Pay day!

Oh no! The day before pay day and I found myself heading into town after work and spending nearly all of my monthly clothing budget before I've even been paid!! My only excuse is that I was consoling myself in the wake of a whole week alone in the flat as the boyf has gone off to sunny Barcelona with some friends and I have been left behind!!

So, what did I buy?

My first stop was Zara (up to 50% off sale signs in the window pulled me in!!). I picked up a gorgeous royal blue jersey dress that can be dressed up for dinner and drinks out or could be worn for chic work wear! (Photos to follow!) It only had a fiver off but I probably would have bought it for full price! I also grabbed a lovely oversized cream tee with an abstract octopus design on the front. It looks gorgeous casually chucked on over a pair of leggings with a blazer over.

Next I headed to Gap to grab a couple of rather less exciting t-shirts for work wear. Has anyone else noticed how difficult it is to find appropriate summer work wear that combines keeping cool with looking smart and respectable? Without looking boring it is very difficult!

I then headed to the Paperchase concession in Borders and indulged my other shopping addiction of stationary! Before I really became aware of fashion (I was a late starter) I kept Woolworths in business with my weekly purchases of pens, notebooks, etc. And this has carried on. I picked up a lovely photo album and some pretty notecards.

I had better save the rest of my pennies for my Topshop Style Advisor session on Thursday!! I'm thinking that I want to get a nice new outfit for my trip to Paris with my mum later this month. My criteria are for something ultra stylish, that will travel well and that will stay looking fresh after a day of sight-seeing and will keep me cool in the Paris summer weather. Not too much to ask, is it?! I would welcome any of your thoughts!

I'll write again soon, love, SG

Wimbledon

Pimms, strawberries and cream, and striped blazers, Wimbledon is officially here! I along with the rest of the nation catch Wimbledon fever at this time of the year, and took a trip to SW19 this weekend to see it live in action.

My chosen attire was smart casual with a blazer (with the sleeves turned up, of course), belted t-shirt dress, big sunglasses, gladiators and oversized shoulder bag. Preppy chic was, as to be expected, in full force at Wimbledon with fedoras, panamas, chinos, loafers and blazers leading the way. However rather than looking dated and elitist the look was undeniably cool. Think preppy with a twist: Russell & Bromley's tassled loafers, pegleg chinos, cropped fitted blazers and Gucci-inspired fedoras.

Top 10 Festival Must-Haves

It is that time of year, Glastonbury is finally here again! Sadly I won’t be there to join the festivities as I get my act together and purchase a ticket in time however I will be tuning in to all the coverage. I can’t wait to see Neil Young and my favourite Britpop boys Blur.

However I have compiled a top ten list of festival essentials for all of you going to Glasto or any other festival this summer:

1. Bright Nail Varnish preferable in bright orange or yellow. For the perfect shade of canary yellow try Nails Inc’s ‘Carnaby Street’ – easy to apply, chip resistant and the colour of the summer






2. Dry hair wash – the perfect solution to the non existent shower problem






3. Fedora – keep off the sun, rain and look effortlessly stylish in the meantime






4. Cut-off denim shorts – the epitome of festival chic






5. Over-sized sunglasses – the bigger the better, channel Jackie O, coloured frames are always a favourite






6. Jewellery – pile it on heavily for bohemian chic






7. Lip gloss – work bright pinks and reds






8. Wellies – a given for the British elements






9. Dry hand wash – essential for all festivals






10. Berocca – energy tablets to ensure you don’t miss a thing

What are your festival essentials?

Funky knitwear, new clothes, shopping... just another standard Thursday afternoon!

I am currently resisting the urge to shop but have no idea how long I will be able to carry on before it becomes too much! I always find that after a stressful week at work shopping is the perfect therapy to relieve all of that. I can't go into a shop a see a beautiful dress or a cute top or gorgeous pair of shoes and not feel better… much, much better! It's the same feeling I get when I put on a new item of clothing for the first time. I saw a film recently starring Audrey Tautou, Priceless, in which she uses men to buy her gorgeous new designer clothes and there is a scene showing her getting up each morning and ripping the tags off a new outfit - including underwear - EVERY day. Obviously this is not a real possibility for mere mortals but it is a nice dream nonetheless!

I have just booked myself in for a Topshop Style Adviser session for a week's time which I am hoping might be a rather lovely shopping experience. I shall let you know!

I tried to find some good photos on my camera from the Graduate Fashion Shows two weeks ago but alas my camera is not very good with distance so none of them were really good enough to be showcased on here. However, I have found a few photos to accompany my comments below about the winner, Myrto Stamou. I love the way in which they are so beautifully put together and create gorgeous lines on the models.

Hannah Taylor of Ravensbourne University created a fun and quirky knitwear collection which was highly commended for the River Island Gold Award. Despite the designs being far less commercially viable than those of Myrto Stamou, they are nonetheless eyecatching and creative and certainly brightened my day during the show. They are, perhaps, the perfect antidote to the current economic climate whilst Myrto Stamou's collection is more modest.

Hope these pics brighten your day.

I'll write again soon, love, SG

Anna Lou Jewellery

Anna Lou is bringing its beautiful modern designs to the masses this month with the opening of its flagship jewellery and accessories shop in Soho.

These bold and striking designs have been seen on many fashion-forward celebs this season including Kate Moss and Lily Allen.

My favourite items are the eye-catching charm bracelets and pendent, see below, which I can’t wait to get my hands on. If you like this then also try the much-loved East London favourite Tatty Devine for unique and quirky designs.

Number 11

Sunglasses. Again... just in case but also for a good disguise after a heavy night by the camp fire!!

Festival survival kit

One of my best friends is off to Glastonbury this weekend (don't make plans for this weekend, if you're not going - it will rain!!) and it got me thinking about what you can't live without at a festival. My boyf and I went to a festival in deepest darkest Wales last summer and lasted one night! It rained... a LOT and neither of us (thankfully) is the type to put up, so we went home to our dry, warm flat!

So, number one on my list for the 'essential festival survival kit' would be a campervan - never again will I camp! But failing this, make sure you have a BIG tent where you can fit EVERYTHING with ease without it touching the sides - a disaster if it rains!

Number two: face wipes! And however many you THINK you need - take MORE!!! They are so useful for everything. And boys never bring anything like this.

3. Sun screen - just in case!

4. A rain poncho - you CANNOT dance in a field of mud and rain with an umbrella!

5. Wellies - NO ONE should ever go to a festival without wellies.

6. Flip flops - again... one can dream!

7. Glow sticks - random fun.

8. Dry shampoo - Batiste is less that two quid in Boots and Superdrug. Or try James Brown's version (he does travel size too in Boots) which is a festival fave with Kate Moss and Daisy Lowe!
9. Mascara and bronzer and maybe some very bright eyeshadows/liners - do not take much more than this, you won't use it!

10. Loo roll! (Has a multitude of uses besides the obvious!)

There it is; my 'essential festival survival kit'. Let me know if there is anything I have left off?

I'll write again soon, love, SG

A Woman's Right To shoes

I wanted to share with you my latest 'bargain' shoe purchase! I have been searching for months for the perfect pair of summer sandals and last week found them - and for the bargainous price of £13.50!! My checklist for the 'perfect pair' was simple; comfortable, practical, gladiator style, and affordable. These tick all the boxes... and more! Gladiator sandals have been the footwear item of choice for any fashionista for the last three or so summers and are the perfect day-to-night/work-to-holiday pair of shoes.


These are my bargainous sandals - bought in the Oasis mid-season sale, they were originally £38 and were reduced to £15 which I then got 10% off (as I still have a student card!). They are so pretty and practical! What more could a girl want?!

Of course, these are added to the three other pairs of very impractical shoes I have bought over the last month! But then, that's a girl's prerogative, no?

Just time to tell you that Oasis are not the only ones with a mid-season sale currently on - Dorothy Perkins, H&M and Gap are also in on the action... So ladies, happy shopping!

I'll write again soon, love, SG

Love for Little Boots

What began as lust for Little Boots is becoming true love. I can't get the catchy 'New in Town' out of my head, the video is fantastic with its gang of dancers and urban setting. Mostly I love her style; the smoky eyes, chic blonde up-do, backless cobalt sequin dress, statement necklace and topshop metallic sandals. Blackpool should be proud!

Say cheese!

I'm kind of new to this whole blogging thing but LOVE various fashion blogs. Especially those which feature photos of stylish people, from whom I can get inspiration when I stand in front of my wardrobe in the morning and get that sinking feeling... "so many clothes and nothing to wear"!! People in the street inspire me too. And the obvious celebrities and fashion mags (of which I buy far too many of each month/ week!).


So I want this blog to be a celebration of all of the stylish people out there! I have just aquired a beautiful vintage 35mm SLR which I am slowly learning to use! My plan is to start taking photos of all of the stylish people in my life and to put their photographs up here for everyone to admire.
I also plan to use this blog to let you all know about anything especially fun and fashion related that I have been getting up to. For example... last week I took myself off to London to Graduate Fashion Week! It was AMAZING! There are some seriously talented folk out there. I loved the collection by Myrto Stamou of UCA Rochester, who picked up the River Island Gold Award and the Womenswear Award. Her beautiful collection of feminine cut dresses, skirts and tops were showcased in a pallet of nudes, creams and grey. The cut, the colour, the whole effect was gorgeous! I would have bought the floor length dress in an instant if it had been possible! GFW also proved to be the perfect place for a bit of celeb spotting (another past time of mine!). We watched Claudia Schiffer sashay up the red carpet - she looked smouldering with her hair framing her tiny face and her eyes heavily made up in a smoky effect. Also spotted Matthew Williamson, Zandra Rhodes, John Rocha and Ted Baker.


I still haven't checked the photos from the show but if any are any good I will make sure to put them on here tonight.


The following day we headed to Westfield in West London and straight to Mary Portas' living and giving shop - the charity shop she's set up there for three weeks with Grazia! It's not much like a charity shop but it is done so nicely - I could have spent all day there! I picked up some brand new Office brogues for £20. Maybe not charity shop prices but they are still in store for £55 so I felt like I'd got a bargain and had done my bit for charity too.


This is now a lot longer than I intended for my first blog! Apparently I have more to write about than I thought!


Just one last thing before I go.... MUCH excitement over the recently announced collaboration this autumn between H&M and Jimmy Choo!!!! Ever since I became utterly addicted to Sex and the City and fell head over heels in love with Carrie, I have longed for a pair for Choos! And now I might just be able to own a pair and for a fraction of the usual price!! I WILL be camping outside H&M on the night of Friday 13 November!!! (Is it a bad sign that it is Friday 13th??!!)


I'll write again soon, love, SG

Chinos

Normally found on university rugby teams and bumbling Hugh Grant types, the chinos are making a comeback and are a firm favourite this summer. These classic trousers look fantastic for the daytime casual chic look, turn them up, and wear with gladiators for an effortlessly sophisticated style or add skyscraper heels for evening. There are many styles on the high street now from the classic preppy look at Gap (below) to the pegleg (second below) at Topshop; it’s also worth trying the menswear departments for wider choice and an on-trend androgynous look.

Queen Sophia of Spain Flies Ryanair

This is quite possibly my favourite story of the year: HRH Queen Sophia of Spain flies on low-cost airline Ryanair from Santander to London on a £13 flight. She has now been crowned my favourite Royal, muchos respect.

Style of the Summer: The Fedora

My favourite accessory this summer is the fedora hat. It is effortlessly cool, can be worn with a multitude of casual chic outfits and is a godsend on bad hair days. It is regularly sported by such trend setters as Nicole Richie, Keira Knightly, Sienna Miller, Mischa Barton and Kate Moss.

The fedora is the must-have shape for the summer hat and it is not just for this season either, this style is completely timeless. It wins hands-down in the style stakes against other summer hats, such as the indie trilby, cowboy hat favoured by Britney et al, and the WAGs personal favourite, the baseball cap. Gucci have a beautiful fedora in their S/S 09 collection, as seen in their ad campaigns and on the catwalk (below), and TopShop also have a great selection of more affordable versions.

Milk

After hearing such rave reviews for ‘Milk’, I decided to rent it out last night, and it did not disappoint. Set in 1970s San Francisco, Sean Penn gives a fantastic performance playing gay rights activist Harvey Milk, and certainly deserved the best actor Oscar. James Franco plays Milk’s boyfriend Scottie and looked gorgeous throughout in his 70s ensemble, who knew flares could look so good!

Current Crush: Breton T-Shirt

The Breton T-Shirt, brought to us by Coco Chanel, is the key piece in this seasons wardrobe, and every woman should own one; I for one have been wearing mine to death. It works well with cropped jeans, this seasons short shorts, fitted blazers, denim jackets...the list is endless. It is also a favourite of the fashion crowd who want to achieve the casual chic look that the Parisians do so well.

Love or Hate: IT Sunglasses

The death of the IT bag has allowed room for the rise of the IT sunglasses in recent years. IT sunglasses are worn by such high-profile fashionistas from Kate Moss to Chloë Sevigny, and Mischa Barton to Diane Kruger.

We have seen various trends over the past few years including the aviator, bug-eye, Prada butterfly, Ray-Ban wayfarer, and this summer sees the emergence of the latest style to be seen in, the 50s retro style Ray-Ban Clubmaster.

The Clubmaster has already had celebrity approval from Diane Kruger, Mischa Barton, Lindsay Lohan, Ferne Cotton, Kirsten Dunst and Beyoncé to name but a few, they have taken over the Wayfarer as the style of the season.

Are IT sunglasses a trend worth buying in to? In a word, no. They do not have longevity as each season has a new style to buy into, and no one would want to be seen dead in last summer’s coloured wayfarers, would they? At least the IT bag had more staying power than one season; this is disposable fashion at its worst. My advice, choose a style which isn’t all over every fashion page to guarantee staying power.