I was given a budget of up to £50 to choose items from the bonprix holiday shop, to be used to create a summer look so it’s transitional for Autumn/Winter.

bonprix Tile Print Skater Dress / Primark Black Flats / Primark Mini Shoulder Bag / Alexander McQueen Cat Eye Sunglasses

The main item I chose was this tile print skater dress for £39.99, in the black on white colourway.  I don’t often wear white, but I loved the print so much I decided to find out whether I could pull it off!  For Summer I styled it with a pair of black flats, a cute mini box bag, and my Alexander McQueen sunglasses.  Simple, but why add more than you need to when the print speaks for itself?

bonprix Tile Print Skater Dress / New Look Black Leather Jacket / Blonde + Blonde Lace Up Block Heel Boots / Primark Super Soft Tights / Primark Mini Shoulder Bag

And having such a bold print, it didn’t take much effort to transition this gorgeous dress into an Autumn/Winter look.  To make the outfit more suitable for the cooler weather I added some super soft tights, and my trusty leather jacket.  I also removed the sunglasses and swapped the flats for a pair of chunky heeled boots, which are far more rain-resistant – very important at this time of year!

The dress is incredibly comfortable as the scuba fabric is stretchy and soft, and the classic fit and flare cut is ideal for day or night, dressed up or down.

How would you style a summer dress for Autumn/Winter?

Naomi x

*This Tile Print Skater Dress was sent to me by bonprix for style challenge purposes.  All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*

Per Una Crochet Long Top (Thrifted) / Primark Basic Vest / Primark Black Skinny Trousers / Blonde + Blonde Lace Up Block Heel Boots / Four Beautiful Keys Moon Necklace

The last few days have been warm enough to go out without a coat or jacket, so today when Charles and I headed out for lunch, I decided to wear something with a bit of detail that wouldn’t be covered.  I’m still not quite over my winter passion for layering, so this long crochet top by Per Una seemed like the perfect transition item.  I picked this up for £1 from a carboot sale a few weeks ago, as you probably saw in my latest thrifty finds post, and it’s so comfortable and light.  I adore the long bell sleeves with their mandala-type crochet patterning, and the length of the top is really flattering.

I needed some new black skinnies for Spring, but wanted something lighter than denim, and these Primark trousers are ideal.  I found them in the jeans section, but they’re actually made of a soft stretchy fabric.  They fit really well too, which is a big thing for me as I have long legs so usually struggle to find trousers that are long enough for me, but these are fine!

The lace up boots are also new, and were an amazing find.  I was strolling through the local shopping centre a few weeks ago, with no intention of buying anything, but happened to spot them in the window of BANK.  The shop was having a closing down sale, and these babies were discounted from £38 to just £7.60!  Lucky for me, despite the shop being almost empty, there was one pair left in my size, so it was meant to be, especially as I’ve been after some laced block heel boots for MONTHS.  Winner!

Naomi x

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas.  Mine was spent at home with family, which is just how I like it.

After a few days of relaxing, and purposefully avoiding the first crazy days of the sales, I spent yesterday and today doing a bit of shopping.  Luckily the shops weren’t too busy, and though I didn’t go mad, I managed to get quite a few items that I’m really pleased with.  Here are most of them…

Primark Biker Jacket – Was £23.00, Paid £10.00

Primark Dressing Gown – Was £12.00, Paid £5.00

George Penguin Fleece – Was £16.00, Paid £8.00

Primark Black Bag – Was £6.00, Paid £3.00

Primark Green Bag – Was £6.00, Paid £3.00

New Look Boots – Was £27.99, Paid £14.00

New Look Shoes – Was £11.99, Paid £4.00

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7″ – Was £139.99, Paid £79.00

I bought a few other things in the sales which aren’t pictured, including a pair of gloves for £2.00, some Christmas decorations reduced from £3.00 to £1.00, a diary for £1.99 (down from £7.00) and a Vax hoover for £45.00, reduced from about £70.00.  I also bought a couple of non-sale items too, namely a top and a case for my new tablet.

In total, I made a huge saving of around £90.00 in the sales this year, made all the better by the fact that a few items were paid for using vouchers that I got for Christmas.

What did you get in the sales?

Naomi x

Thrifted Papaya Polka Dot Peplum Top £1 / H&M Black Super Stretch Straight Leg Trousers £7.99 / Primark Black Suedette Flat Shoes £6

Primark Long Black Lace Shirt £10 / Primark Black Skinny Jeans £7 each (I bought two pairs, one of which I plan on customising) / Shoes as before

Primark Polka Dot Cardigan £8

Primark Stripe Long Sleeve Top £4

Thrifted Zara Flying Squirrel T Shirt 50p

La Senza Knickers £1 each

Total Spend: £54.49

I also recently placed an order on DressLink.com, but I am going to do a separate post about those purchases (possibly a YouTube video) as I want to share more details about my experience of the site.

What do you think of my new haul items?

Naomi x

New Look Multi Strap Skater Dress / Everything5Pounds Waterfall Jacket / Alexander McQueen Cateye Sunglasses / Primark Tights / New Look Stud Pumps / Topshop Leather Stud Bag (Thrifted) / Accessories Boutique Heavy Spike Bracelet

The key for me has been light layers that can be added/removed accordingly.  A dress makes a great base for this kind of look, as it’s cool enough for the sun, but can be made rain and wind proof with a jacket and tights.  I went for this New Look Multi Strap Skater Dress that I bought in the last ASOS sale, and added a pair of basic sheer black tights from Primark to avoid flashing my undies in the wind, and a lovely waterfall jacket from Everything5Pounds.  I absolutely love this jacket as it’s really comfortable, and is perfect for warm weather as a cover as the fabric is so lightweight.

To accessorise, I wore my Alexander McQueen Cateye Sunglasses, that are an absolute essential when the sun is shining, and I also gave my New Look stud pumps a first outing.  Of course my trusty thrifted Topshop leather bag was a necessity too, and I added a heavy spike bracelet from Accessories Boutique to bring the stud theme of the outfit together.

What have you been styling during this stormy summer weekend?

Naomi x

‘But why not buy designer clothing and high street accessories?’, I hear you ask.  Well, you could, but fashions and personal tastes change, and that dress you love this year might not be your thing next year, and it might not even fit you then!  But you never grow out of basic sunglasses, jewellery, bags and shoes.

The key to choosing the right pieces is to save up, do your research on what is best for you, and spend savvily.  Not all of us, myself included, can afford to buy designer with every pay cheque, hence having to mix with high street, but if you put a little bit aside when you can and keep an eye out for a good deal, you can bag yourself a timeless piece that will last for years.  This summer I’ve been relying on two designer pieces in particular, both by Alexander McQueen.  I bought these zipped biker heels in the McQ online winter sale after eyeing them up for months, and they were reduced from over £500 to £159.  They’re made from very high quality leather, are surprisingly comfortable, and look great with anything from smart work outfits and going out dresses, to casual jeans and a jumper or tee.

My other go-to designer accessory this summer is a pair of stunning vintage-style cateye sunglasses.  I know a lot of people wouldn’t choose to splurge on a pair of sunnies, but think of it this way…  If you spend £15 on a pair of sunglasses, chances are that by the end of the summer they’ll be broken.  It happens to me almost every year because, quite frankly, cheap often means badly made.  But if you save up and shell out on a more expensive pair, made from higher quality materials, they’ll more than likely last a lot, lot longer, and eventually you’ll have saved money by not buying a new pair every year!

I adore these sunglasses, and have been wearing them almost every day for the past couple of months.  They’re very sturdy and come in a solid protective case so can’t be broken or damaged easily, and the lenses provide far better protection for your eyes than cheaper shades.  The classic cateye shape has been popular for decades, but the glossy eye frames against the matte brow, and gradient lenses, give them a modern, Gothic edge that really suits my personal style.  Alexander McQueen sunglasses don’t come cheap, and I’ve seen these on a lot of websites for around £220, but you can get them from Red Hot Sunglasses for £180, with free delivery.

Be sure to check back soon for a series of What I Wore posts featuring these designer accessories and high street clothing!

Naomi x

*These Alexander McQueen Cateye Sunglasses were sent to me by Red Hot Sunglasses for review and styling purposes.  All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*

I’ve spotted two big trends on the highstreet this season – pastel brights and platforms – and these beauties tick both boxes.  The sandals fasten at the side with a buckle, and have a strappy design reminiscent of ’90s-style jelly shoes, but with an open toe.  The platform is around 4 inches high, but despite the height they’re incredibly comfortable as the sole is cushioned, and they’re flat so very easy to walk in.

I absolutely love the colour of these shoes.  They’re a gorgeous bright pink that adds a perfect pop of colour to my (mostly) black wardrobe, but the pastel element gives them a dusky hue, rather than an overwhelming fluorescence, which I prefer.  However, if pink isn’t your thing, they’re also available in black, white, green, orange, or yellow.

These sandals are so easy to style too.  I’ve paired them with leggings and a long top for a casual day look, but they also look really cute with a strappy sun dress, a skater skirt, or even skinny jeans!  I’m sure they’ll be featuring in some style posts in the coming months, so keep an eye out.

These Ciara Flatform Shoes cost just £13.49, which for a good quality pair of pretty, versatile sandals is an absolute steal.  And even cheaper than Primark and suchlike too!  Check them out here.

Naomi x

*These Ciara Flatform Shoes were sent to me by Shusole for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*

Spotted in fashion magazines around the world, it’s now the in thing to be teaming a pair of eye-catching trainers with not only casual daytime looks, but also chic and smart outfits that wouldn’t look amiss at work, or in a fancy restaurant. Trainers are definitely becoming more versatile, and are set to be a big trend in 2014. My 1990s inner child is really rather pleased, I must say!

I’ve recently been browsing the net for trainers to see what’s out there, and there are a LOT of styles, colours and even patterns to choose from. Here are just a few of my favourites…

Clockwise from Top Left:

Nike Air Pegasus+ 30 Running Shoes / Lacoste Marcel Mid Purple Hi Top Trainers / Adidas Supernova Solution 3W adiwear Running Shoes / Vans Sk8-Hi Suede Inca Trainers / Puma Suede / Converse All Star Two Fold Hi III Trainers / Nike Zoom Vomero+ 8 Running Shoes / Nike Air Pegasus+ 29 Running Shoes

My star pick of this bunch has to be the Nike Air Pegasus+ 30 Running Shoes from Millet Sports. I love their stylish shape, and the colour is just beautiful. Imagine how cute they’d look with a classic black skater dress and some colour matching jewellery!

Will you be investing in any trainers this year?

Naomi x

*This post is a collaboration.*

Emilio Luca X Red Starry Night – £32 / Emilio Luca X Red Lacey Cassy – £30 / Emilio Luca X Red Lace Boot – £23 / Emilio Luca X High Rise – £16 / Emilio Luca X Red Glitter Toe – £30 / Emilio Luca X Red Glitter Power – £21 / Emilio Luca X Red Nicky Glitter – £22 / Emilio Luca X Pointed – £14 / Madden Girl Getta – £23

Brantano is the ideal place to go if you’re looking for an affordable pair of shoes that look great, and are good quality too.  I always enjoy nipping into my local store when I’m nearby, as you never know what little gem you might be able to pick up on a budget.  I particulary have my eye on the Nicky Glitter shoe boots pictured above.  They are just so pretty and would look amazing teamed with a simple black dress, an equally glitzy clutch bag and some matching statement jewellery.

If you like the look of any of these shoes, or anything else on the Brantano website, it might be worth popping down to your local Brantano store to pick up a pair ready for any parties you may have coming up!

Naomi x

*This post is a collaboration.*

Dress Down

Boohoo Skeleton Body Oversized Tee / John Lewis Full Length Leggings / New Look Textured Open Front Cardigan / UGG Maddie Boots / Zatchels Jacky Tsai Skulls Satchel

The monochrome look of UGG’s Maddie Boots inspired this casual, daytime look.  White on black always screams skulls and skeletons to me, so I teamed an oversized skeleton tee and skull satchel with a pair of staple black leggings, and a long fluffy cardigan which is perfect for this Autumn/Winter.

The boots are made of suede and lined with faux fur, so they’d be really cosy and warm.  I also love the biker buckle detail on the side.

Dress Up

F&F 80 Denier Opaque Tights / Kaliko Silk Tunic Dress / Radley Grosvenor Medium Flap Shoulder Bag / Kenneth Jay Lane Statement Disc Necklace / UGG Dandylion Ankle Boots

UGG boots are usually considered more of a casual type of footwear, but these gorgeous Dandylion Ankle Boots could easily be dressed up for an evening meal out, or even a work Christmas party.  I really wanted the boots to be the highlight of this outfit, so I chose a simple but classy silk tunic dress to go with them.  Throw on a pair of black tights, a black shoulder bag and a statement necklace and you’re good to go!

I absolutely adore the shape of these Dandylions.  The heel, rounded toe and curved folded top are just so elegant.  I want them!

How would you style a pair of UGG boots?

Naomi x

*This post is a collaboration.*