London Living (in pictures)

I thought that, given I've been away for so long, I'd provide you with a sneak-peek into my (not-so) glamorous new London life (with the help of my Instagram account).

I moved into my new flat in August:  it's in the East, which is somewhere I never imagined myself living, but I am in love.  It's a warehouse conversion somewhere between Aldgate and Whitechapel, and it's tiny, but it's all new and has big beautiful windows overlooking the City. 

 

We've moved things around a little now, and I've swapped flatmates in the meantime (you'll get to meet them later) but I was completely welcomed in by the girls living there in August and I'm still in love now.

In terms of my workplace, I've already moved offices from these views..:

...to these..:

Either way, I think I've picked a winner.

I've been instagramming my outfits:

 

I've met some amazing people..:

and I've been to some cool places:

All in all, I love London and I can't wait to see what the next few years will bring.

To keep up with me in pictures, follow me on Instagram.

Wills HQ

I headed down South this weekend for my best friend Ruby's birthday in Oxford, a bit of cheeky flat hunting in London, and a visit to Wills HQ in Shoreditch to browse the new collection (and pick up a few bargains at the Aubin & Wills Sample Sale).   I'd never ventured as far as East London before and I was pretty excited about this trip, so much so that I may have come back the next day..

The building's basement has been converted into the 'Aubin Cinema' - which has recieved rave reviews from friends who have visited (sadly I haven't - it's on my to-do list) - and the shop is located on the ground floor.   I'd only seen bits and pieces from the Autumn collection so far, so I was pretty excited to get stuck in with the whole thing.  Unfortunately there were still a few pieces missing, including the Damson Tweed Jacket I'm desperate to get my hands on, but I picked up a few pieces while I was there.

 

I particularly liked the button-down skirt (available in denim and cord) for a looser, grown-up look; paired with  oversized crew-neck jumpers and lightweight coats.  Colour pops were seen in light purple chinos and dainty coral camisoles, suggesting 2013's hottest summer colours are set to carry on through to Autumn, worn to offset the wintery khaki and navy shades.   I'm sad I didn't take a picture of the shoes, as a gorgeous pair of patent loafers caught my eye, and I'll be picking those up at a later date. 

For the boys..

I really liked the colour-palette contrast between the collections for men and women; while navy, damson and grey featured in the men's (like the backpack above) it was generally a lot lighter than the women''s.  Trousers, shirts and tees were neutral tones, designed to be layered with darker knits and crew jumpers underneath pale outerwear. 

I loved the warehouse-y East London feel; Jack Wills shops usually inhabit listed buildings, so the bare-bones look really allowed the collection to shine and reflected that you don't need to be a country bumpkin to rock the look.   I picked up a damson pleat blouse from the new collection and a cardigan with some pink chinos from the sale, and I intend to come back for this season's lace camisoles, floral t-shirt dress and either a pair of the Chelsea ankle boots or the patent loafers.    I'm really hoping they bring out another boyfriend-fit blazer, as oppose to the usual fitted style, as I'd love one in navy this season. 

Jack Wills are currently in the final reductions stage of their summer sale (with some epic bargains), and you can redeem a cheeky 15% off if you're a student on full-priced items.  I'll be doing a giveaway at the end of summer involving some JW items, so if you're a fan make sure you've subscribed via e-mail (see sidebar) or on bloglovin'!

Autumn @ Jack

One of my favourite brands Jack Wills unveiled their Autumn Preview a couple of days ago and I thought I'd walk you through the looks, dish out a little advice on integrating new pieces into your current wardrobe, and get you as excited to buy this collection as I am!  

I love the pieces I've seen so far - the colour scheme is reminiscent of Victorian style; reflecting Jack Wills' tendency to celebrate and take inspiration from its British heritage.  The preppy brand's key colour this season adds a purple-hue to traditional oxblood shades to become Damson, and features on jeans, smart tees, dresses, playsuits and prints throughout the collection.  I'm 'pale and interesting' so the dark greys, navy and damson shades really suit my complexion.

In terms of cut, style and detail I think the Autumn collection is a little more grown-up than we've seen in previous seasons;  the delicate use of sheer fabrics, subtle polka dots and dainty floral patterns bring femininity to the androgynous cuts of jeans, shorts and boy-fit shirts.  These beautiful pieces add elegance to loungewear and casual clothing; the Marston Tee can be paired with black jeans and loafers during the day and a suede point-toe stiletto - this year's staple shoe - to carry your outfit through to the evening.  You could even add the Shelsey Cami to your workwear wardrobe; with a smart black skirt suit or cigarette trousers.

The Hamfield Crew (£49.50), Shelsey Pleat Cami (£59.50) and Marston Tee (£59.50)

 Wear with: the 'French 75' heel by Whistles, JW's own Maddison or J-Brand's 912 Skinny Jean.

Their key transitional outerwear piece moves away from the traditional rural uniform of weed, wax and quilt jackets towards the parka; the coat is often associated with an 'urban' or 'street' look (and championed by Liam Gallagher in the 1990's) and is available in navy or khaki, reflective of it's military origins.  The best thing about this coat is it's versatility - it can be thrown on over anything, and easily rolled up and popped in a bag when you don't need it til later. 

The Alwyn £98.50

 Wear with:  Contrast a sharp shirt and patent loafers with rolled-up trousers and the Alwyn parka for a slightly grungy city look.

'Kitty' by Charlotte Olympia, £465 (Selfridges)

If you're buying anything from this collection, or using it as inspiration for the rest of your Autumn wardrobe then here's a basic summary: stick to dark shades (greys, purples, reds and navy), pair  feminine tops with masculine-cut trousers, and never underestimate the power of a classic shoe.  Swap your ballet pumps for brogues and smoking slippers, and give your feet a rest in the evening because the mid-heel is back: point-toe styles in classic black patent and suedes, or wear a glitter or spiked pump for a little extra glamour.   Louboutin's 'Pigalle' is an absolute classic, as is the Whistles French 125 (/75) if you're not feeling irresponsible this month.

It isn't available in-stores yet, but my favourite piece is the Damson tweed jacket pictured below with the Bradnam short and a plain tee.  If you follow me on Twitter you'll have seen me raving about my guilty love of shorts-suits and, if anything, this little mix-and-match outfit has confirmed I've secretly been right about them all along. 

Dubarry of Ireland

As most of you guys will know, I live in the country.  Not the 'suburb zone six' sort of country, the 'narrow winding road, signal-vacuum, wake up to find escapee sheep/labradors/ponies in your garden' sort of country.

(all taken from my instagram)

In my (somewhat biased) opinion, it's really one of the most beautiful places you could hope to live -  I'm backed up here by The Guardian's Tom Dyckhoff, although he does point out there's not much to do here (could be why we spend so much time in the pub!)

Anyway, getting to the point of my blog post, Tom is right -  if you're not used to outdoorsy activities, and walking five miles to the nearest pub/shop isn't your sort of thing, you certainly won't fit in. Tweed, Barbour coats and riding boots are a staple here, and I'd like to spend a little time appreciating my favourite boots for country pursuits. 

If you're a little country kid (or a keen boat lover) you'll probably have heard of Dubarry of Ireland - they started out making moccasins and boat shoes in the 1930's and eventually moved in-land, experimenting with creating a goretex lined leather boot that could withstand the most demanding of rural environments.  I'm pretty sure they succeeded - I've worn my Galway boots through thick and thin, and three years on they're still as comfortable and sturdy as the day I bought them. 

In addition to the original leather Galway, they sell tweed boots and an apres-ski version with a built-in furry boot sock (if you're looking to replicate this with your boots, you can choose from a selection of liners online).  The 'Clare' and 'Longford' are slightly more elegant alternatives, based on the classic equestrian knee-boot, and they're a little more expensive. 

They also sell deck shoes and loafers (men's link here) for when you're not roaming the fields;  priced between £89-95, these are a little more wallet-friendly and will still last you for years.  My personal favourites are the 'Fiji' deck shoe (in brown, denim, oyster or red if you fancy buying me an early Christmas gift), but I think the classic Menorca would make a great gift for mum!  I also think the 'Commander' deck shoe would be a pretty swanky addition to the man in your life's wardrobe.

You can follow Dubarry on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, but you probably want to check their Facebook page out for few reasons: the first being that they keep posting pictures of cuties like this!

The second being that they've got a competition on at the moment where you can actually win yourself a pair of Galway boots (and some extra country goodies) by clicking here.  I'd argue to the moon and back that these boots are worth the expense (and nobody hates the word 'investment purchase' more than me), but it's is always better if it's free. 

Besides, this little guy wants you to enter.. are you really going to say no to him?

The Wardrobe Update: The LWD

I know I probably shouldn't post topics consecutively, but I thought I'd tackle one of this summer's biggest hits before the good weather runs out.  Readers, meet the Little White Dress.

We've all seen the Little Black Dress in action: immortalised by Audrey Hepburn (as Holly Golightly), the LBD has become a wardrobe staple and effortless show-stopper when it comes to making an entrance, and no fashionista's wardrobe is complete without one.   However, SS13 shows heralded a successor to this now-familiar icon, and I've picked out eight from across the high street for your convenience.. 

L-R

1. Topshop Embroidered Prom Dress (£50) -  I know I struggle for breath between criticisms when it comes to Topshop, but I can't help loving this LWD.  Seen on countless bloggers, friends and party-goers this summer so far, this dress is a super-flattering option for day to dark activities.  The V back adds a little extra elegance to this otherwise fun number. 

2. Manilla by Izanagi (£95) -  The details of this lace panel LBD earned it a place within this edit; a fashion-focused take on the fitted jersey dress, this is the perfect choice for after-work drinks in the city.  The monochromatic contrast allows you to experiment with coloured jewellery and accessories, while being simple enough to stand out without. Izanagi makes it's elegant dresses to order, but you can order online, via twitter, or watch the main man himself for daily deals.

3. Karen Millen's White Lace Stripe Dress (£175 here; on sale at £125 here) -   You don't need to be a genius to figure out why I've added this dress to the list.  Remember this?  We all know Queen B always made effort when it came to showing up boys, and I can't think of a better first-date dress than this Karen Millen number.  (NB: the original dress Blair wore to the White Party was Marc by Marc Jacobs)

4. Jersey & Chiffon Dress, H&M (£7.99 !!) -  I thought I'd give your bank balance a breather by popping this wallet-friendly number in the middle.  If you're heading to a festival, field party, to the beach or just lounging around the house waiting for the cute window-cleaner to come, this dress is an effortless casual staple.  Add a flower crown, plaited belt and wellies for festival chic or studded ankle boots for the city; with this one you can afford to experiment with all the accessories you like. 

5. Whistles 'Adrianne' Dress (£95) -  Okay so I'm not colourblind, I know this isn't white, but can you really blame me for adding it to the list?  This powder-pink neutral flatters both a tan complexion and the deathly almost-blue pallor sported by unfortunate Brits such as myself.  It's comfortably tailored and can be paired with wedges for lunch,  embroidered sandals for shopping and brogues for attitude.  Also, it has pockets.  

6. Silk & Tulle Gown by Willow @ Net A Porter (£705 from £1,175) -  If you've got a wedding, yacht party or similar fancy event to dress up for then this is the perfect formal LWD.  Not only does it cover the white, cut-out and midi trends in one beautifully made piece, Miranda Kerr was also pictured wearing a shorter turquoise version in her latest ad for Kora Organics.  Do you need more persuading?  

 9. Ted Baker 'IMOGINE' Colour Block Dress (£129) -  You're mixing the best of both worlds with this Ted Baker dress; not only is it both white and black, the drop-waist and loose style puts this dress right back in the swinging sixties (I'm really, really sorry. I can't apologise enough for that. It just came out), a style championed by Moschino's Cheap & Chic line this season.  Pair with super-cute coloured flats or nude wedges in the day and a point-toe black patent stiletto in the evening for instant retro elegance.

8. Jack Wills 'Meerbroke' Dress (£74, from £89.50) - Did you really think I'd manage an entire post without including some Jack Wills? That was naive of you.  

This flirty number also comes in bright pink (another big hit this season) and navy (you all know that, in my humble opinion, one can never go wrong with navy).  My favourite features are the racer back, modest hemline (hello 'meet the parents' scenarios) and the scalloped skirt hem; plus the lining (hello practicality) means you'll never suffer any of the inevitable wardrobe mishaps that occur from pairing bright underwear with white sundresses.

I lied. There's one more dress.

I haven't really included a naughty night-out dress here, so I'm throwing this Nastygal number (£38) into the ring. 

If you don't recognise the model then I really don't know where you've been for the last three months; this video has topped 100 million views on Youtube and has provided one of 2013's biggest conundrums:

What actually does rhyme with hug me?

I'm sorry, I've made too many bad jokes this post.  I'll make up for it by sharing my favourite cookie recipe on Thursday. 


PS:  I know we're all about white today but I'd feel too guilty keeping this from you guys and, as I've mentioned above, it's totally on trend.  I've popped it into my 'most wanted' list, but that just wasn't enough.  Designed by Jess Honey for MIC-feature-turned-fashionista (and musician) Caggie Dunlop's ISWAI project, 'The Orchid' statement skirt is the dream holiday buy this summer.  Pair it with chunky nude gladiator sandals, gold & leather jewellery and a plain white tee for instant hippie-chic; alternatively, slip on a pair of bright turquoise, silver or fluorescent yellow heels for a pop of colour at night.

 Isn't it dreamy?

Wardrobe Update: Workwear Staples

This is a long one, I'm afraid, but I've been inundated with requests for a 'working wardrobe' blog for a while now so I figured that, as I'm currently working on mine, I'd share a few tips for yours!

For me, the most important thing about your W.W is that you should look like what you are, and I don't know many graduates who can afford to rock up every day in Louboutins and Prada.  That said, it's important to mix and match expensive pieces with good quality basics that allow you enough choice to dress your outfits up or down when necessary (and ensuring that, with a quick change of jacket or blouse, you can wear your favourite skirt twice without anybody noticing).  

To start, you'll need a working week's worth of trousers, skirts and dresses.  It might seem like a lot, but if you mix and match enough then it's pretty easy to stretch these staples out across a two-week period.  These are the things I would recommend investing in: think reputable brands such as Reiss, Paul Smith, T.M. Lewin etc. or M&S for cheap, simple pieces.

All Saints (£98), Reiss (£110), Paul Smith (£189 - reduced to £94)

You can afford to experiment a little with separates by choosing a printed skirt (or dress) and cigarette trousers, for example, but I'd avoid printed trousers or too-bright colours unless you're working in an environment that allows for a lot of personal expression.  I've chosen the 'Wither' skirt by All Saints, a pair of simple tailored trousers by Reiss and a Paul Smith pique skirt (currently in the sale ladies - snap it up while you can) that I ended up leaving with yesterday because I absolutely love the navy side panels.  I'm also a fan of M&S' fishtail skirt and, at £19.50, can you really afford to say no?

If you've got a 'signature' colour or style (lace overlay, peplum detail etc.) then a dress is the ideal way to show it off, but  when it comes to skirts and dresses I'd advise you to: stick to two inches above knee level and avoid things that come with a belt (as it's usually cheap and tacky), and avoid cleavage like the devil (unless you're pairing it with a modest jacket/knit).

Theory (£125), Stella McCartney (£590), Moschino (£430), FCUK (£110)

If you favour a classic look then this Theory LBD is ideal - not to mention the fact it's almost half price in the sale.  A two-tone dress like the Moschino Cheap & Chic number I've picked is a good way to pull off the 'contrast' trend; alternatively go all the way and pair a fitted, jewel coloured number like the Stella McCartney or French Connection dresses with a black jacket and shoes.  If you're more about the accessories then try a simple, good quality jersey dress with a smart jacket (like these: 1, 2, 3) and a few well-chosen accessories.  My go-to jersey dress ('Mila' by Whistles) is sold out, but you can find similar versions across the high street (Dorothy Perkins, Reiss, ASOS) for as little as £16.

Unfortunately I couldn't find one of my most-wanted separates - if anyone has spotted a particularly gorgeous lace-overlay skirt in block colour, navy or black then please let me know!

  The main workwear trends set to continue into AW13 are colour contrast and statement detail/print separates.  Jackets are a great way to pull off the print, as you can strut into the office looking fantastic whilst retaining the freedom to quickly remove your bold piece if needed.  Blouses and shirts are the best options for monochrome and colour contrasting;  blouses in jewel shades can be found across both designer and high street boutiques, and a crisp white shirt can be super-useful in balancing out a more exciting skirt or trouser choice.  If you're not that daring then choose pieces with quirky details such as a patterned cuff or collar, or pop a printed shirt under a plain jumper.

Zara (£39.99), Whistles (£95), Theory (£300)

I've chosen a cute transitional Zara number (currently £39 from £79), the classic Sylvia Blouse by Whistles, and this gorgeous cropped peplum detail tweed jacket by Theory at My Wardrobe.  Smart 60's jackets are a super-easy way to add feminine elegance to a simple work outfit.  If you've got a fair amount of budget to play with then hit By Malene Birger (I love the anchor-print suit), Equipment or My Wardrobe, but reasonable good-quality pieces can be found in the likes of Whistles and Zara.  This season my favourite shirts come from Zara's smarter, older sister Massimo Dutti - unfortunately there aren't many of these outside London, but you can buy online and visit stores across Europe. 

MD: Tie Print (£54), Oxford (£44) and Denim & Silk (£54) shirts.

I hope I've been helpful and just not talked (or typed) your ears off!   If you've found a workwear piece you love, why not share it below on the comments section?

Vintage to Versace

So, as most of you may know, I spent most of my holiday-time working with the Art Deco photographer John Knight boutique on the top floor of a local Antiques centre. I've never really written about this place before, because it's my own secret Aladdin's cave of gowns, Dior and Chanel, but I've decided to stop being selfish and share a little with my readers.. 

John has photographed all over the world and is famous for his recreations of famous Pre-Raphaelite paintings but, to quote Bratz dolls, he has a real passion for fashion and so he opened Vintage to Versace in 2011 to get rid of some of his crazy collection! To give you an idea of what I mean by "crazy", here's a picture of the shop floor on arrivals day.. I'm going to apologise now for the quality of the pictures as I had to iPhone it!

See why I call it the cave?

 The reason I love this shop so much is that there's such a huge range of beautiful things - he's got pieces from 1960's RSC productions, Edwardian wedding dresses, 1950's Dior and original Louis Vuitton luggage right through to this year's Vivienne Westwood plastic cupcake-scented pumps.  I'll walk you through a few of my favourites from this week's arrivals..

See the blue coat? That's super special as it's from Christian Dior's original 'Miss Dior' collection. Usually it sits in it's own bag away from our other items, as it's so rare, but I asked very nicely and John said I could show you all.  The rest is Jimmy Choo, Moschino and Yves Saint Laurent's famous 'Tribtoo' pumps (unfortunately BOTH pars of shoes are a size 8 and I can't get them to stay on!), and there's always PLENTY of Chanel to keep me occupied:

Some of the stuff is downright weird designed for real collectors, however, like this collaboration between Jimmy Choo and Anya Hindmarch.

Who loves chewing gum?Anya Hindmarch and Tamara Mellon, apparently..

Of course my very favourite thing about helping out at Vintage to Versace happens when all the customers leave for the day.. if I've been very, very good I get to do this! 

Vintage to Versace has a Facebook page and a Twitter account where promotions, offers and fan discounts are announced.  If you can't make it into the shop and you've seen something on the page that you like, just leave a message and we'll get our best owls on the job immediately. 

Preview: Superdry's Beauty Collection

This week I was lucky enough to get  a sneak-peak of global hero brand Superdry's fabulous new make-up collection.  They're not the first high-street brand to release their own: my housemates' cosmetics bags are full of Topshop brushes and Jack Wills nail-polishes, but I have a feeling Superdry's contribution to the hybrid fashion-beauty world is going to stand out. They've always been famous for their urban take on classic preppy styles, and now their line is high-impact both inside and out.  Carefully-chosen products are combined with carefully-designed packaging; a collection of bright colours and urban shades, all priced between £3-£20.

There's bundles of choice when it comes to colour and shades, but there's a basic 'Superdry' look the collection is going for: skin is kept neutral, with iridescent contouring created through the use of their pearl highlighters, bronzers and blushers.

You can stand out with their velvety smooth lip-paints (available in Flamingo, Electric Pink and Rebel Red), or blend in with their vanilla-scented jelly glazes.  In the interest of long-lasting style, they've also created a product called 'Lip Fix' which - thanks to it's non-greasy formula - doubles as a chapstick and lip-primer.

Statement eyes are the real focus of the collection - eyeshadows are bright jade green, grape purple, sunflower orange or secura blue, and are accompanied by keratin-infused volumising mascara and a choice of pencil or felt-tip eyeliners.

Ever since I was gifted the Eliis Faas felt-tip eyeliner in September I've been a convert from the ordinary pencil variety, and I fell immediately in love with the neon-pink Kabuki brush.  I'm not daring enough to try the crazy colour shades, but I am itching to try their iridescent highlighter and enhance my cheekbones to model-sharp levels.

You can buy it from February online and in-store - find your local Superdry here.

Christmas Sales Shopping

Today is the day I finally emerged from my cocoon, fought my way through traffic and crowds with my best friend Rose, and searched for bargains!

I'm not a big sale shopper in all, but I had some lovely vouchers (and a few last-min additions to get) and I figured - why not?   My mother always advises that you shouldn't buy something in a sale you haven't considered at least 3 times before, that you should NEVER buy something that isn't your size just because you're in love/will consume your way into it/will diet your way into it/your friend loved it, and that 'YOLO' is not an acceptable term when planning your wardrobe.

We parked next to the Lace Market, so naturally our two first stops were the Wills family.  I've been lusting after a grey fox jumper in Aubin & Wills for ages - it's sold out online - but unfortunately they only had it in tan in the store, too!  Our trip to Jack Wills was far more fruitful, and myself & Rose emerged hands-full of goodies:

Let me introduce you to the Keynsham Dress, and the Campbell Knit hoodie.  This dress will be perfect for NYE - Jack Wills release a similar dress to this (differing prints, and features such as bows etc.) every season and I absolutely adore them.  I ordered the hoodie before the sale as a Christmas present to someone I won't be seeing until January, but I think I love it even more in real life than on the website and I might have to wear it myself...

We also tried on their fuzz-lined hoodies and furry headbands, and Rose left with a few of those. We were both really happy with our new purchases, excitedly planning social events to show them off when it occurred to us that we had no shoes!

"Off to House of Fraser!", we said

I'm a big believer in putting several outfits together with one piece, so naturally I had to buy a pair for day and a pair for parties..  I've loved the selection of black peep-toe pumps Dune has for years - I have their 'WAIVER' pair for winter, and was looking for something a little sleeker for summer - so there was really only one choice for me.

I'm not much of a shoe person, but I don't believe you can go wrong with a pair of simple, flattering, black suede peep-toe pumps.  Boring, I know, but there's really no room for improvement there!  Fortunately, Rose is super-exciting when it comes to heels, and she brightened up our shopping list with these pewter babies from Moda in Pelle!

It's a bit cheeky pretending I purchased my last pair today - really, I ordered them online on Saturday. They're navy, patent, super-cute, and you can either purchase them directly from Paul Smith or from Sarah Coggles in York (which is where I got mine from).

What have you bought from the sales so far?

xx