The Chatelaine Charm Belt Company

For the last five years, Pandora has had the charm industry all sewn up. Dangling from wrists, their collectable icons have really brought back the charm bracelet, and carved out a global, multi-million pound niche for the brand. But last week we came across the Chatelaine Charm Belt Company, and it’s made us look at those charms in an entirely different way.

The belts are inspired by chatelaines, as worn by women in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, which bring back childhood memories for designer and founder Tania Stone. Her mother had a collection of chatelaines, most of them bought at Portobello Antique Market, with a level of detail and romance that is rarely captured by more contemporary accessories. Flying in the face of minimalism, the Chatelaine Charm Belt Company revels in ornate beauty and historical references. But far from looking like a medieval costume, there’s something very modern and stylish about them.

Crafted in silver or gold, they can be worn with jean or slim fit trousers just as easily as a gown. And, a little like a charm bracelet, you can add extra details to the loops. Interchangeable charms and chains can add personality, make the look more bespoke, and are easy to switch around according to your outfit or mood.

Right now you can only order ‘Pre-Designed’ belts from the company’s online store. But a ‘Create your own’ option is coming soon and we can’t wait to see what that entails. It looks like there will be a choice of fabrics, buckles and embellishments so that you can create a truly unique accessory.

In the meantime, this is our favourite of the belt already available. Deep brown and silver is an unusual combination, but here it really works. You can see the influence of the original chatelaines, but there’s still something very clean and modern about the buckle. Hanging at the side is a delicate alphabet charm – an interesting alternative to the initial necklaces that everyone else has. Starting at £220 it’s expensive for a belt, but they’re a completely original accessory for the girl who needs to have something different.

Trending: Bra Tops over Tops

The more I see it the more I’m in love. Trend Alert! Bra’s over tops is the latest fashion etiquette. It’s a trend that has been transpiring for years now but this season it has evolved into a more daring style aesthetic than ever.

It could be argued that the initial emergence of the trend was way back in the 90’s when I like everyone else was rocking spaghetti vest tops over tees (urgh! What was I thinking?). Crop tops are not quite like they used to be they have more transformed into bra like tops which have become one the most coveted style for the last few seasons. Last year much of the catwalk shows saw bra/crop tops as standalone pieces, which then developed into outfit compositions that were often paired with sheer pieces and cut out garments.

Martin Margiela’s S/S 07 collection first pioneered the bra as a garment; this trend was quickly followed by Marc Jacobs S/S 09 collection which saw the satin bras accessorised with everyday looks. This season however has seen a fresh take on the trend where the bra top is worn over the top of anything from a shirt, dress or even coat which Prada’s treated us to in their S/S 14 collection. My favourite rendition of the trend is Jean Paul Gaultier take with their PF14 collection which took a chic approach in pairing leatherette bras over luxe ready to wear separates.

Jean Paul Gualtier PF 14

I’d say it’s a trend that is still quite underground only a few fashion forward fashionista’ s have had a wack at wearing their undies in the day time. The likes of fashion bloggers Sussie Bubble channelled the look in a classic mirror selfie while Man Repeller did a tongue in cheek street style shot who clearly finds the trend hysterical.

This trend most certainly could leave you as the joke and quite the laughing stock of each passer by, that's if you don’t get it right. The key to donning this trend lays mainly in having a  fierce fashion attitude and secondly the bra style pick itself is key. If you choose a bra like any other clothing that is dowdy and with a poor fit, it will instantly detract from a stunning overall look.

There are tons of bra top styles out there so I’ve trolled around for the best of this seasons offering so that you can rock this look out and look uber cool!

One: Nasty Gal- After Party Vintage

Two: Free People- Solid Elastic

Three: Luisaviaroma- Jermery Scott

Four: Yesstyle- JVL

Five: My Theresa- Helmut Lang

Six: Bebe- Caged Bra

Seven: Farfetch- A Tentative Atelier

Eight: Agent Provocateur- Mazy Bikni

Nine: Karina Zabete- Leather Bra

Ten: Asos-Perforated Leather

Will you be giving your style that avant-guarde twist and what do you think to these styles?

Image source: www.stylehaus.com/tag/man-repeller

Transition Essentials

It seems a little absurd talking about transitional essentials in the middle of one of the most impressive heat waves I’ve experienced. It doesn’t help that the office that I work in has absolutely no air con so it feels like you’re sitting in a sauna - #firstworldproblems amiright!?

But it’s never too early to start thinking about buying new clothes! I always find this time of year a little difficult to navigate; it’s a bit late in the game to pick up SS14 trends and probably too early to invest in new season trends just yet.

So to help you transition from the sweltering July that we’ve had to the cooler climes of August and through to the end of the summer in style we’ve put together a little list of the key items that need to be in your wardrobe.

1.       Wide Cropped Pants – Weekday

2.       Luxe Ivory Texture Cullote Trousers – Dorothy Perkins

3.       Window Pane Slouchy Trousers – Topshop

4.       Wide Leg Cropped Pant – Monki

1.       Pleated Skirt with Elastic Waist – Zara

2.       Ellie Grid Print Pleated Skirt – Whistles

3.       Coated Pleated Skirt – Zara

4.       Full Midi Skirt – ASOS

1.       Silk Wrap Cami Jumpsuit – Topshop Boutique

2.       Utility Jumpsuit – Warehouse

3.       Colour Block Jumpsuit – Mango

4.       Cami Jumpsuit – Lavish Alice

1.       White Duster Coat – ASOS

2.       Loose-fit Trench coat – Zara

3.       Duster coat with Belt – ASOS

4.       Exclusive Duster Coat – Monki

1.       High Heeled Mules – Zara

2.       Glacial Mule Sandals – Topshop

3.       Flavia Heeled leather mule sandals – Dune

4.       Fee Block Heel Mle – Whistles

Invisible Chic

Transparent shoes have really took in S/S 13, where they have made a comeback with an electric array of clear shoe designs available this season in the most amazing directional structures. This season has seen the trend use transparency and translucent fabrics curated in the unusual ways. 

Considering the fact that the basis of the design for clear shoes is essentially your foot, the crystal clear delights look nothing short of super stylish. 

Clear shoes will make a fitting addition to any shoe collection. Transparent styles of shoes are the perfect investment  if you want to give your look that fashion forward aesthetic that works well with sophisticated or casual weekday looks.

This season I just can’t get enough of the incredible designers embarking on this cutting edge futuristic style. Sophia Webster, Givenchy and Balenciaga are just a couple of designers that have worked their invisible shoe designs into glossy magazines and onto the most exclusive red carpet events.

I have narrowed down the top ten clear designer shoes that will instantly elevate your look and complement your freshly painted pedicures.

One: Zandy Shoes- Yesstyle

Two: Sophia Webster-Browns

Three: Feadore-Asos

Four: Privileged-Heels

Five: BCBGMAXAZRIA-Neiman Marcus

Six: Mista- Coggles

Seven: Balenciaga-My Theresa 

Eight: Givenchy- The Outnet

Nine: Veronique Branquinho- Opening Ceremony

Ten: 90 Degree Space- Sole Truck

Which are your faves?

Androgynous Style: Man like Shoes

I love rocking a good pair of heels, if I could drive to work I would be in sky scrapper heels every single day. Unfortunately  I have to swiftly come back to reality, and realise that in the real world I actually walk to work, and with East London’s rickety walking paths its mere impossible to walk the streets in thin pin Loboution stilettos without breaking your neck every few metres.

Over the years I’ve come to love and appreciate the trusted flatties which my shoe collection includes everything from ballet flats to moccasins and even slip on sneakers just to name a few. Flat shoes are a style which you just can’t beat for practicality and comfort where this season we have seen the rise in androgynous shoe styles. Androgynous shoes are becoming more popular than ever where even the likes of celebrities like Victoria Beckham and Kendall Jenner are ditching the heels for the Manish alternatives.

Androgynous shoe styles have derived off the back of the androgynous fashion trend which sees he-she clothing resembling a tom boy aesthetic. Androgynous fashion is a boyish look which is essentially a oxymoron of womenswear which I must say can only be rocked out by the courageous female.

The great thing about shoes and accessories is that you can effortlessly tap into each seasons trends  where manish shoes will always give your look that avant-garde sophisticated edge. Androgynous shoes styles are perfect for the office because you can juxtapose your outfit against your shoes by wearing feminine flowing pieces against your ridged clumpy man shoes.

Masculine shoe styles will be the most covetable shoe styles for A/W 14. So say bye bye to ballet flats and hello to Brogues, Monkstrap and Oxfords which will ensure that you won’t be blistering or needing plasters after a days wear. 

Check out my Top 10 Man inspired shoes that will almost make you feel like you never want to wear heels again!

One: Marni-Bi-colour slip ons

Two: Stuart Weitzman- Plaid Shoes

Three: Choies- Elastic

Four: Opening Cermony- Grunge Patent Oxfords

Five: Net-a-porter- Miu Miu

Six: Nasty Gal-Crash Black Lines

Seven: Topshop-Brougues

Eight: Farfetch-Valentino

Nine: Shoescribe.com-Jill Sander

Ten: Jimmy Choo-Waffle

What do you think of the androgynous shoe styles?

Wedge Shoe Styles

One style of footwear you see fashionista's wearing season after season are Wedges. It really is the shoe style that never dies and each season it comes back in more intricate styles than ever...

The style of a wedge shoe has a very distinctive design, whereby the sole of the shoe is one piece. The height of the heel and platform vary from style to style.

As you know ‘Wedges’ aren’t new in fact they have been around since the 1930’s. Designer Salvatore Ferragamo was the first wedge shoe designer who designed the first pair out of wood. Wedges boomed in America during the Second World War because at the time there was a lack of materials as all the leather and rubber was prioritised for all the war efforts. As time went on and fashion evolved, cork became a popular medium wedged shoes styles which worked well and became the signature style aesthetic for many wedge styles we even still see today. Using cork in wedge shoes also had its advantages, it is light weight yet durable which makes it a sturdy footwear choice for the wearer.

Wedged shoes are the style to be investing in this season and should be a staple piece to any shoe collection; they literally go with everything, instantly enhancing your least thought-out ensembles. 
The greatest thing about wedged shoe designs is the fact that you get the heel height with out the ball ache of constantly having to look where you are stepping as you do have to with stiletto heels. Wedges give that extra height making while helping the legs look slimmer with out having to compromise over comfort.

The versatility of the shoes are endless be it spring summer or autumn winter, wedged shoes are the building blocks to a dynamic shoe collection. So, book in your pedicures and get inspiration from my mini edit so that you can rock your perfect wedge shoes styles this season!

One: Farfetch- Giuseppe Zantonni

Two: Nastygal- Privileged

Three: Charlotte Russe- Criss cross

Four: Missguided- Sahia Suede- Steve Madden Winslet

Five: Lord and Taylor-Steve Madden

Which ones do you like the most?

Oversized Shirt

One wardrobe number you can always trust on is the oversized shirt.  The oversized trend dates way back to the 1920s and ever since the Oversized aesthetic hits the runway every year whether its oversized bags to jewellery and for the last couple of fall collections it has been all about the oversized coat. Oversized was a trend that was quickly adopted by A list trend setters like from the Olsen twins, Victoria Beckham to Rhianna and even Kim Kardashian have all rocked out the trend in some way.

The trusty oversized shirt is the ultimate hero piece that should be part of everybody’s wardrobe. The oversized shirt is one of the most practical and versatile pieces that you can invest in this season. The style of shirt is also great for forming an aesthetically pleasing silhouette where the oversized shape of the shirt in the top half of the body against the legs helps to accentuate the slimness of the lower body.

The styling possibilities with this hero piece are quite frankly endless. There are so many styles of oversized shirts to opt for all baring unusual prints and directional cuts. Oversized shirts look great with short shorts and pumps where in the colder months you can look just as stylish in trousers or chinos. The great thing about this style of shirt is that you can dress this piece up or down with skirts and pump stiletto’s or denim bottoms and sneakers for an equally stylish look.

This season is presenting plenty of fine offerings in the realms of oversized shirts. I have scoured the best style picks of the season. This top 10 edit of designer and high street styles will help you to keep your style fresh for season after season.

One: Asos- Leather Shirt

Two: Nasty Gal- Denim Shirt

Three: River Island- Lime Shirt

Four: Chicnova- Monochrome Shirt

Five: Choies-Camouflage Shirt

Six: Etsy- Dance print Shirt

Seven: Yes Style- White Shirt

Eight: My Theresa- Pastel Pink Shirt

Nine: Asos-Sheer Shirt (Polka Dots)

What do you think to the oversized trend and will any of these pieces be making their way into your wardrobe?