It's a (sunglasses) match

Whenever there's a hint of sun in the UK, two things happen. First, the shorts/dresses come out. Second, the sunnies are on. Sunglasses are a classic statement in the fashion world - the likes of Anna Wintour, Victoria Beckham and Karl Lagerfield all have a pair in their style armour. It's a well known fact that sunglasses suit particular face shapes, but they can also suit different personalities, being an accurate reflection (sorry) of one's own character.

With that in mind, let the sunglasses match the person....

Best for: The black coffee addict 

You know what you want and how to get it. Minimalism is key. Mess is your worst nightmare. Delays on public transport are non-existent, since you always travel in a black cab (to suit your black coffee, of course). 

Velvet Cat Eye sunglasses, Italia Independent, £148

Best for: The happy go lucky one

Think festivals, Braids. Glitter. Life is short and fairy dust is endless. Will take 2 hours (at least) dressing up for any fancy dress occasion. Owns harem pants and temporary tattoos.

Brown Tortoiseshell Heart sunglasses, River Island, £12

Best for: The fashionista

Brands are everything. Spends any spare moment browsing Vogue or the more hip W Magazine. Wins best dressed in the office. Only settles for classic pieces - trench coat must be Burberry, sunglasses must be...you guessed it.

Original Wayfarer Classic, Ray Ban, £170

Best for: The retro queen

Spotify playlist consists of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Wishes they were born before the 21st century when life was simpler. Likely to attend political marches and peaceful city protests.

AJ Morgan Round Sunglasses With Mirror Lens, ASOS, £15

Best for: The corporate cookie

Always first into work and arrives early to meetings. Find them networking over lunch, front row of the annual business conference and at their bosses house warming party.

Michael Kors, £214

The Humble T-shirt

A t-shirt is found in most wardrobes yet often goes unnoticed. It's the fashion equivalent of bread and butter, if you like. Such a staple item runs the risk of becoming boring and neglected, only being worn when you nip out to the shops (or as a last resort when in a rush, paired with jeans). However, the humble T-shirt can be styled in many ways. For much needed tee inspiration, look no further...

Colour me up 

Crew neck T-shirt, Ready to Wear, £19

It may sound obvious, but choosing a bright coloured T-shirt is the easiest way of mixing things up. Inject sunshine into your outfit by going for yellow, or stand out in red. For anyone scared of colour, this is the easiest and most fail-safe way of experimenting with your wardrobe palette, since the T-shirt is such a classic piece.

Earn your stripes 

This season is all about Breton stripes. They have been seen everywhere - from catwalk to high-street. A striped T-shirt will suit pretty much everyone, but ensure the base colour is darker than the contrasting stripe (for a slimming, flattering look) and don't be afraid of diagonal or angular stripes too.

Brace yourself 

Image: Pinterest

Fancy going old school? One of the easiest ways to style your t-shirt is by pairing it with jeans - and adding a pair of braces. Make sure they sit comfortably - too loose and they'll continually slip off. To get the most out of this look, the T-shirt should be slim fit and preferably tucked into your jeans.

Feeling it 

Who says T-shirts have to be made out of only cotton? Not me. By choosing one woven from a more unusual, luxurious fabric (pure silk or brushed velvet, for example) you instantly add style and glamour to the humble tee. Zero effort required.

Back attack 

For a fun twist, experiment with details on the back of your t-shirt, such as graphics or cheeky logos. Or, choose T-shirts that have a back opening (like the one below) for an elegant look that can be dressed up or dressed down, day or night.

Branchill scallop hem T-shirt, Jack Wills, £29.95

Confessions of a tall girl

I ordered two dresses the other day for an upcoming summer ball. The colour. Perfect. The fit. Perfect. The length. Don't go there.

This is a regular occurrence - I will seek out a beautiful floor-length gown, only for it to look like it has been hemmed half a foot too short. At 5'9 and a bit, my height is - ironically - the minimum requirement the modelling industry demands for the catwalk. (Catalogue modelling comes in a little shorter, at 5'8). But whilst the length of my body may be a forte in some professions, when it comes to everyday dressing it's often another matter. For all those lovely ladies out there who are also tall, I'm sure you can relate....

Take tights, for example. You want a 'small', but retailers seem to equate small in size with small in height. So you settle for a medium or large and just have to deal with the incessant pulling up of tights as they slip down your legs. This is not what they show in the movies.

Or crop tops. You hope they will neatly skim your mid-driff, showing just a subtle hint of skin. Instead, they fall right under your bust and you end up showing so much stomach the delivery man wonders if you got dressed up for a Spice Girls re-union party. Each to their own.

I'm a massive fan of rolling up the bottom of my jeans. But (unless you've shopped in the tall section), most jeans will already graze your ankle, which means rolling them up even slightly will result in a Are those cropped or are those just rolled up? look. First world struggles just got a whole lot real.

And THEN there's heels. Oh, the bain of my life. I've known women (often nearer the 6ft mark) actively refuse to wear them because they think they will look abnormally tall. I say heck to that and will continue wearing heels at events. (Block boots are my favourite).

But I cannot tell you the number of times a drunk person (often, a guy who falls minutely shorter, thanks to the extra height) will make some banal comment enquiring why I wear heels - as if all tall girls should all be banned.

To said guy, a) they make your legs look longer, b) they look bloody great, c) you should try them.

Rant over, there are some positives of being tall. If your outfit is killer, you'll stand out. The extra inches are ideal for seeking out that lost friend in the club. And you will always pass the minimum height range when it comes to rides at Alton Towers (hey, priorities). Most importantly, more and more retailers are starting a Tall range, so we really shouldn't complain.

Well, not till that perfect dress has been found.

My favourites: the shift dress

A shift dress is quite possibly the easiest thing to wear. Put it on, add shoes and you can leave the house in under two minutes. Not only are they wonderfully non-fiddly, they are also super comfy, sleek and versatile. Here are my top 5 right now.

1. The Lacy One

Precis Petite Albra Lace Dress, £139, House of Fraser

2. The Denim One

Denim Patch Shift Dress, £180, Ksubi (Available Harrods) 

3. The Retro One

Peplum Shift Dress, £69, Molly Bracken

4. The Black One

Black Choker Neck Shift Dress, £27, Apricot

5. The Embroidered One

Embroidered Lani Dress, Star Mela, £84.99, Available Jules

Spring Refresh

FINALLY.

The sun has come out, the weather is (slowly but surely) warming up and spring blossom can be seen everywhere. It's a good time. It's Spring time. We emerge from our winter hibernation mode. The coats we have been wearing for the last 4-5 months seem exhausted & dishevelled. Our boots are worn out. All all in, it's time for a wardrobe refresh and to put a spring back in your step (sorry...)

With that in mind, here's a quick fire list of some wardrobe essentials for the new season ...

• A trench coat. Light-weight, flattering and a timeless addition to any wardrobe, this is perfect for when it's sunny & bright but not quite warm enough to leave your coat at home. 
• A boxy sling over bag, with cross body strap. Great for long walks in the sun when you want to leave your hands free (or in your partner's).
• A bright cardigan. Layering is crucial for a season which isn't yet warm enough for strappy tops alone. Inject colour into your outfit by choosing bright colours like yellow, pink or blue. 
• High-waisted 'mom' jeans. The looser style make these great for a relaxed spring look. Belt up and wear with flats.
• A floral dress. Choose one that sits just above the knee for an elegant look that will take you from day to night. 
• A denim shirt in chambray, indigo or navy. Whatever shade of blue you choose, this is a great alternative to a cardigan. Wear open or button up, choice is yours. 
• Shades. Obviously. (What better way to hide those late night bags?)
• A pinafore. Pair with tights or go bare-legged if feeling brave. Wear over a stripy top to channel total Breton vibes.
• A small back pack. Weekend picnics anyone? Choose a small, nifty size to avoid being mistaken for the less attractive 'work rucksack'.
• White plimsoll socks with a frill at the top. You know the ones I mean. Currently in love. Wear with brogues or pumps. #playgroundthrowback

Head out in style (and comfort)

Let's face it. Sometimes you just want to be in your sweats, sports bra & softest hoodie. Unfortunately though, it's not always the most flattering look for heading out (unless you're hitting the gym, in which case said attire is totally acceptable). Afternoon tea with your mum, brunch with friends, a trip to the cinema - all these outings call for a stylish outfit. But style and comfort need not be mutually exclusive. There are simple ways you can feel good whilst looking good too.

For starters, you can't go wrong with a chic jumper. It's pretty much a hoodie, minus the hood (no guesses there) and the thick interior lining. A jumper has a loose fit - perfect for easy movement - and will keep you warm depending on the knit. You can also shop them in so many colours, textures and patterns, be it Breton stripes (on trend right now) or polka dots.

Another simple comfort hack is to choose trousers with a stretch waistband. High-waisted culottes are great for this (for more click here), as are 'super stretchy' jeans with added elastic. These types of trousers with an elastic waistband are especially ideal for eating out - hello, buffet - without compensating for style in the way a pair of joggers would.

It's also super easy to mix up an outfit by adding a scarf. I seem to mention scarves a lot, but they truly are a fantastic addition to any look, be it day or night. Plus they tick the comfort box. Choose ribbed, chunky scarves in winter and patterned, silk scarves in summer. Both will instantly add a dash of style and colour. Ball or black tie affair? Wear a scarf as you would a shawl for a sophisticated look that's as close to a comfort blanket one can get.

Annnnnd finally: footwear. Bulky trainers - no. Slick pumps - yes. Retailers are rolling out more and more pumps that can be worn with jeans, dresses or skirts. The variety of styles out there is huge, but plain white/black are my favourite. The secure fit and extra support these pumps have will make running for the bus a doddle. You may even want to walk it home. Uber, what uber?!

Sneak peek: What I carry in my bag

Image: sketchedoutfiles

The other day someone chuckled about my stuffed handbag, to which I replied 'yes I am the new Mary Poppins'. Needless to say, I never pack light - never have really. If I could, I would bring far more with me, but over the years you learn to cut back (for the sake of your shoulder more than anything else).

With that in mind, these are the essentials I still carry with me, whenever I head out:

- A water bottle. Key to staying hydrated, especially when on the move and travelling for long periods of time. Bottled water is hard to find on the go so I always make sure to fill mine up before leaving the house.

- Safety pins. A must! You never know when you might need one - a  missing shirt button, a top that needs taking in - these work wonders even in the most awkward of style moments.

- Lipbalm. My beauty essential since the age of 10. Right now, my favourite is the Nivea Vanilla and  Macadamia flavour, the closest thing to dessert a lipbalm gets.

- Card, travel ticket, keys and all that fun (less) stuff.

- Scarf. If I'm not wearing one, I'm carrying one. A style hack is to tie the scarf around your handbag. Not only does this add a touch of colour and decoration to your bag, it also leaves more room inside (bonus).

- Mirror. Because even the most perfect make-up needs checking.

- Plasters. Not just for accidents but for that horrible rub on your ankle when wearing new shoes. Answer = fresh plasters throughout the day.

- Hand sanitiser. A revolutionary invention. It dries within 10 seconds, no soap and water needed. Especially handy for when you're about to eat out.

- The latest magazine. Typically a London based one (Time Out, ES magazine) or Glamour, my favourite women's glossy. Great for getting fashion inspo whilst zoning out the rush-hour commute.