Day ten: people

People

Laurence King Publishing Spring 2014 catalogue cover

BRIGHTS: DAY SIX

DAY SIX: Tropical print trousers, George at Asda

We all know how much I love a statement trouser, so when I clapped eyes on these a few months ago at the George press day, I made it my mission to get my hands on a pair for the summer. Much like my River Island pair, they're lightweight, super comfortable and about as close as wearing my PJs to the office as I can get. They're also great in this heat and the best bit? They're only £14. You can pick up a pair online [here].

Worn with: grey tee and neon necklace, both H&M; leopard print sandals, Birkenstocks; sunglasses, Valentino.

TRANSITION: DAY TWENTY TWO

DAY TWENTY TWO: Printed tee, Miss Selfridge


So, the great battle of the British weather continues. My daily routine seems to go: wake up to blue skies, realise that the temperature's still single digits and then by mid-afternoon get attacked by the rain. All of the spring/summer stuff that I'd started wearing is firmly back in the wardrobe until the temperatures pick up because this certainly isn't Miami.


However, never one to admit defeat, I am trying to pretend that the office is a tropical paradise by wearing this really, really colourful tee from Miss Selfridge. I'm not usually one for such full on prints if they're not on trousers but I am however sucker for both leopard print and palm trees. So bam, SOLD.


I had a hard time deciding whether to choose this purple/blue/green colourway or the slightly brighter pink/orange/yellow but the darker hues won out this time. You can get the colourway I'm wearing [here] or the pink version [here], each for £24.


Roll on, summer.


Worn with: grey skinnies, Topshop; Tortoiseshell Wayfarers, Ray-Ban.

TRANSITION: DAY ONE

Day one: Waffle knit jumper, Topshop

So, spring is just round the corner and with it, finally the chance to wear some lighter clothes. Unfortunately, with the weather being as it is, it still seems like a long time off - torrential rain yesterday and now gale force winds are making sartorial choices somewhat difficult. At the weekend, I did a massive clear out of my hanging wardrobe, throwing out about 80% of its contents and re-organising the contents in a way that I could finally see what I actually have. I came across my deer print dress from H&M that I bought at the end of last summer and optimistically thought that I would wear it today. Of course, with the weather being as it is, it couldn't be worn alone so I slung my trusty waffle knit jumper over the top.

I'd been on the hunt for the perfect black chunky waffle jumper for a while when on a rootle in Topshop I came across this one and fell in love. It was a staple piece of my wardrobe during LFW and I've worn it pretty much constantly since. I bought mine from the Petite range and in a larger size so it would be properly slubby because as most of you will know, I love a bit of grunge. At £36, it's been one of my best recent buys. It's still available [here].

Worn with: Deer print dress, H&M; Biker boots, New Look; Cable knit tights, Pretty Polly; Aviators, Ray-Ban.

AUTUMN: DAY TWENTY SEVEN

DAY TWENTY SEVEN: Sheer leopard print shirt, New Look


Sorry, I've been really quite rubbish at updating recently. Pre-christmas is always a little manic in our department and when you throw in moving floors to the mix, it's the equivalent of dynamite - it blew apart all of my carefully made plans.


Anyway, on with the show - last week, the lovely team from Instinct PR took me to see the Decades show at Proud Cabaret. I figured I should probably vamp up a little bit and I figured what better than a sheer leopard print shirt? A good thing about it is that even though it's sheer, the pattern means that you're not totally exposed - you can see my bra if you stare quite intently at my chest, which for the purposes of this experiment I will allow just this once.


Worn with: Leather shorts, H! by Henry Holland; Rivet belt, Asos; Airplaine necklace, NW3.

AUTUMN: DAY TWENTY FIVE

DAY TWENTY FOUR: Blue and green palm print sweater, Versace x H&M

So, unless you've been living under a rock for the last few months, you'll no doubt be aware of the Versace X H&M collaboration that has been whipping the fashion world into a veritable neon leopard print frenzy for the last few months. Originally, I really wasn't that fussed - sure it's great but I draw the line at having to queue overnight to get my hands on a dress. It just so happened that I was in town yesterday morning for a breakfast meeting and on my way to run another errand, I thought I would nip in to a few stores and see how the collection looked.

I didn't even bother with the flagship on Regent Street, having seen the queues that snaked down and round the corner to the Courthouse Hotel. Instead I headed to the store opposite Bond Street tube station, which was also ridiculous - clothes flung everywhere, queues and I swear I saw two girls wrestling over something sequined.

Giving up, I headed to Selfridges where the queues were much smaller and you didn't even need a wrist band to get into the menswear section which worked well for me - the tills were also located there so in order to pay, you had to make the passage through, where inevitably a lot of women changed their minds about their purchases and flung stuff back onto the rails so I got some pretty decent pieces of womenswear - expect them to drop on the blog over the next few days in some way, shape or form.

Saying that, this sweater is actually from the menswear collection - I had planned on wearing it as a dress but since it's ever so slightly too short, I teamed it with my neon pink Boutique by Jaeger skirt for a real Miami vibe.

Just call me Donatella.

Worn with: Pink neon skirt, Boutique by Jaeger; pink neon belt, Marks & Spencer; Gold chain, Vintage; Gold brogues, Office.

AUTUMN: DAY SEVENTEEN

DAY SEVENTEEN: Snakeskin jeans, Dorothy Perkins

I am a leopard print girl through-and-through. I own a leopard version of probably every time of clothing and most accessories at least one time over so when snakeskin was hailed as the animal print of the season, I panicked slightly. Somehow, snakeprint doesn't suit me, or at least I didn't think it would.

I'd been debating a pair of snakeprint jeans/trousers as a way to break myself into the print gently (somehow snakeprint by my face just doesn't work) for quite some time when the lovely girls at Dorothy Perkins invited me to pick a pair of jeans from their new capsule range. I had to drag my myself away from the leopard print styles (got enough of those already) and decided to take a risk and order the snakeprint. When they turned up yesterday, I decided that I had to try them on immediately and good lord, they're incredible. I walked out of the fashion cupboard and straightaway I looked like I'd lost weight. I would like to point out I do not have naturally thin legs but somehow these trousers create the best optical illusion I have ever seen. I'm aware that you can't see the print in the photo above so here's a close up:

These jeans aren't available on the website yet but as soon as they are, I'll post a link. Definitely worth a purchase.

Worn with: Kimono top, River Island; Grey tee, H&M; Ribbed vest, Chinti & Parker; Boots, New Look; Necklace, Diva at Miss Selfridge; Ear cuff, Asos.

AUTUMN: DAY NINE

DAY NINE: Printed maxi skirt, Forever 21

Day four of London Fashion Week was also maxi skirt day on the Express fashion desk so I thought I’d get our lovely fashion assistant Simona to hop in the photo - funnily enough, the basis of our outfits is the same (maxis plus biker jackets) but I think you’ll agree when I say we wear our looks very differently!

Worn with: bat tee, Zoe Karssen; suede biker, unknown; biker boots, New Look; hat, Littlewoods; sunglasses, Ray-Ban; bag, Prada; Afghan blanket scarf, Weardale Cottages.

Simona wears: pink maxi, Minnie’s; ballet pumps, New Look; leather biker, Asos; Tilly bag, Jaeger; belt, Gap.

SUNGLASSES: DAY THIRTEEN

DAY THIRTEEN: Fruit print sunglasses, George at Asda

Sorry for the delay in posting for this weekend and today, my internet connection at home has been somewhat errant but I think I’ve fixed the problem now so…

Saturday’s pair have a definite Carmen Miranda-inspired look to them, decorated in a variety of little fruits. The man from Del Monte, he says yes. The girl from Thirty Days says yes too.

Worn with: Red striped tee, New Look; Denim shorts, Sass & Bide; Gold sandals, Topshop. Studded bag, Max C.

SUNGLASSES: DAY FIVE

DAY FIVE: Leopard-print sunglasses, Primark

I bought these one sunny Saturday when the pair that had previously been gracing my face literally fell apart in front of my face. A quick dash around Primark and £1 later, these were sitting pride of place.

Seeing as I got my nails done in a mint green and black leopard print by Wah! Nails last night, I thought it only fitting to wear these today.

Worn with: White slubby tee, Asos; Blue skinny jeans, Miss Selfridge; Blue espadrilles, Penelope Chilvers; Grey star hoodie, Olga di Polga; Military jacket, Da Nang; Yellow satchel, Asos.

SUNGLASSES: DAY THREE

DAY THREE: Blue Wayfarers with NYC Subway print arms (Special series), Ray-Ban

In honour of the Ray-Ban Aviator party tonight, I thought it only right to represent and wear some Ray-Bans today. Since the large gold Aviators that I lust after are not yet part of my collection some lovely, shiny blue Wayfarers will be taking their place proudly on the bridge of my nose. These beauties from the spring/summer limited edition collection are awesome with a capital A as they have the New York subway map printed inside; when I got them, it was very much love at first sight and they have very rarely left my face/hair since. I kid you not, I’ve never had so many compliments, comments and requests to try them for a pair of sunglasses that I’ve owned.

If blue isn’t your colour, the range also comes in some other lovely bright Pantone colours as well as more subtle black and white. I’m giving serious thought to a black pair with floral print inside. Yum.

Worn with: Black skinny jeans, Topshop; Black and cream striped tee, BDG; Green military jacket, Da Nang; Yellow satchel, Asos; Pewter woven pumps, Topshop.