Zara Leopard Print Maxi Dress

£39.99 - Zara

Summer is sadly over and I am in full Autumnal mode, browsing knitwear, long wool coats and dusting off the old winter boots whilst seeking out a new pair. I was grateful to catch the last of the summer rays in New York over September, whilst it was still 28 degrees in the city and somewhat of a heatwave. Before I set off on my travels I wanted to invest in an animal print dress. It appears to be a key trend sticking around for A/W 18 with lots of rust, copper and beige tones layered with exotic animal prints and soft, floaty silhouettes. Zara had a huge collection of snake, alligator, tiger and leopard print in varying colour ways and I spotted this leopard print maxi for a bargain at £39.99. It is light, loose and made from a crepe-like fabric that hangs and belts at the waist making it the perfect summer to autumn staple. With a thigh high split it can be worn with trainers and a leather jacket during the daytime or a slip on mule for evening. For Autumn thrown under a red chunky cable knit with some black leather ankle boots, you are good to go. This is a great classic piece, even with a trend-led print, that lots of people have complimented me on and have asked where it was purchased. Definitely one to give you a spring in your step and to make you feel a little bit special.

Topshop Leopard Print Dress

£39 - Topshop

A little different from my normal post, but I am very excited to announce that I have a two month partnership with Topshop! The partnership means over the coming months I am able to select my favourite items from www.topshop.com and share them with you all via Instagram and across my fashion page. My first pick of the lot was this slip dress I had been eyeing up in store. It has a gorgeous, vivid red leopard print with ruffling split up the front and is made from the most cool and flattering crepe style material. I wore mine with a white pointed backless, block heel and teamed it with gold  jewellery from Anna + Nina and Reliquia. The dress will definitely see me from day to evening when I visit New York in September and I plan on wearing it casual during the daytime with a black and white silk bomber jacket and black leather sandals. Shop the look via my link here

Ganni Polka Dot Blouse

£120 - Ganni

Ganni is one of my favourite Danish brands. They offer the coolest printed trousers, dresses and blouses and always use a great mix of colour without it being garish. Their clothing is always fun, playful and typically feminine. I saw this ruffled polka dot blouse online as part of a two piece and fell in love instantly. Polka dot is having a moment right now and I love it as a change up from my go-to stripes. The blouse hangs in all the right places and the crepe style material feels luxurious. Ganni isn't the cheapest brand so I wanted to be sure to choose something I wouldn't become tired of within a month, the navy and white colour way tends to go with most items. I wore it out during the day with blue cropped jeans and flat leather sandals and I intend to wear it of an evening with a wide leg white trouser and red block heels. Another super versatile piece that will be a classic in my wardrobe.

Mango Striped Midi Dress

£29.99 - Mango

For my birthday I wanted something special to wear for an evening meal in Amsterdam. I found this pink and black silk striped midi dress from Mango, a little bolder than my usual choices and very similar to the H&M version which sold out online instantly. The dress is a super flattering satin silk fabric and feels so comfortable to wear, it clings and smooths in all the right places. Surprisingly versatile which is a must for any of my evening wear, I wore it during the day with black &OtherStories sandals and a leather jacket and swapped to  black heels and gold drop earrings for the evening. The length is perfect for short girls like me, with the material sitting below the knee, the fabric doesn't swamp your frame. I felt really special in it and just need another excuse to wear it again!

Topshop Polka Dot Ruffled Skirt

Since the weather was going to be so beautiful in Amsterdam I wanted to swap out my jeans in favour of something lighter and more playful. I saw this polka dot skirt online at Topshop and immediately fell in love. It is super lightweight and has a silky satin feel and is perfect to wear during the daytime with my black Acne Studios tee and white Stan Smith trainers. Equally, of an evening with a red lip, sheer blouse and block heel it would look super glam. I am a die-hard monochrome fan and sometimes it can look a little uninspired but I received so many compliments when I was wearing this skirt and felt like it completely made up my otherwise minimal outfit. I also wore my Isabelli sunglasses the whole trip which are my favourite with this outfit. 

Zara Puff Sleeve Dress

£29.99 - Zara

When it comes to Summer dressing, my fashion choices always vary in style and I tend to choose more typically feminine pieces. My go-to outfit is usually a t-shirt, blue jeans and trainers and I like to keep my style fairly minimal, however recently I have purchased so many slim fitted dressed, pastel shades and printed items! I am 5 ft. 2 and my frame is petite so I tend to avoid anything oversized or with a lot of fabric, but this Zara puffball sleeve dress caught my eye. The hem is short and it nips in at the waist to balance out the exaggerated shoulders. It keeps my frame in proportion and the large tortoise shell buttons are a gorgeous detail meaning it doesn't look too minimal. The fabric is light and made of a linen blend so it super comfortable to wear. I wore the dress all day to wander around Amsterdam and then to dinner in the evening also. Very affordable and my new summer staple!

Alexa Chung x Superga

£75 - Superga

With spring fast approaching and the wet, muddy puddles and snow storms a thing of the past (hopefully,) I began thinking about my spring/summer wardrobe. Usually I dress very minimal and the only colours to be found in my wardrobe are navy, beige, black or white. As soon as I start to see the skies lighten and the days grow longer, I crave colour and print in my clothing. I have always coveted Superga's but never purchased a pair, remaining faithful to my trusty Converse high tops, but when I saw the Alexa collaboration I felt they were a fun and fresh take on the classic. I chose the powder blue satin low rise in an attempt to add a pop of colour to my exisiting wardrobe but still have a wearable shoe that would go with most outfits. I would normally always opt for the white colour way  but the blue go perfectly with my white cropped BDG flares and the satin fabric adds a touch of luxury. I love the 'A' detailing on the shoe tongue and the soles and they also feel super comfortable and lightweight. A definite spring shoe must have! 

Corduroy Baker Boy

£15.99 - Zara

I try to steer away from items that are trend orientated and opt for minimal, wearable pieces that won't date after a few months. When I was younger I would be more inclined to shop for whatever was 'fashionable' and would wind up putting my entire wardrobe on Ebay once I became uninspired. It was expensive and time consuming! Now my approach to shopping is less impulsive. The baker boy hat is a little different though, considering hats are not for everyone, the baker boy is the most versatile and works with a variety of different outfits. I loved this corduroy version from Zara. Here I'm wearing it with my velvet blazer from Topshop and a plain t-shirt from Acne Studios. When I am wearing a simple outfit and want to look pulled together, this hat is my go to. It also hides a really bad hair day, win!

Danner Boots

£360  - Epitome

After visiting Epitome in Edinburgh I fell in love with the Danner Hiking Boot. They usually come with a practical black thin lace but the staff had instead dressed them with a black and khaki thick lace, giving them a more versatile and cool look. Suddenly I was planning non-hiking related outfits I could wear with them. Being 5 ft. 2 means I often can't wear calf shortening, bulky footwear. I have tried looking for the perfect winter boot and year upon year end up purchasing a dainty, more feminine style - which really isn't me at all. Danner have a hefty price tag, yes, but they are definitely a more durable, investment piece that will be sure to see me through the sub zero temperatures during my winter trip to Prague in January. I cannot wait to wear them!

An Ode to the Biker Jacket

My biker jacket is a staple piece for me, an item that is guaranteed to be in my suitcase no matter where I am travelling to. Finding the right style and cut to suit your build is tricky, but I fell in love with this Topshop Boutique embossed biker three years ago and have never been without it since. I call on this jacket for any occasion - when I want to make my outfit less feminine, it works. When I want to dress up for a night out and need to add a little edge, it works. I wear it layered under my long overcoat and over my denim jacket. I throw it over a summer dress when it gets a little cold during the evenings. I can wear it with heels, trainers, ankle boots - you name it! The options really are endless and my biker is the most versatile, wearable item I own. I love how once the leather is worn in, it creases and fits in a way like no other material does. Here I am pictured strolling the streets of Paris, wearing my biker and feeling like a true Parisian. 

Nike Airforce 1 Upstep

£75 - & Other Stories

I love sneakers and my collection definitely needed an update! I have previously owned the Airforce 1 in White and they were my favourite pair, they would have lasted forever (until I washed them in a last ditch attempt to clean them up.) Possibly the most comfortable and wearable trainers I have owned too. I love the black leather with added upstep in this pair. They feel a little more smart and stylish than my usual sneaker choice.

Mango Gold Earrings

£9.99 - Mango

Hello my new favourite earrings. Simple, contemporary and light they make the perfect addition to my more masculine outfits. They feel a little more adult than my usual simple gold hoops and look more expensive than they actually are. I will be wearing them day and night over the festive period.