Trendy holiday destinations for the aspiring fashionista

I'm not sure about you but this time of year just always seems so busy. Rushing from A to B, holding down a day job whilst by night you dine out, frequent beer gardens and constantly have to rush between social functions because everyone seems to wait until the sun is shining to do anything! Even though this may sound like a dream to many, it's also rather tiring. Perhaps it’s making you crave a little getaway? Somewhere where you can pamper yourself and maybe indulge in a little retail therapy? If that sounds perfect, why not consider snapping up one of the great late deals out there and head to one of Europe's most fashion focused cities? That's right; I didn’t think I’d need to ask you twice! 

PARIS

If I were to mention fashion and not mention Paris in the next breath, I am sure that fashion legends of yesteryear would roll over in their graves. There are loads of great last minute deals to Paris available so, before you know it you could be hitting the city’s high end boutiques before rewarding yourself with a glass or two of wine in a charming street side cafe. It's impossible not to fall in love with Paris... especially when it's potentially the fashion capital of the world. 

MILAN

Think big sunglasses, impossibly impeccably dressed locals and the chance to visit one of Italy’s most vibrant cities. Home to the likes of Gucci, Prada, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Armani, you’ll be hard pressed to find a city that is more focused around fashion, or more glamourous for that matter. Plus, when you have well and truly exhausted yourselves pounding the pavements of this Italian city, you can feast upon all of the carbohydrates that Italians do so well, safe in the knowledge that you earnt it.

LONDON

Visiting your dream shopping destination doesn't necessarily require jetting off to some far flung destination. After all, the money that you can save on flights by staying at home and by snapping up great late deals at hotels right in the centre of London only means you have more money to spend in the boutiques of Bond Street, the high street stores on infamous Oxford Street or in the independent shops of Shoreditch and Angel. Perfect. Plus, don’t forget the wonders that await you at both of the Westfield shopping centres. Well worth a visit!

Summer Lovin’ - It’s Not Over Yet

Before everyone gets carried away talking about the oversized tailoring and punk rock plaids of Autumn 2013, let’s focus on the sun we continue to have, and the outfits we have yet to release from our wardrobe. There’s still enough sun to shine on our parade.

The Dress

For a warm evening there’s nothing better than a silky dress to look both smart and sexy. Match it with some tough detailing, for example a statement clutch, to have a daring edge. Geometric patterns, cool details, graphic prints and basically any detailed embellishments (as long as they’re bold) will triumph this summer. 

The Trousers

Black and white prints or monochrome will follow the momentary minimalist trend. Although for a bit of summer fun, team them with a bold coloured or detailed tee. For those few days when the British stop wishing for holidays and are happy to be in Britain go for cropped trousers for a fresher, but still smart, outfit. 

The Tees

Silk or silk fronted t-shirts are having their moment, not only cool to wear but smart, especially when teamed with suit-jackets. For a more casual look try playful colours or bold block colours. Similarly to the summer dress, graphic and sometimes mismatched prints with shorts or a skirt look effortless. Remember, no low cut tops please; it’s all about the midriff crop top.  

The Shoes

Luckily for our feet the low heel is in fashion for an edgy look. The chunkier the shoes or thicker the heel, this is a fashion trend we’re happy to follow. As the fashion houses show, a mix of materials are really in at the moment, but if you’re investing this late into the season go for a low to midi heel as that will carry you through to autumn/winter effortlessly.

The Accessories

The summer sun tends to bring out the feminine side in jewellery. This means pearls and pinks that go with the summer pastel trend. For stylish charms go for a Pandora bracelet with pastel coloured gems, or for bracelets at a lower price try the pale coloured woven leather for some girly arm candy. Something else to go perfectly on your arm is your bag. It’s all about the essentials this season; pick out something that will keep you outdoors for as long as possible, preferably something to hold the essentials, the lipgloss, the credit card, the eyeliner….

So don’t worry, there is still enough sunshine to go around so enjoy those summer outfits and don’t get the winter clothes out just yet.

Sneak preview of Joe Browns AW13 collections

Last week, myself and the lovely Laura from Top Style Advice were invited to an exclusive sneak preview of Joe Browns' AW13 collections. It was only the two of us who were invited as bloggers - the rest were staff or loyal customers. It was only a very small event, which made it all the more exciting!

The event lasted for just over an hour, and was a very professional little fashion show. 

Joe Browns presented a few new collections for autumn and winter, which will be available on the website from next week;

'Wuthering heights' - inspired by vintage style, and consisted of a lot of dusky colours, with girly cuts.

'A Winter's tale' - inspired by old time Russia, with lots of prints (such as Russioan dolls) and elements of red.

The men's collection - Also a bit Russian inspired, but with a lot of geometric prints that screamed heritage and adventure.

Have a look for yourself, at the collages below.

Enjoy! ;)

Autumn collection with girly elements - flowing fabrics and dusky pinks.

Russian inspired colours and patterns for Winter.

The men's collection consisted of a number of different styles - everything from trendy checked shirts and hoodies, to chunky knits and floral patterns.

Joe Browns also presented some beautiful lace dresses which would be perfect for a Christmas or New Year's party.

Can I have this one, please!? ;) 

What I really love about Joe Browns is their bohemian inspired cuts, with the flowing fabrics and the slightly crazy patterns. 

Joe Browns were kind enough to gift me with a gift card to treat myself to something from their new AW collections. I have not yet decided what to pick, but keep an eye out for a review coming soon! :)