Emma Stone covers American Vogue

 I adore Emma Stone. Not only is she a very talented actress and an intelligent woman, she also has impeccable style; I don't think I've ever seen her put a foot wrong, fashion-wise. She's been due a Vogue cover for a long time, and I'm glad Anna Wintour has finally seen the light and given her the cover she deserves.

While it is a beautiful cover, Emma looks as though she is about to cry, and coupled with her state of undress - a Nina Ricci dress that looks like lingerie - it makes for a slightly uncomfortable sitting. 

I also wish Emma had her dyed red again, but as she's promoting Spiderman, it makes sense that she's blonde. 

I'm looking forward to seeing the accompanying editorial. 

3-Step Colour Blocking

There are three different ways to do the colour blocking trend, which has always seemed a bit strange to me, it's like wearing contrasting colours, by using clothes, accessories or make-up (like eyeliner or nail polish).
I seem to have inadvertently managed to colour block my bag, skirt and nail polish.

Having let the trend seemingly pass me by, I actually do like all the bright colours around at the moment. I'm wearing the Whistles Carrie skirt with an ancient Topshop bag and Barry M nail polish No134.

Style Envy: Elle Fanning

Elle Fanning, Dakota's sister, is only 12, but she's already made a film (Somewhere, directed by Sofia Coppola, which I really want to see). She has amazing style - wish I'd had her style like that when I was her age - or now even. 

She wore the most beautiful pieces of Valentino couture - a gorgeous dress and some amazing shoes - to the Somewhere premiere. 

I think dressing someone Elle's age is difficult - we all remember what Emma Watson wore to early Harry Potter premieres. This is the perfect balance; classic and not age-inappropriate. 

I need a pair of low heels. Preferably jewel-encrusted, low heeled mules with a bow detail. 

I love this Peter Pan collar and headband look - it's so simple and the ribbon threaded through the plait is genius. 

If my hair was still long I'd try and plait it like that.

Elle wore this Chanel dress in a shoot for Interview magazine. 

I've never really like that kind of dress, but worn simply like this, it's something that I might try to emulate.

Red Hair Appreciation

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted red hair. My mum has red hair, and when I was younger I was hugely jealous of her gorgeous hair. I feel that redheads get a bad press (the whole "ginger-minger" thing), which I completely unfair, and makes me wonder why no-one discriminates against the blondes or brunettes. 

There's a definite trend for having red hair at the moment, which really first started when Cheryl Cole dyed her hair that purpley-red colour. But since I don't really like her colour (it's too fake), here is the original red-headed Girls Aloud member, Nicola Roberts: 

 Christina Hendricks aka Joan from Mad Men has definitely been influential. I mean, who wouldn't want to look like that? Or at the very least, have hair that colour?

Rihanna's red hair, for her softer new look (timed perfectly to go with the release of her album) has made three people I know dye their hair.

And then there's the models, who've been redheads for ages:

Lily Cole

Grace Coddington (she was a model and she's my hero so she's going on here)

and Karen Elson (inspiration for my haircut)

I have dyed my hair red before. It looked like this (ignore the weird face I'm pulling):

Because my hair is so dark, the red dye went an orangey colour, and made my skin look sallow. So it seems I am doomed to have dull brown hair instead of gorgeous red hair. Until I can afford to buy a decent wig. 

Basically, what I'm trying to say is, red hair is beautiful, and here to stay. 

Wardrobe Dilemma

I'm sure its pretty obvious that I love clothes, and I have quite a lot of them. One of the biggest problems I had when packing for university was deciding what clothes to bring. In the end, I bought about half of them, but when I was making my wardrobe decisions, I forgot to factor in what kind of wardrobe would be in my room in halls. 

This is what awaited me:

My mother, who had lugged my two suitcases of clothes and two bags of shoes upstairs just laughed at me. 

Not all of my clothes are in here - some are in the drawers in my desk, and everything is triple hung. I also have all my trousers and jeans piled on the floor of the wardrobe. I had to send a lot of stuff home with my mother, because I couldn't justify keeping it here. If (when) I buy any new clothes I'm really not sure where I'll put them.

Flo x

A Lifetime of Obsession

When I was very young, about five maybe, I saw the Wizard Of Oz for the first time. And while I was not only entranced by Oz itself, and the way Dorothy's life changed from black and white to colour, I was also drawn to The Ruby Slippers. For my birthday that year, my grandmother gave me a pair of (gold) glittering shoes that I adored and wore and wore until all the glitter fell off. 

Dorothy was so many years ahead of current trends - she paired heels and ankle socks together years ago.

Over the years, I've lusted after many a pair of red heels, but never bought a pair. I gear up to get them, gather my funds, try them on several times, to make sure that they are the perfect fit, but I never commit.I always make some excuse at the last minute and back out.

I think now though, I may have found my perfect pair. Although I have yet to try them on, these (supposedly "burgundy") heels from Office.

They are suede (my favourite fabric for shoes), with a good, solid, but not-ridiculously-high heel. They don't look as harsh as some other red shoes do and they are not as tough as some of the shoes of previous seasons. I could see myself wearing them with a pair chinos or tailored trousers. 

The shoes are a good red - not too bright, but not too purple either - the suede makes the colour look classy, which I don't think it would work if the shoes was patent, or matte leather (I am rather picky about my reds as I had to wear a post-box-red jumper every day for seven years at primary school).

I think I may have to make the investment.

Flo x

Coat.

I know, I know, it's July. Summer has barely begun. Yet here I am, lusting over coats that I will be wearing come late September. For all my love of girly dresses, floaty skirts and heels, I love nothing more than a masculine coat for winter. Last year, my brother had to ban me from borrowing his coats - I wore them more than my own (sadly I don't have any pictures though - that would be evidence of my theft). 

This year, I decided that I would simply go Zara Mens, or River Island Man (where Bear got his coats from) and deal with the strange looks but now I don't have to. I was checking my emails and I opened one from Topshop, containing this beauty.

It's everything I look for in a coat - double breasted WITH pockets, long sleeves (none of this 3/4 nonsense that to deal with), big collar, and the perfect length to wear with dresses and trousers. The only downside I can see is that it is from Topshop, which means a lot of people may get it, and as I like my clothes to look as unique/different as possible, I may still go to the men's departments. My mother just reminded me about vintage and charity shops so I may try there as well. 

Flo x

Image via: (the new-but-not-improved) www.topshop.com 

Festival Fashion

The festival season is well under way, so I'm a little late in doing this post. 

I didn't have my camera while I was at Lounge On The Farm (I didn't want it to get stolen), so I couldn't take the outfit pictures I wanted to, and so I had to make do with my (new) iPhone instead.

The weekend was hot and sunny, so the main accessory was sunglasses: 

I'm wearing Lora's sunglasses, that she bought from a stall at the festival, and my Union Jack top is from Topshop. Lora is wearing my sunglasses from Topshop. 

Ashley (above) and Ani (below) in Ray Bans. 

A lot of people (myself included) wore band t shirts - mine used to belong to my brother, but it shrunk in the wash. I wore my River Island shorts all week - they have become one of the best buys I have ever made. Hannah's cardigan and slip are both from Zara.

Georgie (above) and Paris (below) also embraced the band-tee-and-sunglasses combo.

Nice hat.

I always find Topshop's t-shirts rather lacking - they can never make them simple - the one I'm wearing here comes from Topman (size XS). I'm wearing my River Island shorts and you can just see the top of my socks. I wore these boots from Office all weekend, with a pair of thick socks - they kept my feet relatively dust and dirt free.

 

On the last day, it was a little cooler, so I wore my ASOS top with the shorts, a watch that used to belong to my grandmother, and my trusty vintage bag. Lora is wearing a Jack Wills jumper and Topshop jeans. Oh, and a mask that we stole from someone's tent (sorry about that, whoever you are). 

Flo x

Best Ad Ever?

Putting Karen Elson (my all-time favourite model), Natalia Vodianova and Christy Turlington in the new Louis Vuitton campaign was a brilliant idea. Whoever came up with it is a genius idea. I wanted the entire collection before, but now I really really want it and I am really going to be keeping my eye out for reasonably priced versions (may be not of the ball gown). Ah, the power of advertising.

Flo x

Recent purchases

To get through the pain that is A Level revision, I went shopping. Quite a bit. Here are some of my best purchases:

This cotton dress from Topshop is really light and floaty. I'm definitely wearing it on holiday this year.

I went a bit crazy in Zara, getting shorts and trousers - the khakis below and an identical pair in navy blue.

The khakis are so cool and comfortable - they're a really light material. Khakis are really having a moment - both The Sartorialist and Disney Roller Girl have been talking about them. I wear mine with brogues or pumps are a sheer white shirt. 

I got these sandals from Office. I love the bright colour and that when I walk, the beads made a really satisfying noise as they move when I walk. I also got these wedges from Office, to wear with shorts or one of my many floral dresses:

I'm nearly done with my exams now - only 8 days until my summer officially starts! 

Flo x

My latest obsession

Well I officially moved into the library on Monday, and the only thing getting me through the revision is the reward I can buy myself on Friday. 

The reward is this gorgeous skirt from Topshop by Meadham Kirchhoff:

I must get back to my new best friend Heathcliff now.

Flo x

Image via: Topshop.com

The mystery of the Topshop lookbook

This is the main photo from the Topshop "Summer Fete" look book. It's a great look. I really want her skirt. Or is it a dress? You can't tell and Topshop doesn't tell you. It could be two identical skirts layered up. If anyone knows the secret of this look tell me, because I really want that skirt/dress.

Flo x  

Prom dresses

My END OF SCHOOL FOREVER ball is coming up, and I have to make* a dress (I'm not buying, I don't want to take the risk of turning up in the same dress as someone else). I decided on a 50s style dress, to be made with a Butterick pattern. It will be pale pink with a layer of black lace over the top, based on a dress I found in a vintage shop in Covent Garden. The dress Anne Hathaway wore to the Met Gala has an identical bodice, but a much longer skirt.

But then I was messing around on the computer, googling dresses for inspiration and I saw THIS DRESS. 

Emma Watson in Ossie Clark at the most recent Harry Potter premiere. I had totally forgotten about how gorgeous is. All my plans for my prom dress went out the window. THEN I saw the price. And my little ball gown plans were back on. BUT I am going to a wedding soon (holiday pending), so I might make* one.

Flo x

 *By "make", I mean, enlist Mama E's help. 

Images via: Google images

Gloria has returned....

Gloria (my camera) is completely over her diva moment and is ready for action.
When I went to London with Grace for the American Apparel rummage sale epic fail, I got two excellent vintage bags, for £16 each, from Absolute Vintage. I don't normally like vintage things (I'm not opposed to the idea, but I like vintage things to be in excellent condition and not to smell weird).

I got really excited when I saw this bag - it was sitting on a shelf next to a Chanel and I could see it's tag said "£18" and I thought, just for a second it was Chanel too. But no, it's just a cute little quilted bag, that is surprisingly roomy. It can handle the pressure of my purse, lip balm, phone, iPod, sunglasses and notebook without breaking a sweat.  

It's a better shape than most of the clutch bags available on the high street at the moment and it's real leather, so I think it's going to last for quite a while. 

The other bag was I bought twas the snake/croc skin bag (on the left). It's really stiff and sturdy so I can bash it about a bit without worrying about it breaking (i.e when I run for the bus, because even though I've passed my test I still have to catch the bus). I haven't used it much yet, but I think it will become my new school bag. 

The bag on the right is a bag I bought this time last year from Topshop, and is affectionately known as the Lovely Lucky Bag. I can see in all seriousness that it saved my life. I don't use it much, because the strap is a weird length, but it will always have a special place in my heart.

Flo x

P.S. See the scarf hanging multi-coloured scarf hanging behind the vintage back? I knitted that myself. 

Sunglasses in the dark....what a diva

I love Beyonce. There I said it. And I didn't think I could love her anymore after she pointed at me when I went to see her (she did point at me! We made eye contact! There was a moment!). And then she went out wearing the embellished tweed Chanel jacket (with denim shorts!!) that I have a picture of somewhere on my aspirational wall. I know it's shallow that my love for her grows with what she is wearing and blah blah blah. But I don't care. Because she is a goddess. 

I'm off to practice the Single Ladies dance now.

Flo x

Image via: Google images

Kudos to Keira

I'm not really Keira Knightley's biggest fan, well, not since she ruined Pride & Prejudice with her pouting. 

But then she wore Erdem to the Laurence Olivier Awards earlier this week. 

I did a blog post about this collection a few weeks ago (I would do a link to it but I don't know how).

Suddenly, I like Keira a whole lot more. 

I love the print, and the way the colours on it work together. 

Here it is on the catwalk:

Flo x

UPDATE: I worked out how to do links. Here is the one for my Erdem post. I don't think I even posted a picture of Keira's dress but, meh, I can do links now. 

Keira images via: redcarpet-fashionawards.com

Catwalk image via: vogue.co.uk

Printed trousers: LOVE

I don't wear trousers (unless they're slim black Audrey Hepburn style ones) and I rarely wear jeans. 

However, I am very intrigued by printed/patterned trousers. They've got all the excitement of a printed dress or skirt, but easier to wear. I tend to stick to wearing darker colours so these brighter trousers seem like a risk, but one I'm willing to take. 

ASOS has got some really good ones at the moment: 

These ones are my favourite. They're silk and they're lovely and I have big love for the print.

If I had lots of money, I would buy these rather more expensive trousers:

Chloe

Sass & Bide

Temperley 

The Chloe ones are my favourite. They're a great shape. I love the way the pattern looks like leopard print but the shapes are ever so slightly different, which would look really interesting when they're being worn. 

Flo x

First three photos via: asos.com

Last three photos via: net-a-porter.com