Style at 25

I know being 25 is still young, but I am torn between where my fashion head is at and where it should be at my present age. I know I don’t feel comfortable dressing how I did a few years ago, when I was a student (the first time around), but I am still young after all. I am trying to find a balance between my individual style, the style my job requires, the obvious mummy duties and all the young, fun styles that appear on the high street.   

I find myself drawn to classic and sophisticated styles (perhaps because of my fascination of past eras), but every now and then, I tend to have the odd, mad moment, where I will buy something only a 17 or 18 year old should be seen in! Being a mum, evenings out are planned well in advance and happen a lot less often than in the past. And, I can honestly say, this is a welcome change to my life. The horrific hangovers, every weekend, are long gone and having to find a different outfit 3 nights of the week is also (thankfully) a thing of the past. Not to mention all the amazing things that come along with being a mum.

My point being, I often have time to plan and buy a particular outfit for a particular occasion, but why do I still find myself regretting my choice a few months later?

I think I am figuring out why this may be. In the past I have paid too much attention to the fleeting fashions of a particular moment, rather than concentrating on my individual style. More recently I have been developing this style and feel I am getting to a place where I am comfortable, but also, still following present fashions, just in a way that is true to me.

I am sure, most similarly thinking people will have come to this point as their style evolves, I cannot be alone.  Any more twenty-something’s out there, with a style dilemma alike to mine?   

Lizzie xxx

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Lizzie xx

Harvey Nichols Spring/Summer 2013 Fashion Show Round Up

Harvey Nichols Leeds truly put on a spectacular show for their Spring/Summer 2013 fashion show. The Prosecco was most definitely flowing and everyone seemed to be having a ball, myself included. After a little mingling, we were seated for the show (front row no less!). On each seat, there was a Harvey Nichols goodie bag - we all love a few free samples, right?



The first song choice - White Noise, by Disclosure - was very apt for the pieces about to hit the runway. The models wore all white outfits, a personal highlight for me was a stunning fur coat, as seen in picture 2 below. The white theme also saw the comeback of the white stiletto, securing its place in the current seasons must have list (Not just for the Essex girl!).

A shoe trend that featured heavily throughout the show was the ankle strap. I personally, have never taken to ankle straps, I am fairly short and feel that they accentuate this, but I will most definitely be revisiting them, hoping to find a style that suits (I feel another blog post coming along...).

White Noise 

1. Malene Birger Jacket, McQ top, Isabel Marant boots, Alexander Wang bag. 2. Acne dress, Finders Keepers jacket, Isabel Marant shoe. 3. Polo Ralph Lauren bag. 4. Alexander McQueen Shirt, Tiger of Sweden trouser, Gucci loafer, belt and bag 5.Gucci suit, Saint Laurent shoe, Dior shades.

Next, there was a flurry of prints, neon and metallics. It was an absolute spectacle, where each outfit screamed sun, fun and good times. Some notable pieces were; a Mary Katrantzou print dress (see picture2), a silk neon Malene Birger pyjama suit (see picture 3 below) and a stunning Philip Armstrong dress (see picture 4 in Matallic).

 

Colour Popping

1. Gucci top, Malene Birger skirt, Alexander Wang bag. 2. May Katrantzou dress, Saint Laurent Paris shoe, Gucci bag. 3. Malene Birger top and trouser, Sophia Webster Clutch. 4. Paul Smith Black Label dress, Sam Edelman shoe, Diane Von Frustenburg clutch. 5 and 6 BCBG Maxazaria dress and necklace, Sam Edelman shoe.

 

Metallic

1. and 2. Alice + Olivia dress, Sam Edelman shoe, Isharya earring. 3. Burberry trench, Faith Connexion dress, Sam Edelman shoe, Prada sunglasses. 4. Philip Armstrong dress, BCBG Maxazria shoe. 5. Diane Von Frustemburg jacket, Malene Birger trouser, Saint Laurent Paris shoe.

The last song choice - Adele’s Skyfall - meant the pace slowed down and the models sashayed down the runway in some breath taking evening wear.  My favourite piece by far, was the black Malene Birger dress as seen in picture 4 below.

 

Skyfall

1. Dolce and Gabanna Jacket, Shirt, tie and sunglasses. 2. Catherine Deane dress, Celine cuff 3. Amanda Wakeley dress  4. Malene Birger dress, Christian Laboutin shoe, Jimmy Choo Clutch. 5. Malene Birger dress 6. Amanda Wakeley dress, Jimmy Choo Shoe.

What a fantastic evening, well done Harvey Nichols Leeds, can’t wait for the next one.

 

The Photos are by A.W. Photography. Amy Webb is a student at Batley School of Art and has had her work exhibited in Flannels, Leeds.

Contact details for Amy:

Phone: 07943923226

Email: acw_22@hotmail.co.uk

A Double Cuff Obsession

So, I know I'm late to the party on this one, but I am loving the double cuff action that seems to be popping up everywhere.

From Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra to the genie in Aladin, the double cuff is definitely an old favourite. But, with Queen Beyonce sporting the trend recently and many models on the catwalks, I'm giving it a go myself.

I purchased a pair of silver owl cuffs, as seen in the picture and a pair of gold cuffs, both from Primark at just £3 each.

I think it is definitely a way of adding that little bit of something, to an otherwise ordinary outfit. what do you think?

Have you tried the double cuff trend?

Lizzie x

The 1940s

OK, so call me fickle, but after watching the film Pearl Harbour again, I may just have fallen in love with another era.  This love is mainly for the fashions and after a lengthy amount of time flicking through Google images, I can safely say, I love it all! Don’t get me wrong, the 1920s still captivates me completely (see The 1920s blog post), but I feel I am allowed to love more than one period in time, right? Or is that classed as cheating?

The 1940s style became more practical in comparison to the 20s, although the silhouettes could be argued to be more feminine, with emphasis on a tiny waist. This practicality of course, is mainly due to the influence that World War II had. The women of the time were pushed to the forefront, especially in terms of employment status.

I think what really gets me, is the hair styles. The set curls, Hollywood waves, clips and hats are truly art-forms in their own right.  I feel some experimenting coming along...

What do you think of this era?  

Designer Consignment – Second Hand Designer Fashion at a Fraction of its Original Price Tag

Recently, I have become obsessed with this kind of shopping experience. After purchasing an immaculate and authenticated Louis Vuitton Speedy 35, in Damier Ebene (A bag I have dreamt of owning for a long time), I am now completely addicted to designer consignment. This kind of establishment can take many names, some examples are; Dress agency, pre-loved store, designer consignment, vintage designer and second hand.

 

This Blog post offers a guide to some of my favourite designer consignment shops. I have found these little gems after hours of trawling the internet, along with looking into any that are advertised in the back of high-fashion glossy magazines (Vogue has a lovely selection of vintage/second hand designer outlets on its back pages).

I have organised the shops into geographical areas, along with detailing some of the better online stores. It is unfortunate for me – living up North – that most of the larger shops are based in London, with only some offering the option to buy online and this is also sometimes limited to a small selection of items they have in stock. Never-the-less, there are still a good selection of stores in more northern territories, especially surrounding the Manchester area. The online shops detailed below have an excellent selection of items. Remember, this is only a small selection, there are many more around the country.

London

Pandora – Knightsbridge www.pandoradressagency.com

The Dresser – Connaught Village www.thedresseronline.co.uk

The South

Secrets – Weybridge, Surrey www.secretsdressagency.co.uk

The North

Elite – Altrincham and Manchester www.elitedressagency.com

Worsley Dress Agency – Worsely, Manchester.

Online

The Dresser Online - www.thedresseronline.co.uk

Champagne and Lemonade – www.champagneandlemonade.com  

High Fashion Society – www.highfashionsociety.com

Of course, these shops are by no means cheap, but I feel the prices are fair and certainly a lot more affordable.

However, if you are looking for a bargain, I once spent an afternoon searching the charity shops on Kensington high-street and found everything from Zara to Prada. Charity shops in the more affluent parts of London are most definitely worth a try, believe me there are bargains to be had.

Have you got any experience of designer consignment? Any shops you think I should know about?

Boots No 7 Day and Night Moisturisers

As I have written about in a previous blog post, I am on a quest for a skin care regime that will halt the aging process for as long as possible!

 It’s hard to know what you should be doing in your mid-twenties in regards to skin care as everyone is different, but I feel having a child and all that entails, along with endless partying during my university days has probably resulted in me having the skin age of a 30 year old, or older!

I figured that, if I start looking after myself now, maybe the ageing process will slow down a little (I can hope!).  This brings me onto to a lovely Christmas gift I received from my brother. The Christmas gift being, Boots’ No 7 Day and Night moisturiser, along with lots of other lovely beauty treats.

Although the creams range from £20-£30, which is at the high-end of the price range I have been focussing on, they can often be bought on 3 for 2 offers or in gift-sets which makes them more affordable.  

I have been using these creams now, for a little over a week and I must say this is the closest yet I have found to my ‘miracle cream’. My skin is most definitely softer and smoother, which makes make-up application a dream. I have also noticed the time in which blemishes take to disappear seems to have decreased significantly.

I have looked at the ingredients and undertaken a little comparison research and found that there is sufficient evidence to support my findings. There is a unique anti-oxidant complex which prevents further damage and supports collagen restructuring. A more interesting set of ingredients is the combination of peptides – including a Lupin seed extract – which aids skin repair and structural protein damage. This would correlate with my thoughts on the speed in which blemishes took to go.

I have also been told the eye serum is worth a try, so I may add this into the mix!

I will continue using these until they run out and let you know if they are still impressing. Have you tried any of the Boots No 7 range?

Lizzie xxx