Tag Archives: Topshop

Friday Frock O’clock

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After last weeks dress which was edgy and interesting, but not represented well by the way it had been photographed, I was left considering some of the comments. Like Kirsty, I find many of the current dress styles cut oddly with a high waist, but really it’s more than fashion that’s the problem. Dare I say it, we’re all getting a little bit older. I don’t want a thigh or bum skimming skirt, or a dress that doesn’t flatter womanly curves. We’re not in our late teens anymore but that doesn’t mean we don’t want flattering, confidence boosting dresses that make us look great. I can find 100 and 1 dresses that fit the bill, but the challenge is in finding the right price. This week I think I’ve done it.


Lace Insert Shift Dress, Topshop £46

I tried this dress on when I was looking for something to wear to the SMV Weddings Launch party in London. I wanted to look grown up but on trend and a bit different to all the Vintage style I knew would be worn there. I spotted this dress in Topshop and was drawn to the cut out detail, flatteringly filled in with lace, and the red/orange shade that I’m currently lusting over.

When worn it’s far more flattering than it’s £46 price tag suggests with more than a whiff of Whistles about it. It fitted my body shape, highlighted the narrowest part of the waist yet didn’t cling anywhere, hit just above the knee and for once, had plenty of room for a decent bust. For those of you sick of teen-esque dresses but not ready for LK Bennet and Hobbs, I’d recommend checking it out.

So what do you think readers?

Love,
Rebecca
xo

What to Wear: The Sequin Skirt

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I have been looking for the perfect sequin skirt for what feels like years and certainly the search has spanned 3 seasons or more. Then this little beauty pops up in Topshop for a bargain £48.


Shirt, GAP (similar here) // Skirt, Topshop // Shoes, Marks and Spencer //

I love sequin skirts… they seem so right just now. I love the way people wear them contrasted with very ordinary everyday textures like this GAP chambray polka dot skirt, or later in the season I’ll be wearing it with a chunky knit.

It held instant bonus points for being in the colour of the season… Oxblood, but we’ll talk more about that soon. For now, I’m happy I found exactly what I wanted, in a colour that goes with more other items than it seems it would and that I’ll easily be wearing from now, all though the Christmas celebrations and when I get fed up and need a bit of sparkle in my life through the depths of the winter months.

I whacked some heels on with this for Sunday lunch with the in-laws, but it looks equally good with my leopard print flats, or black suede boots too.

What do you think readers? Anybody else purchased it or want an early dose of festive sparkle?

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Monday Must-Have: J.W. Anderson for Topshop

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Good Morning readers and happy Monday. Not only that but happy London Fashion Week! Last week I ran a little poll over on Facebook, asking you guys to let me know how much London Fashion Week coverage you wanted to see. The majority were in favour of full coverage and I have so much to write about after my trip there over the weekend that I have decided to devote the whole week on the blog to sharing my experiences. I wasn’t invited to the big catwalk shows but I’ll be sharing an edited selection of the widely available catwalk images as I review them. Alongside that, I spent some time snapping the fashion week attendees and am going to bring you 3 posts of street style. Everything from the weird to the wonderful! Plus you’ve got a special edition What to Wear to look forward to and my personal highlight, a look at the Whistles SS13 collection. It’s not going to be my usual style, expect to see a LOT of pictures and not as much talking from me, then normal service will resume next week. I hope you enjoy it!

Continuing the London Fashion Week theme, todays must have Monday Must-Have ties in with fashion week nicely. Today, J.W. Anderson is showing his collection on the Topshop Newgen stage. Topshop do a lot of work with emerging fashion talent and as a part of this you might have seen the collaboration that launched last Friday of his capsule collection, J W Anderson for Topshop. Hands up, the majority isn’t really my style, (although there are some great stripy t’shirts and jumpers) but I fell for this tortoise print and the selection of items in it. If you want to invest in anything, how about the iPhone case or notebooks? Quirky animal prints remain big news for this season so you can be sure you’ll be right on trend.

Love,
Rebecca
xo

PS come back at lunchtime for a look at the first set of street style snaps ;)

The Fash Flash: AW12 Coats (first look)

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It’s still too warm to be giving even a passing thought to coats but my head has been turned already so I thought I’d start the blog ball rolling and hear your thoughts on coats this year.

I’m honestly not a ‘coat’ person. I know some people really look forward to a winter coat purchase but for years I have struggled to find the right ones, or perhaps to justify the cost of a coat as there never seems to truly be a one-style fits all solution. Maybe I’ve let go of the quest for a does-it-all garment and embraced the joy of choosing a coat for every situation, either way, I’ve identified 3 key styles that I’m ‘desperately’ in need of this year and lusting after already. Co-incidentally, all of todays selections come from Zara, who are literally on fire in the outerwear department this season, but aren’t they always?

Remember this post and my wear-everywhere GAP lightweight parka? It has remained as useful as I claimed it was and I’ve worn it non-stop this summer, particularly in the constant showers. Now I can’t imagine being without one so I’m on a quest for a warm winter version to keep wrapped up in at the weekend or on the run around town.

Now I have a properly grown-up job, I want a properly grown up coat (I have been known to do home visits in my leather jacket which causes the occasional raised eyebrow!) The minimal slim car-coat styles with collar embellishment and detailed sleeves are calling out to me, along with voluminous cocoons for a striking silhouette.

I can’t deny, I’m a city girl, yet at the weekends I’m often found tramping around the local water park and nature reserve in less than clement weather. I’d love a Barbour but for occasional weekend wear I can’t justify the cost, so thought I’d buy a cheaper version and see how much wear I get out of it. This one is just as chic for the girl-about-town as getting out of town.

So what have you got in mind this winter for your outerwear? Don’t worry, this isn’t the last post you’ll be seeing, merely a teaser. Look out for more detailed fash flashes coming soon ;)

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Found: Topshop Facial Cleansing Wipes

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This morning I’m sharing my latest skincare find, something that I stumbled across, picked up without thought and have been pleasantly surprised by: Topshop Facial skincare wipes.

I always keep a packet of face wipes in my bedside drawer. Despite waxing lyrical about my Eve Lom cleansing habit, sometimes life gets the better of me and I go to bed dirty faced. The best I can do at that point to salvage the situation (and my pillow) is to use a cleansing wipe to remove my make up. You’d think that would be easy but I have over the years found that the majority of brands are too harsh for me, leaving my face dry and tight or flakey. Sometimes even the cloth itself is too abrasive.

I just picked these up at the till last time I was in Topshop as they were a bargain £2.50 and I needed some anyway. I’ve since found they get rid of all my make up, feel soft and leave my skin feeling comfortable and refreshed. A winner all round. Plus if you can get your beauty shopping done in Topshop, that can only be a bonus right?

Do you use face wipes and which brand do you prefer?

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Psst! I kinda like the monochrome packaging too – not too out of place if I forget to tidy it away ;)

What to Wear: Island Blue

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It feels like a long time since I talked about patterned trousers and it has taken me this long to find the right pair for me. Initially I didn’t want to make the investment when I felt the trend might be short lived but judging by the coming seasons trends, there will still be a lot of statement making legs around.



Trousers, Topshop // Top, French Connection // Boots, Belle Sigerson Morrison (at The Outnet) // Bag, Mulberry // Earrings, Accesorize.

I spotted this pair in the Topshop sale for the princely sum of ten whole english pounds and loved the print – it reminds me of holidays and summer with that perfect blue that you see houses painted in on the Greek Islands. The print itself has a tropical feel almost but is abstract enough to avoid a Hawaiian look.


I knew from the off that it was going to be perfect paired with white and then spotted the earrings I wore with it in the Accessorize sale. The pop of aqua just adds to that holiday feel. I wore it on this occasion out to dinner with Pete and my Sister, taking my navy sparkle Whistles jumper with me to layer up if it got cooler. Originally however it was one of the outfits I chose for the Dream. Find. Do. shoot.


Have you branched into patterned trousers yet this season? (I have to confess, I’ve bought another winter appropriate pair since this one, look out for it here soon…)

Love,
Rebecca
xo

The Fash Flash… Think Pink

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Just recently, I have seen an absolute onslaught of pink hitting the shops, and I’ve also seen it popping up all over the blogs, adorning the most stylish ladies and just generally making me want to wrap myself in it from head to toe. Pink used to be just a little bit un-cool, but it can certainly be done…


L-R Top Row: Fuchsia Dress, Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere in Pink on Pink on Pink, Camel and Neon. Bottom row L-R: Bubblegum jumper and striped skirt, Hot Pink Blazer and bobble hat, Emily again in pink pants and khaki jacket.

So I thought I’d do a little round up of items in the shops that you can combine into your outfits at home:

So come on girls, tell me what you think? Is pink for you? Or will you be sitting this trend out?

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Friday Frock O’clock

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This week’s Friday frock is an outfit I have chosen and in fact wore, last night.

For Pete’s birthday, we headed back to Stock Restaurant, the venue for our wedding reception and believe it or not, we haven’t been back since. I wanted to go somewhere special and it means a lot to us so seemed the perfect choice, and who doesn’t love Italian food?

It’s very rare that I dress for my husband, so to speak. Thankfully he’s (nearly always) complimentary but for this particular evening I just wanted something a little girly and to look pretty for him. Less fash more pash. ;)


Straight Cut Dress, £34.99, Mango.

When I came across this simple Mango dress it was right up my street. I like clean design when it comes to clothes and the block colour is striking enough. (It’s actually a delicious coral pink although it looks red here.) In an ideal world I would pair it with some oversized spot tights but time constraints meant I nipped into Topshop and found these striking animal print tights – I chose them because I hate when patterned tight have a 10 or 20 denier backdrop to the pattern, it’s so unflattering and these really stand out because of the nude colour. I carried a clutch not dissimilar to this one from Oasis, but mine is a back patent Kate Moss for Topshop from donkeys years back that has become a wardrobe staple of mine. Teamed with some patent bow peep toes, it seemed dressed up enough for a special evening out but pared down enough to acknowledge the Thursday-night-school-night choice of evening.

Better than all that, it was a bargain too. I wasn’t complaining as I’ve got three outfits to work my way through for the weekend and I can see this coming out again and again.

Happy Friday Folks!

Do share you thoughts on my outfit and of course any lust have items you’ve splurged on come pay day!

Love,

Rebecca

xo

PS… Head on over to my Twitter feed or Facebook and you can see an Instagram pic of me wearing the said ensemble. :)

What to Wear [Basics]: Parkas

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This morning it’s back to basics because aside from the fashion pieces in your wardrobe, I know that every woman needs the basics - a great pair of jeans, the perfect white shirt, black patent courts… the list goes on. Today’s What to Wear is not my most fashion forward choice but has certainly been inspired by that off-duty model look in slouchy jersey pieces, biker boots and leggings. The Parka.


Parka: Gap – now £35, Scarf: M&S, Fingerless gloves: M&S, Jeans: Warehouse, Jumper: Warehouse, Boots: Pied a Terre, Bag: Coach.

I’m actually only recently getting into outerwear. Before now I’ve always found it prohibitively expensive for good quality pieces and hated the fact that thin or synthetic fabrics don’t actually keep you warm. I’ve broken all my rules of ‘buy well and buy once’ and no to ‘synthetics’ with this cinch waist parka in 100% classy polyester. The reason I went for it however is that it’s light weight and throws on over winter woolies nicely without adding extra bulk. The sheen of the fabric also emulates a rather more expensive silk version I saw once.

I’m looking forward to mixing it up with some dressier pieces, a glitter skirt perhaps with a thick wool jumper. I’ll keep you posted…

In the meantime, this is a timely post for Kirsten, who asked me on Twitter the other day ‘to find me a stylish warm parka.’ so I added some high street and online finds to my own. I can’t vouch for the warmth Kirsten but I hope you like the variety of styles here :)

  1. Topshop Dark Khaki Waxed Parka with black faux fur trim. (Hurry! This one is down to £40 from £98 and there are only Size 10′s left.)
  2. ASOS Parka with leopard faux fur trim
  3. Whistles Brigitte Wool Parka
  4. Navy Villa Duffle Parka – ASOS (Bargain of the century at £35)
  5. ASOS Parka with detachable fur lining
  6. Miss Sixty Grey Parka – ASOS

Are you a fan of the Parka? I’d love to hear what you think of this weekend chic favourite…

Love,
Rebecca
xo

PS Apologies for the picture quality, this was an iPhone indoor capture in desperation during all the wet weather pre-christmas and also pre-haircut ;)

Spotted: Topshop SS12 Trends

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I don’t know about you guys, but I am over the sales. Emailing with Gemma between Christmas and New Year, she said it first and I was so relieved. I could hardly face the thought of post after post of same-old same-old sales bargains. We want to look forward at the new season right?

Right. So here it is.

Topshop have released a little summary of the looks they will be championing for Topshop Spring/Summer 2012 and although it might be a shop you overlook if you prefer your fashion a little more sophisticated, Topshop certainly knows how to pick and then produce a trend.

Something you’ll hear me say over and over this month is how I like to prepare for the new season. I’m no fashionista but I am a list maker, so my favourite pastime is to sit with all the mags, identifying trends and working out which ones are going to work for me. Select a few key pieces to merge seamlessly into your existing wardrobe and you’ll feel right on top of the trends without shelling out much cash, or doing too much hard shopping ;)

First up, my favourite and what Topshop is calling ‘under the sea’.

Remember Florence emerging from the stunning sea-bed set at Chanel’s marine fantasy catwalk production last Autumn? Well if that wasn’t proof enough that this was going to be a massive trend then I don’t know what is. But how does it translate to you? Think little mermaid style pastel metallics, marine shades and beaded sparkles like the light catching on the sea bed. It’s your ticket to summer glitz.

Next up? Wandering hemlines and faded neons. I’ve been saying brights will be big still for a while now, but to be really cutting edge think of the faded neon of your childhood. Sorbet shades with a bit of sass. It doesn’t matter what the garment is (tops are equally popular for this trend as bottoms) but purchasing an item with a wandering hemline will score you style credentials too.

It’s a print party. According to Topshop we’ll be wearing all of our prints at once. Little mix-esque leggings hit the mark – just look for kaleidoscopic patterns. Jungle florals mix with animal prints and for good measure, top it off with this season’s must have bomber jacket, (below left).

Not sure if I’ll be brave enough to try that one at home?!

Lastly, space age sheers. Another difficult trend but it’s all about layering chiffons, with metallic sheen and modern streamlined cuts.

Want extra brownie points? Mix the trends in your own unique way. It’s not as hard as you think – look at the pictures above, the wandering hemline under the space age sheer dress. The clashing prints with the bomber jacket. The sorbet palette in nearly every trend.

It sure looks like Spring is going to be fun and what else is fashion for?

Do let me know if you love any of these looks, or if they’re the last thing you’ll be trying and I’ll keep bringing you the trends to ponder before they hit the shops :)

Love,

Rebecca

xo