What to Wear for your Body Shape: Guest Post - Allie May Redmond from Triactol

Apologies! It has been a very, very long time since I've dropped a post on your guys! Life has been completely crazy lately and sadly it probably not going to change much in the near future. But to make up for my recent lameness, I have a fab guest post for you from blogger Allie May Redmond. Allie is a fashion and beauty blogger who writes for Triactol and is Boyish! Enjoy...

What to Wear for Your Shape

This is a great infographic from Triactol.com which deciphers all of the tricky decisions that us girls have to make about what clothes to wear. The old “does my bum look big in this?” is so far away from the factors that influence what we should wear.

Ladies, first of all think about what you feel comfortable in, if you don’t feel like yourself in any of the garments that are suggested for your shape then don’t worry! If you’re stuck in a clothes rut and don’t know how to make the best of your assets then this is the perfect guide for you.

Let this easy flowchart tell you what style of clothes you should be wearing in order to flatter your favourite bits and hide the bits that you don’t like as much. All you have to do is answer some quick questions about measurements and the clothes sizes that you are currently wearing and then find out what shape you are. The rest is done for you!

This chart can tell you what neckline is the best for flattering your chest, what length your skirt should be in order to show off those great legs and what dress style you should be wearing to make you look and feel great!

Are you an apple, a pear, curvy, full-busted or boyish? Whatever your shape and size there is the perfect style for you.

Infographic from Triactol.com

For further info on the infographic and more, check out www.triactol.com

I'll definitely be checking Triactol! What do you think of the infographic? Let me know!!!

Ciao for now ;-) HMLDN xx

From Catwalk to High Street: Alexander Wang Fall 2013

     

Images from Style.com

One thing about fashion that I always find confusing is how to connect fashion seasons to weather seasons. As lovely as it would be to wear some of the fab items that graced the catwalks of spring/summer 2013 catwalks last year (many of which are beginning to trickle into the shops), right now it’s just not practical! Of course you can layer up and adapt the outfits to the current climate but why do that when you can just pick a fashion season, which matches the weather?

Yesterday, designer-of-the-moment Alexander Wang revealed his ready to wear Fall 2013 line in New York. His designs were full of lush furs (loving the mittens!), comfy wools, zip-embellished leather and oversized outerwear - all things totally weather appropriate for now. I literally could imagine wearing his collection everywhere; it was so practical and yet so chic! So, inspired by Mr Wang’s fabulous set, I’ve put together a wearable high-street interpretation for you! Enjoy!

Fashion Union
£25

H&M
£14.99

New Look
£4.99

Asda
£18

Monki
£12

ASOS
£7

What do you thing of Alexander Wang's collection? Do you think you could you wear it now? Let me know!!!

Ciao for now ;-) HMLDN xx

My New Year's Style Resolution - Bold Accessories

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I hope you had a fab time celebrating the end of 2012 and the start of 2013! I am soooo excited about the New Year; graduation is in a couple of weeks, I start my new internship shortly and I've got a few christening and a wedding to look forward later in the year. Although there are lots of exciting things to look forward to, my favourite part of entering a New Year has still got to be New Year Resolutions. As someone who is obsessed with self-reflection and self-assessment, the New Year is the perfect time to self-assess and reflect, work on what you could have done better and continue to do things which were successful.

This kind of self-assessment can totally be applied to your wardrobe too and there is no better time than the start of a New Year with a wardrobe re-assessment and clear out! What worked for you last year? What didn't look so good or didn't suit you? Do you have a look you would like to try out? All these questions (and many more) can really help to mould your personal style while keeping the emphasis on you and not only on trends. It can definitely be difficult to avoid jumping on every trend that comes out regardless of whether or not they are suited to your look, personality, body shape etc...There are always ways to adapt trends to your personal style and a good wardrobe self-assessment can definitely put you in the right mind set to be able to do this. 

Although I won't be able to do a full wardrobe assessment until I get home, I have set myself one cost-effective and much needed New Year's style resolution for 2013: Focus on accessories. In particularly jewellery (minus earrings, of which I already have too many!) which can totally change the mood and styling of an outfit in a minute. I am seriously lacking in necklaces and bracelets, especially coloured ones (I have loads of gold and silver) and will focus my attention on building up a more versatile collection. Any trends that I feel particularly enthusiastic about, I will try to integrate them into my wardrobe through accessories and hopefully save myself much needed money and wardrobe space!

Here are a few things I have my eye on...

What are your New Year's style resolutions? Let me know!!!

Ciao for now ;-) HMLDN xx

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

All Weathers Item of the Week - Fashion Union Turtle Neck Jersey Maxi Dress

After hearing practically everywhere about the Fashion Union £5 party dresses, I thought I would take a look on their website and see what else they had to offer. In all honesty, I had never heard of Fashion Union so didn't really know what to expect. But to my pleasant surprise there are lots of fab, inexpensive goodies on their website in addition to their £5 dresses. Exhibit 1: Turtle Neck Maxi Dress.

£10 - Fashion Union

Firstly, despite the name of this dress, it is more a midi dress than a maxi dress. The pictures on their website show the dressing coming to about mid shin, though if you are tall (like me!) then it comfortably covers the knees. It comes in a variety of colours (red, navy, grey, purple and of course teal!) and the best part is that its only a tenner! And if you use the code 15NOV12 at the checkout you get 15% off and free delivery!!!!! A total bargain right? The really soft, stretchy jersey material makes it comfortable to wear adding to its versatility. Perfect winter wear with a long sleeve underneath, tights and boots but it works just as perfectly for warmer weather when teamed with sandals! See below for 3 different casual ways to wear, all items are currently available online!

H&M
£19.99

River Island
£25

Topshop
£45

Dorothy Perkins
£49

Next
£22

New Look
£2.99

River Island
£3

ASOS £5

River Island
£12

Forever 21
£7.40

New Look
£14.99

How would you wear this dress? Do you like it? Let me know!!!

Ciao for now ;-) HMLDN xx

Soaked and windswept - How NOT to prepare for freak weather

Today was another one of those days where I have failed to follow my own fashion weather advice and have heavily paid the price! But let this be a lesson to myself for ignoring rule no.1 of dressing for the weather: Always check the weather forecast before going out.

In all fairness, since finishing studying I barely venture out unless it is truly necessary. So today's venture, which I underestimated as being quite straight-forward, was somewhat of an aversion to the recent enjoyment of watching bad weather from the comfort of my room which I have been getting used to of late. Let me tell you, getting soaked by heavy showers TWICE before getting lost when your phone decides it doesn't want to give you any internet signal (i.e. no google maps) and battling high winds with your umbrella in one hand, soggy (non-responsive) smart phone in the other is just not cool!  20 minutes late and looking like you've been hit by a giant wave, I've have definitely learned my lesson and WILL NOT be leaving the house in future clueless to the impending the weather conditions.

Let this be warning to you all of the fashion dangers of not preparing for the weather! Here's what not to wear on a day like this...

Everything but the coat, cardigan, scarf and earrings are exactly what I had on today. They are all pretty old stuff (so no longer available online) but here are the retailers (and links where available) of where I got my stuff from anyway:

Scarf: DKNY                Earrings: Primark              Bag: Accessorize, 

Collar: New Look       Top: New Look                 Cardigan: Primark

Skirt: H&M                  Tights: Primark                 Coat: New Look 

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

How did you fair in the weather today? Did it rain where you are? 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

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'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

Skyfall...007 High Street Style

I have to admit, I am soooooo excited about the pending release of the new James Bond film Skyfall! Bond, Bond girls, glitz, glamour, danger and action, what's not to love! To celebrate tonight's UK premiere and in homage to the two latest additions to the long, historical list of Bond girls - Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe - I've put together a highstreet-friendly translation of two at a recent photo call in New York.

Naomi goes with a sexy, sophisticated LBD, perfect for practically any event in any climate. Whereas Berenice shows us how HOT a coat and boot look can be, giving us all hope as winter creeps in!

Dorothy Perkins
£36

Topshop
£89

Dorothy Perkins
£49.50

New Look
£24.99

ASOS
£25

Amazon
£7.10

Which look do you prefer? Let me know!!!

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

A Chilly Day in London...What I Wore Today

So the weather in London has been very unstable lately, which obviously causes problems when deciding what to wear. My tactic to deal with this has been layering up, teaming up wintery items such as scarfs, hats and tights with everyday basics such as jumper dresses. Here's a replica of what I wore today; it was around 15°C/59°F and sunny:

Chilly day in London... by hmldn

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