Say Hello to my little friend...

Trousers: Zara

Jumper: Uniqlo

Boots: Kurt Geiger

Bag: Celine

Cardigan: Zara

Well, well, well, it has been a while!

So sorry for the delay in posting, after fashion month madness along with moving house, it all got a bit crazy so I have been M.I.A on a two week holiday with the beau. 

Feeling suitably rested and recuperated it was straight back into work with a bang (much in the same way the weather slapped me in the face when I stepped off the plane... there is something surreal about being in a bikini one day and winter coat the next.)

It was an out and out 'last season' situation in my outfit choice's this week.

Last season Bordeaux coloured  Zara trousers (to quote Whitney, 'I will always love you' ) Last seasons KG boots- platforms are my best friend when trying to evade puddles- and last seasons Chunky 70's inspired cardigan.

Check out my belated birthday present from the boyfriend: an immaculately preserved vintage Celine bag.

I cannot express how much this little number has melted my heart, she really is the most beautiful bag I have ever seen: classic, the perfect size and multi-wearable... just goes to show, some things only get better with age!

ELLE at London fashion week...

image via Vogue.it

Bag: Phillip Lim

Skirt: Alexander Wang

Bootis: Calvin Klein

Socks: H&M

Jumper: Uniqlo

Sunglasses: H&M

London Fashion week has been so crazy this year, the shows have been amazing (Preen have completely upped their game. I was breathless!) 

The street style has gotten even more eccentric- I actually saw a shoe worn as a hat... a. shoe. worn .as. a. hat.

Gaga has a lot to answer for! 

I wore heels for the first day and have been subjected to flats ever since (I have a blister the size of China on my heel!)

And I finally got to take my new Wang skirt out for a spin, wins all round!

Autumnal tones have been my pallet of choice (if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!) with yummy maroons, Olives and a pop of yellow thrown in for good measure! 

It was all going well until I decided to wear a Polo neck on day two and it turned out to be 22 degrees (I had to pretend that sweating unceremoniously was part of my "look")

One more day and then I'm away for two weeks *smug 'booked my holiday after everyone else' face*

ELLEuk are doing amazing coverage of all the shows, partys and streetstyle along with our very own "ELLE assistants blog" check it all out here.

You can also follow me on instagram @madeleienbowden22 and Twitter @madeleinebowden to see my instant updates from the shows and street!

See you on the other side!

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!

That extra half inch...

 

Jumper: H&M

Trousers: Zara

Shoes:Valentino

Bag: Tila March

Every season there is a 'shoe' - I am very aware that this sounds both completely obvious and ambiguous at the same time, but stick with me here.

A champion shoe, like a cult tote, is that one garment you just cannot get away from. 

Every fashion ed or fashion girl worth her salt will own said garment and the whole of the fashion world will be awash with these heavenly pieces leaving the rest of the world floundering in a pool of their own lust/ drool.

These be such shoes.

Currently the protagonist of my sartorial love story, (along with Celine, well, everything!) 

They're all a girl could ask for from her winter formal...

1. Midi heel (apparently that sounds better than 'kitten') 

2. Shiny enough to check your makeup in-  always have to have a back up! 

3. Perfect day to night shoe with just the right amount of business at the front, party at the back

4. Investment piece... When is Valentino ever NOT an investment

I do feel, however, (after I have conviced myself that theyre worth a months rent?!) That I may get the slip on version as there is something about 'slipping on' a pair of beautiful shoes that touches you in a special place... Laces kind of take the magic out of it,  don't you think? 

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?)

English Rose...

Model: Sophie Tamara Nattrass

Photographer: Chris Davis of Specular

Stylist: Madeleine Bowden

MUA: Carly Musleh

Publication: CHASE Magazine

The latest editorial I styled for CHASE magazine.

A quintessentially British looking model (who I'm kind of obsessed with) a patriotic themed issue and a wonderfully talented team made for some great shots.
I went for a more ethereal English Rose feel; nymph like and chaste... sort of Queen Mary-esk.
Using netting and silk ribbon from a market stall to make the skirts I coupled them with with vintage slips and copious amount of jewellery (The queen loves her some bling).

Double denim...

Sunglasses: H&M 

Top: Vintage

Jeans: Zara

Bag: Zara

Shoes: Topshop

Rockin' a bit of double denim on a drizzly Monday. 

This is an old fail safe of mine, I love the double D...Traditionally reserved for extra's in Footloose and 80's builders, I find solace in the simplicity of the smart/casual bi-tonal garms.

The search for the perfect ripped jean has been a battle of mine for quite some time (many a pair of jean have perished in my bid to perfect the ripped/ denim ratio in a DIY fashion)

In the midst of all the searching I bypassed an old faithful... Zara! She has never let me down before so quite why she was not top of my list I will never know!

The shoes; a little gem I spotted in the sale which, after some teething problems in the way of an offensive blister, have now become my new most comfortable pair of flats.

Yellow bag... standard.

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

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...