Ibiza: What's In My (Beach) Bag

I always love seeing other people's "What's In My Bag" posts and it's been a while since I did one (you can see my last one here). So I took the opportunity when packing for my recent weekend away to take some photos for this post:

For the trip, I decided I needed a new bag (who doesn't need a new bag for an exciting trip?!), so after scouring the shops and the internet I came across this Rip Curl bag, complete with its own beach mat. Could it have been anymore perfect?

For the beach, I always pack the all-important sun screen and sunglasses. These sunglasses were a birthday present from my parents:

I also like to have an easy-to-read book - this time I took "I Heart New York" with me - a light and entertaining read. I also make sure I have a pair of jelly flip flops in my bag - great for getting my feet wet and not worrying about ruining a beautiful pair of sandals. Of course, I also pack the essentials of my purse and bikini!

What do you pack in your beach bag?

Wardrobe Update #9: School sandals

The idea of this series is to do the leg-work for you to find instant catwalk updates for your Spring Summer wardrobe.

Style.com

"I don't like making clothes for red-carpet events," Tomas Maier said shortly after his impressive show today. "I like real life."


And so the Bottega Veneta designer had demonstrated when he sent models down the catwalk in flat leather sandals reminiscent of those that my mum used to dress me in for the summer term at school. Easy, laid back and highly practical and great, no matter if your budget won't afford you a designer pair:

SAVE: Casual Attitude Atra

SPEND: Emu Yuku

SPLURGE: Emma.Go Sienna

Do these remind you of your school days? Will you be investing in a pair of flat leather sandals?


If you've missed any of the previous Wardrobe Update posts, you can find them here.

BARGAIN OF THE DAY: Cotton and Leather Shopper

The colour is totally on trend and the leather straps are a chic addition and for less than £20 it is a bar-gain!!

Wardrobe Update #7: Flatforms

The idea of this series is to do the leg-work for you to find instant catwalk updates for your Spring Summer wardrobe.

Last summer Chanel brought us clogs, this summer the flatform:

Style.com

Apparently they like to challenge us with their footwear choices each season! So I have tried to find flatforms for every budget:


SAVE: Cubanas Guantanamera

SPEND: Fly London Yoda

SPLURGE: Camper Damas

Will you be wearing flatforms this season? What would you wear them with?


If you've missed any of the previous Wardrobe Update posts, you can find them here.

Holiday Inspiration: Footwear

Source



Next month I am heading to Ibiza for the weekend to celebrate my birthday. I cannot wait. A little sun, a little partying: what's not to love? But before I get there, I need to sort out a summer wardrobe, something which I have had very little need of here for nearly a year! So I decided to do a little internet browsing and see what I came up with by way of inspiration. Of course, footwear is always the very first thing I consider when packing is concerned:

Last summer I discovered wedges. I seriously do not know how I survived summers without wedges: they are easy to walk in and add a little glamour to any outfit. So in my internet search, I found these little beauties:

Having found these wedges by Ravel, I decided to check out the rest of their summer collection and found these sandals:

I am a huge fan of embellished sandals which whilst being easy to wear, also translate easily from day-to-night.

Source

Of course, no summer holiday would be complete without a pair of flip flops and none look better than a pair of Havainas:

For a slightly more practical pair of flip flops and an added splash of neon colour, which let's face it is a requirement in Ibiza and bang on trend for Summer 2011, try these:

 Are you planning any get-aways in the sun? If so, watch out for more holiday inspiration posts in the next month, including beachwear and make up inspiration.

Style Inspiration: Converse trainers Part II

My new Converse trainers arrived!!!! And the minute I put them on at lunchtime, I just knew that they would not be coming off my feet any time soon:

I promise some much better photos very soon!

In the meantime, take inspiration from fellow blogger extrordinaire and Converse wearer, The Style Crusader:

The Style Crusader

My recent obsession with Models Own's Lilac Dream (which coincidentally was introduced to me through this post by The Style Crusader!) encouraged my decision to invest in a lilac/purple shade of Converse trainers.

What do you think of the trainers? With the dress? (The boyf wasn't too sure!)

Style Inspiration: Converse trainers

Sources (clockwise from top left): The Sartorialist; StockholmStreetStyle; StockholmStreetStyle; The Sartorialist; Vogue; and The Sartorialist.

All winter I have lived in my ankle boots but now, as the weather gets warmer I am faced with the problem of what to slip my feet into so that they are not boiling. And my answer? Converse trainers.

Recently all of the photos in my "inspiration" folder have been girls in dresses/skirts and Converse trainers. And you know what? I love the look. And I plan to incorporate it into my Spring wardrobe, just as soon as my new lilac Converse arrive.

If you fancy incorporating a pair into your Spring wardrobe, check out my top picks:

Converse All Star Seasonal Hi Tops

Converse All Star Slim Core Ox

Converse All Star Core Ox

How would you style up a pair of Converse? What shoes are you planning on adding to your wardrobe for the new season?

What Was I Wearing: colour blocking

There are two positive points to having finished the 30 for 30 Challange: first, I have everything else in my wardrobe to play with and second, I can shop again!! And shop, I did. I will explain more about my little "spree" in another post but let me just say, if you live near to a Gap store - go check out their current sale. For those who don't think Gap is really their style, think again. Gap isn't really about being one particular style, the key to shopping in Gap is realising that they sell well-made and reasonably priced basics which create the foundation of a wardrobe and provide the perfect pieces for layering.

Anywho, back to one of the very first outfits I put together after the 30 for 30 challenge and taking inspiration from the trend for colour blocking for Spring Summer 2011:

Source


When I saw this post over at Dear Winnie, I loved how Chelsea had pulled a simple and elegant outfit together with a bold and bright skirt. You all know by now, I am not a great one with bright colours and own far more black than is absolutely necessary. So when I spotted this skirt (below) in Gap last weekend for £9.99 I just had to have it! Unfortunately it was a size too big for me - it fits perfectly on my hips but not on my waist and I wanted it as a waisted skirt. So I took Chelsea's advice again - and hoisted it up with a belt. It has created a sort of paperbag-effect at the waistband which I like:

What do you think?

I am wearing: Gap tee (ancient - £9.99), Gap skirt (£9.99), Dorothy Perkins belt (£3) and Spartoo heels (£19).

Are you planning to colour block this Spring? Which show was your favourite for Spring Summer 2011 and what inspiration are you taking for the warmer weather? Where do you shop for basics on the high street?

BARGAIN HUNTER: Spring Florals #4

This Rip Curl Vintage Flower Wallet will keep your pens safe and stylish

Put a Spring in your step with these Converse All Star Tatoo Flower Hi Tops

Or these One Step Ballerinas?

30 for 30 Challenge: Day 30

The final outfit:

This is a very formal outfit and one that has been replicated over the past month on a few occasions for business days at work. I snagged this Benetton LBD in their sale a couple of years ago for £13. I love the wide waist-band and the fact that despite it being made from a clingy jersey material, it doesn't seem to cling to any of those bits that I want to conceal.

What do you think of my business look? And my final 30 for 30 outfit?

Check back later tonight for my analysis of my 30 for 30 challenge.

30 for 30 Challenge: Day 25

Only five more days to go - you excited to see what I have in store for the next five outfits? Yes, me too! I have found that all planning of outfits has gone out of the window since I started the 30 for 30 challenge and I have been getting out of bed each morning and putting together the best outfits I can from what I feel like wearing from the 30 items I chose.


Today I am wearing: Next dress (£30); Marks and Spencer belt (£2) and Spartoo heels.

Internet shopping: the good, the bad and the beautiful

I love internet shopping for the sole reason that I love to come home to a little present (albeit from myself!). What I do not like so much about internet shopping is the waiting. I do not like waiting. But sometimes it is totally worth it. Yesterday - after waiting only a few days - my parcel from Spartoo arrived.

I knew that I was going to like the contents of the parcel but when I saw just the box inside, I knew I had to share with you the whole experience as this box told me, these were no ordinary shoes:

The box is a gorgeous pale patent pink, girly and yet sophisticated:

Even the inside of the lid of the box was a delight:

And then, there were the shoes - so beautifully wrapped:

It was like opening a wonderfully and thoughtfully wrapped gift:

The colour was just as beautiful and rich as I had imagined it would be:

How amazingly elegant and glamorous do they look?

These are definitely being worn out for dinner with my girlfriends tonight.

What do you think?

30 for 30 Challenge: Day 21

Someone suggested, when I wore this blouse on the very first day of this challenge, that I team it with a pencil skirt. Now I have:

What do you think?


I am wearing: Dorothy Perkins blouse, River Island skirt and Spartoo heels.

I think it works. I wasn't too sure, as I wondered if the bat-wing style sleeves might not work well with the high-waisted skirt, but turns out, I think, they do:

30 for 30 remixes: