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

my five piece rule

One of the many reasons for detoxing your wardrobe is to slimline the amount of clothes you have. Often when helping a client, we will find the strangest things lurking in the bottom and back of their wardrobes! Items that perhaps haven't seen the light of day for years, items that have holes in them, items that no longer fit and the worst culprit of them all, old maternity items that are no longer of any use to anyone!

All of the above has to go!

But what happens after the de-clutter? How do you go about re-building your wardrobe?

Well I have the answer.

It’s all about building a wardrobe methodically and mathematically - My five piece rule...this is my formula for building the perfect 'working' wardrobe. The concept is pretty simple: start with a fabulous collection of good basics, spending more on the items you will wear most often and that will go with everything. Then, each season, invest in just five fashion‑forward statement pieces to update your look. The idea is that limiting your choice will make you think more about what you buy, so there will be fewer regrettable impulse purchases. Plus, you can invest more in high-quality pieces that you’ll love for years to come.

So now is the time to make your five piece list for Spring Summer. Think about your budget and stick to it and by writing the items down you can always refer back it to throughout the season - it will ensure you don't impulse buy without consulting your list first.

If you need some inspiration, here is my Spring Summer five piece list (some of which I have already brought!).

1. A statement Jacket - this is something that can be worn daytime with a t-shirt or evening with a slip vest. Embroidered jacket - Zara £69.99

2. Mirrored sunglasses - the newest trend in sunglasses is with mirrored lenses. Illesteva Leonard Tortoise with blue lenses - Oxygen boutique £175.00

3. Culottes - these will be perfect for the summer in the daytime as a substitute to jeans in the warm weather. I still haven't found my perfect pair as I don't want them too wide and I want them in a quality fabric, so here is how I would style them. See my pinterest board - Culotte's styling 2016

4. Stripe jumpsuit - been on my list since the beginning of the year and I still love it, tells me that it will be a definate purchase when it's nearer holiday time. Stripe cotton jumpsuit - Mango £39.99

5. Lace up sandles - this year it's all about tying up the leg with your flat sandles, I fancy a coloured pair on my feet, currently lusting after these pair from Aquazzura at Selfridges but at £415.00 for the pair need to find a cheaper high street version!

how to wear spring's key jacket now

Want a mid week shopping fix? Looking for something to brighten up these dull winter but looks like Spring days? Then look no further than investing in a piece that will see you from now through Spring, Summer and beyond...

We all need to go out and buy ourselves a bomber jacket.

Not because they are weather appropriate but because they are THE jacket you will want to wear all season and if we don’t get one now, all the good ones will be gone! Throughout fashion month, everyone from models, to fashion editors and style icons have been wearing the bomber jacket- even in freezing cold New York fashion week temperatures!

With some clever styling tricks I can show you how to wear this jacket now and once the temperatures rise your summer bomber jacket style will come along easily.

1. The easiest way to wear the bomber jacket now is to 'double jacket' it. Wear it zipped up under your roomy winter coat, but keeping the coat open so its just poking out underneath.

2. Layer up underneath with a chunky polo neck.

3. Make sure you are wearing your hat and scarf and pair with a Gucci inspired embroidered bomber jacket.

TOP 5 BOMBER JACKETS TO BUY NOW

1. Marks and Spencer Limited edition Oriental bomber - £65.00

2. Uniqlo Carine Roitfeld Military bomber - £49.90

3. Zara embroidered bomber - £69.99

4. Topshop Badged MA1 bomber jacket - £59.99

5. Mango satin bomber - £39.99

Or if like me, you like to 'style it your own way', then there's nothing wrong with borrowing your Husband's bomber jacket...

For more bomber jacket styling ideas, check out my pinterest board - Spring 2016 bomber jackets

How to ROCK the rucksack!

Not just any old rucksack, The Rucksack, Burberry and preferably monogrammed. Yep I've fallen hook, line & sinker for Burberry's latest must have accessories piece for SS16. First sent down the catwalks, this bag was instantly a hit.

You can get it monogrammed with your name, initials or anything you want at the Burberry Store in London.

You might of already spotted the SS16 accessory on the backs of some style icons and it's making me need it even more! But at a price tag of £795, I'm not sure I will splashing out anytime soon!

Taylor Swift

Margot Robbie

Cara Delvinge

So I must look for another alternative (I'm not sure there is one!), so I look to the high-street and see what they have to offer to ease my pain. See below for my top picks to snap up now...

1. Zara £35.99

2. French Connection £85.00

3. Whistles £180.00

4. ASOS £25.00

5. Paul's Boutique £70.00

Sometimes though nothing can beat the original...