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Monday 30 December 2013

New winter knitwear






























If you're a regular reader (love you) then you may have noticed I'm a little obessed with all things knitwear. You just can't beat a good jumper or cardigan; it keeps you warm, it feels good against your skin and with all the choice around these days, they are far from frumpy and dull. These are the new additions to my wardrobe, thanks to Santa and the sales! It's so difficult to decide what to wear in the mornings as I love them all equally!

1. Khaki cable knit jumper - COS (a Christmas gift for me but now 50% off in the sale!)
2. Brown Polo neck - Primark (now £3! They are a great fit and wash really well)
3. Cardigan - Primark (now £5 and in many colours)
4. Mustard yellow cardigan - COS (also now 50% off in the sale!)

Saturday 28 December 2013

NYE dress ideas


























































































Although I will be dressing as a mythical being for New Years Eve, these items would also make me want to party until dawn. I think celebrating a new year calls for something special, maybe something you wouldn't normally wear so you're fully embracing the idea of the new. Also, I should note that some of these items are in the sale so be quick! After Christmas and shopping in the sales, (I went out today, will show you my bargains later!) any penny saved is a very good thing!

1. Zara dress with sheer neckline
2. Cos graphic print dress
3. Asos ponte pencil dress with lace t-shirt
4. Cos coated jersey dress
5. Zara lingerie-style studio dress - wear with a blazer or a luxe cardigan (or a fur stole!)
6. Warehouse embroidered mesh midi dress
7. Cos strapless dress
8. Asos midi cami dress with lace trim
9. Cos sculpted fold dress
10. Mango cut out detail shift dress


Wednesday 25 December 2013

Block colour




































I just wanted to show you this incredible shirt dress from COS. I think monochrome can look even better than a bright colour and stands out more. It's lovely and silky and light and is part of the newer items, nodding now to spring (weather: take note please) and making me long to see lighter mornings and evenings and sunshine! I would roll the sleeves up and pair it with orange or bronze sandals, quirky sunglasses and a casual shopper to wander round town and then to go and sit in a nice beer garden with some friends and stay there for five hours (sigh, memories!).

Block-coloured shirt dress - COS - £89 

I also hope everyone had a really lovely Christmas, full of food and fun and is looking forward to Christmas leftover sandwiches today as much as I am! I'm off to work soon so I need my strength! The sales have begun...

Monday 23 December 2013

Matches sale edit


























































































The Matches sale is well worth a browse. You can get some amazing bargains and their choice is always fantastic. Sales are a great time to invest in a designer piece that you can mix in with the rest of your wardrobe. Always go for something that you can wear with many things, cost per wear thinking can help with post-buying guilt. Here's my favourite pieces (yes I like a lot of things on there!).

1. Jil Sander -  Roll neck cashmere sweater
2. Christopher Kane - Redman print sweatshirt
3. Roksanda Ilincic - Chapman wide-leg cropped trousers
4. 3.1 Phillip Lim - Angora ribbed sweater
5. Equipment - Signiture silk shirt
6. Jil Sander - Buckle detail leather ankle boots
7. Lightening bolt knit skirt - Kenzo
8. Christopher Kane - Ribbed knit sweater
9. Les Chiffoniers - Double zip leather trousers
10. Mih jeans - The body-con high-rise skinny jeans
11. Carven - Double crepe lantern skirt
12. MSGM - Geometric print sweatshirt
13. Marni - Floral crystal embellished sandals
14. Dieppa Restrepo - Penny bi-colour loafers
15. The Row - Ruby super-fine sweater
16. Nicholas Kirkwood - Zigzag-print suede pumps
17. Jil Sander - Double pocket wool jacket
18. Sportmax - Milo trousers
19. No. 21 - Check-print lambswool sweater
20. Freda - Sofia pleated print skirt
21. Alexandre Birman - Watersnake and suede mule sandals
22. Mary Katrantzou - Bridge jacquard wool trousers
23. Opening Ceremony - Embossed leather mules
24. See by Chloe - Tux blazer
25. Roksanda Ilincic - Marcel cotton-tweed flared trousers
26. Lanvin - Embellished satin clutch
27. MSGM - Striped-sleeve knit sweater
28. Chloe - Jade patchwork bag

Saturday 21 December 2013

White Christmas































































I'll admit it. When it comes to snow, I am a bit of a grinch. Unless I'm on holiday somewhere hilly (sled in hand) or don't have to leave the house till every bit of ice has melted then I'm fine with it. But if I have to get to work, or anywhere, it is a pain in the, well, yeah. You have to walk slowley, it limits shoe choices and I know I'm pointing out the obvious, but it's really cold! Then after the snow you get ice and after last years grand total of three falls, I'm not looking forward to racking up a new score.

So my version of a white Christmas? Any one (or all) of these jumpers under the tree! I've been dreaming of wearing all white but lack the pieces in my wardrobe, maybe the January sales gods will smile on me and cut the price of one of these beauties. The only problem? Buying just one...

1. Zara Turtle neck sweater
2. COS high neck top
3. Uniqlo Premium Cotton Turtle Neck Long sleeve T-shirt
4. Equiptment Sloane Cashmere sweater

Wednesday 18 December 2013

LBD

















































My boyfriend is flying home for Christmas on Sunday so the other day we had a day together, swapping presents and having a roast in the pub (was delicious, thank you Font Fallowfield!). As well as an adorable tea strainer with an owl charm and some of my favourite loose earl grey tea to put in it - I'm drinking a cup using it as I type - he also got me this beautiful black skater dress. I'm in love with how simple it is, in at the waist, long sleeves but then at the back it dips down making it just a tiny bit sexy (just the amount I like!) I know it's not christmas yet but I couldn't resist taking a few pictures to show it to you. It's from ASOS and you can get it here. I got him a black cashmere scarf from COS (avaliable in many colours for your loved ones here) in which I thought he looked very handsome indeed!

Pink





I know Christmas isn't even here yet but I'm so excited for New Year’s Eve already! Mainly because the theme for the party I'm going to is Myths and Legends and that means I can get this dress out again. I've only ever worn it once before for a party in university that had the same theme (and once to lectures the first day I bought with an oversize jumper - I thought I looked very cool indeed but I got some odd looks. Maybe a little overdressed for 9.30am. Girls got to do what she can to make getting up at that time easier! Gowns are my coffee). I got it at a vintage store in Bangor high street that sadly closed in my third year. I think it cost £15 at the time and I also got a toothpaste stripe, red and white halter dress I wish I still had, it's disappeared over too many harsh clear outs and house moves. Luckily this one has survived! I'm going to pair it with wings and ballet slippers and maybe even find some floral tattoos for my arms and neck.Can't wait!

Tuesday 17 December 2013

Choices, choices



I am in love with COS jewellery. It's simple and elegant but always has an edge. Any piece is perfect for making your outfit instantly more stylish. I think it really suits the simple lines of the clothes and always looks like a cool one off, the kind of hidden gem people assume you found hidden deep in a flea market somewhere on holiday. I love how all the pieces are always very tactile. They use a lot of fabrics like velvet, jersey or metals in bronze, gold and silver. You can't help but pick them up! They also have a new sterling silver range available in some stores and online (prices from £25). Clean lines and amazing value. Perfect for any last minute gift buying you need to do. These four are my favourites.

1. Velvet bead necklace

2. Sterling silver necklace

3. Folded grosgrain necklace (also in an amazing bright orange!)

4. Braided jersey necklace


Sunday 15 December 2013

Best of COS







































































































































COS - standing for Collection of Style - is one of my all time favourite brands. Their clothes are timeless and simple but always with something subtle under the surface that makes each piece to die for. Expect soft, luxurious fabrics in relaxed and imaginative cuts. Great for basics and great for those one off standout items that will lift the rest of your wardrobe for years to come. And the best bit - very reasonable prices! These are my top ten picks in store and online now. Prepare to want everything!

1. Cashmere hat

2. Extra wide cardigan

3. Wool and silk cardigan

4. Block heel leather shoes

5. Cotton silk tailored dress

6. Cable knit jumper

7. Square-cut jumper

8. Milano knit cardigan

9. Melange wide shirt

10. Wool-mix trousers

Saturday 14 December 2013

My Christmas wishlist!



I am feeling so christmassy this year. Not that I'm normally too grinch like but it can take me a while to get in the mood. Maybe christmas music in the background at work since mid October has something to do with it. Here are the items on my wish list. Not one, not two but three COS jumpers (of course), some christmas day reading and other treats. If you haven't tried the Hotel Chocolate dark salted soft caramels you really must! I'm planning on spending christmas with my family and although the presents are very exciting, the best thing for me will be my mum's roast dinner. Roast chicken, pigs in blankets, honet roast parsnips, red currant jelly and veg covered in gravy. Plus my mum's done a special white-flour-free christmas pudding for me this year, I can't wait!

1. Grace: A Memoir by Grace Coddington

2. Milano knit cardigan

3. Ro's Argan oil from Lush - smells so amazing!

4. Cable knit jumper

5. Hotel Chocolate dark salted soft caramels

6. ASOS Tunic Top with V Back in Crepe

7. Square-cut jumper

8. ASOS Cape Dress

Friday 13 December 2013

Jumper (for joy!)



How gorgeous is this jumper from COS? It's made of lovely soft wool and has long sleeves and a high crew cut neck, just what I love in a warmer layer. I love the colours and the wavy lines. It's almost like an abstract camo print don't you think? It's technically from the men's party range but I think it is definitely a unisex item. The whole party range is also worth checking out. There are loads of beautiful abstract prints, silk shirts, full skirts, leather trimmed blazers and amazing structural dresses. It's the one stop for easy, grown up night time dressing. This one is going right on my wish list along with a few other items I'll share with you later. Then I think I should check into COS jumper anonymous because I definitely have a problem. Hello my name is Corrine and I'm a jumper-holic.

Get it here - Painterly stripe jumper, COS

(picture taken from www.cosstores.com)

Thursday 12 December 2013

Thursday



I've decided I will not be defeated by the rain today and am off into town to do my last few bits of christmas shopping and to meet friends for a cup of tea and a catch up at one of my favourite places 'Home Sweet Home' in Manchester. Although it's wet today it's not too cold (14 degrees, thank you Google!) so I'm going with lots of layers I can put on or take off as I need too. I'm wearing my ultimate lazy day uniform; black leather leggings from Next (totally obsessed with them, even the rip in the left knee hasn't slowed me down), grey t-shirt from Primark, pumps from Primark, navy wool coat from COS and bag from Zara. The scarf is a gift (read long term lend) from my mum. I've even gone for a bit of optimism up top as well and curled my hair using a Tresemme curling wand. It's the only curler I've found that keeps my stubbornly straight hair curled for the whole day, even with the rain! Right, I'm off out, wish me luck!

Tuesday 10 December 2013

Barbara Casasola



I'm so excited about Barbara Casasola, a new designer whose first collection made its debut for SS14 (on the whole very exciting but we'll cover that later!). These are my favourite looks, for the full collection check out Elle's catwalk guide here) Apart from being entirely on trend - mesh is going to be HUGE for SS14 - it's just beautiful, the perfect balance between femininity and strength. I love how the shapes have been kept demure with longer length skirts, dresses and high necklines. But that the mesh, strategically placed and delicately shaped, creates that peek-a-boo effect making it sexy but in a very subtle, Oh! This is see through? I hadn't even noticed! way.

Although many of the colours are bright and bold; yellow, purple and deepest fuchsia the effect remains sophisticated and minimalistic. There is definitely a 50's, slightly mad men feel with the silhouettes but the mesh and geometric elements keeps it modern, fresh and needed in your wardrobe as soon as possible.

(photos taken from Elleuk.com)

Sunday 8 December 2013

Purple



I am absolutly in love with this make up look on Daria Werbowy shot by Cass Bird for the November issue of L’Expresse Styles. It's a great different look for the upcoming christmas parties. Don't use too much mascara and keep your lips simple. This kind of look looks better if it's a bit messy so it's a good one to do quickly at work before heading out. Make this look even more intense by lining the inners of your eye lids with a black shadow. I love using Barry M eye shadows as eye liners because they last all day and the boldness of the colours is amazing. A small, squared lip brush is the best for applying it.

To get this look, use a cream metallic shadow like Maybelline EyeStudio Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Eyeshadow in 'Light in Purple' and apply it using your finger. Then add a dab of Maybelline EyeStudio Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Eyeshadow in 'And in Bronze' in the corners of your eyes (a lighter or shimmery colour here always makes your eyes look larger and more alert, yay!). This look could even be adapted for day, swap the precious metal for a light sweep of lilac eye shadow like No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow in 'Lilac shine'.