18.12.2011- Sunday Style Spotlight #11: Keira Knightley

I've posted before about my love of Keira Knightley's style, and I think she's one of a select few modern film stars who embodies a really vintage inspired elegance on the red carpet. As the face of Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle fragrance, she can take her pick from Karl Lagerfeld's creations, but the thing I really admire about Keira is her support for upcoming British designers- she wore Erdem back in 2007 and sported a stunning Mary Katrantzou dress at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year. Her street style is relaxed, cool and comfortable, and her model-like proportions are perfect for showcasing stunning couture pieces on the red carpet:

This look was inspired by the autumnal Erdem printed dress which Keira wore to the Olivier awards in 2010, and by a look she put together back in 2008. I love the floral pattern on this blouse from Miss Selfridge, and the black bow detail ensures it co-ordinates perfectly with this Topshop skirt. These boots from Zara really remind me of the Isabel Marant Dickers, and I think they toughen the outfit up perfectly. This satchel from ASOS also matches the blouse beautifully, and the gold buckles make it look like a designer piece. Finally, this ring from Cheap Frills is the perfect statement accessory to finish the look off.

What do you think of Keira Knightley's style? Are you a fan?

(Image credit: Look, ASOS, Miss Selfridge, Topshop, Cheap Frills and Zara.)

17.12.2011- Festive Dress Guide Part Three: The Repeat Offender

With only a week to go until Christmas Day, I'm beginning to frantically trawl online shops (I'm looking at you ASOS!) looking for an outfit. However, I'm reluctant to part with my pennies for something which I'll only wear once, a dilemma which has inspired this instalment of my Festive Dress Guide. Featuring a selection of frocks which I've chosen to dub The Repeat Offenders, these are investment buys at their best:

I loved this Designed By Miss Selfridge maxi dress when it landed online about a month or so ago, but it sold out almost instantly. However, I believe it will be making a reappearance on the Miss Selfridge website within the next week or so, so fingers crossed I'll be able to snag it the second time around- I just love everything about it and think it'd be great to have as we move into the spring. The beaded French Connection dress is a beautiful colour and I think it's a really versatile piece- the perfect thing to invest in as a 'go-to' party option. I've also recently discovered Claudie Pierlot's designs for Urban Outfitters, and this space print frock is stunning- a definite keeper. This velvet dress from Boutique by Jaegar has been reduced by almost £100 in their sale, and it's an instant classic which I'm sure would never go out of fashion. Finally, this burgundy design by Dahlia is another really versatile piece which is really wearable, and which would look lovely come rain, snow or sunshine!

Have you got your Christmas outfit planned?

(Image credit: Miss Selfridge, French Connection, Urban Outfitters, Jaegar and Dahlia.)

11.12.11- Sunday Style Spotlight #10: Liv Tyler

Since the age of about 11 (when I became obsessed with all things Lord of the Rings!), I've really admired Liv Tyler's style. Her attitude to fashion is relaxed, classic and easy-going, capturing an attitude which is quintessentially New York. As someone who is a little bit on the tall side, I also look to Liv (who is 5' 10") for inspiration- I love the way she returns to trusty staple items and never picks up a trend just for the sake of it. She's perfected the accessible wardrobe- cute patterned dresses teamed with beautifully cut blazers, understated accessories and timeless designer pieces all combine to create a series of signature looks which are effortlessly stylish:

This look is cool and uncomplicated, featuring items which are really versatile and classic. This beautiful pansy print dress from Warehouse is a dead ringer for the Thakoon design which Liv wore to the New York premiere of her film Super, and it's a piece that would look amazing dressed up or down. This blazer from River Island has a really luxe feel thanks to the leather effect lapels, and I think it's a staple item which you could wear again and again. These limited edition heels from New Look are stunning, and co-ordinate perfectly with the oversized clutch bag from Miss Selfridge- I love the gold accents. Finally, there are few things more classic than a pop of red lipstick, and this shade from Topshop is a brilliantly bold finishing touch.

What do you think of Liv Tyler's style? And who is your fashion icon?

(Image credit: Look, Google Images, Miss Selfridge, Warehouse, New Look, Topshop and River Island.)

27.11.2011- Sunday Style Spotlight #9: Kirsten Dunst

Kirsten Dunst has long been a fashion inspiration of mine. I've loved watching her films (Marie Antoinette is one of my all-time favourites), and, after randomly bumping into her in the shoe department of Selfridges a few years ago, I've been an avid follower of her style. Whilst I'm yet to catch her performance in Melancholia, it was great to see Kirsten on the red carpet again during the promotion of the film over the summer, wearing stunning dresses by Chanel, Chloé and Rodarte. If I had to summarise her look in one word, I'd probably choose romantic- pretty details, classic shapes and a touch of whimsy all come together to create a much-coveted signature style:

My interpretation of Kirsten's style is all about taking classic pieces and adding to them- this shirt from Miss Selfridge is a perfect wardrobe staple with an added element of sparkle thanks to the embellished collar. The same goes for the Oasis skirt- the lace overlay captures the sense of romance which makes Kirsten's look so recognisable. The embellished touches on this Topshop dress evoke a couture feel at a fraction of the price, and I think these shoes from Zara could be mistaken for a Miu Miu pair. Finally, these earrings from Whistles are both simple and cute, capturing the essence of Kirsten's approach to fashion.

What do you think of Kirsten Dunst's style?

(Image credit: Look, Miss Selfridge, Whistles, Oasis, Topshop, and Zara.)

20.11.2011- Sunday Style Spotlight #8: Zooey Deschanel

I've been a fan of Zooey Deschanel's style for as long as I can remember. She's perfected a look which is unmistakably her own, consisting predominantly of cute, vintage inspired dresses, often with a nod to a classic 50s silhouette. As well as having a serious case of hair envy, I love her approach to fashion as it's unashamedly girly- she's a big fan of cute accessories, flowers and bow details, and her style borders perfectly on the conservative side of kooky...

 

This look is all about the dress. Anything that emphasises the waist and incorporates an A-line skirt is a sure fire way to evoke some of Zooey's sartorial charm. Colours are simple and sophisticated, and a cute flower detail here and there keeps things youthful and fun. And, if you're a fan of Zooey's music, be sure to complete the look with a copy of A Very She and Him Christmas!

What do you think of Zooey Deschanel's style? Are you a fan?

(Image credit: Look, Google Images, Topshop, Accessorize, Warehouse, Miss Selfridge and Rokit.)

07.11.2011- Monday Must-haves

This week's Must-haves post is uncharacteristically co-ordinated, but, as we head deeper into winter, I'm finding myself being drawn to darker colours and pieces I know I'll be able to rely upon as the weather worsens:

As soon as I saw this dress, it rocketed straight to the top of my shopping list. I adore this style of clothing- relaxed, comfortable and classically stylish. I've picked up a few pieces from Vaudeville and Burlesque at Urban Outfitters before and have been really impressed with the quality and fit, and the versatility of this smock dress means that it works out as quite affordable (and much less of a guilty splurge!) if we look at it on a cost-per-wear basis. This horse print top from H&M is charming- I adore the photo print, and it's perfect for teaming with a pair of jeans and a chunky cardigan for the winter. I've also been drawn to hats quite a lot over the last few weeks, which has resulted in some mixed fortunes. Embarrassingly enough, I seem to possess an abnormally large head, which means as a rule I normally have to buy hats from the menswear section. Bad times. However, this hat from Miss Selfridge could be the one to break the curse- I just love how simple it is and it would be perfect for the colder weather. This ring from Whistles is so cute, and instantly reminded me of Christmas- I'm thinking of buying it just to remind me that I must start my present buying sooner rather than later! These River Island boots are also ideal for negotiating puddles/snow/soggy leaves, and look to be the perfect halfway house between the ultra-trendy Chelsea style and a more traditional design. Finally, this gorgeous black blouse from Monki is the perfect take on florals for the chillier months, and is another really versatile find.

What do you think of my picks for this week? And have you picked up any winter essentials yet?

(Image credit: Urban Outfitters, H&M, Miss Selfridge, Whistles, River Island and Monki.)

17.10.2011- Monday Must-haves

This week's Must-haves is a bit of an odd, uncoordinated selection, but I've seen so many lovely pieces over the last week that this seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to gather everything in one place to form a sort of 'wishful thinking' shopping list:

I've had my eye on this jumper from River Island for ages, but was reluctant to spend a whopping £38 on it. When I saw today that it had been reduced in the sale, I added it straight to this post. I love the burnt red colour and think it would be a welcome addition to my wardrobe now that the colder weather is well and truly upon us! I fell in love with this New Look blouse as soon as I saw it- a floral print and peter pan collar? I'm sold. I adore the colour of these jazz shoes from Office, and after buying a gold pair a few years back I know that they'd be really comfy (as old as that sentence makes me sound!) Monki is a label I've read a lot about recently, and, after receiving a catalogue in the post last week I had a quick browse of their website- needless to say I had to restrain myself from adding everything in sight to my basket! I love this dress as it is so simple and the deep blue colour is gorgeous- it would also look amazing dressed up with this embellished collar from Miss Selfridge. Finally, after buying a beautiful deep berry lip marker from Topshop last winter, I was hoping they'd add to their range with some new colours- and suffice it to say they've come up trumps again with this new addition to their make up collection. Now I just need to win the lottery...

What do you think of my picks for this week? And what have you bought recently?

(Image credit: River Island, Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Monki, Office and New Look.)

16.10.2011- Sunday Style Spotlight #6: Florence Welch

Less than a fortnight after emerging from a giant seashell to sing at the Chanel SS12 presentation, Florence Welch is gracing the cover of every magazine from NME to Interview as she promotes her new album, Ceremonials, which is released next month. Since the release of her debut album, Lungs in 2009, Florence has not only become one of the most recognisable voices on the radio, but has also worked with a succession of designers including Givenchy, Valentino and Gucci to cement her status as a style icon:

From floor sweeping couture gowns for red carpet appearances and performances, to a laid back street style which incorporates lots of quirky little touches, Florence's signature looks are always beautifully co-ordinated. Embellishment, lace and metallics are all key players here, as are vintage accessories and statement jewellery. I love Florence's look predominantly because she's such a style chameleon- from ethereal dresses created by the best design houses in the world to a simple plaid shirt accessorised with a ribbon neck tie, she takes a fun, fearless approach to fashion which works so well and compliments her music beautifully.

What do you think of Florence Welch's style? Are you a fan?

(Image credit: Look, New Look, River Island, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, Accessorize, Topshop and Rokit.)

28.08.2011- Sunday Style Spotlight #2: Hailee Steinfeld

Hailee Steinfeld is one cool kid. Oscar nominated for her performance as Mattie Ross in True Grit, recently revealed as the new face of Miu Miu's AW11 ad campaign and LOVE magazine cover star. And, as if that wasn't enough, Hailee has also developed a signature style, showcasing an understated elegance on the red carpet, and even designing her own gown for the Oscars. The thing I love about Hailee's approach to style is how classic it is- simple dresses, sleek hair and makeup and co-ordinated accessories all play a part in creating the effortlessly ladylike look which she's honed over the last year or so:

Miu Miu has become a firm favourite for Hailee on the red carpet (talk about perk of the job!), and the swallow print dress from their AW11 presentation has become one of the most covetable items for the coming season. At a fraction of the price, this gorgeous red version from Warehouse is perfect for channelling some of Hailee's demure style. Embellishments, detailed collars and feminine colours are also key, as is that beautiful smile! I can't wait to see how Hailee's style develops as her career progresses- she's soon set to star in a new adaptation of Romeo and Juliet which I think will be amazing. Watch this space!

What do you think of Hailee's style? Are you a fan? And what do you think of her collaboration with Miu Miu?

(Image credit: Vogue, Look, Warehouse, Topshop, Miss Selfridge and French Connection.)

01.08.2011- Monday Must-haves

Pinch punch! Can you believe it's August already? I hope you're having a lovely start to the month (isn't the weather fantastic?!), mine has been rather eventful so far, with a horrible journey home thanks to a burst water main- cue chaos at every train station between London and the south coast, emergency replacement bus kerfuffle and me nearly exploding when barricaded onto said bus by a mountain of suitcases! Anyway, I'm home now and here with some Monday Must-haves to cheer myself up:

I fell in love with these Dune pumps as soon as I saw them- they are just too cute and the pastel pink colour is adorable. If you're a regular reader then you'll know I'm obsessed with floral prints, so couldn't resist including this dress from Miss Selfridge- the black background makes it perfect for the transition between seasons. I've admired this beautiful perfume bottle from Urban Outfitters from afar for ages, and, now that it's been reduced in the sale, it would be rude not to snap it up as a mini-vase for my bedroom. I spied this metallic shopper from Zara in store last week and it's already rocketed up my wish list- it's such a classic shape and colour that I don't think it would ever date (and as an added bonus it's big enough to fit all of my junk handbag essentials in!) This bracelet caught my eye as I think it's quite unusual and I've been meaning to pick up some new pieces like it for a while. Finally, although it might seem like I'm tempting fate by including an umbrella, I couldn't resist the print- it may also come in very handy should any water mains decide to explode/implode/cause general mayhem in the future!

How has your Monday been? And what do you make of my picks for this week?

(Image credit: Topshop, Miss Selfridge, John Lewis, Urban Outfitters, River Island and Zara.)

18.07.2011- Monday Must-haves

After a little break, 'Monday Must-haves' is back with a rather autumnal feel (which seems oddly appropriate given the awful weather!)

I stumbled across these loafers from Tesco whilst having a browse on their website over the weekend, and was amazed at how much of a bargain they are! They're a perfect caramel colour for the autumn, and I adore the patent effect. And for £14 you can't really go wrong can you?! I love this blouse from Miss Selfridge, and the ankle boots are a must-have for any winter wardrobe, especially if (and not wishing to tempt fate at all!) we have a repeat of last year's horrible snow. I've been after some stag earrings for ages (which I put down to a childhood obsession with The Animals of Farthing Wood!)- these beauties from New Look are lovely and such good value at under £3. The Topshop website has also steadily been updated over the last week with some pieces from their AW11 collection, and this beret caught my eye as it's so cute and very reminiscent of a Chanel-esque elegance. Finally, I included this scarf from Warehouse as I love the vibrant colours and it's a much more affordable alternative to some similar styles from the Mulberry SS11 range.

Have you bought anything recently? And is there anything you've seen recently which you're currently coveting?

(Image credit: Tesco, Miss Selfridge, Topshop, Warehouse and New Look.)

13.06.2011- Monday Must-haves

Hello all! Hope you all had fantastic weekends (despite the ever-changing weather!) and are enjoying the new week so far. Here are my Monday Must-haves for this week:

Quite an unexpectedly Topshop heavy post this week, but some beautiful pieces have recently debuted online and I couldn't resist including them. I've probably owned a series of cream blouses with lace detailing since I was about 15 (including a beautiful one from Miss Selfridge which I recently parted company with as it was too big!), but this one from Topshop has well and truly cemented itself on my 'future purchases' list. I couldn't resist including the socks after seeing them in store last week, as they instantly reminded me of the old style school socks I used to wear (although I'm not advocating nostalgia as an excuse to splurge!) I've also been after a pair of tan ankle boots since last winter, and these are perfect- I love the buckle detailing.

After seeing this skirt in New Look last week it was instantly added to my shopping list, as I love the colour and the paperbag waist is really flattering- also rather reminiscent of the Mulberry SS11 collection which can't be a bad thing! The headscarf is a little whimsical inclusion as I've seen some lovely ones about recently and I think they're perfect for summer, especially if you're off somewhere exotic on holiday. And no, I can't quite believe that I've included a jumper in a post being written in the middle of June either, but the buttermilk shade of this Miss Selfridge number is divine, and you all know I'm obsessive about anything embellished.

Finally, a make-up must-have in the form of Chanel's Rogue Coco lipstick in a beautiful shade called 'Boy' (if you've seen Coco Before Chanel you'll recognise the significance), which I spied whilst perusing the beauty counters with my best friend (and self-confessed make-up addict) Sarah last week, and fell even more in love with after seeing this oh so cute ad campaign:

What do you think of my picks for this week? And have you bought Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine lipstick? If so, what did you think?

(Image credit: Topshop, Miss Selfridge, New Look, River Island and Debenhams. Video credit: Youtube.)

06.06.2011- Monday Must-haves

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you've all had a lovely day (if indeed Mondays can ever be lovely!) Even if you haven't had that great a day, I've got some lovely Monday Must-haves to cheer you up:

I love the brightly patterned tee, created by Cacharel for Uniqlo from a selection of special vintage edition prints, as it's perfect for injecting a bit of summertime brightness into even the most rain-soaked of wardrobes (typical British summer eh? One week of sunshine then bucket loads of rain!) The shoulder bag from Zara is divine, and could easily pass for something ten times more expensive. I adore the colour of the Warehouse blouse, and it would be great dressed up with smart trousers or a skirt, or styled casually with jeans. I chose the loafers as they co-ordinate perfectly with the bag (well, if it's good enough for the Queen!), and the trousers are really versatile. Finally, the nail varnish is a beautiful summery shade of coral, a failsafe even if the weather lets you down!

What do you think of my picks for this week? Have you bought anything you love recently?

(Image credit: Uniqlo, Zara, Miss Selfridge, Warehouse and Topshop.)