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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. ZaraH&MTopshop… 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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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. 

 

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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how to wear the dress over trouser trend

Shirt dresses are cool again!

As many of you know I am a massive fan of the shirt being a wardrobe hero and have written a number of blog posts on how to wear the shirt and how to move it on from season to season. As shirting continues to reign in fashion, inevitably it evolves into new areas to update this look. So it's no wonder that the iconic shirt dress is having a moment. Long or midi, or shorter in length, it's a simple work wear solution that looks sophisticated, stylish and oozes femininity.

Rock the dress over your trousers

But lately the style set has put a fresh spin on the frock, employing it as a jacket worn partially buttoned over jeans and t-shirts or layered over slip dresses. It's this summer's answer to layering. The layered look has been a popular trend in recent years, and this season, trendsetters are taking it a bold step further with the dress over trousers. If you are thinking of wearing a dress over trousers and wondering whether it even makes sense. Yes it does, and you’ll love it. This ‘90s inspired trend is a cool new way to update items you already own by pairing them in a unique way that might not initially come to mind.

 

How to wear this trend

If you’re in doubt how to pull off this tricky, yet cool trend, here are a few easy tips to follow, whether you want to go for a safe look or bolder style

1. Going long - you can go long or short when wearing dresses over trousers; but when going long make sure there is a revealing slit or buttons are slightly undone to reveal a pop of leg underneath to break it up.

2. Going short - When wearing shorter dresses, cropped trousers work better whether it be a pair of smart black trousers or denim jeans.

3. Wear with denim - team your favourite jeans with a pretty dress and it will instantly look more relaxed and effortless.

4. Play with proportions - for an edgy style play with the volume on your legs and wear a more fitted dress to balance them out. 

5. Opt for heels - Unless you are very tall, the reinterpretation of the dress over pants trend looks best when worn with a mid to high heel as it will help you feel less frumpy.

6. Go bold & bright - go for bright colours or do a bit of splash of colours on your outfit. Pick one bright coloured staple among the neutrals to make it pop even more.

Follow my pinterest board for my style inspiration - Dresses over trousers

Here are my top 5 highstreet picks of dresses

1. Long floral dress, Zara, £39.99

 

Other style influences

Naturally this styling trend is already evolving and can be seen pushing the style boundaries in other ways. Visit my blog again for style updates on this trend.

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everyone's talking about...

Sometimes in fashion a certain item or theme gathers momentum like you would never of predicted. If you are a trend spotter, fashion follower or someone in the industry you can sometimes spot these pieces early on in the season. This week I am giving you an early insider tip on the bag style of the Summer so you can get ahead of the style pack and grab the one you love early. This bag will be your fail safe style staple all Summer, you will get loads of compliments on it and revel in the fact that you were an early adopter of this trend!

Everyone is talking about basket bags being the stylish thing to carry your daily junk in or your paired down evening kit inside. No longer reserved for holidays, sandy beaches and swimming trips, these bags are becoming the must-have to carry around this Summer. From massive straw totes to delicate wooden clutches, colourful Pom Pom's and monogramming them with your name, here is your basket bag inspiration from Instagrams most influential style bloggers-

Over sized basket bag - Alexandra Stedman @thefrugality

Over sized basket bag - Alexandra Stedman @thefrugality

Small and structured - Lucy Williams @lucywilliams02

Small and structured - Lucy Williams @lucywilliams02

Mongrammed - Erica Davies @erica_davies

Mongrammed - Erica Davies @erica_davies

Evening clutch - Rosie Huntington-Whiteley @rosiehw

Evening clutch - Rosie Huntington-Whiteley @rosiehw

Colourful Pom Pom - Leandra Medine @manrepeller

Colourful Pom Pom - Leandra Medine @manrepeller

Follow my pinterest board for more inspiration - Basket bags

It doesn't stop there, baskets have become really popular in homes too. Put your plants in them, store your magazines in them or use for bathroom stuff and add some colour into your house with the pom pom baskets. Edit58 has some fab ones perfect for your modern home.

Before the one you like sells out, purchase it now and be thrilled that you brought the one thing this Summer that made you smile and was practical too! Check out my best picks of basket bags to buy now-

my top Basket bags

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