The Perfect Party Shoe - Christian Louboutin Lady Peep 150 Glitter Slingbacks

I think shoes can make or break an outfit. I like to invest in footwear because I like to shop in the high street for clothes. You can find some great pieces in the high street at a fraction of the cost of designer clothes, which of course means you can splurge on lovely nice red soles!

I got these Louboutins a few months ago so I’m not sure if you can still find them but the EU online boutique have the same style/colour but without the sling back. Personally, I prefer the Christian Louboutin Lady Peep 150 slingback version of this shoe in glitter as they add a bit of an edge to any outfit. I did purchase the exact same style with the black glitter finish before Christmas, but they were half a size too small so I returned them, reluctantly of course, with the hope of finding them again in the correct size. I never did manage to get the black glitter ones as they were sold out everywhere so when the multi glitter version was released as part of Christian Louboutin’s Spring/Summer 2012 Collection I couldn’t wait to get them!

This style has been made in 3 colours – black, gold, & multi. I do actually prefer the multi as the champagne undertones mean that the shoes would go equally well with gold or silver accessories. The black ones are also gorgeous. I find the gold ones to look a bit on the cheap side. What I love about these is that the glitter doesn’t rub off like many of the cheaper high street versions. The quality and craftsmanship of these shoes really is worth every penny. At £565 they are reasonable considering the price of some ‘party’ style Louboutins.

As far as sizing/fitting goes, the style runs true to size. I am a UK size 4 and a 37 fits me perfectly. The heel measures approx 6 inches with a 1.5 inch platform. The almond shaped peep toe makes them extremely comfortable if you get the perfect size – half a size too small and your toes will feel the pressure, half a size too big and your toes will slip right out! They probably are best suited to narrow feet as are most Louboutins.

I do feel that these are the perfect party shoes – comfortable and classy, with the ultimate sparkle! The light catches these soooo well and they would look equally pretty with a dress on a Saturday night, or with skinny jeans, a smart top and a blazer for lunch/shopping.

What's your favourite Christian Louboutin 'Party Shoe'?

Luxe for Less at LoveLila.co.uk

I came across this brand via Twitter... Manchester owned online fashion boutique Love Lila will be launching its new site at the end of the month, offering style-savvy shoppers 'Luxe for Less'. Think chic knits, printed jeans, high-wasited trousers, funky tees, jumpsuits and an array of dresses to take you through workwear to party wear. 

Love Lila don't just follow trends; they offer celebrity style, chic work wear, weekend luxe, holiday shop plus many more ranges.

On a budget? Love Lila promises that everything is under £100 to ensure that the collection is accessible and affordable to everyone.

They also offer a customer loyalty scheme when you purchase from them and subscribe to their newsletter. Benefits include special offers & promotions, a monthly prize draw, discount on repeat purchases and a free gift the second time a returning customer shops with them.

It all sounds like a fresh, funky, exciting new online fashion boutique. I will be checking out the stock as soon as the new website goes live (April 30th) think missguided, boohoo etc. Love Lila is worth a look if you want, 'Luxe for Less' www.lovelila.co.uk.

Lily Chic - Spring Fashion

Zara you are killing me!!! I absolutely love the current collection and can't refrain myself from entering a Zara store. I always manage to walk out with something & these are my current favourites that I have on my wishlist. I think the combination of neutrals & studs with a pop of colour is perfect for Spring and the Chanel-esque tweed jacket would go perfect with the matching skirt I picked up last week. I think a shopping trip is in order very soon!

What are your favourites from the current Zara collection?

Christian Louboutin Launches Europe Online Boutique

I know this is going to be some serious shoe-porn for all you little addicts out there - but yes, Monsieur Louboutin  has  finally launched his very own European Online Boutique, just in time to celebrate the 20th anniversary. Most of the collection is available to purchase online, ranging from the Pigalle, to the Lady Peep, along with some funky designins which I have not seen before, however, I was dissapointed to see that there were no 'Neon' styles such as the neon Pigalles or the neon Un Bout. Nevertheless it has been a long time coming and I am thrilled that the boutique is finally open!

Have you purchased from the boutique yet? How was your shopping experience?

Spring/Summer Neon Trend 2012

Hey guys!

I know I know long time no blog! There really is no excuse but I'm back for real for real *lets hug it out*. One trend that I am absolutely LOVINGGGGG right now is the neon trend. I think during this time of year its always nice to spruce up your wardrobe with a pop of colour. Hot pink & neon lime work so well together as demonstrated by the beautiful Jennifer Lopez on American Idol. Theres plenty of affordable pieces in the high street right now but I am yet to find a dupe to the Michael Kors neon pink & lime dress that JLO wore.
Zara have got a nice collection of neon brights but they are selling out fast so if your looking for some pieces ready for your Summer holidays then I would definitely recommend that you purchase them asap - I know I have!

What do you guys think of the neon trend? Love it or Loathe it?

Oriental Fashion Trend S/S11

The weather is horrible this afternoon! Not only is it raining, its dark, grey, foggy, & thundering! I mean hello we are in April! I've heard of April showers but this takes it to a whole other level! I cannot wait for some sunshine to hit the UK - preferably for more than 2 days!

Looking at this weather I can't help but invision China, old town China, where the buildings are beautifully constructed, with intricate artwork, Geishas strutting in the streets, immaculately finished from head to toe, shielded from rainfall from the over extended roof tops.

We have seen Louis Vuitton encapsulate the S/S11 collection with tastes from the East, heavy satin finishes, Mandarin collars, subtle cherry blossom prints, refreshed with minimal eye make-up and dark cherry red lips, lined with plum. In addition to Louis Vuitton, Chanel's S/S11 runway also took inspiration from the East, with a monochromatic take on the trend.

So what has the high street got to offer? With Zara, Miss Selfridge, Topshop and River Island all providing items at affordable prices there's no excuse not to pick up an item or two. Above is a polyvore I created with some high street items to take you through the Spring/Summer season.

Btw - how beautiful does Jennifer Lopez look in this new add campaign...

Have you purchased anything from the Oriental trend?

Colour Block Trend - High Street

I absolutely love this trend. It is the perfect way to progress from your winter clothes to your spring/summer wardrobe with a pop of colour. I always see lots of floral prints come about in Spring and I always feel that its way to early - especially in the UK when the weather is still rainy and miserable! Having said that, it has been quite nice the past fortnight so these high street pieces are perfect to start wearing in your transition phase from your winter nudes to springtime colour. I created this Polyvore to show just a few high street pieces that I feel are not only affordable, but bang on trend in terms of the colour block fashion trend.

Zara are one of those high street stores that always get it right. It doesn't matter when it is, but I can always find something that resembles the look of high end designer wear at great prices. I've picked up a few bits and bobs lately (post coming soon), with quite a lot of it being around the colour block trend. Karen Millen are another one of my favourite high street stores. A little over priced, but the quality is exceptional.

Do you like the colour block trend? What have you managed to pick up from the high street?

Pantone Honeysuckle Spring 2011 Colour Forecast

Pantone reveals that the colour of Spring 2011 to be Honeysuckle.

“Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life.”

I would actually give Pantone 9/10 for their depiction of Honeysuckle. I would describe the colour as muted watermelon brûlée – a concoction of vibrant watermelon with pastel peach underlying tones. Maybe ‘Watermelon” would have been a more appropriate name?

As you can see from my polyvore below, I feel that the exact colour is very hard to come across in the fashion world, as clothing tends to be a lot more vivid, verging towards hot pink shades. However, upon reading Pantones press release I did immediately recollect an item of clothing that I purchased exactly 12 months ago. The item being an ASOS diamante hoop split front maxi dress. This is the perfect Honeysuckle shade! (maxi dress located far right on my polyvore)

I know that this shade is not for everyone but for me I cant get enough of it. I think this shade works best with medium/dark skin tones although in terms of make up, I feel that the pastel hues would be best suited to light/medium skin tones.

What do you think of Pantones Spring 2011 colour report? Do you think it works best as a make-up colour or a clothing/accessories/shoes colour?

Hot New Trend 2011: return of the Floppy Hat

The Brigitte Bardot floppy hat is back! The 70's inspired Spring/Summer trends are in full pledge with this bad boy. I remember years ago watching Jennifer Lopez rockin' one of these beauties to the MTV awards show, teamed with a gypsy style top, white shorts, and killer heels. Suchhhh a gorge look, and what I like best about these hats is they classify any pair of shorts and heels. The past few years I've never worn shorts with heels simply because I didn't want to look like a 'hoochie' but I think the addition of dark designer shades and a floppy hat just oozes GLAMOUROUS...

Oooo flossy flossy!!

I purchased these a few weeks ago from ASOS;

The left image is the ASOS 70's floppy hat, which cost £17 at the time, but it has since gone up to £25. The felt was nice and soft but I found the brim to be overly floppy, in particular, the sides, where they would just fall flat to the side of my head! Not exactly the JLo-esqu look I was going for!!

The right image is the Catarzi felt floppy hat, colour Nero, which cost £27. I purchased the two as I wanted to see which one was the better hat, and hands down it has got to be the Catarzi one. The brim is so much more sturdy yet it still has movement. ASOS returns are not only free, they process the return really quickly so I had the intention of returning the less desired hat. In this case, I returned the ASOS branded hat.

That evening I went to TK Maxx with my mum, and found 3 floppy hats in the EXACT same style as the Catarzi. They are by Failsworth, and at £5 a hat I got all 3! Caramel, Brown, and Grey.

Do you like the 70's floppy hat trend? I clearly cant get enough of it!