Vintage Weekend

Oversized top and ribbon necklace - www.studsandlace.co.uk  Jubilee Cupcakes - www.hummingbirdbakery.co.uk

So the four day weekend has finally landed and with just a few hours to go I’m sure we are all thinking of what Jubilee celebrations lie ahead. Whether you are donning your favourite tea dress and joining friends for scones and a brew, or you’re heading to revel in the royal spirit and dance in the street, you should be doing it in true Great British style.

From the tea and cakes, to the bunting and party outfits, the whole country has gone vintage mad in honour of the Queen, so why not come and gush over some of the very best items from the past with us at Hampton Court Palace on Monday 4^th June, where we will be exhibiting at the charming Jubilee Garden Party.

http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/WhatsOn/JubileeGardenParty?EventDate=02/06/2012&Step=View

By Laura Feasey

Strutting the Sands

Accessories - www.studsandlace.co.uk   Swimwear - White Sands SS/12

As the summer well and truly digs its heels in and looks as though it’s here to stay, my mind is instinctively wavering towards thoughts of the sun, sea and sand... in other words, the perfect holiday cocktail.

Luckily for those of you who are jetting off somewhere faraway this season, there’s a dazzling array of stunning beach attire that will see the sands becoming your very own catwalk. From sheer panelling and loud and proud prints, to statement straps and daring cuts, there is something for everyone.

Create your very own sea-slick Ursula Andress moment with a vintage inspired, high-waisted two piece, or stun the sunbathers with seventies hippy colours and prints. Topped up with some of the very best vintage accessories, they create an enviable look for your days on golden sands…

By Laura Feasey

Summer Dress

Summer is officially here. The sun is shining, people are smiling and London has almost definitely taken on a new identity.

There is one fashion item that is perfectly paired with days spent in the park, relaxing with friends and enjoying the warm glow of the British summer and that is the summer dress.

The perfect summer dress sits I your wardrobe like a ray of sunshine waiting for its glowing debut. As soon as the temperature rises you can slip it on and, like sipping on Pimms in the garden, it just fits.

I believe everyone should have a staple wardrobe favourite, and there is no better place to turn to for this than vintage.

With a warm array of prints, colours and styles spanning across varied fashion eras, selecting a vintage summer dress is almost like choosing a memory.

Opt for a psychedelic 60s number that wouldn’t have looked out of place at Woodstock Festival, or choose a floaty, floral 70s dress that, matched with a pair of platforms, cries for the days of Saturday Night Fever.

The perfect pairing is just waiting to make your summer a stylish one…

By Laura Feasey.

Staple pieces: Denim

Classic denims never out of fashion, they're like the canvass for your fashionable painting. A sure fire bet is to go with dark denim, although, as seen in the picture above, a pair of light jeans are great for summer outfits.

Quality jeans are important, and I would suggest going into a jean shop and try on loads of different shapes, colors and so on... Make sure you take a pair of heels and flats so you can see what your legs look like when wearing either.  Once you've found your colors and shapes, you can mix and match to work up a good jean wardrobe. 

Here is my ultimate guide to buying jeans that fit:

• Set aside a decent amount of time (45min to an hour) to try on jeans.

• Go with a good friend, who will give you an honest opinion.

• Don't be ashamed to go up or down a size: a 10 in one shop can be the same measurements as a 12 or an 8 in another.

• When trying on jeans, make sure you sit down, bend down and so on, you won't only wear them when looking in a mirror if you buy them!

• If you're looking for a sliming effect, go dark: darker shades hide lumps and bumps.

• If you find it hard to find jeans that fit, buy a couple of pairs when you find a good fit.

Très Chic!

Some of you may, or may not know, that I've lived in France for the past 12 years. So I thought I bring a touch of  parisian chic to this post.

As much as French style moves with fashions, the basic style is very different. It's a simple ethos of less is more.

As we've seen, color blocking is the in-thing this season, so I've put together a completely stereotypical French outfit above, which applies the color blocking ethos but keeps the classic french chic style.

What I'm trying to say, is that even though trends change every season, you don't need to change your staple pieces. The best way to work is by having staple pieces in your wardrobe, which are simple colors and classic shapes. To those, you add your on trend pieces each season. 

The next few posts will be on staple wardrobe pieces.

By India Bottomley, @SimplyStyleMag

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Summer 2012 Trends - Trends: Workwear.

I have to say I'm a classic girl when it comes to workwear. You can apply trends to your working wardrobe by adding a pastel colored blazer for example. Although I feel that workwear is about channeling "power-dressing". 

It isn't hard to find nice pieces of tailoring on the British high street, it's a big trend this season and shops have cottoned on to a new, younger style of workwear. In these collection, you can find girly colors, in classic cuts, which you can accessorize to dress them up or down depending on your needs.

By India Bottomley, @SimplyStyleMag