Birthday Bonanza

I am sooooooooooooooo sorry for the lack of blogging over the last 2 weeks I would love to say that it has been because I have been so run off my feet, which I have but it is more related to the fact that Tuesday the 16th was my birthday and I have been eking out the celebrations for as long as I could.

On Saturday the 13th the celebrations started with a shopping trip which ended with a purchase in Mulberry followed by high tea at The Soho Hotel with my uni girls and the boyfriend, he was there as official buyer of champagne...

Annoyingly this is the only pic I have of the afternoon of gorging, this is me modelling a very handy gift from my friend Sarah, its a turban towel for your hair!

It was not the best afternoon tea in terms of cake and service but the company was amazing!  Then it was back to Essex for work on the Sunday and Monday morning, I have to keep my clients happy!  A crazy busy working day on the Tuesday my actual birthday but a blow dry at Cobella made me look less shipwreck and more serene for my birthday dinner at Scott's with the family and the boyf but not before present opening and Vino at my lovely little house! 

This is the gorgeous Mulberry purse that the boyf bought me......  I LOVE IT!

A mini photo call in the garden before heading off I love the dress my sister was wearing it is from M&S and looks so Roland Mouret galaxy dress!  I am wearing a Whistles dress and some lush Vivienne Westwood shoes (another birthday gift).

Annoyingly we were not allowed to take pics in Scott's but i managed this sneaky pic of my desert, it was the best meal I have ever had and will be returning once I have saved lots of money!

Check back tomorrow for part 2 of the birthday bonanza, not my birthday but a friends and some very interesting outfits!

Capsule Christmas Wardrobe

OK it is time for me to pack up my presents and decamp to my Parents for the Christmas weekend.  But looking into my wardrobe I found that nothing was inspiring me for the festive frolics.  So I popped on my coat, hat and gloves and ventured across Waterloo bridge and into Covent Garden for some Christmas wardrobe shopping!

My first and actually my only stop was Oasis, I have not been in there for a while but needing some new jeggings I was inspired to take a look despite its shocking layout since its refurb!  Low and behold I managed to get everything a girl could need for the festive weekend!  So here is my Capsule Christmas Wardrobe 75% of which is made up of the Oasis purchases.

This everything ready for packing except shoes!  I have kept everything in the same colour pallet which makes mixing and matching a little bit easier.  I usually really mix up the colours and the accessories but these outfits are really versatile so I stuck with quite a dark selection that can be jazzed up easily.

Outfit 1:  The party outfit

This dress is a great party look and takes little to no thinking about, the embellishment on the neckline means that accessories can be kept top a minimum and the make-up and hair can be your wow factor!

I have packed these purple tights (but you could opt for red), Silver heels from Reiss, Coast earrings and a silver cocktail ring.

 Outfit 2: Christmas Day
I always want to look glam on Christmas day but I also want something that I can move around in and that looks good start to finish.  Traditionally I have opted for a dress but this year I am going for black jeggings and Print shirt from Oasis, waistcoat from Ted Baker and the shoes in the above look (I will swap them for knee highs if we venture out)

To accessorise I am wearing my Lucy Hutching earrings and my Dorothy Perkins ring and my make-up will be plum and metallic based!  You could swap the jeggings for leather trousers if you have the legs!

 Outfit 3: Boxing Day Drinks
I will be using the Jeggings from look 2 and teaming them with this floaty top from Oasis but it could be put with leather trousers or a pencil if you have room for an extra item!  I opted for this as it will probably cover the over eating of Christmas day!

 I am wearing these fab gold and black earrings and my black cocktail ring for this look.  I will also opt for red lips and a hair up for this outfit to make it a little more glam.

I will also be taking my knee high boots to wear with outfit 3, but they work with all of the outfit choices.

I will be taking my 2 Christmas nail varnishes just in case I get a chip...  I start with the lighter and then pop on the darker colour for the last few days!

Outfit 4: Spare
For casual I am taking this fab M&S jumper dress and some black leggings just in case there are any spillages!

So know that I am packed it is time to head back to snowy Essex and pop open some champers!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

xx

Jean Genie!

At the moment my weekends are filled with Jeans! The boyfriend has even commented on my sleepy discussions on the benefits of a fit and flare jean to balance a bottom! But one thing I will say is that it is has been great fun and lovely to see so many women happy with their new denim purchases!

I am at the Watford Shopping Centre styling for the JEAN GENIE EVENT, where myself and fellow stylist Rachel Staveley are giving free style appointments to shoppers to help them find their perfect jeans..

This weekend I helped a granny, mother and daughter into jeans and got 2 yummy boxes of Thornton's chocolates... so despite blue denim stained hands, sore feet, and dreams of denim there are perks to the JOB!

High street Jeans that I think work for most shapes!

To hide a tummy but keep it classic opt for the OASIS - SCARLET Jean £45

The Oasis - Poppy jean £50 is a great summer option which looks fab with a denim on denim look. On a curvier thigh it appears more kick flare but on a slim leg has a real 70's look! Another bonus to these is the high waist is great to hide a tummy but also works well on a pare shape as it curves in over the bottom.
The Dorothy Perkins - Straight Cut £20 is my top buy of the week. I would opt for the Mid blue as it is more summery but the cut of the leg is great with a heel, but also works really well with a turn up! The only down side to this jean is it has a very low rise so if you have a bit of a tummy I would opt instead for an M&S option.


M&S Indigo Collection Slim Leg jean£19.50. Sorry for the small image can't find a better one but follow the link to check them out. This jean comes in 4 shades I would opt for the black or the white.

Another Jean which I have to mention is the Next Flare £25, I am not usually a massive fan of Next jeans but this shape is fab and great for an everyday jean.
I hope you like my top selection! I will be buying the Straight-cut dotty P's pair, styling my mum in the Indigo pair and my sis in the Oasis Poppy or the Next Flare.


I also have to mention the M&S - North Coast jeans £39.50 for men as they worked really well on the older gent.

and the Next - Dark Wash Hiro jean £32-£40 nice easy style without any fuss!

She Means Business Event 2010 and Goody Bag Competition

The SHE means business event was held at HSBC Towers in Canary Wharf and the event was a great success. Myself and Mrs Make Do Style where there with the NHJ Style team and decided to both blog about different elements of the evening, but i apologise if there is some cross over! I also need to apologise for some of the photography.. after a glasses of bubbles it would appear that our photographic hands are not quite as steady.

The she poster that MDS wanted to graffiti...

The Fashion Show Work wear

Outfit 1: Animal print Jaeger Top worn with cream cigarette pant trouser from Next
This is a really easy way to introduce print into your wardrobe and stay cool in Summer add big glasses and over sized bag to make it your own!
Outfit 2: Military Jacket M&S worn with top and bag from Next.
Well done M&S this jacket is a great shape and bang on trend!
Outfit 3: Grey jersey dress from Wallis and bag from Boden.
Really great idea for a throw it on dress for summer, i would add a statement necklace and a coloured wedge to make a little more exciting.
Outfit 4: Stripey jacket from Next, Polka dot dress from Planet, shoes LK Benett.
What a great little office outfit.. instead of adding the obvious red mix in green or acid orange accessories.

I also have to mention a fab outfit in their work wear section that we could not get a pick of which was a Mint Velvet dress with a zip detail on the shoulder worn with a next wedge looked great.They also had a fab Audrey Hepburn Esq Grey work dress from Austin Reed, so if your in the look out for one pop over to see it!

We then moved into Evening Wear

Outfit 1: Grey Zip detail top M&S worn with Next trousers and LK Benett shoes.
This outfit is great for relaxed office to pub, or site seeing chic and easy to achieve.
Outfit 2: Sequin dress Planet and nude shoes Pied a Terre.
This dress is not my cup of tea at all! I am all for summer sparkle but this looks like all the wrong kind of coloured sparkle on one ill fitting dress!
Outfit 3: All in One M&S and fab Red wedges which annoyingly I did not write down the info for!
I love love love this outfit and want it want it want it. I was wearing an All in one on the night and we have decided this M&S one or the Topshop equivalent are the best. I am also kicking myself for not noting down the shoes i will continue my search! MDS is going to buy this outfit and she is going to look fab in it!
Outfit 4: Black dress with cream bow detail from Burnshaw shoes Pied a Terre.
Again not my cup of tea as it is a little obvious but the bow detail is quite cute!

Other outfit to mention strapless all in one from next with beading detail really easy to wear in the Summer.


Evening and Weekend Wear Continued

Outfit 1: Red dress by Burnshaw and shoes LK Bennett.
They also showed a black and white version of this dress which i HATED! But this little number had the wow factor.
Outfit 2: Denim shorts, white 'T' and boots from Next and chunky Knit cardigan from Jaeger.
Loving this outfit.. could not pull it off myself but if you have an athletic figure and a small bust wear it with some retro Sunny's!
Outfit 3: Stripey 'T', blazer and zip detail skirt all M&S.
This is a great little summer outfit for work or weekend. Wear a coloured wedge and add a floral print bag and it would be even more adorable.
Outfit 4: White Jeans M&S, animal print cardigan by Boden, Bag by Next and shoes LK Bennett.
Easy way to introduce print and it looks pretty chic.

Weekend Wear

Outfit 1: Stripey 'T' by Dorothy Perkins, Cardigan by Boden, Jeans by Next, Bag from Jaeger.
Want this bag make it mine!!!
Outfit 2: Green silk shirt by Jaeger, jeans and sparkle bag by Next, shoes LK Bennett.
Also want this bag... but this one i can actually afford! yay
Outfit 3: Stripey top by Dorothy Perkins and shorts by Boden
Great look with no effort! If you have shapely thighs keep shorts long if you have skinny pins wear them short!
Outfit 4 : Peach vest by M&S, Jeans by Boden, Hat by Planet and Scarf by Jaeger.
How cute is this outfit.? A hat always makes a statement and this one is easy to wear in summer with a print dress, jeans or at the beach!

The event was good fun and we got to meet some lovely ladies from all over the UK! The gorgeous girls from the fashion department at SHE who did not seem to mind us quizzing them on the new dynamics in the fashion department. Nicky Hambleton Jones who looked fantastic as ever, no sign of baby destroying this fashionistas style! I also have to mention the lovely lady in the blue silk top, her Mum and her sister who were an absolute giggle. The stylish Laura Kate Scott with her gorgeous pill box hat. Beverley Webb from Beautiful Bras for being a SHE lady who meant business and who stocks some fab bras.

Here is a little pic of the models off duty... with their SHE goody bags one of which I have to give away in a competition!
Inside the lovely SHE Goody bag... is..

April issue of She magazine

A Simple wash bag with intensive lip moisturiser, eye makeup remover pads, anti wrinkle day cream and protecting moisture cream

Tie rack scarf with chain print

Kitten and Vixen cosmetics Bewitching Burgundy mascara and eye liner

Jo Hansford intensive hair mask

£20 Planet voucher

Clara Geraghty's new book "Saving Grace"

2 VIP Flourish Cards - Flourish Make-up

and all of this could be yours!

To enter the competition and be in with a chance to win this fabulous goody bag become a follower of this blog and leave a comment and a winner will be picked by random number generator. GOOD LUCK!