Style Theory: Before I start packing for my holiday each year I stalk Pinterest to find inspiration for looks and ideas for great holiday outfits. I find it really helps me narrow down the clothes I need to pack and helps me mix and match my clothes I already have..

So here is my Pinterest holiday inspiration this year, it is a mix of dresses, with a heavy emphasis on red dresses, denim skirts and beach cover ups..I have linked to a few pieces I have bought or got my eye on for holiday below....

Images via Pinterest, Fashion Me Now 

Here are a few items I have bought and are still on my shopping list..basically my Summer 2017 suitcase....just scroll through

A few ideas...love the &OtherStories denim skirt, it is so lovely on. What clothes are you packing this summer for holiday? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Fran xx

The Perfect Beach to Restaurant Dresses....

Images via Pinterest, Fashion Me Now

Style Theory: There is nothing like having the perfect dress for holiday that will effortlessly and stylishly take you from the beach to dinner in one easy step. I am thinking of the kind of dress that is easy to throw over a swimsuit whilst grappling with towels, bags and kids on the beach but will also look equally as good going straight to a cool restaurant or bar..basically the lazy girl option that works for me every time. Just add a slick of lip gloss and you are ready to go...

Here are my favourite beach to bar dresses on the high street at the moment..

Topshop £46

I adore the deep blue colour of this dress, it looks striking on. Just pair with flat sandals and a red rimmed ray ban style sunglasses and you will look effortlessly stylish on the beach and at the bar. Size down on this dress, unusually for Topshop it comes up big.

&Other Stories £49

I have this dress, this is my beach to restaurant dress this summer. It is a beautiful tone of red and is light, cool and breezy and will be such an easy dress to wear dressed down with a basket bag and tan sandals...perfect!

&Other Stories £55

A beautifully soft, broderie anglais white dress, so elegant with gold flat leather sandals and an oversized basket bag.

&Other Stories £65

The perfect dress if you prefer a short sleeve, cute paired with tan flat sandals and again a straw beach bag..and it has pockets!!

Topshop £46

This is possibly one of the easiest, most comfortable dresses to wear, it is cool and looks great on, covers all the areas that need to be covered and is a great length on. It looks just as good with flats as it does with heels, I have it in black with pink roses and have worn it non stop so far this summer. It comes up true to size. I would clash with red espadrilles and a bright red lip..

Asos £28

The ultimate easy beach dress, love it with the black strappy sandals, boho, laid back and cool.

Asos now £24.50

100 % cotton, beautiful pink, probably best for those blessed with a bit of height (ie.not me!) but if I was taller I would snap this up! 

Free People at Asos £148

Another beautiful dress, a beautiful colour and print and hangs perfectly. Again, watch the length this model is 5ft10 so maybe quite long on smaller people like me but stunning if you are a little taller.

&Other Stories £69

Another very pretty cotton dress, love the tie shoulders and pale blue colour, I would pair this with tan/straw accessories rather than black for a softer contrast and look.

Zara £59.99

Missoni glittery vibes from Zara..

Zara £29.99

A khaki shirt dress looks ultra chic with tan accessories, or add a pop of colour with red strappy sandals and matching lipstick.

Zara £29.99

This dress is stunning, puff sleeves, stripes, 100% cotton and a shirt dress...love love love it! Perfect for over your swimsuit for the beach then onto dinner.

Pampelone at Beach Cafe £99

I love the beautiful styles and fabric of Pampelone, always made of the most beautiful cotton and look just as good on the beach as in the restaurant or bar...

Topshop £32

I love a simple black dress for the beach, especially when it is 100% cotton you know it is going to light and cool. Just add a straw big rimmed hat and tan strappy sandals for the day, for the restaurant change into a pair of red espadrilles and add a slick of red lip gloss and you are good to go..

This year I will be packing mainly dresses and a couple of jumpsuits to wear for the day and evening, it just makes life so much more simple. Now that suntan lotion doesn't leave you covered in a layer of sticky slime anymore, dresses are the perfect option..

Are you finding you are wearing dresses more this season, which are your favourites? as always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time, Fran xx

The British Summer Time Festival with Chandon

Chandon Sparkling Wine

A sparkling wine/Rosé is one of my favourite drinks so I was thrilled to be asked to be one of the ambassadors of the Chandon #EnjoyTheSpark campaign.

You will be probably be familiar with Moët and Chandon Champagne like I was, but have not tasted Chandon sparkling wine, it's Argentine cousin. It is utterly delicious, a light, wonderfully bubbly brut or Rosé, packaged in a beautiful bottle, it really does rival it's better known partner. Chandon is produced in Argentina, (only sparkling wine produced by grapes in the Champagne area of France along with a few other stringent rules of champagne production can be called 'Champagne') it was established in 1959 when Moët and Chandon decided to explore the New World for new sparkling wine territories and found an area called Agrelo in Mendoza, Argentina, the perfect place to set up Moët and Chandon's first winery outside of France. 

Chandon - Sparkling wine
Shirt - Tabitha Webb
Belt - Gucci
Jeans - J Brand
Espadrilles - H&M (in store)
Earrings H&M (instore)

Chandon invited Russ and I to an evening at the British Summer Time Festival with a few glasses of Chandon rosé to enjoy whilst watching the bands. 

I chose to see Phil Collins  (I am officially old!!) I love his songs, they remind me of my childhood, Mum and Dad playing them at the weekend, singing along.. it was an amazing concert, so many classics! Hyde Park was buzzing, an amazing atmosphere, loads of food stalls, a real festival atmosphere, but just the added bonus we didn't have to camp!

Chandon
Leopard Print Scarf - LoisAvery
Bag - And/Or John Lewis

And on a superficial note the bottle looks pretty good too, perfect to take to a dinner party or for a Friday evening treat (drinking responsibly!)

Earrings - H&M (in store)
Blouse - Tabitha Webb
Tux Jacket - Me+Em (old season)

Look at that grin! It was such a fab evening at the British Summer Time Festival, thanks Chandon for a brilliant night, delicious sparkling wine, great music and pretty good company too! I am definitely booking tickets for next year...

You can check out the details of Chandon here 

This blog post was written in collaboration with Chandon, all words, photos and opinions are my own  

The Perfect Summer Sandal

Images via Pinterest, Pandora Sykes, Lucy Williams, Jeanne Damas

Style Theory: Flat, tan, leather strappy sandals are my summer must have, they look chic, go with everything and can be worn year after year. I always write in my summer blog posts, 'this dress would look great with tan, strappy sandals, or these trousers or skirt..basically they go with all looks, can seamlessly take you from day to evening and give every outfit a boho twist...

So here are my favourites available now..

Ancient Greek Sandals £140

The original and still my favourite, these will last you year after year, are incredibly flattering on legs and look effortlessly cool. Lucy Williams is wearing them in the streetstyle photo above with jeans. They are a real investment (not cheap at all) I wish I would have invested in them a few years ago it would have saved me quite a few pair of not so timeless sandals in between.

Ancient Greek Sandals £125

Slightly strappier sandals, made of buttery soft leather, because they are neutral shade you do not notice them on the foot and they do not cut off your ankle at a weird, unflattering angle..

Office £36

Jumping down in price dramatically are these Office sandals which look fan on, (not leather) but look good, again no high strap to cut off your leg and make it look shorter.

Office £42

My sister has these and they look great on, she has had people stop her loads asking her where they are from! They are super comfy and I love the stud detail.

Asos £16

I bought some similar sandals to these a couple of years ago from Asos, they are leather upper and great for the price, again, wear them with everything.

Espadrille.co.uk £65

I saw these on Michelle MyFashionable40s and they look fab on her, they are made of italian leather and look incredibly soft..beautiful sandals..

Topshop £22

Again some real leather sandals for a not super expensive price.

Ok so I am tempted by the Ancient Greek ones I have been looking at them for so long but then the Office sandals are pretty gorgeous..actually all of them I would happily own (that is why I include them on my blog!)

Have you found the ultimate, tan strappy sandals? are you a fan of these in the summer as always I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions, until next time Fran xx