Check out my recent Summer favourites in video form, including The Body Shop new Spa of the World range, a special shout out to DestinationSkin and my favourite trusty Topshop boots… Can I also just articulate via words the appreciation I have for full-time Youtubers. Creating and editing videos is so much more strenuous and tedious than it initially appears and takes a hell of a lot of dedication and motivation!
Last week, the Victoria Quarter invited me to an afternoon full of food, fashion and fitness to celebrate summertime at the iconic shopping haven in the heart of Leeds City Centre. Home to luxury fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton and Paul Smith, the VQ is the primary destination for luxury shoppers in Leeds. It has even become an architectural landmark for tourists visiting the city due to the beauty of its elaborate, Victorian arcades which truly add to the experience. The VQ is a fashion hotspot however delicious food can also be found notably at Filmore & Union, a health-conscious restaurant located in the centre of the quarter underneath the colourful stain-glassed roof. If you’re looking for a sophisticated and nutritious pitstop to your retail therapy then Filmore & Union provides this in the bucket loads. With a natural and clean decor, the restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere. Open from 8am in the morning, the food guru brand provide a delicious breakfast menu with healthy options from protein pancakes to a Filmore style Skinny …
Saint Laurent, SS15; Alberta Ferreti, SS15; Etro SS15 When a season commits to a revival of a certain era it’s pretty exciting. SS15 has brought back the Seventies: think Woodstock festival, hippies hugging trees and a whole load of suede tasseling. In other words: Boho. Sienna Miller created a ‘boho chic’ phenomenon in the early Noughties however since then it hasn’t had a chance to shine, until now. It’s not the sexiest of trends but it carries a lot of context in its cultural ties. That’s what’s so great about these powerful era-trends. They have a story. It’s embraced by many fashionistas from the cool, androgynous type to the glossy, girly type due to it’s place in our past – it’s part of all our histories. The high street is sure to be a major fan of the 70s trend this summer as it seems to be a trend that easily filters through from catwalk to shop floor. New Look’s summer collection is a shout out to the Seventies, brimming with floppy fedoras, suede A …
Have you ever styled an outfit to perfection and then instantly gasped in horror when you realise you have mixed navy and black? If the answer is yes then have nothing to fear. Black and navy blue are perfectly acceptable companions when it comes to piecing together an outfit. Say so long to the mysterious myth surrounding this colour combo, if you haven’t already – your style cred will not diminish, in fact, it will prosper. A mixture of navy and black creates an imbalance of a classical nature. As seasons pass, navy becomes the new black and then black becomes the new navy but the savvy fashion-goers betray the golden rules and simply wear the two classics at the same time. Not ground breaking fashion, I know, however the result is something extraordinarily basic and shows that some style rules are made to be broken. When I think of black and navy, I think of a Celine girl – edgy minimalism and always chic. Styling this trend? Tanned legs, red lips, little accessories – …
On the evening of 7th October, Harvey Nichols Leeds invited me to a Q&A event with Kristina Blahnik, Manolo Blahnik‘s lefthand woman when it comes to his family-run shoe empire who is also, incidentally, his niece. Here’s my story of the intriguing and fascinating stories she told us… Leaning against the structure of the water fountain in the central hub of the Victoria Quarter in Leeds after a day at work, I browsed my Instagram and checked my emails before entering Harvey Nichols to attend the Manolo event. As I anticipated the occasion, I thought about what Manolo Blahnik meant to me. The first image that sprung to mind was a youthful Carrie Bradshaw pounding a New York sidewalk in a pair of Manolo Mary Janes followed by a scene from Sex and the City where Carrie exclaims ‘Manolo Blahnik Mary Janes! I thought these were an urban shoe myth!’. For Manolo Blahnik, Carrie was the turning point for the designer’s commerciality, something he never pushed for, however after Candace Bushnell wrote his shoes into the book out of pure …
Hi guys, I’m going to start vlogging fashion and beauty videos so please watch this Spring Haul video and subscribe to my channel! Hope you enjoy! Jess
York’s High Street is unfortunately deprived of a Primark so I never, ever shop there. I have never ruled Primark out as a brand I would buy and wear, however I don’t love going in there. The queues, the mounds of clothes, the screaming babies…(there is always at least one screaming baby). Sometimes it just seems like too much effort for little quality. Since I’ve started watching Primark hauls online, however, I am starting to realise that Primark have turned a corner in terms of their quality, design, price, yes, but to be honest I am the sort of shopper that would rather pay a bit more for something to last longer. I can see that as a company they are wanting to compete with the main fashion retailers and give their customers on trend pieces, and I think this is only a good thing. When I entered the Leeds store yesterday, I did go in with an open mind, and a determination to find something I loved. My main theory was to walk at …
Left to Right: Akris Resort 2014; Christian Dior Resort 2014; DKNY Resort 2014. It’s fashion’s biggest ‘C’ hype of the year. No, not Cara…cobalt! This striking tone of blue has cleverly snuck its way onto our catwalks and filtered into our wardrobes in many forms over the past year. Resort 2014 has cemented its longevity with flashes of this notorious shade featured in Akris, Christian Dior and DKNY. As a pigment scientifically created by using cobalt salts of alumina, this colour is not to be messed with. Resort 2014 assures this is the case by combining cobalt with structured jackets, extremely tailored trousers, and clean, blunt lines. It is the perfect companion for a women’s suit – it is strong enough to compliment the sartorial details, and striking enough to add a touch of feminine allure. Wear with neutral tones for accessories, such as black, white or nude, to ensure a balance of colours. If you’re feeling daring, opt for a bright pink lip, like at Christian Dior Resort 2014, and a complimenting clutch for …
I have become addicted to buying white shirts. I cannot get enough of them! I usually buy the Oxford type with a slightly baggy silhouette for a casual look. I think I love them because they’re a blank canvas to add to which can make a really great statement. Navy is my second favourite colour, hence the combo going on in this outfit. It’s important that I keep slim lines with a skinny pair of jeans contrasted with the baggier shape of this printed bolero. Anything like this I love, mainly because it doesn’t look High Street – you can throw it over any outfit and instantly make your style look high fashion, genius. Bolero, Zara Shirt, Uniqlo Jeans, Topshop Boots, Topshop Necklace, Topshop
