buy a skirt to update your style

We are currently mid way through the Autumn season, I have shopped the best pieces on the high street for clients and now the run up to Christmas parties starts to get going. But what if there was one thing you could buy to update your wardrobe rather than a whole outfit? The skirt trend has been getting stronger for a few seasons now and it is still the most wanted item out there. For me there are 3 skirts on the high street right now that are putting their best foot forward and it’s time to make your choice; are you a sequins kind of girl, a leather kind of girl or do you prefer a roaring leopard print skirt? The choice is yours…

Sequin skirt

You are probably thinking this is the most un-versatile skirt to buy right now, but you would be wrong! Gone are the days of only wearing your sequin skirt to formal events. Sequin skirts (maxi, midi or mini) can be dressed up or down.  The sequin skirt is an effortlessly chic statement piece that easily transitions from day to night. Wear to brunch with friends, an art gallery afterward and to dance the night away. I love my sequin skirt, I can make a real statement when wearing it in the evening but also cleverly pair it down with my sweatshirts and trainers in the day. Who doesn’t love a bit of glitz and glamour in their wardrobe, see my picks below and update your wardrobe with a bit of sparkle.

Where to buy your sequin skirt this season -

1. Topshop, sequin stripe midi skirt, £65.00

2. Zara, knotted silver sequin skirt, £49.99

3. Anthropologie, Pink sequinned pencil skirt, £118.00

4. Warehouse, Ombre sequin pencil skirt, £65.00

Leather skirt

The leather skirt has been given a reboot for AW18, it’s midi and comes in lovely dark shades so it is still practical to wear with black tights and boots if you wish to. A leather midi is your ideal choice for Autumn; leather is warm, it works well with a heel, a boot or a pair of trainers, and can be versatile to wear day-to-night. They have become a wardrobe staple, something that is an investment piece that can be brought out year after year and will always look stylish. Simply add a roll neck, a sweater, a shirt, a t-shirt and then some boots. It’s the perfect chic to street update for your wardrobe.

Where to buy your leather skirt this season -

1. Whistles, Burgundy leather pencil skirt, £195.00

2. Reiss, Green leather pencil skirt, £250.00

3. Iris & Ink, theoutnet.com, leather skirt, £295.00

4. Warehouse, button midi leather skirt, £149.00

Leopard print skirt

As you well know Leopard print has been a winning print this Autumn, but it never goes out of style and will never date. Knowing how to wear leopard print comes down to this one simple, unwritten rule: Treat it like any black item in your wardrobe. Yes, this might seem counter-intuitive, but adding a little leopard to any outfit upgrades and harmonises a look. True, leopard print has often walked the line between flashy and luxurious, but it's been proven season after season that fashion can't get enough of it. After a summer of a leopard print skirt being the most popular skirt on instagram by the Australian brand Réalisation Par, don’t bother with dresses, tops or coats this season to update your style - the leopard print skirt is the long term investment piece for Autumn.

1. Never Fully Dressed, leopard print wrap skirt, £59.00
   

2. Zara, Leopard print pleated skirt, £29.99

3. Marks and Spencer, Animal pleated midi skirt, £35.00

4. Ganni, Leopard print satin midi skirt, £230.00 Selfridges

If you want more inspiration then follow my pinterest board here - Skirts to update your wardrobe AW18

Animal instincts - how to wear coloured leopard print

I have written many blog posts about Leopard print over the years, for me it is one of the fail-safe prints that never goes out of style, out of fashion and always makes a statement. Over the years I have collected many pieces of Leopard print items for myself from coats, to shoes, to bags and a skirt, and I often advise clients to add the print into their wardrobe if in nothing more than accessories to liven up an evening outfit. This season Leopard print is having its moment in the spotlight and has been in every fashion magazine, glossy supplement and style website for the past month as it is a great transitional print and can update your outfit in an instant. But the tones in the Leopard do not suit everyone. If you are choosing a Leopard print that is predominantly stone then this can often drain you of any colour in your cheeks as it might not the right stone.

So know this for Autumn, fashion is really, really wild for animal print. Right now on the highstreet you can get Leopard print in an array of different colours so you can match your favourite print to your perfect colour. Why not go bright and zingy in your leopard print choices, you are already making a statement with the print so go that extra style mile and choose it in the right colour for you.

My 'SWAG BAG' that I took everywhere with me on holiday - Scamp and Dude, £28.00

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Follow my pinterest board for more styling inspiration - Coloured Leopard print 2018

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Here is my pick of how to do leopard the colourful way

1. Pink Leopard print satin dress, Ghost London, Next £165.00

2. Green jungle cat animal print tee, Whistles £55.00

3. Lola animal print frill dress, Kitri Studio £125.00

4. Leopard print blanket scarf, Warehouse £22.00

5. Red leopard print dress, Hush £55.00

6. Loui Red leopard print shirt, Gestuz Studio B fashion £99.00

7. Multi Leopard print belted dress, 2ND DAY, ASOS £160.00

8. Jaspre Cheetah Rust skirt, Never fully Dresses, £59.00

9. Animal print soft sweatshirt, Scamp and Dude, £50.00

my headband obsession

When I was little I had long dark hair and I never wanted to wear anything in it, not hairbands, not clips and I didn't even like putting it up. Now as a fully grown adult I have rediscovered headbands and could not be happier. Now banish all thoughts of anything remotely twee ans school-like and, instead, see them as an instant, no-faff way of making no effort with your hair whatsoever, while still looking fabulous. Oh, don’t worry, I’m about to elaborate…

It covers greasy hair, looks like you’ve made an effort and is also an excellent adversary to the distressing phenomenon that is Summer Sweating. Nobody wants their hair in their face when they’re simply trying to get from the bus to the office, walking to do the school run or rushing around the supermarket (delete as appropriate) without sweating through their clothes in a heatwave. A hairband can give your forehead the room it deserves, free of fringe, and also ensures you don’t end up resembling a wet dog at the beach.

Go for something embellished, printed, colourful, something that does make a statement otherwise you might end up looking like a 'Sloane Ranger'. 

Anthropologie is my favourite purveyor of hairbands, largely due to the sheer choice on offer. There’s everything from simple, neat styles to some that are slightly more... extra. Think embellishment, beads and beautiful colours– which mostly sit atop my head. Independent London-based brand Emin & Paul also has some lovely options, from polka dots to colourful turban-styles. And the high street, too, is full of hair-fixing saviours, from ASOS to Uterque. You’ll have so much spare time, you won’t know what to do with yourself. Plus, your hair will look great.

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The best summer headbands on the high street

1. Emin + Paul headband, £19.50

2. Leather hairband, Uterque, £49.00

3. Tulia Embroidered embellished headband, Anthropologie, £34.00

4. Fran striped headband, Anthropologie, £28.00

5. Chunky pattern headband, ASOS, £8.00

6. Embellished knit headband, Johnny loves Rosie, £30.00

7. Embroidered jewelled headband, &other stories, £23.00

the revival of the square neckline

The revival of the square neckline has swiftly become the hottest neckline of current due to Amal Clooney's status as best dressed at the Royal wedding this weekend. 

The neckline has been in revival for a couple of seasons, with Grazia writing a piece on it back in September 2017 - 3 signs that this neckline will be the next big thing. It became the most talked about silhouette from fashion week in the Spring, appearing on the runways of designers like Carolina Herrera, Christian Dior, and Hermès, officially sealing its status as a full-blown trend.

But this month I have noticed the square neckline cropping up all over the place. Usually, when it comes to necklines, you have two options—it's either a round neck or V-neck. But now I keep spotting square necklines...

Reminiscent of the Renaissance, square necklines are alluring and versatile. While every fashion girl opted for an off-the-shoulder top all last year, I like how the new neckline is something fresh. Even pairing a square neckline with a simple pair of jeans elevates a basic look into something interesting. Less ubiquitous than off-the-shoulder styles, the square neckline is flattering, elegant, and feminine. Consider layering over a polo neck in winter or adding it into your weekend wardrobe in the form or a billowy cotton blouse. Or how about opting for a refreshing square-neck cocktail dress for your summer occasion party or ball? 

So I say YES to square necklines. It feels fresh, it feels new and this trend shows just enough skin to be flirty and feminine while its covered shoulders make it a doable option for the office. A true must-have, indeed.

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Shop square necklines

1. Navy Ally tie shoulder jumpsuit, Whistles £135.20 (with 20% discount offer)

2. Red cutwork dress, Oysho £45.99

3. Bow detail navy top, Iris & Ink, £60.00

4. Huxley tailored dress, Reiss £180.00

5. Just Female floral dress, John Lewis, £99.00

6. Alexa grey check linen jumpsuit, Kitri studio, £125.00

Follow my pinterest board - square necklines 2018 here