New Jeans

I ordered this pair of jeans from ASOS late last week and because of the bank holiday and delays to the post, I am still waiting for them.

Like with all new purchases, I've envisaged in my mind the plethora of combinations I can create from my existing wardrobe and with a good pair of jeans, the opportunities are endless. The last time I bought jeans was two years ago, an excruciatingly skinny pair from Hollister. And they've served me well. I still love them. But I was in need of a little denim injection so have gone for a different shape this time. We'll see how it works out but as with any new relationship, I intend to be with them as much as possible.

With that in mind, instead of sitting peering out the window, waiting eagerly for the postman, I thought I would at least try to be constructive with my time and play around with some different looks.

Now all I need is to get them...

Jeans - A/Wear at ASOS, jumper - H&M, boots - H&M, necklace - Halleh at net-a-porter.com, clutch - Anya Hindmarch

Jeans as before, shirt - Topshop, bowling bag - Zara, gold cuff - ASOS, cork wedges - Christian Louboutin

Jeans as before, t-shirt - 3.1 Phillip Lim, Chelsea boots - ASOS, leather belt - Dolce & Gabbana, bag - Coach

SALE

Since I've started working in retail, the only thing I hear at the moment is SALE SALE SALE. I started at Hugo Boss, Bond Street today (Burberry on Sunday and Zenia Bond St. Saturday) and people really do go crazy for a bargain. Shopping hint: if you're in the market to buy a suit, HEAD TO HUGO BOSS. Most suits are reduced to about £300 which is a huge reduction from £800+! I know a lot of fashion insiders are skeptical of sales since some stores sell last seasons "tat" but I have to say, I've been particularly impressed with Hugo Boss. There are hundreds of suits on sale and all classic styles which will last season after season. The womenswear isn't too shabby either.

So with that in mind, I had a little trawl through net-a-porter.com and mrporter.com and have come up with my 5 designer sale picks for men and women.

Net-a-porter.com

Vanessa Bruno - was £280 now £140. I love this pretty skirt. Would be perfect teamed with a cream blouse or camisole for warm evenings.

Michael Kors - was £200 now £120. A great addition to your work wardrobe and the fringing adds extra detail.

Gucci - was £425 now £212.50. A classic skirt for work or smart occasion. Would look great with a navy blue crisp shirt or a loose white T.

Chloe - was £860 now £516. Perfect for work with simple wedges or with flat sandals to keep you cool on holiday.

Christian Louboutin - was £445 now £267. Christian. Louboutin. Sale. Enough said.

Mrporter.com

Burberry Brit - was £150 now £75. A great pair of basic jeans for casual with a simple T or a slightly smarter occasion worn with a shirt.

Rag & Bone - was £170 now £85. I love the colour. Would look sharp under a dark suit during winter.

Polo Ralph Lauren - was £405 now £202.50. With all these down pours we keep having, a rain jacket is a must.

Hartford - was £130 now £65. Simple colour, uncomplicated style. Throw on over a white T when it gets a little chilly.

Aubin & Wills - was £49 now £24.50. Not for everyone but I love the candy stripe pattern.

But be quick! They won't be there for long!!

Holiday Essentials

How depressing. I really am lost without being able to transfer photos onto my computer. Hopefully it won't be long till the cable arrives.

Since recently being away, and having to pack extremely light, I've had to think a lot about "essentials". After shortlisting what seems like 100s of things you want to take on holiday to just a few, I thought I would feature my super five fashion essentials which you shouldn't leave the country without (at least not in summer anyway).

1. Bikini

If you're going to a hot country, more than likely you will be swimming at some point whether it be in the pool or the sea. This By Malene Birger bikini (available at net-a-porter.com) is small and simple enough to avoid unsightly strap lines and I love the tassle detailing on the ties.

2. Sandals

For day or night, a comfy yet stylish sandal is a must. I would choose a neutral coloured pair to go with your whole wardrobe. I bought these from River Island (available at asos.com) and I'm so glad I did. I've worn them nearly everyday and after a couple of blistered wears, they're comfortable too.

3. Tote

If you are trying to take minimal bags, your first port of call should be a tote. Large enough for the beach and hand baggage but chic enough for lunch or shopping whilst abroad. I love this cheap and cheerful Pieces one from asos.com.

4. Maxi dress

Just like the tote, it needs to be practical to wear on the beach but also dressy enough for dinner. This T-Bags maxi (available at net-a-porter.com) has a simple shape but the embellishment makes it special.

5. Sunglasses

A no-brainer. I have two pairs which I like to chop and change depending on my mood and outfit - a large, olive green Marc by Marc Jacobs pair and some classic Ray Ban aviators. I also love these from Miu Miu (available at net-a-porter.com)

Statement Sandals

Bar the end of last week, the last couple of months have been relatively sunny in London. That means that the winter clothes (and shoes) get pushed to the back of the wardrobe and the summer clothes come forward. Goodbye heavy, black boots. Hello strappy sandals.

I already had a couple of pairs of sandals from Zara from last summer (seen here) but felt I needed a more neutral pair. These have tan leather straps, gold hardware and a yellow/brown stone on the front so they will go with a lot of my outfits.

I found these in River Island for £25 and used my £10 gift card which I got for my birthday back in November to get them cheaper. I fly to Spain on Wednesday for 5 days to visit my family and friends so I'm sure they'll be the base for most of my outfits.

Nail colour - Essie in 558 Flirt

Here are some more statement sandals which have caught my eye.

Simple in shape but I love the orange suede pop of colour. Perfect with a crisp, white sun dress. K Jacques St Tropez, £170. Available at Net-a-porter.com.

A bit of bling never goes a-miss. Glam up battered denim shorts and a billowing shirt. Musa, £285. Available at Net-a-porter.com.

Flowery and fun, wear with wide leg jeans and a simple T. Topshop, £28.

Jewels and a bow, one of my favourite pairs of sandals this season. Wear them with a pretty summer dress. Zara, £49.99.

Micro Trend - Brights

I am usually an advocate for neutral dressing but I have to say, I've rather taken to the brights trend - in moderation, may I add. I'm not quite ready for neons, nor wearing multiple brightly coloured pieces, but one skilfully placed item manages to boost your outfit and update those winter hues. I love the deep reds, vibrant fuschias and rich blues so took a browse round net-a-porter.com to see what was on offer.

These are just a few of my favourite pieces.


This Vanessa Bruno blazer would smarten up a neutral-hued short and shirt combo and look equally chic with jeans and a white t-shirt. Really versatile and the structured style will still be on trend in seasons to come.


This is really stunning. The silk-Georgette material is so light and flattering on any figure and the grass green will complement any skin tone. It also has an open back which adds a little sexiness. If I had a spare £390, it'd go on this. By Max-Azria


Mulberry's S/S 2011 collection is really strong. Their metallics and brights are spot on. This clutch is smaller than appears but would adequately fit a wallet, phone and any other evening essentials. The quality of it also means it'll last a life time (if taken care of!).


These Marni acetate brooches would look great adorned on a lighter coloured blazer or scarf. Wear them with an occasion outfit or add interest to a casual t-shirt.


These are so much fun. Probably not very practical but the indigo suede looks so luscious. Totally a fantasy buy and I'd simply wear them with blue jeans and a classic shirt. Maybe add a metal cuff too, for good measure. By Marni


I know this fabric would feel buttery in your hands. Such an easy cover-up for the beach or it would look great tucked into shorts. It could even be worn open, over a fitted jersey dress. By Equipment


Diane Von Furstenburg always produces beautifully coloured clothing and these satin tie-up sandals are so elegant. If I had these I probably wouldn't wear them too often, perhaps just to smart occasions, but they would dress up a plain dress for no effort style.


This is just the most gorgeous Lanvin clutch. It would make an LBD and plain courts look more glamourous but because the satin is so delicate, you'd have to be careful not to scuff it.

Parachute Silk

The inspiration for this post actually came from the daily net-a-porter.com email I subscribe to but I thought I would take the idea and show you exactly how you can wear it.

PARACHUTE SILK
From Mathew Williamson to Chloé, billowing silk has been shown all over the catwalks for Spring/Summer. An elegant, feminine trend which always looks beautiful but is not always practical (or cheap!). I've created 3 looks - day, evening and occasion - to show you that you can wear it from day-to-day.

DAY

Rolled-sleeve t-shirt - Splendid @ fashionbeans.com, pleated silk maxi skirt - Tibi @ net-a-porter.com, black leather clutch - Alexander Wang, suede sandals - Prada, black and gold watch - Michael Kors

EVENING

Silk organza dress - Valentino, patent wedges - Lanvin, black leather clutch - YSL, knotted bracelet - Lanvin

OCCASION
Iris-print silk-chiffon gown - net-a-porter.com, skull diamonte embellished clutch - Alexander McQueen, Palais pump - YSL, gold and blue agate cuff - maxandchloe.com

Ok, I know, they're all stunning pieces but not exactly accessible for the recessionista. But I'm now going to show you with just a few tricks, you can create these looks on a budget.

DAY
Take that canary yellow maxi skirt. I know for sure that with a little bit of rummaging, you can find one similar in a charity shop. It may not be the exact colour but if you spend a few pounds on the skirt and another few on some dye, it's hardly breaking the bank, is it?

And the Prada suede, black platforms. They look fairly similar to these Topshop heels.

EVENING
Now I would agree that the Valentino dress is a little harder (if not impossible) to emulate but a dress similar to these will still create the mood you want.

Left: J.Crew @ net-a-porter.com (£120). Centre: French Connection (£150). Right: French Connection at John Lewis (£135).

And if you layer a black lace body underneath, it adds a little more uniqueness.

Lace body - Topshop (£30)

And as for the Lanvin shoes, a simple pair of black stacked wedges will do the same job. Adding some cheap satin ribbon and tying it in a bow around your ankles will make them look extra sweet.

Wedges - ASOS (£40), scissors - totally my own creation. I would take off that boring ankle strap and instead thread a length of ribbon through.

OCCASION
This look is just that little bit more special/eye-poppingly expensive so it takes some creativity.

The McQueen clutch could be emmulated by starting off with this cheap box clutch and decorating with glue-on diamontes from a haberdashery. Now it would take patience and time but ultimately look glittering at the end of it.

Clutch - Kurt Geiger (£19)

ASOS is a great place to shop for occasion/evening dresses and I found this one for £60. Not too dissimilar, I don't think.



So that's it. My attempt at trying to show you that you can wear what you see on the catwalk and in designer shops, you just need to be a bit smart about it.

Images - Polyvore.com