The Farfetch Boutique Finder

The only problem with online shopping is that it's difficult to discover new places. In the real world, a new boutique or a creative window display might catch your eye and draw you in, but in the digital space that just doesn't happen. If you're anything like us, you find yourself hitting the same websites again and again.

Luckily, the online world is becoming more and more innovative and one of our favourite shopping websites, Farfetch, has developed a tool to help suggest where we should be shopping. Farfetch lets you shop hundreds of luxury boutiques from around the world via their website, and this widget suggests which ones you should check out first based on your preferences. Choose your personal style, whether it's bright and eye-catching or suited and booted, your favourite designer and your most-needed piece, and it will throw out some suggestions for you to check out. You never know what you might stumble upon when you try online shopping this way!

Shop Boutiques at Farfetch

To Invest or not to Invest: Wedged Sneakers

I’ve been looking for a pair of stylish shoes to add needlessly to the collection, one style I’m yet to invest in are a pair of wedge sneakers.

I have to admit I wasn’t a fan of the wedged trainer at first, but it’s a style that has progressively grown on me over the passing seasons. I’m a bit dubious as to whether this sneaker trend is her to stay, but neither the less I have to admit that I'm officially now a high wedge sneaker convert and I can’t get enough of all the styles in stores. What I love about the wedged sneaker the most is the fact that they are so versatile; you can wear them with the majority of your wardrobe basics, they are the perfect off duty shoe, dress them down with a boyfriend tee and bomber or dress them up with your most eloquent sartorial looks for the office.

The sneaker over the years has been adopted as a point for re-design by trainer giants like Nike and Adidas as you would imagine, but the most innovative of sneaker designs originates from fashion designer Isabel Marant. The French fashion designer developed the function and wear-ability of a trainer into a new direction, in which doing so she has been the catalyst for a whole new generation of footwear being born.

Marant’s designs have opened up a million dollar market where her wedged sneaker style has been adopted by designer and high street labels, to Marant’s dismay she commented on this notion saying that “Everybody who has the wrong ones look quite bitchy, very vulgar, when mine are not at all.” 

Marant may be just a little frustrated by the copy cats to say the least, but neither the less, you have to give credit where credit is due, some designers and high street chains have also done an amazing job in developing the wedge trainer into what could be argued as even more extravagant and avant-garde compared to the styles in Marant’s collection.

Here’s my top 5 wedged sneaker design...

1. Bank-Puma

2. Adidas.co.uk-Adidas

3. Mythereasa.co.uk-Isabel Marant

4. Coogles.com- Ash

5. Yesstyle.com-Super Elephant

Which style do you like the most?

The A-Z of Fashion

Some of the most influential figures in fashion make up this infographic, which rounds up the industry from A to Z. From Anna Wintour to Zac Posen and Rick Owens, it illustrates some of their most stylish moments and reveals what they really think about fashion. Designers might depend on trends, and the idea of the next big thing, to drive sales, but we were surprised by how strongly they valued personal style over the latest fad. Will you take Oscar de la Renta’s advice about staying true to yourself, or embrace stupidity like Henry Holland?

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Torn Fashion: A Ripped Jean Edit

Have you noticed everyone’s wearing ripped jeans? They are nothing new, in fact ripped jeans emerged out of the 80’s, but with all the celebs like Krysten Ritter to Kanye West wearing the riled up numbers, it is no wonder that they have made a comeback as a statement  wardrobe staple for A/W 14.

I have to say that ripped jeans this season so far has presented some fashion travesties which have largely been down to bad style pick choices. Repeatedly offending are those wearers that have rips in their jeans which just don’t sit quite right, more often that than not they are probably down to a home DIY job. Also equally offensive in the name of fashion is the wearer that gets a cut of jean that is not suited to the body shape, finding the right cut of jean to suit your body is paramount in completing any stylish look. I’ve seen all too many not a sight for sore eyes, where overweight girls are rocking the ripped trend out quite literally to the extent fat is essentially busting out of the rips.

However when you do get the style pick right, ripped jeans are a wardrobe winner that look awesome styled with a whole host of other pieces. They are so versatile; they look great teamed with a good range of shoes from anything from your strappy heels to your pointed stilettos. If you wanted to go for a more relaxed look they look great teamed with ankle boots or slips on sneakers in which you can use to channel this seasons latest trends.

Ripped jeans are a wardrobe basic that you can dress up by infusing the look with a sartorial twist in which a long boyfriend blazer would add depth to the look. Then there are the days when you want to keep it cool and casual where a bomber cut style of jacket would work splendidly.

Ripped jeans are truly that wardrobe hero piece that you can work with so many different kinds of looks which instantly gives your look that directional disposition. I’ve listed this season’s Top 5 affordable high street styles that deserve a place in your wardrobe…

1. Boohoo.com-£25.00

2. Nastygal.com-£53.60

3. Newlook-£27.99

4. Topshop-£55.00

5. Revolve-£113.00

Which ripped jean style would you like to wear the most?

The Hero Piece: Top Handle Handbags

Fashion week is literally around the corner, I have to admit I’m in a state of panic because it feels like that there are not enough hours in the days for me to start my major wardrobe planning.

One essential that I must invest in this season is a new handbag, and it has got to be designer. I know it can be very expensive but I tend to buy an expensive bag every other year. By making bag purchases like this I can get a great cost per wear out of it as well as actually sticking to a budget for all my fashion buys, or else what you can end up spending on fashion can just ends up ridiculous.  No matter how much disposable income one has, I really don't think its cool to spend thousands on a bag every season especially when children are dying in the world from starvation, being too materialistic is never good!

I’m all about quality and that quality can never be found in high street styles so investing in a designer handbag is really the only option. There are bucket loads of styles to choose from, but this season the top handle handbags is the style that has struck a chord with me. So, I've officially decided that the top handle bag will be the ultimate investment style pick for the season in which I plan debut at S/S15 shows too.

The top handle handbag is a feminine style that will instantly elevate a look to a chic and sophisticated disposition. I also think that this style of bag is just fabulous because it's a number that you can team with a varied styles of looks where you could pair the piece with your downtown sports luxe look to a sartorial inspired minimalist look.

In celebration of a bag style that I’m truly in love with and destined to invest in this season. I’ve highlighted my top 5 edit of the most stylish black top handle bags which are versatile enough to team with anything and wear season after season.

1. Celine- Celine Store

2. Phillip Lim-Farfetch

3. Desa Ninteenseventytwo- Lusivaviaroma

4. Stella McCartney-Stellamccartney.com

5. Nancy Gonzalez-Shopbop.com

Which is your fave? 

Investment Piece: The Leather Vest

I don’t know about you but for the last couple of weeks I’ve got the dress code totally wrong. This British weather you never know what it’s up to next, one minute the suns beaming and the next it’s biblical rain!

Outwear is the key to pulling a seamlessly stylish ensemble together. There are various summer coats and jackets to choose from but one wardrobe winner has to be the Leather Vest. The beauty of this hero piece is that you can wear this in the summer with a statement dress to skinnies and a tee for that relaxed weekend look.

Rain or shine the leather vest is a wardrobe must have as its a  piece that allows you to subtly tap into this season’s moto fashion trend. I love the leather vest because it’s a piece that is versatile, giving your look that instantantly giving your look depth and texture.  I especially love this piece for autumn winter too because you can really play around with this piece by introducing it with layers using knits or more sheer pieces.

The leather vest is that great transitional piece that you will wear season after season. Some things you just don’t buy cheap and this is one style pick I recommended that you go the whole hog and buy real leather. Quality is everything and it shows in the aesthetics of a completed look, a leather vest is a number in which you would want to get maximum cost per wear from.

With a vast selection of designer and high-street styles I’ve put together the ultimate edit of ravishingly stylish leather vests which can help you to elevate your look for seasons to come.

Nordstorm-J Brand-£562

This pre-order leather vest is of a minimalistic design features seamed shoulders and ribbed paneling on the reverse. In 100% soft lambskin leather this vest can be paired with anything from boyfriend tees to roll neck sweaters.

Stylebop.com-Helmet Lang-£565

This oversized vest is a directional take on the moto vest. The design is super elegant with a one button fastening and large pocket details. This is one that will look great teamed with a contrasting lace bra and tailored harem trousers.

Blueandcream.com-Pierre Balmain- $1,400 (Approx £835)

This is one of the most stylish directional leather vests that you can invest in. The design sees navy and leather panel details with shimmers of sparkle channelled through the choice of gold zips and buttons which lends to its biker inspired aesthetic.

Bloomingdales.com-Rebecca Minkoff- £584

This stunning designer style is a blazer style leather vest that features a mesh panel in the back. This design is feminine and sophisticated which will help to accentuate the curves of the female body with its pinched waist tailoring. Wear this with a shirt or underneath an overcoat for a equally stylish look.

Luisaviroma.com-Pelechecoco-£145

This cropped vest is of a directional design that sees strong moto influences with zips, buttons and buckle details. You can rock this piece with all your wardrobe favourites for a effortlessly fashion forward look.

What do you think to the leather vest?

Naked Shoes: The Nude Shoe Edit

The shoes that scarcely even have a colour, will once again be one of this season’s most converted styles. The nude shoe trend boomed in S/S13 and ever since irrespective of the season, the nude shoe returns again where every fashionista knows that no shoe collection is not complete without a decent pair of Nude shoes.

The rise of the Nude shoe has been very popular; it’s a style that can give you great versatility as well as a good cost per wear. The beauty with the nude shoe style it can literally go with any outfit, it can give a chic sophisticated twist to the drabbest of looks. Styling nude shoes works well with anything from floral dresses to leather skinnies.

Nude shoes look particularly great paired with the ‘little black dress’ as the contrast of colours emphasises the feminine curves in the top half of the body while elongating the legs. Nude shoes also looks great paired with denim and if you’re brave enough to tackle the denim on denim trend then nude shoes will finish the look perfectly.

Basically, styling these shoes couldn’t be any easier whether you’re dressing up your sartorial your office look or donning a pair of cut off trousers or wanting to tone down a brightly coloured ensemble…Nude shoes will be your trusted style pick of the season.

There is a style to suit all; nude shoes are available in brogues, sandals, high heels with everything in-between. Behold this ultimate edit of Nude shoes and step in style this season and next!

One: Nasty Gal- Jeffery Campbell

Two: My Threasa- Chloe

Three: Sole Struck- Archie Oxfords by Deandri

Four: Heels.com- Paola

Five: Sole Struck- Gossip by Yves

Six: Farfetch-Stuart Weitzman

Seven: Charlotte Russe- Caged Cut-outs

Eight: The Iconic-Clare Heels

Nine: Barneys.com- Manolo Blahnik

Ten: Ekseption- Gianvito Rossi

Which is your fave?