Spring 2012 Trend: The Tweed Jacket

Inspired by Chanel, more specifically Coco chanel, this jacket style is having a fashion moment right now. My favourites so far are the pieces by Tory Burch, Lanvin, Zara and HnM. The great thing is that they’ve been interpreted in a variety of cuts and structures to suit most body types.

Coco Chanel

Chanel Spring 2012 RTW

The most important tip for wearing this style is to dress it up chic and for best effects with edgy accents. To avoid landing in the old lady chic zone, this jacket must NOT be worn with a full or A line skirt. Regular or wide leg pants are a no no too. The blazer tends to be bulky so for balance, the bottom must be streamlined

Pair with skinny jeans, tapered pants, capris or shorts; wear over a sheer or light weight blouse with shoe boots or chunky platforms. Hobo bag and statement necklace if you like and you’re ready to go.

I especially love the Tory Burch below, the frayed edges, deconstruction and metallic buttons are right up my alley.

Tory Burch Daniela Bouclé Tweed jacket £460

DKNY Fringed Cotton Blend Tweed Jacket £405

Lanvin Frayed Bouclé Tweed Jacket £2145

You can find the Tory Burch, DKNY and Lanvin on net-a-porter.com.

Zara did a beautiful job with this trend, love the studded blazer. Note the styling of each blazer too, very edgy, very chic. Not a chance for old lady chic.

You can find all blazers on zara.com

Zara Studded Fantasy Fabric Blazer £90

Zara Piped Blazer with Zips £70

Zara Frayed Blazer £50

H&M kept it simple and streamlined, great addition to a stylish wardrobe, great price too. You can find on hm.com

H&M £30

H&M £30

Style item: The 50’s inspired full skirt

Must be the dizzying effect of the raging 50’s trend but I’ve had the full skirt on my mind for a while. I’ve been on a subconscious search for the perfect one and then I found a stash. Once again Zara presents a range of options for an item I’ve been pining for. Up goes Zara in my ‘favourite shopping spot’ rating.

Quite clearly, there are so many ways to style a full skirt, you could dial up the glam by pairing with a sequinned or silk blouse, high heels – preferably shoe boots – and the right touch of accessories.

Keep it simple and stylish by pairing with a tee or jumper, tights and brogues. The options are limitless, as suggested by the stylists at Zara online.

Zara Pleated Skirt with Plaited Belt £25.99

This black one is just perfect because it offers maximum versatility and I love the band at the waist.

Zara Panel Skirt £25.99

Zara Panel Skirt with Buckle £25.99

And the one that’s really gorgeous, in brocade.

Zara Brocade Skirt with Bow £25.99

Zara Chambray Skirt with Pockets £29.99

You can find all online at Zara.com

For the love of all things draped

There’s an allure about draping that I find sleek and stylish. Nothing like that elegant, flowing, Grecian feel, and knowing that it takes great tailoring plus attention to detail to achieve the perfectly draped piece. It says ladylike luxe at its best.

I have my favourite designers for those classic, fluid, draping styles that cascade down the  feminine form in such glorious luxeness.

I love love love Anglomania by Vivienne Westwood, the asymmetric, draping aesthetic is simply exquisite – with just the right portion of edginess. I have big plans to collect Anglomania dresses.

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania

Vionnet and RM by Roland Mouret also make the most decadently exquisite draped pieces; with dresses perfectly flattering the feminine form.

RM by Roland Mouret Drache draped silk-blend dress £1,200

Vionnet Ruched crepe and silk dress £1,255

Michael Kors Crepe-jersey draped dress £850

Matthew Williamson Asymmetric draped silk-satin gown £1,095

Fendi Draped wool sweater dress £820

Vionnet Draped crepe de Chine dress£1,305

Thakoon Addition Draped silk-satin top £385

Lanvin Draped washed-satin halterneck dress £1,320

Bottega Veneta Draped silk-jersey dress £1,680

Karen Millen is as exquisite as it gets on the high street. The tailoring is flawless and draping done to perfection, it could easily pass for high-end designer gear. I especially love the coat, I mean, how do you get it right with a fabric that thick?

Karen Millen Jersey Draped Structured Dress £180

Karen Millen Unstructured Drape Coat with Check Lining £265

Karen Millen Draped sleeve jersey dress £150

Karen Millen Drape Front Vest £39.50

Karen Millen Minimalist draped dress £99

We can’t deny the sartorial perfection of Alexander McQueen, so it’s no surprise that the label gives us some generous draping; from both diffusion line McQ and the main line.

Alexander McQueen Cape-back crepe dress £1,245

McQ by Alexander McQueen Sleeveless Flannel Check Drape Dress £230

My go to online store, Asos does not ever disappoint when it comes to the lower priced versions of our secret obsessions. They also give us some great draped pieces.

ASOS White Asymmetric Strap Drape Front Dress £85

ASOS Drape Front Top £18

Ringspun Bleach Effect Drape Tunic Dress £38

Zara studio T-shirt £19.99

Zara drape neck T-shirt £19.99

Stockists:

Net-a-porter

Asos

Zara

Karen Millen

Zara’s November Lookbook: Tres Tres Chic

3 words: Elegant. Sophisticated. Classic. This is a grand season for the lady. Let’s savour it

Pictures via Fashiongonerogue

20 Stunning Blazers + Styling by Zara

I hope to own about a hundred blazers someday. In every possible fitted colour, cut, fabric, length. Blazers/Jackets are simply the greatest fashion invention since Karl Lagerfield.

Boyfriend blazers have taken centre stage in the world of style for a while now and they are a brilliant wardrobe staple. Throw one over a slouchy tee and skinny pants, floral dress, shift dress, jumpsuit or playsuit and you get an instant sleek chic update. I especially love the blazer because it’s an essential element of my favourite rock chic ensemble (a la Emmanuelle Alt).

So i embarked upon the search for the perfect blazer and wow! i found a gold mine on the Zara site. Tons and tons of perfectly cut blazers, i was spoilt for choice. The glorious icing on the cake was that they had them styled so you have ideas of the many ways you can wear each one. I whittled down to these gorgeous 20 and i want them all!

 

Basic Twill Blazer

 

 

Boiled Wool Blazer With Contrasting Edging

 

 

Crossed Wool Blazer

 

 

Knitted Blazer

 

 

Short Cross-over Blazer

 

 

Blazer with Leather Collar and Elbow Patches

 

 

Cool Wool Blazer with Turn-up Sleeves

 

 

False Plain Blazer

 

 

Short Cool Wool Blazer

 

 

Twill Blazer with Gold Buttons

 

 

Short Leather Blazer

 

 

Pinstripe Blazer

 

 

Double Breasted Checked Blazer

 

 

Checked Wool Blazer with Elbow Patches

 

 

Bird's Eye Blazer

 

 

Studio Double Breasted Blazer with Wide Lapels

 

 

Ponte de Roma Knit Blazer

 

 

False Plain Blazer

 

 

Cool Wool Blazer with Shoulder Pads

 

 

Blazer with Lapels

 

All these beauties fall between the very affordable range of £35-£90 on www.zara.com