Party Season

As Christmas and New Year are fastly approaching, the pressure to find party dresses is mounting. In a town like Southport where high street stores are limited, it is impossible to be wearing a dress that is completely unique. I turn to online retailers such as Missguided and Asos because most people tend to wear dresses from either Topshop or River Island. 

ASOS

These are my fave dresses from ASOS.com. I love the textures, colours and detailing on these dresses. You can always rely on ASOS for stunning, on trend party dresses.

MISSGUIDED

My favourite dresses from missguided are either plain black LBD's, or metallic detailed dresses. The baroque detailed dress is one of my favourite dresses. It comes in black and white. 

RIVER ISLAND

The white dress on the left is a mini wrap dress which is very basic but would look good with a tan and some accessories! The black maxi dress is one of my favourite pieces in River Island at the moment. It is very flattering and is very easy to dress up or down. 

xoxox

RI Blue Print Jacquard Mini Skirt

Working in River Island has its benefits, but it also has its disadvantages! I am supposed to be buying everyone presents for Christmas, however I keep spotting clothes and bags that I want myself and I end up buying things at the end of my shift! This skirt was originally £30, however has been reduced to £10 as a party-wear offer. I absolutely love this skirt! I am saving it for Christmas day. The picture doesn't do this skirt justice. It is a bright metallic shade of blue and is absolutely stunning. It's almost sold out online so if you want yours - get it now!

xoxox

Matalan Jersey Midi Dress

If like me, you think you look terrible in a figure hugging midi dress, then I have found the perfect solution. This midi dress is only £12 from Matalan. It is perfect for pear or hourglass shapes. It accentuates your waist whilst skimming your hips. It comes in a variety of colours which are perfect for this season, and at just £12 you can afford to buy a few. 

xoxox

12 Days of Christmas

Luxe Luggage

I am an absolute sucker when it comes to labels. I love Marc by Marc Jacobs, Chanel, D&G, Louis Vuitton and Lulu Guinness. Everyone dreams of having the Louis Vuitton luggage set, with the totes, cases and trunks.

However, there is a new set of luggage that I have completely fallen for! 

LULU GUINNESS!

Her iconic 'lips' have now been plastered all over suitcases of the most amazing colours. Pillarbox red, jet black and hot pink, however they do come at a jaw-dropping price. I would love to own one of these and maybe I may treat myself after working all over Christmas. 

xoxox

River Island Christmas Temp

I was hired by my local River Island store in Southport as a Christmas temp. I have been working there for nearly a week and I absolutely love it. I used to work at McDonalds so the job is a little but more glamorous! River Island have recently changed their uniform, so you have to wear their brand whilst you're working.

This means they give you £85 clothing allowance (even though I am only there for 5 weeks)! So yesterday I chose my uniform. It was amazing, going round the store - choosing clothes, and then not having to pay! I got a jumper which costs £45, a £30 black knitted cardigan and a simple pair of black leggings (because you can never go wrong with a pair of leggings).

This is my new work uniform! Which again beats 'maccies' uniform! 

and a pair of black leggings.

I also bought myself a few RI tees which I can wear with my cardie. I bought these tees in a Large so I could wear them as oversized tees with leggings and my studded boots instead of wearing jeans. I absolutely love oversized tees as part of a grunge style. 

xoxox

Christmas shopping

As Christmas is getting closer and closer, my family are constantly asking "what do you want for Christmas?". I decided to go into town and look at what I had my eye on and what I should possibly put on my Christmas list.

I decided to wear my Topshop shirt, Missguided disco pants, ASOS chelsea boots and use my River Island studded bag as a statement piece. This is my favourite sort of look. Classic and casual. 

A lot of stuff on my christmas list is online from either ASOS or Missguided - however, from working in River Island, I have noticed there are so many things I love in there at the moment!

River Island

This black dress would be perfect for night or day, and at only £40, it is an absolute steal. 

These disco pants from River Island are currently reduced to £20. I have three pairs of black disco pants so I think getting a different colour may liven up my wardrobe and mix it up a bit!

xoxox

Visual merchandising

I was shopping in my local town today and I decided to look at the shops on the high street and their visual merchandising for the Christmas season. 

Primark

H&M

M&S

BHS

New Look

Paparatzzi

Paparatzzi is a store in Southport which offers fast fashion at a very affordable price.

This was my favourite dress in the shop window. 

(I want this as my new years dress!)

This is their in-store visual merchandising.

xoxox

Seasons must have bag!

It was my first day of working at River Island today as a Christmas temp and I absolutely love it! I love River Island as a retailer, so spending an entire day in their shop, surrounded by their latest range is hardly the worst job. Although I am only working there for 5 weeks, I will love just being in the store and working with the products. 

This bag is a season must have for me. I already have this bag in black but as soon as I see the cream one in store, I will have to get it before everyone else does! Although £55 is a lot of money for a high street bag - it is definitely worth it. River Island are known for their unique handbags and this season is no different. 

xoxox

Chanel Envy...

Chanel is one of the most iconic fashion houses and will always be known for the black quilted handbag. I see so many Chanel bags around and online and it has given me complete Chanel envy! I would absolutely love to have my own!

These are my three favourite styles, and I hope one day I can own them all! (I wish). 

xoxox

ASOS Snow Leopard Coat

As Winter creeps in, it is getting noticeably colder every day. I've decided I need to treat myself to a coat. ASOS is my favourite online retailer. The sheer amount of styles and products they offer means you 99.9% of the time find exactly what you're looking for. 

This coat is one I particularly love. Its called the ASOS Snow Leopard Fur Coat. It is currently on sale from £75 to £56. 

xoxox

Topshop Visual Merchandising

Living a two minute walk away from a shopping centre has its disadvantages. The desire to go shopping 24/7 and knowing that you can just 'pop in' to Topshop. But no one ever just pops in to Topshop. I usually end up leaving with a bag in my hand and with a list of stuff I want to return to buy. 

This image is of the window display in Nottingham Topshop. I absolutely love the VM within Topshop. Topshops VM is way above most retailers, such as H&M and Primark. The only competitor that comes close to Topshops VM is River Island. 

xoxox

Black Mongolian Bag at RI

River Island always is my favourite retailer for bags. They offer the most incredible styles and textures. I have the most unique bags from RI; a peacock feather bag, 3 mongolian fur bags and a variety of other furry bags. This bag is £120, but is totally worth it! If I manage to save up over Christmas I will have to treat myself to this bag. 

It is the perfect size if you like oversized handbags. I love big bags. For me, they complete my outfit. If you're the kind of person who likes a small dainty bag, small enough to just take out your basics (keys, phone, purse) - then this bag is not for you. 

I cannot wait to work in River Island this Christmas. I love River Island and shopping within their stores. I will get to see the products first-hand, be in the store all day and get paid for it! Perfect!

xoxox

Christmas at River Island

Christmas is my favourite time of year, and retailers are preparing for the Christmas rush. River Island have gone for a white and gold theme with their Christmas collections and have brought us a variety of textures. From Mongolian fur collars to studded totes, River Islands range is perfect for this season.

These are my favourite products and ones which will be going on my Christmas list!

As I am working at River Island over Christmas this year I will be surrounded by these amazing clothes and accessories - I know where my wages will be going...

xoxox

Printed Leather

This Topshop dress at £125 is hardly 'affordable' for students, however, it printed leather! Whether other high street stores will develop this into a trend by introducing printed PU or whether this is a fad, but it is a stunning dress. This dress is one that can be worn either casually with tights, jacket and chelsea boots or for going out. If I had the money I would definitely go out and buy it!

xoxox

Statement jackets for AW12

Boucle

Boucle jackets first hit our high street in SS12. They appeared earlier on in the year and since then have been offered to us in a range of colours, textures and styles with different retailers having their own unique take on this trend. 

H&M and River Island have brought us biker style boucle jackets, where as Zara, New Look and Topshop have kept their styles a more traditional, classic shape which look slightly 'Chanel' like.

 New Look

H&M

Sequins

Metallics were a big trend last AW with metallic dresses, shoes and accessories taking over the high street. However, I have noticed an increase in sequined jackets. This weekend I purchased a cobalt blue sequined jacket from 'Poot', a vintage retailer in Frome, Somerset. Cobalt blue is a key colour this season, and at just £20 I have found myself a statement vintage piece. 

However, as this is a one off piece, I have found you more jackets similar to this one, in a variety of colours from retailers such as George and New Look. Cow (a vintage retailer) also offer vintage sequin jackets if you want a one off piece. 

George at Asda

New look

xoxox

Wardrobe Essential ...

Every month I choose one of my favourite pieces on the high street or by an online retailer which I believe is a wardrobe essential. This months wardrobe essential is a basic oversized tee from ASOS.com. ASOS provides us with amazing, affordable pieces. With over 1500 lines being added to ASOS every week they offer us a huge variety of trend driven pieces. 

I love the oversized trend, particularly in Winter. This tee, at just £12 is very affordable and is offered in three colours. Black, white and a dark grey. Instead of just buying one, at that price you could afford to buy all three.

I just purchased it in white and black! (I couldn't resist)
plus it is 25% off for students so I got them for £18.

xoxox

Visual Merchandising

Although I am passionate about a career in buying post graduation, I also have a love for visual merchandising. There are two retailers on the high street who I think have amazing visual merchandising. Topshop & River Island. 

My favourite part of River Island  is their shoe and accessory sections. The chairs, rugs and general area is always incredible. In Nottingham, we have the first 'Accessory Boutique' which features RI shoes, bags and a wide range of accessories. Also, their window displays are always in their own league; showcasing the best accessories of the season. 

Topshop create stories throughout their store, with different trends, colours and textures being positioned together to reflect the seasons trends. Not only is their in store VM exceptionally good, but their window displays are very unique, on trend and eye-catching! 

xoxox

River Island AW

On River Islands website, they have a section called 'shop by' which filters what trend/style you want to look at. My favourite trend this season is studs. This trend first emerged onto the high street at the beginning of this year and it has continued to stay prominent on the high street. River Island in particular have created a studded collection for this season which is not like any other. 

This jumper is one of my favourite pieces in store at the moment. It is only £35 and although it is on trend, it also is a timeless piece because of the colour and style. 

Although these boots are a little more pricey, they are completely worth the money. This style of boot is all over the high street, however, this particular boot with the added detail of studs and a zip makes this boot perfect for this season. 

xoxox

ASOS

Last year we saw the scalloped edge... Asos has brought it back this AW! It started off with basic tops having a scalloped hem and then the trend took the high street by storm! Scalloped edges were seen on shorts, dresses, blazers... pretty much every item possible!

This top is from ASOS.com and I think is a must have this season! The colour is a staple colour and will flatter almost every skin tone. If you're interested in this top then go to -

http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Top-with-Double-Scallop/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2568357&cid=2623&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Cream

The detailing on the back is beautiful. At £22 (£19.80 with 10% student discount) this is a very affordable piece which you will be able to wear in years to come.

If I wasn't living on a student budget, I would definitely purchase this top!

I think this may be a potential Christmas present!

xoxox