A New Look for the Hawaiian Shirt

Thankfully for us the Hawaiian print is one trend this summer that is easier for the girls to wear and get right, than it is for the boys. Mess this one up at your peril guys...

I happened to catch a glimpse of this little beauty at the New Look Spring/Summer '12 Press Day, and I don't know about you but I can't wait to get my hands on it. The faded colours make this incredibly easy to wear with just the right touch of flamingos.

I plan to team with cut off denim shorts and some western ankle boots for a kitsch rockabily vibe this summer. Now all I need is the sun.

See this and more new arrivals at New Look here.

Wildfox Western S/S12 Look Book - Even Cowgirls get the Blues

Every year Christmas seems to be over with more and more quickly, this year being no exception... One minute I was desperately looking forward to catching the train home at lunchtime and the next minute I'm packing up my suitcase again, this time full of iTunes and Boots vouchers. 

What better way to get through this miserable time of nothingness and endless grey days courtesy of January and February than to look forward to summer with gusto through the form of the new S/S12 look book from Wildfox.

I always deeply envious of the girls behind the brand, childhood friends Kimberly Gordon and Emily Faulstich. If you believe their bio, they spend their days 'visiting vintage shops and working out of their studio, where they spread peace and love through their design, inspired by sleepovers and fairies.'

Sounds like a very nice life to me although I'm sure if you look at their success things are now a little more hectic...

This season's collection is a nod to the Western film genre - big hair, cowboy boots, crosses, cow skulls with splashes of desert sun neon yellow, cactus cooler tangerine and the romanticism behind spaghetti westerns of the 1960s.

Find your summer inspiration below...

 

 

Wildfox is stocked at Harvey Nichols and Selfridges.

(images courtesy of wildfox)

Gonzo at the beach

Now I am not one for bigging up Alexa Chung - purely down to the fact I just think she is a little contrived however for those of you that know me, I simply couldn't resist the plam tree nail art she has been showing off at New York fashion week.

A nod to summer with a simple white background, I am making my appointment at Wah Nails immediately...

To Trench or not to Trench?

It's got to that time of year when you can almost feel the sun waiting around the corner - ready to remind you of what it feels like to ease gracefully out of bed every morning whilst butterflies, baby deer and other woodland creatures flutter around your dressing table like Sandy in Grease  and everything is right with the world. Nothing like the harsh reality of cowering in your bed in the pitch black not daring to poke even a toe out of the covers.

So this leaves me with every girls dilemma - what outerwear is going take me from my heafty winter coat to my light summer leather jacket? Normally I just skip this middle phase, inevitably shivering or sweating as I get it wrong. But this year I feel a little older and a littler wiser and I think it's time to get myself a trench - the perfect solution to these troubling times.

Now all that's left is to decide how much to invest in this key piece - I know what my head is saying but my heart might just win over.

Women's long trench coat at Uniqlo £69.99

Franca multistitch raincoat at Aquascutum £270

Cotton satin double breasted trench coat at Burberry £995

Color is crucial in painting, but it is very hard to talk about...

So I don't know about you but I find these recurring safari/floral/whatever trends that we get shoved down our necks by every magazine 'summer trend' report going, very boring. Thank god then this year for a bit of colour. Especially on these still long dark days. The sun is coming though, I can feel it.

What better way to bring it out than a little retail therapy rain dance?

Best not worn all at once.

Purple platforms by Marni at Net a Porter £365

Green bra by Stella McCartney at Net a Porter £65

Pink dress by Mara Hoffman at Net a Porter £235

Yellow knickers by Deborah Marquit at Net a Porter £95

Loving the Gucci Cruise campaign, especially the heels. Is it just me or does it feel like skies like these are not too far away? Summer bliss.

(source gucci.com)