Wishlist – Wildfox Couture

My, oh, my! I would like to say I’m returning from a holiday-induced blogging hiatus, but that wouldn’t be the truth. Truth is, I’ve had a bit of a creative blank recently and haven’t been feeling much like writing…but it’s a new month and I’m determined to get my creative mojo back into gear any way I can!

So a friend of mine is a massive fan of American label Wildfox, and the more of her budding collection I see, the more I have to agree that the clothes are something special. The brand has a very strong personality, with quirky and cute designs and a dose of vintage nostalgia and unabashed girliness which just makes you want to grab your closest friends, have a sleepover and reminisce about times gone by…

There’s very little that could persuade me to spend over £10 on a t-shirt, and some of Wildfox’s cotton pieces are way up their past the £60 mark. But through the wonder of eBay – and a great little store called AdHoc which, thankfully, is in my neck of the woods – you needn’t have to pay that much for a slice of Wildfox style. If, however,  you’re not phased by the prices, then check out their website.

Friday Five – 50s Trend Essentials

Fashion is always turning to bygone eras for inspiration, and this season has seen a revival of several decades gone by, from the 90s grunge look to the pretty, retro 50s style. For those among us (myself included) who’ve yet to fully venture into vintage clothes buying, there’s no need to worry – the high street has it covered!

A staple of the 50s look is a full, knee- or midi-length skirt. The apricot pink of this belted skirt, £22.99, New Look, adds a modern twist to the trend. High waisted jeans and shin grazing cut-offs (remember ‘peddle pushers’?) are an alternative, if you’re not into skirts.

Bralets are cropping up all over the shops at the moment, in various colours and fabrics. While I wouldn’t normally bare my belly in one of these, when worn with a high waisted skirt, there’s hardly any skin on show. The adorable print of this denim bralet, £25, at Topshop, is too sweet to miss.

And now, for accessories. Hairbands are an absolute must-have if you’re going for an authentic look. The dark colour of this Hawaiian print headband, £2.99, New Look, pairs perfectly with the black jelly peep toes, £40, River Island, bringing the outfit together nicely. Last but not least, a ladylike, classic handbag to finish: the very girly Lady Bag by Aldo for ASOS, £40.

Will you be rocking the retro 50s look sometime soon?

In Focus – Pret a Portobello

Being a London girl born and bred, I’ve always loved the amazing markets that my city has to offer. Portobello, which is within close distance to me, has been part of my life for a long time; my first home as a baby was there, and my secondary school was in the area. Camden market was somewhere I started to visit more in my teenage years, and now it’s a day trip staple.

But sometimes, as the founders of Pret a Portobello discovered, we don’t always have time to get to the markets. Busy lifestyles make online shopping much more convenient, and often some markets are only open certain days. Pret a Portobello fulfills our desire to pick out unique fashion pieces from brands such as Brat & Suzie, PPB and 18 and East, from the comfort of our own homes. They’ve even maintained the market haggling experience for selected products, where you can barter with an online trader to get a better price. Here are a few of my favourite pieces from the website:

L-R: Pineapple Top, £18, Mordinary // Taupe Satchel, £45, Meeka // Panda Top, £30, Brat & Suzie // Floral Bubble Dress, £15, BB // Enamel Bangles, £15 each, PPB // Layered Lace Shirt, £15, BB // Pink Flower Headband, £5, Poppy Daisy // Black Floral Blouse, £59, Jovonna // Vintage Gold Ankle Boots, £20, PPB

For me, although nothing can really replace the physical experience of going shopping, the internet shopping experience has some serious charms of its own. The immediacy and ease with which you can order new things, the excitement when the parcel arrives – just to name a few. Pret a Portobello provides a unique service, revolutionizing the way we shop, and bringing our favourite markets to our living rooms.

Top image from pretaportobello.com // Cream Crochet Top, £37.50, PPB

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.