Christmas and the New Year, Outfits to Party in!

Lets face it, some people start looking for that perfect Christmas outfit in September! However if you are one of those people who are still looking and don't have a clue what to get then here is your answer, i have put together a few Christmas and New Year party looks from some of my favorite retailers to help you get some ideas for that perfect party outfit. 

All Saints

Total Cost : £625

I love All Saints clothing, however they are not for someone on a budget! If you are looking to treat yourself to something then don't be put off by the high prices, their products do last so you will get a good few years wear out of them. This outfit offers the 'glitter' factor that is normally associated with a New Year party without being to 'in your face'!  

 Lipsy

Total Cost : £207

Lipsy is another brand with a high price tag, however their clothes are perfect for the party season! I love this skirt as it can be warn with a mixture of different tops depending on your style. The bracelet is similar to one that i bought last year, it is something that you can wear all year round to add a bit of colour to an outfit. 

New Look

Total Cost : £92.95

New Look is always a winner with its affordable fashion. The only problem i find with their clothing is that it fits well if your about 5"7, if your any taller then its best to shop online in their tall section, other than that i'm usually a size smaller in their clothing which is always a plus. Velvet is back this A/W so you will be right on trend with the mix of velvet and peplum on this dress, while the earrings and the skull on the clutch give an edge to the outfit.

Next

Total Cost : £165

Next is another good retailer if you are looking for products that last. These shoes are a personal favorite of mine as i love the studded detail down the back, i also find wedges more comfortable to walk in. This outfit defiantly has the 'glitter' factor and  it is a bold choice, however this outfit will get you noticed!  You can never have too much sparkle at Christmas.

River Island

Total Cost : £129

River Island has been my favorite high street retailer for a long time, they are affordable and they fit my style. The dress is great for curvy girls as it comes in at the waist and makes you look smaller than you really are, while showing off all your best features. I wouldn't wear a bracelet with this outfit as there is already a lot of detail on your wrists because of the sparkle on the cuffs of the sleeves. 

Warehouse

Total Cost : £242

Warehouse had a very limited selection of shoes on their website, hence the choice of the boots. When wearing boots with a dress i find that normally only a few people can pull of the style and for those that do it works really well! Dresses that are short at the front and long at the back are still very popular and that doesn't look like its going to change any time soon. The faux leather jacket brings a bit of rock n roll to the outfit with the studded theme carrying on through the bag and the boots. 

Feels like Christmas

So on Thursday i went into Southampton town center to have a look at the Christmas market and to see the Lighten Up show that was being put on by students from Solent University. Even though the force of the wind was unbelievably strong and the temperature was probably something close to 0 the whole thing really got me in the Christmas mood (even if it is still November)!

The market was pretty amazing, there are so many food stalls and the smells coming from some of them were mouth watering! Plus the German sweet stall had so much there you just don't know where to look.

The whole thing did get me thinking about Christmas jumpers so below i have posted some of my favorites.River Island


 Next

Ted Baker @ John Lewis

Topshop

                                                  

Red

Top - M&Co

Jeans - Topshop

Cardie - New Look

Bracelet - Camden Market

Rings - Primark

Watch - M&Co

For our photography lesson this week we were given the theme red, so i chose to wear an outfit that had red as the main feature, this top i'm wearing is one of my favorites as it can be worn as a casual top or as a going out top (depending on how you style it). The red cardie is actually to small for me as the sleeves are way too short, being 5"11 i find it hard to shop in New Look as they don't cater for tall people that well, and i find the clothes in the tall section (in the few stores that have a tall section) are never as nice as the ones in the regular range. 

Also, as you can probably tell by the state of my hair, I actually turned up to this lesson looking like a drowned rat because of the amount of rain! I only have to walk ten minutes to uni and i stupidly thought that i would be fine just wearing my leather jacket and without taking an umbrella... obviously not. 

Winter Florals

This winter we are seeing a lot of florals in the shops,  they are less feminine than we saw in summer as this seasons prints are dark, edgy and luxe. We are also seeing a lot of Eastern, tropical and fantasy inspired designs.

This is my take on this winters fashion:

Floral top - New Look

Purple top - New Look

Jeans - Topshop

Boots - Blowfish

Watch - M&Co

Rings - Primark

California Dreaming s/s 13

I felt then need to post about this trend for spring/ summer 13 as it is one of my personal favorites. I love the patterns, embellishment and colour tones used... in fact I have pretty much fallen in love with it! This look reflects a relaxed West Country lifestyle through casual sweats, beach dresses and pared-black denim with a feminine, luxe twist. To create this look wear outfits with paisley tie-dyed prints, miniature studs and floral embellishment.

 Mania Mania

 Sugarhigh + Lovestoned x Alexandra Valenti

 Isabel Marant spring/summer 2013

 Novella Royale

Versace spring/summer 2013

Colour

Bright white, egg-nog and a powder blue-grey hue dominates this palette for a washed-out, hazy beach feel. Use lilac, purple and vermillion orange for subtle print accents and embellishment detail.
Source: www.wgsn.com

Versace s/s 13 collection really stood out so i decided to have a look at some of the other pieces from the collection and all i can say is that im now very excited for 2013! From looking at this collection i can see that lace is going to have a big impact again next year but rather than the all lace garments we are starting to see more of now it will be a lot more subtle. Embroidered lace such as guipure or corded lace will be used for fancy tees and dresses.

Versace spring/summer 2013 

Something Old to Something New

Shirt - Charity Shop

Skirt - Topshop

Belt - M&Co

Black top - New Look

Necklace and Rings - Primark

I feel like i have broken the first rule of fashion blogging by taking photos in my room rather than outside, but when living by the coast in the UK its either very windy or raining. 

When i found this shirt in a local charity shop i saw it as a challenge, it was a mens XL shirt but after 6 hours worth of adjustments it no longer looks like i have draped my self in a load of random fabric! The idea of cutting out the two sections of the shirt was in my head when i woke up one morning and i still don't know if it is because i have seen it before or weather i managed to come up with a new design idea while i was asleep (which would be pretty cool.)

I love changing old outfits as it is a cheaper way to be fashionable, it also gives me something to do in the evenings when i can no longer bring myself to do anymore coursework. You don't have to be a major creative to be able to adapt your clothing,  you could do something simple like adding beads or studs, however it is good to practice on some old fabric first so you don't ruin your clothes!

JEANS!!

Jeans - Topshop (Tall Moto Jamie Jeans) £40

After going out shopping today and buying my first pair of jeans in about 2 years i thought it was only right to dedicate my first official blog post to them!
I normally hate jeans, the biggest thing for me is finding a pair long enough as i need a 36 inch leg. When shopping for jeans i used to go to New Look as their jeans were as close as i would get to a perfect fit, however they no longer seam to sell jeans past a 32 inch leg unless you shop online, and for me jeans are the one thing i find you always have to try on.
I also find that a lot of jeans are either very tight on the leg but too big on the waist or my normal size will be too big but the next size down is too small.
I decided to go to Topshop after someone on my course said how comfy her jeans were (and they did look amazing.) To my surprise these jeans were a perfect fit, they have a stretch to them so they are comfy to move around in and even though they are not supposed to be high waisted they do come up quite high so when you bend down you don't accidently show any of your behind! These jeans do come up big so you may be able to get into the next size down (always a plus!)
I find black jeans are one of those key items that every girl (and boy) should have in their wardrobe as you can pretty much wear them with everything (and it has taken me waaayyyy to long to invest in a pair!)

Hello

I have decided that it is time for me to start a blog. I will be writing about things that interest me, so mainly fashion, style and makeup... maybe even a bit of photography. Who knows.