Love from Lou Lou

Seeing Spots + Stripes

2012-01-21T13:18:00.000Z

Spotty Dress, Striped top, gold belt, gold heeled boots - all Topshop

This has to be my favourite outfit of the week. I layered my see-through striped top over my spotty shirt dress and cinched them in with a skinny belt. Later I wore my cropped leather jacket over the top. Layering is an essential skill needed for living in Scotland!

Half my wardrobe has been given a new lease of life with my new leather jacket (as seen in my previous blog post.) It was an expensive purchase but it'll be good value considering cost per wear.

What is your favourite investment piece which you love to complete your look? It could be a pair of shoes, a handbag or a statement necklace?

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend. I'm spending mine with my family in the Highlands.

Love from Lou Lou

LBD LOVE

2012-01-18T21:12:00.000Z

Quontum Mesh Back Dress, Mascara Lace Fish Tail Gown, Margit Brandt Sequin Dress

All from Little Black Dress Boutique

The Little Black Dress is a wardrobe staple that no girl can live without. As previously mentioned in My Party Dress blog post, I love to dress up in a stylish LBD for a night out and add to the look with statement accessories. Well, now I can find all I need on one website Littleblackdress.co.uk. It combines a huge range of LBDs from designer to high-street brands, as well as jewelry and accessories to complete the look. For inspiration, I now love reading the online magazine which features the latest black dresses to hit the red carpet and interviews with designers.

To those who of you who want to ensure nobody will be turning up at your night out in the same LBD, you can shop the Boutique section which offers a range by hand-picked independent brands. Lucky for my readers, Little Black Dress are offering us all exclusive discount on the Boutique dresses. Just enter the promotional code LBDBLOG10.

Love from Lou Lou

My First Leather Jacket!

2012-01-17T10:57:00.001Z

Leather jacket - Topshop Boutique

Bird print top & pleated skirt - Tosphop

Glitter boots - Schuh

Today I'm wearing my new leather jacket and pleated skirt I bought on my lunch break yesterday. This is a totally new look for me as I used to think I wouldn't suit a leather jacket, but there's nothing I like more than mixing up my style and looking different. Wearing a leather jacket makes you feel different to wearing a smart blazer or a pretty dress. However, I still had to add my personal feminine touch with the glitter boots and pleated skirt. The skirt is from Topshop sale at just £18! I love the delicate lace panel, which is the perfect contrast to tough leather. The only thing I realized looking at my picture is that I definitely need to add lots more eyeliner!

Love from Lou Lou

Style Steal: Nicole Richie

2012-01-12T12:51:00.000Z

My favourite celebrity style of the week has to be Nicole Richie wearing an Antonio Berardi blazer and embellished leggings with Christian Louboutin heels and her own House of Harlow 1960 clutch. I love that she has gone in a new direction from her typical boho style to a smarter and edgier look. I also adore the muted colours which work so well on her.

Unfortunately embellished leggings come at a high cost, but these Markus Lupfer leggings are on sale with 60% off. I am dying to buy the studded slippers but I'll probably wait until the end of the month when I get my uniform allowance at Topshop. Gold on nude is my new favourite colour combination!

What do you think of Nicole Richie's look? Would you want to emulate it?

Love from Lou Lou

Pastel Dreams

2012-01-04T13:07:00.000Z

Click on the links to purchase these pretty pastels -

Topshop Mint Ballet Pumps

Oasis 60s Dolly Coat

Asos Scallop Edge Satchel

Asos High Waisted Skinny Jean

Topshop Knitted Slouchy Jumper

Nails Inc Portobello Road Polish

Good news for fans of pastel shades - they're starting to hit the shops again! I've been inspired by the big jar of dolly mixtures I got for Christmas; Fearne Cotton's pink hair, and Asos's Candy Box collection. I am dying to buy the lilac skinny jeans and if I don't have the guts to dye my hair pink, I can always buy a wig from Annabelle's Wigs.

Maybe it's my excitement for Spring but I'm dreaming of pastels! Who else is lusting after lilac, mint and blush pink?

Love from Lou Lou

New Year Outfit

2012-01-02T12:25:00.000Z

Beaded Dress - Topshop

Slip - Rare

Heels - Red or Dead

Handbag - Faith

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all enjoyed celebrating in your most dazzling outfits! I am going through a bit of a twenties phase at the moment so this dress made me feel like a fabulous flapper girl! I bought it on sale at Topshop at a bargain price - from £110 reduced to £50, then I got my staff discount to reduce it even further! It's such a beautiful and elegant dress that I think I'll keep it forever.

What is your favourite era for fashion?

Love from Lou Lou

Thank You Santa!

2011-12-30T14:40:00.000Z

Dress - Sparkle & Fade

Blazer - Topshop

Glitter boots - Schuh

Trilby hat - Primark

I hope you all had a lovely christmas and got some fabulous presents! A very style conscious Santa gave me glitter boots and a trilby hat as you can see in my picture. You may notice a new look to my outfit post, which was created by a roll of paper for my backdrop and a little bit of Photoshop! I am also thinking of investing in some good lighting and get back into photography - putting my degree back into use!

Do you have any New Year resolutions? What are your plans?

Love from Lou Lou

Christmas Eve Outfit

2011-12-24T14:24:00.001Z

Dress - Topshop

Shirt - Oasis

Shoes - Barretts

Tights - Primark

Merry Christmas everyone! These pictures were taken on my iPhone at The National Museum in Edinburgh where I went with my family today. Got to rush off to work but first I have to tell you about my outfit! We're all dressing up at Topshop today and heading off for drinks afterwards so I thought this was the perfect christmas outfit with the red colour and a bit of sparkle! I am loving this embellished sheer shirt right now as it goes well under lots of my jumpers and dresses. Also, if you are heading to Primark sometime soon, I recommend their "super cosy tights" which are really thick but don't really look too thick!

Hope you all have a wonderful christmas,

Love from Lou Lou

Day as a Stylist's Assistant

2011-12-17T21:05:00.002Z

Photography by Jane Barlow, Make-up by Ebony Smith, Styling by

Lynne McCrossan, Emma Prior, Oliver Hay and Louise Arnot.

Last week I got my first experience of assisting a stylist, which was just as fun as I imagined! The shoot was for Edinburgh Evening News and I was helping the wonderful stylist Lynne McCrossan. She had two other assistants, who had helped out before, so I learnt what to do from them.

The day began by us all picking up bags of clothes and accessories from various stores and we then took them to the location which was the gorgeous Le Monde bar on George Street. There I met the rest of the team and started putting together six outfits as quickly as possible while the model got her make-up done. All items the model wore had to be written down with the price and store so that everything was printed in the newspaper correctly. The shoot was a great creative collaboration with everyone coming up with ideas for how the model should look. Every tiny detail counts, from how she should hold her coat to the position of her foot!

The concept of the shoot was "day to night looks" where the model wore one key piece that was accessorized for working at the office, then transformed by a pair of heels, jewelry and some sparkle! Lynne selected some beautiful pieces including a stunning mirrored feather dress by Jenny Packham which is worth £2699 so I was obviously VERY careful handling that!

At the end of the shoot we packed the garments back into the bags and returned them to the stores. I was really excited to see the result of the shoot which was published just a few days later. It was also nice to see my name in the credits! I hope to work with Lynne again and follow her footsteps in the fashion industry. She has also written a fantastic book which features the best vintage shops in Britain: A Girl's Guide To Vintage. Make sure you add it to your Christmas list!

Love from Lou Lou

Masquerade Outfit

2011-12-07T22:26:00.000Z

Mask - LuvYaBabes (Manchester)

Wig - Ebay (seller: Uptrending)

Necklace and boots - Topshop

Dress - Rare

On Sunday night I went on my christmas work night out which was a masquerade! I had always wanted to attend a masquerade party, so I had a lot of fun choosing my mask and even went as far as buying a wig. I chose one that is a similar style to my own haircut and I thought a deep red colour would compliment the blue shade of my mask. A lot of my workmates thought it was my real hair that I had dyed! When I told them it wasn't, they all said I should go red! What do you think? My favourite part of the outfit is my new statement necklace which I think pulled the look together.

What outfit do you have planned for your christmas party this year?

Love from Lou Lou

Sweater Girls

2011-12-04T11:54:00.000Z

Recently I bought myself a peach coloured angora jumper (or 'sweater' as the americans call it) and it made me like winter a smidgen more! There's nothing like wearing a super soft and cozy jumper while sitting beside your fireplace, watching tv. To make myself even warmer I added my new Topshop fur stole. I like how Alexa Chung (below) has styled her angora jumper by wearing a polka dot shirt underneath. I think it looks best with jeans, however you can also wear it tucked into a high-waisted skirt. Plus you could wear a pointy bra underneath your jumper like the sweater girls did in the fifties ;)

Have you got a favourite jumper? How many have you bought this winter?

Love from Lou Lou

My Party Dress

2011-12-03T11:08:00.001Z

Sheer dress - Rare

Feather necklace - River Island

Tights and boots - Topshop

Here I am trying to hide my drunkenness for an outfit picture at my friend's cocktail party in Glasgow. As you can see, my style changes when I'm dressing up for a night out. I often like to wear a black dress which has something different about it. I most certainly can't do plain! Then I add the extra bits such as a statement necklace and a pretty pair of tights. Tomorrow night I will be wearing this dress for the second time at my Topshop christmas masquerade party. I'll wear it with my gorgeous dark blue mask, a red bobbed wig and a gold necklace which is very fancy, like costume jewelry. I love dressing up! My motto is that it's better to be over-dressed than under-dressed. But keep it classy and not trashy!

Love from Lou Lou

My Fashion Faves

2011-11-27T17:01:00.000Z

I'm a big fan of writing lists so I thought I would write a list of my fashion inspirations so you can see who and what I'm influenced by. Many of them have appeared on my blog before. Who inspires you when it comes to your blog or choosing what to wear?

Top Fashion Idols

Erin O'Connor

Leith Clark

Tim Walker

Top Fashion Designers

Erdem

Alexander McQueen

Chanel

Top Fashion Magazines

Elle

Lula

Marie Claire

Top Fashion Blogs

Strutt

Know Wear

Jak & Jil

Top Fashion Websites

Grazia

Telegraph Fashion

Lookbook

Top Fashionable Celebs

Fearne Cotton

Alexa Chung

Olivia Palermo

Love from Lou Lou

Grazia's Blog Brag Event

2011-11-21T15:16:00.001Z

It's been a busy weekend as I've been catching up with friends in London, however I have been dying to tell you all about my first stop when I got to London which was at Grazia's "Blog Brag" party at the Speakeasy cafe/bar just off Carnaby street. It was great to meet so many fashion bloggers as I've never been to an event like this before. We all exchanged our cards and chatted mostly about our love of fashion and blogging. I enjoyed my complimentary mocha and I was so excited to get a goody bag filled with Clinique mascara, Nails inc varnish and a copy of Grazia magazine. If you are kicking yourself for not attending, don't worry as Grazia will be hosting more "Blog Brag" events around the country. I hope Scotland is next!

Angela Buttolph, editor of Grazia Daily, was looking beautiful in her Hermoine de Paula outfit. It was lovely chatting with her as she's so friendly and humble. She also asked me if I could create some features for Grazia's website which of course I would love to do! She has also included me in her write up of the night: 20 Reasons Why Grazia Daily's First Ever Fashion Bloggers' Event ROCKED (I'm the eighth reason!)
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American blogger Stephanie Campbell was also lovely to chat to. Her blog Glam and Graffiti combines style, beauty and news so go check it out www.glamandgraffiti.com
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Although I didn't recognize Amelia Kanaris at first, when she passed me her card I realized that I follow her blog Amelia's Fashion Land. She is also the Online Content Editor for Donna Ida and featured me on the website.
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Ngoni of The Musings of NRC was also there. She is a stylish art foundation student who has the ambition to be a designer. Her masculine outfit was one of my favourites of the night.
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Oh look it's me!! This picture was taken on someone's iphone - if you compare the quality with the other photos you'll see why you should always photograph with a proper camera! I am wearing a Topshop glitter top (buy here), Topshop oxblood boucle shorts (buy here), Urban Outfitters triangle necklace and New Look platform wedges.
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Love from Lou Lou

The Jumper Dress

2011-11-16T15:52:00.000Z

Jumper dress - Asos

Head scarf - vintage

Lilac belt - Topshop

Brogues - Garage Shoes

Lilac tights - Dorothy Perkins

Each year I like to buy what to me is the ultimate winter essential that is both cosy and stylish: the jumper dress. Last year it was a fair isle jumper dress and the previous year it was a kimono shaped jumper dress. This Autumn/Winter I have wanted to inject more colour into my wardrobe so what could be better than this electric blue cable knit? I wanted to make the colour pop by teaming it with pastel shades. What do you think?

Lou Lou's Style tips for the jumper dress -

1. You can wear anything on your legs - skinny jeans, leggings or tights. If the jumper dress is plain, try a pair of patterned tights.

2. Wear a belt to cinch in at the waist. It will also help break up the outfit. Skinny belts are the most on-trend at the moment.

3. If you can't find the right jumper dress for you, try looking through charity shops for an extra-large men's chunky knit jumper and cinch it in with a wide or medium sized belt.

Love from Lou Lou

Lace and Stripes

2011-11-03T12:43:00.000Z

Striped top & tank top - Topshop

Lace hemmed skirt - Pins and Needles

Pink gem ring - Bulgarian market

Recently, I have had an obsession with black see-through clothes! There's just something about showing a bit of skin through a layer of black. I've got another black top that goes perfectly with this skirt which has a sweetheart neckline and sheer sleeves. What I like about my outfit today is the stripes on the top compliment the lace hem of the pretty skirt and it's more casual for going to work at Toppers today! I love having a job where I can look stylish all day long!

Love from Lou Lou

Get the Catwalk Look at Topshop

2011-10-21T11:34:00.000+01:00

Who wouldn't want to look like they just stepped off a catwalk? Well, you don't have to be a beautiful model or have millions to spend, as high-street favourite Topshop can help! I have selected the best designer inspired looks that won't leave you in severe debt...

The Miu Miu Look

Glitter boots £80 Buy here

The Chanel Look

Fringed boucle shorts £36 Buy here

The Jonathan Saunders Look

Wallpaper shirt dress £80 Buy here

Love from Lou Lou

Frank and Doll

2011-10-13T12:14:00.000+01:00

Today I want to introduce you to a brand new online boutique Frankanddoll.com. I'm enjoying online shopping more and more, especially when it can offer brands that aren't available on the British high-street. Frank and Doll includes brands from around the world such as Australian label Mink Pink, Californian label For Love of Lemons and dutch t-shirt designer Zoe Karseen.

The boutique has been started up by Samantha Davies who named it Frank and Doll after her late grandparents (so sweet.) I love the the vision of a Frank and Doll fan: "She is a social butterfly and a loving homebird. She is wild but never reckless. She knows what she wants and exactly how to get it."

Below are my favourite pieces from the boutique - and I'll be keeping an eye on the website as new items are added every day. Take a look for yourself here!

Lola Cruz boots - £170

Mink Pink denim shorts - £45

Mink Pink poncho wrap - £110

Rock n Rose turban headband - £13

What do you think?

Love from Lou Lou

Velvet & Crystal

2011-10-12T10:10:00.000+01:00

Velvet dress - Topshop

Platform wedges - New Look

Crystal necklace - vintage

Yesterday my latest Topshop order arrived, which included this velvet dress (still available online) and I'm planning on wearing it to a ceilidh with my workmates on Friday. It's so soft I could stroke it all day long! The crystal necklace, which used to belong to my mum's godmother, goes perfectly with it. My gold nails were done at Nails inc in Harvey Nics. It's a 'magnetic nails' manicure where a magnet is used on top of the nail varnish and creates an interesting effect.

I have now reached my 100th blog post would you believe! Thank you all for following and commenting, and a big thanks to my mum who encouraged me to start a fashion blog in the first place. She's also read every single post!

Hope you are all having a good week,

Love from Lou Lou

PFW Top Five

2011-10-06T22:26:00.001+01:00

I couldn't let Paris Fashion Week fly by without a mention so here is my round-up of the final fashion week. What I liked the most about the catwalks of Paris was how the designers added their own twists. For example, Alexis Mabille re-worked the classic shirt in different ways such as a bodice (see picture) and floor-length dresses with trains. He truly thought outside the box, while remaining accessible. I'm not really into suits massively but I was impressed with Ricardo Tisci's Givenchy collection which featured alternative tailoring with fin-like shapes.

There were a few designers that I felt disappointed with, although my judgement can only be made with pictures online. Hopefully one day I can appreciate the designers' craftsmanship close-up. Until then, I will leave you with these little snippets!

Givenchy

Theme: Sea creatures

Colours: Cream, blush & khaki

Details: Trimmings made from shark, eel & stingray

Emanuel Ungaro

Theme: Splashed prints inspired by nasa aerial pictures

Colours: Turquoise, red & white

Details: Ruffles & gold belts

Alexis Mabille

Theme: Menswear meets womanswear

Colours: Blues, reds & greens

Details: Banker stripes and bows

Alexander McQueen

Theme: Ocean Life

Colours: Pinks, cream & black

Details: Lace & beaded masks

Lanvin

Theme: Gothic Glamour

Colours: Black & white

Details: Padded shoulders

What did you think of Paris Fashion Week? Which was your favourite fashion week of the S/S 2012 season?

Love from Lou Lou

All fashion week photos are from Style.com

MFW Top Five

2011-09-28T19:56:00.001+01:00

Milan is my least favourite of the fashion weeks. I just don't find it as tasteful and exciting as the others, although I'm still interested in what the Italian designers are showing. Instead of my usual top ten round-up, I have five favourites I want to share with you. What was seen in Milan? Well, as it is the capital of fashion luxury, there was lots of expensive looking embellishments. Does anyone want to buy me one the Dolce and Gabanna dresses with multi-coloured jewels? Drop-waist dresses were seen on the catwalks once again and most surprising of all, VEGETABLE prints were seen at Moschino Cheap and Chic and Dolce and Gabanna. I have to say, chili prints look hotter than last Summer's lemon prints...no pun intended!

Enjoy!

Dolce and Gabanna

Giorgio Armani

Gucci

Jil Sander

Roberto Cavalli

What do you think of the collections in Milan for next Spring/Summer?

Love from Lou Lou

Polka-dots and Bows

2011-09-28T15:39:00.001+01:00

What a beautiful sunny day it is - thankfully I'm not stuck at work and instead I went for a walk at Cramond with my mum. I'm dressed in Topshop head-to-toe which may be a regular feature on my blog as in a few days I start my job there! Hello discount!

Right, I've got to get back outside into the sunshine and read the stack of magazines I bought.

Love from Lou Lou

LFW Top Ten

2011-09-21T17:56:00.000+01:00

Wow! London Fashion Week came and went so quickly! Following on from New York Fashion Week, we can see more sherbet shades and acid brights, more bold prints and more metallic fabric. Love, love, love! The most surprising repetition of both fashion weeks to me was all the ostrich feathers, seen at Matthew Williamson, Giles, Oscar de la Renta and Prabal Gurung.

My favourite thing about researching the London Fashion Week shows was reading about all the completely different inspirations. Erdem (who was my favourite as per usual) was inspired by the novel Bonjour Tristesse which is about a teenage girl who spends her summer on the French Riviera with her playboy father as she begins to embrace her womanhood and sexuality. You can really see this character in the collection with Erdem's new sexier angle such as the hot pants with lace side-panelling.

I also love Mulberry's theme of the British sea-side which includes rain coats and ribbed leggings. It was very humorous to see after such a miserable summer!

Below are some of my favourite looks from London, along with a little summery of each collection.

Mary Katrantzou

Theme: Nature & scrap-yard metals

Colours: Every bright colour of the rainbow!

Details: Printed carnations & tropical fish

Christopher Kane

Theme: "the girls you hate at school"

Colours: Electric blue, pale grey, pale mint

Details: Brocade & rubber soled sandals

Mulberry

Theme: The British seaside

Colours: Pink, mint & yellows

Details: Jewel encrusted pieces & ribbed tights

Topshop Unique

Theme: Cleopatra

Colours: Gold, black & white

Details: Hieroglyphic prints & gold jewelry

Erdem

Theme: Wedgewood and novel Bonjour Tristesse

Colours: Blues, yellow & white

Details: Lace boater hats & tiny sequins

Matthew Williamson

Theme: Japan

Colours: Burnt orange, greens & pink

Details: Ostrich feathers & beading

Felder Felder

Theme: S&M

Colours: Black, pale green, tan

Details: Leather harnesses & metallic fabric

Basso & Brooke

Theme: Journey from London to Siberia

Colours: Acid brights & grey

Details: V-shaped cut-out backs

Jonathan Saunders

Theme: American fifties housewife

Colours: Pale blue, yellows & greens

Details: Baroque swirls & metallic knits

Giles

Theme: Swans

Colours: White, silver & crimson

Details: Laser-cut leather & ostrich feather headdresses

Did you enjoy the collections at London Fashion Week? Which were your favourites?

Love from Lou Lou

NYFW Top Ten

2011-09-15T19:24:00.000+01:00

It's the last day of New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer '12 and I've been dying to share my favourite catwalk looks with you. Even though it's not my favourite Fashion Week, I was really impressed by some designers. My top 3 would have to be Jason Wu, Alexander Wang and Prabal Gurung.

I would wear anything in Jason Wu's new collection. The petal print was a collaboration with graffiti artist KAWS and it's officially my new favourite print! Alexander Wang stayed true to his tough-girl aesthetic and yet managed to push it forward and create something exciting. I also found it quite futuristic. As for Prabal Gurung, the bright colours are absolutely stunning. I wasn't aware of his work before but he will most definitely be on my fashion radar from now on!

Not all collections on the catwalk can live up to my expectations however. Zac Posen was a disappointment for me. It was a collection of old Hollywood looks including the mermaid silhouette and I was surprised that nothing really grabbed my attention.

I'm thrilled to see that Spring/Summer next year will involve a lot of bold prints and bright colours. I therefore predict I'll be spending a lot on clothes next Summer! Another trend-to-be is the drop waist dress which I'm less excited about. Sportswear will also be popular next Summer, inspired by the Olympics of course!

In no particular order, here are my ten favourite catwalk looks and a little bit about each collection.

Victoria Beckham

Theme: Sportswear

Colours: Tangerine, navy & plum

Details: Double-faced satin & nylon straps

Thakoon

Theme: Bollywood & Western

Colours: Turquoise, saffron & orange

Details: Embroidery & two-tone cowboy hats

Diane von Furstenburg

Theme: New beginnings & Africa

Colours: White, mint & turquoise

Details: Vibrant floral prints

Alexander Wang

Theme: Motorcycle racer

Colours: Black, white & blues

Details: Mesh & over-sized pockets

Jason Wu

Theme: Pop art

Colours: Pale pink, grey, lime green & blue

Details: Petal prints and embellished collars

Anna Sui

Theme: Studio 54

Colours: Purple, red, black

Details: Chiffon turbans & tiny prints

Prabal Gurung

Theme: Fetish & florals

Colours: White, violet, electric blue

Details: Dripping paint & ostrich feathers

Marchesa

Theme: Koi fish

Colours: White, nude & grey

Details: Fish embroidery & horsehair

Rodarte

Theme: Vincent Van Gough paintings

Colours: Purple, yellow, green

Details: Sunflower prints & metallic embroidery

Oscar de la Renta

Theme: Seemingly none!

Colours: Yellows, greens & red

Details: Crochet & ostrich feathers

Love from Lou Lou

My feature in Company

2011-09-09T15:00:00.000+01:00

As if my job offer at Topshop wasn't exciting enough, I have now been featured in Company magazine as one of their favourite fashion bloggers! The October issue is in shops from today and if you flick to page 102, you will see a half page feature with my favourite outfit pictures. I was interviewed by journalist Diana Best who told me that she and Company's editor Victoria White love the way I capture my style and that what I write is really relatable. What a huge compliment from two highly successful industry insiders!

Thank you Company, this is a great reminder of how worthwhile it feels to have my own fashion blog.

Love from Lou Lou

Uniform-to-be

2011-09-06T15:40:00.000+01:00

I have some exciting news to tell my lovely followers, that I have been offered a job at Topshop! I have been wanting to work for the company for a while so I am really looking forward to starting next month. My job as a care assistant in a busy hospital taught me about a side to life that most people don't see at my age. I worked really hard and met lots of people, but after almost two years I am totally ready to get back into the world of fashion! I'll be surrounded by beautiful clothes and colleagues who share the same passion. Plus I'm really looking forward to swapping my baggy hospital uniform for well fitted, colourful Topshop clothes. I couldn't help but start to search for my new uniform...

Love from Lou Lou

My Wonderful Wedges

2011-08-19T16:59:00.000+01:00

Embroidered wedges - ASOS
Silk shirt - Blue Rinse
Rose gold watch - ASOS
Skirt - Zara
Belt - Topshop

On my previous blog post you can see that these beautiful embroidered wedges were on my wishlist. Well, I couldn't leave them on a mere wishlist for long and now they happily belong to me! Do you ever buy something you love so much you just want to kiss it? It had to be an air-kiss though to stop them getting stained with lipstick! The only down side of my wedges is that I can only wear them when I'm with very tall friends as they make me almost 6ft 3"!

My silk shirt is from a boutique in Leeds called Blue Rinse. I love how they reconstruct vintage shirts into modern shapes. You can also buy them in Urban Outfitters and Miss Selfridge. The colour range is gorgeous.

Love from Lou Lou

Textural Wishlist

2011-08-17T12:31:00.000+01:00

When creating my latest wishlist, I noticed that the items I am coveting are of various textures. My wardrobe is filled with different prints and colours, but I feel the need to add a bigger variety of textures. The Autumn/Winter season is the best time for this as you can really play around with layers of cashmere, suede, velvet, wool, fur, leather...

The ASOS tapestry wedges are the most tempting item I've discovered. They're so unique. I also love the Autumn/Winter 2011 collection by Ashish. Recently at Lovebox, I spotted Kelis wearing the sequined skeleton outfit and if I could afford one piece I would choose the tartan skirt.

Wedges from ASOS

Shorts from Topshop

Handbag by Suzy Smith (available @ ASOS)

Shawl from Miss Selfridge

Skirt by Ashish

Love from Lou Lou

Jewelry From Bulgaria

2011-08-16T18:06:00.000+01:00

This is the majority of the jewelry I bought in Bulgaria (minus a pair of heart-shaped wooden earrings, a mother of pearl necklace and a super sparkly bracelet.) My friend and I got overly excited at the markets in Sunny Beach and Nessebar as the jewelry was insanely cheap! A real silver ring was the equivalent of about £10 and my turquoise bracelets were around £2.50 each. It was heaven for a bargain hunter like me!

Love from Lou Lou

What Lou Lou Wore on Holiday

2011-08-11T13:34:00.000+01:00

Hello my lovelies - I'm back from my fabulous week in Bulgaria with my friend Kate. We had the best time sunbathing, drinking cocktails, karaoke singing and laughing all day long! I would definitely recommend Sunny Beach resort to anyone and I'm missing it already. One of my favourite parts of the day was getting dressed up with Kate as we listened to my ipod music. I hope you like the outfits I chose to wear.

Primark dress, Topshop bikini, Topshop sunglasses

Zara dress, Urban Outfitters necklace, Faith handbag

American Retro dress, River Island wedges

Dorothy Perkins dress, ASOS sunglasses, Barratts pumps

H&M top, River Island necklace, ASOS watch

Biba shorts, Topshop vest, GAP pumps, Topshop sunglasses

Collect London top, Mad Elizabeth skirt, Topshop sunglasses

What do you think of my holiday outfits?

Love from Lou Lou

Princess Peach

2011-07-30T18:19:00.000+01:00

Tutu dress - H&M

Gold heels - Red or Dead

Gold bracelet - Warehouse

Feathered eye mask - ebay

This is what I wore to my friend's house party last night (minus the feathered eye mask which I wore to her previous party.) It has to be the most girly outfit I own! Coincidentally, my best friend Katrin was wearing a dress that was peach coloured too so we looked very similar with our short dark hair and gold accessories.

As I am spending next week in Bulgaria, you won't hear from me but I will get my friend Kate to take photos of my outfits. So excited!

Love from Lou Lou

Best Bargain of my Life!

2011-07-23T18:56:00.000+01:00

These are the wooden wedges by Swedish Hasbeens which I got on sale at Glasgow's H&M. They are perfectly comfortable and made with real leather so when I handed them over at the till my jaw dropped at the price I was told. I thought I'd misheard the sales advisor or that she had scanned a piece of cheap jewelry instead. My friend even asked if it was the right price and another sales advisor grudgingly said "yeah it's right, I bought them back when they were full price." However I bought the last tan coloured pair on the shelf (there are plenty white one's left if you're shopping in Glasgow) for...drum roll...FIVE POUNDS! Jammy!

Feather print top & sunglasses - Topshop

Denim jeans cut to shorts - Dorothy Perkins

Wooden wedges - Swedish Hasbeens for H&M

Lilac tights - Dorothy Perkins

Feather necklace - River Island

Satchel - Accessorize

I actually had a lucky streak this week as I also purchased a big photography book of Twiggy for £5 at the National Portrait Gallery in London and on ASOS.com I bought a jacket by Mango which was £95 and I got it for £27. It was the last in my size which always makes you feel like the bargain is even better and it was destiny that led you to it!

What has been the best bargain of your life?

Love from Lou Lou

Girl in Glasgow

2011-07-20T13:02:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I spent a sunny afternoon in Glasgow with Amanda (owner of Bowjangles Boutique). I loved the outfit she put together - particularly her round sunglasses and Topshop chelsea boots which I want to buy myself!

We had the intentions of doing some street style photography but got a bit distracted by the shops and our girly chats about fashion and boys! However we did find one stylish Glaswegian who reminded me of Debby Harry.

I also found the best bargain of my life which I will show you in my next blog post. You won't believe my luck!

Love from Lou Lou

Printed Palazzo Pants

2011-07-11T18:22:00.000+01:00

Palazzo pants - Primark

Top - Urban Outfitters

Sunglasses - Topshop

Wedges - River Island

Watch - ASOS

For a while, I've been meaning to do an outfit post showing you my palazzo pants. I've had a lot of comments on them and you would never believe that they're from Primark! When I'm wearing them I always keep my accessories minimal as the focus of the outfit should be the printed butterflies and exotic birds in the trees. What do you think of them?

Love from Lou Lou

Miss Katie Cupcake Jewelry

2011-07-05T15:32:00.001+01:00

Yesterday I went shopping in my hometown of Edinburgh to find a birthday present for my best friend, and I ended up buying a lot for myself too! I got some amazing bargains in the summer sales but my favourite item has to be this ring which already feels special to me. I found it at a stall on the Royal Mile which has been been set up by a jewelry designer who goes by the name of 'Miss Katie Cupcake'. She creates the most beautiful jewelry which are each one of a kind. My ring has been made from a fragment of old porcelain which is encased in sterling silver and you will probably recognize the birds from the famous 'Old Willow' design. I used to have Old Willow mugs in my house and strangely I had been wanting to buy something with this kind of design for the past few months.

Visit Katie's Facebook page here or if you're in Edinburgh during July you can see her stall on the Royal Mile from Fridays to Mondays.

Love from Lou Lou

The Sunnies Are Out

2011-07-04T21:08:00.000+01:00

This time next month I'll be on the plane to a luxury hotel beside 'Sunny beach' in Bulgaria with my friend Kate. I've done the holiday shopping already, including a new polka-dot bikini, red patent sandals and yet another pair of sunglasses (top left.) I'm not sure which of my other sunglasses to pack. What do you think?

Love from Lou Lou

Shopping the Sales

2011-06-22T18:20:00.000+01:00

I have spent most of my day browsing the online sales so I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite picks. I've bought the cat-eye sunglasses and a new rose gold watch I've posted previously. Glad I waited to buy both of these items I had already coveted! I also liked a lot of sale items on the Urban Outfitters website which started today. Check that out if you haven't already.

Love from Lou Lou

Project Ocean at Selfridges

2011-06-18T20:07:00.000+01:00

Hello my lovelies! It's been a very busy couple of weeks for me so I apologize for the lack of blog posts. However, I can now tell you about my fashion discoveries in London last weekend.

Firstly, I went to Lily Allen's shop Lucy in Disguise which is in Covent Garden. The interior is absolutely stunning with it's vintage furniture and the most incredible chandelier you've ever seen. As for the vintage clothing, the selection wasn't really to my taste, although my friend pointed out a dress that she had once seen Lily Allen wear. It was the perfect whimsical dress with vertical stripes of various pastel shades but sadly I couldn't justify the £750 price tag. I also love the collection that Lily and her sister Sarah have designed themselves. The shop is definitely worth a visit even though like me, you probably won't dare purchase anything.

My other London recommendation for you is an exhibit at Selfridges called Project Ocean. It's a celebration of the ocean's beauty and was set up to inform people about the issue of over-fishing. I was amazed to see many familiar outfits such as Hussien Chalayan's Bubble Dress (once worn by Lady Gaga) and the amazing gold Fishscale Dress by Gareth Pugh (as worn in Beyonce's recent video.) Below are some of the photos I took but it's even more impressive seeing the garments up close.

'Fishscale Dress' S/S 2011 - Gareth Pugh

'White Reef Dress' S/S 2011 - John Rocha

'Jellyfish Ensemble' S/S 2010 - Alexander McQueen

'Octopus Dress' - Iris Van Herpen

'Lobster Hat' Philip Treacy for Lady Gaga

Love from Lou Lou

Styles of the Month: May

2011-05-31T15:42:00.000+01:00

Looklet Style of the Month

Colour blocking is becoming a bit too samey as a trend

so I wanted to create a quirky & fun version of it.

Street Style of the Month

I found this photo on Style Sightings and love everything

this Japanese girl is wearing. Her hair style is cute too!

Blogger Style of the Month

Autilia's floral cape from Romwe is so unique that I've been

thinking of ordering one. See more of her amazing style here.

Star Style of the Month

Rachel McAdams had her stylist pick out some great outfits

for Cannes Film Festival. It's refreshing to see this chic outfit

amongst all the extravagant evening gowns on the red carpet.

As always, I'd love to hear what you think of my style choices and who you think looked super stylish in the month of May.

Love from Lou Lou

New Look Style The Nation

2011-05-24T19:42:00.002+01:00

Hello my lovelies! Today has been loads of fun as I took part in a new T4 program called New Look Style The Nation. It was filmed in Glasgow's Buchanan Galleries and presented by Nick Grimshaw. He was really good to chat with although it's really nerve-wracking being filmed! I answered lots of fashion related questions and got my photo taken lots of times for the press.

Six stylish people were selected at the end (half of which I predicted correctly!) They then stand a chance of getting a fashion mentor, and the two that do will compete with other cities by styling a catwalk show. Judges include the wonderful Giles Deacon and the winner will become a stylist for New Look.

I wasn't expecting to be selected although I was obviously a little disappointed. It was still a brilliant day as I chatted with some like-minded and lovely people. I was really impressed with what people wore and we all agreed that everybody had an individual style. I'm rooting for a Scottish stylista to win - either Amanda or Rae.

What I wore:

Floral wreath - Market stall

Bird print top - New Look

Denim Waistcoat - Topshop

Brooch - Ruby Blue (Vintage)

Shorts - Zara

Satchel - Accessorize

Brogues - Garage Shoes

Rae designed her sheer top herself. She was selected as I

knew she would. Very bubbly and beautiful girl from Ayrshire

who is soon to be interning for Lula magazine. Jealous!

This girl was also selected. I like that she picked

out a tartan jacket. Representing Scotland well!

I thought this guy should have been selected. I think he's more

destined to be a designer though as he wants to create one-off

dresses for women. Loved his bow tie and jacket.

Amanda's outfit was Grimmy's favourite! She has an online

vintage shop called Bowjangles Boutique and is a really sweet

girl. I have my fingers crossed for you Amanda!

Thank you T4 for a great time and hello to everyone that was there! So excited to see the show in June/July.

Love from Lou Lou

Pink and Lilac

2011-05-22T11:52:00.000+01:00

Lilac silk shirt - Blue Rinse (vintage)

Pink skirt - Zara

Cream lace tights - H&M

Grey cardigan - H&M

Grey ballet pumps - GAP

These photos were taken around Newhaven Harbour which is just down the road from me. My best friend Rach took the photos with what you would think is a very old film camera but actually was an app on her iphone!

I dressed very girly that day because my day involved strawberry milkshakes, girly chats and baking red velvet cupcakes! Sadly though, the Scottish weather let me down with my outfit choice as the horrid high winds made me pretty cold!

Love from Lou Lou

I want to 'Run The World' looking this stylish!

2011-05-19T21:49:00.000+01:00

Beyonce's new video Run The World (Girls) is the music video I had been waiting for! I was first excited by a few photos taken from the filming, then even MORE excited by a teaser video released a few days ago. Now that the wait is over, I can say that Beyonce remains to be one fiercely fashionable lady - even more so than before. She leads a stylish army of girls (who run the world) while wearing some of the best outfits to come off the catwalks including a white dress from that Givenchy S/S 2011 couture collection we have been dreaming of.

The video was directed by Francis Lawrence and can be seen here if your eyes haven't been lucky enough to see it yet! Also, if you are wondering who designed the incredible outfits, I have listed them with pictures below.

Givenchy

Alexander McQueen

Norma Kamali

Givenchy

Jean Paul Gaultier

Gareth Pugh

Emilio Pucci

Norma Kamali

Emilio Pucci

Love from Lou Lou

Birthday Outfit

2011-05-11T22:10:00.001+01:00

Boater hat - Gift
Dress - Warehouse
Tights - Bebaroque
Gold shoes - Red or Dead

This is the outfit I wore yesterday to my brother's birthday meal in Glasgow (minus the hat!) I also wanted to share with you a couple of the presents I got for my birthday. Katrin gave me these amazing tights as she is currently interning for Bebaroque. My friends also gave me this cute bowler hat for my birthday. As Edinburgh is so windy, I might have to pin it to my hair!

Love from Lou Lou

Styles Around The World

2011-05-10T15:28:00.002+01:00

Fashion is currently celebrating styles from around the world more than I've ever seen before. The British flag popped up everywhere (maybe over-killed leading up to the Royal Wedding) and the Americana trend has given us American flags too and fringing added to everything you can think of! Perhaps my favourite of all is the colourful oriental style. I have a lot of love for the silky fabrics and beautiful patterns. As I don't really have a signature style, it means I want pieces inspired from all over the world. The items I am coveting below are the Breton striped camera, fringed shorts and tassel earrings. Why did I not see these before my birthday?!

PARISIAN

Trench coat - Zara, Diana F+ camera - Urban Outfitters, Handbag - Zara,

Cropped jumper - River Island, Sunglasses - River Island

AMERICANA

Tank top - Miss Selfridge, Dungaree dress - Topshop, T-shirt - Wildfox
Fringed shorts - PRPS Heirloom, Ring - Noir Jewelry

ORIENTAL

Parasol - ASOS, Kimono - Miss Selfridge, Tassel earrings - ASOS

Clutch bag - Alexander McQueen, Wedge sandals - Irregular Choice

Love from Lou Lou

Walk in the Botanics

2011-05-03T23:38:00.000+01:00

Owl print top - Yayer
Jeans - Topshop
Fringed bag - Primark
Sunglasses - Topshop
Roses ring - Topshop
Necklace and Bracelet - Gifts

Photos of me taken by Gemma

Photo of Gemma taken by me

Well, I've kept my promise of blogging lots during my holidays! Two days ago it was my birthday and I got lots of fashion related presents to tell you about! These include a cute boater hat, fancy Bebaroque tights, Topshop vouchers, golden jewelry and 3 books: 'Style Diaries', 'How to Walk in High Heels' and 'A Life in Frocks'. I had a really lovely day sunbathing in my garden and drinking cocktails in teacups with my friends.

Yesterday I went to the Botanic Gardens with Gemma (of Gembear.com.) Naturally as bloggers, we took a few photos of each other so you could have a nosey at what we were wearing. Most of my outfit is brand new...on reflection I may have overspent a little recently as I've had big shopping trips to Leeds and Glasgow. Oh well, that's what holidays are for!

Love from Lou Lou

Illustration Love: Ellen and Julia

2011-05-03T20:16:00.001+01:00

As you may know from reading my previous blog posts, fashion/portrait illustration is something I really enjoy looking at. I don't come across many blogs featuring illustrations, however as of today I am following Ellen and Julia who have recently started up a blog to share their illustrations and photography too. The Swedish sisters are also running a competition where the winner (or possibly more than one winner) will be drawn in their beautiful style. As a competition addict, I am very excited about this one! A stylish illustration is just what I would love to add to my blog. To enter the competition click here.

Love from Lou Lou

Styles of the Month: April

2011-04-30T22:10:00.000+01:00

Looklet Style of the month

This look I created on Looklet.com is all
about minimalism, neutral tones and luxury.

Street Style of the month

Be bold and dare to wear tropical prints like this
lady from Amsterdam. See more: thelocals.dk

Blogger Style of the Month

I love everything about Camille's look. The mixture
of colours are perfect. See more:itscamilleco.com

Star Style of the Month

With the new red hair and this green dress, Blake
Lively does look like a mermaid. In a good way!

I'd love to know what you think of my chosen styles and who you think dressed the best in the month of March.

Love from Lou Lou

The Unbeatable Wedding Dress

2011-04-29T15:23:00.002+01:00

After many months of anticipation, the world has celebrated Catherine and William's wedding on this momentous day. The romance and the atmosphere has been a big part of the day, but of course as a fashion blogger I want to express my thoughts on THAT DRESS!

After lots of hints and clues from fashion insiders, I was so happy that the rumors were true: the wedding dress was Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton. It was the perfect choice: British, intricate and regal. It HAD to be McQueen. Even the name was fitting! Sarah Burton has done incredibly well since stepping up as Creative Director after the tragic loss of Lee Alexander McQueen.

Here is what Sarah Burton has said about this amazing opportunity:

'It has been the experience of a lifetime to work with Catherine Middleton to create her wedding dress, and I have enjoyed every moment of it. It was such an incredible honour to be asked, and I am so proud of what we and the Alexander McQueen team have created. I am delighted that the dress represents the best of British craftsmanship. Alexander McQueen’s designs are all about bringing contrasts together to create startling and beautiful clothes and I hope that by marrying traditional fabrics and lacework, with a modern structure and design we have created a beautiful dress for Catherine on her wedding day.'

The elements of the dress were perfect for Catherine. It's structure flattered her slim body; the lace created a timeless elegance; the deep cut v-neckline kept it modern; and the long train was traditional.

I thought the best dressed wedding guest was Catherine's mother Carole Middleton, and I love that the Queen wore a cheerful shade of yellow! The worst dressed had to be Tara Palmer-Tomkinson. Head-to-toe in royal blue is not a good look for anyone.

I hope you all enjoyed watching the wedding if you got the chance. Let me know what you thought of the fashion choices!

Love from Lou Lou

Scotland's Finest in Fashion

2011-04-27T22:09:00.000+01:00

Exciting news for stylish Scots - The Scottish Fashion Awards have announced the shortlist for it's sixth annual awards night. It is to take place on June 15th at the Glasgow Science Centre, hosted by Laura Whitmore of MTV Europe.

Last year's winners include Jonathan Saunders for Designer of the Year and Holly Fulton for Young Designer of the Year. Also last year, a new category was formed: Graduate Designer of the Year. This was won by Jett Sweeney who's collection I really admired whilst watching the Edinburgh College of Art catwalk show.

This year the awards ceremony will be judged by some of the biggest names in fashion, including Dolly Jones (editor of Vogue.com) and Caroline Rush (CEO of the British Fashion Council.)

The list of nominees is a reminder of how many talented Scots there are in the fashion industry. I am hoping to attend for the first time, and look forward to the results.

Designer - Sponsored by VOGUE.COM

Holly Fulton

Christopher Kane

Jonathan Saunders

Holly Fulton

Louise Gray

E-Tautz

Young - Sponsored by The Scottish Fashion Council

Alice Palmer

Kerry Nixon

Obscure Couture

Iona Crawford

Henrietta Ludgate

Marc Ross

Alice Palmer

Retailer - Sponsored by Braehead

Spoiled Brat

ROX

Mackintosh

Bunmi Koko

Model - Sponsored by Toni & Guy Haircare

Tali Lennox

Vanessa Kanbi-Premier

Tali Lennox-Next

Sophie Kennedy-Clark - Storm

Louis Galloway-Elite

Freddie Rayner-Model Team

Eunice Olumide-AMQ models

Graduate - Sponsored by Marks & Spencer

Pamela Aitken-Heriot Watt University

Carolyn Edmondson-The Robert Gordon University, Grays School of Art

Sarah Anne Watkins-Cardonald College

Christina McIntosh- The Robert Gordon University, Grays School of Art

Campbell Dunn- Huddersfield University

Nicola Paxton-Edinburgh College Art

Sarah Elizabeth Struthers- The Robert Gordon University, Grays School of Art

Sian Parker- The Robert Gordon University, Grays School of Art

International - Malmaison and Hotel Du Vin

House of Holland

Rag & Bone

House of Holland

Mulberry

DAKS

Communicator - BAA Glasgow

Marc Psarolis-Managing Director Duchamp

Angus Munro-Model Casting Director

Gail McInnes-The Style Box, Canada

Philip Colbert-www.therodnikband.com

Le Garcons de Glasgow-Bloggers

Textile - Sponsored by The Herald

Harris Tweed Hebrides

Angela Cassidy

Jo Gordan

Eribe

Joyce Paton

Accessory - Sponsored by Swarovski

Bebaroque

Emily Lamb (Shoe designer)

Bebaroque (Hosiery designers)

Euan McWhirter (Jewellery designer)

William Chambers (Millinery designer)

Pea Cooper (Millinery designer)

Fashion Icon - Sponsored by Capital FM

Karen Gillan

1. Gerard Butler

2. Tilda Swinton

3. George Lamb

4. Freya Mavor

5. Karen Gillan

6. Laura McMonagle

7. Sharleen Spiteri

8. Sam Robertson

9. Amy MacDonald

10. Kelly MacDonald

Love from Lou Lou

Styled for a Wedding

2011-04-25T14:59:00.000+01:00

Dress - Warehouse
Wedges - River Island
Gold cuff - Maybury
Clutch - Gift from a friend

On Saturday I attended my cousin's wedding at Mount Stewart, outside Belfast. I was very impressed by the beautiful wedding dress my cousin wore, and I loved looking at what the guests were wearing too. Kate and William's wedding might not seem quite as fun and personal, but it certainly put me in the wedding spirit!

Have you got an outfit prepared for the wedding season? Are you excited to see Kate's dress on Friday, or bored of the hype?

Love from Lou Lou

Hello Erdem trousers!

2011-04-20T19:36:00.000+01:00

Trousers - Erdem
Blouse - Vintage

As some of you may have read on Twitter - I was lucky enough to pick out a designer item from The Outnet website as part of their 2nd birthday celebrations. There were 1999 other lucky girls who were all selecting their items at the same time though, so it felt like a bizarre fashion race! It was difficult to make my decision but after a lot of thought, I chose these trousers by my favourite designer Erdem as I've always wanted to own something designed by him.

Although they aren't one of Erdem's printed beauties, black is more versatile. Plus, I can always save for one of his beautiful floral print tops! In the meantime, I think this red blouse goes perfectly. I'm channelling seventies chic, whilst sticking with the black and red theme of my previous outfit post!

Love from Lou Lou

Lucky Lou Lou!

2011-04-16T16:29:00.000+01:00

Top, vest & sunglasses - Topshop

Necklace - Brick Lane market

Scarf - Rokit

Maxi skirt - H&M

Handbag - Primark

Watch - Oasis

Apologies for the lack of posts this month. I've been away in the highlands on my days off and then working hard at the hospital. Good news though - I now have a holiday for not one week, not two weeks, but THREE WHOLE WEEKS! Which means I'll be making up for lost time with my blog. I'm also going to my cousin's wedding just outside of Belfast so I'll make sure I post a picture of my outfit. Plus I'm going to Leeds to visit my old housemate and go vintage shopping. Oh and it's my birthday in two weeks so there's a lot for me to be excited about.

Love from Lou Lou

Topshop Styling

2011-04-05T13:39:00.000+01:00

Wow! Scrolling through Topshop's website is a fashion feast for my eyes right now! I don't think I've ever wanted so many items from one shop before. I'm mostly drawn to the acid brights and oriental pieces. There were too many garments to show you but these are some outfits I think work well together.

Boutique blue silk skirt £90, Boutique poppy print sleeveless tee £28 , Pink suede high vamp wedges £70

Green sleeveless shell top £28.50, Floral print capri jeans £40, Pink bow headband £7

Black crop jacket £55, Boutique silk chinese print trousers £90, Premium platform sandals £90

Which of these would you wear? Has anyone else noticed how amazing Topshop is at the moment?

Love from Lou Lou

Styles of the Month: March

2011-03-31T23:21:00.000+01:00

Looklet Style of the Month

I love the bold colours the Spring season has to offer
Styled by me on Looklet.com

Street Style of the Month

I love this girl's floor length cardigan
Photo from Face Hunter

Blogger Style of the Month

Jestem's violet skirt pops against the black

See more of her looks - Fashionsalade.com

Star Style of the Month

Vanessa Hudgens does Hollywood glamour

in this stunning Jenny Packham dress.

Let me know what you think of these styles and who you think dressed the best in the month of March.

Love from Lou Lou

Maison Michel S/S 2011

2011-03-26T13:53:00.001Z

One of my favourite ways I like to add to a look is with hair accessories. Perhaps this is why I am coveting several hair pieces from Maison Michel's new Spring/Summer collection. The styles vary from elegant gemstone headbands to quirky sequined cat ears, all beautifully shot by Karl Lagerfeld.

Maison Michel is the oldest millinery house in Paris, founded in 1936 by Auguste Michel. He began his business by creating hats for the most fashionable women in town and over the decades has transformed into one of world's most sought-after milliners. Fashion houses including Givenchy, Nina Ricci and Lanvin have included Maison Michel's designs and in 1996, the house was taken over by Chanel. It now has a ready-to-wear line (see below) which has been worn by style icons such as the Olsen twins, who opted for the popular lace bunny ears.

Love from Lou Lou

P.S You can now listen to some of my favourite songs on my new i-pod gadget I've just added to my blog (on the top right.)

Yay for Yayer!

2011-03-19T18:42:00.001Z

This week I have found myself a new online shop that has got me obsessing over their beautiful clothing. Yayer sells a variety of hand-picked and customized vintage garments, as well as their own label. Each piece gives you an individual look which is the main reason I love Yayer so much. The styles range from romantic to grunge so there is bound to be an item to suit every fashion lover.

Above are just some of my favourite pieces from both the Vintage and Modern sections. The 'Berry Red Romantic Blouse' is so chic and I'm really tempted to buy the 'Oriental Garden Dress' as it would look fantastic at a music festival and would really make you stand out in a crowd. My first fabulous purchase from Yayer is this 'Garden Party Blazer' which I received very quickly after ordering it. Roll on Summer when I can wear it with shorts to hang around in the sunshine!

Have a look for yourself - www.yayer.co.uk and get the latest news with Twitter or Facebook.

Love from Lou Lou

Illustration Love: Esra Røise

2011-03-13T14:00:00.002Z

I thought it was about time for another bit of illustration love. Previously I have told you about Italian genius René Gruau, Californian sweetheart Danny Roberts and talented New Zealander Kelly Thompson. My latest discovery is a Norwegian illustrator: Esra Røise. Based in Oslo, Ersa has worked for magazines such as Nylon, Vice and Wallpaper. She uses a variety of media including digital and collage but my favourite images are simply pencil and watercolour. I adore the colours she uses, as well as the splashes and drips of paint. Esra is inspired by a mixture of "people around her, the fashion industry, music, awkward moments and imperfections".

I want one of Esra's prints on my bedroom wall. I want to be drawn by her. I actually want to be her a little bit! To take a peek at her website, click here.

Love from Lou Lou

PFW: Chanel

2011-03-08T18:14:00.000Z

Karl Lagerfeld has done it again! Some how he manages to use the same classic elements of tweed, monochrome and tailoring and reworks them to make his new collections fresh and exciting. The Autumn/Winter collection shown in Paris today has a masculine edge, mixed with it's ladylike charm. Slouchy tailored trousers were rolled up to reveal satin lining and boyish blazers were layered up with beautiful tweed jackets.

The set designs of Chanel catwalks are always dramatic and a big part of the show. This time Karl created a post-apocalyptic scene with smoking rubble surrounding the wooden runway. It is definitely one of my favourites - just look how breathtaking it is as a backdrop to these photos.

In other Chanel news, it has been revealed today that Lily Allen has visited Chanel's headquarters and said "I'm here to see Karl for my wedding dress." Could her wedding dress beat Kate Middleton's? Stay tuned to Four Weddings...maybe not!

Love from Lou Lou

Wishing for a Bright New Start

2011-03-07T16:31:00.000Z

Printed scarf - H&M

Pleated skirt - Mad Elizabeth

Envelope bag - Topshop

Heart hole belt - Topshop

As you can see, I am already fully embracing the bright colours of the Spring/Summer season. I have recently bought an emerald green dress from Zara and I can't get enough of this scarf which has printed butterflies blown up to a huge size and a beautiful array of colours. I also really love the pleated skirt trend right now and I'm wishing for a sheer midi one, which I spotted a girl wearing recently in London.

Are you experimenting with Spring/Summer trends yet? Or are you just starting your wishlist?

Love from Lou Lou

LFW: Street Style

2011-02-25T23:33:00.000Z

Hello lovelies! Here are the pictures I promised, taken during London Fashion Week at Somerset house. I wish I could have spent more time in London and taken more street style photos. I'm already looking forward to the next London Fashion Week!

Let me know what you think of these stylish fashionistas I picked. Thanks to everyone who let me take their picture!

Love from Lou Lou

The Evolution of Topshop Unique

2011-02-23T22:07:00.001Z

On Monday, while in London, I went to a presentation by a Topshop Unique designer, who explained the process of creating a catwalk collection. I thought I would share with you what I learned as I found it really interesting.

Step 1 - The design team must gather research for the collection. They get their inspiration by travelling to different countries and also go to music festivals where they observe how people are dressed.

Step 2 - There are meetings held to discuss everyone's inspiration.

Step 3 - A research pack is put together and they work from this pack.

Step 4 - Sketches are shown within the team.

Step 5 - Each designer works individually with an in-house pattern cutter.

Step 6 - Models are chosen to wear each outfit as it looks different when hung on mannequins. The silhouettes are altered accordingly and Katie Grand (editor of Love magazine) helps the team at this stage.

Step 7 - A model casting is held and each model that is selected has an outfit which is to be worn for the catwalk show.

I am in love with Topshop Unique's Spring/Summer collection. It is a print driven collection and as you may know, I'm a bit of a print-fanatic! I think they look really original, varying from ink dropped in water to flying horses! Embellishment was the other main element which was created with Swarovski crystals.

Below is a picture of me trying on a silk jacket from the collection which I was REALLY tempted to buy!

Love from Lou Lou

LFW: House of Holland (A/W 11)

2011-02-20T11:46:00.000Z

There is one word I would use to describe House of Holland and that word is FUN! Henry Holland never takes his work too seriously, and the result is unpredictable and beyond exciting to see.

The selection of candy colours reminded me of Luella Bartley's creations, a designer I miss seeing on the catwalk.

The references in House of Holland's latest collection include Country Living and Bingo - the invites were in the form of Bingo cards. Genius!

Colourful crochet, budgie prints and tweed may sound like what a granny would wear, but trust Henry to make all this desirable to fashionable girls!

This has to be the very best of House of Holland and the very best collection I've seen so far during London Fashion week. It was tough selecting my favourite outfits, they're even styled to perfection - a mixture of matching and clever clashing. The item at the top of my wishlist is the bright pink tweed dress with pearls applied in a very unique and fashion-forward way.

What did you like most about the collection?

Love from Lou Lou

LFW: Felder Felder (A/W 11)

2011-02-19T17:48:00.000Z

It's that time of year again where I obsessively look at as many catwalk collections as possible, and imagine what I'll be wearing several months ahead. London Fashion Week is in full swing and this time I'll be in London on the look out for the best of street fashion. Watch this space!

Before I travel down to London, I want to tell you about my favourite catwalk show of yesterday; Felder Felder. I reviewed their last collection here and I'm happy to say that this season's show did not let me down. A new colour palette of ink blue, deep green and silver was mixed in with their usual base colour of black. The flirty feather textures of the Spring/Summer collection were replaced with an edgier texture of goat hair. Other details included crystal embellishment, belts and buckles.

One of my favourite elements of Felder Felder collections are the prints, created by the lovely Angela Hooker. This time her prints were created from magnified images of eisblume (a delicate flower) and owl feathers. This kind of creativity and originality is why I think Felder Felder are such a great representative of British style.

Love from Lou Lou

The Red Carpet: BAFTA vs. Grammy

2011-02-14T13:59:00.003Z

Last night, the red carpets in London and LA were rolled out for the beautifully dressed attendees of the film industry's BAFTA awards and the music industry's Grammy awards. Both events had worthy winners and there were some winning looks that got me cheering at my TV too!

Comparing the events, I would say that the BAFTAs had my vote for the best red carpet dresses. They were more colourful and elegant, whereas the singers at the Grammys were generally more revealing and daring. Not always in a good way though!

Below are my favourite looks from the BAFTAs and the Grammys.

Julianne Moore wears Tom Ford

Thandie Newton wears Monique Lhuillier

Hailee Steinfeld wears Miu Miu

Jessica Alba wears Atelier Versace

Florence Welsh wears Givenchy Haute Couture

Lea Michele wears Pucci

Kelly Osbourne wears Tadashi Shoji

Rihanna wears Jean Paul Gaultier

Which red carpet did you enjoy the most? Who did you think dressed the best?

Love from Lou Lou

*EDIT - I accidentally put J-Lo's outfit in the best of the Grammys but it was meant to be Kelly O!*

New Look

2011-02-09T18:06:00.000Z

Pink jumper by New Look

Bird print sheer shirt by New Look

Grey jeggings by Wallis

Pink hairband by New Look

Pink pom-pom hair clip by Orelia

Necklaces & bracelet both gifts

I have been shopping rather a lot lately, and cramming my little wardrobe with many beautiful things! Yesterday I went to Glasgow with my best friend Katz, and discovered loads of vintage shops in the West end. However, we didn't find anything we wanted to buy (except a dreamy fur coat which I love but sadly don't have room for!) so we hit the high-street. That's when I tried on the jumper and shirt as you can see above. I just had to buy them AND wear them together - even better! They're also pretty good transitional pieces which I can wear as the season takes me from Winter to Spring. Perfect!

Love from Lou Lou

Favourite ASOS things

2011-02-01T11:43:00.000Z

Clockwise from left: Warehouse lace shorts £35, Motel Wallflower Print Ethel Shorts £32, ASOS Premium Oversized Placement Shirt £32, ASOS Suede & Leather Weave Bag £20, ASOS Multi Bow Platform High Shoe £36, ASOS Rose Gold Effect Retro Style Oversized Watch £24, ASOS Premium Marbled Perspex Hard Case Bag £52, House of Harlow 1960 14ct Gold Plated Necklace £75

Shopping in Leeds

2011-01-28T15:13:00.001Z

Yesterday I took the train down to Leeds for the first time, to see my old housemate Kate. We had a lovely catch up and a VERY successful shop! The high-street favourites had to be visited, including H&M where I bought a pair of faux leather paneled leggings for only £15!

What I enjoyed the most though were the shops unique to Leeds. In kitsch boutique Culture Vulture we went crazy for the necklaces and were totally spoilt for choice, but whittled them down to two each. Mine were gold pendant necklaces with an Eiffel Tower and a stag. You can also buy Pop Tarts and Lucky Charms if you fancy an old-school breakfast! My favourite part of the boutique had to be their till which was covered with lego bricks and lego skeletons!

The best shop we visited by far was called Mad Elizabeth in the beautiful Corn Exchange. Although it was perhaps the smallest vintage shop I've been too - it had the best vintage pieces I've ever seen! I picked up a whole bundle to try on and in the end went for a chunky eighties cardigan with a purple rose design, a pleated electric blue skirt and a cameo necklace. If you're intending to shop in Leeds any time soon, I strongly recommend you pop into this shop. Below are a couple of pictures I took there.

Love from Lou Lou

New Outfit, New Hair

2011-01-26T16:54:00.000Z

Tartan coat by Sparkle & Fade

Peter Pan collar top by Topshop

Two-toned satchel by Urban Outfitters

Suede lace-up boots by Topshop

Necklaces by Orelia & Accessorize

Leggings by New Look

My two favourite items right now are my tartan jacket with a cosy sheepskin collar and my smart looking satchel. Red is my favourite colour which is probably part of the attraction to them! I also wanted to show you my new haircut which I got done today. The side-swept fringe has been replaced with a blunt full fringe and the rest of my hair has become an angular bob which I'll grow slightly longer. I'm really happy with it.

Love from Lou Lou

Style + Music

2011-01-22T21:54:00.000Z

Every morning before I go to work, I eat my breakfast while watching pop videos on TV, as music wakens me up and gets me ready for the day ahead. What makes me even more happy is when the videos include bags of style. Last year pop artists Rihanna, Gaga, Marina and Coco all gave their music videos a fashion edge. This year we will see a variety of styles from new artists Sunday Girl AKA Jade Williams, Korean girl band 2NE1 and critic's favourite Jessie J.

NE21 are currently huge in Korea and consist of four girls named CL, Bom, Dara and Minzy. Thier style is eccentric and they are already influencing fashion in their home country. Lucky for us, Will.i.am is helping the band release in America so we should see them on MTV in the near future!

While Jade was touring the music festivals last Summer, she was style-spotted by the likes of Vogue.com, which was then followed by DJ sets for Erdem and Reiss. Now that she's released her debut song "Stop Hey", we will see even more of her and her on-trend style. She likes sheer fabrics and masculine tailoring. Her music is so refreshing and I love that she creates her own artwork, song-writing and comes up with her own video ideas.

Jessie J is already becoming a huge success for 2011 and I predict we haven't even seen the best of her yet. She has so far won the Critics' Choice Award and the BBC Sound of 2011 poll. Plus her debut single "Do it Like a Dude" reached no.2! She has a killer attitude when performing so her tough style suits her perfectly. She's wears striking tights (including House of Holland) and fierce make-up (including Mac). She also makes me want to grow my hair back into a blunt-fringed bob!

Love from Lou Lou