Style Icons 2013 – Gwen Stefani

Posted on December 30, 2013 by fashion-mommy

While Kate Middleton tackled Maternity style with chic this year, I don’t think I have ever seen a more glamorous mom-to-be than the utterly gorgeous Gwen Stefani. She had me in awe with her always red lips, glamorous heels and general glow that made her look like a total goddess. Quite simply, Gwen was a picture of perfection. I think I actually drooled over every picture of her that I saw.

Gwen has shown that you can retain your signature style during pregnancy, still wearing skinny jeans, heeled boots and shoes, and those trademark sunnies. But she has also provided a masterclass in layering, keeping warm as the temperatures have dropped with a range of gorgeous coats worn over stretchy dresses and classic jeans and jumper combinations. And when it comes to evening glamour, Gwen has embraced that bump and covered it with tassles and sequins, making her place amongst the best dressed of 2013 an obvious choice. Maternity style has had some real high-points in 2013, with Duchess Kate, Zara Philips and Kim Kardashian making it the stuff of front page headlines. But, for me, it reached its zenith with the sheer Hollywood glamour of Gwen Stefani.

Glam maternity looks from Next

Black Over-The-Bump Taper Leg Trousers (Maternity) £28 click to visit Next

Black Two Layer Dress (Maternity) £22 click to visit Next

Embroidered Organza Shell Top (Maternity) £18 click to visit Next

Wrap Dress (Maternity) £30-£32 click to vosot Next

Wrap Dress (Maternity) £30-£32 click to visit Next

Midi Dress (Maternity) £24-£32 click to visit Next

Black Tube Skirt (Maternity) £18 click to visit Next

Seriously Stylish Sales Picks

Posted on December 29, 2013 by fashion-mommy

I made my first venture to the sales yesterday, and I’m still shuddering at the thought of it. I’m sure there were a great many bargains to be found, but you had to search hard amongst the rails of unmitigated rubbish, with pulls, rips, missing sequins seeming to be the order of the day.

The rule of the sales is get there early, when they first start, in order to pick up real bargains. With many of the ‘new years sales’ now starting before Christmas, by the time you get to New Year, you are often faced with items better left to the dustbin than the bargain bin. And this is where the internet really comes into its own for sales shopping.

No crowds, no damaged goods, no pieces from Summer 2011 suddenly and mysteriously appearing on shop rails all over again, there are a great many bargains to be found online as the sales draw to a close. And with many stores now offering up to 70% off, there are real bargains to be found.

I’ve trawled a few of my favourite online destinations to find some great buys. Here are my key finds from Selfridges, Clarks, Boden and Evans.

Selfridges

MICHAEL KORS Printed v-neck dress

FRENCH CONNECTION Cora devore maxi dress

FOREVER UNIQUE Raquel dress

MARC BY MARC JACOBS Mouse perforated leather pumps

KG by Kurt Geiger

STEVE MADDEN Colour block handbag

TORY BURCH Catalina leather hobo

TED BAKER Art Deco large shopper bag

KATY BEVERIDGE Bicycle wheel t-shirt

Clarks

Concert Piano

Alessie Eve £19.99

Licorice Snap

Concert Ticket

Boden

Jewelled Georgette Dress

Kate Dress

Alma Dress

Isabel Jumper

Chelsea Jumper

Sixties Slingbacks

Evans

Evans Black Sequin Wrap

Evans Plum Metallic Yarn Heart Cardigan

Scarlett & Jo Black Side Split Velvet Maxi Dress

Evans Red Bobble Cable Knit Jumper

Clements Ribeiro Swan Navy Glove Print Panel Skirt

ASOS dress sale – Perfect for New Year

Posted on December 27, 2013 by fashion-mommy

Well, Christmas Day may be over for another year, and you’ve probably had your fill of turkey and trimmings. But, if you’re like me, you’ve probably not yet had your fill of shopping. Tis the season of the sales, and that is certainly reason enough to be jolly.

Of course, there are officially twelve days of Christmas, which is why today’s post brings you twelve, perfect, party worthy dresses from ASOS, all beautiful, and all reduced in the end of year sale. They are just wonderful if you haven’t yet chosen something for New Year’s Eve parties, and will take you through to all those January Balls that many large companies choose to throw (apparently it is much cheaper to hire the rooms and venues in January, so more and more companies are starting the year with a bang, rather than ending the year with one!)

ASOS has a fabulous collection of dresses. These include 1990s style slip dresses of the sort worn by Kate Moss, and now copied by Miley Cyrus. There are 1950s cocktail era velvet gowns, and 1930s styles with fluted sleeves. Of course, there are blingy styles with Gatsby Style sequin detail (I get the feeling this particular evening style is never going to go away – thanks to Downton Abbey.) And, if your dress style always tends towards the traditional, there are little black dresses galore.