London Fashion Week 1 - Best Of

Mary Katrantzou

Bold and beautiful, I can never get enough of Mary Katrantzou. In my opinion she currently holds the crown for the most inspired use of colour in the fashion world at present. Fun, playful yet chic, Katrantzou balances colour beautiful, which she splashes upon the most gorgeous cuts and unique shapes. *dreams*

Vivienne Westwood Red Label S/S14

One of my favourites, Vivienne was always going to be in the list. Layers, folds, straps and turn ups, I love the feel of Westwood's inspired Red Label. British country club meets Parisian chic. I love the wide coloured cropped floral jacket, which goes adorably with those white shorts and just check out those crimson suede boots! Love it. Look 2 has brought back the high waist trouser, one of my favourite looks - teamed with statement strapped shoes. DIVINE

Julien Macdonald

These two pieces by Macdonald ooze quintessential 90's glamour, but are reborn with a modern and sexy and elegant edge. I love the all over geometric peekaboo crochet on dress 1, with its carefully placed panelling that gives off a vibe of effortless chic. Similarly dress 2, worn by sensation Alek Wek is an illusionary masterpiece. The luxuriously panelled front, contrasts strikingly with the spider web like geometry of the sleeve. Not to mention, those slinky stilettos are to die for. WANT. 

Jade and Sam's Engagement Party & Panic Buys!

Lying in bed in trackies, socks and my old goonies t-shirt with a belly full of Nandos, recovering after an amazing night out for my sister and her fiancée Sam's engagement due! It was at the Electric Social on Acre Lane, Brixton. We had a huge section of the upstairs booked out, with our own private bar and fab window wall which overlooked the street so the night's lights spilled in.  The music was amazing, the staff were such sweethearts, and the crowd was great - worth checking out!

If you take a look at my previous post on my outfit planning you'd probably assume I had this all planned and under control.. I bought a lovely dress (below) that I fell in love with! I hung it in my wardrobe and didn't think about it for a few days until one night before the party I sat up and thought... I'm not going to a summer party, or a ball - this dress is so not right! I'd stick out like a sore thumb in amongst the cool casual code of the electric social. Will definitely keep this dress for the right time.

Dress - ASOS 

initiate panic mode...

After leaving my boyfriends house late on Saturday, I had only a few hours before I had to leave, fully dressed and made up! I had 8minutes to find an outfit..Impossible right? I RAN like a mad woman down the steps of my local tube and rolly pollied right into Topshop.. I scoured the rails, and found a beauty in the 'Last Chance to Buy Section'. A beautiful velvet playsuit with a tasselled fringe on the waist. A mix of burgandy and plum in colour, and finished with a raised paisley velvet pattern on a sheer base. It's super unique, and has a definite 1920's charm about it - had far too much fun swinging and jiving in it on the dancefloor before I quickly realised..umm this isn't Gatsby..

Playsuit - Topshop £50 :: Boots- River Island £60

After buying the playsuit I ran to River Island to see what shoes I could get to go with this outfit, and there, as if by magic were these beauties! I fell in love with these boots as soon as I laid eyes on them. The soft scruptious leather, the cheeky peep toe, high wedge and slashed sides were so working for me. I grabbed them and then went home and got ready - and tah dah! I was good to go!

Wedge - River Island £60

Midi Ring - Topshop £4.50 :: Nails - Barry M Plum 311

Bangles - Primark :: Cuff - Topshop :: Necklace - H&M

What I'm Wearing #4

Friday

Cardigan - Miss Selfridge :: Dress - H&M :: Boots - Topshop

This was Friday's work outfit. I loved it because I dressed it down with a baggy cardigan and scarf, but wore it as a dress for a night out drinking in Soho with friends in the evening. There's a better view of the jersey t shirt dress below. 

Love a bit of asymmetrical, and cheeky dip sides to wear with a black bandeau.

Here's the jewellery I teamed with it. 

Long Necklace - H&M :: Short Pyramid Necklace - Topshop :: Double headed skull cuff -Topshop 

 Saturday

Necklace - River Island :: Skater Dress - ASOS :: Boots - Topshop

Date night with the BF (Robin), well a night in in front of the TV with popcorn and a takeaway - but girls gotta try and look good! He's been on holiday to China and Corfu so thought I'd wear something new! I'm not huge on animal prints, but absolutely loved the colour combinations of this leopard print. The dashes of dark mustard, indigo and sky blue marry beautifully, and allows this skater dress to transcend from summer to winter easily. Cant wait to wear this with some big leather buckled boots and thick wool socks, dark tights and big wooly coat.. here's the one I've had my eye on.. 

Zara £79.99

Boots - Kurt Geiger

What I'm Wearing #3

Wednesday

Notting Hill + Harrow on the Hill

London

Dungarees - Topshop :: Denim Jacket - H&M :: Bucket Bag - Urban

Boiling HAWT day in London today so opted for my favourite pair of dungarees! I'm lucky enough to have a pretty loose dress code at work, so some cheeky short shorts it was. This was this morning so keeping the chill off with a light weight denim jacket and scrumptiously smooth Latte, courtesy of Mr Jamie Oliver's recipease. 

Necklace - Topshop

How cute is the side double button detail?! It also features on the shoulder section of the straps. I do feel like a little girl in this outfit, it's just so much fun to wear. I love the unusual blotted multicoloured leopard inspired print, which is just the right amount of girly. The necklace is a golden oldie from Topshop, when that whole watch necklace thing was massive, though it's making a return this season.

Just one to make the heart melt - a BIG kiss from Phoenix, my chubby little bubba.

&

Phoenix! 

Book of the Month - August

After two months of Philippa Gregory's of interchangeable queens, anti climaxes and ridiculously unfulfilled endings, I chose to go with one of those books that has been screaming at you 'READ ME'... the one that you ALWAYS pick up and fiddle in a book shop and never buy.

Well I picked it up and so glad for it as it is one of the most exquisite books I've ever read. 

Rough Idea 

The book centres around Meursault, an Algerian who seemingly irrationally kills an Arab man whom he recognises in French Algiers. The quiet, reserved and observant Meursault loses his Mother to the effects of old age. The world can't understand Meursault's nature, his inability to express emotion or embellish his language. They see him as an outsider, and Meursault ends up being punished for this in the cruellest and most saddening way

What I loved Most

The protagonists observations are some of the most honest and beautiful to conjure in the mind. Camus has a skill of pulling the passing moments in life that we often miss and making them magical. The author writes with the effect of as if one is sitting and soaking in a large painting, so many beautiful things to discover that are often taken for granted in our day to day life. I really enjoyed these pockets of voyeurism dotted throughout the book, I felt like I was sitting next to him on his balcony, watching the people go by.

Why Read?

The shelves are flooded with get rich quick books, and series of fashionable titles like the Phillipa Gregory's that, don't get me wrong, while I enjoyed the historical context, romance and bloody betrayal, they lacked a depth. Not only does this book have depth, it has a soul. It's a work truly born not just of Camus's hand but also his heart - this couldn't be more apparent, and such a pleasure to read. It's a haunting novel and it stayed with me for days, it also made me question a lot of things about society, and myself. Meursault isn't a character that I'll ever forget. I would highly recommend this read to anyone, and if you do start it - don't be put off by the stunted short sentences, you'll begin to understand this rhythm, and attribute it to your protagonist, that like me you'll be so glad you met.

What I'm Wearing #2

 Tuesday 

Harrow on the Hill, London 

Top - H&M :: Skirt - Urban Outfitters :: Necklace - Topshop :: Silly nonchalant  Face - Mum & Dad

Cheeky Drop down cut on the arm detail 

Bandeau - New Look 

Can't get enough of this pretty hieroglyphic print, love to able to rock a bit of my heritage!

Nails - Rimmel :: Rings - Urban Outfitters (you'll be seeing a lot of these this week - in love!)

What I'm Wearing #1

Monday

Notting Hill, London

Shorts - Urban Outfitters :: Cardi - Miss Selfridge :: Top - Zara :: Bag- Urban Outfitters :: Sandals - H&M ::
Necklace - H&M

Midi Rings - Urban Outfitters :: Nails - Rimmel - Orange me up

Watch - Vivienne Westwood (oops smudgy face! Sorry Viv!)

''Window Shopping'' Haul

This was to be the month where my money stays in my bank, my purse stays empty, my credit card left at home and eyes to remain firmly averted to the alluring shops windows, adorned with this seasons yummy new trends. Well it's September 1st and I've already tripped up... but it was a nice trip... where I ended up with things I needed... kind of. 

After a cruise along High Street Kensington this afternoon I've come home with a naughty little haul to share with you guys. Outfit posts to follow.

Hieroglyphics Skirt - Urban Outfitters - £28

I've had my eye on this for a couple weeks, and just had to get it today. Versatile tube skirt that can be worn high waisted or on the hip for a day to night duplicity. The hieroglyphic print is gorgeous, and is even more appealing to me being half Egyptian!

Coin Necklace - H&M - £6.99

LOVE this choker from H&M. Not only is it chunky and brassy just the way I like it, but its vintage in style and can totally transform an outfit.

Shorts - Urban Outfitters - £32

Light, silky and super cute, these shorts would look adorable with a distressed black vest top loosely tucked in and long simple necklace. The print makes me dream of eastern adventure, one to pack for my December trip for Vietnam? Yup.

Midi Rings - Urban Outfitters - £10

I've been searching for midi rings for weeks, but have failed, until now, to find ones that are thin, understated and unique. They are discreet enough to wear alongside a watch and bracelets without looking cluttered. They look super pretty with this neon orange polish too!

Nail Polish - Rimmel #Orange your Life - £1.99

shade of the week