Must Haves This Winter!

The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting colder and it's finally time to pack away the mini skirts and hotpants for a while. Yes, it seems winter is finally here. The best TV is back on the box, the weathermen have already hinted that it may snow soon and best of all this means it's almost Christmas!

However it's so hard to choose what to wear in winter! No matter what you wear the moment it snows your tootsies are going to get wet and/or cold and there's always this awkward moment when you step inside, bundled up to the max from the cold and then the heat hits you - cue the frantic strip of hats, gloves, scarfs, coats, jumpers and whatever else. But it always helps to be stylish!

This winter's theme has to be rust. Rusty browns, wine reds and mustard yellows should be the staple pieces in your wardrobe this winter. Although jeans are comfortable, this winter it's definitely time to experiment with different stays to keep warm AND stay stylish at the same time. Try ditching your jeans for a pair of stone coloured chinos or even a knitted skirt with thick, grey tights. The options are endless.

Here are some of my top picks for the perfect winter wardrobe ;

The Knitted Granny Skirt

Clockwise from top left ;

Petites Intarsia Knit Skirt, £20.00, Miss Selfridge

Brenta Fairisle Knitted Mini Skirt in Camel, £11.99, Missguided.co.uk

Black Fairisle Midi Tube Skirt, £20.00, River Island

Snowflake Knitted Mini Skirt Cream/Black, £10.00, Funkydivaa.com

This is definitely a tricky trend to pull off as the style definitely reminds you of old grannies! However with the skirt short and feminine it could definitely give off a vintage vibe. Wear with black tights and a simple plain white or black vest top, nothing to take the attention away from the skirt. My personal favourite from the ones featured above is definitely the Brenta Fairisle Knitted Mini Skirt from Missguided, it looks just that little bit more different with a bit more colour and looks a bit more Christmasy to me. For those of you worried about getting frost bite, the Fairisle Midi Tube Skirt from River Island is ideal as it's much longer and will therefore keep you extra warm.

Wine Red Tones

Clockwise from top left ;

Long Sleeve Basic Top In Wine, £5.99, Funkydivaa.com

Wine Red Stretch Skinny Belt Jeans, £29.99, Quiz Clothing

Snake Peep Toe Platform Court, £19.99, New Look

Kelly Jersey Short Sleeve T-Shirt, £10.00, Boohoo.com

This deep but warm shade is absolutely gorgeous and is perfect for those cold nights this winter. Add a bit of warmth to your outfit by wearing this daring wine red shade which best goes with both cream and rusty brown shades. The items featured above are lovely for winter, the top from Funkydivaa has long sleeves to keep you warm, whereas the skinny fit jeans are, er, so skinny that no cold will get in! 

Mustard Yellow Must Haves!

Clockwise from top left ;

Lace Collar Chiffon Top, £12.99, Missrebel.co.uk

F&F Funnel Neck Coat, £25.00, Clothing at Tesco

Evangelie Jersey Leggings, £5.99, Missguided.co.uk

Ochre Bobble Scarf, £18.00, Miss Selfridge

As you've probably guessed from the many posts I've done about this, mustard yellow is a really big thing right now! The only thing to remember is to use it sparingly - as it's such an out there colour! A subtle addition of this colour - like with a scarf such as the Ochre Bobble Scarf - is the perfect addition to an outfit. A bright, fitted coat in this gorgeous colour will also keep you especially warm this winter. Mustard yellow looks great with chocolately browns or, if you're feeling brave, wine reds like the ones featured earlier in this post!

Rusty Browns

Clockwise from top left ;

Corsage Necklace Tee, £12.99, Missrebel

Bellina Skinny Jeans In Brown, £25.99, Missguided.co.uk

Flannel Chain Belted Shorts, £36.00, Topshop

Vero Moda Nordic Snowflake Knit Dress, £38.00, ASOS.com

Browns are always big when it comes to Autumn/Winter, but this year the main tone is 'rusty brown'. Luckily, brown is a warm colour which means you'll look picture perfect during those cold days, and brown also goes with pretty much anything! Wear big, comfy white or black ugg boots with the pair of Bellina Skinny Jeans from Missguided, or wear a pair of massive thick tights with either the shorts or the dress.

Finally, not forgetting the perfect finishing touch to your very stylish winter outfits - the nail colours! Without a doubt, buy all the coolest winter shades in one go when purchasing Models Own' Autumn/Winter Collection, priced at £20 and available from Modelsownit.com

Left To Right -

Grace Green,

Purple Ash,

Becca's Brown,

Purple Grey,

Mushroom

and 

Nude Beige

Keep an eye out for an upcoming shopping haul post, showcasing all my winter autumn purchases from Funkydivaa (some of which appear here!). Also do not forget that you can receive an exclusive to this blog 15% discount to use at Funkydivaa when entering the code LOUISE15 at check out!

www.missselfridge.com / www.missguided.co.uk / www.riverisland.com / www.funkydivaa.com / www.quizclothing.com / www.newlook.com / www.boohoo.com / www.missrebel.co.uk / www.clothingattesco.com / www.topshop.com / www.asos.com / www.modelsownit.com

Wednesday Wishlist

Yellow Smock Dress, £45.00, River Island.com (web exclusive)

Mustard Yellows are extremely in this summer/winter and are the perfect shade to stand out. This particular shade is very show stopping so should be used sparingly. This dress is perfect for that transition from summer to winter ; wear it as it is with nude heels or wedges this summer or add some grey knee high socks and a cute waistcoat for when the weather starts getting chilly. This dress is absolutely gorgeous and spot on for style. At almost £50 it may seem a little steep, especially as it isn't a versatile colour, but with a bit of creativity to get the proper use out of the dress, perhaps the price tag will be worth it!

Ladies 2in1 Belted Dress, £24.00, Peacocks

It's not actually always easy to put clothes together and work out what goes with what, especially when it comes to printed skirts or tops in less versatile shades. That's why I like these type of items and this dress is no exception. It comes as it is - even with a belt - and there's no need to add or remove anything to add to the look. At £24.00 it's a real bargain. Lovely tanned coloured heels would really suit this dress!

High Waisted Shorts, £19.99, New Look

Chocolate brown is also very much in this year (perfect for winter) and goes extremely well alongside mustard yellow. Brown can also go with a lot of things easily. These really cute high waisted shorts are very stylish right now, I would without a doubt suggest teaming them with a bright mustard yellow top. If you're feeling really brave, wear a cream vest top with them and instead swap brogues for a pair of mustard yellow heels.

MOTO Denim Western Crop Jacket, £42.00, Topshop

I really, really love this eye catching jacket and again think it would go perfectly with all the browns and creams that are in at the moment. Like a lot of the current trends, you'd definitely need the confidence to pull this off but this is definitely a wishlist item!

Pearl Bracelet With Bow Detail In Peach, £7.00, Funkydivaa.com

I adore this bracelet - it's so girly! I just had to add this as my final 'Wednesday Wishlist' item. I think this is the perfect accessory to add to any outfit - a lot of the time it's hard to remember to keep something a little bit feminine when it comes to choosing what to wear but with this bracelet on your wrist at all times you will always have that girly/feminine touch. It's also ever so slightly romantic. This bracelet is very much like something you'd find in Accessorize but at a much cheaper price!

www.riverisland.com

www.peacocks.co.uk

www.newlook.com

www.topshop.com

www.funkydivaa.com

Wednesday Wishlist

High Waist Denim Shorts, £19.99 New Look

Get those legs out now that its summer! These high waist shorts ooze sophistication and can be both vintage and contemporary. Best worn with wedges, or with shoes like the ones above, these shorts will make it look like your legs go on forever! Try being bold and teaming them with a lace leotard and even higher heels for a night out. High waist shorts are the perfect wardrobe essential to go from day to night in no time.

Kirsty Two Pocket Jersey Cardigan, £5.00, Boohoo.com

This adorable cardigan is the perfect pick for brightening up or adding colour into any outfit. With such a lovely shade for summer, this cardigan would look gorgeous over a plain white dress or outfit. And at £5.00, its a real bargain! It's also available in red too.

Porsha Ruffle Hanky Hem Tunic, £15.00, Boohoo.com

I love this! This girly waterfall top is so cute and light that it can be worn for just about anything. This is the type of top that I'd wear casually on a day to day basis with skinny fit jeans and pumps. I'd probably team a long cardigan with it too. Soft blue nails would match this top, with lots of oversized rings too!

Sleeveless Studded Blouse Top in Coral, £14.99, Funkydivaa.com

I've really been digging (haha retro) these types of tops lately. They're so effortlessly smart and bang on trend with the peter pan collar, but can also be worn casually. Lately I've also been seeing them with studs in like this one, and I really, really love this twist. It really glams up the top and gives it a bit of an edge. This means that before where it could be worn casual or smart, it can also be worn for a more glam event too. With the top being fairly long, it can also be tucked into a bodycon skirt or jeans. This top is also available in black or royal blue.

Floral Print Drape Chiffon Playsuit, £18.99, Funkydivaa.com

I'm not a massive fan of playsuits as I don't feel they are quite feminine, but this one outshines most I have seen. The floral print detail really gives it a girly look, as does the shape. This is a playsuit that should definitely be worn with a belt to show off a person's shape better. This one is really cute as its versatile so can be worn with a number of different things. Hot pink wedges would give this outfit real 'oomph'!

www.newlook.com
www.boohoo.com
www.funkydivaa.com

Wednesday Wishlist

Spotty Platform Courts, £29.99, New Look

How gorgeous are these? They are incredibly vintage and sexy - I absolutely adore them. I think these shoes will really add a twist to any outfit, especially if you like to stand out. A summer dress in a coral shade like the spots would match perfectly. For a night out, dress all in white and let the shoes do the talking!

Soul Cal Deluxw Cricket Cardigan, £29.99, Republic

The preppy look isn't for everyone, but for those of you who want to try it, then this cute girly cardigan is the way to do it. The colours mean it doubles up as nautical too so its definitely on trend. To really complete the look, dress down with jeans and add converse trainers! If you're feeling really bold, a bright block colour t-shirt in pink, orange or green would look great underneath. 

White Cherry Print Scarf, £12.00, Dorothy Perkins

Brighten up any dull outfit with this bright, eye catching scarf. If you're having an off day, add this to your look for some added oomph. This fruity buy is perfect as its a staple piece that can be worn time and time again. Try wearing it as a headband, or even as a belt added to an otherwise plain white dress/outfit.

Allover Rip Long Knit Casual Top, £12.99, Miss Rebel

It may not be summery (though to be fair, has the weather been anything but rainy this week?) but I have fallen in love with this top. Channel your inner rock chick and purchase this oversized top for that sexy punk look. Wear it best with bracelets piled up on the arms, skinny jeans and biker boots or converse. If you want a more festival look, try it over hot pants! Don't be shy with the eyeliner either!

Daisy Stud Earring, £5.00, Rare Fashion

I love these really cute, girly earrings as I feel that not only are they summery, they are also very vintage. Oversized earrings are always in fashion and these earrings are the perfect transition from small studs to big earrings. Wear these with your hair piled up high in a messy bun to muse that perfect vintage look and show them off.

www.newlook.com

www.republic.co.uk

www.dorothyperkins.com

www.missrebel.co.uk

www.rarefashion.co.uk

Wednesday Wishlist

Oriental Print Maxi Dress, £39.00, Miss Selfridge

I really love this printed maxi dress as it reminds me of warm summer evenings. It's a little bit shorter than your average maxi dress, so its a bit more floaty and girly. I think it's a really lovely dress that can be just shoved on over a bikini or just worn for a lazy, summer evening BBQ. The way that its slightly taken in too means that a funky belt would spruce up the outfit. A messy up-do with random bits of tousled hair hanging down with some girly earrings would suit this look nicely. Keep the accessories to a minimum and instead just wear earrings and some nice nude wedges.

MOTO Tangerine Denim Hotpants, £26.00, Topshop

These bright hot pants are the perfect way to keep stylish with the new colour blocking trend. For those of you willing to go bold enough, a bright coloured pair of hotpants would look amazing with a plain white top. You'd certainly turn heads wearing these, and, if you are really confident, you could instead team them with a colour block t-shirt in another bright colour. Again keep the accessories to a minimum for this outfit and let the bright colours do the talking.

Saffia Crochet Detail Tunic, £22.00, Boohoo.com

I hope you're ready for all the music festivals this summer! If you're still picking out you're wardrobe then you need to get this top - it's a summer staple for all the festivals this year. This gorgeous waterfall top - which is also available in white - would look amazing with denim hotpants and piles and piles of beaded necklaces. Oh, and if you're brave enough, this top would look hot with the hotpants featured before - very on trend!

Cream Floral Peep Toe Wedges, £35.00, Dorothy Perkins

Talk about shoe lust! There are just no words to describe how pretty these babies are! Ooh and the outfit ideas to go with them are endless...wear with a plain white dress, a coral playsuit...anything would go! Just remember to paint your toenails a nice bright colour (or give yourself a French pedicure!) as your toes will be on show!

Belted Flower Skirt, £22.99, New Look

This bold patterned skirt may remind you of something your nan might wear but its very stylish right now! Bang on trend, this flowery skirt is great for turning heads with such a bold style. A simple cream top, like the one pictured with it, would go perfect. Pile on the bangles to add to the look, and cream shoes too. 

www.missselfridge.com

www.topshop.com

www.boohoo.com

www.dorothyperkins.com

www.newlook.com

Wednesday Wishlist

Floral Sleeveless Dress, £24.00, Dorothy Perkins

I love this simple, floral summery dress from Dorothy Perkins. I think what I like most about it is that its sleeveless - the basic straight down shape means it would look absolutely amazing teamed with heels and bracelets piled high on each arm. I really love the vintage pattern as well. For a look thats more suitable for the day, tuck it into a high waisted skirt or shorts especially for summer with some plain pumps. Pink lips with vintage earring studs would also complete the look.

Satin Strappy Platform, £24.99, New Look

These strappy sandles really get me in the mood for the summer. This hot pink shade will brighten up any outfit and would look lovely with a plain white dress. Match your nails to this colour by painting them pink. Wear these with a little black dress for an evening/clubbing look that really stands out with a french pedicure.

Ruffle Bow Back Camisole, £30.00, ASOS

I really love tops that have interesting back detail like this as I think its so refreshing. I think its a much classier approach to showing a little flesh on a night out too, as opposed to flashing your cleavage or legs! This top is majorly cute and looks really good with shorts. This outfit should be kept very simple with pumps for in the day, or heels for the evening. Brush your hair and curl it to one side to really show off the back detail with this dress.

Magali Tailored Pleat Dress in Camel, £21.99, Missguided

I'm really loving all the honey and mustard yellows that we are seeing this summer as I think they are key pieces to your wardrobe - any girl should own something in a nice eye catching shade of yellow! This dress is incredibly vintage with its mid length sleeves and the skinny belt to give it more shape. 

Paris Charm Bracelet, £14.00, Accessorize 

This gorgeous bracelet will have you dreaming of a romantic summer spent in Paris! If you can't afford to travel to France, get this bracelet instead for a subtle hint of romance to your outfit. Wear it with anything at all, but bright red or blue heels will really be eye catching as they match the bows on this bracelet.

Wednesday Wishlist

Black Glitter Print Vest Top, £9.99, Quiz Clothing

As you all may know, I do love my rocker/emo/indie boys! I don't think I've ever dated a guy who hasn't been in a band/played guitar/bass/drums or sung! I adore this top, it's cute, its cheeky and its available in black or white. If you're like me and like your rockers to be rockers i.e not popstars, then the black is perfect as its a bit rock chick/punk!

Further note - this should probably be removed from this post because I spotted this top the other day but posting a picture there just made me want it more so I treated myself too it! I am completely and utterly skint at the moment but got paid £25 a while back for doing some reviews and thought this had been paid into my bank account...turns out it's been sitting in my paypal this whole time! It's a sign! Plus I can justify this purchase because I got a quid off and got cash back for it!

Lace Drop Back Top, £16.99, New Look

As I stated before, I am keeping an eye out for clothes to wear on my work experience and this has caught my eye. It's bang on trend at the moment with its peter pan collar detailing and the back has lace detail as well. It's white so its quite smart, but it's stylish as well. I'm pretty sure I could find a white lace top for much cheaper elsewhere, but I imagine this would look lovely and smart with a long black cardigan and dark blue jeans, or, for a more fashionable look, a cardigan in maybe coral or even a daring mustard yellow.

Serena Contrast Sheer Blouse in Mink, £19.99 and Denisse turn up stud detail shorts in black, £14.99 both New Look

I spotted this outfit being modeled for the shorts but I really love how the outfit looks altogether. I'm terrible with putting my own outfits together so this is quite nice to see and again this would be lovely for my work experience. It's smart and stylish at the same time, and the whole outfit screams sophistication.

Finding Mr. Bright, £28.50, Benefit

I adore Benefit! It's cute, quirky, and I love the names! This new set they have just brought out includes girl meets pearl - liquid pearl for face, posietint - poppy-pink tinted lip & cheek stain, high beam - luminescent complexion enhancer and erase paste no. 2 - medium brightening camouflage for eyes & face. So it's perfect for the mornings after those late nights and will fit right in your bag for whenever you need a quick makeup top up. It may also result in you meeting Mr Right!

Smash Up nail polish, £6.00 Models Own 

(coming soon!)

Models Own is one of the leading nail polish brands around at the moment and they have finally caught on to the fact that girls are no longer happy with their nails just being one colour. Models Own have now developed 'Smash Up' which is a variety of nail varnishes that give you a funky, cracked pattern when painting your nails. Soon to be available in 9 colours from the neon pink and orange to the classic black and white, these nail varnishes are sure to fly off the shelves! They are available at an affordable £6.00 and can be bought soon from the Models Own website, and Boots will also be stocking a few selected shades.

http://www.quizclothing.co.uk/

http://www.newlook.com/

http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk

http://www.modelsownit.com/

How to dress for a Date/Date Night - At The Movies

I have put together some outfit ideas using the website 'Polyvore' for a date at the Movies! I've tried to do a variety of different looks and have tried to use items that are all under £30. I think most of them are, the website uses dollars and I searched items under $50, which is equivalent to about £30 apparently. Anyway, click on the look/set to be taken to a bigger version, where you can click on any item in the set to be taken to where you can buy it, and find a list of where everything is from. But remember some items are available at a number of different places for cheaper so look around! I have also used make up ideas, the crushed makeup affect - which is so cute - obviously isn't a specific colour from a specific store (though clicking on it may take you to a shop) it's just an idea of how to do your eye makeup to go with the look.

Enjoy!

Look One - Girly

This is the girly look I have created, without going too over the top. I have tried to make it a mixture of both girly but casual by using pumps instead of heels and a mixture of both bangles and bracelets to tone the outfit down a little. I've picked a small clutch bag and some girly stud earrings. For makeup, I've picked (and would suggest) a mixture of smoky, chocolate browns for the eyes - basically smoky eyes but with much more softer tones. I've also picked brown mascara for eyelashes so you don't draw too much attention to your eyes. I've also gone with nude lips and a pinky/coral blusher, so the makeup as a whole is girly but not too 'out there'. I have also, of course, picked a French Manicure for nails!

Look Two - Rock Chic/Look with an Edge

This look has a bit more of an edge to it and is for those girls who want to stand out or who want to really impress by showing off their style. I've chosen casual clothes again - a nice printed top with dark colours and black skinny fit jeans - with the choice between either black converse trainers that go with the outfit or pink converse trainers that stand out and really make the outfit 'rock chick'. Rather then using the typical deep, black smoky eyes with heavy eyeliner I've used a mix of a peach, brown and purple eyeshadows which mixed together will create a gorgeous, sultry and sexy look which is both dark and feminine. Because the eyes will be a bit heavy, I've used a very light peach blusher. For the lips I've used the new MAC Wonder Women range - which is a statement in its own - in, again, a light colour to keep attention drawn to the eyes. I've used a variety of different bangles and the earrings are quite girly to keep the outfit feminine. All in all this look is a bit different, but will definitely go down well on a date especially if you know your date loves listening to the rocky stuff! If its a bit much for you, try plain black pumps instead of the converse, a more girly shade on the nails such as coral or hot pink and tone down the eye makeup a little.

Look Three - Dressed Up/Classy

This look is for the date that doesn’t end at the movies i.e. that may lead to drinks or food afterwards. This look would also be perfect for dates that aren’t at your normal cinema – instead cinemas that have bars or restaurants in them or those old cinemas that are restored to how they are in the olden days. Y’know the ones I mean, with the red curtains and candle lit tables. Anyway, onto the look.

I’ve picked a fairly plain dress which can easily be dressed up or dressed down. I haven’t chosen a necklace with it because the neckline has what is called a peter pan neckline which is what stops this dress being completely plain – it’s the bit that makes the dress interesting! So a necklace would only draw attention away from this. I’ve also chosen girly but pretty basic accessories – small stud earrings, a rose ring – all of which match the outfit. The black bracelets break the outfit up a bit so you are not drowned out in one single shade. The headband is there for the heels – you can wear the heels alone to dress the outfit up, the headband alone to dress it down, or them both together to equal the outfit out. The headband definitely stops the outfit being too OTT and if you are lucky enough to be taken to one of the oldie cinemas then you’d look the part with the headband! Again with the heels – they are a lovely neutral shade and are very girly but if you feel heels are too over the top then they can be swapped for a pair of pumps. The makeup I’ve kept very pink and basic as well, with again soft tones for the eye shadow. I’ve also picked this nice cream bag rather then a clutch bag because it can just be thrown over your shoulder if the date does continue elsewhere.

Look Three - Casual/Dressed Down/An outfit for an early showing!

Finally this last look is a really casual one for a girl who wants to be comfortable and doesn’t want to look like she’s tried too hard. It’s especially good if it’s a date that’s in summer or if it’s a day date with an early showing at the cinema. I’ve picked quite casual clothes – a loose fitting t-shirt with nice detail and highwaisted shorts, which are also quite fashionable. It’s a very basic outfit. The pumps are leopard print, which spice the outfit up a little bit. Because the outfit is quite simple, I’ve used dark shades for the eye shadow and would suggest doing sexy smoky eyes with large eyelashes for this look. You can get away with this because the clothes are so simple. I’ve picked a pinky shade for lipstick as well, something that doesn’t clash too much with the eyes but also has a bit of colour, and again a coral blusher. For nails I’ve chosen a nice, girly pink that will add colour to the outfit along with the accessories. The large flowery bangle is bright and colourful and just the one dresses up the outfit without having to wear loads. I’ve picked chic earings and rings – you can see for yourself in the photos. I would also suggest earings that hang down as well rather then studs to give the outfit a little ‘oomph!’ Finally a cute chic clutch that matches the rings!

Well, that concludes my post on how to dress for a date. I've tried to do four original looks that are also stylish and fashionable! Let me know what you think or if you'd like to see a different style or a post about outfits for a different date (dinner, gig, clubbing...?)!