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

Cover it up, AW style

When you think of a poncho, you think of something along the lines of a mariachi band, don't you?

Well not any more.

AW10 brings the southern American trend up to the high fashion stakes in an earthy wave of camel hues and thick knit wools that scream comfy days in front of the TV, hot choc in hand.

A recent investment into the AW trend came from the continent, H&M, Belgium to be precise. My new camel, thick knit poncho ticks all the boxes and is the perfect winter warmer.

The bargain H&M version is available in UK stores too, so get yours now.

And if you fancy something else, here's a round up of some other styles available on the high street, no sombreros in sight. Ariba.

£125, http://www.asos.com/

£36, http://www.topshop.com/

£30, http://www.next.co.uk/

£270, http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/

£80, http://www.asos.com/

Yes please.

Topshop's most recent collection Dark Nouveau mixes grunge with glamour. One of the first waves of AW10 lines, this one does exactly what it says on the tagline. I want it all.

At £25 this cape style jersey top with bug pattern is easy to wear casual and would look great in my wardrobe.

Carry on with festival fashion

For me, festival season may be over, but festival chic certainly isn't.

Denim shorts, sun dresses and gladiators might not be exactly suited to British summer but team with tights and the look lives on. Wear socks with your wedges, top any look with a denim shirt or jacket and rock out the rest of the summer like you were at Glasto or T in the Park.

For more inspiration see how the celebs did it. Emma Watson's two looks have my vote. Click here to see.

[All from http://www.topshop.com/]

When in need, head to the Bureau de Change

After returning from my holidays with a heavy dose of holiday blues and a substantially lighter bank balance, my shopping ban was to continue. That was until I discovered a lovely 25 Euros in the bottom of my bag. Result.

What can you do with 25 Euros, I hear you ask. Well after a good month or so of not buying anything, exchange and shop is what you can do.

I admit that the £19-something that I got for my exchange isn't much, but it was enough to buy me a pair of shoes perfect for the coming season and for jazzing up my summer frocks that I feel may have had their dose of actual summer wear (Have you seen the sun recently? I haven't).

For £15 at ye-olde-faithful Primark, my new black suede multi buckle fronted wedges are a snip at the price and a substantial amount cheaper than the similar pair I spotted (and wanted) from Topshop.

What's more, I had £4 to spare, now imagine that.

The Primark version, available in nude and black.

Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony

A version of the shoe from Stylebop

Lately I'm loving...waistcoats

Gone are the days when wearing a waistcoat was resigned to waitresses and white collar professionals and here are the days where a waistcoat can transform a casual outfit from absolutely average (if yet still chic and stylish) to absolutely fabulous.

For AW10 I am covetting a sheepskin waistcoat which I have not yet come across, but I am on the look out.

Right now, I am loving a simple grey cotton waistcoat courtesy of Matalan (yes, Matalan), a black and gold embellished one that I bought from H&M months ago for something like £15 and a cream leatherette New Look number which I snapped up in the sale. I even took my hand to revamping an old lace vest and made it into a super stylish waistcoat (see: Make do and mend).

After much more online window shopping and much less online spending, I have lined up my five favourite styles circa now. Covet away.

[Top-bottom: Topshop, £45, Mango, £37.90, New Look, Sale price £25, Miss Selfridge, £30, Love Label at Very.co.uk £35]

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