Tag: Fashion

Stacey’s adventures in NYC: Part Two

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Stacey Magnolia bakery

Concrete Jungle, where dreams are made of…

Stacey Magnolia bakery

Me at Magnolia Bakery

What most excited me about my trip to New York, as well as the beauty of the city, was the shopping. Never had I been surrounded by so many beautiful clothes and so much spending money.

I had planned ahead well, I knew how much passion I had for shopping and I wanted to be able to shop til I dropped without worrying about money too much. The great thing about the American high street is the overwhelming choice of casual clothes for a small price.

Forever 21 do this best, think of it as a hybrid of Primark and Topshop. It manages to tap into key trends of the season, without looking cheap and without the money draining price tag. Thankfully, Forever 21 has finally made it across the pond and is slowly but surely taking over the country, as well as its UK website. Cheap and chic fashion is here!

 For the preppy casual look, that’s slightly cheaper than Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle and Aeropostale is your first port of call. Casual t-shirts, baggy jogging bottoms and comfy hoodies are in no small supply. American Eagle also manages to embrace a more stylish side with cute but casual skirts and dresses.

 However, if you find yourself strolling along Fifth Avenue, it’s impossible to miss the Abercrombie and Fitch building with its blaring techno beat and topless male models welcoming you at the door. It’s not everyday you start your shopping with a Polaroid of you and a handsome scantily clad man. I enjoyed the experience so much; I began collecting pictures of me with the models.

 The clothes in Abercrombie and Fitch are slightly pricier than most shops, but America is the place to stock up, as it will cost you a lot more in the UK. Also, if you’re in New York, these prices are a lot less intimidating than what you’ll find in Bloomingdales and Saks!

 If you prefer more of a unique vintage feel, head down Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village. Here you’ll find boutiques and vintage shops as well as the odd cool designer store. It’s a long road, but the mix of gorgeous shops is worth it, all the more so when you reach Magnolia Bakery. Its cupcakes made famous by Sex and the city.

 While there is always a queue, it’s worth it for the delicious lovingly made cupcakes and being round the corner from Carrie’s famous stoop on Perry Street.

 Finally, I couldn’t end a trip in New York without a trip to Soho. Spring Street has every shop you could ever wish for; from Mango to Urban Outfitters to our very own home-grown Topshop!

Seventies Fashion: Get the look

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seventies fashion
70s women

Rock the seventies look this season.

This spring, seventies fashion is back to the forefront once again. Think floaty fabrics, flares and florals.

Fashion designers went crazy for the seventies vibe and took inspiration from seventies glamour pusses like Farrah Fawcett, with models sporting long wavy hair and platforms.

As the weather warms up, nothing will make you feel more summery than floating about with loose fabrics and fedoras.

The high street is already awash with browns, creams, reds, yellows and golds. Loose fitting blouses and shorts are the most accessible way to tap into the trend and great to mix and match, as well as their ability to hide a multitude of sins.

Topshop have a great selection of floaty blouses and have fully embraced the seventies look in their spring collections. Their buttermilk short sleeve shirt, £33, is a great starting point to ease you into the look and will look effortlessly chic with jeans or shorts.

If your looking for something a little more glamorous try their tan elasticated batwing blouse, £40, for some seventies sex appeal.

Shorts are always a good investment come spring, and can easily be teamed with tights on cooler days. This season’s baggy shorts, are a less intimidating style of short, coming longer and looser so you don’t feel too exposed.

It’s best to go for a neutral shade so you can match them with more options, ASOS’s  Soft Turn Up Short, £30, come in three different colours and will flatter most figures and hide a shapelier behind.

To finish the look, invest in a Fedora for the summer. I can guarantee they will be all over the high street.

This look is perfect for lazy summer days and festivals.

How to do preppy perfectly

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Preppy girls walking

 

Preppy girls walking

Release your inner Gossip Girl

 

Preppy is back. Think Gossip Girl or Cruel Intentions and you’re on the right track. American brands Abercrombie & Fitch, GAP and Hollister have all got ‘preppy’ down to a tee, and now other high street shops are following in their footsteps with the look dominating in a big way this season.

Using Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl as your style icon, you can tap the market of looking preppy, edgy and super stylish all at the same time.

Topshop have hit the nail on the head with their Graduation collection. Featuring polka dots and denim, royal blues and beige; the look has spring/summer written all over it. Preppy is the perfect smart/casual, whether you’re strutting around campus or looking chic and professional in the office.

Calm neutral colours like cream, grey, black and blue are key to the ‘preppy’ look with small detail adding something more, think Peter Pan collars and pussy bow blouses for the office and then experiment with baseball jackets, polo shirts, city shorts and polka dot tea dresses for casual daywear. A cute casual blazer is a great way to mix both work and play.

Accessorising is key with the preppy look, with so many fun options to choose from. A satchel is a must, and works best in brown and beige. You can often find some great battered options in vintage shops, if you want that classic aged look, or if you’re keen to splash out on a new bag, the high street is awash with cute satchels of all shapes, sizes and colours. The bigger options are great for university and the office, while smaller options look chic on shopping and coffee dates with friends.

Brogues are still a key item, so dig out your pair from last year, or invest in one of the many options on the high street. There are flat and heeled versions available and they work great with both smart and casual looks. A perfect investment.

No Blair Waldorf would be seen without an Alice band, the cherry on top of a cute preppy outfit. Accessorize is awash with cute hair accessories, and tonnes of alternate preppy options if you prefer to steer clear of Alice band territory.

Finally, a spritz of Vera Wang’s Preppy Princess should send you on you’re way. Just a brief look at the advert shows its Gossip Girl inspiration, and the fruity fragrance will leave you sweet.

Having fun with fashion and stepping out of your comfort zone!

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I always find myself getting bored when I go shopping, I can never find anything I want or the shop doesn’t have it in my size, so where does that leave me? Well, don’t tell anyone but it’s almost turned into a hobby…I regularly go into shops and just try on everything and anything, I mean who knows what really suits them until they experiment? The next time you go out, why not try it! It’s fun and you don’t even have to buy anything. Here’s a few I tried on earlier…

Floral top

Floral top

FLORALS
“Something you’d wear to the races”

I wouldn’t go as far as agreeing with my friend, but I wouldn’t go to Tesco in it either! Florals are always around leading up to spring and this year is no different. As I browsed the high street, this batwing blouse jumped out at me as both elegant and comfortable. It has a rose print and an essential tie-around middle that holds in the waist (always a good thing). It was a comfortable wear, but a little too see-through for my liking – you can always add a strappy top underneath to feel less exposed. I would pair with a black body-con skirt or leggings. What would you do?

Long black cocktail dress

Long black cocktail dress

LONG BLACK DRESS
“It looks like a cross-between Snape’s cloak and a flamenco dress…I like it.”

The ‘little black dress’ is so last season, how about a sweeping dramatic number? I was immediately drawn to the almost coat-like quality to the dress with the collar and pulled-in waist. It felt great on, although my small excuse for a chest didn’t do me any favours – I would definitely recommend wearing a push up bra before trying something as low-cut as this. Wear with heels or flats (it’s too long to notice anyway) and some stand out accessories for maximum effect. What’s your favourite party outfit?

Camel trousers

Camel trousers

CAMEL
“Your trousers match the colour of your hair”…”Thanks?”

The colour is in at the moment and so is the style – whether its designer or high street, the shops are crammed with camel. I try not to follow trends, preferring to experiment with old and new styles, as well as not having disposable funds unfortunately. But on this occasion I think I can be forgiven, I needed new trousers and having looked in every shop in Lincoln (there aren’t that many) for a comfortable pair, I thought there wasn’t any harm in trying them on. I found this pair in Topshop and although at first I had reservations on whether they would suit me as I have the annoying combination of wide hips and skinny legs, I ended up spending 20 minutes in the fitting room deciding whether I liked them or not! I took some photos – cameras never lie (only photoshop!) and decided to get them, after all I had the receipt and could bring them back if I changed my mind. Do you have a favourite camel coloured outfit?

Faux fur coat

Faux fur coat

FAUX FUR COAT
“PETA approved”

A friend to the animals and the pimps, just kidding! I’m not really a fan of fur or leopard print but this winter saw the arrival of fur and lots of it. Every shop I browsed, I couldn’t get away from it so I took it upon myself to try out this “guilty pleasure”. To my surprise, I didn’t look as stupid as I first thought I would – in fact I quite liked it.

Warm = check
Comfortable = check
In trend = check

Having said that, I couldn’t get the image of Del Boy and Raquel from Only Fools and Horses out of my head so when the fitting room assistant asked “any good?” I politely responded no and gave it back. So what is your fashion or beauty guilty pleasure?

A cheat’s guide to vintage

Vintage style has gone mainstream in the past few years, and can come with a hefty price tag. Many great vintage pieces can be hard to get hold of, so here is a cheat’s guide to doing vintage for less .

1. It doesn’t necessarily need to be vintage.

You can get a great vintage look, without even buying anything vintage. Many high street shops are getting their inspiration from vintage styles and mass-producing them for a cheaper price. Topshop is often a great port of call, but also be sure to check out Pearl Lowe’s collection at Peacocks, her vintage inspired dress designs will make you look like a glamorous forties housewife with effortless easy style.

2. Go for modern remakes of vintage designs.

It doesn’t need to be the real deal, when it looks the same. Vivien of Holloway sell great 50s inspired dresses that look like the real thing. So instead of trawling through hundreds of vintage stores for that iconic fifties dress, that’s too small or smells weird, why not go for something shiny and new and made for you? They also sell great forties swing trousers, as well as tea dresses. Some of it is a little pricey, but if you’re looking for an investment or special occasion it’s a great place to check out.

3. Wear modern clothes in a vintage way.

You’d be surprised how your modern clothes can easily look vintage with a bit of smart styling. Team a high-waisted mid-length skirt, with a tucked-in  tee or blouse. Add tights and court shoes and voila!
Or you can always revamp some of your dresses with a waist belt. Leopard print is a great way to go, and everywhere this season (Take some tips from Bette Lynch). Just stand in front of your wardrobe and experiment.

4. It’s all in the hair.

Try some vintage hairstyles to give your look that classic edge. Think Bridget Bardot and get that bouffant high and proud. Simply section off the top part of your hair and backcomb, apply hairspray and backcomb some more. Get height to your hair, push up and clip in place. It may take a few goes and a lot of hairspray but it’s worth it. Or you can channel your inner T-Bird and work your fringe into a quiff. Again a lot of backcombing and hairspray is in order, but you’ll be a vintage vixen by the end.

5. Accessorise!

For bags, raid your local charity shops. You’ll be amazed at the amount of handbags dropped off there, and they are sometimes the only decent thing found in charity shops (apart from the odd pretty scarf).
A little accessorising can go a long way, and like clothes, a lot of modern jewellery is being inspired by vintage designs. Freedom at Topshop is your best bet with its bangles, big earrings, and kitsch necklaces.

Picture by yatenkaiouh via Flickr