Shopping: Next

Posted in Shopping, Style by nlcorner

As a woman who ~~is addicted~~ likes to shop I have been trying to curb my ways, I’m currently “saving” but then I bet about 99.9% of us are always saving for something. So on an unplanned trip to Kingswood in Hull, which by the way would never be classed as a shopping destination because there are only a few shops, I ended up spending a pretty penny.

Now I can’t be the only person who categorizes their shopping trips, and there are plenty: going out, casual day, casual night, work wear, gym wear, coats, jeans, shoes, specific item shopping that will go with everything in my wardrobe etc…

This shopping trip was really just for gym wear, which when you think about what it’s for it doesn’t count as shopping really because it’s more of a necessity. I managed to find some new running leggings and a new top and have put them to good use already!

I have to admit I used to class Next as a ‘mum’ shop, my mum always wanted to go in and I hated it with a passion. But then as I matured (ugh) and my fashion taste changed I started noticing how much better quality it was than say Topshop or New Look. This trip was no different, after my recent splurge at Zara I decided that I wasn’t buying anything but walking around the Kingswood store was just to tempting.

I find it interesting how different stores of the same brand have a different affect on me as a customer, for example I visited the Next store in Scarborough and walked around it within seconds bored at its dark, unorganised store, the Kingswood store was airy, light and organised by clothing categories I couldn’t help but pick up several items.

As I walked round and put outfits together in my head, I had to stop myself from picking up more and more. I went through a phase of buying pencil skirts to wear for work, purely so I could wear tights all the time as the climate is so cold inside and out, but I’ve been looking for that pair of black trousers for so long that I couldn’t believe my luck at the ‘ultimate capri pant’. I know Victoria who has a great blog over at Lily loves Lola was looking for a pair of the perfect black trousers and these are definitely mine.

Ultimate Capri Pants, £38 // Laser Cut T-Shirt £25 // Snakeskin Print Blazer £36

Ultimate Capri Pants, £38 // Laser Cut Top £26 // Python Animal Jacket £34

I used my new Zara shoes as an example but I wore these with boots as the cut is just fitted enough to wear with them, and it sounds silly but my feet get so cold I can’t wear ballet style shoes for long without my feet getting ridiculously cold which is another reason for not wearing trousers so often!

My full outfit consists of a white laser cut top (which also came in a lovely cornflower blue) and the best lightweight blazer ever, it caught my eye because of the python print and skinny fit. As soon as I put this on in the changing room I knew I’d be walking out with it all, the perfect work wear outfit and its all monochrome with a nice bit of texture and print what more could you want?!

And just because I couldn’t help myself I also bought another pair of trousers, that are an absolute perfect fit and length and such a nice subtle print. Seriously, Next is my new place for trousers without a doubt.

Black and white checked print pants £38

Side detail: pocket love.

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6Apr2013

Shopping: Zara

Posted in Fashion, Shopping, Style by nlcorner

So I had a few splurges over the past month online at Zara, I keep telling myself that I just need this and I just need that, but I really can’t help it there’s so many pretty things to shop and buy.

I had my eye on this electric blue suede messenger bag for a while, and it is just a beautiful in hand as it is on the site. I just want to add though and I don’t know if others find this with Zara it’s already fallen apart! As much as I love the stuff there it just can’t seem to hold itself together, maybe that’s due to the rumour of slave labour but who am I to comment on such things when I love the store so much and keep it in business…

Blue suede messenger handbag, £22.99, Zara.

I also added a couple of other things to my basket including this oriental print combination top, £22.99, and I’ve been looking for some turqouise jewellery for a while and came across a fabulous necklace (£19.99) which doesn’t appear to be available online anymore. My second haul included a black faux leather peplum top, £22.99, and knitted leather leggings, £25.99, as well as the best pair of shoes that look-like-designer-but-are-most-definitely not nude and coral sandals with a gold heel, £29.99.

Turquosie necklace

Faux leather peplum top // Oriental print top // Combination sandals

Admittedly I forgot that when ordering trousers form Zara, it’s kind of hit and miss. Simply ordering a medium is not an option which I did and found they were more like a size 6 than a thought to be size 10. This has happened before trying on large/extra large just to get a good fit means you leave the store feeling slightly deflated which is typical of every high street store these days when they all have different sizing.

And returns are so difficult for Zara that the easiest way to get your money back on things that don’t fit is to go to your nearest store within 30 days of purchase. Remind me why I love this store again…?

14Mar2013

New store launch: & Other Stories

Posted in Beauty, Fashion, Shopping, Style by nlcorner

There’s been a lot of buzz around the internet for the launch of this new brand from the team behind H&M, & Other Stories launched simultaneously in London, Berlin and Copenhagen last week as well as online.

As soon as I saw the site I fell in love. The look of the homepage is more like a Tumblr page, very visual with a ‘story’ for certain themes and collections that links through from the one item of clothing or beauty you are looking at and shows you the other features in that same ‘story’. It’s so easy and accessible you could get lost looking through each and every picture.

Online shopping has become so samey and boring that when a new website like this comes along you want to lap it all up and blow all your money on every delicious thing you see.

& Other Stories hasn’t just started with clothes, it’s launched your whole wardrobe. From a minimalist sleek Ready-to-Wear collection brimming full of dresses, tops, knitwear and trousers; to shoes, handbags and other accessories. And all of it looks like it belongs on a designer runway. Some of the prices reflect the quality of the pieces, and for anyone thinking that’s a bit steep, why are you still paying upwards of £40 for jeans at Topshop?!

There is even a beauty range which will give Topshop’s make-up collection a run for its money, created by make-up artist Lisa Butler (who has worked as consulting colour director and Prada and Helmut Lang) it includes gorgoeus lip colours, glosses, bright blushes, serums, body creams, pearly eyeshadows, oils, popping nail colours as well as foundations and concealers. The list is endless, and you could really find yourself adding more and more to your basket as you venture through the whole of the site, you even get a free sample of body lotion with your order.

Below are some of my favourite beauty picks, the lipstick promises to be long-lasting and matte but still moisturising which is always a plus for me, the blusher has a cute inscription on it “Go girl, seek happy nights to happy days” I mean I don’t think I’d want to get rid of that, the pigment in the creamy eye colour is so bright and promises to be long-lasting with a “lustrous effect”, and I’m intrigued by the concealer quad because there are so many different tones in our skin it is nice to be able to mix our own perfect shade.

Calamanco Coral £12 // Ecarlate Pink £12 // Moreen Blue £7 // Concealer Quad £15

There are so many things on this site that I love, but the things that are already on my to buy list are the grey marl panel top (£39); the plain yellow cotton t-shirt (£12); this very risque contrast knit dress (£45); and the go-with-everything Clare Vivier white python clutch (£55).

I expect to see my bank account looking very unhealthy when payday arrives… Go check out the store now it’s a refreshing change from trawling through ASOS and Topshop!

Head over to my Pinterest page to check out all my latest looks from awards season and the rest of my wishlist…

And don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @nlcorner

18Mar2012

Shopping time!

Posted in Fashion, Magazine, Shopping, Style Crush, Topshop by nlcorner

There are so many printed trousers around this season, a really popular trend seen on the runway for ss 12 and aw 12, and I’ve been dying to get my hands on a pair for a while now. On a shopping trip to the Metro Centre in Newcastle, I bought an awesome pair I’d seen in Grazia from River Island. The print is slightly garish but they look fantastic on and the fit of the trousers is really flattering and the perfect size so I was more than happy to part with £30 for them!

River Island Floral Crop Trousers £30

They’re available on ASOS here and I’m even tempted with the matching blazer! I also bought this great skirt from Topshop that I’d seen Ashley Madekwe wearing and had to have as well, it’s pretty thin stretchy material so I have no idea why they included a zip!

Ashley Madekwe, Topshop skirt £28

Also fell in love with this silky floral printed bomber jacket from Zara. In fact I pretty much could have bought the whole of the Zara store, some really great stuff in there.

Zara Printed Bomber Jacket £30

25Aug2011

Mini, midi or maxi?

Posted in Fashion, Magazine, Sexy, Shopping, Style, Topshop by nlcorner

I saw Style Souk tweet this question the other day with a link to an article from the Telegraph fashion section and wondered what I would really answer to this question?

I’ve owned mini skirts but not really in stylish sense that are so popular right now, the staple denim mini and a couple of other ones that I probably wouldn’t wear again are in my wardrobe but I don’t think I would go out to purchase a mini skirt right now. I’d rather by a short dress…

The problem I have with midi skirts is odd. I like the style, shape, patterns they come in and can’t believe how good they look when I see them on the pages of fashion mags. However, now every time I’m in my home town (which is choc-a-bloc with OAP’s) I can’t help think how stylish they look. WHAT? Yes that is correct, the midi is the summer style staple of grannies up and down the country Everywhere you turn there’s a sliver of calf and then a swoosh of midi. Brights, floral, stripes, and chiffon any look you can think of. So then I get the urge to go to a granny store see what treasures I can dig up but my brain tells me this is not a good idea hence the midi also not been a good idea. I know there are ways to ‘sex’ up the look but for now I cannot get my head around the granny favourite.

So it’s the maxi that’s the winner for me, floaty or tight, and easy to wear. I have a nude chiffon one with a mini skirt underneath so I guess it’s a mixture but perfect to dress up or dress down especially for the summer months. I have a black fitted jersey one that is a casual alternative and a few maxi dresses to add on top of that. WINNER.

I think if I were to sample the midi style it would be the pencil, the new styles around this season are fitted, tailored, casual, glam, leather and lace, a shed load of choice maybe I’ll dip in and try one out…

PU leather pencil rib side skirt £36 // Jersey pencil skirt £25 // PU waistband pencil skirt £30 all Topshop

31Jul2011

Crossover boot: Taupe vs Black

Posted in Fashion, Musings, Shopping, Style by nlcorner

Just looking over Fashion Toast and this post caught my eye, the gorgeous Dicker boot by Isabel Marant that obviously goes with everything is the perfect Summer to Autumn crossover boot but at £315 on net-a-porter I think I’ll give them a miss. And as Rumi points out she struggled to decide between the taupe and black version (buying both because she can!). I am constantly finding myself in this dilemma, black sometimes looking too black and taupe breaking up the colour palette whilst still being neutral.

Upon purchase of my new crossover boots, a pair of wedge lace ups in suede from Topshop, I chose black. Why? Because clever Mother pointed out that taupe in the autumn/winter with all the likeliness of wet/snow would stain the suede, at least in black it is less noticeable. So black it is. I tried on a few things to see what they look like and they look great with my high-waisted denim shorts. Boots and shorts? Yes.