Scarf Wars

Yesterday I learnt that 'we' meaning the gals where I live have lost all faith in the possibility of summer. How do I know this? On a trip into my city centre yesterday to locate some Jojoba oil, I spotted gals everywhere grabbing  woollen scarves and chunky neutral knits and flinging them with a look of weary defeat at brightly clad shop assistants. All the proof I needed, but it also led me in my fashion detective mode to deduce that the art of layering has perhaps not caught on in my part of the UK. The simple answer as to why? Layering requires maximum mental agility and creativity.To balance a pair of lime green skinny jeans with a leather tasselled jacket and a shiny peach top, not easy! How's  summer treating you? Love or loath layering, I'm curious do tell? x

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Rules Are Meant To Be Broken



lime green zig zag vintage ponch- by Lynette Packman

Watching my friend’s daughter struggle under the weight of her mum’s best lace table cloth and  about twenty strands of tangled beads she had managed to throw on over her fireman's  helmet, as she hummed Postman Pat to herself, despite the fact she looked like a crazy and rather lavish Christmas parcel, I felt a pang of envy at her carefree abandon as she plundered every corner of her home for fresh inspiration. Time to build a date with myself into my diary I thought, when I can reclaim dressing up and allow myself to dress without censoring how much neon is too much or whether that shiny jacket actually adds more inches in the wrong places.



floral 2B shorts

 

Breaking all the fashion rules feels good, is fun and shakes up your style, something that we all need, a bit like taking a holiday from yourself. So in this spirit, I have dug out my perfect outfit for the weekend. Firmly ignoring thoughts about being a little too heavy on the Mexican look or slightly clichéd - the new me inspired to connect with my inner fashion gypsy after re-reading an article about an expert in throwing away the rule book ( Anna Della Russo) says "nah what I really need are some chilli earrings to finish the look and I'm good to go!"     

pink raffia bag

 

High rafia wedges with black accents

*All images sourced via google images*

Why I'm All A Flutter



Grazia magazine fashion editorial, model wearing D&G sandals

This ad from Grazia has to be my favourite fashion image of the month, where glamorous silk scarf clad woman seemingly hovers above the pavement as her flamboyant scarves catch the breeze. I'm loving that scarves are having more than a 'moment' and are being worn in so many interesting ways right now, there is something chic yet so relaxed about throwing a silk print scarf on and my favourite looks are one I styled on a recent scarf post here featuring British designer Age of Reason and of course the scarf sandal featured in this ad by D&G which is sublime as well as pure genius. As I imagine myself striding into a lift with the silk tails of my exotic scarf sandals blazing a comet like trail behind me, an annoying little mean spirited voice says "but what if the silk ties from my shoes get trapped as I'm entering or leaving the lift?", but then I think "bugger it, live dangerously take the stairs and make a real entrance!"

Is Our Wardrobe Just An Extension Of Our Home?



2) Princess and The Pea /minimalist style



Fashion week looming does strange things to a bloggers brain, this post is a case in point, it got me thinking for some bizarre reason about how often times our personal sense of style is an extension of our home, or for some of us living communally our bedrooms.

So I thought I would have a little fun and come up with 3 types of home owner/room dweller and their parallel style personality.


1) Ok so if your fill your home with the following items, mismatched furniture and china, you like the retro feel of a colourful knitted tea cosy on your teapot, cushions that you have made sit pertly in rows on your sofa and your bed, you can't throw anything away unless it has been subjected to a rigorous series of questions regarding its usefulness in your home. Then you are quite possibly someone who owns a pair of clogs, likes to layer, layer and the layer some more for good measure, nylon stretch tops leave you cold you would much prefer a scratchy wool kilt and a woven silk vest, basically you live for texture, so your sense of fashion is reflected in your homely cluttered style. It's either eco friendly or vintage for you all the way, as these are the options that give your home and your closet the texture hit you hanker after. You're a Material girl!

1) Material Girl/layering is your thing 

2) If on the other hand your home is furnished with chrome and granite and you favour sliding doors and blinds. You dislike plants or pets in your home and you have a cupboard to house your keys, well my guess is, sorry to be predictable! Your wardrobe is very stripped back too. You favour classic cuts over fast moving trends, a large flat clutch over a handbag, lace, frills, pattern and frou, frou bring you out in spots. Tailored pants, a bun with a side part and a good watches are your best friends. Function and form are the buzz words for your cool uncluttered style, but luxury fabrics and materials matter to you to. I'm calling you The princess and the pea, as if you know the fairy tale, the princess can feel the little tiny pea beneath a huge pile of mattresses, the pea is a metaphor for you having a high intolerance to anything surplus to your own personal style. the great thing about your kind of style is your minimalist for a good reason to show off your ability to pick out the perfect detail to make that look shine.



3) Showgirl /Accesorise To The Max



3) Moving onto home loving number 3, you love your white walls, they make a great back drop for colourful works of art and photography you like to showcase on all your walls. You don't do kitchen cupboards, a big Danish dresser and sideboard is more to your liking, where you can display all your best china. You are an expert in choosing striking picture frames and mirrors. Your curtains are either brightly patterned or a hothouse of coloured silks and you like a little bit of sparkle so a chandelier might feature in your loo! All this adds up to a Showgirl, you are all about accessorise, if you can snare it, you will wear it, is your motto. Your style is larger than life think Dita Von Teese and Betty Boop.

Have you worked out which one is you,? Me to! If you would like to have access to more silly style advice and some very useful style advice hopefully! Then sign up to My Passport To Style  fashion posts by email  top right of this blog now!


Photo credits- thehollywoodstory.com, glamcheck.com and fashioninyear.com 

 

Me And Gran Report On Spring 2012 Trends

Hi Gals, todays trend report is a joint effort between me and Granny who was keen to discuss her opinions on next springs latest trends from the sweltering heat of her polka dot sun lounger coated in olive oil, which she swears is the best way to tan! I tried to convince her that she needed to use sun block, but she just chuckled and said what's good enough for the Romans is good enough for me.

So here's our joint trend report courtesy of both Granny and myself featuring the best and worst of spring 2012 latest trends. 

Trend - Peplum skirt - designer Jason Wu
Granny says - She loves the shade of pink, but that when she was a young woman, curves were real not faked, perhaps if young woman today drank full fat milk instead of semi skimmed she mutters down the phone in between sips of her expresso. 

Me - I love this skirt by Jason Wu, that looks like a giant flower, kept imagining this peplum skirt in a bright yellow though with spring just around the corner.

Trend Orange-designer Jill Stewart
Granny Says - The girls hair is all wrong, it's overpowering the look what has happened to wearing a classic chignon. I like the rich colour combination though.

Me - I'm really excited by this dress, which to me is a modern take on the flapper dress, I love the simple t-line of the upper body, the flirty skirt and the split palm tree in orange that frames the neckline, the use of bright colour blocking is very flattering.

Granny Says- This girls make up is so blah her features look flat and lifeless and since when has wearing a sheet with sleeves flattered any woman?!

Me- I agree with Granny I hate this trend for an white oversized shroud, small breasted women beware!

In contrast we both fell in love with this combination of two classics trends brought together, the grecian dress and polka dots done in a fresh way, the fabric choice and painted irregular spots keep this look the right side of modern.  

Trend- Floral blocking on bodycon dresses -designer- Altuzarra

Granny Says- I know this is too short for me, but when can I get my hands on it! How clever is this designer (coos granny down the phone) to be able to combine cool sophistication with such a dazzling hot print!

Me- Loving the way the tropical centre panel creates a boarder cool ivory that emphasises the shoulder line and punctuates the waist and her hair is fierce!

Trend -Neon brights-designer Rag & Bone

Granny Says-  Advert your eyes from the screen, this is pretty vile, the shape should be about as flattering as it gets, but this poor girls looks bottom heavy and like she has been dip dyed in a vat of guacamole.

Me- The shiny green leather ruched top looks cheap, the right make up and hair could have rescued this, but this is a tough look for anyone to pull off.

Trend - Aztec -designer Lacoste

Granny Says-This tunic is so chic, I would wear with wide leg ivory trousers, that being said it could do with taking a little of the hardness out of the look, by introducing a petal pink lip.

Me- I like this look, but agree with granny it looks a little bit too pared back, even with the powerful print, the addition of a slimline back pack worn on her shoulder would relax the look a little and it is a cliche, but perhaps powder blue tennis shoes would appeal to the designs Mexican roots.

I'm Inviting The Man Repeller,Style Bubble & Olivia P For A Wardrobe Workout!

 The thrill of the January sales has begun, the chase of that sometimes elusive bargin is here, will fate be kind and ensure that when you click on that designer coat you have waited all year to have, that your size will pop up and welcome you with open arms. I hope so. But in the meantime take a comfy seat in my virtual fitting room, pour yourself a nice hot cup of earl grey, while I play dress up with three of my favourite fashion bloggers each with a very different look. I have decided to select a pair of shoes or two, for each of them under £50.00 from the asos sales that best fits with their personal style, let me know if you think my shoe picks work for each of them or not! 

The Man Repeller

 I struggled to choose one pair, for this fiesty lady, in the end it was a toss up between this black sandal boot and these bling pair of metalic prince charming (my term) stacked loafers, I think she would work both really well.

Next up Style Bubble

Susie loves to mix things up layering prints and textures for dramatic effect, recently she has been chanelling lady like with high pointy heels and banished her glossy black top knot in favour of loose long hair, but I associate Susie and have to say prefer her slightly tomboy styling with a feminine twist. So these pink brogues with a mix of textured nude panelling might be a good compromise.

Olivia Palermo

And finally no wardrobe workout would be complete with out the polished Palermo, I totally associate Olivias style with the use of classic nudes with an intersting twist, in print or texture so I'm confident that she would dane to wear these shoes which I personally will be teaming with a flapper style dress to keep the look fresh and fuss free. 

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The Pain Free Guide To Shopping This Years Sales!

1. Always ask about the returns policy before you purchase, I was told by one indie label I could have a returns note or an exchange but not a cash refund, when I changed my mind a day later!

2. If you can't  think of at least 3 ways to wear that top or skirt then chances are you won't get much wear from it.

3. When your blood sugar sinks you make poor choices, take some nibbles with you.

4. Remember most changing rooms will make you look washed out, once your clothes are on, top up your foundation, bronzer, pink blush and add natural lipstick, then make your decision.

5.  Wear something that you can pull on and off easily and shoes that do the same.

6.  Sit down in dresses, skirts and trousers to check for comfort and length.

7. Don't worry too much about trends going out of date, instead  focus on quality and the right shape and colour for you. This is the era of clashing decades, mixing vintage with new and high street with designer, so as long as the item really works for you and your happy to mix it up, you can bag yourself a bargin that will actually get worn.

 8. Bring some neutrals with you, so you can make brighter and patterned  pieces work, shoes, tights and t-shirts are usually a good idea.

 9. Good music on your ipod, well it goes without saying.

 I'm currently compiling a list of the best changing rooms; read fun/ sophisticated, to feature here on My Passport To Style if you find yourself in one that fits the bill, twitter pic me @ zipbuttonandtuc and include the address and I will link to your blog here on My Passport To Style.

Tis The Season Of The Glam Slam!

 BEWARE THIS IS A SHINY HIGH SEQUIN ZONE!!!





 

Sequins glitter and sparkle if your going to do high glamour you need to add one at least one of these festive finishes to your party look to look blingtastic.

If your lusting after some  high voltage glitz but prefer a more dressed down approach, then you won't be disappointed with the latest in casual sequin attire, check out my top picks below.

 Will you be wearing your sequins dressed down or going super glam to your Christmas party?  

Super Glam Team Picks

Dressed Down Sequins Team Picks

* All items shopstyle, contact me for further details, all pumps featured Redfoot *  



My Passport To Style | Wardrobe Workout Aviator Style

Aviator jackets are versatile to wear, but when it come to hairstyle that's where the compromise stops. Dramatic big collar style Aviator jackets work best with sharp and sleek hair, as this is a look that is all about high impact lines, so if you wear your hair in a bob, pony tail or pixie short you will be able to rule the runway in style. If you have long hair you need to create a more scaled back look, like this smart country casual look by Mulberry.

My Passport To Style | Is Working From Home Killing Off Our Sense Of Style?

I was out with Granny who was scouting for a new silk scarf when she recoiled in horror at two young women dressed in fleecy pyjama bottoms and dressing gowns at the cash point late one Saturday afternoon. I could understand Grannies shock and dismay as a women who comes from a generation where changing 3 time during dinner was not uncommon. The PJ incident got me thinking about fashion, style and comfort, I have always believed that comfort is important, which Granny of course totally disagrees with, but as more and more women a) blog me, b) work for themselves me and c) entertain at home again me also! The lines between lounge wear and work and evening wear become very blurred and the question of who we are actually dressing for raises itself.

If we spend a large part of our working day working from home or even studying, then it follows we don't need to impress anyone, which means we can get away with zero effort. The thing is though dressing up makes me feel better, more alive and confident, I choose brighter colours and bolder prints when the weathers manky or I have a important call to make and it works to give me the boost I need. If you only ever make an effort when your meeting other people then perhaps you're not really valuing yourself and how you feel. I have decided that choosing the clothes I wear for the day carefully, is part of an important ritual in my life that has gained more significance the more my life revolves around my own home not less. Lets face it we are not short of plenty of fashion and style inspiration on the blogosphere!

 Is dressing for yourself when you work or blog from home important to setting yourself up for a positive start to your day and your work?