My favourites: the Breton top

2017 is the year of Breton - the Spring/Summer collections were full of nautical stripes. Large stripes or thin, navy stripes or black, Breton-style tops are perfect for warmer months. And with summer finally here, what better time to channel French Rivereia chic than now? Here are my top 5 - team under dungarees, tuck into shorts or pair with jeans.

1. The Ruffle One

Breton Blouse with 3/4 Length Ruffle Sleeves, £39, Yumi at La Redoute

2. The Bow One 

Alexandra Breton top in navy stripe, £29, Hobbs London

3. The Sequin One

Deckhand striped sequined silk-satin top, £300, J.Crew

4. The Classic One

Antonia Cream Stripe Cotton Top, £85.00, L.K Bennet

5. The Sleeveless One

Oasis Stripe Tie Shoulder Top, £29, Oasis at House of Fraser

Tailoring - why it's worth the extra ££

Image:robertold

Important event coming up? Summer ball? Your best friend's wedding? A formal dinner? Whatever it may be, finding the perfect dress is tricky. First, you must consider the level of formality required (smart vs black-tie vs white-tie) before moving onto the colour, design, length etc. It isn't easy - there's a reason personal stylists exist after all.

On top of all this, the FIT is essential. Hands up if this has ever happened to you: You spot a gorgeous dress that looks ideal for the occasion and head quickly to the changing room. Only to find the fit is well off. You try a size smaller or a size bigger. Still no luck. It's too tight in X area and too loose in X area. You leave feeling dismayed and perpetually annoyed at said store.

It's for this reason that I've become a convert to getting dresses tailor made. Now, I know it isn't cheap. However, if the event is really special - and one you're going to remember - it's worth it. This happened to me recently with an Oxford ball, where I wore a two-piece bodice and skirt (above). The bodice fit was perfect, thanks to multiple measurements of the upper body. And the skirt was made to my waist size - but with an extra inch added for breathing/eating/having fun room.

Tailoring is also great for suiting different body shapes. Most retailers make dresses with a standard 'soft' hourglass shape in mind. For athletic figures or for those who are top/bottom heavy, these type of dresses might not hang as well. Tailoring will help, being tailor-made for you. 

Image: stitchnfix

Just be careful not to pay too much. Dresses that come with a tailor made service will of course cost more but shouldn't break the bank. There's also the option of buying a dress and taking it to your local tailors. Most dry cleaning places will also help alter your dress if it's just a small adjustment that needs making - such as an inch added or taken off a certain area.

Finding the ideal dress is hard enough as it is. Take the hassle out with tailoring.

Slogan tops: the basic rules

2017 marked the year that slogan tops made a comeback. They have always been around, but recently we've seen them sky-rocket to the heights of fashion. Whilst once having a reputation for being crude and a bit 'young' (think t-shirts with I heart One Direction on them), they've had a re-vamping. The spring/summer 2017 shows had models parade down the catwalk in t-shirts adorned with witty, feminist and even controversial slogans.

But getting the right slogan top can be trickier than you think. Here are the ground rules.

Image: harpersbazaaruk

1. Short and sweet works best

Let's remember, a slogan is there to be read. And not everyone can read quickly - nor wants to be staring endlessly at your chest for that matter. Stick to a statement of a few words, rather than a convoluted sentence.

2. Wear political statements at your own risk 

Unless you're ready to get into a heated discussion - and have some strong points to win the argument - avoid slogan t-shirts with political or religious views. Pick carefully. A T-shirt with 'I am Feminist', is very different to one stating 'God's not real', which is likely to cause offence.

3. If you choose a brand, make sure it's one you genuinely love

Only wear brands and labels across your top if you genuinely like them and what they stand for. You pretty much become a brand ambassador by wearing a top with a clothing label, so choose wisely.

Image: cliqueimg.com

4. Positive vibes only

No one wants to be faced with someone wearing a depressing slogan across their top. Morning commutes are already grim -  not least if you're sat opposite someone with 'what is life?' scribbled across them. You might feel edgy and contemplative wearing one, but best to avoid the sombre.

5. Witty to you or everyone?

Okay. Witty statements are probably the hardest to get right - but if done right, they can make an outfit. Do a 'sense' check when buying this type of top. Is it funny to just you or would your friends/colleagues/family find it funny too? If the answer is no to all of them, leave it on the shelf to avoid comic disappointment.

Image: Pinterest

6. Don't forget aesthetics

Slogan tops need to look good as well as have a punchy line. If the colours are off, the sizing odd, or the pattern/font just not appealing, don't buy it simply because you like the statement. You have to wear it remember.

7. Style it right

Which brings us to the final point. Styling. Try to keep the top on show, rather than have it covered (defeating the point of having a slogan in the first place). Simply tuck into jeans or high-waisted shorts and let it do the talking. Literally.

Image: wheretoget

How to style Lace

Oh lace. Worn right, it can truly make an outfit - oozing prettiness or sexiness. Gone wrong, and you'll look like you just stepped out of the local panto. A subtle hint of lace adds a delicate touch - too much lace adds unfavourable shock.

But there are a number of incredibly easy ways to style lace. Read on for how.

WHITE LACE

A pretty top or a shift dress made from white lace is one of the easiest looks of summer. Perfect for evening cocktails or a garden party. Make sure the white isn't overly white (off-white or cream works best) to avoid a wedding dress mix up. By choosing a relatively neutral colour, you can opt for more intricate and patterned lace, which will add interest in the form of texture.

Image: Enviousfashions

LACE BAGS 

A clutch bag with lace is red carpet glam all over. To avoid it looking cheap and trashy, choose clutch bags with trimmings of lace (rather than fully covered) and in the same colour as the main bag. If you want to be extra style-savvy, look for box-shaped clutch bags which are currently on trend.

PANEL LACE

Panel lace is where part of your clothing - be it the top of your dress, or the hem of your shorts - is made from lace, rather than the main fabric material. It's a more casual way of doing lace and means you don't have to overly commit. It's best to keep the item in question relatively simple - a fitted dress or high-waisted shorts - so the lace is the centre-piece of attention.

Image: Farfetch 

LACE BLAZER

A more daring look for those wanting to experiment. A fully laced blazer is perfect for wearing to dinner parties or nights out.  Another option is to choose a blazer with a colourful lace inside, resulting in a flash of colour whenever you take your jacket off. Feeling less bold? Opt for blazers where only the lapel has lace lining.

LACE UNDERWEAR

Of course! Who could resist? There are so many sets/colours/styles out there that the tricky part will be actually choosing what to buy. Personally, I love the fresh look of pastels or bright colours for day, and deep colours for night.

Image: Pinterest

A Political Fashion Statement

The other day I went to the Victoria and Albert museum (otherwise known as the 'V&A') based in South Kensington, London. I headed straight to the fashion area (no surprises there). Each window showcased the typical 'look' of each decade, spanning from the mid 1800's right through to the 21st century. The history of fashion was remarkable.

Image: V&M

But what struck me most wasn't just how much fashion has changed - to think Edwardian women had to wear a corset all day everyday! - but how fashion has was used as a political statement at key points in history.

A few examples stood out. The fashion of the 1970's punk age - when designer Vivienne Westwood made her claim to name - was charged with political energy. Customisation such as rips, zips, studs and badges were used to make a statement. Slogans replaced logos. Vivienne's 'anarchy shirt' is an apt example of how fashion was used to speak against the order and establishment of the government. People revelled in the way clothes could make such an impact and women were known to even scrawl slogans across their t-shirts with marker pens.

Image: foundsf

From a completely different angle - but sharing the theme of political fashion - are the clothes worn by  Margaret Thatcher (1952-2013). The V&A dedicated a window to her, not simply because she was the first female Prime Minister but because of how she used clothes as a political tool. For example, the symbolic blue Aquascutum suit worn to the Conservative Party Conference in 1987 and again to cast her ballot in that year’s election. Or the striking trouser suits, purposely worn to make a statement about her position in a predominately 'man's world' (for more read Female Politicians And The Power Suit).

Image: dailycrusadernews

And finally, an example that happened as recently as January this year. Following Trump's election in the USA, there was outcry against his previous derogatory comments on women. To make a statement against this, women were encouraged to partake in the 'Pussycat Project', buying or knitting bright pink hats to be worn at the Women's March in Washington. The sea of pink (above) resulted in a political statement symbolising female defiance against the US president.

There's no doubt fashion can be frivolous, enjoyable and fun - it's the main reason I started this blog almost three years ago. But it's all too easy to forget the more serious political impact clothes can have on society.

Who knew a piece of fabric could have so much power?

My favourites: the jumpsuit

Every girl needs a good jumpsuit. From summer garden party to glam night out, a jumpsuit will see you through. Not only are they both comfy and flattering, they also come in SO many varieties, shapes & styles. (Which begs the question, who needs a dress?!) Whatever the occasion, here are my Top 5 on the market now.

1. The Glamorous One 

Black Lace New Romantics Jumpsuit, £340, Alice Mccall

2. The Casual/Denim One

Dark Denim Jumpsuit, £42.99, Lost Ink

3. The Red Hot One

HotSquash Jumpsuit, £115, House of Fraser

4. The Floral One

Floral Jumpsuit, £75, Hope & Ivy (available Topshop)

5. The Structured One

Crepe Overlay Jumpsuit, £49, Warehouse

It's in the details

A few weeks ago I was at a fashion party in London, chatting to a guy over a glass of Disaronno (current favourite). I explained my belief that men have it much easier when dressing up. It can be roughly described as:

Black tie = suit.
White tie = suit, tails, white bow-tie.
Smart casual = suit minus tie, blazer optional.

Simple enough right? No. He explained that whereas women get stressed out finding what to wear (that perfect dress) for guys, just finding a suit isn't enough.There's so much more to it - where the trouser hem folds, the type of jacket lapel, the length of the blazer, the buttons on the blazer, the type of tie-knot, the matching handkerchief, how to fold the matching handkerchief, the type of cuff links etc, etc.

So to all men, firstly - apologies for doubting your effort in dressing. Secondly - it got me thinking about how some of the best outfits I've spotted have been due to the small details. The problem is, sometimes we think that being bold and unusual will result in a stylish look. This is true, and is certainly one way of doing it. Another way is the understated look, where the details are what pulls your outfit together into something wonderfully stylish.

Let's think of some examples.

A white shirt and tapered trousers. Now, if that white shirt has tiny silver buttons and the tapered trousers fall beautifully, what would have been a boring trouser look is transformed into something completely different. Victoria Beckham's understated style is a prime example - admire her or not, she always looks elegant and sophisticated and much of her collection is based upon simplicity combined with classy details.

Victoria Beckham Spring '17 collection. Image: Vogue

Or - take a plain black dress. If that dress has some embroidery - so subtle you have to be close to the person to see, your perception of the dress completely changes. Suddenly, what's 'just' a black dress becomes something more (and lo and behold you have a conversation starter to match).

A tiny charm necklace is another detail that can lift an outfit and add interest in the quirkiest of ways. I have a Russian doll one which I love to wear, especially with a simple top and jeans, so that the tiny necklace becomes the centre of the outfit.

Going forward, I'll be shopping more wardrobe staples with the details in mind. Is the tailoring of that blazer slightly unusual? Do those jeans have some subtle alteration that sets them apart? Don't get me wrong, I will always love my statement patterns and bright prints, but sometimes wearing something different because of a subtle detail is the best look of all.