High Street Hits: Love Hearts

Whether you're dropping some last minute Valentine's Day hints or simply want to give yourself a well-deserved treat, hearts have long been one of my favourite fashion staples. From SS09 Luella shoes to  Vivienne Westwood bags they're just adorable to behold. Here are some of my favourites on the high street right now...

1. Long Sleeve Heart Flippy Dress, was £40 now £20 Topshop

2. Heart Print T-Shirt, £18 Fearne Cotton for Very

3. Helen Hearts Print Dress, £79 Phase Eight

4. Flower Heart Filled Click Clacks, £5 Monsoon

5. Cross My Heart Bag, was £59 now £25 Irregular Choice

6. Plastic Heart And Bow Ring, £4 Accessorize

7. Black Heart Print Open Front Cardigan, £24.99 New Look

8. Pink Heart Print Skater Skirt, £18 River Island

9. Black Heart Print Mid Courts, £23 Dorothy Perkins

10. Pink Crystal Embellished Sterling Silver Open Heart Stud Earrings, were £18 now £14 Simply Silver by Jon Richard at Debenhams

11. Quilted Mini Skirt With Heart Pockets, was £35 now £10.50 ASOS

12. Six Pack Heart Stud Earrings, £4.99 New Look

13. Hello Kitty Heart Tee, £9.75 Forever 21

High Street Hits: Let It Shine

Whilst the festive season is a wonderful time for sparkle I'm glad to see one shiny trend making its way into the warmer months.
Burberry Prosum's SS13 collection has me swooning as it takes the classic trenchcoat and gives it a high-shine metallic twist in vivid jewel tones of pink, bronze, green, purple and blue as well as the classic gold, and silver. Then little Romeo Beckham looks so dapper with his adorable winning smile whilst showcasing the metallic trend in Burberry's new ad campaign.
All in all it's a trend that suits this full-time magpie very well. There are some smart sales buys to be made now with cheerful pieces which will transition through the months and still look fabulous in the Summer sunshine.
Meanwhile if you're still on the look out for a new Winter coat like me be sure to take a peek at the gorgeous trendy plus size coats from Marisota.

1. Pearl Embellished Gold Tee, was £65 now £30 Miss Selfridge

2. Disco Leopard Flared Skirt, was £95 now £66.50 French Connection

3. Leap of Faith Metallic Ballet Flats, were £22 now £8.50 ASOS

4. Eva T-shirt, £25.95 Three Little Words at Nelly

5. Pu Box Top, was £29 now £8 Love Label at Very

6. Metallic Envelope Clutch Bag, was £22 now £8 Oasis

7. Prior Metallic Pointed High Heels, £45 ASOS

8. Bex Pleated Midi Skirt in Metallic Royal Blue, was £45 now £12 Motel Rocks

9. Metallic Cobalt Leather Satchel, £99 Zatchels

10. Rainbow Metal Hoop Earrings, £4.50 Claire's Accessories

Bring me Sunshine

Today I hid away from the horrible rain and escaped to the warmth of a vibrant greenhouse.
New Look have got an absolutely brilliant rainbow of colours this season in my favourite Spring shades from pale pastels to cheerful candy brights. I was absolutely delighted to be offered the chance to pick something out to review and New Look is so bargainous I managed to get two very lovely things for my budget.

The first is the purple blazer which I must admit I was already eyeing up online! The colour is beautiful and though the shape is structured it's also very soft with a wearable ease and very pretty ruche detailing on the sleeves which are short enough to show off an elegant wrist and a bracelet or two. It's fully lined which is a very welcome touch. New Look also have a really lovely waterfall jacket style in at the minute which looks almost ornate in how it hangs but is again very soft. I had great trouble choosing between the two in the changing room as they're both so lovely!

The other item is the cute little cardigan! I love how affordable New Look knitwear is for a versatile wardrobe staple. This cropped cardigan comes in at £10.99 or even better at 2 for £18 over the seven pretty shades from mint to peach. The short sleeves are sweet and I adore how the crop means it finishes just on my waist for a flattering, ladylike shape. I haven't had a cardigan at this length for a long while and I'm really pleased to rediscover how fabulous the silhouette is. I couldn't resist the happy tone of the yellow version.
I'm a very happy bunny with both pieces I chose. The colours are beautiful and the shapes both fun and versatile so I know I'll get a lot of use and joy out of them.
What colours are you eyeing up in the shops right now?

High Street Hits: Loliable Blouses

I absolutely adore the Japanese street style which is lolita fashion. It's thrilling discovering loli brands  with their beautiful designs, however I also think it's lovely to mix these Japanese clothes up with the rest of my wardrobe. I've discovered the fun of ordering a parcel from overseas and excitedly waiting for it to arrive, but I still love the simplicity of heading to the great British high street and trying things on.To this purpose this high street hits post is all about 'loliable' blouses and tops which are affordable and easy to get hold of as well as hosting a wider variety of sizes than most lolita brands offer. They can serve two purposes in a lolita outfit, either to be paired with a deliciously full skirt or to be layered under a jumperskirt- a sleeveless dress.
Lolita is a modest style, except for less so in the ero lolita substyle, and necklines are generally high. Though I've included some sheer styles in this post they're specifically meant for a fun take on lolita under a jumperskirt. All the tops I've included have a little something cute about them from sweet peter pan collars to lovely lace.

1. OK I have totally cheated with this first blouse from Bodyline, but I also think it's important to point out that lolita can be affordable. I consider Bodyline to be the lolita high street equivalent and whilst it has a wide mix of clothes it has some really lovely loli ones. For £26 this blouse has a lot of work and detail in and is my favourite by the brand. Bodyline shipping has been quite horrific in the past but for a while has been a far more delightful £6 or $10 worldwide. They're easy to order from and I've never had to wait too long for a delivery.

2. Short Sleeve Sailor Blouse, £32 Topshop 3. Cream Boat Neck Blouse, £35 Miss Selfridge

Back to the high street and both these blouses are in a versatile off-white shade and feature cute bow details at the collar to peek above a jumper skirt. It's quite hard to get some lolita colours on the high street but I really hope the current season pastel trend will translate through to some loliable tops. You can't go wrong with a sweet white blouse though.

4. Aritta Polka Dot Button Back Top, £19.99 Miss Guided 5. Polka Dot Blouse, £35 Yumi

I am rather keen on polka dots this minute and they're found in two of my new lolita garments for a spot of pattern mixing or would look great with plain fabrics.

6. Ivory Eyelash Lace Top, £26 Dorothy Perkins 7. Lace T-Shirt, £40 Oasis 

I thought the above white lace would look really sweet peeping out of a jumper skirt whilst the Oasis top is the most casual silhouette here but features beautiful lace extending to little sleeves.

8. South Spot Mesh T, £25 Very 9. Peter Pan Collar Cat Print Blouse, £22.50 Marks and Spencer

The pretty texture of this Very top is so unusual I couldn't resist including it and would love to try it out under a jumperskirt. Meanwhile whilst Marks and Spencer is a classic shop for tailored white blouses and shirts I thought this cat print Peter Pan collar number was extremely cute.

Thank you for the lovely comments and tweets on yesterday's blog post. Migraines are absolutely vile things which no one should have to suffer and though it was a difficult post to publish I'm proud to be raising awareness.

Summer Holiday: Love Label at Very SS12

Here are the delights of the Love Label collection for SS12 as seen at the Very.co.uk press event. I really enjoyed looking at the clothes as there are some absolutely beautiful ones I'm already coveting for next summer.
Here's my blog post on the Holly Willoughby, Dee V by Diana Vickers and Fearne Cotton collections I also saw at the event.
What SS12 trends are you already craving?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Holly, Fearne and Diana at Very SS12

     Holly Willoughby

It's no secret I adore my own Holly Willoughby for Very dress, so I was very excited to see her offerings for SS12 at the Very.co.uk press event. I was immediately drawn to the dress above and fell for it, but then I saw the other colour version! The frock is so very sweet with its cute collar, buttons and sleeves. Both colours are beautiful but I can't resist the dusty candy pink version.




Holly really didn't disappoint with her wonderful prints and vintage inspired tea dresses.

     Dee V by Diana Vickers




Diana Vickers' collection swings us into the 60s and beyond with little dresses and super fun prints from groovy spots to apples and a giraffe! Then on the more elegant but still fun side I adore the white blouse with its beautiful organza ruffles and black bow. Very Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf in her Season One Constant Billiard school uniform don't you think?

     Fearne Cotton




Fearne's SS12 collection features some nautical tones including beautiful red lace, and also some lovely candy tones. We also have some quite neutral colours and an eerie crow print t-shirt. The polka dot platform shoes are fabulous and the small details in the clothes, such as a romantic rose trim, are beautiful.

All three of these collections have very different feels but I love how they take elements of the past and make gorgeous, wearable, modern pieces. Has anything caught your eye for next spring?

High Street Hits: The Cocktail Dress

Oh the allure of the cocktail dress. Whilst not as formal as a full on black tie event or white tie ball, a cocktail attire dress code is a chance to sparkle. Embellishments are welcomed on chic dresses paired with snazzy accessories and a good pair of heels. Whilst scouring the internet for options for an upcoming event I am attending I decided to turn my search into a blog post! I haven't published a High Street Hits post for a while but they are such fun to put together. I seem to be drawn to a fabulous range of jewel colours in green, blue and purple. So let's take a look at the gorgeous dresses I've found window shopping online:

1. Knife Pleat Dress, £70 Oasis 

2. Emerald Corsage Dress, £55 Wallis

3. Turquoise lace prom dress,  £85 Debut at Debenhams 

4. Midi Dress with One Shoulder and Corsage, £75 Asos

5. Blue Ruffle Corsage Dress, £45 Dorothy Perkins 

6. Frilled Tea Dress, £39 Holly Willoughby for Very

7. Lucy Dress, £49 Monsoon 

8. Sequin Prom Dress, £65 Teatro at Very

Bath Snapshots and Snacks

I've already posted the movie costume exhibition I saw, but there is so much more to show you of the beautiful city of Bath. I went with my wonderful friend, Emma. One of the best, or worst if you're trying to avoid temptation, things about Bath is the number of delicious little shops, tea rooms, patisseries and cafes. Here's where Emma and I munched:




We discovered Fudge Factory near Bath Abbey last year and the fudge is truly scrumptious. My favourite is vanilla with a caramel centre, but I also spied a pretty new flavour called Strawberry Swirl. They stock the cutest candies that would make perfect gifts too, chocolate cat anyone?








On our wonderings we also discovered a little place called The Canary Tea Rooms on Queen Street which apparently only opened on 24th August. Though the tea rooms closed in 1998 they have quite a history, which is being built upon with the reopening. I thought it was lovely in cheerful shades of blue and yellow, with delightful mismatched crockery. I love the fact that my tea pot matches my outfit!
I ordered a cream tea, but requested peppermint tea, for a very reasonable £6. Emma meanwhile ordered a scrummy looking meringue desert and sparkling water.




What trip to Bath would be complete without a stroll on the Royal Cresent? I must say I've never seen a chap in historic costume there before though! We spotted another by the Jane Austen Centre, I guess it must be quite a pleasant job. One year Emma and I would love to go to one of the events where everyone gets dressed up and dances Jane Austen style!