Monday, 25 March 2013

Pounds or Practically Pennies: Feeling Blue

Roberto Cavalli and Erdem have a lot to answer for. We have become swamped by ornate prints against creams and whites and, while I've never been a big fan or wearer of the colour blue, I am inescapably in love. 
Erdem 1 - 2 - 3 ;
Roberto Cavalli 1 - 2 - 3;

Erdem's feminine and contemporary designs feature the dreamy French Milandes chateaus and landscapes framed by beautiful filigree. I love how these prints aren't symmetrical but are still weighted similarly on each side making them slightly more relaxed but just as refined and romantic. The Roberto Cavalli 'Resort' pieces are much more structured in terms of print placement and the simple shapes are made up for with extravagant and detailed prints and features. The prints are classic, and Cavalli lends a hand to incorporate the contemporary; the skirt features a daring side split while the shirt boasts a clashing geometric print and the neckline on the dress connects with white metal flowers and collar cutouts. 


Enough of those though, what just-as-lovely pieces can we find for a fraction of the above prices?
H&M // Primark // Matalan // Glamorous // Next;
(Prices and stock are subject to change from the creation of this image!)

Inspired by the classic porcelain crockery and dinner sets your grandma probably owns, the porcelain prints are sure to be a big Spring/Summer 2013 hit - here's hoping for colour variations as the seasons progress . I adore the Primark dress and how the neckline just touches the shoulders, unfortunately, I haven't been able to find it in store yet. I'm also a massive fan of the H&M blazer and the Topshop pop socks (that's a mouthful). I have some brown wedges just dying to be paired with this print!

Are you loving China blue?

Thursday, 21 March 2013

Cambridge Style Week night 2: Cutting-edge Cambridge Design

The second night of Cambridge Style Week paid homage to the next generation of fashion designers and really did set the bar high for the rest of the week. Showcasing exclusive one of a kind designs from final year students from the Cambridge School of Art, the catwalk played host to an array of stunning materials and incredible shapes that wouldn't have looked out of place on the LFW catwalk. 
Cambridge Style Week
There were a wealth of designs and styles flashing before our eyes, ranging from gothic glam and futuristic frocks to embellished co-ords and effortlessly chic pieces. Each design was innovative and unique and I really would have loved to have heard about the inspirations and reasoning behind them all. There were clear trends featured throughout; leather/PU detailing was featured on large number of outfits, it's clearly still a winner for both bloggers
and designers, metallics also made a feature along with the classic cut out, embellished two piece looks, monochrome, jacquard prints and androgynous sharp cut designs. 

Cambridge Style Week student design
This striking dress was the hit of the night, incredible right? It received spontaneous applause from the outset, something about it hit the right spot. Every inch of the fabric was carded by hand and constructed on a live model ensuring a flawless finish and fit. 

As the night progressed I, and others alike, completely forgot we were watching student's works and became immersed in the fashion. This wasn't a night dedicated to 'classic' and wearable designs, it was quirky, it was somewhat eccentric but most of all, it was great. Some designs were ready-to-wear but these was easily overtaken by the arty and more 'out-there' pieces, yet I wasn't put off - not one bit. In my opinion, a catwalk night so dedicated to this type of fashion and design definitely added towards what constitutes an event to be a 'real' fashion week. What better way to celebrate Cambridge and all it has to offer by unveiling the hidden talents of the city and the next generation we will put our style and fashion faith in. See my other favourites from the night below.

Cambridge Style Week gothic student designs
These are my second and third absolute top picks, can you spy the gothic inspiration? The fierce dress on the left would have been at home on the Brit Awards red carpet alongside other black and gold numbers, it incorporates the much loved leather/PU panelling along with sheer fabric and classic split leg design. The whimsical Alice in Wonderland-esque printed collar and skirt dress on the right would be fitting for a Tim Burton film and is seriously cutesy.  I'm still not over collars yet and love the quirky mirror print.
Cambridge Style Week student designs dip hem
Two more wearable dresses here both featuring dipped hem and asymmetrical cuts. The left featured a laser cut bodice and hem while the right focused on layering.



Cambridge Style Week student designs jacquard monochrome
I adore this beautiful jacquard style glitter threaded 2 piece suit with navy ruffles, it definitely full-frills (ha!) this seasons statement frill trend. The simple monochrome satin top with nipped in waist is an elegant colour block number.
Cambridge Style Week student designs
Look at those stunning trousers! Another jacquard style piece accompanied by an on trend oversized white shirt and cape. I love how romantic and flowing this beautiful empire line dress is. It gathers just under the bust, and although it has a deep cut and exposed skin either side, it's not at all revealing or at all inappropriate. Perfect!



Cambridge Style Week student designs pu detail
These are two rather classic looks taking an update. The stunning grey blazer has embraced leather/PU detailing around the collar and elbow patches while the halter neck shift dress features a leather/PU neckline, asymmetrical front and dip hem back.



Cambridge Style Week student designs metallic
The only way I can really describe these designs is 'galactic' and that's probably not the right term at all. I was drawn towards the metallic fabrics in this collection and the contrast between the metallic texture, skintight black gloves and white panelling. The shapes are to die for.


Cambridge Style Week student designs
The amazing plastic bubble neck dress demonstrates perfectly what futuristic fashion is all about, experimenting with new materials and making something great. The woolen cape and bralet combo with tailored trousers is androgynous chic at its best; I love the high waisted trousers with their PU leather detailing and peach highlights, a definite ready-to-wear element amongst an 'out-there' piece.

All jewellery here was from the fabulous Cambridge based Catherine Jone Jewellery and complimented all outfits perfectly. The actual necklace Princess Leia wore in the final scene of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope resides with them now and made an appearance on the catwalk. Unfortunately, my photos didn't turn out great but trust me, it's a beaut! If you have a spare £1,998.00 you can buy it here

Night 1 coverage // Nights 3&4 coming soon.

Wednesday, 13 March 2013

£50 Savvy Saver Outfit

I know for a fact that I'm not the only one out there who likes a good discount code or deal. Just because we like to save money; therefore, unquestionably getting more for our money, doesn't mean we're scrimpers - it means we're savvy.

So, when I was challenged to create an outfit costing no more than £50 using netvouchercodes, I headed over immediately and got my stalk on. After clicking through deal after deal and spending an age searching through clothing, footwear and accessories, I settled on this outfit. 

£50 outfit challenge

Blacks and golds will never get old, prints and boots won't either. 

Inspired by our god-awful ever changing weather, this is the perfect season transition outfit. At the moment I'd be inclined to wear with black tights and a dark grey marl boxy boyfriend jacket, but as the weather finally improves I'd go bare legged and pop on a pair of oversized sunnies.

My first stop was Debenhams after I found the 50% off womens dresses deal here. I'm still loving faux leather and, while it may be 'so last season', black is going nowhere as this seasons monochrome trend so wilfully shows. As a faux leather dress, this Beloved Tunic could appear heavy, but the scalloped edges and laser cut detailing ensure a lighter looking garment for the transition into spring. I found this little beauty reduced from a whopping £69 to a mere £15 and yes, that is well over 50% off!

My second and final stop was at Get the Label. It was out of pure curiosity as I'd never heard of this store until happening across them in the netvouchercodes directory and seeing the 75% off designer clothes and accessories deal here. My first stop was footwear, if I'm creating an outfit and only have limited amounts of money, I'd choose footwear over bags anytime. I loved the mix of classic chelsea style and playful print of these leopard print heeled boots; with an RRP of £22.99 but reduced to £14.99, I can afford to pick a bag too! Satchels are great, and this black Pieces snake print number, reduced from a corking £47.99 to £12.99, is ideal alongside the black dress to keep things muted and make the boots pop. With a few pounds to spare I needed a little something on the top half of the dress. I was quite intrigued by this Pieces chunky chain necklace, reduced from £17.99 to a teeny £5.99; I suppose the classic gold chain does hold quite a stigma, but this statement double wrapped piece has something chic about it.

The overall price for this outfit is £48.97 as opposed to the cray-cray original price of £157.97; just imagine what you could do with that spare £109!

I suggest you go take a look, you could save some serious dollar! Hands up if you love a deal?

*Partnered post, content written by myself.

Wednesday, 6 March 2013

Cambridge Style Week night 1: Best of British

As models practised their walks, bottles of wine were being laid on ice and finishing touches being put to pop up shops in the boutique experience; Nicky Shepard, Cambridge Style Week director and co-founder, was gliding around amazingly stress free. The first night of the first ever Cambridge Style Week was about to go live to the public and not an ounce of panic or anxiety graced Nicky's face. What a pro. 

As guests entered the first stop boutique area, single roses in a wide array of colours were gifted by Purely Roses, I got a beautiful lemon shade which sat proudly in an Asti bottle on the kitchen table for the rest of the week. It was a beautiful welcome touch along with a goody bag for seated guests and complimentary welcome drink as well as plenty of smiling faces. Guests, and myself alike, then had an hour to peruse the boutique experience meeting local Cambridge companies including: Victoria Egg, Curious Orange, Retro Vert, The Cambridge Raincoat Company, Design Essentials, B Jewellery Ltd, Cambridge Interiors, OJT Designs, Tweed Vixen, Debbie Wallwork Photography, Velvet Bakehouse and Pole Fitness. The hour of browsing and admiring was up quickly and we were soon lead into the catwalk area as we anticipated the start of the first catwalk of the week.

As a living-in-the-sticks kind of girl it's never easy or cheap to get to London or Manchester for fashion weeks - so, when I heard there was going to be a 'Cambridge Style Week' I was extatic and dying to get involved. The first show was better than I ever expected, there were a diverse range of designs and styles from a mix of Cambridge based stores and British designers - many of which I had shamefully never heard of, but that's what this event was about. While designs were evidently different with varying inspirations, functions and aesthetics, they were all united in the fact that they are all quintessentially British; and they're ours to be proud of! 
Prohibido LingerieProhibido Lingerie, a Cambridge based luxury lingerie boutique, featured Mary Portas' Kinky Knickers as a great start to the show. Each pair is handcrafted in Britain out of the finest Nottingham lace, models sported some of the range which are perfectly suitable for everyday wear yet have a sexy and playful edge. 
Cambridge Raincoat CompanyThe Cambridge Raincoat Company showcased their classic and timeless mac designs with a modern and colourful twist. Originally started as a fashionable alternative for cyclists and unattractive lycra, The Cambridge Raincoat Company have become the epitome of stunning rain wear. Perfect for those little April showers.
Angels Carrying Savage WeaponsAngels Carrying Savage Weapons were absolutely, the most jaw dropping designs on the catwalk. Their intricate corsetry and handmade designs can easily rival the corset's Victorian creators. Each dress is handmade to order from the designers own cuts in Nottinghamshire, and their range includes bridal and evening wear, 50's style skirt suits, capri pants and the classic boudoir corsets and lingerie.
Olivia RubinBaska, a Cambridge based boutique boasting renowned international designers, showcased their Olivia Rubin London collection. This was one of my favourite sets and summed up my favourite part of British fashion - bright colours and playful prints! I adored this 'Porch Gate' printed silk mini dress with gathered sleeves, gathered waist and full skirt - it would look perfect amongst a field of daisies accompanied by the ornateness of a champagne and strawberry picnic. The classic Olivia Rubin brick print has been revamped in popular pastel colours specifically for SS'13 and this shirt dress was my favourite style the print was adorned on.
Alice Temperley SomersetAfter our blogger preview event of Somerset by Alice Temperley at John Lewis, I couldn't wait to see the SS'13 pieces styled to a tee and hit the catwalk. Alice focused her Somerset collection on feminine yet workable and everyday pieces which can effortlessly form part of a capsule wardrobe. Think pretty embellishments, classic cuts and sumptuous fabrics, Alice Temperley hasn't slacked on the collaboration with the high street brand. It's hard to pick favourites within this line as everything is so effortlessly stunning, but the blue wallpaper tile print jumpsuit is up there.
LibelulaBoudoir Femme, another Cambridge boutique, featured their stunning SS'13 Libelula collection. A UK based label designed by Sophie Cranston, Libelula draws attention to, and focuses on, timeless styles and cuts set to flatter the feminine figure. Having set up Temperley alongside Alice Temperley in the year 2000, I noticed this label draws slight similarities like classic British cuts such as the pink boucle skirt and white cardigan; but is much more eclectic in terms of print and colour. I love the vibrancy of the green and pink bug print dress, yet the clash of the red and pink georgette dress is striking - who said you can't wear pink and red together and make it work?
Bourne EnglandBaska did it again by featuring their Bourne, England SS'13 collection. With refined styles and polished details, Bourne commit themselves to creating British made and British designed products for those of us who want a luxury wardrobe on a competitive price level with other labels. Their SS'13 pieces see a mix of classic summer colours like nudes, pinks, whites and peaches and put elegance right at the forefront of their designs. 
Nehru LondonNehru London jackets are based upon traditional Indian fashion as devised by Jawaharlal Nehru. This classic Indian styling has diversified over the years to embody quirky British design by experimenting with bright colours and striking linings especially for those with a penchant for good tailoring. Their ladies collection, as previewed here, will be released later this year.
John Lewis MenswearThere was of course something for the guys in the crowd as the John Lewis menswear collection so proudly displayed. I'm sure many of us ladies love to see a well dressed man, and hopefully you guys like to make an effort too sometimes. The heritage look on the far left is a winner for me; I really enjoy the combination of earthy colours, elbow patches and a shirt and jumper combo topped with a check blazer. The second from left is a great smart/casual look, there's something very Ryan Gosling about it isn't there? The third in however, is a look my boyfriend Phil would be most likely to rock out of this selection - an untucked shirt, classic jeans, military boots and bomber jacket is much more his style. 

Modish Shoes, a Cambridge and Saffron Walden based shoe boutique, also made an appearance in some of the sets on catwalk boasting their classic union jack sequin platforms and other gorgeous footwear. They're on a mission to offer fantastic looking and fantastic feeling shoes to all women as well as stocking more difficult to find brands and new designers. Clamp Optometrists, an independent Cambridge based company with a wide selection of well known brand, designer and boutique glasses and sunglasses, supplied the brilliantly styled eyewear in this show. I'll hopefully be giving them a visit closer to summer to treat myself to a pair of more expensive sunglasses to cherish, there's only so many cheap £10 or under sunglasses I can buy.What pieces/brands are you liking the look of? Hopefully I've given you a few new designers works to lust over.Night 2 coverage // Night's 3&4 coming soon.

Tuesday, 26 February 2013

Thou Shalt Not Steal

... but will buy bargainous cosmetics and skincare for a metaphorical steal instead. 
Beauty Steals is a great new website offering high street cosmetics, skincare and fragrances at discounted prices. They stock well known brands like O.P.I, MAC, Benefit, Urban Decay, Revlon, Maxfactor, Maybelline, L'Oreal, Bourjois, NYC... and the list just goes on. I've never bought MAC, Urban Decay or Benefit simply because I've gotten so used to 'drug-store' brands and prices that paying anything over those is painful. With this website though, I know I'll be back and keeping tabs on the more expensive products. 

Not only can you treat yourself to something a little more expensive for less, but you can also find discontinued items at a great price too. It's inevitable that at some point we will have fallen in love with a particular product, only to be told it's been discontinued causing us to cry all the way home on the bus. Enter Beauty Steals! They are often getting new stock in so it's always worth having a peep at who they get in.

Want a final cherry on the cake? Their P&P is free! You read right, there's no minimum spend to ensure eligibility, meaning your bargains remain bargains. It's crazy how much a £3.95 postage fee can ruin a great find.

A few bits!




Revlon Colorstay Quad Shadow in 'Lavender Meadow' £3.59*
When I initially saw this palette, I thought 'gosh, I'll never wear those colours'. I think I've gotten so used to neutrals that purples were a big shock. Truth be told, the more I looked at the palette, the more I liked the colours and I could see they would blend perfectly. When it got to the swatches I fell head over heels for the colours, they really come into their own out of the palette and onto the skin. The shades are supposed to look freshly applied for 12 hours but I'd be inclined to wear a primer anyway. These will be perfect for Springtime looks alongside florals and denim! 




Girls Aloud Party Lashes - £5.99*
I've not tried these yet because I have massively shaky hands and I didn't want to ruin them! The application of my Katy Perry Eyelure lashes didn't go well as they got contorted and twisted in ways I didn't know possible. I look forward to giving them a go when I have a reason to wear them, hopefully at a family wedding this summer. With a mixture of short and long lashes I hold hope that they will blend in well with my existing lashes and will look natural compared to the others in the range. These are my favourites of the Party Lashes by far, the rose gold studs are bang on trend.  
Collection 2000 Hot Looks Fast Dry in Intense and Minx £3.49* each
I love the brushes that these polishes come with, they lay flat against the nail and spread well. You need to apply a couple of coats to be sure of great coverage, particularly with 'Intense', but in the end they pay off with a super glossy finish. They dry insanely quick which is great for me as I'm always catching my nails after I've painted them. I love the glittery flecks both shades have, but particularly 'Intense', as the blue flecks amongst the dark lacquer really set it off - this is my new favourite dark shade. 


Laval Celebrity Lash Comb Mascara - £5.26*
I've never heard of the brand 'Laval' but kept an open mind. Unfortunately, it lives up to expectation of a cheap discount store brand which I was so gutted about. Taking the wand for the first time you could feel the product compacted inside the tube, in my clumsiness I actually caught the brush on the end of my nose but nothing transferred - there was nothing on the brush! After a few 'pumps' retrieving the product, the brush turned out to be useless at separating the lashes and the product went on practically dry meaning eyelashes clumped instantly. The product was so dry and hard to apply that it didn't reach the lash line and, when removing, it fell off in black flecks all over my face. It also smelt uncannily like PVA glue. The only thing it did well was lengthen my lashes slightly. I wouldn't pay £5.26 for this.


Olay Gentle Cleansers Conditioning Milk - £4.99*
As you may have seen from an earlier post, I'm a complete skincare novice and I'm slowly building up my knowledge. I couldn't place what a 'conditioning milk' was supposed to do, but I've treated it no different to any other cleanser, massaging into the skin and then rinsing. With cucumber and aloe extracts it smells great - but not too strong - and makes your skin feel super refreshed. I think this will be great for everyday use, conditioning your face and getting rid of muck, but I'm not sure how effective it will be removing heavy eye make up. I've not used it for a long amount of time so only time will tell if it breaks me out or if I have a reaction to it (which I might because my skin is SO awkward). It's designed for normal/dry/combination skin, so here's hoping.



Have you bought anything from Beauty Steals? Or are you heading over there now? I'd love to know your bargains!

Psst. They currently have Urban Decay Loose Pigment Eyeshadows for £4.20

Monday, 18 February 2013

Pounds or Practically Pennies: Cut it out

It's been a long time coming, but today sees the start of a new blog series called 'Pounds or Practically Pennies'; or 'POPP' as I will affectionately refer to it as. The premise is quite simple. I'll do the digging to find you high street designer and couture inspired goodies for the fraction of the prices - practically pennies you might say! Let's take a look at what I'm currently loving.


Ankle boots have been a sure go to staple throughout the past two seasons and understandably, there was a need for a slight update for another season in the limelight, and here they are - cut out ankle boots! The above Balenciaga and Alexander Wang pairs have been boasted on the feet of Rihanna, Rita Ora and Sharon Stone and for me, there's something satisfying about a bit of skin being seen where it normally wouldn't be - I like unconventional.
I'd say the Balenciaga pair are perfectly reminiscent of the 90's and are ideal for dancing and singing along to 'The Big Reunion' in your living room, especially if you've dug out your old CD's or re-downloaded your favourite 90's pop cheese. But, I'm more swayed to the Alexander Wang pair - they're just far more understated and less bulky in terms of my personal preference. 

Whatever your style, take a look at the selection I've hunted out below ranging from very close dupes to more unrestrained and developed styles. Most are under 10% of the prices above, it sounds much better already doesn't it? 

Office // Topshop // Topshop;
(Prices and stock are subject to change from the creation of this image!)

I'm always grateful for high street takes on designer pieces, not only because of the obvious price slash, but because they open up a whole new door for the high street to experiment with in terms of style and perfecting their own designs. I relish in seeing a balance between those thinking outside of the box to give us more accessible variations of a particular style, but also those who are determined to bring an almost exact designer/couture match. The perfect combination if you ask me. 

My favourites are a huge toss up between the Office 'Frontier', Topshop 'Adonis2' and the Topshop 'Afflex' pairs. The Adonis2's are perfect for Spring and Summer with their floral encounter, flash of blue and almost monochrome appearance, while the Topshop Afflex's are a little more dressy and sophisticated with a beautifully contrasted sole (just like the £761 Jill's). Finally, the Office Frontier's dare to peep at the unconventional with their exposed heel - of course a more notable feature of the sandal or slingback - whilst also embracing the skinny gold toecap, knocking out two trends in one. 

Are you liking this trend or do you think boots should remain boots; a winter staple without the skin on show? 

Just, don't step in any puddles. 

Monday, 11 February 2013

Blogger's Breakfast with John Lewis and Cambridge Style Week

Yesterday morning saw the first ever Blogger's Breakfast hosted by John Lewis, Cambridge. The event was a preliminary taster for Cambridge Style Week, giving bloggers and CSW staff alike a sneak peek of some of their Spring/Summer 13 range to be showcased on the runway later in the month.
At 9.30am, before shop hours (ooh how exclusive), we were whisked upstairs to the Brasserie where we were seated at aptly decorated tables featuring spring/summer accessories, laden with cute heart shaped chocolates. We were fuelled with much needed coffee and pastries whilst we chatted among ourselves meeting our fellow fashion and blogging savvy peers before being introduced to the absolutely wonderful John Lewis fashion advisory team. They were all genuinely excited to have us there, as they explained it was their very first event of this kind and really had gone all out, and little did they know, it was my very first event like this too. I was made to feel very welcome. 
After initial introductions and breakfast we were split into two groups, our first stop? Fashion advisory! We met with the stylists whose job it is to provide much needed advice to all who are lost or lack inspiration when it comes to their wardrobe. Whether you need a new dress for a special occasion, have lost weight and/or have no idea of your shape, need a brand new capsule wardrobe due to being time poor or simply want to find yourself again after a big change in your life; these ladies are here to help with no obligation to buy. 

As a fashion advice service, they offer so much more than just doing the shopping for you. They will help you discover your body shape and teach you how to dress for it and will show you how to dress for your skin tone based on whether you are yellow or blue toned. If you have an item in your wardrobe you absolutely love but have no idea what to wear with it, they'll sort that out too!

This is a FREE service but you must remember to book. As you can imagine, this is extremely popular and there are only a certain amount of hours in a working day - two of which will be taken up transforming you and your wardrobe. All of the above takes place in one of their two fantastically spacious and air conditioned advisory rooms on a one-to-one basis with a stylist, or if you'd prefer you can bring a friend. Many men and women pay for this type of service, but when this is handed to you on a plate for free it makes you wonder why! I hope to take advantage of this service in the near future.
To clear up any suspicion, no, these ladies do not work on commission. Whether you buy every single item they pick out for you or none at all, you all receive the same incredible customer service simply because this is their job and this is what they love to do. An example of this is the wonderful Dorothy, an inspirational and popular member of staff among us bloggers (we just wanted to give her a big squishy hug). Dorothy prides herself on being able to help change peoples lives through fashion by giving them confidence in themselves and the confidence to be themselves. She proudly told us how she absolutely loved her job and had been doing it for 8 years and never tired of seeing women visibly change in terms of self esteem before her very eyes. There's absolutely no doubt about it, she wasn't lying when she says you'll be bff's by the end of your session.
After this, we were then shown some spring/summer '13 pieces from John Lewis exclusive brands including John Lewis Collection, John Lewis Weekend, Mint Velvet, Kin (the only brand in store to cater for women, men and children; Von Trapp-esque family here I come), Ghost and of course the madly anticipated Somerset by Alice Temperley.I was glued to the chic Somerset collection which boasts a mixture of blues, nudes, beads, stripes, and tile prints which starkly contrasts against the bright bold prints of a JL Weekend top, pyjama trouser and jumpsuit set (as above) noted to be the bravest print they'd ever had in (I can see why!). I also fell head over heels with the Ghost Giselle dress (as pictured above). Everything about this dress screams romance to me, particularly the elegant buttons placed on the waist and the wonderfully gentle colour, perfect for awards season. If, however, the colour doesn't particularly float your boat you can have it dyed absolutely any colour your heart desires... for free! There's simply no excuse, gosh I wish I had a reason to wear it.Our second stop was over in the lingerie department where we met with Tina who was eager to let us all know about their bra fitting service - something I must get done at some point. I cooed over pieces from Elle Macpherson and their own JL Collection, the nudes and pinks were gorgeous and predicted to be a big hit this season. This service is again free but there is no need to book, fitting is on demand meaning you can fit it into your day easily.The morning then ended with a final thank you and goodbye and a blogger's lucky dip in which I got a Tisserand hand and nail cream which will undoubtedly be a new handbag essential. A lovely token of generosity.I came out with a completely different view of JL just knowing that I'd be back. I knew they were renowned for their customer service, striking up conversations as you wander showing a real interest in what you've come in for; (as I discussed with some of the ladies, there's nothing worse than going in a shop to spend money only to be stared down by an uninterested member of staff) but it was never a place I turned to, to shop for clothes (with the exception of my Barbour Jacket). This is simply that I always assumed this to be a shop for middle aged and above clientele with money to spend; an absolutely awful assumption to have now I have realised what a fantastic dynamic shop this really is! They cater for all ages, and it's worth shopping high street brands here such as Mango, Oasis and Ted Baker just for the 90 day money back guarantee.JL will be showcasing their exclusive Alice Temperley Somerset ready-to-wear collection on the runway on the first night of Cambridge Style Week - 20th February - as part of the Best of British Gala. Tickets start at £5.Until then, keep up to date with CSW via:Their website and blog.Twitter not forgetting to use the hashtag #cambstyleFacebook: Cambridge Style WeekInstagram: cambsstyleweekPinterest: Cambridge Style WeekI hope you enjoyed the second instalment in my Cambridge Style Week series (and didn't go through too many cups of tea or coffee), I look forward to bringing you more goss, interviews and photos from the events themselves later on in the month! I cannot wait.