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. 

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? 

Top row L-R: £££ Gianvito Rossi lace up suede sandals, Net-a-porter.com, £565. ££ Black leather lace front sandal,Office, £38. Heaven tan gladiator sandals, Topshop, £26. 

Second row L-R: Marni embellished calf hair sandals, Net-a-porter.com, £270. Navy flat jewelled sandals, Zara, £39.99. Black satin jewelled sandals, Next, £38. 

Third row L-R: Sophia Webster Yayoi slides, Net-a-porter.com, £195. Netrix Rose snakeskin sandals, Clarks, £50. Dusty Soul white leather sandals, Clarks, £55. 

Bottom row L-R: Burberry colour-block sandals, Net-a-porter.com, £395. Tan colourblock sandals, Boden, £59. Teva mosaic orange sandals, Office, £34.99. 

BACK TO BLACK

Today's outfit post celebrates my love of the dark side; timeless black is one of my go-to colours. I think I'll end up as one of those black devotees one day, it's the uniform of some of our most-loved fashion designers (Vera Wang, Betty Jackson, Gareth Pugh, Alexander Wang, the list goes on) for good reason; black transcends the trends making it a unanimously smart buy. 

GET YOUR COAT

Coats are one of my favourite purchases to make; thrown over the most unremarkable outfit in your wardrobe, a great coat holds transformative power. I like to have at least two coats in rotation at any point, although if budget was no object I'd be a collector. Before you make your seasonal purchase(s), here are my tips on what to look for [and what to avoid] in your winter wonder:

Trims and fastenings: 
If you're buying from the high street, try to avoid coats that draw attention to buttons. Retailers can scrimp on fastenings and as a result budget buttons cheapen the overall look. 

Fabric-mix: 
Wool and cashmere mixes will keep you warmer than polyester. And when the temperature drops even further, a quilted down-filled coat is the smartest choice. 

Cut + fit: 
Pick a coat with roomy sizing to layer knits underneath. Oversized coats generally look chicer, too. 

To get you started, here's my edit of some of the great styles available online now: 

Top row from L-R: Claremont camel coat, The Fold, £425. Herringbone overcoat, Whistles, £375. Paul Smith Black Label classic tailored coat, Farfetch.com, £529. Middle row from L-R: Blue handmade double breasted coat, Zara, £159. Straight pink coat, John Lewis, £190. Wool blend purple coat with cashmere, M&S, £120. Bottom row from L-R: Chloe wool blend cape, The Outnet, £1,765. Grey hooded cape, Warehouse, £66.50. Black wool mix cape, New Look, £39.99. 

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:

£: Top- Bottom Printed crop top, Zara, £25.99. Printed asymmetric skirt, £29.99, Zara.  Nails in Obey, Topshop, £5. Vans true white classic slip on trainers, ASOS, £47. 

££: 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. 

£££: Top - Bottom Eudon Choi Mathola floral-jacquard top, Matchesfashion.com, £545. Eudon Choi Centaurea floral jacquard skirt, Matchesfashion.com, £723. Lips in Ohh La La, Topshop, £8. Nicholas Kirkwood zigzag suede pumps, Net-a-porter.com, £510. 

SIX OF THE BEST: SS14 JEWELLED FLAT SANDALS

I'm super excited sandal season has arrived. Whilst it isn't quite warm enough to go bare-legged just yet, you can certainly flaunt your toes with cropped denim jeans (I am buying a pair of ASOS Mom jeans) or tailored trousers. If last season's gladiator flats are looking a bit tired, now is time to invest in a shiny new pair of sandals before all the best styles sell out. The trend to work for SS14 is the chunky jewels - forgo delicate bohemian embellishments - bold rocks are the adornment of choice right now. And the great news is, the high street is nailing this summer trend, all bar one pair of sandals from my edit are priced below £100. Which is your favourite?

Top row L-R: Grey leather sandals with jewels, Zara, £59.99. Nude jewelled satin sandals, Next, £30. J.Crew embellished leather sandals, Net-a-porter.com, £200. 
Bottom row L-R: Bertie 'Jellow' black leather toe posts, ASOS, £69. 'Studio Punch' jewelled sandals in black, Clarks, £49.99. Steve Madden Habtat-S chunky crystal sandals, John Lewis, £69. 

LFF EDITS: SS14 SLOGAN SWEATERS & MIDI SKIRTS

If you only buy two pieces this season, make them the slogan sweater and a midi skirt. Seen in the spring/summer collections of Christopher Kane, Sister by Sibling and Alexander Wang, the strongly-worded sweat top captures the zeitgeist of the moment. Style the trend ala Christopher Kane and wear yours loosely over a midi skirt (don't tuck it in) for a relaxed look with a subtle nod to the 1950s. For footwear, modernise your midi with the trainer of the season: the skate shoe. There's a plethora of versions on the high street (try Gap) so you can take your pick. If trainers aren't your bag then a point-toe shoe will add polish and elongate the leg. To get you started, here's three slogan sweater + midi skirt looks I've put together for every budget:

£: A la mode sweater, Next, £24. Organza check skirt, Warehouse, £40. Checked skate shoes, Topshop, £20. 

££: Fleur sweater, Whistles, £75. Pink midi pencil skirt, Zara, £35.99. Navy stripe flats, Next, £26. 

£££: Christopher Kane Flower sweater, Net-a-porter.com, £330. Carven rose print midi skirt, Net-a-porter.com, £670. Ramone tie dye skate shoes, Penelope Chilvers, £149.

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.

SIX OF THE BEST: POINTED FLATS FOR AW13

The power of a pointed shoe - it can make just about every ensemble look polished; even a distressed and slouchy pair of boyfriend jeans. LFF loves a pointed flat for running around town on day-to-day business - a good-quality leather pair will offer comfort without comprising on style. Pointed slippers will continue to be a key trend for fall, I love Jemima Vine's pair (2.) which combine another major AW trend - animal prints - with a sharp-toed shape. For budget options head to Zara who, in my opinion, are offering the best shoes on the high street at the moment. Will you be picking up a pair of pointed flats for the new season? 

1. Carvela Lizzie Points, ASOS, £59. 
2. Edie Neon Trim Slippers, Jemima Vine, £159.
3. Lexi Flat Pumps, Whistles, £110. 
4. Cheap Monday Strawberry Pink Flats, Shopakira.com, £48.
5. Pointed Moccasin with Tassle, Zara, £25.99. 
6. Pointed White Slingbacks, Zara, £39.99.

LFF'S HOLIDAY STYLE DIARY

I didn't blog last week because I was on holiday in sunny Mijas in Spain. Being a fashion addict, I enjoy the process of shopping for and packing my wardrobe just as a much as the holiday experience itself. So I thought I'd share my style diary on here with my summer essentials.

My standard every day look for holidays involves shorts and a lightweight cotton shirt. I pretty much wore the below outfit all holiday (bit gross- sorry to my travel bud Neena)! If you're fair-skinned like myself, a light shirt is essential to avoid sun damage. I wore mine by the pool over my bikini too. This leopard print number is past-season Zara; they have a great selection for SS13 too. My denim shorts are a recent New Look purchase. I like the slouchy boyfriend shape; they feel more relaxed than skin tight hotpants.

I was craving colour when I was shopping for my holiday wardrobe, so I picked up this fluoro neoprene bag from & Other Stories. It also happened to work perfectly with my past-season hothouse bloom print Cos dress.

Jewelled costume earrings are my suitcase essential for holidaying abroad. They can dress up just about every outfit for cocktail hour. The pair I'm wearing here were £4 in the H&M sale; ASOS also stock an amazing and affordable range.

Photo creds: Neena Bhamber. 

Unfortunately a gust of wind in the above picture makes me appear a little pregnant. To clarify, I am not with child! Wardrobe malfunction aside, this picture is to illustrate how crisp broderie Anglaise can make just about anyone appear tanned on holiday. My complexion is extremely fair, but even I look vaguely tanned in white cotton. My ripped 'Elgin' jeans are a recent ASOS purchase inspired by Alex from The Frugality. They are one of my favourite buys in a while; extremely soft, comfortable, on-trend and available in a longer leg length. Even better they are reduced to £24.50 right now- total bargain!

I also wore them with my new Clarks sandals- the snakeskin/ distressed denim combination is always a winner in my books. Totally love the sandals too- so comfy and stylish. Clarks are at the top of their game this season. 

A note on packing: when it comes to the process of packing my suitcase I'm extremely particular. Blame it on my former life as a Harvey Nichols sales assistant, but I like to fold tissue inside delicate clothes to stop them from creasing. It really does work! I took my Mum's advice and carried my straw hat in my hand luggage to, to prevent it from getting crushed. 

One last tip- don't waste your money and buy expensive clothes for your holidays abroad. Suncream, sand and seawater can all ruin clothes so stock up on inexpensive and fun pieces from the high street that you don't mind trashing. Here's a mini edit of some other holiday buys that LFF loves:

1. Hedley yellow sandals, ASOS, £45. 2. Chambray shirt, Topshop, £29.3. Cream broderie frill swimsuit, Topshop, £36. 4.Love Rocks fluoro rhinestone earrings, ASOS, £30. 5.Blue boyfriend shorts, New Look, £14.99.

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. 

LFF EDITS: SS13 HANDBAGS

When shopping for a summer handbag, I try to look for relaxed styles that fit the lighter mood of the season. I find that dark leathers and structured shapes don’t tend to work for S/S because they jar against all the loose and floaty fabrics in my wardrobe. At the moment LFF is loving cross-body and shoulder strap bags; not only are practical for rushing about London on public transport (I like to keep my hands free to hang on for dear life on the tube), they are also a key trend for the season. Another key style for SS13 is the sportswear inspired 'duffel' bag- (numbers 3. and 4.). Formerly reserved for your gym kit, the humble duffel bag has been given an upgrade for the season with soft leathers and minimalist shapes. 

Colour-wise, I recommend looking out for leathers in neutural hues of mushroom, cream and taupe that will work with lighter summer fabrics. Reptile-effect leathers and animal prints also feature in my edit because they will add a touch of luxe to just about any look. Subtle hardware details smarten up the look too (see the simple yet stylish gold turnlock on Bobelle's Berkeley, no. 5.) , but I try avoid anything too metal-heavy because this only leads to backache! What style of handbag will you be sporting this in summer? 

1. Grosvenor shoulder bag in Marsupial, Radley, £299.
2. Square leather leopard print messenger, Zara £59.99.
3. Buttermere drawstring bag in Cotton, Radley, £189.
4. Mango perforated cross body duffel, ASOS, £34.99.
5. Berkeley bag in Mushroom, Bobelle London, £395.
6. City bag with handles & buckles, Zara, £39.99.
7. Osprey London Maudie croc print satchel, John Lewis, £245.

LFF ATTENDS: SARAH FORSYTH STORE OPENING

I had a great evening admiring luxury leathers and hobnobbing with fashion bodies at the recent Sarah Forsyth store opening on Chelsea's King Road. If you've ever been to the King's Road, you will know it's a pretty glamorous affair, populated by well-dressed, perfectly groomed individuals and the odd Made in Chelsea cast member (Mark Francis was the evening's spot, with Ollie Locke's Union Jack car parked up indicating he was also in the vicinity). With such stylish clientele in the area, I have no doubt that independent handbag designer Sarah Forsyth's first store will be a big success in Chelsea. Sarah's trademarks are unique, stylish handbags crafted in the finest leather and exotic skins. Clean and minimal designs allow the luxurious leathers to do the talking, with colour block and metallic colour ways adding that individual flair to the collection. These are seriously precious clutches and totes that will take the Chelsea dweller from St Trop to Capri in one accessory. I highly recommend visiting the shiny new store at 319 King Road's (opposite the MIC hotspot, The Bluebird) to ogle the collection for yourself!

 Turquoise, tangerine and hot pink look beautifully bold colourblocked in these stylish clutches.  

 The finest leathers and skins are crafted into accessories in the collection.

 The boutique has a lovely light and airy feel.

 

 Handbags on display in Beaufort house at the afterparty.

 Myself and my fashion girl Katie from Glass of Fashion blog.

I went for a red theme & wore my favourite Lanvin H&M necklace with a red Zara blazer and Thomas Sabo ring.

It was great to meet Jaime of Boy Meets Fashion at the event- excellent blog chat!

I'd like to say a big thank you to the lovely folk at Goodley PR for the invite,warm welcome and fabulous after party!

LUXE FOR LESS: THE BEST HIGH STREET ACCESSORIES

The high street has really upped it's game when it comes to accessories. Now you can get the luxury look on a shoestring budget, with brands such as Zara, Stylistpick and Bershka offering stylish accessories that give you more bang for your buck. Look out for structured totes, soft leather sandals, embellished styles and jewelled costume jewellery to add a touch of luxe to your look. Here's some of my favourite affordable styles available online:


1. Flower and Jewel Drop Earrings, ASOS, £10.50.
2. Beaded Iridescent Clutch, ASOS, £35.00.
3. Necklace with Green Glass Beads, Zara, £29.99.
4. Ginger Tan Structured Bag, Stylistpick, £40.
5. Tortoise Shell Catseye Sunglasses, Topshop, £16.00.  
6. Leather Leopard Print Sandals, Bershka, £39.99.
7. Oasis Strappy Leather Sandals, ASOS, £28.00.

ZARA'S FAB FLORAL SS12 COLLECTION

If you were a fan of Erdem's fresh florals on their SS12 catwalk, then you're sure to love Zara's new season collection. Dense and ditsy floral prints decorate blazers, shirts and pants, adding a fresh breath of spring air to the collection. There's also fab leather totes that have a designer feel for a desirable pricetag. To update your SS12 wardrobe in an instant, I recommend investing in a pair of printed floral trousers that will look just as good with a slouchy grey marl tee as with a crisp white shirt. Blooming lovely!

Shop the new collection as it arrives at Zara.com.

RED ALERT: UPDATE YOUR LOOK FOR VALENTINES DAY

One of my favourite colours in my wardrobe at the moment is red, and with Valentines day just around the corner, there's no better time to add a dash of the colour of love to your wardrobe. Red is a suprisingly versatile colour too, pair it with neutrals or monochrome for a classic look, clash it with fuschia, orange and bright blues to make a bold statement or wear with tonal shades of grape and plum for a luxurious feel. Here's my pick of the best red pieces available online at the moment....

1.  Jason Wu Silk-georgette petal coat, The Outnet, £1,557.50.

2. Fantasy Snake print clutch bag, Zara, £79.99.

3. Wine crepe moulded dress, Dorothy Perkins, £40.00.

4. Marc Jacobs round-frame acetate sunglasses, The Outnet, £83.06.

5. Olsen heeled chelsea boot, Stylistpick.com, £39.95.

6. Karyss velvet lace up shoes, Topshop, £58.00.

7. Roberto Cavalli Swarovski crystal earrings, net-a-porter.com, £330.

MY OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY OUTFIT

Those of you that read my recent post about office Christmas party fashion may be interested to see the look I decided on for my office do held last Friday. To help us prepare, we had a mobile hairdresser in the office all day which I absolutely loved because I'm hopeless at styling my own locks. I showed my hair stylist this photo of Adele for inspiration because in my opinion she has the most beautiful, goddess-like mane of hair in showbiz. The result as you can see was big, bouffant 60s-inspired hair that I loved- when it comes to hair the bigger the better!

Outfit-wise I decided to be economical and recycled my favourite sequin-embellished party top; probably my best charity shop find of all time costing me just £5! The trousers are Zara, the shoes are Office and my suave companion is our Visual Merchandising Manager, Paris.  A smart trouser + glitzy statement top combination makes an economical outfit choice for the festive season because you can mix and match the pieces seperately to create different looks for all your social engagements. If you don't have a charity shop sequinned number to hand, here are some great glitzy top alternatives available online now:

1. Sequinned tulle and jersey top, Lanvin at net-a-porter.com, £1,575. 2. Sequin front shirt, Warehouse, £40.00. 3.  Embellished shell top, Next, £48.