Cheap and Cheerful

Hey guys and dolls!

I've been shopping A LOT since coming home for the summer, trying to build up my wardrobe for not only winter but also for my upcoming fashion placement year. I'm about to embark on my second year at University and I am very excited because our course incorporates placement opportunities into the second and third year modules. Think 'The Devil wears Prada' meets a nervous yet passionate Ginger Doll being thrown into a shark tank of 'Mean Girls' drama... Exciting times ahead XD

So, I need to invest in cheap yet fashionable clothing and accessories to enhance my own style with smart office wear in mind - I want to be the intern that they remember!!!

^ Black lace insert boots: £14.90 Primark ^

It was surprisingly sunny today, therefore I thought I'd wander into my field like garden, and have a fun shoot  with my cheap purchases. Above, is my boot investment for the winter snowy months in Newcastle, as last year we had solid snow on the ground for over a month! I will later buy some proper snow boots, so if anyone knows any good cheapish brands please leave me a comment!!

I am normally quiet apprehensive when buying shoes from Primark, because the quality and durability can sometimes be questionable, but as you can see, I have made an exception. They are very sturdy and fit well; stylish lace design, yet practical.  

^ Brown leather ribbon brogues: Sale £10 New Look ^

My bargain of the year are these pair of leather brogues! I thought I'd checkout the shoe sale rack in a bid to pass some time whilst my best friend was deciding on a pair of jeans, when I stuck gold. I have been searching for some brown brogues for awhile, so I was thrilled to find these real leather shoes at more than half the price! Originally £40, these £10 sale brogues are simply brimming with brown brilliance. 

^ Brown bird print chiffon shirt: £22.99 New Look ^

 I also spotted this gorgeous chiffon shirt whilst exploring the racks in New Look; light fabric, corporate style shirt with a twist, artistic bird print oozing with this Autumns Heritage trend potential - I just had to buy it!

How are you preparing your wardrobe for this Autumn/Winter?

Are you inspired by the catwalk trends, or are thinking of comfort and practicality?

Doll love xXx

Tusk-tastic!

Hey guys and dolls!

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my last post, it really made me smile XD I'm very excited for Autumn!

A mini trend which is dominating the accessory market is Navajo tusks - no animals were harmed in the making of this post! So, I present to you designer Isabel Marant's 2011 Fall collection, based on Native American Navajo culture with a sportswear denim twist. A very exciting collection indeed, which incorporates fringing with oversized jumpers, embroidery, and wooly coats to keep you warm this Autumn/Winter.

Isabel Marant Tusk necklace 

Look at that fringing... Amongst the swishing tassels and monochromatic drama, a simple statement necklace stands out giving added texture and elegance to a chic disheveled look. The Topshop necklace below would make a perfect companion to a slouchy jumper or oversized tee; it combines the fringing element by staggering multiple black tusks around the bejeweled collar. The more I look at this necklace, the more I wish I could allow myself to spend the priced amount - sad jewelry lust times!

Chain and Tusk collar necklace: Topshop £28

However, I discovered this white tusk beauty at H&M for around £3.99! Bargain buy of the week... well my previous post had many bargain buys, but in this tusk trend, I think £3.99 pretty much wins the bargain award. H&M also have this necklace with a black tusk and silver chain; the chain length reaches my belly button, which is perfect for a stylish unkempt Navajo ensemble! 

The above picture is from Cynthia Rowley 's Resort collection 2012 that introduces a larger thicker tusk necklace on a more chic simplistic look, which will be perfect for this coming Spring. I also did a review on Cynthia Rowley's collection in my "hold me, wrap me up, unfold me......" post, so check it out if you wish :)

Hope you all enjoyed this post and are craving for some tusk-tastic accessory action! 

Oooo, I have a mission for you all; what do you think of this Aztec print oversized cardigan? I'm thinking of buying it as it is very Navajo comfy chic XD

Doll love xXx

" hold me, wrap me up, unfold me.......... "

Hey guys and dolls!

Recently I have been trying to upgrade my wardrobe by purchasing accessories that will enhance my look. Like every fashionista, I have way to many clothes than I realise and continuously buy without considering what is actually hidden away in my draws - the bane of being a fashion student haha!

As I have quite a large amount of jewelry, I have been focusing on buying accessories that have print and colour to spice up my monochrome clothing persona. Thus, the invention of silk scarves have caught my eye! Obviously not real silk because this Doll is unfortunately a typically poor student. But I have found some awesome buys and inspirations that I want to share with you all.

image copyright to Me
design and concept copyright to Helen Fiona 

The above headscarf display is an image I took at the Northumbria University 'Reveal' Exhibition 2011. This designer is a final year Fashion Marketing student, Helen Fiona, and has produced an A/W2012 collection for her new brand "Motifs of Joy", which makes bespoke hats and beautiful hand made silk scarves. Her headwear pieces ooze old Hollywood glamour, and I defy anyone who would not find her collection just breathtaking. I was struck instantly by the variety of gorgeous prints and delicate colours; her collection truly inspires me to focus more on the print side of my degree, as I love to illustrate and am a bit of a whiz on the computer side of fashion. 

copyright as before

The prints, as you can see, range from geometric shapes to etherial illustrations and are inspired by the Surrealist art movement.

Simply stunning! Be sure to visit her website http://www.motifsofjoy.co.uk to view her divine luxury hats and accessories. 

On to this Doll's fashion finds!
So far I have three accessory scarfs and I plan to buy two more from ASOS in the coming weeks - where else?!? Below are three picks of my scarfs :) The first scarf is deep navy blue with a white base, and brown/gold chain and rope prints, which is reminiscent of Ascot and equine like in design.

My rich brown scarf is vintage and was my first ever scarf buy! It has a beautiful burnt orange print of decaying roses and leaves. I call it my "Beauty and the Beast" scarf, due to the rose print connection to the rose the Beast keeps, as well as the brown hues mirroring Belle's hair.

The last scarf is made of a chiffon like polyester fabric and is in a jungle print. I don't usually buy jungle inspired prints because I'm not a fan of the way animal prints can look trashy and cheap, however this Giraffe print spoke to me. I think the addition of the fringing that runs along the longest outer seam, really makes this scarf stand out and more fashion forward than other animal print accessories. 

Blue scarf: £4 from Internacionale

Brown scarf: Vintage from London Camden Market

Giraffe fringe scarf: Lipsy sale £7ish

Below are my fashion inspirations for scarf accessory wear and styling. These two images are taken from  designer Cynthia Rowley and her Resort 2012 collection. I love the simplicity of the styling of the right image; the scarf adds tone to the shorts by harmonizing the two blue hues, whilst picking up the creamy tones of the underneath shirt with the scarfs subtle white print. 

In terms of styling a scarf, as much as I would love to wear headscarfs like the spectacular ones Helen Fiona has made, my head and hair just isn't made to wear anything! Every hair band or clip or hat I try to wear just falls off or makes me look like a five year old. So here is a *Doll tip* if you have an annoying head like me - take inspiration from Cynthia Rowley and tie your scarf into a slack pussy bow e.g. left image. This will add texture and shape to a basic tee or dress, and it can also work well for jazzing up office-wear if the scarf is placed underneath the collar of a crisp white shirt.  

 And finally, I leave you with these phenomenal scarfs by Coco, who is a French designer and graphic artist. The intricacy in design and print, inspired by Alice in Wonderland, leaves me jealous, amazed, and wanting more scarfs!!!

I hope you've enjoyed this post!

What do you think of scarfs? 
Would you wear them as an accessory?

Doll love xXx

p.s. the title of this blog is a song by Sia 'Breathe Me', check it out.

*Mulberry* love: Resort 2012!

Hey everyone!

I've been doing my fashion research recently, looking up trends, surfing the Vogue website, perusing designers and their collections. On this fashion indulgence I came across the Resort 2012 collections, which have been posted on Style.com, and I become infatuated by Mulberry's ensembles. 

Mulberry is one of my favorite fashion designer brands, not only because they have gorgeous bags, but also due to their amazing advert campaigns, and the concepts they choose to design their collections on. I am a big storyteller when it comes to creating a project; I've wanted to be an author since I was three. So Mulberry tick all the boxes for me as they use a lot of inspirations including literature - we are kindred spirits, free falling into a rabbit hole full of wonder and fantasy. 

I would like to work for them more than anything. 

In this collection, Mulberry focus on British seaside life, in particular the sea and sand colours and texture. As with all Mulberry collections, the design team like to have fun by keeping their clothes cute and youthful; I love their development on this seasons fruits trend! Many of their knitted pieces feature fruit that have comic google-eyes and a bold solid colour print, which I find to be refreshing and charming. The knits look very cute when combined with their A-line skirts, creating a girly silhouette.  

The styling tips I am stealing, hehe, are the adorable merging of pop socks and heels. 

I'm not a big fan of my ankles and bottom half of my legs because I suffer from eczema, so to be able to get my legs out but have the worst part covered up is great! And since it was 26 degrees in Britain today, I don't think I will be able to stand wearing leggings or tights any longer!

I found these New Look socks that would be perfect for Mulberry-izing your outfit. *whisper* its 3 pairs for £4! Bargain!

*Doll find*

As not many of us can afford a real Mulberry bag *crys*, I have found this cute River Island Satchel Bag from ASOS, which will be perfect for festivals, summer styling, and of course, copying Mulberry! Their hobo and satchel bags are an essential finishing part to the Mulberry look, plus the tan colour will breathe a breath of fresh air into a summer outfit. 

See their full Resort collection: Mulberry Resort 2012

Hope you liked this mini fashion report!

What do you like about the Mulberry collection?

Any styling aspects you'll use?

Doll love xXx

~ The ASOS diaries ~ (5)

It's that time of the week again! The ASOS diaries in 'Sweet Surrender'.

Last month I entered a competition on an online fashion store called Motel, who's clothing I am in love with - check them out: http://www.motelrocks.com

Although I did not win the coveted prize of £200 worth of Motel Rocks clothing and a Model's Own makeup goodie bag, *sigh*, I DID get a runner up prize; 15% of any Motel clothing... YAAAAAAY! What can I say, I was a happy bunny XD

So I bought a statement bodycon skirt in my signature colours of black and white. This skirt is an absolute dream - it fits too perfection and can be worn on the hip or waist. It has a zip up back that doesn't ruin the design or bunch up the fabric like I find with some skirts. Although I look like a humbug, I think these stripes are good way to brighten up a night out on the town without attracting the wrong sort of attention. Living in Newcastle, its hard to compete with the 'Geordie Shore' type girls, so I prefer to ditch the fake tan and be bold in my fashion choices, standing out with daring statement pieces; stay true to your fashion self!

Skirt: Motel
Tights, shoes: ASOS
Vest: H&M

Now for the ASOS focus of this post. 

I present a very versatile monochrome 60's inspired bangle, that can be worn with evening/clubbing wear as I am, or with jeans, a colour block tee and some stylish Converses. Although the double dose of black and white stripes may seem a bit OTT, I'm channeling one of this seasons trends called Maximalism. Heavily decorative ensembles, adding layer open layer of accessories, print, texture and colour - I just skipped out colour because I live in a monochrome bubble :P

Bangle and armour ring: ASOS

I'd like to thank and feature blogger Raspberry & Rouge whose excellent post inspired me to finally buy this fantastic bangle, as it had been waiting in my ASOS saved shopping basket for awhile!

For those who haven't heard of Raspberry & Rouge, I urge you to check out her blog at http://raspberry-rouge.com/ , as she has some fantastic fashion outfit posts supported by gorgeous photography, that always makes me envious of the clothes she wears. Raspberry & Rouge and her blog was recently featured in Dutch magazine VIVA! An amazing achievement for one of my favorite bloggers :)

Checkout her outfit post featuring the ASOS bangle:
Outfit: A Sheer Skirt and some DIY

Hope you enjoyed this weeks ASOS Dairies :)

Don't forget to check out Motel clothing and blogger Raspberry & Rouge!!!

Doll love xXx

~ The ASOS diaries ~ (4)

Today I present you with this weeks issue of The ASOS diaries!

If there is one hobby area I am terrible at, it would be sport - I can't run, throw, jog, kick, jump... the best I can do is ice skate! So, as you would expect, I never really invest in sports wear. I'm also not a big fan of the chavy tracksuit look. 

However, this seasons trend called 'Sports Luxe' has caught my eye! Think Flash Dance comfort mixed with sophistication - less sweat more glam. By layering basic shapes with fluid fitting fabrics and and tailored jersey, the simplicity of the Sport Luxe trend can be achieved.

Jumper & Shoes: ASOS
(Underneath) Crop top & Leggings: H&M
Earrings: New Look
Headphones: my flat mate Tom

Hoodys provide comfort and security but they are also a key feature in the Sports Luxe trend. I prefer jersey or zip up jumpers to hoodys because my Mum is always nagging me to show off my figure, and I find hoodys tend to make me look too relaxed - we need the glam in this trend!!! So I have opted for this hooded jersey jumper dress from ASOS; keeps me warm yet still allows me to stay cool by unzipping the front - hoodys tend to make me boil.

ASOS
Zip Front Dress with Contrast Sleeves
in Grey Marl

As the summer is usually the season that brings sunshine and heat, us fashionistas need to keep cool relaxed, as we defiantly do not want any sweat patches on show! Therefore racer back vests and baggy crop tops will build the foundations of your ensemble.

However, with all this simplicity talk, you might be thinking, where is the excitement in the styling? I like to buy tops with interesting slogans on to keep my outfit interesting. When I saw the above H&M crop top with the words "Running Wild" stamped across its knot tied chest in a Vogue style typography, I just couldn't resist the irony; my medical condition means I have the inability to run. What can I say, dark humor makes me chuckle.

But I digress.

Above are two catwalk pieces from Isabel Marant S/S 2011 collection, which I think represent the Sports Luxe trend to perfection! Another way to bring your outfit alive and give your basic pieces an edge is to find clothing with mesh inserts or sheer panels. If you like above right Isabel Marant beige mesh jumper, there is a good quality replica in New Look - cost friendly and in a variety of colours! 

ASOS
Canvas Lace Up Bootie
in Pink (I'd say Dusky Pink)

Shoes are very important for this trend! Wearing your old trainers is not going to make the cut. I've noticed that lace up shoes are making a come back on the catwalk, and by lace ups I don't just mean simple converse lace ups. It is now considered a fashion detail to have lace ups without the tongue to protect the feet from the laces rubbing. As you can see below, the removal of the shoe tongue is being showcased in heels and boots by designers Alexander McQueen and Emilio Pucci - I was astonished to find that my own ASOS Lace Up Booties (above) that do not have a shoe tongue, do not hurt my feet at all! In fact it actually keeps my feet quite cool, a good buy for holidays. And I adore the backs which feature a peephole heel!


*Doll Tip* You could try customizing your own smart heels and brogues by removing the original laces and changing them for coloured or patterned trainer laces - can anyone say Sports Luxe?!?

Top Left: Lacoste, Top Right: Emilio Pucci, Bottom: Alexander McQueen

All three are: S/S RTW 2011

Another sub trend of Sports Luxe is combining it with the Underwear as Outerwear look. Take inspiration from the below Acne clothing dress that has merged layered jersey with a boned bandeau bustier dress. Simple, beautiful, and if I had the money I would buy it! Nonetheless, ASOS have provided a do it yourself alternative by selling a basic fitted jersey crop bandeau in six stylish colours - can be worn underneath mesh jumpers and drop armhole racer back vests. 

Acne
 Bustier dress
£532

ASOS Crop Bandeau Tops

*Doll Tip*: keep accessories to a minimum, and take a break from all the styling tools by having your hair as laid back and relaxed as your look; messy buns, subtle bed head, and tousled salt-sprayed locks are a must!


Are you loving the Sports Luxe trend?

Doll love xXx