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

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

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...

NYFW- Victoria Beckham SS14

New York Fashion Week is in full swing but after London took over as fashion capital, there's only 1 week I'm waiting for. Primarily not because I'm biased towards my own hometurf designers but because I believe that London has some of the best contemporary talent showing across September. Nevertheless, New York always manage to put on a show from the 'big guns' like DKNY, Diane Von Furstenberg and Zac Posen, amongst others.

One 'designer' (as always argued), that many are surprised to see at NYFW perhaps instead of LFW is original Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, who for the record was my least favourite member but kudos to her for that little black dress I probably tried to recreate several times with a black bin liner! Many of us know that VB is famed for her frocks but all eyes were not only just on the FROW where Harper stole the show, but also to the more casual inspired collection that was shown on Sunday at Cafe Rouge. 

Proving that a trend can be recycled twice in a year, Beckham took inspiration from the sports luxe style in which current AW13 monochromatics were present with an injection of Spring/Summer pink tones. After cooing over Harper, I got the impression from VB's past collections that this was going to be a pristine catwalk show with clothes designed to suit the professional women. As the first looks stepped onto the lacquered white floored runway, it was evident as the show went on that the use of geometric panelling and cut in predominant areas of garments were the stand out looks of the show. The bursts of fuchsia and reds in these outfits were probably the most interesting parts of the show for me.

Victoria has been seen somewhat as a style icon for the best part of 2 decades but between wearing and designing, they are 2 very different things and giving a proper critical review of her as a designer can be difficult for many to judge, based on where her fashion origin has derived from. I do however admire the fact that she knows how to build and develop a brand, sticking by her team and following after criticism and appreciating what women want to wear. Maybe I will grow to appreciate the balance she inputs between both her personal life and business work ethic. I guess time will also tell as to where the label will go in the future but overall this is a solid collection that showcases contemporary British tailoring and production, with the potential to grow in surface and pattern design. 

Summer Lovin'

Here are some of my current loves and lusts for Summer! I'll be reviewing A/W 13 preview collections very soon, so watch out!

♥♥♥

Holographic Nails In Moondance- £6, MOTO Pink Crochet Hotpants- £35, Spotty Casual Crop Top- £29, Rachel Dress by Jones and Jones- £65, Martie T-Bar Geek Shoes- £32, Nano T-Bar Clog Sandals- £45, Dip Dye Crochet Cami- £32, Edge Paint Satchel- £28

Black Floral Mini Dress- £25, Black Suede Cross Front Wedge Shoe- £28, Navy Pinafore Playsuit- £10, Tan Buckle Cross Wedge Shoe- £32, Multi Florence Floral Headband- £3

 Print Top- £9.99,  Jacquard Skirt- £12.99, Denim Waistcoat With Crochet Back- £9.99, Oriental Print Jumpsuit- £19.99, Embroidered Dress- £19.99, Fantasy Twist Jersey With Open Back- £12.99, Oriental Print Trousers- £15.99, Jacquard Linen Dress With Full Skirt- £15.99

Pleated Floral Print Dress- £18.75, Floral Print Wedge Sandals- £24.75, Cat Graphic Cropped Tee- £12, Lace Trim High-Low Dress- £19.75, High-Low Georgette Dress- £24.75

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