5 Under £50: Royal Garden Party dresses from Oasis

Today's Five dresses Under £50 for the Royal Garden Party are from Oasis. Floral seems to be the over-riding theme! What do you think of these picks?

Clockwise from top left: Round neck shift dress; Lauren floral dress; Oriental slinky dress; Chevron striped dress; and Dragonfly print tunic. 

Which is your favourite? Which do you think is the most appropriate for a date with Her Majesty?

SALE SEASON: River Island Steals

I always look forward to the River Island sale - there are always some wonderful bargains to be had! And the sale that launched today is no less exciting. Here are my picks:

For less than £30, make like Carrie Bradshaw (in the second movie) with one of these dresses:

Pink pleated maxi dress; and Blue one shoulder dress.

These pleated midi skirts are bang on trend and look to stick around for autumn winter too:

Yellow pleated midi skirt; and Coral pleated midi skirt.

AMAZING ACCESSORIES: (clockwise from top left) Green strap sandals; Navy espadrille wedges; Beige perforated duffle bag; and Beige fold up ballerina pumps and bag.

Clockwise from top left: Pink print sunglasses case; Black sunglasses case; Red sunglasses case; and Purple sunglasses.

Have you scored any bargains in the River Island sale?

Oasis Vintage Giveaway: WINNER

Mrs Bossa, of Mrs Bossa Does the Do, is the lucky winner of the New Vintage earrings by Oasis. Mrs B, please email me with details of where to send the earrings!

Thank you to everyone who entered and I promise another giveaway soon!

Blogger Style Icon: Amanda, aka The Online Stylist

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For a long while now I have been wondering how to move forward with the Style Icon series which has run on this blog for nearly 18 months. A few people suggested to me that I feature bloggers who are style icons as it seems that more and more often bloggers are influencing our style choices (something which is discussed and encouraged in many of the Friend Friday posts). Last month, I found myself lusting after a dress posted by Amanda, of The Online Stylist, and then buying the dress in question. Then it turned out that I was not the only one to be influenced by The Online Stylist: turns out the lovely lady behind Looking Fab at Any Age was also inspired to go purchase a dress, after seeing it on Amanda. So it seemed only right that Amanda be the first fashion blogger to be featured in the new and improved Style Icon posts:

STYLE INSPIRATION: the dress I bought; and the dress Fab in your 40s bought!

The obvious factor which turns many a fashion blogger into a style icon, is the fact that they show how to wear affordable fashions and catwalk trends and how these can be translated into everyday life.

Amanda excels at mixing high end fashion with high street finds - something that she also does seamlessly in her posts too:

MIXING HIGH END FASHION AND HIGH STREET FINDS: Alexander Wang T, Michael Kors bag and Next skirt

I asked Amanda:

What influences your style choices?

** I always look for investment pieces where possible and then top up with a few trend led pieces. Cost obviously plays a big part - if I had a bigger budget I would choose a few more high end pieces but I think there are so many great options on the high street now that we're spoilt for choice. I'm a huge believer in spending on a great bag or some statement shoes once a year.

Where do you mainly shop for new pieces for your wardrobe?

** Zara is a current hot favourite as is My-Wardobe.com. I'm also in love with practically everything Dorothy Perkins are doing - I feel they've really upped their game recently and can't wait for the AW11 lines to hit the shops.

Who is your style icon? (I think I can probably guess this!! Haha! - see what I mean here!)

** Yes you did guess right! That would be Olivia Palermo... the ultimate in glossy, groomed Manhattan chic. To say I'm obsessed with what she wears would be an understatement! She just has this knack of putting pieces together and looking stunning. The fact that she is beautiful helps a great deal but her ability to mix high street with high end is legendary in my book. If I ever met her I wouldn't know what to say.. I'm sure it would be highly embarrassing!

Which blogger is your style icon? (who do you think I should approach next?!!)

** Ooh.. that's a toughie. There are so many amazing style bloggers out there but one I have to check in with everyday is Jessica Quirk at What I Wore. I cannot believe I've only recently discovered her blog! She has such great individual style and always looks amazing in her outfit photos. She smiles, looks happy and to me, looks like someone you'd want to be friends with... a real girl who puts amazing outfits together. I've pre-ordered her book on Amazon as I can't wait to see it!

MAXI STYLE IMPACT: Lipsy maxi; and Zara maxi.

What do you think of Amanda's style? Which blogger is your style icon? Which blogs to you go to when you need style inspiration?

If you know someone who you think should be included in this series, leave a comment on this post, or send me an email. If you would like to write a guest post for Sugar and Spice about who your blogger style icon is, or any other topic, you can find all of the information you need here.

What Was I Wearing: Joe Browns' denim jacket

When I was contacted recently and asked if I would like to choose something from the Joe Browns' website to review, I jumped at the chance. Joe Brown is a specialist in the sort of boho chic fashion that has been popularised in recent years by the likes of Sienna Miller. From women's dresses to knitwear and jeans - Joe Browns caters for all tastes.

I knew exacly what I wanted the minute I checked out the site: a denim jacket. I had one as a teenager but for some reason it was a massive size and therefore completely swamped me, so for a while now I have been trying to hunt down a cropped fitted jacket in a faded denim and I hit jackpot!

I'm not sure I'm brave enough just yet to pull off the double denim look but think that over a summer dress, like this maxi from Very, it is a great cover-up for a chilly evening, such as this evening, when these were taken, just before I went out to the theatre!

Many of the pieces on Joe Browns are currently on offer - so if you're quick, you'll grab yourself a bargain!

5 Under £50: Royal Garden Party dresses from Next

Next month, the boyfriend and I will be attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace. It is, without doubt, a once in a lifetime opportunity and one which, obviously, requires a dress to live up to the occasion. Of course, being a bargain hunter, I have set myself a budget of £50 to find a dress. I will wear a pair of shoes from my over-flowing shoe rack and a hat or fascinator will be extra - or borrowed! So over the next week or so I will be "visiting" a few of my favourite online stores and picking my top five picks under £50. Today's are from Next:

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BARGAIN OF THE DAY: H&M Bargain Blue Shoes

How about these beautiful and bargainous blue shoes from H&M for less than £15? Yes please!

How to... pack your toiletries bag for your hand baggage

As the cost of flights and add-ons continue to increase - what happened to return flights for £30? Including my checked-in bag?! - more and more of us try to avoid at least some of these costs but trying to fit everything for a fortnight away into a carry-on bag. Add to this, restrictions on the amount of liquids you can carry in your hand baggage and packing becomes even more problematic! So I decided to share my tips for packing your toiletries in this restricted world in which we travel:

• Invest in minis. Asda is my favourite place to head for mini toiletries as they offer any 4 for £3! You'll find shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, deodorants, face wash, and even dry shampoo.
• Be realistic about what you will use. Your daily beauty routine might involve cleansing and toning and moisturising and scrubbing and whatever else you do, but do you really need to keep this up while you're on holiday?
• Buy products that are multi-purpose. Even at home, I swear by face wipes but for holidays they provide the best multi-purpose product - they cleanse and tone and remove all forms of make-up - and best of all, aren't included in your liquids limit! Another multi-purpose product that I use whilst on holiday (and that I carry in my handbag too) is Nivea Soft which can be used for face, hands and body.
• Like face wipes, nail polish remover pads do the same job and yet aren't included in your liquids limit. If you're unsure which ones to get, I'd recommend these by Quickies.
• If you're travelling with friends, what products can you share? Maybe one person can bring shampoo and another conditioner and another still, shower gel?
• If all else fails, there aren't many holiday destinations where you wouldn't be able to buy anything you can't fit in.
• I would also suggest that you put everything into one of the regulation clear bags before you put it into your toiletries bag, so that it is easier to take out when you get to security.

Of course, it is not only toiletries which are included in your liquids limit but also your make-up:

• Minerals make-up is the obvious choice for travelling as they won't be included.
• If you don't want to buy additional make-up only for those occasions you travel, I try to decant foundation/tinted moisturiser into a small container for my holidays.
• I also look out for free gifts from my favouriet make-up brands (like Boots No 7) and keep the mini mascaras and lip glosses specifically for my hand baggage.

What are your top tips for carrying your toiletries in your hand baggage?

Style Icon UPDATE: Duchess of Cambridge (aka Kate Middleton) at Wimbledon

The Duchess of Cambridge, who will forever be Kate Middleton, proved her fashion credentials yet again, as she attended Wimbledon with her husband to watch Andy Murray win his fourth round match at the All England Club:

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The Duchess of Cambridge chose a white tiered Temperley London dress for her trip to the tennis.

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Once again the Duchess chose the high street to accessorise her outfit for the occasion, with another pair of LK Bennett shoes. This time, these Classic Nude Patent Platform Court Shoes for just under £200:

If you fancy celebrating Wimbledon in white, like Kate Middleton, why not check out my choice of the best Little White Dresses?

BARGAIN OF THE DAY: Dorothy Perkins' mustard platform sandals

Brighten up any outfit with these fabulous - and bargainous - mustard-coloured platform sandals from Dorothy Perkins. Yours for £25!

Mani of the Week: Boots 17 Crackle Top Polish

You might remember that a few weeks ago the lovely people at Boots' 17 sent me their new Supreme Shine collection? The package included their brand new Crackle Top Polish. Many brands now offer crackle top polish but I had yet to try any, so I couldn't wait to try this one out. It works best if you use a thin coat as it dries quickly and cracks as it dries. I tried it first with Boots No 7 Lovely Lilac polish which looked great but the pale undercoat meant that the effect wasn't too noticeable:

So I gave it a go with the Boots No 7 Tangy polish which I think worked better:

Have you tried any of the crackle polishes? What do you think of them?

BARGAIN OF THE DAY: Next One-Shoulder Dress

Whilst hunting for a dress for a very special occasion (more on that later) I stumbled upon this bargainous beauty over at Next. It's bright hue and one-shoulder make it bang on trend for Spring Summer 2011 and perfect for summer evening cocktails on your holidays. For just £18, what are you waiting for?!

Monday Morning Pic-Me-Up

Dreaming of Valencia...

Ethical fashion vs fast fashion: take II

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Since I wrote my piece last weekend about my own dilemmas between ethical fashion and fast fashion, I seem to have stumbled upon the same subject being discussed on more than a couple of blogs. It seems there’s something in the air.

Having read these posts with interest, I felt compelled to write a follow-up last weekend’s post which was, at best, simply a stream of conscious and, at worst, the ramblings of an incoherent shopaholic!

The first post was Pearl’s musings, Budget Fashion: Can you afford to shop ethically? Here are a couple of Pearl’s most pertinent points, that she makes far better than I ever could:

“So, how about we don't shop on the High St at all, we save all our money for special pieces we know came from ethical sources. We buy handmade clothes from exclusive boutiques... But wait, you need a dress for your friend’s wedding in two weeks’ time and you only have £30, you have a job interview and need a suit this week but it would take you months to save up for one that cost £££s.”

She goes on to quote a comment left on a post over on the blog Jezebel which aimed to shame Forever 21’s practices which echoes these sentiments and remarks:

“I wish that Jezebel would suggest some alternatives to the "fast fashion" and its sweatshops and American Apparel and its perversion. There are a lot of articles condemning places with easy, cute, cheap clothing, but most of the alternatives I can think of in my price range are likely just as unethical.

And, no, thrifting and f***ing Etsy aren't what I mean. I'm talking about relatively inexpensive places to shop that are accessible to most people, and that don't require that shopping become a hobby. Maybe a "How to Dress When You're Ethical, Busy, and on a Budget?" I'm guessing a lot of readers might appreciate one.”

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The commenters on Pearl’s post were all pretty much of the same mind – as each other and me: there seems to be a general consensus that fast fashion on the high street is by turns, both unethical and poorly made, thus making little argument for actually buying it in the first place. But – and this is a vitally important but in the whole argument – there are people and situations which arise that mean that, on occasion, these clothes fulfil a need which would be impossible to fill from another source. Whilst most seem to be in agreement that frivolous shopping in a store like Primark – throwing in 50 pence top after £2 dress, is not particularly sensible or necessary, there are occasions when they fulfil a need for a particular item or outfit when funds are limited. (Does this make any sense? I feel like I have reverted to the ramblings of a shopaholic – again!)

On Tuesday, another day and another post about ethical shopping, Jen, of A Little Bird Told Me, questioned, after reading Pearl’s post:

“So if all our high street stores are guilty of being unethical, where can we shop? There are ethical labels like People Tree, but they can be prohibitively expensive. And there's secondhand shopping, but not everyone has the time or inclination to rummage through a charity shop bin. One of the commenters on Jezebel mentioned they'd just got a new job and had $50 to buy a work wardrobe. A very specific need, a small timeframe and a low budget - of course they'll visit a high street store. Forever 21, in fact.”

This question of where to shop is one that is echoed throughout the comments left on these posts and one that I asked in my own post last weekend. Harriet’s comment on my post totally struck a chord with me:

“I can't afford to buy expensive clothes all the time, and even when they are expensive that doesn't mean the supplier didn't use cheap unethical labour, so it's hard to know what to do. It's always good to hear about shops that do the right thing though.”

If anyone has any advice or ideas about this, please do leave a comment, I would be so interested to hear what you think.

As I mentioned in my post, charity shop and thrift shop shopping are often cited as both ethical and cheap ways in which to shop, however I read a really interesting comment on Pearl’s post, from Mrs Bossa, which made me question even this:

“I used to buy a lot more in charity shops that I do, but I stopped whim-buying there because I realised that my shrugging frivolity-shopping was taking really decent pieces out of the hands of people who aren't as lucky, circumstantially, as me. That's not to say I never buy in charity shops now and I do see them as a genuine part of my economic landscape - I'm just trying to be better about it.”

In addition, many charity shops are now being filled with Primark rejects from those who have simply bought stuff cheap and then either never worn it or have worn it once and it has not retained its shape/colour/size/whatever and has thus been discarded.

Another post which dealt with this subject this week came from Jill, at Street Style London, who took a different angle on the whole issue – the human angle of the story of Primark and the people behind the brand – please read it, she tells it far better than I ever could!

The comments on Jill’s post, like Pearl’s, created a bit of a heated debate but, again, with the admission from many, including Jill and me, that we are divided over this subject, that it isn’t all black and white, there are shades of grey, that whilst the efforts of those to be ethical in their shopping habits are noble, there are those who simply cannot afford to have such ethics and that it is not for us to judge them.

I think that what annoys me most about the debates about anything like this, from fast fashion, to global warming, to animal rights, to human rights even, is that there are those who are prepared to simply stand and preach – and, in turn, to judge – but there are others who are prepared to lead by example and do what they can, in their own way, without trying to actively change others. It is these people, I believe, who will have more of an effect on changing the patterns and habits of many more people.

Phew – this is a long long post! I would apologise for this but I’m not going to, because I think every once in a while, it is important to raise the issues that make us uncomfortable and help us to question what we believe.

I’d love to know what you think of this debate – if you’re not too exhausted after reading this!

Friend Friday #45: secret fashion loves



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 Of this week's topic for Friend Friday, Katy says:

"This was partly fueled by a suggestion from Suz of MissVinylAhoy and partly by my own realization that I like some odd things since I started blogging – things I never would have looked twice at before."

1. Since you began blogging do you notice a change in the types of things you gravitate towards while shopping?

I am definitely more adventurous when shopping now. Colour has mades its way into my wardrobe a lot more since I started my blog. I am also a little more careful about what I buy, since doing the 30 for 30 challenge and reading other blogs, I try to think about how new purchases will fit into my wardrobe and have a mental list of things I look for in sales.

2. Do you find, as a fashion blogger, that you dress differently from your family and friends? Do they comment on that?

I don't dress too differently to how I did before I started blogging, I guess I have just "honed" my style a little more. I remember years and years ago, my best friend told me that my style was kind of "timeless". (I think this was even when we were back in school!!) I like to think that this is still the case.

3. What’s the weirdest fashion that you secretly like, even if you aren’t bold enough to wear it?

Ankle socks and shoes. After being forced to wear socks with my shoes when I was at school by my mother, I never thought I would actually feel like I wanted to do it! I tried it out a few weeks ago - I'm still not sure how I felt about the trend on me but I still like it... secretly!
4. Looking at current trends – what would you like to try but need to build up the courage to do?

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Bold lip colour. I love the look, particularly against tanned skin but I never think it looks right on me. (As seen on the catwalk at Jil Sander, amongst others!)

5. Toot someone’s horn – what fashion blogger out there inspires you with her bold fashion choices?

Katie of What Katie Wore is always boldly dressed and fabulous at the same time! However I have to admit that the bloggers that inspire me the most aren't those who necessarily push the boundaries but those who are consistent and always chic, bloggers like V at Grit and Glamour and Veshoevius of The Taxonomy of my Wardrobe and Jazzabelle of Jazzabelle's Diary. Amongst many many others!

What trends do you wish you were bold enough to try? Which bloggers' style inspires you?

Remember to check out the other responses to think week's Friend Friday topic, over at ModlyChic. You can also find more information on how to get involved over on Katy's blog too.

By invitation only

Fancy finding yourself at one of the most exclusive sales around? Allow me to invite you.

Cocosa was launched by Bauer Media, the company behind my favourite fashion weekly, Grazia magazine, three years ago and offers members access to private sales which run for a limited period and brim with an unrivalled selection of luxury brands. The experienced team of buyers hand pick only the most covetable fashion and accessories for you to enjoy. You all know that I absolutely hate to buy anything for its full retail price and am always on the hunt for a bargain - Cocosa are able to offer you behind-the-scenes access to the kind of dizzying designer discounts that only fashion insiders have previously enjoyed.

 

Previous sales have included designers from Vivienne Westwood, Tom Ford Sunglasses, Alexander McQueen to Karl Lagerfeld, Jonathan Saunders and Nicole Farhi, and even Matthew Williamson and Vera Wang.


To be invited to these sales, you must first register on Cocosa. Cocosa are currently offering an exclusive £10 off their first order over £50 when they enter the promotional code ‘luxurystyle’ at the checkout. An exclusive sale and money off? What could be better? I ask you! To be honest, I'm not sure what I'm still doing here chatting about it and why I'm not over on the site already... shopping!!

Have any of you used Cocosa? Did you have any success with finding a bargain?



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Holiday Essentials #2

You might have noticed from my recent holiday snaps that another of my holiday essentials are my denim cut-offs. They are so easy to wear and comfortable.

Here are my picks from around the internet, for whatever budget you might find yourself on:


SAVE:

H&M denim shorts

SPEND:

J Crew denim shorts

SPLURGE:

J Brand denim shorts

What are your holiday essentials?

PS:

Have you entered my giveaway to win a fabulous pair of Oasis New Vintage earrings? If not, make sure you do so right away!! You can’t win, if you don’t enter! 

AND, if you have already voted for me in the Filofax Facebook Blogger Style Off, thank you. If you haven’t voted for me yet, please do go and vote for me and will be forever grateful.

BARGAIN HUNTER: Selfridges' sale steal

When I saw on Twitter last week that the Selfridges' sale had begun, I had to go and check it out. And I was so glad I did...

Check out what was inside the package that arrived ever so quickly:

Remember my obsession with the Longchamp Le Pliage bags in Paris last autumn? Imagine my joy when I discovered this bag with half off!


Coming to an outfit post, very soon!


PS:

Have you entered my giveaway to win a fabulous pair of Oasis New Vintage earrings? If not, make sure you do so right away!! You can’t win, if you don’t enter! 

AND, if you have already voted for me in the Filofax Facebook Blogger Style Off, thank you. If you haven’t voted for me yet, please do go and vote for me and will be forever grateful.