Think lace, sequins, feathers and metallic fabrics for Zara’s Christmas collection for Women. The party collection features fitted pieces and simple lines in sumptuous fabrics with festive embroidered touches and is landing in Zara in the next few weeks!
If your wardrobe turns from bright to dull the minute the seasons change what you need in your life is a pair of gold trousers. We’ve missed metallic colours for the last few seasons so it was nice to see a bit of metal back on the catwalks particularly in the form of gold trousers. The inspiration is Balmain for Autumn/Winter 2010 but we’re loving Reiss’s 80s inspired gold skinnies and River Island’s subtler take on the trend in the form of dark gold jeans.
Balmain £3000, Reiss £140, Rver Island £45
Pair with leather boots and jacket for a daytime rocker look or for full on evening 80s glam add fur, leather and feathers plus chunky gold jewellery.
Boots: Zara £79.99, Top: Topshop £26.00, Leather jacket: Topshop £180, Bracelet: Mango £27.90
Boots: £99.99 Zara, Top: Wallis £100, Bracelet: Michael Kors £65, Clutch: Biba at House of Fraser £145
It would be a bit of an understatement to say the Middletons are getting rather a lot of attention at the moment. From how they got their summer glow to the secret of Kate Middleton’s bouncy hair to the exercises Pippa Middleton does to get her posterior so pert, everywhere you look Middleton mania is rife.
But since Pippa’s star turn as maid of honour at the wedding of the year the sister dubbed ’Her Royal Hotness’ has also become a bit of a style icon. While some query her fashionista status we have to profess that we think both the Middletons with their simple, understated and elegant but accessible sartorial choices are a breath of fresh air.
They have their favourite designers – both are very fond of Issa dresses - but rarely will you see the ladies kitted out in head-to-toe designer gear, with both Kate and Pippa prefering to fly the flag for the high street.
The day after the wedding, Pippa wore a blue blazer from Zara (pictured left) which sold out in days and it’s Zara, French Connection and Reiss that feature again and again in the Middleton wardrobes.
Unlike plenty of others in the public eye, Pippa Middleton tends to wear the things she likes more than once. By day she’s rarely seen without her Modalu bag, a bag which the brand have now renamed the ‘Pippa’ while the gorgeous sparkly Jimmy Choo clutch she wore with her green dress for the Royal Wedding reception also made an appearance during a recent night out to the Kensignton Roof Gardens.
We’ve picked out two of Pippa’s daytime and evening looks featuring the items she bought so you too can steal her style.
Pippa pairs her French Connection Talia’s tail dress (£57 and still available in store!) with her £149 Modalu bag and a pair of mid height court wedges. The Maddox shoe in dusk pink is from LK Bennett (£165).
For the evening, Pippa Middleton was recently spotted in this pink silk ruffled dress (£110, French Connection at House of Fraser) and a classic black blazer - we love this one from Reiss (£179) - and the famous Zeta clutch by Jimmy Choo (£265).
What do you think? Is she a style icon in your book or not?
A bright coloured satchel is this summer’s hottest accessory. The ‘Stella’ from Pied a Terre at House of Fraser in canary yellow and the Zara ‘Mummy and Me’ bag are two of my favourites. The ‘Stella’ comes in at £115 while the ’Mummy and Me’ – so called because there’s a baby version (I know, altogether now: ‘Aaaaaw!’) – comes in £49.99.
The ’Stella’ has proven such a hit that every unit produced was snapped up within 72 hours when it went on sale at the beginning of April. But, before you think I’m telling you about a bag that’s not available in stores anymore just to be annoying, think again. The bag will be back on sale tomorrow morning at House of Fraser but with only 500 available nationwide, be quick or it’ll be gone for good!
Shorts are one of this summer’s biggest trends. There’s a wide range of styles ranging from short, short little hotpants to high-waisters or knee length smart city shorts. So prepare your pins and show them off!
Our Personal Stylist, Anna Moore’s shorts style of choice for this season is the denim high waister. The best pair in her opinion are these Basque indigo jean shorts from Topshop, £28.
Looking for a more conventional cut-off denim short? Try these boyfriend shorts from Uniqlo (£14.99) or sexy Siluetas from Zara (£24).
This season’s trend for embellishment and detailing is not just for the upper body. Shorts don’t have to plain. Look out for fringing, texture and additional details like studs. Here are a couple of our favourite finds:
Left to right: white lace hotpants, £24.99 and tan suede fringed hotpants, £29.99 both River Island.
If you’re after something a little smarter, go for a longer length, tailored pair. Team with a shirt and heels for a super chic summer look. We love these pretty pink shorts from Warehouse, £40.
When we first saw Miu Miu’s Spring Summer 2010 collection of ditzy prints, we fell for them instantly. Which to choose – cats or birds? The cute designs are just so gorgeous.
Available on dresses, trousers, shirts, wallets, clutchbags and even clogs, prices start from £295 for the wallet to £1295 for the dress.
So we couldn’t fail to sit up and take notice when Zara’s summer collection caught our eye. This gorgeous cat print dress is so Miu Miu-esque but an absolute steal at £19.99.
Get your paws on the Zara dress in store now.
Zara cat print dress
