Valentine's Day Ideas

(Left to right)

ASOS black lace bralette

Agent Provocateur hearts black lace bra (via ASOS)

ASOS black lace triangle bra

Etam black and red push up bra

(Clockwise top left to bottom left)

ASOS red lace bra

Topshop white lace triangle bra

Urban Outfitters burgundy push up bra

H&M hot pink bra

Topshop white lace lingerie set

Urban Outfitters burgundy lace corset

Valentine's Day is just over a week away so whatever you have planned - a romantic evening with that special someone, a date with your girlfriends or singles party (my friends are hosting one called 'The Undateables', yes, seriously), here are my top picks of lingerie.

I am really into non-padded, non-underwired triangle bras at the moment - they are so much more comfortable than the padded push up bras I used to choose. Although, triangle bras certainly don't keep your nungas very warm in this arctic weather…that's besides the point really, I'm going off topic. Yes, triangle bras can be just as sexy as push up bras so I've included a mix. I'm a black lace kind of girl but hot pink, red and burgundy are great colours for Valentine's and it's nice to add a bit of colour to the collection. The white ones are so pretty, perhaps not so obviously Valentine's but great if you want to pull off that virginal look (some people probably like that…).

Which style and colour is your favourite?

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Le jour de Saint Valentin est dans une semaine alors quoi que vous ayez prévu - une soirée romantique avec votre chéri(e), un rendez-vous avec vos copines ou une fête des célibataires, voilà mon choix de lingerie. 

En ce moment, j'aime bien des soutiens-gorges triangles - ils sont plus confortables que les push-up que je choisissais à l'époque. Par contre, les triangles ne tiennent pas trop chaud qui n'est pas très pratique pendant ce temps arctique…bref, cela n'est pas le sujet de ce poste! Oui, les soutiens-gorges triangles sont aussi sexy que les push-up, du coup mon choix est une mélange. Je kiffe les soutiens-gorges en dentelle noir mais les couleurs rose vif, rouge et bordeaux sont géniales pour le jour de Saint Valentin. De plus, c'est bien d'ajouter les couleurs à la collection. Les blancs sont très jolis, peut-être pas très Saint Valentin évidant mais super pour mettre un look virginal (quelques gens l'aiment j'imagine…).

Vous préférez quel style et quelle couleur?

Izzie x 

#MotelFestival Wishlist

Sunflower Print Playsuit

Fluro Flower Unitard

Black Wash Denim Playsuit

Gingham Sleeveless Dress

Vintage Leather Backpack

Round Tortoiseshell Sunglasses

I have found out that I am going to be Motel Rocks' Festival Reporter at Glastonbury this year! This news just makes me even more excited about my favourite event of the year! To get into spirit of style spotting and outfit creating for the festival season, I have put together a collection of my current favourite Motel items, which are perfect for the festivals!

As a Motel festival reporter I can choose an item to take and wear to Glastonbury but I'm having such a hard time choosing! I absolutely adore this bright, floral unitard and think it would look amazing among the crazy atmosphere of a festival but I'm not sure I would wear it at any other times, which makes hesitate in ordering it. What do you think?

Please let me know your favourite item or send me any links to items I may have missed on the Motel Rocks website - this indecisive fashion victim needs help!!

Izzie x

P.S. Don't forget that you can get 20% off at Motel Rocks if you enter my discount code izzie_h at the checkout!

Trainer Trend

Images c/o ootdmagazine and stylecarrot

Working in a vintage shop means that I am able to observe many different styles of the customers and therefore pick up on emerging trends. Over the past month I have seen many people wearing trainers with proper styled outfits. No, I am not talking about Converse or Vans but actual running trainers, the brands of choice being Nike and New Balance. The young, stylish and chic Parisians are pairing their usual black coloured outfits with bright multi-coloured trainers and I think it looks fab. It is a trend that has been seen on the catwalks recently, with the likes of Cara Delavigne sporting (geddit?!) couture trainers in Chanel’s Haute Courture show last month and Mark Fast putting his models in gold creeper trainers at London Fashion Week. It is a trend that I can definitely get on board with because I love being comfortable and stylish at the same time: it’s win win! 

Izzie x

Comme je travaille dans une friperie, je vois des tendances émergentes en observant tous les styles différents des clients. Pendant le dernier mois, j’ai vu beaucoup de gens portant des baskets avec les looks stylés. Non, je ne parle pas de Converse ou Vans, mais les baskets pour faire du jogging et on choisit soit Nike soit New Balance. Les Parisiens jeunes, stylés et chic portent leurs looks noirs habituels avec les baskets vifs et multicolores et je le trouve géniale ! Elle est une tendance qu’on a vue sur les estrades récemment, car Cara Delavigne a porté des baskets coutures à la défilé d’haute couture de Chanel le mois dernier et Mark Fast a fait porter ses mannequins les baskets dorés et compensés à Fashion Week de Londres. J’aime bien être confortable et chic au même temps donc je peux surement soutenir cette tendance gagnante-gagnante!

Bisous, Izzie

What I am wearing to Amsterdam Fashion Week with Fashion Chick

I was recently contacted by the lovely people at Fashion Chick inviting me to create a couple of looks for their latest competition! To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Amsterdam Fashion Week, Fashion Chick are giving the opportunity for a lucky blogger from the UK, USA, Germany, France and, of course, the Netherlands, a chance to represent their country at the said fashion week in January 2014. Exciting stuff! This competition sounds like a dream come true if you ask me! I've been to Amsterdam once, absolutely loved it and have been dying to go back ever since!

I thought I would do something a bit different and create two different looks: one vintage outfit to show that even on a budget you can look fabulous at fashion week! And a wishlist of the look I might choose if money was no object. 

All vintage except Asos shoes: Skirt - €6 / Top - €9 / Coat - €10

I know what you're thinking: what a steal! This outfit cost less than €30, which proves Paris vintage shops are where bargain dreams are made! I bought the top and skirt from Kilo Shop, where I work. The photos don't really show this but the top has gold sparkly thread running through it and I think this looks great with the dogtooth-esque red skirt. In January I would need a nice warm coat so I choose one of my favourite finds in a while: my textured fluffy coat, which is bang on trend. A great comfy and wintery outfit perfect for Amsterdam Fashion Week, which does not break the bank and I would have no fear of bumping into someone else wearing the same!

Jumpsuit - Topshop / Coat - The White Pepper / Shoes - Jeffrey Campbell / Backpack - The Cambridge Satchel Company / Initial necklace - Alex Monroe / Fur hat - Topshop

For my wishlist look I have chosen this lovely black jumpsuit complete with bang on trend black and white check coat from The White Pepper, which is a brand I wish I could afford so it just had to feature! Having attended London Fashion Week in September, I know that it is important to be comfy as well as stylish! That's why these Jeffrey Campbells are perfect - they look great and they're not too heeled (I am terrible at heels!). In a matching maroon colour, this satchel backpack is great for carrying all the essentials and it looks really professional too! And to finish the outfit off, I would wear an initial necklace by my favourite jeweller Alex Monroe and a grey faux fur hat, to keep the ears warm in chilly January!

Fingers crossed that I win!

Izzie x

June Wishlist

Cat face body - YAYER / Féline Tee - Love From Misbehave / Boots - Office / Shoes - Fashion Union  / Raincoat - Asos

So, judging from this month's Wishist, I'm going through a grudge and cat phase. Well, to be honest my whole life is a cat phase and I love both of these cat related tops. The Yayer body is so cute, especially with tail on the back! I think it has been styled perfectly with the denim shorts. I have been looking for a casual grey tee and this one is ideal with the feline reference. Chunky shoes are definitely a trend that I can get on board with this season! I have actually already ordered these incredible Office boots but wanted to include them on the Wishlist anyway. Cut out boots are a new style and being half boot and half sandal they are perfect for our unpredictable climate. The Doc Martens style shoes are a great cheaper alternative for a classic look but unfortunately they don't currently have my size. And finally, as I'm in the festival mood, I was checking out PVC raincoats and found this lovely one on Asos. I don't think I can justify the purchase because I have a good enough (albeit boring) mac for Glastonbury but if I didn't I would definitely be getting this one!

Wishlist for a British Summer

Sunglasses - Asos / Trousers - Vero Moda, Asos / Jumper - Daisy Street / Backpack - Dune / Pinafore - Topshop

The likelihood of having some sun with proper warmth this summer in Britain is not something that I would put money on. The bank holiday weekend brought us sun and temperatures in the 20s and now in Bristol the weather is back to its usual gloomy, rainy and chilly self. So, I thought I would do a wishlist for a British summer.

The cropped trousers are perfect for spring and summer – being a compromise between shorts and full trousers in our unpredictable climate! I love the paisley pattern, which would be a new one to my wardrobe. The cropped jumper is a lovely lemon colour, which would certainly brighten up a cloudy day. I thought the pinafore was cute and smart, a new style this season that builds on the dungaree, which I also enjoy. It will look great with a patterned shirt underneath. As for the sunglasses, well… I have my trusty black Raybans but these nude sunglasses in the stylish round shape are completely different so I think I can justify them! A leather backpack is something that I have been looking for, for a while and this Dune one is such good quality and has a great reduced price tag!

Love Izzie