Baby, It’s Cold Outside – The Parka Edition
December 4, 2012 § Leave a comment
Last week I produce a scarf edit dedicated to how cold it is outside. Well it only got worse in the last few days and I decided it’s time to talk warmer garments – let’s talk winter parkas. Last season I purchased a light parka for those chilly spring evening (actually thanks to horrific few months that we in London call summer, I ended up wearing it much more than planned). And since now I need a parka update to suit the cold, and also thanks to the suggestion of blog’s frequent reader Daria M, who was also lost for choice over her winter outerwear, I searched for hours to bring you the best parkas from both top designer brands and high street favourites. Also notice the colours: you can go for the classic khaki colour as in the first set of chosen parkas, or you can opt for less obvious versions of the second set that include blue, grey and even printed multicoloured one. The only criteria that stays common with all the choices below (click on the name of your favourite to be redirected to the website for better look and purchase) is the warmth, because, well, baby, it’s cold outside! 
1. Burberry Brit Raccoon-Trimmed Cotton-Blend Parka, £850
2. Weekend by Maxmara Solista Coat, £500
3. Topshop Luxe Nylon Parka, £98
4. ASOS Oversized Hooded Parka, £80
5. Army Fur Fur Trim Cotton Gabardine Parka, £1041
6. Selected Oversized Army Parka, £173
7. Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply Ethnic Print Coat, £311
8. River Island Black Double Layer Parka, £100
9. Project Singleseason, £753
10. Burberry Brit, £839
11. Army by Yves Salomon Coyote Hooded Parka, £1242
12. Sam. Campus Wool Coat, £587
Baby, It’s Cold Outside – The Scarf Edition
November 28, 2012 § Leave a comment
Just as in one of my favourite Christmas songs, it is indeed pretty cold outside and it is not getting any warmer in the foreseeable future. So the only thing left to do is to wrap up warm. This blog is dedicated to scarves – an easy and chic way to add some style and all-needed warmth this season. I am pleased to say this particular topic was requested by this blog’s frequent reader Svetlana Kh – thank you for the inspiration and I hope you like the results. Just as always My Fashion Wish List mixes designer brands with more affordable high street pieces and below, in no particular order are my favourite picks: from classic to eccentric, from printed to knitted, and from monochrome to multicolour. If you like one – all you have to do is click on the name to be redirected to its online retailer. Enjoy the selection and happy shopping!
1.Mulberry Blurry Bloom Printed Scarf, £250
2.Athena Procopiou Protostars Modal and Cashmere Blend Scarf, £280
3.Alexander McQueen Skull-print Modal and Cashmere blend Scarf, £245
4.Eugenia Kim Foxy Chunky-knit Wool Scarf, £155
5.Topshop Cable Dip Dye Scarf, £18
6.Cos Texture Knit Snood, £29
7.Lily and Lionel Suki Hong Kong Print Scarf, £120
8.Missoni Zigzag Wool Blend Scarf, £330
9.ASOS Mixed Spot and Leopard Scarf, £18
10.Spratters & Jayne Ultra Chunky Infinity Chain Scarf, £190
11.Zara Slub Knit Scarf, £19.99
12.ASOS Kaleidoscope Print Scarf, £12
13.Zara Camouflage-print Scarf, £22.99
14.ASOS Angora Mix Check Snood, was £50 now £37.50
TOPSHOP FEVER
November 7, 2012 § Leave a comment
As I descended the escalator leading to the underground kingdom of Topshop at Oxford Circus, I knew that just as usual, I would not leave its hustle and bustle without a few purchases (at least). While wandering around hundreds of meters of clothing, jewellery and shoe racks I caught myself concentrating on very specific groups of items. It’s just one of those days when you approach shopping with a clear vision of an outfit in your head. I wanted a shirt, preferably checkered and definitely oversized. I needed to replenish my colour variation of my favourite Leigh Jeans (I have about 10 different variations of those super-skinny soft denim trousers that feature in my daily outfits pretty much 99% of the time). Then I felt like new boots (still looking for something to replace Uggs, that I will no longer be seen in outside of my flat) and some additional bracelets for my growing stacking collection (I recently sorted out my accessories wardrobe and found extra place for new purchases, how exciting). And yet as often is the case in Topshop, there are tens of combinations for that one specific thing you came in to buy. So while making my decisions, I decided to blog about all the items I tried on – all of which are so on My Fashion Wish List (but only some ended up in my wardrobe). In other words, here is my personal edit of Topshop collection. Enjoy. 
- Mix And Match Check Shirt, £30
- Mid Stone Check Shirt, £36
- Casual Stud Collar Shirt, £38
- Chambray Pocket Check Shirt, £36
- Stud Collar Check Shirt, £34
- Blue Coated Leigh Jeans, £42
- Bone Supersoft Skinny Leigh Jeans, £38
- Supersoft Skinny Leigh Jeans, £38
- Tux Stud Leigh Jeans, £42
- Black Coated Leigh Jeans, £42
- Wild Thing Multi Pack, £14
- Skull Cross Bracelet Pack, £12.50
- Cross Plait Bracelet, £12.50
- Sparkle Bracelet Pack, £12.50
- Rhinestone and Spike Bracelet, £12.50
- Mixxy Glitter Chelsea Boots, £38
- Actor Buckle Cut Out Boots, £95
- Amalie Leopard Studded Boots, £95
- Darcy Stud Wrap Strap Wellies, £30
- Alcatraz Electric Heel Boots, £78
Goodbye Pastels!
September 25, 2012 § 6 Comments
That is it. I now think the summer is finally over. Thus I thought the time could not be more perfect to say goodbye to my favourite trend of the last season – pastels – with one last summer outfit, one going totally over the top with all the soft ice cream colours that I have been wearing past couple of months. And here it is, on one of the last warm days I put together super pastel explosion and took a photo for you to have a look. I am wearing baby pink cropped oversized tank from American Apparel, skinny mint Leigh trousers from Topshop and Converse trainers I designed myself using their online tool and blogged about the experience earlier this year here. Accessories-wise I am wearing pink and green Allumette necklace by Allumer (1), Dior ring (2), ASOS perspex bag I also mentioned a few months ago here (3), Beta silk scarf that is printed with symmetrical geometrical print in beautiful pastel colours (4, check out their entire collection here), Timex pastel watch as mentioned here (5) and ASOS gummy bracelets once again in combination of pastel colours (6).
The best thing, even though I am saying goodbye to this palette for the vivid colours of Autumn/Winter 2012, I am happy to store those garments for the next spring when thanks to a number of shows recently seen in New York and London, the palette is going to come back. So see you soon pastels!
Autumn Staple: Biker Boots
August 14, 2012 § Leave a comment
With the last days of summer fast approaching it is time to start getting ready for new season and welcome Autumn/Winter 2012 fashion. In the first post dedicated to autumn wardrobe overhaul I have decided to concentrate on staple and classic item of my own wardrobe (and millions of other wardrobes around the globe for that matter) – biker boots. Living in London, with its mono-season weather I can get away with wearing biker boots practically every day, but it is autumn in particular when I simply don’t leave the house without a pair of them on. They are cool, comfy and city-friendly, which is more or less the only requirements I have for my footwear. Below I picked out my favourites that will suit every wallet with a price ranging from £30 to £650, enjoy!
- Frye Biker Boot, £177, available at farfetch.com – if you like them neat and uncluttered, this boot is for you
- Ash Titan Antique Studded Ankle Boots, £279 – from the brand that makes some of the most classic biker boots on high street
- Fiorentini and Baker Elis Eternity Studded Biker Boot, £295, available at net-a-porter.com – slouchy top for misfit look
- Via Roma XV. S.Mortiz Biker Boot, £146, available at farfetch.com – with tired looking cotton panel those boots have a nicely worn-in look
- Asos America Biker Boot, £55 – perfect choice for those on the budget
- Topshop Davidson Biker Wellies, £30 – for a rainy day
- Jimmy Choo Rabbit Lined Leather Biker Boots, £650, available at net-a-porter.com – the investment piece made to last and thanks to the fury lining will be in use both autumn and winter
- Ash Trash Antique Studded Leather Boots, £309 – the tall version of the previously shown Ash boot and it comes in brown, for those bored of black
- River Island Lace Up Biker Boots, £75 – just in case buckles are not enough
Top(shop) Brides
June 6, 2012 § Leave a comment
All the fashion lovers on budget, who live and breath designer and high street collaborations and are about to walk down the aisle as a bride or a bridesmaid – this is your moment to rise from your chair/sofa and rapidly jump up and down making hysterical noises aka celebrate new bridal range created by Richard Nicoll for Topshop. And after you settle back down here is all you need to know about the wonderful collaboration.
At the end of June the collection called ‘Tie The Knot’ will be available online and in the selected stores. This is 6th collaboration of the designer with our favourite high street brand and it is once again predicted to be a massive success: not just because the brides-to-be will be hitting the stores but they will be joined by other fashion lovers wanting to get a piece of high fashion for affordable price. And what can you expect from the designs themselves? Simplicity and femininity in blush pink and classic white, lots of lace and see-through light chiffon as seen on the sneak-peak pictures below.
The only downside is that the gowns are made for a very specific bride: fashion forward lady not looking for a classical wedding in the church but picking city, beach or garden backdrop. So for example I would choose a non-white piece from a collection if I was going to a wedding as a guest or dressing my own bridesmaids or go for a white style for other special occasions (when the colour would not be clashing with bride’s dress, of course) but not for my own wedding as it just does not go with my mental image of what I wanted my dress to be, which is, no office, a bit more special. Nevertheless I am sure there are hundreds of girls out there who are dying to get there hands on the collection to wear on their special day thanks to affordable pricing and high fashion designs.
Here are the prices for the dresses above, according to Vogue.com:
- £200
- £350
- £170
- £170
Green Soles
May 20, 2012 § Leave a comment
It was only last year that I honestly had no idea who Chloe Green is. I am sure I have seen pictures of her next to famous acquaintances like Kate Moss or J-Lo, or standing next to her billionaire father Philip Green (who I would kill to work for one day), but I have never consciously acknowledged her apart from possibly making a few jealous remarks on her high street fashion heirloom.
And then, apparently based on Simon Cowel’s advice she appeared in second season of my favourite scripted ‘reality’ show Made in Chelsea, and a new London socialite/fashionista was born. This week, building on her parents’ high street presence and her newly found fame, she did what any opportunity grabbing fashion lover would do and launched her own show line called CJG.
There has already been controversy whether she designed it herself or not, but to tell you the truth I am completely behind her and believe she has. No, she did not draw them herself but I am sure the shapes, colours, and accessories like studs and chains are Chloe’s creations through and through. Why? Anyone who owns so many shoes (apparently she has 200), has parents who own a fashion empire (free access to inspirational design environment) and well, is a female with a bit of imagination would have enough ideas for at least one collection!
So what can you expect from CJG? Highest heels and wedges suitable for urban jungle with mint green soles (how appropriate – not only is her surname Green but her middle name is Jade), a bit of sparkle and a lot of attitude.
Below are my favourites from her collection (you can find CJG at selected Topshop stores and online), by this time I bet most of them are already sold out, but if you don’t manage to get your hands on a pair, don’t despair as I am sure there will be plenty more to come from a lady that must have a hereditary entrepreneurial genes in her!
1.Bella Lazercut Wood Wedges, £150
2. Lady Mama Crystal Booties, £175
3 – 4. Louisa Chain Booties, £175
5. Tiger Lily Booties, £150
6. Stud Back Peep Toe, £115
We Dream of Ice Cream
May 7, 2012 § Leave a comment
Maybe its just a logical continuation of a massive pastel trend or maybe it is an interesting micro trend on its own. Whatever the case, fashion developed quite a liking for ice cream recently! Mulberry S/S12 campaign set (seen above) was covered in ice cream while Louis Vuitton campaign featured models indulging in frozen sundaes. But ice cream being used as a prop is not the end of the obsession – ice cream prints, embellishments and even ice cream shaped jewellery can all be found both on high street and in designer boutiques. And the main two players in the game are Mulberry and Topshop, each providing us with a choice of ice cream themed items at various price points so you can get your hands on the yummy goodies whatever your budget. Below are my delicious picks from both brands. 
- Topshop Crop Sweat, £24 – love the cropped length – exposed midriffs is a trend on its own!
- Mulberry Grey Marl Vest, £100 – so multifunctional, I’d wear it with jeans on the weekend and add to a work skirt and jacket combo for more casual look (for those who don’t have super smart work places of course).
- Topshop Printed Slit Back Shirt, £32 – possibly the cutest printed shirt of the season.
- Mulberry White Vest, £100 – white version of my beloved multifunctional vest.
- Mulberry Sunglasses and Ice Cream Necklace, £170 – barely visible but nevertheless there!
- Topshop Ice Cream Collar, £20 – silly statement necklace, perfect for adding eccentric feel to your look.
- Mulberry Pale Gold Metal Pin, £70 – it’s been a while since pins were at all fashionable but this one hits the nail on the head!
- Topshop Drop Earrings, £6.50 – perfect summer day accessory!
Cheryl’s Style
April 22, 2012 § 4 Comments
I’m slightly excited about Cheryl Cole’s return with her new album. Not because of the music she will be bringing out, but because she is coming back to spot light and I have indeed missed my favourite clothes horse. And that is compliment. Her petite figure and natural beauty allows her to pull off practically anything and makes me (and I am sure many more like me) lust after every single thing she wears.
Last week sneak peak shots of her new video flooded the web and I could not be happier with what she is wearing: mixing up patterns, tropical prints and neon – she is ticking every trend box. Indeed it did not take me long to find pieces she was wearing, and all the fans with money to spend can easily get their hands on the outfit at net-a-porter.com!
On the picture above she is dressed in Finch tropical-print cotton-blend blazer by Altuzarra(£1040), Dolce & Gabbana leopard-print high-wasted bikini briefs (£150) and Brian Atwood Alima neon patent-leather pumps (£670). So if you have £1860 lying around you can steal her style, something that does not happen often with stars in music videos who often get pieces designed just for them.
But of course I would not tempt you with high price items without providing an affordable alternative. I searched the high street for similar pieces and here they are: Topshop tropical floral blazer (£65), Motel high waist hot pants (£20 at Asos) and Office Krazy paving neon heels (£78). Grab an outfit inspire by Cheryl for more affordable £163!
Work Your Statement Shoe
April 17, 2012 § 1 Comment
I love shoes. A lot. And all of my friends share, if not exceed the love towards them so I am beginning to wonder if there is something in our female DNA that makes us lust after footwear. Probably not, though…
Whether scientific or merely culturally developed I am sure the female half of the population would find those two pairs extremely desirable. That’s what statement shoes should look like – add them to any outfit and watch it transform from day-to-day to uber-stylish in a blink of a eye. Think of Carrie Bradshaw from SATC – don’t be afraid to mismatch them to the rest of the outfit for even bigger impact. The hardest choice would be which colour to go for! Purchase these Player Cut Out Sandals at Topshop for £85.
MY FASHION WISH LIST 