Winter Warm-Ups

In relation to my previous post, I had initially planned to talk a lot more about London Fashion Week but due to being so busy this idea has kind of gone out the window! 

After attending my induction today I am now officially a second year and very excited to finally get back into a routine. However, standing freezing cold waiting for a bus and battling the blustery wind and showers is not something I am looking forward to (I need to move abroad!). So, in preparation I have been looking at my favourite jackets/coats to keep cosy for the chilly months ahead. 

Outerwear 

With Autumn/Winter 2013 in full flourish, it brings with it an abundance of trends ready to influence your perfect Winter jacket/coat purchase. 

Oversized 

This is a huge trend (literally...) for outerwear, dominating the catwalks as seen from the likes of Stella McCartney. This has obviously trickled down to the high street - my picks from the high street stores feature below. 

Stella McCartney Autumn/Winter 2013-14

Asos - £395

Mango £119.99

Topshop £125

Pink

As mentioned in a previous post, pink is a huge colour trend for Autumn/Winter 2013-14, especially when it comes to outerwear. 

John Rocha Autumn/Winter 2013-14

Marks & Spencer - £99

Zara £79.99

Topshop £98

Topshop £89

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The duffle coat is back, spotted on the catwalks with both a feminine and darkly edgy twist. 

Saint Laurent Autumn/Winter 2013-14

Christopher Raeburn Autumn/Winter 2013-14

Topshop - £89

Burberry - £895

Asos - £85

Parka 

Again the parka has returned with fur-trimmed hoods and belts to allow for cinching at the waist. I love parka's because they are both fashionable but very functional - keeping you dry and warm!

Prabal Gurung Autumn/Winter 2013-14

Pull & Bear - £79.99

River Island - £100

Boohoo - £45

Quilted/Padded

Back with a vengeance, the padded jacket has been reinvented on the catwalks by designers such as Peter Pilotto and DKNY. 

DKNY Autumn/Winter 2013-14

Peter Pilotto Autumn/Winter 2013-14

I recently purchased a padded/quilted jacket from Zara and I love it! The furry hood and belt allows the jacket to be fitted and still warm. I also love the zip details on the sleeves and the sand colour which makes it a bit different and stand out!

Zara £79.99

That's just a few of the different outerwear trends which may help you with your winter purchases. I would also recommend a faux fur coat or a classic trench coat to bring your outerwear up-to-date! 

Julia

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LFW: Keep Fit - The Fashionable Way

Just like any other fashion lover, I've been engrossed in London Fashion Week, and once again I have not been disappointed! Over my next few posts I've decided to write about my personal highlights, starting with the latest Adidas Collection from Stella McCartney. This might seem like an odd one to start with but recently I have become obsessed with sportswear becoming a growing fashion trend ever since I designed a fashionable sportswear store for a project in my first year at university. While I was researching for this project I fell in love with Stella McCartney's work with Adidas even more!

In the past, a gym outfit would consist of throwing on a baggy t-shirt and maybe some joggers but sportswear as a fashion trend has evolved rapidly, becoming more feminine and sophisticated - we still want to look fashionable even if we are dying on a run or going to the gym!

Stella McCartney for Adidas - Spring/Summer 2014 

"It's very much to inspire people to have pride in themselves, their performance, to push themselves,"  - Stella McCartney

The latest collection was showcased this morning and was shown in five separate sections - but this was far from any normal catwalk show! The show included models performing synchronised swimming, aerial yoga, running, spinning and studio workouts. Not only were the clothes visually appealing, they proved their practicality which is why I love this collection so much!

Gymnasts

Synchronised Swimming

Stella McCartney for Adidas LFW

This is one of my favourite pieces from the collection due to the interesting look of the marble print. I think this is something a bit different and would easily allow you to make a statement while on a run!

Images from the show can be viewed here by clicking 'Spring/Summer 2014' in the right hand column. 

I would also recommend taking a look at the Adidas website which can be found here!

Keeping fit can be fashionable!

Julia 

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Micro Trends!

As well as the larger macro trends, having an impact on a more global scale - for example becoming more ethical where consumers now want to know where their clothes come from and how they are made - micro trends are just as important where new, more specific trends emerge. 

These micro trends can crop up, perhaps relating to other micro trends and eventually becoming a macro trend. A few mini/micro trends that I have noticed within magazines, shops, websites etc can be seen below...

Turtle Necks

Thanks to the Fall 2013 collections by designers such as Victoria Beckham and Tommy Hilfiger at New York fashion week, the turtleneck has sneaked back into the eyes of fashion lovers. 

Victoria Beckham Turtleneck

Tommy Hilfiger Houndstooth Turtleneck

Rumoured to naturally define your jaw line while giving a flattering, slimming effect - the turtleneck has also made its way onto Zara's shop floors.

Zara Turtle Neck Top - £39.99

Initially I was unsure how to pull off this look but I think with the right amount of layering it can look good!

Zara Turtleneck Sweater - £10.99
Karen Millen Masculine T-Shirt - £55
Oh My Love Midi Pencil Skirt - £28
Kurt Geiger Heeled Sandals - £130

Layering a turtleneck underneath a blouse and teaming with a pencil skirt and heeled sandals can create a sophisticated work/daytime look!

Kiboots 

Popularized by the likes of Poppy Delevingne and Jessica Hart, the Kiboot is seen to be the new 'it' boot, plastered all over Instagram by various adoring fans. The brand first started up in 2010 creating boots featuring original kilim rugs - even though they will set you back over £100, there are a few high street stores offering a cheeky, cheap alternative. 

Poppy Delevingne wearing Kiboot's 

'Inez' Kiboot - $199.95 (£128.26)

Black Woven Aztec Panel Boots
River Island - £60 (On sale for £30)

Headband Hats

With festival season coming to an end we are left with the issue of what to do with all those floral, aztec and folksy headbands. Well this is a smart and quirky alternative! By adding a headband to a hat, such as a bowler or fedora, you can bring the headband into the new season, picking black or berry hats to give that Autumn vibe. 

Spike Headband over Hat

Bee keeper Hat - Topshop £25
Johnny Loves Rosie Knotted Headband - Asos £24 (On sale for £15)

Eye Motif

Recently I've spotted eye motif's cropping up everywhere from jumpers to jewellery, and finding this interesting, I decided to research this a bit more! I initially saw this in an Asos magazine where I fell in love with the jumper they had photographed (seen below).  

Asos Eye Motif Jumper - £36

After viewing collections from designers such as Kenzo for Fall 2013, the eye motif seemed to pop up - an image which has now trickled down to the high street!

Kenzo Fall 2013 - Eye Motif

This has then moved into jewellery, with various items featuring the eye symbol, as seen below. 

Tally & Hoe Eye Necklace - Asos £18

That basically covers some things I've been spotting lately, hope this gives you inspiration for any new purchases!

Julia

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LBD - Time for an update?

Every girl has at least one little black dress in their wardrobe - in fact, I have at least five - purely because it's a staple piece no woman can live without. But every now and again, I feel my little black dress selection needs an update, and after spying this 'Oh My Love' halterneck dress, I had found the perfect replacement!

Night Stalker Black Halter Neck Mesh Panel Textured Dress
£39 - Oh My Love

I love this dress as the neck and back details take the classic little black dress style but make it a little more interesting. 'Oh My Love' is available in Topshop (click here), or for more of a selection I would suggest visiting their own website - this is where I purchased the dress. Click here.

 This dress also fits perfectly with the trends of the little black dress emerging this season which are explained in more detail below...

Turn Up The Heat

This season designers cranked up the heat in relation to the little black dress. It's all about tight bodycon, sheer panelling, mesh, or revealing bits of skin to create a less refined and seductive look. However, this has to be worn carefully so that it still looks sophisticated! 

Mesh Panel Bodycon Dress
Little Mistress - £58 (on sale on Asos)

This bodycon dress balances just the right amount of leg with sleeves, adding the interest of the hints of skin!

Vesper Pencil Dress
Asos - £56

The leather effect on the straps and the cut out sections provide a more flirtatious detail, balanced out by the slightly longer length.

So keeping this in mind, I hope you manage to find the perfect LBD for this season!

Julia 

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