Vagabond

I pay a quick homage to Prada's AW16 styling, minus the Sony NEX-5...

Sleeved 70's Style Maxi Dress // Ebay

Corset Belt // DIY 

Grey Thigh High Boots // Primark

A couple of weeks ago I went in to the hairdressers for my 3 monthly roots touch up. I'm usually there for hours (damn you fine, aubany hair!!) whilst they bleach it up in which time I usually read a book and every magazine the salon has to offer. 

Whilst there reading editions of Glamour & Elle I stumbled across a feature on Prada's AW campaign earlier this year and totally fell in love with the styling. Miuccia Prada had explained backstage at her AW16 show that it was inspired by the idea of a Vagabond, all outfits were incredibly detailed, experimenting with layering and different textures - with one eye catching detail that struck me on most of the models which was a large corset belt worn in a fairly undone way.

This look has definitely inspired me to try this over the top of my 70s maxi dresses I lived in last year to give them a new season update, Although this DIY belt is far from finished. I wanted to make the edging look as raw as possible so I took an old pair of jeans and ripped along the seams for a frayed raw look. 

The only newness on this one is my new grey thigh boots, pleased to now say I own a pair of thigh highs in black, brown and grey now with all three being different in that they are different heel sizes and fabrics! 

PS. Sorry about the poor quality pictures, as you may of seen on my Instagram or Twitter, my camera faceplanted itself last time I was out with it (despite being on a flat service on its tripod!!) and fell in to a cosy pile of leaves. 

Only then did I pick it up to find the lens had totally disjointed and now its completely broken with Jessops quoting more to repair than the whole camera cost me to buy new in 2013! :'( hopefully will think of a new alternative as whilst there is always a phone camera its no where near as good as I do miss my camera alot. 

If you are solo shooting on a tripod though and find yourself minus a camera than the Timercam app  and a Joby Griptight mount for universal tripods are a good make do. The app is free and you can set a timer for up to 15 seconds and the Joby comes in at only £7.99 from John Lewis. You can pick up the next day from store or a Waitrose if they deliver to yours. That's how I'm making do for the moment! 

Love, Sarah x 

New Years Style Resolutions with Farfetch!

This week, global fashion boutique community Farfetch challenged me to come up with my New Years fashion resolutions for 2016. I have alot of plans for 2016 so was really excited to accept! 

For those of you unfamiliar with Farfetch, Farfetch has an online store with over 1000 fashion forward labels to choose from, including some well known names such as Dolce & Gabbana to Versace.

Farfetch is a unique site as it houses all of these brands on one site making it an easy and enjoyable shopping experience with really well broken down categories so you can find exactly what you want and your favourite designers easily! :) 

I have really enjoyed this challenge as it has made me think about my wardrobe and how I can improve it whilst I continue to expand my horizons and do new things in my life. As Caitlin Moran said in her book 'How to be a woman' - 

“When a woman says, ‘I have nothing to wear!’, what she really means is, ‘There’s nothing here for who I’m supposed to be today.”

This is pretty much me to a T! 

I am forever evolving and changing my style with the times, depending on my mood and where I am with my life. To me, my wardrobe give me the perfect opportunity to express who I am and well as inspire others or if its meeting someone new, making a great first impression.

I have based my resolutions around my life choices for next year as these also will impact my wardrobe and style. 

So, without further ado, here are my 5 fashion resolutions for 2016!

1) Travel More - City Stylin

To be honest my top two 2016 lifey resolutions are kind of tied as one as for me and the boy are in the process of deciding if 2016 is the year for us to move out of our flat and rent a house or not ... I think he would like to move but my heart is my set on adventuring and travel! 

Now I've got over my fear of flying (and now absolutely love it!) I would love take the leap to go on a long haul flight and visit the big apple, New York, next autumn. I love adventuring and holidaying and love to make sure that my style matches as closely to the destination I'm going, without being too over the top with my holiday style plans. I had to restrain myself quite alot earlier this year from packing an abundance of tartan when I visited Edinburgh earlier this year! 

For some classy New York style, I love these picks from Farfetch - not only great for my New York holiday packing for other destinations too! Perfect 2016 holiday styling right there!  Just get me my boarding passes and on the next flight pronto so I can wear these babies! 

For strutting around times square ... Michael Kors Hawthorne boots

City exploring... Moschino graffiti quilted backpack

For chilling out and wearing when watching the Yankees...Moschino Looney Tunes baseball shirt dress & Moschino sneaker style stilettos 

Watching the world go by in Central Park with a hot dog.. Linda Farrow x Suno 2 sunglasses 

2) Try Androgynous Style

Argh , this is always something I adore the look of in fashion photo shoots but still keep shying away from trying it out. I am quite a tomboy at heart so feel I could perhaps pull it off.. If I could look anything like Kristen Stuart does in her Chanel campaigns I would be a convert to androgynous style for life! 

A good place to start with this trend is with a pair of comfortable brogues, for me the more embellished/spiked/interesting the better!  

From left to right: 

Dolce & Gabbana Crystal Rose Embellished Brogues
Alexander McQueen Grey & Pastel Skull Scarf

Pollini Panelled Brogues
Dolce & Gabbana Embellished Brogues
Robert Clergerie Purple Panelled Brogues

3) Vive la Fringe! - Wear what you love & invest in classic go-to pieces

I have been obsessed with this year’s 70s trend and am sooo hoping it continues in to 2016. This year has been without a doubt my favourite year of fashion in my whole 27 years and 6 months on this planet! 

I think I'll still be rocking my fringing and bell bottoms regardless in to 2016 even if Vogue tell me otherwise. :) The worst habit I've had being a fashion junkie is that when you spot a new trend and you can't help but to buy everything to do with it and then finding it doesn't really suit you. I think I have tried & bought so many midi skirts to death now trying to do a more lady like style and finding each time they just don't look good on me - I never learn! 

I'll be making sure this year I stick more to wearing what I love and exploring my style by mixing styles up and not blowing all my money on an I see I want moment! 

However, I'll be definitely investing in more fringed pieces this year - hoping to find more colours out there then brown or black :) Here's my Farfetch faves:

From left to right:

MSGM Fringed Paisley Blouse 
Herve Leger Strapless White Fringed Dress
MSGM Colour Block Fringe Top
Ashish Fringed Top
Ouigal Fringed Iridescent Ankle Boots

4) Enjoy life - Be more of a social butterfly & always have a killer party look! 

My biggest achievement this year (aside from reading all of the Hunger Games series which was last years resolution) has been how much better I have got at socialising. I have always struggled at parties and found myself having panic attacks because I find it difficult to be around alot of people. The biggest difference has been the friends I have made this year *high fives to all of them* who have been lovely and supportive. 

As I'm hoping to keep this up in to next year, this also allows me to join in on party outfit or nights out styling - yay! :) 

I have found one thing that helps my confidence at events is a show-stopping unique outfit - no double outfit dilemma here! The more out of this world my party outfit or accessories are, the better I feel - they are great conversation starters!   

I am totally in love with these pretties on Farfetch - perfect for eye catching pieces for your night out whether its a night at a restaurant or an evening bowling with your mates :) 

From left to right:

Charlotte Olympia Kitty Drawstring Bag
Super Moschino Hoodie
Moschino Mirror phone case 

Charlotte Olympia Two Faced Sandals
Super Moschino Sweater

Alexander McQueen Shiny Ladders Tiered Dress

5) Update the Intimates - 

I'm a typical jim-jammies girl, straight in to my pjs as soon as I get home from work. I'm happy and comfortable - which is no bad thing - but I haven't bought underwear or comfy stuff in ages that makes me feel special - every girl should have a drawer of undies that makes them feel sexy and special and I feel as I've got more comfortable I tend to not bother buying any aside cartooney ones  and then before I know it it's been another year.

I dislike alot of undies shops as they are a little to much on the saucy side, I want something that is pretty & delicate that I don't have to compromise comfort over sexiness with, which is why Fleur Du Mals lingerie on Farfetch is great - pretty, feminine and yet a little risque! 

From left to right:

Fleur Du Mal Cage Lace Triangle Bra in Mint
Fleur Du Mal Crochet Long Line Lace Bra
Fleur Du Mal Balconette Bra
Fleur Du Mal Pink Lace Demi Bra
Fleur Du Mal Embellished Mesh Triangle Bra
Fleur Du Mal Lace Trim Pink Babydoll

What are your fashion resolutions for 2016? :) Don't forget to check out Farfetch for some amazing designer garms & some inspiration!

Love, Sarah x 

Balmain X H&M - The countdown is on!

The Balmain x H&M collection is nearly here! On November 5th the collection will launch online  and in H&M stores across the UK and I am incredibly excited! Not to fussed about the collection being fronted by a Kardashian so much (soz, they bore me to tears, tho don't mind Kendall as a model so much)

But I loved this collab when I first saw the gorgeous Jordan Dunn in the navy military inspired top, def my fave item in the whole collection!

Take a peek a the full look book here #HMBalmaination

x

Wanderlust: Alexander McQueen, Savage Beauty

Last weekend I headed up to London to the V&A museum to see the Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty exhibition. It was actually a belated bday present but this was the earliest I could book tickets for as it was almost sold out! Cameras in there are not allowed so I admit I was abit sneaky and took a couple of shots on my iphone. 

We went in the evening which was cool as its pretty atmospheric in there as the design team have worked really hard to make all of McQueens collections fit in to all the different settings including my favourite McQueen dress (above) which is in the Romantic Naturalism section along with this beauty...hello wedding dress inspo! 

Every collection, has its own themed room to match the collection my favourite though was the second room which followed his earliest graduate collection. The Victorian gothic room was just stunning with huge mirrors and atmospheric lighting. I think I was in this room almost as long as I was in the square centre piece room (The cabinet of curiosity's) which contained accessories and shoes he collaborated on with designers such as Philip Treacy. There was just so much detail on the clothes to look at and so many different fabrics and mindblowing amazingness. This feathered dress from The Horn of Plenty AW10 is just incredible,

Other collections also included VOSS (The Asylum Show 2001, His Japanese/American style collection; Its Only a Game, Highland Rape (see another fantastic feather dress below) , It's a Jungle Out There and his final collection, futuritic Plato's Atlantis

If the exhibition was going on till the end of the year I would definitely go again, but it finishes on the 2nd August! :( Due to popular demand though, they have now released an additional 12,000 night tickets to book from tonight (24th July) till this sunday till 10pm and also for the final weekend next weekend where the exhibition will be open till 11pm. Tickets are £17.60 and are timed so make sure you get there a good 15 mins before you're allotted time as there is a que!

I did raid the gift shop abit afterwards! I got the McQueen hardback book I've been wanting for yeeeears. Metropolitan Museum of Art Edition. Savage Beauty postcards set and some beautiful Swarovski blue iron on gems.. may use these somewhere on my wedding dress or veil!

The Horn of Plenty A/W09

Alexander McQueen 1997

If you are unable to go but wanna buy something from the giftshop you can go on to the V&A shop online and buy something awesome from the McQueen section that's been specially set up for the exhibition,

Find out more about the exhibition here

love sarah x 

Image credits: McQueen photograph by Marc Hom and Horn of plenty image by firstVIEW

Label Lust: Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

This GORGEOUS collection is from the Valentino collection for A/W15.. its just stunning! I love looking though high end fashions and seeing what is on the catwalk though its rare that I see something that really makes me go WOW! 

Every piece is inspired by 70's materials and styles including knee boots, smock dresses and high necklines, yet each has a modern twist and is by far one of the best collections I've seen in a long time. Although Valentino is out of my price range, I have my fingers and toes crossed that the high street can offer looky likeys to some of these beautiful designs, particularly the striped boots or the galactic constellation and planet prints <3. I've left some of my favourite picks of the collection below, which ones are your favourite? :)

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015

Images from Style.com

Karizma

Feather Trim Boxy Crop Tee // Karizma @ Clothes Show

PU Biker Zip Front Trousers // H&M

Biker Boots // Primark

As you may have seen late last year, I popped along to the Clothes Show Live in December for a day of non stop fashion worshipping and of course, shopping!

My fave part of the shopping stalls was the Asos Graduate Marketplace, ten finalists were picked by industry experts to retail, free of charge, at the 2014 Clothes Show Live & were also given the opportunity to retail their collections online in their own boutique through Asos Marketplace

One of the brands that really stood out to me was Karizma, she graduated from London College of Fashion in 2011 and was spotted & commissioned to create pieces for Little Mix's final X-Factor performance. Her designs are known in the fashion industry for her rebellious, high voltage style and she has since then gone on to create pieces for many pop groups and celebrities including The Saturdays, Tess Daley & Poppy Delvigne.

My fave piece from the Karizma range at the Clothes Show had to be this boxy feather trim crop top, like all of her designs its really unique and a total stand out item. It looks great teamed up with these edgy H&M biker trousers to give the soft feathers of the top a more tougher contrasty look.

You can find the boutique on Asos Marketplace here

I'l be featuring more amazing Asos Graduates in the coming weeks, keep your eyes peeled! :)

Love, Sarah x