Black Velvet ...

One of my going out essentials this year has been my black velvet bodycon skirt. I love how easy it is to style and how it can be dressed up or down! I'm very happy that it looks like velvet is here to stay this winter (seen on the catwalks of Burburry & Ralph Lauren). So here are 2 outfit posts showing ways I've worn this skirt recently!

Topshop pink tee (£14)
Topshop bodycon skirt (£20)
Dorothy Perkins heels (£22)

Vintage St Michael Body
Topshop Bodycon skirt (£20)
Dorothy Perkins heels (£22)

I found this printed body in our dressing up box a few months ago (Yes I still have a dressing up box..!) unfortunately it has an awkward piece of elastic around the middle which means it can only be worn with high waisted shorts/skirts! Still, I'm not complaining!

What do you think of velvet? How would you wear this skirt?

Lots of Love, Millie

P.s. These pictures were edited on picnik which I discovered after the lovely Jazzabelle of Jazzabelles Diary mentioned it on her latest blog post! It's one of my favourite blogs! Have a look!

OOTD: Let's Play

Playsuit £20 Oasis

So my Outfit of the day today. I say 'of the day' I actually mean between about 4 and 8. I spent the majority of the day in my ski gear but it's both highly unfashionable and unflattering. No one wants to see that. I wore this playsuit to the cinema with Sanchia this afternoon (to see Toy Story 3. Yes I know.) It was a lovely sale bargain. £20 down from £50 in Oasis! Picked it up when I was helping a friend buy a prom dress. Great help I am, spent most of the afternoon trying on random clothes myself!

I wore it with a plain black topshop cardigan and these shoes. I bought them in the Urban Outfitters Sale for $15 when I was in Boston, USA over easter. I absolutely love them but they're to small for one of my feet (I have odd sized feet!). I always seem to forget this though so I ended up spending most of the afternoon walking around with one shoe on and one shoe off because the pain was so bad! Here's a picture of them not on my feet.

Hope you've all had a nice day!

Love Millie xxx

(@allcamillawrote)

AW 10/11 Trend Focus: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. (& other coat trends!)

Seen on the catwalks for labels including Emilio Pucci, Diane Von Furstenberg, Micheal Kors, Stella McCartney and Burberry, capes are one of the outerwear shapes to be seen in this AW.

Aviator Jackets are also big news this winter. It's definately worth investing in a quality leather version which will last well and will look even better the older it gets!

Other trends we've been seeing is detailing on coats. Such as exposed zips, fur collars (Burberry) and knitted collars (Prada). Grab a camel coloured version (as seen on Prada & Zac Posen) to combine two of this autumns biggest trends.

So hot off the catwalk....

 (All photos from Elle.com)

Burberry

Prada

Prada

Zac Posen

 And on the High Street...

(L to R)

1. Love the pom poms on the FCUK jacket, their jackets are always great quality too!
2. Big fan of the military style of this ASOS cape.
3. This Aviator Jacket is 100% leather outer and as well as the zip detailing being bang on trend, it also means you can remove the sleeves to transform it into a gilet for the slightly warmer winter days!
4. This ASOS cape is a really thick knitwear piece which will keep you warm all winter - a great alternative to a heavy winter coat. Designers including Stella McCartney have been sending thick knitwear onto the catwalks this AW.

Sorry for the image heavy post! So, what style coat will you be investing in this winter?  

Love Millie xxx

AW 10/11 Trend Focus: Lace

by Sanchia

"Ah, Lace. So we meet again ..."

Word on the catwalk: lace will be HUGE next season! I thought I'd write this post because I (brace yourself) hate lace with a passion, and since it's still firmly on the fashion radar, I thought it was about time I embraced it. 

Ugh.

We first started seeing lace way, waaaay back in AW 08/09, when Miuccia Prada decided that it would be interesting to see if she could base an entire collection on a material that she (at the time) just couldn't stand. 

 

But I've got to admit, the collection was more than just "interesting" – it was feminine, luxurious and seductive, and yet prim and stiff at the same time; it reminded me of forbidden love in a gothic novel. Back then the trend didn't really filter through past the couture houses ... but it resurfaced for SS 2010, and it hasn't stopped there! The L-word is a huge feature in some of the biggest new season collections: Valentino, Burberry Prorsum (damn you, Christopher Bailey!), Givenchy and Christopher Kane, to name but a few. 

I think it's got to the point now where I just cannot dig my heels in and ignore it any longer! So I've been doing a little internet shopping to see how I can try the trend by adding just a couple of key pieces here and there ...

Although I do need a new sweater, out of the above I think I'd go for the Topshop ankle socks! Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am absolutely obsessed with socks and tights (if you are too, check out this post by Sarah Williams), so no doubt I'll fall in love with them (and lace in general) on sight.

Oh gosh. The brogues. Are beautiful. Sadly they're white, and I don't know how long they'll last on a wet English street. While I love the peep-toe boots so much more, I think I'll regret them too the moment it rains, which I imagine is going to happen pretty often come November! But having said that, both pairs are very reasonably priced, so I may just eat my words and pick up one or the other (or both?) very soon. ;) (Ooh, before I forget, the TFNC dress is £17 reduced from £40 in the ASOS sale, so pick it up now or you'll miss out!)

The hoodie dress is staring at me. I'm hiding my debit card, just in case. (But just so you know, it's £65 reduced from £180, also in the ASOS sale. See my previous post for evidence of my ASOS addiction if you're a fellow sufferer!) I included the Warehouse blouse because the lace detail is very subtle, which makes it perfect for someone like me who wants to try the trend but isn't overly keen on it – and I can reference the white shirt mini-trend while I'm at it!

If you have any recommendations for ways I can try the lace trend, please let me know! And I'd love to know if and how you're going to reference it next season.

Love Sanchia (@wakeorsleep) xxx

P.S. Kudos if you managed to read that whole post! :) Have a free virtual hug: O

AW 10/11 Trend Focus: Pouch Bags

They've been spotted on the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Alexandra Richards and Fearne Cotton recently. Pouch bags are one of the hottest bag trends this AW. They're the perfect bag for festivals, but you can also get more formal and embelished versions for going out!

Coral pouch/duffle bag from ASOS.com £25

Red ASOS pouch bag £25

Beige embelished bag, Miss Selfridge £28

And finally this amazing Temperley London Zebra Print Bag £345

Do you have a pouch bag? Will you be buying one? I'm definately going to have to invest in one!

Love Millie xxx

P.s. If you get a minute please vote (maybe for me?!?) in the http://www.laurenlovesshops.blogspot.com/ Summer nail art competition.

AW 10/11 Trend Focus: Brogues

By Millie

So brogues are staying in this autumn winter. I'm a big brogue fan although I only have two pairs at the moment! (A brown Kate Kanzier pair and a black Topshop pair) however I'm lusting after some of these lovelies this A/W! (plus they're all £50 or less!)

What to wear brogues with? Brogues can look great with anything from tea dresses (with some frilly socks!) to rolled up chinos or jeans.

Here's Emma Watson wearing her two tone brogues and some brogues from Alexa Chungs AW2010 collection for Madewells.

(photo by Nick Wolf)

Do you own any brogues? How do you wear yours?

Love Millie xxx