Holiday Wardrobe: Big Yellow Taxi

From West to East, our final US stop was the city of dreams- New York.

I must say that I did not know what to expect from the ultimate metropolis. I had heard mixed opinions: some loved it, some hated it, and I had no clue into which category I would fall. However, as we flew across the city, taking in the iconic scenery, my mind was pretty much made up. And now I get why everyone wears those t-shirts... I, in fact, also love NY.

We were very lucky to stay in the luxurious Gramercy Park hotel in Manhattan, just across from the private gardens of the same name. The hotel was darkly decadent, dripping in chandeliers and oozing old-time luxury.

Our first day was spent doing all manner of tourist-y activities, including a trip to the Punk exhibition at The Met, which I would highly recommend. With everything from risqué t-shirts from SEX on The Kings Road through to delicious Balmain RTW and dangerous Givenchy Couture, the Met's Punk curation plays on the interrelation between punk and couture- namely the DIY spirit which ties the two together.

We then took a trip down Madison Avenue to the flagship Kate Spade store, which was a girly paradise complete with oodles of glittering pumps, colourful enamel jewellery and kitschy popcorn clutches.

For lunch we made our way across the road to Barneys, intending to dine at the celebrated spot for "Ladies Who Lunch": Fred's. With a half hour wait and some rather weary feet, we decided to retreat downstairs to their interactive lunch stop Genes at CO-OP.

I. Loved. It.

Genes is a little glass enclave in the corner of the contemporary designer department. Futuristic and suitably fashionable, the cafe features one long dark table made up of full-screen touch tablets, from which you can order and surf the web. Tweet while you eat? Don't mind if I do!

My order of the day was a green juice, an iced double espresso and a hearty raw superfood salad- dressing on the side, of course: ideal fuel for an afternoon spent milling around Tiffanys and SAKS. 

WHAT I WORE:

Le Flamboyance

Happy Sunny Sunday, all!

On a day like today, there is nothing more appropriate than some seriously pretty sandals, a floaty little sundress and copious amounts of ice-cream/frappuccinos/frozen-yogurt/Pimms (delete as appropriate).

If you are regular reader of my blog (hi Mum), then you will know that I am something of a girly girl with a penchant for all things glossy, pretty and cutesy. So, I am sure you can all imagine my elation on spotting these sweet Sophia Webster sandals on Never Underdressed.

I have been swooning over the bold, kitsch designs by Sophia Webster for a few seasons now, and these sandals (at Net-A-Porter) really embody the fun spirit of London's latest fashion force. 

With yellow and pink polka-dots on the cylindrical heel and cartoon flamingos kissing at the clear perspex peep-toes, these adorable shoes are like Mr Blobby meets Barbie, in the coolest way possible. 

Granted, they are not exactly a throwaway purchase at £315, but how could you ever be in a bad mood when wearing shoes that are so very jolly?

PS

FUN FACT TIME. A group of flamingos is called a flamboyance... Such divas. 

PPS

If this has whet your Sophia Webster appetite, check out these bad boys... More fabulous than a flamboyance. 

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. 

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. 

Sunshine Smile

I love yellow! It doesn't suit me, it isn't easy to pull off, but I still absolutely love it. Primrose through to mustard, it is such a happy colour and as soon as I see it I almost cheer up!

Our little taste of Summer may have been short lived as snow decides to rear it's ugly head once again, but lets relive it with a beautiful buttery patent Mulberry and these Missguided shoes that I literally can't stop featuring on here! I think I just need to put myself out of my misery and buy a pair. Here's hoping I did okay last term at LCF, so I can justify treating myself to these gorgeous boots (buy them here)... and i'll just keep dreaming on the Mulberry front!

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!