Wowwing at Wimbledon

It's over a year since I started my blog, and I cast my memory back to when I wrote a post early in July, when I still had a thriving imagination for creating witty blog-post titles, about Wimbledon and encouraging my many (four!) readers to embrace the classic colours of purple and green. 'The Ball's in Your Court' was one of my earliest posts, and re-reading it brings such a sense of nostalgia as well as clearly demonstrating how far my fashion has come since then. So much has changed in just 12 months!

Seeing as Britain's most iconic sporting event, Wimbledon, officially started today, with our boy Andy Murray sailing through the first round on centre court, I thought it only right that I comment on what attired I consider to be most appropriate to wear when supporting your favourite player, whether you're sitting at home and screaming at the set-top box, or lucky enough to go and see a game live court side.

For the ladies, the combination of comfort and style is key. Wherever you'll be watching the game, it's going to be for the long haul and - fingers crossed! - the sun will be shining so it's important to choose wisely so you keep your cool and can stay calm to cope with the stresses of near misses and challenged linesmen calls. Florals are a summer staple, as are floaty silhouettes and maxi skirts.

   

[Dress: Seafolly Rio Maxi dress, £141.00, Available from selfridges.com]

This dress by SEAFOLLY would be absolutely ideal, allowing you to look chic and camera ready if you're in the centre court crowd, as well as the maxi, floaty skirt keeping you cool and comfortable for the hours of play. It can double-up as a World Cup outfit if necessary due to it's Rio inspired design, however for all my English readers that would simply be more salt rubbed into the wound, so let's focus on Wimbledon where we have a far greater chance at success!

For the men supporters, I would suggest going for a polo shirt. They effortlessly ooze style and sophistication so you can look smart whilst avoiding over heating in the summer sun. Personally, I love the classic and simply Ralph Lauren polo such as this one. It's chic and understated, paired with chinos and quality leather loafers it's a winning Wimbledon look.

[Polo shirt: Ralph Lauren, £75.00
Loafers: Harrys of London, £325.00, Both available from selfridges.com ]

So prepare yourself, both mentally and fashionably, to put the hours in and watch the nail biting games that are inevitably to come over the next fortnight. Wimbledon, here we come!

Show-stopper Sunnies

Accessories can make, or break, an outfit. I love the flexibility that accessories give to your wardrobe, allowing you to create hundreds of looks out of a small number of pieces, elevated with the addition of a statement necklace, chunky cuff or stellar sunglasses. 

Seeing as the summer season is upon us, and I can verify I have officially seen the sun, it's time to maximise the opportunity to don your finest pair of sunnies. Even just within the sunglasses genre, there is huge variety in styles, shapes and colours all impacting greatly on the effect they have on the overall look.

I always gravitate towards the stand-out, perhaps arguably garish at times, but always fabulous sunglasses. I like my UV defenders to make an impression and say something about me and my sense of style. I don't expect everyone to see them and approve of my style choice, but as long as they notice them, that's my job done! My style is most certainly individual and "interesting" as labelled by my beloved grandmother, but fashion is fun and isn't constrained by limits or laws, so I all for pushing the boundaries.

Despite recently graduating from university and with the student debt still weighing heavily on my bank account, I couldn't resist investing in a new amazing pair of sunnies when our lenses met a couple of weeks ago. It was a partnership made in heaven, and any fashion follower would understand when it was a case of needs-must, despite any financial limitations!

They're by designer Orla Kiely, and I'm officially in love. Their 50s inspired shape and patterned rim are really unusual, classic and show-stoppingly glam. The incredible Kiely designs everything and anything, many embossed with her signature flower and petal design, all embodying of air of vintage and classic style, even as far as her candles which are super chic!

Embrace the sun this summer, and bring an outfit to life with a statement pair of sunnies that will turn heads and get you noticed!   

World Cup Wardrobe

World Cup fever has officially broken out and spread across the globe, with flags adorning almost every house and team shirts sported by fans on every street.

I've surprised myself by how much I have enjoyed watching the games so far, and how invested I have got into teams I know absolutely nothing about - vamos Columbia! - it's the dance that got me!

It's unsurprising considering my obsession with all things fashion that my eyes often wander from the players', sometimes less-so, intricate ball skills to their team kit and to the many interesting ensembles within the crowds. So far I haven't been overly enamored, nor hugely offended by any of the sporting outfits this world cup. 

However, although many won't have noticed nor cared, but I must comment on the Uruguay team kit and their oh-so-effeminate neckline which I find looks rather odd on a football shirt. 

It's clearly only a matter of opinion, and perhaps it has a functional purpose to allow for less neck-chafing for the players (?!) but I cannot support such a fashion choice. It's wrong...just wrong. Hopefully I won't have a raging band of crazed Uruguayans after me once I post this!

I'm undecided on my opinions on the French kit. It has an air of preppy street style whilst maintaining it's sense of practicality and sport functionality.

The players do look incredibly smart, which is often a rarity when it comes to football, but I suppose the French are renowned for their fashion credentials and why stop at the catwalk when you can take it to the World Cup stage?

Of course I can't write a World Cup kit themed post without mentioning our boys and their crystal white attire. Clearly I'm biased, but I have been impressed by the team's get-up this year - as well as their performance in Saturday night's game!

They're simple, understated and classic - exactly how a World Cup winning football team kit should look. Or at least the kit of a team who'll put their heart and soul into each and every game, wearing their country's coat of arms on their chest, and hopefully getting a ball or 2 in the back of the net.

In the fashion stakes, I would say that England are firmly up there with the best of them, so lets get behind our boys and cheer them through to the knock out stages!