7.22.2010

Gossip Girl Season 4 Fashion Preview

Whatever your opinion on hit US TV show Gossip Girl, one thing's for sure - the fashion never disappoints. I personally am an out and proud Gossip Girl addict. I love the drama, the friendship woes, and the relationship ins and outs. Oh, and Chuck Bass (drool...). But as a budding style queen, I can't help but lust over the beautiful, bang on trend designer clothes just as much as the hot men (and believe me, there's plenty of both). So when I spotted some preview pics of Season 4's fashion on Look.co.uk, I was more than a bit excited. 

Now if I looked like Blair Warldorf, I'd be pretty ecstatic enough to start with, but if I was then handed this lustworthy pre-fall 2010 Oscar de la Renta dress to wear whilst meandering through the streets of Paris, I'd probably start foaming at the mouth (not over the dress, obviously). The strapless, corset style, full length gown, scarlet red with curvelicious ruffles is absoloutely the most gorgeous piece of fashion I've ever laid eyes on. Sigh! 

Check out the website for your Gossip Girl fix. And lots of Chuck Bass. What more could a girl possible want?

Lou xxx


7.16.2010

LOOK Magazine Online - High Street Preview: Autumn/Winter 2010 Collections

As I've already bemoaned, I'm more than a bit fed up of magazine articles proclaiming they can match your body to its ideal swimwear style, complete with sun-worshipping accessories for pool/bar side chic. So when I spotted in my inbox this week a series of High Street Autumn Winter collection previews from LOOK mag, my fashion radar started to swizzle a bit more actively. About time! So here's a round up of what the major high street stores will be showcasing in a window near you very soon...

  • NEW LOOK - In summary, I'm seeing black and cream, floaty chiffon, embellishment, sequins, leopard print fur, cream cable knit with tassels, winter florals, a fabulous 60's style swing coat in tangerine, maroon leather, punky tartan...and much more.
  • H&M - Camel and tan mixed with grey, heavy style coats, lots of black and sharp tailoring, fabrics and textures in autumnal tones that channel the 'Russian peasant' look, a beautiful silky scarf, chunky patterned scarves, and knitted capes.
  • TOPSHOP - The clashing of leather and spiky studs with cream chiffon sets the tone, with slouchy lace up boots, a school style satchel and brown blazer, faux fur and sheepskin, holy knits, lace, and fishnet complementing the collection.
  • OASIS - First we have gothic glamour, with long black dresses detailed with lace, then we have masculine chic, with fine knit jumpers, leather trousers and camel coats, followed by preppy schoolgirl in pleated skirts, ballet pumps and pinafore dresses, all shot through with red accents. A capsule of simple yet unique balck dresses rounds it off.
Overall, I'm really excited about the upcoming season's trends and fabrics. Looks like I'll be warm this winter after all, rather than shivering for style! Here's to faux fur! I'll try to forget the fact that I'm broke for the forseeable future - a girl can dream...

Lou xxx





7.11.2010

My Outfit - 11th June 2010

Another scorcher! When it's this hot, I feel an urgent need to wear everything summer related that I own, so I topped off my outfit with my fab sunglasses (see previous post) and brand new hat. Here's what I'm wearing:

  • Skirt - I just bought this gorgeous skirt from M&S' Limted Collection range for a reasonable £35. I chose it because of the super stretchy waistband, yet cool (temperature wise that is!) and floaty material with a silky lining, and because it covers my much hated knees! The abstract, almost animal print fits in with safari style, and the cream and tan shades go with anything.

  • Necklace - My outrageously bold necklace is also from M&S, and due to the amount of time it's been in store it must be popular! A fabulous mix of hot pink, on-trend coral and natural wooden shapes, all on a multi-strand pink thread, it livens up plain tees and screams summer. I can't find it online but it's definitely still in the shops.

  • Hat - What do you think of my trendsetting new hat?!? It was £15 from Accessorize, a Panama in natural cream with a black bow detail band. No way was I waiting till my holiday to wear it!  

Let me know what you think!

Lou xxx


7.10.2010

Westwood Rocks - beautiful bespoke jewellery

After receiving a Tiffany bracelet for my 21st birthday last year, I've become a bit of a jewellery snob. As much as I still adore high street ranges such as Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, and Accessorize, mostly because they're always completely on trend and complement that store's fashion ranges perfectly, I've started to look out for pieces that are that extra bit special - either better quality or materials, unique design, or personalisation. Any of these make me love that item of jewellery that little bit more.

That's why I feel like smug insider when I come across little known brands that deliver that elusive jewellery je ne sais quoi. So, when I won a competition recently through LOOK magazine in conjunction with Westwood Rocks, I was more than curious about this company I'd never heard of. Some savvy research informed me that:

'Westwood Rocks was founded in 2000 by Lauren Westwood and specialises in limited edition handmade gemstone and freshwater pearl jewellery, complimented by an in-house bespoke design service.



Lauren’s designs are often based on the organic shapes and dramatic colour combinations that can be found in nature. She says, ‘When I travel to Mexico, India or the Far East to buy pearls and gemstones I am always seeing beautiful shapes and colours. Important memories can throw up some good ideas and glamorous women, such as Jane Birkin and Talitha Getty, who both wore a lot of bold and colourful jewellery, have also inspired some of my designs.’


All of the designs are unique to our brand and we still personally travel to the source to handpick our materials.


We have branches located in Cambridge, Farnham, Godalming, Guildford and Wimbledon Village.'


Interesting...
 
Frustratingly, I couldn't go to the party that was the competition prize as I was ill (Grrr!!!), but the lovely staff at Westwood Rocks sent me a goody bag in the post to make up for it. And it's what I spent my £5 voucher on that I really want to shout about. I just had to go for something covered in pearls, as I'm an unashamed adictee, and those used by Westwood Rocks are freshwater pearls in more colours than you could dream of. I opted for the Round Pearl Bracelet, £8 (£3 to me!) in Fairydust, a pale lilac shade.
 
The first nice surprise was that, even though a small company, they don't charge delivery - very rare! Secondly, my bracelet arrived THE DAY AFTER I ordered it, by 1st Class post inside a cute pink bag. Super speedy! Then for the bracelet itself...STUNNING. I like to think I know a fair bit about jewellery, but what I definitely do know is that I LOVE my new bracelet. The shimmery lilac pearls are gorgeous and will go with many a summer and autumn outfit. I think I'll be taking their advice to stack them by buying some more very soon! Take a look at their website or follow them on Facebook / Twitter for more info. Oh, and if you're feeling flush or have your own special birthday coming up, click here and drool...
 
Lou xxx
 

7.08.2010

LOOK 12th July - Autumn Trends

Recently, I've been getting a bit fed up with fashion mags for all those features about bikinis and beach wear. Seeing as I'm not really going away anywhere this summer, and have more than enough summer clothes to last me through the season, the vast number of these articles was starting to annoy me. So I was more than delighted to see that LOOK magazine has now turned its focus to Autumn and the new trends that will soon be hitting the high street. I would much rather start buying key pieces for next season early than waste my money on more crop tops and shorts that I'll never get around to wearing! So what's in store (get it? Never mind...) for the fashion world this autumn? Here's a rundown of the key trends you won't be able to get out of:

  • 50's - Thank god for this fashion revival. All summer I've been looking for skirts that actually cover my knees (which I loathe), failing every time. So to find out that for autumn, 50s style mid-length full skirts will be very much in is fab news. Team with corset tops to whittle down your waist and channel elegant sexiness.
  • Leather Shorts - Apparently still big news. I personally haven't invested in this trend yet, but if I'll be able to wear them over tights, I might change my mind. ASOS have a great pair with delicate cut-out detailing, £55 (Click here)
  • The New Boots - Buckles, heels, black, creamy sheeskin lining = THE autumn boot of choice. I'll be grabbing the New Look version, £45.
  • Winter Warmers - Fantastically, my faux fur waistcoat from Monsoon (a gorgeously snug sale bargain) is still on trend this year, with Fair Isle knits, Uggs (yay!) and checked lumberjack shirts all on the radar.
  • Ladylike Boxy Bags - Grab an envelope-like structured bag with a short handle to follow this accessory trend. Very Blair Waldorf!
  • Skirt Shapes - A-line for ultimate flattering, Kilt for funky workwear, Tulip Wrap for curve creation and Mid-length for curvy girls. One for everyone!
  • Autumn Maxis - Ditch jersey fabrics and stock up on chiffon, floral or otherwise. The maxi is here to stay.
  • Flying Jackets - Deinitely a 'trend' piece, don't spend too much as I suspect it won't be hot for too long. New Look's £25 tan and sheepskin jacket is perfect.
  • Capes - The snug, lazy cover-up of choice, don't choose anything too heavy or you'll be weighed down. Something light yet enveloping is spot on.
  • Braces - One for the brave. Find trousers and shorts witth built-in braces for top style points. Think Alexa Chung in Philip Lim.
I'm really excited about this Autumn's trends. There's a great mix, something for all shipes and sizes, whether you like casual chic or glamour. Grab key pieces now, hunt out anything in the sale that fits in with future trends, and stop buying bikinis!

*** Coming Soon - New Season Beauty ***

Lou x





7.03.2010

Charm School

On the whole, I've never been a big fan of charm bracelets. I've always pictured those like my mum had when she was my age; a thick gold bracelet made up of bars with a huge padlock fastening and assorted charms in the shape of dolpins, 21s, kettles, and even a gypsy caravan that lifted up to show the interior. No thanks. But thanks to companies such as Pandora, charm bracelets are now very, very hip again, and they in no way resemble the aforementioned monstrosity these days. After deciding it was about time I jumped on this style bandwagon, I opted for Pandora, originally a Danish company whose products are now widely available in the UK, as their designs are classic yet stylish, expenisve looking yet not too big a dent on the purse. The first thing I can warn potential buyers about is not to choose a silver or gold bracelet, as they really pinch arm hairs, but instead to pick a weaved leather one, available in loads of different colours and sizes, as well as single or double strands. I chose single one in pink for £35, a limited edition Breast Cancer Care version that I had to hunt everywhere for. With the leather bracelets, you can't fill them all around with charms as they would stretch, so mine's now complete with nine. I chose a murano glass charm for the centre, a circle in a floral pattern of pale and dark pink with silver edges. Around this, I put two hanging charms (a high heeled shoe and an October birth stone), a handbag, heart, a thin band, and acircle, all with small pink gems in, and finished off with a cute frog, and an owl my mum bought me for my 2nd year exam results. They ranged between £20 and £30 ish. Overall, I've now got a classy and expensive, yet personalised, quirky and colourful, charm bracelet, which fits the trend yet screams 'ME'. I'm converted! The charm world has come a long way since the 80s. COSMOPOLITAN recently did a full page photo feature, calling them 'The lust-have keepsake bracelets that no girl can live without!' I got there first! Check out Pandora's website, where you can build your own virtual bracelet and look at all the different charms available. Then add to your xmas/birthday/23rd and a half anniversary list pronto.

http://www.pandora.net/en-GB

Lou x

7.01.2010

TOPSHOP Make Up - Bitesize Beauty Treats with Surprising Results

Anyone who claims to be a fashion lover is more likely than not a Topshop lover. The two concepts are basically the same thing. If one clothing shop can be said to dominate the high street and steal the majority of the teens to twenties market, it's Topshop. So any attempt on their behalf to branch out into a new area, especially one so complementary to fashion as cosmetics, was bound to be a success. But what surprised me, a loud and proud Topshop addict, is that whilst I knew their new beauty range would draw huge sales, I didn't expect to find pieces of a quality comparable to much more expensive products. 

My first buy from this expansive new range (with funky yet simple packaging and super reasonable prices) was a couple of nail varnishes at £5 each. For a new line, the variety of shades was impressive, not afraid to follow trends which go against accepted nail colours. Steering clear for the time being of the bright yellows and greens, I opted for parma violet and a mushroomy greige shade to rival Chanel. As I think I've posted before, both gave surprisingly professional results and were extremely easy for even a novice polisher like me to apply, in two coats. Check out my attempts at this limited edition grey-blue shade - not bad if I do say so myself!

So, a DIY manicure convert, I next purchased their Kohl in Petrol, a deep blue, for £4. In the past I've fought with numerous eye-liners that wouldn't behave as I wanted to (yes, I know a bad workman blames her tools!), but this one glides on effortlessly, even across the top lashes where I struggle most. The colour too was spot on, on-trend blue but not vibrantly so. Another winner.

My next pick was an Eyeshadow Duo in Rocky Road, a creamy shade alongside a chocolaty brown, at £6. Although not too impressed with the insipidness of the cream, the brown is lovely and rich, and the two do complement each other perfectly. Maybe better for nights out due to a hint of sparkle.

So, before heading for the nearest designer counter for your next beauty fix, check out Topshop. Don't let the low prices fool you, some of these products are top quality, and the fashion led hues are unrivalled. Can they do no wrong?!?

Click here

Lou xxx

 
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