how to style the maxi dress

EDITS STYLING NOTES

From Winter's midi dress trend comes summer's maxi dress obsession. This season it's all about the long and the floral. As our weather in the UK is ever changeable, is it worth buying a maxi dress to wear for just a handful of days per year? If you are looking to purchase one as an investment piece I have pulled together some looks of how to wear the Maxi dress throughout the next coming months. Maxi dress from Zara £39.99.

FOR MAY/JUNE - Add a lightweight jacket such as a denim one, or leather jacket for evening. Flat shoes such as ballerina's or brogues are essential for this time of year. A cross the body bag in a bright colour adds style to your outfit.

FOR JULY/AUGUST - A fedora and sunglasses is all that is needed in the hot summer holidays to show off the cold shoulder detailing of the maxi dress. Wearing sandles in a bright colour from the print will add style to your look.

FOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER - Once the sun has gone away and all that is left is the clouds and the cold, it's time to layer the maxi dress up. By wearing tights and boots you are adding longevity to your purchase as you will be able to wear it all through the year. Layering over the top a cardigan, loose jersey jacket or shirt under a coat means it no longer looks like a summer dress but something that you can wear casually on a daily basis.

shake those pompoms!

Head pompom!

Within a season a micro trend often comes along that's fun, frivolous and plays on our inner child. So while I'm feeling optimistic about the warmer weather, let's jump board the sweetie train and embrace the colourful pompom into our stylish lives.

The best way to wear this trend is through accessories as they will change up any outfit and are relatively in expensive. Some high end designers have added pompoms to their shoes, bags and jewellery and where they lead, the high-street follows.

Dolce and Gabbana Pompom shoes

So whilst these Dolce and Gabbana pompom shoes aren't exactly practical, these ones from Glamorous at ASOS certainly are!

Glamorous pompom sandles, £29.00, asos

I am currently obsessed with finding the right clutch bag with pompoms on it to take on holiday with me. But with so much choice it's hard to make my mind up.

Textured envelope bag, £29.99, Mango

Star Mela floral clutch, £60, asos

A fab statement necklace is he bets way to show case this trend. This one is from Zara for £17.99, it will see you through the Summer and can be worn in the daytime or dresses up for the evening - everyone's a winner!

Pompom necklace, £17.99, Zara

You can even have the mutli-coloured ball's in your home -

Boho Pom Pom mirror, £16, notonthehighstreet.com

Or if you are crafty, there is nothing stopping you from making your own trend inspired pompom adornments.

Pompomania, £3.99, amazon

No one can be in a bad mood in the presence of a pompom which is why I am encouraging you to go forth and purchase something now! Share with me what you have brought in the comments below or on social media.

put a spring in your step

The 5 pairs of shoes you will need this Summer.

Finally the clocks have gone forwards and so now's the time to discuss spring shoes. What can we wear on our feet to make us feel “new season”. So shoe lovers rejoice, this season it's all about what you are walking in so step up your shoe game and book that pedicure now!

1. The Ballerina

Let your inner Ballerina shine through with the biggest move on for the flat shoe we have had in years. It's the soft, tie up, true ballerina shoe. These from Mui Mui are what little girls dreams are made of...

Check out Kurt Geiger for a more affordable pair in white, pale pink or tan - £89.00 Kitty flat ballerina

2. The espadrille

So easy to slip on, so versatile and in so many prints and colours, what's not to like about them? I love my Boden espadrilles - £69.50

3. The no-back loafer

At its simplest it’s like a prayer shoe, but this season anything backless goes: loafer, block heel, espadrille. Last year's biggest shoe for the fashionista's from Gucci, this one from Topshop KOLA loafer £59.00 is a little bit more in my price range!

4. The pimped-up trainer

Trainers or sneakers are thankfully here to stay as a trend item. But who says they have to be plain, white and boring like Victoria Beckham. Many designers have pimped their's up with metallic's, embroidery, colours and jewels. River Island high top trainer - £95.00

5. Block heel's

Chunky block heels ruled the runway, which are not only on-trend but also comfortable. Our feet will be very happy! Whistles VOE high sandal - £185.00

6. For that style statement shoe, go with Pom Pom's

Zara Pom Pom sandles £ 49.99

how to wear gingham - Spring's most wearable print trend

Checks are always in style, they never go away each and every season. But gingham it seems has it's own print trend it follows and whilst it's been around for a couple of seasons, it just got bolder for 2016.

Audrey Hepburn made gingham a fashion staple with her gingham capri pants, a-line dresses and feminine blouses. Since then everyone from Marilyn Monroe, Bridgett Bardot, Alexa Chung and Amal Clooney have followed in her fashion footsteps.

This trend started on the SS16 catwalks, where we saw gingham fading into abstract floral print dresses appear at Marc Jacobs. DVF brought in some gorgeous works that gave gingham a softer, more amiable appeal, while Victoria Beckham's vision for the trend included more contrast, a bit more subtlety in changing colors and plunging necklines on dresses reaching around the ankles.

The high street has now followed. Gingham is an easy two colour print trend that can be worn very casually with jeans, smarter under blazer jackets or as a statement on it's own in a dress. Which piece will you invest in this season? Here are my top 5 high street picks...

1. Mango gingham check pattern blouse £29.99

2. Madewell gingham shirt dress - £75.47

3. Whistles knitted check skirt - £65.00

4. Whistles navy gingham strappy top - £110.00

5. Warehouse gingham off the shoulder dress - £49.99

Follow my pinterest board for more gingham styling inspiration at - Gingham SS16 looks