Always One Step Ahead: Spring 2013, Trend 2

Hi everyone, I have been a bit busy recently trying to get on top of Uni work so unfortunately neglected my blog a little :( So going to try to get it up and going again this week! It's crazy how time flies, I'm already half way through my first semester in second year, and Christmas is only  8 weeks away, now that IS SCARY! before you know it Spring will come around, and we can all come out of hibernation. As promised here is my second installment of my trends to look out for in Spring/Summer 2013.

Trend 2: Dare to Bare? 

This is definitely a trend that has got alarm bells ringing in my head telling me I need to get to the gym and tone up my stomach! Bare midriffs are set to be big in Spring/Summer 2013. Whether you want a more reserved look by wearing a crop top with a high waisted skirt/shorts, or you're brave enough to wear a bralette, the bare stomach look is one that was prevalent in the fashion weeks. 

Designers such as Alexander Wang and Jason Wu, Marc Jacobs and Richard Chai have shown how to work the bare midriff look in different ways. I found Richard Chai's collection particularly interesting as he created a unique sports luxe look with feminine prints, fresh colours and delicate fabrics contrasted with masculine tailoring. Take a look at his collection in the video below!

Here are a few of my favourite midriff looks that were seen on the catwalks. As you can see, there are so many ways you can work the trend, which one is your favourite? 

thanks for reading, another installment soon!

The Return of Military Chic

Hey guys, so recently I've been heavily focusing on one particular trend which is dominating the high street at the moment - the military trend. We see this trend cropping up in a fair few A/W collections, but each time it varies very slightly. Over the past few weeks I've been concentrating on this trend in particular as me and a couple of my class mates have been gearing up to organising our first ever photo shoot as part of our university coursework, which we centered around this look. Our photography will feature as part of the annual Fashion Management magazine which will be published early next year. The shoot went ahead today, it was very exciting, the photographer captured what we had visualised perfectly and the models looked fantastic... watch this space for photos in the near future!

Anyway, so I currently have my military head screwed on and having recently browsed the shops for this look, a few items definitely caught my eye which I will share with you. I won't include the items we used for our shoot as that will all be revealed at a later date! This season's military trend is all about sharp tailoring, with specific attention drawn to the waist to create a powerful feminine silhouette. The trend has also been given a grunge twist, look out for leather and khaki combinations and stud,spike and button detailing. Here is a selection of my favourite military finds this week!

Left - Combined Sleeve Jacket by TRF at Zara - £49.99. This Jacket is perfect for the everyday grunge military look. Wear with black skinny trousers/jeans and biker boots. View on Zara.com: Combined Sleeve Jacket

Right - Khaki Trim Utility Backpack by Newlook - £19.99. Now I'm not usually a rucksack kind of girl but I think with this trend, they are so suited. This is a great bag for trekking around during the day. View on Newlook.com - Khaki Trim Utility Backpack

Left - Pyramid Buckle Belt by Miss Selfridge - £14.00 - A waist belt is a must have as it draws attention to the waist, which is key for this trend. View on Miss Selfridge.com -Pyramid Buckle Belt

 Right - Shirt With Applique Shoulders by Zara - £29.99. This shirt is so versatile for this look, it could be teamed with a pair of camouflage trousers/jeans for a casual look, or buttoned all the way to the top and tucked into a pair of tapered trousers, with a fitted military style coat for a more formal approach to the trend.  View on Zara.com: Shirt With Applique Shoulders

Left - Khaki Milano Skater Skirt by Topshop - £28.00. I've always been a fan of the skater skirt; they are such a flattering and feminine style. Wear this skirt for a more girly take on the military look.  View on Topshop.com: Khaki Milano Skater Skirt
  
Right - Skinny Polo Crop Top by Topshop - £10.00. Polo necks are big this season, so why not inject them into your military look. This top is so simple it can be teamed with anything. View on Topshop.com: Skinny Polo Crop Top

Left - Military Piped Girly Coat by Topshop - £95.00. Like I mentioned earlier, the military trend this season is focusing on the waist and the feminine silhouette and this coat is perfect for doing this. With its nipped in waist and classic design, its a great coat if you're looking for a more traditional and sophisticated military look. View on Topshop.com: Military Piped Girly Coat

Right - High Waisted Trousers With Button Detail by ASOS - £22.00. A pair of tailored black trousers are essential for this look; you'll find you can team them with almost anything. I chose a pair of high waisted trousers to again attract attention to the waist. 
View on ASOS.com: High Waisted Trousers With Button Detail

Left - Camouflage Jacquard Trousers by TRF at Zara- £29.99. I have been looking for a pair of more subtle printed camouflage trousers for a while now and I have finally found a pair! Add an oversized beige or khaki coloured knit for casual winter warmth, or team with a shirt such as number 4 or 5. View on Zara.com: Camouflage Jacquard Trousers

Right - Military Shirt by ASOS - £30.00. You can't think military without thinking of a simple, classic khaki green shirt. Wear with black skinny jeans and lace up boots and a leather jacket (number 7) for military grunge chic. 
View on ASOS.com: Military Shirt

Left - Slate Boots by Kurt Geiger - £230.00. These were without a doubt my guilty pleasure find. Despite the luxurious price tag, these boots are perfect for the upcoming winter months and you'll be able to wear them with a mixture of trends including this one. View on Kurt Geiger.com: Black Slate Boots

Right - Black Lace Up Boots by River Island - £75.00. With an ever so slightly more affordable price tag, these boots are great for the everyday military look and will suit anything from a pair of khaki shorts, to a pair of camouflage trousers. View on River Island.com: Black Lace Up Boots

Left - Khaki Military Boyfriend Coat by River Island - £80.00. And finally, saving the best till last. My favourite military find was this double breasted coat. Oversizing is bang on trend for this season, and sometimes I find that quite a few boyfriend coats tend to just unflatter me, but this coat has a slightly tailored look to it despite its boyfriend fit. View on River Island.com: Khaki Military Boyfriend Coat












Thanks for reading, hope this gave you some inspiration for the military trend,

Burgundy Brilliance

So here is my second style post, and the focus this week is my favourite colour for A/W 2012, Burgundy. Call it what you like, burgundy/oxblood/wine/maroon, this colour trend is definitely one that I have fallen for; a splash of burgundy can make any outfit look that little bit more sophisticated and edgey. What's even better is it's a colour that creeps back into fashion every once in a while as it's such a classic colour, meaning you can recycle your old clothes back into your wardrobe, and buy items knowing that one day, they'll become fashionable again! Here I have used two main burgundy pieces, a pencil skirt and a dress,but tried to show how you can wear them differently to create a variation of looks.

Once upon a time, I used to think pencil skirts were for work wear only, but it is so easy to dress one up or down. Here, I have shown two ways to wear the same clothing pieces. In the first, I have simply tucked a tank top into the skirt and thrown on an oversized denim shirt and added a pair of burgundy loafers to compliment the skirt. By counteracting the fitted shape of the skirt with the oversized shirt and everyday tee it balances out to give a casual look. In the second I had used the same shirt but buttoned it up to the top, and layered it with my new favourite purchase, an aztec monochrome jumper, and finished it off with a gold spike necklace and gold chain ankle boots. Layering is big for A/W; layering a buttoned up shirt under an oversized jumper or sweater looks preppy and great for the reemergence of the mod look this season.  

 

The second two pictures use a dress I bought recently, and I love the delicate lace midi skirt detailing, perfect for the current gothic trend! The left picture shows how the dress can be worn for the night, with matching burgundy drop necklace and burgundy wedges.. there is nothing wrong with head to toe burgundy! In the second picture, I have made the look a little more casual by adding the monochrome jumper. Lace trim skirts are bang on the gothic/ trend at the moment so make the most of them by teaming with anything from a velvet body to a leather jacket to a cross embroidered tee

From left to right:
 Picture 1. Denim Shirt - Vintage, Jimmi Hendrix Tank - Topshop, Burgundy Pencil Skirt - H&M, Gold Chain Burgundy Loafers - Topshop.
Picture 2: Denim Shirt - Vintage, Aztec Monochrome Jumper - TK Maxx, Burgundy Pencil Skirt - H&M, Gold Spike Necklace - Newlook, Gold Chain Ankle Boots - Topshop.
Picture 3: Lace Skirted Dress - Club L at ASOS, Burgundy Drop Necklace - Newlook, Leggings - Topshop, Burgundy Cross Strap Wedges - Newlook.
Picture 4: Lace Skirted Dress - Club L at ASOS, Burgundy Drop Necklace - Newlook, Aztec Monochrome Jumper - TK Maxx,  Leggings - Topshop, Burgundy Cross Strap Wedges - Newlook.

Here are some lovely illustrations of my styling done by my mum, Morag. She has sent me these all the way from Lytham St Annes, a mere 335 miles away from Aberdeen, so the use of the postcard is very apt and thoughtful! My mum is a keen artist in her spare time and has her own blog displaying some of her artwork, if you find a minute take a look; I have provided a link to her blog to the right of my page. 

Thanks for reading,

Always One Step Ahead - Spring 2013, Trend 1

Hey everyone, just been having a browse through some trend reports and runway shows for Spring 2013. Now I know we have just waved goodbye to a summer that sadly was nonexistent, and probably half of your summer purchases spent their time in the dark wardrobe collecting dust rather than the sun, but its never too early to start preparing! 
Today in Aberdeen it is cold and windy with torrential rain! Therefore, rather than looking at the bleak weather forecast, I'm going to share my Spring 2013 trend forecast with you and explore a new trend every week!

Trend 1: Earn Your Stripes!

 Stripes were seen all over the New York fashion week catwalk by designers such as Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger and Marc Jacobs. Here is a video showing how stripes made an impact on New York fashion week.

My personal favourite designer for this trend has to be Marc Jacobs. I love his use of monochrome and restricted colour schemes to create a simplistic but classy look. His use of stripes to create graphic pattern also looks great and adds an edge to the typical stripe.

This trend is incredibly versatile, so be sure to make the most of it.. pinstripe tailoring for work wear, block vertical stripe shift dresses for the night, graphic pattern stripes for occasion wear, or a nautical themed striped outfit for the daytime. No doubt this trend will be all over the high street as it's so simple but effective... so get ready to stripe yourself for a fraction of the designer price tag!

Thanks for reading, another Spring 2013 trend to follow next week! :)

Winter is on its way!

I don't know if it's just me or the fact that I live in Aberdeen, arguably one of the coldest regions in the UK, or the fact that I live in a student house where we only use the central heating on special occasions, but it appears to have got much colder over the past week.  

I realised this when I had to fetch the winter coat out the cupboard and give it a dust off, as it was FREEZING. Definitely feeling the winter blues at the moment as I'm in the middle of trying to update my wardrobe from summer to winter and with the weather turning cold so soon, having less time to do it!

Looking in the shops and online I've seen that the retailers are responding with lots of lovely knitwear, which has been making me equally depressed as I want the vast majority in my wardrobe now. Anyway, here is my pick of favourites to keep you both stylish and warm in the upcoming weeks... and months!

From Left to Right:

Left: Knitted Chunky Fairisle Jumper by Topshop - £45. I love the pale ice shades of this jumper and it's bang on the Nordic style trend. Team it with a pale blue denim shirt and black pleated skirt or skinnies.  View on Topshop.com -  Topshop Knitted Chunky Fairisle Jumper 

Right: Burgundy Crew Neck Jumper by Newlook - £19.99. Burgundy/oxblood is the colour of the season right now. This jumper is so adaptable and can be worn with anything from a leather skirt to skinnies to high waisted shorts.  View on Newlook.com -   Burgundy Crew Neck Jumper

Left: knitted dogtooth jumper by Topshop - £42. With the 60's reemerging this season, monochrome prints are back in trend. Clash this bold knit with a pair of tartan skinnies or black pencil skirt or tailored joggers for a more refined but edgy look. View on Topshop.com - Knitted Dogtooth Jumper 

Right: Boucle Cardigan by H&M - £29.99. Boucle has made a comeback for A/W 2012, providing a more tailored look to your everyday outfit. This cardigan would look great with a white shirt with studded collar detailing and a pair of cigarette trousers to create that chic workwear look. View on H&M.com - Boucle Cardigan

Left: Chunky Cable Twist Jumper by Miss Selfridge - £42. Cobalt blue is another big colour for A/W. Team this jumper with a black pleated skirt, or some printed paisley or baroque shorts for a more glamorous look. View on Miss Selfridge.com - Chunky Knit Cable Twist Jumper 

Right: Studded Neck Jumper by Oasis - £55. The military trend has been popular so far this season. This khaki knit would look great with a leather bodycon skirt and khaki parka for a military grunge look. View on ASOS.com - 
Studded Neck Jumper

After browsing more jumpers and cardigans than I would ever know what to do with, I'm without a doubt off to the shops soon to make some quality investments for the winter months... see you there!

Wedding Style

So yesterday my only sister got married! As I was maid of honour I spent most of the day in a very tight bridesmaid's dress; (due to me stupidly getting my measurements completely wrong!) therefore after consuming a large three course dinner, I was feeling a change was in order as I couldn't breathe in my bridesmaid's dress. The dress I chose to wear for the evening reception I absolutely love; it's so versatile and can be dressed up for a formal occasion such as this, or for a night out as it's bodycon and so flattering! I teamed it with a new purchase I made just a few days ago, a blazer jacket which I literally am wearing with every outfit at the moment as it goes with anything and everything. I also recently bought the shoe boot wedges and I love them as the heel is just small so they're comfy enough to walk about in for hours and look great with skinny jeans or dresses. All in all, a fantastic day and my dress didn't get ruined! 

tribal animal print midi dress - Topshop. Black blazer jacket - H&M and black boot wedges - Newlook.

It must be that time of year again... Halloween!!!

Hi everyone, with Halloween soon approaching in the next few weeks, the shops are loving the gothic A/W trend.. and so am I! Lots of leather, lace, velvet, studding, faux fur and black is bang on trend at the moment. Here is just a small selection of my favourite pieces available to buy right now.. If only I had the money to buy them all... Suppose I can keep dreaming!:)

From left to right, row 1: Gold Studded Waistbelt, River Island - £25;Patent Leather Pencil Skirt, H&M - £14.99; Emilee Black Studded Platforms, Boohoo - £40. Row 2: Dark Red Peplum Top, River Island - £22.99; Plain Fur Black Bomber Jacket, Topshop - £65; Sheer Lace Dippy Top, Miss Selfridge - £39. Row 3: Velvet Bustier Dress, Coco's Fortune for Topshop - £65; Leather Quilted Chain Clutch, Topshop - £48; Red Velvet Shorts, Topshop - £32. 

I was having a look through some designer fall 2012-2013 collection videos earlier and take it from Gucci, you can never wear too much black! Have a look at their collection in you're in need of some inspiration, Gucci A/W 2012 Collection; lots of head to toe black velvet and leather! The key to achieving this look is to be bold and brave; don't be afraid to experiment with different textures and shapes as pretty much anything goes... providing it's black!

Studs, spikes and skulls are all over the place at the moment so don't forget to accessorize with some fierce jewellery. 

 Pale skin is on trend again, which i'm glad to hear about as I'm about as pale as you get! Vampire-esque make-up is key to this trend, and you can go for as little or as much as you like dependent on how daring you are! Heavy charcoal eyes, blood red lips, you know the score, the darker the better. 

Are you brave enough to go goth?