Easy does it

It was one of days filled with running errands and doing things pottering around the house, with a hair appointment in the middle.

So I went for comfy in a plain cropped white t-shirt, and some leather-look leggings, but when it came to stepping out of the house, I threw on a shirt and slipped on some boots, and really liked the monochrome moment I was having.

t-shirt: asos, shirt: topshop, leggings: mango, boots: river island, necklace: asos

Sometimes you outfit you just throw together, can end up being so much nicer than any outfit that you spent time pondering over while stood in front of your wardrobe.

I love the hearts on this shirt which I think bring a quirky and cute twist to a otherwise casual shirt.

The hearts continued around my neck with this necklace of a watch I've had for a while, and I just like how the red of it gives this black & white ensemble a pop of colour, which I went with for some bright lips as well.

I've found myself dressing a little bit less girly as it were recently, and as much as I love twirling aroudn in my dreses and bow in my hair, and I'll continue to, it's nice to branch out and step out of your comfort zone and try new styles and looks, especially when you feel like you feel like you're in a bit of a rut, which I can do sometimes when I feel like I'm zipping yet another dress up.

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x

Leading Ladies

While most people my age might think that Marks & Spencers is a sore filled with eye-sore jumpers and filled with clothes for cute, elderly grandmothers, I've realised for a few years now that this is simply not the case. They've been catering for shoppers who need new onesies and mobiles for their cots, and kids first shirt when going back to school, to the perfect winter coat for a working woman to wear from office to cocktails, and your grandma's favourite comfy slippers.

Their new campaign at the moment is one of the best and personal favourites that I've seen in a long time, which shows a cast of inspiring women from different walks of life. 

What I love most about this advert is that race, age, sexuality, occupation, and everything inbetween is irrelevant. Like they say in their tv spot, they are 'all women keeping the plate spinning, juggling children & jobs, and trying to do everything well...at the end of the day, we are all fundamentally very similar, even though we're pursuing different passions.

And that is just a brilliant message to put out there.

With beautiful and brilliant well-known women such as Darcey Bussell CBE, the former ballerina from the Royal Ballet, and is now retired to be a judge on the popular television show Strictly Come Dancing, and Nicola Adams who last summer was a champ and became the first female box ever to win a gold medal at the Olympics

Not only is it these women that we know and love, but with just as phenomanal women such as the Jasmine Whitbread, who is the CEO of the Save the Children charity and was previously the International Director of Oxfam, and Helen Allen, who was named Nurse of the Year 2011 and also involved with a charity, being the founder of PEPAIDS (Peer Education Programme Against AIDS).

Singer Laura Mvula, supermodel Karen Elson, writer Monica Ali and former creative director for US Vogue Grace Codding are amongst this ensemble of womnderwomen

 

The women who stand out for met though, are my favourites, singer Ellie Goulding and actor Helen Mirren, who I have sung praise about both before many times on this blog. 

As well as one of my favourite artists Tracey Emin, and the strong and superwoman that is Katie Piper. Having rebuilt her life after an acid attack 4 years ago, and always bringing focus onto the trials and tribulations of this horrible situation and its victims, she has now set up her own foundation to burn victims and people with other disfigurements. A woman who is truly beautiful inside and out. My admiration for how strong and positive she is, is endless.

It is women like this that make me want to push myself and strive for more in my life, and help others and thank those I care and love. They make me want to improve myself and everything about me and my life, constantly.

I feel so patriotic about this campaign as well. Feeling not only proud to be British, but also appreciative of the British high street and how much it actually offers us, wheich we may sometimes take for granted, especially with a long-standing British name such as Marks & Spencers.

sources: M&S

What do you think of this campaign? Who do you admire?

Also, if you follow me regularly, I've moved recently...to Sheffield! I'm studying here, doing a postgraduate Magazine Journalism course, and am absolutely falling in love with the city, and the people I've met on my course and that I'm living with have been so great. It's been so brilliant meeting new and lovely people, and so nice getting on with them so well. So if my blogging slows down a little bit at the moment, it'll be all the excitement getting in the way, but I'll be back on it when I've settled in some more!

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x

Perfect Princess

'Diana' is out in cinemas this week, which is based on the life of Princess Diana, with Naomi Watts playing the Princess herself, and as much of as I love Kate Middleton's style, along with the rest of the world, Princess Diana's sense of style is still as beautiful as did was all those years ago.

When I think of Princess Diana, I think of her well-dressed and ready to meet the masses, in a classic skirt suit, which Kate herself has adopted into her own wardrobe for daily duties. With its own little twists which reflects her own personal style, bringing it up to the modern day, such as peplum waists and metallic hints.

Always with a floor-length gown at the ready, looking regal and glamorous was never a issue for Diana, and while Kate is usually spotted in shorter styles, there's no doubt she looks every part the princess when she steps out in a dress drifting along at her feet.

One of my personal favourites that I always remember, is this gorgeous teal dress from Jenny Packham, with the detail the buttons and lace on the back catching my eye.

Diana dipped her feet in the teal pool as well, and broke all royal rules and wore this choker as a tiara, which not only looks amazing and gives the whole outfit a new look, but was so ahead of the time and I just love how she was brave enough to do this and not follow all stereotypical royals before her.

While Kate usually goes for more fluid styles, which is much like my style, with skirts that swish and swoosh around.

Diana had more clean lines, but still dabbled in some draping, with the back of this dress showing a more sultry and cheeky side, and I love this off-shoulder neckline.

I think what sets these both apart though is that Kate is the people's princess as to say. Her off-duty, casual style, which supports great British brands such as Barbour, is one that people can feel like they can relate to and take inspiration from.

 I always think of her signiture style as a belted beautiful, autumn coat.

Whereas Diana always seemed to look picture perfect and glamorous, even on an off-day.

 Even though she had her trusty skirt-suits, it was this dress that really brought the world's attention to her style, and changed her game.

 

Notoriously known as the revenge dress, it was after this that it seemed like she really broke out of the box and as the skirt hems went higher, the more people were talking about Diana. 

Like I said before, the normal stuff that I wear, is more on the Kate side of things, but I've inspired by Diana to find more A-line styles, more sleek and clean lines.

While browsing on ASOS, I've spotted some cami-style dresses which I think can be just thrown on and looking cool and casual, or dressed up to be more daring. I've even find a co-ordinated 2 piece, which although not as regal as Diana's suits, would be a fun yet smart duo!

Sources: WhatKateWore, MarieClaire, Grazia, Asos

It's sad to think what Diana would be dressing like now, looking like the most glamorous grandma to Prince George.

More than her style, the dresses she wore and her personal life, the thing that made her enter our hearts and become the people's princess, was that she was a loving and caring woman and mother, who felt hurt and had struggles, like any other woman, and she broke down the strict restraints and protocol that was associated with the Royal family. Think about how much more freedom Kate Middleton has now, in her life and in the way she dresses, which is a lot more younger and in touch with other women her age, compared to Diana's era.

Do you love Diana's style? Do you prefer Diana's or Kate's?

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x

British Reign

No, I'm not talking about the typical British weather, but with the city brushing up the confetti and beautiful mess that LFW left behind and I could not feel more proud or patriotic of what our country had produced to showcase to the rest of the world.

With Vivienne Westwood being the godmother of British Punk fashion, her collection did not disappoint, with make-up looking ghoulish and the prints beautifully haunting.

 

 I love the cut-out shoulder detail, the use of loose and draped fabric, and the cocoon shapes.

        

Mulberry's spring/summer collection saw Emma Hill departing from her role as creative director at Vogue, and she definitely went out with a bang. With metallic suits, vibrant floral prints that had a 70s vibe, same-tone stripes and luxurious leather. I particularly lik the detail of the stand of buttons lining down the side of skirts eand dresses.

        
       
       

My personal favourite collection though from LFW, was Burberry's.

I love Burberry and how quintessentially British it is, and supports British production and its resources, and Christopher Bailey created a fantasy of vibrant pastels and delicate sheer dreams.

   

The use of lace and high-waisted underwear looked both chic and classic, and I love all the use of embellishment.

I love all the classic trenches with a fun and feminine twist, and also the twisted and tied necklines  and skirts, and the slick pencil dresses.

And if pastels are a bit wishy-washy for you, there were also bold red and polka dots on show, which had an air about the 60s about them.

This was seen in the menswear as well, and I don't often have much to say bout the menswear, but I really loved how smart yet fun it was.

This is pretty much all my favourite things in one collection, and the finale for it could not be more beautiful, with pastel petals raining down.

Sources: Burberry on Twitter, Style.com, Elle.com, Burberry.com

What did you think of thes collections? Did you think our British designers did us proud?!

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x