Lovely Jumper

With a 20% discount off anything from the new Hobbs AW13 range I really could not resist this lovely little jumper, so soft, so lovely.

Three Floor

Really lusting after this jumpsuit from Three Floor, perfect for the Winter party season.

The Statement Necklace

I have recently been spending a bit more time exploring the wonders of ebay and just couldn't resist this bold, ethnic inspired necklace.

Dapper chap-ess

I absolutely adore brogues, they are the perfect everyday shoe. I quite like the mannish trend and think my new Topshop Monk Shoes would look fab with a pair of smart black tapered trousers and a fancy shirt.

Spring Summer 2014 - My Picks

It seems that masculine tailoring is set to dominate trends over the next six months at least which 'suits' me very well indeed. Sharp jackets are given a rocky edge, worn with black leather trousers and skirts, or tapered trousers, cummerbunds and skinny ties. There is definitely still a femininity peeking through this sometimes stark monochrome, minimalism, with floaty, floral printed and sheer chiffon's, gemstone colours and pastels all contrasting yet comfortably nestling into this business-like, power dress.

Yves Saint Laurent
Grey and black mannish suiting combines with leather, pointy shoes, skinny ties for a confident and almost 80's mod feel. Sheer blouses offer a softer alternative to stiff buttoned up shirts.

Veronique Branquinho

Silky, satin fabrics in incredibly pale and subtle pastel shades bring us refreshingly out of the winter months with an optimistic look towards lighter, brighter climes. Gorgeous draped soft tailoring, shorts and dungarees look effortless with an almost Edwardian nod in the form of puff sleeves and high necklines.

Elie Saab
Stunning, 3d Chiffon creations in muted tones of coral, emerald, ruby and white are worn long and loose with sweeping wide leg trousers, full skirts and sometimes body-conscious dresses and more structured panelling. Lace makes a welcome comeback for 2014, along with floral printed hems, heavy sequin embellishment which sometimes evoke Spanish Flamenco dancing on warm Summer evenings.

Paule Ka

High street friendly, i can see many of these funky silhouettes and colours translate directly to the UK market. The simple lines, cut out detailing, midi-skirts, black and white, coral, playful prints, full skirts, body-con dresses, ruched satin and a pop of bright fuchsia to boot, it is completely wearable with a flirty, girly feel.

Christian Dior

Raf Simmons has pretty much everything covered this season! There are floaty chiffon set against structured tailoring, floral prints, criss-cross layered effects, satins, candy pink, pastels, sheer organza, statement necklaces, pleats, stripes, one shoulder cuts, oranges, greens, powder blue, cummerbunds, high waisted shorts and trousers. Phew, it all works cleverly combining masculine and feminine details for an eclectic, rich look.

What an inspirational journey. I'm very temped in invest in a knitted, candy pink jumper to see me through the winter and into next year, a pair of high waisted black trousers and maybe even some leather. I'll also be pulling out my slinky, floral printed shirt from Zara to soften a quirky masculine look. Pleats are something I've not yet ventured into but I think i may travel down that path sometime very soon.

Gola

Loving Chris's new Gola trainers.

Double Denim

Double Denim, just felt right today.

Catwalk

Last night my beautiful pal Felicity and I were lucky enough to attend the Bath Spa University graduate fashion show which was set in the stunningly beautiful Assembly Rooms in Bath. We were treated to an array of floaty chiffons, daring PVC neon creations and luxe sportswear. It is always a truly inspirational event and I'm already looking forward to next year.

Nike X Liberty

These new Nike X Liberty trainers and definitely high up on my lust list right now. I absolutely love Liberty fabrics and have many fond memories of meeting my friend Georgia, nipping into the store and perving on the haberdashery section after work when I was living in London.

 

Gola are also collaborating with Liberty with a range of equally delightful trainers which would be perfect for Summer. Which to choose though!

Where has all the sunshine gone?

The day my lovely new, geeky sandals arrived from Topshop this week, the heavens opened and as I splattered my way from work to the car park, I dreamt of those sunny days which came and went so quickly. I know it will be back, but I wish it would just hurry up.

Tim Walker Dreamscapes

Tim Walker is a fashion photographer who has worked for Vanity Fair and Vogue. His initial training as an English landscape artist really shines through in his photography for these great fashion institutions. The curator of the current exhibition of his work at The Bowes Museum, Greville Worthington said, 'His seductive images demand to be read as more than fashion'. I absolutely love his images, so whimsical and dreamy, they really do indulge escapism to a quirkier, more magical land and inspire me to think and 'do' more creatively.

Finders Keepers

With birthday money in hand, off I trundled into town to track down a cute dress for a wedding later this month. I had signed up to the Harvey Nichols newsletter under the promise that I would get a 20% discount on fashion and accessories and so that was my first port of call!

I quickly found this adorable dress slinkilly wrapped around a mannequin and to my delight really loved the look of it when I tried it on. The brand is called Finders Keepers. I simply cannot wait to wear it in a couple of weeks time!

Neon Necklace

Picked up this little stunner in H&M last week.

Baubles

So this is the first of my birthday purchases, a bold statement necklace from Zara. It is a weighty number but I love the fact that it is so huge.

Loving The Leopard

Over the years it would be fair to say that I've had the odd dalliance with leopard print. One of my favourite pair of summer shoes are leopard print and I'm getting the feeling it is high time I invested in some more pieces. I would love a mid-length, textured jacket, over sized bag and dare i say it, even a pair of trousers! Always wary of the Bet Lynch effect, most of the time I feel that less is probably more.

Ciate

All the girls in our office have come to love Ciate nail varnish. We were introduced to the brand via our PR agency and just can't get enough now. They have some fabulous colours and special effects and seem to last for absolutely ages. The latest additions to my collection are a delightful grey and metallic gold which I received along with a fine glass nail file. No excuses for terrible nails anymore, eeek!