Spring Florals

1.30.2017







Images via Pinterest
Style Theory: Florals have been a wardrobe staple for years and again, in Spring/Summer 2017, the flower is the print that reigns supreme. No longer are ditsy prints enough, this season flowers go bold with large placement prints or all over floral designs that are no shrinking violets. Colours are bright and graphics are big. Go as large as you dare..

For me at the beginning of the season I am taking it step by step and this dress is my first foray into the world of florals..

Dress - Topshop £55
Biker Jacket - Nine by Savannah Miller at Debenhams £250
Trainers - Stan Smith £69
I completely love it, I am not a dress person but this is such a good length for me (I am 5ft3) fits true to size and looks just as good with trainers as with heels, the perfect day to evening dress. The lace at the back does not neatly nestle into the bend in my back but that is the only fault with it and the price I think is pretty good. Needless to say I will be wearing this a lot! 
Topshop £36
Frills and florals, this little blouse is perfect to add some prettiness to a tired winter wardrobe. It would look fab with boyfriend jeans and heels for a night out, dress down for the daytime with black boots and ankle length jeans.
Mango £79.99
This dress will take you seamlessly from winter to spring to summer. Wear now with flat buckled Givenchy-esque boots and a biker, in the spring wear with trainers, in the summer wear with flat tan sandals.
Topshop £24
Love the tie detail on the sleeves of this light top, it will look fab in the summer with denim shorts and flat tan sandals.
Topshop £30
This top looks amazing on (my friend had it on at the weekend and looked lovely in it) Just a really easy top to wear, the perfect spring going out top with my fail safe look of baggy boyfriend jeans and black heels..
Topshop £65
More of a shirt style, this is slightly more expensive that most Topshop tops but the embroidery on it is beautiful. This looks short on the model - but do note that she is 5ft8 so the smaller ladies among us won't struggle with it being too short!
H&M £39.99
This is a slightly crazy dress but really like it, with a biker jacket dressed down with a pair of trainers I think it could look pretty cool!
&Other Stories £65
Beautiful dress with a cute bow detail at the neck, again this will take you through the year, wear now with opaque tights and flat shoes in the summer wear with tan sandals.
New Look @Asos £29.99
An easy wear dress, chic and understated.
Needle and Thread £325
These are seriously 'out there' but right up my street, ticks the floral trend in the most comfortable way - although to be honest I don't think they are in my budget at the moment!
Topshop £49
This dress ticks so many trends at once, florals, ruffles, asymmetric hemline and pink..Go Topshop and Go you if you buy it! It looks gorgeous!!
Warehouse £79
This is a pretty bold blouse, it would look fab tucked into jeans with black heels. It is silk (hence the price) and looks quite designer-esque.

I am loving the florals this season and no doubt by the end of the summer I will be wandering around looking like something out of the Chelsea Flower Show (I do love a trend!) Are you a fan of florals, do you already have pieces in the wardrobe you can pull out again for this season? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Fran xxx

HUSH - How I styled my Favourite Items from the Brand New Pre-Spring Collection

1.26.2017


Style Theory: The brand new Hush 'Transitional range' has launched online and like all Hush clothes the key pieces will not be around for long. Colour is seeping beautifully into the collection with soft peaches, muted greys and touches of gold along with my favourite, the lightning logo, - a nod to Bowie and an interesting twist to add to my tired looking winter wardrobe.

Now is the perfect time to buy a few items that will see you through from winter into spring and then onto summer and finally into Autumn. For now, when you are shopping, think of key pieces you can layer, that will look great with a faux fur coat or gilet thrown over the top or a giant scarf and then can be worn in the summer with a vest top or lace cami and denim shorts.

The perfect place for me to start was with the 'Hero' piece of the new collection the The Austen Leather jacket in nude





Shoes - M&S (old season - similar here)

This jacket is the most beautiful, soft leather I have every worn, it hangs perfectly but is not too heavy like some leather biker jackets can be, sometimes I feel like I am carrying a backpack when i wear a chunky leather jacket but this is the just the right weight of leather. The colour is so flattering on the skin, it kind of gives you a soft lightening effect, illuminating a dull winter complexion. It is a super easy piece to wear, you can layer it now under a camel/khaki coat or with a huge grey scarf wrapped around it and grey poloneck. In the summer I love the idea of this over an ivory silk lace cami, denim shorts and flat leather tan sandals, such a cool, laid back look. I would definitely buy this to fit neatly, it comes up a little on the big side so I would suggest sizing down, you want it to fit perfectly on the shoulders.

The Mini Lightning Bolt T-shirt is fab, it is cut well and has the cutest lightning print in gold at the front, this can be worn with everything from jeans, to frilled skirts to khaki slouchy trousers in the summer.

The Riley Relaxed trousers are light, comfortable (with an elasticated waist) and no matter what you do to them, roll them up in a ball, shove them in a bag they do not crease. They will look fab in the summer with a black camisole, black leather jacket and trainers. They do come up a little big so you may need to size down.



Shoes - Nine West (old season - similar here)
Clutch bag - M&S (old season - similar here)

I do love a sweatshirt, I literally live in them from wearing one everyday on the schoolrun to wearing them on a night out with a pair of jeans and heels, they basically cover all basis and you definitely can get your money's worth out of them. This Lightning Bolt Sweatshirt ticks all the boxes for me, a relaxed oversize fit with an eyecatching gold lightning bolt at the front. It is perfect for throwing over gym gear but equally I love it with my leopard print heels and these perfectly slouchy boyfriend jeans for going out..
Photos by Victoria Metaxas

The Boyfriend jeans are the best I have tried on for ages, the perfect light wash that will look great in the summer, super slouchy - although again I would tend to size down as I am wearing and 10 (my normal size) but they do give a little so if you can bear wearing them a little tight at the beginning they will loosen up to the ideal fit. I love a huge turn up, it looks cool with heels and I like showing a little ankle - as I am fairly small I find this length the most flattering. The pockets on the back are super flattering on the bottom, easy to wear and cool.

There are a few other Transitional pieces that caught my eye and are now on my shopping list...
Joanie Sweat Top £50
Because I loved Happy Days and logo sweaters rule...
Lightning Bolt Tee £30
Edgy, cool and such a useful tee, wear now with ankle length skinny jeans and trainers, in the summer pair with your shorts.
Harriett Star Jumper £85
A Hush classic, these super soft knits are a weekend must have, throw on with jeans and trainers for a chic but super comfy look.
Carpenter Denim Jacket £70
The denim jacket is making a welcome return this Spring/Summer. This has a cool retro look and is a fab colour (it is not as patchy in real life as it looks in this photo) Wear layered under a parka or jacket now and in the summer pair with slouchy khaki trousers and a tee or wear over dresses, the perfect Spring jacket.
Riviera Jumpsuit £85
Leopard Shoes £170
Both the jumpsuit and shoes get my vote. The jumpsuit would look great worn now with knee high, 70's style, tan boots and a black biker jacket and in the summer with high tan sandals. The shoes are a wardrobe essential, as leopard print is now considered a neutral colour they will go with pretty much every outfit and be the ultimate in comfort too..
Onyx Leather Jacket £280
Because everyone needs a fabulous black leather biker jacket in their wardrobe, perfect for toughening up all those SS17 floral dresses.
Lightning Bolt Necklace £19
Love love love this necklace, it sits high on the neck and is just super cool, on my shopping list as it is just the perfect length and style.

So many fabulous pieces, I love a new season and these transitional pieces will take you through the year, buy quick Hush don't produce loads of each style (which is fab as you wont see 10 people wearing the same as you) and I have had my eye on a jumper before and it has sold out in a flash!! Now all we need is a tiny bit more sun and maybe a little warmth..ahhh just imagine, roll on spring. 

Are you a fan of Hush, has any of these pieces caught your eye? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, Fran xxxx

This blog post was written in collaboration with Hush but all outfits and top picks were chosen and styled by me.


Spotlight on &Other Stories

1.25.2017

&Other Stories


Style Theory: &Other Stories is looking good at the moment, I have spent many evenings stalking the website and have bought a few pieces over the last few weeks that I completely love. They excel in knitwear, do pretty amazing dresses and their shoes and trainers are gorgeous as are their bags and accessories. 


Here is my round up of my favourite things....
Frilled Merino Wool Knit £55
I have this jumper and love it. It is fine merino wool and really comfortable to wear, a twist on the basic grey jumper but equally as useful. I sized up to a medium as I like my knitwear to be generous especially around my tummy.

Frilled Merino Wool Knit £55
Loving the pink too, the frills look gorgeous in this colour, they seem to be a little bigger on this colour than on the grey which I love..
Suede Bag £65
I have been eyeing up this bag for a while, it looks amazing with grey (see the top image) and fab with pink. It is a great size, doesn't fit loads in but perfect for a purse, phone and keys - all I normally carry in my bags these days! 
Wool Sweater £39
A great colour and the perfect building block to a Spring wardrobe. This jumper will be as good now with a camel coat, jeans and boots as with a pair of denim shorts and white pumps in the summer.
Cashmere Knit Sweater £95
There is nothing better than a pale blue cashmere jumper and a tan, I love this colour with pale blue ankle length jeans in the summer and simple white trainers (supergas or these Stan smiths )
Wide Collar Sweater £45
This sweater sits beautifully on the neck and hips. The fabric is thick so it sits out against hips and with a pair of skinny jeans gives the illusion of a smaller bottom half. Dressing is all about proportions and this jumper is a basic that will flatter and look good with everything from jeans to tulles skirts to cigarette trousers for work.
Neon Knit £55
Sometimes your wardrobe just requires a bright sunshiney knit..this one is perfect, fling on with jeans wear with dark green parka at the moment in the summer clash up with jeans and pink trainers.
Dandelion Dress £65
This dress looks amazing styled as above with ankle boots to give it an edgy look. The perfect dress to take you from winter in spring into summer, in summer wear with tan heels..stunning. It does come up a little small so you may have to size up.
Frilled Black Dress £69
This is one of those easy throw on dresses with this season's must have 'the frill'!
Pearl Embroidered Dress £125
I nearly bought this last year and wish I had, it is fabulously 80s, insanely flattering (especially around the tummy area) It is one of those 'go to' dresses you can pull out of the cupboard for any party that will make you feel and look fabulous.
Leather Chelsea Boots £95
Gorgeous Acne style boots for a fraction of the price..
Suede Chelsea Boots £95
And in suede the perfect Spring boots..
Studded Chelsea Boots £125
These are amazing, look great with ankle length jeans and a black frill blouse - a fab going out look.
Stan Smiths £80
These are my favourite trainers at the moment, they are on my wish list for Spring. They are an almost painted leather and I love the pale pink details at the back. With tanned ankles these will look amazing.
Adidas Gazelle £80
These are the perfect white trainers for Spring, the rubber sole adds the perfect dimension, wear with pale blue ankle length jeans, a white broderie anglaise blouse and a biker jacket..a gorgeous look for Spring.
Flower Bucket Bag £95
The most gorgeous bucket bag, so many designer-esque features for a not so designer price.
Leather and Suede Bag £89
You cannot underestimate how useful a navy bag is, it immediately matches with darker denim jeans so you can go crazy with colours of shoes, tops and jacket or coat.
Love Gold Studs £17
So cute, these are gorgeous..
Crescent Moon Necklace £17
A gorgeous gift for a friend or for you, a perfect January pick me up!
So there is my shopping list for &Other Stories, sometimes shops just get it right other seasons they miss it, this season they are getting it right..now to ebay some things so I can get shopping!

Are you a fan of &Other Stories do you shop there, what are you favourite pieces this season? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Fran xxx