LBD....

Every year naturally black starts creeping more and more into our outfits. Each season we have that statement LBD that you can dress up with statement jewellery and massive heels, dress down with tights, shoe boots and a leather jacket for more low key events.

I have been researching some of the best LBD out, on the high street at the moment, hope you find this intreguing to help you buy yours ahead of the winter partying...

The first (far left) LBD is a classic, 1940's inspired piece. The top half is lace (H&M products with lace have a good lifetime, the lace keeps it elasticity even after bein washed and tumbledryed). Lace is a great way of making a outfit look more tailored and gives the instant up market look, sleves are good for those who are arm consious and want to try keeping a little warmer on late nights out, this dress has a vintage feel to it, I think it works well as a day dress aswell as a evening dress, like any outfit its what you put with it that can make or mistake an outfit. I really like the skirt detail on this piece too, the bow works really well and makes the dress more indiviual and good shape.
Lace 1940's dress, H&M, £29.99

The second LBD is great for the showing your figure, this bodycon dress really has the statement factor! The detailed neck and chest really gives the body shape and design, you can jazz this piece up as much or as little as you want, the dress speaks for itself - big bracelets, big earrings, big hair or - small detailed bracelet, detailed earrings and sleek hair, the dress is so adaptable, something which could work quite well is coloured/patterned tights to really make your outfit stand out.
Cage Strap Halter Bodycon Dress, Topshop, £40.00

The third LBD is a great statement (WOW) dress, the sequins look great on the dancefloor and in photos, by having sequins it attracts peoples attention to the dress making you instantly look better so good for the body concious, however having an entire dress covered in sequins means the elastisity you get in most figure hugging dresses goes so make sure you buy the right size - try before you buy.
The one shoulder feature is a key piece trending right now, also shows off your collar bones!
One shoulder sequined dress, new look, £39.99

The final LNB is a real head turner! Black bodycon style, lace detail to show flesh in a flirty way not overpowering, the way that the bodycon is cut means on the waist (Where the bodycon cuts out and filed with lace), your waist will look slimmer giving you a more curvy look, which works if you are curvy or skinny, this dress is a perfect example of a key piece for the winter wardorbe it can altered for multifunctional events like work party, night out with the girls, date evening, cocktails or family occasion.
Lace bodycon, River Island, £32.00

The best saved til last...

This dress is simply beautiful! Leather is everywhere right now & its here to stay! The flare cut, the pannelling, the design is classic yet raw. This spells out fierce and ready for fun.
River Island, £120.00

Final tips:
- Look for a cut that suits your body shape
- Look for textures
- look for something thats wearable time and time again, if it ticks dress up and dress down then buy!
- Lace - but make sure its good quality
- Leather & sequins - make sure they fit before you buy, restrictive materials
- Killer heels/statement flats
- think of the overall look your going for

Happy shopping!

xoxo

Looking forward... S/S 12

So were now into 2012, a year that fashion is promising to take by storm.
On the catwalks there seems to be 3 main styles heading our way, which can be interpreted in many ways. This year is about expressing yourself and being that little bit creative and unique in our styles.

3 main colour collections:
- Neutrals (whites, stone greys, jet blacks, wooden browns)
- Bright’s (hot pink, citrus yellow, lime green, aqua blue and rose red)
- Pastels (chalk pinks and yellow, dusty greens and greys)

3 main styles:
- Sleek smart
- Bold graphics
- Pretty floral’s

My tips to keep on trend:
- Have a staple piece for each trend you like. Whether it’s a blazer or handbag.
- Don't mix trends but do mix colours (within the same colour groups).
- Find a style that suits you and stick with it.
- Remember your budget. So many times people think summer and go crazy buying clothes they don't need or don't have other clothes that match what’s already in your wardrobe.

Have a look at these websites for ideas:

London Fashion week

Elle, Elie Saab

Vivenne Westwood

Black && Gold

Everyday I see loads of different people commuting to uni, at uni and out & about, a theme i have realised is alot of people tend to wear black with black, people are scared to add a little bit of colour with a black outfit. I know this can be dawnting as black seems to go with everything but in reality trying to match black with colours isn't so simple, think of the main primary colours in clothes trending right now: blacks, blues, metalics, reds, mustards and browns. (+ cream/white as always, mainly working as a neutral).
Most of these colours people tend to group together i.e. blacks/metalics/reds, Mustards/browns/metalics, reds/blues/browns etc, by grouping i don't mean wearing all the colours as garments at once, i mean using a colour for trousers/dress then adding accent colours finally with finishing touches of another colour.

This grouping is key for winter 2011/2012!

Colour isnt fading this year in our wardorbes but clinging on in smaller, discreat ways:
My Main tips:
- Don't colour overhall
- Remember to use one primary colour
- Followed by one complimentary colour
- Finished with an accent colour

I.e. Mustard dress/black tights/gold belt, berry chinos/cream shirt/leopard print belt & shoes.

- Remember to think about your shoes & bags
- Mix & match
- Finally... if you buy a garment that comes with a belt or accessories you DON'T have to use them with that item, if it looks mediocre then take it off and add something different or the opposite, keep reusing it!

MaeAlways: Snug as a Bug ina rug... well nearly!

MaeAlways: Snug as a Bug ina rug... well nearly!: Layer, Layer & more layers! Into November now, apparently it's going to snow, it might rain, it might be clear blue skies but something f...

Snug as a Bug ina rug... well nearly!

Layer, Layer & more layers!

Into November now, apparently it's going to snow, it might rain, it might be clear blue skies but something for definate is - IT'S COLD!!
Time to get out the cardi's, put tops under chiffon shirts and tights under skirts, swap the ballet shoes for ankle boots and that scalf that did naff all for a chunky wooley knit beauty.

Here I have teamed up a few layers, the key is to not literally wear layer after layer of chunky knits but too also mix materials, colours and shapes.

Personally i feel the cold more on my top half so thats where I have layered heavier, i hava a simple top under my chiffon shirt, with a tobacco cardi and ontop a wooley waistcoat.
Leather treggins are so warm, they insulate your body heat, treggins give shape and support alot more than normal leggings, definatly a key piece this autumn.

(shirt: Topshop, Cardigan: H&M, Waistcoat: Primark, treggins: H&M, Shoes: River Island)

Tips:
- Layer with mixed materials
- listen to your body! If your legs get cold easy then wrap them up, no bare legs!
- Keep a theme for your colours i.e. tonal

Make colour Statment...

I absolutely love this look, BIG necklace, bright colour, leather treggings and loafers. Simple cant go wrong!
I really like colour, in the summer it's everwhere but we Brit's have tendancy that when the weather gets cold and it's wintery, the blacks, greys, creams and any other tonal shade comes out, which dont get me wrong I think look really good but I love colour the brighter the better in my books.

This shirt is a 1960's themed from NewLook, the shoulder's have little detail and the back is a full seam of buttons, the treggings are so comfy, the front are leather look the back are treggings, bum hugging and super slimming, Necklace is big, bold and a little cleopatra themed. Bang on trend.

Colour, texture, fit.

Remember dont mix silver and gold accessories so gold button detail then gold necklace and if you decided to be colourful keep it classic, dont mix bright colour with too many tonal colours, make the colour statement.

Topshop beauties...

Review - V&A Selling Dreams - 100 years of fashion in photography

V&A Selling Dreams - 100 years of fashion in photography

The exhibition is on at The LightHouse, Wolverhampton.
There is a showcase of photography from various sources and time periods, charting how fashion photography flourished with different media, artists, editors.
There are 53 individual pieces, topics ranging from Challenging Perceptions, New century, post-war revival, shooting the city, sixties liberation, picturing femininity, capturing real life as well as fiction & fantasy.

I'll be honest when I first arrived I wasn't wowed so to speak, but the more time you spend looking at and reading about each piece the more you begin to appreciate it, most of the images are very well known but seeing them in real life makes them more inspiring.
I think the range of images gives a very clear vision of where fashion photography started, developed and is heading.

My favourite item is Tim Walker, Italian Vogue 2005 (as seen on this blog),
I really like the use of light, the oversized camera, the pose which Lily Cole is in, and the way the items are placed. The overall image is well designed and is a topic starter - you could use this image to challenge ideas and perceptions.

Other well known Photographers pieces of work in the exhibiton are: Erwin Blumenfeld, Lillian Bassman, John French, David Bailey, Arthur Elgort, Sarah Moon and Steven Meisel.