What a day for a Bright Wedding

From tasteful tea parties through to sun drenched days at the beach, Summer throws up all sorts of delights particularly in a sartorial sense.

However, as far as occasionwear goes, things aren't always as simple as throwing on a silky slip dress and chunky wooden wedges, and this certainly will not suffice for a sunny day wedding.

The trickiest of Summertime soirees by a country mile, choosing a suitable outfit as a wedding guest is never easy. The best way to go about it, though, is to find a dazzling but demure dress that you can really personalise with accessories to make it your own. 

Opt for a subtle neutral shade that will carry you through the wedding season and an elegant and ethereal style that will befit the occasion.

Then really go to town on the accessories... I like this unexpected flash of neon.

1. I am a statement necklace fiend and this new one from Freedom at Topshop has just made it on to my must-have list for Summer. Paired with this blush shade it certainly provides a punchy pop of colour. It is £30 here. 

2. This wrap dress from Topshop is available in a selection of washed pastel shades and makes for a fabulous Summer party staple. An elegant length with a balletic swishy skirt and flattering pleat detail at the waist- this dress is fantastic for showing off your figure while still leaving plenty to the imagination. The best part? It is only £65 here. 

3. Accessorize have really crept up my high street radar of late. With directional perspex clutches, Shourouk-esque fluoro jewellery and trinkety treasures, it is little wonder that Accessorize have got me questioning my infatuation with the one and only Zara *. This vibrant coral lace detail box clutch is a punchy alternative to the classic neutrals and metallics that are often common place at weddings. It is limited edition so do get your skates on ladies- it is £35 here.  

4. Finding striking shoes on the high street is not always easy, but these vivid lime heels from River Island are striking to say the very least. A slick sandal complete with pretty laser cut detailing, I love the juxtaposition between this ethereal dress and the fierce fluoro heels. They are £65 here. 

5. Topshop nail polishes are always the most deliciously tempting colours and this zingy Venus Fly Trap number is just divine for Summer.  A snip at £5 here, it'd be rude not to, non?

6. Something a little brighter, this glorious neon Bottle Service shade from Essie is sure to put a smile on your face. 

7. Yet another sweetie, this Nails Inc limited edition Summer shade is as yummy as the ice cream sundae on the glossy bottletop. Chelsea Physic Garden is a pastel blue that is sure to compliment sun-kissed Summer skin.

8. You are probably wondering why I featured three nail polishes, but I promise I've not completely lost my marbles. When I spotted these Topshop nail art brushes (£10 for the set here), I knew I had to share them with you guys. Nail art can look so amazing, particularly in these juicy Summer shades. If you need some inspiration, check out my post here or Mara Hoffman's little competition here. 

* I still love you Zara... I think we need some time apart. It's not you, it's me... And my bank balance.

Get Your Neon On

Okay so tomorrow is the start of May, today I went out in a strappy camisole and a lace jacket from The Kooples and this afternoon I received an email from Company magazine reminding me that it was almost a year ago that I took part in Company Grads 2012 (read about it here if you've forgotten!). I am 20 next year and will be a graduate by next Summer. This is scary- i'm practically a grown-up.

In the mean time, rather than getting all teary about this being my last year as a teenager, I shall instead do a bright and beautiful post with a whole lot of glowing neon products to put a big summery smile on my face.

Smile, guys, it's Summer (ish)!

1. Essie polishes are my favourite. There, I said it, let's just all move on. They are so richly pigmented and always in the most glorious colours with the cheekiest, cheeriest names. Their new neon collection for 2013 is deliciously juicy and I want every last shade. This bubblegum shade is called Bottle Service.

2. Acid green nails are not to everyone's taste, granted, but with a name like Shake Your $$ Maker, how could you resist this funky shade?  A tan is an essential, i'd imagine, but go for this shade if your feeling a little brave. 

3. Orange you lovely! Gosh, one day i'll cease with the embarrassing puns, but that day is not today. This acidic orange shade is perfect to pep up your nude studded sandals and it has a suitably uplifting name: Saturday Disco Fever!

4. This refreshing purple shade reminds me of Atelier-To-Go and, of course, for that reason I love it. DJ Play That Song is like parma violets on acid and would look amazing worn with hot pink sandals or lashings of aqua (my new favourite hue... as this instagram shot shows)

5. Topshop's fashion-forward budget beauty collections really are second to none, and this sexy peach Lip Bullet is fabulous for adding a little vivacity to your make-up bag and will bring a tropical touch to a "bare-faced" look.

6. Another gem from Topshop, this Bombshell lipstick just screams 90s nostalgia! In a clear case with an almost gelatinous look, this bubblegum pink shade is great fun. Get them feelin' Hella Good with this fabulous fuschia. 

7. I spotted this Ciaté polish a couple of days ago on my Twitter feed and I have been getting rather excited about it since. An interpretation of the famous Caviar set, this bad boy glows in the dark: seriously! Read more about Ciaté Corrupted Neon here.

8. The Red Roses scent from Jo Malone is one of the most iconic fragrances of recent years, and all with good reason. It is soft, sweet and feminine but also still a little musky and certainly rather sophisticated. In her new role as Style Editor to the brand, Charlotte Stockdale has updated the scent by dipping in neon pink paint with a limited run of 300, each one individually engraved. Available exclusively at Selfridges, Charlotte's neon collection also offers a number of other pretty rosy treats with a little fluoro-floral touch.

9. Burberry beauty is usually all about redefining sultry nude shades, but this new lipgloss shade, Pink Sweet Pea, takes a new direction with a zingy, poppy colour and luxuriously glossy finish. It is £18.50 at Harvey Nichols here. 

10. The go-to beauty brand for all things bold and theatrical, if you're looking for a show-stopping lip colour then you need not look much further than Illamasqua. Though it is certainly not one for shrinking violets, this Intense lipgloss in Indulge is a bit of a corker. Pucker up boys! It is £14.50 here. 

11. Be a blushing beauty with this Love blush from Lancome. A pearly blush with an apricot core and candy pink trim, this blusher is flecked with light-reflecting particles to make it the ideal partner to gloriously bold lips. The packaging is rather cute too! The perfect gift, this blusher is £34 from Harvey Nichols here. 

Jewels du Jour: John & Pearl

I am one of those people who will NEVER have enough jewellery. Despite having two jewellery stands, one of these (a gift from my lovely flatmates) and two vintage jewellery boxes, I still have statement necklaces hanging from doorknobs and bejewelled bangles stacked atop various notebooks.

Every time I "pop" into Topshop, H&M or Zara, my magpie gaze is drawn towards the current assortment of shiny pretty things and I tend to leave £20-£50 lighter. I am simply the sort to dream in Mawi, Shourouk and Dannijo... Oh, and Gosling, always Gosling.

Today as I did the press day rounds (with French Connection, ASOS and IPR posts coming very soon) I was truly blown away by the calibre of the jewellery on offer. Starting with show-stopping pieces at ASOS, emblazoned with gems and accented with shards of flouro perspex, and ending with some glittering investment pieces by Shourouk for Swarovski, today I was certainly in my element.

While i'm all for the bigger brands, I am always looking for exciting new jewellery designers to share, and i've got a good'un here.

I first noticed John & Pearl in the Ledbury Road boutique Wolf & Badger, and have since seen these poppy pieces stocked in a number of elite London boutiques, including the ever-lovely Austique. 

Launched in 2012 by designer Julie Hannay, John & Pearl's first collection "PIGMENT" certainly packs the punch that a debut should do, and I must admit that I am well and truly smitten with the entire collection. Unique, energetic and trend-led, John & Pearl comes in at a lower price-point than most designer jewellery labels, with all pieces sitting around the £100 mark. 

The debut collection, which is all available online here, is truly gorgeous. Offering fresh fluoro shades from violet through to aqua and cerise, the statement jewellery is crafted from tightly woven grosgrain and satin ribbon and glossy chain hardware. With a feminine but bold aesthetic, this is jewellery that adds a trend-led edge to an outfit without being over the top or even remotely garish. 

Standouts for me include the collar necklace marrying silver and gold, which is always a hit for me and the multicoloured spike necklaces which would look incredible with simple neutral pieces for a really fun take on the brights trend for the season ahead. 

I am confident you'll agree that this jewellery is bright, beautiful and worth every penny.  

1. A real favourite of mine, I actually first spotted this one at the phenomenal Urban Outfitters store in Marble Arch at the Beat magazine launch party. This Coco necklace would work with everything from simple blouses through to little dresses, and is available here for £99.

2. Beautifully bold, this mint version of the Lulu necklace is just delightful and would add a pop of colour to any look. It takes two meticulous hours to weave this necklace, and I love the futuristic look. It is £195 here.

3. I love this eye-catching Alyssa mint cuff with gold accenting, which is also available in a number of other colours and metals. The mint is gorgeous with the gold, but I adore the rose shade too. It is £99 here. 

1. The Fifi necklace is such a great price at £82, and this passion pink shade with gold accents would look just glorious with a tan. You can purchase it here.

2. These Lola earrings are just gorgeous to add a pop of colour to a simple halter neck white dress, like this delightful L'Agence number from Atelier-To-Go. These are £99 here and also come in white.

3. This lemon and pewter Alyssa cuff is a little bit more unique, but I love the combination of the light yellow with darker, edgier metal. It is £99 here. 

1. Another lovely piece, this Polly necklace combines a gold plated chain with wisteria blue grosgrain ribbon and white ribbon accenting. Bang on for the marine trend this season, I would wear with my statement monochrome floral jacket (the one i'm wearing here, if you're wondering) and super skinny J Brand white jeans (these are a firm favourite!) This one is £149, available here.

2. This Fifi necklace in mint and gold is just lovely. It is also £82 and is available here.

3. Interwoven with grosgrain ribbon and dotted with golden studs, this Susi bracelet comes in an assortment of colours and look amazing layered up with lots of other bold, punchy bracelets to add an acidic attitude to a simple neutral look. It is a great price also at £69 here. 

OOTD... In my dreams.

1. If I could have a wardrobe consisting of only one designer, that designer would probably be Isabel Marant. But if I could only have one item, I would take this blouse as my one and only. Available from Matches for £1640, this ethereal embellished kaftan is a truly mesmerising piece for the new season, particularly when worn with these Isabel Marant red leathers. I would mix it up with distressed denim and lashings of acid brights.

2. I adore this hot pink version of the classic Monica Vinader Fiji bracelet, which is available here for £95. A slightly less daunting neon, this hot pink colour adds a peppy pop to everything from 

3. The Fiji bracelet is equally zingy in the lime green, also £95 here. I would layer it up with several other friendship bracelets for an eclectic look. A zesty citrus shade, this colour looks amazing with a golden tan. 

4. I love the rainbow of zany colours and finishes available from the every theatrical beauty brand Illamasqua, and this hot pink Collide shade would work wonderfully with this unexpected vibrant look. It is £13.50.

5. The distressed 620 jeans by J Brand in Revenge are the perfect distressed skinnies, and would add a relaxed touch to this decadent top. They are available from Matches here and Atelier-To-Go here.

6. Oh. My. God. HowbeautifulisthisProenzaSchoulerhandbagohmygod. Excuse me, sorry, I forgot to breathe. In dove grey leather, this intensely covetable bag is just stunning. Complete with a sweet lemon lining, this spacious bag would look amazing with any outfit, particularly with Summer brights. It is £1795 on Net-A-Porter (shop here.) Who loves me enough to buy it?.. No one?.. Okay. 

7. I know that these aren't going to be to everyone's taste, but for some bizarre reason I love these neon yellow patent heels from Jimmy Choo. Glossy and charmingly garish, the style of these heels is super elegant (also in a number of stunning slightly more neutral shades here), while the colour is young and fun. These shamelessly sexy sandals are available to pre-order online here for £495.

Newly Neutral

1. I love this chunky, zesty Topshop knit (£36)

2. These Whistles grey suede ankle boots are my new favourite bootie- perfect for summertime (£150)

3. This Mawi collar with yellow detail is a bit of an investment piece at £475, but I would if I could!

4. This sunny grey and yellow mini dress from T by Alexander Wang is a fantastic buy from The Outnet at just £65... Go, go, go!

5. This Zoe Karssen t-shirt from Harvey Nichols (£30 in the sale if you act fast) is my new favourite buy- I love it for the gym but it's also great teamed with zingy brights.

6. Another blog post, another lovely blazer from The Kooples- I wonder whether there is a single product from this store that I haven't blogged about?... (£118 on sale)

7. This pistachio green iPad case from the new collection at Mulberry is absolutely adorable- such a pretty spring hit.

8. Ooh... Sparkly! I adore these Dannijo earrings from Browns, the perfect twinkly addition to a colour lemon and granite colour combo (£348)

9. This 3.1 Phillip Lim yellow leather satchel is a total steal in the Avenue 32 sale, reduced to £250. Who needs a boring tan handbag?

10. This Miamica jewellery travel case is just too sweet- I had to feature it! If you're a USA-dweller you can order these little boxes for just $5. 

Instant Update: Zara Bib

I adore this Zara bib- perfect worn with white or neutrals for a really stylish look, or just to dress up denim!

Definitely on my "end of term treat" list... It's ever expanding, as you can expect!

What do you think of this necklace? Hit or miss? Comment below or tweet me @SWfashion_

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! 

Want, Want, Need

Everyone knows i'm a little bit obsessed with neons this season- there is just something so alluring about a neutral outfit with the added zing of a fluoro accessory (see what I mean with THIS post). But, alas, i'm too much of a wuss to buy anything REALLY neon- returning a bright yellow H&M t-shirt tomorrow as I know, for fact, I can't pull it off with the pizazz of Olivia Palermo et al (I'm talking about this divine Olivia P look, natch.)

I think I may have to stick to little accessories for a nod to the nude and neon, or just nailpolish. YAWN. But if you, unlike me, actually have some fashion balls you would be insane not to buy this Zara TRF jacket (£59.99) which is just beyond gorgeous.

Worn, as Zara styled it, with distressed denim and a slouchy tee, this look is beyond amazing and I adore it. I noticed a gorgeous lady at LFW wearing a neon yellow blazer and she looked phenomenal, I wish I could pull myself together and realise I AM A FASHION STUDENT. I AM YOUNG. I MUST TAKE FASHION RISKS.

But... that little lace dress is just so tempting, i'll keep it nice and safe, thanks.

Instant Update: Fluoro and Flesh