AW15 High-Street Sneek Peek

Yes, its the height of summer and I'm focusing on autumn/winter fashion! I think a lot of us are curious about what trends await us for the colder part of the year though right? The AW15 catwalk shows teased us in February with what's to come, but what can we get our hands on with affordable prices? Well, I've picked some of my high-street favourites from Topshop, ASOS, Primark and River Island to give you an idea.

Topshop will have a variety of textured coats, polo-necks, boxy jackets, victoriana blouses, long boho dresses and printed a-line skirts. Many of their shoe designs for next season are seventies inspired, including velvet and mock-croc.

River Island as usual will be spoiling us for choice in the coat department. I love the silky trench coat above. You'll also find seventies influenced patterned knitwear, chic blazers, and halter-neck tops. Trousers come in a variety of lengths from ankle to mid-calf.

Primark's AW15 lookbook features beautiful lace dresses and blouses in a victoriana style. The black dress above looks gorgeous when worn. There's also plenty of fringing, suede and earthy tones within their collections.

ASOS feature a lot of seventies glamour in their collections for next season, from coloured fur to sequins. Suede is still going strong for the winter season and if you want to go for a daring look, ASOS will be stocking a variety of knitted flares.

As you can see, seventies influences are probably going to be even more prominent than this season. I'm most looking forward to wrapping myself up in the playfully textured coats and mixing a victoriana blouse with my leather a-line skirt. 

Which trends are you excited about for next season?

Chokers + Cuffs

Jewellery is often the best way the complete an outfit. It's that extra detail that can add either an edge, sophistication or glamour to your look. At the moment my favourite piece is the ear cuff, worn by the likes of Cara Delevigne and Jennifer Lawrence. I think I'll be buying the vine leaf one by Topshop. 

The bracelet cuffs below have a contemporary look to them and would look amazing worn with a sleek monochrome outfit. As for the chokers, I much prefer those with stones and metal rather than the velvet kind. The leaf choker below looks so unusual with the opening at the front. 

Let me know which is your favourite piece! 

Accessorize - Zara - Topshop

ASOS - Regal Rose - Topshop

& Other Stories - Whistles - Coast

Love from Lou Lou

Catwalk Worthy Coats

It breaks my heart to say it, but it seems like the summer sunshine won't be making many more appearances this year. On the plus side, at least we have some exciting new trends to look forward to. My favourite winter piece is definitely a good coat. I'm always so impressed by the British high street's take on the many styles seen at Fashion Weeks. The quality is usually fantastic too, which is exactly what you need from this wardrobe staple. 

The faux fur coat has been around for the last few winters, and my black cocoon shaped one will be coming out of my coat cupboard again this year. If you're feeling more daring, this season offers multicoloured and striped versions. 

Another classic style to re-emerge is the parka. I love the luxe take on it this winter, as modelled by Cara Delevigne in the recent Topshop campaign. If anyone wants to buy me the Pamella Roland metallic parka below then that would be nice!

For more coat inspiration, take a look at my top picks below.

The Check Coat

Catwalk - Rodarte / High street - River Island

The Luxe Parka 

Catwalk - Pamella Roland / Highstreet - Topshop

The Fur Coat

Catwalk - DKNY / High street - Motel

The Long Coat

Catwalk - Chanel / High street - ASOS

Will you be investing in one of these coat styles this coming season?

Love from Lou Lou

Flower Power

Top: ASOS

Skirt: Topshop

After receiving an ASOS voucher as my prize for the Yves Inspired competition, I decided to spend it on this digital print top featuring fuchsia pink roses and purple crystals. I am forever telling myself that I have enough floral clothing in my wardrobe, but then another floral print screams out to me with it's incomparable beauty and unique charms. How can I say no!

This bodycon skirt with a sheer panel at the bottom is perfect for teaming up with such a bold print. I can also pull it up high so that you can't see my pale midriff! Then once I get a tan (or fake it) I can wear the crop top with a pair of high-waisted jeans.

As you'll have probably seen from other blogs, nominations have begun for the Company Style Blogger Awards. This is the first time I thought I'd ask for a little favour: if you like reading my blog, please vote for me as Best Fashion Blog. I'd reeeally appreciate it. Click here to vote. Thanks in advance!

Love from Lou Lou

Best Bargains of the Sales

The mid-season sales are popping up all around the country and online - just in time for pay-day! This is a perfect opportunity to grab your holiday essentials for bargain prices. You'll be surprised how many lust-worthy pieces there are. Here are my top picks from the sales that have been launched so far.

ASOS

Jeans - Was £160 Now £62  Sunglasses - Was £25 Now £12

Shoes - Was £40 Now £28  Top - Was £60 Now £30  Jacket - Was £55 Now £38.50

Topshop

Dress - Was £60 Now £30  Bag - Was £85 Now £45
Shoes - Was £85 Now £45  Top - Was £32 Now £15

Motel

Top - Was £25 Now £15  Bag - Was £99 Now £59

Jacket - Was £60 Now £29  Dress - Was £48 Now £29

Love from Lou Lou

P.S. I was chosen as a runner-up in ASOS's #YvesInspired styling competition. If you missed the outfit post I did, you can see it two posts below this one. I can't wait to receive my voucher prize!

ASOS High Summer Event

It's not very often that a high profile online brand such as ASOS decides to hold a press event in Edinburgh, so it was exciting to attend one in my hometown. It was held at the suitably stylish Hotel Missoni, where we were welcomed by the PR team before we started to browse the rails.

My friend Rebecca and I had a good long look at each sample from their High Summer collections and compiled a mental list of what we want to buy when the clothing is available in May and June. There were plenty of floral prints which I am always naturally drawn towards, and it was the techniques that gave them an edge. I adored the appliqué flowers on sheer fabric with another layer of floral emerging from underneath. Some of the premium pieces were so unique with such exquisite detailing that they looked more designer than high-street. Surely it is only a matter of time before we see ASOS join Whistles and Topshop on the catwalks of London Fashion Week. Until then, take a look at some of the pieces that make me long for summer more than ever!

Love from Lou Lou

The Skirt Edit

I haven't had a lot of luck with my skirts lately; one came back from the dry cleaners ruined (a manufacturing fault apparently) and the other I managed to ruin myself a week later as I forgot that it shouldn't have been hand-washed. However, this has made me more determined than ever to own the prettiest collection of skirts a girl could dream of! I usually stick with an a-line cut which is flattering for my figure, however I am ready to take on the drop hem mini skirt (see no.2) and next season's double drop (see no.3).

1. ASOS Pencil skirt 2. Zara Poplin skirt 3. Topshop Lace skirt

4. Zara box pleat skirt 5. Motel printed skirt 6. Urban Outfitters PU skirt

Have you had your eye on any new skirts lately? 

Love from Lou Lou

New Trend Alert: Gingham

Tartan has definitely been the biggest trend of this Winter from what I've seen, however there is a new check to go mad for during Spring, and that's Gingham. Dorothy wore her iconic gingham dress on her way to meet Oz, and now we can wear our modern-day versions to parties, hitting the shops and flying away for our Summer holidays. My favourite piece is the Topshop shirt below, which also ticks off the sheer trend. I love the small collar on it and the long rolled-up sleeves. 

Clockwise from left - Shirt: Topshop Jumper: Boutique by Jaeger @ ASOS

Dress: Nordstrom Shirt: Denim & Supply By Ralph Lauren@ ASOS

Will you be picking out any gingham clothes for Spring?

Love from Lou Lou

The Season of Fur and Fluff

As much as I dislike the freezing temperatures we have recently been facing in Britain, I'm so glad that there is a fashionable solution. This winter, you can find more fluffy and fur pieces on the high-street than ever before. My friend Kate and I (pictured above) are obsessed with these faux fur stoles we found in Zara. They just ooze old Hollywood glamour don't they? Although I wore my fur coat that day, I wouldn't advise opting for fur-on-fur! It's just too over the top! Instead, try fluffy or fur items with contrasting textures such as leather, wool or waxed denim.

Topshop's must-have fluffy pieces are the teddy coat (I'm still pining after the pink version that sold out recently) and the cropped jumper (super soft). The monochrome and pastel choice of colours are perfect. I wouldn't advise wearing a bright colour of fluffy jumper though as you may end up looking like a character from Sesame Street!

The Furry Edit

Fur bag - Zara Fur collar - River Island Fur gilet - ASOS

Fur hat - River Island Fur lined boots - Topshop

The Fluffy Edit

Fluffy mittens - ASOS Fluffy heels - Topshop 

Fluffy top - New Look Fluffy cardigan - MissGuided Fluffy coat - Topshop

Which are your favourite pieces? Have you bought any fluffy or fur pieces this winter?

Love from Lou Lou

Fashion Fling Look no.5

Sunglasses - Ray-Ban

Coat - ASOS

Handbag - Warehouse

Boots - Topshop

Today's Fashion Fling look is an outfit I would wear to work. Aviators became popular during the 1960s so I have been inspired by this era to create a sixties look. My coat makes me feel very ladylike and retro chic! As for my handbag, it  is big enough to fit in everything you might need for your 9 to 5! The rose tint and gold frames of my sunglasses work well with the colours of the coat's tweed panels, so I hooked them over the top of my coat. That's also the thing about Scottish weather - it changes so often that you may need to take your sunglasses on and off through-out the day! 

Love from Lou Lou

The Winter Woolies Edit

This Winter I have really enjoyed buying knitwear. I've armed myself with a new turquoise beanie hat and chunky scarf, plus a few new jumpers to fight Scotland's chill off. Thermal vests also help! 

Last year it was all about novelty knits, but this year slouchy fit jumpers are proving popular, and I personally love all the checked knitwear that's also very big right now. 

Here is a selection of some fab knitwear you might want to add to your Christmas list!

Love from Lou Lou

Happy Halloween!

Dress - ASOS Revive

Tiara - Topshop

Gold heels - Red or Dead

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you are all having fun dressing up and scaring your friends! I love that people get so creative this time of year and I can't get enough of the photos that fill up my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with crazy costumes and faces painted. 

I have previously dressed up as characters such as Wednesday Addams and Alice in Horrorland, and this year I decided to be an evil queen! This was inspired by a gothic dress which I already had in my wardrobe and a black tiara I found at Topshop that matched my dress perfectly. All I had to add was smokey eye make-up, lots of hairspray and a pair of gold heels.

I had a lot of fun going out that night and getting into character with deathly stares and an evil laugh! Also, I love my tiara so much that I wish I had an excuse to wear it more often. It's probably a bit too fancy for a trip to Tesco!

What did you decide to dress up as for Halloween?

Love from Lou Lou

The Halloween Edit

If you're anything like me, and love an excuse to dress up, you will be spending this month planning your Halloween outfit. This year I will be celebrating with my zombie bride flatmate! She has a beautiful lace wedding dress from Edinburgh's vintage store Armstrong's. It will be hard to help her ruin it with fake blood and ripped holes but it's for a good cause! As for my costume, I will be an evil queen, wearing a black regal looking dress with a gorgeous black tiara I bought today from Topshop. Smokey eyes will also be a must. I can't wait! 

If you are still trying to decide on your costume, this season's trends may help. There are spiked studs, printed skulls, velvet and lace all over the high street so get shopping! 

Bodysuit Topshop £35, cat mask Accessorize £3.50, 

spiked heels River Island £65, feather cape Topshop £85,

lace skirt River Island £30, skull blouse £20 with skull

 necklace £8 Boohoo.com skeleton jumper ASOS £30

I will be channelling Charlize Theron's character Queen Ravenna (who you may remember I have previously blogged about!)

Love from Lou Lou

Outfit du jour

Coat - ASOS

Handbag - Warehouse

Heels - New Look

Watch - ASOS

This is a completely new outfit of mine, which makes me feel very sixties chic! On days where I want to feel sophisticated this will now be my go-to coat and bag. My new handbag is so roomy, it rivals Mary Poppins's (had to mention her on my blog at some point!) I love that my mac looks so different to the average mac, with it's touches of boucle. I just had to show you all three angles! 

I hope you are all having a good weekend. It's nice to have a Saturday off which isn't very common for a retail worker like me! 

Love from Lou Lou

ASOS Wish List

Click links to buy:

Boucle coat £85

High top trainers £35

Arrow cuff £36

Cat Eye sunglasses £15

Lazer cut clutch £25

Neon pink watch £20

Floral print trousers £40

There are three reasons why I absolutely love ASOS: Firstly, I can save my favourite items to look at anytime; secondly, with my premier membership I get free next day delivery; and thirdly, they do lots of competitions and discount offers. This week you can get 20% off a different ASOS category each day. I also have my fingers crossed that I win my whole wish list in a competition they are running up until tonight. 

This week is going to be a busy one which will include helping style a Valentine's themed shoot for the Edinburgh Evening News (out on Monday); meeting a photographer to discuss ideas for a future collaboration; and creating moodboards for Topshop's trends Boat Race and South Pacific. 

I hope you all have a good week,

Love from Lou Lou