26.12.2011- Monday Must-haves: Sale Steals Special

We're just one day after Christmas, and it can't have escaped your notice that the sales are already well underway. Call me a traditionalist, but I'm a firm believer that Boxing Day should be reserved for seeing family, tucking into turkey sandwiches and devouring a selection box of chocolate, and after working in retail at Christmas over the last two years, I can think of nothing worse than battling my way to the bargains currently on offer on the high street. However, I've been browsing online and have come across some amazing finds, so thought I'd share the cream of the sales crop in a special Monday Must-haves post:

The Mulberry sale kicked off online on Christmas Eve, and there are still some bargains available. I've long admired the Tillie from afar (even my Mum's a fan!) and can't quite get over how good the reduction is on this style- I might just give in and treat myself. I adore Alex Monroe's jewellery, and this heart design ring has been on my wish list for ages. At virtually half price, it really is a bargain that has to be snapped up (especially as I've still got a £50 Net-a-Porter voucher to use!) This blouse from Boutique by Jaegar is a beauty, and a real investment buy as it looks like collars are going to continue to be big fashion news as we move in to 2012. Paul & Joe's lipsticks are lovely, and I really like this vibrant pink shade- the perfect injection of colour for a gloomy January. You might remember I featured this lace blouse from Warehouse in a post back in September, and since then I've been waiting for it to be reduced- I eagerly ordered it in blue and pink as soon as I saw it was on sale! I adore this Mavala nail varnish trio from Debenhams, and at under £10 for three shades you really can't go wrong. Finally, this Michael Van der Ham design for Topshop is stunning, and ideal if you're looking to treat yourself to a designer item at high street prices- the sorbet pink is perfect for SS12 too.

Have you treated yourself to anything in the sales? And did you brave your local shopping centre today?

(Image credit: Mulberry, Net-a-Porter, House of Fraser, ASOS, Warehouse, Debenhams and Topshop.)

05.12.11- Monday Must-haves: The Christmas Countdown

With less than three weeks to go until Christmas Day, it seems fitting that the Must-haves posts which I'm putting together for December should have a festive theme. I'm winning the war against my Christmas shopping at the moment, with only a few more things to pick up before I can sit down and enjoy a mince pie (or three!) However, as I've been browsing the shops over the last few weeks, I've been feeling quite uninspired by what I've seen and have found that the pennies don't seem to be stretching as far as I'd like them to. So, with this in mind, I've put together a little gift guide- this week featuring a whole hosts of items which come in at £20 or under- to offer a bit of thrifty present inspiration:

These cupcake moulds may just be my ideal present, combining two of my greatest loves in life: tea and cake. Perfect for a baking aficionado or a happy amateur (like me!), and a really cute present. I think this ring from Urban Outfitters is lovely too- it's a really great way to give a personalised gift without breaking the bank. I included this beautiful notebook from Topshop as I think it's a perfectly practical gift, whether it's for someone who loves making lists or who has a long list of resolutions which they intend to conquer in 2012. My Week with Marilyn (the book by Colin Clark upon which the recently released film is based) would be a brilliant present for any Marilyn fan, or for anyone who has had their curiosity sparked after seeing the film. This ring from Accessorize is beautifully ornate, and would be a lovely finishing touch to any festive outfit (and perfect for a jewellery magpie like me!) Again, no party season would be complete without the perfect red lipstick, and this offering from Paul and Joe is the perfect shade of Christmas cranberry. Speaking practically once again, this adorable jewellery holder from Forever 21 is an ideal gift, which I'm sure would prove invaluable all year round. This Whittard cup and saucer set is a beautifully ornate present for any tea obsessive- although I almost think it's too pretty to use! Finally, this Yves Saint Laurent colouring book is a steal at under £5, and is the perfect way to incorporate a touch of (affordable!) high fashion magic into Christmas.

How are you getting on with your Christmas shopping? And what do you think of my under £20 picks?

(Image credit: Amazon, Urban Outfitters, Topshop, Accessorize, Paul & Joe, Forever 21 and Whittard.)

10.04.2010- Sunny Afternoon

Wow, long time no blog, I'm sorry! Real life (aka a mountain of Uni work) has caught up with me a little recently, and I've had a rather busy week. On Wednesday, my mum and I made a spontaneous trip to London Zoo, in view of how gorgeous the weather was. We had a lovely time, and I managed to take some amazing photos which I'll hopefully post quite soon. Then, on Thursday, my best friend Sarah and I were invited along to the h.prlondon press day in Piccadilly. It seemed very strange to be looking at samples of Autumn/Winter 2011 collections when it was swelteringly hot outside, but some of the pieces, from designers including Paul & Joe, tba and Nougat were just beautiful.

Beautiful printed dress from Nougat.

Lovely nightwear from a brand I forgot to note down (doh!)

Flowery knickers by Ell and Cee Bride, launching soon!

Jumpsuit by Ell and Cee.

Scalloped-edge top, Borne by Elise Berger.

Paul & Joe!

Paul & Joe's collection for next season encapsulated a very 70's feel, I especially loved the prints.

tba's offering for A/W11 featured more trademark peter pan collars.

The collection also featured monochrome touches...

...and cute bow detailing.

My standout piece from tba was this beautiful powder blue dress with collar and pocket detail.

A stunning lace dress by Nicole Murray.

Jacey Withers' quirky jewellery collection...

...this owl necklace was another one of my favourites.

Cake pops!

Then, in need of sustenance after being immersed in next season's fashion, we headed over to Bea's of Bloomsbury in Holborn for a spot of late afternoon tea:

All in all, a lovely day!

Are you impressed by what you've seen for A/W11 so far? And what have you been getting up to in the sunshine?

(Image credit: Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission.)

16.12.2010- Boutique, c'est chic!

Morning! Today Urban Outfitters launch their Boutique sale, as a very exciting pre-Christmas treat! If you're looking for last minute presents or are still on the hunt for the perfect dress for that Christmas/New Year party, it's well worth taking a peek at what they've got on offer, as some styles are being discounted by up to 50% (madness!)

Here are my top picks:

t.b.a Pom Pom Round Neck Dress, £80 (was £150.)

t.b.a Velvet Antique Collar Dress, £80 (was £150.)

See by Chloé Fat Cat Vest, £50 (was £76.)

Peter Jensen Lace Trim Houndstooth Dress, £80 (was £190.)

Paul and Joe Beauty Mirror, £13 (was £20.)

Vivienne Westwood Sparkles Heart Tassel Purse, £80 (was £120.)

Head on over to Urban Outfitters to snap up the bargains before they disappear!

(Image credit: Urban Outfitters.)

10.10.10- From Paris with love

As promised, here are my picks from the SS11 shows at Paris Fashion Week:

Alexander McQueen
 

Sarah Burton's beautiful collection for McQueen was sumptuous, romantic and fantastical, bearing all the hallmarks of the late Lee McQueen's genius (as particularly evident in the tailored coats.) For me this collection struck the perfect balance between old and new, with a nod to classic shapes invested with a fresh sense of purpose and direction. I can't wait to see more of Burton's work for the label. 

Miu Miu

The Miu Miu collection really reminded me of a graphic novel, with almost cartoon like prints, and exaggerated superhero shoulders, but I love the way the pieces retained a sense of femininity through repeated emphasis on the waist and line.

Paul and Joe

A gorgeously bright, fun and girly collection, which felt really evocative of summer. 

Celine

Uncomplicated minimalist chic at its best.

Valentino

As you may have guessed by now, I absolutely adore dresses, so this collection was my idea of heaven! I really love the detailing on each of the pieces above, as well as the repeated use of shape and line at play here. 

Stella McCartney

Again, I really like the simplicity and muted tones of this collection. 

Chanel

 How could I write about Paris and not include Chanel? Although I'm not sold on the clumpy looking footwear, I love the 1920's influence at play here, with the tiered fringing and longer lines, as well as the dramatic eye makeup. I'm also obsessing over the camellia print! 

Chloé

 Beautiful Grecian style draping, simple yet so elegant. 

So, the fashion circus is over for another few months. What were your favourites from Paris? I've drawn up a top four, with my favourite shows from each city:

* New York- Mulberry

*London- Erdem

*Milan- Dolce and Gabbana

*Paris- Alexander McQueen

Which collections have been your favourites from the last month overall? Do you agree with my picks? And which Autumn/Winter shows are you most looking forward to?

(Image credit: style.com.)