An Quick Accesorize Raid And You're Good To Go!

A look i'm loving this year is the ethnic + tribal prints. In particular, i'm pretty fond of the accessories as they are easy to work into a simple look if you're a bit wary of maxi dresses etc. A simple white strapless dress, your wellies, sunnies, and layers of clashing chunky beads + bangles = the perfect festival look, yes? Don't be afraid to be bold. You may aim to knock fellow festival-dancers out with your shocking colours and larger-than-life wooden beads, but you'll still be worthy of a Fashionista Award in my eyes if you choose some cute necklaces and beaded sandals. Accessorize offers a beautiful selection. Whether you're a bit shy of the trend, or if you are really going for the full on Pocahontas look, they will have something for you. There is a wide range, in particular the Mexicana and Tulum collections should be on your wish list. If there is one necklace im investing into this season, it's got to be one of these!

A Selection Of Dresses I Can't Wear But They Are Pretty

Apart from an awkwardly long title, this post is short and also contains poor photo editing. Just a warning ;)

So, one of the below-surface trends bubbling at the moment is classy 60s. 'The Single Man' shows this perfectly. Every woman knows that shift dresses are fabulous - they can be glammed up, dressed down, you can mix trends and if you get the basic shift shape right then unique patterns, details and pleats will update the classic shift and make it a versatile wardrobe-must-have. Your perfect capsule piece!

Here i've tried to find (all at BRILLIANT prices, although i'd splash out for the MS pattern) shift dresses that keep the basic shape but are all a little different - a quick search for them will prove that there is a style for everybodys taste, whether you need simple work-place chic or something a little more glam.

[strong]Black - MissGuided £22.... Pink - Boohoo £20.... Navy - New Look £18.... Heart Print - Miss Selfridge £40[/strong]

Chav Paradise is really a Treasure Trove :')

Oh Matalan. There was a time when i was about 8 that i visited you every weekend. Then when i had to start buying Ladies sizes i realised you were full of cheap tacky clothes or old-fashioned (and not the good 'old-lady-but-i'll-call-it-vintage' style..) granny clothes. I noticed that your shoppers mainly consisted of frail women who dragged their grey husband round the messy shop floor in search of 'comfy underwear' or tag-teams of chavtastic women who pushed their children in prams and let their sticky-fingered kids run around touching everything. Not that sticky-fingers were ever going to make a shapeless padded gilet worse than it already looked but hey...

However, in the last couple of years Matalan has really grown. They now stock brands targeted at younger buyers, my favourite is Be Beau, and brands such as Et Vous which are full of fashionable peices you wouldn't be embarrassed to see your mum in! Result! By far though, Matalan's best weapon (or defense?) against other High Street shops, is their amazing collection of Shoes and Accesories. Catwalk-copy handbags for under £10 and show-stopping shoes under £20. I was armed with a tight budget but i'm still happy with my buys (even if they are a little last season...I don't care because last season was GOOD! ;]) and I only wish I'd had more money to buy another pair of shoes...

The oufit i bought today :) Skirt: £5. Shoes: £16. Corsage (hairband worn as broche): £4. Gold Headband: £4. And eeeek i need a tan. And non-knobbly knees D':
Union Jack Bag: £5. Tankini Set: £13 for both (from Tesco rather than Matalan ;])

As above but with Handbag: £8 (YES! FOR REAL!).

McQueen

Lee Alexander McQueen's collections were always hard for me to put into words. Jaw-dropping and too amazing for words. It seems fitting that i cannot summarise how i feel about his tragic death today. The fashion world has lost a talent that was truly spectacular. Never forgotten. x

I bought love for £5

If you know me, you'll know i fall in (and out) of love very very easily. With people and clothes. But i dont think there will ever be a time where i dont love my new vintage lilac shift dress. Sure, we'll argue. It'll sit in my wardrobe and call me fat. It'll complain that i dont take it to nice places. I'll threaten to buy a newer, younger dress. But our love will never die.

Excuse my monster arms. Also, the mother-bear is hopefully going to take it up an inch or so. Ooh la la, this granny-dress has never seen so much leg ;).

Dress: £5 from British Red Cross.
Bag: £12 from Dorothy Perkins
Necklace: £3 from Tesco.

Our love is cheap but my god its [b]real.[/b]

Heal The World - Buy Pretty Clothes

Lately the high fashion world has been trying to expand its power - how can fashion help starving children? How can fashion promote a healthy body image? How can fashion cope in a recession? Now the high-street jumps on this wonderful bandwagon. Now, much as I love H&M, I am surprised they did not get thrown off this elite bandwagon. Instead, they have created something spectacular - affordable, gorgeous high-street clothes made from only organic materials, recycled PET bottles and textile waste. Now you can get that good-karma feeling without dedicating your wardrobe to hippy hand-me-downs.

Hmm...how many pieces of this Garden Collection (Spring '10) can I fit it my wardrobe..?

Hollie, xo