BORN TO BE WIDE?

I don’t wear wide leg trousers - in fact, they scare me. There’s something about all that surplus fabric swishing around the ankles that feels like a death trap (they’re just asking to be chewed up by the tube escalator, surely?) However, after years of the wide-leg fear, something funny has happened. I’ve seen the light and my eye has been turned by a slouchier silhouette.

I blame ME & EM – if you’re unfamiliar with the brand, ME & EM are a cool womenswear label with a focus on modern, simple dressing. Their catalogue is beautifully styled – think wide leg pants paired with box-fresh Stan Smiths for a look that’s as effortless and cool as they come. 

In what can only be described as fashion fate, a few weeks ago, following a press sample clear-out at work (perks of the job) I found myself in possession of a lonely pair of white wide-leg trousers (yup, as impractical as they come) in need of a home. So it only seemed right to style then up on here and see how the whole look worked out…

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. 

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. 

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. 

SUMMER HOLIDAY BUYS UNDER £30

I'm not one for spending big bucks on my holiday wardrobe. If it's at the mercy of suncream, seawater and sangria, it most likely won't see out the summer. So in this frugal spirit, I've put together this dirt-cheap edit of holiday buys, all under £30. I think I'm quite good at putting together a capsule holiday wardrobe - the key is to stick to one colour palette and travel with lots of pieces that can be mixed and matched. I always pack some costume jewels to dress up outfits for dinner - the Johnny Loves Rose tangerine drop earrings below are a nifty purchase. A few cheap, disposable tees are a good idea - I like Uniqlo for quality budget buys. The shoe of SS14, leather sliders are super comfy and practical for both the beach and sight seeing. And if you're as pale as pasty as I am, don't forget the suncream!

Top row L-R: Linen blend tee, Uniqlo, £4.90. Nails in Pink Cadillac, Topshop, £5. New Look white leather sliders, ASOS, £19.99. 

Middle clockwise: Warehouse pink sunglasses, ASOS, £16. Palm tree print clutch, New Look, £9.99. Zip detail black bikini set, F&F, £13. Woven black shorts, H&M, £24.99. 

Bottom row L-R: Lace espadrilles, ASOS, £9. Johnny Loves Rosie Orange statement earrings, Myflashtrash, £12. 

LFF OUTFITS: CHECK MATE

For casual bank holiday attire, you can’t beat a sneaker/shirt combination. I am living in my Nike Air Vortex sneaks at the moment – they are the comfiest trainers I have found. You may have spotted my patchwork plaid Uniqlo shirt in the press recently- the fashion journos have gone gaga for it (gaga being the optimum word since Lady G’s former stylist Nicola Formichetti is Uniqlo’s new Creative Fashion Director) and coming in a range of colours at £19.90 a pop, expect to see it on every fashionable back come September. I can’t express how much I love Uniqlo at the moment- their designer collaborations offer great fashion for a budget price and their basics deliver on quality. I wore my shirt with a simple black skirt, grey marl tee and my favourite Zara ponyskin bag for an easy Sunday look. Will you be picking up some plaid for fall?

Shirt - Uniqlo. T-shirt - Uniqlo. Skirt - charity shop. Bag - Zara [Similar]. Trainers - Nike. Sunglasses - Marc by Marc Jacobs [similar]. 

Photos by Hannah Congrave. 

1. Plaid Shirt, Uniqlo, £19.90. 
2. Green Nike Air Vortex sneakers, ASOS, £67.
3. Marc by Marc Jacobs shades, The Outnet, £57.74.

LFF STYLES: THE CELIA BIRTWELL FOR UNIQLO COLLECTION

When Uniqlo offered me the opportunity to style a piece from their recent Celia Birtwell collaboration, I jumped at the chance. Celia Birtwell is a legendary textile designer whose iconic prints epitomised the 60s/70s. And I am happy to report her Uniqlo collection is sartorial perfection.  Not only is the collection gorgeous and wearable but the price points are extremely affordable too, starting at £9.90 for a printed scarf and ranging up to £29.90 for a shirt dress. With such good value on offer, I would highly recommend investing in a capsule collection of 3 or 4 pieces to mix and match in your Summer wardrobe.

I opted for a pair of pyjama pants (designed for daywear) having ogled them in the Grazia fashion charts. With an elasticated waist and relaxed shape they are extremely comfortable and easy to wear. With a skirt/trew hybrid such as these, I recommend treating them like a midi skirt if you are looking for styling ideas. However, they are definitely a spring/summer style so I wouldn’t recommend wearing them with tights. I’ve paired mine with a modern classic: the Breton tee (mine is Uniqlo) for a subtle print clash. The pants would look great with a flat ballet pump or a pointed court, but I have opted for my Aldo flatforms with mine for an east-meets-west feel.

 

 

 Picture credit: Neena Bhamber

1. (Similar) Saint James Galathee tee, Atterley Road, £53. 2. Lipstick in Rio Rio, Topshop, £8. 3. Pyjama pants, Celia Birtwell for Uniqlo, £19.90. 4. (Similar) White Georgia Hardinge flatforms, River Island, £50. 5. Hamptoms Perspex Satchel, Accessorize, £32.

 

 Uniqlo are running an Instagram competition at the moment to celebrate the Celia Birtwell collaboration.  To enter all you have to do is style an outfit featuring your Celia Birtwell purchases and hashtag it with #styledincelia. The competition will be judged by Celia herself with an exclusive signed Celia Birtwell print and 5 signed Celia Birtwell books up for grabs. The deadline is the 18th April so get Instagramming! 
 

THE NAUTICAL TREND IS BACK FOR S/S12

If there's one trend you can pretty much guarantee will back in fashion each spring, it's the craze for all-things nautical. And s/s12 is no different thanks to Yves Saint Laurent's Resort collection that came complete with breton stripes, cute anchor prints and chic Riveria-inspired gold jewellery. So to get you ready for spring, here's my pick of the best designer and high street nautical inspired buys. Ships ahoy!

1. Yves Saint Laurent gold-plated starfish clip earrings, net-a-porter.com, £235.
2. Boat neck long sleeve striped t-shirt, Uniqlo, £14.90.
3. Oversize anchor necklace, ASOS, £15.00.
4. Stripe 4 pocket cardi, Warehouse, £40.00.
5. Yves Saint Laurent Riveria embroidered suede wedge sandals, net-a-porter.com, £550.