Flower Power at Phase Eight

Posted on June 28, 2016 by fashion-mommy

When it comes to floral prints and fashion, there is always a bit of a love/hate relationship. The print is undoubtedly popular, particularly when Summer comes around, a natural choice for weddings, race days and ladies days. But it also has the reputation for being a safe and staid choice – let’s face it, if we are talking about sexy or sophisticated, flowers may not be the first print that comes to mind.

Yet this would be a shame, because floral prints can be so much more than the print your grandma would love to see you wearing. Beautiful, hot red carpet looks have taken the deepest of red flower power prints and added full skirts and sweetheart necklines to give a real Sophia Loren look that says more va va voom than Chelsea Flower show. Sophia Bush (top image) has forties style waves, vampish red lips and a firecracker print that shows just how delectable a print made up of booms can be.

Phase Eight is always a good place to look for a real variety of floral prints, with plenty of dresses each season in a range of shapes. They have just launched a flower power collection and have asked me to put together a favourite look. I have used the hot red prints and forties and fifties shapes of the ladies below to plot a favourite look that should be perfect for anything from a wedding to summer party season.

fabulous celebrity red floral styles

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House Of Fraser British Academy Television Awards (TV BAFTA) 2015 - Arrivals Featuring: Guest Where: London, United Kingdom When: 10 May 2015 Credit: Lia Toby/WENN.com

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My Flower Power style

POPPY BURNOUT DRESS Sale £42.00 Click to visit Phase Eight

POPPY BURNOUT DRESS £42.00 Click to visit Phase Eight

PENELOPE FLORAL DRESS Sale £59.00 Click to visit Phase Eight

PENELOPE FLORAL DRESS £59.00 Click to visit Phase Eight

NANCY FLORAL DRESS £65.00 Click to visit Phase Eight

Wear with…

ELENA SUEDE PEEP TOE SHOES £99.00 Click to visit Phase Eight

ANITA SUEDE SANDALS £69.00 Click to visit Phase Eight

BOBBI SUEDE CLUTCH BAG
Sale
£39.00 Click to visit Phase Eight

Monochrome – the trend that never goes away

Posted on January 14, 2016 by fashion-mommy

Salt and Pepper. Laurel and Hardy. Ham and Eggs. Strawberries and cream. All great partnerships, together in perfection. And when it comes to colour combinations, the classic, the epitome of the perfect combination has to be black and white. Just this week, supermodel of the moment Gigi Hadid, showed how classically elegant black and white can be, teaming a white silk blouse and cigarette pants with strappy cage heels. The look was both timeless and current and showed why this is one style combination that will never go out of fashion.

As well as Gigi, many other style icons and celebrities have recently ignored the lure of a colourful wardrobe in favour of monochrome. From the effortless Diane Kruger, to Lupita Nyong’o, black and white is again becoming a major choice when it comes to the red carpet dressing, whilst current fashion collections, from High end to High Street, are following suit, and showing that monochrome can work well for boho styles and daytime looks, as well as glamorous evening attire. Paulie, which is currently offering free UK delivery and returns, has some fantastic monochrome pieces, including some included in their current sale. I am totally in love with Plein Sud contrast seamed dress which is currently half price and is just beautiful.

Also embracing the monochrome trend are ASOS, Dorothy Perkins and ASOS, who are all offering their own unique trend on a style classic. From stripes to stars, jumpsuits to animal print, there is sure to be a way to add black and white to your wardrobe without abandoning your own style.

Camilla Belle

Lupita Nyong’o

Rooney Mara

Diane Kruger

Gigi Hadid

Get Monochrome style

Plein Sud
Contrast Seam Dress in Ivory now £238.00 Click to visit Paulie

Paulie
Contrast Cashmere Jumper
now £137.50 Click to visit Paulie

Hale Bob
V-Neck Beaded Blouse
£280.00 Click to visit Paulie

Carley Textured Jacket
Sale
£48.00 Click to visit Phase Eight

Textured Spot Dress
Sale
£29.50 Click to visit Phase Eight

Black and white Sleeveless Top
Price: £22.00 Click to visit Dorothy Perkins

Petite Black And White Dress
Price: £20.00 Click to visit Dorothy Perkins

Black and white heart snood
Was £10.00
Now £8.00 Click to visit Dorothy Perkins

ASOS CURVE Twist Bardot Skater Dress in Ditsy Star Print
£30.00 Click to visit ASOS

Lost Property of London Arlington Saddle Bag
£260.00 Click to visit ASOS

ASOS Striped Tee With Am I French Yet Slogan
£16.00 Click to visit ASOS

ASOS Longline Top In Stripe With Side Splits and Long Sleeves
£18.00 Click to visit ASOS

What are your thoughts on monochrome – fashion do or fashion don’t?

Christmas Glamour from Phase Eight & Studio 8

Posted on November 17, 2015 by fashion-mommy

When it comes to glamorous occasion dressing, Phase Eight can always be relied upon. And now, Sister brand Studio 8 is also continuing the good work, with beautiful pieces that go up to size 24. With Christmas less than 40 days away, this post is dedicated to pieces that can be worn over the Christmas period, from Christmas day celebrations, to partying the night away on New Year’s Eve.

But this post does come with a difference. Regular readers of this blog will know that I am obsessed with dresses, and that when it comes to evening wear, I always step towards the dress rail. This post, however, does not contain a single dress. There are beautiful skirts that can be teamed with sparkly tops of soft knit jumpers, tops of the sheer, glittering and fringed kind, and faux fur jackets that you can wear just about everywhere.

And then there are jumpsuits. It seems hard now to remember when these items were just bad fashion relics from Sheena Easton, Kelly Marie and the year 1980. These days you be hard pushed to find a party where at least three women aren’t wearing one. I get this totally, they’re comfortable, sexier than a maxi skirt and yet cover the legs for those who hate this part of their body. Going to the toilet is still a hassle, but it’s a small part to play, especially when the jumpsuits are as amazing as Studio 8’s Helen design.

Studio 8