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. 

AW14 SALE BUYS TO SEE YOU THROUGH 'TIL SPRING

I'm a big fan of sales shopping online because it allows me to approach carnage with clarity; seductive store environs invariably lead to me impulse buying a heap of cr*p that never see the light of sartorial day. The LFF sale edit has been chosen with wearability and longevity in mind; the below pieces might not be heavily discounted, but you will wear them through Spring and beyond, trust me! But which sites should you be logging on to, credit card in hand? Check out the Net-a-porter sale for luxury goodies - Sophie Hulme, my all-time favourite accessories designer has a selection of pieces in sale - her box clutch is a modern classic. Cashmere lovers should head over to Jigsaw - there's a dedicated sale section to the seductive soft stuff (you can't go wrong with a classic grey crew neck, below). Finally, I hate to agree with Kanye - but leather trousers, in all guises, really are a savvy style buy. They look set to be the piece of SS15 and Mango have a straight cut pair for a criminally cheap £79.99 (below). Snap them up now or you are 'Bound 2' regret it (ouch - sorry!) 

Top row L-R: Hoshi blanket coat, Whistles, was £450 now £250. Sequin side stripe shirt, J.Crew, was £89.50 now £45 - £62. Freda slub jersey white tee, Matchesfashion, was £65 now £45. 

Middle row L-R: Sophie Hulme brass box clutch, Net-a-porter, was £320 now £224. Miss KG Eleanor snakeskin heels, Kurt Geiger, was £85 now £39. 

Bottom row L-R: Midnight star shower pendant, Astley Clarke, was £120 now £95. Grey cashmere jumper, Jigsaw, was £139 now £83. Straight fit leather trousers, Mango, was £109.99 now £79.99. 

LFF EDITS: BUBBLEGUM PINK FASHION

For SS14, bubblegum pink is having a major fashion moment. On the high street, Whistles leads the way with the trend, stocking shift dresses (no.4) , slogan sweaters, knits (no.2) and overcoats in Hubba Bubba hues. Avoid looking overtly girly by opting for clean lines, simple cuts and pairing with an uncomplicated colour palette of crisp white. This coming Sunday, Wallis launch their W Crimson collection which features a white leather biker jacket (no.1) and skirt (no.3) which would make the perfect co-ordinates for a candyfloss-coloured knit (who would have thought white leather could look so covetable?) Sneakers offer a fun way to inject the trend into your footwear - Superga’s candy pink Bergonia 2750’s (no.7) will bring a urban edge. Part of the latest Breakthrough Breast Cancer campaign collection, a £13.50 donation from the sale of each pair goes direct to charity, making for a guilt-free way to inject candy colour into your wardrobe (be sure to check out the rest of the chic & charitable collection on their website). What do you think of this trend? Will you be adding some bubblegum pink to your life for SS14?

1. White leather jacket, Wallis Crimson Collection, £195 (launches Sunday 13th). 
2. Mimi boxy knit, Whistles, £155. 
3. White leather skirt, Wallis Crimson Collection, £95 (launches Sunday 13th). 
4. Franki sleeveless shift dress, Whistles, £115. 
5. Valentino lace skirt, MatchesFashion, £1,385. 
6. Markus Lupfer t-shirt, The Outnet, £78. 
7. Begonia pink 2750 sneakers, Superga, £45 (£13.50 donation to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer) 

LFF EDITS: WARDROBE UPDATES FOR 2014

I've not kicked off 2014 in the best fashion - I'm currently recovering from a kidney infection which has sapped my energy completely. So, to re-invigorate myself for the season ahead I've compiled this edit of buys to introduce some of the new trends into our wardrobes. Sports luxe is still big news, although for 2014 it's seriously chic so look for luxurious fabrics and pair with a heel. A fun trend that I am loving is the demand for monster themed accessories - Fendi have some amazing monster bags and Sophie Hulme's fluffy keyrings (no.2) are  just too cute! Primary colours are also big news, so don't be afraid to buy in brights and pair them together. Have you started shopping for the new season yet?

1. Iris & Ink felt & vinyl bomber jacket, The Outnet, £195. 
2. Sophie Hulme Pom Pom man keyring, Austique, £95.
3. Étre Cécile fresh air tee, Matchesfashion, £75. 
4. New Balance 410 grey/blue trainers, ASOS, £55. 
5. Lips in Ditsy and Nails in Collegiate, Topshop. 
6. Hillier rose gold bunny pendant, Astley Clarke, £995. 
7. Metallic 'Hama' skirt, Monki, £25. 
8. Iris & Ink two tone leather pouch, The Outnet, £45. 

LFF EDITS: THE AW13 SALES

It’s the happy moment I have been waiting all December for (I’m not even joking); the sales have started! The key to navigating the a/w sales is to avoid seasonal styles and pick the product that will transcend the trends. Labels are always good to invest in if you have the budget – I can’t believe this J.W. Anderson sweater (no.1) has been reduced in the Matchesfashion sale – anything with his logo on will be a future classic. Look out for coats in the winter sales too; if 2014’s spring is anything like last year’s then heavy wool and cosy faux-fur styles will be good investments. One of the best high street sales belongs to Whistles. The brand designs lots of original pieces that will become timeless classics in your wardrobe. One such piece is this box-pleat leopard print skirt (no.2) - you can’t go wrong with a dash of animal print. Online Atterley Road’s sale is full of great deals – their stylish edit of classic brands makes for foolproof shopping. Have you snapped up any bargains in the sales yet? 

1. J.W Anderson logo sweat, Matchesfashion, was £235 now £164. 
2. Leopard box pleat skirt, Whistles, was £110 now £55. 
3. Rivington reversible chain pouch, Whistles, was £85 now £50. 
4. Part two coated jeans, Atterley Road, was £99 now £65. 
5. Large tear shape earrings, Dorothy Perkins, was £10 now £7. 
6. Opening Ceremony leather trainers, Matchesfashion, was £181 now £126. 

6 OF THE BEST: EMBELLISHED KNITS

I've spotted a little micro trend going on right now for embellished knits, studded with twinkling jewels to decorative effect.There's a lovely sweater/ t-shirt hybrid in Banana Republic right now that I will definitely be purchasing when my bank balance permits (I'm saving for a Macbook and on a strict no-shopping ban) but as the temperature in the UK is rapidly falling, a jeweled knit will make a wise investment for the coming months. I say investment because an embellished sweater is a versatile piece - dress it down with denim or leather in the day and add a dash of brocade for an opulent look after dusk. Which is your favourite?

1. Deep berry knitted jumper, Topshop, £46. 
2. Markus Lupfer floral jewelled knit, Matchesfashion.com, £347. 
3. J.Crew Crystal embellished cotton sweatshirt, Net-a-porter.com, £170. 
4. Black bug embellished sweater, New Look, £22.99. 
5. Grey knitted embellished jumper, Topshop, £46. 
6. Plum gem cable jumper, Dorothy Perkins, £35.

LFF EDITS: SS13 SANDALS

There’s so many trends to try when it comes to sandals this season. For one, SS13 sees the return of the gladiator sandal so you can dig out any pairs you may have lurking in your shoe collection. Chunky soled pool sandals are still big news, as are super-chic high shine metallics. Then there’s sportwear inspired styles complete with heel treds and ultra flat units. The options really are endless, but here’s the LFF edit of 3 top trends to shop now: 

Top row L-R: Leopard print pony sandals, Next, £35. Leopard print sandals, £29.99, Zara, Primrose Leopard sandals, Stylistpick, £25.
Middle row L-R: Bertie Leda white sandals, John Lewis, £56.25. Flock flat leather sandals, ASOS, £22. Ancient Greek Clio sandals, Matchesfashion, £105.
Bottom row L-R: Coral asymmetric flat sandals, Zara, £22.99. Hedley heeled sandals, ASOS, £45. Metallic blue t-bar sandals, Next, £26.