Transitional Monochrome - How to Wear Come Sun or Snow

By now I think we're all aware that monochrome is "in", no? I'm not sure it's ever been "out", and it's certainly always been one of my failsafe looks, but this season's mono-mania has inspired me to get a bit more creative, and, in the absence of any weather bearing the slightest resemblance to spring, popping a black and white ensemble together is the easiest way to channel a new season vibe, even if we can't pack our woollies away just yet.

Hounds vs. Stripes

Dress, Belt, Blazer and Boots: All Primark, Hair Band: New Look (I think! Past Season)

If I hadn't bought this dress and blazer at the same time, I probably wouldn't have thought to put them together, but clashing monochrome patterns is one of the safest, but most impactful, ways to combine contrasting prints. I nabbed both in the Primark sale - the blazer for £7, and the dress for... £1! It was the last of its kind, marked £7 but missing its belt, so the manager agreed to reduce it to £5, but on scanning it found it had already been reduced to £2, so, short of giving it away, there was nothing for it but to give me a 50% reduction!! I always think monochrome goes hand in hand with a '60s look, so the belt, boots and beehive polish it off perfectly for me.

Hounds vs. Hearts

(or Paddington Bear vs. the Everlasting Winter of 2013)

Dress (As Above), Coat and Shoes: All Primark, Hairband: Accessorize

And this is how I'm working the monochrome print clash whilst actually leaving the house in any of my other ensembles would encourage stalactites to form on my eyelashes...

Velvet vs. Wool

Top: Missguided, Skirt: Marks & Spencer (Past Season), Boots: Boohoo (Available Here), Headband: River Island, Rucksack: Peacocks (Past Season)

Another '60s inspired look... velvet and woollen fabrics add a cosy-luxe feel, whilst a flash of tummy takes the look into the new season (addition of substantial coat clearly necessary if actually venturing out in the current climate though!). This age 12 M&S kids' skirt has been one of my staples for years now - I've never seen such a cute dogtooth skater designed for adults!

Sheer Abandon

Skirt: Primark, Boots: Boohoo (Available Here), Jumper: Morgan (Past Season!)

Another texture clash combining winter and spring; snuggle and glamour/goosebumps.

Sharpening My Pencil

Skirt: River Island (Past Season), Top: Forever 21 (Past Season), Shoes: Primark (Current)

Another of my most satisfyingly good value houndstooth sales purchases of all time (a River Island skirt for £10 = RESULT), this pencil skirt has served me faithfully for a year - equally perfect with a jumper and opaques, classic shirt or crop top, depending on meteorological conditions - a true monochromatic hero buy!

With a Bow on Top

Dress and Shoes: Both Primark, Hair Bow: Peacocks

Teaming my first "illusion" panelled dress with my first faux-hair bow for a ladylike-but-fun look!

All Tied Up

Top: New Look (Past Season), Skirt, Socks and Trainers: All Primark

And here is my first attempt to tie my own hair in a bow! It makes me feel a little Harajuku Girl, especially combined with the socks! This is a peplum top which I've already featured a couple of times, cunningly disguised as a humble striped tee!

Riviera vs. Disco

Top: Quiz (Available Here), Disco Pants: Daisy Street (Available Here), Shoes: Dorothy Perkins (Past Season), Sunglasses: Accessorize (Past Season)

I've craved a pair of high-waisted capri pants for years, if not decades, so, this time, I decided to go DIY - turn my disco pant hems up - et voila! The sunglasses may be rather optimistic, but call it a rehearsal for summer...

Are you seeing everything in black and white this season?

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The Best Cartoon Print Clothes Under £15

As soon as the cartoon print trend emerged, I was hooked (well, I did take a Disney Princess duvet and Barbie lamp to uni, so it was somewhat inevitable), but, as I said in my last post, I baulk a bit at the idea of spending over £20 on a bit of elasticized jersey (call it the Primark effect!), so I've been biding my time whilst waiting for some of the more affordable high street retailers and online bargain bins to catch up... and here are (some of) the results! This is my current wish list (I haven't included any more midi dresses, as I didn't want to be disloyal to Barbie)...

1: Barbie Print Crop Top - £10, OMG Fashion (Don't forget to check out my matching midi dress in this post)

2: Pencil Skirt - £10, Boohoo

3: Crop Top - £4.95, eBay

4: Batman Tunic Dress - £12, OMG Fashion (Also available in blue)

5: Maxi Skirt - £12, Boohoo

6: Pencil Skirt - Primark

7: Leggings - £10, Boohoo

8: Crop Top - £8, OMG Fashion

Will you be trying out spring's most fun trend?

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I'm A Barbie Girl... 5 Ways to Wear a Cartoon Print Dress

I've been referred to as Barbie by friends and strangers alike for the last 10 years. It had admittedly been my ambition to become as much like the fantastic plastic one as possible from the age of 4, so, although I have spent much of the last few years tweaking my clothing choices (and poses!) in an attempt to avoid looking like a Mattel product, and tease at least a modicum of "edge" from my look, I'll still grab any opportunity to unleash my inner doll... I've been coveting the Miss Selfridge Barbie collection for some time now, but wasn't sure whether I was prepared to fork out £20+ for jersey basics, so when OMG Fashion offered to send me an item of my choice, this amazing midi dress immediately caught my attention - had. to. have. it.

I'm a bodycon midi addict at the moment, as you may have noticed - there's a mini version of this dress too, but knee coverage = guaranteed grown-up sophistication, however play-school appropriate your print of choice may be... right?! At £15, this is majorly good value, super comfy, and surprisingly versatile. My only gripe? I wish it was a little more fitted at the waist - if pulled straight, it "tents" a little unflatteringly from bust to hips, but, worn casually ruffled, cinched in with a belt, or even layered under a top or longer midi as a faux pencil skirt or T-shirt, it's perfect.

If you're not quite brave enough to go top-to-calf Barbie, there's a super cute long-sleeved crop top with your name on it (well, if your name happens to be Barbara). And if you're more of a Batgirl, check out these amaze leggings, body and dress, all well under £20... My (rather ill concealed) inner child is going to be very happy this season!

Casual Barbie

Dress: c/o OMG Fashion, Trainers: River Island (Past Season), Jacket: H&M (Past Season)

Glam Barbie

Dress: c/o OMG Fashion, Shoes: Primark (Current), Belt: H&M (Past Season)

Moshpit Barbie

Dress: c/o OMG Fashion, Hair Band: Boohoo (Current), Belt: New Look (Past Season), Boots: Peacocks (Past Season)

Vintage Barbie

Dress (worn as skirt): c/o OMG Fashion, Jumper and Belt: Primark (Past Season), Shoes: Marks & Spencer (Past Season)

Ballerina Barbie

Dress (worn as top): c/o OMG Fashion, Skirt: Izabel, Head Band: Primark, Shoes: Jimmy Choo (Past Season)

Have you ever bought anything from OMG Fashion? Will your inner child be clad in cartoon and/or doll print this summer?

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Primark High Summer '13

It may still be snowing, but, not content with showering us with spring/summer goodness, Primark are preparing to drop their high summer 2013 collection imminently! You can see the full collection of "latest releases" here, but I thought I'd share a few of my highlights with you...

I'm particularly excited by the cartoon print pencil skirt (haven't invested in any yet, but foreseeing a strong possibility I will look like I've been wallpapered with Beanos this season) and maxi-floral headband (an affordable alternative to Rock 'N Rose at last?!). And I'm still a sucker for studs, crop tops and embellished collars, so I'm happy!

Plus, it looks like my new pair of tapered boyfriend jeans may no longer be too far out of reach - Primark's range of £15-£17 versions, distressed and embellished to varying levels, is hitting stores as we speak... As for the shoes and clutch, what can I say? Their accessory ranges have just been getting better and better over recent seasons, and this may be the best yet!

I'm not sure I'm such a fan of their tribal prints this season (although I did find a gorgeous tribal print pencil skirt in Primark last year, featured here), but you can't go wrong with a good floral - how cute are these dungarees? I still haven't managed to get my hands on a pair of their long denim S/S dungarees by the way - apparently the entire size 6-12 population of the UK somehow got there before me though - hmph.

Oh and girls? Fancy a pair of £16 disco pants?! I nearly forgot about these, because they're another item that stubbornly refuses to become available in anything under a size 14 in the Oxford Street/Tottenham Court Road Primark, no matter how many times I compulsively check all the tags on the rail expecting a pair of size 8s to miraculously appear before my eyes... but they have really good reviews from bloggers who have managed to get hold of a pair in their size, so definitely worth a try I'd say, at several pounds below the asking price of their closest competitors! So far I've seen them in black, royal blue and red, but fingers crossed more colours will become available!

What do you think of Primark's high summer collection?

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