Update – Lana Del Rey’s Campaign shots for H&M

After being unveiled as the face of Swedish fashion retailer H&M’s autumn collection last month, the campaign images of Lana Del Rey’s modelling stint for the brand have finally been revealed in full. While I’m not totally on board with Lana’s abilities as a model, there’s no denying that these soft, sultry photos provide a beautiful glimpse at an exciting range of clothes. Lana’s glamorous, retro appeal and sixties siren beauty lend a demure, yet alluring, aspect to the pieces.

Muted tones of whites, greys and blacks play alongside bolder autumn prints, a mixture kept interesting through the injection of unusual textures and materials. As impractical as a white winter coat might sound, the zip up, faux fur collared jacket above is just waiting to warm my bones this winter.

The pretty peplum top and slinky, structured dress add dimensions and contrast to the collection, all the while complimenting the female figure. A long grey top and thick black leggings is one of my go-to outfits year after year, so I’ll definitely be investing in this little ensemble.

She may not have nailed Tyra Banks’ ‘smiling eyes’ look but there is something quietly beautiful about the styling of these photos which makes me eager to check out the collection as soon as I can. What do you think of Lana’s modelling gig?

Images from Refinery 29

Lana Del Rey’s ‘L.A. Noir’ look for H&M’s Autumn Campaign

After much speculation, it has been confirmed: Lana Del Rey is the new face of Swedish fashion retailer, H&M’s autumn campaign. Having covered Vogue and had a Mulberry bag named in her honour, it seems Lana is something of an unstoppable force in the fashion field right now.

Looking at these two images from the shoot, it’s easy to see why her sultry, retro style appealed to H&M’s creative director, Donald Schneider, who has described the mood of the collection as “very L.A. noir.” Judging from these teasers – nude pink colours and sumptuous angora – the range is set to take retro fashion up a gear, with a generous helping of Lana’s unique presence. The full campaign will launch in mid-September, with a miniclip of Lana covering 50′s pop song, Blue Velvet, set to go viral on the 19th Sept.

Will you be buying into Lana’s and H&M’s retro-inspired new season collection?

Images from Grazia

Wet Weekend Wishlist

It’s something all of us are complaining about at the moment, and for good reason too! This non-summer weather is ruining festivals, staycations and weekends all over the country, and it seems to be a never-ending force. It’s pretty much making me long for the colder months, and the new fashion season that comes with it.

What with work placements and holiday, I’ve slacked a little bit with my weekly wishlists. That and my pitiful bank balance have meant I’ve hardly logged on to the shops at all in the last couple weeks. Anyway, my inner shopoholic has returned with a vengeance, and this is what it’s found…

I often feel more…attractive in the colder months. Not cos I lack confidence in summer clothes, just because I feel like there’s a wider choice of things to wear and I can cover up and be cozy in style. This autumn/winter I’ll be wearing lots of collared shirt and jumper combos. This monochromatic floral shirt, £35, and ombre cable knit jumper, £39, both Miss Selfridge, will be perfect for a preppy look in the coming months.

Oh H&M, I love you and your imitation suede/leather pieces! As a vegetarian and animal lover, I try wherever possible to always buy ethical products and am constantly seeking more information on what products are animal friendly and cruelty free. H&M’s faux-suede and leather items never look tacky or cheap, these tasseled brogues, £19.99, and dalmatian print satchel, £19.99, being perfect examples.

I’ve been loving the influx of tribal look jewellery recently, like this ring, £3.99, H&M. Turquoise and silver go together like butter and toast, and at such a low price this is not a ring to miss!

Hope you’re all enjoying this soggy Saturday as much as possible. It’s the perfect opportunity to have a guilt free duvet day, movie marathon and/or pampering session!

Wednesday Wishlist – 27/06

This has been a bit of a crazy week. Crazy, but good, for sure. I started a new internship on Monday, at an online fashion publication called Fashion 156, and have spent the last three days frantically covering the SS13 menswear shows (from the comfort of a desk, that is.) However, I managed to find time to do a little Wednesday wishing, and here’s what caught my fancy.

Playsuits are perfect for summer, and this sequined beige one, £50, River Island, is the perfect balance of daytime cool and evening glam.

I’ve been yearning for a grey t-shirt or vest of some kind (no idea why!) and love the casual design of this asymmetric tee, £14, Topshop. Its long back would be great for wearing over leggings and shorts.

This swan and starry sky print dress, £29.50, by Billie and Blossom at Dorothy Perkins is my favourite find of the week. I love the print, and it would be perfect come rain or shine, summer or winter. Definitely one for the payday list.

Another pretty dress that tickled my fancy was this studded bodycon, £27.99, New Look. And lastly, these H&M moccasin shoes, £14.99. Animal friendly imitation suede, these are a timeless design, perfect for festivals and summers in the city.

That’s it from me for now. Enjoy the rest of your Wednesdays!

Wednesday Wishlist – 06/06

Despite a long weekend of miserable weather, I refuse to give up on the British summer, and hope that the sun will come back out soon! In the meantime, here are the pieces I’ve been lusting after this week…

H&M for Water is a small but noticeable collection that has recently hit the shelves of the Swedish fashion retailer. I love the tropical print and natural textures of the range, and this bikini, £24.99, is my favourite item. Cos you can never have too many bikinis, right?

Staying with this season’s Hawaiian print trend is this gorgeous halter-neck bodice, £42, by London designer Tara Starlet. I’ve admired a few of their pieces before, and this vintage inspired top is one to add to the pile.

New Look has come up trumps this week with these two stunning bags. The mint green bag, £12.99, would be the perfect accessory day or night, and the bow and heart-shaped padlock details on this shell pink bag by Kelly Brook, £19.99, make this the ultimate in pretty feminine purses.

Finally, courtesy of the New Look shoe gallery, are these adorable peep toe jelly wedges, £14.99. Also available in black, and at a bargain price, there’s hardly an excuse not to snap these up.

Hope you all had a great bank holiday weekend…only three days til the next weekend now!

Wednesday Wishlist – 16/05/12

Usually my wishlists tend to feature at least one ‘realistic’ item – that is, an item I could actually afford to buy. Which kind of defeats the idea of a wishlist…which is why today’s compilation of pined-after pieces are far from affordable for me at the moment. Here’s to hoping!

I’ve liked Tara Starlet’s stuff for a while now, and when the beautiful Mollie of the Saturdays rocked this co-ordinating tie top, £40, and shorts, £50, ensemble on the cover of Cosmo this month, I knew this would be a look to add to my wishlist. So summery!

This week, my quest for the perfect denim dress continues, and has reaped some rewards in the form of this belted shirt dress, £50, from Oasis. It’s very similar to a denim dress that caught my eye a few weeks back, but this one combines my love of denim with the utility dress style, a favourite of mine at the moment. Definitely a strong contender.

Wedges are my ideal summer shoe, and I love the ones with a pretty length of ribbon to tie up your ankle. These lovely blush pink wedges, £48, Miss Selfridge, would go perfectly with the denim dress. Here’s to hoping we meet again in the sale!

H&M have really upped their accessories game this season, and with a collaboration with Japan Vogue’s editor Anna Dello Russo on the horizon, it’s set to get better and better. I love the vibrant turquoise edges of this straw clutch, £12.99, and the price is closer to my current budget. 

However, there is something on this list that could make the leap from wish to reality, and it’s these fabulous skull earrings by kooky jewellers, Kitsch & Bows. At a bank-balance friendly £6, they’re a treat I can afford to throw cash at this month. Yay!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Friday Five – The Tropical Trend

It’s been practically impossible to escape the tropical print trend this season. Love it or hate it, it’s pretty much exploded in our favourite high street collections. The bright colours, fun, summery patterns and retro feel of the clothes really appeal to me, and although my usual style is probably not as ‘loud’, I’m finding it hard to resist the tropical trend.

Spotting this fabulous Primark playsuit online didn’t help matters much. At the pittance price of £5, it’s a no-brainer really. Definitely something to bum around the beach on. For UK park days, I’d layer a white t-shirt underneath and team with sandals for a more laid-back summer look.

Jeans are a great way to test the trend waters. Hardcore trendsetters might opt for a head-to-toe patterned outfit, but for the fashion faint-of-heart (myself included!) I’d pair these printed jeans with a plain top and shoes for a hint at the look. The pale pink of these cropped skinnies, £48, Motel give a subtle hint. But I really do love these blue skinny jeans, £40, from River Island: the print, featuring parrots and birds, differs from the usual tropical patterns. Definitely my favourite piece of the post.

I featured this New Look bralet in my first holiday clothes post, and it really is good enough to mention twice! As if I needed any further convincing it is worth buying, it’s now dropped to £7 in the sale. Happy days!

And lastly, these H&M wedges, £24.99, literally made me gasp today. Comfortable and stylish, these wedges are up there with my favourite shoes of S/S12.

Happy Bank Holiday Weekend everyone!

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!

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!