To bow or not to bow?

Just a really quick post after a busy day with a children's party. We now have glitter, toys and fairy parephenalia every where, but it was fun. Here is what I wore. I spotted the bow in Claires Accessories when searching for party bag goodies and just couldn't resist. It recieved mixed reactions from 'oooooh I love your bow, it looks beautiful' (my daughter) to ' aren't you a bit old for wearing bows in your hair?' (Mr Style Eyes). As it was my daughters party, naturally I wore it, she insisted. Actually I quite like it thought. I tried wearing it with just a plain navy top but much prefer it with the coloured necklace and some small scale pattern mixing (stripey bow and animal print bangle). I would have happily added a pair of fairy wings as well but was worried the mums might have thought I was a complete nutcase.

Dress - People Tree

Necklace - Dorothy Perkins

Belt - Monsoon

Hair bow - Claires Accessories

Shoes - Clarkes

Bangle- New Look

Pattern mixing from the feet up

If you are a regular reader of this blog you might have observed my slight obsession with pattern mixing. I pattern mix on a daily basis, with almost everything I wear having some sort of pattern mix or clash. At the moment and in keeping with this summers trends, I am especially fond of mixing stripes, checks, polka dots and florals.

As I have recently partnered with Spartoo Women Shoes, a French online shoe retailer selling a very desirable selection of shoes including some quite quirky brands and designers (more posts to follow), I came across Stephane Verdino, a French designer recognised for his minimalism and quality but also one who sets the rules rather than follows them.

I was instantly drawn to these lace up shoes that fit so well with the current androgynous and masculine trends. They would look amazing contrasted with a feminine floral dress, a pair of floral trousers or equally well with a plain navy or denim skirt. They have opened a whole new chapter for me: pattern mixing from the feet up. But I may also be very tempted to abandon pattern mixing now and then in favour of a simple navy outfit which really allows these gorgeous shoes to take the centre stage that they deserve.

How would you wear yours?

ASOS Africa Fairtrade Collection

Bright colours - check

Bold Patterns - check
fresh, trendy and wearable - check
Ethical, eco friendly and guilt free - check

Last week ASOS launched a new ethical and eco friendly section to their website, the Green Room and now they have launched their new Fairtade ASOS Africa collection. It includes so much that love about clothes including some amazing and extreme pattern mixing, very eye catching blazers, playsuits and jumpsuits and even a shift dress. This collection is by far the most exciting stuff in the green room so far and I hope that it is npt all snapped up before I finish my shopping ban(4 months to go). I love the fact that it is a bit different to so much of the stuff that is out there in the shops at the moment.

The ASOS team travelled to Africa to work with artisans and small producer groups. The collection helps to support trade in Africa and give those invloved in its production a fair deal. What a great idea and what an amazing result.

Oh What a Beautiful Morning

After all of the rain, gloom and snow of the last few weeks, I was really pleased to open my curtains to blue sky and sunshine, it cheered me up no end. I was not intending to do an outfit post today, but I decided to try out some photos to see if I could get any interesting effects from the beautiful sunshine. I considered taking a picture outside to make the most of the natural light (as it is not often I get the opportunity at the moment), but decided on the lounge (in the warm) in the end because I love the kind of warm orange glow, it gets on a sunny morning.

The outfit is kind of another very subtle example of the pattern mixing that I seem to wear almost every day at the moment. It starting to become a bit of an addiction. The first thing that pops into my head when I wake up, "what patterns can I mix today". After sorting out Mr SE and the children of course!

Jacket (Next) - second hand

Dress- Oasis

Leggings - Urban Outfitters

Boots - Topshop

Scarf - Present many years ago I think

scrunched down knee socks - Peacocks

Handbag - Littlewoods.

SS10 trends - more pattern mixing - check and animal print

As there were so many different examples of pattern mixing on the catwalk, I though I would try to make a few ore outfits from the clothes that I have in my wardrobe. Actually, I could probably go on and on. This outfit is a fairly subtle example of pattern mixing and a complete contrast to the bright florals and polka dots in my last pattern mixing post, with a brownish animal print scarf and black and white check jacket. The leggings have tiny hearts all over them which you can't really see.

Jacket - M & S from Charity shop
black dress - Oasis
Leggings - Topshop
Scarf - Dorothy Perkins
Arm warmers - Topshop

SS10 Trend - Pattern Mixing

I have been playing around with pattern mixing for a few seasons now, so I was delighted to see so many examples on the catwalk for SS10 that I could use as inspiration. From real clashes to more subtle combinations, I love them all. I think it is something about the busyness of this look that I love. It is also, the perfect trend for my next No more wants challenge as I have plenty of patterned pieces in my wardrobe. I particularly love the pattern mixing at Kenzo, Rodarte and Dolce and Gabanna. I don't think there are any wrongs or rights with pattern mixing and I don't think there is any science to it, it is just a case of try and see.

At Dolce and Gabanna

At Proenza Schouler

At Rodarte

At Marc Jacobs

At Alexander Wang (quite subtle - look at the shoes)

At Dries Van Noten

At Kenzo

At DKNY

As this is such a huge and extensive trend, I had lots of outfits that I was going to make, but as usual I ran out of time, my camera battery ran out and I ended up with just 2 outfits for now - excuses, excuses. I have been dying to try out a combination of polka dots and florals for some time. I am not sure how wearable this outfit is as the polka dot dress has a lining and it is difficult to stop the different layers riding up, but I love the combination of patterns.

Polka Dot Dress - Marks and Spencers

Floral dress - New Look

Shoes - ASOS

Bag - An old cream satin bag decorated with mauve and silver nail varnish

The next outfit was definitely inspired by the mixture of tie dye and plaid/ check at Rodarte. I bleached the black top to get this interesting orange and black effect that reminds me of tie dye. I loved the effect so much, I was tempted to bleach everything in my wardrobe (I didn't luckily).

Top - second hand black top - bleached

dress - Oasis

Tights - Dorothy Perkins

Boots - Topshop

Necklace - present
scarf (tied around waist) - a present
catwalk pictures from http://www.style.com/

Spring Summer 2010 according to Topshop

I don't actually buy that many clothes from Topshop as I have convinced myself that the cut of their clothes often doesn't suit my figure (perhaps I should just lose weight). But when it comes to getting a general overview of the main fashions for a season (and I realise there is a lot more besides) Topshop is really the gospel. It has most of the main trends even fringe fashions to some extent in some form or other. What I am really trying to explain is why I love checking out the Topshop seasonal previews but when it comes down to actually buying, I often opt for either slightly more grown up or just slightly different. But so much of my inspiration is taken from key trends which show their face in Topshop. So enough rambling, Topshop lookbooks for SS10 and here are my thoughts.

Patterned leggings - my love for these is almost the same as my love for patterned tights. Actually I have a pair on order as I write this post.


The crop top trend is great. But I will not be baring my midriff this summer, at least only perhaps on the beach after some fairly intensive pilates, I will definitely be getting a loose fit crop top to layer though.

I love the florals, the mixtures of patterns and the business of these looks. I have already been combining my winter florals with floral tights, for spring I may well try floral jeans, floral shorts and even floral shorts with floral tights. Tan shoes work so well with these rich coloured florals and the flat boots in the top picture have just made a direct entry onto my must have list.

Loving the mixture of blue and black, a combination I have been meaning to give a try for the last few weeks, now I can see how well it can work. Also loving these trousers with the cutout ankles, corset style top, textured cardi and oversized bow.

Overall, I am most definitely looking forward to spring and summer. I have never been a minimalist sort of girl. I will definitely be taking full advantage of the chance to completely indulge myself with florals, patterns, spots, dots, stripes and mixing patterns and textures including lace and a reall busy look.

Blooming winter florals

I have a tendency to resort to a monotone uniform of greys in the winter. I am not quite sure why, but my outfits just seem to mirror the grey and dismal weather . In contrast, in the summer, I wear the brightest clothes that I can with plenty of florals and patterns.

When I saw this dress on missguided (sorry to keep on about this website but, I seem to be able to get so many gorgeous clothes for so little money), I just couldn't resist. The perfect winter floral dress, dark and wintry but plenty of colour and pattern. As I starved myself of colour and pattern so far this winter, I decided to go for full on pattern overload. Perhaps not to most peoples taste but I love it. The floral footless tights from Uttam (bought in error as I would never have chosen to buy footless tights) were the perfect pattern mix for a busy and less boring look than usual. Cardigan is from Topshop, necklace New Look and shoes M & S.