LFW: Street Style

During my internship here in  London, I was given the opportunity to visit Somerset House during London Fashion Week and take some street style photos. At first this was very daunting as I'm not the most experienced photographer and after years of catching up with London Fashion Week through online sources, it was surreal actually being able to be there in real life. 

However, I managed, even with my camera playing up, to capture some of my favourite moments straight from the cobbles of Somerset House. And so, I would encourage anyone who is wary about capturing street style to go for it, as I had no experience whatsoever and even when my camera couldn't achieve the classic blurred background effect, with a little bit of Photoshop tutorials I think I might have just pulled it off! 

Culottes are back with a vengeance and have quickly become a must-have silhouette! Accessorise classic black culottes with studded accessories and fringing details to keep the look on trend for this season. 

Teaming less structured culottes with heels helps to elongate the legs while adding a tailored blazer balances out the look. The casual graphic print sweatshirt paired with a crisp white shirt creates a chic day to night look!

Forget '50 Shades of Grey', we're talking multiple shades of blue! On the streets of London Fashion Week we saw the classic black and white couple being replaced by a younger, fresher look - blue and white. 

I love the combination of colours and textures worn by Phoebe Lettice (former Made In Chelsea character) with harsh metallic balanced by soft, faux fur. 

This bold combination of primary hues reflects the colour trends for Spring, with colour-blocking and brave clashing combo's taking over this season. 

Model Charlotte De Carle, goes for an adrogynous look contrasting a feminine blouse with a boxy dress and tailored blazer. The striped monochrome socks and casual snapback achieve that on-trend sporty feel. 

Tailored layers and minimalist grey hues complete with a structured hat creates a cool, edgy look. This is one of my favourite looks - I've developed a love for minimalism and a classic black, white and grey colour palette! 

Seventies vibes were lingering at LFW, with bold patterns and a touch of suede creating the perfect retro look!

As a major Made In Chelsea fan (not even embarrassed to admit it), I was excited to capture Rosie in a beautiful Ralph Lauren embroidered dress. I love how she's paired it with knee-high boots and a clashing textured bag!

A Zest for Zara

Bowler Hat - Forever 21
T-Shirt - Zara
Shorts - Zara
Boots - Primark
Necklace - New Look

If I step into Zara and I don't buy anything, or at least want something, there is something seriously wrong! Due to Zara delivering new products to their stores twice a week, I constantly find myself in there at least once a week - definitely a shopaholic... 

Yesterday, while waiting for a train, I popped into Zara and made a few impulse buys in the form of some lovely lace shorts and the 'something very addictive' t-shirt you see in the pictures above. I kind of bought these separately but when I got home and tried them on I thought they actually looked really nice together. I've styled this with my bowler hat that I purchased last month in Glasgow and my black and gold boots from Primark. I'll probably need to wear some tights though since it's freezing here in Scotland!

Also loving how I look pretty tanned in these photos!

Free free to comment as always.

Julia

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Hidden Gems

What was once seen as a home for bric-a-brac, jumble and unwanted clutter, usually visited by the older generations, has now become a treasure chest full of hidden gems waiting to be discovered by the fashion savvy youth. With the rise in popularity of vintage and retro fashion, the charity shops are experiencing the benefits as more people are changing their views and getting involved in the charity shop craze. 

During my first year studying Fashion Management we were asked to create an outfit using charity shop finds with a budget of only £10. This opened my eyes to the treasures of the charity shops and I was shocked to discover that a fashionable outfit could be easily created. 

The shirt we used in the outfit above was found in the Charity Shop Shelter in Aberdeen. I love this shirt because it has a vintage feel to it but I feel like it has a lot more personality than anything you can buy in a standard retail store! 

Recently I began volunteering in one of the Sue Ryder charity shops in Aberdeen where I was asked to dress the front window (picture above). The shirt above I took from their 'Vintage Section' and teamed it with a plaid skirt. The added details of the belt, scarf and old broach add some quirkiness to the outfit! I also love the clutch bag which was actually from Vero Moda - Bargain!

Tips for finding hidden gems...

1. Don't be afraid to get stuck in and have a rake. Charity shops are not like retail stores where everything is neatly presented for your convenience! If you're going to find something interesting you need to be prepared to search for it. 

2. Don't give up! You might not find something on your first trip but new things are donated all the time so keep returning and you will have more chance of finding something you like. 

3. It's all about the styling - you might see an item which at first you aren't sure about but with some clever styling you can bring a vintage item into the 21st century. 

Hopefully this will have convinced you to change your perception on the charity shop and maybe even take a quick look the next time you walk past!

Julia

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Braid it up!

The plait/braid has always been a classic hairstyle, creating a neat, knotted, effortless look! As far as I can remember the plait was a favourite of my childhood hairstyles - every school photo featuring the perfectly plaited look. More recently, it has gone from gracing the school playgrounds to becoming a serious fashion trend. After months of skipping hair cuts, I have finally managed to grow my hair long enough to attempt this style and I have definitely fallen in love with this quick, easy and effortless look!

The best way to attempt this style is to follow a tutorial/video which takes you through step by step. It took me a couple of practises as it can be a bit more tricky than a classic plait! These youtube tutorials below are very helpful so I would recommend taking a look...

• LuxyHair Tutorial (click here)
• Imogen Foxy Locks Tutorial (click here)

Photo 1

After mastering the fishtail braid I got a little more adventurous creating a new hairstyle inspired by another YouTube tutorial. This plait creates the effect of  a cage around your ponytail which I thought was a bit different and eye-catching. I first started off with a basic ponytail, covering the hair band by rapping a piece of my hair around it (as seen in photo 1).  

A tutorial on how to create this look can be found here...

• Lilith Moon tutorial (click here)

Braids can be a bit tricky but keep practising and you can create something cool and interesting. Have fun! 

If you tried any of the above or have any other styles for me to try then feel free to comment below!

Julia

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Jaunty in a Jumpsuit

A few weeks ago I decided to purchase my first ever jumpsuit! I've always loved jumpsuits since they made a comeback, but I've never had the guts to actually buy one. I recently wore my jumpsuit on a night out and I love it, especially because it's comfortable but dressy enough to wear out. Also, it's basically a chic onesie and since I'm obsessed with onesies I was convinced very easily. 

My Jumpsuit from Asos

I chose a black jumpsuit because it is apparently 'slimming and sophisticated' - the cut out detail adding a bit of interest. I wore this with red strappy heels and a red clutch bag to add a bit of colour to the outfit. I actually found that the jumpsuit elongated my legs as the cut out section just above the waist made my legs seem longer (even though I am still short). 

It turned out that this had actually been good timing on my part as I started to notice an abundance of jumpsuits being worn by a number of celebrities at various events. 

Rihanna wearing Adidas Originals Jumpsuit

Miley Cyrus wearing Balmain Jumpsuit

Cameron Diaz in Halter Neck Jumpsuit

Day Time Look

One of my favourite things about jumpsuits is that they are so versatile - dress them up for night time or wear through the day for a more casual look. I would team a subtle floral print jumpsuit with sandals for a cute day time look. Adding a tailored blazer can make it a little more sophisticated for a work look!

Sandals - Topshop
Jumpsuit - Vivienne Westwood
Blazer - Mango

Selena Gomez Jumpsuit - Day Time Look

Give the jumpsuit a try!

Julia

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A/W Trends

As Summer is coming to an end (sorry to remind everyone), the shops are filling up with the new season's trends. Straight from the catwalk are a few hints of what is to come for Autumn/Winter which can be read below!

Pink 

This Autumn/Winter it's all about femininity, with rosy pinks emerging as a strong colour trend! These pink hues have been spotted on the runways from the likes of Lanvin and Nina Ricci (seen below). 

Nina Ricci
(Vogue.co.uk)

Lanvin
(Vogue.co.uk)

Meanwhile on the highstreet, Topshop have caught onto this trend fast - recently tweeting a collection of 'sherbet coloured' clothing - which fits in perfectly with this trend (click here).

Below are a few more pink coloured pieces that may be worth investing in!

Zara Short Woollen Overcoat
£79.99

This perfect, powder pink overcoat from Zara is definitely worth investing in for Autumn/Winter, especially as this trend is particularly big for outerwear!

Ethnic Embroidery Slim Fit Trousers
£29.99

I also love these slim fit trousers by Mango - a perfect staple trouser as it moves into those colder days.

More inspiration for this pink trend can be found on my pinterest by clicking here!

Plaid

Plaid is back! Dig out your checked shirts and kilts as this is a big trend for Autumn/Winter. With Chanel showcasing a collection including dashes of plaid, in a castle just outside of Edinburgh, it was obvious that plaid had defnintely made a comeback! You can watch some of the show here. (Amazing!!) 

Recently I purchased a plaid skirt from American Apparel which can be seen below. 

American Apparel Plaid Full Woven Skirt
On sale when I bought it for around £20

I also have a checked shirt which I purchased from Zara last year and still love - this will  be making an appearance again this season. However, the shirt below is a new item Zara have brought in which I particularly love!

Zara Checked Shirt with Contrasting Collar
£25.99

Further inspiration for the plaid trend can be seen on my pinterest by clicking here.

90's Grunge

Linking to the return of plaid, 90s Grunge is also making a massive comeback as shown by Saint Laurent in their Fall 2013 Catwalk which can be seen on youtube by clicking here.

I recently purchased a leather skirt from Forever 21 which I have teamed up with a few items to create a grunge inspired outfit.  

More inspiration for this trend can be viewed through my pinterest page by clicking here.

Leather Skirt - Forever 21, £12.75
Zip Back Jumper - Asos, £35
Boots - Asos, £50
Multi-Row Necklace - Topshop, £28

Animal Print

I've never really been a fan of animal print, but after seeing Burberry and Stella McCartney's A/W collections, I have been convinced that animal print can look classy and sophisticated if worn well!

Burberry A/W 2013

After my recent persuasion I decided to purchase this animal print top which was a bargain from Forever 21 (seen below). 

Forever 21 Safari Leopard Print Shirt
£18.75

This leopard print playsuit (seen below) is another of my favourites which was previously out of stock, but I think they may have brought in more due to its popularity. 

Further inspiration can again be taken from my pinterest by clicking here.

Oh My Love Playsuit
£39
(As seen on Millie Mackintosh)

That's all from me today. 

Hope this has given you some ideas for A/W shopping!

Julia

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