Ibiza Style: Who Likes Short Shorts...?

After an amazing two weeks away from my working life in London, I am now officially back and raring to get going on my blog again. I admit, I have been abandoning my blog posts of late, but after a much needed R&R session I am fully motivated and inspired...

This weeks posts will see a major focus around Ibiza! After just returning from a holiday in one of the party capitals, I am all about sun, sea, sand and of course STYLE! The biggest trend I witnessed out there (sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad!) where girls in short shorts - and I mean SHORT shorts. I think I saw more bums than Bacardi breezers out there. So where can you get yours from? See my hot high street picks and advice on how to style them!



Not exactly one of the most popular trends seen in Ibiza this summer, but the girls sporting the grungey look where totally rocking it! These dip-dye shorts from Topshop are great paired with a graphic tee or cut-up vest...

Dip Dye Shorts
Topshop
£38

 Try this rock idol Led Zeppelin tee; turn up the sleeves and tie the front for a relaxed, beach side look.

Led Zeppelin Tee
By and Finally
£22

What better excuse to experiment with the season's hottest prints than when your away on holiday? Tropical prints decorated the Ibiza bay and these short shorts from Matalan certainly do not disappoint!

Tropical Shorts
£16
Matalan

 Think 1950's Grease style and team your printed shorts with a vintage-inspired denim tank top like this one from Warehouse...

Denim Top
Warehouse
£25

Tans to be envied by Essex citizens where everywhere in Ibiza (41 degree heat could be to blame..?) and so for once pastel tones where a must to accentuate your gorgeous glow! How cute are these crochet shorts from Miss Selfridge? 

Crochet Shorts
Miss Selfridge
£32

Take influence from the seasons 'texture mix' trend and team with this cut-out top from Warehouse in mink!

Cut-Out Top
Warehouse
£35

 Classic denim cut-offs where any girls Ibiza wardrobe staple! Don't forget to tick these features from your short shorts check list: distressed denim, low rise and bum skimming!

Short Shorts
River Island
£25

Cover up on route to buy your ice cream in this slinky kimono from River Island for a jaw-dropping £10! Thanks River Island summer sale!

Kimono
River Island
£10

 The ultimate summer key piece is the bralet  - don't go to Ibiza without it!

Bralet
River Island
£12

Happy Holiday Shopping

xoxo

All images taken from brand websites

Shop online at:

www.topshop.com

www.matalan.co.uk

www.warehouse.co.uk

www.missselfridge.com

www.riverisland.com

Matalan has London Fever...

Everyone seems to have London fever lately. Whether it's because of the Queen's Jubilee (did you brave the Thames?!) or because of the Olympics in a few weeks time, the fashion world is London crazy and getting in on the action is high street giant Matalan.

How cool are these London sight seeing tees featuring famous landmarks such as St Pauls Cathedral, Tower Bridge and Big Ben? My two best friends are London crazy since our move to the Big City 8 months ago and these are a perfect wardrobe addition to feed our capital obsession - there's one each!

Big Ben Tee
Matalan
£10

Tower Bridge Tee
Matalan
£10

St Paul's Cathedral Tee
Matalan
£10

Are you letting London influence your style this season?

Happy Shopping

xoxo

Shop Online at www.matalan.co.uk

All images from www.matalan.co.uk



Spring Summer 2012 with Matalan...

Not content on marking their spot firmly on the go-to high street destination hot spot with their AW11 collection last year, Matalan are back for 2012 showing that looking fresh off the catwalk doesn't have to mean living off beans and toast for the remainder of the season (believe me, we've all been there in the name of fashion!)

So whether its playful pastels, mix and match prints or free spirited bohemia, Matalan has a look to meet your needs in both the fashion and money sense - phew!

Introducing the Spring Summer 2012 Collection from Matalan

Summer Sorbet

Key Colours: Spearmint, bubblegum, lemon and cornflower blue

Key Details: Separates in block pastels, wardrobe staple jeans and clean mini satchels

Wear it now pre-summer: Swap t shirts and blouses for lightweight knitwear, team with a weatherproof mac for a modernist twist

Pocket Tee £12
Necklace £9, £7
Cuff £8
Skinny Denim £16

Stripe Shirt £12
Necklace £8
Skinny Denim £16

Colour Block Vest £7
Skinny Denim £16

 In the Print

Key Colours: Primary brights in bold blue, daisy yellow, pillar box red and garish green

Key Details: Floral and butterfly mirages, conversational prints and colour blocked accessories

Wear it now pre-summer: Clash your prints underneath a knitted cardigan or layer up with even more prints - the more mixed up the better!

Butterfly Print Kimono £14
Print Playsuit £10

Pussy Bow Blouse £12
Bird Print Trouser £18
Coral Clutch £8

Butterfly Blouse £16
Scarf Print Skirt £16

Festival Folly

Key Colours: Faded denim, pure white lace, ikat prints

Key Details: Fringing, cut out applique, denim

Wear it now pre-summer: Swap denim cut offs from the upcoming season for old faithful jeans and dig out those cowboy boots to battle the winter weather in!

Maxi Dress £22
Denim Waistcoat £16
Necklace £7
Bangle £8
Headband £4

Blouse £16
Crochet Trim Shorts £14
Aztec Bag £8
Sunglasses £5

Maxi Dress £26
Hat £8
Envelope Clutch £8

Happy Shopping

xoxo

All images from the Matalan Lookbook Spring/Summer 2012 courtesy of Matalan and Yellow Door



The Best of the High Street Blogs....

The blogging world has been taken over this past year or so with High Street brands getting to grips with social media and really pushing their business's to the forefront of our minds through clever online marketing techniques via Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Blogger. With next year set to be even bigger within the virtual world (have you got your pinterest at the ready?!) I've picked my favourite High Street fashion blogs to show who's doing it right!

River Island is a great example of a good high street blog. The photography is cool, the layout is clean and modern plus their writing style is informative and pushes the brand's marketing strategy yet you don't feel as though they are trying to sell to you in a forceful manner. I really liked the post on their SS12 Press Day - I haven't seen many brands writing about their upcoming collections and showing images online (it seems to normally be kept so hush hush!) But River Island portray an air of pride within their content - making the reader sit up and take notice! Bravo! See the blog here.

One of my favourite blog posts from River Island....

Accessorize have only just recently created their blog but already it is a firm favourite of mine! I love the insight into the lives of the employees of the brand such as when the Head of Corporate Responsibility takes a trip to India and blogs all about her travelling finds and what she gets up to whilst she's away. This creates a certain bond between brand and consumer where we can both trust and relate to the wonderful people behind Accessorize. Also on there is HQ style and Muse of the Moment - fantastic blogging ideas that are unique to the brand. Make sure you check it out.... See the blog here.

A sneaky peak of what the Accessorize team are wearing
on their official blog....

I have long been a champion of Matalan's blog. Not only are the team absolutely lovely (and great to work with too!) their blog is full of informative style advice, fantastic guest bloggers and those all important fashion picks from the latest Matalan range. What is unique to this blog is the monthly Style Challenge where independent fashion bloggers are armed with £50 to spend at the brand and an outfit brief. Then all of the online community vote for their favourite to be crowned Matalan Style Project Winner. It is a win-win situation - Matalan get great promotion for their product and blog, and the Style Project participants get promotion for theirs too. An exceptional example of social media! See the blog here.

Matalan's Style Project competition is a huge success on their blog...

Happy Blog Shopping

xoxo

Image 1 and 2 - taken from www.styleinsider.riverisland.com

Image 3 and 4 - taken from www.accessorizeblog.com

Image 5 and 6 - taken from www.blog.matalan.co.uk