Clara

Clara by loeswhite featuring patent leather pumps

SUMMER STYLE

Summer has finally rolled back around to us and the sun is shining over London which means that everyone is happy (or seems to be), there's no matches being rained off at Wimbledon and every Instagram post from the city is looking bluer than blue. This summer I'm not off on a beach holiday (weep weep) but I will be flying to Barcelona (hooray!) for a little city break at the end of July, which promises to be the hottest week of my life so far. I'm on the lookout for cute summer outfits at the moment and I stumbled over this gorgeous playsuit from Topshop. It looks like the perfect piece for a warm summer evening, assuming it doesn't clash with that pasty girl sunburn that I usually get. 

If anyone has any recommendations for where to go/eat/party in Barcelona then please let me know!

Playsuit from Topshop, Sandals from Office, Bag from Jil Sander

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Whatever Game of Thrones might be telling you, Winter is most certainly not coming. Spring has sprung, the temperatures are on the increase and I even went out without a coat today. All of this means that Summer is on its way and we can look forward to putting our delightful tights away (thank God) and buying clothes in colours that aren't black. Hurrah! 

I'm not sure what my Summer will be shaping up like this year. I have a long summer break (10 weeks, I know, I know) and although I'm looking forward to all the R&R, I need to fill it with something so stop my brain from melting. My best friend and I are planning an excursion to Barcelona for some culture and well needed sunshine (seriously, I have a Vitamin D deficiency) and I can't wait for the other summer adventures that are in the pipeline. 

This outfit was put together in a moment of Summer anticipation. Topshop's crepe bralets in mint and black are almost sold out online, probably because they're well priced and versatile. Pair this mint one with white (and these gorgeous sandals) for a real summer vibe.

Bralet by Topshop, Skirt by Helmut Lang, Sandals by Marni, Bag by Ted Baker 

23

Pretty soon I will be turning 23. I'm not entirely sure how I got this far and I'm still wholly convinced that I shouldn't be this old yet. As you get older birthdays change, but they're always an excuse to do something fun. For this one I'm planning a birthday meal with my housemates at a swanky restaurant, a reunion with my old housemates which will no doubt involve lots of vodka and giggles, and a day with my parents who have shelved their reservations and agreed to visit me at university.

 So here's a little wishlist of the things that I would like the most for my 23rd. If anyone is able to arrange it, I would also like £10 million, a holiday to Croatia and Chris Pine.

1. Biker Jacket by River Island 2. Raffia Boucle Skirt by Topshop
3. Bambi Candy Sunset bikini by Triangl 4. Mineralize Foundation by Mac
5. Rose Gold Bracelet Watch by Olivia Burton 6. Wrap Front Sandals by River Island
7. March Birthstone Ring by Pandora 8. Belt Plate Clutch by Topshop 

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

In a bah humbug spirit akin to that of Ebenezer Scrooge, I have been ignoring the impending Christmas season with as much determination as I can. However when it hits December, the temperatures drop into the minus and radio stations bombard us nonstop with Mariah and The Pogues, I don't mind getting into the spirit. Plus, what sort of person doesn't enjoy a chocolate fix at 7am?

Inevitably at this time, we all get the 'what do you want for Christmas?' question from friends and family (and Santa himself of course). Usually I'm one of those irritating people who respond with an 'I don't know' but this year I have a fully formed list of lovely things that I would like. On top of these things I'm hoping for a nice relaxing Christmas break as the last few months have been hectic!

On my wish list this year is:

1. A parka. The only coats I own are hyper-formal so I'm after a casual addition to my wardrobe. Parka from Topshop (£60)

2 & 3. This outfit. Perfect combination of Christmas sparkle and my ever-present black/white essentials. That skirt appeals to my innate magpie instinct more than anything else I've seen this season.
Top from River Island (£15) and Skirt from Topshop (£60)

4 & 6. Pandora Jewellery. I'm not usually much of a jewellery person but I'm after some essentials. These earrings and stackable rings are perfectly minimal.
Earrings (£35) and Rings (£30) from Pandora

5 & 7. Make Up Basics. Christmas is the time when I top up on all the make up that I always convince myself is too expensive. My make-up attitude is strictly investment piece; it might be expensive but it is the best.
Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette (£36) and Clinique Moisturiser (£34) both from John Lewis

8. Heeled Boots. My ultimate winter essential; my much loved Office pair have reached the point of no return so I need to replace them.
Alexander Wang Chelsea Boots (£495) from Lane Crawford

9. Red Handbag. I've been fixated on this colour for months but haven't managed to locate one. This Givenchy one is perfect in every vein bar the price tag.
Givenchy Pandora Bag (£1,205) from Selfridges

BURBERRY SHOWROOM

NYFW

CALLIE

SUMMER WISH LIST

NEUTRAL

This weekend has given us some long awaited sunshine and everyone now seems to be on holiday countdown and excited for Summer to be here. All of us have our fingers crossed that this Easter weekend will be sunny so we can spend our time outside in the warmth! This outfit above is perfect for Easter festivities. Topshop's white shift dress is so perfect for summer and is certainly going to be one of my wardrobe staples this summer - I'm a sucker for white! Also this Mulberry bag has been on my wishlist for months, the colour is so cute and I wish it was mine!

Blazer by Stella McCartney, Dress by Topshop, Sandals by Valentino, Watch by Olivia Burton at Topshop, Bag by Mulberry

PHOEBE

We may still be in January and therefore in the depths of winter, rain and chilly winds but to me January is the month where you most look forward to the Summer. My friends and I are already making plans for all the things we're going to entertain ourselves with in the Summer months and I'm working extra hours so I can save up for some adventures (potential second holiday anyone?). This year is hopefully going to involve a brand new direction for me which I am very excited about, but that's not coming until after Summer!

So in the spirit of planning I've done what I always do and thought 'What am I going to wear'. Topshop have some new bralets in at this time of year, which are always great for holidays, festivals or even those super-hot days at home (which hopefully there will be a lot of)! This lace number is my favourite and I for one cannot wait to put away my jumpers and coats and break out the sunnies and shorts!

Bralet by Topshop, Shorts by Levis, Sunglasses by Linda Farrow, Sandals by Chloè, Bag by Rebecca Minkoff

SOPHIA

Last Friday saw one of the busiest shopping days of the year: Black Friday. Me and my friend spent about three hours in John Lewis snapping up all our Christmas presents at discount rates (still managing to spend a bomb). I also got these sandals from Topshop which were reduced by 20% for Black Friday, bringing them down to less than £40! They're the first pair of sandals like this I've had in a while that haven't killed my feet so they are definitely my new go-to shoes for nights out!

I created this outfit after seeing this beautiful 3.1 Phillip Lim top on My Wardrobe; the colour and the embellishment is beautiful! If I was just a (big) bit richer this would be on my Christmas List for sure. 

What bargains did you guys manage to snap up on Black Friday?

Top and Skirt by 3.1 Phillip Lim, Sandals by Topshop, Earrings by Dannijo, Clutch by Jimmy Choo 

CHRISTMAS SKIRTS

During Summer I love wearing skirts but whenever Winter rolls around I tend to avoid them, mainly because it means I don't have to get involved with tights; they're uncomfortable, they ladder, you can never tell the front from the back etc! I always imagine Christmas Day being comfy with me in my leggings and a jumper but on the day I always end up wearing something nice and not very practical for Christmas Dinner (never enough breathing space for turkey and cake)! This year I will be shunning my leggings on the 25th and (hopefully) wearing one of the above concoctions.

1. Embellished Mini, £55 by Miss Selfridge
Miss Selfridge always have a great range of embellished pieces, especially around Christmas time. This one is a lovely colour and despite the slightly hefty price tag, the detailing makes the skirt well worth the money. I think this skirt might just win the and be worn on the day!

2. Quilted Mini, £35 by Topshop
I've had my eye on this skirt for a while (it's white, of course I have) and I saw it in store the other day. The material is lovely and it fits really well too. On reflection I think it's slightly too short for family Christmas dinner but I still would recommend it for a night out.

3. Pen Garden Tube Skirt, £28 by Topshop
This tube skirt came onto Topshop New In this morning and I love the detailing on it. Unfortunately my hips don't allow me to carry off tube skirts attractively, but if (and hopefully when) they could I would choose this skirt.

4. Leather Skirt, £1,682 by Mary Katrantzou at The Corner
One off the price scale here; Mary Katrantzou's skirts always have such interesting prints and would look so good paired with just a simple jumper. Also playing with my favourite colour of the season: purple.

5. Mulberry Skorts, £40 by Topshop 
Technically shorts and not a skirt but we can make an exception, right? Topshop have these skorts out in a few colours now (the emerald are lovely) but this mulberry pair have to be my favourites. The material is really lovely and for how nice they look on I think the price tag is pretty reasonable. 

MEREDITH

For such a long time I've been telling myself that I will wear more colour and actively steer clear of my monochrome addiction, but time after time I'm drawn to black and white pieces over all others. This beautiful dress from Topshop is a prime example. The back of it is black, so it's perfect for both casual and work environments; the panel of white at the front brightens it up. On top of that, the sleeves make it perfect for the impending cold season. So with all these things going for it, I reasoned that if I add a swipe of red lipstick (Tom Ford's reddest red if you please) then that would be colour enough for me, and thus I could allow myself one more black and white dress. After all, monochrome is versatile, right?

1. Phone Case £22 by Kate Spade 2. Lipstick £36 by Tom Ford at Selfridges  3. Pumps £650 by Valentino at Moda Operandi 4. Dress £48 by Topshop  5. Necklace £22.50 by Topshop 6. Tote £895 by Victoria Beckham at Net-a-Porter

CHRISTMAS WISH LIST

The beginning of November never really seems the right time to start thinking about Christmas but as Christmas adverts have been released and decorations have gone up in shops, I decided that it wasn't too premature to make a Christmas List.
Due to my complete lack of organisation skills I also need to start planning this early in order to get everything sorted in time. I never usually know what to ask for at Christmas but this year I have hundreds of ideas; these are the ones that are at the top of my list.

1. I'm usually partial to bright colours when it comes to bikinis, but this LBB has crept into my consciousness. I really love the cut on it; it looks very flattering (although maybe that's just on the 6'0' model...). It's an awful lot more than I would want to pay for a bikini, hence why it's on my wish list.   Bikini, £305 by Lisa Marie Fernandez at Net-A-Porter
2. Chanel & Gilly Hicks (worlds apart, I know) are my two go-to perfumes but I recently was introduced this new concoction by Carven. There aren't many perfumes that I like, but this one I love and I might have to make my the third go-to fragrace.  Le Parfum £38 by Carven at Selfridges
3. This skirt looks so perfect for the Christmas party season; I have a few embellished pieces from Topshop in my wardrobe already and they are always my favourites for nights out. I can picture wearing this on Christmas Day paired with an oversized white sweater; only problem being that there won't be too much stretch in it for all that turkey and Christmas pudding! Skirt, £65 by Topshop 
4. This would be the fourth MK watch in my collection (you can never have to many bags, shoes OR watches, right?) and I love it because it's more delicate that the others which are chronographs. There are so many colour straps but I was having a girly moment and I decided pink would be the best choice.  Runway Watch, £106 by Michael Kors, at neimanmarcus.com 
5. As a self confessed bag-fiend I can't quite believe that I haven't bought a new bag since MAY. I'm getting bored of all the bags I have in black and I need one that's a little brighter and smaller for the evenings. This red number from Zara (number one stop for bags) looks like it would do just the trick. Messenger Bag, £39.99 by Zara 
6. These headphones are a fashion-blogger sensation at the moment. I'm hoping for the price that they would sound nice as well as looking nice, and let's be honest, they look nice. Single handedly, my brother has broken every pair of headphones that I've owned for the last five years, so if these beauties materialise in my life I am promising myself that no one will touch them but me! Taylor Headphones, £169 by Frends at mywardrobe.com
7. Despite the fact that girls can never have too many shoes, I never seem to have enough shoes. I have heels galore, but currently I only have one pair of brogues and one pair of boots and these are intended to get me the whole way through the Winter rain, snow and wind! Ambitious, I know. These loafers from Zara are so nice, and although not too warm, I'm hoping they would be lovely on those non-rain filled Winter days and beyond.  Loafers, £50 by Zara 
8. Topshop roll out the best in partywear at this time of year with my personal favourites being the embellished dresses and high heels. They've been producing some lovely playsuits recently and this one looks like it would be perfect for a night out or a Christmas party. I love the cut of the neckline, plus it's a steal at just £36! Playsuit, £36 by Topshop 
9. Okay, so admittedly I do have enough heels but how am I supposed to forget about these? My Mum has already placed these in the 'doorway scraper' category. Unhelpfully this counts for any heels that push me over 6'0, which is anything above 3 inches! But I'm willing to be head and shoulders above my friends if it means I get to wear these beauties! Plus, they're a bargain at £55! Satin Bow Sandals, £55 by Topshop
10. Samantha Wills is a jewellery designer who has been on my radar for quite a while now. Her pieces are so simple and yet elegant and all are beautifully crafted and presented in their own wooden boxes. Again the prices are a little pushy, but as a gift they're perfect. I couldn't decide which colour was my favourite, so I thought "just choose both".  Bardot Rings, £99 each by Samantha Wills
11. I've been avoiding getting a new iPod for far too long. My old iPod has served me well but but hold broke about three years ago and now the buttons have decided to give up on me too. Running without music isn't fun so I need a replacement ASAP. As I have an iPad I don't need an iPod to play games on; I prefer the look of this iPod anyway. Hoping I can get my name engraved on it like my old iPod too! iPod Nano 7th Generation, £129 by Apple

KELLIE

Kellie by loeswhite featuring a mini skirt

TWILIGHT

The time has finally come where I can start packing for holiday! I may seem a littler overexcited about the whole thing, but I haven't been on a (beach) holiday in three years and I am craving some sunshine, tan lines, cocktails and sand between my toes. Holiday shopping has been a struggle between buying things which I can wear again and buying things which really just caught my eye. My mission to find some nice black denim shorts have failed. But I did purchase this tapestry style corset top above which goes nicely with a white skirt I bought. Now, all that's left is to zip up my suitcase and go to the airport! Ciao!

Corset by Topshop, Sandals by Asos, Shorts by Ksubi, Bag by Marc by Marc Jacobs

TED BAKER AW13

On Wednesday I attended the Ted Baker AW13 show as a community correspondent for Polyvore! The show took place at the Farmiloe Building in London which was an amazing space; open, airy and full of eye catching features. The backdrop read 'Ted Baker: take the scenic route' which set the theme of the show: travel. The decor included lots of suitcases and signs to make it feel like we were in an old train station. 

The clothes were beautiful; men in swathes of workwear, reading papers and drinking coffee, women in a set of rainbow outerwear which would brighten up any winter day. A parade of two-piece female suits in various prints were accompanied by conductors hats, sexing up the idea of train attendants. The show culminated in a romantic cacophony of evening dresses, embellishment, sharp jackets and polished heels, all to the acoustic sounds of 'Let Me Love You'. Ted, we do.

INTERVIEW

Hello lovely readers! Sorry for my absence but things have been hectic lately. I've finally finished uni and moved home (mixture of 'yay' and 'boo' here) which means that the horrible time has come: I have to find a job. But I'm excited to start the next chapter, especially if I get a job I like. Anyone looking for a newbie fashion merchandiser/marketer/social media/pr person, I'm here and free!

My friends from uni are also job hunting and one had an interview panic: What To Wear?! I haven't been to an interview in quite a while having always had a summer job at the same place, but it got me to thinking what I would wear. I refuse to go to a job interview wearing a black trouser suit. It has to be formal of course, but I think colours are positive signs in interviews. And as I'm applying for fashion-y jobs it's important to show you have some style!

So this is what I came up with as my ideal interview outfit (job depending of course). The earrings and bag add a little colour, whilst the white blazer would mean I was wearing the key part of my outfits - lots and lots of white. I saw this top on Opening Ceremony's Moda Operandi trunk sale and I love the detail on it. What would you wear to an interview?

Blazer by Chloé, Top by Opening Ceremony, Skirt by Topshop, Earrings & Rings by Zara, PS11 by Proenza Schouler, Pumps by Valentino.

Callie by loeswhite featuring shell jewelry

HOMIES

These brilliant Brian Lichetenberg t-shirts hit Net-A-Porter last week; along with the Homiés/Hermés one above there is a matching Féline/Céline number. I love these tees; I think with fashion we sometimes need reminding not to be to serious and to be able to have a bit of fun with what we wear. They're also great to play around with as they could be dressed up or down. Here I've paired them with this Tibi faux leather pleated skirt which is such a lovely colour, and a great day to night transitional piece. Also I've rediscovered my love for Valentino's footwear, and these PVC babies are the best ones I've seen recently.
How would you style your Homies/Feline tees?
Coat by Jil Sander, Tee by Brian Lichtenberg, Skirt by Tibi, Shoes by Valentino, Clutch by Givenchy.
N.B. The tees are actually full length and not cropped (I just cropped them for the image). See the set on Polyvore here.

Nadia by loeswhite featuring tibi