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

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

Multi Coloured Flower Stud Set, £6.50, Topshop

How cute are these! Just looking at them makes me excited for summer, the many water fights, the hot weather, the smell of freshly cut grass...and all the summery girly outfits! I'd love to get these studs as they are so bright and funky (there's practically a colour for every look!) and you can also miss-and-match them for an even cooler look. 

Tall White Rock and Roll Sleeveless Top, £20.00, Topshop

I adore this top because it's a bit rock chick with the slogan but it's nice and neutral too. It's very stylish, can be worn with anything and can be made to look a bit more edgy with black skinny fit jeans and a leather jacket. This would look lovely with hair pulled up into a messy bun and bold, statement red lips. Or, for a less in-your-face look, swap the bold lips for a soft pink colour and instead draw attention to the eyes with heavy liquid eyeliner creating a cat-winged look.

Pink Floral Zip Front Bralet, £20.00, Topshop

Originally under the 'Lingerie & Nightwear' section, this very stylish bralet could be worn as anything. It would look lovely underneath a revealing top or a white blazer secured in the middle with a belt...either way its too cute to keep under wraps! 

Bourjois Limited Edition Blush, £7.49, Boots.com

Available in the shades of Rose Coup De Foudre, Lilas D'or, Rose De Jaspe, Rose Ambre, Rose D'or, these gorgeous Parisian blushers are the most chic thing on the market right now. The blushes, not much different from the original blushers offer the biggest difference in the very cute packaging based on the brands history. The blusher itself, however, is girly, easy to use and opens up to reveal a small brush and a small mirror to help apply blush on the go.

Soap and Glory Enormous Beauty Bundle, £35, Boots.com

A bundle of Soap and Glory's best products is available to order online again just in time for 'Mothers Day'. Although it is a little more expensive then the one that was available at Christmas, the products in this selection add up to over £70 originally. Some products include Soap & Glory Touch & Glow, Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker and Soap & Glory Wizard of Flaws. Hmm, I wonder if I could get this for my Mum as it's clearly a present she'd really like but never get round to using, thus giving it to me!

www.topshop.com

www.boots.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...?)!

Wednesday Wishlist

Lilliana Stud Embellished Chiffon Style Dress In Mocha, £28.99, Missguided

This gorgeous dress is so lovely! I love how the shape and style is plain but the embellishments make it more 'wow'! I like how its the type of dress you can wear in so many different ways ; by itself and some wedges in the summer, with thick tights in winter, you can drape yourself in lots of accessories with it for a more classy look..I'd wear it with a soft brown eyeshadow, nude lips and peach cheeks, or with red lipstick as you'd have to be careful to make sure the colour doesn't drown you out.

The dress is also available in a few other colours such as hot pink (which I'm also considering) but I think purchasing the dress in this mocha colour is ideal as I will get more use out of it!

Crazy Peony Floral Indian Clip Frame Purse, £9.00, Accessorize 

I recently put together an article on bags for a website I've began writing for and featured this very cute chic purse! It's so cute! The purse I have at the moment is a large one that stores all my cards and money etc but I'd really like a mini purse like this just for my coins. The bow detail with the little heart is my favourite part of the purse but I'd be worried about it falling off!

Mariota Belted Chino Trousers in Grey, £18.99, Missguided

Over the easter half term I'll be doing work experience with More! magazine for two weeks, so I've been keeping an eye out for some items that are both smart and fashionable at the same time. These panelled trousers are both. I love the grey/slightly brown shade and would wear these with a white blouse and just pumps - though heels would look better as you can see in this photo! These are a bit different from normal work trousers as they are taken up at the bottom and much more fitted which is what gives them the fashionable edge and off course the fact that you wear heels with them. The belt will also break up any outfit a bit.

Nail Rock Pink Leopard Print Nail Wraps, £6.50, Topshop 

If you haven't already noticed, girls are starting to become very experimental with their nails and nail art. I, personally, don't have the patience to do art on my nails myself (no matter how easy it looks, I would no doubt give up after two tries, go off in a huff and never attempt to do it again - like everything else!) so I've been eyeing up nail wraps! The design above is very out there and I would probably restrict it for a special occasion or a big night out, but I think it's quite quirky and I adore quirky things. However, I have seen similar nail wrap designs in the pound store so I might have a gander in there first before I shell out £6.50 on something I'm not sure I'd have the guts to wear!

Soap and Glory Hocus Focus Lotion 30ml, £12.26, Boots

I'm not really into spending loads of money on lotions and potions for my skin as I'm always wary about whether or not they'll work. But I love Soap and Glory - its cute, retro and smells nice, so I'm considering this. I always have really dull skin and I have never, ever had enough sleep. Add this to the fact that I'm fairly pale then you can imagine why I'd maybe need some sort of lotion to make a difference to my skin, even to just make it healthy! This product is described as 'A blast of balance for tired skin. An instant visual flaw-softening lotion  with long-wearing LIGHTSCRAMBLE'. It sounds like it does the job?! 

www.missguided.co.uk

http://www.accessorize.com/

www.topshop.com

www.soapandglory.com

Wednesday Wishlist

Would you believe me if I told you I didn't plan to do a Valentines Day themed Wednesday Wishlist? Well I spotted the three tops below whilst window shopping and they caught my eye, and EVERYONE wants the red dress. I didn't actually realise until after I'd put all the images in that all these items are pretty much love themed/Valentines colours!

Peter Pan Swing Lace Dress, £10.00, Topshop

(Out of stock, going for £80+ on ebay)

Do you remember when you couldn't go anywhere without seeing girls wearing black lace tops and dresses like these? Well now its the red lace dresses that are in style and in perfect timing as well with Valentines day next week. Because this dress is such a bold colour, a tan or black pair of heels would go nicely and accessories should be kept to a minimum. For extra oomph get your hair big with as much volume as you can and either have sexy smokey eyes with long fluttering eyelashes or keep the eye makeup basic and instead choose some bright red lips in a corresponding shade to the dress.

Cream and Red Glitter T-shirt, £14.99, Quiz Clothing

I love this top as its so cheeky and girly. Unfortunately being a crop top I do not think I have the figure for it! This would be great for a night out with skinny jeans and sky scraper black or red heels and might guarantee you a kiss! The sparkly lips will dress the outfit up. Team with a long black cardy in the day and again swap tan coloured shoes for heels to keep it casual.

Cream and Red Sequin Heart Top, £9.99, Quiz Clothing

This top is a bit similar to the last one but I like how its a little longer at the sides with a raised front which means again its quite in fashion at the moment. I'd suggest wearing this top in a similar way to the last!

Scrabble Love Top, £12.99, Internacionale

Another crop top! This little gem is a bit more girly and has more neutral colours which means a lot of things would go with this top (including the brogues bellow!). It would look gorgeous with a pale brown cardigan and light blue jeans, or with a pale blue vest top underneath. Makeup wise, the natural look would be best with this.

Felicity Contrasting Floral Brogues, £15.99, Missguided

I actually hate brogues with a passion but I think I'm finally coming around! Brogues remind me of something my dad would wear (or used to wear back in his day) and I just don't think they're the right type of shoes for a girl to wear! In addition, a lot of them just look like they'd rub on your ankle all day when you wear them without socks on. However, these are very, very cute. I think what I like about them is that they are so girly and they look like a nice, comfortable (less shiny!) material too. They also look like they would go with anything! I'll be keeping my eye on these and may give them a go in the future.

www.topshop.com // www.quizclothing.co.uk/clothes/tops/ // www.internacionale.co.uk // www.missguided.co.uk