Category : General
If you are the kind of girl that prefers her denim pretty, in bloom and right on trend, look no further than Hawaiian blooms, ditsy florals and rose prints.
All are hot right now and all will work to really add a little sunshine to an otherwise dark and wintery wardrobe!
However this season’s floral patterns are appearing a little different to the floral prints of last season. This season the floral pattern is donning arrays of different items, including the likes of denim hot pants, skinny jeans, skirts and cutesy denim jackets.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match prints, for example teaming a floral shirt with a floral skirt actually works. The key is to make one piece a subtle pattern and the other a loud pattern. This way they won’t clash but will instead create a retro on trend look!
If you prefer to keep the look a little lowkey, make only one piece a floral print item. For example team subtle floral print flairs with a simple tee, a pastel blazer and a pair of hot heels!
Off set the look with a completely contrasting clutch. This clutch could be in a completely different material such as a tiger or animal print. This will create a retro twist and a vocal point to the outfit!
Team the look with loose wavy locks and girl next door make-up for a sweet and carefree style! Think urban yet feminine. The floral trend is certainly a great look for the summer season but that doesn’t mean you necessarily have to dismiss it through the winter months. Simply team those cutesy denim floral shorts or hot pants with tights and a grandad knit! This is a great way to add a little lift to your winter wardrobe and is certainly one way to brighten up a dull day!
This season denim has gone print-tastic, we might as well call it the new stonewash! Think wide horizontal stripes, pastel stripes and coloured spots.
When wearing this look opt for a ‘thrown together’ style! As well as denim shorts and trousers, patterned denim shirts and jackets are also big this year!
Wear denim shorts with cutesy socks, printed shirts and a hot hued blazer. This look is the perfect casual/cool look that offers a retro and stylish feel.
Places to check out if you wish to invest in the all-new denim print trend include the likes of Current & Elliott at Net-A-Porter, Mango, Warehouse, Cheap Monday, Brat and Suzzie, Topshop, River Island, Hudson at Trilogy and Citizens of Humanity.
When wearing this look, don’t be afraid to team patterns with prints, this will in fact create a retro-cool look that works very well with this trend.
However if you wish to keep the look a little more low-key, maybe for a casual office style, then opt to keep the patterned jeans the main focus and keep everything else a little more toned down.
Pastel stripes look great with a crisp white shirt and brogues, finish the look with a cutesy yet stylish mac and a statement bag. If you are wearing a certain colour on the jeans, try and make the accessories colour opposites in order to tie the entire look together.
Since the denim is so over the top, you can afford to get a little creative with both the accessories and the hair. Try a twisted top knot if you wish to make a statement! Try to tie your jewellery in with the outfit in order to tie it together.
Floral enthused brogues also work really well with either spotted, checked or striped denim! This is certainly one outfit that won’t be ignored!
We, at present live in a pretty ordered world. High streets blur into one, designer stores feature globally and even the vegetables we purchase from the deli conform to the same shape.
This consistency however is about to change! Prepare yourselves for a fashion revelation and a fashion rebellion!
The individualist is about to emerge in the shape of a rebellion against the plague of sameness!
People are now looking beyond the ‘one size fits all’ experience and instead are opting for something that solely fits them! This is great way to invest in a one-off piece as no one else will in fact own anything like it!
Buyers are now wishing to invest in something they can personalise, this could be as simple as the addition of an initial or gilt on a diary or notebook, such as the ones styled by the brand Smythson and Anya Hindmarch.
Louis Vuitton are allowing customers to choose the coloured stripe on their purses and the shoe connoisseurs at Giuseppe Zanotti are allowing customer’s to choose the exact placement of bling on their newly purchased skyscraper heels!
Le Labo at Liberty provide perfume made to order, which is an extremely special gift. Isn’t annoying when you realise someone is wearing the exact same scent as you? Well with the personalised perfumes from the above brand, this scenario will no longer be a worry!
Nike iD are another brand that allow you to add that little extra touch by enabling customers to design their own trainers!
However if you really wish to add something a little more to a purchase, why not invest in something completely bespoke? Annina Vogel has released a series of charm necklaces and all the individual charms can be chosen by the buyer, whether this is a gift for someone else or a gift for someone special, this is certainly one way to stand out from the masses! Check the charm necklaces out at Selfridges.
Eveyone loves that fresh-from-the-salon feeling and your hair never looks better than when you’ve had it newly styled. The problem is keeping it looking great – you can never seem to do it exactly the way the hairdresser did!
However, there is a way to make it easier by getting some salon products to use at home- and it doesn’t need to break the bank. No need to even leave the comfort of your own home – it’s all online for your perusal. Here are some of the best sites to visit for that salon style:
www.directsalonsupplies.co.uk
There’s a huge range here, from shampoos and colours to brushes and combs. There’s even a section aimed at students getting into the trade – get your disembodied heads! Pretty good if you’re on a budget as you pay salon prices – you might make a tidy saving!
www.ghdhair.com/hair-products
We all know the name and it has become synonymous with good hair days and decent salons. Whatever you’re looking for, GHD will have a product for you. There’s even some tutorial videos to help you get that professional look.
www.salon-collective.co.uk
This is a great site if you’re not really sure what you’re looking for. It has a glossary of terms to break down all that jargon and even has a range of fake tans for you health conscious sun-worshippers. Take a look at the hair care tips to keep your crowning glory – well – glorious!254
www.shoprush.co.uk
This is a good site if you know what brand you want, as it lets you search by name. There’s everything here and you might find a new product by your favourite brand to make your hair look and feel great. Why not give it a go.
One of the greatest fashion trends of last year was nail art. Nails looked wacky and wild with amazing colours and finishes. Creating a stylised individual look comes in the form of nail art and such a style up there with all the latest beauty trends.
Andrea Fulerton’s range from Superdrug offers a dazzling range of shades and finishes. Nailgirls hold all of the brightest hot colours while Corpse Bride has a range of smudgy darker varnishes. Nails were brash and daring on the runways and they never appear to go unnoticed but all of this about to change this year.
The more demure look is on its way with softer more ladylike looks.
2012 will run the opposite way taking well manicured nails into a softer feminine look with nudes peach and gentle pinks.
Chanel as usual will lead the way as the brand is always ahead of its rivals with something more sensational. They have come up with the clever idea of naming a range after three months of the year.
The spring month of April has a delightful mouthwatering shade in raspberry; May brings subtle colours in pinks, while June gives you a soft peach.
Out in January and priced at £17.50 get rid of last years look and move on to these gentle colours. Fulerton’s Polish in Nigella in peachy neutral glides onto nails and while looking expensive costs only £4.99 from Superdrug.
Delightful also is Mathews’ 2011 winter collection in nude baby pink, which is a glowing addition to any varnish collection.
Lastly remember to keep your nails in tiptop condition using Melvita’s new Argon Oil with Geranium roll-on, this is small enough to stock in your handbag and is a must-have item that keeps those nails in great condition always.
The sales have started and there are a few things we may think you might want to add to that shopping list! First up are this season’s must-have sparkly leggings! They go with absolutely anything and can be either dressed up with heels or dressed down with sneakers and a tee!
Statement sequin trousers are a great look for an evening out on the tiles and when paired with a killer pair of heels and a silky tee, you will be certain to turn a few heads! Check out dressrail.com, the sparkly statement styles start at just £14.99.
Another sparkly must-have is a pair of statement heels; if you prefer a more subtle option, look to a suede pair that offers an embellished back. If you however are feeling a little pushed for cash after the Christmas spending, invest in some statement bling backs! These cutesy little numbers clip onto the back of any heels you already own, which in turn adds an instant hit of glamour to your style!
For instant sparkle, check out blingbacks.co.uk, they have a range of shoe pieces to choose from.
Earrings are another must-have highstreet buy, they add instant glamour to a look and when teamed with other accessories, they can really work to instantly re-vamp an otherwise tired outfit.
Show stopping earrings are certainly a style saviour and look great when worn with an up do, with your hair back off your face, you will look both elegant and glam.
Hats are another must-have buy if you don’t already own one! Apparently its set to get even colder and an assortment of styles are also very much in at the moment! Think cutesy animal-esq beanies, statement bobble hats and cutesy berets! A stylish essential!
Celebrity stylist Angie Smith has the pre party knowledge to help out.
The party event has been decided so the week before there’s a few points you should be aware of If its a big event with subdued lighting and you don’t want to fade into the background think about the colours you will be wearing.
Stand out in daring reds or glimmering metallic even pure whites.
Will you be sitting some of the time, because you’ll need a fabric that won’t crease? Then there is the killer heels please break them in gradually pain will not help that party pout.
Why not invest in a pair of flats that can be folded up into your handbag. These are available from most shoe shops and tend to fold up into a tiny ball in order to fit in even the smallest of handbags.
This is great news for those that often feel their night can be ruined by the painful heels worn. Of course you want to show them off at first but later on you might prefer to quite simply dance the night away in your cutesy flats! They are also ideal if you have a big walk home to contend to! Taxis on Christmas and New Year are generally a nightmare.
Also check out weather conditions arriving wet or freezing won’t help that glamourous look. The previous day to the party why not use St Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan we like to glow A very natural thing to help your skin look healthy is to drink plenty of water. Angie says keep checking your outfit to make sure you’re really happy with it ‘ if not play safe and wear black jeans and black lux top and patent heels.
Every girl has two sides to her; in fact the side we choose to display often depends on the fashion in style at the time! This season we are working our sophisticated sides.
When your social calendar is looking a little drab, you need to get up and do something about it! Just because it is too cold to venture outside, this by no means should mean staying locked up in doors and doing nothing but watching film after film!
Why not invite your friends around for an up-market do! Think fashion style parties, just because you are in the house that doesn’t mean you can’t show off your latest fashion buys to your friends! After all you will need a little advice on what to wear over the festive season, there are bound to be some events that can’t be missed no matter what the British weather may throw at us! Have a clothes trying on party with a few close girls, you can swap a few items with each other in order to create the best possible outcome.
Sip on a few girly tipples whilst talking and walking fashion and put your own fashion event on in your front living room!
Try a few different make-up styles and lock looks, this way you will guarantee to look the best at your works or seasonal do!
Another idea is to invite a few close pals around for a sophisticated dinner. Play ‘come dine with me’ and go to a different friends house each week. Make it a real occasion and dress up in your finest for the event! Forget the Michelin star restaurant, the new diner is in your own dining room!
Ever wondered what its like to be at the top of a fashion company, well Agent Provocateur’s head of press turned stylist has answered all the questions we need to know!
She has dressed the likes of last year’s X-factor’s contestants and some of the major names in pop, so we have a sneaky little feeling she knows exactly what she is talking about!
If you too would love to do something like this, the first thing you need is passion. Without passion there is no drive and if there is no drive, there is no creativity to excel in your chosen field.
Find an icon, this could be one sole person such as a designer or a model. It also be a specific campaign by a certain somebody. Feed you passion with regular doses of history, fashion and art.
Having an icon allows you to have someone to look up to and focus on. If they can do it, so can you!
Another thing you must possess is confidence. There is an old saying that states ‘shy ben’s get nowt!’. This in turn translates to ‘be cheeky!’. If you don’t ask you won’t get, so why not write a letter to somewhere you would love to work. They may be impressed by your initiative and this could in turn lead to a little work experience or even better a career!
Always learn to deal with rejection. If it happens, pick yourself up and try for the next one. Everyone will have to deal with rejection at some point. This doesn’t mean you are not good at what you do; it simply means you weren’t right for that particular job! If you give up on your first attempt, you won’t get anywhere!
New fashions are constantly emerging but many of us are in fact a little scared when it comes to trying them out, and instead stick to the norm!
There is however a time when every one feels that extra bit daring. Why not add a little adventure to your look and really push the boat out this season. If you can’t dress up during the festive season, when can you?
This is certainly the time to invest in a new trend! So what should we be investing in for the new season?
A pair of new party shoes is a must! Forget your standard black courts and look to a pair you would never normally wear, such as a peep toe boot or courts enthused with studded embellishments and glitterati jewels!
Shoes are in fact a great way to dress up an existing outfit and act as the perfect accessory to really dress up an otherwise plain outfit!
Why not team your new shoes with a matching clutch? This is a great way to really tie an outfit together and there is an assortment of must-have bags on the high street!
You will be the envy of all your work friends at the Christmas bash and really pushing the boat out will allow you to step away from your usual office attire!
It will also allow you to get the attention of that fellow office crush you may have!
Make-up and hair are another way to enhance your look. Why not pay a trip to your local make-up store and salon and invest in some well-deserved facial and hair treatments! Both will make you glow this party season.
A few statement hair accessories are a great way to make your hair stand to attention! They will also dress up a simple style! Try backcombing longer locks and pinning it back with a statement sparkly hair clip.
