TopFour: Tribal Toes

The rather sudden weather change has pretty much meant that I have moved from boots straight into sandals – not that I’m complaining, they happen to be my two favourite types of shoe. The best thing about sandals is that they can look intricately beautiful and delicate whilst still being incredibly comfortable. I can, and do, walk around all day in them without so much as a blister; that is, compared to ballet flats which seem intent on destroying every possible spare bit of space on my feet. So here’s to the feel of fresh air between the toes – my top four tribal inspired sandals. Feathers and beads, what could go wrong?

1.Gile, Aldo.

2. Sundance Sandal, Office.

3. Fancy Black Beaded Thong Sandals, TopShop.

4. Lampe, Aldo.

Tags: beads, feathers, feet, leather, sandals, shoes, summer, TopFour, tribal

TopFour: Tomato Talons

Ever since the sun began peeking out, I’ve been noticing nails of such a shade that they draw your eye instantly and you can’t quite look away. It’s not quite red and it’s not really orange, and after much thought, I’ve decided to call it ‘Tomato’. It’s such a zingy, happy, undeniably summery shade that really does pop out at you. The important thing is to make sure you paint enough coats so that it’s solid, brash and in your face. Also, cover with a super shiny top coat for the ultimate in attention grabbing nails. Virtually guaranteed to cheer you up.

1. Clam Bake, Essie.

2. Diva on the Dunes, Jessica.

3. Tasmanian Devil Made Me Do It, O.P.I.

4. Draycott Place, Nails Inc.

Tags: beauty, nail varnish, nails, summer, tomato

Reiss On

I have been feeling a little bit in the style doldrums recently and after lengthy sessions browsing the websites of my favourite highstreet shops and occasionally venturing in to one, I haven’t really found anything that stood out and really grabbed me.

So it was with great pleasure that I stumbled across the Reiss 1971 collection and these three images. To me, these three outfits define what I like about clothes – effortless yet incredibly stylish; fancy free yet edgy.

If only the weather hear was a little bit warmer and I didn’t have such a nasty habit of mishaps with my lunch whenever (literally, EVERY time) I wear light coloured jeans.

 

Tags: 70s, jeans, light colours, reiss, spring

Hello Autumn

My last post, almost three months ago, announced the arrival of summer and the long weekends away that it brought with it. It seems that I took more than a long weekend away from this blog – caught up in summer holidays, leaving London temporarily and ending my days as a student. However, my return to London also signals a return to this blog. And now that the nights are getting darker, the air chillier and my days busier, I can indulge in clothes I count as my second skin – chunky knits, cosy boots, fleecy jackets in an equally brooding palette of deep sea greens, rich burgundies, zingy ochres, and indulgent browns. I can attend bonfires and drink mulled wine. Shuffle, red of cheek, into my favourite pub and snuggle up by the fireplace with old friends for hours. Ladies and Gentlemen, Autumn has returned.

1. Faux Sheepskin Flying Jacket, £78. Topshop.

2. Jamie Jeans in Camel, £40. Topshop.

3. Double-Breasted Wool Jacket, £495. Smythe.

4. Korr Lace Up in Brown Leather. £92. Office.

Tags: autumn, boots, coat, jacket, sheepskin, warm

Weekends Away

So, summer has arrived, bringing with it beautiful, long weekends spent at the houses of friends and relatives or trips to the coast and countryside. It’s so nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of London and spend long, lazy days outdoors with nothing but an ice-cold drink, an absorbing read and good company. Here are my brightly coloured essentials for my summer travels.

1. Union Jack Weekender, £37. Accessorize.

2. Tie Dye Chiffon Beach Bando, £4. Accessorize.

3. 3 Milly Butterfly Charm Ombre Plastic Sunglasses, £15. Accessorize.

4. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

5. Sports Watch in Coral Orange, £20. Oasis.

6. MOLESKINE Large Plain Notebook, £12.99

Tags: books, bright colours, holidays, notebook, summer, sunglasses, tie dye, travel, watch

Over the Rainbow

Sometimes, when putting together at outfit, my childish side comes out and I find myself with a giant bow in my hair, cartoon socks or, in this case, rainbow nails. There have been a lot of pastel nails around this summer and it’s difficult to choose between a rosy pink or an apple green, a lavender or a sunny yellow, or my current favourite – a beautiful sky blue. Why not all five? One colour per finger. Here is my ideal rainbow combination.

1. Feelin’ Hot-Hot-Hot, O.P.I.

2. Bees Knees, Topshop.

3. Gargantuan Green Grape, O.P.I.

4. The Big Easy, Topshop.

5. Do You Lilac It? O.P.I.

Tags: nails, rainbow

Prints Charming

I know that prints are all the rage at the moment and I’ve been trying to look for the perfect printed item. The problem is though, I am too much a fan of nice, clean lines and beautiful non-fussy clothing to adorn myself in raging florals or cluttered animal prints. Luckily, there is one type of print which I would gladly cover myself in: the simple silhouette print. This bunny scarf with a black leotard worn under black skinny jeans would look incredibly elegant. Similarly, the Primp thermal would be very chic with an otherwise all black ensemble and swept back hair.

1. Rabbit Print Scarf, £16. Oasis.

2. Owl Long-Sleeve Thermal Tee, $29.99. Primp.

Tags: owl, prints, rabbit

Hareem Pants… Begrudgingly

I always swore that I would never wear hareem pants. Despite how many shops tried to thrust them upon me, I always thought I would refuse. The look of them alone makes me feel a little queasy. To me, they just made a person look as if they were wearing a giant adult nappy.  That’s right, they are the trousers for the incontinent. The saggy crotch struck me as utterly unflattering and well, just plain weird.

That was until today.

Shuffling around Topshop this morning in a pair of tight-in-all-the-wrong-places skinny jeans that, at the same time as digging in causing me unrivalled discomfort, managed to be loose enough to need constantly hoisting up, I finally fell temptation to a pair of khaki hareem pants that were hanging on the end of a rail eyeing me up: “We wouldn’t fall down, we wouldn’t have a fly zip that constantly undoes itself in public, we wouldn’t be made of rough unforgiving fabric, we would allow you to frolic unbounded in a wide range of weather conditions” And I gave in.

Since I came home and changed into them, I am an absolutely convert. I’m even thinking of getting them in other colours. They are so comfy, and dare I say it, have a certain something about them that really makes an outfit. I’m looking forward to trying them on with other pieces from my wardrobe and seeing what sort of looks I can create.

A rather Topshop-heavy outfit, but hey, if it ain’t broke…

1. 1/2 Sleeve Body in White, £14. Topshop.

2. Hareem Trousers in Khaki, £25. Topshop.

3. Sequin Disc Collar, £20. Topshop.

4. Metallic Stripe Cross Body Bag, £28. Topshop.

5. Nightingale Bead Cuff, Black Leather. £55. Office.

Tags: hareem pants, khaki, leotard

One of a Kind

Whilst browsing for style inspiration earlier, I came across a picture of, um, an Olsen and whilst originally glancing at it quickly as just a rather plain casual outfit, I did a double-take and realised that, in fact, I liked it very much. The way in which the sparkly evening bag is pared with a very casual slouchy outfit makes me very happy indeed makes it look effortless and quirky at the same time. And whilst I despise white sunglasses (so have substituted with tortoiseshell) this. on the whole, is a look that I could live in for a long time. Plus, with my recent bag downsizing agenda, this is a perfect solution.

1. Leather Weave Belt in Pale Camel, £25. Oasis.

2. Choc Raglan Grandad T-Shirt, £15. Dorothy Perkins.

3. Ray-Ban 2140 Wayfarer in Light Tortoise, £88. Sunglasses-Shop.co.uk

4. Chain Envelope Gold Turnlock Cross Body Bag, £20. Accessorize.

Tags: bag, belt, casual, gold, olsen, slouchy, sunglasses

Edie-esque

I think Edie Sedgwick is one of the best beauty inspirations around. Her unique look can be imititated for both daytime and evening purposes. For day, it can be pared down with just a simple slick of lip colour, a smudge of eyeliner in the outer corners of the eyes and a coat of mascara. For the night time look, go the whole hog – flawless skin, intense dark eyes and pale baby pink lips.

1. Extra Super Lash Mascara Curved Brush, Rimmel.

2. BadGal Eyeliner, Benefit.

3. Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Baby Lips, E.L.F.

4. Soft Finish Makeup, Clinique.

5. Anticerne Pour Petits Matins Concealer, Bourjois.

5. Brightening Eye Color in Drama. E.L.F.

Tags: beauty, Edie Sedgwick, makeup