Friday Five – Picks from H&M’s Fashion Against Aids

So, the H&M Fashion Against Aids collection has finally landed. With 25% of all purchases going into HIV/Aids prevention work, it’s for a very important cause that is well worth our support. In celebration, I thought I’d pick out my five favourite pieces from the range.

I love the tribal/festival vibe running through the collection. The clothes are practical but fun, incorporating the season’s biggest trends with ombre shades and fringed edges. The graphic cross print of this jersey dress, £14.99, caught my eye. And the colourful details and distressed look of these denim shorts, £19.99, are equally impressive. Both would add vibrancy to your summer wardrobe, whether you spend it festival-hopping or park-picnicking.

There are also a tonne of fabulous accessories to choose from, including these circle-lens, colourful print plastic framed sunnies, £5.99. The purple and polka dot feather earrings, £3.99, are also on my shopping list. But more than anything, I want these green, jute heel wedges, £24.99. The printed insole and the animal-friendly imitation suede make these a must-have pair of summer shoes.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Wednesday Wishlist – 25/04/12

Today was not an ordinary Wednesday for me – at around 10am, I finally handed in my final year dissertation, marking the end of my time at university (pretty much – I still have a short assignment due but for argument’s sake let’s say that’s the end!) So I’m officially no longer a student! In celebration – or commiseration, I’m not quite sure yet – I’ve been lining up some pretty purchases and even treated myself to a few (stay tuned for a ‘recently bought’ post of some sort!) Here are some of pieces I’ve been lusting over recently…

When a friend shared a link of these beauties on Facebook, I knew I had to have them. Outrageous yet oh so fun, these fabulous fuschia jelly wedges, £29, by Head Over Heels at Dune, are my favourite thing at the moment. Size 5 might be sold out online, but I will find a way…

A close second vying for my attention this week has been this amazing Hawaii print playsuit, £60, by Tara Starlet. Available in 3 gorgeous designs and printed in Hawaii, it’s a one of a kind piece which looks well worth the price. If you like something different to the norm, check out their website for lots of vintage inspired, unique designs.

So I’m not sure how I feel about dip-hem skirts/dresses really, but they do look ever so nice on the screen/hanger. This one is a cream drop back skirt, £35, Miss Selfridge. It oozes feminine chic and is the perfect skirt for the summer – weddings, nights out, lunches…a pretty skirt for every occasion.

I do like the whole utility/safari style, and this cropped shirt, £16.99, New Look would look great white a pair of high waisted jeans or shorts, teamed with a pair of low key sandals and a tasseled bag. Think Kate Bosworth cool. Probably a look that’ll have to wait til the sun turns up though…

And finally, a bag to carry me through (awful pun – sorry!) I’ve had my eye on this ASOS zip based bag, £28, for a while now. I have a sort of rule with myself when it comes to bags that you can’t fit on your shoulder…but this lovely tote might see me bend that rule…we’ll see.

Holiday Picks – Part Two

I’ve been getting a little bit (over)excited about my upcoming mini-break to Barcelona, and have been busy scouring the Internet to see what my favourite high street stores have to offer. In Part One of my holiday clothes musings, I went for an edgy, bright and bold look, with statement t-shirts and accessories and bright tropical prints. But on the flip side of that is a love for all things feminine and chic. So here’s where Part Two comes in…

White, regretfully, just isn’t my colour. But I love it anyway. And once I’ve built up a bit of a tan, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. These pretty white dresses will be perfect for sight-seeing, al fresco lunches and evening beach walks. I love the crochet detail of this sleeveless shirt dress, £40, and the cut-out design of this jersey prom dress, £55, really steals my heart (hehe?) Both from Topshop.

Shorts are an absolute must-have for any holiday look as they’re comfortable, tan-friendly and go with everything. The tribal print of these high waisted denim shorts, £32, Miss Selfridge, set them apart from the rest.

H&M have some great stuff in at the moment, including this turquoise jacquard-weave top, £19.99, which will jazz up the shorts and add a sexy edge to any day look. The simplicity of this stylish, zip detail bikini set, £17.98 altogether, is also a winner.

I love anything woven at the moment – picnic baskets, straw bags…count me in! This woven satchel, £37, River Island is comfortable and casual, and will feed my addiction nicely!

I’ll be wearing wedges like these floral patterned tie-up ones, £24.99, H&M, for romantic evening dinners. But for exploring the city and hitting the beach, I’ll stick to flats. These very pretty sandals by Grendha for New Look, £39.99, really caught my eye…I might just have to treat myself come pay day.

And finally, eye wear. You can never go far wrong with a classic style, and these light pink shades from Warehouse, £18, are just right.

What will your holiday look be?

Friday Five – Spring Keep-Me-Warms

Oh, rain – won’t you go away and come again another day? No? Ok…well in that case, I’ll have to pull out the knitwear again. Thankfully, the current collections of knitted goods on the high street are all perfect for this kind of uncertain weather forecast. I, for one, know I’ve been sat at my desk all day, wrapped in a trusty knit. So here’s five of my favourites from what’s currently on offer.

This mint green Warehouse jumper, £40, with lace panels in stripes across it, is the perfect balance of cozy and chic, and will go perfectly with a pair of white jeans, pumps, or even wellies. Throw a parka on and you’re ready to battle that downpour.

Ombre is everywhere this season, and this coral and blue knit, £32, River Island, has the spring colour trends down to a t. Again, teamed with a good pair of jeans, with a colour raincoat on top, this jumper will see you through the rainy days to come.

I’m not usually a fan of blue, but I love the feminine style of this pale blue, faux collar cardigan, £45, Oasis. Premium price tag aside, it would be a lovely – and warm – way to add soft, girly chic to a skirt and black tights ensemble.

The swan motif and sloping arms of this t-shirt jumper, £28, Dorothy Perkins, have me sold. It’s light enough to be worn even when the weather is much warmer, but will be sure to keep me warm now too. And swans – what’s not to love?

But my absolute fave has to be this beaded, lime green cardigan, £59.99, H&M. A payday treat for sure…but just look! The slouchy fit and beading detail – not to mention the outlandishly fabulous colour – would make it a purchase well worth the money. Oh, and it looks like it’s got its fair share of warmth in that knit…

Happy weekend!

Boux Avenue – Westfield Opening

The recent demise of high street lingerie chain, La Senza, came as a bit of a shock to me, and was definitely sad news for all concerned. The ever industrious Theo Paphitis, however – of Dragon’s Den fame, ex-owner of La Senza and, as it happens, ‘the man behind the curtain’ at Ryman too, where I push pens for a living every Saturday – was on hand to cater to our undergarment needs, opening up Boux Avenue is La Senza’s wake.

Today, he opened the brand’s flagship store in London’s W12 Westfield, helped by the beautiful Ola Jordan, dancer and Strictly Come Dancing contestant. With fellow Ryman buddy Lisa, I waited patiently outside the dazzling new shop, enjoying the building atmosphere and trying to get a glimpse of the just-out-of-reach stock inside.

The store definitely impressed. Bras in the season’s pretty pastels and delicate fabrics were laid out in rows – different sizes were stocked neatly in drawers below. Fun, flirty trinkets – garters, bath melts, fragrances and key rings – were all showcased in equally stunning displays. The highlight for me, though, were the changing rooms. Plush carpets, helpful and friendly service and changeable lighting – there were three different settings: daylight, dusk and night time. Perfect!

Making the most of our employee discounts, Lisa and I weren’t about to leave empty handed. I went for a pastel pint bra (which fits perfectly) and a 50′s inspired, polka dot bikini set with subtle padding and high rise bottoms. Lisa chose from the endless selection of very cute pyjamas. We both left very happy shoppers!

Theo and Ola were on hand for photographs, and the first 10 buyers even had the chance to be served by the lovely lady herself. The staff were all attentive and helpful, clearly buzzing from the exciting morning.

I can’t wait to rock my bikini this summer, and I’ll definitely be back to check out what else Boux Avenue has in store over the coming season.

Wednesday Wishlist – 18/04

Today’s wishlist is a bit of a mash-up of various pieces I’ve scoured from the high street stores’ online offerings. There’s not much continuity or common ground between these items – I guess that’s a reflection of my current state of mind!

Hailstones aside, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking ahead, and am almost exclusively just shopping for summer clothes now. I love the feather print of this tie-front cropped shirt, £29 by Oh My Love at Topshop. It perfectly channels the 50′s fashion vibes that paraded down the catwalks for the S/S season.

I’ve been on the search for a nice denim shirt for some time now. This light blue denim shirt, £32, Topshop, is one of the best that I’ve seen online. Being a little higher than my normal price range for such an item, I’d hope it was of a staying quality and would see me through a good few seasons.

There’s never a good or bad time to buy a party dress! This Urban Bliss dress, with dip-hem skirt and PU top, £29.99, New Look, incorporates the new season trends and is a perfect mix of classy, sexy and stylish.

I love anything cropped when it comes to summer trousers – jeans, chinos, etc. and these pink cropped trousers, £25, Miso at Republic, are fun and summery and will go with just about any casual outfit.

Lastly, with the thought of summer handbags in mind, this purple and beige contrast bag, £30, Accessorize, caught my eye. It’s just the right size for sunny park days, and is chic enough for evening wear too. I do love a multifunctional bag!

What’s on your wishlists this week?

Holiday Picks – Part One

With the final installation of my student loan about to drop, I really should be thinking about rent, bills and being able to eat something other than jacket potato every day for lunch. But in reality, all I can think about is splashing out on fabulous holiday wear for my upcoming long weekend in Barcelona this July.

When it comes to summer style, I have to admit, I am a total chameleon. I chop and change between girly and sophisticated, and urban cool, and just plain summery fun. This collection of pieces hints more towards the latter styles on that list, but most importantly, they jumped out at me as fun, wearable and sexy pieces that I can’t wait to work into my holiday look!

Bikinis are tricky territory for me. The fit, style and colour all have to be just right. This pink and white striped set, £22 altogether, from Accessorize, is pretty much perfect on all those fronts. As far as one-pieces go, I adore this sexy floral one, £28, Accessorize. And if you’re one for splashing out (excuse the pun) then this scenic-print bikini, £128 by We Are Handsome at Net-a-Porter, really is just the ticket.

Eccentric eye wear is all the rage right now. Unfortunately, seeing as I’m severely shortsighted, my choice when it comes to sunglasses is pretty limited. If it wasn’t, though, I’d definitely be going for these sexy Mango sunnies, £23, from ASOS.

Cover-up on the beach in style in this printed sleeveless tee, £20, Miss Selfridge. The bold L.A. print adds a fun, urban slant to your sexy beach look. I’d wear it with washed-out denim short shorts and tie it up at the midriff. And I’d buy into the tropical trend with this bright bralet, £14.99, New Look – too cheap to miss!

Beach accessories – also a very important part of any holiday look. As far as bags go, I’ll be resisting the urge to go all-out for the 90s with a fannypack…instead, I’ll be opting for this practical but totally cool ice-cream printed rucksack, £35, ASOS. There really is nothing NOT to love. And when it comes to keeping cool while I’m sunbathing on the seafront, this flamingo print, heart shaped fan, Accessorize, is a steal at £2.50.

Headbands are a great way to keep beach hair at bay whilst incorporating a totally stylish accessory into your look. Baroque prints do scare me a little when they’re printed all over a garment of clothing, but on this pretty headband, £8, Topshop, they’re a style match made in heaven!

Jelly shoes were your friend as a kid, and now they’re back for the reunion. These purple jelly sandals, £6, Boohoo, are cute and fun, and ideal for the beach. For evenings, I’ll be stepping out in something a little more grown up, but just as friendly to heat-stricken feet: the ever-dependable wedge. I’ve had my eye on these floral print wedges, £27.99, New Look, for a while now, so I might just treat myself.

So there you have it – the first part of my dream holiday style. Rent, food and bills money aside, I might just be able to make some of it a reality!

Alexa Chung – When is Skinny Too Skinny?

Alexa Chung sparked a controversial outcry recently by posting this photo of herself and her mum on her Instagram account. Seemingly unsuspecting of the backlash the photo would garner, Alexa is described as having been shocked and hurt by the negative comments from her followers.

It’s old news that the TV-presenter-turned-fashionista is a waif-like shadow of her former self. For some years now, Alexa has looked unhealthily thin. Women lose weight for all sorts of reasons – stress, emotional trauma, etc. Should Alexa hide herself away because of her weight? Would that not be just as discriminating as the systematic exclusion of normally / larger sized women in this industry?

In this case, I think Alexa needs to step back and take some responsibility. As wrong as I think it is to criticize somebody so cruelly because of their weight, surely she might have realized that Instagram is undoubtedly populated by young, impressionable people, confident in the anonymity the Internet affords them. Of course not every one was going to say she looked great.

And also, while it isn’t her sole responsibility to tackle the negative body images of countless young girls these days, who see being thin as being beautiful, I think she should have considered that, given her status as a fashion/beauty icon, she may well have fueled these girls’ desires to drop to an unhealthily thin weight.

When you are in the public eye, it goes without saying that your actions and appearance will have an effect on people. You need to be OK with the fact that while some will think you look amazing, others will take the opportunity to insult you. And if, like Alexa, you are – without a doubt – unhealthily skinny – you need to consider what message you’re sending out to people aspiring to be just like you.

Image courtesy of marieclaire.co.uk

Friday Five: Favourite Spring Jackets

I don’t know about you, but I’m so bored of my winter coats, that I’ll bear the chilly breeze if it means I can step out in a fresh, new Spring jacket. And with so many exciting trends to try this season, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to picking one.

Ladylike – A good alternative to the trench coat, this lightweight cream jacket, £38, Dorothy Perkins, is feminine and sleek, perfect for smarter occasions or work wear.

Sports luxe – It’s an Olympics year in London, and the sports luxe trend has exploded. Take this opportunity to try out a laid-back but stylish, sporty parka, like this daring yellow jacket, £19.99, H&M. It’s not for the fashion faint of heart, but it sure is a fun look to go for.

Structured statement – This elegant, tailored coat by ASOS, £90, epitomizes girly fashion chic. The collarless neck, cropped sleeves and concealed pockets give it a streamlined, classically feminine feel, while the zigzag print keeps it interesting.

Blazers – Definitely my favourite type of Spring jacket, the blazer is at once casual, smart and stylish. Whether you go for a baggier, boyfriend style or a tailored, tight-fitting number, there are plenty to choose from, like this peach crepe jacket, £60, Warehouse.

Denim Jacket – Denim is having a moment this season, and the jean jacket is back in vogue. New Look have a really good range, with faded floral, neon and pastel colours, as well as this simple light-wash denim jacket, £17.99, which will go with just about anything.

So which Spring jacket style will you be going for? Happy shopping!

Dresses as Day Wear – Spring’s Prettiest Look

More often than not, I throw on a reliable pair of jeans, some sort of blouse-cardigan / slouchy jumper combination, topped off with some sturdy pumps or my favourite pair of converse. This is how I feel comfortable, and when my social engagements have stretched little further than a food run to the vet’s recently, why should I bother getting all prettied up, right?

Well, the other week (when it was summer for a few days) I’d been sitting in front of my laptop for 3 consecutive days, desperately trying to get an essay done on time. Bummed out from missing the glorious sun, when the chance came up to pop out with friends for a bit, I decided to make an out-of-character effort.

On nights out, dresses are my staple outfit. But I’d never really experimented wearing them as day wear. I guess I just figured they’d make me look overdressed, especially if I was only going for a ginger ale at the pub round the corner. But with so many beautiful dresses available on the high street, why should you wait for a ‘dressy’ occasion to step out in one? A wise person once said, never leave your best for best, or you’ll never wear it. We should take every opportunity to wear beautiful clothes that make us look and feel fabulous. And dresses, for me, do just that.

With day wear dresses, it’s worth sticking to the old ‘boobs or legs – never both’ ideology. Shifts and collared dresses are perfect for a sophisticated and subtly sexy look.This pale pink sleeveless shirt dress, £40, from Topshop, definitely fits the bill. And the classic shape of this white pussy-bow dress, £51 by Annie Greenabelle, also at Topshop, ticks all the boxes for a timeless, chic appeal.

Sticking with muted accessories means you can splash out with colours and patterns. The cute heart print of this belted, short sleeved Primark dress, is fun and quirky, while the artistic, delicate flowers on this apricot chiffon dress, £14.99 at H&M, give off a flirty, feminine style. If you’re going for total knockout, however, you can’t go wrong with Monsoon’s wonderful pink shift dress, £55; it will definitely not let you down.

Perfect for transitional months, a good mac should be a staple in every woman’s wardrobe. This double-breasted trench coat, £29.99, H&M, would go perfectly with these dresses, complimenting not drowning them.

Stay comfortable in pumps or wedges. These turquoise pumps with quilted silver toe caps, £15.99, New Look, are bang on trend and will go with just about any colour dress. If you like something with a little bit of height, wedges like these black peep-toes, £24.99, H&M, will give you a bit of a lift.

Lastly, a new season demands a new bag. OK, it doesn’t, but it’s as good a time as any to splash out on one! I love this faux leather bag, £29.99, H&M. As a vegetarian, it’s difficult to find imitation pieces which are also good quality, and this classic shopper doesn’t disappoint.

So, once my schedule frees up, and the sun decides to come out and stay out, I’ll be wearing these day dress combinations and feeling fabulous. Will you?