My Passport To Style | Lulu Guiness's Winter 2011 Handbags

Hi Gals, this winter 2011 collection of Lulu Guiness's handbags proclaims she is a genius, not only in designing beautiful creative bags that draw us into her world of fantasy, but how many other handbag brands do you know that market themselves so effortlessly? Without the need for expensive marketing campaigns and props, Lulu Guiness's range must be every department stores dream. Well this simple display has worked it's magic on me anyway, I want this modette inspired family of handbags including mum top right, with her huge fish like eyes, that I would have to name Beryl, big sister top left and cute little sister bottom right. To not keep the family together would just feel really wrong! I'm guessing Lulu was banking on the strong bond we feel for women in our familes, when she designed the trio and even if my phsyco babble is misplaced, you can bet that there will be sisters, mums and girlfriends out there this Christmas buying these bags for each other! Do you have a favourite Lulu Guiness bag? I would love to know which one and why you treasure it?   

My Passport to Style | Lost And Found | Torie Jayne Save The Day!

Hi Gals, LET ME SHARE the worst mistake my 8 year old self ever made was letting my mum throw out my conker brown leather school satchel, which would now be a vintage piece that would look great with my new red mac I'm planning on purchasing very soon. I love that the satchels simple smart looks mean that you can wear it to relax your outfit or build in some classic functional heritage transporting you to smart land.

Had I never hopped and skipped over to the lovely Torie Jaynes blog, I might never have discovered that I might be able to replace my long lost love with one of the above bright shiny new satchels from Bohemia in her giveaway! I'm feel a little less blue all ready!

However I do think I might need to trade the contents from my 8 year old satchel to things that are a little more fitting for my grown up self, so here are my trades for your inspection, what do you think? Did I make the right trades?







TRADING MY BANANA FOR THIS  VINTAGE ESQUE PHONE CASE

TRADING MY SKIPPING ROPE FOR THESE LIME GREEN SUNGLASSES

TRADING MY SHINY BROWN POWER CONKER FOR GLOSSY POLISH

TRADING MY YUMMY RED APPLE FOR A SWEET POLKA DIARY 

Who Needs Words When You Can Let Your Ears Do The Talking!

Hi Gals, todays post was inspired by this f two foxes I recently bought from the artist Josie Portillo, the animal kingdom is all over the runway this A/W 2011 and I don't just mean the ever popular leopard or a bit of faux fur. With animal wildlife featuring big in Mulberrys A/W 2011 campaign not mention dogs being the sweater motif of choice and snakes accessories being the go to power piece to wear for the evening.Why are women drawn to buying into animal designs and why are designers creating them? The answer possibly lies in Victorian history when giving symbolic meaning to animal jewellery became very popular and was used as a subtle way of communicating a message either by the wearer or the giver of the object. 

The snake represented eternity, dogs fidelity, flys would you believe humilty? I don't have a comprensive list but you get the idea, I thought it might be fun to come up with some meaning of my own.

lady birds could signify a houseproud mum

The ram could represent a headstrong buisness women

    These bird earrings could represent the message for your ears only!

The rabbit could be symbolic of either '' eating light, so don't try to tempt me with chocolate cake!' or fertility.

The beautiful stag has to stand for nobility, did you come up with any ideas of your own?

All the beautiful jewelley featured here came from -

My Passport to Style | Enlisting The Help Of Jon Richard

Anne Hathaway looked stunning and exuded poise in her MCqueen gown and her delicate barely visible to the naked eye swaroski bracelet,at the New York premier of One Day. I'm all for good good taste but I can't help but wish that she would be a little more generous with her bling at these events, after all diamonds are supposed to a girls best friend and that beautiful swan like neck just cries out to see the swish of long glittering earrings, instead of being shrouded in hair!

Jon Richard offer some stunning red carpet worthy styles in diamante this Season that are great value, I love this set of theirs below.What do you think, is bling your thing? Now might be a good time to bookmark their site or follow them on FB as come mid September when they relaunch their new site, you will have the pefect opportunity to emulate screen goddess Liz Tailor as Jon Richard are offering the first 300 customers on their newly launched site www.jonrichard.com a free pair of cubic zirconia stud earrings!

Healthy Back Bag Review | Leather Biker Style, Anniversary Edition

Most women I meet expect their handbag to be the height of fashion and to perform like a work horse carrying all their daily essentials, quite often the two top qualities we are searching for in the perfect handbag disappointingly are often not found in the same bag. Finding an independent handbag label that produces stylish bags with practical design features that set it apart from other bigger luxe handbag brands can be a rarity.

So when The Healthy Back Bag Company gave me the opportunity to review one of their anniversary bags and share my thoughts here, I had to try this practical bag and its eco friendly stylish credentials on for size!

First impressions

The bag I received was part of the companies anniversary range, tear drop shaped in black drum leather with stud and rivet detailing. A style classic perfect with jeans in the daytime and to toughen up a pretty dress or add edge to an evening look .

• Delivered swiftly by couriers service, in pretty standard issue plastic bags.

• The bag contained a handy card with instructions for cleaning the bag and a guarantee of the product for the lifetime of the bag.


• The bag can be worn either on one shoulder or across the body, to get full benefit of its ergonomic design, designed with a doctor to reduce stress on the back area and avoid back pain.

• The bag is designed to rest snugly in the hollow of your back and the main zipper faces toward your back, keeping the contents of your bag secure.

 

How did The Bag perform?

• The amount of pockets this bag contains is staggering! I counted 11 of varying shapes and sizes, two large outer zip pockets and some very small, perfect for storing my lip gloss and makeup brushes. One of the inner zip pockets is large enough to double up as a generously sized makeup bag and the bag will comfotably house much more from a full sized bottle of sun lotion, purse, phone, sunglasses, makeup wipes etc.

• Biggest plus? The Silver lining is really well thought out and means along with the organised pockets and key fob you would struggle to lose anything should you need it in a hurry.

• I put the bag through its paces to test the comfort factor (not being a cross body bag wearer I was a little unsure what to expect) when I went to the Ben and Jerry's music festival, packed to full capacity and worn across the body, after eight hours of standing and vigorously dancing I almost forgot my Healthy Back Bag was there until I needed a drink or my lip balm which I found with ease. However I would have liked a recess on the body strap for my mobile so I could have the option of easy access to my mobile when wearing the bag across my body. 

Finale Word

This bag is a miracle of design The Healthy Bag Back Bag comes in four sizes and a variety of exciting designs and fabrics including a on trend tweed version from their designer range and a fabric made from recycled plastic bottles (pet) as well as a baby changing bag range. From a fashion point of view I love the biker feel, but I would have liked to see a big leather tassel on the zipper and some additional stud work. With back saving properties and the brands guarantee of workmanship for the lifetime of the material, I was impressed! A great bag for buisy style conscious women on the go and makeup artists! 

www.healthybackbag.com 

 

 

F Is For ......

F is for flinging your satchel across your shoulder before you saunter out into the bright sunshine blinking like a cute bunny rabbit, minus the whiskers of course!

 Cambridge Satchel Company

C Is For .....

 

Sharing my two favourite words for today with you, that help evoke stylish behaviour whatever the situation

c is for cinching your waist in,vital to looking well groomed whatever the occassion

medusa belt - Lily and Lionel

w is for wafting, wafting with your scarf is vital to looking stylishly nochalant.  

starfish scarf -Lily and Lional


Both these beautiful finds are from Lily and Lionel

Festival Chic | I get A Makeover Courtesy Of Dita Von Teese



Van Mildert By Vivienne Westwood




With Ben and Jerry's Sundae festival coming up soon, like many of us, I'm contemplating what I might wear to rock out at a festval, franky the rock chic look as much as I understand its longevity at festivals is wearing a little thin and to be honest in my opinion really works best for boyish frames. I also have a series case of the boho blues with regard to festival wear. So right now I'm looking to a rather unusual muse for the occasion, non other than Dita Von Teese whoes interpretation of styling down her look for a recent festival she attended was to wear this rather natty rope belt! What better way is there to keep your hair from flying in your face while you rock out to your favourite beats than wearing it in a sweet net at the nape of your neck?




Dita Von Teese - Festival Chic



 My version of Dita Festival chic has to be teaming this stunning hand painted African print dress from online company Van Mildert in a flattering cut by Vivienne Westwood with a pair of these vintage style, red, Marilyn Monroe spat ankle wellingtons (yes this is what they are called! Dita would approve!) from the Welly Shop (no tights needed) a lightweight fitted raincoat in grey or lilac (check out Dita Von Teese artfully carrying her raincoat slung over the back of her satchel) or I could opt for these rather sleek black moc croc, (the Welly company also) the contrast of pattern and texture would look so festive and yet so chic!

Marylin Monroe red spats - Welly Shop





Black moc croc wedge welly - Welly Shop

 Choosing the right bag can often be a dilemma so I'm keeping it simple and emulating vintage hollywood cruise style and opting for this sweet but ample vintage camera case bag in white and tan to carry my camera, lipstick and money in, from online company Rokit in London you may fear for my welbeing, carrying such a small bag, however a small bag will not dominate your style and exudes inner confidence.

Good news regarding the final part of my festival chic over story, if you want to recreate Dita Von Teeses hair style but its just that bit too time consuming for you, the frizz factor is having a moment and with this stunning tribal print dress by Van Mildert you can unleash your fluff factor and still be the talk of the beer tent!  



Frizzy Up Do









                                   Sharon x

If The Shoe Fits Win Yourself A Pair Of High Heels!!

Hi Fabulous Followers and welcome to any new Fashionable Frolickers here on My Passport to Style, today is a big thank-you to all you stylish gals who visit and comment here. I'm holding a Lucky Shoe Dip, that would have even lady Ga Ga going Ga Ga!!! 

If you like surprises and you like shoes, this is the perfect competition for you! One of these delicous pairs of stylish shoes will be sent to the first gal picked at random that matches the UK size of one of the pairs of shoes featured in this fun Lucky Shoe Dip! A true Cinderella moment for all you buddying princess's out there! Feast your eyes then check out the entry rules below! (please note these are near perfect seconds stock)

Rules Of Entry

 Competition ends 25th of June 2011 winner to be announced here and emailed, tweets or facebook posts must be done no later than one week prior to the competition deadline on the 25th of June 2011. 

1. For your first entry please, check out your shoe UK shoe size by going to this shoe sizing conversion link here -http://www.pediwear.co.uk/chart.php, then leave me a comment here, letting me know your UK shoe size and what kind of topics you would enjoy reading about on My Passport to Style or would like to see more of. If your new here subscribe to posts in my right hand sidebar and let me know here. For one entry

2. For a second entry tweet about the My Passport to Style Lucky Shoe Dip and link to this competion post.

3. For a third entry post the details of this Shoe Lucky Dip, on your Facebook wall and link to this competition post.

Finally make sure to email me your name and full postal address by going to enquires@zipbuttonandtuck.co.uk 

Good Luck Gals, I know who ever wins the shoes will have a very stylish home!

 

                               

                                   Sharon x

Hot Tips For Successful Hat Hunting!

                             

Get your Hat Right And The Rest WILL Follow! 

With the fairy dust of the Royal Wedding just settling, your thoughts might have turned to what hat or hairstyle to wear for a friends special day. Here are some top style tips which should help you keep your cool on even the hottest wedding day. If your just looking for the perfect excuse to look uber fashionable with your new hat and hair style, then why not plan a day at the races? I know it's a little bit backwards booking an event just to wear a hat, but really something's in life are just so worth it!!

Key headwear trends for spring/summer 2011, what you need to know

Fedoras, straw trilby's and large floppy hats in woven straws and various colours and patterns are huge this season. As ever fascinators are a good alternative for hat shy girls or those on a budget, this year they are less frothy and delicate and more sculptural  aka Philip Treacy .

A hat For Every Face Shape

If you have one of those sweet round peachy faces, be happy as you will always look 25! However if you do want to accentuate  your cheekbones reach for a hat with height like a fedora, this will give you the appearance of a longer face, which instantly slims the face, I often use this trick  to balance my bone structure as I have a very small forehead.

Feline long featured ladies such a SJP opt for a colourful straw trilby, but avoid wearing it at a jaunty angle, wear the brim straight ahead to balance a long face. Try Reiss for a great range.

Large forehead  hat dilemma? Opt for a medium brimmed hat and stay away from the bright stripy numbers that are around at the moment.

If you are lucky enough to have a oval face shape you suit every hat style going! Make like Audrey Hepburn and go for a huge and fashionably floppy straw. Don't want to look too attention grabbing wear a neutral coloured straw, teamed with  the perfect summer frock and wedges for pretty 70s cool. If on the other hand you do end up at the races, go all out in a bright colour, studded with flowers or bedecked with vibrant stripes! Both M&S and asos offer great value in the hat department.

Wondering about hat hair or how to style your hair when wearing a particular hat?

The simple rule is the smaller the brim the smaller the hair. Wearing a trilby? Pixie short hair or a low bun, fat plait or pony looks super cool. Apply the same fashion maths if you opt for a fascinator, whether you choose a clean or busy style make sure hair looks minimal to ensure you turn heads for the right reasons!

  Opting for a floppy straw or felt fedora? Long 70S waves look great with this style or classic poker straight shiny hair works well too.  

                             

Mulberrys Spinningfields Party Opens To Ooohs And Aahs!

For those of you that are avid Mulberry fans or are new to the brand and curious to know more, from bags to clothing you are in for a right royal treat as I discovered at a really grand opening of their new store in Spinningfields Manchester.

The opening party put a smile on every guests lips including mine, as it managed to masterfully distil the heady mix of its spring/summer 2011 show - inspired by one of my favourite books, The Secret Garden, cabbage sized hot pink roses were used to frame a secret walled catwalk down which strode copper headed models wearing clothing that gently celebrated their every curve, whilst the simple use of detailing on clothing and bags was like a breath of fresh air. Earthy and ethereal tones played a part in this delicous tale, from rich chestnuts, burnished plum, warm apricot, rose pink, cornflower and washed out blues. I particularly like the use of the humble D-ring detailing which Mulberry have used to great effect in their entire range of shoes for the season and the Polly Push Locket Belt, which I felt worked beautifully to accent the waist on Mulberry's chestnut cotton trench.

Cold it might have been outside but once inside Mulberry's new Spinningfields store you truly felt spring had sprung, after being treated to strawberry cocktail with delicate rose petals and a tiny teeny Victoria sandwich cake in a pretty floral box, the fun beats of the ever stylish guest DJ Daisy Lowe got everyone in the mood to party. Rather fitting that the guest DJ for Mulberry's Spinningfield opening party was Daisy don't you thing?!

Buttery soft bags like the Mila in electric blue were displayed in large glass boxes like captivating bright butterflies. Favourites like the Alexa, Tilly and Bayswater had all been given a touch of the secret garden magic, teaming unexpected colours and textures with utility styling and playful proportions. I loved the way that the creative treatment of the shop walls and floors, combined both textures and colours which reflected urban and natural world influences. Mulberry manages to very cleverly harness this fusion throughout their brand.

After an uplifting performance from Sunday Girl, guests were treated to a surprise performance by Ellie Goulding, both acts were the perfect ending to a great evening. Thoughtfully designed cotton goody bags embellished with the fun design of a white rabbit poking its head out of a Mulberry Satchel and a packet of carrot seeds as a swing tag, full of goodies were distributed by our lovely Spinningfields host's, along with shiny gold Bayswater balloons to light our path back home, it was a magical evening.