Most Worn - Christian Dior 'Bustier' Dresses

Having spent nearly two decades at Valentino, Maria Grazia Chiuri made her debut for the house of Dior during the SS17 presentations. The fashion world waited with baited breath to see what creations would make their way down the runway...and the looks did not disappoint. One key look which stood out above all else was the 'bustier' dress, and it seems that over the past 9 months no matter what the event/occasion someone will grace the red carpet wearing one of these gowns. A particularly flattering style, these dresses are a new take on the 'underwear as outerwear' trend that we've seen over the past few seasons. So why are they so popular? Well for a start, Dior is known world over as one of the most luxurious fashion brands so given the chance who wouldn't want to wear one of their dresses? Secondly, these dresses are ultra feminine with a sensual appeal. They also come in a number of different fabrics: tulle, leather and even embroidered - so they can look either pretty or dramatic depending on what you want to opt for. The most worn style of this bustier dress has 'Christian Dior' branded shoulder straps. Usually with such popular styles, celebrities may not want to wear them after a while to avoid 'following a trend' but there really is no stopping this look at the moment and Dior has continued to develop this look in their most recent collection. Celebrity fans include: Jennifer Lawrence, Bella Hadid, Chiara Ferragni, Lily Donaldson, Felicity Jones, Kirsten Dunst, Jaime King, Elizabeth Olsen, Sienna Miller, Kate Bosworth, Emma Watson, Nina Dobrev and Dianna Agron...

And it's not just on the red carpet where this look has reigned supreme. The bustier dress has also become of the most popular choices for editorials...

Antonina Petkovic for Harper's Bazaar Malaysia / Jennifer Lawrence for Madame Figaro

Hilary Rhoda for Harper's Bazaar / Emily Ratajkowski for Vogue Spain

Jourdan Dunn for Glamour UK / Eva Herzigova for Elle Russia

Kiki Willems for Porter Magazine / Dasha Khlystun for Numero

Niki Trefilova for Elle Czech / Felicity Jones for Glamour UK

Arizona Muse for Harper's Bazaar Germany / Zlata Semenko for Elle Kazakstan

Jennifer Lawrence for Harper's Bazaar / Christy Turlington for Harper's Bazaar

Scarlett Johansson for Marie Claire / Daphne Groeneveld for The Fashionable Lampoon

Phillippa x

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A/W 17 Trend Report - Folklore

All the folk feels were present on the runway this season. From off-the-shoulder lace dresses, to rich velvet co-ords and embroidered floral coats - the folkloric theme was clearly present in many different guises. Naeem Khan hit the trend head on with an unashamedly bold folk themed collection. The colours, print, and embroidery - this was traditional folk in all its glory. Over at Temperley, Jonathan Simkhai and Tadashi Shoji, the look was a little softer and more romantic. Lace dresses, some with Victoriana high collars, graced the runway with delicate lace insert panels. Altuzarra and Zuhair Murad opted for rich velvet frocks in electrifying hues of midnight blue and mustard, both colours working exceptionally well on a glossy fabric. Metallic embroidery added to the high fashion finish of the theme. Folklore is your go to evening trend for A/W 17.

Phillippa x

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Shop Now - Tiger Motifs

It was a trend that started a few years back when Kenzo unleashed their 'Tiger' motif t-shirts and sweatshirts on the world...with countless copies finding their way onto the highstreet. Fast-forward a few seasons and Gucci delivered tiger motif after tiger motif on everything from daywear to eveningwear, accessories to shoes. As you can imagine, with Gucci being one of the most influential luxury brands this is one look which has seriously caught on and fashion lovers just can't get enough of it. But let's face it, we are not all on a Gucci budget, and that's where the humble highstreet steps in. It is impossible to enter any highstreet store without encountering some kind of tiger motif. Whether that be an oriental inspired pattern, a standalone conversational print or even an embroidered version. This trend adds a fun and playful pop of colour into your wardrobe and will transition well into the Fall, if bought in dark shades of blue and black. I have rounded up some of the best 'Tiger' motif garments and accessories currently available...

1. Boohoo £15 / 2. H&M £39.99 / 3. Giamba £515

4. Topshop £34 / 5. Gucci £795 / 6. Gucci £795

7. Marcelo Burlon £163 / 8. River Island £18 / 9. New Look £17.99

Phillippa x

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Brand To Know - ALEXACHUNG

She's been a firm favourite on the front row of countless runway shows, starred in ad campaigns for major luxury fashion houses and collaborated with a number of well known brands...but now Alexa Chung is taking on the fashion world on her own terms. Launching her eponymous label earlier this month, ALEXACHUNG is already stocked by: Colette, Net-a-Porter and Mytheresa. Drawing inspiration from icons from the world of music and art, the aim of the brand is to create collections that people actually want to wear whilst incorporating a British sense of humour. The brand will produce four seasonal collections each year, with many of the pieces being perfect for layering and mixing with existing items in your wardrobe. From everyday denim to mini patent dresses, as well as shoes and accessories, the brand strikes a great balance between being pretty but with a rock 'n' roll edge. Price Range: £75 - £1195

Phillippa x

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A/W 17 Trend Report - Cape Fear

Most likely to be Madonna's least favourite trend of the season (Brit Awards ref incase you were wondering), the cape is back in a big way for A/W 17. Making a strong sartorial statement on the runway, and with historical throwbacks, capes are the outerwear option of choice for Fall. A tailored cape can elevate your look and make even the most minimalist of outfit look polished. Coming with plenty of dramatic effect, capes came in a number of high-fashion luxe fabrics. Alberta Ferretti opted for floor sweeping velvet, Gucci for theatrical embroidered satin and Balmain mid-length frayed tweed. Valentino flirted with fuchsia, whilst Bottega Veneta teased with colour blocked autumnal colours. For me though, the standout look of this trend came from Balenciaga who fashioned a cape swept-to-one shoulder - reinventing this classic style with a modern tailoring twist. 

Phillippa x

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London Restaurants - New Favourites 2017

It's not very often that I post restuarant reviews on my blog, but so far this year i've dined at some fantastic restuarants which are just too good not to mention...

Som Saa

Located on Commercial Street in Shoreditch, this is my favourite restaurant in this post. This Thai restaurant started life a pop-up but recently opened near Spitalfields. The atmoshere is trendy, but still welcoming with a relaxed but cool vibe. Between myself and my group, we ordered 6 dishes on the recommendation of the waiter and decided to share. Sometimes when you share dishes plates can be small, but we were very surprised with the size of the portions. We went all in with curry, salad, and rice - all proving to be delicious. The 'yum makeua yao' (aubergine salad with prawn floss) and the 'neua parlow' (braised beef cheek) were my two favourite dishes. The ice cream desserts are also incredible. As a group of 4, with drinks, we spent £30 each.

Dishoom

Indian cuisine is one of my favourites, so I'd been meaning to go to Dishoom for a while. With four locations in London and one in Edinburgh, Dishoom is a great social spot. With so many great dishes on the menu, I recommend going in a group and ordering several dishes to try. I visited the Shoreditch location, which is so popular you sometimes have to wait over an hour for a table, (I believe you can't reserve a table if your group is less than 6 people). The atmosphere is great, very sociable, and service is quick. My favourite dishes are the Calamari and the Chicken Ruby, washed down with a Bombay Colada. Price: Mid

Oklava

This modern Turkish restaurant is located on Luke Street in Shoreditch. I have dined in a lot of standard Turkish restaurants, but Oklava takes the cuisine to the next level. The restaurant is only small and has an industrial style interior. Chef Selin Kiazim draws on her Turkish-Cypriot heritage to inspire the menu. I have to say the dishes were superb and presentation was second to non. Price: Mid-High

Andina

I have been to Andina a couple of times now and thoroughly enjoyed it on both occasions. This trendy Peruvian restaurant is located on Redchurch Street in Shoreditch and if you love ceviche this is the place for you. Admittedly I had never sampled ceviche before visiting, but its fair to say i've converted to this cuisine. Dishes are small, but the flavour is incredible. You also can't visit without having a traditional Pisco sour. Price: Mid-High

Sacro Cuore

Undoubtedly one of the best pizzeria's I have found in London. Sacro Cuore has two locations: Kensal Rise and Crouch End. Established in 2012, with the Crouch End location being the second to open, this pizzeria serves traditional pizza made the same way as you would expect to find in Naples. Service is quick and there is a great selection of pizza and desserts to choose from.

Phillippa x

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Get The Look - Glastonbury 2017

Glastonbury Festival takes place next week, so you can expect a weekend of world quality live music and so much more. It's been 6 years since I last headed down to Worthy Farm, but regardless of being there or not I love watching the highlights on tv. If you are going to Glasto this month, or any other festival this summer, then this edit should give you some outfit inspo...

Outfit 1

If you want your outfit to be super classic, you can't go wrong teaming denim shorts with an oversized khaki jacket. Its standard festival attire. This option from Topshop has floral motifs on the sleeve, adding an extra element of interest to your outfit. Accessories are practical.

Outfit 2

If you want to opt for something a little more feminine, a boho inspired dress is for you. This beautiful printed dress, with gathered waist, is from one of my current favourite brands 'LoveShackFancy'. Team this dress with a pair of coveted Hunter wellies and cropped leather jacket to toughen up the outfit. Ray Ban rounds complete the outfit and are the ultimate festival sunnies.

Outfit 3

This outfit was styled around a fringed skinny scarf for my favourite scarf brand, Rockins. When it comes to accessories, it doesn't get much more rock 'n' roll than this, therefore perfect for Glastonbury. This pair of embroidered floral shorts from Topshop perfectly match the scarf. Accessories are red and green, keeping with the theme of the full look.

Phillippa x

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A/W 17 Trend Report - Rainbow Fur

Ok so fur for fall is nothing new, especially when it comes to luxury fashion, but this season fur comes in the brightest spectrum of colours. Rainbow hues a plenty graced the catwalk on fur coats, which came in a variety of different silhouette's. It is a given that brands such as Versace and Armani will show fur on the runway, but for A/W 17 they delivered dip-dyed coats in bold colours. Taking things up a notch, Leonard, Valentino and Marco de Vincenzo showcased printed versions - proving that print need not be exclusive to just dresses, shirts and skirts. Colour-blocking was also a key subtrend, see Osman, Hermes and Giambattista Valli for reference. So whilst the controversy surrounding using real fur on the runway rages on, it seems A/W 17 is undoubtedly the season to express individuality with fur.

Phillippa x

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Shop Now - Floral Embroidered Shirts

It goes without saying that a shirt is a wardrobe staple, but for S/S 17 this classic essential has been given an embroidered folk update. The key to nailing this trend, is making sure the motifs are in a symmetrical placement, with many of the motifs being red and green adding a small pop of colour to your outfit. This new trend is a versatile way to update your wardrobe, as it will act as a great workwear shirt, as well as being the perfect styling option to team with a pair of skinny jeans for a casual daytime look. Whilst white cotton shirts are main focus of this trend, light blue styles will work equally well with denim. If you are looking for something even more trend driven, opt for a gingham version, combining another major Spring trend into he mix.

1. Vero Moda £32 / 2. Topshop £29 / 3. BooHoo £22

4. Neon Rose £35 / 5. New Look £22.99 / 6. Pretty Little Thing £25

7. River Island £38 / 8. New Look £24.99 / 9. Zara £29.99

Phillippa x

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Accessories Trend - 00's Rimless Sunnies

Oh yes that's right, the 00's are back! This season and last the 90's has been the decade that everyone has been channeling, but not for much longer as a 00's fashion revival is about to hit the big time (early noughties to be precise, we'd learned from our mistakes by the mid way mark). Kylie Jenner's already been snapped wearing a Juicy Couture velour tracksuit *gasps in horror* and a Von Dutch trucker cap *gasps in horror again*. But whilst these 00's trends are only slowly starting to push their way back to the forefront of fashion, with many wondering if it is too soon to relive this decade, there is one key noughties trend which is already back - rimless sunglasses. A must have accessory of the decade's favourite popstars: Beyonce, Anastacia, Britney, Jessica Simpson and even Victoria Beckham (YouTube serving as a permanent reminder of Victoria Beckham's sartorial choices in the 'Out of Your Mind' music video). You can't go far wrong with a coloured lens, red or yellow for a true 00's vibe. If you're feeling really fancy why not throw some diamante's into the mix. That little bit of sparkle on the rim of your sunnies adding some serious faux bling to your outfit, letting the world know you are fully committed to the 00's revival. As Paris and Nicole would say on The Simple Life "That's Hot"... Here's some 00's inspiration and details of where you can shop this key trend.  *Listens to Pure Shores by All Saints*

Key Brands: New Look, George at Asda, Carvela, Guess

1. Carvela £42 / 2. New Look £4.99

3. Peacocks £5 / 4. French Connection £54

5. Sunna £40 / 6. Dorothy Perkins £8

7. FCUK £54 / 8. Asda £4

9. Ray Ban £113 / 10. Sunna £35

11. Guess £103 / 12. Maui Jim £289

If you like eyewear, then head over to my Pinterest and take a look at my 'Sunglasses / Eyewear' board (details below)

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A/W 17 Trend Report - New Tartan

For A/W 17, tartan made a big impact on the catwalk. Traditionally from Scotland, this checked fabric was seen on the runway in all four fashion week cities. Miu Miu opted for a colourful revamp of this print, with large scale blocks of contrasting colours, whilst Esteban Cortezar kept things a little more traditional but amped up the colour intensity. We also saw many seventies references during the A/W 17 presentations and Coach and Marc Jacobs played with this theme by delivering tartan in vintage looking shades of 70's brown and mustard. With tartan being such a classic Fall fabric, you won't go far wrong by investing in this trend. Mix with shearling for an extra trend update. Key clothing items: coats and dresses.

Phillippa x

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Outfit of The Month - June

I'm going for some seriously cool vibes with my June 'Outfit of The Month'. The 'Girls Rule' t-shirt from Topshop has been doing the rounds on Instagram as of late. A steal at just £14 and designed for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, I based this entire look around this tee. Another brand which I am obsessing over at the moment is Coach, with their latest collection being inspired by all things American. This patchwork printed skirt works well for summer due to the lightweight fabric, but would look equally as good in Autumn teamed with opaque tights thanks to the red/black colour combo. I'm even thinking this would look killer at a festival! Opting for more Americana vibes, I found this amazing suede jacket from Topshop. The leather fringing on the sleeves screams 'cowboy' and adds a different dimension to the outfit. Going all out on the cowboy theme, these boots from Golden Goose perfectly complement the print on the skirt - a match made in heaven. To feminise the look, I have styled with the much coveted Loewe 'puzzle' bag. This bag comes in several colours but I went for cornflower blue to contrast the red on the skirt, therefore adding a stylish flair to the outfit. Completing the look is a classic pair of d-frame sunnies from New Look.

Phillippa x

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