Details...

Denim smock dress: Topshop

Denim shirt:vintage

Necklace: accessorize

Shoes: ASOS

Bag: Valentino

There comes a time in every girls life when she is looking for a smock.

I know this is a sweeping statement to make, but I urge any lady, of the sartorially inclined, to defy that she has once, or currently is, on the market for a good old fashioned smock dress.

They're so perfect in their form; versatile, chic and just so darn cute.

I have been on obsessed with the perfect denim smock ever since my twelve-year-old self took a permenant marker to my favourite dungadress that bared an uncanny resemblance to that Stella McCartney denim romper.  

For me, what makes the smock so chic is the details that accompany it...

 Too little and you become a sort of uncomfortable, adult looking child.

Too much, and you're verging on try hard/ overkill territory.

I found double denim (a firm favourite) neck jewels and a discrafully perfect Valentino bag to be my perfect balance.

The hem line needs taking up an inch, but we will ignore that for now and just focus on the details.

Ear knockers...

Earrings: H&M

Shirt: Boyfriends

Ear bling is having such a moment right now.

 No matter where you go; designer or high street, you cannot get away from them- and why would you want to?!

Me and my Butchers (Pat Butchers) are firm friends, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

They take an outfit from everyday to verging on inappropriately evening (my favourite) with the mere pop of a butterfly back. 

 Just make sure you give your lobes a few days for recovery...

 These babies are not for faint hearted!

Peplum unite...

 Top: H&M

Trousers: Zara

Jacket: Topshop unique

Shoes: H&M

Brolly: Unknown

Ahh yes, the peplum. Friend or foe? 

I personally find it one of the most flattering way's to draw attention to the waist (I'm slightly averse to belts that hold no 'real' function... call it an aversion or intrepid hatred, either way, contrived clothing is a massive bugbear of mine.)
With the female form being so heavily celebrated this season- and so it should be *goddesses* the peplum is back in a major way for AW. 

After a wee nod last season, the big boys came out with all guns a blazing in the way of some suurious waist accessorising- enter my double peplum/ superhero union.

Black and blue is another one of those, should I, shouldn't I situations.

I say should- they are, after all, close friends of the palette and if you choose the right shades they can merge seamlessly into one.

The brolly was an accident that turned out to be pretty well matched to the shoes, accidental accessories- my favourite!

Summer cut...

Hair: my own

Sunglasses: H&M

Changes of season always bring about feelings of fresh starts and fresh looks.

With this in mind I Periodically have two inches cut off my hair every few months to save it from
A. The remains of my over bleached Do
and
B. The self inflicted monotony/ torture of trying to grow it and kid myself that I have lustrous locks.

This is my new Do for the next few months.
I always feel empowered when I have a few inches off, like I am no longer a slave to the stereotype or  something to that effect- kind of a "F*ck you system, if I want to have glorified curtains, a la Beckham 1998, then I will, goddamit!

Short, blunt and just a bit flirty (rather like yours truly non?)

Karlie Kloss W magazine...

Karlie Kloss shot by Nick Knight W magazine

The stuff dreams are made of (albeit slightly muted dreams featuring a geisha/ ballerina/ flower wearing highbred, but that's normal right?!) Karlie Kloss photographed by Nick Knight in W magazine is the type of editorial that sparks a thousand inspirational mood boards the world over.

Chanel, Ellie Saab and floral head pieces; the only thing missing is a unicorn... not a completely ridiculous notion considering the impossible levels of beauty in this shoot. Aaaand swoon.

Summer lace...

Coat: Warehouse

Dress: Zara

Shoes: Dune

Bag: Kurt Geiger

Earrings: H&M

Sunglasses: H&M

I was out and about on my lunch break when I was accosted by the street style team at ELLEuk (lovely girls they are) I was wearing my favourite summer lace dress, fantasy coat and new orthopaedic-esk sandals- these babies are not only ridiculously comfortable but they harbour a snakeskin heel to die for! 

Both pieces tick all of my summer boxes at the moment - I use the word 'summer' very loosely.

By way of detail. I'm all about the details when it comes to city summer dressing, it often makes all the difference in an outfit!

Topped off with neon accessories *shock* and some round plastic sunnies (wishful thinking).

 You can read the whole 'summer dresses' feature here

Papercute magazine...

 

Last week I was informed that a shoot I styled and shot with Chris from Specular that is appearing in this months edition of Newyork fashion magazine, Papercut.

The shoot is one of my personal favourites as I got complete free reign and artistic direction- this is how we ended up with a set square necklace and shredded bin bags as a ponytail, let it never be said that I am not resourceful!

Lizzie is a dream to work with as she just does whatever is asked of her without question and works. it. out! 

You can read the issue on their website or get your copy of the magazine here if you want to feel it (not in a creepy way) but are not a native to the big apple.

What ELLE wears...

Jacket: Vintage

Top: Cos

Pants: Zara

Shoes: Zara

Bag: Zara

ELLEuk.com do a wonderful feature cslled "what ELLE wears".  They do it every Tuesday and you can see what everyone wears from the Editor to the interns. It always makes for fantastic viewing as the ladies at ELLE are seriously stylish.

These shoes are literally glued to my feet, in fact I am sure they have appeared in my last three outfit post *note to self- must share the shoe love* I am just memorized by the way they go with every single item in my wardrobe at the moment and the chunky heel makes for some serious comfort walking (note that they were originally T-bars and I cut it off to make a more streamline sandal).

A tonal pallet of grey and white accented with a humongous yellow bag.

This big yellow bag is another firm favourite of mine- ongoing bag crap saga not helped in the slightest!

You can check the full feature here and see what ELLE wears to work on a daily basis.

Flare magazine...

Top: H&m

Necklace: H&m

Dress: Zara

Shoes: Zara

Bag: Zara

Last month the lovely Michelle Yu of FLARE magazine asked me to get involved with the blogger style challenge.

Five bloggers were asked their interpretation of the summer lace trend. Obviously I went for a shin length number (you can take the girl out of the vicarage and all that)

I complimented it with accents of neon and a classic wardrobe staple: the Breton- my love for this top has been well documented, a Breton really is a girls best friend.

You can read the whole feature here and also see what the other bloggers wore.

CHASE...

CHASE magazine monthly feature

I cannot wait to introduce you to a wonderful project I have recently had the privilege to work on.

 CHASE magazine is the North Eats newest fashion and lifestyle magazine.

 The brain child of the truly inspirational Lisa Elliott (she's put everything into starting a magazine from scratch, funded solely by herself... if that's not girl power, then I don't know what is?!)

The magazine aims to highlight the beautiful, inspirational fashion that is available to us in the North and to expose a city that is a hub of style, creativity and art.
Wonderful photo shoots, event reviews and compelling features all taking place in and around the North East make this magazine so very special.

With a team consisting of some of the best creative's in the North; Chris Davis of Specular , Marie Harkness of Harkness, UNIT44, Carly Musleh of Beautysauce, Georgia  Claire of Georgia Claire Photography Daniel Bonar of Daniel Bonar Salon and...me of well, here! This project is only going to get bigger and better.

I have a monthly double page spread in the magazine, sort of like my blog.
It consists of things I'm loving, fashion, trends, outfit posts and everything in between so you can catch up with what I'm up to- I will also be contributing some features, art directing and styling photo shoots with aforementioned creative's.

The magazine is free and distributed  all over the City so you can pick one up in any coffee shop, boutique, restaurant, personal shopping suit... even through your front door if you're lucky ;)
or follow on Twitter @chase_magazine

Half-time Limes

Jumper: Cos

Trousers: Reiss

Bag: H&M

Necklace: H&M

Shoes: Zara

Nail varnish: No7

Bracelets: Accessorize

Although this post completely contradicts my last post regarding a lack of blogging due to my final project, (I know, how will you ever trust what I say again?!) I am on a quick break and half way done- yippee!- So as a celebration I decided to share some photos with you.

 My best friend Lisa and I were invited to the Metro centre fashion live event last week- the largest shopping centre in Europe (quite how I was unaware of this I am not sure, but you learn something new every day!)

The event was very impressive and we were so wonderfully treat that it made me love our fair city even more.

I wore my new H&M neon necklace and some Reiss snakeskin print silk trousers which remind me somewhat of classic Missoni with the zig zag pattern and all.

I am loving the fresh mix of mint, lime green and neon at the moment - wardrobe saturation is a real risk but one I am willing to take.

See some more pictures and see what Lisa wore at TWICETHEBLOG.

It isn't easy being green...

Shoes: H&M £24.99

I am currently bogged down with Uni work as my final deadline is looming... As a result of this my posting patterns have become sporadic at best and I have become somewhat of a recluse- I cannot remember the last time I had some much needed quality time with my girlfriends!

To make matters worse, my final project is to make a magazine so I am torturing myself daily looking at an abundance of clothes to put in said magazine.

However, one good thing has come out of this, I saw these little beauties a few months back on a blog, they are my perfect Summer shoe; simple in design, bold in colour and just the right amount of Celine inspiration/ straight up copy and a snip at just £24.99!

 I have always just missed grabbing them before they sold out but through my incessant internet trawling I managed to bag them before they went :) Every cloud...

Lazy Sundays...

Jumper: Zara

Pyjama bottoms: M&S

Shoes: Ebay

Bag: Milan

There is something about Sundays that makes you want to lay on the sofa and watch old films, wishing that you were mincing about, getting caught up in antics involving a cruise ship or old steam train- whilst donning every garment from Auntie Mames wardrobe.

This Sunday, however, was spent traipsing all over the city looking for a new pair of glasses for the boyfriend (his eyesight is deteriorating and if it is going to go, it's going to go in style!)

Pyjama dressing is positively genius! Heavily exhibited in Stella McCartney's SS12 collection.

 I found these little beauties in M&S at Christmas, they flow when you walk with the kind of grace a kin to a ribbon in the wind.

This jumper is my go-to knit on days like today, when you just want to relax- warm on the top, comfortable on the bottom- the most practical outfit I think I have ever worn (minus the five inch heels ;).

Changes...

Gilet: Primark

Polo neck: Zara

T-shirt: H&M Trend

Skirt: Newlook

Bag: H&M

Boots: Zara

There has been some kind of freak storm here as of late, we went from 23 degree heat to snow in the space of three days?!

Donning an outfit with all the intentions of braving whatever mother nature threw my way, Wind: check, sun: check, cheeky Celine reference: check.

Head over to my sister blog TWICETHEBLOG for more pictures and a little peak at what my fellow beautiful blogger Lisa wore.

While I'm at it...

Christian Louboutin Neon and perspex heels. No comment needed.