Return of the Trouser Suit & Peplums

This fall, Prada have sent models down the runway sporting the new trouser suit combo, complete with cinched waists, geometric patterns & printed bags to match... I absolutely love this collection, androgyny always appealed to me because I love the cutting edge look, the sleek, tailored designs & or me, the trouser suit is just the epitome of androgynous chic. This fall head back to work, or to play in a printed jacket/blazer or pair a simple crop tee with printed trousers & bold accessories.

Prada has been working the peplums, dramatic silhouettes & the all things Asian (the Kimono styled jackets) Absolutely love it!

Houndstooth print also appears to be back, rearing it's head in the form of structured tops & pencil skirts!

The trouser suit took on a sexier form in Jason Wu's Fall collection, sporting a formal jacket with a matching high waisted short combo & embellished collared shirts. 

Here's a set I created on Polyvore showing the simplistic elegance of the trouser suit. When accessorised you can create a more effeminate, elegant look or pair it with two toned brogues to create a more edgy, androgynous look. However you wear it, add some vintage styled sunglasses & you are good to go! If it's good enough for Prada, it's good enough for us!

Return of the Trouser Suit by foxsadie featuring Prada

Cinched waists are not the only trend that is trying to accentuate the female form. Peplums are here to create the hips some of us may not have & to hide the tummies some of us may unfortunately possess, they're here to stay & have been here since 2010!
Peplums have been heavily featured on many a runway this year including, Salvatore Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta & Emporio Armani  for example in their Fall collection's. I especially loved Bottega Veneta's take on the Peplum. It's very gothic & romantic, & if you didn't know I'm very big on velvets, black's, wines, navy's, highnecklines, chiffon & lace, usually floor length & modest. I'm very dark when it comes to fashion so this take on the peplum really appealed to me! (Middle)

Paisley & Print's on the Runway

So, this summer it's all about pattern clashing! Paisley and other William Morris style prints have been making an appearance, including some other very bold yet gorgeous patterns from Prada & Stella McCartney! Which i absolutely adore, i think Paisley has always been timeless and i think it adds a kind of Pride & Prejudice sophistication. It's an elegant and almost higher class pattern. I've seen a few instances of Paisley working it's way onto the high street:

For example this lace & paisley tee from Topshop - £24 and an absolutely gorgeous find, complete with detailed cut out lace collar and a sheer metallic overlay (- which is also very popular!)

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=6226911&langId=-1&categoryId=&searchTerm=paisley&pageSize=20&cmpid=fbecomuk&_$ja=tsid:26759

Also this Mink Pink, Empire Line casual dress in softer, warmer Fall colours, such as dusky pinks and oranges that I found on ASOS although a little steeper at £52 it's perfect for those summer BBQ's, cocktails out with the girls or a relaxed Autumnal get together with friends, wear with sandals, tights or wedges depending on what look you want to give it. You could also add a silver/rose gold thick, band necklace to add a little minimalistic elegance for an evening out.

The Power of Purple

The Power of Purple & Royal Hues has also been on everyone's lips at the moment, purple, the prestigious colour of the moment, emulating splendour, grandeur & luxury!

From purple polo necks to purple trouser suits, purple seems to be the key colour of Fall 2012 showcased at A/F fashion weeks and seen in many new collections.

Being noted in such Winter Collections as Dior, Erdem, Versus, Balenciaga. Prada & Christopher Kane seemed to love lavender so much that even their runways were lined with plush purple carpets & were even scented with Lavender!

You know a trend stands the test of time when it's worn boldly by celebrities on the red carpet, and none other than Diane Kruger shook her violet tail feathers in a gorgeous Prada evening gown at the MET Gala Ball - Purple is here to stay!

But my inspiration will be taken from Prada, Balaenciaga and Christopher Kane with their edgy, androgynous take on the colour purple! Taking it away from it's elitist roots & making it the colour of the fashionista!

The leather piping embellishment on the dresses amazed me & sheer accents paired with bold, oversized florals shown in the Christopher Kane collection really caught my eye, I absolutely love them. 

I loved all of Christopher Kane's additions to his collection & his combination of royal hues, reds, purples, blues & blacks with an edgy use of cut outs and silhouettes - Glam but Grunge!

This Prada trouser suit just sums up my three favourite trends for this year, the trouser suit, the power of purple & prints! Absolutely love this ensemble!

Make Purple your own this summer & invest in a key item such as a purple polo neck for a little regal modesty with a modern kick, invest in a purple printed bralet or purchase a sheer, floral number.
Here's a Polyvore set of mine to help you pick a couple of key items to ease you into Purple Haven. Metallic accessories will give this an edgier look & sheer accents makes the whole thing more dressed up! Choose a pair of Wine Velvet Wedges or black studded Nightcrawlers & your look is complete!

The Power of Purple by foxsadie featuring a romper jumpsuit

Cotton short sleeve shirt
topshop.com

One teaspoon
$105 - generalpants.com.au

Miss Selfridge romper jumpsuit
missselfridge.com

Miss Selfridge mesh skirt
missselfridge.com

Dorothy perkin
dorothyperkins.com

Punk shoes
$140 - office.co.uk

Envelope clutch
$10 - target.com.au

ASOS eyewear
asos.com

Nail polish
jacob.ca

Palladium - Futuristic Traditionalist?

So, there has been a lot of talk about Palladium recently. It has been featured in this month's Vogue, despite having been mentioned on the website some months ago! It possesses a lot of positive qualities, it is lightweight & therefore more can be used on garments & as we all know, bigger is better! It's also in the Titanium family, so is very strong! It's also stunningly lustre which of course we love!
It has been on two designers lips in particular Lara Bohinc (featured in Vogue & Hunger Magazine) the luxury jewellery designer, who has previously worked with Gucci, Lanvin and Julien Macdonald. She has come up with her very own, (very expensive) jewellery range, though limited, it is absolutely gorgeous - The Palladium Fine Jewellery Collection has an exclusive 5 pieces, a choker, a cuff, earrings, a ring and a pendant necklace. She has also created The Palladium Collision Collection combining Onyx with palladium, for example these studs below! I love minimalism & elegance & these are the epitome of the both, juxtaposing timeless luxury with modernistic chic. I absolutely love this collection although you have to be willing to fork out £450 for these studs alone! The collection will be available here from the 12th of July - http://www.larabohinc.com/

The other designer snapping up the qualities this metal possesses is Hussein Chalayan, the fashion designer associated with Paris Fashion Week, incorporating this new metal into his evening gowns & wowing the crowds with his innovative necklines. 

Palladium has been the shining star of his latest collection, 'Domisilent' combining elegant & slender fitted gowns with very edgy & geometric metallic necklines. Again using this idea of timeless elegance with futuristic elements. I think the combination is absolutely beautiful & I cannot wait to see Palladium be developed as the Precious Metail of the Future.

(Palladium has also been used in garments by the students at Central St Martins University.)

Bikini & Accessories - Beachwear

As I just returned from Turkey and of course a bikini was an essential! I thought as I had trouble finding the right bikini for me and had to search high and low, this post would be relevant and might help you guys out so here goes...

High Waisted 50's Inspired
I love this high waisted ensemble, combining my favourite tropical print and 50's vintage, this cheap yet gorgeous bikini from H&M is perfect for those who don't want to nose dive into their savings yet want to make a splash on the beaches this summer! It's perfect for those of you that your trouble zone is your stomach and muffin tops! This is perfect for sculpting the waist and banishing those insecurities as you're covered up but still sexy, complete with a padded, halterneck top which just accentuates your chest... sorry... best assets... and thus draws attention from your stomach! However it works just as well on any body shape and that is why I think this vintage style bikini is one of my favourites! Sadly they didn't have it in my size!

Or for another high waisted option, this quirky little floral number combines the Bandeau & High Waisted option and is just wonderful for a smooth silhouette!

http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Floral-Print-Sweetheart-Bandeau-Bikini-Top/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2186694&sgid=4461&cid=5263&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=200&sort=-1&clr=Floral+print

H M bikini



The Traditional One Piece.

When we think of ordinary one pieces, we think of unflattering and unfashionable, however the one piece has never been as big as it has been this year, coming back with a (big) bang! Especially when it comes to this cosmic/galaxy print one piece from Urban Outfitters, it's an edgy one piece that does all the talking. It hides all the problem areas if you're not feeling too comfortable with baring all but isn't frumpy and still allows you to get the perfect tan! Accessorise with an oversized, black shopper bag, Neon Wedges for that pop of summer colour & a floppy sun hat to top it all off!
http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/wildfox-starry-night-swimsuit/invt/5745461900101/&bklist=




Or perhaps try an underwired and more supporting suit with more shape and thinner straps for a more 50's feel! Complete with a messy bun and red lips!
(Another from Urban Outifitters)
http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/tavik-tie-dye-swimsuit/invt/5745471851021/&bklist=

The Monokini is also very similar to the traditional swimsuit but instead of being completely covered up and modest it's a sexier alternative, complete with cut outs and attention to detail. These two are interesting and keep you covered up and are subtly sexy yet elegantly chic. If you want this look pick a classic sheer, black number. The attention to detail then means you don't have to do a lot to finish this outfit off, perhaps a simple silver cuff necklace and a pair of black sandals et voila!

http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Cornelli-Mesh-Cut-Out-Suit/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?

Left.

Right.

http://www.victoriassecret.com/swimwear/one-piece/push-up-cut-out-one-piece-very-sexy?ProductID=5026&CatalogueType=OLS




The Bandeau Bikini has also come back strong this summer with loads of vibrant prints and styles, this is for those with a sportier figure but who still want to look fabulous on the beach! The bandeau is brilliant and versatile as usually they come with straps if you need that little bit extra support when you're a bit more active at the beach but if you want an even tan and you've just settled down in the dunes to your summer novel it's perfect! This gorgeous 50's style bandeau from Motel Rocks is perfect for summer combining prints and that perfect streamlined figure, pair with a sheer black maxi skirt and cat eye sunglasses! 



Triangle Cup Bikini
This fit suits petites more as there is not a lot of support and if you're jumping around in the water or on the beach, you don't want anything to escape! But if you can pull them off they're so simple and they're just timeless! This one from Motel Rocks combines a cute & flirty pattern also.

http://www.motelrocks.com/shop/products/Motel-Sherbet-Double-String-Bikini-in-Yellow-Ditsy-Flower-Print.html

Don't forget to accessorize!
This could be the make OR break of the outfit, so if you have a bold print, keep the accessories toned down and neutral or pastels. An oversized bag always looks good, especially on those days to the beach so you can keep everything in there too! Shoes, keep them comfortable but keep them chic!
Flatforms are of course  a perfect combination of platform and sandal at the moment and it's a good idea to invest in a pair! Such as this pair, cheap and still gorgeous from Boohoo for only £25! Or go for a bright cobalt blue or coral orange to add a little colour to your summer!
 http://www.boohoo.com/wedges/ophelia-black-suedette-ankle-strap-flatform/invt/azz62569



Sunglasses are of course a necessity on that cloudless summer day when you're travelling to the beach or when you're lounging around trying to catch a tan! There are so many variations of them at the moment too which is wonderful, i think i've invested in about 12 pairs this summer, I never really bothered with sunglasses before but they really can change an outfit.



I love the look of Circular Lens sunglasses such as these from Topshop, simple and edgy.




These Cat Eyes sunglasses from ASOS are gorgeous, combining the famous Olsen Split Lens and the elegant almond shape! 

Sunglasses that come in all different shapes and colours also seem to be very popular at the moment, I love these box shape Havana sunglasses, very futuristic a more casual evolution of the goggles we've seen on the catwalks earlier this year! http://www.farfetch.com/shopping/women/retro-super-future-havana-sunglasses-item-10201049.aspx

These Miu Miu sunglasses are absolutely gorgeous, wearable art i'd say but just beautiful! Although a little expensive, totally worth it! http://www.miumiu.com/en/US/e-store/dep/eyewear/cat/acetate/product/SMU10N_E1AB_F01A1

And to top off the Sunglasses of course the much loved Ray Bans that come in a wide variety of patterns and colours now and that anyone can pull off!

Find a pair that's right for you and work them!

Headbands seem to be a big accessory too especially for festivals but you can achieve a more casual look with studs or flowers - You can even DIY your own!


Floppy hat's are also big in this season keeping your Barnet protected as well as topping it all off! A simple black one can work wonders! http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspxbr=F21&Category=ACC&ProductID=2000040827&VariantID=&utm_source=affiliatetraction&utm_medium=cj&utm_campaign=affiliate




Patterns
Patterns are bright, bold and very summery! They can work with any style bikini and in my opinion, the bigger & brighter the better! I'm looking forward to some colourful beaches this summer (despite the awful weather in England, as usual!) however
Mix & Match
is also wonderful, and if you can pull off mixing and matching patterns, and you combine the right patterns, just go for it, you're body is the canvas! Otherwise mix & match block colours if you're not that brave or just stick to bikini sets or a one piece, rock the monochrome!


And don't forget to go to FASHIONVOUCHERS.COM to receive vouchers and therefore discounts on your purchases! Who doesn't want a gorgeous swimsuit and who doesn't want discount! It won't hurt your ego!
http://www.fashionvouchers.com/stores/urban-outfitters/
There's also many more stores & brands you can find vouchers for if you just search!

H M bikini

So, off to Turkey on Monday, not long to go now! VERY excited of course, and as usual, being me, i left all the shopping till last minute so popped up to Exeter (sadly on my own as everyone was working!) and had a wander around the shops for a couple of hours, didn't pick up much for Turkey but picked up some gorgeous jewellery and a good fashion book!

Though in Turkey I will hopefully be rocking a more vibrant look with colour pops instead of my usual monochromatic look! Although i have got a gorgeous pair of flatform, black & clear sandals which are so simple but i absolutely LOVE!
Although sadly i couldn't find this beaut of a bikini!

H M bikini
They didn't have it in my size! Though i will be making a bikini body post!