Oscar de la Renta

Yesterday, Ocar de la Renta died at the age of 82 after a long battle with cancer.
And the world will be a little bit less glamorous for it.

Oscar de la Renta has been one of my favourite designers for as long as I can remember having any remote interest in fashion.

From fellow colleagues, models, artists, actors, musicians, and everyday folk like me, he was loved and admired by millions all over the world. 

So much so that Sarah Jessica Parker even got him to splash his name all over the his own design when she wore it to the MET ball earlier this year.

He bought a sense of old-fashioned glamour into a world of fast fashion.

His designs were dripping in style, and he always got the perfect balance of grace from a bygone era, and working that into a busy 21st century lifestyle - come rain or shine.

In a society where so many fashion shows that dons onto the catwalks, includes something to shock or be scandalous, it's so comforting to know that there's someone out there who's care and devotion is still on design, quality, and attention-to-detail.

This is especially true for me. For a girly girl through and through, who loves all things feminine and floral. 

A girl who thinks it's a bit of a shame that people don't dress to the nines anymore, and lusts after the dresses when I watch Mad Men. 

To me, Oscar de la Renta was like a orchid in the midst of a field.

Oscar de la Renta pieces were simply femininity and elegance personified.  

And I think he emphasised the female form so much, because he himself admired it so.

He injected so much beauty throughout living his very full life. And always did it with a smile.

He was one of a kind, and will be sorely missed.

Stay happy,

Until next time,

A.x

Jungle Jane!

This pastel princess has gone a bit khaki crazy.

Continuing with my love affair with strapless items, this playful piece has become a firm favourite of mine that I keep whipping out day & night.

What's not to love about it?! It's got a beautiful playful print on it, it's geometric cut makes it' a bit different and interesting, especially with the layering of a skort design (which also means you don't have to worry about any accidental flashes or embarrassing Marylin Monroe moments!), and it looks flattering on every body shape.

I remember one year, one of my New Year resolutions was to wear more green (obviously out a lot of thought went into that particular year's resolutions), and this lil' outfit kicks that resolution right out of the park - even Kermit the frog would be proud

As if wrapping myself in jungle leaves wasn't enough, I threw my new favourite jacket on top in all it's khaki glory (which incidental, I bought the both of these items together, which made my friends call it my Jungle Jane outfit). With a brass belt to tie it all up, my trusty black wedges and bag, I was ready to go on safari! (I even had my magical, rainbow sunglasses, which every person should have as they instantly make you happy!)

playsuit:Topshop, jacket:Topshop, shoes:Clarks, bag:Mulberry, sunglasses:Urban Outfitters

My arm candy game has been stepped up recently. When I was younger, I stacked so many bracelets and bangles on my arms, it sounded like a cattle of cow bells! Now though, I usually just slip on my Pandora bangle with all it's meaningful and cute charms that people have given to me over the years - but after buying a lovely lil' friendship bracelet from Liberty that's simple and sweet, I re-discovered some of my old ones and have been layering them ever since.

This outfit is literally something I've been pulling out of my wardrobe constantly. Skorts are so underrated (and not like that kind that I used to wear and to play netball!). They're not only stylish and different, but comfortable and practical too - the est of both worlds! I definitely think that skorts and playsuits are a go-to for summer, and if you're looking for a way to save on your summer essentials, then you should head over to Raise.com - they're the 1st online marketplace where you can sell your unwanted gift cards, and buy discounted ones to your favourite stores - Genius! (why didn't anyone think of this idea before!)

They have brands from Victoria's Secret to Starbucks - so there's something for everyone! 

https://www.raise.com/buy-gift-cards

https://www.raise.com/sell-gift-cards

Now, I may not be Katy Perry in Roar, but I can certainly be Jungle Amy in life!

images: thatgrapejuice.net, e-online

What are your essentials when it comes to summer?

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x

School's Out!

Usually, I have to battle with myself to stop myself wearing too many colours at the same time, but for once in my life, chic and simple monochrome was calling out to me. But, trust me to turn something chic into looking so childish - I'm sure my niece wore something very similar to nursery the other day!

With a plain white tee underneath, I cinched this floaty LBD in with a clear and jeweled belt, and laced up these cut-out, brogues and was ready to take on the boys and girls with a game of hopscotch!

dress: ASOS, tshirt: ASOS, belt: River Island, shoes: Clarks

I love how these brogues are simple and clean, but are still fun and feminine with it's cut-out detail and dreamy creamy tone and wooden heel and sole - I have a feeling they're gonna be my feet's BFF's for the summer!

Topping it off with my signature bow, I set off to go play hopscotch with the world.

Are you all about the monochrome? Or is it the more colour, the better?

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon.

A.x

101 Spotty Dottys

Me and trousers don't have the best relationship. They're always too long for my lil legs. Whenever they fit around my waist, they don't around my hips. They either swamp me and look like a dwarf, or are so skinny that I feel like I'm gonna faint at any time for the circulation being cut off in my legs.

But in an attempt to break out my wardrobe ruts, when I saw this dreamy, spotty, watercolor 2-legged creation, I just had to take them for a test drive.

They're so fun yet elegant. I don't know if I feel more like I'm part of a pointillism painting, or like I'm a Dalmatian puppy.

When leaving a lecture wearing this, one of my friend's commented how I looked like I was about to jet off and jump onto a boat for a little getaway (i wish!)

With the sun making more of an appearance these days, it's been new to whack out the sunshades again, which also gets to hide my terrible dark circles under my eyes! (I'm such a night owl, it's terrible...)

With such busy, patterned legs galloping through Sheffield, the rest of me was kept plain and simple, topped off with a dangling and tasseled necklace.

I'm so glad that Spring seems to be on it's way now! Are you guys looking forward to a change of weather and wardrobe?

tshirt:ASOS, trousers:H&M, necklace:Topshop, shoes:Topshop, sunglasses: RayBans, bag:Mulberry

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x

I'm gonna fly away

I have a stupidly over-proportioned, large head, so finding a hat to fit on it is a monumental mission.

So when I found this burgundy baby, I was jumping for joy! I can throw it on when I cannot be bothered to do anything with my hair, or don't have the time (which is 90% of the time!), and still look put together and like I made an effort.

I've been enjoying not needing to wear 10 different layers before I leave the house these days, to only have to take them off again after 5 minutes walking into a building. My trusty leather biker jacket has become my best buddy again!

With a slick of berry lipstick and top of the same tone to coincide with my hat, I zipped up my boots and hopped on out to meet my friend.

I love how this skirt has tiers of layers overlapping one another, with the prints of the birds looking like they're flocking together, with a belt added on top with chains cascading down like a waterfall with the rest of the skirt.

With pastel colours being the basis of my wardrobe and colour palette in life, it's nice to break out of norm and exchange the ribbons for a hat to tip off to the sun.

hat: Topshop, top: Topshop, skirt: Ted Baker, belt: Asos, boots: Timbaland, jacket: Urban Code

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x

It's the littlest things...

I know I'm very late to be chipping in on any Fashion Week chat from any city around the world, but apart from uni work starting up again, the fact is that I've just been sitting back and enjoying everything that designers have flung onto the world!

Amongst Burberry's beautiful and cozy woolen wraps and folklore patterns and Elie Saab's sparkling and shimmering flawless dresses, Anya Hindmarch rummaged through our kitchen cupboards and transformed all our favourite treats into fun and flirty pieces.

Everything from bright and bold caricatures of old-favourite cereal characters....

...to tasty lil biscuit tins that are so dainty and quirky I want to just gobble up!

But my favourite and shiniest things that I've ever laid my magpie-like eyes on.

It's like Anya dug into my mind and realized that I could eat 10 packets of chocolate Bourbons with no problem, and also that I automatically am drawn like a moth to a flame to anything shiny or shimmering. And my gosh, is this one of the prettiest things I've ever set my eyes on....(be still my beating heart!)

Anya has this knack of making ideas that may sound ridiculous on paper, to lookg amazing and chic in reality. A biscuit as a bag? She makes it look like a metallic dream fit for any princess. A bag based on childhood toys that lights up? She makes it look like the most magical and chic present under the tree.

What do you think to Anya's creations? Quirky and chic or childish and cheap? 

Hope you're all well,
Speak soon!
A.x