Striped Up, Hyped Up, Ready for Wilin’

Hello.

If you haven’t already sussed it yet, the S/S’13 trend most heavily represented so far on the high street is inches-wide stripes.

Stripes make regular appearances year after year, but something about this season’s stripes feels fresh and unique. Their width definitely feels new, the fact that the pieces are tailored yet loose feels new, but mostly I think it’s the way that the stripes clash. By that I mean they’re worn going in different directions. Horizontal, vertical, diagonal stripes meet and twist and repel each other on dresses, separates and suits. See Marc Jacobs and PPQ, Jonathan Saunders and Acne…

Top Row: Jonathan Saunders, Acne, PPQ

Bottom Row: Marc Jacobs, Marc Jacobs, Jonathan Saunders

Images via Vogue.co.uk

Here’s my take on it in this month’s Metro Herald column

At the first spring/summer fashion preview I attended last autumn, a single trend got me immediately; bold, brilliant, black and white stripes.  Inches wide and perfectly defined these stripes are inspired by Marc Jacobs’ bold, multi-directional black and white pieces, PPQ’s nautical inspired, off the shoulder dress, and the way Acne and Jonathan Saunders mixed perfect banded tops with plain white trousers. Graphic, monochromatic stripes are here in a big way for SS’13.

Not only are they unique and current, these stripes are definite and dramatic; not pretty, not fine and definitely not subtle. Too fine and from a distance your stripes merge into a dirty shade of grey, but you’re making a monochrome statement everywhere with this season’s take on stripes. Forget school-days, grunge-inspired faded stripes, these are well-defined lines to be worn with cool confidence, not scuffed-up Doc Martens.

Don’t believe that stripes aren’t flattering either; loose fitting dresses, separates and jackets, skim off shoulders and hips. These stripes don’t cling to your shape they merely highlight your angles. They’re easier to wear than you think; team vertical striped trousers with horizontal striped tops, and plain white or black outerwear. Mix up your stripes with accessories in neutral leather, bright patents, and top off the look with luscious red lips.

A key way that stripes were worn on the catwalk was with a flash of flesh, at midriffs, ankles and scoop necklines. These Warehouse trousers (pictured €63) combine this season’s stripes with an ankle-grazing length – a glimpse of flesh makes the stripes less aggressive. This New Look thick stripe jumper (pictured €29.99) is a casual way to combine horizontal stripes with plain white trousers. The chicest way to rock bold spring summer stripes is to team this high waisted ASOS skirt (pictured £40) with 1940’s inspired make up. If you didn’t do your fashion homework, then you’ve got detention, and you’re doing lines.

Top Row: Topshop, New Look. Middle: Warehouse. Bottom: ASOS, Penney‘s/Primark

Inspired by… perhaps?

Yours,

Whisty Xx

New Look SS’13 Round Up

Hey All,

I’m sitting here covered in green clothing dye having failed to save a 50′s ball gown from the perils of mildew stains… Oh Vintage, you contrary vixen. As wonderful as vintage is, I do sometimes wonder why I, we, don’t just buy on the high street; it’s so much simpler.

Anyway, last week I went to the New Look SS’13 preview… Here are a few of the stand out pieces, check the lattice work / cut out leather bags, the pretty pale salmon shift, peplum dresses, hiiiiigh heels and stunning summer wedges.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

A Style Post: Deconstructed Tux & Snakeskin Shoes

Hello!

White is the ultimate summer colour.

I like it in different shades mixed together and worn with metallic accessories. Here with silver ‘pearl’ necklace, gold-tipped heels and a studded clutch. I can’t really get used to white shoes, I’d probably be alright with white sandals but probably not when the rest of the outfit is all-white.

Deconstructed tux jacket, Warehouse

Beaded Top, Thrifted

Jeans, Victoria Beckham @BT2

Snakeskin Shoes, New Look Limited collection

Yours, Whisty Xx

Shout out to Sarah at The Licentiate for taking the photos.

P.S I’d love to do more style posts, I enjoy them.

P.P.S – These jeans are the best I’ve ever worn. They are insanely soft and comfy even when you first put them on, plus they don’t stretch an inch. Even after I’d worn them all day they still fitted me perfectly and I didn’t have to wear a belt.

New Shoes.

Hello All!

Thought I’d share my summer shoes with you… a mixed bag with Steal, Deal and Fo’ Real price tags too.

STEAL: Black Suede Hi Top Hidden Wedge Trainers

£24.99, New Look.com

DEAL: Snake Skin Leather Heels with Gold Toe Tip

£49.99 New Look.com

FO’ REAL: Ice Cream-Shades, multi-buckle flats

€220.00, Kurt Geiger @Brown Thomas

This last pair actually look pretty badass with black opaque tights.

I wasn’t sure they would because they’re such a summer shoe, but great; that’s them being worn through ’till Christmas then.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

New Look A/W’12 Round Up

Hello lovely readers!

Just because I never say it enough, thank you for hanging out here and reading my ramblings and commenting / liking my posts and photos. I’ve been blogging for over 3 years now and I still get a massive buzz when I get blog feedback, plus it’s so nice to know that so many of you are still here with me! Xxx

Anyway, I’m posting a few images from the New Look A/W’12 preview. It’s set to be one of its most directional collections with strong, statements pieces in neutral colours. I really like pieces/collections like this, they’re just so easy to add into your wardrobe.

Faux Leather and Fur, with lace.

Collars and a couple of key pieces…Faux Leather and Navy Blue Wool Biker Jacket

Tweeds, knits and leather

Embellished Shorts, Digital Prints and Jaquard Pieces

Perfect White Cotton & Gold Studs Collar

Beaded & Studded Collars

Textures…

Shoes, Shoes Shoes…

Silver Rose-Print Jacquard Boots

Brown Suede & Leopard Print Hi Top Wedges = The 2012 Must Have?

Jubilee Year Celebratory Crown Stud Slipper Shoes

Black Lace Boots

High Heel Herring Bone Tweed Brogues

Two Tone Tartan Slipper Shoes and Skull Studs Heels

Fierce, Gold Trimmed Black & Red Suede Lace Up Wedges

If you need me I’ll be in New Look…

Yours,

Whisty Xx

A Style Post – New Shades

Hello,

It’s time for a new palette.

Right now, it’s all rich shades of pale green and blue – seafoam, mintgreen, and icy sapphire, mixed with navy blue and white, highlighted with warm pale pinks and brilliant gold.

Cardigan (worn back-to-front), Warehouse

Skirt, Penneys / Primark

Heeled Loafers, New Look

Gold Chain, ORVintage

Yours,

Whisty Xx

A Style Post: Striped Down

Hey All,

Last summer I was always in shorts; this year I’ve gone with the exact opposite. I’m living in my maxi-dresses at the moment. I love the femininity, and how easy they are to wear. They’re casual, laid back and if styled with flats, they’re kind of cool too.

Dress, Penney’s / Primark

Saddle bag and tribal pendant, Once Removed Vintage

Belt, Miu Miu

Boots, New Look

Yours,

Whisty Xx

A style post – hot pink colour block

Hey All,

I couldn’t think what to call this style post. I was always going with something involving the term ‘colour-blocking’ but just because the maxi dress is a solid block of hot pink… does that actually amount to colour blocking; or is it just a pink dress?

Anyway, it’s more about the déjà vu of this post. I saw the dress in New Look and didn’t even try it on. I came home, did the photos and as I was looking through the results I realised that I had done almost the exact same post a year ago.

Well not the same. I was wearing a shorter dress but the colour is almost identical. The location the same, and more depressingly the clouds in both backgrounds are indistinguishable from each other. I guess when it’s summer and the sky is grey, I have to brighten up my wardrobe with hot pink.

Dress & Boots, New Look

Vintage 60′s Necklace, Once Removed Vintage

Belt, Céline

Bracelet, Gift (Thanks Da!)

Rings, Various

Yours,

Whisty Xx

A look with a view – a style post

Hey All,

I thought I would get to work on managing this new palette. I’ve since discovered that  when wearing leather in trench coat form, chocolate-brown is pretty much the only colour you can get away with. Black is a bit Goth and grey is a bit Schindler’s List… Also, showing a slightly unhinged obsessive personality trait, I went to 4 Topshops before I finally managed to get this hat.

This coat was actually my Da’s when he was, quite evidently, a ‘cool-cat’ a long time before I was born…

All other outfit details on HerApparel.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Shoes & Swatches

Hey All,

I’m having a busy worky weekend. Deadlines looming and being too skint to go out to play = plenty of pressure, and I love a bit of pressure!

So while I was busy writing about non-fashion related things, my subconscious decided that it would rather think of other things. Like shoes (and ships and sealing wax?) and frivolous stuff like pretty colours. My last style post was an excess of black, as is the way of Northern Europeans in wintertime. (A grandly sweeping statement, yes… well it’s probably true.)

I love dark colours, Navy blue is a favourite but I’m finding myself moving towards maroon and chocolate-brown. I never really wear brown, except maybe the odd pair of shoes or a bag now and again, but I love the idea of maroon wool, and dark-brown leather teamed with light beige silks.

Rummaging through the Pantone archives (can you rummage on-line?) I made a mini palette of colours I’ll be wearing for the next while at least: Deep plum-browns and maroons, rich creams, rose-greys and antique pinks.

I also quite like the idea of a pale tangerine, these suede Carvela (Brown Thomas) block heel sandals are along the right lines and are the exact shape I EDIT: want have. No new spindly spike heels for me this season. Give me good, solid, could-almost-run-for-the-bus-in-these, heels.

I’d already bought these shoes from New Look and luckily they fit right into this new palette.

Seeing as I can’t actually dash out and buy a whole new wardrobe, I have to compromise. Like rediscovering my Revlon Nail Enamel in ‘Vixen 570′.

Because neither my nails are as fabulous as these nor my nail-painting as precise, I have borrowed this photo from Glitz Bliss here.

Then it’s just a matter of adding in some delicious cream pieces… My trusty Céline trousers perhaps…
Anyway, that’s me done for today, I think this post took about 12 hours to do…

Rubbish!

Yours,

Whisty Xx