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!

Á La Mod

The Jam are musical legends, firstly because of their ingenious talents of songwriting but secondly because of their legendary style. Paul Weller is nothing short of an icon and catapulted the mod style into the mainstream.

The fashion movement began in the early-mid 60s and has remained a key look for music lovers across the globe, but particularly within the Brit-pop community. To be a mod is to be fashion conscious, but not conscious or care what others think - of your outfit nor your lifestyle. It encompasses an attitude that's care free, suave and smart, and lets not forget - beautifully British.

I'm so happy to see, despite it's strong prevalence in certain areas of the country, it's making a revival. Seemingly gracing the Parisian catwalks first, but it's only a matter of time until it explodes back onto our British pavements. I can't wait until it becomes the norm once again to see a man fully suited-and-booted, along with a classic mod hair-do, groomed pain-stakingly until it reaches the perfect 'just out of bed' look.  

Carven has hit the mod nail on the head at this year's Paris Fashion Week with their women's fashion.

This tweed shift dress is great. The colour is really fresh and perfect for spring 2014 whilst effortlessly paying homage to the 60s.

Both of these designs encompass the mod's fundamental sense of style and sophistication through great tailoring and simple accessories. I love that both are designed in cutesie baby pink, yet they simlutaneously give off a vibe of strong, empowered feminity and a real "don't f*** with me" attitude - true á la mod!

Let your true 60s soul emerge this season, and update your wardrobe by harping back to the dream decade and adding a few pieces á la mod.

Gig Get-Up

When you're getting yourself ready for a night out at a gig, it's important to get the perfect combination of style and comfort. You want to spend the time to find the perfect outfit which looks effortlessly thrown together in minutes - much easier said than done!

If you're anything like me and usually in love with the musician performing, you clearly want to impress for that fleeting moment his eyes skim the crowd and he might catch a glimpse of you, whilst also preparing yourself for 2 solid hours of standing in a hot, sweaty crowd and not wanting to wither from those oh-so tight skinny jeans.

My ideal gig get-up would be a funky pair of leggings, preferably with extra loose elastic to allow for a couple of extra beers whilst you enjoy the evening! I'd pair those with a chunky knit jumper, with a loose tank underneath so if things get rowdy and you feel the need to de-layer it's easy to whip of your sweater and feel comfortable.

I love the selection from American Apparel and would happily choose pretty much any pair and wear them any day of the week. For a laid back concert, I'd go for this pair which are suitably attention grabbing and edgy but the classic monotone colouring keeps the piece wearable and avoids the try-hard trap which is so easily fallen in to.

Paired with a simple over-sized jumper it'll ease thrown-together style, as well as being comfortable and ideal to dance in - perfect for that next gig.

So think ahead and plan your gig garm before you head out to ensure you turn heads whilst avoiding the cramped, sweaty crowd suffering!

Step Out In Style

Where would you be without your feet? I’d guess pretty lost, and immobile. Not exactly an appealing thought, so they should never be overlooked nor taken for granted. Your feet deserve the best, and they should be dressed in gorgeous shoes on a daily basis.

Sophia Webster has a real talent for combining her artistic imagination with practical design. Her latest AW13 collection is spectacular. There isn't a single pair of her creations that could not evoke immediate awe and envy from anyone of your peers when they see you step out in such decorative and seamless designs. As with a lot of the other pieces I have blogged about in the past, Webster's shoes truly are pieces of art in their own right. They should not only be worn, but appreciated and respected. They're no average pair of sandals! 

Take these Eloise Hologram Slingback Sandals for example. They are the ideal way to show adoration to your feet and to simultaneously look sophisticated and classy whilst fun and youthful. The appliqué detailing is incredibly beautiful and intricate; making them stand out as a classic pair of sandals. They seamlessly marry together a 40s vintage vibe, along with a real sense of modern, fresh and fashion-forward design.

The colours add a wonderful vibrancy and would brighten up any outfit. They also exude a real sense of femininity and softness which I think makes them particularly special. 

They may not seem like an ideal form of footwear for this time of year, but these would look knock-out worn with a pair of freezing-fighting thick tights and a giant fur coat. They're certainly worth fighting the elements for, as long as they're kept pristine in the process. I'm not usually a fan of frills and fancy adornments on shoes or clothing for that matter, but the flower detail on this pair ties in so well to the overall look of the sandals that they simply wouldn't be the same without it. I love that they're understated, yet they make a bold statement at the same time. 

There may be frills, but there's certainly no fuss. That's my kind of shoe!

Dare To Play The Fashion Game?

It’s a Friday night, so a few drinks at the very least are a must. Even if it’s a cheeky vino at the pub, any occasion to dress up and flash your latest purchase is always welcome.

I always advise not to over think an outfit. The more time you put in to the decision, the more put-together and awkwardly matchy-matchy it can look. I go in with a ‘throw it on, and see how it looks’ attitude. Far easier, and always a lot more fun, creating a different outfit every time! Perhaps a little more stressful if the outfit attempt #1 has more of a fancy dress vibe from pattern overkill, and it might take a few minor tweaks to get to the final look, but with patience the outcome can look great.

Fashion is supposed to be fun, so it should never be taken too seriously. Whenever I see a dressed mannequin carefully dressed in a shop window, the thought of going in store and buying the exact outfit is one I immediately reject. If someone has thought of it before, think again and try something new. You don't have to be whacky and outrageous just for the sake of it, don't get me wrong I'm no advocate of Miley Cyrus's bizarre get-up, but it definitely pays to try and go against the grain of the masses.  

                               

Tonight, I’m taking a smart casual approach to my attire, inspired by my discovery of the awesome designer duo behind Aries. I absolutely love this navy silk polka dot shirt paired with a pair of bright red jeans, perfectly eluding chic style and nonchalance. It’s a great mixture of classic and modern style, ideal for both casual day wear, and easily transferable to a classy, smart evening look. They aim for their designs to transcend seasons and exist beyond time and place, their success in doing so is clear with this time-less piece. (Available online from: http://www.youngbritishdesigners.com/designers/arising/aries/)

It's not groundbreaking or going to change the rules of fashion, but it'll catch people's eye and certainly evoke a few compliments here and there. Why not try something new when you step out tonight, and dare to play in the game of fashion.

Loving Leather

It may be a material most conventionally used for handbags and purses, but leather should never be constrained to just our accessories. It’s classic, clean and seriously stylish. It’s not the most comfortable or practical of fabrics, but who cares when it looks great? No pain no gain could not be a more appropriate mantra when it comes to fashion.

I am loving Michael Kors’ leather cropped zipped pants. They ooze sleek style and sophistication, and can easily be paired with simple white contrast-collared shirt to complete a fabulous look. The funky and young feel of the cropped leg adds something unique to the piece and help it stand out from other leather pieces in the market.

  

I just love how throwing on a pair of leather trousers makes you feel. It’s fundamentally sexy and adds an effortless air of stylish seductress to even a casual outfit. It's so easy, yet so successful. So in the future, dare to risk having to peel off your trousers after wearing them - it's so worth it!

Blast From The Past

I love looking back at the fashions from past decades. The flapper dresses from the 20s and pink ladies style jackets from the 50s just fascinate me, the way one individual piece can transform an outfit in to a by-gone era. I have found myself in a fully fringed number with a sudden urge to burst in to the Charleston before, and now I know why.

I’m channelling a 40s vibe with this bird print dress. Paired with these genuine 40s vintage sunglasses, I feel as though I’m caught in the WWII years prepared to ‘Keep Calm and Couture On’. Hence the demure face as I don't have any clue what to do when put in front of the camera but at least it lends itself to the war time keep mum attitude!

The beauty of fashion is its cyclical nature. The fact that within one decade a piece can go from being the height of what’s ‘in’, to something you wouldn’t be seen dead in, to once again being the thing to own that season. I would never throw anything out that I can still wear for that simple reason. I’ll either keep it hidden away, waiting for that day when it comes back in to fashion or re-work it in to something that is wearable now.

Remember: It aint out of fashion, just out of time.     

The Ball's In Your Court

The Men's Wimbledon final is upon us; the nation is inhaling breath and psyching itself up for a tense few hours of awe-inspiring tennis.

Tennis is one of the great sports where style and physical ability meet in perfect harmony. The grace of a smooth forehand along with the beauty of a crisp white shirt sets the game up to be a fashion-fitness match made in heaven. One of my pet hates has always been the women’s desire to over-accessorize with drop earrings and elaborate pendants, although one can’t fail to be impressed if they can still hit an ace whilst adorned in more jewels than I could dream of owning.

I’ve admittedly never been Andy Murray’s biggest fan due to his usually monotonic interviews and, at times, childish displays of frustration. However no one can deny that this year he has hit the grass with a mentality of complete determination and drive towards the coveted golden trophy. He’s certainly managed to win me over to a certain extent and I’ll be screaming him on once the match begins. The inner-struggle of what to wear today is does one opt for a Brit inspired ensemble or a Wimbledon colour swatch creation? I always like to set myself a challenge so I’ve tried to cover both angles.

I love the young, fresh and vibrant print on this shirt, the perfect nod to Wimbledon purple and green. Teamed with the blue shorts and a simple white tank, the outfit oozes national pride and a classic British attitude once the sun emerges. 

Fitness is Fashion

Going to the gym and working out is just as much an occasion to dress up and show you fashion credentials as sitting in the front row at fashion week. Maybe not quite, but it's getting there! 

It's no longer standard practice to hit the treadmill in an old pair of jogging bottoms and a baggy t-shirt, it's all about the stylish leggings and club-worthy fluorescent tank. I LOVE the latest collection from Lucas Hugh, showing us that any girl can look hot and runway ready in lycra #lucashugh #fitnessfashion

Let the games begin...

The blog has officially begun. Time to unleash my opinions on the latest trends, ridiculous outfit statements and goings-on in the fast paced world of fashion! This is the cheapest form of therapy, I'm irritated I didn't discover this sooner. #fashion