3 OF THE BEST: LEOPARD PRINT DRESSES (FOR EVERY BUDGET)

Every wardrobe needs a leopard print dress, as they're so easy to wear and style. 

London based label Rixo have just launched their first knitwear collection, and the knitted animal print 70s style midi dress is a highlight. If your budget doesn't stretch to Rixo, at the opposite end of the scale, Warehouse have this great high neck animal print midi which looks way more premium than it's £42 price tag. I also love Free People's take on the leopard print midi, overlaid with a floral print, that offers a new spin on the style. The best thing about leopard print dresses? They complement just about every colour palette and personal style; I like to style a mine with flashes of pink for a nod to an 80s aesthetic but you could wear yours with tonal hues or bold pops of colour. In short - anything goes. 

{To shop - just click the icon on the product} 

9 OF THE BEST: FESTIVE JUMPERS

There’s a subtle difference between a festive knit and a Christmas jumper IMOH. I define the festive knit as something with a sense of seasonality (bear with…) – a fair isle knit, a twinkling lurex threaded jumper or a charming slogan number all bring good tidings without appearing tacky.  Then there’s the Christmas jumper, a naff novelty number that tends to be a hard-sartorial sell – if Colin Firth can’t pull a look off, no-one can.  

What also separates a festive knit from a Christmas jumper is shelf-life. Festive knits deliver cost per wear because whilst they look great in December, they won’t be resigned to the back of your wardrobe come January. From a sustainability point of view – the festive knit wins hand down.  Having said that – I do own a t-shirt bearing Wham’s! iconic Last Christmas artwork but between you and I, in private I wear that all year round. If Wham! Isn’t your thing, here’s a edit of the best knits for xmas & beyond: 

AND A FEW MORE...

JUMPIN' JUMPIN' (AKA I LOVE JUMPSUITS)

Let's talk about the SS17 jumpsuit trend. I shouldn’t admit this when I have a fashion blog – but I’m fairly hopeless when it comes to assembling outfits. I have to think long and hard about what goes with what, and even then, there’s usually an element that’s off-kilter (generally the bloody shoes. Why the f*** is it so tricky to find the right shoes?) 

Which is why I’m very in favour of an all-in-one. Jumpsuits / dungarees / playsuits / boilersuits; whichever your onesie of choice, they are a failsafe purchase if you’re rubbish at getting dressed like me. 

I'm wearing: Jumpsuit: Great Plains c/o [in the sale yassss] | Lace up sandals: Boden [in sale also!] | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Chelsea Crossbody Bag: Loxley England

More all-in-ones to that I heart:

CHOOSING MY FIRST PAIR OF GLASSES WITH SPECSAVERS

Hypochondria should be my middle name - heck, it’s been remarked that Monica Gellar appears placid in comparison to me. Imagine then, the apprehensions I allowed to enter my consciousness when my eyesight began to blur around 10pm each evening. Cue some misguided self-diagnosis via Doctor Google and I convinced myself that this 100% had to be cataracts. Ridiculous as this sounds, I hadn't taken an eye test in a good eighteen years & I’m was optically ill-educated as they come. 

MY SPRING WISHLIST

You have probably realised by now that I don't really 'do' fast fashion. Of course sometimes I'm tempted - this season I've been hankering after a Miu-Miu-esque ruffled blouse (M&S did an excellent interpretation) - but I am doing everything in my power not to buy one, as it definitely feels like a passing trend. Then there's the Topshop block-heeled court shoes that just about every blogger owns right now - resistance is [almost] futile. That's not to say I'm not buying more clothes than ever of course - I'm just carefully considering each purchase and trying to buy styles with longevity. For spring, I'm updating my wardrobe with classic staples (see the Esprit blue shirt, Boden breton top and A.P.C wear-forever trench below) and dressing them up with fun and playful accessories (ticking this box - Tessa Packard's mother of pearl Thundercloud earrings, J.Crew's leopard cross body and Stella Sport's glitter encrusted trainers). It's a formula I'm trying to apply to my everyday outfits with varying degrees of success (I definitely need more crazy shoes in my life) Here's the pieces on my wishlist right now: 

Left column from top to bottom: Navy check Brummell jacket, The Fold. A.P.C Barbara trench coat, Net-a-porter.com. Bionda Castana x L K Bennett Alexa courts, L K Bennett. Middle column from top to bottom: Cotton stretch blouse, Esprit. Yellow turtleneck, Esprit. Marlo leopard crossbody, J.Crew. Thundercloud earrings, Tessa Packard.  Right column from top to bottom: Stella Sport navy Yori trainers, Next. Glitter spot Breton, Boden. Raey flood-flare jeans, Matchesfashion. 

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

Here's a trend I've been been pinning and loving for a while: the colours of the rainbow. Because why pick one colour, when you can wear them all simultaneously? Starting life on  the catwalks of brands including Marco de Vincenzo, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, the hero piece of this fashion story is Gucci's striped jumper which sold out  everywhere, despite the eye-watering £600 price tag. British designer Anya Hindmarch was also at the forefront of this trend; spring/summer 16 sees her iconic accessories decorated with kitsch  rainbow motifs. The good news for those of us on shoestring budget is that the high street has finally cottoned on to this trend - and Boden are owning it - just look at this fabulous pencil skirt (drawn to my attention by the queen of colour herself - Shiny Thoughts!). Here's three ways I'd wear the rainbow for weekend, work and play:

WEEKEND: Rainbow cashmere jumper, Wyse London. Lucas slim boyfriend jeans, Topshop. Major multi strap gold points, Office. Sophie Hulme blue leather shoulder bag, The Outnet. WORK: Cashmere v-neck, Next. Felicity skirt, Boden. Marc by Marc Jacobs leather shopper, mytheresa.com. Lips in hazard, Topshop. PLAY: Striped terry Sonia Rykiel dress, Net-a-porter. Dark denim jacket, Mango. Sophia Webster Daria pumps, The Outnet. 

LFF EDITS: BODEN CHRISTMAS 2015 COLLECTION

With my festive social calendar looking busier than newly single Spencer Matthews at Bodo’s Schloss on a Friday night, I’m looking for a few party pieces to add some sparkle to my seasonal wardrobe. The brief; fancy pieces that I can wear for a day in the office and tweak for a night on the tiles. My go-to source of inspiration? You might be suprised - the Boden festive catalogue - which landed on my doormat a couple of weeks ago and is filled with super-gorgeous glitter-dusted outfit inspiration. Take the brocade lace ‘Party Trousers' for example. Layer them up with a soft navy knit for day, and add a pointed court shoe and striped tee come party time. The glitter dusted Mary Janes are also super fabulous and v. Miu Miu! I’d pair them with some frayed hem jeans for that cool luxe - casual contrast. Here's an edit of my favourite styles: 

Left column top to bottom: Party Trousers, £74.25. Bow heel, £139. Pippa faux-fur coat, £199. Middle column top to bottom: Luxe lace top, £74.25. Merino off-duty jumper, £89. Sequin joggers, £66.75. Right column top to bottom: Hampton coat, £179. Glitter Mary-Janes, £99. Statement sequin skirt, £96.75. 

THE AUTUMN EDIT: HIGH STREET BUYS FOR FALL 15

One of the consolation prizes of summer coming to an abrupt end here in the UK is the prospect of a shiny, new autumn wardrobe. There are some bonkers and brilliant trends flying around next season - I'm sure I'll get on board with some seventies folk and tactile shearling, but as a fairly classic dresser I'm drawn towards perennial autumnal classics - a great coat, smart flats, leopard prints, flashes of burgundy. After a summer of fun, my budget is less prada and more primark, so this edit is all from the high street, too (yippee!). 

Left column top - bottom: Star hoops, Tada and Toy, £53. High vamp loafers, Next, £32. Belleville tailored burgundy trousers, Next, £165.

Middle column top - bottom: Pinstripe coat, And Other Stories, £165. Burgundy messenger bag, Charles & Keith, £49. Leopard print courts, Boden, £110. 

Right column top - bottom: Bien motif t-shirt, Whistles, £45. White lace hem blouse, Atterley, £50. Agnes burgundy leather jacket, Whistles, £330. 

9 GREAT BRETON TEES WITH A TWIST

Yep, another blog about Breton t-shirts. If my blog title wasn't a dead giveaway, I'm a sartorial francophile, and the humble stripe t-shirt is my all-time favourite wardrobe staple. If you're after a classic tee, my go-to is Saint James. If your wardrobe is already stocked with classic striped styles, here are 9 great Bretons with a twist on my wish list right now [although I already have number 4!]: 

1. Tie-front, Topshop. 2. Printed, Chinti and Parker. 3. Multi Breton, Boden. 4. Multi Breton, Boden. 5. Sleeve detail, J.Crew. 6. Heart motif, Chinti and Parker. 7. Rose-print, Band of Outsiders. 8. Yellow, Iris and Ink. 9. Appliqué, Zara. 

IN THE NAVY

There are so many SS15 trends I just can’t get my head round. Seventies fringing? Military green? Top-to-toe suede? I don’t see these looks fitting into my life or wardrobe. Maybe I am getting older but fast fashion no longer interests me. So what does a girl with this mindset invest in for SS15? How about some chic wear-forever navy blue? Navy’s been having a sartorial moment of late, but in truth it never dates. How to wear it? Colour block navy blue head-to-toe or mix in some black (yes, you can pair navy and black), but avoid bright colour to keep the aesthetic fresh. Navy looks best against neutral shades. Here’s my edit of SS15’s best navy buys:

Top Row L-R: Iris & Ink navy silk shirtdress, The Outnet, £160. Le Marais boxy top in navy, The Fold, £125. Bella slingbacks in navy, Boden, £99.

Middle Row: Radley Victoria Park leather cross body bag, John Lewis, £159. 

Bottom Row L-R: Extra fine cotton stripe shirt, Uniqlo, £19.90. Cashmere-mix ribbed tunic, Whistles, £195. Lola crop top and Maddy skirt, Whistles, £95 & £45. 

STYLING THE PETIT BATEAU BRETON DRESS

It's no secret that I love the French sense of style [the blog title is a dead giveaway] - so when Gemini Woman got in touch and asked me to put together a post celebrating the launch of Petit Bateau [aka the holy grail of the Breton stripe] on their site, I was more than happy to oblige.

In a change from the classic Breton tee, I picked a navy stripe dress to style [£120 - shop here]  because I wanted to demonstrate it's versatility. If you're yet to jet off on your summer escape, a Breton dress makes an ideal beach cover up. Style it espadrilles for a St. Tropez vibe. Stripes are also the perfect print for weekend wear - wear your dress with a pop of leopard print for an unexpected twist. You can even smarted up this piece for the office, I'd wear either a white shirt or bib collar under mine for a professional edge. Pair with some colourful flat points and you've got a 1960s homage going on which is a key trend for autumn/winter 2014. 

If you're unfamiliar with Gemini woman, I'd recommend checking out the site. They stock a curation of grown-up, wearable fashion brands including French Connection, Great Plains and of course - Petit Bateau!

Whisked away: Amalfi espadrilles, Mint & Rose, €75. Petit Bateau stripe scarf, Gemini Woman, £47. Fendi two-tone sunglasses, Net-a-porter.com, £200. 

Weekend: Sophie Hulme mini leopard print shoulder bag, Net-a-porter.com, £395. Nails in One Hot Minute, Topshop, £5. Felt borg skater shoes, Next, £24. 

Work: Pointed pumps in beetroot, Boden, £89. Karl Lagerfeld folded cotton-blend collar, Net-a-porter.com, £110. Lips in Inhibition, Topshop, £8. 

LFF OUTFITS: THAT JE NE SAIS QUOI

I like to practise what I preach, so this latest outfit is inspired by my recent post featuring slogan sweaters and midi skirts. 

LFF EDITS: HAPPY SHOPPER

I'm a strong believer in the power of retail therapy. Whilst you can't buy happiness, surrounding yourself with beautiful trinkets undoubtedly promotes a sense of wellbeing. Slogan t-shirts, bright nail polishes and mini-bags: just some of the frivolities I purposefully accumulate that bring an instantaneous smile to my face. For colour-pop nail polishes, my go-to brands are Rimmel, Barry M and Topshop (number 6.) In the fashion scape, Sophia Webster is the queen of witty accessories. Her colourful pop-art inspired designs are a favourite amongst the style editors and sit at the affordable end of the designer fashion scale (number 2.) For super fun ready-to-wear, Sophie Hulme reigns supreme, her polka dot playsuit is a practical but cute summer staple (number 1). Jewellery designer Jennifer Loiselle is a recent LFF discovery, expect kitsch but cool acrylic creations like the pink cherry earrings (number 5.) from her Tutti Frutti collection. Happy shopping! 

1. Sophie Hulme navy polkadot silk playsuit, Liberty London, £325. 
2. Sophia Webster Ida neon t-bar pumps, Net-a-porter.com, £260. 
3. Blue leather skirt, Warehouse, £60. 
4. Mya bag in gold, Boden, £59.40. 
5. Pink acrylic Cherry Crush earrings, Jennifer Loiselle, £45. 
6. Nails in Relapse, Topshop, £5.