Loving leather

If you buy one thing this season, make it a leather. It’s the ultimate staple piece. Whether you flaunt it as a skirt, shorts, dress or handbag, just make sure you have it. Long gone are the days were the word ‘leather’ was only heard next to ‘jacket’; Mulberry and DVF have opened up the world’s eyes to dramatic midi dresses and floor-length coats. Every design is simple and elegant, so it’s goodbye dominatrix; hello trendsetter.

Allow the Gothic texture to be the striking element of your look or if you’re less keen about leather, wear it to subtly add edge to an outfit. Rock a leather dress with rebellious style or stick to a pair of PU shorts and style them with a candy-coloured jumper. Wearing pastels with leather will see you knock out two trends in one. Look at you go!

Leather pencil skirt: £95 – Topshop OR Faux leather skirt: £34 – Topshop

Mohair long-sleeved cropped jumper in baby pink OR baby blue: £19.99 – Missguided

Gold bangle pack: £15 – River Island

Black Nubuck ankle boots: £85 – Office

Gold layered rope necklace: £12 – Accessorize

It’s all about panels. So many dresses and skirts simply have a leather panel down the centre. Knitwear is given a makeover, as cardigans and jackets are seen with leather-only sleeves. This is another excellent way to play it a little safer with leather. Alternatively, you could pair waxed skinny jeans with leather ankle boots.

Hope you enjoy x

THE SS’14 collection you need to look out for

Love it or hate it, you most definitely cannot deny that Primark encompass all the right trends at all the right prices. Say goodbye to having to forlornly pick only a few options for when the sun comes out and get used to the idea of being able to buy more…for less!!

That’s right. You heard it here; sneak peeks and first picks of Primark’s gorgeous go-to new collection.

Here are a few of my favourites but keep your eyes out for the full collection! Hit the London stores and brave the madness of Oxford Street as the newest pieces will head to the flagship first!

I’m really into ‘Baroque’ print and so am in awe of these lovelies. £12

Daisies, peter pan collar; could this dress be any cuter?! £13

I would have personally preferred these in all-over floral, but nonetheless, they are still really cool! £11

Pink jackets were hot for AW’13 and have been carried over to the new season as they’re just so pretty and summery! £25

Love dungarees-and with a slouchy jumper, it’s another pair of jeans! £12

Look at this bag, look at the price and it’s an inevitable buy. £8

These cream laser-cut t-bars are too adorable and I really love the geeky footwear going on at the moment! £12

Who needs the Cambridge Satchel Company or a Mulberry ‘Alexa’? Me. But shh. £6

This. Denim shorts. Done. £6

Christmas and New Year’s Eve are behind us; but parties are not! £15

Search it for yourselves!

The NEEDS of the sales

I’ve heard from quite a few people that they haven’t found much in the current sale so here I am to sift out the best bargains and bring them to your attention!

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Glamorous: Black PU Paperbag Waist Shorts: £10

-Glamorous have at least half of their sale at £10 so it really is worth checking it out and with 20% discount for students (even on top of sale price!) it would just be rude not to! Pair these shorts with a fitted shirt and statement necklace or casual vest top and heels for an ultra luxe look.

Urban Outfitters: ‘Pins and Needles’ Velvet Floral Crop Top and Hotpants: £10 each

-I am really loving making separates at the moment and the obvious benefit is that you get three outfit options for £20. Normally I prefer either the top of the shorts to be a little less tight, especially with a curvy figure, so I basically am imploring my skinny minny or more body-confident friends to buy this adorable little set. Black tights and creepers and you’re good to go!

Dahlia: Melissa Eyelet White Dress: £25

-For those of you who don’t know, Dahlia is a small fashion boutique on Carnaby Street in London, founded by two sisters who capture quirkiness and delicacy in their designs. I personally find that finding the right white dress is a mission but I instantly fell in love with this one. Don a pair of tan brogues and this cropped denim jacket!

Dahlia: Valencia Oversized Cropped Denim Shirt: £20

Whistles: Alison Red Mesh Insert Dress: £40

-Whistles have up to 70% off in the sale so if you enjoy the finer things in life, head to the website now. They have a good selection of cigarette trousers and cashmere cowl-neck jumpers. I particularly like this fitted fire-red shift dress as it oozes chic and would shape any body type beautifully. A perfect ‘office to drinks’dress; nude or black courts for the day and fierce jewellery and shoe boots for the evening.

Ted Baker: Heidiy Water Bottle Print Jeans: £55

-Considering Topshop’s jeans are £40, £55 doesn’t seem too pricey, especially when it’s Ted Baker! These jeans have such an interesting and unique print/pattern and are perfect for welcoming SS’14. Grunge up with a cosy knit and boots until this miserable weather finally decides to leave us and crack out a chiffon white shirt and nude heels or flats when the sunshine comes. Ted Baker’s AW’13 is all between 30% and 50% reduced so if you had your eye on something earlier this year; now’s the time.

ASOS: Astronomy Studded Leather Ankle Boots: £32.50

-I love studs and buckles and these boots remind me of the Alvin boots Topshop had last year that sold out quickly. The detail on this boot and the stacked heel make them versatile for a casual outfit in the day or with a cute dress in a bar.

River Island: Blue Mixed Print Scuba Jacket: £25

-This jacket is insane. I love the oriental feel and brightness of the colours. River Island previously had a pair of harem pants in this exact pattern which I adored too. A pair of jeans will be elevated immediately by the bold look of this blazer and it can also be a fun way to do smart.

Miss Selfridge: Cross and Diamond Chain: £15

-Statement necklaces are notoriously expensive but are excellent for transforming an overworn top or elevating a plain one. Miss Selfridge have this gorgeous one which used to be £50 so I would snap it up quickly at this price. I love the vintage feel and delicate but grunge aspect of Miss Selfridge’s clothes and accessories and this necklace is no exception. Wear it with a high-low skirt, military boots, layered vests and a leather jacket in the day or use it to create a detailed difference over a plain top or dress for a striking evening look.

Enjoy sale shopping xx

Another leather

Managed to bag this gorgeous faux-leather jacket for this year’s Crimbo! Knitted back, leather front and sleeves; it just makes for a smarter alternative to a cardigan.

Jacket: Zara-£29.99

PU Leggings: New Look-£7

Leather Shorts: Topshop-£30

Studded Ankle Boots: Topshop-£80

Purple Vest Top: River Island-£15

Statement Necklace: Zara-£19.99

I need a new coat

Winter drawing near and the fact that I simply live in England means I need to invest in a new coat. My old staple one was a charcoal grey military coat from River Island and did me a good service for 4-5 years and as much as I adore my faux fur coat (also River Island), I need a practical everyday investment.

Here are my top picks from the high street; I believe in spending a decent amount of money so that you will get stylish, reliable and comfortable use out of your coat, but not so much that my new coat will be all I buy this winter. Wanting to steer away from military and faux fur coats, my beloved Topshop and River Island proved little use to me, but I found plenty of gorgeous picks elsewhere. In no particular order:

Drumroll…

1) First up, is Boohoo’s beautiful tobacco coloured belted cape, which is at a stylish save of £25. Whether you need a new coat or not, I would definitely purchase this absolute steal, as it will add chic class to any outfit.

2) Another beauty is this deep navy blue duffle coat with a fur collar to die for. I have always thought that duffle coats have an aura of adorable style to them and they definitely keep you oh so cosy! This particular one from Urban Outfitters has my mind drifting to a snowy day; the colours would look gorgeous against the crisp white snow. At £125, it’s a good deal more expensive than the previous Boohoo cape, but it would be money wisely spent.

3) My next choice is perhaps better suited for a rainy day, rather than a bitter cold one, but it is undeniable that every girl needs a stylish mac in her wardrobe. I have had my eye on this burgandy-wine coloured mac with pu sleeves for a while now and with a bit of luck, it has just been reduced from £89 to £50. Bargain. The colours are definitely Autumn 2013 and the pleated bottom and bow at the waist are just too cute.

4) I was really intrigued by this khaki textured parka coat, as the majority of khaki coats have the standard fur collar and hood. I love the unique texture and design of this coat and of course the colour is absolutely lush. The zips had a biker feel to the coat, but the relaxed structure of it keeps it from being too military-esque. Again, at £90 it may seem like a lot to pay, but for a good-quality coat, that is a decent price.

5) Zara are on point with their oversized trench boyfriend coat. This grey woolen wraparound lovely gives the aura of ‘working girl’ and has an androgynous feel to it. It looks sturdy and cosy and fashionable, which is all any girl wants out of a coat. From past experience, Zara’s coats last you a long time and never go out of style. It is priced at £89.99, so it is not extortionate and will definitely keep you warm this winter.

6) As a lover of tartan and bold, eclectic patterns, this Miss Selfridge biker coat was never going to slip past me. Slightly cheaper than the majority of the above, it is £79 and is perfect for those girls who live in their leather jackets. It is a great transition from jacket to coat, as the length and thickness will certainly protect you from the winter’s winds but it still resembles a jacket.

Of course there are many more stunning coats and jackets out there, but those are my ‘Top 6’. I was originally only going to do a ‘Top 5’ but I could not have that Miss Selfridge tartan biker coat miss the list!

The most important things to remember when buying a coat:

1) Don’t worry about sizing. The cold weather means you will most definitely be wearing a thick jumper underneath your coat, therefore there is no point trying on a coat in a shop with only a vest top on underneath and deeming it to be the right size. Coats are meant to be bigger than your usual dress size!

2) For most people, this will be your only coat. If you wish to spend a lot of money on it, it will be your only outerwear investment, so there is no point purchasing a design that you know you will only wear a few times. If you hate clashing prints and colours, stick to black or other neutral colours and if you worry about your body shape, the structured military coat tends to nip people in in the right places.

3) Read the fine print. If you’re someone who thrives on high-quality materials, then you do not want to be spending more than necessary to only find out that your coat is not completely cashmere, but only has a small percentage.

Enjoy!