Matalan Spring/Summer 2011 Lookbook

It may still be achingly cold outside and we may still be wrapping up in as many layers as we can, but the mysterious ways of the fashion world are still turning; already preparing for the next fashionable season - Spring/Summer 2011.

There's nothing more refreshing and uplifting than seeing pretty summer dresses and new season trends sitting on their rails comfortably, a true sign that Winter is drawing to a close.

Highstreet chain Matalan have pulled out all the stops for the New Year. Their Spring/Summer 2011 collection is heavily inspired by the big three decades, the 50s, 60s and 70s. 70s inspired trousers and jumpsuits, 60s shift dresses and 50s style prom dresses are all going to be 'must have' staples of our 2011 wardrobe.


Matalan's 'Be Beau' range consists of everything we adore about Summer. Fresh and feminine florals have been worked into a number of items, including playsuits, shorts and prom dresses.

Although not floral, the Big Apple Halter Playsuit, £20, is one of the stand out pieces from the range. It maintains it's flirty edge with the use of bold pattern and is clearly inspired by the 50s pin-up. The playsuit can be teamed with some sexy heels or even comfy flats.



Other key pieces from the range include the Vintage Floral Jumpsuit, £22, which is great for teaming with floppy sun hats. The Double Bow Detail Floral Prom Dress, £25, with its gorgeous neckline bow detailing and the Vintage Floral Shorts, £14, which look super feminine teamed with a colourful vest top and chunky heels.







The 'Papaya' range is possibly the most popular of all the in-store collections, and it's certainly not going to be any different for 2011. The new Papaya collection embraces a festival feel with a strong nod to the 70s.

The Floral Print Pack-a-Parka, £18, is perfect for muddy festivals where it is sure to rain. The parka can be worn over pretty much anything, including the Stripe Sundress, £18, and with a pair of wellies, this outfit screams festival chic.




The Halterneck Embroidered Maxi Dress, £18 really stands out in this collection. It is a gorgeous hot and fiery piece which looks great with a few bangles and our old favourites, the Gladiator sandals.





The use of shape and different materials is really what makes this collection something special. Think fresh and floaty with the Printed Kaftan Blouse, £16, and the Chiffon Frill Dress, £22, which are both perfect pieces for those long lazy Summer days.




For more suitable Summer evening pieces, you can turn to the Dipped Hem Blouse (a trend that is going to be huge this season), £14, teamed with a Tape Cardigan, £18, and Panelled Skinny Trousers, £16. Or for a touch of glamour, you can opt for the camel coloured Gypsy Blouse, £14, with the Flat Front Flare Trousers, £16.




Of course, there is much more to come from the Matalan Spring/Summer 2011 collection, but I don't want to spoil the surprise for you. Still to come from the collection is a range of gorgeous Swimwear and Lingerie, as well as Vintage and Boho inspired accessories. But what I'm the most excited about seeing (and you should be to) is the key footwear, including Gladiator Sandals, Comfortable flats and Killer Heels.

2010 Online Sale Picks

As you lay on the sofa, stuffed with turkey and far too many Quality Street, Christmas day winds down and there's only one thing on your mind- hitting up the Christmas sales. It's a great chance to have some quality you-time after weeks of shopping for other people's presents. Everything you eyed-up when you were trying to concentrate on finding a perfect cardigan for Aunt Mildred can now be yours, half price, guilt free.

But sales aren't always fun.

It's a lot of pushing, shoving, hunting and grumbling, trying to shove your arm in between two particularly insistent shoppers. You drag yourself up in the early hours only to stand and queue for half a day. And after a few hours of dragging round bag-upon-bag you can't stand the thought of another sale sticker.

But thankfully, we have the genius of online shopping. No fighting, no shoving, just sitting on the sofa with your laptop and a plate of left-over turkey sandwiches. This year many Post-Christmas sales started before Christmas, as the shops know that with the weather, nothing will actually arrive in time for Christmas so you could catch a few bargains on Christmas Eve, but most stock will still be available discounted for another few weeks.

Here are some of my favourite reduced-price beauties...

River Island

Loved the lace trend this winter? Check out these lace stilettos, down from £59.99 to £25.

Animal print was a huge trend this Autumn/Winter and this one shoulder animal print dress would be perfect for NYE. Down from £59.99 to £25

Military trend, check. Leather, check. This khaki leather skirt would be perfect with a chunky knit jumper.

TopShop

Still haven't managed to get a piece of the faux fur trend? This gorgeous faux fur jacket is down to £40.

This cosy aviator jacket is now only £35.

Another winter trend was shearling hiking boots. These come in on-trend Camel or simple and sophisticated black. Down to £50.

ASOS

Fancy a designer treat this Christmas? This Lulu Guiness clutch is down from £195 to £136.50

Still haven't found your perfect winter coat? This duffle coat is perfect for a cold British Winter, and only £45.

And if duffle coats aren't your thing, how about this puffer jacket for only £38.

Miss Selfridge

Forget the LBD, it's all about the LWD. Even better if it's lace. This dress would be perfect with knee socks and military boots.

This gorgeous little fur cape is down to only £10. A perfect addition to any outfit.

Trousers are the new skirts this season, especially for winter. This neutral camel pair would be a great addition to any wardrobe.

What have you got your eye on in the sales?

The best of the Online Sales!

Christmas is still far from over. Last minute gifts are yet to be purchased, Turkeys are slowly defrosting and Vegetables are still sitting unpeeled, but the January sales are already beginning.

Traditionally, the Sales begin on Boxing Day morning, with a frenzy of shoppers cramming their way through shop doors in order to be the first to get the bargains. However, many Online stores are trying to shed their Autumn/Winter 2010 goods in a Pre January sale, which means, if you don't fancy queuing up on a cold morning, you can find some of the best bargains on the web from the comfort of your own home.

My-Wardrobe.com
My-Wardrobe.com is just one of the most anticipated Sales of the year as they offer very generous discounts of 30%, 40% and even 50% off Womenswear and Designer Products.

Some of my favourite bargains come in the form of Vivienne Westwood Accessories.

The Derby Cross Body Satchel, with traditional check and modern gold detailing was an absolutely staggering £316, but has been slashed down to a more affordable £158.




This John Smedley Caramel Ribbed Cape has a generous 30% off it's original £140, making it a purse friendly £98. Not only is the cape still huge in the fashion stakes but the Caramel/Camel colour is still an extremely popular colour.




Of course, having just purchased hordes of presents for friends and family, you probably won't be splashing out on Designer goodies just yet. Thankfully, our trusty British high street is always bargain friendly, so if you've been lucky enough to secure a cheeky Christmas bonus this year, this is really where you can splash the cash and treat yourself after slaving away over Christmas dinner.

Miss Selfridge
Miss Selfridge have kicked off their Sale with generous reductions on Dresses, Skirts, Tops and much more. Plus, they've got some great offers on the go, such as 3 for £9 Lingerie and 2 for £12 Vests.

It's still eye wateringly cold outside so knitwear is still a must. I love the Red Woolmix Waterfall Cardigan, reduced from £25 to a very warming £12.



Oasis
Oasis are also giving visitors up to 50% off their gorgeous Womenswear. If you still don't have your New Years Eve party dress sorted, this is the perfect time to secure yourself a gorgeous dress for half the price that other partygoers paid.

The Flower Corsage Dress has been slashed from £55 to £35. It's a gorgeous LBD with simple corsage detailing, or you can opt for the festive Red version.




New Look
Again, another 50% off for shoppers means you can bag yourself plenty of bargains. Prepare yourself for all the rain that is bound to come our way with the Poplin Parka, for just £15.



New Look are the high street giants when it comes to shoes and thankfully, gorgeous heels and cute flats are all part of their Pre January Sale.

The Velvet Bow Pumps are an incredible £8, down from £20. They are a perfect pair of comfy shoes for day wear and even for party time.




These are just a few product suggestions available at bargain prices right now. As Christmas and the New Year draw closer, almost every shop you can imagine will slash their prices. We all deserve a little treat for the Year we've just endured, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't fancy queueing for hours in hot stuffy shops, so Online Sales are the perfect place to shop!

*Images courtesy of My-Wardrobe, Miss Selfridge, Oasis and New Look.

Primark spring 2011

Oxford street London

Primark- A store known for selling clothes on a budget.In a wide range of styles, each season Primark brings out a new range, keeping with the latest fashion trends.
With over 200 hundred stores in the UK, Primark is very popular, Similar to Forever 21 in the USA.

I had a look on the Primark Website, to see what they have in store for us this spring 2011.
I must say I was rather excited when I saw the press release pictures!
I thought I would share them with you, even if you are not from the UK I hope this post becomes an interest to you,consider this article as little peak into spring'2011 fashion trends.

These outfits are very retro, quirky and incredibly cute. I can definitely see myself wearing these items!

Beach scene prom dress in store, January. £17
Cream socks in store February.£1.50
Patent platform £12 in store now.

Shell frill sun dress in store March £9
Interwoven wedge in store March £18
Retro glasses in store mid November £2
Retro sun glasses in store January £2
Cup shape straw bag in store March £7

Belted chiffon shirt dress in store March £15
Lace up wedge in store February £12
Mini pocket satchel in store March £7

Embroidered crochet cardigan in store February £16
Belted chiffon shirt dress in store march £15
Piped edge cork platform in store April £18
Cream socks £1.5o
Mini pocket satchel in store March £7

What are your favorite outfits/pieces? Do you shop in primark? I'd love some feed back.
More press releases coming soon!
Have a lovely Christmas!

Image credit

A Year of Fashion: Top Trends of 2010

Well, the year is almost over so now is the time to reflect on some of our favourite trends from the last year. Some trends enter your life so easily it's difficult to remember a time before they were there, and this year was definitely a year of trends like that. With the on-going recession there was a movement towards neutral colours and vintage inspired pieces, which meant we could all mix-and-match our clothes and spend our precious pennies in charity shops and second-hand shops.
Here is a round-up of my favourite trends from this year..

Nude

Around Springtime we all went wild for this elusive colour, from shoes to dresses to handbags and nail colour. It was the perfectly wearable shade; one piece and you were band on trend. The shoes made our legs look longer, nude lipstick allowed us to go all Taylor-Momsen on our eyes and the colour was simply flattering ad stylish- from beiges to blush, nude went with everything. It looked perfect with bare legs for summer or with black tights and a blazer come autumn. Let's hope this colour keeps its popularity into next year.

90s Grunge

Everybody who was anybody went through 2010 looking like Courtney Love. We welcomed back tulle skirts, denim jackets, grungy florals and of course, military boots. The trick was to mix grungy and girly for an edgy look. Denim was also everywhere this year and even double-denim was no long fashion suicide. Everyone pulled out those cute, cropped denim jackets and told everything they were vintage from the 90s, when they were really from New Look.

Lace

Another fashion trend we never thought we'd see again; lace was fighting with the big boys this season. From see-through lace tops with black bras peeking through, to lace sleeved to full-lace dresses, something about this trend was both girly and sexy at the same time. White lace dresses were perfect with feminine mary janes, or with an edge of leather and combat boots.

Leopard Print

We've all gone, well, wild for animal print the last few months. Something about the print just oozes sophisticated and sexy. It's the perfect neutral too and goes with any colour- but if you really want to stand out, it looks amazing with red.

Faux Fur

Fur has become the must-have accessory for this season, and when even Karl Lagerfeld goes fake, you know  that the whole world will follow. Faux fur is cosy and sophisticated and can be worn in coats, hats, scarves or even a little fur trim. It's also a great piece to pick up vintage, however it probably won't be fake...

Leather

To counter-balance all the girly nudes and feminine lace, we had to go the complete over way. More than just jackets (although the aviator jacket literally flew off the shelves), leather now comes in the form of trousers, leggings, shorts, skirts and waistcoats. Perfect with 90s grunge dresses and pretty lace.

What were your favourite trends from this year?

all pictures from Elle.com

More Animal Print Dresses

Here at the Fashion Buzz, we love animal print dresses. We think that they are the perfect choice for a Christmas or new years party for girls with attitude. If you don't want to wear the typical body con style of animal print dress, there are plenty more subtle ways to go. With some amazing offers from high street and online retailers, there is still time to bag yourseld a fab dress for Christmas or New Year.

Mel Leopard Print Dress - Add a splash of colour to your leopard print with this stunning party dress

Animal Print Maxi Dress - This dress is the perfect way to wear animal print with chic sophistication.

Black Animal Print Dress - This Princples by Ben De Lisi dress works perfectly for both day and evening.

Leopard Print Big Sleeve Dress - how about leopard print sixties style?

Animal Print Ruched Body Con Dress - Another great style of party dress - very eye catching

New Years Eve Party Accessories

Christmas is well and truly on it's way, but while everyone else is stressing and worrying about turkey and tinsel, the fashion lovers amongst us are already fretting about our New Years Eve party outfits.

We often worry about our outfits so much that we forget the things that really make an outfit dazzle - the accessories! Jewellery, bags and shoes are a must for any outfit, but for a New Years Eve celebration, they are more important than ever.

Possibly the most important of the three, are the shoes. Without shoes, you'd not only be barefoot and cold, but your outfit would be without it's trusty talking point. Shoes can accessorize the perfect party dress, but they really work their magic when they turn an otherwise boring and simple dress into a glamorous party outfit. The only type of shoes acceptable for New Years Eve parties are heels and Miss Selfridge are at the forefront of the party heels brigade.

The limited edition Black & Bronze Suedette Platform, £60 are high street imitations of designer Nicholas Kirkwood's Autumn/Winter 2010 collection.


These gorgeous shoes are a party within themselves. They would glam up a simple LBD or add real guts to a bolder, braver party dress, and for only £60, they are reasonably priced enough for you to pop them on your Christmas wishlist.

So, we've got the shoes covered, and now it's time to sort out what glamorous accessory we're going to use to store our party essentials such as Lipglosses and Mobile Phones in.

Big bags are a complete no-no as you don't want to be lugging it around the dance floor all night, so try to stick to clutch purses or small shoulder bags which will leave you free to dance all night long. M & Co have a small range of bags that are perfect for the party season.

The Black Sequin Bag is only £20. It's perfect for special occasions and is roomy enough to fit in your essentials. It's delicate chain handle and glitzy sequins make it the perfect New Years Eve bag.



The Beatrice Bow Bag, £15 from Oasis is a gorgeous shimmering blue with a small bow embellishment. It's perfect for fitting under your arm and will compliment your dress brilliantly.



Every party outfit needs a finishing touch - a cherry on the cake - and in the world of fashion, the finishing touch comes in the form of jewellery. Necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings are all essential pieces, but you don't want to look like a walking jewellery stand, so try and stick to just two pieces. Usually necklaces and earrings are the preferred statement pieces.

Liberty stock a gorgeous selection of jewellery. The Silver Plated Necklace by Vivienne Westwood, £45 is a real bargain and a perfect present from a loved one. The necklace is simple yet effective and perfect for accessorizing a party outfit.



These gorgeous Giles and Brother Faceted Heart Earrings, £55, will look dazzling alongside your outfit.



Finally, your New Years Eve party accessories are sorted, but of course these are just a few suggestions and tips to guide you through this confusing time. So remember, once you've brought the perfect party outfit, you still have a long way to go until your gorgeous outfit is officially complete!