Claire

Autumn/Winter Trends: Wishlist.

Claire and I are definitely being those girls at the moment. We have decided that summer is officially on it’s way out (even though I tried to wear I chunky knit to work today and may have somewhat melted) and it is now time to get properly excited about autumn/winter. Even though we live together, work together and generally see far too much of each other, we’ve somehow not run out of things to say to each other. This has been especially true this week, where we have spent approximately 100000000* hours discussing how we’re going to work the autumn/winter trends and what things we’re going to look at buying.

I must admit, I have been quite worried about the autumn/winter trends. So worried in fact, that I had a nightmare I dressed head to toe in tartan last night and Kate Moss told me I looked like a genuine fool (which is probably something that would actually happen if I ever met K Mossy). After some hyperventilating, a few cups of tea and some soothing head patting by Claire, I’m feeling a bit more positive NAY EVEN EXCITED about things to come. So excited that I’ve put together my wishlists for each trend, even though most high street stores haven’t revealed their autumn/winter collections yet. WHOOPS, I’m keen. Call this a autumn/winter trend sneak peak if you will (you probably wont), but here’s what I’m thinking of investing in this autumn/winter.

Tartan CollageTartan Tshirt: Topshop | Tartan Blouse: Boohoo | Tartan Cambridge Satchel | Paisley/Tartan Scarf: Miss Selfridge | Tartan Cigarette Trousers: River Island | Leather Panel Tartan Leggings: Boohoo |

Does anyone else have that problem of not really loving a trend but then coming round to it as soon as it’s going out of fashion? SNORE. This happens to me constantly. For example, I have finally decided that I like creepers approximately 2 years late. With this in mind, I have started convincing myself that I like the tartan trend months in advance so I’m prepared for the new season. I think I might have become as obsessed with it as I am with neon at the moment, so I’m going to be seriously investing in some key tartan pieces when the time comes! Oh to own that Cambridge satchel…anyone want to lend a homegirl £140?

PVC COLLAGE
PVC Skater Skirt: Glamorous | T Bar Shoes: Topshop | PVC Backpack: Topshop | PVC Mini Skirt:Topshop | PVC Scunchie: River Island | Leather Look Tshirt: OMG Fashion | Patent Skinny Belt: ASOS |

I’m a bit dubious of the autumn/winter PVC trend but I’m willing to embrace it with rubbery arms, provided things don’t get too prostitutey.

PASTEL COLLAGE

Rose Midi Dress: Missguided | Mint Acid Wash Mom Jeans: Topshop | Lilac Beanie: Topshop |  Yellow Crop Top: Missguided | Pink Watch: Olivia Burton |

My theory is that winter pastels are going to be more on the ‘dusty’ side – with more grey tones in them that the bright summery pastels. This is definitely an autumn/winter trend that I’m looking forward to! Apparently I’m really excited to wear lilac.

WELL. These are just the top three autumn/winter trends that I’m looking forward to! I’m also really keen for oversized coats, metallics (sorry Claire) and wearing dark plum lipstick again.

What do you all think? Have you got any trends you’re excited about?

Claire

ASOS Sale: The 6 Best Bargain Dresses For This Saturday Night

ASOS Sale Dress 1Mini Polo Neck Dress / Petite ‘Cold Shoulder’ Aztec Print Dress / Glamorous Number Print Midi Dress

Asos Sale 2Square-Back Mini Dress / Motel Midi Dress /River Island Diamond Print Bodycon Dress

I always get overly-excited when Asos launch a big sale – it’s one of my favourite retailers, and I never fail to find something on there. There are always great bargains to be found in the sale section, but at the moment they seem to particularly have a frankly SUPERB selection of going-out dresses. As I’m a kind-hearted girl, I thought I’d pick out six of the best dresses that you can pick up for under £15 – and if you order today or tomorrow, it can still arrive in time for that big night out at the weekend. You are very welcome.

Claire

Wishlist: The Search For A New Handbag.

Handbags. Even girls (who arguably should be sectioned) that claim they don’t like shopping and ‘girly things’ love a good handbag. Where else are you supposed to keep essential items like phones, keys and snacks for later? POCKETS? ARE YOU MAD? HAM SANDWICHES DON’T SURVIVE IN POCKETS.

Ahem. Anyway. I’ve been on the hunt for a new handbag for a while now and I’m in two minds whether to invest in something fancy or just go with my usual standard of buying a cheap handbag that only lasts a couple of months. At the moment I’m using a horrible combination of a little black box bag for the days I don’t have a lot of stuff (it’s a really old Primark one that’s not worth getting into too much detail about) and a big floral one for when I’m going to the gym (or have a big lunch…). They’re doing me fine for now, but I really feel like I need a nice grown up handbag in a sophisticated shade of black or tan to make my life a bit better.

So, with all of this pointless information in mind, I’ve decided to put together a handbag wishlist to try and streamline my ideas and also share with y’all the best of the handbags on the highstreet.

Contrast effect bags:

Screen Shot 2013-06-25 at 12.44.31As you may notice, I’m after a bit of a classic bag that’s going to last me over the next couple of years (fingers crossed), so I’m a bit wary of getting involved in anything too neon or rucksack-y. On the topic of rucksacks, me and Claire were discussing what perils you could encounter while wearing one. Don’t get us wrong, we are both big fans of rucksacks but there are things that need to be addressed. What if someone stole my lunch on the way to work (don’t pretend like you didn’t unzip people’s backpacks at school and hide their things)? What if I fell over backwards and squashed my belongings? What if I was mistaken for a five year old and told to go back to pre-school? Will I actually just look like a giant douchebag? For these legitimate/worrying reasons, rucksacks have not been featured on this bag wishlist. Sorry gals.

Tan bags:

Screen Shot 2013-06-25 at 13.00.08

Printed bags:

Screen Shot 2013-06-25 at 13.34.06

I’m painfully aware that the tan bags and contrast bags I picked are all a bit boring, so I’ve decided to do a ‘printed’ category to take me out of my comfort zone a bit. I’m not sure how classic these are but the I do enjoy a good bit of leopard and geometric print so one of them might be the one!

What do you guys think? Any particular favourites or recommendations?

 *Note – Claire just pointed out I wrote about lunch on three occasions in this post. IT’S MY FAVOURITE MEAL OF THE DAY, I’M SORRY I ENJOY A FREAKIN’ SANDWICH.

Claire

What To Wear To Festivals This Year.

I have a wee confession to make (nothing to do with port-a-loos, don’t worry). I’m not actually going to a proper camping/I-haven’t-washed-for-five-days festival this year. I’m traditionally a HUGE Glastonbury goer and I’ve been going since the tender age of 15. However, this year has been mega expensive from getting the crib with Claire and generally being a mad person (budget, WHAT BUDGET), so I simply couldn’t afford to fork out £200 for a fezzie.

Nevertheless, I am going to the Friday at Wireless Festival (and staying at a hotel in Shoreditch, so not quite true to the festival roots) and I feel like this is still a great excuse to get a new outfit. The grand thing with any festival, even one in the middle of London, is that you can go a bit wild in terms of what to wear. Fun headwear, cute day dresses, a bit of glitter and even a bit of naughty fringing never go amiss, so it really is time for me to start planning properly. But what festival outfits are appropriate this year and what trends should we be thinking about?

I meant to do this as more of a ‘wishlist’ post but then got a bit carried away as usual, so for your viewing pleasure I have put together a few outfit options for every festival scenario. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, here are some ideas of what to wear to festivals this year.

For the perfect weather festival:

Ever the optimist, I put this one at the top of the list. This is for the festival we all dream of; perfect weather, pints of cider and dancing about in the sunshine. For those of us who are lucky to get a weekend with good weather, the festival fashion world is your oyster. This is what I would wear for a warm and sunny weekend. Some might say that a light blue summer dress is the last thing you’d want at a festival (grass stains, anyone?) but to you I say WHERE IS YOUR SENSE OF ADVENTURE AND/OR BOTTLE OF VANISH.

Screen Shot 2013-06-18 at 11.30.12

1. Swing Dress from Missguided. 2. Wayfarer Sunglasses from Topshop. 3. Tangerine Nail Paint from Barry M. 4. Floral Garland Headband from Asos. 5. Converse from Asos.

For when things get muddy:

Let’s be honest. The likelihood of getting a weekend of blue skies here in Ye Olde England is pretty much nothing so it’s better to be prepared than caught unawares. Rain ruins EVERYTHING, so these are my essentials to keep everything in tact when the weather turns sour. The absolute worst is when it’s rainy, humid and we all end up looking like Monica on Friends so hair serum is at the top of the list! I’m also absolutely in love with this neon mac. LOVE.
Screen Shot 2013-06-18 at 11.53.48

1. Neon Mac from Topshop. 2. Dungarees from Boohoo.com. 3. Long Sleeve Crop Top from Topshop. 4. Hunter Wellies from Asos. 5. John Frieda Frizz-Ease from Boots.

For the festival in the city:

This is perhaps my biggest conundrum. What on earth do you wear to a festival where there is little or no grass involved? WHERE ARE THE COWS? WILL THERE BE MUD? DO I NEED WELLINGTON BOOTS? After a lot of thinking and lying down after all the fashion exertion, this is the outfit I have come up with. I think that you can get away with being a bit dressier if you’re not rolling around in a field and you don’t need to think about inappropriate festival shoes if you’re in a city. I’m loving the contrast between pastels and darker colours at the mo!

Screen Shot 2013-06-18 at 12.22.26

1. High Neck Skater Dress from Missguided. 2. Pork Pie Hat from Topshop. 3. Black Sandals from Zara. 4. Statement Necklace from Asos. 5. Plum Lipstick from Superdrug. 

 

For the festival abroad:

YOU LUCKY THANGS. For anyone heading to Benicàssim, Tomorrowland and other genuinely exciting festival abroad, I hate you and we are no longer best pals. Thinking about what to wear to a festival abroad can sometimes mean taking into account long bus journeys, plane limits and what you can comfortably carry. But you also have to be aware that it is going to be HOT and fuelled with cheap alcohol, so this is my take on what to wear to a festival abroad. Expect maxi dresses and bikinis!

Screen Shot 2013-06-18 at 12.50.04

 

1. Neon Bikini from Missguided. 2. Round Sunglasses from Topshop. 3. Sandals from River Island. 4. Denim Skater Skirt from Miss Selfridge. 5. Hand Harness from Boohoo.com. 

So, this are just a few of my festival favourites on the highstreet at the moment! What do you all think?

Claire

Primark @ Asos – Favourite Pieces

It was only a couple of weeks ago that I wrote a post on Primark’s S/S collection and cried to the gods about Primark not offering an online shopping option. Well, sacrificing all those little lambs must have worked, because just a few days later the news started spreading on Twitter that my beloved Asos were now stocking Primark.

The items at the moment seem to be going live a couple at a time: on the first day there were only about 8 things to browse, a couple of days later there were 20 and so on. There’s now around 30 I think, and they’ve introduced some men’s pieces too (though I don’t think Primark has ever really got our male counterparts quite as giddy as it gets us, has it?)

Here are a few of my fave Primark pieces that are currently available to buy on Asos:

AsosMiamiPrimark ‘Miami’ Hockey T-Shirt – £6

I’ve banged on in great detail about my love for the current varsity trend, and this cheap and cheerful Primark jersey is a really easy way to incorporate it into your wardrobe. I love the slouchy fit and light colours of this top, and would wear it as the model does here with light denim.

 

AsosPrimarkGrafittiPrimark Grafitti Print Midi Skirt – £8

I wasn’t entirely sure about the graffiti print trend when it first appeared (why would you WANT to look like a wall..?) but I think this monochrome version really works. I am also a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge fan of the midi length, though I usually have to buy petite versions so whether this one would actually suit me remains to be seen (shall I maybe start sacrificing more small animals in the hope of Primark bringing out a Petite range?)

PrimarkDenimShirtPrimark Denim Shirt – £10

This, for me, is a classic example of what Primark do best: a simple basic, which is indistinguishable from other brands but so much cheaper.

AsosNudeMeshPrimark Mesh Sweetheart Dress – £15

They do this dress in black too, but I think the nude version is the perfect option for summer. Though that’s not to say I probably wouldn’t pick up the black one too, just in case…
What do you all think of Asos now selling Primark? What are your favourite pieces?

Claire

What to Wear: My Night Out Wishlist.

I’m currently having a terrible panic that my entire wardrobe is terrible and that if I don’t invest in some new clothes quickly my whole life will become meaningless. Some might say this is slightly over-reactive but to them I say, NAY YOU SIMPLY DON’T UNDERSTAND.

Backing up ever so slightly, I haven’t bought many new clothes of late because I was saving up for my big move from Cheshire to Coventry. Now that I have my lovely new job, a wonderful (if a bit broken and untidy) house with Claire and have finally got my life together, I have a bit of extra cash to play with. I say a bit, I don’t really have any but I feel like a baller and what is a baller without a good wardrobe?

Next week, we are having some of our university pals to stay. The story is quite tragic, mostly because my old housemate is having to move back to Dubai and we may never see her again, sob. So we’re having a bit of a hoorah at our house to say farewell and also to catch up after the long and upsetting months we have been apart. As you can tell, it is an important occasion that will definitely be fuelled by wine, tequila and a lot of cry hugging. Partly because my wardrobe is in such a pathetic state and also because it’s an excuse to buy something new, I’ve been all organised and decided to plan a few options of what to wear. I’m loving the UK fashion trends at the moment, so it’s going to be an excellent time to invest in a few key staples.

I’ve been inspired by a lot of fashion and beauty blogs that have been featuring neon pieces recently, so I think this is the main trend I’m going for when I eventually go shopping. Unfortunately, I’m having to coordinate with Claire who’s going for a neon crop top and denim skater skirt so I’m a bit limited (she’s a selfish one, isn’t she). As you might know (if you’d read my fashion tragedy post), I bought these New Look platform sandals last week and managed to break them within an hour of wearing. I’m hoping to replace them this weekend so they are my shoes of choice while I’m looking for outfits!

Screen Shot 2013-06-06 at 13.58.31Floral Midi Skirt: Missguided.  White Cropped Tshirt: Topshop.  Gold Chain: Topshop.  Yellow Nail Varnish: Barry M.  Platform Sandals: New Look.

Screen Shot 2013-06-06 at 14.28.27Printed Shorts: Boohoo.  Gold Earrings: Topshop.  Pink Lipstick: Topshop.  Shoulder Cutout Body: Missguided.  Platform Sandals: New Look.

Screen Shot 2013-06-06 at 14.54.06

Monochrome Skater Dress: Missguided.  Neon Satchel: H&M.  Geometric Earrings: Topshop.  Platform Sandals: New Look.  Black Lipstick: Barry M.

So, what do you all think? Any favourites? I’ve officially got a week before the girls come over so it’s definitely time to start planning and buying!

 

Claire

If I Was a Rich Girl: High Street Wish List

Writing a post like this is potentially one of the worst things I can possibly do to myself. I’ve just moved into a new house and am trying to come to terms with the fact that my wages now need to go on bills and rent rather than clothes – so the best idea was probably not to scour all of my favourite sites looking for things I would like the most. But hey, that’s blog dedication for you…

High Street Wish ListJuJu Jelly Shoes – Office

I’ve been fully embracing the 90s trend lately with crop tops, polo necks and dungarees – so of course the jelly shoes had to follow. I have to say I hadn’t heard of the brand JuJu before (researching jelly shoes wasn’t really top of my to-do list before…erm, today) but they’re a Northampton-based manufacturer of jelly shoes who have been in business for over 25 years (well done, JuJuians!)

These Vicky shoes are my favourite of their collection; I love the cutaway detailing, the selection of colours and – most importantly – the fact that they’re covered, meaning the public won’t be completely exposed to my vile toes. I think jelly shoes are a bit of an acquired taste – i.e. when I asked my boyfriend “Do you think these are hideous?” he spent no time trying to save my feelings and replied with a swift “Yes”. But la la la, I don’t care; I think they’re the perfect fun, summery shoe.

Adidas Originals T-Shirt – Adidas.co.uk

I’m not sure if I’m at all cool enough to pull off an Adidas Originals t-shirt (read: I know for a fact that I’m not) but I’m really tempted to try to incorporate it into my wardrobe. I have a vague intention of customising it into a crop, but then I remember my lack of success trying to sew a cushion cover in textiles class in school and think that maybe I’ll need adult supervision.

Acid Wash Denim Skater Skirt – Topshop

Who doesn’t love a skater skirt? They make you look all skinny at the waist yet allow you to devour a massive sandwich for your lunch and kindly hide the bloat for you. This acid wash denim-look skirt from Topshop is an on-trend update on the classic denim skirt (which I personally hope never rears its ugly denim head again).

Mesh Crop Top – Boohoo

I have far too many dresses that I’ve only worn once because they’re strictly ‘nightclub-only’, so it’s nice to find clothes that can be worn and re-worn in a variety of situations. I think this crop top will do just that. Night out with skater skirt and heels? Check. Trip to the pub with high-waisted jeans? Check? Daytime outfit layered over a longer top or dress? Check. Get your coat, Mesh Crop Top, you’re coming home with me.

Perspex Two-Piece Barrel Bag – Boohoo

Why would anybody want a see-through bag? I think this might be an example of me once again harking back to the 90s and thinking this bag is a reincarnation of my trusty Perspex pencil case in school. Because even though I know it’s kind of ridiculous, I really want one. The extra bag goes inside and hides all of the stuff you don’t want on display – expensive items, lady items and possibly weird items (I have been known to carry round boxes of Weetabix in my handbag) – which leaves you with the decision of what to leave on show in the transparent bit. I think I’d opt for a lipgloss and a Dostoyevsky novel, so that I looked like a well-rounded individual.

Sheer Panel Crop Vest – Topshop

Are you starting to notice how much I really like crop tops yet? Neon, sporty and cropped – this top deserves a good slap on the back for being so bangin’. I envisage myself wearing this with a black maxi skirt – and on that note, I am off to practice that theory where if you visualize something it will come to you. Ommmmmmm. It’s still not here.