Dress for the occasion

It's September. Amongst the end of the school holidays, the beginning of Autumn and the drunken haze of Freshers' Week, this means one thing. My 21st birthday.

And in true party style, I am already looking for the dress.

The dress has to be gorge and accompanied by even more gorgeous shoes and what better way to start my search that the wonderment of internet shopping. Okay so I didn't actually shop (still trying to cut back) but I did find some styles that I quite like.

I have to admit that I am rather excited at properly shopping for the b-day outfit and will scoure the rails no end.

Here is the 'narrowed' down list of dresses that I am currently lusting over and if I had my way I would have them all, ahh the quiet delight of wishful thinking.

1. Topshop

2. Miss Selfridge

 

3. Miss Selfridge

4. Miss Selfridge

5. Warehouse

                     

6. Oasis

7. Oasis

8. Asos

9. Warehouse at Asos

It's a maxi thing

From a small recurring trend dating back to a few years ago, the maxi trend has finally found its rightful place in SS10.

From a hemline that was previously restricted to formal events and red carpet extravoganzas, ankle skimming dresses are the quickest and easiest way to summer style this season. The high street has taken on the trend with such abundance, pioneering all types of prints, colours and fabrics and found boho a home.

The trend is set to make its way well into Autumn, accoring to style.com so snap yours up now.

My recent maxi additions include a tribal printed embellished version from River Island and a jersey striped long vest style from New Look. Online fashion emporium asos.com has some very tempting options and Topshop has come up with a beautifully crafted chiffon dress. I have my eye on another chiffon one at Dorothy Perkins.

Not only are maxi dresses a firm fashion fave this season, they are perfect for holidays. Pop them in your suitcase and make from the beach to the bar in one fell swoop. Gladiators, sunnies and a satchel. Lovely.

All that's left to ask is: are you a Maxi-nista?

L-R: New Look, £18 / River Island, £39.99 /  Dorothy Perkins, £45 /Topshop, £60 / New Look / Vera Wang, $750 / AW10 catwalk

True confessions: The high street workout

There's nothing like a bit of retail cheer. I went shopping with my mother's bank card today (she was there too, I'm no criminal) and enjoyed a bit of retail therapy, for the first time in quite a while.

Not only is the joy that is shopping, a joy, but I realised that a good hard day's worth of trawling the rails is just like a workout at the gym (right?) and it is much more enjoyable.

I am not a gym person. In fact, I would probably go as far as to say that I hate the gym. The repetative motions of the fitness equipment and the Clubland archive CDs playing in the background, no thanks. Now, bicep curls with filled shopping bags or speed walks towards the shoe department, that is way more like it.

So, my summer wardrobe is looking much more satisfying and I am ready to show off my new additions with pride. Holiday shopping is the prime thing to be doing right now. The Summer sales are on and if you are brave enough to wait till the last minute to buy your sun-worshipping gear, then now is definitely the time to do it. It is the worst when the dress you love and haven't got round to wearing yet, swiftly appears on the 'half price and under' rail. My advice, hold off till the sales are in swing and then go mad, if that's what your're in to of course. I found one of my star buys, an oversized denim shirt, in H&M men's department sale, Gok would be proud.

My favourite shop of the day: Dorothy Perkins. I rarely go into Dotty P's, but everytime I do I find some really nice things. Hence this is where most money was spent this afternoon.

DP have launched a new range, Dorothy Perkins Collection. It consists of high end fashion pieces, at high street prices. Perfection. The range, including embellished waistcoats (key pice for this season), studded minis and ripped acid-wash denim, is only available in 30 UK stores and online.

One particular piece caught my eye (well I liked them all, but what can you do?). A denim, cut-out body-con dress. At £45 it is high street price, but my recession busted and student loan maxed purse strings couldn't stretch thus far. If anyone is feeling kind, channel the energy here please :)