Autumn Jackets: The ins and outs of Autumnal Outerwear

photo source: Tumblr; autumnd4y

With the blistering autumn winds creeping in and the cold crisp mornings becoming an ever more prominent feature, now is the perfect time to stock up on some new jackets. If you’re stuck for inspiration for your new autumn wardrobe, or if you’re struggling to part with that old hoodie you've had since high school, then never fear, we have some solutions for you.

Capes

Pinterest; forest-reverie.tumblr

Easy to slip on, comfortable, cosy, and available in a variety of colours and styles (tartan can look particularly season appropriate), the cape could be your answer to your jacket conundrum. Capes look best paired with slim-line jeans or with bare legs (if you’re brave enough!) and boots for that autumnal look. Beware though. Your arms may get chilly (perhaps wear with a long sleeve), it can be difficult to balance an over the shoulder bag and if you get a size too big you can look like you have stepped out in a duvet.

Blazer

fashionabletalk.com

If it’s just a little bit chilly, a blazer could be your way to go. The great thing about blazers is that they can be structured, fitted and even casual, like the boyfriend fit. Blazers can instantly make an outfit look smarter, so are a great choice if you want to create a more stylish edge to your outfit, whilst remaining comfortable and elegant. Pair with a turtle-neck jumper or top, a sheer shirt or blouse and you’re good to go. The only downside is depending on the fabric it can be quite impractical to wear. Unless you layer with another jacket on top, or multiple layers underneath, you may struggle to keep warm.

This is just an excerpt from a complete article I wrote for Concrete, you can read the full piece (including my favourite Autumn jacket) here: 

http://www.concrete-online.co.uk/autumn-jackets-the-ins-and-outs-of-autumnal-outerwear/

I've been so bad at posting recently, but I'm hoping things will pick up. I've just been writing so much stuff for other sites that it's sort of taken over my life! Hope you enjoy this article. :) 

Melissa. 

Pretty Little Fashion

Since its conception in 2010, ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars has delighted us with murder, mystery – and cutting edge fashion. The Liars, comprising of Emily (Shay Mitchell), Spencer (Troian Bellisario), Aria (Lucy Hale) and Hanna (Ashley Benson), always stay ahead of the trends, and despite the serious situations they get themselves into, they always look fabulous. The show has been known for its forward-thinking fashion sense, and the girls have become style icons, with many young people looking to them to highlight the latest trends and ways to wear certain outfits.

Each Liar has a distinctive style and this is what makes the show so striking and unique. Emily usually likes to kick it more casual in tank tops, denim hoodies and baseball tees whilst Spencer is known for her preppy edge, opting for riding boots, striped polo jumpers and smart shirts. Aria is the alternative of the group, which means her fashion can often be a bit outlandish and hit and miss, but when she does it right she shines. Most of the time she’s wearing wacky leopard prints, lace, leather and lots of jewellery. Hanna, originally known for her glamorous ensembles and elaborate jewellery, went through a bit of a grunge phase which means she can know be seen in a mix of tattered tees, ripped jeans and jumpers, but with an expensive twist. But it’s not just the Liars who take centre stage fashionwise, the girls’ former queen bee, Alison DiLaurentis (Sasha Pieterse) is always on hand to steal the spotlight with her striking outfits (possessing a penchant for yellow) with elaborate sequin detailing. Similarly, Mona (formerly ‘A’, played by Janel Parrish) opts for more dark attire and can be seen usually in leather jackets and dresses, and opts for a red/ white/ black palette.

Once again, this is a sneaky little extract from an article I wrote for Concrete, and if you've enjoyed what you've read so far and would like to read a bit more about Spencer, Emily, Hanna, Aria, Alison & Mona's outfits (including the fabulous Season 6 summer finale dresses) then you can, at this link: http://www.concrete-online.co.uk/pretty-little-fashion/

The Summer Body

photo; stylevanity.com

Body consciousness is at an all-time high in summer, and it can often be difficult for many people to be comfortable on the beach during swimsuit season.

photo; belfastvibe.com

With the recent body acceptance movements and ‘#effyourbeautystandards’ campaigns, it appears that this summer could be the season where everyone can feel comfortable on the beach in their own skin. These recent movements promote body acceptance and swimsuits (particularly bikinis) are often at the forefront, with many claiming that there is no ‘bikini size’ that one has to follow. Whilst it seems easier said than done, the taboo around certain shapes in swimwear is decreasing, and there is no reason why you should wait around hoping for your dream body when you have a body already, which is by nature, ‘bikini ready’. Whatever your confidence level, there are plenty of options out there for you.

photo; swimsuitsforall

If you want to read some of our style advice for swimsuits, and the available styles of swimwear for your body confidence, then read the full article at the link below: 

http://www.concrete-online.co.uk/the-summer-body/

OOTD #4 Petite Maxi Dresses

At the beginning of this month I had the great fortune of going on holiday to Western America, where I had the pleasure of visiting places like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes. Of course, I had to pack several different outfits for the weather changes (seriously, it was snowing one day and extremely hot the next) so it seems only fitting that I share with you some of the photos from a particularly favourite outfit day. This was actually on the last day of my holiday in San Francisco, where we visited Lombard Street (famous for its eight hairpin turns). The street was incredibly beautiful with lots of houses painted different colours and some beautiful flowers. Plus there was a great view down the entire street. 

So beautiful!

Seriously, a great view!

We took a cable car up to the street (because, why not?) and it was a great time and I chose to wear my favourite black maxi dress from Boohoo. Now, for a long time, I was very much under the impression that Maxi dresses somehow 'weren't for me' as I wasn't nearly tall enough and they would ridiculous on me. But just recently I have decided to pretty much say fuck it, and I'll wear whatever I like. So this was a big deal for me and I think the whole outfit looked great. I love this dress, it's soft, comfortable and flows beautifully. It has a side slit that comes up just above the knee (would be higher on a taller person) and I got it from the boohoo petite range. I am incredibly short (just reaching 5ft) so when I got the dress it was a little long, despite being from the petite range, so I cut off about an inch and a half to make it fit for me. The dress would probably be fine for anyone around 5ft 2 or taller. The bottom is folded over and sewn together (all you really need is some black thread and a needle). I teamed my maxi dress with a blue denim jacket with grey sleeves that I got from Primark (can't remember the exact price, but it was so cheap and looks great!) and my favourite white plimsolls and purple rope necklace (both from New Look). 

Me and Yaz #teamtwin

If you have been dying to wear a maxi dress and you're short like me, but you haven't had the confidence to, then I highly recommend going out and getting yourself one. This one was only £12 and has become a staple piece in my wardrobe, and there are so many designs out there that are now becoming available in a shorter length. Let me know where you've found your favourite maxi dresses from, and especially if you are of a similar height, I'm always on the look out for great suggestions! 

FASHION: Welcome to the Blogosphere

(Tanya Burr; photo from look.co.uk)

Blogs. Chances are we’ve all heard of them and possibly even own our own blog – whether it be to document our day-to-day ramblings, opinions on latest news or entertainment or indeed just to share something else with the millions of people online (or just your friend who lives down the street). But nothing has risen quite so high in recent years in the blogosphere than fashion and beauty blogs. In this blogs, people share their style tips, showcasing latest trends or simply displaying their outfit of the day (#OOTD).

(Zoe Sugg/Zoella; photo from Zoella.co.uk)

With easy-to-use platforms like Blogspot and WordPress available to anyone with an internet connection blogging has become a worldwide sensation – especially for budding fashion and beauty writers. It’s true that blogs are a great platform for those wishing to flex their skills in writing, photography or show off their unique style.

(Susanna Lau; photo from quietlunch.com)

But what are some of the best fashion and beauty bloggers and blogs around? This is a difficult question, as there are thousands of blogs that feature individual styles and trends and display wonderful make-up looks that it can seem a little daunting to just highlight a few. Probably one of the more notable ones you may have heard of is Norwich’s own Tanya Burr, who started her fashion, beauty and lifestyle blog in 2011 and ever since has become a hit with all types of people, for her cute and succinct reviews of various products, her monthly favourites and her signature styles. Burr’s success on her blog and on YouTube has allowed her to branch out and launch her own cosmetics line, showing the benefits of her blogging.

(Gabi Gregg; photo from gabifresh.com)

Want to know some more of our favourite fashion and beauty bloggers and read the rest of this article? Then check it out, here.