50s and Flirty

It's almost the weekend, so how about treating yourself to a failsafe dress from Studs and Lace at ASOS Marketplace?

How could you resist this bright blue number after all the gorgeous blues by Chanel in the Haute Couture show? It is super flattering and very, very sexy!

And all just £40! Gimme, gimme, gimme!

Studs and Lace Giveaway!

by Shona Wallace, @SWfashion_

Aren't we just lovely and generous? To celebrate our launch on ASOS Marketplace, we are giving one lucky person an item from the Studs and Lace collection every day up until the 24th!

We spoil you!

All you have to do is tweet us with your favourite style icon and you'll be in with a chance to win a lovely free piece of our gorgeous collection!

FOLLOW US AT @studslace !

SS12 Trends: Walking on Sunshine!

by Shona Wallace @SWfashion_

I'm not going to lie, i've always been pretty cautious of yellow. As a ridiculously pale blonde, yellow has never been my go to, but it has always been a colour that lifts my mood and makes me feel infinitely summery.

For SS12, there is no denying that colour is back with a bang, and leading the way is yellow in all it's forms. From sumptuous mustard chiffons at Burberry Prorsum to custard peplum skirts at Preen, there really is no escaping the sunniest shade out there.

So lets embrace it, shall we? I adore yellow paired with neutrals, but the look this season is very much mixing with other pastels and brights. A delicate vanilla yellow would look cool with soft lavender, and mimosa looks phenomenal with burnt orange. If pairing with other colours is a little too risky for you, why not try a yellow blouse (like this lovely Studs & Lace number) with a pretty printed skirt and brogues. 

Mouret, Eat Yer Heart Out!

by Shona Wallace @SWfashion_ 

Studs & Lace £40

We all know the magic that Mr Mouret can work just with his beautifully cut dresses, and this Studs & Lace number is more than a little bit Roland Mouret!

Perfect for that all-important meeting or even a dinner date, it is the most feminine and retro shape around and super-flattering post Christmas indulgence!

Buy yours here!

Bluebelles

by Shona Wallace @SWfashion_

Get this gorgeous silk dress at Studs & Lace here! (as seen on our model!)

The next key trend for next season is not too far away from the pastels trend that I recently featured (check it out here), perhaps just an elaboration on the macaroon hues that floated down the SS12 catwalks.

While candy pink and sorbet yellow are just as delectable, this season is all about dusty and soft shades of blue- like this gorgeous Studs & Lace dress.

While blue is not the only colour to be seen in this season (orange is MASSIVE), it is one of the most feminine and flattering. Just take a look at Haider Ackermann's rich silken separates, Victoria Beckham's lustworthy parka or Erdem's beautiful swirling gowns reminiscent of ming vases. It is clear that blue is the most versatile shade for the season.

Get in on the trend early and buy yourself a little dress or blouse to work into your wardrobe. Obviously it looks fabulous now with denim, but come summer, delicate shades of blue will work wonders with a tan or even a beautifully pale complexion.

It may seem paradoxical, but why not beat the January blues and buy into, well, blue?

Take Your (Fondant) Fancy!

by Shona Wallace @SWfashion_

Pastel shades are the 'it' look this season, and Studs & Lace have plenty to offer you!

This little pastel dress, from the 1960s, is a fantastically feminine way to work the look- just pair it with a messy up-do like those at Louis Vuitton to make the look perfect for SS12!


Louis Vuitton Hair How-To!

Step One: Simply spritz your hair with dry shampoo or apply a hair powder (I suggest Tigi Bed Head's new Candy Fixations range which does a hair powder called Sugar Dust that smells delicious!). This will create the perfect texture for volume and that wispy, mussed up texture. 

Step Two: Back brush your hair all over. If you have thicker hair then focus on the roots, but if your hair is very fine like mine, simply back brush it all. Once you look like you have stuck your finger in an electrical socket you are good to go! It will look horrendously messy, but brush your hair back from your face until it is smooth and gather the remainder into a ponytail or a bun and secure with either a clip or a band. 

Step Three: At this point, your hair should look tousled and volumised at the back, but smooth at the front. Then add your choice of hairband. Skinny and white/cream was the look at Louis Vuitton, but I opted for a beautiful embellished band from Anthropologie. Here's where you can really make the look your own, but if you want to keep it really on-trend go for something in a delicate pastel. Once the band is in, use your fingers to muss up the back even more and get your desired texture, then spray all over with a light hairspray.

Trend Time!

by Shona Wallace @SWfashion_

Yes, it may only be early January, but fashion is a fast-paced industry and the new season collections are already finding their way into the stores and on to our lust lists!

While many shops are flaunting their "FINAL REDUCTIONS" and adding more and more lines to their  sale rails, they are also preparing to unleash the new looks for next season and I for one can not wait to get my hands on some new SS12 pieces.

But with a new season, comes the age old question of what is in and what is out? Can we still hold on to our leather skirts, or should we bin them? (KEEP: Prada and Celiné said so) Should we keep our sparkly dresses, or store them away till next December? What are the trends to buy into now, and how do we wear them?!

Well, Studs & Lace are here to help with a series of posts over the coming weeks about the new trends and how best to work them in your own individual way!

Before we get started with our first key trend (hellooo sorbet shades), here is a little guide to SS12 and the collections that really stole the show.

Get started on your new season shopping at Studs and Lace  ! Soon to be available at ASOS Marketplace! 

Wardrobe Staple #1

by Shona Wallace @SWfashion_

Kate Moss in a classic beige trench

Studs & Lace 1970s Vintage mac £65, available here!

Every stylish woman knows the importance of a gorgeous coat. However boring or slobby your chosen outfit may be, a beautiful coat will pull the look together seamlessly.

Every winter coat styles come and go. For AW11 we were swamped with choices from cocooning blanket coats to masculine jackets with leather accenting by way of Prada-esque shaggy furs. However, I still always shun the high fashion coats and opt for something simpler, and I have been searching for the perfect trench coat for years now.

While I adore my classic Zara camel coat, and I often don my Topshop checked number, I just can't see past the timeless appeal of a crisp trench coat. A flattering cut and neutral colour make the Burberry-inspired trench a true wardrobe staple and this Studs & Lace number is just what the doctor ordered.

Retro fashion icons like Bardot and Audrey Hepburn often sported a trench, mainly as casual attire, but their modern counterparts are also fans of the style. Victoria Beckham frequently slings hers over a shift, and Alexa Chung keeps hers simple with a kooky LBD or breton stripes. It is the easiest coat to pull off, and is lightweight enough to work for SS12.

So if, like me, your New Years resolution is to build up a wardrobe of high quality classics, where is a better place to start than the quintessentially stylish trench coat?

Get yours here! 

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