HOW TO STYLE UP YOUR DESIGNER DRESSES

Spring is rolling around again which means more than preparing for Easter and holding out on that no-chocolate/no nail-biting/no-smoking/no-nos rule for the last few weeks of Lent.

When it comes to getting dressed, that means capturing some of casual lightness of the April breezes (and showers) but not totally giving in to the wishful dreams of a blazing hot summers. It’s about practicality and style. Designer flair with down-home accessories and easy attitude.

When it comes to taking a survey of the ladies dresses out and about this spring 2012, we’ve been asking for help from the team at next.co.uk, whose online store houses the brand’s own collections alongside designers and labels from across the world – as well as some closer to home.

We’ve taken a shining to A Postcard From Brighton, whose mixture of casual knits with well-cut skirts and contemporary day dresses are a great example of springtime day chic, combining urban sensibility with rural textures and natural fabrics.

Easy to style up these simple pieces with louche straw hats – or wide-brimmed floppy brown or beige hats – and some soft leather court shoes. Or espadrilles if the weather is good….

With the floral and pastel trends, especially this season’s tropical florals and brights, think nude shoes in patent leather – and long hair. Something loose and easy needs to counterbalance the punchiness of the print. It’s about less is more is more!

And believe it or not, even the big catwalk designers have been an example in restraint and casual chic, from Chanel to Chloe, all full of soft slowing patterns paired with simple daps, even sneakers, rather than spiky heels.

The name of the game this year, it seems, is to pull of a crisp white jacket and dress – or a flowing-yet-child-of-nature-esque maxi dress – with little more than a great pair of flat sandals and a subtle yet strong gold bangle. I think we’re up to the channel in that department.

Border Print Halter Neck Maxi Dress from Next, ÂŁ65

MISS SELFRIDGE DENIM BAR

Miss Selfridge put the word out about their Denim Bar, I saw the word customise and I knew come hell or high water I had to be there. Give me the chance to customise something and we will be friends for life! The lovely Miss Selfridge girlies had set out a wide array of denim for us to choose from – shorts, jackets, jeans, skirts; along with a truck load of studs and trimmings sourced from India! The girls from Sew Over It were on hand to help with the cutting and sewing on of trimmings. I initially picked up a jacket to stud but after assessing the studs I went for a pair of 80s “black” (grey) shorts; what I really wanted was the leopard print jeans but they would look like Capri pants on my legs (boo-hiss).

I opted for the gold star studs and went crazy! I like to call the newly customised shorts “Gold Star for Effort”! As well as the Denim Bar, we also got to see the Summer collection that’s full of digital prints, pretty florals, neons and metallics; the collection is due to drop into stores in the next couple of months.

55DSL ROMA CAMPAIGN

The launch of their SS12 collection has prompted 55DSL to head in a new direction as far as their communication strategy is concerned. This season their plan is “To explore 55DSL’s creative and Italian roots while engaging its audience through entertainment and interaction.” To kick off this new mission 55DSL will collaborate with some of the worldĘĽs most progressive and creative talent. Rather than issue brand-centric briefs that stifle their creative freedom, these collaborators will be allowed to showcase their unfettered creative vision of 55DSL’s brand heritage: youth, freedom, fun and Italy.

The first collab was directed by the young Los Angeles based Director/Producer David Altobelli, a short film shot entirely on location in Rome. “Roma” is a beautifully shot video which has resulted in a perfect representation of the freedom in youth 55DSL stands for.

Original Soundtrack: Keith Kenniff
Models: James Cox for “M and P Models” and Sidney Geubelle for Fashion Model

SPRING/SUMMER TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2012

Key looks that will be hot on the fashion radar in the coming months

Spring is coming and that can only mean one thing. (Actually, we take that back, it can mean many things: lambs, daffodils, Six Nations Rugby, International Women’s Day, one step closer to summer, the end of winter and many more…)

In this context, spring’s sole signifier is: fashion. As the daffodils and crocuses sprout up from the soil, so too flower patterns seem to blossom across all manners of skirts, blouses and – more often than not – the ubiquitous maxi dresses from the likes of high street favorites like Next, which continue to enjoy longevity in fashion’s famously short memories.


Tropical pleat maxi dress from Next, ÂŁ45

Indeed, this year we see the maxis embrace another trend – tropical or Havana – think eye-popping beachside prints straight out of a slightly cheesy hotel: flamingoes, palm trees, sunsets, hibiscus flowers. We want bold brights – florals on acid if you will – and with these, accessories come big and bolshy too – think equally loud headscarves and bandannas, or neon plastic slippers and shoes.

There’s also the softer side to the flower power of 2012. Pastels are once more a must have on the palette, and as well as gentle florals and small petal patterns, we’re also seeing a lot of mixing of pastel shades, such as peppermint greens with soft pinks or sky blues, very gentle yellows too.

Those looking for a retro twist can pick up with spring 2012’s taste for paisley, as showcased in one of Vogue UK’s style summaries of the year’s trends. If you’re really ready to go for it, double the paisley trend with the latest fashion must-have – a power suit.

From Primark to Armani, blazer and tailored trouser suits are ten a penny in huge patterns, from far-out 1960s florals to hot acid yellows. If you’re up for causing a splash this season, then pick out a real show-stopper, pair with a plain white t, slightly pointed-toe flats or brogues, and a small gold chain. Instant summer cool.

THE ART OF ONLINE SHOPPING

As the culture of online shopping begins to move to the sofa, looking online for the latest trends and styles, it is important to know how to use your online shopping time as effectively as possible, after all shopping is an art and needs to be treated as such. Of course, finding the best price for your purchases is extremely important so you will know when you have truly mastered your art when you are as able to go out and buy dinner after your shopping spree!

Although it’s a constant source of temptation because of all the shiny and exciting things it introduces us to, the internet can actually help you master the art of shopping and allow you to stretch your budget as far as possible. We all develop our own online shopping strategies to save cash and create fashion envy among our friends. Here are a few tried-and-tested methods to employ when shopping online.

1) Explore large ranges. For general items such as tops and blouses, retailers such as La Redoute are perfect. However always use a tactical approach; browsing websites can lead to making impulse purchases that empty your purse faster. Before you head online, make a list of the items on your current wish-list and use the sites’ own search toolbars to narrow by size and colour so that you don’t get distracted on your personal shopping mission.

2) Take advice from those in the know. Check in with blogs like Freak Deluxe and Let Me See Your Wears to find the latest fashion must-haves and for inspiration on how to maximise use of your current wardrobe; an alternative perspective can prove bountiful. Blogs and social media work both ways too, so if you are unsure about how to complete an outfit or are looking for a specific item, why not task your Facebook friends or Twitter followers with helping you out?

3) Checking the web for discount codes and offers before you checkout should be a shopping strategy you put into practice without thinking, but there’s more you can do. If you can’t find a discount yourself, again, why not ask for help from your online shopping friends? They might be able to share one with your or know of a similar item that can be purchased elsewhere for less.

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