If like me, you’re a magpie for all the beautiful hair accessories and clips that are stealing the limelight of so many outfits at the moment…you need a trip to Primark.
Their selection is wonderful and versatile to suit all styles, these are just a few of my favourite pieces available right now.
Jewelled Velvet Headband £5 – The one for Autumn/ Winter weddings.
Pink & Multicoloured Crystal Hair Clip set £3- The one for a girls night out and upcoming festive parties.
The Sparkly Stars & Moon Hair Clip and Slide set £2- The one for date nights.
Pastel Beaded Hair Slides £2- The one for work outfit chic.
Scouring through websites and shops during sale season are probably some people’s worst nightmare. But From high end to high street there are some amazing pieces to be found. I am a firm believer that you don’t have to empty out your account come every payday to do this and that you can absolutely mix and match designer pieces with high street pieces, look fabulous and no one would be able to tell the difference. The number of times my H&M has been mistaken for Celiné, my Other Stories for Gucci and Zara for Miu Miu (all true) confirms this for me. But ultimately whether it cost £300 or £30 the most important thing is to feel amazing in whatever you’re wearing.
Shell jewellery is the perfect trend to grace your Summer outfits this year. Dainty necklaces, earrings and bracelets which can all be layered with other items to add a touch of boho coastal charm to frilly frocks and loose linens. In golden and pearly tones here is a collection of my favourite pieces right now.
Zara Pearl & Cowrie Shell Charm Earrings £12.99– Zara’s jewellery game is on point this season, with far too many wonderful earrings to choose from. These however, are one of my favourite pairs, just the right drop height and not too heavy, with a lovely touch of colour with the red coral.
Chan Luu Shell & Multi-Stone Necklace at Net-a-Porter £111– Gold plated with pearls, moonstone and turquoise, this necklace is a beautiful piece and has an anklet to match. Chan Luu originally from Nha Trang on the coast of Vitetnam, started her jewellery brand from her little garage in L.A many years after moving. Visit her website for a whole collection of wonderful coastal inspired pieces. www.chanluu.com
Latelita Blue Jasper & Rose Gold Cowrie Shell Choker £99– Beautiful and bold, this is the one you need to take on holiday with you. I love the blue and green hues and it’s also available in a longer necklace version depending on which length you prefer.
Your wardrobe isn’t truly complete without a Breton top. Worn traditionally by the French Navy but made famous by no other than Coco Chanel, this simple top will never go out of style. I’m a bit of a sucker for collecting Breton’s and as soon as the sun starts shining they all come out, from classic navy or red to updated with ruffles and bows- chic and versatile.
Here are seven Breton stripe tops your wardrobe needs right now so you can Chan(n)el your Parisian cool.
St James Meridame Striped Breton Top £65– Depuis 1889 in Normandy- The OG of Breton Tops, I picked one up in Paris a few years ago and love the story behind the company and quality of the fabric.
Boden Olive Top £35 – Classic navy and ecru colours updated with ruffles for weekend fun.
Arket Organic Cotton Striped Top £35– Arket is the the place to go for wardrobe essentials – sunny yellow, boatneck style and sustainable cotton – win.
Zara Puffed SleeveTop £19.99– Puffed sleeves tops are everywhere this season and this one is great with the lovely gold button detailing and fitted style- pair with high waisted jeans or an a-line skirt.
Fresh, natural, sustainable and chic- linen is your new best friend for the Summer. If you haven’t already spotted some amazing linen pieces in almost every shop at the moment here are my favourite finds for this season.
H&M Balloon Sleeved Linen Blouse £34.99– Yellow is one of my favourite colours for this season, this top is slightly cropped with a wide neck-line and is very flattering on. Wear with high waisted jeans and a pair espadrilles for the perfect day look.
& Other Stories Floral Linen Ruffle Dress £99– Florals, puffed sleeves, wrap style and ruffles- all the makings of a perfect ultra feminine dress. I adore this dress- watch the website closely as it’s not available to buy yet!
M&S Linen Striped Jumpsuit £49.50– A great jumpsuit for Spring and Summer, I love the natural colour and the tie waist which is great for your figure. It’s versatile and elagant, whether you’re wearing it to work or socially and a matching jacket is available too.
Innika Choo Ruffled Embroidered Wrap Dress £210– This dress is so beautiful in pastel tones and ruffles. Summer wedding abroad? This is the dress you need. Innika Choo is an Aussie designer based in Bali and has gained huge popularity in the last few years through none other than Instagram. She has a whole collection of linen and cotton dresses that are just wonderful.
Toast Linen Check Dress £170– A simple and stylish pinafore style midi dress is a summer wardrobe classic and this one from Toast is perfect.
Mango Linen Dress £35.99– A great price and available in three colours, this dress is also classic wardrobe staple and maybe slightly reminiscent of your school summer uniform dress?
Three Graces Seton Linen Maxi Dress £500– I love the golden yellow hue of this dress along with the halter neck and gathered detailing, it looks great with or without the belt at the waist and definitely needs to be in your suitcase ready for your Summer getaway.
Uniqlo Linen Shirt £29.90– Uniqlo just launched a whole new linen collection which includes this shirt in fourteen colours. The lilac is my favourite, followed closely by the dark green and looks fab with a high waisted skirt or jeans.
Nicholas Belted Linen Midi Dress £498– One of my favourite pieces for this season- I just love the oversized resin and wooden buttons with the waist belt and the rich creamy colour is just wonderful. Pair with a wooden clutch and barely there ankle tie sandals.
Whistles Green Double Breasted Blazer £139– for a pop of colour to your wardrobe go for this bold green linen blazer and pair with a white broderie blouse and jeans or there is a matching pair of trousers available too.
Reserved Linen Coat £74.99 – This chic cream linen trench is oh so cool and will see you through the Spring and Summer.
As I contemplate braving bare legs in the hope that warmer weather is just around the corner, I begin my yearly Spring ritual of attempting to transform them from dry and flaky to scrubbed, buffed and glowing. To help me through this process I have managed to find the perfect products that never fail to deliver. Here is my favourite selection of exfoliators to help give your skin a Spring Glow.
Fresh Cocoa Body Exfoliant £38– Cocoa extract, cocoa butter, crushed cocoa shells and coconut oil- cocoa-loco-licious. I love Fresh products and this is one of my absolute favourite exfoliators, it smells divine and moisturises and scrubs your skin at the same time. A little pot of chocolate heaven which is worth every penny.
Herbivore Coco Rose Body Polish at SpaceNK £32– I first discovered this beautiful brand on my honeymoon in Hawaii a few years ago and and at that time they hadn’t launched in the UK yet. Now, much to my glee they doing incredibly well in the UK and being stocked in Space NK and Liberty in London. The Coco Rose Polish delivers on exfoliating, polishing and moisturising your skin all in one, with coconut oil, moroccan rose, pink clay and Shea butter. Use twice a week on your legs to leave them glowing and super soft.
Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bod Buff Smoothing Scrub N’ Mask £21– A glorious scrub to divide the crowds- it’s thick, a bit messy, takes a while to wash off and might leave a slight yellow tinge if you don’t manage to get it all off- for some this is quite off putting but I think it’s worth it. It smells sublime and works a treat, particularly if your skin is on the dryer side. Packed with cupuaçu (coo-poo-assoo) butter and clay both from the Amazon, one to moisturise and the other to exfoliate along with Brazilian quartz and Açaí. Perfect for a home pamper session, leave it on for about 10 minutes before jumping into the shower and see it work it’s magic.
Frank Body Coconut Coffee Scrub £13.95– This Melbourne based company has boomed since launching a few years ago, the miracle super coffee scrub with a great price tag. The goodness of roasted ground coffee beans? Caffeine stimulates blood flow which can help with scarring, dark circles and pigmentation problems, it’s also rich in vitamin B3 and chlorogenic acid (CGA) which helps reduce inflammation of the skin and also has anti-bacterial properties which can help with skin conditions like eczema and acne. So in a nut shell (or a coffee bean), a pretty amazing substance. They have a whole range of products for the face and body- this one with added grapeseed oil, coconut oils and jojoba beads is my favourite. For rave reviews search #thefrankeffect on Instagram.
Now onto a different type of exfoliator- acid’s for your skin, more specifically AHA’s (Alpha Hydroxy Acid’s)- you may have heard of gylcolic acid and lactic acid. These bad boys help break down dead skin cells making the skin softer and smoother without being abrasive. There are lots of products available for your face which I will hopefully cover in another post, but these two in particular are body exfoliators which will give your skin a real glow.
REN AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum SpaceNK £35– This body serum has a lovely light texture with a citrus fragrance, it’s rich in lactic acid and xylitol which both work together to exfoliate and lock in moisture. I would use it a couple of times a week before bed on your legs and arms through the spring and summer months. (P.S remember your SPF!)
Ameliorate Skin Smoothing Body Polish at Cult Beauty £17.50– This body exfoliator also uses lactic acid along with biodegradable bamboo granules to gently exfoliate the skin with the addition of Shea and Cocoa butter and coconut oil for hydration. Apply and leave on for a few minutes and then rinse off in the shower- it’s particularly good for rough and dry skin and again I would recommend using it 2-3 times a week.
Spring is finally in swing, my winter wardrobe has been officially packed away and I think I’m possibly ready to attempt a bare leg, even if it’s only for an hour or two. A wonderful array of ditsy floral dresses have emerged in the last month…having always been a wardrobe staple for me I now have far too many to choose from. From from tea parties to al fresco lunches or weekend getaways to wedding guest ready- here is a selection of my favourite dresses out at the moment. Happy Spring!
When I think about wearing hair clips, I’m immediately transported back to my childhood thinking about all the ways in which my unruly hair could be pinned and scraped back with hours of time spent picking out clips, hair ties and headbands galore. Fast forward 30 years with slightly tamer hair, and I find myself repeating the whole process all over again. Hair accessories are making a wonderful nostalgic comeback for 2019 and I for one am all for it. For me it’s all about the pearls, all day, everyday, in every way. So here is the roundup of my favourite pearly must-have hair accessories for this season.
Snake prints are having their moment of glory and still going strong in the New Year having been seen on many a runway for S/S19. Leopard print has always been a wardrobe staple for me and admittedly when the snake print came sliding in and taking some of the limelight, I wasn’t so sure it was for me. However, I was quickly convinced otherwise, having found that it is a wonderfully versatile print and I have found some pieces that I love. Whether you’re looking for bold, bright, neon’s or more subtle pastel tones, there is something to suit everyone. If you’re still undecided, maybe I can help- here is a collection of my favourite snake print pieces.
Karen Millen Yellow Wrap Dress £199– I can’t get enough of wrap dresses at the moment, they are so flattering and suit all figures, this yellow dress is a perfect for a day to evening look
Alexa Chung Maxi Dress £435 £174– Sleek and fitted at over 50% off. This is a great dress to transition from Winter into Spring- whether it’s with a chunky knit and boots or a pair of strappy barely there sandals
Topshop Satin Cutout Midi Dress £49– A perfect dress for the evening in an amazing colour. The balloon sleeves and the high rising split at the front will be sure to turn heads.
H&M Pleated Midi Skirt £39.99– The pleated midi never gets old and can be worn through all seasons. I’ve lost count of how many I have now, but this is definitely another one to add to the list. I love the sage green colour – match with another tonal green or cream chunky knit.
New Look Midi Skirt in Lilac & Neon Yellow, Both £22.99– Both of these skirts are fabulous and on point with key season colour trends, not mention the great price tags.
Whistles Crepe Trousers £119 £79– These are wide-legged, super comfortable to wear and end just above the ankle. I’m a huge fan of wide-legged trousers and they are so versatile in how they can be worn
Y.A.S Belted Maxi Dress £80– Another key colour trend for this year is brown and beige hues. This shade of terracotta brown is warm and rich and has lovely detailing with the tie belt and front pockets
Bershka Shirt £17.99 £5.99– This Raspberry Red buttoned shirt is an absolute steal, the fabric is lovely and soft and will give you a bold statement look with any outfit. Pair with some high waisted mom fit jeans!
Topshop Shirt £35– If you prefer a more subtle colour this powder pink shirt is a great alternative
Mango Snake Print Round Bag £29.99– I’m a huge fan of the round bag, this one in particular with the gold handles and chain and it’s big enough to fit all of your essentials
Zara Reversible Tote Bag £19.99– This bargain reversible Zara tote bag comes around every season in different colours and prints. I love the deep burgundy shade and it’s the ideal size for all your daily needs – work, gym, shopping, hoarding?
Zara Cross Body bag with Suede Flap £49.99– Another wonderful bag from Zara that is snake print chic, love the cream suede flap and gold chain detailing, it has a detachable longer shoulder strap so you can choose how you wear it!
styleandglow 