Finishing Touches

Kate Moss = the dream. This = the reality. 

Trifle for breakfast, anyone?

Wrapped up in my Christmas jumper, with a box of Prestat red velvet truffles (also known as the best thing ever) by my side, I am ready and raring to do a little Boxing Day damage online.

ALL the sales are go (yup, that includes Zara, what are you still doing here?!) both in store and online, meaning I can spend, spend, spend without having to budge from my sofa.

"Muuuuum, I'll take my turkey, brie and cranberry rye toastie at one? Bring the Quality Street while you're at it. And the bubbly."

I wouldn't say I was the most sensible sale shopper, but I occasionally snap up a good bargain. As long as you steer clear of the trend pieces and stick to the right size, you can't go far wrong. 

Following my edit of the best party pieces, here are a few of my favourite finishing touches. From jewelled Boden flats through to red lippies fit for saints and sinners, these sale steals are far too good to resist... Much like that last mince pie.

LFW Dream Wardrobe #3

Happy Valentines Day ya'll! Hope you have a lovely day, single or not so.

Anyway, what with Pancake Day, Pancakelentines Day (The 13th... What do you MEAN you didn't celebrate?!) and now Valentines Day sort of out the way, we can focus all our attention and excitement on London Fashion Week which dawns tomorrow.

With the launch party for #HPMLFW this evening (if you're going to be there, drop me a wee tweet at @SWfashion_ ) and lots of exciting shows tomorrow, I am officially excited.

Today, though, I am shooting with the lovely team at Atelier-To-Go, so thought that I should share with you this little dress which has been miraculously reduced in the Atelier-To-Go sale to just £130 - amazing for a little slice of luxury, delivered straight to your door.

Atelier-To-Go is launching very soon so please do make sure that you follow us out on Twitter @ATELIER_TO_GO and like us on Facebook for our fashion and lifestyle musings on a daily basis. Most importantly, though, make sure you shamelessly self indulge this Valentines Day by treating yourself to some of our lovely new in.

1. This candy pink midi dress from Alice + Olivia at Atelier-To-Go is a total steal at just £130 in the sale. With fine and balletic pleats and a simple elasticated waist, this pretty pink dress is a great piece to see in Spring seamlessly. Yes, it's very girly, but the brighter shade of pink brings it bang up to date. I'll race you to the checkout, yeah?!

2. My latest discover is Shourouk jewellery, and I would be so thrilled to get my hands on this killer Venus necklace. It is available in three weeks from Shourouk's online store for €375, and is just truly beautiful. I feel that this may be my new statement jewellery obsession, Mawi who? With twinkling crystals and bright touches of orange, lime and hot pink, this bright and bold necklace would look devastatingly amazing with this pretty dress. 

3. What could be sweeter for Spring than some lemon yellow pointed stilettos from Whistles. The entire Whistles SS13 collection is a knockout, and their footwear is particularly stellar. These suede pointed courts are perfect with pretty neutrals or with other bold shades and are a great way to breathe life into simple Fashion Week looks.

4. Aaah The Kooples. If ever i'm rich and famous can we agree, Mr and Mrs Koople, that you will provide me with a full wardrobe season by season, primarily made up of these immaculate little jackets? Cool, i'm glad we've got that sorted. This creamy double breasted blazer from their new Spring collection, dotted with gleaming gold buttons, is the perfect way to keep out the chill without ruining the flirty shade of the dress. It's £315, but the cut makes it a wise little extravagance. 

5. Another season, another collection of Zara handbags to make me even poorer. In a bold, uplifting tribal print, this boxy clutch belies the £39.99 pricetag and is a great way to marry these bright shades together. Someone try and dissuade me from buying this... I don't think I can resist much longer!

6. The finishing touch? A fluoro nail polish that is just the ticket for instagram ready nails. This bright Portobello polish from Nails Inc is perhaps my favourite summer shade as it really brings a smile to my face, while also making me look nice and tanned. It'll look fabulous with this clutch as well! For £11, it's 100% worth it. 

Pursuit of Prettiness : Tutti Frutti Nails

Yay! The sun is shining! Yes, it's a bit baltic out, but today is the first day in a while i've felt a teensy bit summery, so here are some beautiful fondant fancy shades of nail polishes to spruce up your winter look a treat.

I received the Splash of Grenadine nail polish by Essie for my birthday from my parents, and I absolutely ADORE the vibrant pinky lilac shade- fabulous quality, of course, and sure to get a number of compliments (I counted four yesterday!)

1. Leighton Denny polishes really are top quality. This soft coral shade is a great way to warm up your winter neutrals, particularly gorgeous with muted sandy shades. This fiery shade is, rather aptly, called Just Perfect and is £11.

2. The Thakoon collection at NARS is full of truly phenomenal colours which have been at the top of my wish list for ages. This Anardana rich pink shade is a particular favourite- a sophisticated bright pink that isn't even remotely Barbie-esque. This retails for £14 from Space NK.

3. This is my new favourite polish, joining the ranks of Nails Inc Devonshire Row and Revlon Bewitching . A pretty pale violet shade that is a little bit sweet, but still very stylish and sophisticated. It's also universally flattering and will go with pretty much everything. I love, love, love it! You can buy Essie Splash of Grenadine here for £7.99.

4. This cheap and cheerful peachy polish from Models Own is a great uplifting shade. This Peach Sherbet shade is just £5 from ASOS. 

5. Another treat from the NARS Thakoon collection, this icy blue polish is a great alternative to pale sugary pink. At £14 it's a little more indulgent, but this high fashion shade is a hot trend for SS13. You can buy this Kutki polish at Space NK here.

6. Pistachio green nails are surprisingly chic, and this delicious Mint Candy Apple polish from Essie is a mouthwatering spring shade. The quality of Essie polishes is also totally unrivalled, so they are worth every penny of this £7.99 price tag.

7. Sherbet Lemon nails are not the easiest to pull off, but this Notting Hill Carnival polish from Nails Inc is a softer shade that will be particularly alluring on warmer skintones. You can buy it here for just £5.

8. Revlon nail polish is always such good quality, and this Dreamer shade is just delectable. A powdery blue, but not overly girly, this polish is a great alternative to your favourite winter navy. You can buy it here for £6.49.

PS

I also must say a big thank you to the lovely ladies at Nicolas Feuillatte who treated me to a luxurious manicure at the Sofitel SO spa in St James, all washed down with a few glasses of the truly divine Palmes D'Or Rose Champagne (read more about it here- it's just gorgeous)

Nothing makes a look complete quite like beautifully manicured nails, and nothing makes a manicure like a glass of chilled bubbly and indulgent canapes! 

A Spring Fling

1. Everybody say HEY to the bag of my dreams. This Prada tote in clay grey leather has overtaken the navy Céline in the dreamy bag stakes... It is just such a beautiful neutral, a lovely alternative to black or tan, and is just divine. I want it so much but I can't seem to find that spare £1290, did anyone see where I left it?

2. This lemon yellow cropped sweater from Topshop is a SS13 must have. While the colour may not be for everyone, it was a huge hit at the Balenciaga SS13 show (see my new season references here) and looks gorgeous with a geometric black and white print. Wear this chunky sweater (£30) now with a long skirt and boots, and channel with a flirty mini come spring... If it ever arrives, of course.

3. This Accessorize necklace is such a lovely way to instantly update your look. The turquoise shade will lift neutral pieces to new heights, but it is also a great colour to make other brights sing- especially this zesty yellow. Shades of marine are going to be a huge hit for spring, so this is a great way to get ahead without feeling like you've splurged. It also has an alluring Elizabeth Taylor vibe which certainly belies it's £15 price-tag.

4. Any excuse for a new accessory, eh? Ever since my friend Nicole pointed me in the direction of the Kate Spade store in Westfield, I have been smitten with this bow-detail iPhone case. It is around £30 but is such a lovely way to treat yourself on pay day, not to mention a great way to lift your spirits in this horrible, horrible snow.

5. I am in love with these new season Kurt Geiger ELLA shoes. While white shoes may have horrible connotations of fake tan, Malibu and bleached hair (and no that is NOT a description of my Friday night look), in recent years they have been given a sartorial update and have become a beacon of modern elegance. Just ask Sarah Harris, the incredible fashion features writer at British Vogue, who wrote a great piece a few issues back about why white stilettos were her new season must have. If the Vogue girls are doing it, why shant we? White shoes are actually rather chic and lend a contemporary and fresh edge to everything from simple skinnies to little black dresses. These block heel shoes from Kurt Geiger (at £195) are just the ticket and I really rather fancy a pair.

6. My latest purchase is this flirty little miniskirt from Topshop, which I initially bought as a piece for work, but have unfortunately been very short of opportunities in which to brave the opaques. I am dotty for this miniskirt (£22) which looks fun worn with a little white crop top (channelling Balenciaga the very best I can) or with a crisp white shirt tucked in. It also looks playful and modern when paired with bold brights like this sherbet sweet sweater.

7. This is a classic nude polish from Nails Inc which has a soft caramel tone to it. Basil Street (£11) is a warm and elegant shade which goes with everything yet looks particularly delicious when paired with zingy aqua.

8. In time for last summer, I featured these fabulous nude and neon nails by Nails Inc, and I felt that they would look particularly fab with this look, as a way of marrying in the cyan blue. Simply paint the base of your in the afore mentioned Basil Street (two coats), then leave to dry before applying a french manicure sticker to the nail and painting the tip in this refreshing Pool Party shade from Topshop. Simple and quirky nail art that is sure to put a smile on your face.

SW Fashion Giveaway

A Box of Treats for one lovely reader!

If you've been following this blog for a while (and you're not my mum) then you'll know that it's not like me to do a giveaway... But i'm feeling all lovely and Christmassy so thought i'd put together a little box of goodies for one of you guys to win!

Rather than just one pretty little thing, I thought i'd put together a big box of gifts to fill you with festive cheer including a pendant and cocktail ring by Chelsea Doll, a River Island laptop case, a classic Nails Inc gift set, an adorable pill case by US brand Miamica and some sweet treats!

To enter, all you have to do is:
* follow the blog via G+ and on twitter
*  pop your email address in the comment box below

A winner will be chosen at random towards the end of December ! 

GB Gold

Hey guys, did you hear that the Olympics were on?

Such a joker.

I don't know about you but i'm a little bit glued to my screen as these inspirational athletes take London by storm and, by jove, aren't us Brits doing well?!

It's no secret that we have some incredibly talented young athletes, but I never for one second expected Team GB to do quite so brilliantly. It's helping matters that Stella's kit is the best of them all- other nations are clearly well jeal.

As I have been flyering like a crazy woman trying to get some summer money (so I can keep up my expensive Zara habit) I have not managed to embrace the Olympic spirit as much as I would have liked. I'm actually so gutted that I haven't had time to attempt some Olympic inspired baking, or to sit in the sun in the Olympic towel my lucky parents bought after watching Jess Ennis get her gold (lucky devils). However, I have decided to paint my nails in a glistening gold that is podium-ready.

This manicure is even more British than THIS ONE. Team GB are all about the gold. I used a metallic base (two coats) by Nails Inc and topped off with one coat of Nails Inc gold glitter polish. That way my nails don't get totally destroyed by glitter polish and the finish is far softer and less garish. 

Definitely worth a try, and a great way to enhance a summer tan from this sudden burst of sun! 

Nail Art: Union Jack Joy

My patriotic nails!

Hello and welcome to SW Fashion's thousandth Jubilee related post!

Okay, maybe i'm exaggerating slightly, but I know i'm banging on about it a little bit too much! That said, where is the problem in being a little bit patriotic, eh? I'm just doing the Royals proud.

Today I took my patriotic passions to my fingertips and attempted union jack nail art. Despite my shaky hands and INABILITY TO USE NAIL PENS I managed to do something that looked a little bit decent.

I do not think I am quite ready to get ambitious and attempt it on all my nails, so have opted for just me thumbs. On the rest? A muted gold by NARS (Senryou) as my silver glitter polish is at home, unfortunately.

I'm not saying they are flawless, and i'm the first to admit that up close they are pretty shoddy, but they are good by my standards!

Here's a little how to to get your Jubilee nails sorted in time for all those street parties tomorrow. Perfect with Pimms (not so perfect after Pimms- I shouldn't think nail art and alcohol are best of friends.)

1. Paint your whole nail in royal blue (my pick is King Tuts Gem by Jessica)

2. Paint a bright red cross on the nail (I went for Nails Inc in Victoria- my favourite red)

3. Line around the cross with a white nail art pen (WAH for Models Own is my favourite)

4. Add white lines diagonally across the blue for your complete Union Jack look!

Y'Alright Cupcake

Cheer up your sunny Sunday and purchase yourself this new Nails Inc Sweets Way Sprinkles polish. It's a faff and fuss-free alternative to the Ciaté caviar manicure and is rather lovely. The adorable Sprinkles collection is based on sweet cupcake sprinkles and the desired effect is a subtle multicoloured glitter.

This charming mix of baby blue and bubblegum pink is my favourite... Sweets Way is the perfect nail polish for your obligatory Sunday tea and cake. Just the thing to adorn your fingers as you pinch somebody elses buttercream!

And on that note (cake, obviously) never has Afternoon Tea been so chic- even Nobu is doing it (see here, but don't read if you're hungry/skint!)

What do you think of this polish? Comment below or tweet me @SWfashion_ - i'm always looking for new blogs to read so please do link me !

Five New Neutrals

Let me know what you think at @SWfashion_ and get your new neutral fix at Ciaté and Nails Inc!

PS

Apologies for my revolting purple/red hands. I have terrible circulation! 

Acid Yellow? Easy Peasy!

This 'Three Floor' dress is a gorgeous, fashion forward piece to invest in (£68 here). The cut looks very Victoria by Victoria Beckham-esque and the neoprene fabric is very flattering, the best part, however, is the gorgeous zingy colour- perfect for this unseasonably warm weather! 

It isn't the easiest colour to work, but I have shown four ways that you could style it, and hopefully one will suit you!

First up, we have the elegant take on the dress. Worn with a beautifully cut creamy blazer by Reiss, statement pewter jewellery by Mawi and Zoe & Morgan, slick luxurious heels by Kurt Geiger and a bargain clutch from Zara, the dress is pared down and sophisticated. Perfect for summer drinks or even work (if you work somewhere glamourous that is...)

Next we have the more youthful approach. Worn with converse, kooky sunglasses, amazing kitsch nail wraps and a nipped in denim jacket, the look is a fun take on the pretty dress. The AMAZING earrings (available online here) just finish it off perfectly. 

If you want to look seriously on trend, but not OTT, then pairing the neon dress with gorgeous snakeskin and enviable Zara heels is the way to go! Again, we have a beautiful piece of jewellery by Bauble Bar (buy here- I love it all!) to add a little bit of interest to the simple neckline, and neutral snake accessories and neutral nails to pare it down without looking boring.

Finally, you could go all out and channel ADR with a mixture of vivid neon shades! This little Moto biker is amazing and flattering and looks great with these accessories. The Kurt Geiger bracelets are beautiful and not at all garish, and look really cute with the novelty gummy bear ring (buy it here- so sweet!) and these layered pendants (find them online here- I love!). The Missguided boots that i'm in love with just finish the look off perfectly- prepare to be street style snapped!

Hope you like! 

Instant Update: Coral Nails

While pastel and neon nails are all the rage, they aren't always the most flattering on all skintones. A new, equally fashionable colour to try is coral. It is zesty and bright and great for this Spring sunshine, but it actually flatters most skintones! I love the Nails Inc. one, my choice for a recent manicure, but when it started to chip after TWO DAYS (not impressed, sorry, really not!) I bought the cheaper Barry M colour for top ups and it was just as good, though the consistency is not as thick and thus requires more coats.

Give it a try for a mid-week pick-me-up!

Mother's Day Gift Guides: Pamper and Preen

by Shona Wallace, @SWfashion_

Every lady loves a good old fashioned pampering. I love nothing more than going home, running a bath with some Laura Mercier Almond Coconut bath honey, slapping on a face mask, applying a Bumble & Bumble hair treatment and lighting a few scented candles. It is just bliss- and most women appreciate this luxury, particularly busy mums!

Pampering can stretch from little touches like flowers or a bottle of champagne, to some lovely cocktails or a personalised nail polish.

I love to put together a little "Pamper Hamper" as a present, and it really is a nice touch. Just get a few of mum's favourite things, put them in a hamper and you're done quicker than you can say "Fortnum and Mason"! A great mix is some bubble bath, some chocolates, bubbly, a candle, face mask and a magazine. That'll be her evening sorted and you can make it as special as you want!

If your mum appreciates the finer things in life, she will be more than a little bit pleased with a lovely fragrance like the new Jo Malone ones, or even a beautiful Laduree (buy them here) or Diptique candle.

If you want to pamper her, but do something a little bit quirky, why not head to Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge and create a bespoke Nails Inc nail polish (£16 for basic lids, £20 for glitzy lids). The couture service lets you you choose the lid, the colour, the box decorations and- the best part- the name label! Nails Inc Couture is also available online, so get your orders in now! Another lovely gift to treat her is by making her some glamourous cocktails- Nigella's salted caramel martini (recipe here) sounds just dreamy and i'm sure the  butterscotch schnapps concoction complete with a salt frosted rim will not disappoint!