This week, I bought...

Fashion at this time of the year is my absolute favourite by far. The party season is nearly upon us and the high street is awash with gorgeous faux fur, metallics, leopard prints and sequins - basically, my very own sartorial heaven! 

This week, I picked up this amazing faux fur jacket from Miss Sixty for £150. A bit of an investment but I absolutely love the shaggy fur and versatile colour. Winter is never a glamorous season (not during the day anyway!), so I love a good fur to throw over jeans and flat boots - perfect for upping the style stakes when it's freezing and you're wearing 20 layers...!

Miss Sixty - £150

This will be the last buy of the month, but naturally, this does stop me coveting more!! I'm also loving this great little parka from Killah. It'll have to wait until next month, me thinks...

Killah - £168

Paul Costelloe SS12 Show

Paul Costelloe's SS12 womenswear collection delivered a 60s silhouette with a futuristic twist, with the menswear collection offering an eclectic mix of sleek, chic tailoring and relaxed cuts in bold candy colours...

Back-Stage

 

The Run-Through

Paul Costelloe at the run-through

The Show

The legendary Hilary Alexander

This week, I (also!) bought...

What do you wear when the dress code is black, black and more black? When even the deepest navy hue would be a serious faux pas?

Friday morning hails the launch of London Fashion Week, and with it comes this seasonal conundrum. I needed to pick an all black outfit to be worn with black tights, black heels and that's completely on-trend (ok, I added that last part, but it's Fashion Week for God's sake!).
As AW11 is all about the pencil skirt (midi-length where poss!), this was my first port of call. Super feminine isn't really me so I also located chunky knit sweaters and leather-look tees to balance the girlieness. 

Warehouse £40



Topshop Boutique £45

Warehouse £45



  Topshop £25

Unfortunately, as I'm on a budget (boo!), this option would mean racking up funds on the credit card, so I sought a purse-friendly dress instead. While scouring the shops in a mild pre-FW panic, I came across this great little number from Warehouse, priced at a super-reasonable £40.

Warehouse £40

The tunic style offers a silhouette that's very 'now', and the leatherette panels give it that non-girlie edge I was on the hunt for. I'll wear with the black tights, ribbed ankle socks and my new Zara boots. Done and done. Bring on the fashwan!

This week, I bought...

This week, I bought these gorgeous ankle boots from Zara for £59.99. The contrasting block heel feels modern yet season-proof, while the zip detail lends a little edginess to the rounded toe.


As much as I love a vertiginous heel, the daily commute (which includes 15 minutes of negotiating a perilously cobbled pathway...!) and the constant yo-yoing between the desk and the showroom, has left me eyeing my heels with contempt every morning. I can't risk the destruction of my beautiful relationship with shoes, damnit!

I was striving to find the perfect boots as it still upsets me to wear flats (ridiculous, I know, I find flats far too practical to look glamorous, and I'm referring only to myself with that statement - I've seen many a glam girlie in flats).

I love that the height of these boots are tall enough to be classed as heels, but also offer the happy side effect of not killing me in the process.

Cobbles, do your worst!   

Budget Blues

This season, I am on a super tight budget. It sucks arse.

A/W '11 will (unfortunately need to!) consist of very, VERY choice purchases. Pieces that nod to the season whilst offering longevity and timeless style. And that are, of course, reasonably priced!

For someone who has always been in love with the now, this budget presents even more of a problem. As all the magazines, websites and blogs will tell you, acquiring timeless style involves spending serious moolah on clothes, shoes and handbags that stand the test the time - 'investing in key pieces', as they say. Not much of a possibility at present...!

Therein lies my challenge. To select and salivate over the fashion I love, and ONLY making a purchase when I completely, absolutely, 100% love it. Provided it goes with other things in my wardrobe. And if it's well priced.     

Dear God, budgets suck.

SS11 Sale Shopping Guide

The sales are obviously a great time to pick up a bargain, but a savvy and considered buy will take you through to the next season.

No doubt, there are a lot of sale shopping guides floating about at the moment, but hey ho - read on for my two cents!

Seventies

AW10 introduced a lot of Seventies styling to the high street - think paisley prints, midi lengths, kick flare trousers and general floatiness! The trend will be following through to Spring/Summer 11, so invest in any of the these and they'll soon become your wardobe staples.

Fendi SS11

Fendi SS11

Mango sets a pretty good precedent on how to style the look, so it's a little more on-trend and a little less time-warp...! Their sale is pretty good, check out the website. I picked up a great paisley print silk blouse (perfect with skinnies and platform heels) for under £25 - bargainous.



Mango AW10



Mango AW10



White Out  

White, ivory and oyster - whatever you choose to call it, pick it up and layer it on, as SS11 is all about being pale and interesting. Take inspiration from Alexander Wang and Erdem and rock white, whichever end of the style spectrum you fall.


Alexander Wang SS11



Erdem SS11

Rainbow Bright

Ok, so brights aren't exactly a new thing for Summer, but pick up a few bold pieces in the sales and mix and match when the weather (eventually) warms up to update your look.


Gucci SS11



Jil Sander



Jil Sander

Chunky Stripes

The Breton stripe moves on this season. Look out for chunky or multi stripes, ideally in bold colours and wear à la Prada.

Prada SS11

Print Clash

Hang on the animal prints you've no doubt accumulated over the season and mix them up for a fresher look. If you haven't yet jumped on the leopard print bandwagon, the sales are a great time to start!

Burberry Prorsum SS11

Florals for spring aren't exactly ground-breaking, but like bold colour, it's all about how you'll wear it. With an abundance of florals currently in the sales, you can take your pick. And remember - clash 'em love, clash!

Erdem SS11

Biker Chic

If you buy nothing else, make sure a biker jacket is on your list (or better still, dig it out of your wardrobe). The biker will come in every shape and form come spring, so make sure it's at the top of your new season hit list.

Burberry Prorsum SS11

Happy Shopping!