Lover of Splendid

If it's splendid, I love it

[loverofsplendid]

Wanted: Faces, faces everywhere - well, on our ears at least. Save your face, and your fashion, with these charming little visages. Your lobes will love them.

[loverofsplendid]

Wanted: I definitely have the tendency to bulk buy in the sales. 

This year, I’ve exercised an iota of restraint, removed the Breton from my basket (because I already have 17...) and gone for three things that I’ve been meaning to buy for ages. They are:

* A new pair of everyday black boots. My current pair have the heel hanging off, so it’s about time I upgraded. I’ve gone for this sturdy little pair from Selected Femme.

* ASOS Camo Pleated Skirt. I wanted it before Christmas and since my promise to myself is to actually wear the things I want to (instead of being scared to), I’ve added this to my skirt collection.

* Extra pieces for my fitness kit. Since embracing a few key types of exercise - reformer pilates, spin and barre - I’ve found my activewear was lacking two or three bits I actually needed. Including a longline crop top I can comfortably wear and workout in. Yes, 2017 is the year I expose my not quite as toned as I’d like it to be belly; it’s come a long way and I’m damn proud to show off the ever so slight outline of an ab (maybe 2). I’ve long loved Whistles’ activewear range but felt it was a bit expensive - in the sale? Not so much. Yay for me.

[loverofsplendid]

Daily dose: Totally channelling mega-babe J-Lo this Christmas; putty pinks, faux fur collars and hoops for the win.

[loverofsplendid]

Daily dose: THIS is the kind of Christmas party dressing I like. i.e zero sequins, zero sparkle and zero f**ks.

[loverofsplendid]

Wanted: These H&M beauts are the most deliciously indulgent shade of blue, inky with a smoke of petrol. 

Black is always back and navy never wrong, but by god I’d give those both up in a heartbeat for this swirly sexy shade.

They’re wide legged and wonderful, and I’ll be wearing mine with a lace cami or what a surprise, a good old jersey tee. Trews, have I got a crush on you.

Trousers, £49.99, H&M.

[loverofsplendid]

I first fell in love with the Ganni Fenn Wrap coat when I saw Insta-fave Katherine Ormerod wearing it. It took a while to pin it down as it had sold out everywhere, but finally found it on Revolve. Unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. Here’s why:

Quality: The weight of the coat alone showed me the quality and the teddy bear texture was a lot more fuzzy than I expected. Not boucle, definite teddy bear. 

Look: The colour is definitely tobacco, and actually a little darker IRL than it looks in the pic. 

Sizing: This is where I or the coat, I’m not sure which, fell down. I ordered a small, and being a size 10 I thought it’d give the same look as the pic. Let’s just say it didn’t. It was far, far too big - not just oversized, but I looked shrunken. Belting it actually made it look worse, as it gathered the overspill material into a big ole’ pile of plie. The length was longer than expected too; I’m 5ft 3 (5ft 4 if I stand up straight, which is rare) and it came down to about mid-calf. My boyfriend likened it to my dressing gown, which now I think about it, is a similar colour and texture...

Although I ended up returning it, I was impressed with the quality of the coat. Weighty as hell, gorgeous texture but just a tad too Poppa Bear for me.

[loverofsplendid]

Wanted: Meet the triple threat top: Paisley, flouncy and in the most autumnal hue possible, rust. It’s got a lot going for it.

This &OtherStories blouse is going into my party repertoire because it’s SO DAMN PRETTY. K? 

Top, £79, &OtherStories.

[loverofsplendid]

Daily dose: Call it the Clinton effect. 

Searches for women's pantsuits have risen by 460% on shopping platform Lyst since January, and there’s only one lady to thank for that - one Hillary Clinton.

Whether Solange’s meta metallic duo was an ode to the lady herself or a mere mega fashion choice, who knows. All I know is that I’ve never seen a pantsuit quite so boss. Pass over your Christmas party dress for something shiny like this suit.

[loverofsplendid]

Daily dose: Parisian cool on top, pirate on the bottom - well 16-year-old Chanel model Lily Rose Depp is the beautiful creation of Johnny Depp (part-time pirate) and Vanessa Paradis (full-time French) after all.

Lily managed to make the iconic fashion house even more relevant than it already is (and it’s always pretty relevant...it’s Chanel!) with her cropped Chanel jacket, leather trouser and gold hoop combination. Talk about treasure.

[loverofsplendid]

Daily dose: Practically perfect in every way, Olivia Palermo has the cutest little treat for anyone wanting to wear leopard print but isn’t actually brave enough to. Well, not head to toe anyway.

Leopard is big news for AW16 (hurrah cos I love the stuff) but it can be a divider; that’s why this Zara poplin shirt, which comes in at a cool £25.99, is spot on for the naysayers. 

Give it a try and I bet you’ll be screaming “kitty I want more” come fall.

[loverofsplendid]

Daily dose: Taking layers to a whole new level is the micro trend that’ll be big for A/W 16 - a corset/bralette over a top.

Making me love it more is Kim Kardashian, who wore a ribbed Disney Princess style corset over an oversized white T-shirt (who doesn’t have one from a bf or ex? Maybe Kim kept this from Kris Humphries...it IS a pretty big tee) with Yeezy heels. She’s into the oversized look at the moment and I am too and this is a great way of giving something outsized a little definition too.

Kim’s outfit got me thinking how on earth you could get away with this look for everyday, and luckily I found looks from Look De Pernille and What Vero Wears to show me how. 

I’m not entirely sure how it’ll work if you’re blessed in the boob department so much - there could be some OTT ruching - but Kim’s making me think damn Felicia, I gotta try it.

[loverofsplendid]

From the archives: Happy birthday to the original First Lady and America’s Queen, Jackie O. 

She wasn’t all pillbox hats and big sunglasses ya’know. This outfit is so now it’s like she time travelled.

[loverofsplendid]

Daily dose: It’s nothing new is it? The ole’ wearing your sports shiz outside the gym. Call it sports luxe if you will but I can’t say I’ve bought into it - unless you count popping to Starbucks on the way home from a Barre class as a fashion moment. 

It’s not a trend for everyone. Echoes of Sporty Spice spring to mind. But since a slew of more stylish people than I keep on wearing it, I’m thinking maybe I should. The Adidas slides I can buy into. The Nike tee with high-waisted jeans is an easy way to go too. Head to toe outside the gym? I’m not sure I’m ready just yet. After all, as Sporty Spice once sang, “too much of something is bad enough”. 

[loverofsplendid]

Daily dose: I’ve always *always* wanted to dress his n hers - and I’m not talking Britney and Justin denim, but coolly co-ordinating. (Because let’s face it, that wasn’t cool).

I’m taking this picture of now exes Harry Hamlin and Nicolette Sheridan in the 90s as my matching meta.

They’re wearing the same jeans and blazer (so gender fluid, so now) but with different tops (albeit in the same off-white shade) and heck, it looks damn good.

And since genderless fashion is big news now, you can head to Zara for their ‘ungendered’ line, Selfridges’ for the Agender Space or Diesel, Gucci and Rick Owens, it’s spot on. Or if that doesn’t work for you and your partner, simply shop in the men’s section - some pieces fit women surprisingly well, especially in Uniqlo (I’m all over their jumpers), American Apparel and Gap.

[loverofsplendid]

Celeb twinsies: Emily Weiss is my perma #WCW (plea to Glossier: come to the UK!) and I was obsessed with her glittery gold great sleeved top last year. It’s taken 6 months but the high street has finally realised that metallic + flared sleeves = a great top. Thanks ASOS, you got it right enough for me.

Top, ASOS, £30

[loverofsplendid]

Wanted: I love a fringe. Not the hair type, on me anyway, but the detail type, and nothing says dancing queen like a pair of heels festooned with fringe.

If you love a slim heel, these Gianvito Rossi sandals will pretty up any foot; if you want something a bit more solid and stable, look for a block heel like Dorothy Perkins’ ‘Suzie’.

Top trimmings.

[loverofsplendid]

Wanted: I never really went in for the whole Sienna Miller inspired boho look, it was too sloppy for me and wasn’t the kindest look for a girl with big boobs and child-bearing hips.

I don’t want to use the term boho for this year’s slew of peasant dresses as they’re so much more; they’re far easier to wear, prettier, more sophisticated and grown-up girly. Ever since Vita Kin’s collection stole my heart, I’ve been on the search for a version that costs less than my monthly rent payments.

Lo and behold, in walks these three beauts, all folky and fab. 

The striped Ace + Jig is best suited for someone who wants to accentuate their waist and stand out; the colourway is simply spot on. 

If you’re a neat freak who never spills a thing, Maje’s simple and sweet dress is for you. The honeycomb finish brings a fresher approach to cotton. (This is not for calamity Carla...)

Or if you’re not entirely sure this look is for you, take baby steps with & Other Stories’ lightweight cotton dress in light denim. It’s breezy and won’t scare your credit card, so it’s a great option for easing yourself into this look.

Also, lookout for an H&M version which is hitting stores soon. It’s baby blue with a bright bib and fast fashion at it’s finest.

How do you wear them? With a heel, even if only slight, to look now and not early noughties. You listening Sienna?