Coordinate with Co-Ords!

For a long while, matching separates have been deemed a no no (yes I'm looking at you and that double denim episode Britney and Justin), but now there's a whole host of gorgeous matching prints on everything from crops to shorts, trousers and skirts that can really look good together. Co-ords can pretty much work for any season, but it's Summer where many retailers are whipping out the perfect outfits for a casual day out, all the way through to a sophisticated work or evening outfit. What also makes the co-ord so amazing is the tenacity to mix and match a garment with another plainer separate, creating multiple outfits and still being on trend! So if buying 2 separates for one outfit might seem quite expensive, buying 1 and mixing with existing wardrobe pieces is a great option to take.

Everywhere you look at the moment there seems to be co-ord after co-ord, so here are some of my favourites I've put together from Miss Guided and Fashion Union!

MISS GUIDED
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1. Tartan Boxy Crop Top- £17.99, Tartan A-Line Skirt- £19.99
2. Daisy Check Shorts- £19.99, Blazer Currently Unavailable
3. Daisy Print Crop Top- £14.99, Floaty Daisy Print Shorts- £14.99
4. Peach Dogtooth Crop Top- £19.99, Skirt Currently Unavailable

FASHION UNION
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1. Floral Multi Crop Top- £16, Floral Multi Shorts- £15
2. Stripe Tweed Jacket- £22.40, Stripe Tweed Shorts- £10
3. Print Top Blue- £15, Print Shorts Blue- £16

New Look Summer 2014

It seems like a literal lifetime ago when I used to be so excited to go into New Look, thinking that their 915 range was like something hot off of a London Fashion Week catwalk. Those were the days (in our dreams girls!) 

The company have always been a staple of sorts for many fashion followers and like their competitors on the high street, they've grown into their own niche market. I've always believed that New Look's prices have been reasonably fair over the years but shopping for clothes also has a lot to do with quality and aesthetics too, something that had actually led me away elsewhere for a period of time. 

Despite being slightly disappointed for a while with the quality of some of their pieces and 'samey' looking garments, this Summer the company have definitely gone back into my good books. There are some lovely on trend pieces both in store and online at the moment, and I've put some of my favourites together below. I'm looking forward to getting some nice pieces for my wardrobe this Summer!



Black Neon Floral Print Kimono- £19.99
White Caged Chunky Block Heel Sandal- £24.99
Blue Ditsy Floral Print Playsuit- £19.99
Pink Ankle Strap Block Heel Sandals- £14.99
Pink Frill Cable Knit Socks- £2.99
Blue Floral Print Shorts- £14.99
Pink Gingham Check Crop Top- £7.99
White Sleeve Floral Print Shell Top- £17.99
Mint Green Lace Pencil Skirt- £24.99
White Floral Jacquard T-Shirt- £19.99
White Chunky Cross Heel Strap Heels- £27.99

Live Laugh Love

Just a quick heads up on a fabulous website I came across very recently, who have made me one happy bunny! Live Laugh Love are a family business who have for the last 7 or so years taken their business further afield towards an online audience. They specialise in shabby chic vintage homewares and accessories, with an ever growing range at such affordable prices. Many of the items are also designed and hand finished by the company too which gives a nice feeling to homemade crafts. As a Textiles student I really appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into these products, and it's so good to see the DIY trend growing further!

Here are a few of my favourite items...

Hanging Heart Photo Frames- £9.95

Chalkboard Organiser- £44.95

Floral Teddy Doorstop- £14.95

Vintage Floral Suitcases (Set Of 3)- £22

Porcelain Hanging Bird- £4.95

Birdcage Wall Holder- £19.95

You can check Live Laugh Love out on:
Web
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Long Time No See!

I have finally finished uni for Summer! Aside from getting my Semester B project grade back and beginning research for my dreaded dissertation, I can finally plan some exciting things and get back to blogging on here for the next 4 months. It feels crazy that it's that amount of time I have spare before all the even harder work begins. It's even crazier that because I did my Foundation Degree as well as a BA too, I would have graduated from education this year alongside most of my friends!  Anyway now that I'm back after a little hiatus, it's back to making sure I blog here more often! 

So after remembering what my password was for this site, I thought I'd let you all know what I've been buying in my absence and what I'm lusting after for Summer...

Most of my student loan goes on a large amount of materials I need for my course, one of the slight downsides of being a creative arts student. But I've still been able to buy a few pieces here and there recently!

Asda Home Riviera Floral Duvet Set- 

It's so hard to find a double duvet for my room where I don't have to spend an absolute fortune on. I've been scouring George's home catalogue after recently picking one up and I have to say I'm so impressed with the kinds of products they are selling as of late. I love that a supermarket is working with up and coming interior designers, it's even inspired my own work in terms of where I hope to be designing for commercial businesses after graduation. I can't dare say to my tutors that Asda has inspired me as it would be completely frowned upon! Anyway I snapped up this lovely floral one for just £12 and it even has a reverse polka dot pattern. Bargain!

Asda Planter Pots-

I also picked up these handy and cute pastel coloured planter pots. At £3 I couldn't resist and thought they would look nice in my room for storage. They are quite compact and sit really well on shelving or desks. The colour is bang on trend for this time of the year and I think they look much nicer for interior storage instead of being left outside in the garden! I have so many things in my room which could be stored and tidied away, a great addition to any room!

Topshop Knitted Lace Hem Crop Jumper-

I went to Oxford Street with some of my friends after fabric shopping in Shepherds Bush and picked up this cute jumper for £34! It doesn't actually look very cropped on me but it looks lovely teamed with a pencil skirt. They also do the jumper in Petite and in a coral and pastel baby blue colour, though this one appealed to me more due to its contrast of the navy and white. I haven't made any garments in a while now since I graduated from my fashion degree but buying this has encouraged me this Summer to buy some crochet lace and make a few tops like this myself. With a sewing machine anyone can do it and it saves so much money!

Pandora Triple Daisy Flower Ring-

Since receiving a Pandora ring for my 21st from two of my friends, I have become in love with some of the things in Pandora. It's nice to be able to invest in something so nice that can be kept forever, so I was so overwhelmed when my mum treated me to this daisy ring. I'm obsessed with anything daisy printed at the moment so it will definitely go with any outfit I wear. 

New Look Blue Floral T-Shirt-

My mum also bought me this New Look top which is absolutely beautiful and is the exact copy of a similar Topshop one but for half the price at £12.99! I definitely need to return a favour as soon as possible!

Topshop Small Leaf Metal Necklace- £12.50
Filofax Blossom Organiser- £23
New Look Black Neon Floral Print Crepe Kimono- £19.99
Topshop Nation Two Part Chunky Sandals- £40
ASOS Daisy Chain Watch- £18
Sam Smith- In The Lonely Hour
dotcomgiftshop La Petite Rose Flask And Cup- £12.95
Bank Fashion Ribbon Floral Print Jumpsuit- £25

Spring Fling!

Spring is approaching, even though most days it doesn't look promising! I'm hoping all this rain means Summer will be lovely but this is the UK I'm talking about so let's not hold out for much.

I love Spring and as a textiles student, I'm currently looking at a mass of floral prints for my conceptual project, collaborating my German and Scottish family heritage (through looking at folkloric motifs) and the Garden of Eden. Florals galore! The floral trend is a recycled one used practically every season for fashion and interiors, currently being scouted out in the large masses of magazines I buy every month week. The intentions of my tutors over the years probably thinking I am obsessed with florals are too definitely correct.

Below I've put together some of my favourite pieces from current fashion and interior retailers...

L-R:
Swing Dress With Floral Applique & Embroidery (£44)
Skater Dress With Floral Embroidery (£65)
Skater Dress With Floral Embroidery (£75)
Reclaimed 60s Vintage Print Shift Dress (£35)

L-R:
Duvet Set (£19.99)
Plate (£3.99, how cute!)
Daisy Skirt (£9.99)
Cushion (£12.99)
Curtains (£24.99)

L-R:
Sunburst Print (£10)
Rosie Cushion (£35)
Wildflower Print (£10)
Olivia Cushion (£45)
Sew Lovely Cushion (£35)
Tulip Cushion (£45)

L-R:
Nica Alicia Satchel (£49)
Jones and Jones @ Topshop Floral Organza Dress (£60)
Floral Print Jumpsuit, River Island (£30)
Floral Laser Cut Purse, River Island (£17)
Floral Boxy T-Shirt, New Look (£14.99)

Springin' Up

Wow, so this is my first post of 2014! Uni seems to control my life 24/7, doing a pretty much 100% practical course certainly wipes most of my energy out by the end of the days- that or the daunting fact I’m now 21! What a special birthday made amazing by my lovely family and friends. So many surprise gifts including my new Macbook thanks to my beautiful mama!! I’ve always wanted one for uni and the like and I’m so excited to use it loads! 

There's so many things happening this year that I'm excited about, including the scouring of many holiday brochures in prep for a girly holiday me and my pals are planning. There's also my driving lessons to start that I WILL COMPLETE by September, finally seeing JT in the flesh at his concert and a possible uni study trip to Romania to work on a recycled fashion project! There's not really much more I could write before boring you all but 2014 is shaping up to be fabulous! 

But back to now, here's what i'm loving and lusting after this month...
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Cath Kidston Macbook Case- Cath Kidston has become somewhat a little part of my life, every time I walk into one of her stores I have to stop myself from overbuying. Right now I'm loving this little Mac case which continues my love of everything floral!

Topshop Margate Double Buckle Geek Shoes- We can never have too many shoes, especially a cute pair of Topshop ones! They've been designing and selling a lot of T-Bar style shoes for the last 6 months and they are perfect for all seasons, plus they are very similar to my first ever pair of shoes!


Miss Guided Demi Daisy Skate Shirt Dress- I'm loving this floral daisy dress from Miss Guided and they are in fact selling a lot of lovely floral dresses right now, which are maybe not so perfect for the current weather we're having. My annual wardrobe Spring clean is in order soon though so it will be nice to put some new florals in!

Zara Mini City Bag- I seem to change my handbag a lot and I currently own a really nice one from H&M. However I really like this one too and as I'm going to hopefully undertake a few placements this year, I might treat myself to a stylish accessory!

Beyonce CD- Well Bey went and surprised us all with a new album didn't she? There's a couple of songs I really like from the record and it comes as an alternative for missing out on tickets to her tour. 

Next Photo Screen- I absolutely love this idea, at £99 it is expensive but what a lovely way to display photos! It's definitely something I would love to utilise in my room as a divider.

ASOS SS14 Preview

It's hard to believe ASOS was founded nearly 14 years ago, yet I still remember the years leading up to my teens and thinking it was the most amazing thing to come out of fashion at the time. Back in the day ASOS were known simply by "As Seen On Screen", though fast forward nearly a decade and they are leading the way in young British fashion, taking influence from us their audience, culture, music and travel. And with over 21 million visitors a month it's no wonder they're the UK's largest independent online fashion retailer, plus gaining a cool revenue of £750m this year!

Last month the retailer had their Spring Summer 2014 press day... and I. am. in. LOVE. ASOS are truly playing with their strengths in contemporary fashion and they are going in such an interesting direction. The pastels remain, the florals remain and I've chosen some of my favourites below. 

Credit to Milk Teef and Fashion For Lunch for the pics.

Ugh. How beautiful, love the scallops and the colourway. Even if I buy this just to try it on and send back to get a refund, I just feel it will be amazing to wear.

The florals are back! Well they never go away really do they, but whatever this is applied to it's extremely intricate and gorgeous!

More florals! Love the contrasting colours going on here, looks like a lot of sheer fabrics and repeated forms will be used for SS14.

Sandals, sunnies and a pastel clutch- perfect for the beach if you're going abroad. Though the British weather might surprise us!

I spy an iridescent clutch bag and some cute colour coordinated outfits! A-Line swing skirts perfect for a Spring/Summer picnic.

I think my favourite Topshop frilly socks have a new rival...