Donatella does Highstreet

Originally, my intention was to go to Oxford Street and hunt down the best designs by Versace that hit H&M stores last Thursday but unfortunately, I managed to wander up to Angel on Friday afternoon to find as little Versace as I would've had I gone into Sainsburys instead.

I can't say I looked very hard because as soon as I walked through the doors, the gorgeous party dresses for the new season were all around me with different materials ranging from net skirts to velvet in classy black and other jewel tones.

Keep a look out for the beige satin tulip dress, brocade shorts or go classic and chose from one of the many different LBDs on offer.

I decided on a pair of black ankle boots with a wide, wooden finish heel and two little gold buttons to finish them off. With them being both comfortable and the kind of style that will go with almost anything, they'll keep my wardrobe up to date for many seasons to follow.

Although you can't actually see the boots, I wore them here to watch Lee Evans back home in Wales.

Jacket, River Island £120
Handbag, River Island
Shorts, H&M £29.99
T-shirt, GAP £9.99 (sale)
Scarf, Zara £19.99 (not sure)


The scarf looks a bit pink but I left the cream one I was going to wear back home and it was too cold to go without !

Maxi Must Haves

Is it a reaction to the utilitarian theme of this season? Are we desperate to exercise our inner bohemian chick? Or are we actually enjoying the functional wardrobe Autumn/Winter has to offer that we are taking it further with a maxi skirt? I honestly couldn't tell you but I can assure you that for the first time I can think of, I NEED a maxi skirt!
Everything I have would look perfect with a maxi skirt: my ankle boots would give me some height and sophistication, my baggy crop top (as taken from Elle's Daily Outfit) and my new H&M Aviator jacket would pull the look from hippie festival to edgy glamorous. This seasons wardrobe is designed for this skirt and with a good pair of heels and some clever balancing of proportions, the maxi is designed for everyone and here are some of my favourites:

Oasis offers a simple black skirt and the genius this skirt offers is in the tailoring under the bum. The fit gives shape to your bum and flicks out slightly at the bottom to stop a cone effect happening.
This is currently in the sale for £10 from £20 but I'm guessing the old "while stocks last" applies to this number.

Talking of Elle's Instant Outfits, this skirt from Topshop for £40 was featured on the website very recently. The neutral colour is very on trend (although I hate that phrase) this season and the shape is a more exaggerated version of the Oasis example above. The lace trim at the bottom is also an interesting feature and added touch of femininity to piece.

TK Maxx has long been the outlet of guilty pleasure. The Donna Karen bag for only £20 or the McQueen top for £40, a bloody bargain and here they offer another! I'm guessing its not exactly a Westwood or Lagerfeld original but it does have a very attractive pattern that acts as almost a cross over piece from whimsical summer pieces and festival/holiday wear to harsher, more practical wear for Autumn/Winter with the darker colour and new shape. As well as this, the skirt is priced at only £11 so get rummaging.

New Look here and only £19.99. Horizontal stripes have been embedded into our minds as evil unless six foot tall and six inches wide but paired with a simple t-shirt and some ankle boots, a very urban, sophisticated style can be created. I think its definitely worth a trip to the changing rooms anyways, just for a look...

This is the most expensive of the selection at £45, found in Warehouse but I love the pattern so much and the colours are simply perfect and if you were having trouble with the more popular angry styles of A/W then maybe this is a welcome relief and the shape is looser all the way down with a definite, more obvious flare at the bottom. Shown with boots here in this picture, an example of how to wear for A/W, showing that it will still go with your other purchases in preparation for the changing season.

I hope this has opened the eyes of the maxi dress pessimists. Join me in my bid for full length!

Minimalism.. Maximised

This season, we seem to be reading about how classic lines are back, trousers and coats are replacing embellished bags and cocktail dresses as the new essential staples and Vogue is guiding me through minimalism. With so much enthusiasm behind the new trend (and with some stunning pieces, rightly so) I can't help but feel there is a slight rebellion among the ranks, kind of a minimalism with added extras. It sounds strange but the result is sultry with quite a dark edge.

Take a look at Burberry's new campaign:

A neutral palette and feminine lace tunic dresses. Then take a look at the stunning shearling leather jackets! The huge collars and thick layer of fur toughens up the whole look, giving it a completely new level of sex appeal and that harsher edge, leaving my brown leather from last year cowering in the corner!

Now perhaps a look at Stefanel. A simple outfit, the knitted cardigan, in neutral colours again, and a simple pattern but when worn with knee high boots.. And nothing else (assume that you would tie the cardigan closed) this understated cardigan is sexy and slightly suggestive.


I don't mean that minimal now means minimal clothing, Lanvin's girls wore skirts and blouses or dresses in his new campaign:

Alber Elbez decided that the edge to these pieces would be a metallic black material and studded chunky jewellery to give the model's a dark and Gothic look.


Jil Sander, the designer that flag shipped minimalism the first time around in the 90's has come back now with a new look. The silky material and perfectly tailored suit creates this sexy, sophisticated body hugging ensemble in her new campaign. So simple and yet, such a stunning statement.


So the rules of this new minimalist movement:
1) Colours are neutral or black
2) Shoes and jackets are the focus
3) Fur adds a touch of glamour


Go to:
vogue.co.uk
lanvin.com
jilsander.com
http://www.burberry.com/
http://www.stefanel.com/

Rokit Vintage Clothing

After my previous preeching to the Gods of supermarket style about Tesco's Florence and Fred, I am now writing nudge them down from their heroic pedistal as although their clothes are still perfectly suitable for their purpose (I have recently bought two tops for a total of £8) their shoes have let me down. I will admit that i was somewhat intoxicated so perhaps I didn't help the cause but Topshop has supported my drunken antics many a time and still continues to do so I have to admit, I'm slightly disapointed; I live in Wales, I need shoes that can take a little rain! I suppose it does prove though, that shoes really should be left to the likes of Manolo and Louboutin for a job perfectly done...

This week, I hope to slightly redeem myself with a store I discovered on the internet. I came across http://www.rokit.co.uk/ which is a vintage site based in London for both men and women and has some really stunning pieces.

Another great thing with the t-shirts and some of the jackets (blazers particularly) was that the mens and womens were basically unisex with some cool t-shirts from bands and other things and I managed to find top for £20 (shown right) in a size in the men's page which looks good over leggings or jeans and is just really compfy.

One of my favourite pieces was a pair of red leather shorts which were stunning and that would've been my ideal outfit with the top bought but they still await for someother lucky shopper.

The knitwear as mentioned above is also worth a look with some classic 70's and 80's designs and shapes but pieces that really would look great now as well.

With a really quick delivery and easy accessible site, its a perfect (test-driven) place for some one-off vintage pieces.