Capsule Wardrobe 101: 3 Week Beach Holiday

So, in approximately 6 days time (not that I am counting or anything!) I am off to sunny Barbados for 3 weeks! Considering the minus temperatures that London has been experiencing this week, I can't deny that the warmer climate (generally 28º - 32ºc!) is very inviting right now. But, as with any trip, the dilemma of what to pack had me stumped, particularly because after several short trips this year, 3 weeks seems like a life time! However, after spending hours trolling through probably every packing guide/blog post available online as well as capsule wardrobe advice, I came up with the following list...

2 shirts - 1 denim and one black. These can either be warn as they are or over tops/t-shirts like a jacket
4 t-shirts - each in different colours
2 vest tops - including a black one (always essential!)
2 blouses/ dressy tops - these should be able to be worn casually too
2 casual shorts - if your not a shorts person, you can add an extra pair of jeans or skirt
1 maxi dress - as I am tall, maxi dresses tend to be really heavy but if your not then add more!
1 normal dress - this should be able to be worn casual and dressy
1 jumpsuit/playsuit - strapless ones are great for the beach
1 beach dress/cover up - another item that should be versatile
1 maxi skirt - I'm going for a black one but any colour is good really
2 mini skirts - maybe in different styles, I picked a high-low skirt to change it up
1 pair of trousers/jeans/jeggings/chinos - preferably in a neutral colour
1 cardigan - not black as the black shirt serves this purpose
2 bikinis/swimsuits - I'm not really one for bringing lots of bikinis, I just want one to wear when the other is wet!
1 pair of flip flops - for obvious reasons
1 pair of wedges - comfortable and dressy (but also casual :-) )
1 pair of flat sandals - for those days when flip flops won't do
1 pair of trainers/closed-toe shoes - for those rainy days or days when considerable walking is required
1 beach bag - can be doubled up as your travel bag (which is what I am doing)
1 clutch bag - nights out, dinner etc.
1 sun hat - sun and hair...
2 sunglasses - 2 different styles maybe on more fancy?
Tons of accessories - a mixture of gold and silver, versatile things that can be dressed up or down

Minus the accessories and swimwear, below is the above materialised! It should cover activities such as beach time, shopping, lunches/dinners, bars etc. Most of the items I actually own and will be packing...

Do you think this will be enough for 3 weeks? Any capsule wardrobe tips? Let me know!!!

Ciao for now ;-) HMLDN xx

Website of the Week: DailyDressMe.com

Happy Monday everyone! Below is something that will help ensure that you week gets off to a fab start!

So I was browsing the internet, as you do, and I came across a fab website that will surely be of use to us all! Daily Dress Me literally "tells you what to wear based on the weather."With straight-forward pictures of outfit ideas for each day based on the temperature and weather conditions, this is the essential tool for beginning to plan your outfits! You can pick your location and whether you want temperatures in celsius or fahrenheit, making it super accessible.

I will definitely be using this website as a starting point when deciding what to wear for the day. Obviously, they are merely suggestions and don't have to be stuck to, but on days when your creative fashion juices have dried up, why not use Daily Dress Me as a stimulus and model your own outfit of their suggestion?

OMG! This is website of my dreams! 
Screenshot from DailyDressMe.com

Have you tried Daily Dress Me before? Will you be using it now? Let me know!!!

Ciao for now ;-) HMLDN xx

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Who wears short shorts?!...

Apologies that it's been a few days since my last post but I am back with a fabulous selection of items for you to view! With the winter coming in, today I wanted to highlight one of my favourite items of clothing - shorts! - which can be brought from your summer wardrobe into your winter one with a few adjustments.

Now, there are several reasons why I truly believe that shorts are one of the best and most versatile items of clothing a person can own. Here are just a few:
1. They can be easily dressed up with a sexy pair of heels or down with a pair of trainers
2. They are suitable for any weather! Tan building with bare legs in the summer or with a cute pair of tights in keep your pins toasty in the winter, shorts really do easily cross all weathers.
3. They come in so many styles and shapes there is a pair of shorts out there for any lady regardless of their height, weight, shape etc.

Since 3 is my lucky number I will stop there (!) but there are so many other reasons that a great pair of versatile shorts should definitely make it into your wardrobe essentials. See below for my 4 top picks for this season.

Bank - £28

These denim studded shorts are so cute and will look as great with  a tank top in warmer weather as they will with a wooly jumper and some boots in the winter.

Forever 21 - £12.75

I have these very shorts and they are just perfect! Dressing these shorts up is a dream, a pair of heels and a sexy blouse and you are good to go! If your in the mood for a bit of a cute day time look, team with a screen tee and some converse or vans trainers for super cool casual.

New Look - £17.99

These hot pants are ultra glam and perfect for the upcoming Christmas party period. They are so effortlessly glam that simplicity is really the way to go with clothing and accessories. Its all about the shorts with these one!

H&M - £7.99

Another pair of shorts currently in my wardrobe (but in black), I love the burgundy/oxblood colour of these classy high-waisted shorts. Although they may not look it, they are actually made from quite a stretchy material making them extra comfy for any occasion from work to dinner. The belt add a really cute touch too! 

(See fatandfancy for a great post with some amazing H&M discount codes!)

What do you think of the selection of shorts? Are you a lover of shorts??? Let me know!!!

Ciao for now ;-) HMLDN xx

'Frankenstorm': The Attack of Hurricane Sandy

It's a well know fact that us British love to moan about the weather. It could be the most beautiful summer's day with 28°C and a warm breeze and you can guarantee that somewhere out there a British person is pursing their lips and complaining that it is to hot!!!

But let's spare a thought for those American's who, far from complaining, embrace their often freak weather and who are approaching this Halloween with the threat of the ultimate 'Frankenstorm'. In particular, the dedicated weather reporters who brave the wind and rain to bring everyone the latest weather updates definitely deserve some serious kudos right now. Check out Styleite's homage to their practical meteorological fashion in their feature 10 Most Extreme Outfits Worn By Weather Reporters.

For those of you braving the storm The Week have published a really helpful fact sheet of 7 tips to stay safe which is a definite must to read. For those of us who fortunately out of harms way, this just put into perspective how frankly pleasant (in comparison) our current weather is and I'll definitely be thinking twice next time I have a weather-related rant (though to be fair it is inevitable that I cannot avoid them all together!).

Lets hope that the majority of people manage to keep safe and that it doesn't do too much damage. Below is the Weather Channel's live feed for the storm.

 Do you know anyone who might be affected? Let's all send our prayers and best wishes...

Ciao for now ;-) HMLDN xx

A Rainy Day in London...Hats Galore

So today was a typically dismal day in London. Grey skies and rain all day with a temperature that didn't go much above 15°C/59°F (if it reached that at all...). I was driving today so didn't have to worry to much about keeping dry but in the spirit of the weather I wore a hat for good measure :-). So for all out there who are facing the similar hair-raising dilemma of keeping your hair dry while still looking good, here are some cool (and rather affordable) hats currently on the market!

H&M - £7.99

ASOS - £7.00

Zara - £17.99
(A bit more expensive than the others, but sooooo cute!)
UPDATE: see here for H&M cheaper alternative!

H&M - £3.99
This is my current staple hat! It's currently sold out in black online but can be found instore all year round.

New Look - £9.99

Ciao for now ;-) HMLDN xx

Maxi Dress For All Weathers...

Time for the first "for all weathers" post! To begin with, what I'll mainly be offering are styling ideas but eventually these post will be fully made up of affordable, currently in-store items available to buy. I am currently obsessed with all things maxi (along with all things midi) and have therefore been trying to work out how I can intergrate my maxi's into my fast approaching winter wardrobe.

Maximum Maxidress... by hmldn

What do you think? Any ideas or suggestions? Let me know. 

Ciao for now ;-) HMLDN xx

Welcome to The Fashion Meteorologist!

Hello, my name is HMLDN and I am The Fashion Meteorologist... 

In a industry that is so seasonally-structured (autumn/winter vs spring/summer) it can be difficult adapting the practicalities of life to these categories. Many of us live in places where the weather often doesn’t fit the season (yesterday was pouring with rain in London and today's its positively lovely!) and struggle to dress appropriately from day to day, let alone season to season!

This is where The Fashion Meteorologist can help! By keeping up to date with current weather conditions as well as the climate on the catwalks (and highstreet, as a struggling ex-student!) I will attempt to make your day a little less stressful when it comes to dressing for the weather. We’ve all had those days when we’ve looked out of the window onto a brilliantly sunny day, got the summer wardrobe out of its dusty corner (I live in London after all!) and stepped outside into 4 degrees of bitter winds. Judging the weather from a window can be deceiving! But with the right forecasts and preparations, it is possible to beat the system and not get caught out by the uncontrollable forces of nature that we like to call, the weather…

Now, I am by no means what you would call a fashionista, HOWEVER,  I love to express my individuality through my clothes and accessories (particularly handbags and shoes!). There are a hundred ways to wear an item of clothing and another hundred ways to make it work for almost any weather. So I will try (and I mean try as I am new to this) to team fashion and meteorology (a.k.a. weather forecasting) together in a loving, stress-free relationship…

Ciao for now ;-) HMLDN xx