Chelsea Blues

River Island Jacket

|

ASOS Top

|

Topshop Skirt

| Zara Mules

| Zara Bag |

Chelsea Doll Necklace

*

I love statement jewellery. Since I was about three I used to love digging around my grandma's jewellery box just to look at all of the big bright sparkly things. Gran's always have

the best

 jewellery collection! I love sparkle, so I always felt a bit like a pirate discovering a treasure chest. 

Even so, over the years I developed a slight a fear of coloured jewellery. With big statement pieces costing a reflectively chunky amount it's a bit of a pain investing in a piece that coordinates with

every

coloured top/dress that you own. 

Now that's a commitment I'm not willing to make considering how the 'new black' is a different shade every few months or so. 

Silver is safe. If it's just in the form of a twisted plait of chains, gunmetal grey gemstones or pure and clear crystal glass, the lack of colour means ultimate versatility. 

But I  couldn't ignore my growing love for blue hues this season. Pastel blue has washed over my wardrobe so strongly this season that at first glances I'm pretty sure you could mistake my wardrobe for the baby boy section in Mothercare. 

So it just seemed wrong to withhold my water coloured wardrobe the right to a sparkly coordinating companion. 

Sure, I love a slight minimalist aesthetic in the with sleek and tailored silhouettes and simple hues, but my inner magpie simply can't resist adding tiny bit of bling in the form of a giant necklace or a few stacked rings. It lets the jewellery take centre stage, just how it is meant to.

Let the statement piece make the statement.

Jumpsuits: The Love/Hate Debate

Red Label Jumpsuit

| Zara Jacket |

Zara Shoes

|

Zara Bag

|

Topshop Sunglasses 

The Jumpsuit: sophisticated sister of the playsuit, glorified onesie. 

Anybody who knows my style understands my love of a good few retro influenced pieces, so I can't deny my love of this seventies inspired onepiece. Jumpsuits just work for me.

Still, like the majority of fashion pieces that blur the lines of two regular garments (think skorts, cape coats- not that capes were ever really considered a 'regular' wardrobe item...), jumpsuits divide opinion. 

I know they have been around for a good few years, but they don't seem set to be disappearing anytime soon. So for any of you still trying to work out where you sit with the love/hate debate, I have compiled this pro's and cons list.  

Pro

• Critical decision making in top/trouser/skirt combos is completely obliterated. It's one piece. No choices and hard decisions needed, and more sensible than a dress. Ultimate go-to piece sorted
• They have that whole retro seventies vibe. Like I said, anyone who knows me knows that I just love that whole retro vibe. Big winner for me. 
• They can be dressed up and dressed down really easily with big heels and a fancy clutch, or chunky mules and a backpack. Perfect on-duty/off-duty staple
• Comfort. They can be super comfy. This one from Red Label is made from gorgeous black soft stretchy crepe fabric with loose tapered legs. With a wrap around body and tie waist feels incredible relaxed. With the freedom of a gymnast I feel the sudden urge to cartwheel (another pro is that you won't see my pants if I decide to do just that...)

Con 

• All I need to say is 'Bar' and 'Bathroom'. Let's face it,  they can be an epic pain to remove when you really really need to take them off... 
• Unless you are a tall and skinny supermodel, they tend to make you feel like an overgrown toddler/elephant when worn with flats rather than heels. It's official, jumpsuits are a no-flat zone. 

I'm running a little short on the list of cons here... So I think it's clear where I stand. What about you?

Minimal

Lavish Alice Dress *

 | Mango Jacket | 

Zara Bag

 | Zara Shoes

If you saw me walking around town when I was around 16 you'd have thought that I had been dipped in glue and rolled around in my Grandmas jewellery box. 

Who was it who said 

"Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory"

 ?

Of course, it was Coco Chanel.

 Let's just say that about five years ago me and Coco certainly didn't see eye to eye on that matter. 

But I was young and foolish and living in a style culture filled with little indie girls with a 'more is more' vintage styled approach to fashion. If you didn't walk around looking like the inside of an Oxfam charity shop then well, you were probably a Chav. 

Present day is different. Of course there is this uber feminine trend of sorbet pastel shades crafted from densely textured fabrics, or bold exotic prints that just scream 'pay attention!' but there's this other side of style with luxe fabrics and structural lines. The colour palette is made of muted tonal greys, clinical whites and tar black. 

Besides, basic needn't be boring. The raw minimalism is an aesthetic majorly inspired by scandinavian-chic. Quality and structure is key. Lavish Alice nailed it with this dress: the jersey is soft to touch and so thick that it keeps it's fine Chanel style structure with ease (the two-part, cropped top design reminds me of 

those 

Chanel Couture dresses...). And did I mention it's this summers most popular colour? White. You don't get more minimal than that.  

Take a look at some of the other dresses they have at the moment

here

. 

Too much choice and too much accessorising can be overwhelming. Minimalism is like detoxing. It's refreshing. You need to have a little bit of self control to get it right (something that I seem to lack when it comes to fashion). But the resulting image can be powerful in it's raw flawlessness. 

With minimalism you wear the clothes, the clothes don't wear you.  

Classics

 Topshop Coat |

She Inside Dress *

 | Topshop Scarf |

Zara Mules

|

Zara Bag  

As you might have guessed, I'm definitely the kind of girl who likes to plan her outfits. It's a subconscious reaction that happens in my mind as soon as I make plans to do something. Uni? I know where my best jeans are. Drinks with friends? That two-piece that I love. A date? I have that new dress I bought last week. Sorted.

Fashion is amazing but if I'm honest it can completely hold me back sometimes. My obsession with style kills my spontaneity! If somebody says 'Lets go out tonight!' it puts me into a slight panic mode. I have no clue what to wear. 

Thats where staples come in. The basics. Those timeless pieces that are the foundation of our wardrobes. Style saviours. 

A tartan scarf. A trench coat (Topshop, of course. But one day Burberry... you will be mine). Red Dress. Black bag.

Easy.

For those days when you can't be bothered to be creative - or even think - this is a fail safe formula. Effortlessly chic and timeless. 

Plus there's something so quintessentially British about this outfit that's perfect for Spring walks along Chelsea Embankment. 

Love Triangl

Triangl Twiggy Stardust Bikini *

|

Monica Vinader Friendship Bracelet *

| Pandora Bracelet 

When it comes to beachwear, Triangl bikinis are the pinnacle of cool. They are the undisputed uniform of instagram beach babes. You can't scroll through tumblr without seeing some tall fit blonde girl waving her sea soaked locks around on a sandy Australian beach in one of Triangl's finest creations. 

Naturally, you all of a sudden want to be tall, fit, blonde and Australian. Oh, and you want one of them bikinis. 

The brand has an unparalleled laid back vibe that just comes natural to Australians. The designs are equally laid back. No fuss minimalism is their signature. 

Being so simple in design begs the question of what makes them so cool and different from other beachwear brands? If their cult status and huge global following isn't enough to convince you then the craftsmanship surely will. 

Like all great minimal pieces the secret to success is in the quality and structure. Triangl bikinis are made from neoprene. Thick and insulating- so perfectly ideal for when the clouds start rolling in and the temperature dips on your day out to the beach. The thick fabric also hugs at your body making the bikini tops super supportive. Also, a complete bonus.

As for the pictures... the whole effect of the photos of myself were a complete accident based on the simple fact that I'm apparently not that great with a camera! It wasn't supposed to scream 'taken on a disposable camera at some crazy summer house party' (especially when I took them on self timer on my DLSR..) but this weird out-of-focus effect ended up working well. Plus, I'm usually so busy pulling the blogger bitch face that I wanted to have a little fun with it! 

Naturally, I chose the black 'Twiggy Stardust' bikini. With the lacquered look of the neoprene it is pretty sexy, but keeping it simple in black makes it less of a huge statement. 

Worryingly, the closer we get to summer, the more black things I keep buying. But as they say, black is timeless... right?