SNAP Fashion

Go bananas!

Why not grab one of your fashionable five a day and go crazy for bananas? They’re bright and fun, not to mention a teensy bit risqué in a playful Warhol-esque way and if they’re good enough for Lou Reed, they’re good enough for us!

Not for the fainhearted and a whole lot Rihanna, we love this banana crop top by Kuccia at Topshop £26

One helluva album

Woohoo! Fun print leggings by Kuccia £30

Insanely cool Moto banana print denim biker jacket £60

I want this cute skirt from Moto to team witha leather jacket £38

Andy Warhol by Pepe Jeans banana vest Top £50 via ASOS

ASOS Plimsolls With Banana Print £18 – chic and cheerful!

Pictures: Topshop, ASOS and Wiki

Sixties stripes + Marc Jacobs

Sixties stripes stretch way beyond beloved beatnik Breton. Parallel lines and sinuous stripes inspired by one of the most exciting decades ever were all over the Marc Jacobs SS13 catwalk and we’re smitten. We love how he uses the stripes to accentuate the female figure and predict there will be lots of flattering Marc-inspired pieces on the high street.

The Snap Fashion girls (HUGE Marc Jacobs fans) were thrilled to see that H&M is already onboard the sixties stripes fashion train but alas its amazing jersey dress (a homage to Jacobs’ pricier and silkier versions) has sold out! We’ll be stalking stores near the office and using the Snap Fashion app to source other Jacobs-a-likes (natch).

As well as Marc Jacobs’ show, take inspiration from Bridget Riley, (stripe obsessed pop artist) and ‘Who are you Polly Magoo’ to be a stripy sixties siren…oh, and get practicing with that eyeliner.

Marc Jacobs – genius!

Bridget Riley = artistic inspiration?

My favourite? Maybe!

Who are you Polly Maggoo (time to get the liquid liner out)

H&M’s stripy dress looks a little like Marc Jabobs’ catwalk looks

I realllllllly want this blazer!

Flower Power: Liberty x Levi’s denim

It’s not news that denim is very fashionable at the moment with expensive jean brands doing big business and celebs rocking double denim. Even dungarees and pinafores are having a moment. It can be all too easy to get denim wrong and fall into the ‘mom jean’ 1990s overkill or Jeremy Clarkson fashion black holes, but there’s help at hand in the form of Liberty x Levi’s super hot collaboration.

Yes there’s iconic print and classic retro denim shapes and it’s described as frank and earnest…whatever. More interestingly, the collaboration features 2 brand spanking new prints called Carlin and Kerr Bandana and paired with classic shapes from the Levi’s archives that have been given a modern twist.

Carlin is said to be a ‘design of painterly garden flowers’ inspired by a 1970s print – so right on-trend then. It’s named after a Levi’s designer involved in the collaboration and based on a new watercolour repeated design. Kerr Bandana has a touch of Pointillism about it (you know how we love art and Seurat is one of my favs) as well as flowers and is inspired by a 1940s pattern. Strangely it was designed as a bandana design with a border and then burnt onto the denim using a laser. OOH, AHHH.

There are 15 pieces in the collection so if you want a piece of it, you better head to Liberty’s pronto! The cure cropped top would look ace on Rihanna…have you entered our competition to win tickets to her London show? If not, click here!

Flower power

Liberty Kerr Bandana laser print 501 shorts £75 – I love how the floral pocks peek out!

Liberty floral carlin print patch boyfriend jeans £145

Liberty floral Carlin print bustier top £90

Pics: Liberty

Something for the weekend: Parisian patisserie inspiration + Chloé’s frou frou frills

Hello sunshine, it’s been a while. If you’ve been stuck in grizzly London too you’ll also be a bit excited about a Bank Holiday weekend that’s not a complete wash-out. This week in preparation for the big, warmish and sporadically sunny weekend, team Snap has been embracing pastels and seeking inspiration from Chloé’s fabulously-frilly SS13 collection…as well as Parisian pastries of the macaroon and éclair varieties.

Uniqlo has a Laduree collection in store and it’s sooo sweet it will give you a toothache. The t-shirts are adorable and perfect for pairing with a pair of skinnies for a relaxed weekend look…or pastel shorts if things really do heat up. And behold the ‘Secrets of the éclairs’ book – a thing of culinary beauty and fashion inspiration – just check out those punchy pastel colours for springtime inspiration.

If you can’t stretch your budget to Chloé’s frou frou chiffon pleats (fluffier than chantilly cream) scroll down for some casual pastel treats to get your teeth into (when all the éclairs are finished).

Backstage at Chloe via Vogue.com

Make mine a double

Lovely in lavender

That’s one chic waiting room. Backstage at Chloe SS13 via Vogue.com

Greed is good

Chantilly frou frou

Yum!

Laduree tee £12.99

Mt favourite three designs…maybe

Quite like this one too!

Chloe vanilla flavour

Pastel picks: Topshop glasses £16, Beach postcard print shorts from Topshop £12, Mini teardrop earrings from Topshop £6, ‘Gathered dress’ from & Other Stories £45, ‘The Front Shirt’ from Oasis, £28 Lacoste plimsolls £60.

Pics: Vogue.com, my camera, the wonderful eclairs book (I bought mine from Joy) and Uniqlo.

Perspex bags: plastic fantastic

Sometimes the best fashion accessories are completely frivolous. No-one could claim that a teeny-weenie Perspex clutch is a practical purpose that can be justified on a price-per-wear basis, but how about the value of happiness?

There is something joyful about this summer’s Perspex clutches – a little candy clutch in jelly-bean colours. And much like a sugary snack, which is unnecessary but sometimes just what is needed – the neon clutch is a cherry on top of the sartorial dessert. Guaranteed to brighten up any outfit and add an element of playfulness,  they range from the spectacularly expensive (thanks Mr Lagerfeld) to the super playful (Charlotte Olympia’s super-sized perfume bottle) and  a tangible treat from Zara.

Yes, you’ll have to be super organised (no dead train tickets, used tissues and gum hiding at the bottom of your bag here) and fitting in your essentials will be a squeeze, but sometimes there is a lot to be said for fun…and if you need a little justification for such a frivolous purchase, the neon clutch will work a treat with the all-white and sports luxe trend. Which one(s) do you want? Here’s a tasty pick’n’mix of the best.

The one?

The one you can afford! £19.99 from Zara

Charlotte Olympia Pink Scent perfume bottle Perspex clutch £795

Another gem, the ‘neon minaudiere’ from Zara for £19.99

Perhaps inspired by Stella McCartney’s beautiful bags on the catwalk?

A green version of the neon mainadiere from Zara

Oh YES Chanel- Lego-tastic!

Zara neon box clutch £19.99 in lime (my affordable fav!)

What is better than dogs wearing jewellery?

Springtime fashion adverts are often unashamedly glam with oodles of flowers and this jewellery campaign from Tous, a Barcelona-based family jewellery line, is no different…apart from the insanely cute Pomeranian puppy showcasing some of the wares.

The brand is quite cutesy – its logo is a tiny teddy bear – but we really like this ‘Bliss’ campaign with its mix of fun and sophistication with a definite ‘ladies who lunch’ feel, or as Tous puts it: ‘true happiness and a profound sense of well-being.’

P.S. the Pom’s name is Tito.

Having cruised the website, here are my three non-teddy pieces from Tous’ HUGE selection of jewellery.

I love the brand’s use of semi precious stones. These elegant but eye-catching ‘Eugenia’ hoops are just £59

Modern ‘Milosos’ ring, £59 too, or should that be Tous?

One for shoe fanatics…Manolo Blahnik for Tous pendant, £168

What’s the difference between TOWIE & MIC’s wardrobes?

No we’re not talking orange, mini fashion dogs or white stilettos (which are chic in Chelsea too BTW) but the cost of the average value of a cast member’s wardrobe. Prepare to be astounded!

Money saving website Confused.com conducted a light-hearted survey to see whether the The Only Way Is Essex ‘gals’ and boys or Made In Chelsea members owned the priciest collection of clothing and the result might make the TOWIE cast “well jel” of their pasty South West London counterparts.

We’re like, totally well jel. [Pic: TellyMix]

Where did all our money go?! *Looks in wardrobe*

What interests me though is the £4,000 average. Is the stuff in my wardrobe really worth that much? Possibly, but that’s scary. Confused.com’s point is that most of us underestimate how much our clothes and accessories are worth – something that we should maybe think about next time we consider home insurance (I know, I know, boring…but think of the welfare of your fav shoes!) I guess I’ll be taking more notice of travel insurance in the future too. Losing a suitcase could prove seriously expensive otherwise!

And lo, some more stats. British women own on average 132 items of clothing (does that count socks? I have quite a collection), compared to men who manage to make do with an average of 43 items (I’m not so sure about that!)

If, like me, you’re reeling that you have (probably) spent so much of your hard earned cash on clothes and handbags…mostly handbags…here are some pictures of seriously OTT wardrobes courtesy of The Coveteur to make yourselves feel a whole lot better!

P.S. Who else is watching MIC at the moment and caring a little too much about the Spencer/Louise situation?!

Living the (expensive) dream. Man, we love The Coveteur blog!

Discovery Monday: melting tights

We’ve had wet-look jeans and leggings and patterned tights, so it only makes sense to have wet-look tights, right?

German label URB is hoping to capitalise on the ever-enduring wet-look trend with its eye-catching hosiery. The tights feature dripping paint designs in plenty of bright colours and even glitter. Prices start at £30 plus £5 shipping so they’re not cheap – but they a definitely a statement!

Some designs will definitely appeal to gothic girls with lots of laddering and holes as well as the dripping latex liquid…more gunge than grunge?

Are you a fan? How would you style them?

WOW!

The latest statement for legs?

Styling on the street

Happy Easter!

OD-ed on crème eggs and maxed-out on mini eggs? Here are some tasty Easter-themed fashion treats and some super cute chicks…just because. Have a brilliant Easter break, love Snap Fashion x

P.S. Have you noticed how you could channel an Easter chick by wearing Blumarine’s yellow coat?

Blumarine vs chicks. Which is cuter?!

A selection of Katie Hillier’s cute rabbit jewellery (earrings £250, ring £395 and necklace £3,900, Jumper £40 from Topshop and iPhone cover from Marc by Marc Jacobs – also £40.

OMG candy-coloured chicks (is that allowed?!), Illamasqua’s mini-egg themed nail polish (£14.50), cute chick socks, £3.50 from Topshop and amazing easter nails…a good way to waste time over the long weekend!

Pics: retailers, Telegraph and Tumblr.

& Other Stories: the beauty edit

It’s not often that you spot Shakespearean references whilst shopping. But oh-so-clever & Other Stories has borrowed a phrase from the Bard to decorate its beautiful make-up collection. In case you think I’m going crazy, what I mean is that there is a very cool quote pressed into all the blushes, powders and bronzers that says: “Go girl, seek happy nights to happy days…” and I fully intend to!

As previously mentioned I had a hard time not buying EVERYTHING in sight and it’s not just because the cosmetics are literary marvels as well as super pretty and perfectly pigmented…this shop is clever and user friendly. You know how when you usually buy make-up in a drugstore and there are never enough mirrors/hand wipes/applicators/oh, just anything helpful? & Other Stories has it all covered.

The skincare products are stylish and handily grouped together…but best of all you can actually test the body scrubs and body washes etc…as there’s a real working sink. I know…genius!

There are also tissues and proper brushes so you can try products on your face as there are different types of brushes and large mirrors everywhere. You can even buy the brushes (£10 for a big fluffy one is a bargain!) and having these tools in place made me far more likely to buy products as it takes the risk out of buying a wildly inappropriate foundation, for example. I really hope that other shops take note.

The range of colours is fantastic with pretty much all skin tones catered for (do you know how long it’s taken me to find non-orange bronzer with the right amount of shimmer for my Casper-like skin?!), while the eye shadows come in a variety of formulas as well as shades and OMG the glittery lip glosses are only £7 and look like the super high end offerings that you expect from Chanel or Dior.

Without much more ado about makeup, enjoy my pics and marvel at the super happy bronzer.Oh and there’s a gratuitous Leonardo Di Caprio picture to go with the Romeo and Juliet quote (even though it’s said by Juliet’s nurse…don’t say our blog isn’t informative!) Let’s hope & Other Stories’ beauty line’s prospects are better than Romeo and Juliet’s.

OMG it was such a tough decision but I went home with a glittery pick (third from the left) called ‘Duvetyn pink’ and it’s just the right amount of sticky

Sensible idea: nail varnish tester sticks

My Shakespearean bronzer. It’s almost too pretty to use but at £12 I’m sure I’ll be re-stocking. The packaging’s classy and sturdy too.

Looks like Leonardo di Caprio’s been at my bronzer! I love Romeo and Juliet – so 90s!

If you haven’s watched Baz Luhrman’s R&J do it now!

Back to the make-up…this skin care collection is reasonably priced but looks so high-end

There really is everything…including the kitchen sink!

Pics: Snap Fashion + Tumblr