COLLECTIVE HAUL | ZARA, TOPMAN, TOPSHOP

[please ignore the eczema on my arm in some of these snaps :-(]

October is a month of madness. What with working full-time, rushing in and out of Central London for loads of different reasons, attending a couple of exciting events, gigs and let's not forget I'm 19 at the end of the month; it's going to be crazy. On one of my last free Sunday's for a while, I hopped on the tube and spent the day shopping with one of my best-buds Maddy who recently moved away to Uni. Here's the stuff I picked up. 

ZARA

No one does autumn/winter like ZARA. Hitting the Regents Street store, I had to show a massive amount of self-control 'cause their shoe collection is just flawless at the moment; but I managed to grab a couple of gems. 

£9.99 | size S

I've learnt that if you can afford it, which I only can nowadays thanks to working full-time, investing money in good quality basics is the best foundations for any good wardrobe. ZARA are one of the best high street stores to do this. I'm well aware you can nip to Primark and get this top for £4 but for an extra bit of $$ you get a better quality material, a better cut and all round nicer top. This top is pretty simplistic but it's a great layering piece and the horizontal stripes and monochrome add a bit of detail.

£29.99 | size S

I saw this dress and just fell-in-love. I'm having a massive love affair with midi skirts all over again, teamed with a pair of chunky boots and leather jacket it's an effortlessly cool look, plus I find the shape really flatters my figure. Slightly longer than midi, this long sleeved light-knit dress fits me like a dream. I think the neckline is really unique and all together it's a great piece to have for autumn/winter. 

£12.99 | size M

Electric blue is probably my favourite colour to wear [besides black, but that's a shade *smart ass comment or what*]. I'm desperate to get my hands on a bodycon electric blue dress but I saw this and it's satisfied my needs for now. Basic lightweight jumpers are an essential at a moment and a pop of colour can't go wrong. 

TOPMAN

You guys know me and Topman have a bond and it was re-established this weekend. I'm in the midst of writing a post about why I love buying boys clothing so much so I won't babble on but their pieces are so ace at the moment. 

£32.00 | size S

As well as electric blue, deep greens are going to be making an appearance in my AW14 wardrobe. I love the mix of this type of green with my skin tone and I can't help but love everything about this jumper. Slightly oversized, slouchy and warm as anything - it'll look ace with ripped skinny jeans and chunky heeled boots. 

£30.00 | size S

IT FINALLY HAPPENED. I've been obsessing over a turtle neck sweater for weeks now and it was the first time I saw when I walked into Topman. Don't worry, this will be featured in many a look coming up on my blog - I have big plans for this simple, versatile piece for A/W.

TOPSHOP

Basic central. Topshop's a little OTT for me at the moment, so while I wait for it to hold back on the sequins and embellishments...I stocked up on some basics. 

£8.00 | size 8

Deep green...again? Get used to it guys! I love this crop-top, I've already worn it too work. I'm seeing it with midi skirts and the trousers you can see peaking out in the photo [sorry about the shit quality, it's been a gloomy day!]. It's another attempt to add a little colour into an outfit, I find high necks really flattering as they take the attention away from 'dem boobz. 

£10.00 | size 10 

I've got this basic jersey tee in grey and black, I wear them both so much that it only made logical sense I nab it in white. I give it an hour of me wearing this tee before I spill something down it or draw on myself...but hey, it looks nice all fresh and un-stained doesn't it? I love the necklines and general cut of these tops!

£10.00 | size 10

Again, I basically bought the top above with a high neck...you can never have enough basics...right?

Hope you guys enjoyed this little haul, there's an accessory haul to follow so keep your eyes pealed for that. 

Hope you had an ace weekend & Monday wasn't too painful! 

G - 

FLOAT DOWN, LIKE AUTUMN LEAVES

It's getting darker earlier, sunny days are filled with fresh, icy winds, there's pretty leaves everywhere and it means one thing only - autumn is finally here.

I threw this ensemble together in a rush to get out of the door and I rather like it. It's unusual you'll see me head to toe in grey but I think the printed trousers and different shades make it less 'blocky'. I'm never one for leggings or jeggings as I never think they're that flattering, gimme a pair of jeans any day but these treggings from Dorothy Perkins caught my eye and I love 'em. Made 10x better with a zip + button fastening, they're skin tight and slightly high waisted which tick all the boxes in my book. 

Oh and let's talk about this slouchy cardigan from Topshop shall we? Basically my best bud Bamz and I were shopping and we both spotted this [obviously we both ended up buying it] and honestly, it was well worth the £48. It's the comfiest, slouchiest, throw on piece in my wardrobe at the moment. It's so cosy and warm, perfect for days in bed or throwing on with a pair of jeans and a baggy tee, well that's what me and Bamz are all about anyway. 

With a pretty grey-scale outfit I decided to dig out my vampy dark purple lipstick [which I'll write a post on soon] and to be truthful, choice of shoes and bags were pretty vast - it's such a versatile outfit to style. 

cardigan - TOPSHOP | printed trousers - DOROTHY PERKINS | v-neck tee - TOPSHOP 

HE KNOWS THAT YOU'RE DREAMING ABOUT BEING LOVED BY HIM

Autumn is settling in, believe me as I'm writing this I'm wrapped up in a woolly jumper with my window open the teeniest little bit being blasted by icy winds! The days of mini skirts and no jacket are numbered but while we're still getting some warmish days I'm making the most of it.

In the transition from spring-autumn, Dorothy Perkins have had some ah-ma-zing pieces. They've never been a shop that I imagined I'd like quite so much but they've quickly become a staple brand in my wardrobe.
The print of the scarf featured in the look above is just one of the DP things I've become obsessed with. There's something about the mixture of the black base and pastel floral print; it effortlessly breaks up an outfit and I think it's quite unique in itself. I love it so much that I nabbed a kimono in the print and now the scarf. 

If DP weren't already ticking all my boxes, I'm literally living in this little faux leather mini skirt. It's such a great piece to add texture into a look. Oh and let's just drool over the DP boots shall we? If you read my shoe collection [here] you'll know I've pretty much brought every pair they have to offer and these babies are just everything to me right now.

Oh and I'm still rocking the fedora even though the wind sends me running after it on lunch breaks all the damn time.

- G

floral scarf - DOROTHY PERKINS | v-neck tee - TOPSHOP | fedora - PRIMARK | boots - DOROTHY PERKINS | mini skirt - DOROTHY PERKINS

SUNDAY STYLE | HOW TO STYLE | NIKE DRI-FIT SPORTS BRA

Sportswear isn't going anywhere anytime soon, SS15 is full of it. 

I definitely go through phases of being obsessed with the gym. I tend to be here there and everywhere 24/7 anyway, so that helps to keep me toned but whenever I do hit the gym I'll be head to toe NIKE. They've become one of the coolest brands around, as well as having some of the best sportswear I've ever worn - NIKE are also becoming a central piece to the sportswear trend we've seen a lot this year. Whether it's a simple black top with the NIKE tick or NIKE trainers, in my eyes they've become an extremely 'fashionable' brand.

If I know I'm going to be running round like a mad women, I'll often swap my normal bra for a sports bra. It keeps those boobs in place so I can complete my missions and it's also ticks all the sportswear trend boxes that we've seen this year and on the runway at the SS15 fashion shows.

Here's three ways I'd style a NIKE SPORTS BRA.


THE "KIND-OF CHEERLEADER" LOOK

bomber jacket DOROTHY PERKINS | button skater skirt H&M | nike sports bra

Now we're heading into October, this probably is the least appropriate look of the bunch; but if you're heading somewhere cool or maybe to a house party - this is a great shout. Obviously, the skirt could be interchanged for a midi/mini or maxi skirt depending on your preference but I kind of likes the sportsluxe/cheerleader appearance to this outfit. 

I absolutely love bomber jackets, they're super simplistic but super cool and surprisingly warm! This  particular look accentuates my waist [which I find most flattering] and shows off some leg, but the bomber keeps me covered and doesn't allow too much skin to be on show. 

THE "CLARK KENT" LOOK

leather midi skirt DOROTHY PERKINS | shirt TOPSHOP | nike sports bra

Yanno in superman when Clark Kent rips off his shirts and there's the superman logo underneath, I kind of feel like the NIKE version of that. 

This is probably one of the smartest options for styling a sports bra. You could either leave the shirt unbuttoned as I have or do it up half way and tuck it into the skirt, it's one of those versatile looks. Teamed with a fedora and pointed Chelsea boots. I'm absolutely loving shirts as a styling piece at the moment and I think this particular blue [finely stripped] Topshop number contrasts really nicely with the black and leather texture. I've talked about it a little bit before but I've always loved mixing a really sharp, formal piece such as a shirt with something with a sportswear or grunge edge and I think it just looks edgy and a little bit different. 

THE "UNSURPRISING ALL BLACK" LOOK

duster kimono TOPSHOP | disco pant dupe H&M | nike sports bra 

Last but not least an obvious styling option. High waisted trousers of some shape or form are always a cool accompanying piece to a sports bra. I think it exposes a really flattering part for most people and keeps all the bits you don't want on show hidden. I chose to ditch the jeans for this post and rock my H&M disco pant dupes to add a little more sportswear vibe. To keep the outfit sharp and add a little layering I added my Topshop duster kimono. It's a pretty simple outfit but the different lengths, exposed skin and a little bit of texture through the trousers makes it cool. 

I hope you guys enjoyed this post, it's something a bit different. I'm going to try and do a similar post every other Sunday featuring a different piece to style. 

Obviously these are just my interpretations of how to style a sports bra, I know it's not everyone's cup of tea and these looks are reflective of my own personal style.

- G 

#MFW // VERSACE SS15

Every single millimetre of the VERSUS VERSACE collection was perfection and I've been sat counting the seconds to see what Donatella had to offer at Milan Fashion Week. 

Versace is the ultimate cool, it demands attention, it's all about fierce females ready to dominate. Whether it's the tailoring, the all black or the garish prints - the house of Versace in my opinion, is leagues above the rest. 

The collection began with the looks above causing me a mini-heart attack, cheers Donatella. Versace and I are like minded in many ways when it comes to fashion, but when it comes to black - it's as if our brains are fused. No one does black like Versace and these four looks demonstrate that. Oh and the introduction of pastel blue contrasted with the black sent me over the edge. 

There's something so fresh about this collection; mini skirts and shift dresses, sheer elements and asymmetric cuts oozed dominating femininity. Of course, I'm a sucker for the structured blazers featured within this collection - who doesn't love a womenswear suits?

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw pastels integrated into the show. I am head over heels for the crisp white mini dress, it's absolutely classic and so simplistic. I'm not a lover of pink, but Versace have got me drooling over the asymmetric mini skirt teamed with the structured blazer. As always, structuring and tailoring are on pointe. The usual over-dose of hard wear seemed more minimalistic, but of course the Medusa emblem was hidden in almost every look somewhere or another. 

Cut-outs and mixtures of prints and textures were evident within the collection. The accessories complimenting the boldness of the outfits, heels with attention to the ankle strap with contrasting toe straps showing off a little foot cleavage and of course a heap of new Versace bags that we can all drool over. It's the return of the mini skirts, shift dresses and slightly cropped tops. And yes, the third look does include Swarovski crystals in the mesh dress - LOVE. 

Spring/Summer never looked so good thanks to Donatella's input. The sheer elements adding a texture into the bold prints and clean, fresh colours used within the collection. There was something so unique about this collection; fun, fresh but still as powerful as ever. 

photo cred: VOGUE.co.uk/Tumblr [versace tag] 

I LOOK UP TO THE SKY & IT FALLS

I'm an obsessional perfectionist, yup, not just a perfectionist but an obsessional one. You guys have no idea how stressed I get over my blog, I fuss over the little things like the composition of photos, the lighting, the colours, the layout, the content...every little thing and it's all led to me loosing my blogging mojo.

It's so frustrating 'cause I have so many outfits I want to post but everytime I take snaps and come to writing a post I get so annoyed by the littlest things - so in a bid to get the mojo back I'm going to try my hardest to not stress over the little things and focus on the fashion [try being the key word]. Strange intro to this post but I just wanted to explain the lack of posts at the moment! 

It's that time of year in the UK, just before autumn where the weather goes a little crazy. It's freezing in the mornings but by midday it's boiling sweaty weather [laaavely]. So as you can imagine, planning an outfit for a day where the temperature is going to fluctuate so dramatically is a nightmare. In the past couple of weeks I've been in and out of central London for various reasons and for a handful of them, jeans and t-shirt just don't cut it. 

The look above is something I've been loving and living in. It's a different look for me, it's rare you'll see me in a midi skirt these days but this striped number from Dorothy Perkins is just ace. It's one of those pieces that can be really formal but can also be mixed with a slouchy jumper and boots for a more casual get-up. I brought out the ZARA strappy heels, which instantly reminded me why I love my heeled boots so much. All in all, it's something a little different for me but I really love the general aesthetic of this look.

striped midi skirt - DOROTHY PERKINS | crop-top - TOPSHOP | leather jacket - H&M | heels - ZARA | silver leaf & 'L' necklaces - DOROTHY PERKINS 

#LFW // BURBERRY PRORSUM SS15

 It's no secret that Burberry are a brand I am head over heels for. In the past three years, regardless of the collection or event, I've not missed a second. There is never a doubt in my mind that Christopher Bailey and the Burberry team will produce a flawless collection. I'm in the midst of writing an overall post about my love for the brand, so stay tuned for that; but today all eyes are on the Burberry Prorsum SS15 collection and oh my lord, it's a incredible.

SS14 and AW14 were two shows that'll always stick in my head and although I have faith in Mr Bailey, I couldn't help but think they were incredibly hard acts to follow - but as per usual, Burberry never fails to amaze me. It's been so tough to condense the runway collection, so if you're interested in seeing it in all it's glory head over to VOGUE's runway gallery here. 

photo credit: @Burberry [instagram]

The collection picked up on many of the reoccurring trends for SS15 but of course, in Burberry's unique manor they added their own twists and interpretations. Incorporating a hint of the sportswear trend without drowning the pieces in it with a pair sneakers here and there, the collection was an ode to the British countryside - filled with deep, rich colours a contrast to pastels that are oh so common in spring/summer collections. There was a huge emphasis on texture in this show, mixing tulle with denim, some lace and PVC panels on the trench coats; bold prints and sheer elements were also a key part to the collection.

The show began by introducing crop jackets, dark denim as well as a monochrome denim number, teamed with the sportswear sneakers and overly feminine layered [cobweb] tulle skirts. I'm a massive lover of the contrast of masculine elements with feminine pieces so in my eyes this was a great start. 

The show maintained momentum working its way through colour palettes that blended seamlessly into one another. Initially, I thought the colours were a little AW but now the shows done, I can see the earth/nature inspiration that Burberry drew on. Similar to what we've seen already from the likes of Alexander Wang, there's a strong emphasis on the waist next season - Burberry using ties made of tulle around the waist to bring the outfit together. Birkenstock type sandals were also visible within the collection, it'll be interesting to see the response to them. I love the rich colours in the looks above, with the flowing pieces brought together in the middle, of course only establishing the strength of the iconic trench coats within the look. 

Speaking of trench coats, Burberry really experimented with bold prints in this collection as well as layering and texture. I absolutely love the pastel blue PVC type elements with the deeper blue on the second trench coat above.

 Menswear as usual was spot on. Mixing the traditional trademark tailoring with trainers, as well as bold prints to add depth to the layering - the menswear couldn't be any sleeker and cooler. Also I can't put into words how much I love the oversized satchels that were visible on the runway. 

Deep, earthy colours, sheer, pleated tulle and flats - Burberry making their mark on Spring Summer 15. Of course, the finale wowed with bold, printed trench coats. 

photo credit: @Burberry [Twitter] "The Bee Bag backstage ready for the @Burberry finale in London #LFW"

Overall, the Burberry Prorsum SS15 collection blew me away. I know I'm a little biased as I'm obsessed with the brand but every single season Christopher Bailey manages to incorporate trends, the iconic elements of Burberry but still give us something new and unique. The venue and runway looked incredible, the live musicians that are always present, the FROW are always comprised of the coolest people - every inch is brilliant. This collection showed that Burberry have their own view of SS15 and there's no doubt in my mind that as far as trend setters go, they'll be at the top. 

photo credits: Tumblr/VOGUE.co.uk/Twitter/Burberry media outlets. 

#LFW // TOPSHOP UNIQUE SS15

Spring/Summer collections have never overly excited me, I'm much more interested in Autumn/Winter, couture and menswear collections. It's really rare that I'm wowed by any designers SS collections at fashion weeks, even those that I love the most. There's just something that doesn't do it for me. Pastels, florals and lace just don't float my boat and obviously as cliche as it sounds S/S is full of it. 

There are a couple of names that always produce a collection for spring/summer that even I love, for example Alexander Wang's SS15 [here] collection at NYFW astounded me. There's no doubt in my mind that the Burberry Prorsum on Monday at LFW will make me go weak at the knees and usually Topshop Unique produce a collection that I can't help but fall in love with. 

However this year, Topshop have failed to wow me producing an 'alright' collection. There didn't seem to be a specific theme within the collection; beginning with a sportswear vibe that instantly had me hooked that they came back to later, it then moved onto pieces that I can only describe as the "Hampton's summertime look", then the collection finished with some really 'wow' gowns. It just seemed as if there were a lot of ideas mashed together. 

Cara of course opened and closed the collection, her walk was insane. I don't ever really pay that much attention to the model [as harsh as it sounds, but my attention is on the clothes] but she looked absolutely gorgeous and her walk was so fierce and full of confidence. 

There were elements within these looks I loved, the duffle bags, the sportswear vibe and the emphasis on the waist [extremely familiar, Alexander Wang anyone?]. It might just be me, but I can imagine the likes of Blair Wardolf [Gossip Girl] wandering around the Hamptons in all three of these looks. Shoes; block heels, with strappy details...nothing new. Quite classic looks, clean fresh colours - but a little too safe for a brand such as Topshop that often represents the edginess of British street style. 

Out of the entire collection, I loved these two looks. A little bit edgier, a mixture of sportswear and streetstyle, something cooler and more reminiscent of the effortlessly cool style us Brits have. I really liked the contrast of the bomber-esc jacket mixed with the sheer pleated skirt, a girly look with a guy twist. Then the second look [again, something we've definitely all seen before but still cool] a little bit of sheer detail and a generally shapeless t-shirt style dress. 

I kind of felt as if these particular pieces didn't really fit in, but they were still beautiful. SS15 in Topshop is clearly going to be all about lace and detailing, lots of sequins and flowing skirts, these dresses just scream "PROM" or "fairy" as I first thought. I loved how complex and intricate each of these dresses are, definitely more the standard I expected from Topshop Unique. I thought they hung beautifully. 

Overall, the Topshop Unique show didn't show much originality or ironically, anything unique. In my opinion the AW14 collection earlier on this year was incredible and maybe through my eyes it was just too hard an act to follow. There were some cool pieces within the collection but I expected a lot better and some real 'wow factors'. Topshop is a brand that really sets a presidency for the incredible style that's evident in the UK and I felt that this collection wasn't reflective of that. 

photo credits: Tumblr/Twitter

IT'S JUST YOU & I TONIGHT, WHY DON'T YOU FIGURE MY HEART OUT

blazer - DOROTHY PERKINS | harper skinny roll up jeans - DOROTHY PERKINS | boots - DOROTHY PERKINS | fedora - PRIMARK | tee - TOPSHOP

I'm obsessed with this look at the moment. We all know I love a look comprised of monochrome elements but there's so much more to love. Loosely influenced by the 80's with an oversized boyfriend blazer [Dorothy Perkins] and fedora [Primark] - there's something so classic about this look. I can't explain my love for the Harper Skinny Roll Up jeans from DP, they're such a great fit and the slightly faded appearance adds a little dimension to the black base of this outfit. Of course, it wouldn't be a Lenihan look without a chunky pair of boots [DP]. 

#NYFW // ALEXANDER WANG

It's that time of the year again. In prep for London Fashion Week, here's my breakdown of the Alexander Wang S15 collection debuted at New York Fashion week on the 6th September 2014.

If there's one collection I've been looking forward to at #NYFW it's Alexander Wang. I adore the brand, it's got such an effortlessly cool vibe. 

Wang's latest collection stuck true to his sportswear roots, incorporating geometric prints, as well as using a predominately monochrome/grey base contrasting it with a neon pop. Of course the pieces still channelled the androgynous vibe we all know I love so well, with tailoring focusing on the waist, with high necklines, cut outs and backless features. 

Monochrome based looks, the shoes implementing neon pops of colour. Sleek pony tails add to the androgynous vibe. Tailoring focuses on the waist, high collared shirts. Strong looks, with sharp clean cuts on the pieces. I love the male structure but the feminine twist to the pieces within the collection.

Geometric neon prints teamed with black. Again, emphasis drawn to midsection, high necklines with asymmetric patterns.

Two of my favourite looks within the collection. I adore the high waisted cigarette trousers that have a sportswear twist. Textures varying from scuba material on the geometric dresses, to leather and mesh. As I mentioned on Twitter I love the monochrome base mixed with the electric blue. We all know I love tailoring as seen in such brands as Saint Laurent and to see that mixed with sportswear/streetstyle was brilliant. 

The collection definitely featured some iconic Wang pieces but there was an enormous focus on tailoring and prints. Of course as always the soundtrack was on-point, with a huge crowd gathering for the runway show. 

Wang seems to produce consistently brilliant collections. All including a street style vibe, with a strong powerful look, bold colours and insane tailoring. There was almost a futuristic theme to this collection which I really liked, adding a unique twist to an incredibly original designer. In my opinion, an insane collection. 

all photos credit to Tumblr [Alexander Wang tag]

WHEN WE GO BACK TO SEPTEMBER

Life is insane at the moment. It's so strange that I've been working full time for 4 months, that I'm done and dusted with education forever and that in just a weeks time my brainy best buds are all off to Uni, not to mention I'm 19 in under two months...eek! 

On Friday evening, a couple of friends and I decided to take a break from reality and head to the seaside for the evening, watch the sunset and mess about on the beach in the dark. In true road trip style we got lost multiple times en-route which resulted in us racing [obvs at the national speed limit] to get to the sea front for sundown. 

I genuinely had one of the best evenings in a very long time - it's ace to just turn your phone off and mess around. We got there at the perfect time and it was so beautiful. Of course the journey home was filled with a sing-your-heart-out session to Greenday, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith, oh and let's not forget my beautiful rendition of Sam Smith's 'Stay With Me'. 

I don't appreciate my life enough, none of us do, but lately I've been reflecting on everything a lot. I am so lucky, I'm 18 years old in full time employment and I'm lucky to work with some amazing people. Not only has my job gained me so much life experience but it's finally pointed me in the direction of what I want to do. I'm financially gaining more independence every day, which is one of my life goals. I write a little blog that I'm really proud of which has lead to me making some of my most valuable friends. My friends are the most incredible people and I couldn't ask for better people to be surrounded by. Oh and lets not forget the most amazing human in my life, my Dad. Honestly, sometimes you just need to step backwards and stare out an ocean or something so vast it makes you feel teeny tiny, but it makes you realise how amazing that teeny tiny little life you have is and how blessed you really are.