Matalan SS16 Press Day: Budgeting Just Got Fun!

I was quite excited to visit the Matalan press day this year. I used to shop there a lot in the past when I lived near a local store and I used to always find the cutest bargains ever. I still have items in my wardrobe from 2-3 years back which have still maintained their quality which is highly impressive...

I could definitely see a boho-chic trend going on for SS16 which seems to be the running thread with quite a few collections. Interestingly for a glam girl like me, I could see with these looks how easily you could take a boho dress and turn it into something fab for the evening, by adding chunky heels for instance. 

I'm a beanie! How about you?! (I had to filter this badly lmao)

I'm loving the blouse at the front... easy, wearable but also on-trend.

This maxi is just stunning! So simple but the print makes it so worth wearing.

 I thought this was a cute look from the Falmer Heritage range... I can see this being very flattering on body types like mine. Something to wear when you just don't want to have to worry about lumps & bumps.

OMG I NEED this swimsuit in my life! I wish it was out when I went to Goa, I would've rocked this by the pool. I literally live for cute swimsuits, especially as I have a tummy so something like this is perfect as it looks like it'd cinch me right in.

Platforms have been around for quite a while now but I can see these types everywhereeee for SS16. At only £18, I think I need both colours too ;)

Okay, let me explain. 'You don't even blog about BABY clothes?!' Yes, I know.... but HOW CUTE are these?!! I just had to include this range. Can't you imagine your lil niece or cousin in this running around the park with a melting ice-cream... n'aww.

London SS16 Press Day Highlights: Part 2

'Tis the season for loadsa press days.

I recently attended a couple more press days recently and thought it was only right to give you a lowdown of my fave picks. Even though times have been tough, getting out and seeing some new (f* awesome) collections have certainly cheered me up and given me hope that with all bad times come dope fashion collabs & new shiny jackets...

Saymore PR

After last year's amazing Alpha Industries & Luke Roper fashion show, I was so excited to see the new collections and I was pretty impressed... Alpha maintained their utility-based military aesthetic but switched it up with some new styles & finishes... the khaki sheen above is just so gorgeous for this season. 

My personal fave from Saymore... a bright (CANDYFLOSS PINK!!) Alpha jacket. I need this in my life immediately, I mean it's so Barbie-chic but cool enough to wear on a night out in Camden too :O

The Bedroom Athletics x Liberty collab proved to me that this season, it's all about your slipper game so it might be time to ditch the huge elephant slippies guys... 

This Luke Roper backpack captured my attention... perhaps because it's shiny (and you should all know I love shiny things by now).

 Haddon PR 

I really should be a Spongebob merch model ;) No but forreal I was SO excited to see the Hype x Spongebob collab, I mean this is literally such a fab idea... whoever came up with it should be given 10000 krabby patties! 

Bold graphic backpacks & hats that will have you in a Bikini Bottom trance (no drugs required).

CUTE!

Guys, Ellesse is back and back for good! I'm telling you now, it will be everywhere real soon. Chipmunk's already been  rocking it everywhere...

A whole table full of Slydes of all styles and colours... including their latest collab with NICCE. There are Slydes for good girls who wanna rock bananas and pineapples, or there are Satan slides... take your pick.

I couldn't not include this because what do I stand for? Positivity! 

London SS16 Press Day Highlights: Part 1

Hello gorgeous people!

I decided to get back on my blogging game and give you guys a rundown of my faves that I've seen at some of the press days I've gone to recently...

Let Me Throw In an Update...

If you've been following my blog for a while, you may have noticed my content is a lot... erm... shorter and shall we say... simple? I must apologise for this but to keep matters simple, I am going through quite a difficult period in my life right now and sometimes it's hard for me to find the time and energy to manifest the blog post ideas in my head.

That being said, I do definitely have some ideas in my mind and I want to get back to doing some more insightful posts, particularly regarding body image and shopping addiction. I hope this of interest to you guys, do let me know!

My blog is always going to be my baby and I sincerely appreciate anyone who finds the time to read it or even goes on it once in a while every so often. I love writing and I love sharing content and I hope to get out of this funk a little bit so I can write things which are more up to scratch :)

SS16 = LIFE! 

For now, let me show you guys some absolutely STUNNING SS16 pieces my eyes had the pleasure of seeing. Admittedly, I haven't been to that many press days this season compared to last year because I've been caught up with other urgent priorities but from what I have seen, there seems to be a little bit of minimalism going on but hardly any compared to the experimental designs I've seen using laser cut, custom designs and intricate prints. My favourite concept I've noticed is that a few brands are collaborating with charities or using eco-friendly materials which is absolutely what we need to be seeing more of, especially with low to mid-range collections.

 Modus PR:

I fell in love with the G-Star RAW collection which featured some quality jeans as you would expect but also some really innovative pieces from their latest concept which is all about saving our oceans (oh and Pharrell is the designer so naturally it's dope af).

I fan-girled when I saw the Giuseppe Zanotti collection with their beautiful electric tones, metallic gold panels & loads of glitter everywhere. It's basically my idea of heaven.

Chloé kept it chic as always with their eyewear... it seems rounded frames are definitely the way to go for SS16.

Gorgeous display from The Cambridge Satchel Company feat. lots of cute pastel shades. I've never been a satchel girl myself but this kinda persuades me to try one.

Loud & eccentric new styles from TOMS who also have a unique project going on to provide shoes to the less fortunate.

Expect the unexpected from Pringle of Scotland! Yes of course they still have their cashmere jumpers but they have also released lots of fun, experimental pieces which certainly shocked me. Love, love, love them going out of the box though!

Minimalism is in the air with MUJI! I didn't know much about them but I got a lovely intro to the brand and I'm sold on their affordability & non-mainstream collection from gorgeous aroma diffusers, skincare & stationary.

HPR London

I have to admit that the Persy collection was one of my favourite finds, probably THE favourite  I will remember. I just fell in lurveee with these couture finds with all the frills included. I mean this is what red-carpet is all about.

Another beaut from Persy... I couldn't stop running my hands through the layers, it was like a work of art! 

Gorgeous metallic laser cut skirt from Paul & Joe, team this with a plain black polo-neck & you'd be the star of the show!

Vivetta had a whole rail full of the quirkiest pieces known to man...

 Goodley Bullen PR

Loud, bold but feminine from Vanessa G.

Beautiful wearable elegance displayed from Suzannah Fashion!

'I Own This Town.... In a £5 Playsuit'

I was meant to upload this outfit ages & ages ago! -__-

As you can see this shot was taken on my holiday in Goa, India. I wanted to do a budget outfit look that can be worn 100% effortlessly and here's what I came up with... 

I know it's a bit 'huh' to post in October but hopefully some of you will be going on holiday soon.... right?! D: 

(Also I wanted everyone to know that whilst standing on these stairs to shoot I was indeed gawked at by a random elderly woman & golf instructor who probably thought I was some odd neon-coloured creature. I guess the slay was too much for them.)

Playsuit: Primark, £5
Wedges: River Island, £25

Goa Beach Vacation: Carefree & Chic Feat. Guess x Louis Vuitton

Sunglasses, Distressed Shorts & Hat: River Island
Blouse: Guess
Sandals: Office
Cross-body Bag: Louis Vuitton Bronze Monogram Vernis

Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive '15: What I Wore

'Manita, she'd never hurt a fly...'

Dress: Forever 21 (India)

Jewelled Sandals: River Island

Necklace: Debenhams

Hair & Nails: Belissimo Salon in Pune

'It's ethnic Barbie bitch'

Blouse: Anita Dongre

Shorts: H&M

Shoes: Ritu Kumar

Ganesh Ring: Shop on Colaba Causeway

'Ugh, talk to the cape'

Jewelled Cape: Krimson Designs in Pune

Treggings: M&S India

Sandals: Office UK

Makeup: Dior Edition Voyage palette

Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive 2015: Highlights

Well what to say about Lakme Fashion Week... first of all I am so happy I actually had a chance to attend! It's always been a goal of mine to see first hand what the fashion shows are like here in India and experience the buzzing atmosphere of fashion week. Now I've ticked that off the list! I don't think I can count the time I was like 8 years old where they served me chicken nuggets and chips...

Fashion week was just... everything I thought it would be. There was an air of opulence and pretentiousness... it seemed so exclusive and chic. It was situated in the Palladium Hotel which is known to be one of the absolute best luxury hotels in Mumbai. Plus it's right next to the Palladium Mall which has your whole stretch of Gucci, Chanel, Louis... everything. So basically every day I would roll up and exit the car eagerly awaiting to see the first outfits of the attendees.

Slightly surprisingly but also not, everyone was in Western wear. You could definitely see the Chanel flap bags, retro Fendi ones and obviously some Céline. More than the upscale dressy types, I loved seeing the bold edgy ones, most likely Instagram bloggers who turned up with blue and pink hair rocking mesh, huge flatforms and that kinda thing. So all in all, it's similar to London Fashion Week.

Even as a blogger I was extremely lucky to even get in thanks to everyone helping me out and getting in touch with their contacts (thank you Delna, Ria, Nandini, Denzil, Jeanine!) The official blogger accreditation process was closed so I couldn't go through with that and even so, I doubt they would accept me as I don't have a million views per month like some of these crazy famous ones.

To sum it up it was hectic, tiring, amazing, and simply stunning. I loved that I got to attend very popular high-end shows and young break-through designers too. The first show I was super anxious because I got turned away at the door but eventually people did their thang and just about got me inside. I went from standing right at the back to sitting 2nd row behind actresses and models towards the end. I just felt so alive there, I love to get inspired and see things that make me nostalgic, intrigued or in love.

So anyway I've decided instead of doing a million separate posts, I would sum up the highlights of the shows I saw. I apologise if quality isn't too great with some pics. Admittedly I do now have a professional DSLR but I am pretty useless with it and only just realised I don't have a zoom lens. So until then, it's iPhone 6 and digital cam quality for now... sorry peoples don't send me death threats kthanksbye xo

Namrita Joshipura 

Incredible LED lighting at the start of Namrita's show which wow-ed the whole audience.

Avatar-inspired ear-pieces teamed with futuristic vibe dresses and shimmery gowns.

Pella

Unexpectedly conservative headscarfs and fully-covered pieces which open up at the back to skimpy shorts. A take on women's freedom and right to choose, perhaps?

Airy and light rocker-chic skull dress... very wearable.

Rouka

In-your-face double pattern dress with monochrome contrast.

Lots of Asian-inspired looks with a casual vibe and loud slogans like 'RSVP' and 'Yours Truly'.

Aartivijay Gupta

Power model couple strut their stuff in quirky fruit prints and vintage style gingham.

Super doll-like girly tie-up cape with a picnic-blanket type pattern... adorbs!

AM:PM

Very feminine and effortless cream fit-to-flare gown.

Pops of colour as fuchsias and black appeared out of nowhere with lovely white naturist details.

Ritu Kumar

Glamorous in gold- a mix of a traditional female armlet with a masculine head-dress.

Show-stopping pink number... very elegant and regal.

Flowing trail turned the audience's heads as the gold shimmer caught the light.

A jaw-dropping collection using traditional Baranasi weave techniques.

Very rich fabrics with hues of purple, gold and royal blue.

The beautiful Aditi Rao Hydari who closed the show in a two-piece with a gold metal belt.

 Sonaakshi Raaj

Detailed beadwork on a neutral canvas and layered fabric to add volume.

Very intricate purple bodycon dress with a mesh neck and jewelled bodice.

Gorgeous two-tone metallic fringe details on the back of a minidress.