WINTER COATS

With pumpkin spiced lattes hitting every Starbucks I knew it was time for the annual winter coat hunt. After reluctantly packing away my denim jackets and floral kimonos, I give you my top 7 coats for every possible wintery occasion.

(From left to right)

The Camel One- Zara £89.99

Is EVERYWHERE and yet I wouldn’t mind blending into the crowd if it meant I got to wear this coat. The neutral shade of beige looks effortlessly smart, much needed for that 9am lecture when you’re pretending you understand every word.

The Minimalist One- Mango £54.99

A throwback to the minimalist 90’s, you can’t go wrong with a simple white cocoon coat. The clean cut and collarless neckline takes things back to basics and makes an excellent canvas for many essential tartan scarfs.

The Teddy One- Topshop £79.00

The phrase all fur coat no kickers comes to mind in the sense that I can confidently say this coat will take over your entire outfit and there probably is no point in wearing anything else. But I think we can all agree that when you’re toes are near to turning blue; this oversized coat will be a stylish lifesaver.

The Checked One- Lavish Alice £60.00

For years my Mother has banned me from buying patterned coats for fear that I’ll hate it within a week or it’ll match only about 4 outfits I own. Finally, I stumbled across a checked duster coat with a simple design to curb my patterned needs whilst keeping my Mother happy with its versatility. No doubt it’ll come in handy as I try and avoid looking like an Eskimo sipping mulled wine in the local bar.

The Fur One- Topshop £68.00

Finally, a coat that looks incredibly warm and I can still flash my ankles. At wintertime I always feel obliged to wear the biggest coat possible, which, like everyone, causes me to neglect the outfit choices I wear underneath the mound of fur. Yes I probably will wear the same jumper/jeans combo for 2 months. This fur bomber is the answer to my prayers/whinges about nobody being able to appreciate how cool my new leopard patterned tights are. All hail.

The Draped One- H&M £39.99

This coat would go with anything and it would go with nothing, god forbid you distract away from the draped lapels. Ideal for the endless Christmas parties in the next coming months. 

The Sensible One- Warehouse £65.00

Let’s be serious now. The rain has started and won’t end till next June, and that’s if we’re lucky. We forget we live in dreary wet England and not Lapland. Instead of preparing for the snow, you need to worry about the rain and there is nothing better than an old-fashioned mustard rain mac to avoid the dreaded soggy jumper.

GEOMETRIC FLORALS

The fusion of a simplistic geometric pattern and delicate turquoise floral is truly a design worthy of the digital age. There is just something high-tech about this look that screams 'so 2014'. A spin on the spring floral craze, this is one for standing out from the crowd and at only £25.99 it is top of my wish list.

Move over daisy printed t-shirts, you're so 2010.

Monochrome in a Petticoat S/S '14

Pull & Bear: Neoprene Lace Pattern Top // Topshop: Croc High Neck Cami // Matalan: Collarless Oversized Boucle Coat // River Island; White Block Heel Cleated Sole Sandals // Topshop: Wrap Front Bralet // New Look: Pink Check Notch Mini Skirt // NARS: Lara Pure Sheer SPF Lip Treatment // Primark: Palm Tree Printed Skirt // Topshop: Zip Front Denim Backpack // Topshop: Patent Leather Flippy Skirt by Boutique

For too long now we've been burying our breasts under excessive layers of knitted jumpers and tartan scarfs; frantically hiding our milky legs from the harsh cold under several pairs of thermals (and lest we forget the ugly wellies). S/S '14 is all about embracing our femininity and our old 90's friend, pastel pink leads the way. That's right, monochrome's gone all soft on us, forget black and white, it's so, well... 1960's.

If I'm honest I'm one of those people who as the saying goes will 'stop wearing black when they find a darker colour', but I just adore the straight-edged but ultra-girly vibes from this style. By itself, pink is just too much, the injection of white in this trend grounds it at a point of maturity- where you don't look like you're a 10 year old who hit puberty prematurely.

Pull & Bear- Neoprene Lace Pattern Top

Neoprene, something you don't tend to wear unless you're a deep sea driver, however, the fabric has been trending recently across both the high street and designers. Though better suited to A/W for its thermal abilities, its a big hit for spring... maybe apply a bit deodorant before you head out the door? The cutaway detail, high neck line and cropped length are why I love this top. It's simple, but structured. It's also lace patterned which is always a spring favourite. Check out Zara for simple styles.

Topshop: Croc High Neck Cami 

After watching clips from the Paris S/S '14 Fashion Week, it's decided, I definitely need more metallics in my life. Rochas' silver pleated dress was a beauty, but I didn't even need to look at the price tag to know it was out of my ever decreasing price range. This Topshop cami is definitely the next best thing (sort of), the animal print texture gives it that extra something to the metallic glint. If you love this trend as much as I do, Whistles is definitely worth checking out for some key pieces (and more specifically the Daisy Foil Skirt I'd be typing this blog in if it wasn't for the £125 price tag).

Matalan: Collarless Oversized Boucle Coat 

If they aren't already, everyone and their uncle will be wearing the pink pastel boyfriend coat by next week- a statement piece for S/S. I've seen a tonne of variations but Matalan, somewhere I don't tend to stumble upon, are selling it for the low low price (seriously) of £40. I tend to steer away from trend specific coats (opting for more timeless and interchangeable pieces such as the leather jacket), the prices tend to be too high for something that will be 'so last year' by tomorrow. But £40 I can work with.

River Island; White Block Heel Cleated Sole Sandals

What many might think resemble orthopaedic/nursing shoes, I think resemble next pay day's first buy (after I find a new job obviously...). Chunky is in, big time, and I plan on permanently adopting the inch taller look this summer.  

Topshop: Wrap Front Bralet

I'll let you in on a not-so-secret secret- I am a sucker for a bralet. If I had the confidence I'd wear one every time I nipped to the shop for some milk, but they are just too revealing. I suggest pairing this top with a kimono or even a boyfriend coat to avoid looking like you're desperate for some sun or you've forgot to put your t-shirt on this morning. 

New Look: Pink Check Notch Mini Skirt

I am swooning over this Clueless-esque checked skirt, for £17.99 I'm practically clearing a space in my wardrobe as I type. You don't need me to tell you the 90's has made a comeback and this skirt is the perfect addition to your collection. 

NARS: Lara Pure Sheer SPF Lip Treatment 

My No.1 accessory to any outfit is a good lipstick and NARS have hit the mark with a lipstick to suit any pastel look. What's even better is the mango butter hydrates your lips, ideal for any poor winter chapped mouths out there. 

Note: Make sure you take a minute to watch the NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil Short Film described as 'evocative' and 'unique', so at least I know I'm not the only one laughing. Yet I still can't help but wish I had Frivolous Velvet Gloss in my hands right now... Something's working. 

Primark: Palm Tree Printed Skirt 

You heard it here first: The high street are obsessing over palm tree print this S/S. If you can't bring the tropical weather to Britain, you might as well wear it. 

Topshop: Zip Front Denim Backpack

You can't go wrong with a backpack, well... unless you end up looking like a school child, again. This mini white backpack has an air of sophistication, and paired with those matching sandals make a perfect combo. Do handbags even exist anymore? I've been the hunt for a cheap mini white leather backpack but I've had no luck, this Topshop alternative is definitely something different and hey, better to have white denim on your bag then on your jeans (White Denim Jeans = Hideous). 

Topshop: Patent Leather Flippy Skirt by Boutique

This PVC look skirt well and truly belongs to those space age looks of the 60's but without a doubt has a (2nd?) home here in the 2014. This pastel take on the generally black style gives the dominatrix look a sweet girly edge and I don't know about you but soaking up the (limited) rays in a pitch black plastic/leather skirt does not appeal.

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