'Prints' Charming and His 'Eggselent' Followers

Hello Over Indulged Friends!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter, spending time with friends and family....and eating everything egg shaped in sight. I partook in the frivolous and ate and drank with friends and I partook in the meaningful, visiting Gloucester Cathedral which held a floral tribute to my late grandfather and many others friends and relatives past. Easter was therefore particularly emotional for me. But my dear friends, I am ashamed to say it was not only the marking of another Easter without my grandfather that made me a little down in the mouth. No, it was also that APPARENTLY, when you hit 22, people stop getting you Easter eggs. Ummmm, this has to be against civil rights??? I am sorry but the excuse that we now know the Easter Bunny isn't real, doesn't really fly with me. I know that half of Glos are carrying faux designer bags but I am not allowed to rip those poorly stitched Lukey Vuittons and Birdberry pieces out of their hands and set them on fire (the bags, not the people...) which to me seems the same sort of situation. My lovely Mother bought me a little selection of eggs from M&S which were delightful, my wonderful Father bought me a large egg, my Nan gave me an egg with a medal (also made of choc) and my other Nana made 2 chocolate cakes over the weekend on the "off chance" I would pop round....I did, three times. So I suppose you cannot compare my lack of chocolate to that of a third world resident, BUT, what happened to the times when your parents gave you 12 Easter eggs (with you managing to keep those bad boys going until mid July), a Steps CD and £20 to boot??? As I get older I find chocolate has become more of a necessity - especially since that study was brought out which says those that eat choc regularly are more likely to lose weight than those that don't - so I am pretty sure more eggs should exchange hands rather than less. I keep hearing the old chestnut that "22 is too old for Easter eggs" which I until today completely disagreed with... With my lack of choc causing a rumbly tumbly I bought some Love Hearts - old school cool - which like in the good old days I read before eating: "Be Mine", "Love You", "Fax Me" - obvi a 90s cast off. I kid you not when I say this though, at least 1/3 of the packet were "Grow Up". A short, sharp, chocolateless shock to the system. I think I'll stick to sweets that don't talk back next time. I hope you all enjoyed whatever sugary delight you got.

Now being in love with prints as I am and the fact there are SO many available at the moment in all different colours and patterns, I thought I would bring you my top ten. At least if you didnt get any choc this Easter you will be able to fit into these beauties...(Blurbs for each piece underneath image)



Matalan Scarf Print Blouse £16
http://www.matalan.co.uk/fcp/product/fashion-to-buy-online//Long-Sleeve-Scarf-Print-Blouse/51662&resultsPerPage=100&attrList=Dept,brand

Scarf Print: So in for S/S - all the celebs are wearing scarf print dresses, skirts and blouses. Team this shirt with denim shorts, a black maxi skirt or another daring print if you are brave enough!! This blouse manages to hit two trends with the scarf print and the fact it's sheer. Matalan has so much great stuff this season so look to them for other trends that wont break the bank!



H&M Striped Blazer £24.99
http://www.hm.com/gb/product/96893?article=96893-D

Stripes: You cant go wrong with a good striped blazer - well actually make sure the stripes aren't two thick, you don't want to look like Beetlejuice... Its a good staple for jeans and a tee but can also be worn over an LBD or even for work. Prints don't have to be terrifying or garish, so if you aren't into bright colours or loud patterns, try something like this from H&M.




River Island Yellow Sunflower Print Playsuit £25
http://www.riverisland.com/Online/women/playsuits--jumpsuits/playsuits/yellow-sunflower-print-playsuit-618259

Floral Print: Big, bright and bold flower prints are the best way to liven up your summer wardrobe. Team this playsuit with some cute sandals in the day before making an easy transition to night with a black blazer and black wedge boots.




American Apparel Polka Dot Leggings £24
http://store.americanapparel.co.uk/8328.html?cid=905-1310&c=Truffle

Polka Dot: I love a good polka dot and I love a good legging, so put the two together and what have you got?!! Fashion gold my friends. If you have got a black dress that needs livening up, are one of those fabulously toned people who can wear leggings as trousers or just want to dress like LMFAO then pick these bad boys up. They are my new Spandex crush.




Oasis Bird Print Trousers £45
http://www.oasis-stores.com/Bird-Print-Trouser/Trousers-&-Shorts/oasis/fcp-product/4450002868

Bird Print: I have always loved prints which incorporate animals, birds, fish etc. I think they are so eye-catching as from far away they can look more like a generic pattern; it isn't until you get close that you see the detail. Everyone is celebrating with our winged friends at the moment, so pick up a pair of wide legged trousers, harem pants or these loose fitting beauties and rock out with your chicken out...

Urban Outfitters Renewal O&O Maxi Dress £48
http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/renewal-o+o-animal-maxi-dress/invt/5416465084589/&bklist=

Oriental Prints: This particular dress reminds me of oriental prints on kimonos, rice paper paintings and those gorgeous vases (usually in blue and white). This is a stunning maxi that is definitely a piece to wear to drinks, dinner or a special occasion - and such value for money!! This is possibly my favourite piece of the ten items, it is so simple, yet so beautiful. Check out UO for all your print needs, because lets be honest, they don't really do subtle...




Topshop Morphed Tribal Shorts £35
http://www.topshop.com/

Tribal Print: Some of you might be yawning at this because tribal has been around for a while now. What you have to do therefore is find tribal but with a twist, like these shorts! Love the tribal colours, but go for a blurred look, or another pattern to make the trend fresh again. Zigzags are huge at the moment, so try tribal colours in this print for extra va va voom!

Warehouse Snake Print Skirt £40
http://www.warehouse.co.uk/snake-plisse-skirt/Clothing/warehouse/fcp-product/308234

Animal Print: Lets be honest animal print is always going to be around, so we just have to tailor it to the season. This season pleats and snakeskin are in....oh wait! Here is the perfect skirt for pairing with your highest heels and going partying with your friends. You know you want to...


House of Holland Bone Swim Suit £75
http://shop.houseofholland.co.uk/collections/new-arrivals/products/pc12-bone-swimsuit

Crazy Print: At the end of the day be who you want to be and say what you want to say in a print that you love! This says ... look how skinny I've got from lack of Easter eggs....





Cath Kidston Pinny Cardi £38
http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/p-18021-cath-kidston-pinny-flowers-pointelle-cardigan.aspx

Cath Kidston: If all else fails, turn to the queen of prints herself...

So go out and paint the town patterned!
Becky xx

Severus Snape - A mean professor or the head of the snake fashion brigade??

Hello!!

So, I feel the first thing I should mention is that we are officially one week from Cheltenham Ladies Day!!!!! Who is excited???!!! Naturally I am. If you haven't already checked it out, I wrote a Ladies Day fashion blog for www.jpfestival.com (find it at http://www.jpfestival.com/p/festival-fashion.html). I will also be writing a further blog for them after the races to let you know what I thought of the fashions on the day, so make sure you read that too! Jpfestival is a great website to go to for tips for the entire week.

So today, just three days in, I believe I officially became a Londoner. You want to know why I have decided this? Because I painted my nails on the tube today. I have seen a whole manner of things people have done on the tube, from putting full make-up on, including mascara (ladies, the face we make when we put mascara on is NOT attractive, so don't do it in front of the entire District Line...) to eating an whole baguette.... Lets just break that down for a second sir. If you are eating this Homer Simpson sandwich and holding the pole on the tube, what do you think is going to end up being digested? Ham and cheese deliciousness or the bajillion germs from the hands of every person who has touched the pole before you? Now I'm thinking I would rather have the face of a surprised squirrel applying mascara than get a disease the likes of which has not even been seen in the Jeremy Kyle green room. But the point is my friends, those of us that can carry out the most difficult of tasks on the tube are seen as winners, the cream of the crop, the top of the food chain etc. In a few hundred years we will have evolved a third leg which will flap out behind us and keep us steady on the tube, but for now, we just all wobble and stand on people and constantly say "oops, sorry" or on the other side "ow, hey!!" Just think, even the scariest of bosses, meanest of bullies and most perfect of girls (who we hate) have all likely spent at least 3 minutes (average time between stations) in the armpit of a woman who loves not washing, pressed up against the guy who thinks it is ok to leave his fly open or my favourite, sat next to the teenage boy who is still going through that Slipknot phase....at full volume in your ear. Why did they make iPods so loud? We are all mere mortals and therefore we all have to ride the tube....luckily my nails are all the better for it.

Fabulous things to be told:
- The nail varnish mentioned above is Chanel's Peridot. It is a green/gold colour and fabulous. Purchase it and watch everything you touch become gold.....just dont touch the pole on the tube. It is more gold than green, so be aware the green isnt the main focus - if possible it kind of makes it even more gold than usual.
- Who knew the girl singing on the David Guetta song 'Titanium' was Sia????? If you did and didnt tell me you are bad friends. I thought it was Fergie so took an instant dislike to it - showing my fickle side. Whatevs im in fashion. On the other hand I am catching up with it now!!
- The Royal English Ballet is doing a ballet version of Alice in Wonderland....BEST. THING. EVER. Tickets are sold out. SADDEST. DAY. EVER. If anyone has a spare ticket I will jump at it like Kanye West did to Taylor Swift on that fateful day.... But there will be less drunken ramblings and bad music....
- Marni at H and M launches tomorrow, so set your alarm clocks.

Moving on to that oh so sexy...

S

Fashion Trend: Snakeskin accessories! Now, I am not a huge fan of animal print because it is VERY hard to wear without looking like Kat from Eastenders "You aint my muvvaaaa" - no but she's also not a giant leopard either, so why does she dress like one? BUT, anyone who is anyone is wearing snakeskin accessories. Not clothing, just accessories. This will be fleeting no doubt so rock it while you can. Get a massive tote in this print, or a wedge or belt and then strut your stuff. Or slither if you are feeling in the mood. Here are the best accessories I found, for a range of budgets. Marc by Marc Jacobs items from http://www.net-a-porter.com/Shop/Designers/Marc_by_Marc_Jacobs/All
Lanvin items from http://www.matchesfashion.com/fcp/product/Matches-Fashion/womens_lanvin/lanvin-LAN-C-PIHERL-accessories-NATURAL/56415.
Topshop shoes from http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogNavigationSearchResultCmd?catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&langId=-1&viewAllFlag=false&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=331499&parent_categoryId=208492&beginIndex=1&pageSize=20&intcmpid=W_SUPERCAT_LEFTNAV_SHOES_UK_WK1_VIEW_ALL

Gator Snake Heeled Court Shoes - Topshop
£50

Koko Soft Leather Ballet Pump - Topshop
£40

Gaby Printed Python Bag - Lanvin
£1,360

Tate Medium Snake Print Nylon Tote - Marc by Marc Jacobs
Net-a-Porter £160

Water Snake Belt - Lanvin
£435

Lizard Print (close enough!!) iPhone cover
Marc by Marc Jacobs
Net-a-porter
£30

Fashion Item: Shirt-dress. Surprisingly a huge hit with all the fashion magazines at the moment. They are super easy to wear as well. I have a ton of these from past years in my wardrobe (mostly from H and M, so look there!) but they are so simple to wear and can be dressed up or down. I am craving this one from Daks S/S12 collection (not yet available). For a shorter, more colourful and less expensive idea, look at Sparkle and Fade from Urban Outfitters who have quite a few. Loving this dark turquoise one for £58.

http://shoponline.daks.com/SS12-Lookbook.aspx

http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/sparkle-+amp-fade-tassel-tie-shirt-dress/invt/5130462171292/?htxt=NhJ%2FZUjfbGtCugmb0U7DveL8vX3alETqfX%2F8nJK2OsKlErEJ%2FoaL13B5sB%2BO9ry71FAiyNYKQOFC%0AF1Fb1z2ZqA%3D%3D

Store or Label: shopbop.com!! Dare I say this is my favourite of the online stores? It has more designers than I even knew existed....more perhaps than net-a-porter even. There is really nothing to say but look for yourself. There doesnt seem to be anything missing from this site - and the girl in the shopbop adverts in the fashion mags is wearing items from one of the BFC/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists - so you know they are up to date. I know this because I am in love with the belt she is wearing - it is a rope belt. Hello sailor. I have chosen, in the spirit of the aforementioned snakeskin post to share with you an Elie Tahari bag from the site - a sssssssnip at just £196.79 (I crack myself up) http://www.shopbop.com/felicity-clutch-elie-tahari/vp/v=1/845524441931569.htm?folderID=2534374302107411&fm=browse-brand-shopbysize&colorId=38146. If you need something and net-a-porter doesn't have it, come here - or just browse anyway - there are some good deals, offers for spending over $100 and inviting a friend to purchase, so you may as well have a sssssssneak peak....!!!

Felicity Clutch - Elie Tahari
Shopbop.com

Celebrity or Designer: Stefano Pilati has officially been replaced by Hedi Slimane as creative director of Yves Saint Laurent. Those of you following this fashion season will have seen Pilati's final collection walk down the runway at Paris Fashion Week just a few days ago. Personally I thought it was an elegant line with a dark edge - most likely the best way to show a bitter sweet ending. Slimane was Menswear director for Yves Saint Laurent for a few years, so already knows his way around their cutting table, but it will be interested to see what new ideas he comes up with moving directly from Jil Sander back to YSL. Pilati's final show was a mix of leather, chainmail and black cloth printed with calla lilies - showing his signature power female side (but we are all gentle flowers underneath!!) - an absolutely stunning collection and worth a look at http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/autumn-winter-2012/ready-to-wear/yves-saint-laurent#/image/8. Pilati is a great talent and im sure will be snapped up by someone else. Good luck to you sir!!

Night Night!!
Becky xx