COURTING

Black courts have to be number one on my essential shoes list. I love how they are so versatile and can take you from day to night as they're both understated and glamourous. To highlight their versatility I've put together four outfits with the Christian Louboutin Classic, the Pigalle, in mind. Take a look below and if you haven't already I'd recommend you invest in a pair of black courts. 

Outfits Left to Right: | Equipment Sweater / Current/Elliot Jeans | Maiyet Cami Top / Joseph Culottes | Elizabeth and James Top / Self-Portrait Skirt | Jonathan Simkhai Dress |

Here are some other court alternatives: H&M | Jimmy Choo | Diane Von Furstenburg | Topshop | 

THE UNSEEN

The Unseen is a brand which fuses science and style. Led by Material Alchemist Lauren Bowker the company works to discover the undiscovered throughout their work. I met with the team behind The Unseen recently and I wanted to share a few of the pieces that I got to see from this truly innovative brand. The majority of the collection is affected by changes in it's environment and surroundings and is typically effected by the elements such as air and heat. 

The Unseen team has developed an ink that is reactive to wind and when its environment changes so does its colour creating truly magical pieces which are constantly evolving and highlighting the aspects of our universe that usually go unnoticed. Their product range includes clothing and homewares such as candles and notebooks so the amazing technology is available across a wide selection of items.

Not only is the technology behind the pieces truly incredible but the designs themselves are also beautifully intricate. I have pictured two jackets in this post which feature layering and pattern work which in itself is a work of art. I recommend that you all visit their page and find out more about their amazing and innovative work. 

seetheunseen.co.uk

DESTINATION CHRISTMAS

Whilst the summer has barely begun, in the world of retail Christmas is about to start! In the next couple of weeks the Christmas departments across London will open and Selfridges is the first to open its doors on Monday 3rd August. I was lucky enough to be able to visit Selfridges' Press Show and see what they have in store for the coming months. 

This years theme is Constellations and in true Selfridges' style each aspect of the concept has been thought out. The styling of the press show was amazing with stars and glitter everywhere and a colour palette of midnight blue, gold, silver and some iridescent touches; I'm sure the store is going to look incredible. 

The theme also runs throughout the product. In the womenswear department there are amazing pieces such as a space age foil design dress and an exclusive Topshop mini collection with intergalactic designs. 

Personalisation is always a big part of Selfridges' ethos and this Christmas there is personalisation like never before; from Moet champagne to tweezers to dog biscuits. Two of my favourite Christmas personalisations are the baubles from Twenty Seven and amazing personalised wrapping paper that is exclusive to Selfridges. Other personalisation options around the store include gifts such as monogrammed Alexander McQueen Scarves which are beyond beautiful!

In true luxury style Selfridges are releasing their traditional beauty advent calendar which will be sold  alongside other advent offerings from the likes of Charlotte Tilbury and Diptyque. So... if chocolate isn't quite your thing there is definitely a chance to upgrade your advent countdown this year!

Whilst I probably won't be buying my Christmas presents just yet, the event made me extremely excited for the season. I can't wait to buy all of the amazing products on offer at Selfridges and probably won't be able to wait til Christmas to get my hands on some of them!

SUNDAY

Layering is the perfect way to combat the colder weather this autumn so this weekend I wore this shirt and jumper combo. I styled it with a simple pair of black skinny jeans and a trench coat. I also love these shoes I got from Next! See the end of the post for outfit details.

| Blue Blouse - Zara | Striped Jumper - Cos (Similar Here) | Skinny Jeans - Asos | Shoes - Next | Trench Coat - Zara  (Similar Here) | Bag - Warehouse | 

NEW IN: & OTHER STORIES

This saturday I went shopping in London with my gorgeous Mum. We had a great day and it was so good to see her so, I thought I'd share some pictures of the shoes I got! I have loved & Other Stories for a while now as they have such a great selection of interesting pieces at reasonable prices. In particular I love their jewellery as they have really unique rings, bracelets and necklaces that you can't really find elsewhere on the high street. On the second floor of their Regents Street Store there is also a great range of footwear from boots to pumps. Like their jewellery, the shoes all have a quirky edge and there were so many I could have picked! I got these flat slippers because I love how they are classic but they're also slightly different. 

Firstly the shape at the front of the shoe is quite angular rather than the straight across fashion you see on many slipper styles. Also I like the subtle pointed toe as I think it adds elegance.

For me the real selling point is the acetate heel that has been shaped to look like studs. I think it adds a cool twist to a simple black shoe and looks great when the light's shining through it. 

I also love the cotton bags they give you to store your shoes. It saves you carrying around a box all day and keeps them safe at home!

I had a great day and love my new purchase so let me know what you think!

You can also check out & Other Stories on their website here.

LFW

Yesterday I went to watch the Marchesa Notte show at London Fashion Weekend. It was great to see the show and check out the up-and-coming designers in the shopping arcades. The Marchesa Notte collection featured a series of bejewelled evening gowns and there were a few I would definitely love to wear. As I'm at Uni next door I've always loved watching the hustle and bustle of LFW so it was great to be a part of it. Here are some photos of my day!

THIS WEEK ON ZARA

(left: coated trousers, top right: animal print t-shirt, bottom right: leather ankle boots)

Zara is one of my favourite high street brands. I love their mix of unique and classic items and I think they bridge the gap between designer brands and the high street. This week I've hunted down my top three picks from their latest items. 

My first pick is Zara's coated trousers at £35.99. I love how these trousers have a biker feel but are still subtle. They'd go with almost everything and I love how Zara have styled them in this picture. 

Number two is this animal print t-shirt which is £29.99. The subtle take on leopard print adds detail to a simple t-shirt without being over the top. I would definitely wear this over the coated trousers. 

At £69.99, my favourite pick is the leather ankle boots. I've read countless designer style updates about ankle boots in the past few weeks and this pair look far more Givenchy than high street. They would add an edge to any autumn/winter outfit.

I hope you like my Zara picks and let me know what you are loving at the moment!

NEW IN: SUNGLASSES

I got these sunglasses in the Warehouse sale for £5. They're a oversized cats-eye shape in a classic black colour so they'll go with loads of outfits. I can't wait to wear them! Let me know what you think.

NEW IN - FEDORA-BLE

I just got this amazing fedora from Primark. For £7 I think it's a great deal and I can't wait to wear it as we move in to the Autumn season. I'm going to style it with a simple monochrome outfits. What would you wear it with?

SALE AWAY

I love shopping at ASOS not just because of their massive range of clothing but also their speedy free delivery! As the sales are coming to a close I thought I'd share my pick of ASOS's beautiful bargains.

First up are these APOCALYPSE Chelsea Boots which are on sale for a fraction of their original price at £28. Considering these boots are real leather I think this a great price. It may seem odd to be shopping for winter boots in summer but I think it's always good to spot bargains that will save you when the next season rolls around. Team them with simple black trousers or distressed denim for the perfect Autumn outfit.

My next pick is also in preparation for the ever nearing winter months. I have been lusting after a grey coat as I prepare for the cold weather and this one looks so cosy yet still stylish. This coat may be oversized but its price is far from big as it is up for offer at just £33. I would layer it over simple outfits and maybe with a chunky scarf as the frost sets in. 

My final selection would add a pop of colour to my other, more neutral choices. This bag is perfect size for going back to University or even, if like me, your just a hoarder and carry your life around in your handbag! I love the bright berry hue with the snakeskin details and £26 for a leather handbag is a real bargain. I would wear this bag to complement more simple outfits and maybe match it with a deep berry lipstick. 

I hope you like my sale picks from ASOS and I would recommend heading across to their website to get your hands on even more goodies. Let me know what you think! 

NEW IN

I always like to shop the last of the sales as I think that's when you can get the most amazing deals! This week I picked up these Swarovski heels from Zara. I love their strappy details and block heel but most of all I love that I got 75% off! These heels were reduced from £80 to just over £20 so I couldn't stop myself from buying them. I can't wait to wear these soon and let me know what you think! 

INSPIRATION - BLOOMING

Here are a few of my pictures and details from designer collections which are inspiring me as we look towards the spring season. I love the delicacy and intricacy of these floral appliqués. 

DOLCE & GABBANA

GIAMBATTISTA VALLI

VALENTINO

LUSTER DUST

LUSTING by martha-lawless featuring a cropped trousers

Roksanda Ilincic woolen coat

£520 - matchesfashion.com

Maison Martin Margiela cropped trousers

£320 - matchesfashion.com

Alexander wang shoes

£320 - matchesfashion.com

Givenchy grey leather purse

£670 - matchesfashion.com

Oscar de la renta jewelry

£1,115 - matchesfashion.com

Dolce & Gabbana brown sunglasses

£135 - matchesfashion.com

These items from Matches Fashion are perfect for the transition from winter to spring! Check them out and let me know what you think!

FASHION DIY - BLUE JEANS

You may remember the ripped jeans I found when shopping in the summer so I thought I'd show you how you can recreate the look without paying too much! I've had an old pair of jeans in my cupboard for ages and I thought instead of throwing them out I'd experiment to see if I can reinvent them. If you don't have a pair of old jeans you could always head to your local charity shop for a bargain - I think baggier jeans would also look great with this look. 

Here is how I recreated my simple pair of jeans…

Firstly I put the jeans on and using a pencil roughly marked where my knees were so I knew where to cut. Then I found some inspiration for the project so I could get some ideas on what I wanted my jeans to look like! I decided that I wanted a gentle rip (don't forget it will expand over time) just above the knee. To protect the back of the jeans I placed a rolled up notebook in the leg of the trousers but you could use anything with reasonable thickness. Then, using scissors, I made a few incisions in the trousers and lightly pulled them to rip them further. The next think I did was use a fine grater to create a more worn look around the rips - I also used the grater on the pockets and hems. After doing this you can pull the threads around the incisions and holes to create the desired effect. If you want a really worn look you can put your transformed jeans through the wash and the rips will fray even more!

I hope you like my DIY and that I can show you the finished product as part of an outfit soon! Enjoy! 

FLORENCE BRIDGE

I few weeks ago I went with my cousin to her friend's fashion launch. The designer, Florence Bridge, was holding the event to celebrate the first collection for her line. The collection features striking pieces in bold marble and ink splatter prints which are perfect for the party season this winter. I particularly loved the 'Amber T-shirt', a bejewelled organza top which was perfectly layered over a lace 'Sissy' slip dress. These designs certainly make for an impressive first collection and are now available to shop online at www.florencebridge.com