rich forest green and metallics for the Christmas period. Punchy vermillion red accents contrast neutrals, and a stand-out piece in the collection is a knock-out full-length cocktail gown in the aforementioned colour.

Prints and a peter pan collar; two trends ticked in this dress

Soft mint and pinks look great in this statement dress

Sporty details like this drawstring waist detail appear frequently

A signature piece in the collection; butter-soft black leather track pants.

Forest green and navy are pared together in a stylish colour palette

Loved the sheer panelling and lace print on this dress



The vermillion evening gown; I could see Kate Winslet rocking this on the red carpet



A simple black pant is transformed with textured jacquard fabric

I am starting saving now for this forest green brocade party frock

Brocade takes centre stage for eveningwear

Delicate dots look great on silk pieces

Vermillion is an accent colour throughout the collection

Even simple leather totes got the texture treatment- loving the fur-finish!

So ladies, my advice is simple; start saving for fall now, you're not going to want to miss out on the Whistles AW12 collection.

SUNO DOES SEQUINS FOR AW12

If you're a lover of sequins (who isn't?), then Suno's aw12 collection will be right up your street. The design duo showed some glorious looks at New York fashion week adorned with irresistable multi-coloured sequinned flowers and polka dots.

If you're looking to recreate the Suno look on a budget, then look no further than the new and up and coming fashion brand Virgos Lounge. Already a favourite with Grazia magazine and a whole host of celebs, Virgos Lounge specialize in contemporary silhouettes and trends inspired by vintage styles. In their lookbook they style together the below Amber top and Poppy sequin skirt (as seen on TOWIE's most stylish female, Lydia Bright), which echoes the luxe sequin-on-sequin Suno look at a fraction of the price.

1. Amber top, £45.00.
2. Poppy skirt, £65.00.