Shops List

This post will serve as a list of all fairly affordable clothing and accessory shops I've found both online and on the high street. If you have any suggestions for shops to be added then post them in the comments below and I'll consider them. I'll update this post each time I find more shops, and I'll try and update the list to make it more readable too, so this is an ongoing work in progress. Hope you find this useful!

Style Winners At The Oscars 2013

Sunday night was the night of The Oscars 2013! We found out who won the awards, but which ladies were the style winners? Here are my top picks from the red carpet.

THE DARK
Adele / Salma Hayek / Sandra Bullock
Black is classic, and these ladies were just that.
My favourite: Adele, who looked every inch the bond girl in her Jenny Packham gown.

THE LIGHT
Charlize Theron / Jennifer Lawrence / Amanda Seyfried
Light pinks and purples, as well as whites, were very popular on the red carpet this year.
My favourite: Charlize Theron. A look that was simple but absolutely stunning. Looking forward to seeing a whole lot more white this spring!

 THE BRIGHT
Jennifer Garner / Kerry Washington / Jennifer Aniston
There were slim pickings for bright coloured gowns this year, but most of the ladies who did wear them got it right.
My favourite: Jennifer Aniston, who looked as vibrant as her dress. What a beautiful lady!

THE SPARKLING
 Catherine Zeta Jones / Jessica Chastain / Halle Berry
These starlets barely needed their metallic gowns to sparkle.
My favourite: Jessica Chastain. She rocked the old hollywood glamour look with this dress, hair and makeup. She may not have won Best Actress but she certainly was a winner style-wise in my books!

This post was created as part of IFB Project #84.
 So, those are my picks, but who wore your favourite looks that evening? Comments always appreciated.
Lots of love and designer gowns,

5 Ways To Wear A Little Red Dress

Valentine's Day was pretty much a non-event for me, seeing as I don't have a boyfriend and no super hot secret admirers felt the need to present themselves to me (so, if any good-looking, single guys around my age happen to be reading this post... get out while you have the chance, I am a notorious sweet addict, your confectionery will never be safe again).
So, basically, this is as close to a Valentine's day themed blog post as you're going to get from me, red being the colour of love. The gorgeous dress featured in all of these looks comes from Modcloth, but you can probably get a little red dress from most clothing stores.

Casual
Cardigan / Boots / Bracelets / Belt

Going Out
Shoes / Bracelets / Belt

Business Casual
Blazer / Brogues / Necklace

Dark
Leather Jacket / Shoes / Bracelets

Cutesy
Ballet Flats / Hairband / Cardigan

On a different note, you may have noticed I've enabled word verification for comments on my blog. This isn't because I'm a big meanie who wants you to jump through hoops. This is because the blog's been getting a lot of spam recently. Not all of those comments got automatically filtered, and unfortunately it seemed to be the most inappropriate comments that were getting through. I try to keep this blog appropriate in case a young fashion-lover happens to find it, and it's very tedious going through every comment to weed out the spam, so I'm refusing to put up with it!
Buckets of love,

Alternatives To Wearing Heels

I am not a graceful lady.

My feet turn slightly sideways when I walk, I am forever bumping into things and in general I am incredibly awkward when it comes to walking anywhere. This is all while wearing flat shoes, so I dread to think what would happen if I wore heels in public, but I have no doubt it would result in broken bones (either mine from toppling over, or someone else's from me standing on them) and a whole lot of blisters. But what about when heels are the norm, and I'm forbidden from stomping around in my clunky boots? That's basically the reasoning behind this post - a guide to classy looking alternatives to wearing high heels.

Ballet Flats

These are a classic. You probably already own a pair - or several in different colours - because they're so versatile. I recommend owning at least a black, peachy-pink and metallic pair. The pair featured are £11.00 from Forever 21.

Cute Sandals

...Not your cheap pair of flip-flops though! Owning a nice pair of sandals is perfect for the summer, and should be a must if you plan on going on holiday somewhere hot. I recommend FitFlops if you want them to be extra comfy too. The embellished sandals featured above are £12.99 from New Look.

Brogue Shoes

These will not look good with the classiest of gowns, but if you're going for a short, casual but pretty dress then these can add a cute little twist to your outfit. The pair featured are £28.00 and come from Dorothy Perkins.

Loafers
Another classic shoe. These can be worn as a substitute for ballet flats, and patent black pairs like the one featured above could be good for work too. The pair featured are £17.99 from New Look.

Boots
Flat knee-high or ankle boots in a simple design can look classy too! Just avoid combat boots (though they are pretty awesome). The ankle boots featured above are £29.99 from AX Paris.

Small Wedges

And finally, this is kind of cheating, but wedges tend to be a lot easier on your legs and feet than traditional stick thin heels - and going for small wedges is even better. The wedges featured are £15.99 from New Look.

I hope this has helped out any other fellow non-graceful beings. If you have any tips on what to wear instead of heels that I haven't mentioned, please share!

Lots of love and flat sensible shoes,

5 Ways To Mix Prints

One of the best things about fashion is having fun and experimenting with colours, textures and patterns, but mixing two different prints can be a bit of a gamble - you can end up looking either absolutely amazing or catastrophic. In general I would say you should stick to two prints to mix, three at a push, to avoid looking like a walking jumble sale. I decided to make a little guide with some advice on different ways you can try mixing prints!

Patterned denim jeans.

The subtle pattern used on these denim jeans contrasts with the bold floral print of the boots, making the outfit interesting without it giving you a headache.

Subtle pops of pattern.

Adding a couple of subtle pops of print to an an otherwise neutral and plain outfit is a great way to liven it up a little! I think this floral scarf and snakeskin print shoes do just that.

Same print, different style.

Simple - use the same pattern in a different colour or style! Plaid is really great for this - it gives a rustic feel to an outfit. You could also try the same type of pattern on a different scale (e.g. a top with little polka dots and a skirt with larger spots).

Same colours, different pattern.
This is kind of the opposite of the above. I went for a classic black and white colour scheme, using stripes and a floral print, but stripes and polka dots, and subtle colour schemes, could work well together too.

Subtle mixed with bold.
Lace is good for this. Try pairing a subtly printed lacy top with any kind of bold printed skirt. Alternatively, you could try this the same time as the above tips, and pair a bold floral print with a subtler one, or bold and subtle prints in similar colour schemes.

I hope this post has given you some inspiration on how you can try mixing prints in your outfits. Of course, this is just a quick guide, and I'd definitely encourage you to think outside the box - that's what fashion is all about! Please feel free to share any tips, comments or advice you may have about mixing prints in the comments below.
Thanks very much for reading. Until next time, happy print mixing!

Fashion Flashback: 1960s

 

My goodness! I can't believe it's been two weeks since my last post. 2013 has been a pretty damn hectic year for my so far, so as you can see my blog has kind of taken a backseat. But for now, my exams are over and I feel there is a great weight off my shoulders, so I can get back to doing fun things now that I have more free time - like running this blog properly again!

Fashion Flashback is a series of affordable, modern outfits that take inspiration from the fashion of past decades. If you'd like to see my last post on 1950s fashion, check it out here. This time it's all about the 1960s!

The sixties was an important time for fashion. It saw the rise of many items which are still wardrobe staples to this day, such as mini skirts and ballet flats, and fashion was fun and flirty. One of the most famous fashion icons of the decade was fashion model Twiggy, famous for her unique, androgynous look and thin figure.

Items featured:

1. Dress from Topshop / £46.00

2. Bangle from Macy's / £12.29
3. Bangle from Mango / £10.00
4. Earrings from Dorothy Perkins / £5.00
5. Shoes from Republic / £18.00
Total = £91.29

Inspiration pictures taken from here and here.

Both monochrome and bright colours were in fashion during the 1960s, so I wanted this outfit to give a little nod to both. Shift dresses won't look great on everyone, but if you substitute it for a LBD that suits your body shape then I think this makes for a timeless outfit! So, what do you think of the style of the 60s? What's your favourite decade for fashion?

As always, thank you so much for reading, and comments are very much appreciated.

Tons of love,

The Wizard Of Oz

I was watching this film the other week, and I was reminded about how beautiful is. The colours in Oz are so vibrant, and the costumes are fantastic, and it got me inspired to write a blog post inspired by the film. I started out just wanting to recreate Dorothy's iconic outfit, but then I found inspiration in a few other places, and here are the results!
I've linked most of the items included in these outfits underneath each outfit. If you want to see the full list of items then you can find all of these outfits on my Polyvore page.

Glinda by floral-mess

This first look is inspired by Glinda, the good witch, who wore my favourite costume from this movie, and possibly one of my favourite costumes from any movie. It must've weighed a ton! Glinda's dress is pretty much how I longed to dress every day for the rest of my life when I was about 6 years old.

Items included:
Dress from New Look / £55.00
Oxford Shoes from Splendid / £62.00
Earrings from Accessorize / £3.00
Bracelets from Dorothy Perkins / £15.00

Wicked Witch by floral-mess

The wicked witch had the right idea (in terms of fashion mind you, a little less so in terms of morals) - after all, black is always in fashion. I do think the hat was a bit of a fashion faux pas though - it's just for decoration on here, but you can try and rock it if you're a fan of pointy headgear. Green body paint is also optional.

Items included:
Dress from House Of Fraser / £22.00
Heels from Macy's / £23.00
Skull Ring from Topshop / £8.50
Flower Ring from Etsy / £7.60
Studded Clutch from Awear / £20.00
Nail Polish from SpaRitual / £7.60

Emerald City by floral-mess

This one is a little more abstract, but hey, how often do you see outfits with generous lashings of emerald green in them? Not often enough, I think. Emerald was voted 2013's colour of the year by Pantone, so maybe you'll be seeing a lot more of it this year. The land of Oz itself is so vibrant and colourful in the movie that I thought it deserved an outfit of its own.

Items included:
Jumper from Romwe / £39.00

Jeans from Miss Selfridge / £43.00
Beanie from Allsaints / £35.00
Nail Polish from NARS / £14.00

Dorothy by floral-mess

And last but definitely not least... well, I couldn't resist. Dorothy's outfit is so iconic that I don't doubt many a fashion blogger before me has taken inspiration from it, but I still felt I had to put my own little spin on it. I had to include some ruby red heels, perfect for walking down your own yellow brick road in.

Items included:

Dress from General Pants Co. / £60.00
Blouse from Monki / £12.00
Shoes from Steve Madden / £34.00
Necklace from ASOS / £18.00
Bag from Forever 21 / £16.00
Nail Polish from OPI / £16.00
Socks from Opening Ceremony / £13.00

Do you like posts that are a little more like these? It was so much fun putting this together!

Thank you so much, as ever, for reading. Until next time, keep following that yellow brick road.

Top Trends Of 2012

This year has been pretty hectic for me so far, and I apologise for letting my blog suffer for it a little bit, but things, including my posting frequency, should go back to normal by the end of January. Now, 2012 was a great year for fashion. For me it's the first year I've been properly integrated into the fashionverse, through starting this blog. This post is a little reminder of some of my favourite popular trends of the year!

1. Studs & Spikes

Images: Frankie Morello A/W 2012 / Quiz

Adding a little bit of edgy detail to an outfit really took off last year. I've mentioned in previous posts how much I love studs and spikes, so I kind of hope this is a trend that sticks around for a while longer!

2. Baroque
Images: Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2012 Runway

Baroque print was a very popular choice for adding some sophisticated glamour to clothing both on the runway and in highstreet shops. I love it on dresses, it just adds a very royal, elegant touch.

3. Military
Images: Burberry Prorsum Fall 2012 Runway

I've previously dedicated an entire post to this trend, which should speak volumes about how much I adore it. Camouflage print, khaki and combat boots were all in trend in 2012, and can add a bit of kickass chic to an outfit.

4. Oxblood
Images: Nina Ricci Fall 2012 Runway, Christian Siriano Fall 2012 Runway

This dark red hue was THE colour of autumn 2012. I particularly remember there being a lot of love for Alexa Chung's head-to-toe oxblood look. This colour is classy, suits a lot of different skintones, and happens to goes well with pretty much every other trend on this list.

5. Black Leather
Images: Valentino Fall 2012 Runway / Topshop
Leather has never really been out of style but in 2012 it was cropping up everywhere you can think of - including on shorts, on the sleeves of military-style jackets, and in the form of leather-look jeans. This is a really great trend because it goes with almost anything!

Are there any fashion trends of 2012 you loved that I've missed? What were your favourites?
Let's hope that this year will hold some exciting new fashion trends too.

Studded Boots

This Christmas was the best one yet.

...Okay, I say that every year. But it's always true! I just love Christmas, and the magic surrounding it is very much still there for me. This year I spent a lot of time with my family, which was so much fun, and I also received some really lovely presents. I'm not going to do one of those haul posts, because they seem a tad showoff-y to me (sorry to anyone reading this who's done one!), I'm just going to write about one of my presents which I was very excited about; a pair of studded boots.

Please excuse the phone photo, but EEEK aren't they so cute?! You can find them here.
They inspired me to do a round-up of other cute pairs of studded boots (all of which are under £60).

Items featured:

1. Debenhams / £40.00

2. Office / £35.00
3. Boohoo / £20.00
4. New Look / £39.99
5. New Look / £59.99
6. River Island / £20.00
7. ASOS / £48.50

Do you have a love for studded things too? Would you wear studded boots? Please share!

I should also mention that in-keeping with the somewhat cleaner look to my blog, I decided that I need to cut down on the length of my blog post titles too. Expect more two-worded post titles and a lot less ones that would almost take up a full tweet.

Hope you're loving 2013 so far! Best wishes.

5 Fashion New Year Resolutions

Welcome to my first blog post of 2013, and the end of my blogging hiatus!
Usually, I'm pretty good with my new year's resolutions, mostly because I either set realistically easy-to-accomplish ones or I don't set them at all. This year I thought I'd go with the former option, and because I've enjoyed fashion blogging a lot these past few months, I thought I'd make them all fashion-related. So, I present to you my fashion resolutions for 2013.

#1. Have a proper closet clean out
I recently became aware of the fact that my wardrobe is full. I realised this as I was desperately trying to cram a pair of leggings onto an already full clothes rack. I confirmed that I definitely need to have a closet clean out when I found a top that was for ages 13-14. I am 17 years old. Yikes. So, my resolution is to look through the whole of my wardrobe and get rid of the items I never wear or don't fit me properly. I plan on filling big charity bag with my old clothes and possibly saving an item or two in case I want to try a DIY project.

#2. Buy less fashion fads, and more classically stylish items

I think I've been pretty good throughout 2012 in not buying into fleeting fashion trends too much, but I'm making it an official resolution of mine this year. My goal is to buy less of these fads and more items which never seem to go out of style. This would save money, and would also mean less need for closet clean outs in the future!

#3. Try out some DIY tutorials
This is pretty simple. I've seen lots of easy DIY tutorials that I wanted to try but never got round to it, so my resolution is to try out one or two of them. In a lot of cases putting in a bit of work can save money too, which is a bonus.

#4. Learn how to sew better
I can sew, but not very well, so I'd like to learn how to do it a little better. Sewing is a skill which can easily fix a lot of fashion problems, such as buttons falling off or small rips in fabric. Plus, it's just a good general life skill to know.

#5. Stay the same dress size
I am currently a UK dress size 10, which makes me somewhere in the middle of being curvy and slim. I'm at a healthy weight now, so I'm not particularly bothered about losing weight, although some of my jeans are a little tight right now so I could probably do with losing a couple of pounds. My goal for this year is to stay the same dress size, so that I won't have to buy a load of new clothes in a different size because my current wardrobe is too tight or too loose for me!

Do you have any fashion-related new year resolutions for 2013? Please share!

Thank you for bearing with me through this blogging hiatus. I am so so grateful for all returning readers of this blog, and I hope that I'll be writing another set of resolutions for my blog this time next year.
Much love,

Christmas Day Outfits

What's this? No Friday Five today?
Well, I'm shaking things up a little bit because this will be one of my last posts for a while. I'll be officially on hiatus until early January. I feel like I need a little break because obviously Christmas is a pretty busy time, and then I have a few exams in January that are going to take up a lot of my time. But I'll be back soon, of course, armed with some shiny new posts and hopefully a new blog layout.
Now, in this post, I'll be showing you three outfits that will get me through Christmas day!

 Christmas Morning
In my opinion, nothing beats spending the whole of Christmas morning snuggled up in your PJs. I've done it ever since I was a little girl, and I see no reason to stop now!

Braving The Cold
There is some sort of unwritten rule that if there is snow on the ground on Christmas day, the entire family has to leave the gorgeous warmth of the house and trek aimlessly through the snow to nowhere in particular for about twenty minutes. I've never really got the point of this, but I guess it's a nice tradition.

Christmas Dinner
This will usually take place just after we've gone on an outside venture, and is one of my favourite parts of the day. I like to wear something casual (i.e. with a bit of room for Christmas pudding) but nice and pretty. This could also be worn for Christmas parties.

 So, these are the sorts of things I'll be wearing on Christmas day, but what about you? Will it be a pajama day for you or will you be dressed up to the nines by 7am? Leave a comment if you like.
Lots of love and mistletoe,