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Tuesday 14 August 2012

Trend Tip - Studs are everywhere!

Whilst reading the magazines and watching the stars is great for identifying the trends, there's nothing that beats going into the shops to see where it's really at.  I love to look at, inspect and feel the pieces that I have seen in magazines, just to see what they are really like - and then to pass that information on to everyone else!

What I really noticed when in the stores yesterday - it was difficult not to - was that studs were everywhere. They graced ballet pumps, smoking slippers, stilletos and bags.  I felt slightly under attack by them at one stage - wherever I turned, there they were!

First off, I spotted these ballet flats  - Lieutenant by Carvela at Kurt Geiger, which cost £95.  For me, the studs on these shoes serve to make them a much more up to date style of ballet pump. Just so you know, they are really heavy!

                              Carvela Kurt Geiger Lieutenant Women Brands Carvela Kurt Geiger Shoes Flats Ballerinas
   
Next up, I love this Steve Madden studded slipper shoe £80. The shoes are seriously wicked.  They also come in black and they are brilliant. I know, I can't believe I'm saying that either but they are! I tried them on and loved them - though the studs which stick out at the side do have the effect of widening the feet - which I am not sure is a look I am entirely after!



                                              Studlyy Studded Slipper Shoes
 
   



 Or, for a bag, how about this Slyvie stud tote at Kurt Geiger, reduced to £119 from £260.




        KG Kurt Geiger Sylvie Stud Tote Women Accessories Bags Brands KG Kurt Geiger Tote Shoulder Sale Sale Neutral

And finally, for something totally off the scale - The Only Way Is Essex anyone? Here we have the KG Kurt Geiger Eris £190. They make me feel nauseous just looking at them - the vertigo, the pain, the cost - just the shoes really.  But I accept that some will love them - and all items deserve to be loved by someone - it just won't be me loving these.




                                       Kg Kurt Geiger Eris
 


If it's a nod to the trend you are after - as opposed to a full on Sid Vicious onslaught, how about this Renegade Cluster Bracelet  £45 from Stella & Dot, which also comes in silver. It's a lovely piece which shows that you know where it's at, rather than screaming it from the roof tops!

                                                     Renegade Cluster Bracelets
        

So, that's a whistle stop tour through one of the major trends of A/W '12.   Just remember that you saw them here first!  























Monday 13 August 2012

Looking for shoes inspired by the Charlotte Olympia Bisoux Loafers - and possibly the only scarf you will ever need!

Following on from yesterday's post, where I showed you the lovely Charlotte Olympia Bisoux loafers, I have been doing a little research to see if any there are any shoes on the High Street which have taken their inspiration from them.  The answer so far, is no - but I stand to be corrected!

I was working today and I disappeared into House of Fraser with my client at 9.30am, only to re-appear at 2.30pm.  During the course of that visit we went to the shoe department and I didn't see anything there which remotely resembled them.

On returning home, I did some more research and although I didn't find any similar shoes, my money is on New Look coming up with the goods. Why? Well because one of Charlotte Olympia's best known style of shoes are these....




the Charlotte Olympia Kitty Flats  (£465), which have clearly inspired these...


Black (Black) Blink Black Cat Face Slipper Shoes | 258514301 | New Look


Clearly New Look have their eye on what Charlotte Olympia is up to, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a similar version on the shelves soon.

Here I am dressed for my day in the shops - less Charlotte Olympia and more Jones (several years old) on the shoe front but they are red with pink hearts and it's the nearest thing that I have to them!

I also wore navy Cos trousers, NW3 knit, Jigsaw necklace and Warehouse bag. I love styling in the summer - it's so much easier without all the extra layers to carry, which means lots of space for extra bags - and we had oh so many bags today!





We bought many lovely pieces today and this was one of them, which I thought I would show you as it is a scarf in a lovely Whistles print (there are three dresses and a shirt in this print). With so many beautiful colours in it, it is really versatile and will go with so many plain tops. It is called the wild meadow scarf £45



                                                                Wild Meadow Scarf

 Lovely isn't it?  And great with grey, blue, pink, navy, black, green and camel. Possibly the only scarf you will ever need.

Sunday 12 August 2012

Style Guile Smile - Is it a ballet flat? Is it a smoking slipper? No, it's the Charlotte Olympia Bisoux Loafers

                                                  Bisoux loafers

You may have seen the post that I did last week about smoking slippers. On the whole, they were received very positively but I can understand that some have reservations about them. 

So these, I think, are a half way house between a ballet flat (which are starting to, dare I say it, look a bit dated) and a smoking slipper - the Charlotte Olympia Bisoux Loafers

At £465 they are not at all cheap but, the good news (I think) is that they have sold out in most sizes, other than a 37 - so even if you were tempted, it may not be possible to push that button on the computer which would make them yours!

However, what these did more than anything when I saw them, was make me smile. I love red shoes, I love pink shoes, so the combination of the two together and the cheeky lip detail were a perfect combination for me. They won't ever be mine but I can live with that!

Anyone else hoping to watch the Spice Girls in action tonight? It's got to be done really hasn't it?  I'm just off to whizz up a Union Jack dress from a tea towel in preparation.

Saturday 11 August 2012

A night out with the girls - in Jigsaw, Reiss and Alexander McQueen


I just wanted to say "hello" and "thank you" to the new readers who have found Style Guile as a result of the joint post that I did earlier in the week with Avril from School Gate Style and Joanna from Poppy's Style. It's lovely to have you along!



On a recent night out with some friends, I wore these new Jigsaw stretch cotton sateen ruched trousers (reduced from £98 to £45 and available in a size 12 online), with an Alexander McQueen top and Reiss grey and black wedges with snakeprint detail.

The girls in the Jigsaw store in Birmingham were great at tracking the trousers down for me and eventually they found them overseas - in Belfast in fact. They are really comfortable - soft, with a decent rise on them and a pretty ruching detail around the cuff. Mine have given slightly so I would go down a size in them if you are tempted.



stretch-cotton-sateen-ruched-trousers

I was in Harvey Nichols when I spotted this Alexander McQueen top in the sale. Alexander (Lee) McQueen had just died and this piece was from the last but one collection that he designed. I felt that it was a little piece of history and somehow it became mine.  




The Reiss wedge shoes were bought for my husband's 40th, one or two years ago now. So the outfit is made up of something old (Reiss shoes), something new (Jigsaw trousers) nothing borrowed but something blue (in the circumstances surrounding in which the top was acquired).  But I have to say that a combination of a balmy evening, some Pimms and Pizza, meant that we had plenty of laughs!

Friday 10 August 2012

Bring it on, that failing sight: Victoria Beckham designs glasses for Cutler and Gross but until then my new Boden sunglasses will do perfectly!



I read in a magazine the other day that 50% of the signs of ageing on your face are in the eye area.  Oh flip - for one who pays little or no attention to the products she is using on her face, that's not good to know.

After reading the article I dug out a  sample of eye cream that I had: Lancome Renegerie "repositioning eye cream".  The trouble is, I don't really want my eyes to be repositioned.  A little less crepey looking would be great but as for their position, they have worked fine where they are up until now.  I have visions of waking, having used it, with one eye on my forehead and one on my chin.

Never one to be convinced by expensive lotions and potions, I thought that sunglasses might be the answer to my problems - particularly as the sun was shining today.



So, for the first time, I wore the new Boden sunglasses that I was lucky enough to have been given at their press day, way back when.





They are a fab orange colour on the inside and then a mink colour on the outside, which suits my colouring.




As I have mentioned on more than one occasion now, I think that it might be time that I started wearing glasses.  Never one to be negative about the inevitable, with the new Victoria Beckham range for Cutler and Gross in the pipeline, and having spotted one of my friends recently wearing a pair of fab new glasses, I can feel a whole new, never previously explored (and totally necessary) world of accessories opening up to me! Bring it on, that failing sight!!!

Thursday 9 August 2012

A style event at Hobbs - and a preview of the Autumn Collection - so exciting!



A couple of months ago, I was invited by the Hobbs store in Birmingham to run a Style Event with them.  The evening, which took place two weeks ago, consisted of cocktails, champagne and 20% off their new season's stock.

I gave a presentation on some new season pieces that I had selected, together with advice on trends for the season and some capsule pieces for the winter wardrobe.  The audience were great and the presentation generated a lot of chat and questions, which gave for a lovely atmosphere.

These are three of the NW3 necklaces which I styled on one of the models.  I love the look of them layered together and it is a much more modern way of wearing more dainty pendants which, on their own, may not amount to much. Try it with some pieces that you already have in your jewellery box at home to see if you like the results!

Whilst they wouldn't stay like that when on, this is a nice way to display them. From left to right they are the NW3 horseshoe pendant (£25) the  NW3 sparkly bee pendant (£29) and the NW3 doormouse pendant (£25).





This is a photgraph of me mid flow, animatedly talking about what I love best - clothes!



and this is something, which, I think you can tell from the photo, I seriously have my eye on.




It's the Lisset Bag which costs £199 and which also comes in black and patent

                                  

These are some of the lovely ladies that I met on the evening.





And now briefly for a few of the pieces:

This is the NW3 gallop dress, (£129) aptly named given the print. It reflects beautifully the equestrian trend which we are going to see so much of this season.  What I really like about it is that it's a feminine way of wearing the trend - and there can be no suggestion that you have just jumped off your horse.




The gallop dress isn't going to work for all bodyshapes, so as an alternative, there's the NW3 gallop shirt (£75) which is also lovely.


                                     


I loved this simple, elegantly stylish Talitha Dress (£159) which is in one of the hottest colours of the season - Red. Neatly fitted with elbow length sleeves, I wouldn't be suprised if we saw a certain Duchess wearing it at some point!

                               


This Coco dress (£189) is a great shape for pear shaped ladies. With a neat fitted top half and a slight flare to the skirt, it will flatter in all of the right places.  The white trim will ensure that the eye is drawn to the cuffs and collar.

                                

As I was driving along today, I saw a woman walking along the road wearing a fab white collar over a black dress. I thought to myself "Wow, she's rocking the trends way ahead of the season, and I thought how similar her outfit looked to this dress.  Only as I drew level did I realise she was a nun! (Hope I haven't put you off the dress!)

You are going to see this dress EVERYWHERE this season! This Caravaggio Dress (£199) reflects perfectly the decadent floral prints which were seen at Erdem and Dolce and Gabbana. If you find the combination of the print and the peplum a little overwhelming, Hobbs have done a separate skirt and blouse in the same print, which you can see here


                                    




I loved this unstructured Jean Bag £229.  It is quite a departure for Hobbs from their more structured, traditional style handbags and whilst not inexpensive, it could easily be mistaken for a Balenciaga bag.


                               
 



This Maris Peplum belt (£99) is a little different.  It taps into both the trend for leather, and peplums - but obviously being a belt it provides more versatility as it can be swapped between skirts and dresses.  I have seen another one at Asos and there are also designer versions too.  What do you think?

                                    


And finally, the Mara Toecap court (£149).  Toe cap shoes are a big trend at the moment. Jimmy Choo, Yves Saint Laurent and Louboutin all have shoes with toe caps and they have now filtered down to the High Street, where they can be found at Topshop, Dune and Kurt Geiger.

This pair also come in other colours.  Irrespective of trends though, I think that these are beautifully elegant and the animal print on the shoe will do a fantastic job of adding some interest to any plain work outfit - from a trouser suit, to a skirt suit, to a pencil skirt and black polo combination, or a shift dress. They would also look fabulous out of work with a pair of black cigarette pants and a trench coat.


                                          

For more pictures of the evening, and also her great write up,  please pop over to  Emma at fashion mommy. Thanks to Emma for providing the photos of me in action!

Oh, for the evening I wore a French Connection dress, Hobbs belt and Pied a Terre shoes.  One of the most exciting things for me was being shown through to the back of the store and the staff room!  Best of all, I noticed that on one of their noticeboards they had pinned up the article of me in Woman & Home magazine. The girls are so lovely in the Birmingham store! Thanks to Eleanor, Jenny and Suzie for a great evening.






Wednesday 8 August 2012

A collaboration between three bloggers and their printed Primark jeans!

A while ago now, Avril from School Gate Style suggested that those of us who had featured the same Primark printed jeans on our blogs, might like to do a joint post together. And so here we are: Avril on the left, Joanna from Poppy's Style  in the middle and me on the right.


It was always my intention to return my jeans, not because I didn't like them but because I didn't want to tread on the fashion toes of our thirteen year old.

However, for various reasons I didn't manage it and they remained in the back of my car until it was too late to do anything other than try and see if I could make them work for me.

These jeans aren't the easiest piece in the world to style and they do require some perseverence. A light background is always less flattering than a light print on a dark background.  Also, because they do add a little bulk, I prefer them with heels - and it's quite hard to find heels to wear with them for a day time look. Here are some of the ways in which I have styled them.

Outfit 1 above: Topshop sequin T, Jigsaw necklace, H&M shirt, New Look desert boots, La La Rocks bracelet;

Outfit 2 below: With plain grey Jigsaw top and cream Dune brogues for a day time look.

                                                 

Outfit 3: With wedge desert boots, sparkly Topshop top, open shirt (H&M) and Zara boyfriend cardigan.  Out of all of the looks, this is my favourite - a bit of height from the heels, coverage from the boyfriend cardi, and a less fitted top than the one above means no breathing in required!  



Outfit 4: Dune brogues, Coast grey silk vest top, H&M shirt





Outfit 5: Lilac striped French Connection jumper, H&M blazer, LK Bennett Sledge shoes.  This is obviously more of an evening outfit.  The lilac stripes in the jumper pick up the lilac of the jeans.  However I  then toned it back down with the addition of a white jacket.



                                

I think that I got there in the end and that the £13 ish that I paid for them won't have been wasted.  Now that I have found a combination that I like (outfit 3) and which I can wear locally without feeling too daft,  I will try to get maximum wear before the summer is out. 


So, here we are again! Avril looking beautifully serene and stylish as ever, having styled her jeans for an evening out.  Joanna, in one of  my favourite Boden blazers, which adds a stylish sophisticated feel, and me in a casual look with heels.



Why not head over to School Gate Style  and Poppy's Style to see how Avril and Joanna have styled their floral jeans and also to read their fabulous blogs, which I am sure you will love.

Tuesday 7 August 2012

Smoking Slippers - Where do you stand?

 




         

From left to right:

Jeffrey Campbell at Harvey Nichols £125
Heraki Glitter Slipper Shoe from Ted Baker £75.
Jimmy Choo Wheel for £235

I can feel a Volte-face coming on. It happens at least once a season.  The signs are there - I can't ignore them - and it's not good.
 
This is the usual pattern: I see a particular item (in this case smoking slippers) and have an instant and intense dislike of them.  Even being exposed to them on a daily basis, via magazines and in the stores, still I can't shift my irrational dislike. I even try them on, just to be sure that I'm not being narrow minded - and still I hate them.  I write about how I dislike them and then something happens.  Having committed my thoughts to writing, they somehow worm their way into my consciousness and I start to see their appeal. It's predictable, it's fickle but it happens.

That doesn't mean to say that I am going to rush out and buy a pair but I am starting to see their appeal - especially the sparkly ones, because really they don't look like something Hugh Heffner would wear. No, not at all. Rather they are more of a cinderella slipper without the heel, a ballet pump with an extra piece up the front of the foot - and that I can get my head around.
Smoking slippers come in many, and various, finishes, from leopard print to sparkles and patents to pastels.


  
                                     Sam Edelman Alvin



                                     
The leopard print ones above are  Alvin by Sam Edelman at Kurt Geiger and cost £150.However, again you can find versions at Dune, Topshop, New Look, Kurt Geiger and now even Clarks has a leopard print pair for £39.99. Yes, they too are on the Slipper Shoe bandwagon! 

Like the wedge trainers, I think that they provoke strong emotions in us - which camp are you in - love or loathe, like or dislike or on the fence - but kind of falling off?!!

Tapping into next season's trends for all things Oriental, Embellised and Baroque (you can take your pick with these), IF I were to buy a pair, I would them with these Orienatal Floral Cigarette trousers from Topshop, which are £45, and a plain black knit - just to avoid looking too fairy like!




                                              Oriental Floral Cigarette Trousers



How will you be wearing yours - or won't you - never in  a million years!






Monday 6 August 2012

Style Tip: It's the little things that can make a difference: Embellished collars

Collars are big - not in the literal sense but in the fashion sense.  The past few seasons have seen them brought to our attention to the point where it is often the collar on a garment which takes centre stage, rather than the garment itself.

Zara has, for a while now, been adding studs, sequins and other embellishment to the collars on its blouses as shown here on this Zara new season blouse, which costs £39.99


                  BLOUSE WITH APPLIQUÉS AROUND NECKLINE


 Zara also has this parrot shirt with diamante on the collar which costs £29.99.  


                             



Adopting a slightly different theme, they have also released this embroidered tulle blouse with pearls around the collar for £32.99 - so pretty.


                                

For a white cotton shirt which is crystal embellished, take a look at Maje at Net-a-Porter

Embellished collars aren't going to appeal to everyone, so as an alternative way to get a similar look but with a little more flexibility, an embellished collar necklace can do a fantastic job. The obvious difference is that they can be worn with a variety of different pieces, from breton style tops, to fine knits, to collar-less shirts and plain t-shirts.

I have already shown you the NW3 beaded collar, which I wore when on holiday. It can be worn at a variety of different lengths, which makes it extra versatile.






 
   

For an alternative, look to Galibardy for a black pearl collar which, at £7.00, is a great way to test the water if you're not sure.

                                  BLACK PEARL COLLAR 



Dorothy Perkins offers a pastel bead collar for £12.50


                                                            Pastel bead collar


together with this soft cream bead and pearl collar for £12.00


                                                   Cream pearl and bead collar
  

For velvet, sequins or fur options, look to Gemma Lister for a fantastic selection of collars, or to Zara for this black and lime mesh bib with gemstones which would be perfect for those who prefer something a little less girlie.

                                  
   

Primark, Next, Oasis, New Look, H&M - you will find them everywhere and from velvet, to sequins, to fur, to heavy embellishment to lace and leather - there will be something for everyone if you are tempted to dip your toe in the water.

Sunday 5 August 2012

Style Guile Smile

I love it when the September issues of the magazines thud onto the door mat because, as you will all know, they contain the trends for next season. 

Fortunately my not inconsiderable stash of new magazines arrived before going away, which meant that I spent a very pleasant few hours in the car perusing, poring, ripping, sorting and studying the pages very closely, before organising my style files for A/W '12. 

I constantly update these files throughout the season, editing and re-organising them as the season progresses.  I use them as a reference point for trends, micro trends, wearable looks, up and coming brands, new designers and so on. It's very easy to identify those trends, and pieces, which are going to be huge - and I will post about them soon.

As ever, there are always a few pieces each season which set my stylist's heart racing and make me smile - hence the title of this post. And this is one of them - the Wooly Paillettes handbag, designed by Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton.  It is an oversized structured shape - half doctor's bag, half carpet bag - which is embroidered with purple, terracotta or burgundy sequins.




Of the bags, Marc Jacobs said: "They came from a concept of magic and bewilderment, an idea of surface, texture, sparkle, and shine. This meant that there was a kind of otherwordly quality."

At £2,750 I don't expect one to be making an appearance in my Wardrobe any time soon - but I have absolutely no doubt that it will inspire many high street versions - and I can't wait to find them.

Big enough to be used in the day time, it will add an element of sparkle to any outfit and will go equally well with jeans, a crombie coat and brogues, as well as with a pencil skirt, leather jacket and heels.

Many of my clients love a little bit of sparkle and I can't imagine a better way to kick start your A/W '12 Wardrobe by including a bag of this design in it.  I can guarantee that a bag reflecting this design will still be on trend for many years to come and no matter how much you invest in it, it will be worth every penny.