Cut it Out

Cut Out Blouse: Boohoo.com
Leggings: River Island
Bralet: Urban Outfitters
Boots: Vagabond, Urban Outfitters
Necklace: Urban Outfitters

Continuing my love affair with black and sheer clothing, I instantly fell for this blouse from Boohoo. The cut out shoulder detail and high neckline create a shape that would flatter any body type. It was slightly harder to take the pictures though, as it turns out my skin is the same colour as my standard white backdrop, and the look does require existent and visible shoulders...

The cut out trend is great for the summer-to-autumn transition period. It still shows skin, but only in fragments, suggesting a slow move toward covering up for the new season. Although I prefer the cut out shoulder style, this is not the only way to wear the trend:

The cut-out waist dress is a pretty timeless piece, but has seen a relaunch this summer. Personally, I find it difficult to wear, but that's how I am with most dresses...so I might not be the best the judge. It's tricky to get right. The cut-out detail has to hit the waist at precisely the right point to be flattering and, if that happens, then it can look really good. But, if you're like me and you have never found a waisted dress that actually goes in at your waist (because you're basically too short for that to happen) then it's harder to find a style that works. That's just my experience, however!

Get the trend while you can, before it gets too cold to have any skin on show at all. River Island and Motel have some really nice styles - click the links to have a look! But, while I love the trend, I'll be avoiding any white back drops - I don't want to risk blending in.

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Sports Day

Jacket: Pull and Bear
Leggings: River Island
Sports Bra: La Redoute
Shoes: Nike for Urban Outfitters
Bag: Primark 

I really like this trend for pseudo-sports wear becoming perfectly acceptable daywear, but I do find it strange how, up until quite recently, it was considered the stereotypical look of the 'chav'. Although its origins conjure up images of thirteen year old anarchists causing unadulterated havoc by smoking fags outside the school gates, it's current association is more urban cool.

The trend has been slowly filtering down from the catwalk to the high street, and the now autumn/winter 2014 is set to be a blur of 'go faster' stripes, racer backs and sneakers.

DKNY

Marc by Marc Jacobs

One big bonus about this trend is comfort - it usually centres around leggings, hoodies and trainers, which makes for a nice break from squeezing into skinny jeans and stomping around in clumpy heels. It doesn't have to be figure hugging, it can light and loose, which helps in the hot (ish) weather we're getting.

And if you do fancy going for a jog or hitting the gym, you're already dressed. No excuses...

(I should mention that I found this look hard to accessorise. It turns out that I was just one gold necklace away from Vicky Pollard.)

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The Tapered Trouser

Top: Missguided.com
Trousers: Topshop

Tapered trousers are pretty much my favourite thing right now. They solve so many problems - it's 25 degrees outside and you're just not ready to brave it with a bare leg, but it's far far too hot for jeans...put a pair of these on. They're light, baggy and usually come in floral prints that are perfect for the summer.

There is nothing really new about this trend, aside from its transition from smart to undeniably casual. I'm more used to seeing them as part of a stylish suit on the red carpet than being worn around the city with flip flops and a basic crop.

Kristen Stewart

Tapered trousers work really well on all shapes and sizes. They're not hold-your-breath-and-prepare-not-to-breath style tight, like the jeans and trousers that have dominated fashion in recent years, but also they're not completely shapeless. The high-waisted aspect erodes the appearance of the dreaded muffin-top, whilst the soft gradation from baggy to tighter at the ankle gives the illusion of a flattering leg shape. And they really don't have to be expensive. All the standard high street chains are selling them - New Look is particularly good value.

New Look Tapered Trousers - £17.99

Personally, I'm not so keen on that particular print, but the shape and general idea is definitely there. Plus, I tend to discriminate against bright colours...so I might not be the best judge

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Back to Basics

Dress: Urban Outfitters
Necklace: Urban Outfitters

Summer fashion doesn't have to be all about prints and bold colours. Simple little pieces can work really well too. It's so easy to get lost in trends - which print is in right now? What colour can I wear with it? Is the outfit right for the season? The questions are endless. Sometimes it's easier to just give up and wear a slab of plain grey cotton with arm holes.

And it doesn't look half as bad as it sounds! Shapeless dresses are actually not that unflattering. I've avoided them like the plague for years, thinking that, because I am short, they will inevitably drown me in a sea of fabric. But with a good chunky heel, it really works. And the simplicity works too - really easy to accessorise and achieves a sort of 'effortlessly cool' feel.

It's what I like to call the 'sack' dress - utterly shapeless. Which, I admit, sounds pretty negative...but all it means is that it's casual, perfect for summer day wear.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a dress, simplicity is easily achieved through jeans a plain T, or a neutral coloured skirt and top. For me, less is always more - I'd rather an outfit be under-done rather than overdone. But maybe I'm just playing it safe...

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Big Hat or Tiny Person?

I really love hats, of all kinds, and I am loving that they're everywhere at the moment. Particularly, I love the big floppy hats that are all over the high street shops, and are not always made out of straw, as you'd expect with typical summer beach fashion...

These ones are far more chic. Vogue recently published a list of 22 hats to end  bad hair days forever, whilst remaining  stylish and sophisticated, and the classic big floppy hat - for want of a better name  -was a prominent feature. At the  moment, Topshop are doing some really nice styles for around £25, whilst ASOS also has a wide selection for around £15 - £20.

Hat by Topshop

Hat by ASOS

The only issue I have with this hat trend is that I'm tiny, and I'm not completely sure whether I can pull them off proportionally...plus I do worry that they make me look a little pirate-y...but I'm going to assume that's just me being paranoid! Hats work with all kinds of styles, from bohemian to preppy, and from vintage to entirely modern. They are incredibly versatile.

Vogue has said in the past that hats increase femininity - they change the way we move. We turn slowly, look sideways and pretend to ignore everything around us, giving women everywhere an air of complete and utter confidence. Though, honestly, I think it's more likely that these women are trying to prevent their hat from blowing off in the British winds...it's always a tricky procedure

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