Autumn/Winter Trend: Baroque

First post of 2013! I hope everyone is enjoying the new year so far. I actually prepared this post in the run up to Christmas  but due to a severe attack of the flu I never got around to posting it. Even if you don't have much use for a ornate party dress in the middle of January I hope you still enjoying reading about one of my favourite A/W trends: Baroque!

Inspired by the art, architecture and fashion of the 17^th century Baroque era this trend is all about drama, opulence and extravagance. Rich hues of black, gold, navy, wine and deep purple in luxury fabrics like jacquard, brocade and velvet with lavish embellishments and embroidery encapsulate the Baroque look. Despite its ornateness Baroque is surprisingly easy to wear, a chic pencil dress with beading detail or a skater dress in a sumptuous embroidered velvet even a pretty stiletto with metal toe cap channel the trend. These are my favourite Baroque-inspired pieces from the highstreet/online:    

 Top Row ~ Karen Millen Baroque Cutwork Lace Tutu £235 ~ Oasis Velvet Skater Dress £65 ~ River Island Black Baroque Embellished Waist Belt £40 ~ Zara Salón Puntera Tachas Heels £59.99 ~ Accessorize Amazing Phoebe Emb Hardcase Clutch £45 ~ Topshop Paisley Jacquard Trousers £40 ~ River Island Navy Lace Bow Shoulder Mini Prom Dress £70 ~ Miss Selfridge Baroque Embellished Vest Top £45 ~ Topshop Gold Jacquard Mini Skirt £40 ~ Topshop Mirror Embellished Jumper £45 ~ Dorothy Perkins Foil Lace Skirt £25

Bottom Row ~  Oasis Katie Jacquard Dress £65 ~ Karen Millen Baroque Jewelled Pencil Dress £265 ~  Embellished Holly Shift Dress £70 ~ Accessorize Zelda Deco Ring £10 ~ Warehouse Pleat Lace Dress £55 ~ Miss Selfridge Bonded Lace Jacket £48 ~ River Island Black Print Box Clutch Bag £30 ~ Alexon Red Taffeta Bardot Dress £87.50 ~ Warehouse Embellished Shoulder Bodycon Dress £55 ~ Dune Adonis D Contrast Suede & Leather Shoe Boot £99

 

Countdown to Christmas: Packing for a Weekend Away

December is the peak of the party season which means for many people traveling to parties, dinners and get-togethers and spending weekends away. I’ve always loved going to these events but used to dread packing for them. A chronic over-packer, I would bring far too many clothes “just in case” (in case of what? That I needed to change outfit five times a day?), not only that but each set of clothes had its own specific shoes/accessories I simply had to tote along too. The end result was a lot of creased, unworn clothes and one very heavy bag. 

Recently I’ve taught myself how to streamline my packing by planning outfits in advance and taking only what I need. I’ve also learnt that if I base my outfits around a neutral colour pallet with a few items to add a pop of colour, that pieces can be easily mixed and matched for maximum wear. When a friend invited me to a dinner party in Edinburgh last weekend bookended by dinner and drinks in the Scottish borders and a day of sightseeing in the city I packed just twelve items of clothing and accessories, neutrals in shades of black/grey/cream and some stand out pieces in my favourite jewel tones. This is how I paired them to create outfits for each of the three days:

My first outfit for dinner on the Friday night was my Miss Selfridge tweed grey shorts, a cobalt blue satin cami for an injection of colour and a tailored black blazer generously loaned to me by my mum (thanks mum!) for the occasion. To dress it up a little I wore my black peep toe stilettos, silver leaf necklace and this gorgeous beaded clutch from Dune. The subtle touch of sparkle stops the outfit looking too plain or too dark.

 
My outfit for dinner on the second night was this emerald green silk dress from Oasis. Part of the reason I chose this specifically is that it’s super lightweight and folds up incredibly small, taking up virtually no space. Yes, it can crease but simply wrapping it in a couple of sheets of tissue paper will ensure it arrives wrinkle free and ready to go! I deliberately kept the accessories minimal and very simple to let the dress shine, wearing my peep toes from Friday night and carrying this Accessorize embroidered/clutch purse which was all I needed to hold my essential items, lipgloss and a comb.

My final outfit for the weekend which I wore for sightseeing/shopping in Edinburgh on Sunday was this River Island purple wool coat paired with my tweed shorts, my favourite cream jumper (I love the cosy cowl neck!), fleece-line opaque tights and my Topshop ‘Adore’ ankle boots from last season. 

So there’s my complete weekend-away-wardrobe, three outfits that fit neatly into a carry-on bag. Do you find it difficult to pack for winter breaks? Do you have any packing tips or tricks?

 

 

From China with Love: Cut Price Fashion Review

 
I’ve shopped on ebay for years but I always used to be sceptical about buying from China. While the vast collection of eastern fashion always appealed to me I was concerned about the quality and sizing of garments and worried about items being lost or delayed in the post. Then a few months ago I spotted an owl pendant that I’d been unable to find on the high-street, at just over a pound including international shipping from China it seemed too big a bargain to pass up so I ordered it and prepared myself for a long wait. Amazingly it arrived in well under two weeks -a lot faster than the 28 day estimate. It was carefully packed in a padded envelope and the quality was on par with what I’d expect from fashion jewellery sold in the UK.

Since then I’ve purchased other jewellery, stationary, electronics and even a ball gown from China, while not every transaction has been perfect any problems I’ve had have been minimal. Recently I bought one item that arrived damaged and another that just didn’t turn up, in both cases I found the sellers very friendly, approachable and eager to help. They both acted quickly to solve the problem, offering my choice of replacement or full refund.

My latest purchases are a studded collar shirt for just under £10 and a ribbed bodycon skirt for an incredible £2.85. I was delighted when they both arrived last week within a couple of days of each other. The shirt is so pretty and versatile –I can imagine layering it under sweaters or pairing it with a simple blazer and coloured jeans. I’m really happy with the design and the quality, the chiffon fabric has just the right level of sheerness and has some weight to it so it hangs beautifully. The collar too has been embellished with high-quality riveted metal studs, I can’t imagine them coming loose or falling off with use. My only minor quibble is that despite being quite narrow at the shoulders the body of the shirt is very boxy, I’m considering slimming the sides a little for a better fit. The shirt was described as ‘one size’ and measures approximately 14’’ at the shoulders and 18’’across the body. It is 22’’ long and the sleeves are approximately 20’’. It can be found on ebay.co.uk here. 

I am equally happy with the bodycon skirt, the colour is beautifully rich and the simple design will work with everything from a blouse to a graphic tee to a sweater. The thick woven material has a really nice feel and I think the addition of the pleating detail makes the skirt look a lot more expensive than it was. The fit however highlights just how different Chinese sizes can be from western ones. Described as a size ‘S/one size’ the skirt measures a mere 10.5’’ at the waist and just over 12.5’’ at the hips, although the fabric does allow it to stretch a couple of inches this still makes it smaller than the average UK4. If you need a petite fit like me buying from China can actually really work to your advantage, but I’d still recommend checking measurements very carefully before buying or if in doubt asking the seller. If you’d like to try the skirt it can be found here.