The Midi Pini

Yup, back to black and white... If you followed my blog last year, you'll be aware of my pinafore dress dependency, so three cheers for this year's vintage-inspired take, in my favourite bodycon midi cut! This gorgeous George version comes with a basic black tee, but I decided to dig out my new faux leather crop top from Nicole Scherzinger's Missguided collection again for a fresh, summery look...

Pinafore Dress: George at ASDA, Top: Nicole x Missguided, Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Have you been tempted by the midi pini? How would you wear yours?

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'90s Child: Pleather and Plaid Picks

I was 4 when the '90s began, so technically this is my second go style-wise, but back then I was all about slip dresses, Appleton-alike parachute trews and skirts-over-trousers (once I'd moved on from Mothercare to Topshop, that is), so I'm having a whale of a time unleashing my previously spurned inner grunge goddess this time around... perfect for welcoming in the new season!

If you're a long-time reader, you'll know I harbour a long-time love for (p)leather - last winter, it was somewhat eclipsed by disco (pant) fever, but, this season, it's back with a vengeance! You've seen the skort; now feast your eyes on the pinny (yes - we can rock pinafores all year round!), cropped tee and high-rise trousers... oh, and a couple of pairs of '90s throwback ankle boots for good measure! 

This year, it rather handily seems to make the perfect partner for the cascade of tartan showering down upon us too... Considering the enormous quantities of the stuff piling up in shops at the moment, the hunt for my perfect tartan shirt and kilt was surprisingly long and arduous, but worth it once I'd nabbed both with change from £30!

Shirt: Forever 21, Pinafore Dress and Boots: Both Primark

Top and Boots: Both Primark, Skirt: Red Herring at Debenhams (Reduced from £28 to £11.20!)

Shirt: Forever 21 (As Above), Trousers: Boohoo, Boots: Primark (As Above)

Are you going hell for pleather or mad for plaid this season?

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How to Wear Dungarees

I can hardly believe that, a mere two months ago, my body was still untouched by overall. Having endured will-I-won't-I-ever-find-a-pair-to-suit-me trials since the beginning of the year, I finally discovered this curve-loving Boohoo pair in June (when I introduced outfit #1 in this post). The Summer of Dungarees proceeded a bit like this...

Crop It Like It's Hot

(An oldie but a goodie - someone please write a new hit with an appropriately placed -op?)

For me, dungaree dressing has so far boiled down to (a) crop tops and (b) shirts, in all their infinite and glorious variety. Of course you can substitute full-scale tees and vest tops (and I'm sure some knitwear will be forthcoming from my own wardrobe within the next few months), but a cheeky little flash of waist just makes it that bit more fun, no?

Sweet Spots

Dungarees: Boohoo (Still Available in Black), Top: New Look (Teens), Shoes: Primark (Past Season)

The shopping-friendly version of the white heel/china print head scarf combo featured in this post, courtesy of some faithful flats!

Freshly Squeezed

Dungarees: As Above, Shoes: Boohoo, Top: Primark

Yep, definitely getting major cost-per-wear value from this £2 neon crop top! Makes a stunning contrast against white (or black, or prints for that matter). This could be quite a casual look accompanied by trainers, but I decided to give it a bit more "lift" and impact by continuing the white-out with heels.

Peek-a-boo!

Dungarees: As Above, Top and Shoes: Both Primark

I defy you not to fall in love with this kitten. That is all.

Geek Chic

Dungarees: As Above, Top: Topshop, Shoes: Primark

Yup, it's that tee again... I decided to edge it up a bit and play geek off against rebel with my wondrous new shoe-boots.

All White Now

Dungarees: As Above, Top: New Look, Trainers: Primark

Aaand the obligatory sports luxe meets '90s take... By the by, this asymmetric 'do is a great fix for (several) day old hair... or for adding a bit of edge and subtracting a bit of Disney Princess to/from certain looks! It can pass as a vintage Hollywood siren side sweep, or as a faux-undercut, and is sooo easy to pull off. All you need to do is sweep all your hair over to one side, so you're left with a low side parting - slick the remainder back at the nape of the neck with grips and fluff up/backcomb the free side to add volume at the crown.  

Getting Shirty

Buckaroo

Dungarees: As Above, Shirt: Primark, Shoes: Boohoo

Initially, I was planning a casual play on the decorator-dungaree association, assuming the denim shirt would add a laid back feel, but the puffed sleeves and white lace detailing seemed to lend it an angelic cowgirl vibe instead! Perfect with my trusty white courts... But if you are after a more casual look, I'd try unembellished dark denim, rolled up at the sleeves.

Super Seventies

Dungarees: As Above, Shirt: Primark (Past Season), Shoes: Dorothy Perkins, Sunglasses: Primark + DIY

Dungarees made their first major leap from workwear to wardrobe must-have in the '70s. OK, so the fashionistas of the day were mostly rocking out in flared denim versions, but this is my slightly glossier take, inspired by the boho-luxe elements of the era.

If you're still feeling doubtful about dungarees, have a look at my How to Wear the Pinafore posts here and here for a few more tips and ideas - most apply equally well to either.

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How to Wear Neon - the 2013 Update!

Last year, I took my first tentative steps into the world of fluorescence, publishing my original How to Wear Neon post (complete with "experimental" poses!). This summer, thanks to some actual sunshine, brights have tightened their grip on my wardrobe even further, with zingy new finds jostling against old favourites for precedence... Neon may even be giving monochrome a run for its money!

The Tops

Oranges and Lemons

Top and Necklace: Both Primark, Earrings: New Look, Skirt: River Island (Past Season), Shoes: Peacocks (Past Season)

Brights on brights... on brights! Summer is the perfect time to go wild with colour, but a common tonal theme running through the accessories pulls this look together for an off-beat ladylike feel (and trust me, if you buy one thing this summer, a multi-tonal neon necklace will be your hardest working piece for pulling together, polishing, or just adding a zest injection to more subdued ensembles).

Denim Dabble

Top, Skirt and Necklace: As Above, Beanie c/o New Look, Boots: Primark (Past Season), Shirt: Tammy (Past Season)

Swapping belt for beanie, wedges for ankle boots and bare shoulders for denim to toughen up the look with a '90s grunge twist.

Pastel Power

Top and Trainers: Both Primark, Pinafore: Tokyo Doll at New Look, Clutch: DIY (See This Post)

No need to stick to all-bright combos... try adding some lime zest to sweet-as-candy pastels...

Caught Up

Whole Outfit: Primark

A single neon piece also makes a stunning accent to an otherwise all-black (or white/grey) ensemble, and the perfect base for a statement sheer look. This is one of my favourite summer outfits so far this year, giving the classic maxi a sports luxe-meets-nu rave spin...

The Dresses

Natty Neutrals

Dress: Tammy, Blazer and Shoes: Both Primark, Belt: River Island (from skirt, past season)

Why stop at one neutral? If you can't decide whether to go mono or fluoro, do both! And no need to stick to accessories if you're feeling brave - try teaming a neon top with a printed pinafore or shorts/skirt/trousers...

Glo With It

Dress: As Above, Top: Primark, Trainers: River Island

Yup, the old "turning a dress into a skirt" trick - made even more exciting by neon's "glo-thru" effect... 

P.S. You may have already seen the layer-tastic 1-for-2 dress trick featured in the introductory montage in my How to Wear a Sheer Lace Dress post, but I was so proud of it I decided it bore repeating!

And don't forget, a neon bra is also your secret weapon for turning a plain white tee into a nu-rave statement (as in this post).

Instructions for a Heatwave

Dress: Boohoo, Necklace: Primark, Shoes: Peacocks (Past Season)

Dress: Missguided (Past Season), Shoes: Freemans (Past Season), Necklace: Primark

When it's too hot for structured waist-cinching frocks, coloured maxis remain the quintessence of summer... the perfect no-thought-required ready-made outfit (accompanied by sandals and trusty neon necklace, obvs).

Are you embracing brights?

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