Tuesday Ten: Style Influences

I purchased a book on Saturday that made me absolutely re-think my blog. I started this blog off talking about style. No trends, no makeup, no celebrities. I want to get back to that. Personal, individual style is much more important than Olivia Palermo's best outfits or the latest spring trends. Of course, I'll still be writing about the hottest trends but I'll write how you can adapt that particular trend into your own style. Besides, there are so many blogs that do really good coverage on trends. With our own style, we express our ideas of who we are. With trends or 'it' items (e.g a Birkin bag or Isabel Marant sneakers) we become sheep and simply lose individuality and distinctiveness. From now on, I'll be writing a lot more about style and good fashion. Posts coming up will be on the lines of finding your own style, fashion clichés, wardrobe must-haves, how to incorporate trends into your style etc. Let me know if you have any post ideas in the comments section. Here are 10 influences on style...

1. Style icons/ celebrities - It's good to admire an icon or celebrities' style (like above, I love Grace Kelly) but don't dress like them. If you love Audrey Hepburn, add in a pearl necklace or a black dress. They had they're own style and so should you!
2. Trends - The media (more on that later) constantly bogs us down with 'what's hot on the runway' or 'the best and worst trends' and strive to convince us that we should wear trends. Firstly, not all trends will suit you, nor will they match with your style. Secondly, it's OK to wear them occasionally (it's good to experiment and evolve your style) but instead of wearing head to toe bright blue (which is a massive this season) just add a blue blazer or a cute pair of heels. Also, it can be a bit disappointing if you dedicate your whole wardrobe to a particular trend only to find that it's soooooooooo two minutes ago.
3. Holidays/ vacations - Imagine having a holiday in Mexico and dressing like a Londoner. Nope, you'd want to dress in a red, printed fringed top, sombrero and high-waisted shorts. Not to necessarily fit in but it's fun to experiment with their cultural style.
4. Local area - Here in the UK, girls from Essex dress quite a bit different to Londoner's. Style not only depends on the country you live in but your local area too. 
5. Weather - Well, you wouldn't wear a Melissa Odabash bikini if you lived somewhere that rained and was cold all of the time. Weather pretty much determines what we wear everyday. I look out of the window most mornings and dress accordingly (so coats, gloves, scarves and a good umbrella that is)
6. Seasons - Your style is most likely going to change each season. I dress feminine and girly in the Spring and Summer and a bit more grungy and edgy in the Autumn and Winter.
7. Emotion - This is probably the part where you all go 'ehhh?'. A lot of people, subconsciously, express their emotions through fashion. After all, fashion is an expressive and visual art. If one's life is depressed or dreary at the moment, they are more likely to dress in dark colours with drab shapes to reflect their mood. If I'm in a really good mood, I will more likely dress in bright colours and so on.
8. Work - It's quite obvious really. Your work style changes from job to job. An estate agent wouldn't wear what a plumber would wear! 
9. Your shape, size and figure - No, no, no! Do not let this affect your style! Given the abundance of styles available, despite that fashion designers prefer sticks to walk down their catwalk, any woman can find a shoe and a dress that fits her. Learn to see yourself with new eyes, and know how to make the best of your good points. Legs and breasts aren't everything. Emphasize your good features rather than dwelling on your imperfections.
10. Media - The media encourages and sways us to look and dress a certain way. Sorry, but we can't all look like we just strutted off the spring 2013 runway (although, parts of that would be nice). Ignore silly campaigns and adverts. Dress the way you want dress.

Hope this has helped you all! Sorry that it was a lot to read!

Zermatt Photo Diary: Day Five: Trockner Steg and Dinner at Stockhorn Grill

A different viewpoint of the Matterhorn but still lovely.

Up at Trockner Steg there was a bar, loud music playing and chairs for sunbathing - all in the snow!

The view we all had while we were sunbathing!

We then got the cable car down and decided to eat at the incredible Stockhorn Grill. I had chicken on a skewer with vegetables and potato gratin with a fancy sauce.

PFW Fall 2013: Elie Saab

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Current Crush: Lily Collins

I've always loved Lily Collins, her acting and fashion. Her style is so different and mature from any other girl her age (she is 24 next week). Her hair and beauty complements her every look and I love how one day she can dress really edgy and the next very feminine and pretty. Her style focuses a lot on details, texture and colour. She bases her accessories (including hair and makeup) around this. In her most recent look she has perfected the art of adorableness. For the Louis Vuitton fashion show, she showcased her high quotient of cute in a darling gold mini (picture above). A Peter Pan collar and puffed shoulders made the look doll-like and she took things a step further with a classic ballerina bun. Opaque tights were perfectly prim and proper for the short hemline, and a smart choice for winter in Paris. Wine painted glossy lips and dainty gold earrings were the finishing touches. And of course, those brows make a fashion statement all their own. 

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PFW Fall 2013: Celine

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Tuesday Ten: Style Tips and Inspiration For March

All pictures from my Pinterest account, here.

We are already 5 days into March and it's definitely a lot warmer and more 'spring-like' here in London! Hooray! I'm so glad the Winter is over, I love springtime. I got a bit fed up of keep layering all the time and I missed my spring and summer clothes. Now I can finally wear them! Here are 10 style tips from the transition from Winter to Spring...

1. Go 50/50 - Mix your favorite autumn pieces with a little spring. A good look is a sheer spring-y maxi skirt with a heavy, leather jacket.
2. Add a P.O.C - Mix neutrals with unexpected pops of color (also known as a P.O.C.) to give your winter wares an instant update.
3. Pair Sandals with Sweaters - Keep it casual by pairing these two seasonal staples together for a style surprise: sandals and sweaters.
4. Clash Your Colours - Like in the collage above, pair blue with yellow. It's really in for March. The colours clash but there's something really stylish about it. Red and green clash and purple and orange also.
5. Colour Block - Even though it’s still chilly out, you can spring-ify your style by color blocking bold hues.
6. Crop It! - Pair 90's style high-waisted jeans wit a cute crop top.
7. Layer A Little Leather - Since the trends seem to always be ahead of the weather, wear your new springtime staples now with a fitted leather jacket for a little added warmth.
8. Technicolour Tweeds - Almost every high street fashion store is offering up a bounty of colorful tweeds that are the perfect transitional pieces to take your look from winter to spring. They’re warm but bright—perfection.
9. Accessorize the Right Way - Before things fully heat up this spring and summer, wear your favorite frock with tights for an all-seasons-appropriate look, add a floppy hat that screams spring.
10. Pastel Pants - There’s no better way to keep your gams warm and stay on trend than a good old pair of pastel or printed pants. It’s a fresh spin on plain denim and a nice alternative to fall and winter’s leather legging.

Hope this helps you all! Thanks for reading, hope you all had a good day.

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PFW Fall 2013: Chloe

Zermatt Photo Diary: Day 4: Stafelalp

A different view of the Matterhorn, and look at all of that untouched snow! So pretty.

My sister (left and I in the amazing Stafelalp restaurant, which by the way has a 40'C hot tub in the middle of the snow at the back of the restaurant!

Restaurant Stafelalp, by far the best restaurant (in my opinion) for incredibly delicious food!

I had a cheese croute. It's melted cheese on thick bread with fried egg, tomato and gherkin.

Followed by this for dessert. Chocolate mousse with fruit.

On the walk down, we saw a frozen dam.