Showing posts with label Next. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Next. Show all posts

Tuesday, 21 August 2018

OUTFIT POST: RIXO LONDON MINI WRAP DRESS

A few weeks ago I fulfilled a long-standing London ambition and paid a visit to The Barbican Conservatory. If you've ever visited Barbican Estate you'll know it's an other worldly kind of place, a brutalist masterpiece that divides like marmite. Some find the ambience oppressive, but I personally love the architecture and would give my right arm to live in the postcode. The Conservatory is hard to access because it's open on select Sunday afternoons only, when I can frequently be found nursing a hangover. It's so worth the effort of a trip however, a tropical hot house of flora and fauna intertwined around imposing brutalist concrete work. The contrast between the botanical and the mad-made is extraordinarily beautiful AND there's real life terrapins in there too. 

The tropical 'Cuba Print' dress that I'm wearing is a long-term sartorial crush for me. It's from a brand called Rixo London that I first came across in Paris when I was working in the same showroom as the Rixo founders during fashion week. The trip to Paris was ill-fated (I ate some dodgy salmon tartare, contracted food poisoning and projectile vomited allover my hotel suite) so I promised myself that after such a crappy experience I'd treat myself to a Rixo dress one day. Two years down the line and I picked this one up for less than half price from Depop, it was still eye-watering expensive, but worth every penny. The cut is so beautiful and so flattering, I think every girl needs a little wrap dress in their wardrobe. This exact Rixo dress isn't available any more but there's lots similar on their site. 

Rixo London Mini Wrap Dress | London Fashion Blogger | Barbican Conservatory

SHOP MY OUTFIT / SIMILAR: 




Thursday, 3 August 2017

STYLING THE HOBBS SUMMER COLLECTION

Just a few words today - sometimes clothes do the talking for you and I think this is definitely the case with this Hobbs trench coat. I stopped by the Hobbs autumn/winter press day in April and I'm rather excited by what the brand has in store for next season. The cocktail dresses and events-dressing pieces were particularly lovely as were these jewel green velvety flat shoes.

This amazing piece is The Madison Trench. Somewhere between a trench coat and duster jacket, the soft tencel fabric is very light and fluid, making it spot-on for summer. Of course the main event of this style is the intricately smocked back, which is crazy beautiful. I think it has a real Burberry feel, with a much lower price tag. I've styled it here with jeans (forever dressing with comfort in mind) but it’s also a good event dressing piece – you could throw it on over your dress at the races or a wedding and still feel dressed-up (there's nothing worse that hiding a fab outfit with an old coat, right?). Just one word of warning, this coat is long, so if you're petite it might swamp you (I'm a big-ish bird - 5'10). It's also in sale right now, so if you needed an excuse... 
Hobbs blog one


SHOP THE LOOK / SIMILAR: 

Monday, 27 March 2017

THE LONDON LIMBO: WHY LIVING IN THE CAPITAL ISN'T ALL IT'S CUT OUT TO BE

Are the streets of London really paved with gold? When I moved to the big smoke seven years ago I was full of expectation, with dreams to rival Dick Whittington’s.

The reality? Perhaps the streets of the City are where fortunes are found, but the rest of capital is more likely to bleed you dry than bolster your bank account (and on a Friday night you’ll find the streets of the City are paved with vomit, not cash money). 
Baukjen Brook Trench Coat | London Fashion blogger | Street Style


Wednesday, 15 June 2016

SNEAKS OF THE WEEK - THE SS16 TRAINER EDIT

Lazy dressers (aka me!) rejoice – the athlesiure trend (that’s fashion editor speak for sportswear) isn’t going anywhere. If you’re a sneaker novice, you can’t go wrong with Converse or a box-fresh pair of Stan Smith’s –  true wardrobe staples. If you’re seeking something fashion-forward, I’ve rounded up four key trainer trends for the season; flatform soles, white pumps with-a-twist, sneaks with a sporty aesthetic and super-luxurious embellished styles (Miu Miu’s crystal embellished pair will set you back a cool £1,025). There’s a trainer for every occasion - just don’t wear them to gym (!) 
SS16 TRAINER EDIT

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

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: 

Sunday, 17 January 2016

LFF OUTFITS: THE RIGHT STRIPES

My first post of the year and my pledge as a blogger - in 2016 I promise to publish content that's useful

You're busy, I'm busy, modern life is busy, so I want to cut the crap and share something useful in as a fewer words as possible. To begin as I mean to go on - I've got two discoveries to share with you today: that perfect stripe t-shirt and an upcoming British accessories brand. 
LEOPARD SKIRT 2 JPEG

Thursday, 24 December 2015

HOW I WEAR MY BAUKJEN LEATHER MINI SKIRT

The December sales are in full swing and with just about every retailer getting involved, it's hard to know where to begin.  My tip? Look for wear-forever buys that you will wear now and well into 2016. I'm avoiding anything remotely 70s inspired, sequinned or bohemian in favour of simple, classic pieces. A perfect example of this is this amazing leather skirt, that's just gone into sale. 
BAUJKEN-1

Tuesday, 22 September 2015

WHAT I WORE TO LONDON FASHION WEEK

I told myself I wasn't going to attend London Fashion Week this season. As a part-time blogger I have no real reason or entitlement to be there, I just happen to love the whole experience. But having given it some thought I realised I would be really sad to miss out on the whole event - I have attended 10 consecutive seasons now and am yet to feel jaded by fashion. So on Saturday I put on my finery and headed to the new venue - Brewer Street Car Park (more on the venue later…) - for the Jasper Conran show. Here's what I wore:
Sophie Hulme Leopard Print Mini Envelope Bag

Sunday, 30 August 2015

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!). 

AUTUMN-EDIT


Sunday, 14 June 2015

LFF OUTFITS: MADE IN MANHATTAN

One of the most enjoyable aspects of working for a fashion label is seeing the creative process from start to finish. Having watched our designer and product team at The Fold create this outfit, it was the marketing team's task to name the pieces (such a fun part of my job!). This jacquard pixel print fabric felt cosmopolitan and almost futuristic, so when the name Manhattan was put forward it was one of those lightbulb moments when we knew we had christened the design! 
THE FOLD MANHATTAN TOP AND SKIRT

Tuesday, 12 May 2015

LFF OUTFITS: SOMETHING BLUE

With a wardrobe dominated by a palette of black, white, navy, grey and of course – stripes, colour is out of my comfort zone. So here’s something adventurous by my standards – a dose of cornflower blue.
Cos Blue Knot Detail Top

Friday, 1 May 2015

LFF OUTFITS: ACTIN' SHADY

Sturdy, on-trend shades with the high end look on a high street budget? Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? But I reckon I've found them:
LE SPECS NEO NOIR SUNGLASSES

Saturday, 25 April 2015

THE BIG LFF SS15 SANDAL EDIT!

I don't mean to hurry you, but now really is the time to snap up for S/S15 sandals, before the best styles sell out. But what are the trends to look out for this  year? The 1970s trend is unavoidable this summer, and lace up sandals are the perfect accessory for floaty, bohemian smocks. A perennial trend, jewelled sandals come back into fashion every summer. Look out for chunky embellishments to get the Marni signature look at a fraction of the price. Sporty styles are still key - even trekking sandals get a look in.  Chunky soles are key to nailing this look; on the high street, Clarks is my go-to for this trend. Colour-block sandals were seen with frothy tulle skirts and denim jackets on the Burberry SS15 catwalk. If you can't afford the cool £395 for a pair of Prorsum originals, check out Boden's footwear offering which is joyfully kaleidoscopic this season. Which trends will you be trialling? 

SANDAL EDIT 2

Monday, 13 April 2015

LFF OUTFITS: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

You'll never guess where this amazing peasant top is from… Isabel Marant? Chloe? Nope and nope, it's a high street special and even better - it's under £50! 
PEASENT TOP 1

Monday, 20 October 2014

RETURN OF THE BACK(PACK)

The whole nineties revival capturing the fashion world's attention at the moment sure is making me feel old; namely because it's the first trend in my sartorial lifetime that I can remember the first time around. Chokers, mini backpacks, platform trainers - thanks  to the Spice Girls I've owned them all. Fashion rules dictate that wearing a trend the second time round is a faux pas - but I believe that's a myth - the secret is to rework the look and incorporate pieces effortlessly into your current wardrobe. Enter the updated backpack - the grown-up girls entry into the nineties trend. 
Backpack 2

Friday, 3 October 2014

TREND EDIT: GREY MATTERS

Going grey is the height of sartorial chic this autumn/winter, thanks to appearances on the new-season catwalks of Derek Lam, Michael Kors, Topshop Unique to name a few. The key to nailing this trend is to rep shades of grey (no pun intended) top-to-toe, bar accessories (I love the cobalt blue leather clutches seen in the Derek Lam AW15 collection and a glossy black boot will finish the look). Having done some digging, I found some on-point grey pieces on the high street; Warehouse's sleeveless wool coat (no. 4) is a smart buy at a mere £65 - layer it up over a grey roll neck for an affordable take on the trend. For a chic take on the 9 - 5, the Fold's herringbone skirt (no.1) would look the part with a silk blouse. If you're in the market for a new tote, Stella McCartney's soft and slouchy Beckett bag is a real investment piece. The simple bucket shape and industrial grey hue will see you through winters to come. Proof that this season, grey is anything but drab. 

GREY EDIT

1. Brook skirt in Herringbone, The Fold, £165. 2. Stella McCartney Beckett faux leather bag, Net-a-porter.com, £715. 3. Baja grey Agate set earrings, Monica Vinader, £165. 4. Grey sleeveless wool blazer, Warehouse, £65. 5. Cashmere tunic, Uniqlo, £89.90. 6. Felt borg trainers, Next, £24

Thursday, 18 September 2014

OUTFIT POST: IN THE NAVY

It's been a while since I did an outfit post, so here's a look at one of the outfits I wore for the small handful of shows I attended during LFW. It was a quiet season for me because my summer was occupied with job hunting, so ticket requests took a backseat. Turns out, it's really enjoyable having a low-key schedule and I've also accepted an exciting new job working in fashion (I can't wait to share more on here when I get started!), so it was worthwhile sacrifice. 

I am in a navy mood at the moment, so expect to lots more of it on the blog this autumn/winter, starting with this sleeveless blazer...
London Fashion Blogger Outfit Shoot

Thursday, 28 August 2014

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!
Petit Bateau Striped Dress










Sunday, 15 June 2014

THREE WAYS TO WEAR: THE BRETON TEE

It's fair to say I'm obsessed with Breton tees. Chic, timeless, effortless - you really can't go wrong with a simple stripe. With most of us owning a Breton top of some incarnation, I thought I'd put together a feature on how to update yours for SS14. Don't just reserve your Breton for weekend wear - consider it as neutral piece [like a grey marl sweater or a white t-shirt] and wear it with patterns and prints. The below orange Baum und Pferdgarten number has a Simone Rocha feel and clashes artfully with a navy stripe. Heads up: if you're tight on budget, I've spotted a similar skirt from F&F for a mere £25. For an effortless weekend look you can't beat a Breton + boyfriend jean + cross body bag ensemble - I love Next's patchwork denim. Finally, your trusty tee will make a stylish beach cover-up [although anticipate replacing it post-holiday, suncream leaves yellow stains!]. I'd wear mine with big shades for a touch of parisian chic on the sands. 




Work: Breton tee, Iris and Ink at The Outnet, £45. Orange floral lace pencil skirt, Baum und Pferdgarten, £139.  Lips in Whimsical, Topshop, £8. Laminated silver slingbacks, Massimo Dutti, £69.95
Weekend: Breton tee - as before. Boy fit jeans patch-detail jeans, Next, £30. Marc by Marc Jacobs Dani orange cross body bag, Harvey Nichols, £175. Navy satin cross strap sandals, Next, £26
Beach: Breton tee - as before. Navy cut-out tank swimsuit, J.Crew, £88. River Island Penelope white sunglasses, ASOS, £13. Nails in Saffron, Topshop, £5

Wednesday, 7 May 2014

LFF EDITS: SS14 CO-ORDS

I'm happy to report that SS14 is the season of the practical trend. We have the 'ugly sandal' that is making pavement-pounding a pleasure, the office-appropriate midi length and now the no-brainer 'co-ord' trend. Seen in the Eudon Choi, J.Crew and Henry Holland collections, coordinating separates offer the ultimate easy solution for everyday dressing - putting an end to zombie-esque staring into your wardrobe abyss trying to concoct an outfit at 7am pre-caffeine fix. Unlike a dress, co-ords also offer versatility and can be mixed and matched with wardrobe staples for different looks if you're feeling creative (pair Eudon Choi's jacquard floral skirt with a stripe t-shirt for the catwalk interpretation). If you're on a tight budget, the high street is ALLOVER this trend like Spencer Matthews + any female with a pulse - try Warehouse, Zara and Whistles for the best sets. Here's my edit of the best buys for all budgets and the accessories to finish the look:

Co-ords SS14




££: Top - Bottom Blue palm leaf top, Warehouse, £38. Blue palm leaf skirt, Warehouse, £45. Nude jewelled satin sandals, Next, £30. Atlantis Lapis Flint ring, Monica Vinader, £145