Vintage

Kate Moss is a massive icon in terms of vintage fashion, ever since she began wearing it in the 90's the craze really caught on and has never gone away.

Personally I am a lover of vintage fashion. I don't have a preference of era the item has came from, instead it's more about owning a piece of clothing or an accessory that has a history. I really like it when the sales assistant can tell you a little bit about the item as it helps to create a story. There isn't many places to shop for vintage clothing in Aberdeen, but one of my favourites is 'The Closet'.

One of the main reasons for my passion for vintage fashion is that the pieces are a one off, therefore you know that nobody else will have them. I like to mix vintage pieces with high street to create a unique look.

In the past I have bought vintage items and altered them such as adjusting the size, length etc. which I feel adds a personal touch.

When it comes to throwing out clothes I can be brutal, but in some cases when the item is a bit of a classic that I can visualise making a reappearance years down the line I like to store it away in the hope that I will have my very own vintage clothing.

Nikki xxx

Travelling Trend

Inspired by travellers Bavaria is a new trend that is here for the winter. Thankfully layering up is a massive part of this, which is just what we need at this time of year!

This look almost makes me picture the scene of a Narnia-esque fantasy winter wonderland, as it is features lots of faux fur and pretty floral embroidery. It's all about paying attention to details as all of the clothing have intricate designs.

Anything goes when it comes to Bavaria, the nature of it is a care free attitude towards dressing. Co-ordination is definitly not something to worry about as you will see lots of colour clashing, yet somehow it works.

True to the typical traveller, piling on as much different textures and fabrics such as fringes, tassles, velvet and faux fur is key to nailing this trend.

Nikki xxx

Mod Squad

Scooters, Crombie Coats, Brothel Creepers and girls dressing like boys… Does this conjure up an image in your mind of the 60’s mod? Not only is this style acceptable for fashion icon Twiggy, this trend has made its way back with a rebellious shake-up and a modern feminine twist!

The key item that is a must have to take on this trend is a polo neck, which can be worn under pencil skirts or mini dresses. I think that the best way to achieve this look is if you are dressing feminine on top, such as wearing a skirt or dress then opt for a more masculine look on the bottom with a pair of clumpy shoes.

The modern take on this trend is to mix up the outfit with different fabrics and textures such as sequins and leather look. The high street offers a variation of monochrome striped jumpers and tops, knee high boots and block heels as a take on this trend.

Wearing masses of mascara and piling on striking bright vibrant colour is important in order to achieve the new mod trend, the bolder the better!

Nikki xxx

Perfect Pieces

When it comes to shopping I can never resist the temptation to splash out on accessories. In my opinion it is the best way to change the image of any outfit without spending an absolute fortune and due to the fact that there is so much choice in terms of accessorising. It covers anything from jewellery to bags to scarves.

When I’m having a lazy day and can’t be bothered choosing something to wear, I feel that by adding a couple of accessories can totally transform a casual boring look.

At the moment the shops are full of different statement pieces of costume jewellery, which I love! It’s all about paying attention to details. My favourites are all of the chunky rings, embellished cuffs, layers of necklaces and lots of bangles. I have noticed that lots of the jewellery accessories on the high street tends to be sharp, spikey and quite heavy looking.

I really like the choker style collar necklaces, as I feel that they are quite bold so are great for making an impact.

When it comes to cosies I really like all of the faux fur, especially earmuffs and capes. They are definitely going to be top of the list for my next investment.

Nikki xxx

Dressier Jeans

At the moment I am loving the metallic jeans in the high street, they will definitely be on my Christmas list! Much like the sequins and sparkles, they get me into the festive spirit. I think that these jeans regardless whether they are gold or silver match with pretty much anything. I could see them definitely outlasting the Christmas season and filtering through to our wardrobes next season too.

Even though I usually prefer to get dressed up and wouldn’t normally opt for jeans when going out. I think that these are great to wear for nights out when it’s getting colder, as I feel that they aren’t too casual.

I would wear these jeans to either glam up a casual day time look with a baggy oversized jumped, chunky knitwear and boots or stick on a pair of heels, fitted top, lots of accessories and of course dark smokey make up to achieve a dressier evening look.

Nikki xxx

Unleash Your Inner Animal!

Animal prints are my all time favourites. I love the fact that like sequins you can pretty much predict that they will make a come back every winter without fail. Therfore I feel that spending that little bit extra on an animal print item such as a coat or bag is one of the best investments.

Animal prints are not only for the adventurous fashionista, I think that they are really versatile as they suit all different types of people and can even look quite classy if worn properly this means sticking to one print at a time.

Although we are used to seeing prints like leopard, zebra and snakeskin year in year out the latest print on the high street is the dalmatian print. This was spotted in a lot of Marc Jacobs and Burberry's winter collections. The use of monochrome in this print makes it really easy to wear as it matches with literally anything. I think that this is a print that will be here to stay. 

Nikki xxx

Glitter, Gloss and Glam

Like a magpie I’m drawn to anything that glistens and shines. So right now I’m in my element as the shops are full of sequins and sparkles in the run up to the festive period.

This is the time of year when I feel like I can overdose on clothes and accessories embellished with gems and glitter, without feeling like I’ve stepped out of a dressing up box. At the moment I especially love the shirts with the diamante collars, as they are perfect for a casual day look with a pair of jeans and flats. They are equally as great for a dressy occasion, which can be achieved easily by just adding a pair of sky scraper heels and lots of accessories.

One of the key items on the high street are sequined dresses, I feel that these are timeless as you can predict that they will make an appearance every winter.

I actually have this dress, I find it really versatile to wear as it matches with pretty much anything.

Nikki xxx

Shopping and Socialising

In my opinion the perfect combination… A night catching up with the girls, while doing a spot of shopping. At the weekend one of my friends decided to hold a shoe party, which is something that I have never heard of before. I’ve been to plenty of make up and jewellery parties but the idea of having a shoe party is something totally new to me. 

The company that hosts these parties is called Charlie Bow Shoes, the range of shoes provide a great variety to cater for all different styles but the main attraction is their heels. The shoes are all really unique and quirky so it’s always good to be able to buy something a little bit different that isn’t available on the high street.   

My intentions before I went to the shoe party was to kill two birds with one stone and attempt to do some Christmas shopping… However that idea went out the window and I ended up doing a bit of selfish shopping instead. The temptation of all of the lovely shoes after a couple of glasses of wine is far to much to handle! 

I will keep you posted on my shoes once they Arrive.


Nikki xxx

Girl Meets Boy

Look who’s wearing the trousers now… this season fashion has caused a stir in terms of gender!

It’s all about the feminine/masculine combination, the main theme being androgyny. Monochrome, pinstripes and tailored trousers (mainly ankle grazing) are really popular for women; they tend to be worn with shirts and oversized jackets, coats and blazers. This look can be accessorized with pieces such as bowties, silk ties, bowler hats and brogues.

Many designers have featured this trend in their recent catwalk collections such as Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabanna, Vivienne Westwood, Chanel and Celine. This has been a huge success and has filtered through to the high street. 

Although this trend has a strong masculine element the key to getting it right is to add a girly twist such as sparkles, playful feminine prints and block colour accessories.

 Nikki xxx

Fetish, Outside the Bedroom...

One of the key trends at the moment that has stole my attention is the ‘Fetish Look’ mainly because it is so outrageous, so daring and usually expected only in the bedroom. However I think that if it is worn properly then it can be expressed in a classy, tasteful way. 

This look is one that springs up in magazines every so often, although thanks to Marc Jacobs’s recent catwalk collection it appears that the fetish trend is here to stay for winter. Ever since the show celebs have been snapped sporting the trend. Lady Gaga is an obvious fan on the fetish look, which she does to the extreme. However other celebs have been creating this look in a more subtle manner. Angelina Jolie was recently spotted wearing a gold clutch by Louis Vuitton where the handle appeared to be a handcuff, which was a less obvious take on the trend. 

Vivienne Westwood first introduced the fetish look when she opened up a store called ‘Sex’ on Kings Road, which was seen as being very controversial. Although nobody would even bat their eyelids at it now. So as you can imagine to her delight she is embracing this current trend which is right up her street by using this in her shoe collection.

High street retailers have adopted this latest look, which you will be able to find in shops such as All saints and Topshop. Expect to see lots of lace, cut out dresses, leather, studs, black, PVC, wet look leggings and fetish lace up heels. Which can be worn to the extreme for a sexy sleek night time look or can be tamed down by just adding a wide leather belt or patent accessories for an everyday casual take on the trend.

 

 Nikki xxx

Recycling Summer Clothes

The transition from Spring/Summer to Autumn/Winter usually means that you feel the pressure to splash out on a whole new wardrobe in order to keep on top of the latest trends. There are many ways that you make the most out of your summer clothes by mixing and matching with new pieces in order to accommodate to the change in season, meanwhile creating a fresh new image. It also means that you won’t break the bank in doing so.

Pieces such as the maxi dresses and skirts that were massive in summertime can be brought forward into the new season. Instead of wearing maxis with sandals and sunglasses for a laid back summer’s day you can reinvent the look by teaming it up with chunky knits or blazers. This can either be worn with boots for a casual daytime outfit or worn with heels for a glam evening look.

The key to wearing summer pieces during winter is to add lots of layers. Shorts, whether it was city shorts, tailored shorts, denim shorts or leather shorts etc. were a major part of your staple summer wardrobe. This season you can take the opportunity to recycle your summer shorts by wearing them over chunky tights or socks with either brogues or boots in order to make your look more winter friendly. By adding layers such as long sleeved tops, blouses, cardigans and scarves also makes wearing shorts adaptable to winter.

Faux Fur

Faux fur wraps are huge for the coming season and can be worn with pretty much anything such as casual clothing and evening wear which is a great way to change or dress up any outfit.  You will find that most of the cardigans and coats on the high street come with faux fur collars attached to them. Faux fur wraps create a vintage feel, as they are timeless and have been in fashion for many decades.

 Nikki xxx