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Why Marks & Spencer should be your shopping destination this season...

Marks & Spencer stripe embroidered long sleeve blouse - £29.90

Marks & Spencer stripe embroidered long sleeve blouse - £29.90

In the trend-driven industry that we occupy, there are a handful of stores on the high street who dominate the market. Zara, H&M, Topshop… These brands are the first to mind when in search of the season’s must-have pieces. And for good reason. These fast fashion stores have saved us a pretty penny throughout the years, offering both trend-led designer-inspired pieces as well as wardrobe basics we couldn’t be without. But maybe it's time an 'old' favourite comes back into the fashion front row...

Enter Marks & Spencer.

While it excels in the food department, its clothing range has previously failed to hit the mark among the masses, even after collaborating with fashionista Alexa Chung, her ranges have failed to help it's declining sales. But this year Marks & Spencer has revamped its under-performing clothing section, starting with a Spring/Summer collection which is led by the current bout of trends and style. Featuring statement sleeves, asymmetric skirts, ruffled shirts, an abundance of florals and high-waisted trousers, the SS17 collection is more trend-driven than ever before but at great affordable prices. 

When shopping instore and online recently I am surprised by the amount of items that I want to buy. The it piece of the summer, peasant blouse with embroidery (as I am wearing), was £29.90 and currently sold out (see white version here). Other items I saw and liked were great summer dresses with sleeve and embroidery detailing, a bold stripe skirt, bright coloured blouses great for work and evening, and also some fabulous shoes. I have tended to focus on the M&S Collection range, as this seems to be the one that has upped its style steaks, so no buying from Per Una! By focusing on classic shapes and incorporating modern aspects, you’ve got something for everyone in one shop again. 

I think you will be surprised at the stylish new pieces on offer at Marks and Spencer currently, here are my picks of the current range online, let me know if you have brought anything from there recently;

1. Looks as good as a designer pair of trainers 

2. Bargain Summer dress

3. Spotty evening blouse

4. Grab a summer cover up bomber

5. Embellished big bag

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how to update your summer wardrobe

Another season, another wardrobe?

In reality not likely to happen, but also there is no need. Despite the common feeling that in order to stay on trend we must replace our entire wardrobe at the start of each new season, that is just not the case. Investing in a few select pieces has the power to refresh your current wardrobe, transforming it from “so last season” to “so on trend“. So, although the British weather is predictably 100% unpredictable, the one thing we can count on is adapting our wardrobe to ensure we stay stylish no matter what the summer may bring.


I am not saying to ditch your last season buys completely, I'm still reaching for some of my favourites from last year. More if you are looking to give your wardrobe a fresh update for Summer 2017, then these are the pieces to note. Now the sales are in full swing it is a great time to purchase these items and look upto date for the rest of the summer.


Here is my top 5 biggest trend items from last year and the key pieces that are set to topple them off the top spot for this summer of style.

1. Tea dress

The reverent slip dress is stepping into the shade this summer, in light of our reignited love of the tea dress. A printed dress like this will not only see you through the current summer season but also for years to come. Think Kate Moss for Topshop circa 2007.  Barbel Ruched Dress- Finery London, £59.00

2. Kimono

The beloved bomber jacket isn't going away anytime soon but for a seasonal update, I want to fill my wardrobe with elegantly de-constructed kimonos that ooze the feeling of summertime. Layer yours over a pair of jeans and a tee for the perfect day-to-night look. Long printed kimono, Zara £59.99

3. Denim mini skirt

Transport yourself to sunnier climes with the skirt of the moment, the denim mini. While the midi version was hot last year, we cannot get enough of the shorter style for the summer months. Why not cut your midi one down to mini and reap the benefits of up-cycling! Denim mini skirt, Warehouse £25.00

4. Straw bag

Revel in the charm of a basket tote this season. Ideal for those last-minute “Quick, the sun is out” trips to the seaside and picnics in the park, a straw tote is 2017’s upgrade on last year’s bag about town, the bucket. Invest in one this season and you’ll find yourself breaking it out every summer to come. Pom Pom straw bag, ASOS, £21.99

5. One shoulder top

The collarbone is still fashion’s favourite erogenous zone but this season, be coy about showing it all off. Swap your Bardot blouses for cool, clavicle-baring tops which can be dressed up or down, and aren’t refined to just the summer months. Cotton bright green one shoulder top, Warehouse £12.00

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Keep your style up-to-date with these easy styling tips

Ever feel like you are stuck in a rut with your style and out of touch with current fashion? How often do you want to look good but struggle to find the time to put your energy into your image? Perhaps you are always buying and wearing the same things and it leaves you feeling frumpy and dull...FEAR NOT! You are not alone in these feelings.

It is hard to maintain an up-to-date style and juggle our busy lives. It’s no secret that your image affects the way you feel about yourself – when you look good, you feel good. Perhaps your wardrobe is an over-full nightmare, leaving you frantically searching for an outfit every morning that ends up not letting you feel your best. You don't know where to start when pulling outfits together because nothing ever fits and you don't have the time to think about accessorising. 

If the any of the above is resonating with you, then I am here to help! I recognise the hurdles that come with personal style in our everyday lives and have put together some easy to follow style tips for all the busy women out there.

1. How to use accessories in the right way

If you’re in a rush to get ready in the mornings, or don’t have all day to plan your outfits, then accessories are your saving grace! A monochromatic outfit or understated dress sense can be changed drastically by simply changing accessories.

Adding a piece of statement jewellery to a well-fitted pair of trousers and shirt can entirely transform the look. Changing up the jewellery and wearing the same outfit with different jewellery can give you multiple different looks.

Jewellery isn’t the only avenue to explore when it comes to accessorising. Scarves are a classic and feminine way to add flair to a simple outfit, and gives you the opportunity to add a pop of colour to neutral outfits.

2. Less is more

Minimalism is a trend that will never go out of style and how simplicity can be key in pulling off any outfit.

When putting together an outfit that follows the notion of less being more, it’s important to keep in mind that neutral colours work best, staple items are key, quality is better than quantity and that fun is still welcomed!

This concept works from choosing the colours to wear, doing a wardrobe detox to de-clutter items you no longer wear, buying into staple items in good quality fabrics keeping accessories to a minimum. This will all help you to achieve a simplistic, less is more kind of style

3. Wardrobe detox

If you’re fighting an over-full wardrobe every morning, you’re definitely not making the most of the little time that you have for style. An over-full wardrobe is a symptom of impulsive buying habits, keeping items that aren’t right for your body and holding onto mistake purchases because you feel guilty about the money wasted.

A cluttered wardrobe is the easiest way to feel discouraged about your style. Now the weather is getting warmer it is the perfect time to perform a wardrobe detox. Set aside some time and go through each item, getting rid of what is no longer useful. Use a full-length mirror to check yourself in the items you try on, and get rid of anything that is unflattering or that no longer fits. This includes all mistake purchases, and things you are saving 'just in case'! 

4. Shoes are the key to your style

Shoes are essential whether we’re passionate about them or not. Some wardrobes have shelves and shelves of shoes. Other people may have a style or two that they favour and buy over and over again, keeping their selection to a minimum. 

A bright pair of heels, a printed pair of loafers or a vibrant pair of sneakers can change up an outfit instantly. It can show you have thought about your outfit from head to toe and the finishing touches are key. For me the investment in shoes seasonally is key to your style and keeping it up-to-date.

 

If you’re finding it tough to keep up with the above as well as a busy home life, you’ll be happy to hear that there is an answer to your problems. Working with me will help you change the way you see yourself, and make getting ready every morning an enjoyable experience that doesn’t take up too much time. Get in touch now! Nina x

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What colours to wear this season

Welcome to the season of colour confidence. Get ready to taste the rainbow and dive straight into zingy yellow, eye popping red and bubblegum pinks. Here's my guide on how to buy it, wear it and style it.

Yellow fever

Inject your wardrobe with a happy shade of yellow for an instant pick me up. For years, women have seen yellow as a shade that does nothing for their skin tones, eyes or hair but there is a shade of yellow out there for everyone. It's about knowing which one is yours and ensuring you are sticking to your right tone and shade for maximum confidence and style. From fizzy sherbert to mustard to pastel Fifties lemon, yellow ran the gamut on the runway proving that there is, after all, an option out there for everyone, no matter your skin tone. 

Round frame sunglasses, Marni £345.00

Round frame sunglasses, Marni £345.00

 

Flame red

The colour red is iconic but isn't simply the colour of choice for cocktail dresses and couture gowns. Red is a bold lipstick, the sole of a shoe, the leather of a biker jacket. There's wine, cherry, rose, blood, scarlet, and ruby...the list goes on. When teamed with burnt orange, magenta pink or camel, red takes on a life of its own. The possibilities are endless. It's fierce, it's defiant, and it's not for wallflowers. Red is the colour of a woman in charge.

 

Pretty in pink

The undeniable colour trend for the season is pink, with every hue from bubblegum to fuchsia being embraced in head-to-toe looks. It was huge at the spring/summer 2017 shows in variations from Magenta to bubblegum and nude tones. So maybe it's time to think about adding a pinch into your own wardrobe.

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