Party Season!

The Party Season is upon us... and as money is tight this time of year we may not have much to spare to look fantastic at the parties after we have played Santa! But with these gorgeous dresses at a good price there is no excuse!
 Key trends for the festive period always tend to be velvet, lace and glitter, in dark shades of red purple and black, and this year is not any different. I found an exclusive festive dress which I love, the velvet no.3 below! What better way to show the festive spirit than this Mrs Clause number?!

Here are the links to where you can find these beauty's:

Lace

1- £21 @ Charlotte Russe

2- £36 @ Lavish Alice

3- £22 @ She Inside

Velvet

1- £10 @ New Look

2- £12.99 @ h&m

3- £20 @ Efox City

Sparkle

1- £25 @ ASOS

2- £29.99 @ Miss Guided

3- £24.95 @ Chiara Fashion

Amy.

Do it yourself..

As Christmas is fast approaching, we will all be looking for party wear, however some of us may not have copious amounts of money to splurge! Especially when you have to budget for presents and nights out! Gothic Glamour is a principal look just now, which looks enchanting and edgy, very appropriate for Christmas nights out. 

Studs are also still very popular this season, and for those who cannot afford a brand new dress, River Island has created a D.I.Y kit with all the essentials to update your look and recycle your wardrobe! The kit, only costing a mere £5, includes different shapes and sized studs  and skulls, to rejuvenate any outfit with little effort. It is available online or in store, making it so easy to do some quick and quirky alterations!

Amy.

Midi Mad

Mid length always adds an element of class to an outfit. It gives it, I hate to say it, but 'sex appeal' to an outfit whilst keeping it sophisticated. It suits all different shapes and sizes. It shows off long legs and helps to elongate the shorter pins. It adds curves to those who are lacking and compliments those with a more womanly figure. Dresses and skirts are widely available now in a mid-length, with various patterns and prints. Printed midi-dresses are hugely popular at the moment, cross and skull prints being main features. Minimal accessories are needed, it is a feature of its own. Feast you eyes on these little gems!

Available from:

1- £12.99 @ Miss Rebel

2- £20 @ River Island

3- £10.99 @ Bang on the Trend

4- £14.95 @ Chiara Fashion

5- £20 @ River Island

6- £17 @ Republic

7- £25 @ River Island

Amy.

Peplum Perfect

It's back! Peplum is a recurring trend, thankfully. It is a great style for highlighting feminine curves and hiding any unwanted curves. It really is a style for everyone and can be work-wear or club-wear. It is available in skirts, tops and dresses, so much choice! I have a few peplum pieces and would recommend for everyone to try it.

Here are a few I found for under £30:

1- £29.99 @Pull and Bear

2- £22 @ Dorothy Perkins

3- £19 @ Mango

4- £25 @ ASOS

5- £24.99 @ New Look

6- £9.99 @ Amazon

7- £25 @ River Island

Amy.

Suitable Soles

No matter how cold it is our feet should always look pretty, but they should also be slightly practical to avoid any unnecessary accidents! I've included some boots which I thought were both pretty and practical. I have recently purchased a pair of heeled boots from Missguided which I love! They are both comfortable and beautiful, everything a girl could want in a pair of shoes. Heeled boots are definitely worth investing in, as they can be dressed up or dressed down and worn all year round, well worth the money if you ask me. Another thing which makes these boots worth the money is the colour, black will never go out of fashion and can go with almost anything, there is no question whether you should buy a pair or not.

Where to find them:

1- £29.99 @ h&m
2- £20 @ Republic
3- £28.74 @ JC Penny
4- £25.60 @ Debenhams
5- £29.99 @ New Look
6- £29.94 @Yes Style

Amy.

Go Grunge

Grunge has been around for decades, originating with the rock movement in the 80's it has been updated constantly and is very big right now in 2012. It is an effortless look, which still looks stylish and unique. You can use different layers and various shades to complete your outfit. Although it shouldn't look too much, it's all about looking as if you have made zero effort but still look great. It requires minimum effort and allows you to experiment with different pieces and make-up styles. Leather is always associated with grunge, and it has been huge recently, from jackets to leggings, and tops to shoes. Also huge baggy jumpers and t-shirts, which is great for this weather as you can be cosy and fashionable! It really is an ideal style for days when you are running late or just can't be bothered! Celebs such as the Olsen twins and Rihanna ar usually sporting the grunge look.Army prints and plaid is also a main feature, and available almost everywhere right now. Below are some items you should definitely have if you are going grunge.

Army Jacket - £28 @ Fashion Union
Tartan Shirt - £18 @ Chic Nova
Skull Scarf - £25 @ River Island
Skull Ring - £12 @ Accessorize
Black Trilby Hat - £12.99 @ New Look
***Leather Biker Jacket - £12 @ Maxnina****
'I HAVE ISSUES' Sweater - £16 @ Etsy
Green Knitted Hat - £17 @ Topshop
Studded Biker Boots - £24.70 @ Spy Love Buy
Leather Quilted Hotpants - £15 @ River Island
Plum Lipstick - £14 @ Sephora
Purple Cross Sweater - £14.99 @ New Look


Amy.

Creepers, fashionable or just creepy?

Initially, I was totally against the 'brothel creeper' shoe, the name doesn't do them any favours for starters, and for this reason I considered them to be creepy. Whenever anyone walked by I did question their fashion sense, and overall sense for that matter. I found them an eyesore and was determined not to be swayed into thinking they were nice.  

However, this did not go to plan. I actually find them acceptable now, and in some ways nice! My protest for these shoes was slightly defeated when I seen a pair of leopard print ones on sale in River Island, this is when I welcomed the idea of a pair, I did refrain from buying a pair though. They are very edgy and make any outfit look a bit different. The were popular since the 50's when the 'Teddy Boy's' wore them and were also sold in Vivienne Westwood's store- Let It Rock - in the 70's. They have been adopted by the sub-cultures such as Indie, Skunk and Goths. The idea of, the otherwise known triple-soled shoe, has admittedly grown on me and I may be making a purchase soon.

I found some lovely creepers in New Look, all for under £30!!

Amy.

Beanie Blog

A very popular item for A/W 2012 is the beanie hat. It is not a new thing to our fashion trends, however it has made a huge comeback this year with lots of celebrities being pictured with them. From Rihanna to Sarah Jessica Parker, Cheryl Cole to Ellie Goulding, the beanie is being used not only for lazy days but can be used as a statement piece to brighten up any outfit. There are so many colours and styles to choose from, they are not only quirky and fashionable, but functional too. For the cold winter we are bound to be getting, a hat is a must, so why not invest in a bright beanie to brighten up your cold morning! Pom pom beanies are very cute and very in style. Here are a few high street and online finds under £20, including one which I have recently bought and love!

This was a bargain find, £4 from Primark.

Where to get them:-

Bright as a button beanies:

1) £10 @ Bank , 2) £4.25 @ forever21 , 3) £7 @ Boohoo , 4) £ 15 @ Skate Warehouse , 5) £14 @ oasis , 6) £4.25 @ forever21 , 7) £19 @ adidas.

Wild Beanies:
1) £4 @ tesco , 2) £15.99 @ ASOS , 3) £12 @ Amazon , 4) £13 @ River Island.

Cute as can be beanies:

1) £18 @ Swell , 2) £12 @ Dorothy Perkins , 3) £18 @ Topshop , 4) £16 @ Fat Face , 5) £12 @ Zara , 6) £6.99 @ h&m.

Amy.

Vintage Classic

I have chosen to write this blog on a classic style which is still very much around. A world wide celebrity, remembered famously, partly, for her wardrobe. Audrey Hepburn was one of the most fashionable woman from the fifties onwards, and is still regarded as one today. She was placed on the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1961, and rightly so. Her sense of style was very distinctive- clean lines, simple yet bold accessories and a minimalist palette. Many designers created clothing for her, largely Givenchy, which she wore countless times including one of her most famous films, Breakfast at Tiffany's. In this film the 'LBD' was made famous and finally sold for over £270,000. The little black dress has stood the test of time and is still being used for the purpose intended; long-lasting, versatile, affordable and accessible to the widest market possible. As it is such a classic and adaptable piece, it is a wardrobe must-have, a clean cut, simple LBD will never date. It is definitely worth spending quite a bit on, however there are ways to get it for less. I have found a few high street items similar to that of Audrey, but within the budget of a fortuneless student.

The black sparkle midi dress(1) is very similar to the dress Audrey is pictured in. It is a very classic shape and style which will stay in fashion. All of these dresses are versatile and will be worth spending some money on, fortunately these are all very affordable. Audrey would always accessorise an LBD with a chunky necklace or some diamond earrings, giving it a very glamorous and classy look. Some dresses already come with jewelled necks or collars, but for those that don't, the necklaces and earrings shown are however not diamonds, which means they are well within your reach just now. Collars are very popular at the moment and are widely available in the majority of high street shops. As for footwear, Audrey was pictured wearing flat shoes a lot. These brogues would go perfectly with any of these dresses keeping the look smart and sophisticated.

Sources:

1) £27.99 @ New Look

2) THIS IS A MUST HAVE!! Now only £15 @ Dorothy Perkins

3) Only £12! @ ASOS

4) £20 @ Coast

5) £14.95 @Nelly

6) £27 @ House Of Fraser

7) £24.99 @New Look

8) £16.90 @ Shopakira

9) £30 @ h&m

Amy.

Gothic Glam

One of the most iconic celebrities of today, known for her quirky and admirable style, is Fearne Cotton. She always manages to look effortlessly amazing in whatever she wears, and wherever she wears it. Whether she's out shopping, going to work or on the red carpet she always looks incredible. Even with a baby on the way she still manages to look as good as usual, unlike some mums-to-be who may opt for the 'comfort look'. On a recent shopping trip, Fearne's outfit verged on the Gothic glam look, all in black, a casual yet stylish choice which could be worn dressed up or dressed down.

I have found a similar look from high-street shops and online retailers as shown below; 

Total outfit cost: £204.

• The knitted tunic with faux leather cuffs and pockets is high on trend and with its simple cut it will be a diverse piece of your wardrobe.
• Fearne wears subtle silver jewellery to accessorize her outfit and these stacked bangles are a cheap find, great for making an outfit more interesting.

• Striped tights always give any outfit an edge and can be worn many different ways. (Alternatively you could buy tights from Primark for a few pounds!)
• Ankle boots can be worn throughout the year so it is a  wardrobe staple that is worth spending that bit extra on.

• The faux leather studded bag is bang on trend, and can be worn casually or on a night out.
• I have added a black faux fur coat to the outfit as it is coming in to winter and with the typical Aberdeen climate, it is a must. It's also in keeping with the influence of the Gothic trend. It is a classic and sophisticated piece and will continue to stay in  fashion from year to year.

Sources:

Tunic - £32 @ http://www.promod.co.uk/knitwear/knit-tunic-with-pockets-black-R5220014001.html?UO=ATD&cid=AFF_tradedoubler_2132052 .

Bangles - £5.99 @ New Look.

Tights - £17.95 @http://www.esprit.co.uk/socks-leg-warmers/stretch-tights-18474_300?camp=UK_IC_PP_PS_40_00002 .

Boots - £59 @ http://www.esprit.co.uk/women/shoes-acc/shoes/flat-ankle-boots/buckle-detail-biker-boot-J10435_001?camp=UK_IC_PP_PS_40_00002 .

Bag - £25 @ http://www.promod.co.uk/accessories/studded-faux-leather-handbag-black-R5290083001.html?UO=ATD&cid=AFF_tradedoubler_2132052 .

Coat - £65 @ Dorothy Perkins.

Amy.

And so it begins..

Hello! I have decided to set up a Fashion Blog, being a fashion student it is merely expected. As this is my first ever Blog you will have to bear with me. It may take some time. However, once I have got round to understanding this piece of social advancement, I will post advice on how to live a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget. An issue that I am a primary example of. Whoever said the student life was easy? I will go above and beyond in my inquest to find the student friendly version of the high fashion objects which may be slightly out of reach at this point in our lives. Fashion is a necessity, the rest will have to wait.

Amy.