SNAP Fashion

Valentine’s Day wish list: the no hearts edit

Valentine’s style and gift guides are funny things. They’re either OTT with diamonds and couture, assuming everyone has dinner at the Ritz on the 14th of February and are proficient in ballroom dancing, or really childish where all girls are expected to dress in heart prints and secretly want to be Disney Princesses.

Now don’t get us wrong, there’s room for a bit of everything (apart from lingerie that would make Peter Stringfellow blush) but here’s our mini V-day inspired guide of ten things that we really like and just happen to be in that cheesy red/pink/purple palette.

These cool Nike Air Max trainers could make you fall in love with exercise. £95

It’s so true. Awesome tee £45 from Black Score

Everyone can be ‘head over heels’ with this Topshop blush – perfect for V-day and just £6.

Lucky in love – we adore these cute ladybird earrings from Kenneth Jay Lane £185

Super elegant shoes from Valentino…with studs, a pointy toe and an eye-watering price tag of £600 because love hurts!

One for Spring – it’s a little bit sporty and a little bit Marc Jacobs. Better still it’s only £25 from ASOS.

Treat yourself (or ask your bf) for some REAL Marc by Marc Jacobs. This iPhone case would make me smile every time I used it! 40

Almost all girls LOVE Mini Eggs right? So why not embrace this limited edition lilac polish by Illamasqua £14.50

Pop it in this cute bag? Just £19.99 from Zara.

I LOVE this lilac leather jacket from Carven. £1,260 *sigh*

Marios Schwab for Debenhams

While all eyes might be focused on the Maison Martin Margiela for H&M collaboration coming soon to a store near you, there’s another super exciting mash-up in town and it’s Marios Schwab for Debenhams.

Now while the likes of H&M and Topshop whip up a fashion furore with an amazing collaboration every so often, Debenhams has been doing it season after season and has recently added Preen to its books, as well as Marios Schwab, which needless to say is a welcome move, especially with Christmas party season fast approaching.

The good news is that with prices starting at £95, the collection manages to achieve that high street/high end balance – i.e. not compromising on edgy design or quality, but purse-friendly enough for most people to treat themselves.

The collection comprises 8 dresses and typically for Marios Schwab’s designs, they are figure-hugging with embellishments and statement panels, including sexy sheer panelling, studs and leather detailing. But WAG-tastic body-con this ain’t as the dresses are slim fitting and tailored rather than spray-on. And the best bit? Marios has signed up to give us another three collections with Debenhams- which is a Snap Fashion affiliate y’all.

Black laser cut leather evening dress £135

Pics: Vogue

Hackney’s shopping make over

Good news London bargain hunters, Hackney is set to become a new shopping destination with a £5m makeover and swanky new shops.

As well as hitting Bond St for luxury items, you’ll be able to jump on the train to Hackney Central. At the moment, the location is home to Burberry’s factory outlet (it’s at Chatham Place but shhh!) but will be joined by Pringle (which is moving into The Duke of Wellington pub on morning Lane) while the manky railway archways opposite will be tidied up to make room for shops and cafes, according to the FT.

Apparently Hackney Council is spending a cool £5 million on the project, which hopes to encourage the buses of tourists making a fashion pilgrimage to Burberry’s factory shop to spend more money in the area! Plus as well all know the area is already fashion home to lots of designers – Christopher Kane, JW Anderson and Giles Deacon can’t be wrong!

Hackney goes haute?!

Pics: Vogue

Alexa Chung to turn style writer

It was a matter of time until a book was written about Alexa Chung’s distinctive style and the good news that it will be written by the model/presenter/BFC ambassador/contributing editor to Vogue/plimsoll collaborator/the list goes on… herself.

The news comes after Alexa said that she is working on her own fashion label, having collaborated with numerous brands so far. While I’m excited about that, I’m really stoked about the book, which although without a title, promises to give readers an “unparalleled chance to enter Alexa’s world and search for inspiration”, according to The Telegraph.

Detailing how she decides what to put together, her style influences (we might be able to guess a few of those!) styling tips, plus Chung’s photos and drawings, it’s bound to be a big seller. I admit to being a little obsessed with fashion books recently and blame my new-found addiction on the bookshop at London Fashion Weekend and the Coverteur blog.

The only bad news is that there’s no point putting this read on your Christmas list (yes, we have started one!) as it’s due to be published in September next year.

One of my fav pics from Elle

Collaboration alert! Schott and House of Holland

Calling all devotees of colourful hi-tops, bomber jackets and fans of Styled to Rock, Henry Holland has buddied up with cult US label Schott to bring us some seriously eye-catching jackets with an urban edge and celebrate the label’s 100^th birthday.

While Schott brings back slightly grim nineties fashion memories for me, the grunge/rave thing was all over the SS13 catwalk. I bet we see Pixie Geldoff sporting one of these lairy leathers fairly soon and Schott has dressed the likes of Kate Moss, Rihanna, Blondie and The Sex Pistols.

This one reminds me of Willy Wonka!

Eye-catching colour combo

Pics: Elle.

Orla Kiely x Uniqlo

It’s collaboration time again! This time it’s Orla Kiely for Uniqlo. A bit of a disclaimer… I’m not a fan of tunics or wearing lots of different colours together so this is a challenge for me. But I was pleasantly surprised.

The tunics do have Peter Pan collars and are v ‘cute’ and if you’re a big fan of Orla Kiely’s iconic leaf and floral designs you are going to go crazy for this collab. The quality is great and there are SO many patterns to choose from. What makes it even more of a winner is the prices: £29.99 for a snuggly hoodie, £24.99 for tunics, £14.99 for long-sleeved tees and £9.99 for scarves.

And here’s the thing. I didn’t buy a tunic or a multi-coloured leafy thing, it’s just not ‘me’, but I did come away with a scarf that I love – a Kiely 70s-style print but in burnt orange and almost-black, which will brighten up my leather jacket come winter. I was even slightly tempted by the monochrome hoodie. It’s well worth a look!

Review: London Fashion Weekend

How many of you ventured to London Fashion Weekend at Somerset House over the past few days? We did and had a great time watching the ALICE by Temperley show and browsing around the designer discount shops.

The good: Goodie bag aside (which was great by the way) there was a wide selection of bits to buy from seriously high-end pieces that offered fabulous discounts provided you had a spare grand or two, as well as super-affordable pieces. Plus there were heaps of competitions to enter, fashion talks, live music, fashion shows and perks for Vodafone customers. A great taster of what it’s like to be at LFW.

The not so good: It was really busy – quelle surprise! Although there were some good discounts, we found there wasn’t too much in the middling price range to buy and we heard quite a few people say them same. If you opted for the slightly pricier goodie bag and fashion show ticket, I think you get better value for money than choosing the ‘just shopping’ option.

Did anyone else go? What did you think? Here are a few bargains we spotted…

Magical performance from Emily Rose? My mind is blanking on her name but she’s wonderful!

Holly Fulton jewellery from £35

Blumarine coat half price at around £500

The fashion-focused bookshop was my favourite part of the shopping experience

The Dolce & Gabbana dress I really wanted- a snip at £95 from almost £500

Amazing Galliano gown

Pics: Snap Fashion

Minimalist statement cuff for £15

Occasionally a high street accessory comes around that looks totally high-end designer and maked your friends go ‘wow’. May we introduce to you, StylistPick’s Svana cuff.

It comes in three natural colours and is made of real leather and metal - perfect for that celine-esque minimalism. Best of all, it is only £15 and won’t make annoying jangley noises or go for walks up your arm.

Kelly Osbourne raises eyebrows in Topshop dress

Or should that be erases eyebrows?!

Kelly Osbourne has been snapped wearing a stylish Topshop cut-out summer dress (that is or was in the sale *gasp*) with bleached brows. Apparently the radical beauty statement was for a fashion shoot but she has kept the look and it is striking (along with her fantastically playful plastic Chanel earrings).

Better dye them again in time for AW12 though Kelly, big brows are BACK!

Pic: Rex via The Telegraph

Weight-conscious holiday fashion

Nope, we’re not talking about crazy summer diets and unflattering bikinis, but the weight of your suitcase.

Apparently over a quarter of holidaying Brits will spill over their luggage limit at the airport this summer, usually necessitating airing their clean/dirty laundry in the airport, a clothing cull or a hefty fine. Of course it doesn’t help that different airlines have different (stringent) weight limits.

‘So how do we solve this first world problem’ I hear you cry. Well, as new clothing website thinks it has nailed it. The solution? You can weigh your clothes before buying them.

Style-Passport.com is reportedly run by ex-fash mag editors and sells designer and boutique holiday buys, which you can search for in the normal clothing-type way, or by your kind of holiday – City, Spa, Staycation, Outdoors, Beach etc. It has a killer collection of all your favourite designers and prints perfect for holidaying in style.

Fashion beach noms on offer

But most innovatively each item of clothing has been weighed, so in theory if you bought your whole holiday wardrobe from there and if you didn’t pack your camera/books/sunscreen etc you would know exactly how much your luggage weighs before checking in.

A handy holiday gift from the website!

Now, the super practical and less flush among us, might make-do with the bathroom scales, but for fashionistas who only do 5* and whose bikinis cost more than your rent, this site must be heaven-sent.

P.S. Check out the sale, there are some AWESOME buys. We love these printed trousers by Mara Hoffman for £84 (70% off) – they weight 0.21kg BTW so you can totes squeeze them in your tote!

Yay for sales!