New Year's Eve Inspiration

Christmas feels like it has come and gone quicker than you can literally say the word Christmas and yet another year is coming to an end. However the only way is up and entering a new year should be fun and exciting. 

The New Year is celebrated by many cultures in one way or another and at 12am on January 1st many countries celebrate with fireworks, especially in English tradition which includes fireworks and crowds of people singing 'Auld Lang Syne'. A new year is something that should be seen as a positive and could be a fresh start for many of us to create better oppunities for ourselves. This could include a new career or even a promise to yourself to stop buying so many shoes and clothes!

Since December is infamous for its parties, especially for New Years Eve, inspiration for the perfect party outfit is a must. Following many trips in to my local high street and countless visits to online websites; sparkles, sequins, lace and velvet are looking like a must for this month. 

Whilst browsing Pretty Little Thing I came across this beautiful red maxi dress. With the lace detail and slit through the front of the dress to the thigh, this elegant dress is perfect for any occasion. 

Pretty Little Thing: Dianie Red Lace Maxi Dress - £12

If your looking for a more casual chic look then a sequin skirt is perfect for you. This classic black skirt has been jazzed up for a more party styled look and it certainly adds to this outfit. A black shirt or even a casual long sleeved white top would mix nicely with the skirt, helping the main attraction to be the sequins and not going over board with your look. 

Pinterest: Copyright fashforfashion.com

As iv previously mentioned in past blogs, burgendy is a must for me personally and I eventually came across these stunning high heeled shoes. They shout out party and the beautiful patterns on this shoe give it the perfect party look. This shoe would suit black or beige cigarette trousers and a cropped string sleeved top.

Topshop: RAVISH Laser-Cut Sandels - £52

http://m.topshop.com/h5/product?productId=22422394

http://www.fashforfashion.com/2013/02/cashmereinstyle.html?m=1

https://www.prettylittlething.com/dianie-red-lace-maxi-dress.html

Ready To Wear SS16

As we've reached the end of the year, the trends of 2015 have too come to an end. These events and objects include the famous selfie stick, Tim Peake being the first Britsh man to travel into space and Watch me Whip, Watch me Nae Nae being an exclusive 2015 trend with thousands of people singing and dancing to the track for months. 

As we've moved away from these trends and entered the year of 2016 we can expect to see a whole new group of trends coming into play. This includes the Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2016 collections. After coming across the Spring/Summer fashion week images, it quickly became evident that ruffles, slip on dresses and skirts, vibrant colours and designs, lacy and see through materials and patterns including stripes and spots are popular elements in the clothing which the models are seen wearing this season.

Fashion designers such as Michael Kors and Lela Rose have collaborated ruffles into their designs with Kors going for a vibrantly elegant look adding ruffles to a red evening gown and Rose going for a more subtle chic look with the ruffles spreading the dress out. 

Other designers such as Celiné have combined the slip on dresses and skirts into their collections, with Celiné using a continuous theme of a white dress or top with black lace or vise versa. 

Moschino continue to bring their vibrant spark into fashion week with their extravagant colours and designs. Looking similar to Anya Hindmarch's work of motorway fashion, Moschino have gone all out with their HiVis styled collection. 

Lacy and see through materials can be seen from designer Chloé. In a bohemian style white dress, Chloé's design shows a v neck, thin strapped lacy white dress with string going around the bottom half of the dress, separating it into sections. 

Each designer seems to have shown determination and passion in all of their designs. One designer I particularly came to enjoy their work was Valentino.This  modern and chic design drew me in with its beautifully designed halted neck and destinctive bands around the waist, perfect for a ready to wear dress, this is definetly my favourite design in this seasons ready to wear collection. 

http://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2016-ready-to-wear/michael-kors-collection/slideshow/collection#8

http://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2016-ready-to-wear/celine/slideshow/collection#6

http://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2016-ready-to-wear/celine/slideshow/collection#2

http://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2016-ready-to-wear/moschino/slideshow/collection#7

http://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2016-ready-to-wear/moschino/slideshow/collection#8

http://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2016-ready-to-wear/chloe/slideshow/collection#38

http://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2016-ready-to-wear/valentino/slideshow/collection#41

Christmas Treats

With under a week to go until Christmas I can feel the Christmas spirit coming to its peak. Each year I watch the surge of crowds shopping for loved ones, to Christmas Day when all them presents are ripped open in seconds, going round the family one by one. After the famous turkey has been cooked and Christmas dinner prepared and eaten, the Christmas games that are played every year begin to unwind and we collect new memories to talk about for years to come. 

Christmas is a time for giving, friends and family and remembering what really matters. This includes the best Christmas treats possible. On my search for Christmas treats I came across the ginger bread latte - perfect for Christmas morning! By adding whipped cream and a gingerbread man for decoration you have the perfect Christmas drink. However If the gingerbread latte isn't a personal favourite you could try the alternative cinnamon latte, adding ground cinnamon on top of the whipped cream for added flavour. 

Copyright - Costa Coffee (www.pintrest.co.uk)

Another treat for any creative enthusiast is Christmas themed fondant icing figures. I remember making these icing treats back in year 7 with my home economics class and since the fondant can be molded and shaped into anything, you can be as creative as you want. 

Copyright - www.pintrest.com

Copyright - www.sugarlane.com

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/317081629988937571/

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/fondant-christmas-cake/

http://thesugarlane.com/tag/gumpaste-santa-claus/

Faux Fur

Faux fur, also known as 'fake fur' has recently climbed its way up to becoming one the of the biggest fashion trends. After being commercially available since the 1950's and first introduced in the 1920's, it now appears in nearly every high street clothing shop. With the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham making an appearance with a faux fur jacket embedded in their attire, it's becoming evident that faux fur is in. 

Victoria Beckham - Startraks photo/REX

Following the recent obsession with faux fur I just had to see what else I could find regarding the garment. Simply typing in 'Faux Fur' brings up a wide range of stores including; Topshop, Misguided, Boohoo and River island all selling this item. 

Gwyneth Paltrow - Startraks photo/REX

Topshop, being one of the stores that appears instantly on the search includes a variety of the jacket ranging from £45 to £650.

Topshop: Curly Faux Fur Sleeveless Coat - £45

Topshop: Inverness Duffle Coat by Unique - £650

Misguided: Faux Fur Collar and Cuff Detail Wool Coat Camel - £75

River Island: Grey Stripe Faux Fur Winter Coat - £110

Each jacket is beautiful in its own way but my favourite has to be the Faux Fur Gillet. Perfect for any occasion this gillet will turn any casual outfit into a chic evening one. 

Topshop: Quarts Faux Fur Gillet by Religion - £100

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fake_fur

http://m.topshop.com/h5/products?categoryFilter=203984%2C2542865%2C2542879

https://www.missguided.co.uk/clothing/category/coats-jackets/faux-fur-coats

http://www.riverisland.com/women/coats-jackets/faux-fur-coats/_/N-81r

Coffee Shop Moments

It seems to have become a regular occurrence that I'm in a coffee shop almost daily, whether it be Cafè Nero, Costa or Starbucks. With over £730 million spent on coffee consumption last year in Britain, it's no wonder that I am just another statistic in the long line of coffee drinkers.

Caramel Latte 

Starting with my most recently visited coffee establishment, Café Nero has recently become a good friend of mine. For the past few weeks I have began rekindling my love for coffee, especially the speciality choices, including their caramel latte. A rich blend of espresso followed by whipped cream and finished with caramel sauce; a perfect combination for the sweet toothed coffee drinker followed by a red velvet cake to add to the flavours. 

This brings me on to Costa and my attempt to try as many specialities as I can, including a sticky toffee latte, caramel fudge hot chocolate and again another caramel latte. Each in its own right delicious and a hot drink I would recommend. 

Red Velvet Cake

https://www.realcoffee.co.uk/coffee-encyclopedia/trivia/consumption-facts/

Elie Saab - Haute Couture

Elie Saab's Haute couture collection is a mixture of chic, elegance and beauty all wrapped into one. I absolutely love this collection and continued to adore it after seeing the whole attire. Haute couture itself is of French origin and is known for being expensive and produced by well known fashion designers. It is a collection which the likes of Elie Saab, Chanel and Christian Dior have contributed in sewing up designs for the clothing known for not having a price tag.

Following Saab's collection, his models not only glide down the runway looking amazing but his designs speak for itself. In this collection we see his laced long gowns, meshed parts and sequins, all making the dresses look gorgeous and completely haute couture. This chic nude gown with gold detail makes this dress look stunning, it simply establishes contemporary fashions and is modelled beautifully.

Elie Saab's collections continue to inspire me, especially the following gown. This luxurious dress puts a whole new spin on the little black dress. It's sequin and mesh detail makes for another contemporary design, further expanding on existing fashions, while taking ideas from it. Like Elie Saab's whole haute couture collection, this is a beautifully designed dress, perfect for any evening wear occasion. 

Copyright - Elie Saab