journal of a shopaholic

With the summer months upon us, Fashionistas everywhere are dying to show off their new summer buys. However, as usual, the UK weather doesn’t always like to comply.

This Fashionsta has decided to mix her winter clothes with some of her more colourful summery pieces. She has used black as her base layer keeping it simple with black jeans and a vest top and added a pair of brown suede boots. She has then jazzed up this basic winter attire by adding a white floral, unstructured blazer on top. The colour of the blazer and its bright floral design combined with the three-quarter sleeves instantly give this piece a spring/summer feel and vamps up this Fashionista’s ordinary base layer.

Her gorgeous metallic green nail polish and multicoloured bling ring further added to the look. Nails are key for the summer as they jazz up your outfit. You can colour clash if you feel daring, go pale with pastel or funk up your look as this Fashionista has with a bold metallic colour. This Fashionista’s nail polish is in fact Racing Green of Barry M’s new range, and can be purchased from any local Superdrug.

For the same effect as this Fashionista has created, an almost identical blazer can be purchased from Topshop and is available in three different flower designs: Garlant floral similar to this Fashionista’s, Tropical for that ultimate summer feel and a more versatile choice from summer to winter is the Poppy print blazer.

For a piece this busy it is probably best to follow suit and keep the base layers neutral as to avoid looking like a multicoloured clown. By keeping it neutral you are focusing in on the blazer making it the central focus point to your look, since a piece like this should not be hidden amongst colour and other patterns but left to bloom in its full glory.

Style On,

Chloe Aristodemou

LEEDS MET UNIVERSITY (ENGLAND)

Neon has always been a recurring trend — guaranteed every year there will be a touch of neon out in the high street’s transition from spring to summer. Quite an eccentric trend to pull off, you have to have the personality and the “look” to go with it.

This Fashionista was spotted looking “neon-tastic” last week. She had paired wet look leggings with a basic white design top with elements of neon in it. She then pulled the look all together with her accessories by adding a pair of neon yellow pumps, a neon pink handbag and neon bracelets, successfully achieving a neon/sporty effect that is very trendy at the minute. Her pulled back black hair plays off the sporty appearance nicely, and her choice of cross earrings toughens up the look, adding a bit of personality to the trend.

When trying to achieve a fun, trendy neon look do as this Fashionista has by starting with a neutral base and then adding the colour through the accessories. Although neon may be a fun trend to play with, it can also go terribly wrong and you could come off looking like something out of an ’80s movie. Neon in sporty-inspired attire is much easier to accomplish than in a sophisticated look. It is a bright in your face trend that is meant to look casual and fun; there is nothing sophisticated about it, so it’s best to avoid for those classy nights out.

If you quite like this Fashionista’s look, then try this neon yellow top from New Look paired with wet look leggings for a similar effect. Keep it casual and sporty with Converse and you could even pair with a rucksack for that fun university girl look. For cross earrings similar to this Fashionista’s, try these from ASOS. If you like the trend but don’t think you have the courage to pull off a neon vest then try some nail polish instead, a great way to wear a trend without splashing out on new clothes. Whatever you’re preference; just remember not to go overboard with the trend.

Style On,

Chloe Aristodemou

LEEDS MET UNIVERSITY (ENGLAND)