Top 5: Suede Jackets

I haven't blogged for such a long time and I've missed it! I've had so much work and revision to do for uni, but I finished my exams on Friday so I'm baaaaaack! I have more free time this semester so expect more blog posts! 

For my first post in a long while I thought I'd focus on the New Season. If you follow me on Instagram (@kelsiee94 if you don't) you'll know I'm absolutely obsessed with the Spring/Summer trends filtering their way into the shops; today I'm talking suede. It's THE fabric of the season (hello seventies!) and I've become a little obsessed with buying vintage suede skirts. I'm also on the lookout for that perfect suede jacket, so I've picked out a few of my favourites below.... 

1. ASOS Biker Jacket, £130.

2. Boohoo, Emma Waterfall Suedette Tassle Jacket, £15.

3. H&M, Fringed Jacket, £29.99.

4. Ganni, Ingridge Suede Biker Jacket, £200 (via ASOS).

5. Rockit Vintage, Brown Double Breasted Suede Jacket, £65.

If you need some suede inspo, check out Pandora Sykes and Megan Ellaby on Insta - @pinsykes and @meganellaby. ASOS Marketplace also has some amazing suede jackets! What's your favourite SS15 trend? Leave me a comment! 

Top 5: Christmas Jumpers

If you still don't have the obligatory Christmas jumper for Christmas Day or Boxing Day, look no further! Most places have already started their online sales and you can still get next day delivery today, so I've picked five of my favourite festive jumpers to get you all feeling extra Christmassy! 

1. Glitter Christmas Sweatshirt, £28, ASOS

If you aren't in to the cheesy, OTT Christmas jumper styles, then this is perfect for you!

2. Jackie Snowflake Reindeer Fairisle Jumper, £15, Boohoo

3. Christmas Jumper, £24.99, H&M

4. Seasons Greetings Sweater, now £25, Topshop

5. 'Kissmas' Pudding Jumper, now £7, New Look

Are you wearing a Christmas jumper on the 25th? I definitely am! Which jumper is your favourite? Leave me a comment!

Have a fabulous Christmas and New Year, I'm looking forward to seeing lots of festive outfits!

Top 5: Fashion Books

I have so many outfit posts planned but this awful weather makes taking good photos so hard! Where I live today it's foggy, dark and drizzly.... Not a good mix!

So instead I decided I'd pick out a few book every style-conscious, fashion loving woman should own, you may have already heard of some of them! Something to add to your Christmas list perhaps?

1. Vogue: The Gown, £48.75 on Amazon.

If, like me, you love the glamour of a real show-stopping dress then you need to get this book! You might think £48 is expensive for a book, but it's not when you see it. This book is full of stunning dresses with photography by some of the industry's best. I think it's well worth the money and this one is definitely on my Christmas list!

2. Grace: A Memoir, £20.40 on Amazon.

Anna Wintour's right-hand woman has written a memoir and you really need to read it. Charting her life and enviable career, Grace Coddington is both insightful and entertaining. I cannot recommend this book enough!

3. The Little Dictionary of Fashion: A Guide to Dress Sense for Every Woman, £8.99.

The perfect stocking filler, this book is full of great little style tips from the fashion giant Christian Dior himself. 

4. Secrets of a Fashion Therapist: What You Can Learn Behind the Dressing Room Door, £14.93 on Amazon.

Betty Halbreich is the director of 'Solutions' at the legendary Fifth Avenue store Bergdorf Goodman, what she doesn't know about fashion is not worth knowing! In this book Betty shares all her knowledge about how to get dressed and look fabulous. If you haven't seen 'Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorfs' on Netflix, you need to watch that too!

5. The Woman I Wanted to be, £13.60 on Amazon.

Diane Von Furstenburg is one of the most influential fashion designers in the world and her iconic wrap dress is one of the most defining items of clothing. This is another book that is definitely on my Christmas list. 

Have you already read one of these books? Do you have any others you would recommend? Let me know in the comments! 

Top 5: Knee High Boots

As it's November now and the cold nights are really drawing in, I thought I'd focus this top 5 on an absolute Winter essential: the knee high boot. I know what some of you may be thinking... 'I will definitely look like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, with less of the endless leg and more of the hooker!' but I assure you if styled right, knee high/thigh high boots look great and they are actually really practical. I'll be posting a '3 Ways to Wear It' soon on knee high boots, so keep a look out for that if you are stuck! As usual, I've picked 5 of my favourites below...

1. ASOS Kiss Of Life over the knee boots, £50.

2. Linzi Shoes Grey Suede Stretch Wedge Boot, £35.

3. River Island Cleated Sole Platform Boots, £70.

4. Zara XL Leather Boot with Patent Toe, £99.

5. ALDO Dyanna Boot in Bordeaux, £89.98 in the sale.

I know I've picked mostly black boots here, but I genuinely believe that if you are going to invest quite a substantial amount of money in a pair of shoes, black is probably the best colour option! They will always go with anything else you wear and you should really get a lot of wear out them (cost per wear is my favourite way to rationalise a purchase!). Which is your favourite of my picks? Let me know in the comments!

Top 5: Roll Neck Knits

As it gets colder outside, my outfit choices become comfier and snugglier to make sure I'm warm whilst out at uni. This doesn't sound like the most stylish option, but this season roll neck (or polo neck, whatever you want to call them!) knits are so on trend right now you can still look fashionable even when it's freezing outside. 
I've picked five of my favourite roll neck knits that show how versatile they can be. Check back soon for a 'Three Ways to Wear it' post on how to style my number one, the oversized Zara jumper. 

1. Oversized Polo Neck Sweater, Zara, £35.99.
This is my favourite of all the knitwear I've bought so far this season, it's just the right oversized fit and it's such good quality to say it's so cheap. Also, it's so much thicker than it looks on the screen.

2. Turtle neck dress by Marques'Almeida, Topshop, £80.

I don't know about anyone else but I feel like this designer collab with Topshop is more affordable than the previous ones? This dress is the perfect way to add a bright pop of colour to your Autumn wardrobe whilst still keeping warm. I think it will look just as good with tights and chunky ankle boots as it does here with heels.

3.Cashmere roll neck, ASOS WHITE, £95.

I love the colour of this jumper and as its a fine knit, it will be the perfect layering piece.

4. Charlene Roll Neck Cropped Jumper, Missguided, £19.99.

I think everybody needs a staple black knit come Winter: it will go with everything. A fail safe outfit choice, and since this Missguided one is only 19.99, there are no excuses!

5. Calvin Klein Jeans Roll Neck Jumper, via ASOS, £115.

I know what you are thinking, pricey for a jumper! But... A. it's Calvin Klein and B. Take a look at ASOS Personal Stylist Isabella's instagram (@asos_isabella) and you will be sold. I've been lusting after this since she posted her first #OOTD wearing it. Sooo cosy!

Do you have a roll neck knit yet? I'd love to see how you've styled it! Which of my picks is your favourite? Leave me a comment!

Top 5: Faux Fur

I think it's safe to say Autumn is definitely under way and with it officially been the first day of Autumn yesterday, I thought a fur-themed top five was necessary. Nothing is comfier or cuddlier than snuggling up in fur when it comes to the colder months. I'll always buy faux fur though and with manufacturing techniques improving, you can buy faux fur that still looks luxurious. 

1. Black Faux Fur Slouch Bag, River Island, £37.
I've been looking for a more autumnal casual bag and this may just be the answer! 

2. Faux Fur Scarf, ASOS, £30. This scarf has been on my wishlist for a while, I love the pink tint to it. It will keep me warm whilst brightening up my outfit. 

3. Faux Fur Vest, Zara, £39.99. This vest looks so much more expensive than it actually is, an absolute bargain!

4. Faux Fur Open Toe Sandals, New Look, £24.99. If you are just after a hint of fur, these sandals are perfect. Also, they will definitely keep your toes warm on a night out!

5. ASOS Faux Fur Oversized Coat, £75. Look at this coat. You will never be cold in this coat, ever! It just looks so warm and snuggly. 

Which item is your favourite? Have you already bought a fur coat this Autumn? Leave me a comment! 

Top 5: Next's Autumn Catalogue

While most of us are still basking in the warm glow of the British summer sun, fashion has moved on to next season already. This is great news for those of us who like to plan (buy) ahead, but it can be a little confusing browsing through catalogues and shops filled with winter coats whilst you are still wearing sliders and denim cut-offs. 
I personally love to know what to expect from the shops come September so the arrival of my mum's Next catalogue on Sunday was a little treat.
Although it was really hard to pick just five items (well done Next!), I've managed to narrow down 344 pages into my five favourite essentials.

1. Fuchsia Roll Neck Dress, £38. Add a pop of colour to your Autumn wardrobe with this bright pink beauty! Laid back and effortless style. (It also comes in black).  

2. Metallic Cable Sweater, £45. Metallics are still a big thing for next season and I love this jumper. A very subtle nod to the trend. 

3. Plum Quilted Biker Jacket, £55. While the classic black biker jacket will never go out of style, update the colour a bit with this plum coloured version. 

4. Pleated Lace Skirt, £40. Dress it up, dress it down... This skirt is an excellent versatile addition to your wardrobe. The lace makes it look so much more expensive too!

5. Waterfall Coat, £65. There is no doubt about it, I will 100% be buying this coat! Such a bargain at £65 and the colour is gorgeous. I love a cosy coat I can just wrap up in when its freezing out.

Have you purchased any Autumn/Winter essentials yet? Have you found the perfect coat? Leave me a comment! 

Top 5: Wedding Guest Outfits

As well as the beach days and the holidays, summer is all about weddings. Securing the right dress is not only essential for the bride, it's essential to you as a guest also! You don't want to outshine the bride on her big day, but you do want to look fabulous of course. 
Here are my top five favourite outfits that would work great for a wedding! Do not be afraid to push the boat out a bit in terms of styling. Hurry, some are in the sales and going fast!

1. Tilly Floral Bodycon Midi (Boohoo), was £20 now £12 ! Perfect for styling with some nude barely-there sandals and a nude clutch.

2. Rose Print Asymmetrical dress (River Island), was £50 now £20 ! This dress is such a bargain at £20 I may just buy it anyway, who knows when you're going to need a little glamour! The asymmetric structure adds that little bit of difference to what would otherwise be another floral print dress. 

3. Kozia Scalloped Detail jumpsuit (Missguided), £29.99. Why not try a jumpsuit instead of a dress? This Missguided one is super classy and would look great with some simple gold jewellery. 

4. Topshop Limited Edition Palm Print Jaquard Co-Ord, £150 if bought together. I think you can definitely wear darker colours to a daytime wedding, as long as they look a little something like this! This co-ord is tailored to perfection and is totally appropriate wedding guest attire if paired with the right heels. I love the wrap detail on the skirt. 

5. Ted Baker Wispy Meadow Maxi Dress, £229. This dress is a little slice of pleated heaven, it's beautiful. If you are looking to make a real statement, this is the dress to do it in. 

Are you going to a wedding this summer? What will you be wearing? Leave me a comment!

Top Five: Rain Macs

I've been thinking of starting a feature on my blog, so this is the first of a new weekly edit: 'Top Five'. This week in honour of the bi-polar weather we've been having, I've chosen my Top Five rain macs. 
If your childhood was anything like mine, you were probably forced to wear an ugly fold-away anorak type thing to school when it was showery outside, but fear not! The rain macs I've found are very pretty (also practical) and a far cry away from anything you would find in an outdoors shop.  

1. ASOS Longline Rain Mac with Spots, £35. I think this is my favourite of the bunch, just because it looks so chic but you know it will keep you dry when you are caught off-guard in a rain storm. 

2. Jaded London Hooded Rain Mac with Garden Flowers, £55. Bright and bold if you are looking to stand out at a festival this Summer.

3. Kacey Lace Print Scallop Hem Mac (Boohoo), £28. Pretty, girly and a bit different to your average rain coat. I think if Barbie wore a rain coat, it would be this one.

4. Hollie Heart Print Raincoat (Pretty Little Thing), £24. This darker print will see you through to early Autumn. Also the print is a little more reserved compared to the above options. 

5. Checked Rain Mac (Marks and Spenser), £49.50. One word describes this mac: classy. Looks like the essential trench coat, but it's waterproof. Perfection. 

Will you be sporting a mac this Summer? Are you packing one for a festival? Leave me a comment!