Runway to Reality!

Here are some ideas about how you can translate some of the high-fashion catwalk looks for Spring/Summer into your wardrobe. I have picked out some of my favourite key pieces from the catwalks and have found more affordable high street alternatives! Clever dressing is about dressing well for less and selecting styles that suit you but also choosing items which will hopefully last longer than just a season. Let the designers influence but not dictate your style!

1.     Chloe Silk chiffon skirt: POA V.  Whistles Erica pleated midi skirt £110 

Chloe - POA

Whistles - £110

    This beautiful Whistles skirt looks great worn with a simple white t-shirt tucked in and pumps or sandals. Alternatively, dress the skirt up with heels and a simple silky camisole and a fitted jacket.  The skirt can easily be worn in Autumn/Winter too with tights, a fine fitted cashmere jumper and a leather jacket. 

         
    
 2.  Christian Louboutin Simple 70 leather pumps V. Lk Bennet skin coloured patent kitten heels  

Christian Louboutin - £370

      

LK Bennett - £140

  These nude LK Bennet shoes are great! They go with absolutely everything. I have the LK Bennet shoes in the black already and they are so handy for work and going out. The nude would be perfect for Spring/Summer and would be very easy to wear with everything, from jeans to pretty dresses! These shoes would work in Winter too with coloured tights and dresses.

3.     Jil Sander maxi skirt V. Reiss Danielle maxi volume skirt £110

 Jil Sander - POA  

Reiss - £110

This Reiss skirt is really easy to wear with a fitted white vest/tee, brightly coloured statement necklace and sandals or wedges. Team with gladiator sandals and massive shades for the perfect summer holiday look! Wear in Autumn/Winter with a fitted knit, shoe boots and a tailored blazer. 

4.     Palazzo pants from Marc Jacobs P.O.A  V. Oasis wide legged crepe trousers £50 

Marc Jacobs - POA

Oasis - £50

     

 These Oasis palazzo pants are great to wear for work and play. Wear in Summer with a silky camisole and a pair of wedges. For Autumn/Winter, team with killer heels and a fitted silky shirt or a roll neck jumper and a leather jacket! 

5.     Prada striped dress P.O.A V. Warehouse stripe tunic dress £65

Prada - POA

Warehouse - £65

     This Warehouse dress is easy to wear for work with a jacket and heels or dressed down with a pair of pumps and a cardigan. Team with tights and riding boots in Winter.

6.     Erdem red Margot lace dress, £1960 V. Topshop Lace Liz Flippy dress, £48 

Erdem - £1960

Topshop - £48

        This Erdem red lace dress is heavenly and is my absolute favourite piece this season! I love this dress! It’s so feminine and elegant with a slight edge of  rock n roll too! This Topshop dress is a great affordable alternative. (I have a wedding to go to in May. Could be a potential… ? )Wear in Winter with thick black tights, ankle boots and just a little bit of attitude!

7.     Erdem Bianca floral silk dress, £3,360  V. Topshop Limited edition pastel maxi dress, £150 

Erdem - £3,360

Topshop - £150

      This stunning Erdem maxi dress is so beautiful and feminine. Topshop has created a very pretty alternative. It would look lovely with ballet pumps and a fitted jacket or flat sandals for Spring/Summer and biker boots and chunky knitted cardi in Winter. I would exchange the green ribbon for a skinny leather belt.

8.      Chloe Marcie large leather tote, £1,010 V. Toast Vanessa bag, £165 

Chloe - £1,010

Toast - £164

     This Chloe bag is stunning and would go with absolutely everything. I have looked at a lot of high street leather bags and found that a lot of them looked quite cheap and didn't seem to have longevity. I think a good leather bag is essential for everyday and this Toast bag is beautifully made and has timeless appeal. It would be a good investment and would work all year round. 

Hope you like my suggestions. If you are planning a shopping trip make sure that you can wear the items through to next season with some clever styling! I think the biggest and most essential investment this season is also the most affordable. Buy some good quality, well-cut white t-shirts to accompany this season's key items.

 A simple white tee is the key accessory to complement wearing this season's bright colours and also catwalk trends. The best news is that everyone can afford a white tee and also find a style that suits them! White t-shirts can look tired and grey fairly quickly and need re-newing regularly. Remember to keep things simple. Wearing white with bright colours is the perfect complement as black can make them look cheap and garish! In my next blog, I will be recommending different white tee's and reminiscing the loss of the best white t-shirt I ever had! (Albeit very briefly! R.I.P. Balenciaga tee)

You don't need to spend a fortune on investing in the latest trends for the season. With a little tweaking and imagination you can find ways of updating your look without falling victim to seasonal trends! 
  Whatever the outcome, enjoy!

      Kisses, Julianna

Spring has Sprung

Spring has sprung and with the promise of better weather to come brings to question what I will be wearing and investing in this spring/summer. We are increasingly surrounded by on-trend images in magazines and on the catwalks and yet we seem to be more confused about what to wear than ever!


My style hasn’t changed much over the last ten years: I tend to live in J Brand skinny jeans, cosy cashmere and converse when I’m off duty and at home playing with my daughter or walking the dog. When I’m at work I generally like to wear pretty Whistles dresses teamed with a Sandro or a Whistles jacket and Jigsaw riding boots. These are my signature uniforms for work and play! I have to be comfortable and to feel good in what I’m wearing. My clothes also have to be fairly durable as having a one year old and a dog can be pretty tough on your wardrobe! Finding the right style that suits you and your lifestyle can make such a difference in how you feel about yourself, and also how you come across to other people. If you like what you’re wearing and feel good wearing it then you’ll come across as more confident to others which I think is important in all aspects of life, not just the workplace.

Off-duty

Smart for work

Trends come and go with the seasons. Personally, I think that if you have the basics in place then it’s easy to buy the more high fashion pieces to update your look for the season. However, if the item you’re buying doesn’t have much longevity and you only want to enjoy it for a season then it’s best not to spend a lot of money on it and to shop around and try to find a cheaper alternative. The latest trend isn’t necessarily flattering for you. So if you just want to have a bit of fun with the latest trends, find a way of incorporating a hint of it in your wardrobe. I will be making some suggestions how to incorporate spring/summer trends into your daily wardrobe next week without breaking the bank.

As I mentioned earlier, my personal style hasn’t changed much over the last decade. I probably invest in a designer bag every couple of years if I can afford it as bags are such big news in the style stakes. At the moment I am loving my black Mulberry Alexa and take it everywhere with me. It’s a modern classic and is really practical as I can wear it worn across the body which frees up my arms when I am carrying my daughter. Another recent investment buy was a Missoni snood which ties in with all the colours in my wardrobe. It’s practical as it keeps me warm but it’s stylish too. It’s not going to date either and I can see myself continuing to wear and enjoy it for years to come.

So far I’ve mentioned designer labels but I wear a lot from Zara and Topshop, even the odd charity shop find too. I am also a big fan of Ebay which is where I have bought some of my designer clothes at bargain prices. If I like it then it doesn’t matter to me where it’s from and if I can get it discounted or at a bargain price then even better! I like to mix and match high street labels with designer pieces and a little bit of vintage thrown into the mix.  Being someone who is obsessed with clothes but is a mother and only works part-time I do not have a disposable income. I think that if you shop around you don’t have to spend a fortune on staying stylish and up to date. What is crucial though is sticking to styles that work best for you: your shape; age; lifestyle; job and budget. Does it compliment you and make you feel good? Ask yourself if you can see yourself wearing it in a couple of years to come or is it just an impulse buy that will stay unworn in your wardrobe?


Whatever the outcome, enjoy!
Kisses, Julianna