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

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

3 ways to wear the statement sleeve

All hail the statement sleeve! Roll up your sleeves girl and show some serious shoulder this season as this trend will dominate 2016...

The weather's finally warming up, which means its time to shed the layers and show some shoulder in this season's newest trend. Whether they're puffy, frilled, bell off the shoulder or cut-out, it's all about fancy sleeve styles for Spring; sleeves become the focus of the outfit. Bare shoulders and collarbones are proving to be the most popular erogenous zones in fashion right now.

The great thing is it's a trend you can get on board with now and wear with ease daily. It’s sexy without going overboard, head-turning but wearable, fresh and new but also good for any age.

Inspiration as has come from the SS16 catwalks such as Roksanda Ilincic, Erdem and Jonathan Saunders (seen below).

Roksanda Ilincic

Erdem

Jonathan Saunders

There have been many fashionista's, models, actresses and style icons wearing this trend out and about attending the numerous fashion weeks or award ceremonies recently that we can take inspiration from.

Street style

Caroline Flack

Street style

Liv Tyler

Stella McCartney

Laura Whitmore

Dermot and wife Dee

Off duty model

But how does one make a statement with such an unusual part of the outfit?

By choosing sleeves big and even bigger, playing with bare shoulders or contrasting volumes, and by making sure we see the sleeves immediately. This new top silhouette is sure to instantly kick up the coolness factor of your Spring wardrobe. 

A bold full-on volume style on top calls for a subtle bottom half, so balance out the oversize proportions by pairing it with skinny jeans, cropped trousers or a midi skirt. My approach is that there really can only be one hero to an outfit, a ruffle sleeve for example needs to be completely played down by a streamlined outfit. See my 3 wears to wear this trend below and let me know which one you think you would adopt yourself...

1. Shirt from Marks and Spencer £29.50 - BUY NOW HERE

2. Top from Whistles £50.00- BUY NOW HERE

3. Top from Topshop £42.00 - BUY NOW HERE

For more inspiration and clothes to shop then check out my pinterest board - Roll up your sleeves

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...